How to Raise a Healthy Eater
By Lynn Schnurnberger, PARADE Magazine
We want our kids to eat right. Experts say they’ll do better in school and have more energy, brighter skin and shinier hair if they choose carrots over chips or lean meat over a greasy burger. Still, it’s not always easy. Arguments with recalcitrant tots who’d rather be playing with their mashed potatoes than eating them threaten to turn the dinner hour into a family food feud. But don’t give up. Here’s the skinny on how you can make eating healthy food more palatable.
Do As I Do: “Young children are like ducks: They do what their parents do,” says Harvard endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig, director of the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children’s Hospital Boston. If you eat junk food instead of fruits and vegetables, they will too. A University of Tennessee study reports that mothers usually refrain from offering babies foods they themselves dislike—so if you hate fava beans, chances are that your child has never tried them. Still, says Dr. Ludwig, it’s never too late to become a good role model.
Keep It Real: Explain to children that real foods—like fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, fish and meat—come from nature. Dr. Ludwig recommends that obese children keep food diaries, recording all of the sugary drinks and factory-processed junk foods they eat in a day. They’ll be astonished at how many they consume. Kids may moan, but they’ll get hungry and learn to replace cheese puffs with low-fat cheese.
Give Babies a Taste for Variety: Your baby is 4 to 6 months old, and the pediatrician says it’s time to augment her diet of breast milk or formula. You give her a first spoonful of pureed cereal—and she spits it out. “Persevere,” advises Penn State University’s Leann Birch, Ph.D., director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research. Birch’s studies show that, though babies are born with a preference for sweets, daily exposure helps them accept initially rejected foods. There’s no reason why babies’ diets should be bland. As early as possible, children should begin discovering new tastes and textures. By the time they’re a year old, children in Latin American countries already are sampling moderately spicy foods.
Defuse a Potential Food Fight: If kids are refusing to eat their veggies, “Ask them to take one ‘ No-thank-you bite,’” says registered dietitian Elizabeth Ward. Be firm, but don’t make a big deal about it. Children may need 15 or 20 tries over the course of different meals. Still, older children, like babies, usually develop a taste for once-disliked foods too. Pair new foods with old favorites, and serve small portions (kids always can ask for more). Don’t try to introduce a new food when your child is cranky or overtired. Kids under age 5 will do better experimenting at lunch.
Think Out of the Box: Children need energy-boosting snacks. But beware of the calorie-laden after-school slice of pizza or the toddler treat of cookies and juice. Baylor College of Medicine behavioral nutritionist Tom Baranowski, Ph.D., says healthy snacks have to be accessible. A child is more likely to munch on carrots that are peeled, sliced and sitting next to a favorite dip on a reachable refrigerator shelf. A variety of dressings can make veggies more fun. Cut up oranges and apples, cube low-fat cheese, serve frozen grapes. Offer whole-wheat toast with a little peanut butter or yogurt.
Make Good Menu Choices: Americans today spend 18 times what we did on fast food just 30 years ago; the average teen eats fast food twice a week. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation recommends that you teach kids to pass or go lightly on mayo, sour cream and sauces when eating out. Choose grilled, baked or broiled (anything but fried or breaded) chicken over a burger; a salad or baked potato instead of onion rings or fries. Nix shakes and soda in favor of water or low-fat milk. Avoid the words “double meat” or “supersized.”
“De-Program Your Child,” says Dr. David Ludwig, who believes that TV might be the most insidious factor in children’s weight gain. There’s no nutritional value in being a couch potato. TV-obsessed kids miss out on exercise and are exposed to more than 10,000 food commercials a year—most of them for high-calorie, low-quality snacks that they later nag their parents to buy. In a Harvard study, Dr. Ludwig found that for each hour of television they watched, children consumed an additional 167 calories. Take TV sets out of the kitchen and bedrooms, avoid watching during dinner and limit every family member’s viewing—parents included—to two hours a day. If you can, set up a treadmill or stationary bike in front of the TV. Then get moving to create fun alternatives to sitting on the couch. Set up a game of Twister or some dance video games in the den. Go biking, jump rope or toss a ball around in the yard.
Beware of Becoming the Food Police: Banning a food completely can make forbidden fruits—or ice creams—all the more tantalizing. In a study of 5- to 7-year-old girls, those told that they couldn’t eat snacks were more likely to pig out on food than their peers. Elizabeth Ward suggests striking a balance. “If 90% of the time you eat from the food pyramid, 10% of your choices can be strictly for fun,” she says. The best idea is to go out for treats—that way you don’t have to argue over candy that a child knows is right there in the kitchen cabinet. And while you can make sure to stock only healthy foods in those kitchen cabinets, you cannot and should not try to control what your kids eat outside the house. Teenagers, especially, need freedom to make their own choices, and if you limit that freedom, they’ll rebel. The good news is that children who grow up in families that are serious about healthy eating often eat right as adults too. After all, you’ve given them good food for thought.
Courtesy of PARADE
Monday, November 5, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
How to earn respect
(Men's Health)
Pick up the tab. What? Buy respect? Of course not -- you earn it by showing it as you scoop up the bill. To your potential father-in-law: "Your daughter and I would like to treat you." On business: "Jim, it's the least I can do."
Try the sushi.
Never blunt the bad news.
Stay sober when no one would blame you for drinking.
Nail the toast.
Cook for 12.
Become what you told people you always wanted to be.
When some lemon- sucker asks, "Ugh, you actually like that book?" just reply -- with unwavering eye contact -- "Yes."
Say no when no's the answer. "We'll see," "I'll have to get back to you on that," and "I'm not 100 percent sure" are smoke screens for the person who's afraid to disappoint.
Become multilingual. Could be Spanish. Could be the secret language of the internal combustion engine.
Risk being hated for doing the right thing.
Show patience with those who can't do what you can.
Pick up the tab. What? Buy respect? Of course not -- you earn it by showing it as you scoop up the bill. To your potential father-in-law: "Your daughter and I would like to treat you." On business: "Jim, it's the least I can do."
Try the sushi.
Never blunt the bad news.
Stay sober when no one would blame you for drinking.
Nail the toast.
Cook for 12.
Become what you told people you always wanted to be.
When some lemon- sucker asks, "Ugh, you actually like that book?" just reply -- with unwavering eye contact -- "Yes."
Say no when no's the answer. "We'll see," "I'll have to get back to you on that," and "I'm not 100 percent sure" are smoke screens for the person who's afraid to disappoint.
Become multilingual. Could be Spanish. Could be the secret language of the internal combustion engine.
Risk being hated for doing the right thing.
Show patience with those who can't do what you can.
Beat holiday hangover debt
Four Tips to Help You Stay Out of Debt During the Holidays
Keeping a Lid on Christmas and Holiday Spending
Here are four simple steps to help you stay out of debt this holiday season and avoid that financial "holiday hangover."
Set spending limits--Look at your monthly budget and figure out how much you can realistically afford to set aside towards holiday gift giving, without going into debt. Your intentions may be good, but the reality is that most people have a depressing amount of debt after the holidays and are not able to pay it off in as timely a manner as they had hoped.
Make a list--Follow Santa's example. Make a list of all the people you need or want to buy gifts for, including small gifts for babysitters, teachers, newspaper deliverers, etc. These small gifts can add up and are often the cause of going over your gift budget. Include money you'll spend on Christmas cards, postage, holiday parties, decorations, holiday entertainment, etc.
Set a limit--Decide how much you will spend on each person on your gift list, then add everything up and make sure it doesn't exceed your overall spending limit. Try to allow a cushion for unexpected items or price fluctuations.
Decide where to shop--As important as deciding what you're going to buy is deciding where you're going to buy it. If you don't wait until the last minute, you'll have time to comparison shop. Prices fluctuate significantly from store to store and from one month to another. Stores start cutting prices 10 to 25% on holiday items like decorations, gifts, and winter clothing the week before Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November). As Christmas approaches, some items are marked down as much as 40% but selections are limited. You'll need to decide whether price or selection is more important to you and time your shopping accordingly.
Follow these simple steps and you'll avoid the nagging feeling that you've overspent on Christmas or other holiday gifts. You'll also avoid the struggle to pay off the credit card bills for months to come. Instead you'll feel in control and free of the dreaded financial "holiday hangover."
Keeping a Lid on Christmas and Holiday Spending
Here are four simple steps to help you stay out of debt this holiday season and avoid that financial "holiday hangover."
Set spending limits--Look at your monthly budget and figure out how much you can realistically afford to set aside towards holiday gift giving, without going into debt. Your intentions may be good, but the reality is that most people have a depressing amount of debt after the holidays and are not able to pay it off in as timely a manner as they had hoped.
Make a list--Follow Santa's example. Make a list of all the people you need or want to buy gifts for, including small gifts for babysitters, teachers, newspaper deliverers, etc. These small gifts can add up and are often the cause of going over your gift budget. Include money you'll spend on Christmas cards, postage, holiday parties, decorations, holiday entertainment, etc.
Set a limit--Decide how much you will spend on each person on your gift list, then add everything up and make sure it doesn't exceed your overall spending limit. Try to allow a cushion for unexpected items or price fluctuations.
Decide where to shop--As important as deciding what you're going to buy is deciding where you're going to buy it. If you don't wait until the last minute, you'll have time to comparison shop. Prices fluctuate significantly from store to store and from one month to another. Stores start cutting prices 10 to 25% on holiday items like decorations, gifts, and winter clothing the week before Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November). As Christmas approaches, some items are marked down as much as 40% but selections are limited. You'll need to decide whether price or selection is more important to you and time your shopping accordingly.
Follow these simple steps and you'll avoid the nagging feeling that you've overspent on Christmas or other holiday gifts. You'll also avoid the struggle to pay off the credit card bills for months to come. Instead you'll feel in control and free of the dreaded financial "holiday hangover."
Dads connect with daughters
A Letter to My Daughters is a father to daughter talk about life. It covers the issues and "life topics" that every teenage girl, young woman and adult women alike are currently facing, or will one day face in their lives. Keith Hudson shares the letters he has written to his three daughters covering essential life instruction and wisdom about some of the most powerful and provocative issues facing our young women today.
