The Myth of the Midlife Crisis

Waiting for your midlife crisis? Relax. It’s probably not coming.

According to a growing body of research, midlife upheavals are more fiction than fact.

“Despite its popularity in the popular culture, there isn’t much evidence for a midlife crisis,” says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts...

summary: More and more research is debunking the notion of angst-filled years.

Q:
Vladimir Putin: gay people at Winter Olympics must 'leave children alone'
Russian president Vladimir Putin poses with volunteers after arriving in Sochi to inspect preparations for the Winter Olympics. Photograph: Sasha Mordovets/Getty

Vladimir Putin has said that gay people will be not be subjected to harassment at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, as long as they stay away from children.

Putin is currently in Sochi reviewing preparations for the Games, which begin in three weeks. During a meeting with some of the thousands of volunteers who will work during the Olympics, he was asked why their uniforms were rainbow coloured, given the recent Kremlin anti-gay initiatives.

"We do not have a ban on non-traditional sexual relationships," said Putin in comments reported by Russian agencies. "We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia. I want to underline this. Propaganda among children. These are absolutely different things – a ban on something or a ban on the propaganda of that thing."

Putin also added that Russia was more liberal than some other countries, claiming that in certain US states homosexuality was still punishable by law.

"We are not forbidding anything and nobody is being grabbed off the street, and there is no punishment for such kinds of relations," said Putin. "You can feel relaxed and calm [in Russia], but leave children alone please," said Putin.

Since the law on "homosexual propaganda" came into force last year, Russia's gay community has reported an upturn in homophobic violence and threats. Gay rights rallies are also banned in Russia, and there has been much discussion over whether athletes or spectators displaying rainbow flags or gay rights placards could be arrested during the Olympics.

Earlier this week, Putin said the Games would be held "without discrimination on any grounds". But he added on Friday that Russia was a traditional country, and refused to accept European values on sexual orientation, claiming that some countries were even discussing the legalisation of paedophilia. He declined to specify which countries, saying it was easy to find out about such things on the internet.

Putin said: "What, are we supposed to follow along like obedient lapdogs, towards whatever consequences await? We have our own traditions, our own culture. We have respect for all of our international partners and ask that they also respect our own traditions and culture."
What was this article about?
A:
Russian president vows no discrimination but says gay people must observe law banning 'homosexual propaganda'

Lunch is free for all students in some Florida schools, due to new federal program
Students eat lunch at California middle school, March 7, 2011Reuters

Want a free lunch? Take a seat at your local school cafeteria.

A new federal program is giving Florida’s public schools a way out of verifying whether students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

The solution: expand subsidized meals to include all students whether they can afford to pay or not.

Known as the Community Eligibility Option, schools and even entire districts can now receive free breakfast and lunch if 40 percent or more of students’ families are identified as low-income.

That includes 83 Duval County schools, 58 schools in Pinellas County and 48 schools in Polk County — to name three of Florida’s 67 eligible counties.

Students whose families receive food stamps, cash assistance or are Head Start eligible automatically count towards a school’s qualifying percentage.

Click for more from Watchdog.org
Please write a summary below.
Want a free lunch?

Should Honey Boo Boo Be Banned From Selling Girl Scout Cookies?

Honey Boo Boo is catching a lot of flack from the Girl Scouts of America, when all she wants to do is sell cookies.

READ: The Beauty Buzz on Honey

TMZ reports that Alana Thompson, aka "Honey Boo Boo," recently posted a banner on her Facebook page which is soliciting orders for Samoas, Thin Mints other Girl Scout cookie flavors. The Girl Scouts of America, in turn, have forced Thompson's people to remove the ad, claiming that it was unfair to other girls and that it defeats the educational aspects of selling the treats (such as social skills and setting goals).

It's also worth noting that Thompson isn't even a member of the GSUSA; she merely agreed to kick-start the sales for a family friend who is.

TMZ obtained a statement from Thompson's mother, June Shannon, in which she explains their motives: "If I can raise more money for a troop, whoever they are, especially in an area where they don’t get a lot of money, and parents can’t afford to buy a ton of cookies, why wouldn't I help? We're doing nothing wrong."

RECIPE: Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

As of now, the banner has been taken down from Thompson's Facebook page, but Mama June claims that she'll still try and help sell cookies in other ways.

We want to know what you think: Was Alana using her Facebook page to unfairly sell cookies?

summary:

Show your work and conclude with the exact phrasing "Therefore, the final answer is [answer]." where [answer] is just the final number or expression that solves the problem.
user
It's cookie time.