it's been 2 months....since i made a blog haha..
Hope everything will be fall into place..
I know it's a wrong move to start but I cannot insist doing it.. Don't know what's on her mind but I know she feels the same way..
Hope everything will be good as we get to know each other's company..
HAHA! just need to express my feelings..
Goodtimes everyone! =)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Cavs knock down free throws, gut out win over Bucks
CLEVELAND (NBA.com exclusive) -- If you want to believe you're the best team in the NBA, you had better be prepared to prove it night after thankless night.
You need to survive things like 16 missed free throws, or six minutes without a point, or too many moments when you can't get a stop. That was the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, when they somehow escaped with a 101-98 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
This one had all the makings of playoff-type intensity, considering the Bucks have been one of the league's hottest teams since the All-Star break -- or more accurately, since the acquisition of forward John Salmons.
The Bucks (41-33) entered the game having won 23 of their previous 30, and what better place to show you're for real than against the team with the league's best record?
Meanwhile, the Cavs (59-16) were supposedly motivated by the fact they lost the prior meeting between the two teams in early March. That's when LeBron James sat out with a sore ankle and Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings hit big shots and talked a little trash to the Cavs' bench.
There was no jawing this time, but there was plenty of determination, gutsy baskets and clutch plays from both teams. And on a night filled with resolve, perhaps no one played a more important role down the stretch than Cavs guard Mo Williams.
Williams had been struggling a little lately, both in finding shots and making them once they presented themselves. But he broke out of his mini-slump on Wednesday, and not just because he finished with 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting.
He also did a fine job of running the team, and on a night when the Cavs otherwise made the rim cringe with fear every time they stepped to the free-low line, Williams came through at the end.
First, he calmly swished a pair of foul shots to give the Cavs a 99-95 edge with 12.8 seconds left in the game. Then, after Salmons buried a 3-pointer, Williams knocked down another pair from the line at the 8.0 second mark.
"I just have to lock in and knock them down," Williams said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to make free throws in those situations."
Williams' final two put an end to a zany night when the Cavs seemed to have the game won in the third quarter, when they built a 10-point lead. Then the Bucks came racing back, taking a two-point lead (95-93) with just more than a minute left in the fourth, and the ball. In fact, had Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova not missed a wide-open three from the baseline on that possession, the Cavs may have been buried.
That's not to say Ilyasova is to blame. Far from it, actually. He played a huge role in the rally, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds.
It's just that the Bucks will likely remember this as a night of missed opportunities.
Afterward, they wore the defeat on their faces, as Salmons and reserve Jerry Stackhouse sat in the locker room, staring straight ahead. They didn't talk, they didn't head to the shower, they didn't even take off their uniforms. They just sat, and stared.
"We should have won that game," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. "We gave them that game. Nothing against Cleveland, because they won and they deserved it. But we've got to make plays."
Salmons has looked a lot like the second-best small forward in the Eastern Conference (behind You Know Who) since coming to Milwaukee in a late-February deal with Chicago. On Wednesday, he looked a lot like a modern-day Larry Bird, scoring 28 points, passing for seven assists and leading his team via pure willpower and hustle.
"We feel like we let an opportunity go," Salmons said. "We feel if we come in and play our game and compete, we can play with anybody, and that's what we're looking for in the playoffs."
James scored 23 points to lead the Cavs. He also grabbed nine rebounds, passed for seven assists and stole Luke Ridnour's pass as time ran out to seal the victory.
As an interesting aside, the Cavs shot 45 free throws to the Bucks' nine. Needless to say, it was a stat that the Bucks did not overlook.
"Nine to 45, that's got to be a record," Salmons said. "I don't want to lose no money, so ... I'm not going to speak about that."
You need to survive things like 16 missed free throws, or six minutes without a point, or too many moments when you can't get a stop. That was the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, when they somehow escaped with a 101-98 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
This one had all the makings of playoff-type intensity, considering the Bucks have been one of the league's hottest teams since the All-Star break -- or more accurately, since the acquisition of forward John Salmons.
The Bucks (41-33) entered the game having won 23 of their previous 30, and what better place to show you're for real than against the team with the league's best record?
Meanwhile, the Cavs (59-16) were supposedly motivated by the fact they lost the prior meeting between the two teams in early March. That's when LeBron James sat out with a sore ankle and Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings hit big shots and talked a little trash to the Cavs' bench.
There was no jawing this time, but there was plenty of determination, gutsy baskets and clutch plays from both teams. And on a night filled with resolve, perhaps no one played a more important role down the stretch than Cavs guard Mo Williams.
Williams had been struggling a little lately, both in finding shots and making them once they presented themselves. But he broke out of his mini-slump on Wednesday, and not just because he finished with 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting.
He also did a fine job of running the team, and on a night when the Cavs otherwise made the rim cringe with fear every time they stepped to the free-low line, Williams came through at the end.
First, he calmly swished a pair of foul shots to give the Cavs a 99-95 edge with 12.8 seconds left in the game. Then, after Salmons buried a 3-pointer, Williams knocked down another pair from the line at the 8.0 second mark.
"I just have to lock in and knock them down," Williams said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to make free throws in those situations."
Williams' final two put an end to a zany night when the Cavs seemed to have the game won in the third quarter, when they built a 10-point lead. Then the Bucks came racing back, taking a two-point lead (95-93) with just more than a minute left in the fourth, and the ball. In fact, had Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova not missed a wide-open three from the baseline on that possession, the Cavs may have been buried.
That's not to say Ilyasova is to blame. Far from it, actually. He played a huge role in the rally, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds.
It's just that the Bucks will likely remember this as a night of missed opportunities.
Afterward, they wore the defeat on their faces, as Salmons and reserve Jerry Stackhouse sat in the locker room, staring straight ahead. They didn't talk, they didn't head to the shower, they didn't even take off their uniforms. They just sat, and stared.
"We should have won that game," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. "We gave them that game. Nothing against Cleveland, because they won and they deserved it. But we've got to make plays."
Salmons has looked a lot like the second-best small forward in the Eastern Conference (behind You Know Who) since coming to Milwaukee in a late-February deal with Chicago. On Wednesday, he looked a lot like a modern-day Larry Bird, scoring 28 points, passing for seven assists and leading his team via pure willpower and hustle.
"We feel like we let an opportunity go," Salmons said. "We feel if we come in and play our game and compete, we can play with anybody, and that's what we're looking for in the playoffs."
James scored 23 points to lead the Cavs. He also grabbed nine rebounds, passed for seven assists and stole Luke Ridnour's pass as time ran out to seal the victory.
As an interesting aside, the Cavs shot 45 free throws to the Bucks' nine. Needless to say, it was a stat that the Bucks did not overlook.
"Nine to 45, that's got to be a record," Salmons said. "I don't want to lose no money, so ... I'm not going to speak about that."
APRIL!
1st time for the last 3 years. Wala ako sa beach because everything changed because almost all of us are working and the schedules are conflict and for the first time i have a job on good friday and black saturday..pero oks lang dahil wala naman ginagawa saka im enjoying my work so there is no problem with that.. I have many plans for this year I want to go to bora and potipot and also I want to know more deeply with this girl she's nice, good, sobrang ok kasama kaso nagaalangan pako because im not ready to commit and i think ganun din siya saka apaka dami kasing babes haha! well will see no one can tell haha! anyways goodtimes!
Friday, March 19, 2010
World's "only" Immortal Animal
The turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish may be the only animal in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of youth.
Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of time and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life).
The key lies in a process called transdifferentiation, where one type of cell is transformed into another type of cell. Some animals can undergo limited transdifferentiation and regenerate organs, such as salamanders, which can regrow limbs. Turritopsi nutricula, on the other hand, can regenerate its entire body over and over again. Researchers are studying the jellyfish to discover how it is able to reverse its aging process.
Because they are able to bypass death, the number of individuals is spiking. They're now found in oceans around the globe rather than just in their native Caribbean waters.
Jordan calls owning Bobcats “dream come true”
A relaxed Michael Jordan broke into a wide smile as he sat at his desk Thursday night amid his whirlwind week of realizing a longtime goal of becoming an NBA owner.
Soon, though, that steely resolve that defined his superstar playing career peeked through as he fielded a question about his commitment to turn the Charlotte Bobcats from a money-losing, non-playoff team into a winner in both areas.
“It’s motivating,” the six-time NBA champion said of the naysayers who joke he’ll be more worried about tee times than season ticket renewals. “I’ve never been asked to be out at the forefront of an organization. I never had the financial commitment to do that. Now I have. Now I’m involved. How can I not, when I’m owning 80 percent of the basketball team, not put my face on the organization?”
Jordan’s $275 million purchase of the club from Bob Johnson was approved by the rest of the league’s owners on Wednesday. The North Carolina native spent his first full day on the job insisting he’s ready to “dive in with my sleeves rolled up” to turn around the six-year-old franchise, while downplaying the significance of becoming the first former player to own an NBA team.
“I’m not wearing that on my sleeve,” he said. “For me, everybody just wants to see us win. Doesn’t matter if it’s me. Doesn’t matter if it’s Bob. Doesn’t matter if it’s anybody else. I’m happy to be in this position and given this opportunity by Bob.
“But that part of being the first athlete to control his own team is secondary in terms of me trying to provide a winning program here in Charlotte.”
A few hundred season ticket holders watched Johnson hand the team to Jordan in an event at Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday night. Johnson, the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team, lost tens of millions of dollars annually as the city struggled to warm to the expansion team that replaced the New Orleans-bound Hornets.
“I think he’ll do absolutely great,” Johnson said. “I think you will see a change in him in that he now knows he’s on point. He is the face of Charlotte. He knows that this town asks a lot of its owners. And to me, emotionally, psychologically, economically he’s prepared for that task.
“When I talked to him I said, ‘One of the things you’ve got to do here is you’ve got to be willing to touch and be touched.’ And I’m sure he’ll do that.”
Jordan didn’t in his role the past four years as a minority investor with the final say on basketball decisions. Jordan was rarely seen at games or practices and was criticized for a couple of early decisions: drafting the disappointing Adam Morrison(notes) No. 3 overall in the 2006 draft, and hiring the inexperienced Sam Vincent as coach.
Since then, Jordan has been on a roll with his moves. After firing Vincent after just one season, Jordan hired Hall of Famer Larry Brown. The team has made numerous trades, including acquiring Stephen Jackson(notes) in November, that’s helped propel the Bobcats (35-32) to the verge of their first playoff berth.
“You guys got to admit on nights where we play well and we can beat the Lakers, we can beat Cleveland on the road, we can beat Orlando on the road, man, the imagination runs wild,” Jordan said. “With that said, I’d like to see where this imagination takes us.”
But the 47-year-old Jordan has several obstacles. He’s assuming about $150 million in debt and the club is expected to lose about $30 million this season. Charlotte ranks 22nd out of 30 teams in attendance, has poor television reach and sluggish sponsorship sales.
There’s even an issue with the Bobcats name. While Johnson denies it, the impression by many is he named the club after himself. There has been discussion about changing the nickname, a process that could cost up to $10 million and take a couple of years.
“If I get the understanding from the community, from the public, that we need it and it signifies a change, yeah, I will do that,” Jordan said.
And the 69-year-old Brown, in his record ninth NBA head coaching job, is always a threat to leave. While he has two years left on his contract, there have been reports linking him to jobs with the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. Brown’s wife, Shelly, lives in Philadelphia with their kids.
“I don’t want Larry to leave, but I cannot control and totally understand his relationship in terms of what Shelly feels in terms of a husband-wife scenario and what’s best suited for their family,” Jordan said. “Now I’ll do whatever I can to keep him here and I want him here, but for family reasons, or Shelly’s reasons, he feels like he needs to do something else, what else can I do?”
Jordan indicated he doesn’t plan to get into luxury tax territory with payroll “until we go deep” in the playoffs. He stressed that he wanted Charlotte to “experience what it’s like to win” and is confident he can create another milestone by doing that as an owner.
“I’ve dealt with criticism my whole career,” he said, “and each and every time it’s been a motivating factor for me.”
Soon, though, that steely resolve that defined his superstar playing career peeked through as he fielded a question about his commitment to turn the Charlotte Bobcats from a money-losing, non-playoff team into a winner in both areas.
“It’s motivating,” the six-time NBA champion said of the naysayers who joke he’ll be more worried about tee times than season ticket renewals. “I’ve never been asked to be out at the forefront of an organization. I never had the financial commitment to do that. Now I have. Now I’m involved. How can I not, when I’m owning 80 percent of the basketball team, not put my face on the organization?”
Jordan’s $275 million purchase of the club from Bob Johnson was approved by the rest of the league’s owners on Wednesday. The North Carolina native spent his first full day on the job insisting he’s ready to “dive in with my sleeves rolled up” to turn around the six-year-old franchise, while downplaying the significance of becoming the first former player to own an NBA team.
