Whether for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or depression, health screenings provide a quick and easy way to spot the first signs of serious illness and can reach people who might not otherwise seek professional medical advice.
Clinical depression is a common medical illness affecting more than 19 million american adults each year. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of healthcare.
The National Depression Screening Project, a mental health screening program, sponsors National Depression Screening Day each October. The Project operates a toll-free, year-round phone line that allows callers to find free and confidential screening locations in their local areas.
Why Screen for Depression?
Clinical depression is a serious medical illness.
Clinical depression can lead to suicide.
Sometimes people with depression mistakenly believe that the symptoms of depression are a "normal part of life."
Clinical depression affects men and women of all ages, races and socioeconomic groups.
One in four women and one in 10 men will experience depression at some point during their lifetimes.
Two-thirds of those suffering from the illness do not seek the necessary treatment.
Depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions.
More than 80 percent of all cases of clinical depression can be effectively treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Screenings are often the first step in getting help.
Clinical depression is a serious medical illness.
National Depression Screening Day is held during Mental Illness Awareness Week each October.
It is designed to call attention to the illness of depression on a national level, educate the public about its symptoms and effective treatments, offer individuals the opportunity to be screened for depression, and connect those in need of treatment to the mental health care system.
Starting with only 90 sites in its first year, the Screening Day program has grown to reach more than 85,000 people at 3,000 sites nationwide. To respond to the year-round need, the program also maintains a toll-free, year-round phone line for free, anonymous screening locations in local areas.
To find a free, anonymous screening site in your area www.mentalhealthscreening.org
Take an online depression screening.
What Is a Depression Screening like?
Attendees at screening programs, which are free and confidential:
Hear an educational session on depression.
Complete a written screening test.
Discuss the results with a mental health professional.
If necessary, learn where to go for additional help.
Who Should Attend a Depression Screening?
People suffering from depression often experience some of these key symptoms*:
A persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood
Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Restlessness or irritability
Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Thoughts of death or suicide
Screenings are not a professional diagnosis. Screenings point out the presence or absence of depressive symptoms and provide a referral for further evaluation if needed. You should see your doctor or a qualified mental health professional if you experience five or more of these symptoms for longer than two weeks or if the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily routine.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Kids and heartburn
A study finds the number of young children on prescription drugs for heartburn and other digestive problems has jumped more than 50 percent in recent years.
Researchers say obesity and overuse might be contributing to the surprising increase. Acid-reducing drugs called proton pump inhibitors are the most common medicines prescribed for GI problems, the analysis said. They are used for acid reflux associated with heartburn, and a related condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Some of these, including Prevacid, were approved for use in children during the study period, which likely also contributed to the prescription surge.
Researchers say obesity and overuse might be contributing to the surprising increase. Acid-reducing drugs called proton pump inhibitors are the most common medicines prescribed for GI problems, the analysis said. They are used for acid reflux associated with heartburn, and a related condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Some of these, including Prevacid, were approved for use in children during the study period, which likely also contributed to the prescription surge.
Panic attacks signal trouble down the road
The rapid pulse and shortness of breath of a panic attack can feel like a heart attack, and it may signal heart trouble down the road, a study of more than 3,000 older women suggests. Women who reported at least one full-blown panic attack during a six-month period were three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next five years than women who didn't report a panic attack. The researchers took into account other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, inactivity and depression and still found that panic attacks raised risk.
Isolation can increase depression of workers
Are any workers at your company feeling isolated in their jobs?
With the advent of telecommuting and working from home being widely practiced by many companies, it's an issue many managers now have to tackle.
With the advent of telecommuting and working from home being widely practiced by many companies, it's an issue many managers now have to tackle.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Shacking up?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING TOGETHER
(Women's Health)
It doesn't seal the deal: Moving in seems like a natural precursor to marriage, but you shouldn't count on it. In fact, only 45 percent of couples who cohabitate get hitched. And research has linked living together before tying the knot to an increased risk of unhappy marriage. One theory as to why: People who live together often swap rings not because they're right for each other, but because they feel too invested in the relationship to break up.
All roommates are irritating: Just because you're hot for each other doesn't make living together easy. Annie Sargent, 34, a lawyer in Seattle, says she's frequently been on edge since her boyfriend moved in a year ago. When he washes dishes, "he's a whirling dervish -- soapy water gets all over everything," Sargent says. She gets so annoyed she yells at him, and then he gets upset because he was trying to help. And that's just one example. "I want him there," she says. "But now I'm irritated all the time."
It's not just about you anymore: You want to grab a drink with an ex after work. Or apply for that amazing job in Newfoundland. But now your decisions, from trivial to momentous, will affect another person's routine, lifestyle, and bank account. "Everything I did suddenly involved an extra step," says Bill Schmidt, 36, who moved in with his girlfriend 8 years ago. Formerly speedy grocery runs now required remembering what kind of yogurt, or cookies, or bread she liked. "It took a while to adjust to not just thinking about myself."
Love doesn't solve money problems: You might be saving a bundle on rent -- unless, of course, you moved into a bigger, more expensive place together. But money problems are as inevitable as basement drafts and broken toilet-bowl handles. According to an April 2006 Money magazine survey, 70 percent of couples admit to arguing about finances. "Money is so entwined with power and control, it's seldom something you can talk about objectively with your significant other," says Deborah Knuckey, author of Conscious Spending for Couples.
The sex will change: According to the 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey, people who live together but aren't married report the greatest frequency of sex. So that's a plus. The minus? The sex can lose its wow factor. A 2004 ABC News poll found that 58 percent of people who are married or have lived together for less than 3 years report "very exciting" sex lives, compared with 29 percent of couples who've been at it more than 10 years.
Expect the unexpected: When Melissa Haroza, 36, and her boyfriend, Chris, shacked up 3 years ago, she had a cat, but Chris was against pets. "Then one day before a vacation he said he was worried about the cat," says Haroza, who married Chris last year. "He thought she'd get lonely and suggested taking her with us." And it wasn't because he wanted to toss her out of the plane. He'd actually started to care about the kitty. Never underestimate the power of a solid relationship to bring out surprising new sides of a person.
