Ladies, take your battle for the environment a little closer to your heart with a solar-powered bra that can generate enough electric energy to charge a mobile phone or an iPod.
Lingerie maker Triumph International Japan Ltd unveiled its environmentally friendly, and green colored, "Solar Power Bra" on Wednesday in Tokyo which features a solar panel worn around the stomach.
The panel requires light to generate electricity and the concept bra will not be in stores anytime soon, said Triumph spokeswoman Yoshiko Masuda, as "people usually can not go outside without wearing clothes over it."
But it does send the message of how lingerie could possibly save the planet, Masuda said, adding that the bra should not be washed or sunned on a rainy day to avoid damaging it.
Being eco-friendly is now fashionable in Japan, and the "Solar Energy Bra" follows the company's other green-themed undergarments that include a bra that turns into a reusable shopping bag and one that featured metal chopsticks to promote the use of reusable chopsticks.
"It is very comfortable and I can really feel involved in eco-friendly efforts as well," model Yuko Ishida said.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Save on food
These days, it's almost as scary to fill your grocery cart as your gas tank. A gallon of unleaded costs Floridians 20 percent more than it did a year ago. Food costs have zoomed up 6 percent in that time, with double-digit increases for staples like milk and bread.
The Miami Herald had a great article with tips to save on food costs.
The Miami Herald had a great article with tips to save on food costs.
Freezing food tips
Step1
Consider the food. Unfortunately, not all leftovers can be frozen and keep well. Avoid freezing foods like lettuce, egg salad, watermelon and oranges. They are likely to become soggy if placed in the freezer.
Step2
Freeze meat with caution. If you defrosted the meat completely, you should cook it before you place it in the freezer.
Step3
Allow the food to cool. Leftovers are best frozen after they have cooled considerably. Put the food in the fridge for several hours before transferring it to the freezer.
Step4
Remember to package the leftovers correctly. Use containers that are freezer safe to store the leftovers. Glassware is usually a safe bet to store foods that are sauce based. Breads can be put in tinfoil and placed in the freezer.
Step5
Mark the different packages. If you plan to freeze a lot of leftovers, write the name of the food on each container that you place in the freezer. You should put the date that it was frozen as well.
Consider the food. Unfortunately, not all leftovers can be frozen and keep well. Avoid freezing foods like lettuce, egg salad, watermelon and oranges. They are likely to become soggy if placed in the freezer.
Step2
Freeze meat with caution. If you defrosted the meat completely, you should cook it before you place it in the freezer.
Step3
Allow the food to cool. Leftovers are best frozen after they have cooled considerably. Put the food in the fridge for several hours before transferring it to the freezer.
Step4
Remember to package the leftovers correctly. Use containers that are freezer safe to store the leftovers. Glassware is usually a safe bet to store foods that are sauce based. Breads can be put in tinfoil and placed in the freezer.
Step5
Mark the different packages. If you plan to freeze a lot of leftovers, write the name of the food on each container that you place in the freezer. You should put the date that it was frozen as well.
Rabies alert
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT URGE PET OWNERS TO VACCINATE AGAINST RABIES
The Health Department has confirmed this week that a bat in the zip code area 33177 tested positive for the rabies virus. Unfortunately, before it died the bat bit a person. Citizens seeking information regarding rabies can call the Miami-Dade County’s Health Department at 305 324-2400.
“The rabies virus is spread when an infected animal bites or scratches another animal or person. All pets should be vaccinated against rabies, as that is the best way to protect pets and people from this deadly disease,” said Dr. Sara Pizano, Miami-Dade County Animal Services Director.
Miami-Dade County Health Department and Animal Services officials are urging the public to help protect themselves and to prevent the spread of rabies by taking the following steps:
Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. It’s the law!
Do not allow your pets to run free. If a wild animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
Call Animal Services at 311 to have stray dogs removed.
Feed your pets indoors.
Don’t use your hands to break up a fight between animals.
Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals.
Do not handle, or feed wild animals (raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes) or unintentionally attract them with open garbage cans or litter.
Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health.
Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches and schools, where they might come in contact with people and pets. If you find a bat in your home, contact the health department.
When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries.
