Scared Stiff...

A new program we talked about goes way beyond those "scared straight" programs designed to keep young people out of prisons. This one is more like "scared stiff"...it aims to keep young people alive.

Forgive the small attempt at humor, the effort by the "Restoring Inner City Peace Project" (a.k.a. R.I.P.) is definitely no joke. Youth football coach Todd Walker says he's seen too many kids dying on the streets of Oakland so he decided to bring youngsters and teenagers to his day job at the Baker-Williams Funeral Home to show them what death is really like. No, they're not looking at dead bodies, but they do see all the trappings that go along with death -- the gurneys, caskets a cremation box and the like. Walker along with Aljour Miles, a 17-year-old young man who also appeared on the show, hope the mortuary drill will make young people think before they resort to violence.

And...the U.S. House of Representatives took Japan to task, telling our close ally that it should issue a formal apology for enslaving women in "comfort camps" during the World War II era. Congressman Mike Honda, the main sponsor of the resolution, joined us also with Evelina Galang, a University of Miami professor who has interviewd Filipinas who were among the victimized "comfort women." Galang runs a website on their behalf.

And here's something else to chew on: If you're trying to lose weight, who should you turn to? Not your friends, according to a new study that suggests our friends may actually help us pile the pounds on. Our Mocha Moms handily took on that issue with a little skepticism.

What do you think?
Are your friends less critical of your size?
And, is it hard if you want to lose weight and your friends don't?

Tell us your story.

And last but certainly not least...our financial coach Alvin Hall says it may be time for a little retrenchment since the stock market has been on such an up-and-down roller coast ride.

Check your finances folks.

And, don't forget about our Money Train. We're still accepting passengers.

Cheryl Corley

8:53 AM ET | 08- 1-2007 | permalink

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8:53 AM ET | 08- 1-2007 | permalink