What is it About Women?

Everywhere you look you can find groups of women around; talking, eating, walking, shopping, working out. Whatever they are doing, they are usually in groups. Unless it involves sports or beer, men usually don't congregate this way. What is it about women, that makes us want to always be with each other?

In my short life I've been fortunate to have been surrounded by a strong bond of women from the moment of my birth. My mom, aunts, grandma and female cousins are all close, spend time supporting each other through thick and thin, and enjoy spending quality time together. When the whole family gets together, it's fun to watch and listen to the interaction of the females in my family, because we are always sharing the latest news and usually finding something to laugh about. My mom and I have forged strong female bonds with neighbors and friends; bonds that have lasted and continue to grow. After being so grateful for all these females in my life, I have to wonder, why aren't men like this? This may be because most women are more curious than men about others' lives and seem to be able to talk about almost anything with a stranger. Men tend to be more closed off until they get to know someone, whereas women tend to just jump right in and start the "getting to know someone" process. After women get to know someone, they want to know more, not only because they are curious, but also because they care.

I have to wonder though, why do we care? It's almost obvious females are more emotionally intuned with themselves and others than men are. Women must be born with it... we are natural nurturers and usually share strong empathy for one another. For example, when one of my childhood friends became pregnant at the beginning of our freshman year in college, a bunch of her mom's friends and co-workers got together and threw her a baby shower in order to show their support and love. While at the baby shower, I realized how lucky she was to have all these females surrounding her and letting her know she was not in this alone. Women automatically become support systems for each other, especially when something bad happens.

College life has offered another spin for me on the importance of women bonding together: I don't know what I would have done without the first friends I made in the dorm, or my new sorority sisters, and I know that throughout each stage of my life, my female friends and family will be the ones who keep me strong. Women need each other in order to be happy and successful. Although women and men do share a special bond, a man could never replace the female relationships women have with each other. There's nothing quite like a girlfriend, sister, aunt, or mother to tell every detail to and know she is actually listening.

Everywhere you look you will see women bonding together to make life better. Women have been getting together for years now and supporting breast cancer survivors and victims with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It sponsors breast cancer, definitely a female issue, but men get prostate cancer, and they have yet to set up any kind of national fundraiser.

Men just don't seem to share the same "togetherness" women crave. They seem to be more quiet and stand-offish with each other. Males and females are born with different mental and emotional hard drives. Maybe Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars is actually a true statement, and science agrees: scientific evidence proves that powerful feminine hormones are the reason women are able to nurture and love not only their infants, but everyone around them. Someday women are going to nurture and love this world into total health, peace, and harmony.

Congratulations America! You are officially the fattest country!

America has been the most out of shape, obese country for awhile now. What is strange is all the ads in magazines and commericials on T.V. for weight loss pills and programs. It's not for sure, but America may also have the most fitness facilities and gyms. So why is America so fat?

Maybe it has to do with all the fast food Americans love to eat on a regular basis... Many people have seen the popular, Super Size Me documentary, where independent-film maker, Morgan Spurlock, goes 30 days surviving solely on McDonald's alone. He records his physical and psychological changes on video and ends up gaining 25 lbs, he raised his BMI from 23.3 to 27 and had a 13% body mass index increase. Spurlock says his main motive behind the documentary was the "increasing spread of obesity throughout U.S. society, which the Surgeon General has declared 'epidemic,' and the corresponding lawsuit brought against McDonald's on behalf of two overweight girls, who, it was alleged, became obese as a result of eating McDonald's food. Spurlock points out that although the lawsuit against McDonald's failed (and subsequently many state legislatures have legislated against products liability actions against producers and distributors of 'fast food'), much of the same criticism leveled against the tobacco companies applies to fast food franchises, although it could be argued that fast food is not physiologically addictive in the same sense as nicotine."

It's become obvious over the years that if people eat junk, they are going to feel like junk, thus, end up looking like junk. So why do people keep eating fast food? With the increase of working mothers in America, home-cooked meals seem to be almost extinct. Most of the time a home-cooked meal is going to be considerably more healthy than a meal from a restaraunt or a fast food joint. Eating out is usually going to put on the pounds veruses eating at home.