(Women's Health)
It doesn't seal the deal: Moving in seems like a natural precursor to marriage, but you shouldn't count on it. In fact, only 45 percent of couples who cohabitate get hitched. And research has linked living together before tying the knot to an increased risk of unhappy marriage. One theory as to why: People who live together often swap rings not because they're right for each other, but because they feel too invested in the relationship to break up.
All roommates are irritating: Just because you're hot for each other doesn't make living together easy. Annie Sargent, 34, a lawyer in Seattle, says she's frequently been on edge since her boyfriend moved in a year ago. When he washes dishes, "he's a whirling dervish -- soapy water gets all over everything," Sargent says. She gets so annoyed she yells at him, and then he gets upset because he was trying to help. And that's just one example. "I want him there," she says. "But now I'm irritated all the time."
It's not just about you anymore: You want to grab a drink with an ex after work. Or apply for that amazing job in Newfoundland. But now your decisions, from trivial to momentous, will affect another person's routine, lifestyle, and bank account. "Everything I did suddenly involved an extra step," says Bill Schmidt, 36, who moved in with his girlfriend 8 years ago. Formerly speedy grocery runs now required remembering what kind of yogurt, or cookies, or bread she liked. "It took a while to adjust to not just thinking about myself."
Love doesn't solve money problems: You might be saving a bundle on rent -- unless, of course, you moved into a bigger, more expensive place together. But money problems are as inevitable as basement drafts and broken toilet-bowl handles. According to an April 2006 Money magazine survey, 70 percent of couples admit to arguing about finances. "Money is so entwined with power and control, it's seldom something you can talk about objectively with your significant other," says Deborah Knuckey, author of Conscious Spending for Couples.
The sex will change: According to the 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey, people who live together but aren't married report the greatest frequency of sex. So that's a plus. The minus? The sex can lose its wow factor. A 2004 ABC News poll found that 58 percent of people who are married or have lived together for less than 3 years report "very exciting" sex lives, compared with 29 percent of couples who've been at it more than 10 years.
Expect the unexpected: When Melissa Haroza, 36, and her boyfriend, Chris, shacked up 3 years ago, she had a cat, but Chris was against pets. "Then one day before a vacation he said he was worried about the cat," says Haroza, who married Chris last year. "He thought she'd get lonely and suggested taking her with us." And it wasn't because he wanted to toss her out of the plane. He'd actually started to care about the kitty. Never underestimate the power of a solid relationship to bring out surprising new sides of a person.
First date do's and dont's
Don’t say this on a first date
By Lisa Lombardi
I once went on a first (and last) date with a guy who broke the ice by telling me that he had been deported from England on drug charges and often spent time in a mental institution. There was more — something about a scheme to steal money from his wealthy parents — but I was hardly listening by that point. All I could think was: “Why are you telling me this?!”
Because, truth is, most of us know what you should never say on a first date. Words like “electroshock,” “contagious rash” and “felony” jump to mind. But what about the more subtle subjects you’re best not broaching right off the bat? We polled both experts and real men and women about the other deal-breakers—those topics so deadly they guarantee there won’t be a date #2.
Here, five subjects usually thought to be acceptable, but in truth are likely to scare off a potential love:
Deal-breaker #1: Your romantic past
Here’s the problem with bringing up your former flame (let’s call him Brad): If you trash Brad, it sounds like you’re not over him. If you talk him up, it sounds like you’re not over him. And if you mention that you’re still in touch with the guy, what your date hears is, “You’re OK for free steak, but if Brad is drunk and calls me at 3 a.m., I am so there.”
Guys are just as likely as women to make this first date faux pas, as Maria Amor of San Diego found out. “I went out with a guy who had a broken leg, so we had to hang out at his apartment. I asked him what he did all day and he said he played Xbox—a gift from his ex-girlfriend!” Maria recalls. “Then he went on about how she was so supportive during tough situations (meanwhile, I’m fluffing the pillow under his feet!). I had to sit there and listen to how wonderful that girl was. Right then I decided I would be his ‘pillow-fluffer’ no more.”
Jill Kleiner’s date never got a clue, either. “He kept telling me all the great places he went with his ex-girlfriend,” says the Stirling, New Jersey, resident. “All night I had to hear about all the fantastic things they used to do together.” So Jill just happened to be “busy” when he asked her out a second time. Jill’s (wisely) holding out for a guy who wants to plot future adventures—with her.
Deal-breaker #2: Talking about kids
Want to scare the bejeezus out of your first date? Say this word: Baby. Or this one: Pregnant. Or these two: Biological clock. In fact, there are only three times you should ever bring up kiddos when out with a new guy: If you have one, if he has one, or if one’s screaming so loudly you need to leave the restaurant.
“There’s no such thing as small talk about kids; it’s always a loaded subject,” says Laura Leu, the sex and relationship expert at Stuff Magazine. Chris Suttile, a single guy in Chicago, says amen to that. “I barely know what I’m doing after lunch, let alone next week,” he says. “Kids = pressure, pressure, pressure... and pressure = no second date."
Heck, once you’ve got a few great dates under your belt, you can mention that you love buying your niece clothes at BabyGap. By that point, he’ll be comfortable and know it means that you’re a proud aunt, not that you’re planning on having your own baby ASAP.
Deal-breaker #3: Using pet names
So you and he are really hitting it off—by the time your entrees arrive, you can’t take your eyes off each other and you’re finishing each other’s sentences. It may feel like you’re an old married couple, but better not say, “How’s your tuna, Pookie?” unless Pookie is what’s printed on his driver’s license.
Less creative terms of endearment are also no-no’s, according to Mike Adams of Chicago. “On one date, by the end of dinner, I was being called "sweetie" and "honey"—repeatedly,” he says. “I’m all for pet names once you know someone, but never on a first date. It makes you feel trapped in a relationship that hasn’t even begun and probably just crash-landed before leaving the gate.”
