HOW TO DATE DURING THE PLAYOFFS
(MSN.com)
ADVICE FOR THE GUYS:
Use travel days. Maybe Wednesday isn't usually a big date night, but if it's an off day for the series, you could win lots of brownie points. "I'm a rabid Red Sox fan," admits Tony Caputo of Bellevue, Washington. "But I've never dated one. So to make up for missing 'date nights' because of a game, I plan dinner at the best restaurant in town or something she really likes that I don't. It's a way of showing her that I do still care -- and that I appreciate her understanding about my sports addiction. It seems to work."
Help her learn the game. "Nothing's worse than watching the game with your girlfriend and having her ask stupid questions," says Cardinals fan Paul Garrison of St. Louis, Missouri. "I teach her a little about the game. You know, the difference between strikes and balls. What the catcher's signals are about. Small stuff. It'll help both of you enjoy the game more."
Buy her a little present. Everyone likes a gift... why not have it be baseball-related? "There are fun things like lingerie for women in baseball logo lines now," says Paula Duffy, founder of Incidental Contact, a sports learning site for women. That will get her in the mood for... a lot of things.
Plan a romantic movie night. Make some hot dogs, get some good beer, and rent some movies that give her the right idea about baseball, suggests Kevin Magon of San Luis Obispo, California. "Watch the movie Fever Pitch with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon." Or Bull Durham. These movies have great baseball action and a touch of romance to keep both of you interested.
ADVICE FOR THE GIRLS:
Watch your mouth. "Make comments about the players' attractiveness sparingly," advises lifelong Dodgers fan Charles Small of Washington, D.C. "You have to realize that you are kind of in a frat-boy environment where the last thing on a guy's mind is whether Derek Jeter is cute or not. And root against your boyfriend's team if and only if you are OK with being heckled and if you are actually a real fan of the team."
Know the score. "The one stat that is critical to know is how many games out of playoff contention is your guy's team as you move into playoff season," Duffy says. "Why? Because it's all about winning, and to win the World Series you have to be in the playoffs."
Figure out the keys to the game. Search any of the network or sports Web sites for the latest information and analysis. "Learn the roster of your sweetie's favorite team and share some obscure fact, which will amuse and even impress the guy," suggests Jeff Louderback, founder and editor of Sox and Pinstripes (www.soxandpinstripes.com), a blog/Web site dedicated to the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry. "If my girlfriend told me something like, 'I really think that Jason Varitek is the catalyst for the Sox's success because his leadership and ability to call a game outweigh his batting average,' I would be impressed and turned on!"
Get in uniform. Show you care by sporting some team apparel. "A hat is good as long as it isn't a pastel color," Duffy counsels. "A tee shirt, tank top or something else particularly feminine will get you the hard stares, especially at a game or a sports bar. He might stop sipping his beer for a moment... who knows?"
Friday, October 19, 2007
Cold medicines and young children
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel began two days of hearings to consider banning the sale of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children. Such a ban already has the support of safety experts at the FDA, who published a 365-page review last month that showed decongestants and antihistamines have been linked with 123 pediatric deaths since 1969. Many outside experts are also in favor of restricting children's access to cold remedies. Last Thursday, leading drug makers announced a voluntary withdrawal of oral cough and cold medicines marketed for use in infants.
Ease morning sickness
When you're pregnant, it's important to eat healthy, regular meals to provide plenty of nutrients for your developing baby. But morning sickness can make that a tough task.
Here are some suggestions when you're dealing with morning sickness, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
Get enough rest.
First thing in the morning, eat a few pretzels, crackers or some dry cereal.
Eat small meals frequently throughout the day.
Stay away from greasy, fried or spicy foods.
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Try to drink them between meals instead of just with them.
If you don't feel like you can eat anything and can't drink water, try some ice chips, fruit juice or fruit juice popsicles.
Steer clear of offensive odors.
Here are some suggestions when you're dealing with morning sickness, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
Get enough rest.
First thing in the morning, eat a few pretzels, crackers or some dry cereal.
Eat small meals frequently throughout the day.
Stay away from greasy, fried or spicy foods.
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Try to drink them between meals instead of just with them.
If you don't feel like you can eat anything and can't drink water, try some ice chips, fruit juice or fruit juice popsicles.
Steer clear of offensive odors.
Get flu shots in Miami
Flu season is knocking on our door, and as usual, the young and the elderly run the biggest risk of suffering the virus's most severe effects. Experts recommended you don't wait until the last minute to get your flu vaccine.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department is providing flu vaccines that are free of charge for some and cost $30 for others. If you are between the ages of 6 months and 18-years-old, you can get vaccinated for free. Also, if you are 65-years-old, or older, you get the vaccine for free. Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 must pay the $30 fee for their vaccines.
For a schedule of locations and dates providing the flu vaccine CLICK HERE.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department is providing flu vaccines that are free of charge for some and cost $30 for others. If you are between the ages of 6 months and 18-years-old, you can get vaccinated for free. Also, if you are 65-years-old, or older, you get the vaccine for free. Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 must pay the $30 fee for their vaccines.
For a schedule of locations and dates providing the flu vaccine CLICK HERE.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Scientists explain chocolate cravings
Scientists Explain Why You Crave Chocolate Deep Down - Right Into Your Gut
By SETH BORENSTEIN
The Associated Press
If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
By SETH BORENSTEIN
The Associated Press
If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
Family Day a paid holiday
Canadians have come up with a really nice idea and possibly another way to get the whole family to sit down to dinner together.
The Canadian province of Ontario is getting a new holiday — Family Day to be observed the third Monday in February.
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Thursday he was adding a ninth holiday to the province's official list, issuing an executive order to make good on a campaign promise.
"Families are busier than ever," McGuinty said. "That's why we committed to creating a new long weekend in February by introducing a new statutory holiday."
Most workers are entitled to take the day off with regular pay. Businesses that do open are obligated to pay holiday pay.
I think we need a "Family Day" holiday too...what do you think?
The Canadian province of Ontario is getting a new holiday — Family Day to be observed the third Monday in February.
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Thursday he was adding a ninth holiday to the province's official list, issuing an executive order to make good on a campaign promise.
"Families are busier than ever," McGuinty said. "That's why we committed to creating a new long weekend in February by introducing a new statutory holiday."
Most workers are entitled to take the day off with regular pay. Businesses that do open are obligated to pay holiday pay.
I think we need a "Family Day" holiday too...what do you think?
Testing to start for airport body scan
Body scan
By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press
The federal government will begin testing a body-scanning machine that could eventually be used instead of the metal detectors passengers walk through at airports.
Tests were scheduled to begin Thursday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with passengers pulled out of the security line for secondary screening. Passengers may request the full-body scan — which blurs faces so the person being screened cannot be recognized — instead of the traditional pat-down used across the country. The new machine uses radio waves to detect foreign objects.
Since February, the Phoenix airport has been testing a similar machine that uses so-called backscatter radiation to scan the entire body. The backscatter uses a narrow, low-intensity x-ray beam that's scans the entire body at a high speed. The amount of radiation used during this scan is equal to 15 minutes of exposure to natural background radiation such as the sun's rays.
Officials are trying to determine if the body-scan machines are a more effective search tool than a pat-down. Both types of machines check for explosives, metal, plastic and liquids — anything hidden on the body, said Mike Golden, the Transportation Security Administration's chief technology officer.
The new type of device being tested, called a "millimeter wave" machine, doesn't use radiation, Golden said Wednesday during a demonstration for reporters at the agency's headquarters in Arlington, Va. Instead, it uses electromagnetic waves to create an image based on energy reflected from the body.
The millimeter wave machine works like this: A person walks into a large portal — nearly 9 feet tall and 6 feet wide — pauses and lifts his arms while the machine takes two scans using radio waves. The scans take 1.8 seconds, and it takes about a minute for the image to appear on a computer screen in a separate location.
To protect privacy, the image will be shown on screens in a completely different area than where the screening is taking place. The TSA officer doing the screening will never see the computer image, and images will not be saved, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said.
Reporters were only shown an example of a female body image, which was a three-dimensional image of a very fit woman in her brassiere and underwear. TSA describes this as similar to a "fuzzy photo negative."
Privacy advocates say the images are more graphic than that.
"If you want to see a naked body, this is a naked body," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's program on technology and liberty.
Steinhardt also received a demonstration of the new machine, which he says shows the same graphic image as the backscatters.
"I continue to believe that these are virtual strip searches," Steinhardt said. "If Playboy published them, there would be politicians out there saying they're pornographic."
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the Alexandria, Va., federal courthouse use the millimeter wave machines, TSA said.
TSA purchased eight of the millimeter wave machines, which cost between $100,000 and $120,000, and is considering deploying them at John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles international airports during the testing period. The results of the testing will determine whether to use these machines for primary screening, Howe said.
By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press
The federal government will begin testing a body-scanning machine that could eventually be used instead of the metal detectors passengers walk through at airports.
Tests were scheduled to begin Thursday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with passengers pulled out of the security line for secondary screening. Passengers may request the full-body scan — which blurs faces so the person being screened cannot be recognized — instead of the traditional pat-down used across the country. The new machine uses radio waves to detect foreign objects.
Since February, the Phoenix airport has been testing a similar machine that uses so-called backscatter radiation to scan the entire body. The backscatter uses a narrow, low-intensity x-ray beam that's scans the entire body at a high speed. The amount of radiation used during this scan is equal to 15 minutes of exposure to natural background radiation such as the sun's rays.
Officials are trying to determine if the body-scan machines are a more effective search tool than a pat-down. Both types of machines check for explosives, metal, plastic and liquids — anything hidden on the body, said Mike Golden, the Transportation Security Administration's chief technology officer.
The new type of device being tested, called a "millimeter wave" machine, doesn't use radiation, Golden said Wednesday during a demonstration for reporters at the agency's headquarters in Arlington, Va. Instead, it uses electromagnetic waves to create an image based on energy reflected from the body.
