Child Obesity in the US

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Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Data from NHANES surveys (1976–1980 and 2003–2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.^{1, 8 (information from CDC)}

My blog idea's has been coming from the radio stations. AWESOME! So each caller gave their theory on why this is such a huge issue most of Children and adolescent face. One of the caller said it is due to families where Children was being raised by a single parent. I BEG TO DIFFER!!!! Such a know it all idiot.

Did it occur to you that it is cheaper to buy food than to cook your own meal? Did it occur to you the cost difference of low fat and fat free foods? Did it also occur to you that probably a child has a very slow metabolism? Did it occur to you that there are parents who are not educated enough to understand that this will lead their children to face several health risk? Do not just type cast single parents on this issue if you are not 100% sure of what you are talking about. Argh!

Some people are just KNOW IT all. Yikes!!!!

For more information and how you can prevent child obesity please visit, Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Inauguration of the 44th President of the US - BARACK OBAMA

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeMy brother was asking if I was off from work to watch our 44th President's Inauguration. I told him that it is not a National Holiday. Anyway, I did not get to see the entire Inauguration until I got home. I was anticipating to catch it on my phone but SPRINT TV was jammed.

At the cafeteria of the fabulous company I worked for have 2 huge flat screen TV. The cafeteria was packed and I could hardly hear the television. Luckily, my sister (ReezenTot) TIVOed the ceremony.

I did watch it after dinner with my Precious. He was asking me a couple of question as I tried my best to explain it to him. The speech was written by Jon Favreau, 27, who is the youngest chief speech writer on record in the White House. (got this information from theguardian.co.uk).

Here is how it goes:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

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DTV Transition is coming!

In a few days Feb 17 2009 to be exact, all television broadcasting network in the US will be transmitting digitally, which was mandated by the US Congress. The analog frequencies will then free up and can be utilize for public safety communications to use (such as police, fire and emergency rescue). If you are still using those rabbit antenna’s I suggest you hurry up and get a converter.

People who are technologically challenge this is not the end of the world. These transition will be better. It will allow broadcasting companies to improve the picture and sound qualities of your favorite shows. Better yet, provide you with more channels (programmings) for you to enjoy.

Sadly, I heard on the news a couple of weeks ago that there are major cable companies who are misleading some of the consumers. To those who are not aware, it is not a must for you to get any services from any cable companies.

Here are some information I got from the FCC website,

What Do I Need To Do To Be Ready For The DTV Transition?

What you need to do depends on the source of your television programming, whether you receive programming over-the-air or from a paid provider such as a cable or satellite TV company.

How Do I Receive Digital Broadcasts If I Don’t Subscribe To Cable Or Satellite?

If you receive only free over-the-air television programming, the type of TV you own, either a digital TV or an analog TV, is very important. Consumers who receive only free over-the-air television may view digital programming through a TV set with a built-in digital tuner (integrated DTV) or a digital-ready monitor with a separate digital tuner set-top box. (Both of these digital television types are referred to as a DTV). The only additional equipment required to view over-the-air digital programming with a DTV is a regular antenna, either on your roof or a smaller version on your TV such as “rabbit ears.”

If you have an analog television, you will have to purchase a digital-to-analog set-top converter box to attach to your TV set to be able to view over-the-air digital programming (see “What About My Analog TV?” below).

What About My Analog TV? Will It Still Work?

After February 17, 2009, you will be able to receive and view over-the-air digital programming with an analog TV only by purchasing a digital-to-analog set-top converter box. Between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be able to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the future purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. Eligible converter boxes are for the conversion of over-the-air digital television signals, and therefore are not intended for analog TVs connected to a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is administering the coupon program. (Please note that these coupons will expire 90 days after mailing). For more information, visit the NTIA website at www.dtv2009.gov. The Commission’s DTV website, www.dtv.gov, also provides information for consumers on the upcoming digital-to-analog converter box coupon program.

If you need further information, you may visit FCC site if you click here.

Wedding Fact 1- Catholic Wedding ??

