Amelia- Movie Review

A good movie can make us feel a number of things. It can take us places and make us wish we were back home simultaneously. Mira Nair's ambitious portrait of the mysterious Amelia Earhart is a daring attempt to show us the high price of our dreams and the courage it takes to get us there.

Although the Earhart story has been and told again, Nair has found insightful ways to probe the Kansas bumpkin who captured America's heart in the trying thirties. Played eerily well by Hillary Swank, Amelia is passionate and uncompromising. Her speech is plain, but infused with an enlightened adoration for the view from a cockpit and the feeling of tangible freedom. The film is sweeping, profound and colorful, offering not only Amelia's love/hate relationship with the spotlight, the essence of celebrity. No to mention swelling strings in almost every scene.

At the heart of this feature is the love that rages between Earhart and her husband and PR guru George Putnam. Richard Gere is more than qualified to deliver as the dutiful and tested spouse of the aviation legend. This picture will be loved and hated. It offers a tight script full of flawed characters who don't always say and do what we'd like, because while this portrait romanticizes the legend of the pilot, it demands the viewer realize that every dream has it's silver lining.

Early last May, Michael Mann presented a similar depiction of fame during this depression era with "Public Enemies." The two films offer almost inverse versions of the same story. The point being that public fascination with modern celebrity is much like man's ambition, it can easily alter those we hold most dear. I feel Nair's imagining of Amelia is faithful to the tragic and powerful story of a woman who lived exactly how she wanted. Even as her determination cost her her life, it inspired a nation, which is the very definition of a legacy.

Facebook Crime 101

Beware of what you post on Facebook. Criminals could be using that information to target you for theft! Think about it. How many of your Facebook friends talk about their new flat screen TV or post pictures of the Jamaican vacation they’re on? A new report says criminals are using this information to find their next targets. Michael Fraser is a former burglar who helped put the report together. He says it works like this: The bad guys will send out hundreds of friend requests on Facebook and Twitter, and see who bites, which is a lot of people. 13% of people on Facebook and 92% of people on Twitter will accept a request, no questions asked. Once they have access to your personal profile, Fraser says they’ll follow you closely and wait for you to post something about a new gadget you bought or an upcoming vacation. Then they make their move.

Some Facebookers make it really easy for crooks. They post party pictures that clearly show the interior of their homes. Fraser says this gives criminals a leg-up when they’re breaking in. Almost 10% of men actually post their HOME ADDRESS on their profile! Women are a little smarter, only 4% of women post addresses. Think about this: There are just over 15-million women on Facebook in North America. That means over 600,000 women are posting their personal home addresses for anyone to find!

So, who’s the worst offender when it comes to posting personal details online? Teens and young adults. According to the study almost two thirds of people between the ages of 16 and 24 are posting where they’ll be and when, on their Facebook page. This same age group is also more likely to accept a friend request from a total stranger. Not a good combo. So don’t let yourself become a target. Don’t ever accept a stranger’s friend request and keep private information private. If you want to catch friends and family up on a vacation you’re taking or a new entertainment system you just bought, send out an email from your personal account. That way you’ll know exactly who has access to the information.

Is a "Fat Tax" The Answer to Our Healthcare Crisis?

Is it time to get tough on the overweight population? The obesity epidemic in America is out of control! Two out of every three people are obese, and that one guy who isn’t? Well he’s still on the hook for his two buddies' medical costs in the form of higher healthcare premiums and increased taxes. According to Forbes.com, the problem is that the cost of treating obesity related illnesses has skyrocketed. We're now spending a whopping $147 BILLION a year on treatment for overweight Americans. That's more than every single kind of cancer treatment combined.
There's a radical new solution being talked about - a “fat tax.” Basically, adding an extra tax on unhealthy foods, like chips, cookies and soda. The thinking is that if people are going to make bad food choices, they should pay the extra costs. Then that extra tax money would go to fund health care. Policy makers are also hoping that making bad foods more expensive will make people think twice about buying them. It’s the same idea the government used to curb smoking - by taxing cigarettes more.
Now the question is: How do you define unhealthy foods? An avocado has about the same amount of fat as a hamburger. Do they both go on the list? Well, the plan is to use a numerical scale to see whether a food’s bad content outweighs the good. However, many people believe that processed foods are cheaper than fresh foods – and may argue that that’s why they eat more junk food. According to our friend Dr. David Katz of the Yale School of Public Health, that’s just not true. He studied this recently and found that the average cost of a grocery cart full of healthy products was slightly less than a cart full of fattening, processed foods.

Do You Know What's In That Hot Dog You're Eating?

You get them at ball games, roller rinks, and at most backyard barbecues. Let’s face it - they’re a summer staple. I’m talking about hot dogs. Sure, they taste good, but do you really know what’s in that dog you’re eating? Here are the gruesome facts, courtesy of Prevention magazine.

• Beef and pork. Yes, both are high in protein, but they’re also loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. The meat can come from pig and cow skeletal muscle, and by-products.


• Mechanically separated turkey – yes, even in your beef frank. It’s a paste-like substance that’s produced when tissue is removed from bones. This substance is cheap and helps hot dogs stay in their hot dog shape.


• Sodium nitrite. This helps preserve the red tint of the cured meat. Studies have shown that consuming sodium nitrite may trigger migraines and increase your risk of cancer.


• There’s corn syrup in there – which is used as a thickener and a sweetener. It contains no nutrients and adds extra calories. Corn syrup gets added to nearly every processed food we eat these days, like cakes, cookies, and soda. Corn syrup also turns up in breads, crackers, hot dogs, pasta sauce, frozen dinners, and even dog food. It trains our taste buds to crave even more sweetness, and some experts say it’s partly responsible for the rapid rise of obesity in America.


• Extract of paprika. As a spice, paprika is a good source of fiber, and vitamins A and E, but as an “extract” - it doesn’t offer much more than color.

If you simply can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made with USDA-certified organic beef. They don’t have nitrites or corn syrup, and are lower in saturated fat, calories and sodium than the typical supermarket types.

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Why Handsome Men Make Bad Husbands

You may have recently heard or seen the news coverage (in the New York Daily News or CBS news online, among others; you may have even seen the lead author, James K. McNulty of the University of Tennessee, discuss it on the Today show) of a study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, that showed that couples in which the woman is physically more attractive than the man are happier than couples in which the man is physically more attractive than the woman. Why is this? Why is it better for the couple if the woman is physically more attractive than the man?
If you have been keeping score at home, the findings of this study should have come as no surprise to you. There are two different reasons why couples in which the woman is more attractive than the man are more successful and happier than couples in which the man is more attractive than the woman.
First, as we elaborate in Chapter 4 of our book Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters (“Go Together Like a Horse and Carriage? The Evolutionary Psychology of Marriage”), handsome men on average make bad husbands. Men can maximize their reproductive success by pursuing one of two different strategies: Seek a long-term mate, stay with her, and invest in their joint offspring (the “dad” strategy); or seek a large number of short-term mates without investing in any of the resulting offspring (the “cad” strategy).
All men may want to pursue the cad strategy; however, their choice of the mating strategy is constrained by female choice. Men do not get to decide with whom to have sex; women do. And women disproportionately seek out handsome men for their short-term mates for their good genes. Even women who are already married benefit from short-term mating with handsome men if they could successfully fool their husbands into investing in the resulting offspring. The women then get the best of both worlds: Their children carry the high-quality genes of their handsome lover and receive the parental investment of their unknowingly cuckolded but resourceful husband. (In order to help the women accomplish this, evolution has designed women to be more likely to have sex with their lovers when they are ovulating and therefore fertile, and have sex with their husbands when they are not.)
Thus, handsome men get a disproportionate number of opportunities for short-term mating and are therefore able to engage in the cad strategy. Ugly men have no choice. Since women do not choose them as short-term mates, their only option for achieving any reproductive success is to find one long-term mate and invest heavily in their children -- the dad strategy.
Consistent with this logic, studies show that more attractive men have a larger number of extra-pair sex partners (sex partners other than their long-term mates). Interestingly, more attractive men have more short-term mates than long-term mates, whereas more attractive women have more long-term mates than short-term mates. Most importantly for our current purposes, handsome men invest less in their exclusive relationships than ugly men do. They are less honest with and less attentive to their partners. McNulty’s new study of newlyweds confirms this. Their data show that the more physically attractive the husbands are, the less supportive they are of their wives in their interactions.
I hasten to add that “good” and “bad” (as in the title of this post “Why handsome men make bad husbands”) are value judgments that scientists do not make. However, empirical data do demonstrate clearly that handsome men have more extra-marital affairs and are not as committed to their marriages, which many wives would undoubtedly consider undesirable. In this sense, handsome men make better lovers than husbands.