“I’m not wearing that on my sleeve,” he said. “For me, everybody just wants to see us win. Doesn’t matter if it’s me. Doesn’t matter if it’s Bob. Doesn’t matter if it’s anybody else. I’m happy to be in this position and given this opportunity by Bob.
“But that part of being the first athlete to control his own team is secondary in terms of me trying to provide a winning program here in Charlotte.”
A few hundred season ticket holders watched Johnson hand the team to Jordan in an event at Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday night. Johnson, the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team, lost tens of millions of dollars annually as the city struggled to warm to the expansion team that replaced the New Orleans-bound Hornets.
“I think he’ll do absolutely great,” Johnson said. “I think you will see a change in him in that he now knows he’s on point. He is the face of Charlotte. He knows that this town asks a lot of its owners. And to me, emotionally, psychologically, economically he’s prepared for that task.
“When I talked to him I said, ‘One of the things you’ve got to do here is you’ve got to be willing to touch and be touched.’ And I’m sure he’ll do that.”
Jordan didn’t in his role the past four years as a minority investor with the final say on basketball decisions. Jordan was rarely seen at games or practices and was criticized for a couple of early decisions: drafting the disappointing Adam Morrison(notes) No. 3 overall in the 2006 draft, and hiring the inexperienced Sam Vincent as coach.
Since then, Jordan has been on a roll with his moves. After firing Vincent after just one season, Jordan hired Hall of Famer Larry Brown. The team has made numerous trades, including acquiring Stephen Jackson(notes) in November, that’s helped propel the Bobcats (35-32) to the verge of their first playoff berth.
“You guys got to admit on nights where we play well and we can beat the Lakers, we can beat Cleveland on the road, we can beat Orlando on the road, man, the imagination runs wild,” Jordan said. “With that said, I’d like to see where this imagination takes us.”
But the 47-year-old Jordan has several obstacles. He’s assuming about $150 million in debt and the club is expected to lose about $30 million this season. Charlotte ranks 22nd out of 30 teams in attendance, has poor television reach and sluggish sponsorship sales.
There’s even an issue with the Bobcats name. While Johnson denies it, the impression by many is he named the club after himself. There has been discussion about changing the nickname, a process that could cost up to $10 million and take a couple of years.
“If I get the understanding from the community, from the public, that we need it and it signifies a change, yeah, I will do that,” Jordan said.
And the 69-year-old Brown, in his record ninth NBA head coaching job, is always a threat to leave. While he has two years left on his contract, there have been reports linking him to jobs with the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. Brown’s wife, Shelly, lives in Philadelphia with their kids.
“I don’t want Larry to leave, but I cannot control and totally understand his relationship in terms of what Shelly feels in terms of a husband-wife scenario and what’s best suited for their family,” Jordan said. “Now I’ll do whatever I can to keep him here and I want him here, but for family reasons, or Shelly’s reasons, he feels like he needs to do something else, what else can I do?”
Jordan indicated he doesn’t plan to get into luxury tax territory with payroll “until we go deep” in the playoffs. He stressed that he wanted Charlotte to “experience what it’s like to win” and is confident he can create another milestone by doing that as an owner.
“I’ve dealt with criticism my whole career,” he said, “and each and every time it’s been a motivating factor for me.”
Monday, March 8, 2010
Unhealthiest Salads
If you’re looking to eat healthfully at your favorite restaurant, don’t automatically turn to the salad menu. Turns out, restaurant salads can often be as bad as—or worse than—any burger or steak on the menu. Sure, salads may contain a fresh produce base, but those leafy greens are too often weighed down with cheese, deep fried croutons, and high-calorie dressings. In fact, one salad from a popular chain restaurant contains over 1,500 calories! Surprised? Then check out this list of the Worst Salads in America, culled from the new book Eat This, Not That! 2010.
The secret to this salad’s salacious calorie count is in the sauce. A general rule of thumb when you eat at Quizno’s: Serving sizes are often not what they seem. This “Regular Chopped Salad” accounts for nearly half your day’s caloric allotment. Even most of the small chopped salads pack over 500 calories. Unless you order the Pan Asian small, consider a salad at Quizno’s a meal unto itself, not a side dish.
Bonus tip: Want to make sure your lunch doesn't destroy your diet? Familiarize yourself with this indispensable list of the 30 Unhealthiest Sandwiches in America. It'll help you keep your waistline from ballooning.
Eat This Instead!
Pan Asian Small Chopped Salad
270 calories
11 g fat (2.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
1,190 mg sodium
#5. Romano’s Macaroni Grill Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Salad
960 calories
16 g saturated fat
1,990 mg sodium
49 g carbohydrates
Here’s a little menu magic for you: Anytime you see the words “parmesan-crusted,” assume the dish has been slathered in cheese and given the frying treatment. Which is probably why this Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Salad has nearly a full day’s worth of sodium and half a day’s worth of calories. One of the biggest problems with Mac Grill’s menu items—though we love it in general—is the sodium content. We’d say order the Warm Spinach Salad, but it’s packed with as much salt as you’ll find in five large orders of McDonald’s french fries. Your only smart salad side dish selection at this chain is the Fresh Greens or Caesar.
Bonus tip: Order anything from the 20 Best Restaurant Foods in America and leave the restaurant feeling satisfied with your healthy and delicious dish. Or lose your belly fat fast by making all your favorites yourself with the new book Cook This, Not That! Kitchen Survival Guide.
Eat This Instead!
Fresh Greens
320 calories
5 g saturated fat
300 mg sodium
20 g carbohydrates
#4. Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad
1,400 calories
88 g fat (26 g saturated)
2,370 mg sodium
This salad is explosive all right. Here’s a tip: At most Mexican restaurants, the salads are actually the absolute worst items on the menu. For example, with burritos and tacos, the amount of high-fat, high-calorie fillers is limited to what will fit in the shells. But there’s no built-in portion control with salads. So it’s no surprise that this Quesadilla Explosion Salad contains a full day’s worth of salt and nearly three-quarters of your day’s calories (it’s the caloric equivalent of 172 Cheetos, in fact). Unfortunately, Chili’s offers only three salads with less than 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Corona may taste great with Mexican food, but is it the smartest beverage option? Read The 40 Best and Worst Beers to find out. (Otherwise it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between a bottle of beer with more than 300 calories versus one with just 100—knowing the difference and choosing the smarter swap can save you 20 lbs of fat a year!)
Eat This Instead!
Small Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken
490 calories
24 g fat (4 g saturated)
420 mg sodium
#3. Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad with Oriental Vinaigrette
1,430 calories
This salad starts out with a bed of “Fresh Asian greens,” according to the menu. Unfortunately, these greens serve as a bed for deep-fried chicken tenders and carbohydrate-heavy crispy noodles. Without dressing, this dish rings in at 840 calories—already more than in an Applebee’s hamburger. But factor in the super-heavy dressing and you’re adding another 590 calories to the mix. To put that in perspective, a lunch sandwich shouldn’t pack more than 500 calories, tops. At Applebee’s, the only salad that won’t sink your entire meal is the Paradise Chicken Salad, which cuts back on calories by using grilled chicken instead of fried and actual produce instead of noodles. (Note: Applebee's refuses to disclose their nutrition information, so you just might be consuming days' worth of sodium as well!)
Bonus tip: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite chain restaurants and thousands of foods, download the bestselling Eat This, Not That! to your iPhone. It’s like having your own personal nutritionist in your pocket at all times, and will help you avoid the caloric calamities and guide you to the best ways to lose your belly fast.
Eat This Instead!
Paradise Chicken Salad
340 calories
#2. Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad with Chicken
1,513 calories
16 g saturated fat
1,481 mg sodium
23 g carbohydrates
The top three words you never want to see sharing a space with “salad” on a menu: tuna, taco, and yes, the mighty Caesar. Consider that tangle of romaine a hapless vehicle for the troubling trinity of croutons, Parmesan cheese, and viscous Caesar dressing. This Cheesecake Factory version is the worst; the elephantine portion yields a salad with more calories than 10 Twinkies! If you’re looking for a salad meal at Cheesecake Factory, choose from the Weight Management varieties—every other salad tops 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Save calories, time, and money with your FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll receive the free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week!
Eat This Instead!
Weight Management Pear & Endive Salad
479 calories
4 g saturated fat
1,509 mg sodium
31 g carbohydrates
#1. California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing (full)
1,570 calories
30 g saturated fat
2,082 mg sodium
CPK is no stranger to the title of “Worst Salad in America”—in fact, last year’s Thai Crunch Salad from California Pizza Kitchen won this dubious distinction for having over 2,000 calories. CPK has since downgraded the Asian-inspired leafy disaster (to a more modest 1,399 calories). Unfortunately, the rest of their salad lineup is still sorely lacking in smart options. This Waldorf Chicken Salad takes the title this year—the blue cheese dressing certainly doesn’t help, and neither does the oversized plate this salad is served on. Believe it or not, your best bet at CPK is to order two slices of thin-crust pizza with any toppings you want. But if you’re set on a salad, choose a half-size of the Moroccan Chicken, below.
Eat This Instead!
Moroccan Chicken Salad (half)
412 calories
4 g saturated fat
309 mg sodium
The secret to this salad’s salacious calorie count is in the sauce. A general rule of thumb when you eat at Quizno’s: Serving sizes are often not what they seem. This “Regular Chopped Salad” accounts for nearly half your day’s caloric allotment. Even most of the small chopped salads pack over 500 calories. Unless you order the Pan Asian small, consider a salad at Quizno’s a meal unto itself, not a side dish.
Bonus tip: Want to make sure your lunch doesn't destroy your diet? Familiarize yourself with this indispensable list of the 30 Unhealthiest Sandwiches in America. It'll help you keep your waistline from ballooning.
Eat This Instead!
Pan Asian Small Chopped Salad
270 calories
11 g fat (2.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
1,190 mg sodium
#5. Romano’s Macaroni Grill Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Salad
960 calories
16 g saturated fat
1,990 mg sodium
49 g carbohydrates
Here’s a little menu magic for you: Anytime you see the words “parmesan-crusted,” assume the dish has been slathered in cheese and given the frying treatment. Which is probably why this Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Salad has nearly a full day’s worth of sodium and half a day’s worth of calories. One of the biggest problems with Mac Grill’s menu items—though we love it in general—is the sodium content. We’d say order the Warm Spinach Salad, but it’s packed with as much salt as you’ll find in five large orders of McDonald’s french fries. Your only smart salad side dish selection at this chain is the Fresh Greens or Caesar.
Bonus tip: Order anything from the 20 Best Restaurant Foods in America and leave the restaurant feeling satisfied with your healthy and delicious dish. Or lose your belly fat fast by making all your favorites yourself with the new book Cook This, Not That! Kitchen Survival Guide.
Eat This Instead!
Fresh Greens
320 calories
5 g saturated fat
300 mg sodium
20 g carbohydrates
#4. Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad
1,400 calories
88 g fat (26 g saturated)
2,370 mg sodium
This salad is explosive all right. Here’s a tip: At most Mexican restaurants, the salads are actually the absolute worst items on the menu. For example, with burritos and tacos, the amount of high-fat, high-calorie fillers is limited to what will fit in the shells. But there’s no built-in portion control with salads. So it’s no surprise that this Quesadilla Explosion Salad contains a full day’s worth of salt and nearly three-quarters of your day’s calories (it’s the caloric equivalent of 172 Cheetos, in fact). Unfortunately, Chili’s offers only three salads with less than 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Corona may taste great with Mexican food, but is it the smartest beverage option? Read The 40 Best and Worst Beers to find out. (Otherwise it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between a bottle of beer with more than 300 calories versus one with just 100—knowing the difference and choosing the smarter swap can save you 20 lbs of fat a year!)
Eat This Instead!
Small Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken
490 calories
24 g fat (4 g saturated)
420 mg sodium
#3. Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad with Oriental Vinaigrette
1,430 calories
This salad starts out with a bed of “Fresh Asian greens,” according to the menu. Unfortunately, these greens serve as a bed for deep-fried chicken tenders and carbohydrate-heavy crispy noodles. Without dressing, this dish rings in at 840 calories—already more than in an Applebee’s hamburger. But factor in the super-heavy dressing and you’re adding another 590 calories to the mix. To put that in perspective, a lunch sandwich shouldn’t pack more than 500 calories, tops. At Applebee’s, the only salad that won’t sink your entire meal is the Paradise Chicken Salad, which cuts back on calories by using grilled chicken instead of fried and actual produce instead of noodles. (Note: Applebee's refuses to disclose their nutrition information, so you just might be consuming days' worth of sodium as well!)
Bonus tip: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite chain restaurants and thousands of foods, download the bestselling Eat This, Not That! to your iPhone. It’s like having your own personal nutritionist in your pocket at all times, and will help you avoid the caloric calamities and guide you to the best ways to lose your belly fast.