Deal-breaker #4: Lusty story-telling
Christina Gregory of New York City just about fell off her chair when her date—a successful, seemingly mild-mannered guy—informed her he enjoys “sensual massages” on his lunch break. “I thought, ‘That’s it—I’m never going on another date again!’”
But it’s not just the freaky stuff that sends a potential suitor packing. “You shouldn’t talk about sex at all on a first date,” says Toni Coleman, Ph.D., a relationship expert based in Arlington, Virginia. That includes: What you’ve done in the past, what your friends are doing, and what you’re willing to do later tonight. Why? It’s too much, too soon—you risk making your date uncomfortable, Coleman explains. And believe it or not, he may be more skeeved than stoked to hear about your sexual prowess, says Leu. “Girls sometimes say provocative things the first night out with a guy because they think it makes them look sexy, but it can make them seem somewhat trashy.”
Deal-breaker #5: Talking about your pets
You say, “I have a cat.”He thinks, “That’s cool.”You say, “You have to meet Mr. Fluffum! I hope he likes you—he gets very jealous of other men! He does this thing where he sleeps on my tummy—it’s sooo cute!”He thinks: “Did she just call her cat Mr. Fluffum?!”
Unless you met your date at the dog run or a PETA rally, it’s best to keep conversations about furry friends to a minimum, says Charlotte Reed, a pet expert in New York. “Trust me, your date will think you are crazy if you say too much,” she says. Part of the problem is it’s hard to talk about your precious little Fido without talking in a squeaky baby voice—which sounds certifiable to everyone but you and Fido. And amazingly cute/heroic/gifted pet stories don’t translate well (we know, you had to be there!).
Plus, first dates are all about looking for subtle signs of weirdness—or not-so-subtle signs, such as teaching your cat to use the toilet. Pet talk can land you in the “rather odd” category before you have a chance to show what a cool person you really are. Bottom line: Let your new sweetie discover the magic of Mr. Fluffum in his or her own sweet time.
Lisa Lombardi is a New York-based writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Redbook, Child, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan. Her cat’s name is not Mr. Fluffum.
By Lisa Lombardi
I once went on a first (and last) date with a guy who broke the ice by telling me that he had been deported from England on drug charges and often spent time in a mental institution. There was more — something about a scheme to steal money from his wealthy parents — but I was hardly listening by that point. All I could think was: “Why are you telling me this?!”
Because, truth is, most of us know what you should never say on a first date. Words like “electroshock,” “contagious rash” and “felony” jump to mind. But what about the more subtle subjects you’re best not broaching right off the bat? We polled both experts and real men and women about the other deal-breakers—those topics so deadly they guarantee there won’t be a date #2.
Here, five subjects usually thought to be acceptable, but in truth are likely to scare off a potential love:
Deal-breaker #1: Your romantic past
Here’s the problem with bringing up your former flame (let’s call him Brad): If you trash Brad, it sounds like you’re not over him. If you talk him up, it sounds like you’re not over him. And if you mention that you’re still in touch with the guy, what your date hears is, “You’re OK for free steak, but if Brad is drunk and calls me at 3 a.m., I am so there.”
Guys are just as likely as women to make this first date faux pas, as Maria Amor of San Diego found out. “I went out with a guy who had a broken leg, so we had to hang out at his apartment. I asked him what he did all day and he said he played Xbox—a gift from his ex-girlfriend!” Maria recalls. “Then he went on about how she was so supportive during tough situations (meanwhile, I’m fluffing the pillow under his feet!). I had to sit there and listen to how wonderful that girl was. Right then I decided I would be his ‘pillow-fluffer’ no more.”
Jill Kleiner’s date never got a clue, either. “He kept telling me all the great places he went with his ex-girlfriend,” says the Stirling, New Jersey, resident. “All night I had to hear about all the fantastic things they used to do together.” So Jill just happened to be “busy” when he asked her out a second time. Jill’s (wisely) holding out for a guy who wants to plot future adventures—with her.
Deal-breaker #2: Talking about kids
Want to scare the bejeezus out of your first date? Say this word: Baby. Or this one: Pregnant. Or these two: Biological clock. In fact, there are only three times you should ever bring up kiddos when out with a new guy: If you have one, if he has one, or if one’s screaming so loudly you need to leave the restaurant.
“There’s no such thing as small talk about kids; it’s always a loaded subject,” says Laura Leu, the sex and relationship expert at Stuff Magazine. Chris Suttile, a single guy in Chicago, says amen to that. “I barely know what I’m doing after lunch, let alone next week,” he says. “Kids = pressure, pressure, pressure... and pressure = no second date."
Heck, once you’ve got a few great dates under your belt, you can mention that you love buying your niece clothes at BabyGap. By that point, he’ll be comfortable and know it means that you’re a proud aunt, not that you’re planning on having your own baby ASAP.
Deal-breaker #3: Using pet names
So you and he are really hitting it off—by the time your entrees arrive, you can’t take your eyes off each other and you’re finishing each other’s sentences. It may feel like you’re an old married couple, but better not say, “How’s your tuna, Pookie?” unless Pookie is what’s printed on his driver’s license.
Less creative terms of endearment are also no-no’s, according to Mike Adams of Chicago. “On one date, by the end of dinner, I was being called "sweetie" and "honey"—repeatedly,” he says. “I’m all for pet names once you know someone, but never on a first date. It makes you feel trapped in a relationship that hasn’t even begun and probably just crash-landed before leaving the gate.”
Deal-breaker #4: Lusty story-telling
Christina Gregory of New York City just about fell off her chair when her date—a successful, seemingly mild-mannered guy—informed her he enjoys “sensual massages” on his lunch break. “I thought, ‘That’s it—I’m never going on another date again!’”