Facebook Addiction

With more than 200 million people now signed up on Facebook, it was only a matter of time before we heard about the latest twist in online social networking: Facebook addiction! According to CNN, therapists across North America are reporting a rise in the number of people who’ve crossed the line from social networking to social dysfunction! These are people who spend so much time using Facebook that they neglect their work and family, as well as their own health.

For example, one mother interviewed by CNN realized she had a problem when her daughter started emailing her through Facebook – just to ask for help doing homework! This woman estimates she was spending more than 20 hours per week on the site – checking email, connecting with friends, posting new photos, and updating her online “status.” Psychologists emphasize that there’s nothing wrong with using Facebook itself. In fact, the vast majority of users go on for a few minutes, log off, and are fine. The trouble starts when the thought of going a full day without Facebook makes you feel anxious or stressed. Or if you start losing sleep, or missing work, because you’re up all night surfing Facebook. It’s also a problem if you find yourself “Facebook stalking” old loves.

Dr. Joanna Lipari is a clinical psychologist who says Facebook addiction is especially dangerous for people with “compulsive personalities.” That’s the name she gives for people who think the online world of Facebook is a better place to spend time than the real world. For them, social networking sites represent some sort of Happyland – where you can connect with friends, relive the good ol' days, sneak a peek at other people’s lives, and escape your everyday problems. Unfortunately, Dr. Lipari says Facebook is not a good representation of real life. The fact is, most people only present “the crème de la crème” of their lives online. Very rarely will you find people talking about daily hassles like morning breath, paying bills or arguments over who’s going to go change the baby’s diapers.

If you’re spending more than an hour each day waiting for someone to comment on your latest Wall posting, Dr. Lipari believes you really need to log off and possibly get some help.

Old-Fashioned Remedies That Are Scientifically-Proven to Work

When it comes to your health, some home remedies do actually work! Here are some old-fashioned tips backed by solid science, courtesy of MSN:

• The first old-fashioned remedy: Bleach eliminates nail fungus. In a study at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, bleach drastically slowed the growth of toenail fungus, reducing the thickness and yellowness of the nail. Be careful, straight bleach can burn! So, dilute one teaspoon of bleach in one cup of water, and use an eyedropper to squirt that mixture under the nail twice a day until your new nail grows in.


• Another home remedy that actually works: Rubbing antiperspirant on your feet prevents blisters. Dr. Ranella Hirsch is president of the American Society for Cosmetic Dermatology. She says that blisters are caused by sweaty skin rubbing inside your shoes. Since antiperspirant stops the sweat, it helps keep blisters from forming.


• You can treat burns with a tomato. Dr. Francesca Fusco of Mount Sinai Medical Center says that the lycopene in tomatoes is a natural anti-inflammatory - and can ease the pain and swelling of minor burns. The trick: Put a slice of tomato on a burn for five minutes twice a day.


• Crushed aspirin stops the pain and itching of insect bites. Why? Aspirin contains salicylic acid, an ingredient in acne medicine, which reduces pain, swelling and redness. The trick: Crush three aspirin in a few drops of water to make a paste. Spread on the bug bite for two minutes twice a day, and rinse with cool water.


• Finally, apple cider vinegar helps eliminate dandruff. Dr. Fusco says most dandruff is caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, and because vinegar reduces the natural pH of your scalp, it creates an unfriendly environment for dandruff-causing yeast. The trick: Twice a week, add one-half cup of apple cider vinegar to one quart of water, and use it as a final rinse after you shampoo.

Study: Alcohol Tied to Nearly 1 in 25 Deaths

Alcohol May Be Related to 3.8% of Global Deaths, New Study Estimates

June 25, 2009 -- Approximately 4% of global deaths may be linked to alcohol, according to a new study.
The study, published in The Lancet, estimates the percentage of alcohol-related deaths based on accidents, alcohol abuse, and various health conditions -- including certain cancers, high blood pressure, and liver problems -- in which alcohol may play a role.
The researchers -- who included Jurgen Rehm, PhD, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto -- analyzed 2003 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations, and other sources.
When Rehm and colleagues calculated their estimates, they considered the health risks and benefits of alcohol, as well as alcohol consumption patterns, with the highest rate of alcohol consumption in Eastern Europe and Russia and the lowest rate in the eastern Mediterranean region, which mainly includes countries in the Middle East and northern Africa.
Rehm's team notes that alcohol-related deaths were most common in men and young adults, and that alcohol consumption is rising among women and in India and China.

Chess Is Making A Comeback

Can you name a board game that’s more than 1,400 years old, and is suddenly making a comeback in 2009? According to USA Today, the classic skill game of chess is currently taking North American schools by storm. In the past six years alone, a scholastic chess organization called First Move has gone from 1,500 student members to more than 50,000! When the game’s top players gathered in St. Louis recently - for America’s so-called “Super Bowl” of chess – four of the Top 24 players were under the age of 21.
Wendi Fischer is the executive director of America’s Foundation for Chess. She says this youth movement has been spurred by a growing number of teachers who’ve rediscovered the academic benefits of playing chess. For example: One of the first things a child learns in chess is how to use a board’s coordinate system – as in “knight moves from B-1 to C-3.” That coordinate system is the basis for algebra, and more complex math skills. Students also learn to take notes during a chess match, and to study the moves of other players printed in books. Research has shown that the patience, concentration, and logical thinking required in a game of chess can help students perform better on math and vocabulary tests. Basically, experts say chess: “Teaches the mind how to think!”
There are also social benefits to playing chess. For starters, it’s a game that kids can practice at home with their parents or with friends, and that promotes social bonding in a way that no videogame ever could. That’s one reason why the game of chess has remained popular for so long. Jerry Nash is the scholastic director for the U.S. Chess Federation. He says chess survives because it’s “an equalizer.” Your success has nothing to do with your size, age, or what language you speak. All you have to do is out-think your opponent. Plus, Nash says chess is a very inexpensive game to play, and in this economy, that may be one of the best benefits of all.

Three Common Myths About Your Sleeping Habits

From MSN Health:
People need to get more sleep! A new study found that the average North American gets only six hours and 40 minutes of sleep each night – an all-time low! So let’s help you get more sleep by busting open three common sleep myths:

• Sleep myth #1: If I have a lot of energy, I can survive on only five hours of sleep a night. FALSE. Just because you feel wide awake, that doesn’t mean your brain is. In fact, new research from the University of Pennsylvania found that sleep deprivation puts your brain into “microsleep” mode. That means it randomly shuts down during the day for at least half a second, leaving you feeling unstable and disoriented! To find out if you’re getting enough sleep, try going to bed on a Saturday at the same time you would on a Tuesday, but don’t set your alarm clock. If you wake up the next day at your normal time, you’re fine. However, if you doze the day away, that means your body needs more rest.


• Another common sleep myth: A hard workout before bed will help me sleep better. That’s also FALSE. Studies show that strenuous exercise raises your core temperature, and it’ll take between four and six hours for your body to cool off enough to allow deep sleep! So save your workout for the morning, when you need energy the most. Then try taking a hot bath an hour before bedtime. Your body will cool down faster, and doctors say it’s easiest to fall asleep when your temperature goes from warm to cool very quickly.


