In one study, people who drove while talking on cell phones (whether hand-held or hands free) were found to be more likely to get into an accident than other drivers, including drunk drivers! Researchers conclude that it is simply not safe for people to be talking on their cell phones while driving.
crapbag
Friday, June 30, 2006
With childhood obesity on the rise, babies may soon be able to get more exercise benefits out of their play with weighted toys. But critics caution against adding weights to toys, saying that there are already many ways for children to get exercise that are already known to be safe, and one can simply add more physical activity instead of increasing intensity.
This cervical cancer vaccine against the human papilloma virus, or HPV "which causes cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers and genital warts" may soon be routine for pre-teen girls. Testing of the vaccine for boys is still ongoing. In boys, "HPV has been linked to penile, anal, and head and neck cancers and a tumor-like condition of the respiratory tract."
A new birth control pill without the sugar pills that allow menstruation to occur may be available soon. This would mean no more periods for the women taking the new pill (called Lybrel). Sugar pills or placebos were originally included in birth control pills so that the women on them would continue to menstruate regularly, something that would be viewed as more “natural” by women.
So the reason for including the placebos was actually to keep women from freaking out. It turns out that there is nothing wrong with a woman not getting her period. Before contraceptives were available, women naturally didn’t have as many periods as women do today because they were pregnant much more often.
Some women today have found that they actually enjoy the freedom that comes from having no periods, so new versions of the pill are coming out that meet these women’s preferences.
There is already a birth control pill that only has dummy pills four times a year, allowing for quarterly periods. The new year-round pill is awaiting approval.
Post edited July 2, 2006 at 12:56 am.
So the reason for including the placebos was actually to keep women from freaking out. It turns out that there is nothing wrong with a woman not getting her period. Before contraceptives were available, women naturally didn’t have as many periods as women do today because they were pregnant much more often.
Some women today have found that they actually enjoy the freedom that comes from having no periods, so new versions of the pill are coming out that meet these women’s preferences.
There is already a birth control pill that only has dummy pills four times a year, allowing for quarterly periods. The new year-round pill is awaiting approval.
Post edited July 2, 2006 at 12:56 am.
Basic information you need to know about bankruptcy.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Secondhand smoke really does kill and there is no safe level of exposure, according to the Surgeon General's report. Here is another article on the report. That's why it is so important for people not to smoke anywhere there are especially vulnerable people such as children, pregnant women or sick relatives; they should go outside. Just living with a smoker, increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease by up to 30%. Smoke-free environments are the only solution.
Tips on how to cook burgers.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Want to know what stars are really like behind the camera? This article reports on what celebrities are like when they're speaking to reporters off-camera. Some who seem like total sweethearts when the cameras are on are actually pretty surly when no one is watching.
Ever wonder what might happen if a jumbo jet ever ran over someone? This ground crew member at the Johannessburg Airport found out.
California is still attracting many domestic and international immigrants even as some are leaving the Golden State.
Newspapers are letting go of staff and shrinking their publications. But this does not necessarily mean their death. It could simply be a natural transition and development, as they diversify and expand into other forms of mass media.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
People do not recognize alcoholism as a disease but instead think of it as a moral weakness. This keeps people who suffer from alcoholism from seeking treatment.
The person must make a decision to change. Behavior therapy and medication can help the motivated person overcome alcoholism. There are effective drugs that can help. One that has been around for half a century, called Antabuse, works by making a person nauseated whenever alcohol is imbibed, and newer drugs have been discovered that can block the high that alcohol produces.
Delaying exposure to alcohol in the first place may also help.
Researchers have determined alcoholism is a physical disorder in the brain. Yet due to shame, embarrassment and a perceived lack of willpower, fewer than 1 percent of Americans dealing with an alcohol addiction receive treatment -- despite the fact it works.
The person must make a decision to change. Behavior therapy and medication can help the motivated person overcome alcoholism. There are effective drugs that can help. One that has been around for half a century, called Antabuse, works by making a person nauseated whenever alcohol is imbibed, and newer drugs have been discovered that can block the high that alcohol produces.
Delaying exposure to alcohol in the first place may also help.
Every day in the United States, 7,000 children under 16 pour their first alcoholic drink. With that first sip, a child will become five times more likely to develop alcohol problems than if they'd waited until 21 years of age.
Smoking seems to be affected by both environmental and genetic factors. The strong genetic effect suggests to researchers that society should work to prevent people from starting smoking in the first place.
For those of us who think we waste too much time watching TV, Salon television critic Heather Havrilesky tells us to be proud of our lifestyle choice. She reassures us that it's perfectly okay to spend hours watching crappy television because it is a form of meditation and an excellent source of relaxation.
Wow, you have got to read this speech given by Calvin and Hobbes cartooninst, Bill Watterson in 1989 about the state of newspaper comics and cartooning. He reveals the sad realities of the world of comics and how the industry is shaped by business interests who care little about the artistic integrity of the work and are only concerned with making money at any price. I don’t know how much has changed since 1989, but I have a feeling little has. This is the age of the corporations, after all. And in many industries, like book publishing, movies, TV, and cartoons, it is the corporations who act as gatekeepers (or sometimes pimps) and who dictate who gets a shot and who doesn’t. Things seem especially bad for cartoonists because the syndicates make them give up ownership of their creations, and they are seen as replaceable and interchangeable instead of being treated as artists who deserve respect and creative freedom.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
This article discusses the resurgence of luxury chocolates and looks into our changing relationship with this treat over the years.
It’s more common than you might think. Parents will completely forget about a child in the car, and end up leaving the kid there long enough that the child dies from the heat. Other times, children playing around cars end up getting trapped inside the vehicle and perishing. People are so comfortable around cars that they don’t realize how dangerous they are for children. Experts recommend that parents start to view their cars as dangerous, much like they do swimming pools.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
A hero, this dog saved the life of her owner after getting training as a medical assistance dog.
