Is Your Guy in a “Bromance?”

Ladies, is your man having a “bromance” with another guy, a best friend they hit the gym with, play cards with, or grab a beer with? Well, know this: Experts say you should accept – and even encourage – your man to have a bromance. Dr. Geoffery Greif is the author of “Buddy System: Understanding Male Friendships.” He says that bromances are all the rage because it’s more socially accepted nowadays for men to express their feelings for platonic male friends, and the benefits are enormous. For example:

• Men with close friends live longer, healthier lives than men without close friendships.
• Also, men who have close guy friends are more likely to exercise or to start working out if they don’t already.
• A bromance can help your man stay intellectually stimulated, because best buddies push each other to try new things, and that can keep them both mentally engaged.

According to Dr. William Pollack from Harvard University, having a close male buddy is the single most important thing in a man’s life. He points out that countless studies have found that friendships can help lower blood pressure, ward off depression, speed healing after an injury, and even prolong your life.
What if your guy’s bromantic partner is someone you don’t happen to like? What should you do? Plain and simple: Keep your mouth shut and focus on the positives. Ask your guy what he likes about his best bud, which should help you better understand and appreciate the friend he hangs out with.

Trends That Are Destined to go Mainstream This Year

Do you want to know what’ll be all the rage in 2011? You don’t need to ask a fortune teller or conduct your own focus group. Here is a list of the top products and trends experts predict will go mainstream this year. Here we go:

• First: Kiss your TV set goodbye. Last year was the first time in history that cable TV subscriptions dropped, because more and more people are plugged into smart phones and iPads, and watching mobile TVon the subway and on buses as they commute to work. Experts say the numbers will continue to plummet because people don’t need to be tied to a TV or cable connection to watch their favorite shows anymore.


• Another trend destined to go mainstream this year: Black rice. It’s the new superfood hitting grocery store shelves. It’s packed with enough protein and fiber to fight heart disease and lowers cholesterol, and it’s loaded with more antioxidants than blueberries. Then, veganism is all the rage right now for die-hard healthy eaters.


• The next healthy diet craze is: Clean eating. In other words, you only eat foods as close to their original state as possible, like fresh fruits, whole grains, and raw almonds. It’s been a popular diet with body builders, but experts say the trend is spreading like wildfire. There are seminars and a TV show about the strict lifestyle in the works.


• The final trend destined to go mainstream this year: Houses run by gadgets. Experts say this is the year of home automation technology. It uses your home’s electric system and satellites to link your home appliances with Wi-Fi and smart phone apps. So, whether you’re at the office or your kid’s soccer game, a press of a button on your smart phone can cue up the vacuum or turn on the oven. That way, when you get home, your house would be spotless and dinner would be ready.

Don’t Be a Jerk – You’ll Live Longer!

Don’t Be a Jerk – You’ll Live Longer! That’s the gist of nearly a dozen new studies, which have been compiled and published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest. The research involves millions of people, who were tested and studied at different times over the past seven decades! The results are fairly unanimous: Smart people who do good deeds for others tend to live longer - and suffer fewer diseases - than bullies with lower IQs.

- For example, one study found a strong link between lower IQs and a higher likelihood of being admitted to the hospital.

- Also, a 30-year Scottish study found a strong relationship between lower intelligence and a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

- In a 65-year study, researchers found that grade-school students who showed signs of being conscientious – or charitable towards others - were more likely to still be alive in their 70s!

So what’s going on here? In a nutshell: Researchers say smarter people make smarter decisions, meaning they’re more likely to understand the benefits of exercising, eating a healthy diet, and the hazards of smoking. Smart people also tend to be better at using common sense to avoid accidents, and they’re less likely to be injured in fights, or to die by suicide.

The shocker in this report is the conclusion that being nice to others can influence how long you live. Because in study after study, people who were highly conscientious were less likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, bone problems, stroke, and Alzheimer’s! However, “mean” people who were self-absorbed were more likely to die at a young age. Why would this happen? Researchers say one explanation is that selfish people tend to be more cynical and distrustful of others, so they’re less likely to see doctors. Selfish people also tend to be overly confident, so they take more risks with their health and well-being - thinking “bad things happen to other people, not me.” Turns out, they’re dead wrong.

