The Phoenix Times

             In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. Were you aware of that? As the population grows, food production also increases. In modern times, we have developed substantial resources to aid in the process of growing and harvesting food. Yet we produce such an overabundance that never reaches the light of day. It’s a huge concern, especially as of recently, and for good reason. Let’s look more in-depth. What is food waste? What causes food waste? And what are some solutions we can look for? Grab a snack and sit down with me as we unravel these questions in this post! Let’s go!           Food waste is described as any food that is discarded or not eaten by humans, occurring at any point from production to consumption, and there are many causes for it. One of the most avoidable food waste is aesthetics. Yes, that’s right. When certain foods aren’t pretty enough, they get ...

            Did you know that approximately 90% of adults consume caffeine every day , making it the most common stimulant in the world? Well, now you do! It’s really no surprise. Caffeine is widely known for its renowned ability to increase alertness, improve focus, and boost physical AND mental performance. In a world as busy as ours, you practically need to consume caffeine to keep up with it all. There’s no shame in indulging now and then, especially when most beverages containing caffeine taste so GOOD. However, be cautious with your consumption; too much of a good thing can eventually become bad. In this week's blog post, we will be discussing energy drinks! Are they truly as unhealthy as people say they are? Let’s find out. Crack open a can and join me as we figure out the answer!           Energy drinks gained popularity in the United States late 1990s with the introduction o...

          Let’s talk food. Everyone needs it, but not many people are aware of how the food we purchase ends up in grocery stores. Although we’d like to imagine it’s a black-and-white process, reality is often disappointing and complicated. Have you ever thought about where your food comes from? The packaged meat, the gallons of milk, the eggs? If you said farms, you’d be mostly correct. The United States of America is a heavily industrialized country, with a focus on manufacturing goods quickly rather than prioritizing their quality. “Americans fear only one thing: inconvenience”(Fresh 00:01:32-01:37). In today’s post, we are going to be discussing the 2009 documentary “ Fresh .” Without further ado, let’s get into it!           Fresh is a documentary directed by Ana Sofia Joanes that critiques the negative impacts of industrial agriculture in the United States and showcases the efforts of individuals participat...

          Have you ever felt stressed? If you’re a human being, you probably said, “yeah, duh! Who hasn’t?” Stress is a widespread, very natural occurrence that everyone experiences at least once a week. Did you know that a certain amount of stress is considered healthy? Were you also aware that a certain amount of stress is considered unhealthy? Crazy right? In this blog post, I will discuss stress . What causes it? Why is it helpful? Why is it harmful? How can you tell the difference between good and bad? What can you do to eliminate stress in YOUR life? Read more to find out!           Throughout your life, you may have heard the scary rumors of how bad stress is for your body… and, well, they technically aren’t wrong. But stress can also help your body. In fact, good stress is vital for you to live a healthy life. Called eustress (pronounced “yoo-stres”), this stress is the kind you feel when you get excited. It’s short-term and will...

          Insurance is something everyone needs to help protect themselves from financial burdens. We transfer large potential losses over to an insurance company in exchange for regular installments called "premiums". This acts as a safety net, ensuring that a single catastrophic event doesn't lead to financial ruin. If you need insurance, the best way you find a company is through the media. Advertisements for insurance firms come in many different forms, but the most common nowadays...is a commercial. Commercials are a way for these companies to try their best to promote a product, service, or brand to hopefully drive up sales. To achieve this goal, the author of these advertisements will often use rhetoric. In today's blog, I want us all to be able to identify the rhetoric in commercials! It may sound boring, but hear me out, the commercial is definitely funny.           Allstate is one of the largest personal lines of insurance comp...

         Pokémon , released in Japan on February 27th, 1997, is largely considered the highest-grossing media franchise of all time. With 39 main series games, the newest of which was just released on October 16th, 2025. Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings fans back to the past. This new game is a sequel to the 28th and 29th games of the series - Pokémon X and Y. Taking place in the Kalos(kah-lowes) region, one of nine regions that each generation of Pokémon belongs to, Z-A offers new additions to the already fantastic lore behind this region. I recently purchased this new game on the day of its release. So far, I’ve put in about 15 hours into this game alone. For today’s blog, I am going to be discussing... Pokémon! Since the new game has just been released, I will also be providing my personal opinion on it.           What is Pokémon? Well, I'm glad you asked. Pokémon is a video game with origins set back to 1996 on the Game Boy. Created by...