Most nail polishes consist of nitrocellulose, which is used in dynamite. But in this case it is used to keep the nail polish from going dull and losing its shine. Nail polish also has resin in it which makes it soap and water resistant, because no one wants to wash their hands and have their nail polish come off. Solvents are another ingredient to nail polish which helps to hold the color in the nail polish.

That being said, even though nail polish is toxic for the body, therefore you should never ingest it, there are ways to avoid the effects it has on your body.

First off, there are polishes that are water-based and have no smell which means that you aren’t breathing in those toxic fumes that solvent-based polishes exude. Brands such as OPI and Sally Hansen have also made a good effort at trying to use products that aren’t harmful for their customers.

If you go to the salon to get your nails done make sure the room is ventilated well so that you can breathe in some fresh while your nails are being painted. If you’re doing your nails at home don’t ever do your nails somewhere that doesn’t have windows or a room that has no ventilation. Doing your nails next to a window or outside is best.

When it comes to kids, because a lot of little girls love to get their nails painted to match their favorite outfits, there is a nail polish out there made by Hopscotch Kids which is a company that makes non-toxic nail polish.

So if you love to paint your nails and change them constantly, using the precautions above will ensure you a healthier, safer, and happier experience when painting your nails.

The Olympic Games have for years been sponsored by various companies. Of course sponsorship – found anywhere from explicitly sponsored sports teams to various forms of product placement and subliminal messaging – is quite possibly one of the most effective advertisement methods: In the popular blockbuster Transformers, Shia Labeouf drives a beautiful yellow Camaro and hacks into national networks with Lenovo computers. In The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker uses “Bing!” to find top-secret information on a multimillion dollar company. In short, it pays for movies; it pays for magazines; and, of course, it pays for the Olympics.

More specifically, Mcdonald’s pays for the Olympics. During this year’s 2012 Olympic Games Mcdonald’s, the company responsible for serving greasy, cheesy, downright queasy cheeseburgers, french fries, and oatmeal filled with corn syrup, sponsors an international sporting event supposedly in existence to support good health and overall athleticism. Mcdonald’s as a primary sponsor for the Olympics is akin to having Jack Daniels sponsoring Alcoholics Anonymous.

In short, for the fast-paced American consumer with little regard for health, the Olympic Games provide – through their mother company Mcdonald’s – cheap, easily found alternatives to real food on the international market.

America is the most unique and diverse nation in the world. This is because America is a melting pot of many different groups and ethnicities. Through school, the media, and speeches, most people are taught that they should respect others and not judge an individual based on their skin color. But, even though many people are taught to be tolerant and non-biased, unwarranted discrimination still exists, because people do not hear stories about it as often as in the past decades, many assume that racial discrimination is over.

This summer, during a trip to Arizona, I experienced and saw racism for the first time. While some of my Vietnamese cousins were buying snacks and drinks at a gas station, a Caucasian cashier approached them and rudely made disrespectful remarks and comments. She told my cousins that she did not like Asians and that she did not want them to be in the gas station any longer. She also told my cousins that it was difficult to understand what they were saying and that she believed that Asians should not be in the states any longer. I was shocked when I heard what the cashier said and was extremely offended.

However hateful and distasteful  a person’s thoughts and feelings may be, they cannot be and should not be banned by law. Only their actions can be controlled by law.

Racial slurs and innuendos, are more hurtful than they seem. Within big cities, such as Los Angeles, there are areas where a person dare not enter, due to fear of harassment consequent to not being part of the ethnic group in that part of the city. Those areas are typically filled with high crime and violence. Snide comments, such as chinky eyes, are very hurtful. In the past, racial hatred and discrimination led to cases where lives were violently taken such as the death of Martin Luther King Jr.

Regretfully, racism and discrimination still exist in America, because hatred and tensions still exists among our people, a certain amount of racism remains alive. To strive to eliminate this,  people should bury sins from the distant past and try to be more forgiving with each other today and regard everyone as racially equal.

Nothing and nobody is perfect, so our world will never be a utopia. Racial discrimination is unacceptable. I believe that everyone should be judged by their actions and character, not by their race or personal beliefs. People should be judged on their personality and characteristics, not on their skin-deep looks and skin color. Racial discrimination was a part of our nation’s history, but that does not mean we should accept it now and in the future. Everyone is born equal no matter what their race or national origin is.

The iPhone 5 has been given great reviews and has been said to be Apples best product. Its faster, longer, thinner, and, in some people’s opinions, should cook and clean as well when you take notice to its price tag. No matter, this device has been one of the most talked about item in the news and radio for the last month. It has several new features and even an unknown hidden feature.

We’re all curious of the new features of the iPhone 5. The first visible difference is the long, slim, light-weight appearance of the cell phone.  It comes with a faster response as the previous models, and also a longer battery life. The camera is better and the screen is clearer…It’s basically the iPhone 4 with absolute quality; however, one surprise quality the phone has is that all Verizon iPhone 5’s work on AT&T networks. This means that even though buyers may have a Verizon contract, they can switch carriers.

The basic review of these happy Apple customers, or at least the lucky ones with their new phones in hand, is that it was well worth the wait. The new question is; what’s next? Regardless, Apple has proven that they will continue to make customers happy.