Eat This Instead!
Paradise Chicken Salad
340 calories
#2. Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad with Chicken
1,513 calories
16 g saturated fat
1,481 mg sodium
23 g carbohydrates
The top three words you never want to see sharing a space with “salad” on a menu: tuna, taco, and yes, the mighty Caesar. Consider that tangle of romaine a hapless vehicle for the troubling trinity of croutons, Parmesan cheese, and viscous Caesar dressing. This Cheesecake Factory version is the worst; the elephantine portion yields a salad with more calories than 10 Twinkies! If you’re looking for a salad meal at Cheesecake Factory, choose from the Weight Management varieties—every other salad tops 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Save calories, time, and money with your FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll receive the free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week!
Eat This Instead!
Weight Management Pear & Endive Salad
479 calories
4 g saturated fat
1,509 mg sodium
31 g carbohydrates
#1. California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing (full)
1,570 calories
30 g saturated fat
2,082 mg sodium
CPK is no stranger to the title of “Worst Salad in America”—in fact, last year’s Thai Crunch Salad from California Pizza Kitchen won this dubious distinction for having over 2,000 calories. CPK has since downgraded the Asian-inspired leafy disaster (to a more modest 1,399 calories). Unfortunately, the rest of their salad lineup is still sorely lacking in smart options. This Waldorf Chicken Salad takes the title this year—the blue cheese dressing certainly doesn’t help, and neither does the oversized plate this salad is served on. Believe it or not, your best bet at CPK is to order two slices of thin-crust pizza with any toppings you want. But if you’re set on a salad, choose a half-size of the Moroccan Chicken, below.
Eat This Instead!
Moroccan Chicken Salad (half)
412 calories
4 g saturated fat
309 mg sodium
New Jersey Nets Improvesh!?!?! 7-55 OK! haha!
Here’s one bit of bad news for the New Jersey Nets as they try to escape NBA infamy: no more games against the Knicks.
Devin Harris(notes) scored 31 points and the Nets erased an early 16-point deficit to beat New York 113-93 on Saturday night.
The Nets improved their NBA-worst record to 7-55, while the Knicks missed all 18 attempts in the most futile 3-point shooting night in league history.
Courtney Lee(notes) added 25 in his return to the starting lineup for the Nets, who are trying to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history. They beat the Knicks for the second straight time, but have completed the season series with their almost-as-hapless neighbors across the Hudson River.
“No disrespect to them, but I think we’re a better team and for them to … come in here and put it on us like that, it’s kind of tough on us,” Knicks forward Al Harrington(notes) said.
Taking advantage of the easiest game on a difficult early March schedule, the Nets snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time since stunning Boston last Saturday. Despite its woeful record, New Jersey has actually won three straight road games.
“When everybody’s healthy and we’re all on the same page and making the right plays for each other, the game is easy,” Lee said.
Brook Lopez(notes) finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which made 14 3-pointers and took control in the third quarter behind 13 points from Harris.
David Lee(notes) scored 23 points and Wilson Chandler(notes) had 20 for the Knicks, who lost for the 12th time in 14 games. New York also joined Charlotte as the only teams with multiple losses to the Nets this season.
The Knicks got only two points in 23 minutes from Tracy McGrady(notes) and were frequently booed in the second half. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 18 attempts were the most ever without a make.
According to research by STATS, LLC dating to the 1986-87 season, the previous most attempts without a make was 16 by Washington against the Celtics on Nov. 2, 2007.
“At a certain point you do have to score some,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “They got hot and they got confidence and they just beat us.”
Courtney Lee, who missed three games with a sprained left ankle, helped the Nets put it away early in the fourth. The Knicks had trimmed the deficit to five before New Jersey ran off 11 straight points, capped by consecutive 3-pointers from Lee, to make it 96-80 with 6:13 remaining.
The Nets were coming off consecutive home losses to NBA powers Cleveland and Orlando and are running out of time to surpass the 9-73 record of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers that is the worst in NBA history. This was the opener of a five-game road trip that now moves to the Western Conference for games at Memphis, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Houston.
It didn’t seem they would take advantage of the most winnable game on the trip the way they started, when they couldn’t shoot and didn’t defend.
“From probably three minutes of the first quarter on we seemed like a confident team,” Harris said. “That first 10 minutes or so we looked a little lost out there, but we got it together.”
The Nets missed 12 of their first 13 shots against one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams and fell behind 18-4 on Lee’s three-point play with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter. Lopez and Harris both were forced to the bench after picking up two fouls, and Yi Jianlian(notes) was lost with 2:56 left when he appeared to step on a New York player’s foot while running back into defensive rebounding position.
New York was up 16 with under 1 1/2 minutes left in the period, but New Jersey cut it to 32-22 entering the second. The Nets then surged into the lead with a 15-4 spurt, going ahead 43-42 with 4:50 remaining in the half on a basket by Lopez that drew loud boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd. They extended the lead to 56-50 at the break.
It was a two-point game early in the third before Harris and Lee combined for 12 points in a 14-4 burst, highlighted by a nifty scoop layup from Harris, that extended the lead to 70-58 midway through the period.
NOTES: D’Antoni said center Eddy Curry(notes) could play Wednesday when New York opens a five-game road trip at San Antonio. Curry returned to practice recently after having left knee surgery on Jan. 18. … Chandler started for New York after coming off the bench Friday in Toronto. He had missed the previous two games for personal reasons.
Devin Harris(notes) scored 31 points and the Nets erased an early 16-point deficit to beat New York 113-93 on Saturday night.
The Nets improved their NBA-worst record to 7-55, while the Knicks missed all 18 attempts in the most futile 3-point shooting night in league history.
Courtney Lee(notes) added 25 in his return to the starting lineup for the Nets, who are trying to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history. They beat the Knicks for the second straight time, but have completed the season series with their almost-as-hapless neighbors across the Hudson River.
“No disrespect to them, but I think we’re a better team and for them to … come in here and put it on us like that, it’s kind of tough on us,” Knicks forward Al Harrington(notes) said.
Taking advantage of the easiest game on a difficult early March schedule, the Nets snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time since stunning Boston last Saturday. Despite its woeful record, New Jersey has actually won three straight road games.
“When everybody’s healthy and we’re all on the same page and making the right plays for each other, the game is easy,” Lee said.
Brook Lopez(notes) finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which made 14 3-pointers and took control in the third quarter behind 13 points from Harris.
David Lee(notes) scored 23 points and Wilson Chandler(notes) had 20 for the Knicks, who lost for the 12th time in 14 games. New York also joined Charlotte as the only teams with multiple losses to the Nets this season.
The Knicks got only two points in 23 minutes from Tracy McGrady(notes) and were frequently booed in the second half. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 18 attempts were the most ever without a make.
According to research by STATS, LLC dating to the 1986-87 season, the previous most attempts without a make was 16 by Washington against the Celtics on Nov. 2, 2007.
“At a certain point you do have to score some,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “They got hot and they got confidence and they just beat us.”
Courtney Lee, who missed three games with a sprained left ankle, helped the Nets put it away early in the fourth. The Knicks had trimmed the deficit to five before New Jersey ran off 11 straight points, capped by consecutive 3-pointers from Lee, to make it 96-80 with 6:13 remaining.
The Nets were coming off consecutive home losses to NBA powers Cleveland and Orlando and are running out of time to surpass the 9-73 record of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers that is the worst in NBA history. This was the opener of a five-game road trip that now moves to the Western Conference for games at Memphis, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Houston.
It didn’t seem they would take advantage of the most winnable game on the trip the way they started, when they couldn’t shoot and didn’t defend.
“From probably three minutes of the first quarter on we seemed like a confident team,” Harris said. “That first 10 minutes or so we looked a little lost out there, but we got it together.”
The Nets missed 12 of their first 13 shots against one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams and fell behind 18-4 on Lee’s three-point play with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter. Lopez and Harris both were forced to the bench after picking up two fouls, and Yi Jianlian(notes) was lost with 2:56 left when he appeared to step on a New York player’s foot while running back into defensive rebounding position.
New York was up 16 with under 1 1/2 minutes left in the period, but New Jersey cut it to 32-22 entering the second. The Nets then surged into the lead with a 15-4 spurt, going ahead 43-42 with 4:50 remaining in the half on a basket by Lopez that drew loud boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd. They extended the lead to 56-50 at the break.
It was a two-point game early in the third before Harris and Lee combined for 12 points in a 14-4 burst, highlighted by a nifty scoop layup from Harris, that extended the lead to 70-58 midway through the period.
NOTES: D’Antoni said center Eddy Curry(notes) could play Wednesday when New York opens a five-game road trip at San Antonio. Curry returned to practice recently after having left knee surgery on Jan. 18. … Chandler started for New York after coming off the bench Friday in Toronto. He had missed the previous two games for personal reasons.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
LBJ wont play 1 game @ the BUCKS
LeBron James is getting a night off for the first time this season.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown says he’s sitting his superstar, calling it “just a coach’s decision” to keep him out of Cleveland’s game against Milwaukee on Saturday night.
“He’s played a lot of minutes for us,” Brown said. “I just felt it would be good for him and for the team to hold him out.”
James had 40 points and 13 rebounds in a 99-92 victory over the Pistons on Friday night, but also turned his right ankle slightly. Brown said his decision had “nothing” to do with the injury and James could play if needed.
“He’s a competitive person, he wants to be out there,” Brown said. “Sometimes I listen to him, sometimes I won’t listen to him, but tonight is a great opportunity for him to get some rest.”
It’s certainly a welcome decision for the Bucks, who have been on a tear by winning 14 of their last 18 games. James, who typically has missed a game or two before the postseason begins, has averaged 30.1 points in 25 career games against Milwaukee and has had two of his 50-point games at the Bradley Center.
He’s also led the Cavs in scoring in their last 16 straight games and is leading the NBA, averaging 30 points a game this season.
“It’s disappointing on one hand because we wanted to go against them as full strength as we could, but on the other hand it’s a different kind of test now,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “We’ve become a competitive group. I sensed the guys were looking forward to going out there and going against him a little bit.”
James looked relaxed in the locker room, getting a massage while still in jeans and sunglasses. He did not speak before the game, and Jawad Williams(notes) was to start in his place.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown says he’s sitting his superstar, calling it “just a coach’s decision” to keep him out of Cleveland’s game against Milwaukee on Saturday night.
“He’s played a lot of minutes for us,” Brown said. “I just felt it would be good for him and for the team to hold him out.”
James had 40 points and 13 rebounds in a 99-92 victory over the Pistons on Friday night, but also turned his right ankle slightly. Brown said his decision had “nothing” to do with the injury and James could play if needed.
“He’s a competitive person, he wants to be out there,” Brown said. “Sometimes I listen to him, sometimes I won’t listen to him, but tonight is a great opportunity for him to get some rest.”
It’s certainly a welcome decision for the Bucks, who have been on a tear by winning 14 of their last 18 games. James, who typically has missed a game or two before the postseason begins, has averaged 30.1 points in 25 career games against Milwaukee and has had two of his 50-point games at the Bradley Center.
He’s also led the Cavs in scoring in their last 16 straight games and is leading the NBA, averaging 30 points a game this season.
“It’s disappointing on one hand because we wanted to go against them as full strength as we could, but on the other hand it’s a different kind of test now,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “We’ve become a competitive group. I sensed the guys were looking forward to going out there and going against him a little bit.”
James looked relaxed in the locker room, getting a massage while still in jeans and sunglasses. He did not speak before the game, and Jawad Williams(notes) was to start in his place.
DEhiins!!
I'm having a hard time to go to pagudpud coz I want to go there for the 4th time! Kung kailan may budget, hirap naman sa schedule..before walang budget pero yung schedule madali lang.. I there for conclude that "mas mahirap pala ayusin ang schedule kaysa magproduce ng pera" hahaha!
My 1st week Production.
It's been 1 week in production and it is quite good and I'm happy on my work I had a good environment, I'm in a good team at daming chics! hahaha! This coming week change of schedule my off will be Sunday and Monday...Deeeiiiinnnss!! Gusto ko sana Sat&Sun kaso hindi pako pwede pumili ng schedule I need to do some rankings first before I can choose my schedule..hehe and by next week I will have my training for RightNowOneCRM database for our new log-in's kung kailan nagagamay ko na yung Siebel magpapalit naman agad hehe. Hope nextweek will be all good.. Goodtimes!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March Monday!
Hello March! Hello Summer! Weather is quite hot nowadays I feel the summer breeze.. Also this day I'm gonna hit the Production later, yes I'm on production right now after a 1 long month of training.. This is it! Thank you Lord for all the blessings this is not possible without you..always guide me and I hope this is the start of a new things thank you! Goodtimes everyone!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Scientists still can't predict exactly when earthquakes will occur, but the massive temblor that struck off the coast of Chile early Saturday was anything but unexpected. Chile sits on the Ring of Fire, the volatile, 40,000 km-long (25,000 MILE) zone that encircles the Pacific Ocean and includes the most seismically dangerous ground on the planet. The unstable plate tectonics along the Ring produce some 90% of the world's earthquakes as well as most of its volcanic eruptions.