For additional information, please visit CDC’s website or Miami-Dade Animal Services website.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Gong show auditions
COMEDY CENTRAL'S 'The Gong Show With Dave Attell' Begins Casting Open Call Auditions in Las Vegas on Monday, May 19 From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT
Auditions Held At The V Theatre At Planet Hollywood Located At 3663 Las
Vegas Blvd South In Las Vegas
'The Gong Show With Dave Attell' Premieres Thursday, July 17 At 10:30 p.m.
ET/PT*
The most original and wonderfully bizarre comedy variety show is now casting! The open casting calls for "The Gong Show with Dave Attell" kick off Monday, May 19 at The V Theatre at Planet Hollywood located at 3663 Las Vegas Boulevard South in Las Vegas.
Performers should submit their name, phone number, type of act and any
links or videos to gongshowcasting@aol.com.
COMEDY CENTRAL and host Dave Attell are looking for the wackiest,
wildest, most bizarre, unique performers out there! All acts are welcome --
from cutting edge variety to stupid human tricks and animal tricks, from
the dark to the daring to the downright insane! "The Gong Show with Dave
Attell" premieres Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more
than 95 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a
registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom
Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet
address is http://www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press
information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL's press Web
site at http://www.comedycentral.com/press.
Auditions Held At The V Theatre At Planet Hollywood Located At 3663 Las
Vegas Blvd South In Las Vegas
'The Gong Show With Dave Attell' Premieres Thursday, July 17 At 10:30 p.m.
ET/PT*
The most original and wonderfully bizarre comedy variety show is now casting! The open casting calls for "The Gong Show with Dave Attell" kick off Monday, May 19 at The V Theatre at Planet Hollywood located at 3663 Las Vegas Boulevard South in Las Vegas.
Performers should submit their name, phone number, type of act and any
links or videos to gongshowcasting@aol.com.
COMEDY CENTRAL and host Dave Attell are looking for the wackiest,
wildest, most bizarre, unique performers out there! All acts are welcome --
from cutting edge variety to stupid human tricks and animal tricks, from
the dark to the daring to the downright insane! "The Gong Show with Dave
Attell" premieres Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more
than 95 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a
registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom
Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet
address is http://www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press
information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL's press Web
site at http://www.comedycentral.com/press.
Medication Nation
For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.
The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol - problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
The numbers were gathered last year by Medco Health Solutions Inc., which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.
Experts say the data reflect not just worsening public health but better medicines for chronic conditions and more aggressive treatment by doctors. For example, more people are now taking blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines because they need them, said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
In addition, there is the pharmaceutical industry's relentless advertising. With those factors unlikely to change, doctors say the proportion of Americans on chronic medications can only grow.
"Unless we do things to change the way we're managing health in this country . . . things will get worse instead of getting better," predicted Jones, a heart specialist and dean of the University of Mississippi's medical school.
Americans buy much more medicine per person than any other country. But it was unclear how their prescriptions compare to those of insured people elsewhere. Comparable data were not available for Europe, for instance.
Medco's data show that last year, 51 percent of American children and adults were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition, up from 50 percent the previous four years and 47 percent in 2001. Most of the drugs are taken daily, although some are needed less often.
The company examined prescription records from 2001 to 2007 of a representative sample of 2.5 million customers, from newborns to the elderly.
Medication use for chronic problems was seen in all demographic groups:
• Almost two-thirds of women 20 and older.
• One in four children and teenagers.
• 52 percent of adult men.
• Three out of four people 65 or older.
Among seniors, 28 percent of women and nearly 22 percent of men take five or more medicines regularly.
Karen Walker of Paterson, N.J., takes 18 prescription medicines daily for high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic back and shoulder pain, asthma and the painful muscle disorder fibromyalgia.
"The only way I can do it and keep my sanity . . . is I use pill boxes" to organize pills for each morning and night, said Walker, 57, a full-time nurse at an HIV clinic. Her 69-year-old husband, Charles, keeps his medicines lined up on his bureau: four pills for arthritis and heart disease, plus two inhalers for lung problems.
Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer at Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco, said he sees both bad news and good in the findings.
"Honestly, a lot of it is related to obesity," he said. "We've become a couch potato culture (and) it's a lot easier to pop a pill" than to exercise regularly or diet.
On the good side, he said, researchers have turned what used to be fatal diseases into chronic ones, including AIDS, some cancers, hemophilia and sickle-cell disease.
Yet Epstein noted the biggest jump in use of chronic medications was in the 20- to 44-year-old age group where it rose 20 percent over the six years. That was mainly due to more use of drugs for depression, diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit disorder and seizures.
