Heartbreak Kid-

LOL!! I think I might go check this out this weekend. Watch for the dinner roll. LOL!!

Energy Drinks...Or so they say...

The Downsides of Bottled Water and Energy Drinks

Information by Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D.

"In an earlier entry, I railed against the bogus health benefits of bottled waters such as Aquafina®, a Pepsi product that TV advertisements are now admitting is simply tap water that has been "filtered, filtered, and filtered" again, to remove the (harmless) impurities present in much cheaper tap water.

Next to appear on the supermarket shelves were additional unneeded bottled waters fortified with unneeded herbs and vitamins. In addition, the non-degradable plastic bottles containing these unneeded products add to the litter on streets and the problems associated with waste disposal.

The wisdom of using bottled waters may be questionable, but at least they don't pose the possible health risks of so-called "energy drinks." You've surely heard about these malevolent products, but probably haven't given them much thought.

"Energy drinks" were popularized in the U.S. with the 1997 introduction of Red Bull®, a carbonated beverage from Austria that contains 80 mg of caffeine in every bottle—about the same amount as is found in a cup of coffee. For comparison, classic Coca Cola® contains 23 mg caffeine and Mountain Dew® contains 37 mg caffeine.

Additional ingredients in Red Bull include two caloric sweeteners (glucose and sucrose), three non-caloric sweeteners, some B vitamins, and the same amount of the amino acid taurine as is found in a glass of red wine.

Other brands of "energy drinks" may contain twice as much or more caffeine as Red Bull, plus other questionable ingredients such as guarana — a South American caffeine-containing herb. (In 2005, the sales of "energy drinks" amounted to an estimated $3.5 billion.)

The calories in these drinks do provide some energy, but mostly their content of caffeine and taurine "soup up" one's feelings of alertness and may produce troublesome side effects such as anxiety, irritability, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and indigestion.

These manifestations are more likely to occur with "energy drinks" than with coffee, which is usually drunk more slowly than the cooled "energy drinks." "Energy drinks" can also lead to dehydration because caffeine stimulates urination and thus increases water loss.

Yet another downside to "energy drinks": Because of their high caffeine content, they are frequently used by young people during nightlong parties as a mixer for vodka drinks.

And, quite predictably, many brewing companies have taken notice of this trend and are now selling "energy drinks" already laced with alcohol - carbonated malt beverages (beers) containing somewhat more alcohol than average beers, along with the caffeine, taurine, and other constituents of the non-alcoholic "energy drinks." The Marin Institute, self-described as a watchdog group for the alcohol industry, claims that 20 brands of alcoholic "energy drinks" have been marketed in the last 10 years.

Attorneys general from 28 states and the District of Columbia have issued harsh criticism of beverage companies that sell alcoholic "energy drinks." They ask that federal officials investigate the ingredients in these products because of their alcohol content and because of the advertising accompanying them, which targets underage customers with misleading claims of benefits, such as increases in energy and stamina.

One take-home message here is the need for greater awareness on the part of parents, teenagers, and young adults about the possible negative health effects of these popular beverages. "

This is why If I do have energy drinks I drink the Sugar Free. My favorite is Sugar Free Red Bull. I do not drink them all the time though...maybe once a month. People are crazy to think that a can of sugar water with a label of herbal supplements that are not even regulated by the FDA is going to give them some boost of energy and make up for not properly taking care of their bodies. It`s like going to McDonald's and getting a Powerade with your Big Mac meal...Are you dehydrated from the curling motion of that burger to your mouth? LOL That is a subject on its own...Have you ever looked at the 'Nutritional Value' on anything that you can get from the golden arches? Check this out..McDonald`s Nutritional Info

If you drink energy drinks...What is your Favorite?

Letterman and Paris...

I am not a big Hollywood/Stars Follower...But I saw this and it made me laugh and so I thought I would post it! LOL...

What have you learned?

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seem today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

-Maya Algoquin

The one I put in bold are my favorites...I saw this and It went into my quotes file so I figured I would post it too...What is something that you have learned up to this point in your life?



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Now playing: swirl 360 - Okay
via FoxyTunes

My Monday Motivation....

This was my reminder today when life gives you a good swift kick to pick yourself and "Stand Tall" Cause it`s (life) going on no matter what...