Increase Your Odds of Living to 100

From Rodale Publishing: Would you like to live to be 100? Here are a few ways to increase your odds:

• Live at a higher altitude. Researchers in Switzerland found that people living at high altitude had a 22 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease. That's because thinner air at higher elevations means more UV rays from the sun, which boost the production of heart-healthy vitamin D. Most experts point out that 77 percent of North Americans are vitamin-D deficient, which can lead to bone disorders and heart disease. So, eat more D-rich foods, like tuna and wild salmon, and talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.
  
  
• Another tip for living to 100: Breathe cleaner air. People living in cities with relatively good air quality live about one year longer than people in more-polluted areas. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dirty air can trigger inflammatory reactions, and even mild inflammation can contribute to heart disease. So, avoid exercising near streets. You’ll be exposed to extra pollution from passing vehicles, and you’ll inhale more of it because you’re breathing deeply.
  
  
• Lastly: Accept your age. Researchers in Germany asked people how they felt about their age. Those who were comfortable with it lived about two years longer than those who were bothered by it. Partly because people who are content are more likely to exhibit healthy behavior, and people who compare themselves with their younger selves are often disappointed and stressed by the changes. Instead: Compare yourself with your contemporaries. Plenty of them will be worse off than you – and those who are better off will provide inspiration.

Here Are a Few Things That Kids Born Today Will Never Use

Bob Dylan was right - the times they are a-changin.’ Here are a few things we’re very familiar with that kids born today will never use – or even know about. This comes from Money Talks News.

- First: Videotape. Movies are released on DVD, most news-cameras and home-use cameras are digital, and a majority of homes no longer even have videotape machines.

- Today’s kids will also never wear a watch. Most people under 55 don’t wear one except as a fashion statement, and they often have dead batteries, or aren’t even wound up. Most people don’t need a watch because they’ve got a phone with a clock in their hands all day long.

- Then there are paper maps. They used to be available free at every gas station. Today, with in-car GPS gadgets, and smart phones with turn-by-turn directions, paper maps – and the ability to read them – are becoming obsolete.

- Another thing today’s kids won’t use: Phone books and encyclopedias. Who needs huge, outdated books to look up addresses, phone numbers, or world facts when you can just Google it?

- Forget catalogs and newspaper classifieds. You can see everything that’s available in your area – or via delivery – by hopping on company websites or Craigslist.

- Also: Wired phones and long-distance phone bills. In 10 years, nobody will be paying for a phone that has to stay attached to the wall, and with live, FREE computer video chat, who’d bother to pay for long distance phone calls?

- Finally, today’s kids will never have unanswered questions. Whether it’s remembering which actor was in that movie you loved, or finding the source of the Nile – with smart phones and Wi-Fi Internet connections, every debate can already be settled in seconds no matter where you are.

Would You Buy a Haunted House?

For more and more people, the answer is “yes.” According to AOL News, there are even paranormal real estate websites. They list the number of bedrooms and bathrooms a house has, and any suspicious paranormal activity, like drawers opening, or lights turning on and off by themselves. Prospective owners aren’t buying so-called haunted houses for a thrill. They’re doing it to cash in on creepy, like one woman mentioned in the article, who’s making a killing on her house in Minnesota. She’s written two books about how people who spend the night at her house wake up feeling like they’re floating. The buzz from the books has transformed her home into a tourist attraction. Throngs of haunted-house fans show up, wanting to be scared or see a ghost. In fact, the demand was so huge, she created a haunted tea party business at her home.
Two brothers bought a Michigan inn rumored to be the site of unexplained occurrences. Instead of trying to keep its spooky past a secret, to avoid scaring potential guests, they embraced the fright factor. They proudly play up the legend of the ghost in the inn’s restaurant. Of course, there’s no law that requires sellers to disclose to potential buyers that the house has a reputation for bizarre behavior. However, a growing number of buyers are interested in knowing whether a house has paranormal activity. So, the real estate industry may have to create what they’re nicknaming a “Casper clause” to disclose any funny business.
In this scary economy, people are getting more creative to make a buck, and could be pretending a house is haunted to raise its saleability. However, if you’re in an old house and you hear strange noises, it’s probably not a sign that it’s haunted, just a sign you need a handyman

Workplace World Records

From LiveCareers.com:
If you’ve resolved to excel at your job this year, this list of “workplace world records” will inspire you.