• One more sleep myth: It’s no big deal if I keep waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. FALSE again. Waking up more than once every night could be a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea. That’s where the soft tissue in your throat temporarily suffocates your breathing during sleep! When that happens, your heart pumps faster, and excess fluid builds up in your veins, triggering a natural diuretic which makes you need to pee. So to help keep your air passage clear, try sleeping on your side more. Otherwise, you’ll need to see a doctor about wearing a special device that forces oxygen into your throat while you sleep.

Are You Doing Everything You Can to Protect Your Teeth?

From WebMD:
You brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and use mouthwash. Does that mean you’re doing everything you can to protect your teeth? No! Here are a few important things you should know about your teeth:

• Sour can be just as bad as sweet. Acidic, low-pH foods like soft drinks, fruit juice, and sour candy act almost like battery acid in the mouth, and can soften teeth, lead to enamel erosion, and prevent a kid’s adult teeth from growing to full size! Dr. Martha Keels, the chief of pediatric dentistry at Duke University Children’s Hospital, says that the worst offenders are ultra-sour, ultra-sticky kids’ candies like Warheads and Toxic Waste. Even sour gummy vitamins can be bad for your teeth.
• If you can’t brush immediately after a meal, chew gum that contains xylitol and recaldent – like Trident sugarless gum. Xylitol keeps bacteria from sticking to your teeth – and may even help prevent cavities, and recaldent helps strengthen tooth enamel.
• Tooth enamel may be the hardest substance in your body – but it still breaks easily – especially if your teeth have been weakened by drilling and fillings. Most breakage is caused by chewing ice or popcorn, or having piercings in your lips and tongue. So, avoid them.
• Finally, teach your kids to use only a pea-sized dab of toothpaste. Why? Because too much fluoride is bad for their teeth. Kids tend to swallow toothpaste when they brush. Kids under age 8 who swallow too much toothpaste develop fluorosis, a condition that creates white spots on their permanent teeth that eventually turn brown. No amount of brushing or polishing will get rid of them.

Tuesday Is The Most Stressful Day of The Week

What’s the most stressful day of the week? Monday, right? After all, it’s the first day back to work after the weekend. WRONG! According to a new study, Tuesday is actually the most stressful day of the week, and to get really specific, your stress level will peak at 11:45 on Tuesday morning.
A study was done by a UK company – and they surveyed 3,000 workers and found that mid-morning on the second day of the week is when workers feel the most pressure. Of course conventional wisdom, and popular music, would say that Monday is the most “manic” day. However, according to the survey, a lot of employees coast through Monday, just sort of getting their brain back in gear and catching up with weekend gossip. A startling 53 percent of people polled admitted they don’t get much work done on Monday, and 10 percent of those folks admitted it’s because they’re spending a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter. Then on Tuesday, reality sets in. People suddenly realize how much work needs to get done by Friday and they get stressed out. It stands to reason, if you coast through Monday it makes Tuesday even worse, because your workload is bigger and your stress is greater.
Since everything comes to a head Tuesday right before lunch, the survey found that employees are more likely to work through their lunch break on Tuesday than on any other day. They’re also more likely to leave the office late on Tuesday. So what’s causing all the stress? 25 percent of workers say it’s the heavy workload, 12 percent blame their boss, and 9 percent say their colleagues are what stresses them out. If this sounds familiar to you, maybe you should try to get more work done on Monday, so Tuesday doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks.

Economic Meltdown - Articles: The Roots of the Financial Crisis: Who Is to Blame?

Economic Meltdown - Articles: The Roots of the Financial Crisis: Who Is to Blame?

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Don't Ask These Questions During an Interview

Let’s talk about landing your next job. Everyone knows that you’re supposed to do more than answer questions at an interview. You’re supposed to ask them. That shows you’ve done your homework. Is there anything you shouldn’t ask? According to career expert Liz Ryan, the answer is definitely “Yes.” Here’s her list of what’s off-limits:

• “Are you going to do a background check?” Lots of people ask this because they’re worried about a past credit mistake - but it makes you sound like your picture is on the “FBI most wanted” list. If you’re right for the job and there’s something troubling on your record, most employers will give you a chance to explain it during the follow-up interview.
• Don’t ask: “When will I be eligible for a raise?” That’s the same as saying, “I think you’re lowballing me and I’ll be out of here the first chance I get.”
• The 3rd question that can cost you a job? “How soon can I transfer to another position?” If you feel you’re overqualified, don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer the areas in which you excel. That gives them a chance to highlight another job opening that might exist. Try something like, “This job sounds interesting, but I’m a very good supervisor, too. I supervised 15 people at my last job. Could you tell me how to gain that responsibility in this company?”
• Never ask a prospective employer, “Do you allow smoke breaks?” The last thing you want to tell a potential boss is, “I’m such a nicotine junkie that smoking is a priority for me and something I’ll bring up in an interview.” Lots of companies don’t permit smoking anywhere on the premises and in many states, your cigarette habit is a perfectly legitimate reason not to hire you.

Are You Tired All the Time?

From Good Housekeeping magazine:

Here are a few surprising reasons why you’re ready to drop at 4 pm every day, and need to hit the snooze button three times every morning.

• You get by on “good enough” sleep. In other words, you think you’re not sleep-deprived, but you regularly hit the sack too late to get the seven to nine hours of sleep most of us need. The fix: Make your bedroom cool and dark, set a regular bedtime and wake-up time, and do stretches during the day. Studies show that stretching your muscles for 20 minutes on most days makes it 30% easier to fall asleep.


• Another reason you’re always tired: You eat out more than three times a week. Restaurant meals – especially fast food – tend to be low in the nutrients that give you all-day energy. A study in Wales found that people who ate high-fiber breakfast cereal were 10% less tired because the fiber helps the microbes in your gut churn out more energy. So, eat more fruits, veggies and whole grains for fiber, as well as lean protein, and good fats, like olive oil for more nutrients.


• You rarely turn off your cell phone, pager, laptop or BlackBerry. A study of over 1,000 people at the University of Wisconsin found that modern-day multitasking boosts stress and saps your energy. While a little stress can be energizing, constant stress leads to fatigue. So, check your email less frequently, shut off your cell phone when you go for a walk or out to dinner, and turn off all electronics – including the TV – an hour before bed.


• One final reason you could be tired all the time: You exercise intensely– which burns calories, but can burn you out. Researchers at the University of Georgia put tired-all-the-time couch potatoes through high and low-intensity workouts three times a week. The result? The slower-movers were 20% more alert and 15% less fatigued than the high-intensity group. To boost your energy, take easy 30 minute strolls three times a week, instead of pushing your body to the limit.

Foods That Reduce Stress

Did you know that you can lessen your stress by eating? It's true. However, not by eating pizza or ice cream. The next time you feel under the gun, try one of these choices from MSN's food website Delish.com:

• Oranges. A German study that was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that vitamin C helps reduce stress, and returns your blood pressure and cortisol levels back to normal AFTER a stressful situation. Vitamin C also boosts your immune system, and oranges are chock full of it.
• Sweet potatoes. They satisfy the cravings you get for sweets and carbs when you're under a lot of stress, but they're healthy. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene, which protects against cancer and heart disease, and the fiber helps your body process carbohydrates in a slow and steady way.
• Dried apricots. They're rich in magnesium, which is a powerful stress-buster and a natural muscle relaxant.
• Nuts. Almonds are packed with B and E vitamins which boost your immune system, and walnuts and pistachios are both good choices to help lower your blood pressure.
• Turkey. It contains an amino acid called L-tryptophan which triggers the release of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. So, you'll feel calm and relaxed - maybe even tired - after you eat it.
• Eat spinach and other greens. One cup of spinach gives you 40 percent of your daily supply of magnesium. A magnesium deficiency can cause headaches and fatigue. Broccoli, kale, and other dark green veggies are packed with vitamins that replenish our bodies when we're stressed.
• Salmon. It's one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease. A study published in Diabetes & Metabolism found that the omega-3s also lower stress hormones.
  