One thing I did not realize is a checklist a bride needed to go through to plan a wedding. I know I have been married before and honestly, it was just me and my Precious dad who attended our wedding. No reception, no nothing. So this engagement with Cyclops is going to be my real experience of a wedding. The date is set which will be in September of 2010. We have already have a list of the people we would be inviting but we have not sent out any Save-the-Date cards. Cyclops mom asked me if I could get married in a church. I really don't know the answer to it. I assumed since I was never married in a Church that it would be not be an issue. Of course no assumption is a 100% guaranteed. I searched my best friend google and found out that I needed to get my marriage annulled before I could be married in a church!!!! Apparently, it does not matter what congregation you where married. As long as you have been married prior, it needed to be annulled.

Here are additional fact that I found:

Are annulments expensive?

Fees associated with the annulment process vary within the U.S. Most tribunals charge between $200 and $1,000 for a standard nullity case. Fees are typically payable over time, and may be reduced or even eliminated in cases of financial difficulty. Other expenses may be incurred when consultation with medical, psychological, or other experts is needed.

How long does it take to get an annulment?

It usually takes 12 to 18 months to complete the entire process.

For more information, please visit United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Happy New Year, Welcome 2009!

Image via WikipediaI was visiting my blogger friends site. One of my stops was Diwatang Byaning, her Happy, Happy, Happy 2009??? entry intrigue me. Then it dawned on me that I myself did not have a 2nd day for 2009.

We spend our New Year peaceful at the Babuyan abode. There were a bunch of left over from New Years Eve so we just devoured ourselves all day New Years Day. The following day January 2nd, I quietly got ready for work. Of course, I have to stop at Dunkin Donut for my aromatic coffee. It was one of those days where I was focused and excited. Why would I not be I just got engaged!

It was such a nice cruise. The streets are not crowded like any other day. So I decided to take Route 38 to Route 30 to get to Ben Franklin Bridge. While cruising along, Admiral-Wilson Blvd., I saw a Green Dodge Caravan was speeding up to get on Route 30. I knew in the back of my head that he will not yield so I tried to slow down. I couldn't go to a complete halt since the car behind me would smash into me. I could not even move to any other lane since I was boxed in. Until, BOOM. His stupid ass smashed into my tiny car which pushes of my car to another car and the car behind me did hit me from behind. Most importantly, the van fled the scene. I did not even get a chance to write down his plate number out of shock!

So that is how the year 2009 greeted me. Thankfully, my car was not totally wreck. And I was not completely hurt. WELCOME 2009!

What now?!

History Channel is featuring ARMAGEDON week. As one of their features, they aired THE UNIVERSE:Cosmic Apocalypse. When it comes to Scientific information, I know squat about it. If not for my son and fiance, I would be so oblivious of anything that does not revolve around cosmetics, shoes and clothes.

This episode I would say is one of my many favorites. The computer graphics are of course superb but knowing that people with GREAT MINDS have been working none stop to save our PLANET is another story. Other than global warming, the next biggest threat our beautiful Planet face is an impact with an asteroid. It is not a matter of if but a matter of when. According to the Earth Impact Database, more than 160 impact craters have been recognize. The biggest crater is the "Chicxulub" Mayan name, the tail of the devil. This is measured to be more than 110 miles in diameter which was made by the asteroid that took out the dinosaurs.

Another crater which is one of the famous one here in the US can be found in Northern Arizona known as the meteor crater, which collided with earth more than 50000 years ago. The most recent one would be the asteroid that did not create a crater. This asteroid exploded before hitting the ground in Syberia. Just imagine the effect of 1000x Hiroshima Bomb!

Due to this results, NASA created the NEAR EARTH OBJECT PROGRAM. Their main focus are to find asteroids that post the most serious threat to EARTH. Since, I am not one of those with Great Minds I will end my blog here but will continue. Just in case don't miss the rerun on Jan28 on the HISTORY CHANNEL.

near earth object program... to find asteroids that post the most = serious threat to earth.