But it’s not just the freaky stuff that sends a potential suitor packing. “You shouldn’t talk about sex at all on a first date,” says Toni Coleman, Ph.D., a relationship expert based in Arlington, Virginia. That includes: What you’ve done in the past, what your friends are doing, and what you’re willing to do later tonight. Why? It’s too much, too soon—you risk making your date uncomfortable, Coleman explains. And believe it or not, he may be more skeeved than stoked to hear about your sexual prowess, says Leu. “Girls sometimes say provocative things the first night out with a guy because they think it makes them look sexy, but it can make them seem somewhat trashy.”
Deal-breaker #5: Talking about your pets
You say, “I have a cat.”He thinks, “That’s cool.”You say, “You have to meet Mr. Fluffum! I hope he likes you—he gets very jealous of other men! He does this thing where he sleeps on my tummy—it’s sooo cute!”He thinks: “Did she just call her cat Mr. Fluffum?!”
Unless you met your date at the dog run or a PETA rally, it’s best to keep conversations about furry friends to a minimum, says Charlotte Reed, a pet expert in New York. “Trust me, your date will think you are crazy if you say too much,” she says. Part of the problem is it’s hard to talk about your precious little Fido without talking in a squeaky baby voice—which sounds certifiable to everyone but you and Fido. And amazingly cute/heroic/gifted pet stories don’t translate well (we know, you had to be there!).
Plus, first dates are all about looking for subtle signs of weirdness—or not-so-subtle signs, such as teaching your cat to use the toilet. Pet talk can land you in the “rather odd” category before you have a chance to show what a cool person you really are. Bottom line: Let your new sweetie discover the magic of Mr. Fluffum in his or her own sweet time.
Lisa Lombardi is a New York-based writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Redbook, Child, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan. Her cat’s name is not Mr. Fluffum.
All it takes is just one puff
Just a single drag on a cigarette may drag a teen into smoking addiction, a new study suggests.
Researchers say almost a third of kids interviewed who tried smoking said their first cigarette brought them a feeling of relaxation -- and two-thirds of those kids went on to become smokers. Another factor that appeared to somewhat up the risk for dependence was having seen an ad with Joe Camel -- the Camel cigarette brand's mascot between 1987 and 1997, the study found. Psychological factors -- such as being depressed and having a novelty-seeking personality -- also boosted the likelihood of addiction.
Researchers say almost a third of kids interviewed who tried smoking said their first cigarette brought them a feeling of relaxation -- and two-thirds of those kids went on to become smokers. Another factor that appeared to somewhat up the risk for dependence was having seen an ad with Joe Camel -- the Camel cigarette brand's mascot between 1987 and 1997, the study found. Psychological factors -- such as being depressed and having a novelty-seeking personality -- also boosted the likelihood of addiction.
Cholesterol and pregnant women
While lower cholesterol is generally considered a good thing, new research suggests that very low cholesterol levels in pregnant women may harm the health of the fetus.
Expectant mothers whose total cholesterol levels were under 159 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) gave birth -- on average -- to babies weighing about one-third of a pound less than babies born to mothers whose cholesterol levels exceeded 159 mg/dL, the researchers found. Additionally, 12.7 percent of white women with low cholesterol levels gave birth prematurely, compared to just five percent of those with higher cholesterol levels. No such association was found in black women, however.
Expectant mothers whose total cholesterol levels were under 159 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) gave birth -- on average -- to babies weighing about one-third of a pound less than babies born to mothers whose cholesterol levels exceeded 159 mg/dL, the researchers found. Additionally, 12.7 percent of white women with low cholesterol levels gave birth prematurely, compared to just five percent of those with higher cholesterol levels. No such association was found in black women, however.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
It's more than just hot fashes!
Menopause, the hormonal change in a woman's body in which her menstrual cycle stops, can happen as early as before age 40, but most often occurs in women between age 45 and 55.
The Foundation for Better Health Care lists these common symptoms of menopause: Missed period for at least 12 months, with no cause other than menopause. Abnormal periods for you, such as spotting, different cycles or a different flow. Vaginal dryness. Changes in weight, difficulty sleeping, night sweats and hot flashes. Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, depression and moodiness. Osteoporosis. Pain or burning during urination, or loss or weakened bladder control.
The Foundation for Better Health Care lists these common symptoms of menopause: Missed period for at least 12 months, with no cause other than menopause. Abnormal periods for you, such as spotting, different cycles or a different flow. Vaginal dryness. Changes in weight, difficulty sleeping, night sweats and hot flashes. Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, depression and moodiness. Osteoporosis. Pain or burning during urination, or loss or weakened bladder control.
How to tell a real offer from a scam
If your commute’s got you fried, the idea of a work-from-home is tempting.
However, lots of these offers are designed to COST you money - not make it. So, courtesy of the website About.com, here’s how to tell a real offer from a scam:
Find out how you’ll be paid. Some ‘jobs’ get you to work for nothing. For example, you post ads on internet bulletin boards, but you don’t earn anything until someone signs up. If that doesn’t happen, you’re out of luck.
If an offer guarantees you’ll get rich quick, leave it alone. Anything that sounds too good to be true is a financial trap.
They ask you to send money. Legitimate employers don't charge fees to hire you. They also don’t sell you information, software or kits to get you started.
Let someone else read the offer. Some scams are hard to detect. For example, you might receive a detailed contract that asks for banking information so your check can be direct deposited, but once they get your info, they drain your account and disappear. So let someone else take a second look at it.
Do your research. Look for the company on the Better Business and Federal Trade Commission websites. Also, try sites like ‘moneymakingmommies.com’ that list legitimate offers.
However, lots of these offers are designed to COST you money - not make it. So, courtesy of the website About.com, here’s how to tell a real offer from a scam:
Find out how you’ll be paid. Some ‘jobs’ get you to work for nothing. For example, you post ads on internet bulletin boards, but you don’t earn anything until someone signs up. If that doesn’t happen, you’re out of luck.
If an offer guarantees you’ll get rich quick, leave it alone. Anything that sounds too good to be true is a financial trap.
They ask you to send money. Legitimate employers don't charge fees to hire you. They also don’t sell you information, software or kits to get you started.