Because the Ring follows the coastlines of Pacific Ocean, almost any major quake can also produce a tsunami, a powerful wave that travels from the epicenter of the temblor across the ocean basin. That's what happened in 2004, when a 9.3-magnitude quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a devastating tsunami, and that's is what's likely to happen following today's 8.8-magnitude quake off the coast of Chile.
Temblors in the Ring of Fire are so common that a 7.0-magntitude quake hit Japan's Ryuku Islands yesterday. Today's Chilean quake occurred on one of the more powerful fault lines in the region, where the underwater Nazca Plate in the Pacific gradually submerges beneath the westward moving South American plate. The border between these two plates is known as a thrust fault, and the sudden rubbing of the plates against each other resulted in an earthquake that ripped across an estimated 400 miles of the fault. With a Richter scale magnitude of 8.8, the Chilean quake was nearly 1,000 times stronger than the temblor that hit Haiti last month.
Chile, however, is no stranger to major earthquakes. In 1960, a 9.5-magnitude temblor — the strongest quake ever recorded by scientific instruments — hit the Chilean city of Valdivia, killing nearly 2,000 people. And although today's quake is the strongest in the last half-century to hit Chile, the country has had 13 quakes of 7.0 or higher on the Richter scale since 1973. That geologic history helps explain why building codes are far tougher in Chile than they are in Haiti, which should help limit the number of casualties from today's quake. So far, 147 people have been confirmed dead, but that number is expected to rise.
Because the quake occurred offshore, however, the destruction likely won't be limited to Chile. As the underwater plates shake, they push the water above them up, creating the beginning of a wave, not unlike dropping a stone in a bathtub. The wave then travels away from the epicenter of the quake. In the case of the Chile temblor, the waves are moving in a northwest direction across the Pacific, putting nearly every shoreline along the ocean at some risk.
In open water, a tsunami makes barely a ripple, but as the waves approach a shoreline, they gather strength and height, finally spilling over land.
The waves travel at roughly the speed of a passenger jet, but because of the vast distance they are traveling across the Pacific from Chile's coast, vulnerable islands hours to prepare. That wasn't the case during the 2004 tsunami, which rippled across the much smaller Indian Ocean basin before there was time to raise a proper warning.
Hawaii, which sits squarely in the middle of the potential tsunami's path, also has a sophisticated warning protocol that should get people off the shore in time. By contrast, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, the areas hardest hit by the 2004 tsunami, had virtually no alert system.
The fact that the Chilean quake occurred six weeks after the catastrophic temblor in Haiti could lead many to wonder if we're entering a new era of seismological disaster. But the two quakes are unrelated, occurring on different faults. The reality is that Chileans live in one of the most seismically dangerous regions in the world, and an earthquake as powerful as the one that hit this morning was just a matter of time. The question is how Chileans — and the rest of the world — can better prepare for geological calamity.
Michael Jordan reaches deal to buy Bobcats?
He has been called the NBA’s greatest player and one of the country’s top pitchmen.
Now Michael Jordan is ready for a new title: NBA owner.
With minutes to go until his exclusive negotiating window was to expire, Jordan struck a deal late Friday night to buy controlling interest of the Charlotte Bobcats, putting the six-time NBA champion in charge of the money-losing team in his home state.
Owner Bob Johnson announced in a statement that he’s agreed to sell the Bobcats to Jordan, who been a part-owner of since 2006. Jordan has been running the team’s basketball operations.
Other Popular Sports Stories
The purchase price and details of Jordan’s ownership group—called MJ Basketball Holdings LLC—weren’t immediately available. A spokeswoman for Johnson and a spokesman for Jordan said neither man was available for comment early Saturday.
The league’s owners must still approve the purchase.
Jordan was in competition with former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos, who also had an ownership group together to buy the team. But Postolos said Jordan had the exclusive right to buy the club until just before midnight Friday night.
Jordan hit another last-second shot—reaching a deal minutes before the deadline.
“I remain committed to becoming an NBA owner, and I’m glad that Michael will continue to bring his talent to the sport and the league,” Postolos said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “He’s very, very committed.”
It will end Johnson’s stint as the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team. Jordan becomes another black owner in another milestone for the Hall of Famer, but one that comes with many challenges.
Jordan, a five-time NBA MVP and 14-time All-Star, has made millions lending his name to sneakers, apparel and other items. Now he’ll begin a completely different role, trying to make the Bobcats a winner, and the franchise and Charlotte’s downtown arena profitable.
After paying $300 million for the expansion team that began play in 2004-05, Johnson has accumulated about $150 million in debt and the team is expected to lose tens of millions this season as they struggle to draw fans and find sponsorships.
Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, shook up management several times before recruiting Jordan to be a minority investor while giving him the final say on all basketball decisions.
Jordan, who turned 47 this month, has had a unique role with the Bobcats. General manager Rod Higgins runs the day-to-day basketball operations and Jordan has rarely attended practices or games, or worked on the marketing side of the operation.
Jordan has had some missteps—drafting the disappointing Adam Morrison(notes) No. 3 overall in 2006—but he was also able to lure Hall of Famer Larry Brown to become coach at the beginning of last season.
Jordan and Brown have made seven trades involving 21 players since the start of last season. The November acquisition of Stephen Jackson(notes) from Golden State has helped Charlotte get into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
But attendance has still lagged, and Jordan has been criticized in Charlotte for rarely being seen—despite his iconic status in the state.
Jordan grew up in Wilmington, N.C., led North Carolina to the 1982 national championship with a last-second shot, then remained one of the state’s favorite sons when he starred with the Bulls.
Jordan’s first stint as an NBA executive came with the Washington Wizards, where he was roundly criticized for drafting Kwame Brown(notes) with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft.
He changed roles when he returned briefly as a player, then was fired by owner Abe Pollin in 2003 when he tried to return to his role running the basketball operations.
No one will be able to fire Jordan after he takes control of the Bobcats, and it’s likely the team will not change much in the front office.
Jordan’s close friend, Fred Whitfield, is team president, and Higgins was Jordan’s hire.
Sarap ng Feeling hehe!
My Transition days had ended and tomorrow, start of production and this is the real thing! haha! after almost 1 month of training I'm gonna hit the floor hehe... Also yesterday we had a party because It's my Dad's birthday! foods and booze are all in! closest friends and relatives attended the party and special participation of Pagudz and Entourage haha! goods na goods! we end up until 230am, and It was all worth it! Happy Birthday Dad love you! hehe!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Career hehe!
It's been 4 weeks since my first day in my job! 1st week was Foundation Skills training, 2nd is the Product Training, after that 3rd week was the Siebel training for 3 days then shadowing and phone cert. Luckily I passed the phone cert. hehe.. Last week was Transition and it will be for 2 weeks, and this coming Friday will be the last day of transition and we will be distribute and assign to our new teams.. Damn! hehe I'm loving my work and it keeps me motivating myself everyday and I have some goals in the company and I know Lord will help me to reach them..lets do this Lord haha! Im good, motivated, and my growth career is just starting cmon! And I had this girl and I want to know her more.. I hope she's the one that I'm looking for haha! GOODTIMES!!!!!! =)
7 different types of breakups ranked by shortest recovery time to longest recovery time:
Which element of a breakup dictates recovery time more: the type of breakup, or the person you broke up with? My theory is the type of breakup you experience determines how long it takes to get over it more than the actual person.
Here are 7 different types of breakups ranked by shortest recovery time to longest recovery time:
7. The Mutual Breakup
This is as peaceful a breakup as you can have, like when the entire family agrees it's time to pull the plug on grandpa's respirator: he is freed of his misery, and the family feels a sense of relief. I've never had a mutual breakup. I can't catch that lightning in a bottle. But it can't be that tough to recover from a mutual breakup and get back out in the dating scene again.
6. The Circumstantial Breakup
A cousin of the mutual breakup, the circumstantial breakup occurs when the environment around you won't permit the relationship to continue: my parents hate you, you're in Cali and I'm in NY (or even, you're one town over), I need to be single for a while, etc. Recovery time is shortened because the other person offers an excuse that takes the focus off your weaknesses or unattractive qualities that could have caused a breakup.
5. The Ultimatum Breakup
The most common ultimatum leading to a breakup is: "ask me to marry you within the next year of I'm out of here." Other conflicts could cause ultimatums as well: change your religion, get rid of that stupid old car, etc. Ultimatum breakups can be tough to get over because it's annoying that a little compromise could have prevented it. But once it's over, that pressure from the stalemate you reached in the relationship is gone, so it's quite a relief.
4. The Something Someone Said Breakup
My friend broke up with his girlfriend he was dating for years, and he mentioned a conversation that occurred shortly before they broke up. They were discussing wedding rings, and she asked how much he'd spend. He simply hasn't studied the "market" so he threw a number out there: "I don't know, $5,000." She scoffed and said: "You should spend no less than $20,000."
He told me after she said that, he couldn't think of her the same way anymore. In fact, it put a figurative "X" over her image in his eyes. They eventually broke up, and this conversation was the springboard. This type of breakup is painful because you wish you could take something you said or did back.
3. The I've Been Cheating
Whether you find out from them or some other way, it's the ultimate betrayal when they are cheating on you. You can get over it because you dismiss this person as a cheating jerk, but you still feel stupid and you might spend several months envisioning the cheating or trying to regain faith in the opposite gender.
2. The First Love Breakup
The First Love breakup is one of the toughest to overcome. Some say you never get over it. This breakup teaches us that the world is a bigger place than we thought. There are more people to meet, there are bills to pay, there are places to go. Things just can't stay the same as they once were.
Mine hit me when I got to college and my girlfirend stayed behind in high school. Eventually, we had to move on. The first love breakup is hurts so much because you've never experienced this feeling of loss and disappointment before. And, it's part of growing up and growing up is usually a painful process.
1. The Blind Side
My friend recently blind sided his ex. After she cried for an hour, he decided he had put in enough time and he left. This is traumatic because it comes out of nowhere. The blind sider may have been thinking about it for months, and they conceal their intentions, then drop the bomb while everything seems to be going well. In fact, the couple may have spent time together the night before, but the blind sider did so out of obligation.
Blind Sides chip away at your ability to trust. If someone can break up with you when things seem to be going so well, you'll have a tough time avoiding paranoia and trusting your new partners.
What other types of breakups would you add? What type takes the longest for you to get over and why? Do you agree that the type of breakup dictates recovery time more than the actual person you lost in the breakup?
Here are 7 different types of breakups ranked by shortest recovery time to longest recovery time:
7. The Mutual Breakup
This is as peaceful a breakup as you can have, like when the entire family agrees it's time to pull the plug on grandpa's respirator: he is freed of his misery, and the family feels a sense of relief. I've never had a mutual breakup. I can't catch that lightning in a bottle. But it can't be that tough to recover from a mutual breakup and get back out in the dating scene again.
6. The Circumstantial Breakup
A cousin of the mutual breakup, the circumstantial breakup occurs when the environment around you won't permit the relationship to continue: my parents hate you, you're in Cali and I'm in NY (or even, you're one town over), I need to be single for a while, etc. Recovery time is shortened because the other person offers an excuse that takes the focus off your weaknesses or unattractive qualities that could have caused a breakup.
5. The Ultimatum Breakup
The most common ultimatum leading to a breakup is: "ask me to marry you within the next year of I'm out of here." Other conflicts could cause ultimatums as well: change your religion, get rid of that stupid old car, etc. Ultimatum breakups can be tough to get over because it's annoying that a little compromise could have prevented it. But once it's over, that pressure from the stalemate you reached in the relationship is gone, so it's quite a relief.
4. The Something Someone Said Breakup
My friend broke up with his girlfriend he was dating for years, and he mentioned a conversation that occurred shortly before they broke up. They were discussing wedding rings, and she asked how much he'd spend. He simply hasn't studied the "market" so he threw a number out there: "I don't know, $5,000." She scoffed and said: "You should spend no less than $20,000."
He told me after she said that, he couldn't think of her the same way anymore. In fact, it put a figurative "X" over her image in his eyes. They eventually broke up, and this conversation was the springboard. This type of breakup is painful because you wish you could take something you said or did back.
3. The I've Been Cheating
Whether you find out from them or some other way, it's the ultimate betrayal when they are cheating on you. You can get over it because you dismiss this person as a cheating jerk, but you still feel stupid and you might spend several months envisioning the cheating or trying to regain faith in the opposite gender.
2. The First Love Breakup
The First Love breakup is one of the toughest to overcome. Some say you never get over it. This breakup teaches us that the world is a bigger place than we thought. There are more people to meet, there are bills to pay, there are places to go. Things just can't stay the same as they once were.