Let’s start with the most pizzas made in one hour: That number’s 142. Mark Rush set this record at a Domino’s in Mississippi.

Then: If you’re in the healthcare industry, you know this next one took some doing. Grace Gupana, a nurse from the Philippines,set the record for blood pressure readings by taking 2,302 in 24 hours!That same day, she also set records for blood tests, cholesterol readings, and diabetes screenings.

Next up: The world’s youngest CEO isSuhas Gopinath of Bangalore, India. He launched his outsourcing company at the age of 14. Today, he has 60 employees - with the oldest being 22.

This last record may never be broken: Mildred Parsons retired from the FBI after nearly 63 years of service without ever once calling in sick.

Isn’t it amazing what you can accomplish when you really love what you do?

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.

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.

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.

Can You Be Injured From a Sneeze?

Did you hear the one about the guy who sneezed so hard he broke a rib? It can happen! Ask Phil Hughes, a pitcher for the New York Yankees who suffered a stress fracture from a giant sneeze. He ended up on the disabled list, and it took him five months to get back on the mound. According to WebMD, a sneeze expels a jet of air at about 100 miles per hour and the quick, sudden motion can aggravate an underlying problem, like back or neck discomfort. You’re also more prone to a sneeze injury if you’ve got a bone-weakening disease, like osteoporosis or cancer.

Sneezes don’t just break ribs. If you suppress a sneeze by pinching your nostrils or closing your mouth, it can rupture your eardrum or damage your middle ear. A woman in Massachusetts sneezed so hard she got whiplash and had to get a neck brace and muscle relaxants for the pain. What about the two huge sneezes that sent Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa’s back into spasms before a game in 2004. He landed on the disabled list with a sprained ligament in his lower back. Traffic accidents and fatalities have also been caused by sneezing. A Boston man recently lost control of his pickup after a sneezing fit behind the wheel. He wasn’t hurt, but his vehicle ended up in the Charles River.

Even one sneeze can get you into trouble. According to the British Allergy Foundation, if you sneeze while going 70 miles per hour, you’ll travel 100 feet with your eyes shut – almost twice the length of a bowling lane! There are a few rumors about sneezes that aren’t true. Like, you can’t keep your eyes open during a sneeze. Actually, some people can – but it’s very rare. What about the myth that if you could keep your eyes open during a sneeze, your eyes would pop out of your head. No. Your eye sockets are made of bone, they’re not connected to your nasal passages, and there are no muscles back there to tighten when you sneeze and eject your eyeballs. Another myth: Your heart stops when you sneeze. Not true. Doctors say your heart doesn’t even pause when you sneeze.

Could There Be An Obama Baby Boom?

It’s too soon to know for sure, but experts aren’t ruling out the possibility of an up-tick in births nine months from now. That’s according to Newsweek magazine. They say that often, following an important national event, you’ll see an increase in the birthrate – sometimes it’s after a scary event, like a terrorist attack. Or something positive, like the end of World War 2.

Dr. Manny Alvarez is the chief of reproductive science at Hackensack University Medical Center and he says – right now the mood of the country is optimistic and that’s always related to birthrates. He says he’s gearing up for a healthy increase in babies. Sociologist Pepper Schwartz says euphoria is a serious aphrodisiac and that’s exactly what a lot of younger voters felt after the election. Voters under 30 years old went for Obama by a margin of 2 to 1. In fact, the likelihood of a baby boom already has a listing in the online Urban Dictionary. They’re calling children conceived on or shortly after election night: Obama babies.