Let someone else read the offer. Some scams are hard to detect. For example, you might receive a detailed contract that asks for banking information so your check can be direct deposited, but once they get your info, they drain your account and disappear. So let someone else take a second look at it.
Do your research. Look for the company on the Better Business and Federal Trade Commission websites. Also, try sites like ‘moneymakingmommies.com’ that list legitimate offers.
5 Precious papers to hang on to
With some important documents, there's nothing like the original. Life will be easier if you keep these safe in your files.
1. The new-car sticker Also known as the "Monroney label," after the U.S. senator who advocated its creation in 1958, the window sticker on a new car is full of valuable data that can help you with:
Insurance claims
Recalls and
Enhancing the vehicle's future sale or trade-in value
2. Your tax returns -- all of them You can ditch all the supporting documentation after seven years, but the tax returns themselves should stay with you for life.
The IRS and state income tax agencies typically are limited in how long they can audit your returns -- unless they decide you didn't file for a certain year.
3. Home-improvement receipts If your home has gained more than $250,000 in value (or $500,000 for a couple), you'll want to look for ways to reduce your taxable profit when you sell. Receipts for home improvements can help you do that.
The cost of improvements can be added to your tax basis -- essentially, the price you originally paid for your home. That, in turn, can reduce your taxable profit.
4. Final account statements Collection agencies have found a new growth industry: people who have already paid their bills. Any time you make a final payment on a bill or a debt, keep the paperwork showing you've paid what you owed. Some examples include when you:
Switch cell-phone, land-line or long-distance providers
Cancel a health-club membership
Shut down utilities (such as when you move)
Close a credit card account
Pay off a loan
Complete a debt-management or debt-settlement plan
Making sure you get that last statement showing a "zero" balance and a closed account can also help you avoid getting sent to collections for ridiculously small debts.
5. Bankruptcy petition and discharge Another lively category of collections efforts is debt that's already been erased in bankruptcy court.
The legal obligation to pay a debt ends when it's discharged in bankruptcy, and collectors are supposed to cease dunning you for the bill.
1. The new-car sticker Also known as the "Monroney label," after the U.S. senator who advocated its creation in 1958, the window sticker on a new car is full of valuable data that can help you with:
Insurance claims
Recalls and
Enhancing the vehicle's future sale or trade-in value
2. Your tax returns -- all of them You can ditch all the supporting documentation after seven years, but the tax returns themselves should stay with you for life.
The IRS and state income tax agencies typically are limited in how long they can audit your returns -- unless they decide you didn't file for a certain year.
3. Home-improvement receipts If your home has gained more than $250,000 in value (or $500,000 for a couple), you'll want to look for ways to reduce your taxable profit when you sell. Receipts for home improvements can help you do that.
The cost of improvements can be added to your tax basis -- essentially, the price you originally paid for your home. That, in turn, can reduce your taxable profit.
4. Final account statements Collection agencies have found a new growth industry: people who have already paid their bills. Any time you make a final payment on a bill or a debt, keep the paperwork showing you've paid what you owed. Some examples include when you:
Switch cell-phone, land-line or long-distance providers
Cancel a health-club membership
Shut down utilities (such as when you move)
Close a credit card account
Pay off a loan
Complete a debt-management or debt-settlement plan
Making sure you get that last statement showing a "zero" balance and a closed account can also help you avoid getting sent to collections for ridiculously small debts.
5. Bankruptcy petition and discharge Another lively category of collections efforts is debt that's already been erased in bankruptcy court.
The legal obligation to pay a debt ends when it's discharged in bankruptcy, and collectors are supposed to cease dunning you for the bill.
5 most common dreams
Were you being chased last night? Did you appear naked at work again?
Lauri Loewenberg, author of “So What Did You Dream Last Night?” and founder of thedreamzone.com, helps interpret your dreams.
Falling
Since the beginning of time mankind has reported of dreaming of falling the most. First of all, it's not true that if you dream you are falling and you hit the ground you will die. I've yet to speak to any dead people who told me that's what they were dreaming at the time of their death! Falling in a dream is a red flag from your subconscious that something in your life — finances, a relationship, career, etc. — is rapidly going in the wrong direction. It means it is time to redirect the situation immediately! Falling dreams are also common for people who suffer from depression.
Being chased
When something or someone is hot on your heels in your dream, it's a good indication that you are avoiding something in waking life. When you get this dream, ask yourself, “Self, am I trying to avoid a confrontation with someone? Am I trying to get out of a responsibility or obligation? Or is there something from my past that I'm afraid might catch up with me?” Whatever the case may be, the message is the same: Stop running! Face the situation. Get it over with, otherwise the issue will continue to follow you ... and so will your “being chased” dreams.
Teeth falling out
This dream is not about your oral hygiene, so don't be calling your dentist just yet! Teeth — to your dreaming mind — are actually all about your words. If you dream your teeth are falling out, it means you need to take a good look at what you've been saying lately because you have been having loose speech! Perhaps you've been gossiping, or saying things without thinking about them first, maybe you are too blunt or you may have said something you wish you hadn't. This dream is telling you that some words have come out of your mouth that should have remained in there permanently ... like your teeth!
Back at school
This is one of those dreams that — even though you graduated 10, 20, even 50 years ago — you still continue to get. Usually, this dream is all about your job! Think about it, school is your first real job where you need to be on time, you need to be prepared and “have done your homework,” you are being tested and scrutinized, you want everyone to like you and you eventually want to move on up to the next level. Sounds a lot like the same pressures of your job now, doesn't it? You'll find yourself back in those cinder-blocked hallways, trying to find your locker, realizing you forgot about your test or even noticing you've nothing on but your Nikes, when you've got some sort of pressure or scrutiny at your job.
Spouse cheating on you
Unless you have a really good reason to suspect your mate of getting his or her pleasures elsewhere, I wouldn't start snooping through his or her drawers and pockets just yet! The cheating dream happens when your mate is spending too much time and attention on something that does not involve you. Usually the culprit is work. But it could also be the XBox or too much time with friends, etc. Whatever the case may be, this dream shows that you are feeling “cheated” out of your time with your sweetie. Let this dream be a wake-up call to you that the two of you need to find more quality time together.