Mine hit me when I got to college and my girlfirend stayed behind in high school. Eventually, we had to move on. The first love breakup is hurts so much because you've never experienced this feeling of loss and disappointment before. And, it's part of growing up and growing up is usually a painful process.
1. The Blind Side
My friend recently blind sided his ex. After she cried for an hour, he decided he had put in enough time and he left. This is traumatic because it comes out of nowhere. The blind sider may have been thinking about it for months, and they conceal their intentions, then drop the bomb while everything seems to be going well. In fact, the couple may have spent time together the night before, but the blind sider did so out of obligation.
Blind Sides chip away at your ability to trust. If someone can break up with you when things seem to be going so well, you'll have a tough time avoiding paranoia and trusting your new partners.
What other types of breakups would you add? What type takes the longest for you to get over and why? Do you agree that the type of breakup dictates recovery time more than the actual person you lost in the breakup?
Safest House in the World?
t wasn't so long ago that panic rooms were thought of as little more than a plot line for a Jodi Foster film or an expensive eccentricity of the paranoid. No more.
Nowadays, increasing numbers of homeowners are spending big bucks to have panic rooms, safe cores and other sorts of high-tech security systems installed in their home to ensure their family and possessions are kept safe from intrepid intruders and other calamitous events.
One residence, located high in the hills above Los Angeles, goes several steps further than a simple but effective panic room. The lavish and luxurious appointments of the sky-high mansion discreetly hide and disguise a security system so tight that it just may be the safest house in the world.
Modern-Day Fortress
The modern-day fortress was designed and built in 2002 by Al V. Corbi, a renowned authority on residential and yacht security. Corbi's stock in trade is designing integrated systems with detection, deterrence, defensive and offensive options. The heavily fortified and super secure residence occupies an easily defended promontory with 360-degree views. The well-defended dwelling stands five stories tall, measures almost 8,000 square feet and includes 32 rooms that all sit atop a virtually impenetrable batcave-like garage that will hold six, preferably armored, cars.
Safe and Luxurious
When not aiding the defense and security of its occupants, the fortress-like home functions like any other well-appointed mansion with deluxe creature comforts such as an elevator for whisking folks from the garage level to the living levels, a gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops and commercial grade appliances, two offices, a wine cellar and a home theater.
Buy Some Peace of Mind
The home's real luxury is, of course, the ensured safety of its inhabitants. Should an intruder manage to breach the extensive exterior security measures that include comprehensive surveillance abilities, there are two hidden panic rooms and two architecturally invisible "safe cores."
The safe cores consist of entire sections of the residence that can be isolated from the rest of the home and where the homeowner can retreat in complete safety -- not to mention luxury -- from an outside threat that might include an intruder, a natural disaster or even a nuclear, biological or chemical attack.
The homeowner declined to discuss some of the specifics of the heavy-duty security set up out of obvious concern that it could compromise the overall system. This means they're not going to tell this writer or anyone else but the next owner that the property is equipped with semi-automatic weaponry that can be remotely controlled from the panic room(s). It may not be, but then again, maybe it is.
Room for Refugees
In addition to the handicap-accessible guest suite, the seriously safe house has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms including a master suite with panoramic views, a fireplace, a luxurious bathroom and a custom-fitted dressing room that would satisfy any clothes horse with a penchant for high-powered security systems.
Protect Your Heart at Every Age
You're never too young—or too old—to start lowering your heart disease risk. Of course, exercising, eating healthy and reducing stress are key throughout life, but due to physiological changes that happen as we age, certain risk factors do become more of a threat.
In Your 20s
Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.
Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor
Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.
In Your 30s
Get a Grip on Stress
When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."
Lose the Baby Weight
No, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.
Stay Social
It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.
In Your 40s
Make Sleep a Priority
Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.
Reassess Your Risk Factors
You may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45; hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.
Step Up Strength Training
You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.
Carve out Personal Time
"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard against depression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.
In Your 50s
Move More
Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.
Have an ECG
Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.
Add Fiber
Besides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.
In Your 60s
Get Even More Vigilant About Screenings
After you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.
Consider Medication
If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.
Be Alert to Symptoms
Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!
In Your 20s
Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.
Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor
Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.
In Your 30s
Get a Grip on Stress
When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."
Lose the Baby Weight
No, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.
Stay Social
It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.
In Your 40s
Make Sleep a Priority
Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.
Reassess Your Risk Factors
You may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45; hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.
Step Up Strength Training
You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.
Carve out Personal Time
"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard against depression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.
In Your 50s
Move More
Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.
Have an ECG
Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.
Add Fiber
Besides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.
In Your 60s
Get Even More Vigilant About Screenings
After you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.
Consider Medication
If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.
Be Alert to Symptoms
Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
10 Valentine’s Day Facts
Think you know everything about Valentine’s Day? Here are 10 facts that you might not be aware of:
-More than half the Valentine’s Day cards that are bought are purchased in the week right before the holiday. It’s a great day for procrastinators everywhere.
-There are more single men than women, so finding a date on that special day can be tough.
-There are over one hundred and eighty-eight million Valentine’s Day cards sold each year.
-If you’re 65 or older, female and single, there are only thirty-four men for every 100 of you, so good luck.
-There are more than 900 dating establishments throughout America to help you find that special someone.
-More than twelve hundred chocolate and candy-producing factories exist.
-In a day, about six thousand marriages take place.
-Each person eats an average of almost twenty-six pounds of candy each year.
-There are around twenty-two thousand florists in the US where you can get your sweetie some flowers.
-If jewelry is your thing, there are nearly twenty-nine thousand stores nationwide, so you’re sure to find something you like.
-More than half the Valentine’s Day cards that are bought are purchased in the week right before the holiday. It’s a great day for procrastinators everywhere.
-There are more single men than women, so finding a date on that special day can be tough.
-There are over one hundred and eighty-eight million Valentine’s Day cards sold each year.
-If you’re 65 or older, female and single, there are only thirty-four men for every 100 of you, so good luck.
-There are more than 900 dating establishments throughout America to help you find that special someone.
-More than twelve hundred chocolate and candy-producing factories exist.
-In a day, about six thousand marriages take place.
-Each person eats an average of almost twenty-six pounds of candy each year.
-There are around twenty-two thousand florists in the US where you can get your sweetie some flowers.
-If jewelry is your thing, there are nearly twenty-nine thousand stores nationwide, so you’re sure to find something you like.
illusion got from Mo twister blog Awesome!!
1. For the picture below, stare at the center red dot for 30 seconds.
2. Right after the staring at the red dot, immediately stare at a blank wall or a blank paper and blink TEN times.
3. Enjoy!!
2. Right after the staring at the red dot, immediately stare at a blank wall or a blank paper and blink TEN times.
3. Enjoy!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Valentine's Day 2010 Gift Ideas
It's that time of year again, and Valentine's Day is back on everyone's minds. Whether you're in a relationship or not, you may be looking for a small token of affection for someone who means a lot to you.
I'd like to share a few gift ideas with you for this upcoming Valentine's Day. I'll go a bit beyond the roses and chocolates that adorn every store, and hopefully one of these concepts appeals to you.
One idea is to buy your loved one an experience rather than a physical gift. Why not book a surprise weekend to a quiet getaway?
It doesn't even have to be somewhere too far away. Ideas like a bed and breakfast or a ski lodge are all ones that may appeal to your companion. If you're a female shopping for the man in your life, you'd be surprised to know that many men are happy with a simple gadget for the holiday. While it may not seem romantic, it's something that offers them functional value that they'll be thrilled to add to their lives.
Look to some of the bigger online retailers for the best electronics sellers, and you'll see plenty of different possibilities for pretty reasonable prices. This idea isn't your traditional one, but it's something that guys love nonetheless.
If you're a man shopping for the woman in your life, you can always go with a jewelry bracelet. With so many of them out there, it shouldn't be too difficult to find one.
You may want to add a personal touch to yours, though. There are ones that you can buy with charms, personalized ones where you can inscribe initials or other text, and many more options. These will show a touch of extra effort that goes beyond the generic gifts many typically receive during this time of the year.
I'd like to share a few gift ideas with you for this upcoming Valentine's Day. I'll go a bit beyond the roses and chocolates that adorn every store, and hopefully one of these concepts appeals to you.
One idea is to buy your loved one an experience rather than a physical gift. Why not book a surprise weekend to a quiet getaway?
It doesn't even have to be somewhere too far away. Ideas like a bed and breakfast or a ski lodge are all ones that may appeal to your companion. If you're a female shopping for the man in your life, you'd be surprised to know that many men are happy with a simple gadget for the holiday. While it may not seem romantic, it's something that offers them functional value that they'll be thrilled to add to their lives.
Look to some of the bigger online retailers for the best electronics sellers, and you'll see plenty of different possibilities for pretty reasonable prices. This idea isn't your traditional one, but it's something that guys love nonetheless.
If you're a man shopping for the woman in your life, you can always go with a jewelry bracelet. With so many of them out there, it shouldn't be too difficult to find one.
You may want to add a personal touch to yours, though. There are ones that you can buy with charms, personalized ones where you can inscribe initials or other text, and many more options. These will show a touch of extra effort that goes beyond the generic gifts many typically receive during this time of the year.
Third-hand smoke also bad for you: study tsk tsk tsk.. I think I should stop!?!?!
You know inhaling someone else's smoke is bad for you. Now a US study says third-hand smoke -- tobacco residue clinging to surfaces -- is also bad for you.
Smokers at Tampa International Airport are seen taking advantage of the airport's smoking area. When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapor that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months, said the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).(AFP/File/Paul J. Richards)
When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapor that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months, said the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
"Our study shows that when this residual nicotine reacts with ambient nitrous acid it forms carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs," said Hugo Destaillats, a corresponding author of the study.
"TSNAs are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke," he said.
The most likely human exposure to TSNAs is through either inhalation of dust or the contact of skin with carpet or clothes -- making third-hand smoke particularly dangerous to infants and toddlers.
Opening a window or turning on a fan to air out a room while a cigarette burns does not eliminate the hazard of third-hand smoke. Smoking outdoors doesn't help much either.
"Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker's skin and clothing," said Lara Gundel, a co-author of the study.
"Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere. The biggest risk is to young children," she said.
"Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to occur when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually is, then TSNAs will be formed."
Substantial levels of TSNAs were also found in the truck of a heavy smoker, the study says, adding that most vehicle engines emit some nitrous acid that can infiltrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory led the study, which they say is the first to quantify the reactions of third-hand smoke with nitrous acid.
Smokers at Tampa International Airport are seen taking advantage of the airport's smoking area. When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapor that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months, said the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).(AFP/File/Paul J. Richards)
When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapor that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months, said the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
"Our study shows that when this residual nicotine reacts with ambient nitrous acid it forms carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs," said Hugo Destaillats, a corresponding author of the study.
"TSNAs are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke," he said.
The most likely human exposure to TSNAs is through either inhalation of dust or the contact of skin with carpet or clothes -- making third-hand smoke particularly dangerous to infants and toddlers.
Opening a window or turning on a fan to air out a room while a cigarette burns does not eliminate the hazard of third-hand smoke. Smoking outdoors doesn't help much either.
"Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker's skin and clothing," said Lara Gundel, a co-author of the study.
"Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere. The biggest risk is to young children," she said.
"Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to occur when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually is, then TSNAs will be formed."
Substantial levels of TSNAs were also found in the truck of a heavy smoker, the study says, adding that most vehicle engines emit some nitrous acid that can infiltrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory led the study, which they say is the first to quantify the reactions of third-hand smoke with nitrous acid.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
10 worst sandwiches in US haha
When it comes to sandwiches, remember this: With the power to create comes the power to inflate. Want proof? Check out this jaw-dropping list of the 10 Worst Sandwiches in America for a lineup of disastrous handheld mega-meals that'll bloat your belly and call for a loosening of belt buckles. It's not all disastrous, though—if you have a game plan. To arm you with one, we pulled a few of the best options from the pages of the best-selling weight-loss series Eat This, Not That!. Fact is, lunch can be delicious and filling without destroying your diet.
#10: Cosi Steak TBM (Tomatoes, Basil, Mozzarella)
829 calories
55 g fat (19 g saturated)
453 mg sodium
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the combination of steak, basil and cheese might pack quite the caloric punch. The saving grace of this bloated hand-held is the fact that it's astonishingly low in sodium. Otherwise, there's very little redemption about this twist on the signature Cosi TBM. Choose another Cosi favorite, instead, and save nearly 400 calories and three-quarters of your daily saturated fat allotment. (The Eat This, Not That! effect: A simple swap like this a few times a week when you're on the go can help you lose 15 pounds in a year.)
Eat This Instead!