Very often, when most people go shopping, they think that designer brands such as Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel have what is most fashionable and are on the top of the line. Designer brands have wonderful clothes and have a ton of effort put into their work, but people get carried away and assume that only those that are high on the social ladder, can get those expensive and designer clothes. They also believe that only the most expensive things are most stylish. A dress that is homemade can look even better than a dress that is very expensive. Just because a person wears expensive clothing and accessories, does not mean they look more beautiful or stylish than someone. What is more important is how a person wears their outfit.

Another thing I notice that people assume is that fashion involves only the latest trends. Most people are impressionable copiers and when they see people wearing a certain style or type of clothes, they immediately try to dress the same way. Usually, people do this because of peer-pressure and insecurity. They also assume that if they follow what is popular, they will be considered to be on the top like the others following that trend.  Also, when people are surfing the web or out shopping, they see pictures of the newest clothes and think to themselves that they need it. As people, start to want more things, it can turn to greed, but fashion is more than just consuming and buying things.

Magazines, the internet, and the media are things which people think give us a idea and perception on what is beautiful. They also make us believe that you have to have a certain body type or look to be beautiful. An example that is often seen is the idea that you have to be skinny. Through this, many would go through self-harm and lose to an extreme weight to be skinny, and finally suffer bulimia and anorexia. Everyone is beautiful in a way and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Fashion is a beautiful thing and has nothing to do with self-harm or self-abuse.

To conclude, I think fashion is an individual’s way of expressing their emotions and creativity. It is a form of art where feelings, designs, and ideas are brought to life through clothes, which brings us beauty. We may realize, but really, fashion is everywhere around us, and it affects who and how we are, as said brilliantly in Coco Chanel’s quote, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

You see, as human beings we will all make mistakes, probably a ton. The good thing is that every person does. There are many successful people who make mistakes quite often. Not one is without error; However, successful people have a few secrets that make all the difference in their lives. They first recognize their mistakes, figure out where to go from there, and then watch carefully to not make the same mistake once more. They, in fact, use their mistakes to grow.

In life, there will be things that hurt. There will be things that you wish you for and circumstances you will desire to change. No one can promise you sunshine and rainbows all of your life, but you will find it possible to gain strength and become more as a person from every unfortunate situation you face. All things work together for good, but not all things are good. For example, having a loved one die in a car accident is a horrendous experience, but when the story stops others from driving while drunk, some good comes out of it; more lives are saved. Your outlook will have a profound impact on every single day that you face.

Organization is crucial in success. It is a skill that comes naturally to some, but as for some, it can be attained. For simple reasons, the importance of organization can be easily explained. If you can’t find something you need, then you can’t use it, which becomes a problem. If you can’t fix it on your own, then you become someone else’s problem, which is never good. Secondly, the clutter around you may be symbolic of your current mind state. You may have many hopes, dreams, and awesome ideas that never come to life all because you can’t keep track of them. Writing things down is a great habit whether it be for school, work, or ideas. Then you place things where they belong. Dedicating a few minutes of each day to ensure that you are organized, ironically, saves you a lot of time and hassle.

Once you have gotten on your feet, the new battle is staying focused. The mind must constantly be renewed. It is beneficial to know your preferences, values, goals, and flaws. Your weak spots should be given extra attention because they have the power to knock you off your feet. Always remember to keep your eye on the light at the end of the tunnel, and expect obstacles along the way.

The next principle refers to encouragement. No doubt, we can be motivated by others and is a wonderful thing. But, we must not rely on other people to make us feel better every time we are down. No one will be able to do things for you all the time. You will often feel discouraged, so remember a foreign concept called “living beyond your feelings.” When others cannot help you, you have to stand strong on your own. Whether someone believes in you or not, God gave you capabilities and they do not change because somebody doesn’t think you can or can’t. Regardless of others opinions, do all you can do and try your best. It shouldn’t matter if you have doubts, because you are not quitter.

Today, realize that right now counts. Whatever is holding you back, past regrets or mistakes, negativism, let it go and move on from there! Remember that not everything is pleasant but it is beneficial in some way and the man upstairs is chiseling you into exactly who he wants you to be. Have a positive outlook always, stay organized and focused, and do not rely on others for motivation. You WILL mess up, but that’s okay. Get motivated for good starting today!

Encouraged by an early era of modest necklines and swing dancing, Caravan Palace holds one of the most unique sounds around. They came from a little place called Paris, France and have been making music as a group of six since 2005.  Its electro jazziness will have you badly dancing until you can’t dance anymore. With vocals by the lovely Sonia Fernandez Velasco, who brings an amazing bold and raspy trait to an already flawless instrumental, guitar by Arnaud Vial, clarinet by Camille Chapelière, double bass by Charles Delaporte, violin by Hugues Payen, and electronics and trombone by Antoine Toustou, this band fills what once was a void in our cultures wholeness with splendidness. Currently, Caravan Palace has two amazing albums out, titled Caravan Palace and Clash. Both are amazing. Both are worth the time. Both will make you want more. I could go on all day, but my words are not as much words anymore as they are short noises of glee. You’ll just have to listen yourself!

Favorites: Je M’amuse (Translated to I amuse myself)

Brotherswing