Friday, December 7, 2007
No more headless photos
You ever try to take your own picture? You chop off your head or get a great shot of the sky. Now there is a new gadget that will help so you can be in every photo. It's called the X-shot.
Mall safety
PERSONAL SAFETY IN MALLS
Detective Kevin Coffey
"The Scholar of Thievery"
The threat of physical assault does not necessarily increase along with the crowds that herald the holiday season. It's when you're far from the crowd, in distant reaches of parking lots or other isolated areas of the mall that you are most vulnerable. To protect yourself:
Always try to walk to and from your vehicle with another person. If you are shopping alone, consider walking near other shoppers in the parking lot.
If shopping alone and leaving at night -- particularly if you're carrying several bundles -- ask a security officer to accompany you to your car. Most malls will provide that service.
Inside a mall, avoid darkened hallways and other backroom areas, especially near closing time.
Avoid using bathrooms that are tucked away in a back area of a mall concourse or department. If you can, find a bathroom near the mall's food court or other well-trafficked area. And always accompany your child to the bathroom.
Never use a video arcade or toy store as a baby sitter; predators are on the prowl for unattended children. More then 100,000 children are abducted every year -- often in malls or department stores, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCME).
Find out whether the malls and stores you frequent have procedures to search for a missing child. Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target are among retailers participating in a program developed by the NCME. The program, called "Code Adam," was named after Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old Florida boy who was killed after being abducted from a shopping mall in 1981. As soon as a child is reported missing, employees scour the aisles. If the child doesn't turn up after 10 minutes, the police are notified.
DEALING WITH CHILDREN WHEN SHOPPING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Holiday shopping can be chaotic, tiring and frustrating. Just imagine how much more of an ordeal it may be to a young child dragged from one store to the next as you work your way down your shopping list. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers these guidelines to keep tots from being pushed beyond their endurance, and older children from wandering off or otherwise getting into trouble out of boredom:
If you bring infants or toddlers on a shopping trip, limit the excursion to one or two hours. Also, make sure your child is rested and fed before you head out.
Remove your child's coat or sweater once you are indoors; overheated children can get awfully cranky.
Shop with another adult, so you can take turns browsing and minding the children.
Keep children close by at all times, and do not let them wander around unsupervised.
Point out security guards, so your child knows where to go for help if he gets lost.
When you have to wait in line, give your child a book, toy or snack to keep him occupied.
Avoid stores with narrow aisles and shelves teetering with fragile items. Be clear and firm about what your child can and cannot touch.
SHOPPING CART SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Some 21,600 children end up in the hospital each year after they've fallen -- or even leaped -- from shopping carts, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Children 5 years old and younger, particularly boys, are especially at risk. Shopping cart injuries include head and neck trauma, fractures, lacerations and damage to internal organs. Three children have died.
Part of the problem is that shopping carts can tip over easily because the wheel base is narrow. Adding to a cart's instability, children have a hard time sitting still.
Statistics compiled by the National Safe Kids Campaign show that 80 percent of parents leave their children unattended at least once during a shopping trip. The only way to keep children safe is to stay with the cart at all times. Even if you strap your child into the cart seat, he may still manage to tip the cart over. Just wiggling out of the harness or seat belt can quickly unbalance an already unstable load. To keep shopping carts from tipping over:
Place young children in the seat, not the basket.
If the cart comes equipped with a harness, use it. Otherwise, bring your own.
If you've got a child walking alongside you, make sure he does not try to climb inside the cart to join his brother or sister. You might want to pack a second child into a stroller or backpack -- it's cumbersome, but safer.
It's not a good idea to let a child push or steer the cart for you. He may not see or be seen by shoppers and could be struck or run over by other carts. Those miniature carts some stores supply for children to push pose the same problem, so stay close by and make sure your shopper-in-training follows the flow of traffic.
CAR BREAK IN'S AT MALLS
As parking areas fill during the holiday season, shoppers are often forced to park far from mall exits, sometimes in poorly lighted areas. Now that there is less daylight, you're likely to find yourself entering the mall while the sun is up and leaving after dark, so make sure there are lights nearby before parking. Other parking tips:
Park as close to entrances and exits as you can. No one wants to circle the lot for an hour waiting for a good spot to open up, but give it a shot, at least for a few minutes.
If forced to the far reaches of a lot -- or even beyond the lot -- seek a spot that's well-lighted or near a well-traveled roadway.
Stow your purchases in the trunk. When you're weighed down with packages, you may be tempted to throw them in the back seat and return to the mall to continue shopping. If your purchases are in plain view, you may return to find your car windows smashed and your presents stolen.
Save your most expensive purchases for last, so you can head straight home.
