It’s Black Friday, and if you’re like many folks in America you’re forgoing the hustle and bustle of the mall in favor of shopping from the comfort of your own home. It helps you save gas and food money, not to mention decreases the stress of taking on the crowds at the malls. Who can blame you? Not the bloggers at b5media. In fact, many of them have created store pages to help you during your online shopping! This year bloggers from around b5media’s Lifestyles, Health and Wellness channels are giving readers a special surprise. We’ve created a virtual mall to help ease the anxiety of shopping for those on your Christmas list who may be a little more difficult to buy for. Stop by Kettle and Cup and select your favorite... [Read more]

In case you haven’t heard, Lori Drew – the 49-year-old woman who played some role in creating a fake MySpace page to harass 13-year-old Megan Meier (harassment that eventually ended when the “fake” MySpace user told Meier the world would be a better place without her, and the already depressed Meier committed suicide) – was not convicted of felony charges related to the case. She was instead convicted of three misdemeanor charges of accessing a computer without authorization. I don’t even know what that means. I mean, was the woman not using her own computer? Apparently it had something to do with the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Again, that’s why I’m not a lawyer. Anyway, for each misdemeanor... [Read more]

With the economy in the state it’s in, many Americans might feel as if they have little to be thankful for. Folks are foreclosing on their homes left and right, the automotive industry is itching to get its own serving of bailout funds, and sure, gas prices are down, but who has the money to do any serious holiday shopping? However, being thankful goes deeper than just real estate, automobiles, and money. Whether before or after your bellies are full, take time today to munch on these thought-provoking thanksgiving- and Thanksgiving Day-related quotes and poems. “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” –... [Read more]

Ah, man, if this doesn’t bring a tear to your eye… I recently found out the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Ad Council partnered together to launch that PSA to inform veterans about – and encourage them to join – Community of Veterans. Community of Veterans aims to provide an online community for veterans where they can support each other during the aftermath of war. According to the site, Community of Veterans is: [...] designed as a resource to our nation’s newest Veterans. Comprising less than 1 percent of the population, Veterans face a myriad of challenges while feeling isolated and cut off from those to whom they can best relate – other Veterans. While addressing a range of topics, this... [Read more]

Lately, Nebraska is becoming an increasingly popular hot spot for parents across the nation looking to drop their kids into the care of someone else. That’s all thanks to Nebraska’s Safe Haven law. According to an Iowa Independent article: At last count 34 children, ranging in age from 20 months to 17 years, have been left at Nebraska hospitals under the auspices of a vaguely written “Safe Haven” law. Nebraska isn’t the only state with a Safe Haven law, mind you – every state has one. So why are people driving from all over the country to drop their children off at Nebraska hospitals? That’s easy. The age limit in Nebraska is 18, whereas most states require children to be younger than one year old (check out... [Read more]