The millimeter wave machine works like this: A person walks into a large portal — nearly 9 feet tall and 6 feet wide — pauses and lifts his arms while the machine takes two scans using radio waves. The scans take 1.8 seconds, and it takes about a minute for the image to appear on a computer screen in a separate location.
To protect privacy, the image will be shown on screens in a completely different area than where the screening is taking place. The TSA officer doing the screening will never see the computer image, and images will not be saved, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said.
Reporters were only shown an example of a female body image, which was a three-dimensional image of a very fit woman in her brassiere and underwear. TSA describes this as similar to a "fuzzy photo negative."
Privacy advocates say the images are more graphic than that.
"If you want to see a naked body, this is a naked body," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's program on technology and liberty.
Steinhardt also received a demonstration of the new machine, which he says shows the same graphic image as the backscatters.
"I continue to believe that these are virtual strip searches," Steinhardt said. "If Playboy published them, there would be politicians out there saying they're pornographic."
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the Alexandria, Va., federal courthouse use the millimeter wave machines, TSA said.
TSA purchased eight of the millimeter wave machines, which cost between $100,000 and $120,000, and is considering deploying them at John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles international airports during the testing period. The results of the testing will determine whether to use these machines for primary screening, Howe said.
Is your child Autistic?
Some important information for people wondering if their child might be suffering from autism. A new Web site offers dozens of video clips of autistic kids, along with clips of children unaffected by the disease. The site gives parents a way to compare their kids' behavior to see if they might need to have a doctor take a closer look. The site is sponsored by two non-profit advocacy groups, Autism Speaks and First Signs. They hope it will promote early diagnosis and treatment, which can help young children with autism lead more normal lives.
If your child is diagnosed with autism, early intervention is critical to gain maximum benefit from existing therapies.
If your child is diagnosed with autism, early intervention is critical to gain maximum benefit from existing therapies.
5 Talented Women
Five talented women have been selected as winners of the second annual Acceleration Grant for Emerging Filmmakers competition, it was announced by the national organization of Women In Film (WIF) and the General Motors Corporation. The grant, awarded annually, is a program of the WIF/GM Alliance, the goal of which is to support talented filmmakers from under-represented communities.
The Women In Film/General Motors Alliance was created to support women in the entertainment industry and to expand Women In Film chapter programs across the country.
The Women In Film/General Motors Alliance was created to support women in the entertainment industry and to expand Women In Film chapter programs across the country.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
No mints? Here's help.
Want some sweeter breath?
Women's Day says that you don't need a breath mint; try grabbing an apple, some yogurt, or parsley!
Yep- apples can help remove plaque from your teeth, and the fruit helps you produce more saliva, which can stop bad breath. The American Dietetic Association claims that people who ate yogurt every day for 6 weeks were able to decrease levels of smelly hydrogen sulfide by 80%, and as for parsley? Turns out the sprig isn't just for decoration; it contains chlorophyll, which helps freshen your breath from the inside out.
Women's Day says that you don't need a breath mint; try grabbing an apple, some yogurt, or parsley!
Yep- apples can help remove plaque from your teeth, and the fruit helps you produce more saliva, which can stop bad breath. The American Dietetic Association claims that people who ate yogurt every day for 6 weeks were able to decrease levels of smelly hydrogen sulfide by 80%, and as for parsley? Turns out the sprig isn't just for decoration; it contains chlorophyll, which helps freshen your breath from the inside out.
Make your own costume
Halloween costumes can cost you a small fortune so why not make yours and save some money?
Need some ideas?
Need some ideas?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Kids in the United States aren't getting the health care they need, especially in the area of prevention, a new study shows.
"Children in the U.S. receive only 46 percent of the care that they should be getting, so they receive worse care than adults in this country, who get 55 percent of needed care," said the study author. Information on the quality and safety of adult health-care in the United States has been well-documented, but information on children's health care has been scant, the study authors stated.
Physicians need to be trained better in preventive care. Right now, the emphasis is on dealing with acute illness.
"Children in the U.S. receive only 46 percent of the care that they should be getting, so they receive worse care than adults in this country, who get 55 percent of needed care," said the study author. Information on the quality and safety of adult health-care in the United States has been well-documented, but information on children's health care has been scant, the study authors stated.
Physicians need to be trained better in preventive care. Right now, the emphasis is on dealing with acute illness.
Ladies, talk about sex - it's good for you!
Ladies, think twice before you decide to hold back your sexual frustrations from your partner.
It’s not only bad for your relationship, it could also be harmful to your health, according to recent studies. Not surprisingly, sex is one of the main reasons people argue, often above money, housework and other common sources of conflict. Sex is also one of those subjects that women tend to keep bottled up because they’re afraid of an angry reaction. You can be lying in bed next to someone and feel a million miles apart from them. But self-silencing and bottling up emotions around sex leads to sever depression, anxiety and often infidelity.
It’s not only bad for your relationship, it could also be harmful to your health, according to recent studies. Not surprisingly, sex is one of the main reasons people argue, often above money, housework and other common sources of conflict. Sex is also one of those subjects that women tend to keep bottled up because they’re afraid of an angry reaction. You can be lying in bed next to someone and feel a million miles apart from them. But self-silencing and bottling up emotions around sex leads to sever depression, anxiety and often infidelity.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Hide veggies in Popeye soup
Popeye Soup recipe
-3 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 package of spinach
- a ‘bunch’ of collard greens
- a ‘bunch’ of kale
- A small package of baby carrots (or any you may have….but,baby carrots add a sweetness)
- ½ a head of colliflower
- 1 piece of pumpkin
- a handful of green beans
- ½ an onion
- a sliver of green papper
-chicken boullon cube
First I cut up the onion and green pepper. I cook them in the pan with a bit of olive oil (or vegetable).I throw in the three chicken breasts just for a couple of minuites to bring out the flavor (approx 2 minuites per side). Then I put in the water(nearnly to the top of the pan. I add one chicken boullon cubeand salt or seasoning of your choice.I boil this for about 20 to 30 min.(depends on the pumpkin).When the pumpkin is begginning to become tender I add everything else and let it boil for another 20 to 30 min. This is an extremely simple recipe to make. You can skip the first steps with the chicken breast and just throw everthing in the pot and let it cook.Then you puree it all.You will probably be getting different colors out of you puree depending on what you put in the blender that particular time but don’t worry you mix everything when you finish.May need to re salt before eating but that is up to you!
Popeye song
I’M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN…TOOT TOOT,
I;M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN…TOOT TOOT
I’M STRONG TO THE FINISH CAUSE I EAT MI SPINACH,
I’M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN TOOT TOOT!!!
Compliments of Martha Matias from Hialeah
-3 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 package of spinach
- a ‘bunch’ of collard greens
- a ‘bunch’ of kale
- A small package of baby carrots (or any you may have….but,baby carrots add a sweetness)
- ½ a head of colliflower
- 1 piece of pumpkin
- a handful of green beans
- ½ an onion
- a sliver of green papper
-chicken boullon cube
First I cut up the onion and green pepper. I cook them in the pan with a bit of olive oil (or vegetable).I throw in the three chicken breasts just for a couple of minuites to bring out the flavor (approx 2 minuites per side). Then I put in the water(nearnly to the top of the pan. I add one chicken boullon cubeand salt or seasoning of your choice.I boil this for about 20 to 30 min.(depends on the pumpkin).When the pumpkin is begginning to become tender I add everything else and let it boil for another 20 to 30 min. This is an extremely simple recipe to make. You can skip the first steps with the chicken breast and just throw everthing in the pot and let it cook.Then you puree it all.You will probably be getting different colors out of you puree depending on what you put in the blender that particular time but don’t worry you mix everything when you finish.May need to re salt before eating but that is up to you!
Popeye song
I’M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN…TOOT TOOT,
I;M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN…TOOT TOOT
I’M STRONG TO THE FINISH CAUSE I EAT MI SPINACH,
I’M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN TOOT TOOT!!!
Compliments of Martha Matias from Hialeah
Hackers! Worms! And Viruses! Oh my!
Last night I'm sufing the web looking for show content and some how I ended up on a naughty website...funny how you put an innocent word in a search engine and you end up in the gutter.
The mili-second your computer goes online, you might as well throw out a welcome mat in front of your virtual door inviting a not-so-friendly-neighborhood hacker to come on in, at least that's what the authors of Internet Privacy for Dummies say.
Those authors -- John R. Levine, Ray Everett-Church and Gregg Stebben -- have come to the rescue jam-packed with info in the usual wacky-fun spirit of the Dummies series.
You'll ogle oodles of tips in an easy-to-read way such as there six things your ISP doesn't want you to know it knows:
Every Web site you've ever visited -- even the ones you mistakenly visited
Every e-mail and instant message you've ever sent and received and perhaps even written but then thought better of sending
Everything you've ever said in every chat session you've ever had
Everything you've ever bought over the Internet
Everything you've ever considered buying over the Internet
Possibly who and how much you have paid if you pay your bills online.
Catch your breath yet? As scary as it all seems, at least you'll be laughing all the way through the 351 pages.
The mili-second your computer goes online, you might as well throw out a welcome mat in front of your virtual door inviting a not-so-friendly-neighborhood hacker to come on in, at least that's what the authors of Internet Privacy for Dummies say.
Those authors -- John R. Levine, Ray Everett-Church and Gregg Stebben -- have come to the rescue jam-packed with info in the usual wacky-fun spirit of the Dummies series.
You'll ogle oodles of tips in an easy-to-read way such as there six things your ISP doesn't want you to know it knows:
Every Web site you've ever visited -- even the ones you mistakenly visited
Every e-mail and instant message you've ever sent and received and perhaps even written but then thought better of sending
Everything you've ever said in every chat session you've ever had
Everything you've ever bought over the Internet
Everything you've ever considered buying over the Internet
Possibly who and how much you have paid if you pay your bills online.