Have your keys ready when you approach your vehicle. Before entering, check that no one is hiding in the back seat.
ATM CRIME
Automated teller machines are handy to have around when you're spending it up at the mall and don't want to max out your credit cards. But while ATMs make it easier for you to get to your money, they provide the same service for thieves.
To protect yourself, handle your bank card with the same prudence you would cash or credit cards and keep it in a safe place. Memorize your PIN code so you won't have to write it on your card or a piece of paper, and carry it in your purse or wallet. And keep your PIN to yourself -- if others are nearby waiting to use the ATM, don't let them see which buttons you press.
More ATM advice:
Choose a bank with an ATM located in a highly visible, well-lighted area.
If you must withdraw money from an ATM after dark, have someone accompany you. Also, try not to make large cash withdrawals.
If you see anyone loitering near the machine who looks or acts suspicious, walk away.
Minimize time spent at the ATM by having your card in your hand and resisting the temptation to count the money after it has been dispensed.
While using an ATM, look around from time to time to and be aware of what's going on around you. If anything suspicious happens, immediately cancel your transaction and leave.
Never leave your receipt in the machine. Also, keep your receipts so you can check them against your monthly bank statements.
Detective Kevin Coffey
"The Scholar of Thievery"
The threat of physical assault does not necessarily increase along with the crowds that herald the holiday season. It's when you're far from the crowd, in distant reaches of parking lots or other isolated areas of the mall that you are most vulnerable. To protect yourself:
Always try to walk to and from your vehicle with another person. If you are shopping alone, consider walking near other shoppers in the parking lot.
If shopping alone and leaving at night -- particularly if you're carrying several bundles -- ask a security officer to accompany you to your car. Most malls will provide that service.
Inside a mall, avoid darkened hallways and other backroom areas, especially near closing time.
Avoid using bathrooms that are tucked away in a back area of a mall concourse or department. If you can, find a bathroom near the mall's food court or other well-trafficked area. And always accompany your child to the bathroom.
Never use a video arcade or toy store as a baby sitter; predators are on the prowl for unattended children. More then 100,000 children are abducted every year -- often in malls or department stores, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCME).
Find out whether the malls and stores you frequent have procedures to search for a missing child. Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target are among retailers participating in a program developed by the NCME. The program, called "Code Adam," was named after Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old Florida boy who was killed after being abducted from a shopping mall in 1981. As soon as a child is reported missing, employees scour the aisles. If the child doesn't turn up after 10 minutes, the police are notified.
DEALING WITH CHILDREN WHEN SHOPPING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Holiday shopping can be chaotic, tiring and frustrating. Just imagine how much more of an ordeal it may be to a young child dragged from one store to the next as you work your way down your shopping list. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers these guidelines to keep tots from being pushed beyond their endurance, and older children from wandering off or otherwise getting into trouble out of boredom:
If you bring infants or toddlers on a shopping trip, limit the excursion to one or two hours. Also, make sure your child is rested and fed before you head out.
Remove your child's coat or sweater once you are indoors; overheated children can get awfully cranky.
Shop with another adult, so you can take turns browsing and minding the children.
Keep children close by at all times, and do not let them wander around unsupervised.
Point out security guards, so your child knows where to go for help if he gets lost.
When you have to wait in line, give your child a book, toy or snack to keep him occupied.
Avoid stores with narrow aisles and shelves teetering with fragile items. Be clear and firm about what your child can and cannot touch.
SHOPPING CART SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Some 21,600 children end up in the hospital each year after they've fallen -- or even leaped -- from shopping carts, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Children 5 years old and younger, particularly boys, are especially at risk. Shopping cart injuries include head and neck trauma, fractures, lacerations and damage to internal organs. Three children have died.
Part of the problem is that shopping carts can tip over easily because the wheel base is narrow. Adding to a cart's instability, children have a hard time sitting still.
Statistics compiled by the National Safe Kids Campaign show that 80 percent of parents leave their children unattended at least once during a shopping trip. The only way to keep children safe is to stay with the cart at all times. Even if you strap your child into the cart seat, he may still manage to tip the cart over. Just wiggling out of the harness or seat belt can quickly unbalance an already unstable load. To keep shopping carts from tipping over:
Place young children in the seat, not the basket.
If the cart comes equipped with a harness, use it. Otherwise, bring your own.
If you've got a child walking alongside you, make sure he does not try to climb inside the cart to join his brother or sister. You might want to pack a second child into a stroller or backpack -- it's cumbersome, but safer.
It's not a good idea to let a child push or steer the cart for you. He may not see or be seen by shoppers and could be struck or run over by other carts. Those miniature carts some stores supply for children to push pose the same problem, so stay close by and make sure your shopper-in-training follows the flow of traffic.