Cosi Club
497 calories
10 g fat (4 g saturated)
827 mg sodium
#9: Arby's Ultimate BLT Market Fresh Sandwich
880 calories
46 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,740 mg sodium
The lesson from this massive sammie: Trust the ingredients, not the name. “Market Fresh” is little more than a marketing ploy to persuade consumers to indulge without guilt. Opt for the Super Roast Beef instead. Arby’s roast beef sandwiches are all relatively safe, and unless you order double meat, not one of the Roastburgers exceeds 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Download our free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week—and see how easy it is to save calories, time and money!
Eat This Instead!
Super Roast Beef
430 calories
18 g fat (6 g saturated)
1,070 mg sodium
#8: Jimmy John's Italian Night Club
951 calories
51 g fat (12 g saturated)
2,165 mg sodium
Italian sandwiches are notoriously heavy—and the heavily processed Italian meats (think pastrami, salami, capicola...) all come with a massive over-sized serving of sodium. Case in point: This particular club packs in nearly an entire day's allotment of salt. The good news here is that Jimmy John's allows you to customize your order—so if you're hankering for an Italian sandwich, ask for a customized Slim 5 with Genoa Salami, Capicola, and Avocado Spread on 7-Grain, instead.
Bonus tip: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite restaurants, get the Eat This, Not That iPhone app—it's like having your own personal nutritionist at your fingertips!
Eat This Instead!
Customized Slim 5 with Genoa Salami, Capicola and Avocado Spread on 7-Grain Bread
514 calories
17.5 g fat (4 g saturated)
1,239 mg sodium
#7: Panera Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French Bread
990 calories
56 g fat (15 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,370 mg sodium
Panera's Signature Sandwich menu houses some of the biggest gutbombs in the entire restaurant, so minimize the damage by sticking to the Cafe sandwiches. With the bulk of Panera's sandwiches floating in the 700- to 900- calorie range, the Chicken Bacon Dijon on French Bread emerges as the clear winner. Just be sure to watch your sodium intake for the rest of the day.
Eat This Instead!
Chicken Bacon Dijon on French Bread
650 calories
24 g fat (11 g saturated)
1,140 mg sodium
#6. Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich
1,112 calories
62 g fat
2,531 mg sodium
Chicken sandwiches have an undeserved healthy reputation—that's because, while they're built with the leanest meat, they're often stuffed and flavored with enough high-calorie sauces and fillings to sink a ship. The culprit in this sandwich is two simple ingredients: The Spanish Tortilla, and the creamy Ranch dressing. Cutting those two from the meal eliminates over half the calories. We're betting that there's enough BBQ sauce on this dish that you won't even miss them.
Bonus tip: See how your favorite beer ranks on your must-have list of the 40 Best and Worst Beers. (Because knowing the smartest choices will make weight loss a breeze.)
Eat This Instead!
Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich, without Spinach Tortilla and Ranch Dressing
522 calories
25 g fat
1,336 mg sodium
#5. Subway Meatball Marinara Footlong
1,160 calories
46 g fat (18 g saturated, 2 g trans)
3,060 mg sodium
Subway does a funny thing with their nutrition menu: They only list nutrition information for 6-inch sandwiches, and low-fat footlongs. Luckily, the math here isn't exactly difficult. Skip footlongs altogether.
Bonus tip: A major source of hidden calories throughout the day comes in liquid form. Avoid all drinks on our eye-popping list of the 20 Worst Beverages in America!
Eat This Instead!
Roast Beef 6-inch
310 calories
4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
840 mg sodium
#4. Blimpie Special Vegetarian 12"
1,186 calories
60 g fat (19 saturated fat)
2,198 mg sodium
Just because it's vegetarian doesn't make it good for you. Yes, this sandwich might be full of vegetables, but it also boasts two foot-long pieces of bread, and a host of high-fat, high-calorie oils and dressings that weigh down this sub with more than half a day's worth of calories and nearly a full day's worth of sodium and saturated fat.
Eat This Instead!
VegiMax on Wheat 6"
499 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated)
909 mg sodium
#3. Applebee's Grilled Cheese BLT
1,310 calories
(no other nutritional information available)
With this dish, Applebee's has taken a classic childhood comfort food and turned it into a dietary disaster. Cheese and bacon are certainly not the most healthful of sandwich stuffers, but we're looking at a case of serious portion distortion and fat overload when something as simple as a sammie contains as many calories as you'll find in four and a half servings of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese. Applebee's offers just one semi-reasonable sandwich on the entire menu. Stick with that, or choose something from the "Unbelievably Great-Tasting and Under 550 Calories" section. Otherwise, you're in a nutritional wasteland.
Eat This Instead!
Grilled Sirloin Sandwich
680 calories
(no other nutritional information available)
#2. Quizno's Large Tuna Melt
1,760 calories
25 g saturated fat
2,120 mg sodium
This tuna melt used to reign supreme with the disgraceful distinction of being the worst sandwich in America. But then Quizno's took note and reduced the calories by about 300. Unfortunately, that reduction in calories only dropped this dangerous melt to second place. Why is this melt so atrocious? While tuna is usually a healthy choice on its own, its being held together with gobs of fatty mayo. Slim down drastically with a Bistro Steak sammie.
Eat This Instead!
Bistro Steak Melt Sammie
390 calories
11.5 g saturated fat
1,050 mg sodium
#1: The Worst Sandwich in America
Cheesecake Factory Grilled Shrimp & Bacon Club
1930 calories
24 g saturated fat
2,965 mg sodium
It's no surprise really that an item from the Cheesecake Factory would make it to the "Worst" spot on any list. Since the Factory was forced to give up their nutrition information in California, we've learned that this irresponsible chain has a menu full of items that pack in well over 1,000 calories—and in some cases, well over 2,000. Their argument is usually that the dishes are meant to be split, or saved for later. But who splits a sandwich? Do the math for them, and order a half-sandwich when eating at Cheesecake.
#10: Cosi Steak TBM (Tomatoes, Basil, Mozzarella)
829 calories
55 g fat (19 g saturated)
453 mg sodium
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the combination of steak, basil and cheese might pack quite the caloric punch. The saving grace of this bloated hand-held is the fact that it's astonishingly low in sodium. Otherwise, there's very little redemption about this twist on the signature Cosi TBM. Choose another Cosi favorite, instead, and save nearly 400 calories and three-quarters of your daily saturated fat allotment. (The Eat This, Not That! effect: A simple swap like this a few times a week when you're on the go can help you lose 15 pounds in a year.)
Eat This Instead!
Cosi Club
497 calories
10 g fat (4 g saturated)
827 mg sodium
#9: Arby's Ultimate BLT Market Fresh Sandwich
880 calories
46 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,740 mg sodium
The lesson from this massive sammie: Trust the ingredients, not the name. “Market Fresh” is little more than a marketing ploy to persuade consumers to indulge without guilt. Opt for the Super Roast Beef instead. Arby’s roast beef sandwiches are all relatively safe, and unless you order double meat, not one of the Roastburgers exceeds 500 calories.
Bonus tip: Download our free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week—and see how easy it is to save calories, time and money!
Eat This Instead!
Super Roast Beef
430 calories
18 g fat (6 g saturated)
1,070 mg sodium
#8: Jimmy John's Italian Night Club
951 calories
51 g fat (12 g saturated)
2,165 mg sodium
Italian sandwiches are notoriously heavy—and the heavily processed Italian meats (think pastrami, salami, capicola...) all come with a massive over-sized serving of sodium. Case in point: This particular club packs in nearly an entire day's allotment of salt. The good news here is that Jimmy John's allows you to customize your order—so if you're hankering for an Italian sandwich, ask for a customized Slim 5 with Genoa Salami, Capicola, and Avocado Spread on 7-Grain, instead.
Bonus tip: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite restaurants, get the Eat This, Not That iPhone app—it's like having your own personal nutritionist at your fingertips!
Eat This Instead!
Customized Slim 5 with Genoa Salami, Capicola and Avocado Spread on 7-Grain Bread
514 calories
17.5 g fat (4 g saturated)
1,239 mg sodium
#7: Panera Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French Bread
990 calories
56 g fat (15 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,370 mg sodium
Panera's Signature Sandwich menu houses some of the biggest gutbombs in the entire restaurant, so minimize the damage by sticking to the Cafe sandwiches. With the bulk of Panera's sandwiches floating in the 700- to 900- calorie range, the Chicken Bacon Dijon on French Bread emerges as the clear winner. Just be sure to watch your sodium intake for the rest of the day.
Eat This Instead!
Chicken Bacon Dijon on French Bread
650 calories
24 g fat (11 g saturated)
1,140 mg sodium
#6. Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich
1,112 calories
62 g fat
2,531 mg sodium
Chicken sandwiches have an undeserved healthy reputation—that's because, while they're built with the leanest meat, they're often stuffed and flavored with enough high-calorie sauces and fillings to sink a ship. The culprit in this sandwich is two simple ingredients: The Spanish Tortilla, and the creamy Ranch dressing. Cutting those two from the meal eliminates over half the calories. We're betting that there's enough BBQ sauce on this dish that you won't even miss them.
Bonus tip: See how your favorite beer ranks on your must-have list of the 40 Best and Worst Beers. (Because knowing the smartest choices will make weight loss a breeze.)
Eat This Instead!
Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich, without Spinach Tortilla and Ranch Dressing
522 calories
25 g fat
1,336 mg sodium
#5. Subway Meatball Marinara Footlong
1,160 calories
46 g fat (18 g saturated, 2 g trans)
3,060 mg sodium
Subway does a funny thing with their nutrition menu: They only list nutrition information for 6-inch sandwiches, and low-fat footlongs. Luckily, the math here isn't exactly difficult. Skip footlongs altogether.
Bonus tip: A major source of hidden calories throughout the day comes in liquid form. Avoid all drinks on our eye-popping list of the 20 Worst Beverages in America!
Eat This Instead!
Roast Beef 6-inch
310 calories
4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
840 mg sodium
#4. Blimpie Special Vegetarian 12"
1,186 calories
60 g fat (19 saturated fat)
2,198 mg sodium
Just because it's vegetarian doesn't make it good for you. Yes, this sandwich might be full of vegetables, but it also boasts two foot-long pieces of bread, and a host of high-fat, high-calorie oils and dressings that weigh down this sub with more than half a day's worth of calories and nearly a full day's worth of sodium and saturated fat.
Eat This Instead!
VegiMax on Wheat 6"
499 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated)
909 mg sodium
#3. Applebee's Grilled Cheese BLT
1,310 calories
(no other nutritional information available)
With this dish, Applebee's has taken a classic childhood comfort food and turned it into a dietary disaster. Cheese and bacon are certainly not the most healthful of sandwich stuffers, but we're looking at a case of serious portion distortion and fat overload when something as simple as a sammie contains as many calories as you'll find in four and a half servings of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese. Applebee's offers just one semi-reasonable sandwich on the entire menu. Stick with that, or choose something from the "Unbelievably Great-Tasting and Under 550 Calories" section. Otherwise, you're in a nutritional wasteland.
Eat This Instead!
Grilled Sirloin Sandwich
680 calories
(no other nutritional information available)
#2. Quizno's Large Tuna Melt
1,760 calories
25 g saturated fat
2,120 mg sodium
This tuna melt used to reign supreme with the disgraceful distinction of being the worst sandwich in America. But then Quizno's took note and reduced the calories by about 300. Unfortunately, that reduction in calories only dropped this dangerous melt to second place. Why is this melt so atrocious? While tuna is usually a healthy choice on its own, its being held together with gobs of fatty mayo. Slim down drastically with a Bistro Steak sammie.
Eat This Instead!
Bistro Steak Melt Sammie
390 calories
11.5 g saturated fat
1,050 mg sodium
#1: The Worst Sandwich in America
Cheesecake Factory Grilled Shrimp & Bacon Club
1930 calories
24 g saturated fat
2,965 mg sodium
It's no surprise really that an item from the Cheesecake Factory would make it to the "Worst" spot on any list. Since the Factory was forced to give up their nutrition information in California, we've learned that this irresponsible chain has a menu full of items that pack in well over 1,000 calories—and in some cases, well over 2,000. Their argument is usually that the dishes are meant to be split, or saved for later. But who splits a sandwich? Do the math for them, and order a half-sandwich when eating at Cheesecake.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Don't be misled by these food label tricks
It's a fact of the grocery store that the most healthy food often has the least marketing muscle behind it. The best sources of fiber and vitamins are fresh vegetables and fruit, and yet it's the processed, packaged junk food fortified with vitamin and fiber powder that screams for attention. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently published a comprehensive report on the subject, a persuasive indictment delicately called "Food Labeling Chaos."
"Consumers need honest labeling so they can spend their food dollars wisely and avoid diet-related disease," said CSPI senior staff attorney Ilene Ringel Heller, co-author of the report. "Companies should market their foods without resorting to the deceit and dishonesty that's so common today. And, if they don't, the FDA should make them."