Catch your breath yet? As scary as it all seems, at least you'll be laughing all the way through the 351 pages.
Deceptively Delicious veggies
Did you turn your nose up at vegetables when you were a kid? Things haven't changed much. The other day I caught Jerry Seinfeld's wife on Oprah with a new way to get your kids to eat veggies.
Deceptively Delicious is a new book on healthy food recipes by Jessica Seinfeld that makes it easy to make mouthwatering healthy recipes for family and children.
As a mother of three, Jessica Seinfeld, like many busy parents, used to struggle to get her kids to eat right. In Deceptively Delicious, she shares her solutions: easy, mouthwatering recipes that even the most overwhelmed families can make — stealthily packed with unseen veggies, puréed so kids will never suspect. Deceptively Delicious is a godsend for all parents who want healthy kids, peaceful family meals, and never again having to say, "Eat your vegetables!"
Try some of her recipes!
Deceptively Delicious is a new book on healthy food recipes by Jessica Seinfeld that makes it easy to make mouthwatering healthy recipes for family and children.
As a mother of three, Jessica Seinfeld, like many busy parents, used to struggle to get her kids to eat right. In Deceptively Delicious, she shares her solutions: easy, mouthwatering recipes that even the most overwhelmed families can make — stealthily packed with unseen veggies, puréed so kids will never suspect. Deceptively Delicious is a godsend for all parents who want healthy kids, peaceful family meals, and never again having to say, "Eat your vegetables!"
Try some of her recipes!
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
A new study found a distinct pattern of medical signs and symptoms that occurred prior to the detection of ovarian cancer.
According to the study, the conditions patients experienced before an ovarian cancer diagnosis included abdominal pain, urinary tract conditions, menopausal disorders, female genital symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms were most pronounced in the 30-90 days prior to diagnosis. This study found that while the presence of ovarian cancer-related symptoms and conditions prior to diagnoses was documented in the medical claims data, this increase was most pronounced in the two to three months prior to diagnosis. Still, there remains a challenge to link symptoms with ovarian cancer, as many of the related symptoms are also present for several other disorders and diseases.
According to the study, the conditions patients experienced before an ovarian cancer diagnosis included abdominal pain, urinary tract conditions, menopausal disorders, female genital symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms were most pronounced in the 30-90 days prior to diagnosis. This study found that while the presence of ovarian cancer-related symptoms and conditions prior to diagnoses was documented in the medical claims data, this increase was most pronounced in the two to three months prior to diagnosis. Still, there remains a challenge to link symptoms with ovarian cancer, as many of the related symptoms are also present for several other disorders and diseases.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Not just a pretty face
The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
By Stacy Malkan
Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby soap? Coal tar in shampoo? How is this possible?
Simple. The $35 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful that they've kept themselves unregulated for decades.
Not one cosmetic product has to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration before hitting the market. Incredible? Consider this:
The European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals from cosmetics. The United States has banned just 10.
Only 11% of chemicals used in cosmetics in the US have been assessed for health and safety – leaving a staggering 89% with unknown or undisclosed effects.
More than 70% of all personal care products may contain phthalates, which are linked to birth defects and infertility.
Many baby soaps are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical 1,4 dioxane.
It's not just women who are affected by this chemists' brew. Shampoo, deodorant, face lotion and other products used daily by men, women and children contain hazardous chemicals that the industry claims are "within acceptable limits." But there's nothing acceptable about daily multiple exposures to carcinogenic chemicals — from products that are supposed to make us feel healthy and beautiful.
Not Just a Pretty Face delves deeply into the dark side of the beauty industry, and looks to hopeful solutions for a healthier future. This scathing investigation peels away less-than-lovely layers to expose an industry in dire need of an extreme makeover.
By Stacy Malkan
Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby soap? Coal tar in shampoo? How is this possible?
Simple. The $35 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful that they've kept themselves unregulated for decades.
Not one cosmetic product has to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration before hitting the market. Incredible? Consider this:
The European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals from cosmetics. The United States has banned just 10.
Only 11% of chemicals used in cosmetics in the US have been assessed for health and safety – leaving a staggering 89% with unknown or undisclosed effects.
More than 70% of all personal care products may contain phthalates, which are linked to birth defects and infertility.
Many baby soaps are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical 1,4 dioxane.
It's not just women who are affected by this chemists' brew. Shampoo, deodorant, face lotion and other products used daily by men, women and children contain hazardous chemicals that the industry claims are "within acceptable limits." But there's nothing acceptable about daily multiple exposures to carcinogenic chemicals — from products that are supposed to make us feel healthy and beautiful.
Not Just a Pretty Face delves deeply into the dark side of the beauty industry, and looks to hopeful solutions for a healthier future. This scathing investigation peels away less-than-lovely layers to expose an industry in dire need of an extreme makeover.
10 Habits of highly annoying co-workers
Habit No. 1: You make a daily call to your partner to "check in," which can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes and, depending on how you two are getting along these days, can result in either a nasty fight or the sweet murmurings of baby talk.
Habit No. 2: You just can't seem to make it to those early morning meetings on time. If only the wait at the Starbucks next door weren't so slow, you'd never have to ask your co-workers what you missed.
Habit No. 3: You almost always leave the office early "to beat traffic." You're positive that you have the worst commute of all your officemates.
Habit No. 4: You buy a huge gift basket for someone in the office without consulting any of your co-workers, and then tell everyone that they owe you $10 to chip in.
Habit No. 5: You borrow your neighbor's stapler without asking and only remember to return it when your neighbor complains that he or she can't find it.
Habit No. 6: You can't understand what the big deal is whenever you ask your co-workers for "a tiny favor." Don't they know how much work you have piling up? You talk about it all the time.
Habit No. 7: You've once again forgotten to take home and wash the container that has the remnants of your tuna salad lunch a few days ago.
Habit No. 8: You answer questions or reply to comments with "That's what she said."
Habit No. 9: You don't see the need to learn how to send a fax or fix a paper jam when there's always someone around to help you do it.
Habit No. 10: You play your favorite boy band CD on repeat. All day. Every day.
Habit No. 2: You just can't seem to make it to those early morning meetings on time. If only the wait at the Starbucks next door weren't so slow, you'd never have to ask your co-workers what you missed.
Habit No. 3: You almost always leave the office early "to beat traffic." You're positive that you have the worst commute of all your officemates.
Habit No. 4: You buy a huge gift basket for someone in the office without consulting any of your co-workers, and then tell everyone that they owe you $10 to chip in.
Habit No. 5: You borrow your neighbor's stapler without asking and only remember to return it when your neighbor complains that he or she can't find it.
Habit No. 6: You can't understand what the big deal is whenever you ask your co-workers for "a tiny favor." Don't they know how much work you have piling up? You talk about it all the time.
Habit No. 7: You've once again forgotten to take home and wash the container that has the remnants of your tuna salad lunch a few days ago.
Habit No. 8: You answer questions or reply to comments with "That's what she said."
Habit No. 9: You don't see the need to learn how to send a fax or fix a paper jam when there's always someone around to help you do it.
Habit No. 10: You play your favorite boy band CD on repeat. All day. Every day.
The most important health number
Here's an important health number to remember : it's 5.
That's the minimum number of years you should maintain a steady, healthy weight- no yo-yo dieting! Experts say the more consistent your body weight is, the stronger your immune system. That's because weight fluctuations impair the body's ability to produce infection-fighting cells. Get down to a healthy weight, and try to maintain in for as long as possible.
That's the minimum number of years you should maintain a steady, healthy weight- no yo-yo dieting! Experts say the more consistent your body weight is, the stronger your immune system. That's because weight fluctuations impair the body's ability to produce infection-fighting cells. Get down to a healthy weight, and try to maintain in for as long as possible.
Are you over-extending your kids?
It’s pretty common to hear parents talk about racing their child from one club sport, to the next—or to an academic debate, school club or other roster of activities.
For some children, adding extra-curricular activities may be due to the pressure of building a resume to get into a good college, while others feel peer pressure to hang out with a group of friends.
Some parents might feel their child is “missing out” if he isn’t constantly occupied. There are various reasons, but it all adds up to overload.
Look for signs of being over-loaded, such as: Feeling tired, exhausted or depressed. Not enjoying the activity they once loved. Lower grades in school. Complaining of headaches or body aches, which may be due to stress or lack of sleep. Having stomach pain, which may be due to missed meals or stress.
For some children, adding extra-curricular activities may be due to the pressure of building a resume to get into a good college, while others feel peer pressure to hang out with a group of friends.
Some parents might feel their child is “missing out” if he isn’t constantly occupied. There are various reasons, but it all adds up to overload.
Look for signs of being over-loaded, such as: Feeling tired, exhausted or depressed. Not enjoying the activity they once loved. Lower grades in school. Complaining of headaches or body aches, which may be due to stress or lack of sleep. Having stomach pain, which may be due to missed meals or stress.
Let men worry about the pill for a while
Wouldn't it be great if men could play a bigger role in preventing unplanned pregnancies?
According to an article from Ms. magazine, recently 140 male contraceptive researchers met in Seattle. During the "Future of Male Contraception" meeting a number of practical methods of birth control for men were presented. Among them is a hormonal method of birth control that has been shown, in clinical trial, to kill sperm in 90 percent of men. It's clear that more choices in contraceptives for men will one day be a long overdue reality.
According to an article from Ms. magazine, recently 140 male contraceptive researchers met in Seattle. During the "Future of Male Contraception" meeting a number of practical methods of birth control for men were presented. Among them is a hormonal method of birth control that has been shown, in clinical trial, to kill sperm in 90 percent of men. It's clear that more choices in contraceptives for men will one day be a long overdue reality.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Do you sleep better together or apart?
Men sleep better next to their mates
Rest was more fragmented for females in shared bed, study found
By Linda Carroll
MSNBC contributor
Lori Taylor would love to sleep next to her husband — if his snoring and thrashing weren’t guaranteed to keep her awake all night.