CAR BREAK IN'S AT MALLS
As parking areas fill during the holiday season, shoppers are often forced to park far from mall exits, sometimes in poorly lighted areas. Now that there is less daylight, you're likely to find yourself entering the mall while the sun is up and leaving after dark, so make sure there are lights nearby before parking. Other parking tips:
Park as close to entrances and exits as you can. No one wants to circle the lot for an hour waiting for a good spot to open up, but give it a shot, at least for a few minutes.
If forced to the far reaches of a lot -- or even beyond the lot -- seek a spot that's well-lighted or near a well-traveled roadway.
Stow your purchases in the trunk. When you're weighed down with packages, you may be tempted to throw them in the back seat and return to the mall to continue shopping. If your purchases are in plain view, you may return to find your car windows smashed and your presents stolen.
Save your most expensive purchases for last, so you can head straight home.
Have your keys ready when you approach your vehicle. Before entering, check that no one is hiding in the back seat.
ATM CRIME
Automated teller machines are handy to have around when you're spending it up at the mall and don't want to max out your credit cards. But while ATMs make it easier for you to get to your money, they provide the same service for thieves.
To protect yourself, handle your bank card with the same prudence you would cash or credit cards and keep it in a safe place. Memorize your PIN code so you won't have to write it on your card or a piece of paper, and carry it in your purse or wallet. And keep your PIN to yourself -- if others are nearby waiting to use the ATM, don't let them see which buttons you press.
More ATM advice:
Choose a bank with an ATM located in a highly visible, well-lighted area.
If you must withdraw money from an ATM after dark, have someone accompany you. Also, try not to make large cash withdrawals.
If you see anyone loitering near the machine who looks or acts suspicious, walk away.
Minimize time spent at the ATM by having your card in your hand and resisting the temptation to count the money after it has been dispensed.
While using an ATM, look around from time to time to and be aware of what's going on around you. If anything suspicious happens, immediately cancel your transaction and leave.
Never leave your receipt in the machine. Also, keep your receipts so you can check them against your monthly bank statements.
Gift for teacher
You're in a hurry. So you drop $5 on a trinket for your child's teacher, then move on to the next item on your holiday to-do list.
These gifts may be accepted graciously, but be honest: Does the teacher really need a candleholder emblazoned with Santa's rosy visage? Or a reindeer paperweight, or that perennial last-minute gift choice -- the ''World's Best Teacher'' coffee mug?
Find out what your child's teacher really wants.
These gifts may be accepted graciously, but be honest: Does the teacher really need a candleholder emblazoned with Santa's rosy visage? Or a reindeer paperweight, or that perennial last-minute gift choice -- the ''World's Best Teacher'' coffee mug?
Find out what your child's teacher really wants.
Are your kids depressed
The holiday season is usually a time for cheer, but it could also trigger depression in your kids. Holidays are high-risk for childhood depression and parents often miss the signs.
Take the depression screening test.
Take the depression screening test.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Calm a cough
A spoonful of honey can quiet children's nighttime cough and help them -- and their parents -- sleep better, a new study shows.
When compared to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey came out on top.
"The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.
There is currently no proven effective treatment for cough due to an upper respiratory infection like the common cold. While dextromethorphan is widely used, there is no evidence that it works, and it carries risks.
Honey is used around the world as a folk remedy for cough, and might provide a safe, effective alternative to cough medicine, Paul and his colleagues note in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
When compared to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey came out on top.
"The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.
There is currently no proven effective treatment for cough due to an upper respiratory infection like the common cold. While dextromethorphan is widely used, there is no evidence that it works, and it carries risks.
Honey is used around the world as a folk remedy for cough, and might provide a safe, effective alternative to cough medicine, Paul and his colleagues note in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Holiday no-no's
WHAT NOT TO DO DURING THE HOLIDAYS
(Marie Claire)
Consume fruitcake, eggnog, or gelt.
Kiss anyone under the mistletoe whom you wouldn't kiss under any unadorned archway.
Make your own wrapping paper from potatoes and beet juice.
Display a pine branch vertically in your apartment and call it a Christmas tree. Because you'll be at your folks' place soon anyway, and, honestly, that Charlie Brown tree is the most depressing thing we have ever seen.
Use phony plastic Christmas stuff. Examples: fake trees, spray snow, Jessica Simpson's holiday album.
Wear the Santa hat, and nothing else.
(Marie Claire)
Consume fruitcake, eggnog, or gelt.
Kiss anyone under the mistletoe whom you wouldn't kiss under any unadorned archway.
Make your own wrapping paper from potatoes and beet juice.
Display a pine branch vertically in your apartment and call it a Christmas tree. Because you'll be at your folks' place soon anyway, and, honestly, that Charlie Brown tree is the most depressing thing we have ever seen.