So what would classify as an Obama baby boom? Americans would have had to have made more than 390,000 babies in the month of November. We won’t know for sure until next August – 9 months after the election. Know this. Barrack Obama was born almost nine months to the day after John F. Kennedy was elected to the White House. Coincidence or baby boom? Only time will tell.

My Own Grandfather

By Mark Twain:

After long years as a bachelor I was tired of being alone and married a widow with a grown daughter. My father fell in love with the daughter and took her as his wife. This made me my own son-in-law and my stepdaughter became my mother. After a year my wife gave birth to a son. Now, my son was my father's brother-in-law and at the same time my uncle, since he was my stepmother's brother. But my father's wife also gave birth to a son. So this was my brother and also my grandson, since he was the son of my daughter. This meant I'd married my grandmother, since she was the mother of my mother. As my wife's husband, I was also her grandson. And since the husband of a grandmother is always a grandfather, I am my own grandfather.

Lincoln and Kenndy Connections

Strange coincidences found on random sites:

• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
• John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
• Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
• John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
• Both Kennedy and Lincoln were deeply involved in the civil rights issues of the era, in Lincoln's day, the issue was slavery, in Kennedy's, it was segregation.
• Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.
• Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
• Both Presidents were shot in the head.
• Both wives were present during the assassination.
• Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy who warned him not to go to the theater the night he was killed. Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln who warned him not to go to Dallas where he was killed.
• Both were assassinated by Southerners.
• Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln , was born in 1808.
• Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
• John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
• Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
• Both assassins were known by their three names.
• Both presidents' names contain 7 letters, their successors' names contain 13 letters, their assassins contain 15 letters.
• Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford."
• Kennedy was shot in a "Lincoln" car made by "Ford."
• Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
• A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.
• A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with (in) Marilyn Monroe.
• Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and ran into a warehouse; Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and ran into a theater.

What's the Best Day to Send an Email?

From Fortune Magazine:

According to a new study, that day is Sunday. Why? Research shows it’s by far the slowest day for internet email traffic. In fact, only 3% of all emails are sent on Sundays. That’s a tiny amount compared to the 24% of emails sent on the busiest day of the week: Tuesdays. Of course, there’s a good reason why fewer emails get sent on Sunday. Because fewer people bother reading email that day. Think about it: Most people would rather spend their ‘day of rest’ at home or in church, cooking barbeque, solving crosswords or watching football. The last thing they think about is going online and checking email.

When people DO check their email on Sunday, studies show they’re more likely to read the entire message. They’re also more likely to devote their full attention to writing a meaningful response – rather than a quick one or two line reply. That’s why many small businesses are now using Sundays to fire off quick brainstorming emails or memos to their employees – because that’s when they get the best responses and freshest ideas! Now, nobody’s saying this is a good thing. In fact, psychotherapists recommend making your weekend a “no-work zone” – where you devote all your time to relaxing with friends and family. That gives your brain a chance to refocus before another grueling workweek. However, a recent Career Builder survey found that 20% of workers routinely stay in touch with the office while at home for the weekend – via cell phone, Blackberry, email or voice mail. Most say it’s a “necessary evil”. They believe that staying in touch helps them stay ahead of the competition, and gives them the tools they need to take their career to the next level.

So, if you must send emails on Sunday, treat it like any other day of the week. In other words: Set aside a specific time of the day to do it. Then focus the rest of your day on family activities, or spending time with your spouse. After all, if everyone started emailing on Sundays, you know what’ll happen: Fortune would do a new study – declaring the best day to do email work is Saturday!

What Does Your Sense of Humor Say About You?

From WebMD:

Did you know that your sense of humor says a lot about who you are and how you relate to others? Dr. Rod Martin is a psychologist at the University of Western Ontario who studies the way people use humor. He found that humor is a double-edged sword. First, it can forge better relationships and help you cope with life. On the flip side, it can be corrosive, eating away at your self-esteem and antagonizing those around you. So, here’s what your brand of humor says about the kind of person you are.