3 easy steps to figuring out what your dreams mean
It's important to figure out what your dreams are telling you. They are intuition — the part of ourselves that knows what's best, they warn us, they inspire us, they let us know when we are going off track. So never dismiss them by saying “it's only a dream.” They have the answers you need right now for your life.
Sum it up into a movie title to give you that ah-ha moment.
Figure out the main conflict of the dream. How would you describe the main conflict of the dream? Are you trying to get away from something? Are you trying to find something? Are you fighting something?
Compare that conflict in the dream to your real-life day before the dream. That could give you clues. If you dreamt of running from a monster Tuesday day night, what happened Tuesday?
Ways to remember your dreams
Most important step is when you wake up in the morning, don't move from the position you woke up in. That's the position you were dreaming in. You will disconnect your memory from the dream.
Don't think about what you have to do today. Quiet your mind, and let the dream come back to you. You have 90 seconds before that dream fades away.
Whatever you remember, even if all you remember is a tiny piece, write it down. Dreaming happens in the same part of our brain where short-term memory is stored and if you don't write it down it will be gone after breakfast.
Lauri Loewenberg, author of “So What Did You Dream Last Night?” and founder of thedreamzone.com, helps interpret your dreams.
Falling
Since the beginning of time mankind has reported of dreaming of falling the most. First of all, it's not true that if you dream you are falling and you hit the ground you will die. I've yet to speak to any dead people who told me that's what they were dreaming at the time of their death! Falling in a dream is a red flag from your subconscious that something in your life — finances, a relationship, career, etc. — is rapidly going in the wrong direction. It means it is time to redirect the situation immediately! Falling dreams are also common for people who suffer from depression.
Being chased
When something or someone is hot on your heels in your dream, it's a good indication that you are avoiding something in waking life. When you get this dream, ask yourself, “Self, am I trying to avoid a confrontation with someone? Am I trying to get out of a responsibility or obligation? Or is there something from my past that I'm afraid might catch up with me?” Whatever the case may be, the message is the same: Stop running! Face the situation. Get it over with, otherwise the issue will continue to follow you ... and so will your “being chased” dreams.
Teeth falling out
This dream is not about your oral hygiene, so don't be calling your dentist just yet! Teeth — to your dreaming mind — are actually all about your words. If you dream your teeth are falling out, it means you need to take a good look at what you've been saying lately because you have been having loose speech! Perhaps you've been gossiping, or saying things without thinking about them first, maybe you are too blunt or you may have said something you wish you hadn't. This dream is telling you that some words have come out of your mouth that should have remained in there permanently ... like your teeth!
Back at school
This is one of those dreams that — even though you graduated 10, 20, even 50 years ago — you still continue to get. Usually, this dream is all about your job! Think about it, school is your first real job where you need to be on time, you need to be prepared and “have done your homework,” you are being tested and scrutinized, you want everyone to like you and you eventually want to move on up to the next level. Sounds a lot like the same pressures of your job now, doesn't it? You'll find yourself back in those cinder-blocked hallways, trying to find your locker, realizing you forgot about your test or even noticing you've nothing on but your Nikes, when you've got some sort of pressure or scrutiny at your job.
Spouse cheating on you
Unless you have a really good reason to suspect your mate of getting his or her pleasures elsewhere, I wouldn't start snooping through his or her drawers and pockets just yet! The cheating dream happens when your mate is spending too much time and attention on something that does not involve you. Usually the culprit is work. But it could also be the XBox or too much time with friends, etc. Whatever the case may be, this dream shows that you are feeling “cheated” out of your time with your sweetie. Let this dream be a wake-up call to you that the two of you need to find more quality time together.
3 easy steps to figuring out what your dreams mean
It's important to figure out what your dreams are telling you. They are intuition — the part of ourselves that knows what's best, they warn us, they inspire us, they let us know when we are going off track. So never dismiss them by saying “it's only a dream.” They have the answers you need right now for your life.
Sum it up into a movie title to give you that ah-ha moment.
Figure out the main conflict of the dream. How would you describe the main conflict of the dream? Are you trying to get away from something? Are you trying to find something? Are you fighting something?
Compare that conflict in the dream to your real-life day before the dream. That could give you clues. If you dreamt of running from a monster Tuesday day night, what happened Tuesday?
Ways to remember your dreams
Most important step is when you wake up in the morning, don't move from the position you woke up in. That's the position you were dreaming in. You will disconnect your memory from the dream.
Don't think about what you have to do today. Quiet your mind, and let the dream come back to you. You have 90 seconds before that dream fades away.
Whatever you remember, even if all you remember is a tiny piece, write it down. Dreaming happens in the same part of our brain where short-term memory is stored and if you don't write it down it will be gone after breakfast.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Get kids to help with housework
How Kids Can Help with Chores
Author: Diane Laney Fitzpatrick
Tired of being the maid in your own house? Get the whole family involved by turning housework into fun and games.
If you’re like most parents, you would like your children to help with housework, but it’s not easy. You bribe, cajole, beg and threaten and then end up doing the work yourself.If you’ve tried complicated reward systems and linking allowances to chores, but you now want simpler ways to get your kids to pitch in, help is on the way!Here are 13 surefire ways to get your kids to help with housework.
Get a feather duster. Despite the myriad of cleaning products, a feather duster is all you need to remove dust from your furniture and tables. Given something fluffy, your kids will love to dust for you.
Let them spray and wipe. Kids love spray bottles. Let them handle all the counters and surfaces that can be sprayed and wiped with a paper towel. Let them do some easy-to-reach windows, too. You may have to go over them again, but you’ll be surprised how well a child can do windows.
Your kids can so put away their clothes! Get different colored bins with handles for your children. As you fold laundry, put clothes in each child’s bin. On their way to bed each night, they can take up their bin and put away their laundry. On their way down each morning, they can bring down the empty bin. (These are a great place to put anything else you find around the house that belongs in your child’s bedroom.)