  The truth is - there are all kinds of delicious foods that'll help you beat stress. So, make sure to keep your refrigerator and pantry stocked with your favorites.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Sneezing

From Richard Webb, feature editor at New Scientist magazine:

So – can your eyes really POP OUT when you sneeze? Is it true that some people never STOP sneezing? Here’s all you need to know on the subject:

• Let’s talk about your eyes popping out. You can rest easy – this isn’t true. The fluid around our eyes absorbs the air pressure that builds up during a sneeze. For added safety, the blink reflex also helps keep your eyes in their sockets.


• You should never stifle a sneeze. That’s partially true. While reports that a stifled sneeze can rupture blood vessels in the brain are exaggerated, holding both your nose and your mouth shut while sneezing forces the air to find another escape route – through a tube in the ear. The force of the sneeze can travel up to 100 miles an hour. If you hold it in, the force can burst eardrums, break nasal cartilage, and cause temporary facial swelling.


• Another belief is that some people never stop sneezing. Not quite. Yes, sneezing fits – which are actually reflex responses – have been known to last days, weeks, and even longer. The record lies with a 12-year-old English girl named Donna Griffiths. She sneezed every few minutes for 977 days between January 1981 and August 1983, but no one has ever NOT stopped sneezing. Even Griffiths stopped eventually.


• So, is there actually a point to sneezing? Well, New Scientist says it depends on your age. When we’re young, we tend to sneeze through our noses, which helps clear out the nasal passages. By the time we hit adulthood, most of us have developed a habit of sneezing entirely through our mouths, which accomplishes nothing.


• Here’s one last tidbit: Iguanas, like many lizards, are GREAT at sneezing. They do it for a specific reason – to expel excess salt stored in their nasal salt glands.

Angels and Demons

A sequel, by definition has typically been labeled inferior in the film industry. But there are a few exceptions, "The Godfather: Part II," "The Empire Strikes Back," and who could forget "The Pink Panther 2 (Hah)." Ron Howard's screen adaptation of Dan Brown's first literary adventure featuring Robert Langdon, "Angels and Demons" is a very flawed film; but it might contain the gusto to surpass it's predecessor "The Da Vinci Code."
The thing most commented on in the first installment of these features was Tom Hank's apparently terrible hair cut. Well, the hair is gone, but this is just the beginning in terms of the improvements made in both the writing and filming if Akiva Goldman and David Koepp's adaptation. The dialogue is much smoother and easier to follow. The film capitalizes on spectacle and action, avoiding the religious controversy that derailed 'Da Vinci."
The story is set around a crisis in Vatican City. Four cardinals have disappeared just as conclave is about to begin. The threat here is a little known substance called "antimatter," which is said to be more potent than TNT. Hanks returns as the Harvard symbologist called upon to assist due to his "formidable" past. The bomb is set to go off around midnight, leaving Landgon only hours to discover a "path of illumination" to discover the missing cardinals and hopefully, the perpetrator.
His beautiful sidekick is Ayselet Zuror, playing a physicist from CERN, an enormous lab in Switzerland. The story starts quickly, the music is fast and involved and the epic depiction of Rome is worth the price of the ticket all on its own. Unfortunately, every reader when devouring a story casts their idea of how the plot should be divulged; and this book has many readers. As an adaptation, it is satisfying. But like many books that make their way to the screen, the process of condensing a several hundred page book into a concise two hours means that things get cut. For me personally this was frustrating and disappointing, removing a great deal of the meaning behind the actions of the characters.
Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard offer up potent supporting roles, yet the finished product suffers from too much, too fast, and puzzles far too easy to solve. One might call this a classic case of overproduction. The images are lush and beautiful. The cast and crew were forbidden to film in Vatican City, so almost all of the religious environments were recreated on soundstages and the it is awe-inspiring how effective they are. But that is where the strengths of this film lie, in aesthetic and spectacle.
For us die hard fans, the wait is on for Dan Brown's final Langdon installment "The Lost Symbol" on Sept.19, don't bother with the film; it might only detract from the beloved book. For nonfans, perhaps the movie is your ticket to two hours of blissful nonsense.

Do You Have Trouble Falling Asleep?

From Rodale Publishing:

The National Sleep Foundation says that 64% of adults have trouble sleeping a few nights a week, and 41% say it’s a nightly occurrence. So what’s keeping us up? The experts say: Stress! Chronic stress makes your adrenaline and cortisol spike, your heart race and your blood pressure increase. That leaves you feeling like you’re hooked up to a constant IV drip of caffeine. So, here’s how to quiet your mind according to sleep experts interviewed:

• First, if you go directly from your computer to your pillow, stop it! You need to set up a restful routine that gives your mind & body the cues that it’s time to sleep. So take a hot shower or bath about an hour before bed. The reason it works is that warm water relieves tension – then, when you step out, the cold air dials down your inner thermostat, mimicking what your body naturally does when it’s ready for sleep.
  
• Next, if you’re watching the financial news right before bed, you’re not doing yourself any favors. The National Sleep Foundation says 27% of people are kept awake by money worries. Dr. Rubin Naiman is a sleep specialist from the University of Arizona, and he says it’s like eating a spicy meal and then trying to nod off. Instead, watch a comedy before bed. Laughter reduces blood pressure and decreases your heart and respiratory rate. Just don’t watch TV in bed because the blue glow can keep you awake.
  
• Lastly, if you lie in bed making a mental to-do list – move that task up two hours. So right after dinner, write out your to-do list. Doing that earlier in the evening desensitizes your mind to those thoughts later – so they won’t keep you up.
  
• Here’s a basic relaxation technique to use to help you sleep from Donna Arand, clinical director of the Kettering Medical Sleep Disorders Center:
  Slow your breathing. Your respiratory rate drops by 20% during sleep. So inhale and exhale for a count of 6.
  Then picture yourself on a beach. As hokey as it sounds, visual imagery can replace stressful thoughts.
  Flex and relax your muscles – starting with your feet and working your way up. It not only relaxes the body, but it helps put your focus back in the here and now.

Put These Must-Have Numbers on Speed Dial

From Rodale Publishing:
Got a cell phone? Then consider putting these must-have phone numbers on speed dial.

• Put your family on ICE. That stands for ‘In Case of Emergency.’ Paramedics recommend programming ANY emergency contact in your cell phone after the word ICE, as in “ICE-wife” or “ICE-dad.” The idea is that if you get into an accident, police can use your phone to quickly notify someone.
• Another must-have number to put on speed dial is: 1-800-GOOG-411. That’s 466-4411. It’s a Google service that lets you request information just as you would on a web browser. Ask for ‘Italian Restaurants,’ and you’ll get a list of spaghetti and meatball joints within the area code you’re calling from! The best part is that Google won’t charge you – unlike some other 411 services.
• The next number to program on speed dial is: 866-411-SONG. Ever been driving around, and you hear a song on the radio that you’re dying to know the name of? Call this number, and hold your phone up to the speaker for 15 seconds. The service will I.D. any song within it’s database of 2-and-a-half MILLION tunes. Then you’ll be sent a text message listing the title and artist. It’ll even give you an option to download the song onto your phone!
• Next, if you’re always trying to hail a cab, then program this number on speed dial: 800-TAXI-CAB. This is a free referral service that connects you with the closest taxi company within any metro area in North America. They’ll also hook you up with a shuttle service if you’re stranded at the airport.
• If you’re traveling overseas, you must have this number on speed dial: 800-752-6096. That’s a language service that will connect you to one of 170 different translators. Want to know what “la personne la plus futée dans le chambre” means? Then get a French translator on the phone to tell you it means you’re the smartest person in the room! Beware, they’ll charge you $3.95 per minute for that privilege.

The Worst Drive-Thru Foods You Can Eat

From: Yahoo Health, and David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, who wrote the book Eat This, Not That!

