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Monday, April 17, 2006

World’s Strongest Glue! Available Only From Nature!

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This is the ultimate Super Glue.

Goodbye, war on smoking. Hello, war on fat. By William Saletan

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In this article, Junk-Food Jihad: Should we regulate French fries like cigarettes? Saletan discusses the war on obesity that is gaining steam in the United States, and predicts where it is headed.

Fast food fat varies by country

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The trans fat content of McDonald's offerings vary by country and even by state, based on the type of oil that is used.

At a New York City McDonald's, a large fries and chicken nuggets combo was found to contain 10.2 grams of the trans fat, compared with 0.33 grams in Denmark and about 3 grams in Spain, Russia and the Czech Republic.

A large order of french fries at a New York City McDonald's contained 30 percent more trans fat than the same order from an Atlanta McDonald's.


The difference is due to the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are high in trans fatty acids. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are often used to save money since they last longer than regular vegetable oils. They are used in many products including cookies and microwave popcorn, and are also used for frying in fast food restaurants. But trans fats are very harmful to people.

Trans fat raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol. Eating just 5 grams of it per day increases the risk of heart disease 25 percent, research shows.

"Per gram, it is more harmful than any other kind of fat," Stender said. "It's a metabolic poison."


In Denmark, a 2004 law only allows "a minuscule amount of trans fat in foods". Everyone ought to follow their example and begin switching to "liquid vegetable oils such as canola, corn, olive or soy".

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Spring into a New You

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Instead of going out and buying some women’s magazine, just read these interesting articles for free.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Pinoys don't pay their debts - INQ7.net

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While I do not know how true these things are, it they are, then this is very sad.

This columnist claims that Filipinos typically do not pay their debts. This is sad, if it is true. But I can imagine that this may have a basis somewhere in the culture of Filipinos.

He then brings up something that is far, far worse. He talks about reports that a bus driver in the Philippines hit two people while driving, and then proceeded to back over them and repeatedly run over them to make sure that they did not survive. Supposedly, this was to keep the bus company from having to pay for their hospital bills. If this is true, this really a unbelievably terrible thing.

Housing Prices in L.A. Aren't Letting Up - Los Angeles Times

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The median home price in LA county has hit half a million dollars. In Orange and Ventura counties, it is even higher at $600,000. Those hoping for a housing market crash should not hold their breath as all indications are that prices will not be dropping as it did in the past housing downturn in LA in the early '90s.

In the meantime, home ownership will continue to be out of reach for many people in Southern California. As the article says, in LA county:

To buy a house at the median price, a household would need an annual income of at least $120,000 to qualify for conventional financing with a 20% down payment. The county's median household income: about $47,000.

Salon.com Technology | Ask the pilot

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Read this pilot's opinion of Northwest's new scheme to charge $15 for aisle seats.

Robot Birth Simulator Gaining Popularity

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This is awesome! Forget about talking dolls and robot pet dogs that can bark and wag their tails. This robot can go through labor and deliver a baby doll! Let’s see the Roomba top that.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Super Bowl Party Science: How to Ration Snacks and Beer

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These tricks can come in handy the next time you are low on food or drinks at a party or if you want to get your kids to eat more vegetables.

Post edited on 4/15/06 at 5:50 pm.

Tipping Point: Half of America Wants a Hybrid Car

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It's about time!

Nanotechnology raises health questions

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We need to first understand the effects of nanotechnology on the human body before we start using it in the marketplace.

Post edited on 4/15/06 at 6:53 PM.

British Expert Warns of Global Warming

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Global temperatures are likely to rise by 5.4 degrees by the end of the century, sharply increasing drought and water shortages, Britain's chief scientist said.

Bush's secret tax hike. By Daniel Gross

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The Bush administration won't do anything about the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), a stealth tax that is continuing to ensnare more and more middle-class Americans. The tax was originally designed to tax only the wealthiest Americans who paid almost nothing in taxes because of deductions and loop holes. However, by 2010, it is predicted that a third of all tax returns filed will be subject to the AMT. This tax is clearly not doing what it was designed to do. Find out why it is so hard for the Republican presidency and Congress to give it up, in spite of their party's commonly touted stand against government taxes.

How to Wow 'Em Like Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs is known for being a great presenter. Find out his secrets to making tantalizing presentations in this article.

Where computers go to die -- and kill

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Old computers, cell phones and other electronics laden with toxic substances are being dumped in poorer countries where environmental standards are lax, polluting the communities there, harming residents and their environments. According to this article, the United States seriously needs to catch up to the more progressive European and Japanese regulations that prevent e-waste dumping and regulate the handling and making of electronics. Otherwise, things will continue to go as they have, and people everywhere will suffer the consequences.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Lose Weight Like a Guy

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For women, losing weight is a constant struggle. But there are things women can learn from the opposite sex. Read this article to find out what men do to lose weight.

Deprive Yourself By Sydney Spiesel

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Calorie restriction has led to longer lives in many animals. A new study investigates the effect of nutritional deprivation in humans by putting them on calorie-restricted diets for six months. The study shows that DNA damage was less in the people on low-calorie diets, but dieting also lowered their metabolisms.

Attack of the Gold Bugs By Daniel Gross

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Gold is up to $600 an ounce. This article explains what may be fueling this growth.

Churchgoers Live Longer

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From this article:

“A new study finds people who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:

* Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
* Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
* Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years”

Hall, an Episcopalian minister who also led the study, has some hypotheses on why there might be a link. The social aspect of religion may be behind the benefit, or perhaps religion gives meaning to people’s lives.