You can often decipher the truth amid the lies and misdirection by carefully reading food labels.
We take a look at nine things the CSPI identified as the most common ways food labels mislead so you can prepare before your next trip to the grocery store.
Made with whole grains
You're standing in the grocery aisle, faced with a choice. On the one hand, there are the Thomas' English Muffins of your youth: White and filled with nooks and crannies practically screaming to be filled with pools of melted butter. On the other: Thomas' Hearty Grains English Muffins, which are "made with the goodness of whole grains." You reach, somewhat grudgingly, for the healthy option, since experts tell you that 50% of your grains should be whole grains.
What you don't realize is that unbleached wheat flour is the main ingredient; whole wheat flour is the third on the list, "indicating that the product contains relatively little," according to the CSPI.
Once again, one truth -- the presence of whole grains -- masks another, that whole grains make up an insignificant portion of the food.
Some products that trumpet their whole-grain credentials (like Keebler's Zesta saltine crackers) use caramel to mimic the brown color that results from the use of whole grains. In fact, the CSPI notes that these crackers have almost as much salt as whole grains. Other purportedly healthy crackers have more sugar than whole wheat.
So much for healthy whole grains (or truth in advertising).
Ingredients
What could be more straight-forward than ingredient lists? So you might think, but there's a lot of room for deception and misdirection in the average ingredient list, which lists ingredients in order from most to least.
Exhibit A from the CSPI: the Tasty Living Mocha Cherry Double Chocolate Layer Cake. The first ingredient is enriched wheat flour.
This cake must be sort-of nutritious, since it's mostly made out of nutritious wheat flour, right? Sorry, but the biggest ingredient in this cake is sugar, as the CSPI points out. How is it possible?
Just add up all the sugars that go by different names: sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and white grape juice concentrate. Boom! This cake is nearly one-third sugar.
The CSPI argues that U.S. nutrition labels and ingredient lists should be more consumer friendly. By grouping major ingredients and separating minor ingredients, we'd all be better able to make smarter purchases.
Which can of diced tomatoes is 60% tomato and 40% water, and which is 70% tomato? How much fruit is actually in that fruity-looking "health" bar? Right now, there's no way to know ... without a chemistry kit.
Serving size
A 20-oz. soda fits easily in your hand, fits easily in your car's cup holder, and might even come free with a sandwich at the local deli. But even if a reasonable person might perceive that bottle as a single-serving delivery system, there are 2.5 official servings in there, meaning 100 calories per "serving" ... but 240 calories per bottle.
While major soda bottlers have begun spelling out this single-serving conundrum to the junk food-consuming public, most serving-size calculations are based on standards developed decades ago!
Just try to remember the size of the sodas and popcorn customarily dolled out in 1977 at the drive-in, compared to today at the megaplex, and you get a sense for how much our sense of portion proportion has gone out of whack (er, changed) in the last generation.
And yet, the serving-size data on our foods reflect a slimmer more restrained era, when an 8-oz. soda was a weekly treat, not a single glug between fistfuls of Cool Ranch Doritos (serving size: 11 chips).
How many people do you know restrain themselves to 11 chips? Or to a 1/2 cup of ice cream? Or a single cup of cooked pasta?
Omega 3
Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential component of a healthy diet, but that doesn't mean every product emblazoned with the word is a healthy source of it.
The FDA allows certain foods that are rich in two of the omega-3 fatty acids to advertise that they can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, but only if they're also low in saturated fats or other risk factors.
Which is why many eggs and some walnuts use this bit of marketing misdirection: The packaging has the phrase "omega 3," but nothing specifically about heart health, according to the CSPI.
The FDA specifically prohibited eggs from carrying the "qualified health claim" linking omega-3 fatty acids to heart health because eggs are high in cholesterol; it ruled out walnuts because the omega-3 fatty acid found in the nuts isn't one of the two that has been linked to heart health.
These products, and others, dance around the truth and the law by simply stating that they contain omega 3s, which bathes the food in a healthy light they don't necessarily deserve.
Made with real fruit
Hey wow! That candy has real fruit in it. It must be good for my kid.
The marketing around "real fruit" is so egregious that, for many shoppers, it doesn't pass the sniff test. But we all get weak-kneed when faced with something potentially yummy, so let's take a look at some of those misleading marketing techniques.
Case-in-point: Gerber Fruit Juice Treats for Preschoolers. Its package blooming with pictures of ripe oranges, raspberries, cherries, peaches, grapes, and pineapple, its only fruit-like ingredient is fruit juice concentrate, which the Dietary Guidelines for Americans considers just another form of sugar.
Not surprisingly, the primary ingredients are also sugar and ... well, sugar (corn syrup). It's candy.
Similarly, Betty Crocker Strawberry Splash Fruit Gushers says it's made with real fruit, but the only thing approximating fruit is pear concentrate (sugar) with Red No. 40 for "strawberry" color. Overall, the gushers are half sugar (a.k.a., candy).
Bottom line: If you want real fruit, buy real fruit. If you want candy, buy candy.
(And watch out for the same tricky marketing used on supposedly vegetable-rich products like Knorr Pasta Sides Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine. As the CSPI points out, there's more salt than broccoli in this pasta dish. Of course, it isn't called Chicken Salt Fettuccine ... because presumably no one would buy it.)
Zero trans fat
Like some kind of Frankenstein's monster, we stagger down the grocery aisles, arms outstretched, growling, "Trans fats bad!" And yes, they are bad.
After numerous studies showed that these fats boost "bad" LDL-cholesterol levels and lower "good" HDL-cholesterol counts (they've been called "the most potent type of fatty acid in terms of increasing the risk of coronary heart disease"), the U.S. required companies to disclose trans fat content in their foods.
But it's marketers who made our modern Frankenstein mutter: While some companies reformulated their products to reduce the use of risky fats, many just replaced trans fats with saturated fats.
These reformulated foods are basically just as bad, but they scream one truth: "0 trans fats!" to obscure another: "Still bad for your heart!"
Free range eggs
Ah, the idyllic red barn. The rays of sunshine streaming over the hillside. You feel good buying those "free range" eggs knowing that the chickens tasked with producing those little protein-filled shells lived happy cage-free lives. The sunny label says so.
But the few extra cents you plunk down for the "free range" eggs might be paying a savvy marketer, rather than an ethical farmer, because the government doesn't regulate the use of the phrase "free range" or "cage free" on eggs.
Legally speaking, it's meaningless, according to Consumer Reports' Eco Label Decoder.
The Department of Agriculture does have rules for use of the term on poultry. It means chickens must be granted the luxury of exactly five minutes of "access" to the outdoors everyday, a token prize for a short dirty life that can also include an unceremonious severing of the beak, wing-to-wing crowding in a shed that's more hangar than coop, and more chicken poop than you ever want to contemplate while planning a meal.
Those eggs you buy may have been raised ethically, with room enough for hens to roam the yard and peck contentedly at the dirt. But there's no guarantee in the "free range" label.
Fiber
Fiber is fiber is fiber. Right? Who would have any reason to think otherwise?
You might if you knew the fibers advertised in many foods are mainly "purified powders" called inulin, polydextrose, and maltodextrin, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
These "isolated" unnatural fibers are unlikely to lower blood cholesterol or blood sugar, as other fibers can, and two of the three won't even "help with regularity," says the CSPI.
"Currently, fiber is being added to foods such as ice creams, yogurts, juices, and drinks so that manufacturers can brag about their fiber content," the group contends. "But these products do not contain the traditional sources of fiber associated with a variety of health benefits."
There may be nothing harmful about maltodextrin, (made from corn, wheat, rice, or potato starch), polydextrose (made from glucose and sorbitol), or inulin (a carbohydrate derived mostly from chicory roots and other plant roots). But these ingredients act more as low-calorie filling agents (and high-value marketing agents) than proven health agents.
For the real thing in fiber, look for foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans.
Tastes like medicine!
Food isn't medicine ... or is it? Certain micronutrients, after all, can prevent diabetes, cure cancer, make you smarter, improve your sex life, polish your furniture, and more...
In truth, the FDA allows food manufacturers to make certain pre-approved "qualified health claims" about the health benefits of nutrients in food, but only if those foods meet a range of healthy criteria, like low fat, cholesterol, and sodium content. But, according to the CSPI, marketers have stretched this inch into a long mile.
For instance, food makers can't say that their product "helps reduce the risk of heart disease" without FDA approval, so they say that it "helps maintain a healthy heart." That's why several public health groups, including the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, have voiced concern about this trend.
In the most famous recent example, the FDA stopped General Mills from labeling Cheerios with cholesterol reducing claims it wouldn't allow on some prescription drugs. Another, which the California attorney general helped stamp out, was the Kellogg's claim that its children cereals "support your child's immunity" because, even though some are 40% sugar, they are fortified with vitamins.
"While a severe deficiency in those vitamins could interfere with the proper functioning of the body’s immune system (and any other system), there is no evidence that Cocoa Krispies actually improves a children’s immune status or wards off disease," CSPI argues. But Kellogg's is far from alone.
Even as Kellogg's stopped that line of marketing, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice, Juicy Juice Berry Beverage, Nestlé's Carnation Instant Breakfast, and Kraft's Crystal Light all make similar claims.
Other foods make claims about boosting your kid's intelligence (Juicy Juice), protecting healthy joints (orange juice), and improving heart health (Quaker Cinnamon and Spice Instant Oatmeal, which is almost one-third sugar).
Bottom line: Food is food, not medicine.
Couples Who Say 'We' Fare Better in Fights
Couples who consistently refer to themselves as "we" may get on the nerves of singletons everywhere, but spouses who use this "couple-focused" language may fare better during conflicts than those who don't, according to a study announced this week.
The study found that using personal pronouns, such as "we," "our" and "us," when talking about a conflict was associated with more positive behaviors between the pair, such as affection, less negative behavior (like anger), and lower physiological stress levels during the disagreement.
On the other hand, using words that expressed "separateness," such as "I," "you," and "me," during the discussion was associated with marital dissatisfaction.
Discussions regarding marital disagreements can sometimes turn into hostile interactions, said study researcher Benjamin Seider, a graduate student in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. "And our thinking is that, using the 'we' words in that context can maybe help realign the couple, and help them to see themselves as being on the same team as opposed to adversaries," he told LiveScience.
However, since the results are based on conversations that took place in a laboratory setting, more research is needed to firm up the findings.
Conflict conversations
The study involved 154 middle-aged and older couples who were in their first marriages.
The spouses were video-taped during a 15-minute conversation regarding a conflict in their marriage. At the same time, scientists monitored the participants' heart rate, body temperature and how much they sweated, among other factors to assess their physiological state. All the data was collected back in 1989-1990 as part of a long-term marital study.
Seider and his colleagues went back and examined the tapes, looking at signs of emotional behavior, such as facial expressions and tone of voice.
In addition to finding that "we" language is linked to emotional behavior, the researchers also found that older couples used more "we" words, a result suggesting couples who have been together longer have developed a stronger shared identity with their partners than younger couples.
The overall marriage
The jury is still out, however, as to whether or not using such "we" words specifically boosts marital satisfaction. While previous studies have found such an association, the current study did not. "We were certainly surprised by that," Seider said.
The study's failure to find a link may come down to the fact that it was based on specific conversations rather than assessments of the overall marriages, according to Seider.
"The language that they're using is probably more reflective of them trying to regulate their emotions than it is about whether or not they're happy or sad in the relationship as a whole," he said.
The results were published in the September 2009 issue of the journal Psychology and Aging.
The study found that using personal pronouns, such as "we," "our" and "us," when talking about a conflict was associated with more positive behaviors between the pair, such as affection, less negative behavior (like anger), and lower physiological stress levels during the disagreement.
On the other hand, using words that expressed "separateness," such as "I," "you," and "me," during the discussion was associated with marital dissatisfaction.
Discussions regarding marital disagreements can sometimes turn into hostile interactions, said study researcher Benjamin Seider, a graduate student in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. "And our thinking is that, using the 'we' words in that context can maybe help realign the couple, and help them to see themselves as being on the same team as opposed to adversaries," he told LiveScience.
However, since the results are based on conversations that took place in a laboratory setting, more research is needed to firm up the findings.
Conflict conversations
The study involved 154 middle-aged and older couples who were in their first marriages.
The spouses were video-taped during a 15-minute conversation regarding a conflict in their marriage. At the same time, scientists monitored the participants' heart rate, body temperature and how much they sweated, among other factors to assess their physiological state. All the data was collected back in 1989-1990 as part of a long-term marital study.
Seider and his colleagues went back and examined the tapes, looking at signs of emotional behavior, such as facial expressions and tone of voice.
In addition to finding that "we" language is linked to emotional behavior, the researchers also found that older couples used more "we" words, a result suggesting couples who have been together longer have developed a stronger shared identity with their partners than younger couples.