Let’s face it: We all make the occasional stop at the drive-thru, but that doesn’t mean you have to drive away with a set of love handles. So I’ve got a list of some of the worst drive-thru foods you can eat, and what to order instead.

• We’ll start with the worst milkshake. It’s McDonald's Large Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake. It has almost 30 grams of fat and more calories than TWO Quarter Pounders with cheese! So instead, order McDonald’s vanilla reduced-fat ice cream cone. You’ll save yourself almost 24 grams of fat and over a thousand calories. Even if you made this swap only once a month, you could still lose over three pounds in a year.
  
• What if you’re craving Mexican food? Stay away from the Taco Bell Grilled Stuft Beef Burrito. It contains almost 700 calories. You’d have to play softball for almost two hours to burn that off. Instead, order Taco Bell’s two Grilled Steak Soft Tacos, “Fresco Style.” That basically means the cheese and sauces will be replaced with a chunky tomato salsa. If you make this swap, you’ll pretty much cut the number of calories in your meal in HALF.
  
• What about the worst drive-thru cheeseburger? It’s Hardee's Monster Thickburger. It’s the saturated fat equivalent of 43 strips of bacon! What should you order instead? Go for the Hardee’s Low Carb Thickburger. You’ll save a thousand calories and about 30 grams of saturated fat.
  
• Let’s talk about the worst drive-thru meal of all time. It’s the Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger with Medium Natural cut Fries and a 32 ounce Coke. This meal contains over 2,600 calories! That’s about as many calories as 13 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donuts! So order this meal from Carl’s instead: A Famous Star with a Side Salad with Low Fat Balsamic Dressing and a 32 ounce Iced Tea. You’ll save yourself almost 2,000 calories.

The lesson: Go ahead and hit the drive-thru – just order wisely.

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How to Let the Food Label be Your Guide to Healthy Grocery Shopping

From HealthCastle:
You've got all the best intentions to fill your cart with healthy foods, but somehow it seems you still manage to bring home some real nutrition duds. Decoding the lingo on food labels can be a daunting task - how can you make sure that what seems nutritious is indeed a smart choice?

Though each section in the grocery store presents a different challenge, there are a couple of constants that apply to most food labels. First, choose products that are not only trans fat free, but also don't list hydrogenated oil among the ingredients. And watch out for sodium - especially in frozen meals, convenience "instant" foods, and sauces. Aim to keep the sodium at or below 480 milligrams per serving.

Take a tour through the aisles with us as we suggest hints for using food labels to guide your grocery shopping:

Dairy Case: It doesn't take an expert to tell you that fat free dairy choices are some of the best - they contain all of the good stuff (like calcium) while saving you from some fat. But if fat free doesn't fit your palate, stick to yogurt, cheese, and milk with 3 or less grams of total fat, and less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving.

Meats: Lean meat, like top round roast and sirloin tip side steak (beef) and tenderloin (pork) make versatile, smart choices. Poultry is also a winner, provided you use white meat cuts and cook it without the skin. If your butcher prints a label for your meats, look for products that have less than 5 grams of total fat, and less than 2 grams of saturated fat per serving.

Bread Aisle: Making a nutritious choice when it comes to bread has become a challenge with so many healthy-sounding choices crowding shelves. The key to simplifying your task is to choose breads that list a "whole" grain as the first ingredient on the food label, and have at least 3 grams of fiber per serving

Cereals and Starches: Just as in the bread aisle, seek the products that list a whole grain among the first ingredients on the food label. Cereals should have less than 5 grams of sugar per serving, and brown rice instead of white rice makes a better choice since it's a high fiber whole grain. Other whole grains that are great to try on their own include oats, quinoa, popcorn, and bulgur.

Fruits and Veggies: Fresh produce is a no-brainer: you can't go wrong with any choice you make, so stock up. But canned produce is a bit trickier. Make sure you're picking up "lite" or "juice packed" canned fruit, and if you're buying juice, it should clearly state "100% juice" on the food label. For canned veggies, keep sodium under wraps by buying no-salt-added products, and giving them a quick rinse before using them if possible. Frozen fruits and veggies are also stellar choices, since they are flash frozen directly after harvest, and unseasoned products lack the added sodium and sugar of their canned counterparts.

The Bottom Line

The best choices in the grocery store are low in fat, sodium, and calories, and high in fiber and nutrients. Taking time to read the food labels of the groceries you toss in your cart will ensure that what you buy is a healthy investment!

Guide for Replacing Household Items

This intelligence could help you stay healthy – or even save your life. It comes from Prevention magazine.

• Your toothbrush. Replace itevery three to four MONTHS. The American Dental Association recommends a three to four month rotation because frayed and worn bristles don't clean as well - leaving teeth more vulnerable to decay. Plus, damp toothbrushes are perfect playgrounds for bacteria – and after a while you’re just scrubbing your teeth with a germ stick.
  
  
• What about your air conditioner? This is a good question with summer coming up. With proper maintenance - including annual servicing - a room or central air conditioner can easily run for up to 15 years. Especially if you don't operate it year round. So says Bill Harrison - president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Make sure you replace your air-conditioner filter. Clogged filters allow dirt to settle on an air conditioner’s coils, which leads to mud forming whenever the coils get wet. That’s a perfect recipe for mold spores, which then get blown all over your house. Also, enough grime can cause your whole A/C system to break down. You can avoid an expensive repair by installing a new filter each month the air conditioner is in use.
  
  
• What about antibacterial cream – like Neosporin? Toss it after a YEAR. Beyond a year, the antibiotic is probably still good, but the chemical mix in the ointment may start to go bad, which may make the product less effective.
  
  
• Finally, here’s an expiration date that could save your life: When should you replace your fire extinguishers? Replace them every 10 YEARS. Portable extinguishers may lose pressure over time and become ineffective - whether or not they've been triggered. That’s the word from the National Fire Protection Association. Replace your smoke alarms after 10 years, too. You should also replace the batteries every year, and test your alarms monthly. If one flunks, throw it out.

All About Acai Berry

From HealthCastle:
Acai berry has recently been featured on many high-profile talk shows, and a quick Google search returns multiple websites promoting some form of it. If you are curious about all the hype, read on for the lowdown on this fruit.

What is Acai Berry?

Not many fruits have as alluring a name as Acai berry. Acai (pronounced ah-sah-EE) berry is the fruit of the Acai palm, one of many species of palms belonging to the genus Euterpe, which is native to Central and South America. The palm is fast-growing, and both the fruits and the hearts of the palm are important food sources for locals. The berry's growing popularity in North America has led to multiple brands of Acai berry supplements (alone or mixed with other fruit juices) offered in the market. Health claims on these products include weight loss, detoxifying, wrinkle-fighting, higher energy levels and superior levels of antioxidants.

What Acai Berry Research Shows

Several studies have been done on the antioxidant activity of the juice or fruit pulp (including a freeze-dried form of supplement). Generally, they agree that Acai berry exhibits some antioxidant activity but, depending on the methods used to define "antioxidant activity," the conclusions about the Acai berry's specific potency vary. A 2006 Brazilian study of the antioxidant activity of the pulp of various fruits commonly consumed in Brazil showed that Acai berry pulp had less antioxidant activity than acerola, mango, strawberry, and grapes, but more antioxidant activity than guava, passionfruit, and pineapple. A 2008 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (funded by a pomegranate juice maker) used four different methods of testing antioxidant activity in fruit juices and showed that Acai berry juice had less antioxidant activity than red wine, pomegranate juice, Concord grape juice, and blueberry juice, equivalent activity to black cherry and cranberry juices, and more antioxidant activity than orange or apple juices. Note that most of the studies so far focus on the antioxidant capacity as determined by chemical analysis/assays; these tests do not guarantee that the antioxidants would behave the same way inside our bodies.

A couple of studies in the same journal fed Acai berry juice to 12 healthy volunteers and documented higher levels of antioxidants in the blood for up to two hours after consumption, but again, there is no clear health benefit that can be drawn from this observation. It is also unclear what form or forms of Acai berry would be optimally absorbed by our bodies.