The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol - problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
The numbers were gathered last year by Medco Health Solutions Inc., which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.
Experts say the data reflect not just worsening public health but better medicines for chronic conditions and more aggressive treatment by doctors. For example, more people are now taking blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines because they need them, said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
In addition, there is the pharmaceutical industry's relentless advertising. With those factors unlikely to change, doctors say the proportion of Americans on chronic medications can only grow.
"Unless we do things to change the way we're managing health in this country . . . things will get worse instead of getting better," predicted Jones, a heart specialist and dean of the University of Mississippi's medical school.
Americans buy much more medicine per person than any other country. But it was unclear how their prescriptions compare to those of insured people elsewhere. Comparable data were not available for Europe, for instance.
Medco's data show that last year, 51 percent of American children and adults were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition, up from 50 percent the previous four years and 47 percent in 2001. Most of the drugs are taken daily, although some are needed less often.
The company examined prescription records from 2001 to 2007 of a representative sample of 2.5 million customers, from newborns to the elderly.
Medication use for chronic problems was seen in all demographic groups:
• Almost two-thirds of women 20 and older.
• One in four children and teenagers.
• 52 percent of adult men.
• Three out of four people 65 or older.
Among seniors, 28 percent of women and nearly 22 percent of men take five or more medicines regularly.
Karen Walker of Paterson, N.J., takes 18 prescription medicines daily for high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic back and shoulder pain, asthma and the painful muscle disorder fibromyalgia.
"The only way I can do it and keep my sanity . . . is I use pill boxes" to organize pills for each morning and night, said Walker, 57, a full-time nurse at an HIV clinic. Her 69-year-old husband, Charles, keeps his medicines lined up on his bureau: four pills for arthritis and heart disease, plus two inhalers for lung problems.
Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer at Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco, said he sees both bad news and good in the findings.
"Honestly, a lot of it is related to obesity," he said. "We've become a couch potato culture (and) it's a lot easier to pop a pill" than to exercise regularly or diet.
On the good side, he said, researchers have turned what used to be fatal diseases into chronic ones, including AIDS, some cancers, hemophilia and sickle-cell disease.
Yet Epstein noted the biggest jump in use of chronic medications was in the 20- to 44-year-old age group where it rose 20 percent over the six years. That was mainly due to more use of drugs for depression, diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit disorder and seizures.
Cheating moms
One-third of married moms have cheated!
by Sandy Maple
Cookie Magazine and the AOL Body Website conducted a poll of 30,000 mothers to find out just what is going on in their bedrooms and in their minds. The survey, called Sex and the American Mom, asked some interesting questions and got some surprising answers.
Most surprising - at least to me - was the fact that 34 percent of married moms said they had cheated on their spouses after having children. Why all the sneaking around? The answer may lie in another statistic: only 36 percent said they are as attracted to their husbands now as when they first married.
And according to the survey results, even those who haven't cheated are thinking about it. More than half admitted considering an affair since having children. "That's a far cry from just fantasizing about it, which I think is an important distinction," said Pilar Guzman, editor-in-chief of Cookie magazine.
Clearly, most of us are not looking for love outside our marriages. And whatever the reasons for unhappiness in the bedroom, the survey shows that many wives are at least trying to work it out. When asked if they would have sex with their husbands if they weren't in the mood, 69 percent said they would. But 22 percent are thinking about George Clooney while they are doing it.
by Sandy Maple
Cookie Magazine and the AOL Body Website conducted a poll of 30,000 mothers to find out just what is going on in their bedrooms and in their minds. The survey, called Sex and the American Mom, asked some interesting questions and got some surprising answers.
Most surprising - at least to me - was the fact that 34 percent of married moms said they had cheated on their spouses after having children. Why all the sneaking around? The answer may lie in another statistic: only 36 percent said they are as attracted to their husbands now as when they first married.
And according to the survey results, even those who haven't cheated are thinking about it. More than half admitted considering an affair since having children. "That's a far cry from just fantasizing about it, which I think is an important distinction," said Pilar Guzman, editor-in-chief of Cookie magazine.
Clearly, most of us are not looking for love outside our marriages. And whatever the reasons for unhappiness in the bedroom, the survey shows that many wives are at least trying to work it out. When asked if they would have sex with their husbands if they weren't in the mood, 69 percent said they would. But 22 percent are thinking about George Clooney while they are doing it.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Adventures
What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done? Need some ideas?
