An Australian computer programmer may have found the missing “a” that Neil Armstrong thought he had said when he made the now famous statement we all know as: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
crapbag
Saturday, September 30, 2006
This article, “Forget Homework: It’s a waste of time for elementary-school students” concludes that all the homework kids are being assigned at school may not benefitting them at all. While Japan has been scrapping homework, unfortunately, the system seems to be in place to keep the practice of homework in US schools for generations to come, whether or not it helps students learn.
Check out these products designed for the lazy—more things to add to my wish list.
There are "legions of adult picky eaters, otherwise intelligent men and women who banish from their diets specific tastes or textures or sometimes entire food groups. They are grown-ups who somehow haven't outgrown the finicky food preferences most of us leave behind once we're out of the highchair."
Esquire presents a list of things a man should know about fatherhood.
A study found that “[t]he incidence of Alzheimer’s was 76 percent lower for those who drank juice three or more times a week than for those who drank juice less than once a week. It was 16 percent lower for those drinking juice once or twice a week, according to the report.
It’s not the general kind of antioxidants in fruit juices that produce the benefit… [r]ather… polyphenols, a particularly strong antioxidant… are found in the outer sections of fruits and vegetables, only in the peel or skin. When you process the whole fruit, they go into the juice.”
It’s not the general kind of antioxidants in fruit juices that produce the benefit… [r]ather… polyphenols, a particularly strong antioxidant… are found in the outer sections of fruits and vegetables, only in the peel or skin. When you process the whole fruit, they go into the juice.”
Friday, September 29, 2006
Here are 5 things you can do to live longer—and it’s not what you’re thinking.
The latest thing to be outsourced to India is Tutoring
Gaining weight between pregnancies can be bad.
Here are some ways you can increase your good cholesterol (HDL).
Sunday, September 24, 2006
TV viewing is up and at an all-time high:
And contrary to the television industry's fears, "[t]he increases were actually highest in the younger demographics flocking to iPods, cell phones and video games."
The total average time per household in 2005-06 was eight hours and 14 minutes per day, a three-minute increase from 2004-05. Also resetting the record was total individual time, up three minutes from the previous year to four hours and 35 minutes.
And contrary to the television industry's fears, "[t]he increases were actually highest in the younger demographics flocking to iPods, cell phones and video games."
Thursday, September 21, 2006
In this column, a doctor talks about the good and bad of eating soy and how depression also afflicts new fathers, among other things.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
This article offers 10 tips from experts that can help you figure out if someone is lying.
In a study in Japan, people who drank 2 cups or more of green tea had a lower risk of lower risk of heart disease and death. While there appears to be an association, one still cannot infer causation from the study. But it does not hurt for everyone to start drinking two or more cups of green tea a day (although not piping hot) given what we know.
A study that assigned some teens to lift weights found that even though the weight-lifting teens did not lose weight, they lost body fat, gained lean muscle, and lowered their insulin-resistance.
Exposure to tobacco smoke before birth and exposure to lead in childhood might increase the risk of ADHD in children.
A sociologist has come out with a book studying the phenomenon of bed-sharing among couples, something that had previously not been given much attention.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Bruce Schneier says to get or renew your passport now when there's still a chance that it won't come with an RFID chip. Don't be a guinea pig for this new technology that has potential security risks.
Individual health insurance is a cash cow for health insurance companies in California because they look for any excuse to drop anbody who gets too sick, and so far they are getting away with it without any problems.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
A good European cancer study called EPIC is yielding useful information about the link between diet and cancer. Among the findings so far, eating red meat and processed meat (like cold cuts, hot dogs, sausage, bacon and ham) leads to increased risk of stomach and espohageal cancer, while eating more fruits and vegetables lowers breast cancer risk.
Why does red meat increase cancer risk? Here's an article that tries to answer this question.
This is what's recommended:
What about processed meats? They seem to increase cancer risk even more than fresh red meat. Here's the reason why this may be.
So, it seems that it is best to limit red meat consumption to 3 ounces a day or less of lean meat and to avoid processed meats as much as possible. The focus should be on eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans.
