Youth Taking Big Risks with Drinking
About a fourth of people ages 18-34 binge drink, according to new governmental research. That stat, for many, is alarming enough; and when the study examines even younger drinkers—high schoolers who use alcohol—it finds that a full 60 percent binge drink. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that excessive drinking is a factor in 79,000 deaths each year in the United States. “Binge drinking increases many health risks, including fatal car crashes, contracting a sexually transmitted disease, dating violence and drug overdoses,” according to CDC Director Thomas Frieden said. (Fox News)

New Channel Hub of Controversy
A new kids’ channel, co-owned by Discovery Communications and the toy giant Hasbro, is coming under fire for airing several shows that advertise Hasbro’s own products. The new network, the Hub, includes programs featuring G.I. Joe, Transformers, My Little Pony and Pound Puppies—all toy lines produced by Hasbro. That programming docket has exasperated many critics. “The notion of a toy company owning a television channel for the sole purpose of promoting its toys is egregious practice,” said Susan Linn, director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Hub officials counter by saying they’re actually airing fewer commercials than most competitors, broadcasting six minutes per hour of prime-time television compared to the 12 minutes allowed on weeknights by the FCC. Plus, they say the Hub’s youthful audience is sophisticated enough to make wise decisions about what to watch. “Kids are not going to want to see 30-minute infomercials,” says Discovery Chief Operating Officer Peter Liguori. (Los Angeles Times)

Say Cheese!
About 92 percent of all children have some sort of online presence by the time they’re 2 years old. Granted these kids aren’t signing up for Facebook profiles just yet, but excited parents post lots of pictures of their wee ones when they’re still young and cute. In fact, about a third of children have pictures online before they’re 2 weeks old. Many parents can’t wait that long: About 34 percent of children show up on the Internet before they’re even born—thanks to parents posting ultrasound photos. (USA Today)

The World’s Most Powerful Women
1. Michelle Obama (First Lady, America)
2. Irene Rosenfeld (CEO, Kraft Foods)
3. Oprah Winfrey (Media Mogul, Talk Show Host)
4. Angela Merkel (Chancellor, Germany)
5. Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State)
6. Indra Nooyi (CEO, PepsiCo)
7. Lady Gaga (Singer)
8. Gail Kelly (CEO, Westpac)
9. Beyonce Knowles (Singer, Actor)
10. Ellen DeGeneres (Talk Show Host)
(Also of note: Sarah Palin, No. 16; Angelina Jolie, No. 21; Madonna, No. 29; Heidi Klum, No. 39; Queen Elizabeth, No. 41; Stephenie Meyer, No. 49; Serena Williams, No. 55; Martha Stewart, No. 99.)
Source: Forbes