Still, the 48-year-old New York City teacher has mixed feelings about choosing to sleep in separate beds.
“There’s something nice about the warmth of a human body next to you, even if you’re not sleeping as well,” says Taylor, who has slept apart from her husband off and on for the last five of her 11-year marriage. “When you’re in bed together you’re in a little private space on your own time. Cuddling up on the couch with the phone ringing isn’t the same.”
Taylor's trouble getting a good night's rest next to her husband isn't unusual. Women sleep less soundly when they share a bed with a romantic partner, a study published this month in Sleep and Biological Rhythms found. Surprisingly, men actually sleep better when they sleep next to a woman.
There are a lot more couples sleeping separately than you might guess, says Mark Mahowald, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis and a professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. An estimated 23 percent of American couples sleep apart, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation. A Canadian study reported that 34 percent of couples hit the sack separately.
Women may have a tougher time sharing a bed because men are much more likely to be snorers, says Mahowald. And often, it’s the woman who has to move to a different bed — or room, in some cases — when the decibel level of her husband's snoring crescendos to an intolerable level.
But snoring may not be the only problem for women who’d like to spoon all through the night.
Device measured movementsFor the study, Austrian researchers asked 10 committed couples, ages 21 to 31, to wear a small device called an actigraph on their wrists while they slept at home. An actigraph, which resembles a wristwatch, keeps track of a person’s movements during the night and chronicles their periods of sleep and wakefulness.
The actigraphs showed that the women’s sleep was more fragmented on nights when they shared a bed, than when they slept alone. The differences weren’t huge, but they were significant.
The researchers speculated that women's fretful sleep might be caused by brain wiring differences between men and women. Women tend to be lighter sleepers because they historically have been the ones caring for infants, the researchers suggested.
The actigraph's measurements would most likely have been even more distinct if the couples in the study had been older, says sleep expert Michael Perlis. That’s because snoring becomes more of an issue as men age, explains Perlis, director of the Sleep Research Lab and an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.
Psychologist Wendy Troxel isn’t surprised to see that men do better when sleeping in a shared bed. Studies have shown that men are very dependent on close relationships — contrary to popular stereotypes, says Troxel, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh who has studied how the quality of a relationship affects overall health and sleep in men and women.
In general, men show much clearer benefits from committed relationships, Troxel says. “My research shows that married men are much happier and healthier than unmarried men," she adds. “The findings are much less consistent with women.”
Willing to sacrifice for a snuggleNoting that a good night’s sleep is important to daytime functioning, the Austrian researchers suggested that couples might consider the possible deleterious effects of sleeping together and choose separate beds instead.
But Perlis and other sleep experts aren’t convinced that this is the best plan.
“At the end of the day, there’s something essentially comforting about this behavior — so much so that people are sometimes willing to sacrifice perfect sleep to get it,” Perlis says. “I’d be hard pressed to imagine recommending with a cheerful heart for people to sleep apart.”
Perlis and other experts suggest couples look for solutions to snoring and other sleep problems before turning to separate beds. “I’d recommend ear plugs, whatever it takes,” Perlis says. “That’s also partly a personal judgment.”
Ear plugs have helped Taylor and her husband sleep through the night on vacations when the couple needed to share a bed. But, she says, they don’t help enough to make a shared bed work at home.
“I’d like him to go get a sleep study,” she adds. “But so far he’s been unwilling to do that.”
Rest was more fragmented for females in shared bed, study found
By Linda Carroll
MSNBC contributor
Lori Taylor would love to sleep next to her husband — if his snoring and thrashing weren’t guaranteed to keep her awake all night.
Still, the 48-year-old New York City teacher has mixed feelings about choosing to sleep in separate beds.
“There’s something nice about the warmth of a human body next to you, even if you’re not sleeping as well,” says Taylor, who has slept apart from her husband off and on for the last five of her 11-year marriage. “When you’re in bed together you’re in a little private space on your own time. Cuddling up on the couch with the phone ringing isn’t the same.”
Taylor's trouble getting a good night's rest next to her husband isn't unusual. Women sleep less soundly when they share a bed with a romantic partner, a study published this month in Sleep and Biological Rhythms found. Surprisingly, men actually sleep better when they sleep next to a woman.
There are a lot more couples sleeping separately than you might guess, says Mark Mahowald, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis and a professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. An estimated 23 percent of American couples sleep apart, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation. A Canadian study reported that 34 percent of couples hit the sack separately.
Women may have a tougher time sharing a bed because men are much more likely to be snorers, says Mahowald. And often, it’s the woman who has to move to a different bed — or room, in some cases — when the decibel level of her husband's snoring crescendos to an intolerable level.
But snoring may not be the only problem for women who’d like to spoon all through the night.
Device measured movementsFor the study, Austrian researchers asked 10 committed couples, ages 21 to 31, to wear a small device called an actigraph on their wrists while they slept at home. An actigraph, which resembles a wristwatch, keeps track of a person’s movements during the night and chronicles their periods of sleep and wakefulness.
The actigraphs showed that the women’s sleep was more fragmented on nights when they shared a bed, than when they slept alone. The differences weren’t huge, but they were significant.
The researchers speculated that women's fretful sleep might be caused by brain wiring differences between men and women. Women tend to be lighter sleepers because they historically have been the ones caring for infants, the researchers suggested.
The actigraph's measurements would most likely have been even more distinct if the couples in the study had been older, says sleep expert Michael Perlis. That’s because snoring becomes more of an issue as men age, explains Perlis, director of the Sleep Research Lab and an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.
Psychologist Wendy Troxel isn’t surprised to see that men do better when sleeping in a shared bed. Studies have shown that men are very dependent on close relationships — contrary to popular stereotypes, says Troxel, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh who has studied how the quality of a relationship affects overall health and sleep in men and women.
In general, men show much clearer benefits from committed relationships, Troxel says. “My research shows that married men are much happier and healthier than unmarried men," she adds. “The findings are much less consistent with women.”
Willing to sacrifice for a snuggleNoting that a good night’s sleep is important to daytime functioning, the Austrian researchers suggested that couples might consider the possible deleterious effects of sleeping together and choose separate beds instead.
But Perlis and other sleep experts aren’t convinced that this is the best plan.
“At the end of the day, there’s something essentially comforting about this behavior — so much so that people are sometimes willing to sacrifice perfect sleep to get it,” Perlis says. “I’d be hard pressed to imagine recommending with a cheerful heart for people to sleep apart.”
Perlis and other experts suggest couples look for solutions to snoring and other sleep problems before turning to separate beds. “I’d recommend ear plugs, whatever it takes,” Perlis says. “That’s also partly a personal judgment.”
Ear plugs have helped Taylor and her husband sleep through the night on vacations when the couple needed to share a bed. But, she says, they don’t help enough to make a shared bed work at home.
“I’d like him to go get a sleep study,” she adds. “But so far he’s been unwilling to do that.”
How to say "No"
While it's easy to say no when it comes to extended warranties and 6 a.m. sex, most women would much rather rapid-fire a yes to any question they're asked.
Yes, you'll take on more work. Yes, you'll meet your mother-in-law for coffee. Yes, you'll feed your neighbor's cat for a week. Yes, yes, sure, of course, yes. "Women like saying, 'Look, I can do these 14 jobs and take the laundry to the river on my head. Aren't I amazing?'" says Ronna Lichtenberg, author of Pitch Like A Girl: How a Woman Can Be Herself And Still Succeed.
The trick to saying no — to the people who most want your yes — is not only in what you say, but also in how you say it.
Say No To: Your kids
How: Simple repetition
According to Ann Pleshette Murphy, author of The Seven Stages of Motherhood, parents often make the mistake of speaking in a calm, grown-up voice when their kids lose control. "It's better to match their intensity as a way of communicating that you understand how upset they are. Your voice should sound pitiably sad, not stern and cold. And your words should be simple and repetitive: "I know you want those chips. You want them now, but you can't have them until after dinner." The discipline is good for them. "You're actually teaching your child to delay gratification and to master tough emotions like anger and frustration," says Pleshette Murphy. "Especially if your approach is, 'I know you're upset, but I know you can handle it.'"
Say No To: Your man
How: Agree with him — at first
He wants you to meet his parents; you think it's premature. If you reject him outright, you'll probably start one helluva fight. Soften the blow: "I'd love to have dinner with them. But let's do it after we've dated a few more months." That way, you'll have agreed with him initially. "You ensure that he understands you're not rejecting the idea because it's his," says Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D, author of Recharge in Minutes.
Say No To: Your boss
How: Respond with questions, not answers
The next time your boss asks you to restructure the office tech system — by tomorrow morning — figure out what you can do, and then outline the plan: "Are you more concerned about the budget or the deadline?" Wrap up your solution by asking a question that leaves the ball in her court: "Does that make sense?" You won't have said no, but you'll also have set the parameters for how the project should go. "Help get the boss what she wants" without being a naysayer, says Steven McCreedy, the national accounts manager for the Brooks Group.
Appeared in the February/March 2005 issue of Women's Health
Yes, you'll take on more work. Yes, you'll meet your mother-in-law for coffee. Yes, you'll feed your neighbor's cat for a week. Yes, yes, sure, of course, yes. "Women like saying, 'Look, I can do these 14 jobs and take the laundry to the river on my head. Aren't I amazing?'" says Ronna Lichtenberg, author of Pitch Like A Girl: How a Woman Can Be Herself And Still Succeed.
The trick to saying no — to the people who most want your yes — is not only in what you say, but also in how you say it.