Make a game out of the most boring jobs. Divide up the socks between two children and have them play a “matching game” similar to Go Fish. When they get a match, they can fold the pair together and throw it in the “ocean” pile.
Hide a quarter in a cluttered room that your kids will find when the room is cleaned up. Finders keepers with the quarter.
Divide and conquer. When cleaning up an extra cluttered toy room or playroom, divide the room up into sections by running a strip of masking tape on the floor, from wall to wall, sectioning off the room. Assign each child a section to pick up.
Create a job jar. For really big jobs (like large playrooms and basements), jot down different jobs on slips of paper, fold them and put them in a jar or cap. Have your children pick a slip and do whatever is on the paper. Vary the jobs to keep it interesting. “Pick up anything Barbie and put it in the Barbie house.” “Clean up the corner between the windows.”
Dress for the occasion. Pass out aprons and painter caps and play Maid and Mister Fix-It.
Designate a kids’ cleaning day treat, something you all get to do when the chores are done. Run through the sprinkler. Bring out the bubbles. Eat Jello cubes. Drink juice in wine glasses.
Play delivery person. Put various things that need to be put away into a large basket with a handle. Have one of your children be the delivery person and put everything in its place.
Host a “Folding Party.” Divide laundry onto each child’s chair at the kitchen table. (You can divide up easy pieces to the younger ones, larger pieces to the oldest.) When all the children are finished folding the laundry on their chairs and putting it away, they get to sit down and have refreshments! (One Mom got into the spirit by sending her children invitations to her folding party. Her young son sent an RSVP saying he was very sorry, he couldn’t make it!)
Kids love charts! Make a simple chart of different chores and have your kids put a sticker under their name whenever they do a job for you.
Don’t forget thank-yous, hugs and praises. Everyone appreciates a pat on the back. They’ll be more willing to help out next time!
Author: Diane Laney Fitzpatrick
Tired of being the maid in your own house? Get the whole family involved by turning housework into fun and games.
If you’re like most parents, you would like your children to help with housework, but it’s not easy. You bribe, cajole, beg and threaten and then end up doing the work yourself.If you’ve tried complicated reward systems and linking allowances to chores, but you now want simpler ways to get your kids to pitch in, help is on the way!Here are 13 surefire ways to get your kids to help with housework.
Get a feather duster. Despite the myriad of cleaning products, a feather duster is all you need to remove dust from your furniture and tables. Given something fluffy, your kids will love to dust for you.
Let them spray and wipe. Kids love spray bottles. Let them handle all the counters and surfaces that can be sprayed and wiped with a paper towel. Let them do some easy-to-reach windows, too. You may have to go over them again, but you’ll be surprised how well a child can do windows.
Your kids can so put away their clothes! Get different colored bins with handles for your children. As you fold laundry, put clothes in each child’s bin. On their way to bed each night, they can take up their bin and put away their laundry. On their way down each morning, they can bring down the empty bin. (These are a great place to put anything else you find around the house that belongs in your child’s bedroom.)
Make a game out of the most boring jobs. Divide up the socks between two children and have them play a “matching game” similar to Go Fish. When they get a match, they can fold the pair together and throw it in the “ocean” pile.
Hide a quarter in a cluttered room that your kids will find when the room is cleaned up. Finders keepers with the quarter.
Divide and conquer. When cleaning up an extra cluttered toy room or playroom, divide the room up into sections by running a strip of masking tape on the floor, from wall to wall, sectioning off the room. Assign each child a section to pick up.
Create a job jar. For really big jobs (like large playrooms and basements), jot down different jobs on slips of paper, fold them and put them in a jar or cap. Have your children pick a slip and do whatever is on the paper. Vary the jobs to keep it interesting. “Pick up anything Barbie and put it in the Barbie house.” “Clean up the corner between the windows.”
Dress for the occasion. Pass out aprons and painter caps and play Maid and Mister Fix-It.
Designate a kids’ cleaning day treat, something you all get to do when the chores are done. Run through the sprinkler. Bring out the bubbles. Eat Jello cubes. Drink juice in wine glasses.
Play delivery person. Put various things that need to be put away into a large basket with a handle. Have one of your children be the delivery person and put everything in its place.
Host a “Folding Party.” Divide laundry onto each child’s chair at the kitchen table. (You can divide up easy pieces to the younger ones, larger pieces to the oldest.) When all the children are finished folding the laundry on their chairs and putting it away, they get to sit down and have refreshments! (One Mom got into the spirit by sending her children invitations to her folding party. Her young son sent an RSVP saying he was very sorry, he couldn’t make it!)
Kids love charts! Make a simple chart of different chores and have your kids put a sticker under their name whenever they do a job for you.
Don’t forget thank-yous, hugs and praises. Everyone appreciates a pat on the back. They’ll be more willing to help out next time!
Create codes for "I love you"
The Secret Ways You Say "I Love You"
With three kids in the house, you may have to get creative when you want to escape the crowd. So come up with a secret code phrase that lets you slip up to the bedroom, no questions asked. One of you will say, 'I think we should both go upstairs and fold the laundry,' The kids would never go near laundry, so it's a safe bet!
Whatever your secret code is, speaking a private language doesn't just give you two a charge - it actually has the power to strengthen your bond.
Get the whole scoop.
With three kids in the house, you may have to get creative when you want to escape the crowd. So come up with a secret code phrase that lets you slip up to the bedroom, no questions asked. One of you will say, 'I think we should both go upstairs and fold the laundry,' The kids would never go near laundry, so it's a safe bet!
Whatever your secret code is, speaking a private language doesn't just give you two a charge - it actually has the power to strengthen your bond.
Get the whole scoop.
Speed Cleaning
Fake a Clean Home
By Alonna Friedman
Friends coming over in T-minus 30 minutes? Save yourself a freak-out with our cheater's guide to speed-cleaning.