The book goes on sale today.
The book goes on sale today.
Proper tea etiquette
We have come a long way from the straight-laced Victorian tea times when tea etiquette was first established, but we can still set aside our fast paced lives for a little bit of gentility. So, lets brush up on our manners and spend a couple of hours (or longer) treating our self and friends to a proper tea.
Remember, no pinky extensions.
Remember, no pinky extensions.
Need some organization?
Every busy household needs just one item to keep it running like a well-oiled machine: a monthly calendar. Unfortunately, paper wall calendars generally have only have a tiny space in each date box, and once you've written on it, any change of plans will result in a scratched-out, incomprehensible errand list. Overscheduled moms need a monthly wall calendar with magnetic dry erase board. Its surface allows you to freely write and erase without any messy marker residue as you usher in each new month. And the calendar is magnetic, so you can tack notes and such to it. Now all of your family's activities will be neatly organized on a bright board that can be changed with the swipe of an eraser.
Women and hair loss
Are you losing your hair? Is your hair thinning? According to a multitude of advertisements -- you can have longer, thicker hair in just two weeks! The advertisements for treatment of balding, and hair loss in men are hard to miss. These ads might lead one to believe that hair loss is generally a men's issue.
However the fact is that as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point. The role of estrogen in hair growth in humans is not clear. However both oral and topical estrogens are prescribed by physicians to treat hair loss in women -- although there are no controlled studies to support this use of estrogen. Always check with your doctor.
However the fact is that as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point. The role of estrogen in hair growth in humans is not clear. However both oral and topical estrogens are prescribed by physicians to treat hair loss in women -- although there are no controlled studies to support this use of estrogen. Always check with your doctor.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Help for foster kids turning 18
By the end of this week, 15 former foster kids will be settling into their new Pembroke Pines homes. They're part of a program designed to be a safety net for youths who are forced to leave state foster care at age 18. Many aren't prepared for that transition, though. Studies show up to 40 percent of kids spend at least one night homeless within 18 months of leaving foster care. In this program, they can share a two-bedroom furnished duplex with another person for $350 a month. They receive a monthly stipend of a little more than $1,000 and are eligible for free tuition at a state college or university.
Don't fall down and go boom
Rates of fall injuries increased with age and were higher for women compared with men. The most common cause of fall injuries among older adults was slipping, tripping, or stumbling. Most fall injuries occurred inside or around the outside of the home. Studies have shown that injuries experienced as a result of falling may lead to a decrease in the ability to perform activities of daily living. Especially among older adults, falls increase disability, and those injured during a fall often do not return to their pre-fall level of physical functioning.
Find satisfaction at your job
From Elizabeth Scott, M.S.,
Your Guide to Stress Management.
Enjoy Your Job More—Or Know When It’s Time For A Change:
If you’re overstressed and at risk for job burnout, you may feel that a major life overhaul is necessary for you to be able to enjoy your job and avoid burnout. Before making major changes, this article can help you to better enjoy your situation with a few minor adjustments, and give you food for thought on whether major changes may be necessary. The following suggestions can help you increase job satisfaction:
Be Clear About Job Requirements:
It’s nearly impossible to do a good enough job at your work if you don’t know what the requirements are. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to know all of the requirements at a job when those in charge are poor communicators. Some bosses and supervisors are vague with expectations, assign new tasks with little advance notice, request new tasks without providing training, and inadvertently set workers up to fail in other ways. While you can’t prevent things like this from happening altogether, you can gain a clearer view of what you need to do and help your situation quite a bit with assertive communication skills. Learn to speak up for yourself in a respectful way and you’ll improve your work life and your relationship, and decrease your risk for burnout.
Find Rewards and Recognition:
We all need to feel recognized and rewarded for what we do. If your job doesn’t have built-in opportunities for recognition, or if rewards are infrequent, you may need to add rewards and recognition to your own life. You may decide to take yourself to a movie, have a home spa experience, buy yourself something nice, or give yourself other small but nurturing rewards when you complete a project or complete another month of hard work. You can also team up with a supportive friend and agree to listen to each other’s successes and provide support to one another if you don’t get that support and recognition from your job. These things can nurture you emotionally and remind you of the importance of the work you do, especially if you work in a job or field where these rewards are sparse.
Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle:
Keeping balance in your lifestyle is important; if it’s all work and no play, you may find your ability to work beginning to wane. In order to maintain balance in your lifestyle, the first step is to take an overview of your current lifestyle and see which areas are out of balance. Do you have enough time for relationships, hobbies, sleep, self care, exercise, healthy eating, and other important features of a healthy lifestyle, in addition to your work responsibilities? If not, the next step is to look at your priorities and make some changes so that your lifestyle reflects them better. (You can find tools for doing this at the end of this quiz, or with this free e-course.)
Think Positive:
You can usually change your experience of your current circumstances by changing your attitude about them. Developing an optimistic point of view and changing negative self talk patterns can go a long way toward helping you see the glass half-full, as well as actually making you more productive and less stressed! Assess your current state of mind, and make some changes in yourself so that you see things in a more positive light, and you may just find you’re much happier where you are in life!
Know Yourself and Work With Your Personality:
Certain features of your personality make some jobs a better fit for you than others. If you’re in a job that’s not well-suited for your personality, you may be putting yourself under unnecessary stress every day you go to work. The following are some good questions to ask yourself:
Do you like to work toward deadlines, or do you like your tasks to come in a relatively steady stream?
Do you like to work as part of a team, or independently?
Do you like things to be structured and routine, or loose and variable?
Do you enjoy being a ‘big fish in a small pond’, or would you like to be a ‘small fish in a big pond’? (Meaning, would you like to be a small part of a large company or a large part of a small company, or something else?)
Do you believe in what you do, and is it important to you that you do?
These questions and others can give you a better picture of what kind of work would be best for you. If you find you’re not in the type of position that’s ideal for you, you can see if you can make additional changes in your job’s structure to make it fit better with your needs, or you might think of what jobs might be better suited for you and see if working toward a change in jobs is a good idea for you.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cure yourself of workaholism
(Men's Health)
Admit that you're powerless in the grip of your addiction to work: This is not easy. You have to fight the common perception that to work until you drop is an admirable quality. You need to realize that you're not really happy, sleep is difficult, and your life is not fun, before you can cope with your addiction.
Acknowledge there are things in life more important than work: If you find yourself missing things, wondering why the hell you're doing what you're doing, sitting in front of a laptop while everyone else is playing Whiffle ball, you may be ready to accept that you're leaving much of your life behind. And no matter how much money you make, you won't be issued a second life.
Accept that you can't control everything in the universe: Workaholics are pursuing a perfect solution to the problem of existence. That's why they try to control everything within their scope. It's like a whack-a-mole. Trust me, you won't run out of quarters.
Appeal to the higher power of your choice for assistance with your transformation: This is hard for career workaholics. You tell yourself you're "doing it for them" whoever "they" may be, but really, you're lonely, isolated and self-involved. You need to move outside yourself if you're going to break the cycle of addiction.
Replace work with other things that give you satisfaction: This may be the most difficult step of them all. Perhaps for workaholics, there is a sunrise out there that will be as wonderful to behold as the closing documents on a smart acquisition.
Workaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from workaholism.
Admit that you're powerless in the grip of your addiction to work: This is not easy. You have to fight the common perception that to work until you drop is an admirable quality. You need to realize that you're not really happy, sleep is difficult, and your life is not fun, before you can cope with your addiction.
Acknowledge there are things in life more important than work: If you find yourself missing things, wondering why the hell you're doing what you're doing, sitting in front of a laptop while everyone else is playing Whiffle ball, you may be ready to accept that you're leaving much of your life behind. And no matter how much money you make, you won't be issued a second life.
Accept that you can't control everything in the universe: Workaholics are pursuing a perfect solution to the problem of existence. That's why they try to control everything within their scope. It's like a whack-a-mole. Trust me, you won't run out of quarters.
Appeal to the higher power of your choice for assistance with your transformation: This is hard for career workaholics. You tell yourself you're "doing it for them" whoever "they" may be, but really, you're lonely, isolated and self-involved. You need to move outside yourself if you're going to break the cycle of addiction.
Replace work with other things that give you satisfaction: This may be the most difficult step of them all. Perhaps for workaholics, there is a sunrise out there that will be as wonderful to behold as the closing documents on a smart acquisition.
Workaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from workaholism.
Workplace etiquette book
New Rules @ Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead
For anyone who's breaking in, moving up, or just trying to make a great professional impression, this essential guide offers real-life anecdotes and advice to help you build competence and confidence in the tricky arena of modern business etiquette. Includes:
- "Blunder Busters"-proven strategies to help you tackle anything from office dating to business lunches
- "Sir, your fly is unzipped!"-the art of verbal diplomacy
- Contemporary guidelines for goof-proof e-mail
- The top ten career killers and how to beat them
- Global gaffes: easy ways to avoid overseas embarrassment
- Grace under fire-surviving dining disasters, party faux-pas and everything in-between
About the Author
Barbara Pachter is a business communications consultant, speaker, and coach. She has conducted more than 1,600 skill-building seminars on assertiveness, business etiquette, and international communications.
For anyone who's breaking in, moving up, or just trying to make a great professional impression, this essential guide offers real-life anecdotes and advice to help you build competence and confidence in the tricky arena of modern business etiquette. Includes:
- "Blunder Busters"-proven strategies to help you tackle anything from office dating to business lunches
- "Sir, your fly is unzipped!"-the art of verbal diplomacy
- Contemporary guidelines for goof-proof e-mail
- The top ten career killers and how to beat them
- Global gaffes: easy ways to avoid overseas embarrassment
- Grace under fire-surviving dining disasters, party faux-pas and everything in-between
About the Author
Barbara Pachter is a business communications consultant, speaker, and coach. She has conducted more than 1,600 skill-building seminars on assertiveness, business etiquette, and international communications.
Teens exposure to sex and violence
Two-thirds of parents said they are very concerned about sex and violence the nation's children are exposed to in the media, and there would be broad support for new federal limits on such material on television, said a survey released Tuesday.