I love to kayak, scuba dive, repel and skydive. What's your passion?
I love to kayak, scuba dive, repel and skydive. What's your passion?
Indiana Jones
Get ready for the 4th installment and Indy's next adventure. Indiana Jones and the Kindgom of the Crystal Skull opens May 22nd.
Let the adventure begin!
Let the adventure begin!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Senior Idol
Don't miss Senior Idol. Your elders belt out the tunes on stage at the Parker Playhouse. Tickets are only ten dollars. Click here for more information.
Girls night out or in ideas
Ideas for 'Girls' Night Out' or In
By Robin Dalmas
"Sisterhood is Powerful" proclaims a feminist book from the 1970s. If that's true, just think what would happen if every woman threw a party for all her girlfriends. Along with the obvious conversation, laughter and empathy, who knows what great new friendships might be forged — and what productive networking might be accomplished.
When it comes to all-women soirees, the sky's the limit. You can throw a traditional party with food and libation or engineer a more focused event. One woman threw a "Remember When You Were 10?" party and invited 50 women over to wear pajamas, eat s'mores and do crafts. More sophisticated parties can give women the opportunity to network for their careers, gain knowledge of accounting, finance and investing, or just relax with some pampering spa treatments in the home.
Traditional party. Want to throw a great dinner party? Learn some tips for creating dinner-party ambience. If you'd like to throw a huge party for up to 75 of your closest gal pals, the book "Do It for Less! Parties" by Denise Vivaldo has nine complete menus, shows you how to do quantities of 12, 25, 50 and 75 for each recipe, and 21 charts for estimating quantities needed for everything from dining tables to alcohol.
If you'd prefer to keep things small and simple, consider a visit to an upscale grocer for ready-made appetizers. Whole Foods Market, for example, has a private-label line of frozen appetizers that includes chicken wings, crab Rangoon, a dim sum collection, salmon puffs and vegetable spring rolls.
Getting to know you. Do you have friends who hog the conversation? Find ways to spread the chat around. The book "4,000 Questions for Getting to Know Anyone and Everyone" contains queries that will keep the dialogue going into the wee hours. Consider these questions: "What, more than anything, makes you angry?" "Who were your childhood idols?" "What kind of leader are you most inclined to follow?"
Here's another conversation starter:
"Each woman should write down, anonymously, something no one else could possibly know about her," says Nancy B. Irwin, therapeutic hypnotist, columnist and speaker. "Put them in a pot, draw one at a time, and try to guess who did what. Have prizes for the winners."
How about dessert and some "dish"?
"Have each woman bring her most decadent dessert and favorite photo and be prepared to tell all the details about it," suggests Irwin.
Games night. Board games can be educational. Author and tax expert Eva Rosenberg recommends "Rich Dad Poor Dad's Cashflow 101," a board game that teaches accounting, finance and investing. "It's an interesting way to learn about money and about yourself," Rosenberg says. "It will create all kinds of great conversations."
Board games can also be just plain fun. Plan a round of "Sex and the City" Trivia Game. "Every girl is sure to know most of the answers, and it will bring back fond memories of Carrie and Big's love affair," says Diann Valentine, owner of an events and wedding firm in Pasadena, Calif.
Sushi-loving women in sushi heaven. A group of women I know gathers once a month at a different sushi-buffet restaurant in the Seattle area to indulge in rows and rows of raw seafood and conversation. If your taste doesn't run to eating spicy octopus, fish cake soup and baby clam salad, take a vote to determine what kind of food would be acceptable. Steak night? Mexican night? Thai night? Let your taste buds be your guide.
Spa night. Hire a spa-party service to create a spa night in your home. Spa-addicts.com lists mobile spas from New York to Los Angeles. These companies provide drinks, gourmet food, spa treatments and products. For example, Spa Chicks On-The-Go, a mobile-spa event company in New York, provide treatments such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures — including spa robes, slippers and spa goodie bags.
Surprise night. Rosenberg once made a deal with two of her girlfriends. "We'd get together one night a month for a special ‘girls' night out.' Each month, one of us would be responsible for planning the evening." They agreed in advance to stay within a certain budget. "And we wouldn't tell anyone what it was, just pick them up and do it."
Her group of gal pals enjoyed dining at restaurants and attending magic clubs. The piece de resistance? An evening at Chippendales.