Say No To: Your kids
How: Simple repetition
According to Ann Pleshette Murphy, author of The Seven Stages of Motherhood, parents often make the mistake of speaking in a calm, grown-up voice when their kids lose control. "It's better to match their intensity as a way of communicating that you understand how upset they are. Your voice should sound pitiably sad, not stern and cold. And your words should be simple and repetitive: "I know you want those chips. You want them now, but you can't have them until after dinner." The discipline is good for them. "You're actually teaching your child to delay gratification and to master tough emotions like anger and frustration," says Pleshette Murphy. "Especially if your approach is, 'I know you're upset, but I know you can handle it.'"
Say No To: Your man
How: Agree with him — at first
He wants you to meet his parents; you think it's premature. If you reject him outright, you'll probably start one helluva fight. Soften the blow: "I'd love to have dinner with them. But let's do it after we've dated a few more months." That way, you'll have agreed with him initially. "You ensure that he understands you're not rejecting the idea because it's his," says Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D, author of Recharge in Minutes.
Say No To: Your boss
How: Respond with questions, not answers
The next time your boss asks you to restructure the office tech system — by tomorrow morning — figure out what you can do, and then outline the plan: "Are you more concerned about the budget or the deadline?" Wrap up your solution by asking a question that leaves the ball in her court: "Does that make sense?" You won't have said no, but you'll also have set the parameters for how the project should go. "Help get the boss what she wants" without being a naysayer, says Steven McCreedy, the national accounts manager for the Brooks Group.
Appeared in the February/March 2005 issue of Women's Health
A healthy Halloween for your child
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:
A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.
A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.
A health vault for your medical information
Microsoft has launched a web site for managing personal health and medical information. The site is part filing cabinet, part library and part fax machine for your medical records and notes. Its called Healthvault.
Fight aging with Jellyfish?
Prevagen is a novel dietary supplement designed to fight aging. The only supplement from a jellyfish, Prevagen has been demonstrated to keep cells alive longer.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Why you should get checked for depression
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.
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.
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.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ten Ways to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills
Don't discount the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace. How you are perceived by your manager and coworkers plays a large role in things as minor as your day-to-day happiness at the office and as major as the future of your career.
No matter how hard you work or how many brilliant ideas you may have, if you can't connect with the people working around you, your professional life will suffer. The good news is that there are several concrete things you can do to improve your social skills and become closer to your colleagues, all of which will ultimately help you succeed in today's working world.
Try these 10 helpful tips for improving your interpersonal skills:
Smile. Few people want to be around someone who is always down in the dumps. Do your best to be friendly and upbeat with your coworkers. Maintain a positive, cheerful attitude about work and about life. Smile often. The positive energy you radiate will draw others to you.
Be appreciative. Find one positive thing about everyone you work with and let them hear it. Be generous with praise and kind words of encouragement. Say thanks when someone helps you. Make colleagues feel welcome when they call or stop by your office. If you let others know that they are appreciated, they'll want to give you their best.
Pay attention to others. Observe what's going on in other people's lives. Acknowledge their happy milestones and express concern and sympathy for difficult situations such as an illness or death. Make eye contact and address people by their first names. Ask others for their opinions.
Practice active listening. Actively listening is a way of demonstrating that you intend to hear and understand another's point of view. It means restating, in your own words, what the other person has said. Your coworkers will appreciate knowing you really do listen to what they have to say.
Bring people together. Create an environment that encourages others to work together. Treat everyone equally and don't play favorites. Avoid talking about others behind their backs. Follow up on other people's suggestions or requests. When you make a statement or announcement, check to see that you have been understood. If folks see you as someone solid and fair, they will grow to trust you.
Resolve conflicts. Take a step beyond simply bringing people together and become someone who resolves conflicts when they arise. Learn how to be an effective mediator. If coworkers are bickering over personal or professional disagreements, arrange to sit down with both parties and help sort out their differences. By taking on such a leadership role, you will garner respect and admiration from those around you.
Communicate clearly. Pay close attention to both what you say and how you say it. Being a clear and effective communicator helps you avoid misunderstandings with coworkers. Verbal eloquence projects an image of intelligence and maturity, no matter what your age. If you tend to blurt out anything that comes to mind, people won't put much weight on your words or opinions.
Humor them. Don't be afraid to be funny or clever. Most people are drawn to a person that can make them laugh. Use your sense of humor as an effective tool to lower barriers and gain people's affection.
See it from their side. Empathy means being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand how they feel. Try to see things from another person's perspective. You can help yourself with this by staying in touch with your own emotions, since those who are cut off from their feelings are often unable to empathize with others.
Don't complain. There is nothing worse than a chronic complainer or whiner. If you simply have to vent about something, save it for your diary. But spare those around you, or else you'll get a bad reputation.
No matter how hard you work or how many brilliant ideas you may have, if you can't connect with the people working around you, your professional life will suffer. The good news is that there are several concrete things you can do to improve your social skills and become closer to your colleagues, all of which will ultimately help you succeed in today's working world.
Try these 10 helpful tips for improving your interpersonal skills:
Smile. Few people want to be around someone who is always down in the dumps. Do your best to be friendly and upbeat with your coworkers. Maintain a positive, cheerful attitude about work and about life. Smile often. The positive energy you radiate will draw others to you.
Be appreciative. Find one positive thing about everyone you work with and let them hear it. Be generous with praise and kind words of encouragement. Say thanks when someone helps you. Make colleagues feel welcome when they call or stop by your office. If you let others know that they are appreciated, they'll want to give you their best.
Pay attention to others. Observe what's going on in other people's lives. Acknowledge their happy milestones and express concern and sympathy for difficult situations such as an illness or death. Make eye contact and address people by their first names. Ask others for their opinions.
Practice active listening. Actively listening is a way of demonstrating that you intend to hear and understand another's point of view. It means restating, in your own words, what the other person has said. Your coworkers will appreciate knowing you really do listen to what they have to say.
Bring people together. Create an environment that encourages others to work together. Treat everyone equally and don't play favorites. Avoid talking about others behind their backs. Follow up on other people's suggestions or requests. When you make a statement or announcement, check to see that you have been understood. If folks see you as someone solid and fair, they will grow to trust you.
Resolve conflicts. Take a step beyond simply bringing people together and become someone who resolves conflicts when they arise. Learn how to be an effective mediator. If coworkers are bickering over personal or professional disagreements, arrange to sit down with both parties and help sort out their differences. By taking on such a leadership role, you will garner respect and admiration from those around you.
Communicate clearly. Pay close attention to both what you say and how you say it. Being a clear and effective communicator helps you avoid misunderstandings with coworkers. Verbal eloquence projects an image of intelligence and maturity, no matter what your age. If you tend to blurt out anything that comes to mind, people won't put much weight on your words or opinions.
Humor them. Don't be afraid to be funny or clever. Most people are drawn to a person that can make them laugh. Use your sense of humor as an effective tool to lower barriers and gain people's affection.
See it from their side. Empathy means being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand how they feel. Try to see things from another person's perspective. You can help yourself with this by staying in touch with your own emotions, since those who are cut off from their feelings are often unable to empathize with others.
Don't complain. There is nothing worse than a chronic complainer or whiner. If you simply have to vent about something, save it for your diary. But spare those around you, or else you'll get a bad reputation.
6 strategies for successful complaints
Whether the issue is a lumpy hotel bed or a fraudulent charge on your credit card, victory at the complaint counter hinges more on strategy than on the volume of your voice.
Don't be bullied
HOW TO HANDLE A BULLY
(AskMen.com)
Understand the bully: In reality, a bully has a very poor self-image and a total lack of people skills. The bully's attempt to control or overpower people stems from his fear of being insignificant, while his know-it-all behavior has its roots in his dread of being wrong. To combat his own self-esteem issues, a bully usually treats people offhandedly, disrespectfully and dismissively.
Stand up to the bully: It is important to be assertive the moment you sense a bully infringing on you; however, while this early stand may prevent escalation, it may also result in you getting your ass kicked. Generally, a bully has a "baiting" period at the onset of his reign, to see who is susceptible to bullying. If you don't show any signs of weakness, he'll realize that you're not susceptible and will eventually retreat to find somebody else to torment. This early assertiveness needn't be physical -- just speak with authority and confidence to demonstrate a commanding presence.
Laugh off the bully: Although it takes great guts to laugh off the hulking bully who stands before you, it is a surprisingly effective technique. You must understand that there are two ways to use laughter: You can either choose to laugh with the bully, which will position you as a harmless guy not worthy of pursuit, or you can laugh at the bully, effectively calling his bluff and humiliating him publicly. However, if not done convincingly, the latter option could result in your rear getting kicked -- again.
Distract the bully: Distracting the bully will buy you more time and temporarily deflect his attention from you. They say attack is the best form of defense, so defend yourself by attacking somebody else. Before your gym-going competitor can brag about his max lift versus yours, for instance, bring the bully's attention to the scrawnier guy across the room. If this scrawny guy looks weaker and frailer than you, then you can be guaranteed that the bully will have something to say about him and hopefully, in the process, he'll forget about you.
Attack the bully: If actions speak louder than words, then you must attack the bully directly. Study him to find out where his weaknesses are and, the next time he approaches you, rip into his insecurities. If you know that the bullying soccer dad's weakness is losing, for example, constantly remind him of the time his son lost an important game two years ago. His son may well have won every game since, but you can bet that his son's one failure remains very fresh in the bully's mind. However, be prepared for the consequences if you push that "Do Not Touch" red button one too many times.
(AskMen.com)
Understand the bully: In reality, a bully has a very poor self-image and a total lack of people skills. The bully's attempt to control or overpower people stems from his fear of being insignificant, while his know-it-all behavior has its roots in his dread of being wrong. To combat his own self-esteem issues, a bully usually treats people offhandedly, disrespectfully and dismissively.
Stand up to the bully: It is important to be assertive the moment you sense a bully infringing on you; however, while this early stand may prevent escalation, it may also result in you getting your ass kicked. Generally, a bully has a "baiting" period at the onset of his reign, to see who is susceptible to bullying. If you don't show any signs of weakness, he'll realize that you're not susceptible and will eventually retreat to find somebody else to torment. This early assertiveness needn't be physical -- just speak with authority and confidence to demonstrate a commanding presence.