Have tea for your hips
New research suggests that having a cuppa (tea, that is) may help strengthen older women's hips. "Those who drank tea in the study had a higher bone density over the four years that they were studied," the study author said. "These women lost less bone than those who did not drink tea. More than three-quarters of the women drank tea daily, and they consumed on average about three cups per day." Outside experts called the findings intriguing but still preliminary. Fractures, especially hip fractures associated with osteoporosis, are a major source of disability in postmenopausal women.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Keep kids safe from predators on Halloween
It's been a long time since children were allowed to trick-or-treat by themselves or eat the candy they collected on Halloween before parents could inspect it.
But now police are asking parents to go one step further: check the online sex-offender registry before allowing their children out on Halloween night.
On Halloween night sex offenders are ordered by law to keep their porch light off. They can’t decorate, and they can’t answer the door. Probation officers in both counties will be checking on them.
But now police are asking parents to go one step further: check the online sex-offender registry before allowing their children out on Halloween night.
On Halloween night sex offenders are ordered by law to keep their porch light off. They can’t decorate, and they can’t answer the door. Probation officers in both counties will be checking on them.
How is women's health in the U.S.
The United States isn't making the grade when it comes to women's health, a new report contends. The report gives the country an overall grade of "unsatisfactory" because it meets only three of 27 benchmarks for women's health. Those benchmarks are the percentage of women aged 40 and over who get regular mammograms; the percentage of women who visit their dentist annually; and the percentage of women aged 50 and over who are screened for colorectal cancer. Not one state received an overall "satisfactory" grade in the area of women's health.
Local Halloween fun
Halloween fun!
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here's a round-up of some of the events tied to Halloween for adults, teens and kids in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here's a round-up of some of the events tied to Halloween for adults, teens and kids in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Do not call list
Names will not be removed from the National Do Not Call List...yet.
A few weeks ago you may of heard that the list would expire, meaning you would have to re-register by June. But federal regulators changed their minds. The Federal Trade Commission will not remove any numbers while congress considers making the list permanent.
You can still add your number to the list if you would like to. The number is 1-888-382-1222.
A few weeks ago you may of heard that the list would expire, meaning you would have to re-register by June. But federal regulators changed their minds. The Federal Trade Commission will not remove any numbers while congress considers making the list permanent.
You can still add your number to the list if you would like to. The number is 1-888-382-1222.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Concierger pampers employees
Memorial Healthcare System's employees can get an oil change and their clothes dry-cleaned without leaving work. General Mills workers can skip traffic and long lines when they mail packages or get jewelry repaired. More an dmore companies are offering great work perks.
When guys put on the apron
THE AVERAGE MAN'S KITCHEN SKILLS
(Men's Health)
Number of men who believe their cooking skills are sound: 2 in 3
Number who say they have the Food Network to thank: 1 in 3
Number of men who cook to seduce women: 1 in 20
Number who buy cookware based on how they look rather than how they work: 1 in 5
Entree the average guy feels most confident preparing: Steak
Number of men who've started a fire in the kitchen: 1 in 4
Number who clean up in the kitchen as they cook: 1 in 2
Time the average guy spends at the supermarket each week: 30 minutes
Time he spends per day turning his groceries into greatness: 15 minutes
Percentage who are willing to pay more for organic ingredients: 23
Percentage who don't care how healthy the ingredients are as long as it makes a meal taste better: 46
Number of men who have successfully passed off takeout as something they slaved over: 1 in 14
Number of meals the average guy cooks each week: 7
Number of men who've had sex in the kitchen: 2 in 5
Percentage of men who've dropped food on the floor and served it: 36
(Men's Health)
Number of men who believe their cooking skills are sound: 2 in 3
Number who say they have the Food Network to thank: 1 in 3
Number of men who cook to seduce women: 1 in 20
Number who buy cookware based on how they look rather than how they work: 1 in 5
Entree the average guy feels most confident preparing: Steak
Number of men who've started a fire in the kitchen: 1 in 4
Number who clean up in the kitchen as they cook: 1 in 2
Time the average guy spends at the supermarket each week: 30 minutes
Time he spends per day turning his groceries into greatness: 15 minutes
Percentage who are willing to pay more for organic ingredients: 23
Percentage who don't care how healthy the ingredients are as long as it makes a meal taste better: 46
Number of men who have successfully passed off takeout as something they slaved over: 1 in 14
Number of meals the average guy cooks each week: 7
Number of men who've had sex in the kitchen: 2 in 5
Percentage of men who've dropped food on the floor and served it: 36
Teen Dating Tips
Dating is a natural part of the teen years. But it's important for both teenagers and parents to review some basic dating safety information. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions when talking to your teen:
Encourage your child to get to know someone over the phone or at school before going out on a date.
If your child wants to go out, make sure it's to a public place. Encourage fun and safe outings, like a picnic, a trip to the mall, or the movies.
Talk to your child about the importance of speaking up about what makes her comfortable and uncomfortable.
Make sure she -- and her date -- both understand what time she is to return home.
Be sure that your child tells you where she's going, who she'll be with, and how you can reach her.
Encourage your child to get to know someone over the phone or at school before going out on a date.
If your child wants to go out, make sure it's to a public place. Encourage fun and safe outings, like a picnic, a trip to the mall, or the movies.
Talk to your child about the importance of speaking up about what makes her comfortable and uncomfortable.
Make sure she -- and her date -- both understand what time she is to return home.
Be sure that your child tells you where she's going, who she'll be with, and how you can reach her.
Women and cancer
Sixty-three percent of American women think that if there's no family history of cancer, you're not likely to develop the disease, a new survey found. In fact, most people who develop cancer have no family history of cancer, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which sponsored the survey. The survey underscores the need for better education and understanding of the steps women can take to prevent cancer and to detect it early.
Halloween Safety Tips
A Happy Halloween Means Safety First
(HealthDay News)
Halloween costume? Check.
Goody bag? Check.
A head full of safety tips? Safety tips?
Yes, safety tips.
Before letting your little trick-or-treater loose this Halloween, make sure he or she is armed with a checklist of "dos" and "don'ts" that will make for a safe and fun-filled night for all.
Topping the list -- be sure your child can safely navigate the neighborhood, especially once darkness has settled.
An average of four deaths among children aged 5 to 14 years occurred on Halloween between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. every year from 1975 through 1996, compared to an average of one death during those hours on any other night of the year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The good news this year is that Daylight Savings Time doesn't end until Nov. 4, four days after Halloween, said Dr. Seema Csukas, director of child health promotion at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. That means more light this year than in years past. But children will still need supervision when they walk from house to house, she said.
"Any little bit of light that we can get on this night when so many children are out is a plus, but that doesn't take away from the need to be safe and careful," Csukas said. She also suggested that parents talk to their children a few days before Halloween, so everyone knows the rules ahead of time.
Her recommendations for parents and children:
Map out the trick-or-treating route beforehand.
Stick to familiar neighborhoods, and no darting between parked cars.
When crossing streets, stay on designated crosswalks.
Give children flashlights or glow sticks to carry for visibility, or attach reflective tape to costumes.
Approach houses from well-lit driveways and sidewalks, rather than dark lawns.
With so many children walking around in the dark on Halloween, families should clean up their yards -- rakes, bikes, garden hoses and the like should be put away, and outside lights should be turned on so kids won't fall. Drivers, too, should slow down and keep a careful eye on the road to avoid excitable children who might run into traffic without looking.
"Kids get excited, and adults do as well, and we want them all to enjoy the evening and enjoy it safely," Csukas said.
Costumes should also be assembled with an eye toward safety, Csukas said. Masks should have big eye holes to give kids as much peripheral vision as possible, and costumes should be short enough to allow walking without tripping. Shoes shouldn't be so big and unwieldy that kids can't walk properly.
Most store-bought costumes are made of flame-resistant material. But homemade costumes aren't necessarily flame-proof, so special care should be taken around pumpkins lit with candles. And stay away from sharp objects -- any make-believe swords, pitchforks, knives and the like should be made of soft material.
Then there are the treats themselves. Parents should check the candy bags when their kids get home. Parents whose children have food allergies should remove candies that could trigger reactions in their kids. And parents with younger children should look for small items that could cause choking if swallowed. Also, be cautious about homemade treats. Commercially wrapped candy bars that show no signs of tampering are safer.
Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and president of the American Dietetic Association, said that when children have a bag full of Halloween treats, their natural inclination may be to devour as much as they can as quickly as possible. In order to control consumption, parents need to do some pre-planning, she said.
"Start ahead of time. The day before Halloween start talking to your kids about all the treats they are going to get. Talk about how fun it would be to divide up candy, so it can be enjoyed over several days," Diekman said in a prepared statement.
Dividing treats into small packages that can be eaten over an extended period of time prevents overindulging and gives children something to look forward to over the coming weeks.
Here are more safety tips, courtesy of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the U.S. National Safety Council (NSC), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):
Over-the-counter decorative contact lenses as part of a Halloween costume can lead to serious eye problems like inflammation, pain, corneal abrasions and even blinding infections, the AAO warns. To protect eyes, lenses should be fitted by an eye-care professional.
Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth after eating Halloween candy. Treats like sticky taffy and gummy bears are less likely to be washed away by saliva, and long-lasting lollipops and hard candies keep sugar and preservatives in a child's mouth, increasing the risk for cavities, according to the ADA.
If your child has allergies, the AAAAI suggests handing out allergy-safe candies to neighbors beforehand, so they can give them to your child when he or she comes trick-or-treating. Do the same for classroom Halloween parties by packing treats from home for your allergic child.
Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk and soy are the most common causes of food allergies in children. Allergic symptoms include headache, nausea, sneezing and coughing, hives, swelling of lips, tongue and throat and itching. More dangerous symptoms can be difficulty breathing, hoarseness or a lump in the throat or tingling in hands, feet, lips or scalp. If your child exhibits any of these latter symptoms after eating, he or she could be having a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, and you should call 911 immediately, according to the AAAAI.
(HealthDay News)
Halloween costume? Check.
Goody bag? Check.
A head full of safety tips? Safety tips?
Yes, safety tips.