The Bottom Line

Like many other fruits, Acai berry contains antioxidants. There is currently no clear evidence of any superiority in the action of Acai berry's antioxidants when compared to other types of fruits. Try it if you're curious, but at times like these when everyone is watching their food budget, your hard-earned dollars are probably better spent buying a great variety of fresh produce, whether fruits or vegetables.

Five Foods You Should Have Each Day

From Prevention Magazine:

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Here are five more foods you may want to add to your daily diet. These will help boost your immune system, so you’ll have even fewer reasons to call the doctor.

• The first food you should eat every day: Yogurt. A new Austrian study found that eating seven-ounces of yogurt each day had the same immunity boosting effects as popping a daily vitamin supplement! Why? Because yogurt’s loaded with the “good” bacteria your body needs to keep harmful germs out of your digestive system.
  
  
• You can also keep the doctor away by eating more: Mushrooms. New research shows that compounds in mushrooms increase the body’s production of white blood cells – making them more aggressive at fighting off infections! So, try to include a handful of mushrooms in at least one meal each day; either in a breakfast omelet, a lunchtime bowl of soup, or a dinner serving of pasta.
  
  
• Another food you should serve yourself every day: Oats and barley. Researchers in Norway say these whole grains are loaded with a potent fiber known to help speed wound healing! It may also lower your risk of contracting the flu.
  
  
• A 4th immunity-boosting food: Tea. Immunologists at Harvard report that people who drank five cups of tea every day had 10 times more cold and flu-fighting proteins in their body! The virus fighting benefits of tea kick-in long before five cups. Adding just two full cups of black or green tea to your daily diet may protect you from common dangers like food poisoning, athlete’s foot, or even malaria! It may even help slow the growth of cancerous tumor cells.
  
  
• Here’s one more food you should eat every day: Garlic. A recent British study found that people who ate garlic extract every day for three months were 67% less likely to catch a cold! Garlic’s also been shown to cut your risk for stomach and colorectal cancer by more than 30%! So aim to include at least two cloves of crushed or raw garlic in your meals every day.

Choosing Foods to Help You Sleep

From About.com:
Getting a good night's sleep makes your work day (or school day) go so much better. If you have difficulty sleeping, you already know how tough staying alert during the day can be. But did you know that sleep is also important for your health? People who have chronic sleep loss are also at a higher risk of being obese, having heart disease, diabetes and kids with ADHD often have sleep disorders.

If you don't get enough sleep at night, you might rely on caffeine to keep you awake during the day. Caffeine is a popular stimulant, found in tea, chocolate, some types of soda, energy drinks and in coffee. Enjoying a cup or two of coffee in the morning is fine, but if you're drinking a whole pot of coffee, it might be time to cut back. Especially if you're drinking a lot of that coffee in the afternoon. Too much caffeine makes you jittery and if you consume it later in the day, the caffeine makes it more difficult to sleep at night. It can become a vicious circle. You use caffeine to perk up, but then you can't sleep, so the next day you use more caffeine and lose sleep again that night.

Quitting the caffeine habit isn't easy or comfortable. Many people suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, flu-like feelings, irritability and lack of concentration when they give up caffeine cold turkey. You can avoid those symptoms by gradually withdrawing. Try blending decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee. Increase the amount of decaf over a few weeks time.

The relationship between your diet and good sleep doesn't end with caffeine. There are several other ways to use your diet to help you sleep.

Avoid heavy foods or spicy foods. Or any foods you know that may cause heartburn, making it difficult for you to sleep at night.

Don't drink too much alcohol. Although alcohol may make you drowsy, over-consumption of your favorite adult beverages may cause a very restless uncomfortable night.

Eat cherries. Not only are they rich in vitamins, cherries contain melatonin, a substance also found in the human body that helps regulate sleep. Eating fresh or dried cherries before you go to bed at night may help you sleep better.

Enjoy a light bedtime snack. Choose carbohydrates and dairy products, like a small bowl of whole grain cereal and non-fat milk. Carbohydrates make it easier to fall sleep. Dairy products contain tryptophan, which promotes sleep. Other foods that contain tryptophan are bananas, oats and honey.

Avoid eating excessive fats. People who eat large amounts of fat may also have more difficulty sleeping. Be sure to get enough omega-3 fatty acids each day, however, because eicosapentaenoic acid (one type of omega-3 found in fish, especially tuna, salmon and trout) has a role in sleep induction in your brain.

People who don't get enough sleep tend to overeat by adding extra sugary and carbohydrate-rich snacks to their diets. All the extra calories from the snacking can lead to obesity, so not only do the foods you eat affect how you sleep, but the amount of sleep you get also affects the foods you choose to eat.

Breakfast Foods to Avoid

From HealthCastle:
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not only does breakfast give you the fuel to break the fast you have undergone during a good night's sleep, breakfast also helps you concentrate better throughout the day and helps maintain your weight. For most people, breakfast is the only meal to include some vital nutrients such as calcium from milk as well as fiber and antioxidants from whole grains. Therefore, it is wise to choose healthy breakfast items to start your day and avoid breakfast items that have no nutritional value, such as these:

1. Carrot Cake Muffin
   Perhaps the word "carrot" make it sound like a healthy breakfast item, but most commercial carrot cake muffins are high in fat and calories. One serving of this favorite breakfast muffin from a coffee chain store contains a whopping 680 kilocalories and 40 grams of fat! Indeed, most muffins and scones are high in fat. Scones, in particular, usually contain trans fat as well.
   
   
2. Doughnuts
   Doughnuts are fried breakfast foods. If you do not eat french fries for breakfast, why would you eat fried doughnuts? One piece of glazed doughnut from a doughnut chain store contains 200 kcal of empty calories with precious few nutrients. What is worse is that it contains four grams of trans fat per serving. That is already two times more than the recommended amount of trans fat a day. Doughnuts with fillings contain even higher amounts of calories and trans fat, so stay away from this breakfast treat!
   
   
3. Frozen Waffles
   Similar to doughnuts, frozen waffles are another example of empty calories when it comes to breakfast foods. Most store-bought frozen waffles are basically refined grain combined with refined sugar and trans fat, lacking health-promoting vitamins, minerals and fiber. Most people add syrup and margarine on their breakfast waffles, hence adding even more calories and fat. Not a smart choice to start your day!
   
   
4. McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast
   With such breakfast items as scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages, pancakes and dressing and syrup, this deluxe breakfast contains a shocking 1,120 kcal and 61 grams of fat! With that much fat, it is like swallowing 13 teaspoons of vegetable oil in one setting! What is more shockingis that this breakfast item at McDonald's contains 11 g of trans fat, that is is 5 times more than the daily recommended amount of trans fat!
   
   

The recommended daily intake for dairy is three servings a day and whole grains is at least three servings daily. If you do not normally eat these foods for lunch or dinner, it is easier to include these items in breakfast. Hence, choose whole grains such as whole wheat bread, whole grain cereals or oatmeal if possible. In addition, include a serving of dairy such as low-fat milk or low-fat yogurt, which is rich in protein, calcium and potassium. In general, try including at least three food groups in your breakfast so that you do not need to prowl for a mid-morning snack.

Identity Scammers Can Target You and Your Friends on Facebook

From MSNBC:

Watch out, Facebook users! Identity scammers are now targeting your FRIENDS – and YOU! Take Bryan Rutberg. His daughter was the first to notice something odd about his Facebook page. One night, she ran into his bedroom and asked why he’d changed his status to: “BRYAN IS IN URGENT NEED OF HELP!” Rutberg didn’t think much about it, but an hour later, he took a second look and realized his Facebook account had been hacked. Within minutes, his cell phone was ringing non-stop, with concerned friends calling to offer help. Many had received an email saying that he’d been robbed at gunpoint while traveling in the UK, and needed money to get home. One friend even sent $1,200 to a Western Union branch in London. Hackers had taken over Rutberg’s account, and even worse - they’d changed his login credentials so he couldn’t access his own Facebook page to remove the status message. He tried to use his wife’s account to post something on his “wall” saying he was fine, but the scammers had “de-friended” his wife, so he couldn’t. He did finally manage to get his account deactivated, but by that time, a friend’s impulsive generosity had cost him big-time.

