Cheap Funerals

I read an article in Newsweek about funerals, and how people are starting to cut the costs. There are always people dying, despite the economy, so funeral homes are always making pretty good money. An older lady wanted to have her husband cremated instead of an official burial because of the costs. She said her husband would have wanted it that way, but is she doing it for the right reasons? She also used her mini van to move the body instead of buying a hearse because of the expenses. I think everyone deserves a burial of their choosing. If he wanted to be cremated, I don't see what the big deal is. Funeral homes are just trying to make as much money as they can, but some people truly can't afford a 3,000 funeral bill.

Rhianna and Chris Brown

I read an article in Newsweek about domestic abuse, and the story on Rhianna and Chris Brown. This article makes a good point about how people all over are hearing about this and making "myths" about why Rhianna is staying with Chris after he beat her. People try to justify Rhianna's reasoning for going back to him, but what does that teach teenagers about relationships they are in? It let's people believe that abusive relationships are okay, because maybe I provoked it, or he's getting help now and he said he was sorry. If stars are making excuses for why they don't leave someone who abuses them, how many viewers are going to do the exact same thing Rhianna is doing?

Slumdog Millionaire

This weekend I saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire, and I recommend everyone to see it! It was truly the best movie I have ever saw. I read an article on Mother Jones about the lives of the children actors that were in the movie, and I find it somewhat sad that these children are still living in the same conditions they were before ever being asked to be in this movie. The child actors are paid not with cash, but guaranteed an education until they are 18, and health care/emergencies are covered. They also decided to provide apartments for the child and their families, but only if the child finishes their 18 years of schooling. I think it was smart not to give the children cash, but I think the kids deserve more than to still live in the same conditions. I was touched by this movie and I really hope many people realize how bad some people have it and work to change the lives for some of these people, especially the actors in this movie.