Before letting your little trick-or-treater loose this Halloween, make sure he or she is armed with a checklist of "dos" and "don'ts" that will make for a safe and fun-filled night for all.
Topping the list -- be sure your child can safely navigate the neighborhood, especially once darkness has settled.
An average of four deaths among children aged 5 to 14 years occurred on Halloween between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. every year from 1975 through 1996, compared to an average of one death during those hours on any other night of the year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The good news this year is that Daylight Savings Time doesn't end until Nov. 4, four days after Halloween, said Dr. Seema Csukas, director of child health promotion at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. That means more light this year than in years past. But children will still need supervision when they walk from house to house, she said.
"Any little bit of light that we can get on this night when so many children are out is a plus, but that doesn't take away from the need to be safe and careful," Csukas said. She also suggested that parents talk to their children a few days before Halloween, so everyone knows the rules ahead of time.
Her recommendations for parents and children:
Map out the trick-or-treating route beforehand.
Stick to familiar neighborhoods, and no darting between parked cars.
When crossing streets, stay on designated crosswalks.
Give children flashlights or glow sticks to carry for visibility, or attach reflective tape to costumes.
Approach houses from well-lit driveways and sidewalks, rather than dark lawns.
With so many children walking around in the dark on Halloween, families should clean up their yards -- rakes, bikes, garden hoses and the like should be put away, and outside lights should be turned on so kids won't fall. Drivers, too, should slow down and keep a careful eye on the road to avoid excitable children who might run into traffic without looking.
"Kids get excited, and adults do as well, and we want them all to enjoy the evening and enjoy it safely," Csukas said.
Costumes should also be assembled with an eye toward safety, Csukas said. Masks should have big eye holes to give kids as much peripheral vision as possible, and costumes should be short enough to allow walking without tripping. Shoes shouldn't be so big and unwieldy that kids can't walk properly.
Most store-bought costumes are made of flame-resistant material. But homemade costumes aren't necessarily flame-proof, so special care should be taken around pumpkins lit with candles. And stay away from sharp objects -- any make-believe swords, pitchforks, knives and the like should be made of soft material.
Then there are the treats themselves. Parents should check the candy bags when their kids get home. Parents whose children have food allergies should remove candies that could trigger reactions in their kids. And parents with younger children should look for small items that could cause choking if swallowed. Also, be cautious about homemade treats. Commercially wrapped candy bars that show no signs of tampering are safer.
Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and president of the American Dietetic Association, said that when children have a bag full of Halloween treats, their natural inclination may be to devour as much as they can as quickly as possible. In order to control consumption, parents need to do some pre-planning, she said.
"Start ahead of time. The day before Halloween start talking to your kids about all the treats they are going to get. Talk about how fun it would be to divide up candy, so it can be enjoyed over several days," Diekman said in a prepared statement.
Dividing treats into small packages that can be eaten over an extended period of time prevents overindulging and gives children something to look forward to over the coming weeks.
Here are more safety tips, courtesy of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the U.S. National Safety Council (NSC), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):
Over-the-counter decorative contact lenses as part of a Halloween costume can lead to serious eye problems like inflammation, pain, corneal abrasions and even blinding infections, the AAO warns. To protect eyes, lenses should be fitted by an eye-care professional.
Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth after eating Halloween candy. Treats like sticky taffy and gummy bears are less likely to be washed away by saliva, and long-lasting lollipops and hard candies keep sugar and preservatives in a child's mouth, increasing the risk for cavities, according to the ADA.
If your child has allergies, the AAAAI suggests handing out allergy-safe candies to neighbors beforehand, so they can give them to your child when he or she comes trick-or-treating. Do the same for classroom Halloween parties by packing treats from home for your allergic child.
Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk and soy are the most common causes of food allergies in children. Allergic symptoms include headache, nausea, sneezing and coughing, hives, swelling of lips, tongue and throat and itching. More dangerous symptoms can be difficulty breathing, hoarseness or a lump in the throat or tingling in hands, feet, lips or scalp. If your child exhibits any of these latter symptoms after eating, he or she could be having a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, and you should call 911 immediately, according to the AAAAI.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
What parents think about the internet now
A new study suggests parents have become more ambivalent about the Internet, with fewer of those surveyed considering it good for their children.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project says 59 percent of Americans with children ages 12 to 17 who were polled in 2006 consider the Internet a positive influence on their kids. That's down from 67 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, those who don't believe the Internet has had any effect one way or the other increased to 30 percent, up from 25. A senior research specialist at Pew says parents are not in a "honeymoon period" with the Internet anymore, adding they realize the Internet is something with good and bad things. More than 900 sets of U.S. parents and children were surveyed by phone in October and November of 2006.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project says 59 percent of Americans with children ages 12 to 17 who were polled in 2006 consider the Internet a positive influence on their kids. That's down from 67 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, those who don't believe the Internet has had any effect one way or the other increased to 30 percent, up from 25. A senior research specialist at Pew says parents are not in a "honeymoon period" with the Internet anymore, adding they realize the Internet is something with good and bad things. More than 900 sets of U.S. parents and children were surveyed by phone in October and November of 2006.
Got a super sarcastic teen?
Deal With Tweenage Attitude
Margery Rosen
Sometime between the ages of 8 and 10 (earlier if older siblings are around) your mostly sweet-tempered munchkin, the one who broke into a wide grin the second you walked in the room, will look you in the eye and sneer, "Why should I?" when you remind her, again, to pick up her clothes and hang them in the closet. Perhaps she'll lob a sarcastic "So what?" when you inform her that unless she does, she won't be going to her best friend's birthday party. Her rude outbursts are piercing and you can't help but wonder: isn't she old enough by now to know better?
Yes, she is -- but she also needs to test her preteen mojo. "The middle school years are a time of huge physical, emotional, and cognitive change," notes child and adolescent psychologist Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., director of the Parenting Institute at New York University's Child Study Center. Your child is trying to figure out who she is and how she feels about things. "One way to do that is by flexing her verbal muscles and challenging your authority," says Dr. Gallagher. "She's purposely pushing you away, letting you know she's her own boss." When she questions everything you do or say ("And your point is?"), or cuts you off mid-sentence with a sarcastic "Mom, I just told you that," she's also learning to assert her own needs and ideas. "Who better to do that with than someone who will always love her?" he adds.
The problem is, middle schoolers don't have the maturity to know when they've crossed the line. The pre-frontal cortex -- the area in the brain that affects reasoning, impulse control and the ability to recognize the consequences of their actions -- isn't fully formed until the late teens or early 20s. What's more, it's overshadowed by the highly reactive amygdala, which triggers the brains' automatic fight-or-flight reflex. "When this area fires up, a child may instantaneously interpret just about anything you do or say as hostile -- and react accordingly," explains Steven C. Atkins, associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Dartmouth Medical School.
Then, too, our society fosters this kind of behavior. "I call it the Bart Simpson affect," says Dr. Atkins, who is currently revamping the behavioral curriculum of a New Hampshire middle school to address issues of insolence. "We live in a racy, rude world. Kids listen to raunchy CD lyrics, read cruel posts on the Internet, and watch reality TV where the humor and drama is derived to a large extent from putting others down. And they witness the cynical, taunting comments of classmates at school." In the guise of being "cool," a child may adapt the tone of voice or verbal bullying of peers in order to fit in, explains Atkins, who is also coauthor of Because I Said So: Dealing with Family Squabbles. "His friends get away with it, so he figures, why not try it out?"
An Attitude Makeover
No one wants to raise a rude, bratty child. Yet what parents do, and don't do, causes insolence to escalate. "Parents are time-famined," says psychologist Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of Don't Give Me That Attitude. "We're overtired and overworked. We yearn for good times with our kids, without arguments." We let snarky comments pass, or pick those clothes off the floor and hang them up ourselves.
Plus, so much of our culture is geared toward a child's success -- in school, on the athletic field -- that building moral character gets short shrift. "No one gets a trophy being kind, helpful or generous," says Borba. In fact, she sees a strong uptick in mouthing off among preteen girls. "Parents are so focused on teaching their daughters to advocate for themselves, they fail to show them how to be assertive without being aggressive and disrespectful," she notes.
While the best defense against kid attitude is an early offense, it's never to late for a makeover. Most likely, you won't banish the back talk forever, but these tips will help you mitigate it -- as well as develop a thicker skin:
Figure out what's behind it. Sometimes an obnoxious attitude is a reaction to stress, disappointment, or even too little sleep. Middle schoolers are trying to prove themselves academically and socially, and it can be a challenge to keep negativity and cynicism at bay when they're emotionally depleted. If your child had a fight with a friend, or is doing poorly in school, a flippant, "so-what" tone may conceal fear or anxiety. If she hears you or a spouse speak rudely to others, she'll copy that behavior.
Target one attitude at a time. Do you bristle at his fresh mouth or sense of entitlement? Are you most offended by her barely-under-the-breath remarks or the way she rolls her eyes when you speak? While there may be several things you wish would disappear instantly, focus on one at a time.
Nurture the attitude you want to see. Once you've targeted the offensive attitude, zero in on what you'd like to see instead. For instance, an insensitive child needs to be caring and empathic; the non-compliant child can learn to be respectful and dependable; the demanding child should be considerate. "Don't try to do this alone," warns Borba. "Attitude change requires the cooperation of other family members, grandparents, caregivers, teachers and coaches. Get their input, so you can figure out whether she's acting impudently with everyone or just with you."
Stay cool. Like the schoolyard bully who hones in on the one kid he knows will cry, your child wants to see that he's ticking you off -- and he's probably quite good at it. That's why you need to plan ahead. "Pretend you're on Oprah," says Borba. "Memorize a short script so you can clearly but calmly respond to a child's hostility in the heat of the moment." Never lash back ("Don't you dare speak to me that way, young lady!"); she'll focus on your anger, not what you're saying, and before you know it you'll be embroiled in a power struggle. Instead, repeat your zero-tolerance policy and, if she continues, ignore her or walk out of the room. You can say, "When you're ready to speak respectfully, you can find me in the kitchen."
