Credit card fraud occurs every day, as hackers are always on the lookout for ways to steal your personal information. In fact, it is estimated that nine million Americans are victims of identity fraud every year, and many of these individuals have their credit card information stolen as well. Even if you only use your credit cards to shop at major retailers, you can still become a victim.… [Read more]
Goodell Must Go
Maybe the naysayers don’t have it completely wrong. Maybe there is something to be said about the dangers of getting swept up in every gust of opinion that blows its way across the national stage. Perhaps it’s true that bowing to public pressure isn’t always the best course of action, and a mob mentality shouldn’t decide whether or not people should get to keep their jobs.… [Read more]
Want Legalized Marijuana? Then Change Drug Testing Policies
Marijuana is becoming an increasingly more accepted drug in our society. Medical marijuana use is now permissible in over a dozen states, and consumers can legally use marijuana for recreation in Colorado and Washington. Although marijuana is a powerful, mind-altering drug, there are some benefits to its use. In states where medical marijuana is legal, doctors have prescribed it to cancer patients and victims of other serious diseases because it can help relieve some of the pain associated with these illnesses.… [Read more]
The State of the Mortgage
Looking to buy a home? Believe it or not, it might be easier than it’s been during the last two decades to secure a mortgage from financial institutions.
According to a survey of senior loan officers commissioned by the Federal Reserve, at negative 18.3 percent, the net percentage for prime mortgages was the lowest it’s been since the central bank started tracking it in 2007.… [Read more]
Is Your College Degree Really Worth the Cost?
Is the cost of college too high? Are the majority of degrees truly worth any more than the paper they’re printed on? Is a college education necessary for success — and by what standards do we measure success?
The debate over the cost, necessity, and benefits of college continues to rage on, and many individuals come down firmly on one side or another.… [Read more]
Should Your Doctor Be Allowed to Ask If You Have a Gun?
Anyone who receives regular medical care knows doctors will typically ask patients a number of questions about their habits and lifestyle. In addition to taking your height and weight and asking questions about your diet and physical activity, doctors also ask about your sexual history, drug and alcohol consumption, and other areas they feel may be pertinent to your health and wellness.… [Read more]
Dangerous Thinking Towards the LGBT Community
Former and possibly future presidential candidate Rick Perry touched off a firestorm of criticism last week when he compared homosexuality to alcoholism. Even though it does seem a little click-baity to suggest Perry meant homosexuality is exactly like a debilitating, family destroying disease, what he actually said after he was asked if he believed homosexuality was a disorder or not isn’t much better than what the headlines suggest.… [Read more]
Congress Calls for Lung Cancer Screening Test Expansion Under Medicare
Preventative care is all the buzz these days in the medical field.
Think about it: every so often, you take your car in for a tune up so as to hopefully prevent serious problems from occurring down the road. Maybe the mechanic will notice something’s slightly loose in your engine and tighten it. Had he or she not done that, a few more miles of wear and tear and your engine might have overheated—with you bearing the brunt of the bill.… [Read more]
The 3 Deadliest Drugs in America
Even before Colorado Amendment 64 was passed, there had been a long-standing public debate concerning the illegality of marijuana. The public support for marijuana decriminalization has been noticeably strong, especially since Colorado legalized the drug recreationally for those 21 and older. Popular media outlets tend to touch on the topic frequently, often highlighting how the country’s public opinion is currently in favor of decriminalization.… [Read more]
Any More Word On Bringing Back Our Girls?
The conditions in Nigeria have recently become rather frightening. In many parts of the country Islamic extremists are becoming stronger, and that makes it very dangerous for anyone who’s involved with Western culture in any way. On April 15, 2014, 276 Nigerian girls between the ages of 16 and 18 were abducted from their school in the city of Chibok, where they were about take their Senior School Certificate Examination.… [Read more]
If You’re Buying, We’re Selling
A gay rights movement has the potential of taking off from a somewhat unlikely area: a group of small businesses in Mississippi. The movement comes in light of Mississippi state legislation that could allow businesses to openly discriminate against homosexuals based on religious grounds. In late April, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a short provision into law which said the state could not significantly burden people’s religious freedom unless there was a compelling reason.… [Read more]
Labeling GMO Food is Now Required in Vermont
On May 8, Vermont became the first state to require labeling on foods containing genetically modified organisms. The bill signed by Gov. Peter Shumlin in Montpelier will go into effect in July 2016, giving time for rules and guidelines to be produced. However, while many people are hopeful about this new bill, it is already being met with much opposition and will undoubtedly prove to be a piece of controversial legislation.… [Read more]
Eastern Carolina University Ban on God Isn’t What You Think
A professor at Eastern Carolina University (ECU) recently made national news by asking his students not to thank God in personal statements to be read at graduation. Eli Hvastkovs, an assistant professor of chemistry at ECU, instructed his students to prepare a 35-word personal statement to be read at the departmental graduation ceremony. He said the statement should detail future plans or thank someone who was influential in the student’s education.… [Read more]
Supreme Court Deals a Major Blow to Separation of Church and State
Freedom of religion is one of the major principles on which this country was founded. Unlike in other parts of the world, citizens of the United States are free to practice any religion they choose. There is no official doctrine in this country and you cannot discriminate against others on the basis of their beliefs. From time to time, though, the principle of religious freedom comes under fire.… [Read more]
Fear of a Replacement
When we start our career, we become so focused on performance, that soon all other things in our lives come second. Social pressure forces us to strive for success in the workplace. It appears that as we evolve, one person’s level of status, or their defining character, is correlated with how well they have climbed the corporate ladder.… [Read more]
Western Washington University: The School That Wants to Become “Less White”
A controversial questionnaire has recently appeared in the media as Western Washington University contemplates ways to diversify its student body. Specifically, the school-wide survey posed a question prompting respondents to brainstorm ways to make their student body “less white.” This controversial question carries the message University President Bruce Shepard has been supporting in recent speeches and blogs.… [Read more]
Eastern Ukraine’s New Reality
Will President Vladimir Putin stop at Crimea? While it appeared that the Russian leader was ready to accept a diplomatic solution to the situation in Ukraine, with civil unrest still pervasive in the country coupled with knowledge of Russian history and Putin himself, it appears that the answer to that question is a resounding “no.”
Some Background
After centuries of being ruled and divided by a variety of different entities, it wasn’t until 1991 that Ukraine became an independent country.… [Read more]
Women’s Rights Around the World
Women’s rights, as understood by American women, are often limited to what impacts us immediately. At times, we have a narrowed point of view that unintentionally excludes the experiences of women in other parts of the world. In truth, women’s rights are a global fight, impacting women of various ethnic groups, religions and economic standings.
As a woman traveling around the world, it may only then become clear how different the status of women is from region to region.… [Read more]
How Your Business Can Combat Climate Change
From the outside looking in, it’s difficult to imagine that humanity’s collective treatment of the environment could substantially change overnight. After all, even if we in America got our acts together, could we really offset the damage that China is doing to the environment on a daily basis?
Whatever the case may be, my mantra remains: You can’t control anything but yourself and your actions.… [Read more]