JasmineK wonders about the words.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

If you're like one of over 60 million children in the United States, you recite this pledge at the beginning of class every morning. You've probably never really thought about its meaning. You've probably never questioned its purpose. And you probably didn't know that this modest national symbol has been changed numerous times since it was written and is the source of much controversy.

In 1892, socialist Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for a national family magazine called Youth's Companion. He had first envisioned it as reading, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty, equality, and fraternity for all."
read more...

Moonshell reports on the latest news.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson, announced Tuesday, Dec. 30 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to ban ephedra, an herb used to help promote weight loss and improve athletic performance. There is evidence that ephedra does have "small beneficial effect," but the FDA warns that the harmful effects outweigh any positive ones.