Draw your line in the sand. During a peaceful moment, patiently point out the attitudes you're concerned about. Make it clear that, while you understand her feelings and opinions, you won't tolerate her response. You could say: "I know you think I'm not being fair, but I won't be spoken to like that." Or: "That may be the way you talk to your friends, but it's never okay with me." Give her another chance to respond in a kinder, gentler way: "If you'd like me to help you, ask politely," or "You call me clueless and that hurts my feelings. Can you say it another way?" Dr. Atkins' mantra is: "You can be mad, but you can't be mean."
Follow through with consequences. If your child has slipped into the habit of being disrespectful, he really may not be aware of it or, in the heat of the moment, realize how wounding his words are. Still, Borba advises that you "flat out refuse to respond until he does." If it continues, ground him or take away privileges: no cell phone or X-Box, an early curfew, missing an important social event.
Notice the good times. "You'll need a thick skin to ignore infuriating comments, but the more you do, the quicker they'll stop," says Gallagher. When they do, let your child know you're proud of her. And hang in there: by the age of 14 or 15, the nice kid you used to know will come back.
Margery Rosen
Sometime between the ages of 8 and 10 (earlier if older siblings are around) your mostly sweet-tempered munchkin, the one who broke into a wide grin the second you walked in the room, will look you in the eye and sneer, "Why should I?" when you remind her, again, to pick up her clothes and hang them in the closet. Perhaps she'll lob a sarcastic "So what?" when you inform her that unless she does, she won't be going to her best friend's birthday party. Her rude outbursts are piercing and you can't help but wonder: isn't she old enough by now to know better?
Yes, she is -- but she also needs to test her preteen mojo. "The middle school years are a time of huge physical, emotional, and cognitive change," notes child and adolescent psychologist Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., director of the Parenting Institute at New York University's Child Study Center. Your child is trying to figure out who she is and how she feels about things. "One way to do that is by flexing her verbal muscles and challenging your authority," says Dr. Gallagher. "She's purposely pushing you away, letting you know she's her own boss." When she questions everything you do or say ("And your point is?"), or cuts you off mid-sentence with a sarcastic "Mom, I just told you that," she's also learning to assert her own needs and ideas. "Who better to do that with than someone who will always love her?" he adds.
The problem is, middle schoolers don't have the maturity to know when they've crossed the line. The pre-frontal cortex -- the area in the brain that affects reasoning, impulse control and the ability to recognize the consequences of their actions -- isn't fully formed until the late teens or early 20s. What's more, it's overshadowed by the highly reactive amygdala, which triggers the brains' automatic fight-or-flight reflex. "When this area fires up, a child may instantaneously interpret just about anything you do or say as hostile -- and react accordingly," explains Steven C. Atkins, associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Dartmouth Medical School.
Then, too, our society fosters this kind of behavior. "I call it the Bart Simpson affect," says Dr. Atkins, who is currently revamping the behavioral curriculum of a New Hampshire middle school to address issues of insolence. "We live in a racy, rude world. Kids listen to raunchy CD lyrics, read cruel posts on the Internet, and watch reality TV where the humor and drama is derived to a large extent from putting others down. And they witness the cynical, taunting comments of classmates at school." In the guise of being "cool," a child may adapt the tone of voice or verbal bullying of peers in order to fit in, explains Atkins, who is also coauthor of Because I Said So: Dealing with Family Squabbles. "His friends get away with it, so he figures, why not try it out?"
An Attitude Makeover
No one wants to raise a rude, bratty child. Yet what parents do, and don't do, causes insolence to escalate. "Parents are time-famined," says psychologist Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of Don't Give Me That Attitude. "We're overtired and overworked. We yearn for good times with our kids, without arguments." We let snarky comments pass, or pick those clothes off the floor and hang them up ourselves.
Plus, so much of our culture is geared toward a child's success -- in school, on the athletic field -- that building moral character gets short shrift. "No one gets a trophy being kind, helpful or generous," says Borba. In fact, she sees a strong uptick in mouthing off among preteen girls. "Parents are so focused on teaching their daughters to advocate for themselves, they fail to show them how to be assertive without being aggressive and disrespectful," she notes.
While the best defense against kid attitude is an early offense, it's never to late for a makeover. Most likely, you won't banish the back talk forever, but these tips will help you mitigate it -- as well as develop a thicker skin:
Figure out what's behind it. Sometimes an obnoxious attitude is a reaction to stress, disappointment, or even too little sleep. Middle schoolers are trying to prove themselves academically and socially, and it can be a challenge to keep negativity and cynicism at bay when they're emotionally depleted. If your child had a fight with a friend, or is doing poorly in school, a flippant, "so-what" tone may conceal fear or anxiety. If she hears you or a spouse speak rudely to others, she'll copy that behavior.
Target one attitude at a time. Do you bristle at his fresh mouth or sense of entitlement? Are you most offended by her barely-under-the-breath remarks or the way she rolls her eyes when you speak? While there may be several things you wish would disappear instantly, focus on one at a time.
Nurture the attitude you want to see. Once you've targeted the offensive attitude, zero in on what you'd like to see instead. For instance, an insensitive child needs to be caring and empathic; the non-compliant child can learn to be respectful and dependable; the demanding child should be considerate. "Don't try to do this alone," warns Borba. "Attitude change requires the cooperation of other family members, grandparents, caregivers, teachers and coaches. Get their input, so you can figure out whether she's acting impudently with everyone or just with you."
Stay cool. Like the schoolyard bully who hones in on the one kid he knows will cry, your child wants to see that he's ticking you off -- and he's probably quite good at it. That's why you need to plan ahead. "Pretend you're on Oprah," says Borba. "Memorize a short script so you can clearly but calmly respond to a child's hostility in the heat of the moment." Never lash back ("Don't you dare speak to me that way, young lady!"); she'll focus on your anger, not what you're saying, and before you know it you'll be embroiled in a power struggle. Instead, repeat your zero-tolerance policy and, if she continues, ignore her or walk out of the room. You can say, "When you're ready to speak respectfully, you can find me in the kitchen."
Draw your line in the sand. During a peaceful moment, patiently point out the attitudes you're concerned about. Make it clear that, while you understand her feelings and opinions, you won't tolerate her response. You could say: "I know you think I'm not being fair, but I won't be spoken to like that." Or: "That may be the way you talk to your friends, but it's never okay with me." Give her another chance to respond in a kinder, gentler way: "If you'd like me to help you, ask politely," or "You call me clueless and that hurts my feelings. Can you say it another way?" Dr. Atkins' mantra is: "You can be mad, but you can't be mean."
Follow through with consequences. If your child has slipped into the habit of being disrespectful, he really may not be aware of it or, in the heat of the moment, realize how wounding his words are. Still, Borba advises that you "flat out refuse to respond until he does." If it continues, ground him or take away privileges: no cell phone or X-Box, an early curfew, missing an important social event.
Notice the good times. "You'll need a thick skin to ignore infuriating comments, but the more you do, the quicker they'll stop," says Gallagher. When they do, let your child know you're proud of her. And hang in there: by the age of 14 or 15, the nice kid you used to know will come back.
Another reason for kids to trim down
Obese children and those at risk for obesity show early signs of heart disease -- similar to that seen in obese adults, U.S. researchers say.
"In the patients who are obese, the rate of motion of heart muscle changed," Dr. Angela Sharkey, an associate professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and a pediatric cardiologist at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said in a prepared statement. "As a child's BMIA (body mass index for age) increases, we see alterations in both the relaxation and contraction phase of the heartbeat. Many of these changes that have been seen in adults were assumed to be from long-standing obesity, but it may be that these changes start much earlier in life than we thought."
About 19 percent of American children ages 6 to 11 and 17 percent of those ages 12 to 19 are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"In the patients who are obese, the rate of motion of heart muscle changed," Dr. Angela Sharkey, an associate professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and a pediatric cardiologist at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said in a prepared statement. "As a child's BMIA (body mass index for age) increases, we see alterations in both the relaxation and contraction phase of the heartbeat. Many of these changes that have been seen in adults were assumed to be from long-standing obesity, but it may be that these changes start much earlier in life than we thought."
About 19 percent of American children ages 6 to 11 and 17 percent of those ages 12 to 19 are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That pain "down there"
The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) at the National Institute's of Health (NIH), in partnership with other federal and non-federal partners, announced the launch of the "Vulvodynia Awareness Campaign." Vulvodynia, also referred to as "the pain down there" or "feminine pain," is chronic discomfort or pain of the vulva, which is the area around the outside of the vagina.
It is a persistent condition for which there is no apparent cause and no single effective treatment. Vulvodynia can have stressful effects on every day life and relationships. A lack of sufficient consumer and health care provider information may contribute to a delayed diagnosis and the ultimate long-term suffering of vulvodynia patients. Researchers estimate that as many as 18 percent of women will experience symptoms consistent with vulvodynia.
It is a persistent condition for which there is no apparent cause and no single effective treatment. Vulvodynia can have stressful effects on every day life and relationships. A lack of sufficient consumer and health care provider information may contribute to a delayed diagnosis and the ultimate long-term suffering of vulvodynia patients. Researchers estimate that as many as 18 percent of women will experience symptoms consistent with vulvodynia.
The Boat Show
Going to the boat show this weekend? The world's largest boat show opens today in South Florida! The 48th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs from today through Monday.
More than 2 billion dollars worth of marine merchandise is being shown off at six different locations across South Florida. From kayaks to super-yachts, you can browse, buy and learn what the marine industry is doing to go green.
Need details? Just click here.
More than 2 billion dollars worth of marine merchandise is being shown off at six different locations across South Florida. From kayaks to super-yachts, you can browse, buy and learn what the marine industry is doing to go green.
Need details? Just click here.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Take stress out of your office space
Want to live a healthier life? Start in your office! Here's some workplace intel, and what you need.
1. A well-placed monitor- the top of your computer screen should be at eye level, and about 18-20 inches away from you. And avoid the glare that can make you tired; do not put your computer in front of a window.
2. A calming color for the walls in your office; cooler hues like light blue or lavender are calming, and will help lower your stress level. Hang a picture of the ocean, the sky or a country field.
3. Soothing sounds- background noise, like the traffic outside, ringing phones, or the constant din of conversation can stress you and make you eat more. Try a fan for some white noise, or a sound machine or iPod to help block it out.