If you don't have time to read all the above articles for all the details, here's a quick overview from this Q&A:
Why does red meat increase cancer risk? Here's an article that tries to answer this question.
This is what's recommended:
[Limit] red meat consumption to three ounces a day or less. Choose poultry and stew it or bake it to avoid HCA formation. Prepare fish two times a week since studies show it offers protective benefits, apparently through its special omega-3 fat. Since none of the risks connected with red meat apply to plant-based dishes, make meatless entrées with beans, nuts, or seeds for protein.
What about processed meats? They seem to increase cancer risk even more than fresh red meat. Here's the reason why this may be.
So, it seems that it is best to limit red meat consumption to 3 ounces a day or less of lean meat and to avoid processed meats as much as possible. The focus should be on eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans.
If you don't have time to read all the above articles for all the details, here's a quick overview from this Q&A:
Q: Aren't only processed meats like sausage and hot dogs linked to cancer risk?
A: No. The large, ongoing EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study has analyzed the effect of red meat and processed red meats separately. People who ate the most fresh red meat (more than 2.8 ounces a day) had a 17 percent greater risk of colon cancer than those who ate the least. The same amount of processed red meats caused an even greater increase in risk. Sodium and nitrites or nitrates may make processed meats a greater cancer concern. Fresh red meat, however, may damage the DNA of colon cells and increase the formation of certain cancer-causing compounds within the gut. If you want to eat red meat, you should choose lean cuts and cook them at moderate temperatures. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) also recommends that you limit your consumption of red meat to three ounces a day. By filling most of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans - that are full of nutrients and good flavor - you will easily feel satisfied with a small amount of meat.
Q: Why are there stricter limits on eating red meat?
A: AICR recommends limiting your consumption of red meat to no more than three ounces a day because greater amounts of it are linked to an increased cancer risk. Red meat includes beef, lamb, pork and veal. The difference in risk between red and white meat seems to involve a specific protein that is more abundant in red meat.
Many people have no choice but to seek individual health insurance (especially now that many businesses are dropping group insurance coverage for their workers). Unfortunately, "[t]he overwhelming majority—89%—of working-age adults who shopped for health coverage in the individual market over the last three years were rejected for health reasons or found it too expensive.
The future of lie detection may lie in brain imaging.
Los Angeles Times: "These are just a few of the 25 tasty bargains that Food section writers discovered after pounding the pavement, from Santa Monica to the Sunset Strip, from North Hollywood to Westminster, from Koreatown to Little Tokyo."
Mystery finally revealed.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Check out this database of baby names. If you search for a name on the site, you will not only be provided with the origin and definition of the name, but also with a description of the type of person people picture and associate the name with.
Further study is needed to determine the safety of mercury amalgam fillings, according to FDA advisers. Read about the controversy here.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
One of the researchers behind the recently reported study that found that celebrities are more narcissistic than ordinary people is none other than Dr. Drew Pinsky, a celebrity in his own right. Pinksy used his connection to the radio show, Loveline to find celebrities to participate in his study, and succeeded in gaining access to a group that is normally impossible to reach by scientific researchers. The study found that celebrities with the most skill (musicians) were the least narcissistic, while those with the least skill (reality show contestants) were the most narcissistic, and women celebrities were more narcissistic than male celebrities.
Young, the other researcher behind the study, fears that narcissism is growing among college students (based on his other research on the subject). He thinks it may be due partly to their increased exposure to reality shows that feature narcissistic people.
That's scary.
Young, the other researcher behind the study, fears that narcissism is growing among college students (based on his other research on the subject). He thinks it may be due partly to their increased exposure to reality shows that feature narcissistic people.
That's scary.
This is a fascinating article. Can you imagine trying to learn everything you need to know to live in America in just 3 days? That’s all the preparation these Somalian refugees get before they board the plane to the richest country in the world. The extent of culture shock they are bound to encounter in the US is just mind-boggling. Some don’t even know how to use door knobs, toothpaste or toilet paper. When informed that it was illegal to beat wives and children in America, one man said “If I can’t beat my wife, how will she know that I love her?”