Another reason America is so fat may be the popularity of video games and T.V. shows. No kids want to go outside and play anymore. They all just want to play the lastest video game with all their friends, which will keep them occupied for hours on end, but keep their body sedated for hours on end at the same time. As technology improves, so do the super cool toys kids will want to play. It's hard to encourage a child to go play tag outside when he has Rockband or Guitar Hero sitting in the living room or Nickelodeon in the next room.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/21/eveningnews/main509689.shtml

With alcohol being so popular at American colleges, it's no wonder the typical freshman gains 15 lbs. Alcohol is definitely a factor to blame for obesity. Many people don't realize how many calories they are consuming as they knock back drink after drink. One light beer can contain 100 calories or more, and regular beer or one shot of liquor can range from 140-220 calories, and while wine is usaully a bit lighter, it still can range from 70-160 calories. College students may find it particularly hard to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle while partying at college.

Bigger portions in America is making bigger people. The normal size portion in America is 25% bigger than more French portions and 72% more than Chinese portions! Geez, no wonder our obesity rate is triple everyone elses! Also, many countries don't rely on cars for their primary transportation method. Many people walk or ride bikes to school and work, while American rely primarly on cars and buses. Walking only two miles everyday would burn at least an extra 200 calories. 200 calories just five days a week equals 48,000 calories a year! That's 48,000 extra calories Americans don't burn just by driving to work every weekday.

The typical nine to five, five days a week job may be getting the best of Americans. Being stressed and not getting enough sleep are proven factors in weight gain. Europeans have a 35 hour work week, while most Americans work at least 40, some work up to 60 hours a week! Europeans get four weeks paid vacation by law, whereas Americans usually only get two... Maybe if America stopped working so hard, and took a break once in awhile, we could be less stressed, get more rest, and be healthier. Since Americans work too much and don't get enough sleep, they are more likely to gain weight than Europeans, with their more less time demanding work schedule.

A small summary from my reasoning on why Americans are so fat: Americans eat too much fast food, many American moms are working parents and don't cook as much, Americans (especially kids) are watching too much T.V., playing too many video games, and not getting enough physical activity, Americans drink too much alcohol on a regular basis, we eat triple portions of other countries, we drive too often to where we need to go, instead of walking, and we work too much and are more stressed and get less sleep then other countries.

A Summary from the summary above: I think I need to move to Europe!

Britney Spears: What's Next??

After a solid year of hearing about Britney Spear's almost daily drama, it's hard for anyone to guess what she is going to do next. Driving with her son on her lap, flashing the world her female parts, shaving her head, being hospitalized twice, losing custody of her children are just a few of the alarming behavors Britney Spears has been involved with the past few months. Showbuzz.cbsnews.com has a timeline of Britney's recent activities:

http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/20/people/main2495238.shtml

Britney's inappropriate behavior has become so regular, she is beginning to make it hard to shock America. If a week or two goes by without news of Britney, it's rather unusual. It is expected to see her do something "shocking"...soon nothing is going to be shocking. There is even a Britney Spears Commmando doll on the market!

It's easy to laugh off Britney Spear's behavior. She is in the spot light 24/7, which makes her an easy target to be the topic of entertainment to many T.V. shows and magazines. Even though her crazy and bizzare behavior can be humorous, it is actually very sad. Most of our society doesn't seem to have much sympathy for the 26 year-old pop star, which is easy to understand. Britney Spears has been famous for so long, it's hard to image her as a real human being. Her life is so different than that of an average American, it's hard for anyone to picture themselves in her shoes.

Just the fact that she is super wealthy and famous may be a big reason people have a hard time feeling sorry for her. Britney Spears is one of the richest and famous people in America right now, but also one of the most disturbed and depressed. Her behavior may make some people believe she is just trying to get attention, but it seems like a cry for help. Losing sole custody of your children, being taken from your own home against your will for hospitalization, shaving your head, going out and getting biligerient on a daily basis is enough to make anyone have a mental breakdown. Doing all of this in the public eye must be more than any average person could handle.

After seeing all her crazy antics week after week, most of us are wondering what's next?? It's been heard a suicide note was found in her bathroom a few weeks ago. It's not surprising to think this person could be so low, she is actually suicidal. After realizing the seriousness of the "Britney Situation" one has to wonder what could be the cause of it all? Has celebrity life become more than just fab parties and expensive cribs and cars? Could fame be the cause of not only Britney's countless meltdowns, but Lindsay Lohann's, Nicole Richie's, Liza Minnelli's? Is a human life worth the cost of fame?

Like the recent E! True Hollywood Story Britney Spears: Fall From Grace summed up, “all anyone can do at this point is hope and pray for Britney Spears."