Rutberg was the victim of a new type of scam. Facebook is currently beefing up security in reaction to the incident, but users have complained about the length of time it’s taking. So in the meantime, here are a few tips to protect yourself. These come from Kevin Haley, director of security at Symantec Corporation, which aims to protect online users.

• Be suspicious of anyone, even friends, who ask for money. Verify their circumstances, preferably by direct phone contact.
  
  
• Also, don’t use the same password for all online accounts. Since Facebook is so popular, criminals who manage to steal someone’s information will surely try to hack their other online accounts, too.
  
  
• Make sure you have more than one contact email address, in case one is compromised.

Exercises for Your Brain

Some sedentary activities can actually provide a great workout for your brain! So if you must sit still, try some of these mental exercises:

• To think faster: Play video games. In one study, gamers were able to process new information up to 13% faster – and more accurately – than non-gamers! Why? Dr. James Paul Gee, a language professor at the University of Wisconsin, says video games force people to make quick decisions, sort out patterns, and think strategically, three skills which improve what he calls your “fluid intelligence.”
  
  
• To solve problems better: Surf the Web. Researchers at UCLA found that people who cruise the Internet use twice as many brain cells as people who read a book. That’s because you’re constantly wading through several pages of digital data at once, filtering out information you don’t need. So even a simple Google search will fire neural connections in multiple lobes of your brain at the same time – including the area responsible for complex reasoning.
  
  
• Want to be more productive at work? Play a computer game – like Solitaire or Free Cell. Your boss may not agree, but new research shows that single-person strategy games can lower stress and improve mood. Those are two factors known to boost productivity! Also, lower stress improves a worker’s ability to solve problems and make tough decisions. However, we encourage you to save your next Minesweeper marathon for your lunch break.
  
  
• To improve concentration: Watch a complicated TV show. Dr. Patricia Farrell is a psychologist who wrote the book How To Be Your Own Therapist. She says recent hit shows like “Lost,” “24” and “Heroes” are great for the brain, because they have lots of plot lines and characters to keep track of. That forces people to either pay close attention, or risk being left in the dark! So the better you are at noticing subtle plot points in your favorite TV show, the better your overall focus will be.

Studies have shown that mentally stimulating lives can postpone memory problems. But diets high in saturated fat, plus a lifestyle filled with stress, little physical activity, and few mental challenges have been linked to a higher risk of dementia. But those who follow Dr. Small’s ‘boot camp’ for the brain program (Gary Small, a psychiatrist at UCLA, and author of The Memory Prescription), end up with more efficient brain cells, are much less forgetful, and have lower blood pressure. And there’s new evidence that keeping blood pressure down might delay the onset of Alzheimer’s for several years. So, here’s what ‘boot camp’ for the brain is:

• The doctor recommends a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is found in nuts and fish and lots of antioxidants, like blueberries and prunes.
• The program also includes stress release sessions and physical exercise, which includes brief moments of stretching, walking and yoga, several times a day.
• And then there’s the memory aerobics that help keep your brain nimble. About 15 minutes a day of puzzles and brain teasers, like remembering the name “Weinberger” by visualizing a bottle of wine falling onto a burger.

If you’d like to go further, the book is called The Memory Prescription by Dr. Gary Small.

Ways to Save Money

From Real Simple magazine:

We’re all trying to figure out how to save money and live on less. That’s why we’ve tracked down even more ways to cut back! Here are some big money-drains that really add up:

• Paying bills by snail mail. According to ClearPoint Financial Solutions,a company that deals with credit counseling, the average household receives about 15 bills a month. With stamps now at 42-cents each, you’ll spend about $76 a year just on postage! That’s NOT counting the late fees if your checks get lost in the mail. Almost all major banks offer free online bill payment, which lets you schedule payments at your convenience. If your bank doesn’t offer online bill pay, you can call the customer-service departments for your bills to have payments automatically deducted from your account every month.
  
  
• Another money-drain: Purchasing a life insurance policy through your employer. P.J. Patierno, a financial planner, says that a healthy woman in her late 30s could save 20% each year by purchasing a $500,000 life-insurance policy independently. Why? Because the rates charged at work are designed to cover the liabilities of everyone in your office. The overweight guy down the hall and the smoker upstairs are getting the same coverage as you. So, buy your life insurance from a broker or a financial planner. An independent provider will know details about different policies, and can recommend one suited to your lifestyle.
  
  
• A cell-phone plan that doesn’t match your needs. According to consumer research firm J.D. Power & Associates, cell-phone subscribers use only 64% of the minutes they pay for. So, analyze your usage. You may find that buying fewer monthly minutes, but getting unlimited evening and weekend minutes may work better than a more expensive plan. If your contract is up and you’re thinking about switching carriers, check out MyRatePlan.com to find the most cost-effective one that works best for you.
  
  
  When it comes to finances: Don’t get emotional. Amanda Clayman, a social worker who specializes in helping clients deal with money issues, says for starters, STOP wishing that negative events hadn’t happened. That’s wasting energy on something you can’t change. In fact, it’s crucial that you separate money and emotions. Clayman says she’s seen clients use “credit card therapy” to cope with a crisis, but that only made things worse. Yes, your situation may be unfair, but the Universe doesn’t owe you a new wardrobe in return. So, put emotions aside when making financial decisions and concentrate on what’s practical. Then move forward.
  
  If you get sick but, don’t have health insurance go public. Rachel Alt, an ER doctor in New York City, says find a public hospital in your area. Some will agree to charge only what you can pay based on your income. Not sure if a hospital is public? Just look for the words “public” or “county” in the name. If you’re in need of emergency help, the doors of the ER should always be open - no matter what kind of hospital you go to. So, insurance or not, get checked if you’re in any type of severe pain. Your life could depend on it.
  
  One final piece of advice comes from Darryl Robinson, a bartender at Hudson Bar in New York City. He says in difficult times, it’s important not to completely deprive yourself. We all need to be social and see friends – and we can do it economically. His advice? Limit your socializing to either Friday or Saturday night, when most people are free. That way you can catch up with a lot of friends at once. Also, a martini is the best bang – or alcohol - for your buck. Just one can last you the entire evening. Be sure to grab a bite to eat at home before you head out for the evening. Robinson says you’d be surprised how fast your tab can go up when you start ordering food. Plus, if you have something in your stomach when you go out, you’ll drink less, spend less – and handle your liquor better.

North Americans are digging deep to save money. According to USA Today, as the economic news seems to get worse each day, people’s spending habits have swung from spendthrift to frugal in record time. Financial polls find that more than half of all households are cutting back as a result of the falling stock market and fears about the economy. Here’s what some people are doing to save. You might want to try these yourself:

• Selling extra stuff. According to eBay CEO John Donahue, the average person has over $3,000 worth of items just lying around the house they could sell to raise cash. Over 1.3 million people make their primary or secondary income from eBay, and many more are starting to sell things they can live without just to make ends meet.
  
  
• People are eating at home. Restaurants are reporting declining sales, since cutting back on eating out is the number-one money saving move for North Americans, regardless of their income. Families are bonding around the dinner table, buying in bulk, and serving smaller portions.
  
  
• Another way people are making money: by taking an extra job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people who have an extra part-time job increased 11% in the past year.
  
  
• People are renting movies instead of going out to the theater. According to Home Media magazine, sales of new Blu-ray Hi-Def disks - a newer DVD home movie format - have more than tripled in the past year. Renting a DVD is a whole lot cheaper than a night at the movies, which can run up to $50 for two people when you include popcorn and snacks.