Worried that extremely skinny models are leading girls to develop eating disorders by showing them unhealthy role models, the Madrid regional government has banned underweight models (defined as those with BMIs under 18) from Madrid fashion week. The mayor of Milan is considering a similar ban for her city’s show, but London Fashion week will not be making any such restrictions.
It’s not easy to adopt a child if you’re gay, but the gay couples who are lucky enough to be able to adopt are often handed the most difficult and hard-to-place kids. Yet, gay parents can find adoption to be very rewarding, and children raised by gay parents have been found to fare just as well as those raised by heterosexual couples.
From the article:
The nations of the world joined Monday in solemn remembrance of Sept. 11–but for many, resentment of the United States flowed as readily as tears.
Critics say Americans have squandered the goodwill that prompted France’s Le Monde newspaper to proclaim ‘We are all Americans’ that somber day after the attacks, and that the Iraq war and other U.S. policies have made the world less safe in the five years since.
Monday, September 11, 2006
In an experiment, a researcher found “the most wear [on tooth enamel] occurred, in descending order, from—lemonade, energy drinks, sports drinks, fitness water (often with citrus flavors), ice tea and cola….[M]ost cola drinks contain acids, but energy and sport drinks also contain other organic acids that can speed up damage to the enamel.”
What you can do:
"No one’s saying avoid the drinks, but people tend to sip them continuously…It’s that constant acid attack that is causing the problem….If you are going to drink sports drinks or colas, drink them quickly and then try to rinse your mouth. Or use a straw…[i]t gets it past your teeth….And resist the urge to grab your toothbrush after consuming sports drinks….Toothpaste is a bit abrasive. It will work it [the acids] in."
What you can do:
"No one’s saying avoid the drinks, but people tend to sip them continuously…It’s that constant acid attack that is causing the problem….If you are going to drink sports drinks or colas, drink them quickly and then try to rinse your mouth. Or use a straw…[i]t gets it past your teeth….And resist the urge to grab your toothbrush after consuming sports drinks….Toothpaste is a bit abrasive. It will work it [the acids] in."
Drinking soda is like drinking liquid candy—it’s unhealthy and can make you fat, among other things.
As for diet sodas, they may be low in calories but drinking them doesn’t really lead to weight loss, and they are also bad for your teeth and bones like regular sodas.
It makes sense to switch from sodas to other healthier drinks such as water, milk, tea, and even fruit juice.
Here’s how one family kicked their soda habit.
As for diet sodas, they may be low in calories but drinking them doesn’t really lead to weight loss, and they are also bad for your teeth and bones like regular sodas.
It makes sense to switch from sodas to other healthier drinks such as water, milk, tea, and even fruit juice.
Here’s how one family kicked their soda habit.
Here are some post-9/11 survival tips for travelers from the Washington Post.
Video games are not just for the young anymore; “25 percent of U.S. gamers are 50 and older.” Senior citizens who play games find that it is good for their minds, their reflexes, and their social lives, and some say it has even saved their lives.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
If you ever find yourself stranded in the wilderness, here's a guide to surviving in the woods for 3 days.
Being hard-working may be a virtue, but it may not be that good for you.
The LA Times looks into the mystery behind Lonelygirl15 of YouTube fame.
Now there are even “fat” and “skinny” TV shows: Crime dramas—fat, Desperate Housewives and The OC—skinny.
Here’s an interesting “speech” a former university president wishes he could have given to incoming freshmen when he was still a president about the cost of their college education.
Toddlers learn better from real-time interactions with a person on video than they do from just watching a recorded video.
This other article from the New York Times reports on the same study in more detail. From the NYT article:
Those involved with the study postulated toddlers learn at an increased rate when they feel they can socially interact with the person on-screen, as was the case with the real time video.
This other article from the New York Times reports on the same study in more detail. From the NYT article:
Developmental psychologists say the Vanderbilt research offers an intriguing clue to a phenomenon called the “video deficit.” Toddlers who have no trouble understanding a task demonstrated in real life often stumble when the same task is shown onscreen. They need repeated viewings to figure it out….