By Robin Dalmas
"Sisterhood is Powerful" proclaims a feminist book from the 1970s. If that's true, just think what would happen if every woman threw a party for all her girlfriends. Along with the obvious conversation, laughter and empathy, who knows what great new friendships might be forged — and what productive networking might be accomplished.
When it comes to all-women soirees, the sky's the limit. You can throw a traditional party with food and libation or engineer a more focused event. One woman threw a "Remember When You Were 10?" party and invited 50 women over to wear pajamas, eat s'mores and do crafts. More sophisticated parties can give women the opportunity to network for their careers, gain knowledge of accounting, finance and investing, or just relax with some pampering spa treatments in the home.
Traditional party. Want to throw a great dinner party? Learn some tips for creating dinner-party ambience. If you'd like to throw a huge party for up to 75 of your closest gal pals, the book "Do It for Less! Parties" by Denise Vivaldo has nine complete menus, shows you how to do quantities of 12, 25, 50 and 75 for each recipe, and 21 charts for estimating quantities needed for everything from dining tables to alcohol.
If you'd prefer to keep things small and simple, consider a visit to an upscale grocer for ready-made appetizers. Whole Foods Market, for example, has a private-label line of frozen appetizers that includes chicken wings, crab Rangoon, a dim sum collection, salmon puffs and vegetable spring rolls.
Getting to know you. Do you have friends who hog the conversation? Find ways to spread the chat around. The book "4,000 Questions for Getting to Know Anyone and Everyone" contains queries that will keep the dialogue going into the wee hours. Consider these questions: "What, more than anything, makes you angry?" "Who were your childhood idols?" "What kind of leader are you most inclined to follow?"
Here's another conversation starter:
"Each woman should write down, anonymously, something no one else could possibly know about her," says Nancy B. Irwin, therapeutic hypnotist, columnist and speaker. "Put them in a pot, draw one at a time, and try to guess who did what. Have prizes for the winners."
How about dessert and some "dish"?
"Have each woman bring her most decadent dessert and favorite photo and be prepared to tell all the details about it," suggests Irwin.
Games night. Board games can be educational. Author and tax expert Eva Rosenberg recommends "Rich Dad Poor Dad's Cashflow 101," a board game that teaches accounting, finance and investing. "It's an interesting way to learn about money and about yourself," Rosenberg says. "It will create all kinds of great conversations."
Board games can also be just plain fun. Plan a round of "Sex and the City" Trivia Game. "Every girl is sure to know most of the answers, and it will bring back fond memories of Carrie and Big's love affair," says Diann Valentine, owner of an events and wedding firm in Pasadena, Calif.
Sushi-loving women in sushi heaven. A group of women I know gathers once a month at a different sushi-buffet restaurant in the Seattle area to indulge in rows and rows of raw seafood and conversation. If your taste doesn't run to eating spicy octopus, fish cake soup and baby clam salad, take a vote to determine what kind of food would be acceptable. Steak night? Mexican night? Thai night? Let your taste buds be your guide.
Spa night. Hire a spa-party service to create a spa night in your home. Spa-addicts.com lists mobile spas from New York to Los Angeles. These companies provide drinks, gourmet food, spa treatments and products. For example, Spa Chicks On-The-Go, a mobile-spa event company in New York, provide treatments such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures — including spa robes, slippers and spa goodie bags.
Surprise night. Rosenberg once made a deal with two of her girlfriends. "We'd get together one night a month for a special ‘girls' night out.' Each month, one of us would be responsible for planning the evening." They agreed in advance to stay within a certain budget. "And we wouldn't tell anyone what it was, just pick them up and do it."
Her group of gal pals enjoyed dining at restaurants and attending magic clubs. The piece de resistance? An evening at Chippendales.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Kids love Florida
"Mommmm....I'm bored...there's nothing to do."
There is a new book that is a family travel guide to exploring "kid-tested" places in Florida. It's called "Kids Love Florida."
The site has the books discounted and they offer many easy solutions to concerns traveling with kids ages 2-15.
There is a new book that is a family travel guide to exploring "kid-tested" places in Florida. It's called "Kids Love Florida."
The site has the books discounted and they offer many easy solutions to concerns traveling with kids ages 2-15.
Fun stuff to do
There is so much for you and your family to do right in South Florida. Check out our waterparks.
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