• The first type of humor: the put-down. Like telling friends an embarrassing story about someone else to make them appear clumsy or stupid. This aggressive type of humor takes a huge toll on relationships. Why? Because it’s used to criticize and manipulate others through teasing, sarcasm and ridicule, and it makes others look bad so you can look good. So, remember the rule mom taught you: if you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all. Tacking “just kidding” at the end of a negative statement doesn’t make it a joke.
  
  
• Another kind of humor: hate-me jokes. In other words, you’re the butt of the joke for the amusement of others. Like “I’m so big, even my maternity jeans don’t fit me anymore!” A small dose may be charming, but routinely humiliating yourself erodes your self-respect, and can lead to depression and anxiety. It can also backfire by making others feel uncomfortable. So, the next time you want to break the ice at a party, try a little humor about your receding hairline, or poke fun at your potbelly, but leave it at that. Don’t make fun of both.
  
  
• The last brand of humor: laughing at life. This type of humor is the best one. Dr. Martin says it’s because someone who laughs at the absurdities of life uses humor to cope with challenges and stress. For example, you open a pack of coffee grounds in the company kitchen, and it bursts open, filling your hair and your shirt with little brown bits. Instead of hitting the roof, you laugh it off. That’s the type of humor that reduces stress and makes others more comfortable around you.
  

The Most Fattening Carnival Foods

From Newsweek Magazine:

What’s one of the best things to do over the summer? Go to a carnival or state fair, right? Well, you know that funnel cake and snow cones aren’t health food – but you may think with all the walking around you’re doing you’ll burn off those extra calories. Think again, my friend! To that end, here are the most fattening carnival foods.

• The deep-fried Oreo. It’s made by dipping the Oreo in pancake mix, egg, milk and vegetable oil then deep-frying it. It turns a 50 calorie Oreo into a 157 calorie Oreo. Now, that’s not a lot overall, but it’s a lot for one cookie! Plus, that single cookie now has 10 grams of fat! That’s about a fifth of your daily fat intake in one mouthful!
  
  
• Cotton candy. It has absolutely no nutritional benefit – it’s just whipped sugar on a cone. If it’s between some deep-fried Oreos and the cotton candy – you may want to go with the cotton candy because the entire thing is just 200 calories.
  
  
• How about this State Fair / carnival staple: The corn dog. It’s not that bad as far as calories – the problem is the sodium content. One corn dog has nearly 1,200 milligrams of sodium – or half the recommended DAILY intake for an adult.
  
  
• The deep-fried Twinkie. A single fried Twinkie is 420 calories and 32 grams of fat. That’s before you add any toppings like powdered sugar or chocolate sauce. To put that in perspective, it’s more calories and fat than a Whopper Junior with cheese.
  
  
• The innocent looking snow cone. It’s just shaved ice, you may say. Yes, but then it’s loaded with sugar syrup. So one snow cone can have 550 calories!
  
  
• Funnel Cake. A single serving has as many calories as a Whopper with cheese and more than half the fat you should have in an entire day. To burn off that Funnel Cake, the average 35 year old woman would have to jog for 86 minutes straight – or walk without stopping for three and a half hours.

My heaven is in the Scranton business park

The last few months, life has been stressful and depressing at times. I've had my ups and downs and I've had my hopeless moments, but I've always found solace somewhere between Pam's reception desk and Michael's office. My frustrations and worries dissolve with a visit to Shrute Farm or a quick drink at Poor Richards.

I suppose my point to this measly little tirade is that happiness is not always guaranteed, that doubt and fear can cloud ones perspective and convince them that they have failed. It's not always easy to get through times of sadness. But sometimes it can simply mean finding the beauty in the mundane and drab that can inspire your heart to get up tomorrow and try again. And that is exactly what "The Office" has done for me, helped me realize that great things can always come of nightmares and that faith in the very depths of the human experience is usually accomplished on blind faith. Now this sounds pretty heavy handed, and it is. Next you'll think I feel that Buddha speaks through "Friends" or that "Saved by the Bell" holds the keys to youthful energy. But all cynicism aside, "The Office" has been a well of happiness and escapism when I felt that I could never smile again.