4. A neck-saving phone-get a headset to avoid neck and shoulder pain from cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear.
5. Last? A window, if you can- natural sunlight will help suppress the hormone melatonin, and increase the brain's levels of seratonin, a calming chemical, making you feel more alert, and less stressed!
1. A well-placed monitor- the top of your computer screen should be at eye level, and about 18-20 inches away from you. And avoid the glare that can make you tired; do not put your computer in front of a window.
2. A calming color for the walls in your office; cooler hues like light blue or lavender are calming, and will help lower your stress level. Hang a picture of the ocean, the sky or a country field.
3. Soothing sounds- background noise, like the traffic outside, ringing phones, or the constant din of conversation can stress you and make you eat more. Try a fan for some white noise, or a sound machine or iPod to help block it out.
4. A neck-saving phone-get a headset to avoid neck and shoulder pain from cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear.
5. Last? A window, if you can- natural sunlight will help suppress the hormone melatonin, and increase the brain's levels of seratonin, a calming chemical, making you feel more alert, and less stressed!
Save big on a tiny income
19 ways -– and counting -- to save when you make next to nothing.
(from MSN.com)
By MP Dunleavey
Editor's note: Join columnist MP Dunleavey and a group of women as they seek to strip away the myths around money, liberate themselves from debt and find financial sanity. Follow the ongoing quest of the Women in Red every other Wednesday in Dunleavey's column on MSN Money.
When I wrote an article describing how some of the Women in Red could save more, I got an earful from frustrated readers, many of whom don't earn as much as the women in the group.
"Let's deal with the real world," wrote one woman, who declined to give her name. "If I had that kind of income I could save easily. Try (saving) on the incomes of most of us working, single moms, which is more like $2,500 a month! Cut our expenses? How???"
Carrie Bowers, 29, of Colorado, added: "How would the average service worker go about saving for retirement, a child's education (or even (her) own in hopes of moving up in the world) on less than $18,000 a year? Some financial advice for the public-transit set would be appreciated more than you know."
With her dunce cap on, this writer decided to unearth smart savings strategies anyone can use, no matter how much they earn -- from real-life tips contributed by women on our blog, to the abundance of savings stories right here on MSN Money.
As you might expect with such a wealth of ideas, there are many ways to fire up your inner-savings goddess. Try one, try 'em all.
Spare change = big bucks
Stash a dollar in a jar every time you do the laundry, says blogger LBL.
Save all your $5 bills in a coffee can. (My husband and I do this so we have extra fun money.) Or save all your $20 bills in shoe box ("I saved for a trip to Europe this way," says Bowers, who earns $1,800 a month working in a cafe.)
Cash in your spare change. Many banks and credit unions will sort your change without charging a fee. Or, do it yourself: "We invested in a $30 coin sorter, which has paid for itself three times over," writes a reader who calls herself darcie1590.
Salt away all those little rebates, refunds and reimbursement checks.
Take free money. Now some institutions, like Bank of America and even PayPal, are offering what you might call "spare change" savings plans. Bank of America will round up any purchase you make and deposit the extra change in a savings account for you. For a limited time, they'll even match your spare change up to $250. If you use the PayPal debit card, they'll refund 1% of your purchase immediately, wrote Kit on the blog. Other cards may offer similar deals; don't let free cash pass you by (but beware of hidden fees).
Don't even think about it
Even if you love to save, it can be hard to sock away that cash -- unless you let Mother Technology do it for you. Nearly everyone on the blog -- and in the WIR -- has an automatic transfer set up from their checking to their savings.
You can do this anywhere you bank, but a number of readers favor ING Direct.
At 3.4%, ING pays a lot more interest than you can get on most no-minimum savings accounts.
Because the account is online -- and there's no direct ATM access -- you can't touch your savings without thinking about it.
Savers can set up multiple sub-accounts at no extra charge -- for different purposes (vacation, new roof, Sally's sweet 16).
To test-drive ING's basic savings plan, I set up an account in 15 minutes to have $25 a week taken out of checking and put into a little account I nicknamed "Happy Money." I'm richer already!
Play little money games
Create bank errors in your favor. "If I spend $2.16 on a coffee, I deduct $3 (in my check register)," writes AJ. "It really adds up." Several readers share AJ's strategy, including a blogger named Natalie, who even rounds down her paycheck. A $425 check would become $400 in the check register -- and the $25 is saved.
Make a fair trade. One reader swapped her cleaning skills for day-care time for her child; Beth of the WIR recently helped a neighbor build a fence in exchange for some pocket money; in exchange for some editing, a friend is going to organize my messy apartment. The swaps are endless -- and the savings can be huge. "You can get together with friends and have a clothes or furniture/house item swap," adds Nancy.
Switch from paper to plastic. A surprising number of women are mega-advocates of relying on credit cards as a way of controlling spending. Some get cash back or miles; some just feel handling cash is too risky. "I don't carry cash, I don't use cash," writes Chris. "This has helped to curb impulse spending, which equates to effective saving." Caveat: These responsible souls pay the card balance in full each month, often depositing the cash for purchases in advance. Ahem!
Divide and conquer. Divide the total amount of your car insurance (or other irregular expense) by 12 and sock away that amount each month so you don't get caught short. Lea says she won't blow her holiday budget this year because she's used this system to save each month for gifts.
Never pay full price
Buy non-perishables in bulk (i.e., cereals, rice, pastas, dried fruit and canned goods); bulk prices are much lower.
Share the savings. Bowers says one friend will buy toiletries and such at a warehouse store and divvy the spoils up with friends.
Buy generic instead of brand-name products. "I've stopped eating Cheerios in favor of Toasty-O's -- my paycheck loves me for it, and my tastebuds don't know the difference," writes Chada.
Research before you buy. Most readers say bargains can be found for any item if you put a little time into finding discount Web sites, clearance centers, warehouse outlets and the like.
"Look at the Pottery Barn catalog, shop at Goodwill," writes Chada again. "You'd be amazed at what you can turn into a masterpiece with a little paint and stain."
Fly cheap. Renee recommends mobissimo.com and itasoftware.com -- both travel search engines that comb the Web to find the lowest of the lowest possible prices.
Build it, grow it, make it, cook it yourself
A big way to save on a small income is to embrace DIY as your financial salvation. In addition to sewing, making gifts and homemade cards, cooking at home, and baking everything from scratch, here are some other creative ways to save:
"We've made lamps, a window seat, a bar, our headboard, a corner sofa and various tables and shelves," writes Kelly. "It's saved us a fortune."
"There is little that can't be cleaned with (a mix of) vinegar and baking soda," writes ylm23. "We use the mix throughout the kitchen, bathroom, dining room -- and have scrubbed pots and pans with it."
"Don't forget gardening as a money-saving venture," writes a green-thumbed reader. "One year, I fed the four of us and a neighbor for almost four months from a 10-by-15-foot garden."
More savings than space
I wish I could go on, but I'm running out of room.
For those of you interested in reading more (and more and MORE!) ways to save, please visit the Women in Red message board, where this topic has inspired the most incredible gold rush of ideas.
Log on, share the wealth, feel the love -- and give us some of your ideas, if they haven't been covered already. And remember the most powerful money-saving secret of all: You won't save until . . . you start saving.
(from MSN.com)
By MP Dunleavey
Editor's note: Join columnist MP Dunleavey and a group of women as they seek to strip away the myths around money, liberate themselves from debt and find financial sanity. Follow the ongoing quest of the Women in Red every other Wednesday in Dunleavey's column on MSN Money.
When I wrote an article describing how some of the Women in Red could save more, I got an earful from frustrated readers, many of whom don't earn as much as the women in the group.
"Let's deal with the real world," wrote one woman, who declined to give her name. "If I had that kind of income I could save easily. Try (saving) on the incomes of most of us working, single moms, which is more like $2,500 a month! Cut our expenses? How???"
Carrie Bowers, 29, of Colorado, added: "How would the average service worker go about saving for retirement, a child's education (or even (her) own in hopes of moving up in the world) on less than $18,000 a year? Some financial advice for the public-transit set would be appreciated more than you know."
With her dunce cap on, this writer decided to unearth smart savings strategies anyone can use, no matter how much they earn -- from real-life tips contributed by women on our blog, to the abundance of savings stories right here on MSN Money.
As you might expect with such a wealth of ideas, there are many ways to fire up your inner-savings goddess. Try one, try 'em all.
Spare change = big bucks
Stash a dollar in a jar every time you do the laundry, says blogger LBL.
Save all your $5 bills in a coffee can. (My husband and I do this so we have extra fun money.) Or save all your $20 bills in shoe box ("I saved for a trip to Europe this way," says Bowers, who earns $1,800 a month working in a cafe.)
Cash in your spare change. Many banks and credit unions will sort your change without charging a fee. Or, do it yourself: "We invested in a $30 coin sorter, which has paid for itself three times over," writes a reader who calls herself darcie1590.
Salt away all those little rebates, refunds and reimbursement checks.
Take free money. Now some institutions, like Bank of America and even PayPal, are offering what you might call "spare change" savings plans. Bank of America will round up any purchase you make and deposit the extra change in a savings account for you. For a limited time, they'll even match your spare change up to $250. If you use the PayPal debit card, they'll refund 1% of your purchase immediately, wrote Kit on the blog. Other cards may offer similar deals; don't let free cash pass you by (but beware of hidden fees).
Don't even think about it
Even if you love to save, it can be hard to sock away that cash -- unless you let Mother Technology do it for you. Nearly everyone on the blog -- and in the WIR -- has an automatic transfer set up from their checking to their savings.
You can do this anywhere you bank, but a number of readers favor ING Direct.
At 3.4%, ING pays a lot more interest than you can get on most no-minimum savings accounts.
Because the account is online -- and there's no direct ATM access -- you can't touch your savings without thinking about it.
Savers can set up multiple sub-accounts at no extra charge -- for different purposes (vacation, new roof, Sally's sweet 16).
To test-drive ING's basic savings plan, I set up an account in 15 minutes to have $25 a week taken out of checking and put into a little account I nicknamed "Happy Money." I'm richer already!