Use phony plastic Christmas stuff. Examples: fake trees, spray snow, Jessica Simpson's holiday album.
Wear the Santa hat, and nothing else.
Video game report card
A media watchdog group is warning that some video games for sale this holiday fall firmly in the naughty rather than the nice category. The National Institute on Media and the Family is out with its 12 annual video-game report card. And it lists 10 games that parents should strike off the gift list for kids under 17.
Take a look.
Take a look.
Dragon boat club race
Attention please…. We have alignment… GO!
Although Dragon Boat Racing is in its 5th consecutive year in Miami, FL, this year is the first ever Miami Dragon Boat Club Challenge. More excitingly, for the first time ever in Florida there will be a 1000 meter race track style division in where 50 foot long dragon boats will have to come face to face with hairpin turns! The Miami Dragon Boat Club Challenge is set to take place December 8th, 2007 from 8am to 3pm at the Miami Marine Stadium located near the Miami Seaquarium. (3501 Rickenbacker Causeway).
Brought to you by the producers of the annual Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, this event has been created for the diehard dragon boat racers as well as the social recreational paddler. Unlike, the main festival held in May on Brickell, this event will focus solely on racing. There will be 25 teams racing, each team consisting of 20 paddlers. The competition will be intense as the level of performance has been increasing with our competitive Miami and Tampa teams.
Teams vary from Miami Dade College, to Miami’s first Breast Cancer Survivor team, to companies such as Turner Construction as well as the Miami Museum of Science.
Dragon Boat Racing is a 2000 year old traditional Chinese sport. These colorful boats are 50 feet long and resemble dragons as they have dragon heads, tails and scales. The only thing missing is fire breathing! This venue will also be home of the 2009 World Corcom Dragon Boat Championships and the 2009 World Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Championships.
Although Dragon Boat Racing is in its 5th consecutive year in Miami, FL, this year is the first ever Miami Dragon Boat Club Challenge. More excitingly, for the first time ever in Florida there will be a 1000 meter race track style division in where 50 foot long dragon boats will have to come face to face with hairpin turns! The Miami Dragon Boat Club Challenge is set to take place December 8th, 2007 from 8am to 3pm at the Miami Marine Stadium located near the Miami Seaquarium. (3501 Rickenbacker Causeway).
Brought to you by the producers of the annual Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, this event has been created for the diehard dragon boat racers as well as the social recreational paddler. Unlike, the main festival held in May on Brickell, this event will focus solely on racing. There will be 25 teams racing, each team consisting of 20 paddlers. The competition will be intense as the level of performance has been increasing with our competitive Miami and Tampa teams.
Teams vary from Miami Dade College, to Miami’s first Breast Cancer Survivor team, to companies such as Turner Construction as well as the Miami Museum of Science.
Dragon Boat Racing is a 2000 year old traditional Chinese sport. These colorful boats are 50 feet long and resemble dragons as they have dragon heads, tails and scales. The only thing missing is fire breathing! This venue will also be home of the 2009 World Corcom Dragon Boat Championships and the 2009 World Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Championships.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Say no to Fido
Not a good time for a dog!
(Craigslist)
As the holidays are upon us, it is very important that I get this message out!
PLEASE DO NOT purchase a Puppy for anyone as a gift for Christmas! It is at this time of year that Puppies and kittens are purchased for gifts, and by February, more than half of those newly aquired animals are being 'rehomed.'
Bringing a puppy into your home is a HUGE undertaking, and a big responsibility. It is a committment that should be taken VERY seriously, and will consume much time, money and effort for the next 10-17 years!
Do NOT assume that your kids will 'help' with the puppy. They won't. They may like to play with it, but cannot give a dog the 45 minutes of walking a DAY that is required for good health!
Letting your dog outside into the yard is NOT a substitute for a good daily wallk. Your dog will need a walk in the rain, snow, or those hot sweltering days. Dogs NEED excercise.
Remember that if your dog is NOT properly exercised, he may become destructive, and exhibit signs of separation anxiety.
Remember that Vet bills are REAL, and vet care is a MUST, not an OPTION!
Please keep in mind that a puppy needs supervision and company for most of the day, until it is at least 4 months old.
Dog food is NOT cheap, and depending on the size of your dog, can run from $40-100+ per month. Heartworm and flea meds are imperative, and will cost you another $10 a month.
When you and your family want to go on a vacation, or even a weekend away, you will need to procure doggie-care for your dog, and this can cost a good deal of money! From $225 a week at a doggie day care facility!
Depending on the breed, your grooming costs can run $40 a month! Even if you have a 'low maintenance' dog, you will still need ears cleaned, and nails trimmed!