1. DECLUTTER
Do a pass-through of key rooms, picking up clutter as you go. Forget about putting things in their proper places. Just collect any of the following and put in a closet:
Catalogs, bills, and newspapers
Pets' toys
Handbags and shoes
Sports equipment
Stray DVDs
Time: 4 minutes
2. WIPE DOWN
Slap on your gloves and carry all of these items in a small cleaning caddy so you can easily move from room to room.
Spray an all-purpose cleaner on your kitchen countertop and wipe away grime with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.Remove fingerprints from stainless steel surfaces using a glass cleaner, specialty cleaner, or plain water and a cloth.Wipe down the dining table and other surfaces like a china cabinet or server (if you have hardwood, just remove dust with a damp rag or microfiber cloth).Spray the bathroom sink, vanity, and counters with an all-purpose disinfectant.Wipe down the outer edge of the tub (it's something all guests will see) and pull the curtain or shower door closed.Clean the mirror with vinegar and wipe with newsprint (odd but it works). Paper towels leave a fuzzy residue.Spritz all outside surfaces of the toilet with disinfectant before moving inside. Wipe clean.Lift the toilet seat lid and spray cleaner on the top and bottom, then squeeze bowl cleaner under the rim or pour in a cup of cleaner. Use a toilet brush to scrub under the rim and inside of the bowl. Flush.
Time: 10 minutes
3. SWIFF
pronunciation: 'swiff'function: verb 1: the action of using a Swiffer2: a lifestyle choice for Nest editors
Swiff your coffee table after spraying it with an all-purpose cleaner. Next, tackle the TV (including screen) and entertainment center and quickly swiff any frames and collectibles on display. Then, swiff the floors in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom -- and finish up by defurring couches and chairs with a lint roller.
Time: 5 minutes
4. EMPTY
Clear out the sink. This is self-explanatory. Just put dishes into the dishwasher.Empty the wastepaper basket in the bathroom.Take out the trash.
Time: 2 minutes
5. RESTOCK
Put out fresh hand towels, a box of tissues, extra TP, air freshener, and hand soap.Do a chair count and haul out the extras.Replenish your table with fresh placemats if there are stains on the current set, or flip them over to the clean side.Fill the napkin holder.
Time: 4 minutes
6. DISPLAY
Take out serving dishes and wine glasses (check for smudge spots) so they are within reach when guests arrive.Fluff and arrange wayward throw pillows and push in couch cushions that may be off-kilter.Make an instant centerpiece by throwing fruit or vegetables into a decorative bowl in the center of the dining table.Dim the lights and light candles. Nothing hides cleaning imperfections better.Put on your game face. People are at the door!
Time: 4 minutes
By Alonna Friedman
Friends coming over in T-minus 30 minutes? Save yourself a freak-out with our cheater's guide to speed-cleaning.
1. DECLUTTER
Do a pass-through of key rooms, picking up clutter as you go. Forget about putting things in their proper places. Just collect any of the following and put in a closet:
Catalogs, bills, and newspapers
Pets' toys
Handbags and shoes
Sports equipment
Stray DVDs
Time: 4 minutes
2. WIPE DOWN
Slap on your gloves and carry all of these items in a small cleaning caddy so you can easily move from room to room.
Spray an all-purpose cleaner on your kitchen countertop and wipe away grime with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.Remove fingerprints from stainless steel surfaces using a glass cleaner, specialty cleaner, or plain water and a cloth.Wipe down the dining table and other surfaces like a china cabinet or server (if you have hardwood, just remove dust with a damp rag or microfiber cloth).Spray the bathroom sink, vanity, and counters with an all-purpose disinfectant.Wipe down the outer edge of the tub (it's something all guests will see) and pull the curtain or shower door closed.Clean the mirror with vinegar and wipe with newsprint (odd but it works). Paper towels leave a fuzzy residue.Spritz all outside surfaces of the toilet with disinfectant before moving inside. Wipe clean.Lift the toilet seat lid and spray cleaner on the top and bottom, then squeeze bowl cleaner under the rim or pour in a cup of cleaner. Use a toilet brush to scrub under the rim and inside of the bowl. Flush.
Time: 10 minutes
3. SWIFF
pronunciation: 'swiff'function: verb 1: the action of using a Swiffer2: a lifestyle choice for Nest editors
Swiff your coffee table after spraying it with an all-purpose cleaner. Next, tackle the TV (including screen) and entertainment center and quickly swiff any frames and collectibles on display. Then, swiff the floors in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom -- and finish up by defurring couches and chairs with a lint roller.
Time: 5 minutes
4. EMPTY
Clear out the sink. This is self-explanatory. Just put dishes into the dishwasher.Empty the wastepaper basket in the bathroom.Take out the trash.
Time: 2 minutes
5. RESTOCK
Put out fresh hand towels, a box of tissues, extra TP, air freshener, and hand soap.Do a chair count and haul out the extras.Replenish your table with fresh placemats if there are stains on the current set, or flip them over to the clean side.Fill the napkin holder.
Time: 4 minutes
6. DISPLAY
Take out serving dishes and wine glasses (check for smudge spots) so they are within reach when guests arrive.Fluff and arrange wayward throw pillows and push in couch cushions that may be off-kilter.Make an instant centerpiece by throwing fruit or vegetables into a decorative bowl in the center of the dining table.Dim the lights and light candles. Nothing hides cleaning imperfections better.Put on your game face. People are at the door!
Time: 4 minutes
Think Pink!
Today begins National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Many organizations are dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage - from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. That's the mission of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. The City Of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy.
Many organizations are dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage - from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. That's the mission of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. The City Of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy.
Kids and heart attacks
Kids having heart attacks?
Doctors in Ohio say it happens, but it's an "under-appreciated phenomenon." They've published a report documenting nine cases in over 11 years, saying that the rare attacks are often caused by spasms. They say parents should consult a doctor anytime a child has a sudden chest pain.
Doctors in Ohio say it happens, but it's an "under-appreciated phenomenon." They've published a report documenting nine cases in over 11 years, saying that the rare attacks are often caused by spasms. They say parents should consult a doctor anytime a child has a sudden chest pain.
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