Although it is ridiculous, I think it best to encourage everyone and anyone to find the parts of their life and the people in their life that truly make it all worth living. Because yes, "The Office" is just a TV show, a sit-com about a group of dissatisfied, bored employees in a dull office of a failing company. And yet it has made difference between a rabbit in a hat, and true magic to me; and that is always what we look for.

Science of the Sexes, Take 2

From AOL.com:

Mistakes Men Make When Trying to Meet Women

So you see the woman of your dreams across a crowded room. If she avoids you like last week’s tuna sandwich, obviously you’re doing something wrong! Here are the five biggest mistakes men make when trying to meet women.

• Mistake #1: Approaching without the go ahead. According to Dr. Galdino Pranzarone, a therapist from Roanoke College, contrary to what most people think, a woman always makes her interest known first. So you need to establish eye contact and give her a little smile. If you can’t get a smile back, it means she’s not interested, and you need to move on. If she smiles, go ahead and approach.
  
  
• Another mistake men make: Flirting with a woman’s friends. This may seem like a no-brainer, but men do it all the time. Basically, approaching a group and trying your smooth moves on the group as a whole, trying to see who bites. However, doing that is a deal-breaker for most women. Not only do you look like a jerk, but you’re also breaking the cardinal rule of impressing a woman: making her feel special.
  
  
• Mistake #3: Using a tired joke or pick-up line to introduce yourself. You need to be George Clooney to pull off a clichéd line like, “Are you from Tennessee? Because you're the only ‘ten I see’!” Most guys can’t make it work. Studies show that being sincere works the best. So try simply saying “Hi, I’m Bob”.
  
  
• The final mistake men make when they meet women: Not knowing when to walk away. There’s nothing worse than when a woman feels like she’s being ambushed by a lothario. So, don’t declare your undying love for a perfect stranger, or even be too insistent on getting a date. Instead, try saying, “It was nice meeting you. I’d love to see you again.” It shows that you’re not a threat. Or if you’re bold, you can just hand her your phone number and say “Call me” – and let her make the next move. Be cognizant of her body language – if her arms are folded, if she’s turned away from you, or keeps glancing around, take your lumps and move on.

click on the picture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIPklHggHFM

Science of the Sexes

From LifeWire.com:

Science Can Help Explain the Behavioral Differences Between Men and Women

While the differences between the sexes drive some couples crazy, they don’t HAVE to. Researchers say that science can explain a lot of the behaviors that are typically male or female – the ones that widen the gender gap. So, here are some of those behavioral explanations:

• Behavior #1: Women obsess about every little thing. They love to get into the details during conversations, while men seem a bit blasé to everything but the bottom line. Well, there’s a good reason according to Robert Schwarz, the director of the Mars and Venus Counseling and Wellness Center in Pennsylvania. He says women relieve stress by talking – so the more details they share, the better they feel. For women, conversation produces the hormone serotonin, which enhances mood and wards off depression. Men are action oriented and problem-solvers. So they tend to only talk about things or bring up a problem if they want to search for a solution. That “eureka” moment of problem-solving increases the level of dopamine in a man’s brain, a pleasure-inducing chemical. That explains why men will wait until it's absolutely necessary to stop and ask for directions. They’re waiting for the “eureka” moment.
  
  
• Next behavior: Men hate to go shopping. The truth is that men do enjoy shopping – when they get to “hunt” for a specific item. Schwarz says men are task-oriented. They buy what they want and leave. Women, on the other hand, enjoy “grazing” for things. That’s why men and women shopping together isn’t the best combination.
  
  
• One last Mars/Venus difference: Men are impervious to cold, while women always want to turn up the thermostat. Well, yes. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are more sensitive to cold than men are. On average, women are smaller than men, so their metabolic rate tends to be lower. This means women’s bodies generate less heat than men’s. Women also tend to have less fat on their upper bodies and around their waists, so they have less insulation. They also have less muscle mass to help keep them warm. So guys, if you think your woman wants to cuddle up to you to get lovey-dovey, the truth is – she probably just wants to get WARM.