Child-development experts say the deficit confirms the age-old wisdom that real-life interactions are best for babies. Parents can be assured, they say, that their presence trumps the tube….
…[P]sychologists stress that in-person connections with parents are by far a child’s best teacher. No word yet on whether that includes those moments when harried parents are so distracted that TV characters are more responsive than they are.
This writer talks about why he thinks getting a bigger computer screen is the best upgrade you can get for a computer.
"Scientists may have figured out how high-fiber diets help digestion."
Some guidelines you can follow to prevent diabetes.
Parents need to devote greater attention to safety while driving or they risk putting their lives and their children’s lives in danger.
Men and women are different, and the way they deal with conflict can also be very different.
If done right, fights between couples can be productive, but if done improperly, fights can degenerate and eventually lead to estrangement.
Here’s an article with advice for men on the best way to approach a fight with their wives, that women would also do well to read.
If done right, fights between couples can be productive, but if done improperly, fights can degenerate and eventually lead to estrangement.
Here’s an article with advice for men on the best way to approach a fight with their wives, that women would also do well to read.
The whole world is getting fatter. Rich countries and poor countries, rich people and poor people are all falling victim to this epidemic of weight gain. In fact, in some cases, poor people are becoming fatter than rich people.
The New York Times discusses some options for backing up the data on your computer.
Here are some ways to save money when eating out. Of course, usually, the best way to save money is to just eat at home.
What are the chances of winning a million dollars in the lottery… twice? In this case: 1 in 3,669,120,000,000.
This scheme to vaporize trash by incinerating it at temperatures hotter than the sun, in the process generating power and creating slag that can be used in road and construction projects, sounds good—if it works.
Esquire presents solutions to a bunch of life’s problems (including hiccups, smelly feet, and house guests who won’t leave).
Saturday, September 09, 2006
How to make the most nutritionally out of your bagged salad.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
By cocooning themselves in the comfort of air conditioning, humans are making global warming worse by using up large amounts of energy to keep themselves cool all the while expelling hot air indoors into the outdoors. The cool comfort of air conditioning also makes it hard for people to experience, and therefore realize, the consequences of the harm they are doing to the earth.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
No surprise: a study found that celebrities are more narcissistic. But it's not because it comes with the job. Rather, people who seek out celebrity are often narcissists.
Guinness World Records has decided that this 20-inch-tall fourteen-year-old boy will have to wait four more years to make sure he is fully grown, before he can be eligible for the title of “world’s shortest man”.
Here’s an interesting idea about the American educational system and why it does better than one might expect given the low scores Americans get on international tests.
Here’s another way to check online prices using your cell phone while you shop in a brick-and-mortar store. With Frucall, you call a toll-free number and enter the item’s bar code to get online prices for the item. This differs from other services that use text messaging.
Thisis interesting, even if you never end up using the information (hopefully).
Here is some useful advice on doing laundry from the University of Iowa.
While washing in cold water saves a lot of energy and is therefore better for the environment, there are some cases where it is necessary to wash in hot water.
From the article:
In a study involving more than 8,000 U.S. males and females ranging in age from 2 to 90, Vanderbilt University researchers … discovered females have a significant advantage on timed tests and tasks—especially among pre-teens and teens.
From the article:
[P]assports will be required starting next year for most everyone entering the United States from the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico through airports and seaports. Land borders will adopt the same requirement in 2008.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The pill would be packed with aspirin, statins and ACE inhibitors—the three drugs known to prevent recurrent heart disease. “Potentially, millions of lives could be saved worldwide by this,” said Dr. Sidney Smith, of the World Heart Federation. “These therapies are known to reduce mortality by up to 50% or more,” said Smith.
Why are things from our teenage years stuck in our minds? They call it the reminiscence bump.
There really is something to the melding of music and images in the minds of synesthetes.
Friday, September 01, 2006
California (together with the rest of the world) needs to do something about global warming; otherwise the state will face major problems in the future ranging from a drastic reduction in water supply to dire effects on agriculture.
So far, the mercury exposure people get from silver dental fillings is still considered to be at an acceptable level, according to the FDA.