And don't forget that puppies have accidents on the carpet, and you may need to get a steam cleaning done! Dogs also shed, so get the right kind of dog for your home!
MAKE SURE NO ONE IS ALLERGIC TO DOGS - BEFORE YOU GET A DOG!!! NOT AFTER YOU GET IT!!!!
(Craigslist)
As the holidays are upon us, it is very important that I get this message out!
PLEASE DO NOT purchase a Puppy for anyone as a gift for Christmas! It is at this time of year that Puppies and kittens are purchased for gifts, and by February, more than half of those newly aquired animals are being 'rehomed.'
Bringing a puppy into your home is a HUGE undertaking, and a big responsibility. It is a committment that should be taken VERY seriously, and will consume much time, money and effort for the next 10-17 years!
Do NOT assume that your kids will 'help' with the puppy. They won't. They may like to play with it, but cannot give a dog the 45 minutes of walking a DAY that is required for good health!
Letting your dog outside into the yard is NOT a substitute for a good daily wallk. Your dog will need a walk in the rain, snow, or those hot sweltering days. Dogs NEED excercise.
Remember that if your dog is NOT properly exercised, he may become destructive, and exhibit signs of separation anxiety.
Remember that Vet bills are REAL, and vet care is a MUST, not an OPTION!
Please keep in mind that a puppy needs supervision and company for most of the day, until it is at least 4 months old.
Dog food is NOT cheap, and depending on the size of your dog, can run from $40-100+ per month. Heartworm and flea meds are imperative, and will cost you another $10 a month.
When you and your family want to go on a vacation, or even a weekend away, you will need to procure doggie-care for your dog, and this can cost a good deal of money! From $225 a week at a doggie day care facility!
Depending on the breed, your grooming costs can run $40 a month! Even if you have a 'low maintenance' dog, you will still need ears cleaned, and nails trimmed!
And don't forget that puppies have accidents on the carpet, and you may need to get a steam cleaning done! Dogs also shed, so get the right kind of dog for your home!
MAKE SURE NO ONE IS ALLERGIC TO DOGS - BEFORE YOU GET A DOG!!! NOT AFTER YOU GET IT!!!!
Eat smart at the holiday party
There is so much yummy fattening food at holiday parties, but you can still enjoy it without packing on a million pounds.
(Men's Health)
ONION DIP: This is a great way to leave the party with some vegetables under your belt. Just don't dip more than a third of your red pepper slice, or you'll come away with onion breath and too much saturated fat and cholesterol.
BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS: If the wing has a bumpy, battered coating and leaves a major oil spill on your napkin, you're holding the double-fried version of this party classic. Pick its barbecued cousin instead (the one with the slick, sticky red or brown coating). It has half the fat and calories. Take it easy on the blue-cheese sauce.
SHRIMP ON A SKEWER: You've heard about shrimp's notorious cholesterol rep? It's not entirely deserved. Though the cholesterol in foods can raise blood cholesterol, saturated fat is what really jacks up your levels. Shrimp is virtually fat-free.
CRAB PUFFS: Crab is fat-free; the puff, cream, and mayo are not. One blob tops out at at least 1 teaspoon of fat.
PIGS-IN-BLANKETS: Have one for nostalgia's sake, but stop right there. Half the fat in these little oinkers is the artery-clogging saturated type.
SUSHI: Sushi provides a balanced sprinkle of many nutrients rather than a heavy dose of one. You take in calcium, iron, and zinc from the fish, and you get potassium, vitamin C, and carotenoids--antioxidants such as beta-carotene--from the seaweed and avocado.
CHICKEN ON A SKEWER DIPPED IN ASIAN PEANUT SAUCE: The calories are up to you: Dip the skewer lightly for a low-fat hors d'oeuvre. Bonus: You'll meet 25 percent of your day's requirement for niacin. Yippee!
MINI PIZZAS: If the crust is thin and dry, eat up; your bones will get a calcium charge from the flour and cheese, and the tomato sauce contains prostate-cancer-fighting lycopene. But the pastry-dough versions--with a thicker, greasy crust--jack up the fat so high that you should pass on seconds.
SMOKED SALMON CANAPES WITH CAVIAR: Salmon and caviar are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to a decreased risk of heart disease and depression. Four canapes provide about 1 g of omega-3s. (Experts recommend 4 g per week.) Dodge the salmon mousse; its heavy cream obliterates any good from the salmon.
SPRING ROLLS: Don't be fooled by the bits of bean sprouts inside; spring rolls aren't that healthful. Each roll has 1 1/2 teaspoons of fat. You're better off looking for the almost fat-free summer rolls--unfried, slightly transparent rice-paper wrappers stuffed with sprouts, noodles, and shrimp.