Laugh off the bully: Although it takes great guts to laugh off the hulking bully who stands before you, it is a surprisingly effective technique. You must understand that there are two ways to use laughter: You can either choose to laugh with the bully, which will position you as a harmless guy not worthy of pursuit, or you can laugh at the bully, effectively calling his bluff and humiliating him publicly. However, if not done convincingly, the latter option could result in your rear getting kicked -- again.
Distract the bully: Distracting the bully will buy you more time and temporarily deflect his attention from you. They say attack is the best form of defense, so defend yourself by attacking somebody else. Before your gym-going competitor can brag about his max lift versus yours, for instance, bring the bully's attention to the scrawnier guy across the room. If this scrawny guy looks weaker and frailer than you, then you can be guaranteed that the bully will have something to say about him and hopefully, in the process, he'll forget about you.
Attack the bully: If actions speak louder than words, then you must attack the bully directly. Study him to find out where his weaknesses are and, the next time he approaches you, rip into his insecurities. If you know that the bullying soccer dad's weakness is losing, for example, constantly remind him of the time his son lost an important game two years ago. His son may well have won every game since, but you can bet that his son's one failure remains very fresh in the bully's mind. However, be prepared for the consequences if you push that "Do Not Touch" red button one too many times.
Go outside and play tomorrow!
It's something many a parent has said to a child: turn off that TV and go outside and play.
Come tomorrow, one TV network will do its part -- by turning itself off for a while. Nickelodeon will go dark for three hours in an effort to get its viewers to get out and exercise. It's the fourth annual worldwide day of play and it begins at noon. Later, Nickelodeon will highlight kids who been inspired to get more exercise. One is Kenderick, a 13-year-old boy from Little Rock, Arkansas. He says he's dropped 40 pounds since getting into the workout groove in April.
Come tomorrow, one TV network will do its part -- by turning itself off for a while. Nickelodeon will go dark for three hours in an effort to get its viewers to get out and exercise. It's the fourth annual worldwide day of play and it begins at noon. Later, Nickelodeon will highlight kids who been inspired to get more exercise. One is Kenderick, a 13-year-old boy from Little Rock, Arkansas. He says he's dropped 40 pounds since getting into the workout groove in April.
How much do you know about hormone therapy?
Fewer than one third of women 40 to 60 years old have heard about the landmark study that found the risks of hormone therapy for most menopausal women probably outweigh their benefits.
And just 40 percent got more answers right than wrong on a series of questions about whether hormone therapy increased or reduced the risk of seven different conditions, according to the report in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. The findings show that new approaches are needed for conveying important medical information to the public.
And just 40 percent got more answers right than wrong on a series of questions about whether hormone therapy increased or reduced the risk of seven different conditions, according to the report in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. The findings show that new approaches are needed for conveying important medical information to the public.
Volunteer your time and talents
If you'd like to help a charity but don't know how to get started. Check out Volunteer Broward and they can help you begin.
They refer individuals and groups to over 600 nonprofit organizations in Broward County, Florida. The need for volunteers is constant and overwhelming. There are literally thousands of volunteer opportunities to choose from.
They refer individuals and groups to over 600 nonprofit organizations in Broward County, Florida. The need for volunteers is constant and overwhelming. There are literally thousands of volunteer opportunities to choose from.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
14th Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction
The event is tomorrow September 28th at 7pm. You can help the Ann Storck Center.
Get all the details of the event here.
Get all the details of the event here.
Star in your own romance novel
Personalized romance novels can get your lazy lover going. A cool website called
your novel.com allows couples to answer a quick questionnaire and send in pictures of themselves so you can star in a romance novel. You just pick if you want it "mild" or "wild".
Hubba-hubba!!!
your novel.com allows couples to answer a quick questionnaire and send in pictures of themselves so you can star in a romance novel. You just pick if you want it "mild" or "wild".
Hubba-hubba!!!
The freshman mindset
The freshmen mindset list- Here's what your young people graduating in 2010 know about the world, and now, you will, too!
They have only known 2 presidents,
They grew up in minivans, not station wagons,
Google has always been a verb,
Text messaging is their mail,
They have rarely ever used a postage stamp,
Reality shows have always been on TV
The Soviet Union has never existed,
There's always only been ONE Germany,
And finally, a cup of coffee takes longer to make than a milkshake- I know...that's just wrong, but it still tastes so darned good...
They have only known 2 presidents,
They grew up in minivans, not station wagons,
Google has always been a verb,
Text messaging is their mail,
They have rarely ever used a postage stamp,
Reality shows have always been on TV
The Soviet Union has never existed,
There's always only been ONE Germany,
And finally, a cup of coffee takes longer to make than a milkshake- I know...that's just wrong, but it still tastes so darned good...
Breast cancer link with alcohol
Researchers say women who have just one or two drinks a day increase their risk of breast cancer by 10 percent, regardless of whether it's beer, wine or liquor. One cancer expert calls it "a hugely underestimated riskfactor."
Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about the effects of different kinds of alcohol. They found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who drank wine, beer or liquor. But women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk by 10 percent. Women who drank more than three drinks a day raised their risk by 30 percent.
The lead researcher, Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the U.S., says it's more evidence on why heavy drinkers should quit or at least cutdown.
Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about the effects of different kinds of alcohol. They found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who drank wine, beer or liquor. But women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk by 10 percent. Women who drank more than three drinks a day raised their risk by 30 percent.
The lead researcher, Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the U.S., says it's more evidence on why heavy drinkers should quit or at least cutdown.
Ways to save your relationship
Top Ten Ways to Save Your Relationship
(from Romancetracker.com)
1. Make your sweetheart your number one priority
We all have responsibilities in our lives that take us away from our families and lovers, and fulfilling those responsibilities is part of being a good partner and a romantic person. But even if you can’t spend as much time with your sweetheart as you would like, there are lots of ways to make it clear to them that they are still the number-one priority in your life.
2. Learn about your sweetheart’s interests
We all bring unique interests, hobbies and talents to a relationship, and learning about your lover’s tastes and skills is a great way to appreciate them more and share rewarding time together. Learning from each other and experiencing new things as a couple will bring you closer together, make your relationship more exciting and expand your horizons.
3. Brag about your relationship
No one likes a loudmouth who never shuts up about their love life, but telling your friends, family and coworkers about how much you love your romantic relationship is a great way to make your sweetheart feel appreciated and make you excited about your romance. Making it a habit to tastefully mention how thankful you are to have your lover will only make your relationship stronger.
4. Say “I’m proud of you” to your sweetheart
Everyone likes to feel that they are appreciated, and telling your lover that you are proud of them is one of the simplest . . . and least used . . . ways to make them feel good about themselves and your romantic relationship. Whether you’re telling them how much you appreciate the job they do, their role in your relationship, or their sacrifices, “I’m proud of you” are four of the most effective words you can use to save your romance.
5. Lead by example
Keeping score of who’s more romantic in your relationship is one of the worstways to promote romance in your relationship. Just as members of any successful team have learned, the best way to encourage a certain kind of behavior in others is to lead by example. So be more romantic with your lover, but don’t insist they do the same. With enough encouragement, you may be surprised to see them start to come around themselves.
6. Call in sick to work to spend time with your sweetheart
I’m not saying you should try to get fired from your job, but if you’re doing well at work there is nothing wrong with taking a tiny holiday to spend time with the most important person in your life. Briefly putting off other responsibilities to be with your lover is a great way to show them that they are the number one priority in your world.
7. Introduce some competition into your relationship
No, I don’t mean to make your sweetheart jealous by dating another person. But a little good-natured romantic competition–whether it’s through competitive games, contests, sports, or bets–can be a terrific way to add a little excitement, interaction, and playfulness into your relationship.
8. Compliment your sweetheart every now and then
Sure, it’s easy to overdo compliments and come across as over-the-top or insincere. But regardless of whether or not your lover knows how you feel about them, a simple, kind compliment once in a while goes a long way in making them feel good about themselves and your relationship.
9. Get over your fear of coming across as too “clingy”
There’s a big difference between being tastefully romantic with your sweetheart and being “clingy.” Hand-holding, simple kisses on the cheek and other subtle acts of love are nothing to be ashamed of. It shows your lover that you aren’t embarrassed of your romance and will add a much-needed dimension to your relationship.
10. Learn to love yourself
Part of the reason why some people have a difficult time appreciating romantic gestures is that they don’t understand why their lover is so fond of them. Learning to appreciate your own talents, gifts and innate goodness will help you appreciate your sweetheart’s feelings and let you accentuate your best qualities. Ultimately, learning to love yourself will teach you how to love your romantic partner more.
(from Romancetracker.com)
1. Make your sweetheart your number one priority
We all have responsibilities in our lives that take us away from our families and lovers, and fulfilling those responsibilities is part of being a good partner and a romantic person. But even if you can’t spend as much time with your sweetheart as you would like, there are lots of ways to make it clear to them that they are still the number-one priority in your life.
2. Learn about your sweetheart’s interests
We all bring unique interests, hobbies and talents to a relationship, and learning about your lover’s tastes and skills is a great way to appreciate them more and share rewarding time together. Learning from each other and experiencing new things as a couple will bring you closer together, make your relationship more exciting and expand your horizons.
3. Brag about your relationship
No one likes a loudmouth who never shuts up about their love life, but telling your friends, family and coworkers about how much you love your romantic relationship is a great way to make your sweetheart feel appreciated and make you excited about your romance. Making it a habit to tastefully mention how thankful you are to have your lover will only make your relationship stronger.
4. Say “I’m proud of you” to your sweetheart
Everyone likes to feel that they are appreciated, and telling your lover that you are proud of them is one of the simplest . . . and least used . . . ways to make them feel good about themselves and your romantic relationship. Whether you’re telling them how much you appreciate the job they do, their role in your relationship, or their sacrifices, “I’m proud of you” are four of the most effective words you can use to save your romance.
