Virtuous Reality Blog

One day before she surrendered to authorities and began her jail sentence, Paris Hilton made a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards. During an interview, she expressed fear over her jail sentence and said this:

“I'm really scared but I'm ready to do this. And I hope that I'm an example to other young people.”

She then went on to say that the jail sentence had caused her to reflect on her life.

“Even these past couple weeks, it's completely changed my life,” she said. “Even though it's a scary thing I'm using it in a positive way and when I come out, I can't wait to start my new life and be even stronger than I am now.”

Example to young people? Changed my life? Start my new life? What’s going on here? Has she seen the light? The real light as in, Jesus Christ kind-of-light? A couple of weeks ago, a picture of Paris holding a Bible was released to the media, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. What sort of words of advice would you give Paris on how she can be “an example to young people” and start her “new life?”

During a recent layover, I picked up a copy of US Weekly to help pass the time. Somewhere in between the articles about baby Suri Cruise getting her first tooth and Nicole Ritchie getting her second DUI, I stumbled upon a fashion alert that high-waisted pants are coming back. As I looked at the pictures of recently-spotted Hollywood celebs, Jessica Simpson and Mischa Barton donning this "new" trend, I am not sure if I felt relieved or repulsed. Look, I’m all for seeing more modest clothes in the stores, but seriously, those are some HIGH-WAISTED pants! I had to crack up because my daughter (c’mon, you probably have too) jokingly refers to high-waisted jeans as "mom jeans." And now they're in style and Jessica and Mischa get the credit. Go figure. I guess you could say that your mom is a trend-setter.

So, what do you think? Are you planning to raid Mom’s closet and swipe her high-waisted jeans? If you do, be sure to send us a picture!

I read this in a Washington Post article, "Va. School's No-Contact Rule Is a Touchy Subject" by Maria Glod; Washington Post Staff Writer; Monday, June 18, 2007

Fairfax County middle school student Hal Beaulieu hopped up from his lunch table one day a few months ago, sat next to his girlfriend and slipped his arm around her shoulder. That landed him a trip to the school office.

Among his crimes: hugging.

All touching -- not only fighting or inappropriate touching -- is against the rules at Kilmer Middle School in Vienna. Hand-holding, handshakes and high-fives? Banned. The rule has been conveyed to students this way: "NO PHYSICAL CONTACT!!!!!"

School officials say the rule helps keep crowded hallways and lunchrooms safe and orderly, and ensures that all students are comfortable. But Hal, 13, and his parents think the school's hands-off approach goes too far, and they are lobbying for a change.

"I think hugging is a good thing," said Hal, a seventh-grader, a few days before the end of the school year. "I put my arm around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn't think it would be a big deal."

Deborah Hernandez, Kilmer's principal, said the rule makes sense in a school that was built for 850 students but houses 1,100. She said that students should have their personal space protected and that many lack the maturity to understand what is acceptable or welcome.

"You get into shades of gray," Hernandez said. "The kids say, 'If he can high-five, then I can do this.' "

She has seen a poke escalate into a fight and a handshake that is a gang sign. Some students -- and these are friends -- play "bloody knuckles," which involves slamming their knuckles together as hard as they can. Counselors have heard from girls who are uncomfortable hugging boys but embarrassed to tell anyone. And in a culturally diverse school, officials say, families might have different views of what is appropriate.

The entire article can be found here

Now, it's your turn to weigh in! What do you think? Appropriate or over the top? Do you feel uncomfortable if/when a guy hugs you?