Standing on top of the edge it feels like it's going down
Everything stays in my mind feeling in a daze on the ground
Feels like it's gonna give life's to hard to live anymore
I think I've had enough things too tough
I'm out the door

All in all it's just another day now
You're falling down
What you gonna do
Standing on top of the world tonight
No ones looking back at you

Stand tall
It's going on
It's going on
It's gonna be just fine
You're holding on
Holding on today

Things don't stop and the others announced they're moving on
Salt & tears in the minds in the mouths of a bad decision
Too late for another mistake it's bringing me down
With all your faults it isn't your fault
What's going on

All in all it's just another day now
You're falling down
What you gonna do
Standing on top of the world tonight
No ones looking back at you

Stand tall
It's going on
It's going on
It's gonna be just fine
You're holding on
Holding on today

So you lost yourself
So you lost your way
Found life through someone else
But you threw it all away

All in all it's just another day now
You're falling down
What you gonna do
Standing on top of the world tonight
No ones looking back at you

Stand tall
It's going on
It's going on
It's gonna be just fine
You're holding on
Holding on today

Times rolling on
Rolling on today
It's going on
Going on today

'Vote for Pedro' No...Not me anyway.

Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000

• Story Highlights
• Guatemala native Pedro Zapeta a dishwasher in the U.S. for 11 years
  
• The illegal immigrant tried to bring $59,000 in savings back to Guatemala
  
• U.S. customs seized cash when Zapeta failed to fill out form declaring money
  
• Zapeta, who tried to get the money back for two years, now faces deportation
  

From John Zarrella and Patrick Oppmann
CNN

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back. Zapeta describes how he lost his money »

Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Officials initially accused Zapeta of being a courier for the drug trade, but they dropped the allegation once he produced pay stubs from restaurants where he had worked. Zapeta earned $5.50 an hour at most of the places where he washed dishes. When he learned to do more, he got a 25-cent raise.

After customs officials seized the money, they turned Zapeta over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS released him but began deportation proceedings. For two years, Zapeta has had two attorneys working pro bono: one on his immigration case, the other trying to get his money back.

"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.

Zapeta's story became public last year on CNN and in The Palm Beach Post newspaper, prompting well-wishers to give him nearly $10,000 -- money that now sits in a trust.

Robert Gershman,one of Zapeta's attorneys, said federal prosecutors later offered his client a deal: He could take $10,000 of the original cash seized, plus $9,000 in donations as long as he didn't talk publicly and left the country immediately.

Zapeta said, "No." He wanted all his money. He'd earned it, he said.

Now, according to Gershman, the Internal Revenue Service wants access to the donated cash to cover taxes on the donations and on the money Zapeta made as a dishwasher. Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

CNN contacted the U.S. Attorneys office in Miami, U.S. Customs and the IRS about Zapeta's case. They all declined to comment.

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

On Wednesday, Zapeta went to immigration court and got more bad news. The judge gave the dishwasher until the end of January to leave the country on his own. He's unlikely to see a penny of his money.

"I am desperate," Zapeta said. "I no longer feel good about this country."

Zapeta said his goal in coming to the United States was to make enough money to buy land in his mountain village and build a home for his mother and sisters. He sent no money back to Guatemala over the years, he said, and planned to bring it all home at once.

At Wednesday's hearing, Zapeta was given official status in the United States -- voluntary departure -- and a signed order from a judge. For the first time, he can work legally in the U.S.

By the end of January, Zapeta may be able to earn enough money to pay for a one-way ticket home so the U.S. government, which seized his $59,000, doesn't have to do so.

I mean come on! #1 He knew he was illegal already why in the world would you then attempt to board a commercial airline with 59,000 in Cash!? No matter who you are whether you are supposed to claim it or not is going to be questioned with that amount of cash on hand. It`s post 9/11 and Security measures have been brought to new lengths and he tried to pull a pretty lame stunt IMHO.

Hard worker? No doubt! Did he earn the 59,000? With every dirty dish and spoon he washed! Does he deserve to get it back? NO! IMHO if he was to get it back I believe that we can make a positive example out of 'Pedro' and What we should do is...If his money means that much to him he should then follow the proper procedures for the immigration process into America and all the Lawyer Fees and Other associated fees to coming over here should be deducted from his 59,000 and then the remainder can be given back to him if he chooses to send it back to his family then so be it. Being from a Hispanic and European background I feel like I am even more at liberty to be Harsh on 'Pedro the Dishwasher' We have a Great Country which I (even as a minority) am going to have an opportunity to serve. I am all for immigrants....Not illegal ones though...ESPECIALLY the ones who come here for the free ride and bank all that money away just to go live like kings when they go back, Why? Because we have people struggling here in our own country, I just don`t believe it to be fair in the least bit. I really think that a good example can be made of this guy and they can do it a positive way too....What do you think?