5. Lead by example
Keeping score of who’s more romantic in your relationship is one of the worstways to promote romance in your relationship. Just as members of any successful team have learned, the best way to encourage a certain kind of behavior in others is to lead by example. So be more romantic with your lover, but don’t insist they do the same. With enough encouragement, you may be surprised to see them start to come around themselves.
6. Call in sick to work to spend time with your sweetheart
I’m not saying you should try to get fired from your job, but if you’re doing well at work there is nothing wrong with taking a tiny holiday to spend time with the most important person in your life. Briefly putting off other responsibilities to be with your lover is a great way to show them that they are the number one priority in your world.
7. Introduce some competition into your relationship
No, I don’t mean to make your sweetheart jealous by dating another person. But a little good-natured romantic competition–whether it’s through competitive games, contests, sports, or bets–can be a terrific way to add a little excitement, interaction, and playfulness into your relationship.
8. Compliment your sweetheart every now and then
Sure, it’s easy to overdo compliments and come across as over-the-top or insincere. But regardless of whether or not your lover knows how you feel about them, a simple, kind compliment once in a while goes a long way in making them feel good about themselves and your relationship.
9. Get over your fear of coming across as too “clingy”
There’s a big difference between being tastefully romantic with your sweetheart and being “clingy.” Hand-holding, simple kisses on the cheek and other subtle acts of love are nothing to be ashamed of. It shows your lover that you aren’t embarrassed of your romance and will add a much-needed dimension to your relationship.
10. Learn to love yourself
Part of the reason why some people have a difficult time appreciating romantic gestures is that they don’t understand why their lover is so fond of them. Learning to appreciate your own talents, gifts and innate goodness will help you appreciate your sweetheart’s feelings and let you accentuate your best qualities. Ultimately, learning to love yourself will teach you how to love your romantic partner more.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Burying your goldfish will help your teen
Parents and teens may not see eye-to-eye, but one writer is trying to help parents get their message across. In the book, "How to bury a gold fish: and other ceremonies for everyday life" the author believes that performing small ceremonies, like flushing a goldfish down the toilet, father son journeys, or celebratory haircuts with your teen will help them from becoming depressed and withdrawn.
How to Bury a Goldfish instills meaning in the passages of everyday life. It melds many of the world's oldest traditions with contemporary celebrations, allowing people to honor life's events in tangible ways. Not a book of complex rituals with several elements, this is a collection of simple celebrations for anyone in the family.
The "rituals" the authors describe are so basic that it's hard to believe a publisher was interested in putting out this book -- such novel ideas as having family members write down resolutions on New Year's Eve and help each other through the year with sticking to the resolutions, writing "I love you" on the napkin you put in your child's lunch, taking your child's picture every year on the first day of school. The book is in stores now.
How to Bury a Goldfish instills meaning in the passages of everyday life. It melds many of the world's oldest traditions with contemporary celebrations, allowing people to honor life's events in tangible ways. Not a book of complex rituals with several elements, this is a collection of simple celebrations for anyone in the family.
The "rituals" the authors describe are so basic that it's hard to believe a publisher was interested in putting out this book -- such novel ideas as having family members write down resolutions on New Year's Eve and help each other through the year with sticking to the resolutions, writing "I love you" on the napkin you put in your child's lunch, taking your child's picture every year on the first day of school. The book is in stores now.
Got a headache?
How to stop a headache before it starts
8 drug-free tips to avoid agony and painproof your day
By Jaydine Sayer
Self Magazine
7 a.m.: Abide the alarm Snoozing in for more than an hour can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, and anything that tinkers with your body’s natural rhythms may prime you for pain, says Lisa Mannix, M.D., a spokeswoman for the National Headache Foundation in Chicago. Commit to waking up (and going to bed) at the same time every day — yes, that includes weekends, too.
7:45 a.m.: Get caffeinated If you often have a pick-me-up drink (coffee, tea or soda), by all means keep enjoying it, says Richard Lipton, M.D., professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. Caffeine activates receptors in your brain; skip your fix and your head might surely revolt.
10:45 a.m.: Do a posture check Are you sitting up straight with your shoulders down and back? If not, readjust. The main sensory nerve in your forehead is rooted in the base of your neck — which is why experiencing muscle tension there or in your shoulders can lead to head pain.
11:30 a.m.: Break for H2O Doctors know dehydration is a common trigger of headaches. But ask them to explain why, and they have no clear answer. Maybe it hurts their head to think about it too much. Either way, fill up on fluids frequently. Keep a water bottle at your desk, and refill it several times throughout the day.
12:30 p.m.: Skip the sandwich Certain substances such as nitrates (in lunch meats), tyramine (in soft cheeses) and MSG (in some Chinese dishes) can alter neurotransmitters and spark a migraine in susceptible people. (Download a headache log at Self.com to identify your food triggers.) Have a protein and healthy fat to avoid the sugar crash that a meal of only simple carbs can induce.
3 p.m.: Take a time-out When you’re overly anxious, the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline surge, which prompts your body to pump out sugar. The rapid change in glucose can set you up for pain. But giving yourself a few minutes to decompress can keep stress from getting to you.
6 p.m.: Slip into your sneakers Exercise increases circulation, relieves physical and mental tension and improves sleep, all of which help fight off aches. Need to inject excitement into your routine (or start one to begin with)? Check out the Reach Your Goal plan at Self.com.
8:30 p.m.: Wind down slowly When you instantly crash on the couch, your brain chemicals continue to rev. That imbalance may contribute to what is called a let-down headache. Because it’s smart to give your body and mind some transition time do a calming activity — try a few stretches, curl up with a book, whatever you like. Come time for bed, you’ll be relaxed, happy and ready for a new day.
8 drug-free tips to avoid agony and painproof your day
By Jaydine Sayer
Self Magazine
7 a.m.: Abide the alarm Snoozing in for more than an hour can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, and anything that tinkers with your body’s natural rhythms may prime you for pain, says Lisa Mannix, M.D., a spokeswoman for the National Headache Foundation in Chicago. Commit to waking up (and going to bed) at the same time every day — yes, that includes weekends, too.
7:45 a.m.: Get caffeinated If you often have a pick-me-up drink (coffee, tea or soda), by all means keep enjoying it, says Richard Lipton, M.D., professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. Caffeine activates receptors in your brain; skip your fix and your head might surely revolt.
10:45 a.m.: Do a posture check Are you sitting up straight with your shoulders down and back? If not, readjust. The main sensory nerve in your forehead is rooted in the base of your neck — which is why experiencing muscle tension there or in your shoulders can lead to head pain.
11:30 a.m.: Break for H2O Doctors know dehydration is a common trigger of headaches. But ask them to explain why, and they have no clear answer. Maybe it hurts their head to think about it too much. Either way, fill up on fluids frequently. Keep a water bottle at your desk, and refill it several times throughout the day.
12:30 p.m.: Skip the sandwich Certain substances such as nitrates (in lunch meats), tyramine (in soft cheeses) and MSG (in some Chinese dishes) can alter neurotransmitters and spark a migraine in susceptible people. (Download a headache log at Self.com to identify your food triggers.) Have a protein and healthy fat to avoid the sugar crash that a meal of only simple carbs can induce.
3 p.m.: Take a time-out When you’re overly anxious, the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline surge, which prompts your body to pump out sugar. The rapid change in glucose can set you up for pain. But giving yourself a few minutes to decompress can keep stress from getting to you.
6 p.m.: Slip into your sneakers Exercise increases circulation, relieves physical and mental tension and improves sleep, all of which help fight off aches. Need to inject excitement into your routine (or start one to begin with)? Check out the Reach Your Goal plan at Self.com.
8:30 p.m.: Wind down slowly When you instantly crash on the couch, your brain chemicals continue to rev. That imbalance may contribute to what is called a let-down headache. Because it’s smart to give your body and mind some transition time do a calming activity — try a few stretches, curl up with a book, whatever you like. Come time for bed, you’ll be relaxed, happy and ready for a new day.
When to start parenting your parents
When your aging parent needs help, it's often up to you.
Here are 24 tips on how to make it work. As much as you might want to, you can't do it all. Decide what you are willing to do, then stick with it.
Here are 24 tips on how to make it work. As much as you might want to, you can't do it all. Decide what you are willing to do, then stick with it.
Have "the talk" with your teen
So have you had "the talk" yet with your teens?
No, not about the birds and the bees, but about online predators and the peer-to-peer nets. A new survey indicates a lot of people have. The study by Common Sense Media and Cable in the Classroom finds that 85 percent of parents and legal guardians of children who go online have talked to their kids about how to behave on the Internet. More than 93 percent say they have taken steps to make sure the Web sites their kids check out meet their standards. Among those surveyed, parents say the biggest issues to warn about are excessive exposure to ads or commercialism online;exposure to bad language, sexual or violent content online, and exposure to misleading or bad information.
No, not about the birds and the bees, but about online predators and the peer-to-peer nets. A new survey indicates a lot of people have. The study by Common Sense Media and Cable in the Classroom finds that 85 percent of parents and legal guardians of children who go online have talked to their kids about how to behave on the Internet. More than 93 percent say they have taken steps to make sure the Web sites their kids check out meet their standards. Among those surveyed, parents say the biggest issues to warn about are excessive exposure to ads or commercialism online;exposure to bad language, sexual or violent content online, and exposure to misleading or bad information.
The month for hot flashes
If you've been asking "Is it hot in here? Or is it me?"
September is National Menopause Awareness Month and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is implementing a nationwide information campaign to raise awareness about the resources available to address questions related to the benefits and risks of hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms. For more information click here and take control of those hot flashes.
September is National Menopause Awareness Month and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is implementing a nationwide information campaign to raise awareness about the resources available to address questions related to the benefits and risks of hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms. For more information click here and take control of those hot flashes.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Yoga helps avert a disaster at work
And yet another benefit to add to the many of practicing yoga!
Courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
A little yoga before heading out to work could help avert a disaster at work. According to the bureau experts, the most injuries occur during the first 2-4 hours of work. They report that it's due to people not being physically or mentally "on the ball" when they first get on the job. Yoga has proven benefits to make you stronger and more alert!
So, go meditate, practice your tree salute!
Courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
A little yoga before heading out to work could help avert a disaster at work. According to the bureau experts, the most injuries occur during the first 2-4 hours of work. They report that it's due to people not being physically or mentally "on the ball" when they first get on the job. Yoga has proven benefits to make you stronger and more alert!
So, go meditate, practice your tree salute!
The way to a woman's heart...
They say the way to a woman's heart is through her ears- which means that what you say has a huge impact on how a woman feels about you. So for the gents, here are some common dating scenarios, and the power words you can use to woo the woman you're pursuing:
Instead of "Wanna go out for dinner?", try, "Would you like to go out for Thai food Friday night?" By changing your words, you're creating an experience she can visualize; you're actually putting her in the moment.
Now you're at the restaurant, because she said yes, of course. The entrees have arrived. You'd like to offer her a bite of your dinner, because it's delicious, and, psychologically, if she accepts your bite, she's accepting you. So instead of, "Want a spoon of this dessert?", try, "Can I share a bite of my cheesecake with you?"
Date's over- it went great! How to secure a second date: instead of, "Are you free next Saturday?" Try, "I'd love to see you again; maybe we could try getting together next Saturday, because I have tickets for a concert." Saying "maybe we could try" might sounds wimpy, but it gives the woman a chance to say yes, without feeling pressure. And according to psychologists, the word "because" is the magic word, people agree much more often because they like to hear the reasoning behind the request.
Instead of "Wanna go out for dinner?", try, "Would you like to go out for Thai food Friday night?" By changing your words, you're creating an experience she can visualize; you're actually putting her in the moment.
Now you're at the restaurant, because she said yes, of course. The entrees have arrived. You'd like to offer her a bite of your dinner, because it's delicious, and, psychologically, if she accepts your bite, she's accepting you. So instead of, "Want a spoon of this dessert?", try, "Can I share a bite of my cheesecake with you?"
Date's over- it went great! How to secure a second date: instead of, "Are you free next Saturday?" Try, "I'd love to see you again; maybe we could try getting together next Saturday, because I have tickets for a concert." Saying "maybe we could try" might sounds wimpy, but it gives the woman a chance to say yes, without feeling pressure. And according to psychologists, the word "because" is the magic word, people agree much more often because they like to hear the reasoning behind the request.
Laundry 101
Doing the laundry properly will extend the life of your clothes. Once you know the basics -- such as how to pretreat stains, select laundry products, and use the washer and dryer -- getting the laundry done is quite simple.
We'll cover every aspect of doing laundry in this article, from the sorting stage to drying your clothes. As you'll see, there are many tricks that will enable you to do these tasks quickly, efficiently, and proficiently. The end result will be evident in the lasting quality of your clothes.
We'll cover every aspect of doing laundry in this article, from the sorting stage to drying your clothes. As you'll see, there are many tricks that will enable you to do these tasks quickly, efficiently, and proficiently. The end result will be evident in the lasting quality of your clothes.
Water safety in a turtle?
When it comes to pool safety and your children, nothing beats swimming lessons and strict supervision at a young age, but now a new alarm system called the safety turtle that your child wears on their wrist allows two layers of protection that could save your child's life.
Most tragedies happen during social gatherings at home. A so-called water watcher card designates one person to keep their eyes on the kids in the pool. The layers of protection for your child continue with making sure doors are locked and pool fences properly latched. Another layer of protection is a safety turtle wristband, a personal alarm for your child to wear. The alarm goes off the minute it gets wet. Many like to wear it.
Most tragedies happen during social gatherings at home. A so-called water watcher card designates one person to keep their eyes on the kids in the pool. The layers of protection for your child continue with making sure doors are locked and pool fences properly latched. Another layer of protection is a safety turtle wristband, a personal alarm for your child to wear. The alarm goes off the minute it gets wet. Many like to wear it.
Women need to get moving
More than 50 percent of American women do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits.
For adults, thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week is recommended. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money, but it does take commitment. Start slowly, work up to a satisfactory level, and don’t overdo it. You can develop one routine, or you can do something different every day. Find fun ways to stay in shape and feel good, such as dancing, gardening, cutting the grass, swimming, walking, or jogging.
I like to roller blade...the faster I go, the more the wind keeps me cool.
For adults, thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week is recommended. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money, but it does take commitment. Start slowly, work up to a satisfactory level, and don’t overdo it. You can develop one routine, or you can do something different every day. Find fun ways to stay in shape and feel good, such as dancing, gardening, cutting the grass, swimming, walking, or jogging.
I like to roller blade...the faster I go, the more the wind keeps me cool.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Mosquito ringtones
The war between teens and authority figures has a new — or old — front: ears. British shopkeepers tired of teenage loiterers have turned to the Mosquito teen repellent, which emits a high-pitch frequency that most teenagers can hear — but not most adults.
But now teens have struck back against the Mosquito: They are using the same sound to communicate without adults' knowledge.
But now teens have struck back against the Mosquito: They are using the same sound to communicate without adults' knowledge.
Can coffee hurt a kids health?
Kids and coffee.
A recent Harvard study found that when kids were given just one cup of coffee a day for a year, but then had it suddenly stop, they went into withdrawal. 75 percent suffered from mood disorders like fatigue or depression, and 83 percent of them suffered from headaches. Caffeine excess can also cause a rapid heart rate and rhythm problems in kids, some suffer insomnia or irritability, and it commonly causes diarrhea. One doctor says for kids a little cafe is ok, but don’t make it everyday.
A recent Harvard study found that when kids were given just one cup of coffee a day for a year, but then had it suddenly stop, they went into withdrawal. 75 percent suffered from mood disorders like fatigue or depression, and 83 percent of them suffered from headaches. Caffeine excess can also cause a rapid heart rate and rhythm problems in kids, some suffer insomnia or irritability, and it commonly causes diarrhea. One doctor says for kids a little cafe is ok, but don’t make it everyday.
Don't be a dull girl
While some women are simply born with naturally shiny hair, the rest of us can still "build" it with proper care and primo products.
In fact, the good news is that shiny hair starts the second you step in the shower. While excessive shampooing can contribute to the dull-hair problem you're trying to fix, some great shine-enhancing sudsers do exist. Well-formulated conditioners are another everyday basic that can boost your hair's beauty. Add in just the right dose of frizz-fighting styling product for additional luster.
In fact, the good news is that shiny hair starts the second you step in the shower. While excessive shampooing can contribute to the dull-hair problem you're trying to fix, some great shine-enhancing sudsers do exist. Well-formulated conditioners are another everyday basic that can boost your hair's beauty. Add in just the right dose of frizz-fighting styling product for additional luster.
Wearing Jeans at work can benefit your health
Are you a ‘blue jean queen’ – or king – at work? Well, good for you!
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that people who wore jeans on the job logged almost 600 more steps throughout the day than they did on days when they wore business attire – like suits or slacks. That’s an extra quarter of a mile! Why would jeans make you want to move more? Experts think it’s because employees feel more comfortable in their blues, which makes them more active. But burning extra calories isn’t the only benefit of wearing jeans to work! Here are a few more. Courtesy of Men’s Health Magazine.
Wearing jeans gives you sharper vision. If you’ve got jeans on, you’re more likely to leave your desk. And leaving your desk for just 5 minutes gives your eyes some much-needed recovery time from the strain caused by staring at your computer screen. That’s the word from a study in the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal.
The next blue jean benefit is for bosses: It’ll give you a happier staff. According to researchers at Claremont Graduate University in California, employees feel better about their bosses when they see them face-to-face. Why? It’s probably because communicating by e-mail leaves room for both you – and your boss – to misinterpret each other’s words. So bosses, how can you get your employees to come see you? Let them wear jeans – so they’re more likely to get up and walk down the hall.
They’ll unclog your arteries. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that isolated employees are more likely to develop – and die from – cardiovascular disease. But since workers move more when they wear jeans, they’ll be more likely to take a stroll down to their co-worker’s cubicle.
So let’s see. Wearing jeans to work helps you burn more calories, they preserve your peepers, give bosses a happier staff, and can unclog your arteries. I say bring on casual Friday!
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that people who wore jeans on the job logged almost 600 more steps throughout the day than they did on days when they wore business attire – like suits or slacks. That’s an extra quarter of a mile! Why would jeans make you want to move more? Experts think it’s because employees feel more comfortable in their blues, which makes them more active. But burning extra calories isn’t the only benefit of wearing jeans to work! Here are a few more. Courtesy of Men’s Health Magazine.
Wearing jeans gives you sharper vision. If you’ve got jeans on, you’re more likely to leave your desk. And leaving your desk for just 5 minutes gives your eyes some much-needed recovery time from the strain caused by staring at your computer screen. That’s the word from a study in the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal.
The next blue jean benefit is for bosses: It’ll give you a happier staff. According to researchers at Claremont Graduate University in California, employees feel better about their bosses when they see them face-to-face. Why? It’s probably because communicating by e-mail leaves room for both you – and your boss – to misinterpret each other’s words. So bosses, how can you get your employees to come see you? Let them wear jeans – so they’re more likely to get up and walk down the hall.
They’ll unclog your arteries. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that isolated employees are more likely to develop – and die from – cardiovascular disease. But since workers move more when they wear jeans, they’ll be more likely to take a stroll down to their co-worker’s cubicle.
So let’s see. Wearing jeans to work helps you burn more calories, they preserve your peepers, give bosses a happier staff, and can unclog your arteries. I say bring on casual Friday!
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