CREAMED SPINACH IN PUFF PASTRY: Stop at three. You won't overdose on saturated fat, and you'll meet 17 percent of your daily quota for folate. Folate helps reduce homocysteine, a substance linked to heart disease.
SPINACH TRIANGLES: Add a few of these spinach wedges to your napkin; they're high in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that protect against macular degeneration.
SCALLOPS WRAPPED IN BACON: If the bacon just fits around the scallop, you're fine; it'll take two to reach even a teaspoon of fat.
STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES: Rice and raisins are good sources of carbohydrates--the fuel you'll need to stay on your feet all evening. And that coating is olive oil, which contains heart-protecting monounsaturated fat and vitamin E.
MINI HAM-AND-CHEESE QUICHE: Why not just take a hypodermic full of lard and inject it directly? This 2-inch bite contains nearly 4 teaspoons of fat, mostly saturated.
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS: It's no mystery why they're so good: They're made with fatty cuts of beef, veal, or pork, seasoned with grated onions and spices. Eat one and move on.
(Men's Health)
ONION DIP: This is a great way to leave the party with some vegetables under your belt. Just don't dip more than a third of your red pepper slice, or you'll come away with onion breath and too much saturated fat and cholesterol.
BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS: If the wing has a bumpy, battered coating and leaves a major oil spill on your napkin, you're holding the double-fried version of this party classic. Pick its barbecued cousin instead (the one with the slick, sticky red or brown coating). It has half the fat and calories. Take it easy on the blue-cheese sauce.
SHRIMP ON A SKEWER: You've heard about shrimp's notorious cholesterol rep? It's not entirely deserved. Though the cholesterol in foods can raise blood cholesterol, saturated fat is what really jacks up your levels. Shrimp is virtually fat-free.
CRAB PUFFS: Crab is fat-free; the puff, cream, and mayo are not. One blob tops out at at least 1 teaspoon of fat.
PIGS-IN-BLANKETS: Have one for nostalgia's sake, but stop right there. Half the fat in these little oinkers is the artery-clogging saturated type.
SUSHI: Sushi provides a balanced sprinkle of many nutrients rather than a heavy dose of one. You take in calcium, iron, and zinc from the fish, and you get potassium, vitamin C, and carotenoids--antioxidants such as beta-carotene--from the seaweed and avocado.
CHICKEN ON A SKEWER DIPPED IN ASIAN PEANUT SAUCE: The calories are up to you: Dip the skewer lightly for a low-fat hors d'oeuvre. Bonus: You'll meet 25 percent of your day's requirement for niacin. Yippee!
MINI PIZZAS: If the crust is thin and dry, eat up; your bones will get a calcium charge from the flour and cheese, and the tomato sauce contains prostate-cancer-fighting lycopene. But the pastry-dough versions--with a thicker, greasy crust--jack up the fat so high that you should pass on seconds.
SMOKED SALMON CANAPES WITH CAVIAR: Salmon and caviar are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to a decreased risk of heart disease and depression. Four canapes provide about 1 g of omega-3s. (Experts recommend 4 g per week.) Dodge the salmon mousse; its heavy cream obliterates any good from the salmon.
SPRING ROLLS: Don't be fooled by the bits of bean sprouts inside; spring rolls aren't that healthful. Each roll has 1 1/2 teaspoons of fat. You're better off looking for the almost fat-free summer rolls--unfried, slightly transparent rice-paper wrappers stuffed with sprouts, noodles, and shrimp.
CREAMED SPINACH IN PUFF PASTRY: Stop at three. You won't overdose on saturated fat, and you'll meet 17 percent of your daily quota for folate. Folate helps reduce homocysteine, a substance linked to heart disease.
SPINACH TRIANGLES: Add a few of these spinach wedges to your napkin; they're high in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that protect against macular degeneration.
SCALLOPS WRAPPED IN BACON: If the bacon just fits around the scallop, you're fine; it'll take two to reach even a teaspoon of fat.
STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES: Rice and raisins are good sources of carbohydrates--the fuel you'll need to stay on your feet all evening. And that coating is olive oil, which contains heart-protecting monounsaturated fat and vitamin E.
MINI HAM-AND-CHEESE QUICHE: Why not just take a hypodermic full of lard and inject it directly? This 2-inch bite contains nearly 4 teaspoons of fat, mostly saturated.
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS: It's no mystery why they're so good: They're made with fatty cuts of beef, veal, or pork, seasoned with grated onions and spices. Eat one and move on.
Get your guy to dance
Can he cut a rug? Get your man on the dance floor!