The overall marriage
The jury is still out, however, as to whether or not using such "we" words specifically boosts marital satisfaction. While previous studies have found such an association, the current study did not. "We were certainly surprised by that," Seider said.
The study's failure to find a link may come down to the fact that it was based on specific conversations rather than assessments of the overall marriages, according to Seider.
"The language that they're using is probably more reflective of them trying to regulate their emotions than it is about whether or not they're happy or sad in the relationship as a whole," he said.
The results were published in the September 2009 issue of the journal Psychology and Aging.
5 Careers You Can Start at Any Age
In-demand jobs often require specific degrees or career training, but you shouldn't feel discouraged if you lack the necessary education.
Today's abundance of online education options means you're never too old to go back to school, and many online degree programs cater specifically to the busy lives of working adults. By working and attending school online, you can prepare for your next job without sacrificing your current income. The following jobs are expected to grow faster than average from 2008 to 2018, and each requires training that can be achieved at any age.
1. Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical therapist assistants help physical therapists rehabilitate patients, including accident victims and sufferers of debilitating diseases. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow 33 percent thru 2018, much faster than the national average. In 2008, these assistants earned an average of $46,140.
Physical therapist assistants must earn an associate's degree in physical therapy from an accredited program. These programs generally last two years and prepare students for state licensing. If you're interested in becoming a physical therapist assistant, career training and online education can help you make the transition.
2. Registered Nurse
Registered nurses help doctors treat, diagnose, and care for patients in hospitals, doctors' offices, and care centers. Nurses make up the largest employment group within health care, and their numbers are expected to grow by another 22 percent from 2008 to 2018. According to the BLS, registered nurses earned an average of $62,450 in 2008.
To prepare for licensing, nurses must earn at least an associate's degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. Associate's degree programs take approximately two years to complete, while programs offering a bachelor's degree in nursing take about four years. Online degree programs can help you train for a career in nursing without leaving your current job.
3. Elementary School Teacher
If you have a passion for learning and enjoy working with kids, a career as an elementary school teacher may be a good fit. Elementary school teachers teach multiple subjects to students from kindergarten through sixth grade, emphasizing understanding, responsibility, and consideration. According to the BLS, elementary school teachers earned an average of $49,330 in 2008, and the field is expected to grow by 16 percent from 2008 to 2018.
To teach in public schools, elementary school teachers must earn a bachelor's degree and graduate from a teacher education program. With online classes available, it's never too late to return to school and qualify to become a teacher.
4. Computer Software Engineer
Computer software engineers use principles of computer science and mathematics to design and develop software. From computer games to networking systems, the programs developed by computer software engineers help computers function in our everyday lives. The BLS expects employment of computer software engineers to increase by 34 percent thru 2018, which means plenty of opportunities to enter the field. In 2008, these engineers earned an average of $85,430.
To become a computer software engineer, you need to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, mathematics, or a related field. Some positions require a master's degree in computer science, and all expect employees to be up-to-date with new technologies and computer systems. Online degree programs in computer science and software engineering can prepare you for a career in this innovative field, regardless of your age or schedule.
5. Management Analyst
Management analysts (also called management consultants) are business experts that help companies solve problems to remain competitive. Management analysts must think strategically and come up with innovative, effective solutions for their clients. In 2008, management analysts earned an average of $73,570, and the BLS expects their employment to increase by 24 percent in the next decade.
Competition for management analyst positions is intense, and often a master's of business administration (MBA) degree is required. Online business degrees are increasingly common, so it's possible to enhance your industry knowledge with a formal degree.
Taking the Next Step
These five careers prove that opportunities exist across industries, and it's not too late to transition into a field you're passionate about. With online degree programs and career training options, you can reach your education goals without giving up your current job and lifestyle.
Today's abundance of online education options means you're never too old to go back to school, and many online degree programs cater specifically to the busy lives of working adults. By working and attending school online, you can prepare for your next job without sacrificing your current income. The following jobs are expected to grow faster than average from 2008 to 2018, and each requires training that can be achieved at any age.
1. Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical therapist assistants help physical therapists rehabilitate patients, including accident victims and sufferers of debilitating diseases. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow 33 percent thru 2018, much faster than the national average. In 2008, these assistants earned an average of $46,140.
Physical therapist assistants must earn an associate's degree in physical therapy from an accredited program. These programs generally last two years and prepare students for state licensing. If you're interested in becoming a physical therapist assistant, career training and online education can help you make the transition.
2. Registered Nurse
Registered nurses help doctors treat, diagnose, and care for patients in hospitals, doctors' offices, and care centers. Nurses make up the largest employment group within health care, and their numbers are expected to grow by another 22 percent from 2008 to 2018. According to the BLS, registered nurses earned an average of $62,450 in 2008.
To prepare for licensing, nurses must earn at least an associate's degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. Associate's degree programs take approximately two years to complete, while programs offering a bachelor's degree in nursing take about four years. Online degree programs can help you train for a career in nursing without leaving your current job.
3. Elementary School Teacher
If you have a passion for learning and enjoy working with kids, a career as an elementary school teacher may be a good fit. Elementary school teachers teach multiple subjects to students from kindergarten through sixth grade, emphasizing understanding, responsibility, and consideration. According to the BLS, elementary school teachers earned an average of $49,330 in 2008, and the field is expected to grow by 16 percent from 2008 to 2018.
To teach in public schools, elementary school teachers must earn a bachelor's degree and graduate from a teacher education program. With online classes available, it's never too late to return to school and qualify to become a teacher.
4. Computer Software Engineer
Computer software engineers use principles of computer science and mathematics to design and develop software. From computer games to networking systems, the programs developed by computer software engineers help computers function in our everyday lives. The BLS expects employment of computer software engineers to increase by 34 percent thru 2018, which means plenty of opportunities to enter the field. In 2008, these engineers earned an average of $85,430.
To become a computer software engineer, you need to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, mathematics, or a related field. Some positions require a master's degree in computer science, and all expect employees to be up-to-date with new technologies and computer systems. Online degree programs in computer science and software engineering can prepare you for a career in this innovative field, regardless of your age or schedule.
5. Management Analyst
Management analysts (also called management consultants) are business experts that help companies solve problems to remain competitive. Management analysts must think strategically and come up with innovative, effective solutions for their clients. In 2008, management analysts earned an average of $73,570, and the BLS expects their employment to increase by 24 percent in the next decade.
Competition for management analyst positions is intense, and often a master's of business administration (MBA) degree is required. Online business degrees are increasingly common, so it's possible to enhance your industry knowledge with a formal degree.
Taking the Next Step
These five careers prove that opportunities exist across industries, and it's not too late to transition into a field you're passionate about. With online degree programs and career training options, you can reach your education goals without giving up your current job and lifestyle.
Facebook Puts Email Addresses on User Profiles Back Into Plain Text
Facebook has been investing in tools to detect and block automated systems and scripts created by spammers heavily in recent years. When it comes to user email addresses on Facebook profiles, Facebook for years has taken the extra step of listing user emails in an image format in order to make it harder for scripts to scrape massive numbers of email addressess. However, it has recently switched to providing them in plain text. Why?
A Facebook spokesperson told us today:
Showing email addresses in plain text makes it easier for people to use the information to connect with their friends. We’ve improved our tools for detecting and preventing profile scraping over the last few years such that this additional precaution is no longer necessary.
For the average user, the change’s impact is only that they can now copy and paste email addresses from Facebook profiles.
OCR, or optical character recognition, has become a more widely understood technology in recent years. Formatting text within an image, as Facebook has done, does not necessarily provide meaningfully greater security. In fact, some companies have used such tools to scrape email addresses from within Facebook (that didn’t work out for other reasons).
Facebook is also trying to make email sharing easier in other ways, like allowing users to provide emails or email aliases to developers on the platform.
A Facebook spokesperson told us today:
Showing email addresses in plain text makes it easier for people to use the information to connect with their friends. We’ve improved our tools for detecting and preventing profile scraping over the last few years such that this additional precaution is no longer necessary.
For the average user, the change’s impact is only that they can now copy and paste email addresses from Facebook profiles.
OCR, or optical character recognition, has become a more widely understood technology in recent years. Formatting text within an image, as Facebook has done, does not necessarily provide meaningfully greater security. In fact, some companies have used such tools to scrape email addresses from within Facebook (that didn’t work out for other reasons).
Facebook is also trying to make email sharing easier in other ways, like allowing users to provide emails or email aliases to developers on the platform.
Players of the Month
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played during January.
James topped the Eastern Conference in scoring (30.7 ppg), while placing second in assists (8.5 apg), fifth in steals (1.6 spg), and recording averages of 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. James led the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 12-3 record. On Jan. 10, James scored 31 of his 41 points in the first half of Cleveland's 106-94 win over Portland. James scored 20 or more points in 14 of the Cavaliers' 15 games and recorded 30 or more points nine times. This is the third Player of the Month award for James this season.
Paul paced the Western Conference in assists (11.9 apg) and steals (2.4 spg), and added 20.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, leading the Hornets to a 12-5 month. On Jan. 10, Paul recorded 26 points, 14 assists, three rebounds and three steals in a 115-110 win over Washington. Paul recorded nine games of 20 or more points, hit two game-winning shots (Jan. 6 at Oklahoma City; Jan. 25 at Portland), and tallied 11 double-doubles on the month.
Here is a closer look at the month for James and Paul:
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jan. 10 @ Portland: Totaled 41 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 106-94 win over the Trail Blazers.
Jan. 11 @ Golden State: Led Cleveland with 37 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, four blocks and two steals in a 117-114 win over the Warriors.
Jan. 19 vs. Toronto: Recorded 28 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a 108-100 win over the Raptors.
Jan. 29 @ Indiana: Posted 22 points, nine rebounds and season highs of 13 assists and four blocks and added two steals in a 94-73 win over the Pacers.
Jan. 31 vs. L.A. Clippers: Tallied 32 points and 11 assists in a 114-89 win over the Clippers.
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Jan. 2 vs. Houston: Recorded 28 points, nine assists and two steals in a 99-95 win over the Rockets.
Jan. 10 @ Washington: Scored 26 points, and added 14 assists and three steals in a 115-110 win over the Wizards.
Jan. 16 @ Indiana: Tallied 22 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, one block and two steals in a 101-96 win over the Pacers.
Jan. 25 @ Portland: Posted 24 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and five steals in a 98-97 win over the Trail Blazers.
Jan. 27 @ Golden State: Totaled 38 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals in a 123-110 win over the Warriors.
Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors were Boston's Rajon Rondo, Charlotte's Stephen Jackson, Chicago's Derrick Rose, Denver's Chauncey Billups, Memphis' Zach Randolph, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, Toronto's Chris Bosh, and Utah's Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.
Noynoy and Villar ties the survey
Senator Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III and Senator Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr. have virtually the same voter preferences as they lead other presidential candidates in Pulse Asia's latest survey.
With about four months to go before the May 10, 2010 elections, presidential candidates Senator Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino (Liberal Party) and Senator Manuel “Manny” B. Villar (Nacionalista Party) are tied for the presidency, with Senator Aquino registering 37% of voter preferences and Senator Villar 35%. The only other presidential candidate with a double-digit preference is former President Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) at 12%. The other candidates register voter preferences of at most 5%. Less than one in ten Filipinos (6%) does not have a preferred presidential candidate at this time. (See Table 1, Distribution of presidential preferences by Region.)
Across areas, Senator Aquino takes the lead in the National Capital Region, with 38% support against Senator Villar’s 24%. The two front-runners register virtually the same preference in Balance Luzon (Aquino, 37%; Villar, 36%); Visayas (Aquino, 41%; Villar, 38%); and, Mindanao (Villar, 36%; Aquino, 33%). (See Table 1, Distribution of presidential preferences by Region.)
Across socio-demographic groups and taking the error margins for the subgroups into account, Senator Aquino leads among Class D (40%) and among the elderly aged 65 years and over (42%). On the other hand, Senator Villar enjoys the lead in the 25-34 age group (42%). Voter preferences for the two leading candidates are essentially the same across the other socioeconomic classes and age groups. (See Table 2, Distribution of presidential vote preference by socio-economic groups.)
Compared to the December 2009 survey, support for Senator Villar improves by 12 percentage points, while preference for Senator Aquino and former President Estrada decline by 8 and 7 percentage points, respectively. Voter preferences for the other presidential candidates, on the other hand, do not register marked changes between the two survey periods. (See Table 3—Comparative Presidential Preference, October 2009-January 2010.)
Voters are as likely to say, based on a predetermined set of reasons to choose from, that they opted for a candidate because he/she is not corrupt or has a clean record (24%) as, he/she cares for the poor (24%). Other reasons cited for preferring a candidate pertain to the ability to do something (16%), helping others (11%), being a good person (9%) and experience in governance (6%) (See Table 4—Reasons for voting for presidential preference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