Interesterified Fats: Replacement for Trans Fats

From HealthCastle.com:

Before you purchase your next box of crackers or cookies with a "zero trans fat" or "trans fat free" label, take a look at the ingredients list. While many food companies have eliminated partially hydrogenated oils (and the resulting trans fats) from their products, the replacement, interesterified fats, may not be much better.

Why Interesterified Fat - and What is it?

Since 2006, nutrition facts labels on packaged foods have been required to list the amount of trans fat in the product. This led food companies to look for ways to remove partially hydrogenated oils (and the resulting trans fats) from their products. Their answer to the demand for trans-fat-free products is interesterified fats.

Interesterified fat is made by combining a solid fat (containing saturated fatty acids) with a liquid fat (vegetable oil containing unsaturated fatty acids) to create a product that behaves like saturated fat in food preparation, but lacks the "bad" effects of saturated fats or trans fats on blood cholesterol once it's consumed.

Is it Safe?

It is too early to tell whether interesterified fats are safe for regular consumption. Some research suggests that they are no better than trans fats, having the same effects on blood cholesterol (lowering the good HDL and increasing the bad LDL), as well as raising blood sugar and lowering insulin levels, which could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Where Would I Find Interesterified Fats?

Most likely, in the same places we used to find partially hydrogenated oils and trans fats - processed baked goods, spreads, and frozen convenience foods. Since there is no specific labeling requirement for interesterified fats, you would not see it on the nutrition facts label. Instead, review the ingredients list for "interesterified" fats or oil. If "fully hydrogenated vegetable oil," "palm oil," and/or "palm kernel oil" are listed, the product may or may not contain interesterified fat. And of course, be wary of "no trans fat" or "trans fat free" statements on the package.

The Bottom Line

Both trans fats and interesterified fats were developed to meet the demand for convenient, packaged foods with a longer shelf life. Common sense will tell you that any foods that can last longer than their homemade versions need additives in order to delay their "extinction". These same types of foods tend to also be high in total fat, salt, and sugar, as well as other food additives. Why risk your health by consuming things we have a hard time pronouncing? Instead of eating out of a box, nourish your body with the least processed foods possible, whether simply snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables or making your own meals from fresh ingredients.

Foods to Improve Your Mood and Make You Smarter

Here’s one more reason to eat healthy foods – you’ll be smarter! According to an article on Netscape, there are plenty of benefits that come from good nutrition besides a fit body. One of the big ones is improving your mood, and having healthy brain function. Here are the foods to keep your brain in tip-top shape:

• Whole grains. You’ve heard plenty of times that a diet high in fiber and low in bad cholesterol keeps heart disease under control, but it also means better blood flow. That’s because the heart helps blood get around the body, and that improves your overall mental state. Oatmeal is a great choice, because it’s full of fiber and easy to prepare.
  
  
• Blueberries. They’re the #1 choice for adding disease-fighting antioxidants to your diet and preventing your brain from stress. Whether they’re fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried, nutritionists agree that you’ll be doing your brain a big favor if you make them a regular part of your diet.
  
  
• Raisins. They’re good for your brain because they contain boron. That’s an element that improves hand-eye coordination, attention, and memory. Don’t like raisins? Other good sources are hazelnuts, almonds, and dried apricots.
  
  
• Eggs. They’re a great source of choline, which is another nutrient that helps your brain process and remember information. You need both the yolk and the egg white to get the choline.
  
  
• Broccoli and sunflower seeds are brain food. So, steam some broccoli and add a small handful of sunflower seeds. The combo is high in Vitamins C and E, which helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease when they’re eaten together.

Friends and Health

The best thing you can do for your health may be to make some new friends. That’s because study after study has shown that social ties - with family, friends, and even pets - pay off in terms of good health and longer lives. Dr. Andrew Weil, a Harvard Medical School graduate and founder of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Arizona, says there’s a lot of evidence that links good health with strong connections to family and friends. Here are some examples:

• The immune system is negatively affected by signs of distress, and one of those signs is a lack of social support.
  
  
• Also, one study of 75 medical students found that those who were lonely had more sluggish immune systems than students who weren’t.
  
  
• Then, research has shown that people with pets are healthier than people without them. Dr. Weil says pet owners also recover from serious illnesses faster.
  
  
• Another bit it evidence that links strong social and family ties to good health: People who use the words “I,” “me,” and “mine” in conversation are more susceptible to heart attacks. People who talk about friends and family – and use the words “we”, “us” and “ours” have stronger hearts.
  
  
• Studies show that people who get out and spend more time with others during cold and flu season actually get sick less than people who choose to be alone.
  
  
• Being grateful for what you have is closely associated with physical and emotional health.

Get out there and cultivate the close relationships in your life – because they’re keeping you healthy. You can get more health tips from Dr. Weil at Dr.Weil.com.

Mistakes of Winter Driving

From Forbes Magazine:
If you’ve ever driven in the snow, this stat should come as no surprise: Bad weather contributes to 20% of highway fatalities. So, here are four deadly mistakes of winter driving – and how to avoid them.

• The most common winter driving error and the most dangerous is driving too fast. Slippery roads make mistakes happen faster and more dramatically. In other words, a wheel turned too quickly or a brake stomped too hard can easily cause you to slide. All the antilock brakes and 4-wheel drives in the world won’t help you. Be especially careful turning corners, where your wheels can easily lose their grip. Try braking slowly before you get to the corner, and accelerating gently out of it.
  
  
• Another deadly winter driving mistake: Following too closely during bad weather. On a dry summer day, following three seconds behind another car is smart, but in snowy conditions, stopping distance increases dramatically – so double your following distance. To see if you’re too close, start counting when the car in front of you passes a sign. One 1-thousand, two 1-thousand. If you pass the sign before you count to six, back off.
  
  
• Another winter-driving mistake: Not carrying emergency gear. If you get stuck in the snow, have car trouble, or have an accident, your life could depend on your supplies. So, during the winter, always carry coats, hats, gloves and socks, road flares, tire chains, jumper cables, a shovel, and kitty litter for traction on slippery surfaces. You should also have a first aid kid, a flashlight, water, nuts, dried fruit and granola bars, and matches in a waterproof container.
  
  
• One final winter driving mistake: Leaving your car if you’re stranded. Unless you’re in imminent danger, your car’s the warmest, safest place to wait until help arrives, and it’ll be easier to find than you will be on foot. Just be sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow, ice or mud, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and run the engine for 10 minutes each hour for heat.

Feeling Tired?

From MSN:

It’s easy to get run down this time of year, but, your low energy could be due to something other than marathon shopping. Here are some common causes - and the cures - for your fatigue:

• You're bored. Dr. Judith Sills, a clinical psychologist and the author of The Comfort Trap, says that new experiences stimulate your brain and boost energy levels. You don’t have to do anything monumental, either. Something as simple as trying a new food on your lunch break, or seeing a foreign film will do the trick.
  
  
• Too much caffeine. It seems like a contradiction, but caffeine can actually make you tired. Registered dietician Cheryl Forberg says people can create a vicious cycle when they keep ingesting more caffeine to counteract the exhaustion they feel. The cumulative effects of the day's caffeine, like an increased heart rate and a rise in blood pressure, can then keep you from getting a good night's sleep.
  
  
• This next behavior causes a lot of afternoon slumps: Multi-tasking. Neal Roese, a professor of psychology at The University of Illinois, says multi-tasking is a big drain on glucose, which is your brain’s main source of fuel. That means your brain can literally run out of gas. He suggests keeping the number of things you do at one time to a minimum.
  
  
• Poor posture. According to exercise physiologist Kathleen Koch, standing up straight doesn’t just make you look better - it makes you feel better! That’s because when you slouch, your heart and lungs have to work harder to get blood to your muscles. So take you thumbs, put them under your armpits, and pull up gently. That’s about where you should be holding your posture.

If making these changes doesn’t put a spring in your step, it’s time to visit the doctor. Chronic fatigue could be caused by medical conditions like diabetes, anemia, or an under active thyroid.