Smack Down.

Perez Hilton is the most opinionated person online. With his blog perezhilton.com, he gossips about celebrities, giving the facts, then stating his opinion. I am an avid reader, and the one story that no one could stop talking about is the Rihanna and Chris Brown smack down. Not only did Perez post the facts, he wrote his opinion, posted the opinion of fellow celebrities and also a statement made by Rihanna's father.

Apparently, Rihanna at this time has decided to reconcile with Chris Brown and her father said if that is her decision, he will stand behind her. After pictures surfaced of Rihanna, her fans stood behind her and Chris Brown's voiced their disappointment in him. Burning his cd's, Chris Brown fans are still awaiting a statement from him and why this abuse happened.

Being a girl, I could never take back a boyfriend who hit me. Granted, I am not the one in that situation, but I still feel like all women would agree. No matter what you say or do to set some guy's temper off, that still does not give him the right to hit you. I have no respect for anyone who resorts to violence instead of words. Weird, we go to school for years and interact with people from the age of four and taught that violence is never the answer. So if we are taught this starting at such a young age, why are people turning their heads the other way when we are older and forgiving such behavior. We would be sent to time out if we pinched the boy who chased us around the swing set, but someone who brutally hurts another is forgiven with just a slap on the wrist? Does this sound right?

I kind of blame Rihanna, not for getting hurt, but for allowing such behavior to be forgiven. She wants to make things work with Chris Brown. Sweetie, I know you got hit, but how hard did he hit you to make you not have common sense anymore? Someone hurts you, you get away from this person. Is that a hard concept to agree with? I know of many instances where girls blame themselves for being hit or bruised by a guy, but it isn't their fault. Stop taking blame for someone else's mistake.

How To...

break up with your best friend.

Recently, I have been faced with the reality that people change. You will not always be "best friends" with the people you were with in high school. Sometimes you are lucky to maintain a relationship with them and other times you are more then fortunate to still be best friends. But what happens when one is not putting enough effort into holding on to the friendship as the other, you must break up. Just like you would not let a boyfriend treat you a certain way, a best friend should not either, so here are 5 steps on how to break up with your best friend.

1. Slowly cut off contact
Unlike a boyfriend, you can not just say "we're over!", you slowly have to stop being available. Example: take a couple days to reply to a call or text message, you have to slowly let this person know they are not on the top of your priority list anymore.

2. Text instead of call
In today's society, it is more common for friends to keep in contact by texting, but best friends always call. When the phone rings, do not answer. Take some time and text back an hour or two later, asking what they wanted. You are not fully ignoring them, but you are still letting them know you have other things to do.

3. Give them the same effort they give you
One of my friends from high school is the most selfish person I have ever met. Harsh? Yes, but very true. She does not call, text or even Facebook (the most impersonal way possible) so I give the same effort, none. You are letting this friend know their actions are going unnoticed.

4. "Forget" to return contact
You might once in awhile get a text or message, but guess what? You do not have to respond. You'll probably get those monthly text that say "I miss you", you do not have to respond. Actually, we urge you not too. If they really missed you, they would try harder to make sure that the only thing they miss is seeing you, because they talk to you so often.

5. Saying the words, "I am done"
No one wants to be the barrier of bad news, but when you are not being treated like a best friend, but more of a convenience to this person, you must say good-bye. There is nothing wrong with going your separate ways, and there is nothing wrong with moving on, you just have to make sure you have said your peace and walk away gracefully. It does not matter how you do this, whether it is over the phone, in person, via text message, Facebook or Myspace, as long as you have made it clear to this friend that you are just two different people now and its time to move on.