This article gives a glimpse of what you might see if you take one of the behind-the-scenes tours of Disney World. Find out how the Magic Kingdom really works its magic.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Universal day-care made affordable by government subsidies may sound like a good idea to parents but it may not be the best thing for their children as the case of Quebec shows.
Breast-feeding is really the best thing for babies. And it's not just great for babies, it's good for their mothers too.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Japan is the world leader in cute. That’s because in Japanese society, people are crazy about cuteness and so Japanese companies have had plenty of experience developing products that showcase this intangible quality.
This advantage could very well translate into big bucks and yield large economic gains for Japan, but some fear that this obsession with cuteness could be bad for Japan’s image and culture.
This advantage could very well translate into big bucks and yield large economic gains for Japan, but some fear that this obsession with cuteness could be bad for Japan’s image and culture.
Angelina Jolie’s baby may be the youngest fashion trendsetter ever. The shirt Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was seen wearing in the first pictures released of her started flying off the shelves immediately and is now completely sold out.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
People with enough money to invest in a business (and who belong to treaty countries) can come to the United States as investors on E-2 visas.
Estimate how long you will live using this calculator.
It's useful to see what things you can change to improve your life expectancy. Too bad I had to fill out the form again each time just to figure out what the effect would be of changing one of my answers.
It's useful to see what things you can change to improve your life expectancy. Too bad I had to fill out the form again each time just to figure out what the effect would be of changing one of my answers.
An 26-year-old Indian woman just gave birth to identical quadruplets, something that happens very rarely. "[T]here are fewer than 100 identical quadruplets in the world."
Another rare occurence is a woman giving birth to twins with two different fathers, but it can happen.
Another rare occurence is a woman giving birth to twins with two different fathers, but it can happen.
Nowadays, men are losing weight, whitening their teeth and getting tans in preparation for their big day. But some things never change. Couples are still spending more on their weddings than they planned to.
Men have a biological clocks too. Not only do men start to lose their fertility at age 40, beginning in their mid-20s, the risk of fathering a child with dwarfism increases every year by around 2%.
If you think smoking marijuana is harmless, think again. Smoking pot can cause lasting memory impairment.
Friday, June 09, 2006
On their way up Mt. Everest, this American guide and his team stopped to rescue another climber. By doing so, they ruined their own chances of finishing the climb.
Only a few weeks before, another man died while climbing Mt. Everest. As many as 40 people are believed to have passed him. No one tried to rescue him.
People are questioning how so many climbers could be so callous. This article explains some of the reasons why climbers would not want to risk their own treks to help rescue another person.
While the American guide said that not rescuing the man would haunt him, the wife of one of the Canadians in the team also mentioned that while she is proud of her husband for stopping, she also thinks it will probably haunt him for the rest of his life that he did.
For most of us, it probably seems clear that rescuing a human life is more important than climbing Mt. Everest. But then most of us would probably not be willing to risk our lives to climb a mountain, and we probably cannot really understand what goes on in the minds of the people that embark on this perilous adventure.
Only a few weeks before, another man died while climbing Mt. Everest. As many as 40 people are believed to have passed him. No one tried to rescue him.
People are questioning how so many climbers could be so callous. This article explains some of the reasons why climbers would not want to risk their own treks to help rescue another person.
While the American guide said that not rescuing the man would haunt him, the wife of one of the Canadians in the team also mentioned that while she is proud of her husband for stopping, she also thinks it will probably haunt him for the rest of his life that he did.
For most of us, it probably seems clear that rescuing a human life is more important than climbing Mt. Everest. But then most of us would probably not be willing to risk our lives to climb a mountain, and we probably cannot really understand what goes on in the minds of the people that embark on this perilous adventure.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Instead of relying on antibiotics, the Russians are still using bacteriophages, a practice long abandoned in the US. But with bacteria increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics, the old standby may just be prove to be the right idea.
Love them or hate them, rebates are everywhere. Learn what you can do to make sure you don’t get ripped off.
Visit this useful resource for travelers with links to the "25 best travel sites".
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
This is very disturbing. The Opus Dei now make up nearly a quarter of the faculty at Philippine Science High School, a public high school established to develop future Filipino scientists.
The Opus Dei's clout is becoming clear. The school's executive director is a member of the organization. Some Opus Dei teachers have been bringing in religion into what ought to be secular classrooms.
One theory being suggested is that the Opus Dei are trying to gain influence on the future movers and shakers of the country.
The Opus Dei's clout is becoming clear. The school's executive director is a member of the organization. Some Opus Dei teachers have been bringing in religion into what ought to be secular classrooms.
One theory being suggested is that the Opus Dei are trying to gain influence on the future movers and shakers of the country.
This Opus Dei numerary actually welcomes the publicity from film, The Da Vinci Code, as it has made people more curious about the Opus Dei and eager to learn more about the group.
This informative article looks into the dismal state of Philippine education. More investment is needed in education for the Philippines to catch up with other countries. Better-trained teachers are also necessary. As bad as things are, that also means there is much room to improve. Every little bit that organizations and individuals do to contribute to improving education may make a big difference.
This sounds interesting. Documentaries made by independent filmmakers in the Philippines are being shown on a weekly Philippine television show called Dokyus.
Philippine Idol preliminary auditions are underway. Judges for the Philippine version of the highly successful Idol franchise will be Ryan Cayabyab, Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona.
Distracted drivers are behind most car accidents.
Interesting poll results about black men in America.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Not all husbands are snakes—but this one is, literally.
Soy sauce has more effective anti-oxidant properties than red wine or Vitamin C. But you still shouldn't use too much of it because of the high sodium content.