(TheNest.com)
Cater to his musical tastes. "My husband is picky about the music he’ll dance to," says Py Kim Conant, author of Sex Secrets of an American Geisha. "It has to be 60's, 70's, or 80's rock-and-roll. I can dance to anything, so instead of waiting for his kind of music, I go out on the dance floor and dance alone or with a group of people. When he sees how much I enjoy dancing without him, he's sure to make his move when they do start playing the Rolling Stones or the Bee Gees."
Buy him a video game. Thanks to the wonders of technology, your guy can now learn to dance without having to leave his 200-square-foot basement apartment. For example, the game Dance Dance Revolution (for PlayStation 2, Xbox and computer) comes with a dance pad that connects to his PC or game console and an assortment of bouncy pop and techno tunes. The person playing the game has to follow the footsteps to dance proficiency. If your boyfriend is the type who'd rather stay home and play Grand Theft Auto than squire you to the local club, this can be a good way to kill two virtual birds with one stone.
Go back to school. Probably for the same reason they refuse to stop and ask for directions, many men are reluctant to admit that they simply don't know how to shake their booty. If you suspect this is the case, surprise your beau with an enrollment for two in a swing-dancing (or samba, or tango) class. Even if you were Miss Salsa 2002, pretending to pick up all the right moves at the same time as he does is a great way to soothe his prickly ego and coax him out to the local club.
Rent a movie. Kathryn Alice, relationship coach and author of Love Will Find You, raves about the Will Smith movie Hitch as a get-up-and-get-dancing tool. "In one scene, Hitch, a dating coach, demonstrates the basic dance a guy can do so as not to look stupid. It's a kind of side-to-side rocking, with hands on your hips and elbows bent. It's a perfect illustration of how to get away with dancing when you don't really know how, and the movie also has a great message -- that sometimes looking like a dork on the dance floor can be the best thing for your love life."
Be careful what you wish for. So your guy is schooled, groomed, and raring to go. Look out! He may be too eager to show off his not yet fully refined moves. "Once my boyfriend and I were at a New Year's dance, and there was this fantastic swing-dance couple out on the floor," says Lisa from New York. "The crowd parted to watch their skill. My boyfriend decided to get a little crowd of his own going and did this odd dance, a cross between break dancing, tap dancing and an Irish jig. I could have sunk into the floor."
(TheNest.com)
Cater to his musical tastes. "My husband is picky about the music he’ll dance to," says Py Kim Conant, author of Sex Secrets of an American Geisha. "It has to be 60's, 70's, or 80's rock-and-roll. I can dance to anything, so instead of waiting for his kind of music, I go out on the dance floor and dance alone or with a group of people. When he sees how much I enjoy dancing without him, he's sure to make his move when they do start playing the Rolling Stones or the Bee Gees."
Buy him a video game. Thanks to the wonders of technology, your guy can now learn to dance without having to leave his 200-square-foot basement apartment. For example, the game Dance Dance Revolution (for PlayStation 2, Xbox and computer) comes with a dance pad that connects to his PC or game console and an assortment of bouncy pop and techno tunes. The person playing the game has to follow the footsteps to dance proficiency. If your boyfriend is the type who'd rather stay home and play Grand Theft Auto than squire you to the local club, this can be a good way to kill two virtual birds with one stone.
Go back to school. Probably for the same reason they refuse to stop and ask for directions, many men are reluctant to admit that they simply don't know how to shake their booty. If you suspect this is the case, surprise your beau with an enrollment for two in a swing-dancing (or samba, or tango) class. Even if you were Miss Salsa 2002, pretending to pick up all the right moves at the same time as he does is a great way to soothe his prickly ego and coax him out to the local club.
Rent a movie. Kathryn Alice, relationship coach and author of Love Will Find You, raves about the Will Smith movie Hitch as a get-up-and-get-dancing tool. "In one scene, Hitch, a dating coach, demonstrates the basic dance a guy can do so as not to look stupid. It's a kind of side-to-side rocking, with hands on your hips and elbows bent. It's a perfect illustration of how to get away with dancing when you don't really know how, and the movie also has a great message -- that sometimes looking like a dork on the dance floor can be the best thing for your love life."
Be careful what you wish for. So your guy is schooled, groomed, and raring to go. Look out! He may be too eager to show off his not yet fully refined moves. "Once my boyfriend and I were at a New Year's dance, and there was this fantastic swing-dance couple out on the floor," says Lisa from New York. "The crowd parted to watch their skill. My boyfriend decided to get a little crowd of his own going and did this odd dance, a cross between break dancing, tap dancing and an Irish jig. I could have sunk into the floor."
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
You'll die for these men
The men of the 2008 calendar are all funeral directors and morticians from across the U.S. In 2007, McKenzie Mortuary of Long Beach, California held its second contest and casting call for the 2008 “Men of Mortuaries” Calendar. These men were selected and volunteered their time to raise money for breast cancer. These men are not professional models.
