Many Americans fear immigrants coming into the US, but this LA Times columnist argues that Americans might stand to benefit if immigrants actually were to displace American culture.
crapbag
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
High-heat cooking like grilling and broiling produces carcinogens. Here's what you can do to reduce the production of cancer-causing chemicals the next time you grill.
Some popular food myths.
Wherever you go, it seems that the portions beings served to Americans are too large. This portion distortion has led to rising obesity rates in the country. Unless people learn how to control portion sizes on their own, they will find themselves eating more calories than they think they're eating and gaining weight.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Why do we eat popcorn at theater? Learn all about the history of movie theater concessions.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
This article contains a lot of useful information about air travel including helpful tips for travelers and information on your rights.
Short article on processed foods.
Games based on movies tend to be bad. Here's why.
Sweden is considered the best country for women. Perhaps gender equality can be engineered. At least we know there are some steps we can take to get closer to that goal.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Interesting article about how online retailers get you to spend more than you intended.
This is a very interesting article about how firstborns tend to have a higher IQ than their younger siblings. A Norwegian study seems to point to it being due to the way first-borns are treated/raised by their families, rather than due to biology.
If you are drinking coffee just for the health benefits, this suggests that it might be better to just take decaf or even possibly not drink coffee at all.
In any case, it’s best not to drink too much caffeine.
You could probably also try drinking tea (which has less caffeine) or decaffeinated tea.
From the article:
In any case, it’s best not to drink too much caffeine.
You could probably also try drinking tea (which has less caffeine) or decaffeinated tea.
From the article:
The vaunted benefits of coffee and tea may be in spite of the stimulant rather than because of it.
…[H]abitual and large doses of caffeine can also stress the heart and interfere with insulin’s ability to process sugar. And many of the benefits ascribed to caffeine may be due, in fact, to other chemicals that outweigh caffeine’s negative effects.
…What we find is that if you take caffeine away from caffeine drinkers, they perform worse than when they get caffeine and they perform worse than people who don’t normally get caffeine….When people who are normally caffeine-free get caffeine, however, some studies show only a much smaller mental boost, while others show no boost at all…It may be withdrawal that makes people falter… not caffeine that makes them sharper. If they’re not already coffee drinkers, taking up the habit won’t make help.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Some good general advice on how to keep healthy (e.g. advice on diet, exercise, and doctors).
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Watch out for deadly sand holes at the beach.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Here are some reasons why a fresh graduate might want to put off working at a “real job” after college, and instead dare to pursue his/her dream.
Very interesting article on the10 most bizarre people on earth.
Here is some useful general information about doctors and medication.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Most of us probably don’t know this,, but redheads in the UK are commonly made fun of and picked on as described in this article. It’s interesting that hair color takes on different meanings in different contexts. In the US, for example, having red hair is glamorous and sexy.
What happens when you lose 400 pounds? This man did it and you can see his before and after pictures here. He also links to his full story on how he gained the weight and lost it.
Monday, June 18, 2007
This is why you should never go to a chiropractor. There is simply no convincing evidence that what they do helps, and there are many risks to receiving chiropractic "treatment" including potentially getting a stroke.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Formaldehyde—yummy! Pesticides, gypsum and hog slop, are among the things you’ll find in some of the food being sold in Asia, some of which is now being exported all over the globe.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
This is the story of how Washington Post food writer learned the hard way that he couldn't keep indulging in foods that aren't healthy and not expect to pay a price. Unfortunately, no one is exempt from having to watch his/her diet.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
How to win the battle of the bulge in a world that seems designed to make you fat.
Friday, June 08, 2007
“[M]any aspects of morality appear to be hard-wired in the brain, most likely the result of evolutionary processes that began in other species.”
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Noise pollution is a threat to people's physical and mental health. It can harm their education and even their relationships to other people. This is why we need to make it a priority to reduce the noise in our environment whether it's from traffic, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, car alarms or loud music.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Dogs may be smarter than previously thought. Initial research has shown that dogs are capable of selective imitation similar to human babies.
Some people sleepwalk, some sleepeat and some engage in sleepsex.
Here is a thread with people talking about getting penalized by their insurance company for simply for making an inquiry about a potential claim over the phone.
In summary:
Don’t ever call your insurance company to inquire about coverage for any claim. They will consider it a claim even if they didn’t pay you anything and you were just asking a question.
Never mention any problems you are having because later on they may use what you mentioned against you (e.g., asking about a water leak may later lead them to allege faulty maintenance on your part and be used to deny your claim).
If you really must call to inquire about a potential claim, do so anonymously. Pretend that you are a new customer who is shopping around for insurance.
Never file a claim for small amounts that you can afford to pay yourself. You will end up paying more than what you receive in subsequently higher premiums and may even become uninsurable. For example, some people with mold in their houses get dropped by the insurance company the year after they file their claim and can no longer find any insurance company that will accept them.
In summary:
Don’t ever call your insurance company to inquire about coverage for any claim. They will consider it a claim even if they didn’t pay you anything and you were just asking a question.
Never mention any problems you are having because later on they may use what you mentioned against you (e.g., asking about a water leak may later lead them to allege faulty maintenance on your part and be used to deny your claim).
If you really must call to inquire about a potential claim, do so anonymously. Pretend that you are a new customer who is shopping around for insurance.
Never file a claim for small amounts that you can afford to pay yourself. You will end up paying more than what you receive in subsequently higher premiums and may even become uninsurable. For example, some people with mold in their houses get dropped by the insurance company the year after they file their claim and can no longer find any insurance company that will accept them.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Do you know these words?