Play little money games
Create bank errors in your favor. "If I spend $2.16 on a coffee, I deduct $3 (in my check register)," writes AJ. "It really adds up." Several readers share AJ's strategy, including a blogger named Natalie, who even rounds down her paycheck. A $425 check would become $400 in the check register -- and the $25 is saved.
Make a fair trade. One reader swapped her cleaning skills for day-care time for her child; Beth of the WIR recently helped a neighbor build a fence in exchange for some pocket money; in exchange for some editing, a friend is going to organize my messy apartment. The swaps are endless -- and the savings can be huge. "You can get together with friends and have a clothes or furniture/house item swap," adds Nancy.
Switch from paper to plastic. A surprising number of women are mega-advocates of relying on credit cards as a way of controlling spending. Some get cash back or miles; some just feel handling cash is too risky. "I don't carry cash, I don't use cash," writes Chris. "This has helped to curb impulse spending, which equates to effective saving." Caveat: These responsible souls pay the card balance in full each month, often depositing the cash for purchases in advance. Ahem!
Divide and conquer. Divide the total amount of your car insurance (or other irregular expense) by 12 and sock away that amount each month so you don't get caught short. Lea says she won't blow her holiday budget this year because she's used this system to save each month for gifts.
Never pay full price
Buy non-perishables in bulk (i.e., cereals, rice, pastas, dried fruit and canned goods); bulk prices are much lower.
Share the savings. Bowers says one friend will buy toiletries and such at a warehouse store and divvy the spoils up with friends.
Buy generic instead of brand-name products. "I've stopped eating Cheerios in favor of Toasty-O's -- my paycheck loves me for it, and my tastebuds don't know the difference," writes Chada.
Research before you buy. Most readers say bargains can be found for any item if you put a little time into finding discount Web sites, clearance centers, warehouse outlets and the like.
"Look at the Pottery Barn catalog, shop at Goodwill," writes Chada again. "You'd be amazed at what you can turn into a masterpiece with a little paint and stain."
Fly cheap. Renee recommends mobissimo.com and itasoftware.com -- both travel search engines that comb the Web to find the lowest of the lowest possible prices.
Build it, grow it, make it, cook it yourself
A big way to save on a small income is to embrace DIY as your financial salvation. In addition to sewing, making gifts and homemade cards, cooking at home, and baking everything from scratch, here are some other creative ways to save:
"We've made lamps, a window seat, a bar, our headboard, a corner sofa and various tables and shelves," writes Kelly. "It's saved us a fortune."
"There is little that can't be cleaned with (a mix of) vinegar and baking soda," writes ylm23. "We use the mix throughout the kitchen, bathroom, dining room -- and have scrubbed pots and pans with it."
"Don't forget gardening as a money-saving venture," writes a green-thumbed reader. "One year, I fed the four of us and a neighbor for almost four months from a 10-by-15-foot garden."
More savings than space
I wish I could go on, but I'm running out of room.
For those of you interested in reading more (and more and MORE!) ways to save, please visit the Women in Red message board, where this topic has inspired the most incredible gold rush of ideas.
Log on, share the wealth, feel the love -- and give us some of your ideas, if they haven't been covered already. And remember the most powerful money-saving secret of all: You won't save until . . . you start saving.
Burn more fat during workouts
Would you like to burn more fat during your next workout?
Then take a break! Japanese researchers have discovered that taking a rest in the middle of your workout; for example, exercising for 15 minutes, taking a 10 minute break, then exercising for another 15, actually burns more fat than powering straight through.
Just don't make it a break to grab a cookie!
Then take a break! Japanese researchers have discovered that taking a rest in the middle of your workout; for example, exercising for 15 minutes, taking a 10 minute break, then exercising for another 15, actually burns more fat than powering straight through.
Just don't make it a break to grab a cookie!
Buckle down and be rewarded, kids!
Miami sixth graders with good grades, behavior and attendance records will be rewarded with laptop computers in a new program starting this month.
The Elevate Miami initiative is part of an education plan from the city of Miami and the Miami-Dade school district to infuse culture, life skills and technology into the traditional curriculum. Also under the program, third-graders will earn museum passes and tickets to cultural events. Eleventh-graders will have the opportunity to intern with top Miami employers. The program only applies to students living within Miami city limits, though school district officials say it may soon be introduced elsewhere in Miami-Dade County.
The Elevate Miami initiative is part of an education plan from the city of Miami and the Miami-Dade school district to infuse culture, life skills and technology into the traditional curriculum. Also under the program, third-graders will earn museum passes and tickets to cultural events. Eleventh-graders will have the opportunity to intern with top Miami employers. The program only applies to students living within Miami city limits, though school district officials say it may soon be introduced elsewhere in Miami-Dade County.
More weight means more risk for breast cancer
Putting on weight throughout adulthood can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer in middle age, according to new research.
Obesity was already known to be associated with post-menopausal breast cancer. But new findings link the risk of developing the disease after the menopause with weight gain from the age of 18. The pattern was seen in women who did not take hormone replacement therapy, which is known to increase the risk. Women who were not overweight or obese at 18, but were by the ages of 35 and 50, had a 1.4 times increased risk of developing breast cancer. Losing weight appeared to protect against the disease. Women who lost weight had the same risk as those whose weight remained stable.
Obesity was already known to be associated with post-menopausal breast cancer. But new findings link the risk of developing the disease after the menopause with weight gain from the age of 18. The pattern was seen in women who did not take hormone replacement therapy, which is known to increase the risk. Women who were not overweight or obese at 18, but were by the ages of 35 and 50, had a 1.4 times increased risk of developing breast cancer. Losing weight appeared to protect against the disease. Women who lost weight had the same risk as those whose weight remained stable.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Pumpkin patterns
From easy to super scary pumpkin patterns. Make your jack-o-lantern special with the latest patterns.
Parenting tips
How can I be a good parent?
There's not just one right way to raise children. And there's no such thing as a perfect parent--or a perfect child. But here are some guidelines to help your children grow up healthy and happy:
Show your love. Every day, tell your children: "I love you. You're special to me." Give lots of hugs and kisses.
Listen when your children talk. Listening to your children tells them that you think they're important and that you're interested in what they have to say.
Make your children feel safe. Comfort them when they're scared. Show them you've taken steps to protect them.
Provide order in their lives. Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes.
If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.
Praise your children. When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you're proud of them.
Criticize the behavior, not the child. When your child makes a mistake, don't say, "You were bad." Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: "Running into the street without looking isn't safe." Then tell the child what to do instead: "First, look both ways for cars."
Be consistent. Your rules don't have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.) If two parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules.
Also, make sure baby sitters and relatives know, and follow, your family rules.
Spend time with your children. Do things together, like reading, walking, playing and cleaning house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behavior is usually their way of getting your attention.
Who can I ask when I need help raising my child?
There are many ways to get good parenting advice. Sign up for parenting classes offered by hospitals, community centers or schools. Read parenting books or magazines. Talk to your family doctor, a minister, a priest or a counselor.
You can also ask your family doctor for parenting help. Don't be embarrassed to ask. Raising children is hard, and no one can do it alone. Your doctor can help you with issues like discipline, potty training, eating problems and bedtime. Your doctor can also help you find local groups that can help you learn better parenting skills.
There's not just one right way to raise children. And there's no such thing as a perfect parent--or a perfect child. But here are some guidelines to help your children grow up healthy and happy:
Show your love. Every day, tell your children: "I love you. You're special to me." Give lots of hugs and kisses.
Listen when your children talk. Listening to your children tells them that you think they're important and that you're interested in what they have to say.
Make your children feel safe. Comfort them when they're scared. Show them you've taken steps to protect them.
Provide order in their lives. Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes.
If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.
Praise your children. When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you're proud of them.
Criticize the behavior, not the child. When your child makes a mistake, don't say, "You were bad." Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: "Running into the street without looking isn't safe." Then tell the child what to do instead: "First, look both ways for cars."
Be consistent. Your rules don't have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.) If two parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules.
Also, make sure baby sitters and relatives know, and follow, your family rules.
Spend time with your children. Do things together, like reading, walking, playing and cleaning house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behavior is usually their way of getting your attention.
Who can I ask when I need help raising my child?
There are many ways to get good parenting advice. Sign up for parenting classes offered by hospitals, community centers or schools. Read parenting books or magazines. Talk to your family doctor, a minister, a priest or a counselor.
You can also ask your family doctor for parenting help. Don't be embarrassed to ask. Raising children is hard, and no one can do it alone. Your doctor can help you with issues like discipline, potty training, eating problems and bedtime. Your doctor can also help you find local groups that can help you learn better parenting skills.
Is it always women and children first?
If a flu pandemic broke out who would be taken care of first?
Pregnant women, babies and young children would be at the front of the line to get a scarce vaccine if a flu pandemic breaks out, according to a plan drafted by the government.
Doctors, soldiers and emergency workers would also be at the head of the line.
At the end? The elderly and healthy young adults.
Pregnant women, babies and young children would be at the front of the line to get a scarce vaccine if a flu pandemic breaks out, according to a plan drafted by the government.
Doctors, soldiers and emergency workers would also be at the head of the line.
At the end? The elderly and healthy young adults.
Breast cancer mastectomies study
The number of women having both breasts removed after a tumor is found in one increased by 150 percent over a five-year period, researchers reported Monday.
The procedure, however, is being performed despite a lack of evidence showing that double mastectomies increase survival in most women.
Current guidelines for treatment of a localized breast cancer call only for removal of the tumor and not for a mastectomy — much less a double mastectomy.
But an increasing number of women, particularly young white women, are pushing for the more aggressive procedure for reasons that are not totally clear, the researchers said.
They surmised that some women think the health-care system did not detect their tumor early enough and that continued screening would not be effective, while others might have been traumatized by chemotherapy. Improvements in reconstructive surgery also have made a double mastectomy a more acceptable alternative.
The procedure, however, is being performed despite a lack of evidence showing that double mastectomies increase survival in most women.
Current guidelines for treatment of a localized breast cancer call only for removal of the tumor and not for a mastectomy — much less a double mastectomy.