Take a look at the calendar.
Take a look at the calendar.
Going (how) green?
It seems all you hear about these days is going green. But just how much green are we willing to shell out to go green when it comes to our technology? A new study says:
12% are willing to put out a few extra bucks for personal computers and TV's that use less energy or come from an environmentally friendly company.
41% were concerned about the environment, but not enough to spend more for "green" products.
Seems so far, the industry has failed to cash in on the ecology-minded shoppers.
12% are willing to put out a few extra bucks for personal computers and TV's that use less energy or come from an environmentally friendly company.
41% were concerned about the environment, but not enough to spend more for "green" products.
Seems so far, the industry has failed to cash in on the ecology-minded shoppers.
Trade your gift cards
Did Uncle Joe give you a gift card for Shaggys Bait and Tackle and you hate fishing? There are a few sites that will let you swap, sell or make a trade.
Cardavenue - the premier online marketplace to buy, sell and trade pre-owned gift cards and gift certificates!
Swapgift.com allows you to trade or sell gift cards.
eBay doesn't allow users to trade cards, but it is the largest market for selling them off.
Cardavenue - the premier online marketplace to buy, sell and trade pre-owned gift cards and gift certificates!
Swapgift.com allows you to trade or sell gift cards.
eBay doesn't allow users to trade cards, but it is the largest market for selling them off.
Kids parties over the top
Many parents have expressed concern about their children receiving too many gifts, not having places to store the gifts they receive, and gifts being too much of a focus at birthday parties.
If you think children’s birthday parties are getting out of control you must check ou this website.
Forget the bounce house! I say, just give them a squirt gun and say go out back and have a blast!
If you think children’s birthday parties are getting out of control you must check ou this website.
Forget the bounce house! I say, just give them a squirt gun and say go out back and have a blast!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Will men pick love over a job?
Men pick romance over success:
“Men may be more willing than women to sacrifice achievement goals for a romantic relationship, according to a new study by Catherine Mosher of Duke Medical Center and Sharon Danoff-Burg from the University of Albany.”
Read more.
“Men may be more willing than women to sacrifice achievement goals for a romantic relationship, according to a new study by Catherine Mosher of Duke Medical Center and Sharon Danoff-Burg from the University of Albany.”
Read more.
Holiday office romances
Ah, the holidays: presents, office parties ... and office hookups resulting from too much mistletoe and gin fizzes. But can office romances actually work? Or do they live up to their heartbreaking reputation?
Seems office romances bloom during the holidays. Find out why.
Seems office romances bloom during the holidays. Find out why.
Shop smart online
If you plan to shop online this holiday season, shop smartly.
It's pretty easy when you follow this rule: do not click the "Bill Me Later" option. Pay with a credit card, or through PayPal. Many online retailers do offer this option, but by clicking on that box, you're not just delaying payment, you're opening a new credit account, and the retailer actually will do a quick credit check on you before they authorize a transaction. Financial experts say that too many credit checks and newly opened accounts can really hurt your credit score, which can make it harder for you to buy a car, a house, rent an apartment, or get a job in the near future.
Here's another problem: there's no real limit on how much you can spend with "Bill Me Later" transactions, and people without spending limits tend to spend much more than they meant to, which can easily bust your budget.
Last catch: you usually have only 90 days to pay the bill in full. If you don't, they pad your balance with a very high interest rate; 20% in most cases. And if you miss the payment deadline, the merchant will ding your credit report, hurting your credit score even more.
If you need a way to pay online, open a low rate credit card with a fixed limit. Use it for your online shopping needs- that way, you'll protect your budget and your credit.
It's pretty easy when you follow this rule: do not click the "Bill Me Later" option. Pay with a credit card, or through PayPal. Many online retailers do offer this option, but by clicking on that box, you're not just delaying payment, you're opening a new credit account, and the retailer actually will do a quick credit check on you before they authorize a transaction. Financial experts say that too many credit checks and newly opened accounts can really hurt your credit score, which can make it harder for you to buy a car, a house, rent an apartment, or get a job in the near future.
Here's another problem: there's no real limit on how much you can spend with "Bill Me Later" transactions, and people without spending limits tend to spend much more than they meant to, which can easily bust your budget.
Last catch: you usually have only 90 days to pay the bill in full. If you don't, they pad your balance with a very high interest rate; 20% in most cases. And if you miss the payment deadline, the merchant will ding your credit report, hurting your credit score even more.
If you need a way to pay online, open a low rate credit card with a fixed limit. Use it for your online shopping needs- that way, you'll protect your budget and your credit.
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