Pine Nut Oil May Cut Appetite

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Pine nuts don't just taste good, oil that's made from them may also make you less hungry.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Study: Humor Makes Us Hopeful

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No surprise. Laughing is good for your outlook and may be a good way to cope with stress.

Heck, even just thinking about the prospect of laughing seems to be good for your well being.

Indoor Tanning Addictive, Study Suggests

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Why are bad habits so hard to give up? Tanning beds can damage skin and potentially cause skin cancer, but the UV light they give off can be addictive to tanners.

War on Bacteria is Wrongheaded

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Find out why anti-bacterial soaps are not helpful at all. They kill off harmless bacteria, and exposure to bacteria is actually good for building up our immune systems.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Study: Health Care Costs Worry the Wealthy - NEWS - HEALTH - Comcast.net

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In America, even the rich worry about health care costs. That just shows how insane health care costs have gotten. When an appendectomy costs $35,000, and having a child three months prematurely costs more than a million, you know something is very wrong with the health care system in this country.

Lost an iPod or wallet? Look for it online

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Just when you've lost hope in humanity, along comes a news story that shows how kind-hearted and selfless people can be.

Man Dies After Plunging Into Sewage Waters - NEWS - HEALTH - Comcast.net

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Watch out. Swimming in dirty water can kill you, like what happened to this 34 year old man who fell into the water at Ala Wai Harbor off Waikiki.

Vitamin D May Cut Breast Cancer Risk

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A study has found that Vitamin D exposure, especially during adolescence, may lower a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.

'Golden Girl': Fight Age With Weights, Sex - Forbes.com

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Actress Rue McClanahan of The Golden Girls recommends weight-lifting and sex to fight aging.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

NYPD Detectives Convicted of Mob Murders

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Read about what these highly decorated police officers did for the mob.

Expert Says Liquor Could Help Houseplants

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If your houseplants are getting too tall that they are in danger of flopping over, you can stunt their growth using hard liquor.

Jesus may have walked on ice, not water - study

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Temperatures in the sea of Galilee during Jesus’ time could have caused patches of ice to form in the water that would be capable of supporting a person and which would appear indistinguishable from surrounding water. “The unfrozen water surrounding the ice would have come from salty springs along the lake’s western shore… Salty water freezes at lower temperatures than fresh water.”

Are Our Kitchens Making Us Fat?

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American kitchens are getting larger, more open and inviting. Some even come entertainment centers and office space built in. What does this mean for American waistlines?

Malcolm in the Middle of Career Change

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Frankie Muniz is going to become a professional race car driver now that his TV series is over.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Restaurants Gather Intel on Food Critics

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What does he look like? What does his spouse look like? What kind of food does he like? How much does he tip? What are his credit card numbers?

No, it is not the FBI that's compiling this information. Restaurants are assembling very detailed dossiers on food critics to make sure that they can recognize them when they come in to their restaurant.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Gossip: Pink's True, Ewww Love

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Read about the most romantic gesture anyone has ever done for Pink, according to the singer. You won’t regret it.

Reason: Why Poor Countries Are Poor: The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library. by Tim Harford

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Very interesting article that explains why a corrupt leader is so disastrous for a nation. The case of Cameroon is used to exemplify this.

Saving Millions for Just a Few Dollars

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This interesting article talks about the findings of some new reports that have come out that look into the cost-effectiveness of various health measures for countries. Some measures yield more bang per buck than others. These publications can help policy makers decide which measures are worth undertaking. By choosing the right things to invest in, a country can dramatically improve the health of its people, notwithstanding the limited resources it has.

Mass. Pols OK Mandatory Health Insurance

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Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill making health insurance mandatory for everyone in the state, the first of its kind among US states.

Federal study rejects aspartame risks

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A new study of human subjects found that aspartame consumption did not increase cancer risk. Thank goodness!

Big Easy may face showdown over Internet

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Here is another instance showing how powerful business lobbies can be, and how narrow business interests are often placed before the common good. Let’s hope that New Orleans residents are allowed to keep their free Internet access.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Five Guys, Taking a Bigger Bite

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The Washington burger joint, Five Guys, has finally opened its doors to franchising. With a simple menu of a few items (much like In-N-Out) and burgers that are known for tasting homemade, this family-owned business has found a recipe for success, and soon Five Guys burgers will be available all over the East Coast.

So you want to be a millionaire

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An MSN Money writer shares her strategy for becoming a millionaire.

Analysis: What that mad cow means

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The US government is not doing what it should to prevent mad cow disease. And surpisingly, the American public is not complaining about the government’s lack of reponse to the problem.

The third case of mad cow disease on US soil has already been found, and it seems that the disease has likely been circulating in U.S. herds for at least a decade.

How many more cases do we have to find and how many human deaths are necessary before the government and the public give this threat the attention it deserves?

Why are the government and the cattle industry playing russian roulette with our lives to save a few bucks? They could be testing every cow for mad cow disease, like Japan is doing—but they aren’t. They would rather not know, so they can continue pretending that US livestock is 100% free from the disease, and completely safe for people to consume.

I guess we will have to wait until there is an epidemic of deaths from this before we can expect any real action.

One article points out how miniscule the resources are that are being devoted to this problem, compared to the the billions that are being spent in Iraq. That’s what happens when governmental priorities are set by politicians.

Germ and Bacteria Hot-Spots: 12 Things You Should Know

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Germs and bacteria are everywhere. Some are not really harmful, but others are. Find out what you need to do to stay clear of the harmful ones.