But an increasing number of women, particularly young white women, are pushing for the more aggressive procedure for reasons that are not totally clear, the researchers said.
They surmised that some women think the health-care system did not detect their tumor early enough and that continued screening would not be effective, while others might have been traumatized by chemotherapy. Improvements in reconstructive surgery also have made a double mastectomy a more acceptable alternative.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Laughing all the way through old age
Mike Slosberg is not giving in to old age. He's fighting back -- with poetry. The ancient Japanese kind, of course, called Haiku. His book called Pimp My Walker: The Official Book of Old Age Haiku is brimming with 60 poems. So how , you ask, can a poem fight arthritis or bring back memory? Well, actually it can't -- but the ones Slosberg pulled together are packed with humor and have turned old age into an art form. Check these out:
I can remember / When sex was better than food/ Now vice is versa
Grandkids are a joy / Play a while, and hand them back / Just like a Hertz car
High school reunion / Everyone looks so ancient / Except for yours truly
Mike Slosberg is no slacker, though graying on top himself. He's written two novels and a book of cartoons which he wrote and illustrated himself. He's currently working on a third novel, a children's book, a play and, believe it or not, a time machine... really!
Jeff Martin shared this one with me:
I'm Fine, Thank YOU
There is nothing the matter with me.
I'm as healthy as I can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak, and my blood is thin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.
Arch supports I have for my feet
Or I wouldn't be able to be on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find I'm all right.
My memory is failing, my head's in a spin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.
The moral is this, as my tale I unfold,
That for you and me who are growing old,
It's better to say "I'm fine" with a grin
Than to let folks know the shape we are in.
How do I know that my youth is all spent?
Well, my "get up and go" just got up and went.
But I really don't mind when I think with a grin
Of all the grand places my "get up" has been.
Old age is golden, I've heard it said;
But sometimes I wonder as I get into bed
With my ears in the drawer my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
Ere sleep overtakes me, I say to myself,
"Is there anything else I could lay on the shelf?"
When I was young my slippers were red,
I could kick my heels over my head
When I was older my slippers were blue,
But I still could dance the whole night through.
Now I am old, my slippers are black,
I walk to the store and puff my way back.
I get up each morning and dust off my wits
And pick up the paper and read the obits.
If my name is still missing, I know I'm not dead
So I fix me some breakfast and go back to bed.
Author Unknown
I can remember / When sex was better than food/ Now vice is versa
Grandkids are a joy / Play a while, and hand them back / Just like a Hertz car
High school reunion / Everyone looks so ancient / Except for yours truly
Mike Slosberg is no slacker, though graying on top himself. He's written two novels and a book of cartoons which he wrote and illustrated himself. He's currently working on a third novel, a children's book, a play and, believe it or not, a time machine... really!
Jeff Martin shared this one with me:
I'm Fine, Thank YOU
There is nothing the matter with me.
I'm as healthy as I can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak, and my blood is thin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.
Arch supports I have for my feet
Or I wouldn't be able to be on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find I'm all right.
My memory is failing, my head's in a spin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.
The moral is this, as my tale I unfold,
That for you and me who are growing old,
It's better to say "I'm fine" with a grin
Than to let folks know the shape we are in.
How do I know that my youth is all spent?
Well, my "get up and go" just got up and went.
But I really don't mind when I think with a grin
Of all the grand places my "get up" has been.
Old age is golden, I've heard it said;
But sometimes I wonder as I get into bed
With my ears in the drawer my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
Ere sleep overtakes me, I say to myself,
"Is there anything else I could lay on the shelf?"
When I was young my slippers were red,
I could kick my heels over my head
When I was older my slippers were blue,
But I still could dance the whole night through.
Now I am old, my slippers are black,
I walk to the store and puff my way back.
I get up each morning and dust off my wits
And pick up the paper and read the obits.
If my name is still missing, I know I'm not dead
So I fix me some breakfast and go back to bed.
Author Unknown
Swearing at work good for morale? @$#!%
A new study found that regular swearing at work can help boost team spirit and morale among employees, allowing them to better express their feelings and develop social relationships.
The researchers said the key for managers is knowing when such language is appropriate and when it's not. For instance, swearing in front of senior staff or customers should be a no-no, while in other situations it helped build solidarity among workers and allowed them express frustration, stress or other feelings.
The researchers said the key for managers is knowing when such language is appropriate and when it's not. For instance, swearing in front of senior staff or customers should be a no-no, while in other situations it helped build solidarity among workers and allowed them express frustration, stress or other feelings.
Cube Monkeys: A handbook for surviing the office jungle
Boss-to-English Translator: What your boss says and what he really means
Do you ever feel a trip to your boss's office is like a trip to a foreign country? Nice view, but no speaka dee English? In order to ensure that none of the buck passing, put- downing, or one- upping is lost in translation, make sure to bring along this cheat sheet so you know what the big enchilada is really trying to say.
"Great job on the report!"
Translation: "I'm taking credit for your work."
"I have to attend an off-site meeting."
Translation: "I'm having an affair."
"Let me give you some broadstroke ideas and you can fill in the rest."
Translation: "I still haven't learned how to create an Excel document."
"Headquarters has assured me we will not be affected by the merger."
Translation: "You are going to be fired."
"I'm not sure if what you are suggesting is in alignment with our core competencies."
Translation: "What exactly do we do again?"
"I'll be out of the office for a couple hours with senior management, but you can reach me on my mobile."
Translation: "I'm playing golf."
"I'll be off-site and unreachable for the rest of the afternoon."
Translation: "I'm playing golf and I expect to be very, very drunk."
"It's good to see you take such bold initiative!"
Translation: "You are a threat to me. You will be fired the next time we so much as run out of coffee."
Do you ever feel a trip to your boss's office is like a trip to a foreign country? Nice view, but no speaka dee English? In order to ensure that none of the buck passing, put- downing, or one- upping is lost in translation, make sure to bring along this cheat sheet so you know what the big enchilada is really trying to say.
"Great job on the report!"
Translation: "I'm taking credit for your work."
"I have to attend an off-site meeting."
Translation: "I'm having an affair."
"Let me give you some broadstroke ideas and you can fill in the rest."
Translation: "I still haven't learned how to create an Excel document."
"Headquarters has assured me we will not be affected by the merger."
Translation: "You are going to be fired."
"I'm not sure if what you are suggesting is in alignment with our core competencies."
Translation: "What exactly do we do again?"
"I'll be out of the office for a couple hours with senior management, but you can reach me on my mobile."
Translation: "I'm playing golf."
"I'll be off-site and unreachable for the rest of the afternoon."
Translation: "I'm playing golf and I expect to be very, very drunk."
"It's good to see you take such bold initiative!"
Translation: "You are a threat to me. You will be fired the next time we so much as run out of coffee."
Meningitis vaccine for little ones
The approved age range for the bacterial meningitis vaccine Menactra has been expanded to include children ages 2 to 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said last week.
The vaccine had been approved for people ages 11 to 55. Previously, a product called Menomune was the only meningitis vaccine approved in the U.S. for use in children ages 2 and older. Both Menactra and Menomune are made by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and offer protection against four groups of the bacterium that can cause meningitis. In the United States, about 2,600 people become ill from bacterial meningitis each year. About 10 percent of those patients die and about 15 percent suffer brain damage or limb amputation.
The vaccine had been approved for people ages 11 to 55. Previously, a product called Menomune was the only meningitis vaccine approved in the U.S. for use in children ages 2 and older. Both Menactra and Menomune are made by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and offer protection against four groups of the bacterium that can cause meningitis. In the United States, about 2,600 people become ill from bacterial meningitis each year. About 10 percent of those patients die and about 15 percent suffer brain damage or limb amputation.
A new chemo drug for breast cancer
A new chemotherapy drug called Ixempra has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat women with advanced breast cancer who haven't responded to three other types of chemotherapy.
Ixempra, which belongs to a new class of drugs called epothilones, is designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. It does this by targeting a protein called tubulin that helps cells proliferate, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bristol-Myers also is studying the use of Ixempra to treat earlier-stage breast cancer, as well as ovarian, prostate, renal, pancreatic and non small cell lung cancers.
Ixempra, which belongs to a new class of drugs called epothilones, is designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. It does this by targeting a protein called tubulin that helps cells proliferate, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bristol-Myers also is studying the use of Ixempra to treat earlier-stage breast cancer, as well as ovarian, prostate, renal, pancreatic and non small cell lung cancers.
Friday, October 19, 2007
College kids can stay fit
The Dorm Room Diet Disaster
Late night study binges, sports events with endless junk food, more sitting than ever before... there's little wonder why college kids gain weight. And so Daphne Oz, now a junior at Princeton University, wrote The Dorm Room Diet Planner, an illustrated planner to help readers follow their own healthy diet and lifestyle and a follow-up to her first book called The Dorm Room Diet.
This planner is jam-packed with tips, checklists and sidebars on topics such as:
shopping for food on a college budget
game plans to help avoid disaster
tips on choosing vitamins and supplements
exercise and how it reduces stress
danger zones at school (like the cafeteria)- and how to avoid them
When in high school, Daphne successfully worked to change her school's lunch menu from processed cafeteria food to include whole grains and raw foods. She's the daughter of Lisa and Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of the bestsellers You: The Owner's Manual, You: The Smart Patient, and You: On A Diet.
Late night study binges, sports events with endless junk food, more sitting than ever before... there's little wonder why college kids gain weight. And so Daphne Oz, now a junior at Princeton University, wrote The Dorm Room Diet Planner, an illustrated planner to help readers follow their own healthy diet and lifestyle and a follow-up to her first book called The Dorm Room Diet.
This planner is jam-packed with tips, checklists and sidebars on topics such as:
shopping for food on a college budget
game plans to help avoid disaster
tips on choosing vitamins and supplements
exercise and how it reduces stress
danger zones at school (like the cafeteria)- and how to avoid them
When in high school, Daphne successfully worked to change her school's lunch menu from processed cafeteria food to include whole grains and raw foods. She's the daughter of Lisa and Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of the bestsellers You: The Owner's Manual, You: The Smart Patient, and You: On A Diet.
Dating During The Playoffs
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?"
(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?"
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.
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