Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales

The Making of Golf Balls

2010-07-29T09:08:00.000-04:00

The golf ball market is worth around $550 million in annual sales, with over 850 million golf balls being manufactured and shipped every year. Currently, balls are made in two or three parts. A two-piece ball is made of rubber and plastic, and is mostly used by the casual golfer. These balls last a lot longer than the three-piece balls the pros use and hence make up 70% of all golf ball production. A three-piece ball consists of a plastic cover, windings of rubber thread, and a core that contains a gel or liquid (sugar and water) or is solid. A dimple pattern on the surface results in good flight performance.

The most common dimple patterns are the icosahedral, the dodecahedral, and the octahedral. The icosahedral pattern is based on a polyhedral with 20 identical triangular faces, much like a 20-sided die. Similarly, a dodecahedral is based on a polyhedral with 12 identical faces in the shape of pentagons. The octahedral is based on an eight-sided polyhedral with triangular faces. Some balls are based on the icosahedral with 500 dimples. As a general rule, the more dimples a ball has the better it flies, provided those dimples are about 0.15 in (0.38 cm) in diameter.

The size and depth of the dimples also affect performance. Shallow dimples generate more spin on a golf ball than deep dimples, which increases lift and causes the ball to rise and stay in the air longer and roll less. Deep dimples generate less spin on a golf ball than shallow dimples, which decrease lift and causes the ball to stay on a low trajectory, with less air time and greater roll. Small dimples generally give the ball a lower trajectory and good control in the wind, where as large dimples give the ball a higher trajectory and longer flight time.

Technological advances in materials and aerodynamics now allow the manufacturer to custom-fit a golf ball for a players' particular game, for weather conditions, and even for specific course conditions. Golf balls can be separated into four basic performance categories: distance and durability; control and maneuverability; distance and control; and slow club head speed. Within these categories there are more than 80 different balls of varying construction materials and design.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has established rules for the ball in regard to maximum weight, minimum size, spherical symmetry, initial velocity, and overall distance. The weight of the ball must not be greater than 1.62 oz (45.93 g) and must be spherically symmetrical. The velocity shall not be greater than 250 feet (75 m) per second (255 feet [76.5 m] per second maximum) when measured on apparatus approved by the USGA. The overall distance standard states that the ball shall not cover an average distance in carry and roll exceeding 280 yards (84 m) (296.8 yards [89 m] maximum). These rules are updated every year.

Currently, there are around 850 models of balls that conform to these standards. Recently, balls that are about 2% larger than ordinary balls have been introduced that still conform to USGA rules. These balls have softer cores and thicker, harder covers, which leads to a straighter, longer shot.

The Manufacturing Process
Three-piece golf balls are more difficult to make and can require more than 80 different manufacturing steps and 32 inspections, taking up to 30 days to make one ball. Two-piece balls require about half of these steps and can be produced in as little as one day.

Forming the center
The center of the two-piece ball is a molded core. It is a blend of several different ingredients, all of which are chemically reactive to give a rubber type compound. After heat and pressure is applied, a core of about 1.5 inches (3.75 cm) is formed.

Forming the cover and dimples
•Injection molding or compression molding is used to form the cover and dimples on a two-piece ball using a two-piece mold. In injection molding, the core is centered within a mold cavity by pins, and molten thermoplastic is injected into the dimpled cavity surrounding the core. Heat and pressure cause the cover material to flow to join with the center forming the dimpled shape and size of the finished ball. As the plastic cools and hardens, the pins are retracted and the finished balls are removed.
•With compression molding, the cover is first injection molded into two hollow hemispheres. These are positioned around the core, heated and then pressed together, using a mold which fuses the cover to the core and also forms the dimples. Three-piece balls are all compression molded since the hot plastic flowing through would distort and probably cause breaks in the rubber threads.

Polishing, painting, and final coating
"Flash" or rough spots and the seam on the molded cover are removed. Two coats of paint are applied to the ball. Each ball sits on two posts, which spins so that the paint is applied uniformly. Spray guns that are automatically controlled are used to apply the paint. Next, the ball is stamped with the logo. The final step is the application of a clear coat for high sheen and scuff resistance.

Drying and packaging
After the paint is applied, the balls are loaded into containers and placed in large dryers. After drying, the balls are ready for packaging in boxes and other containers.

Quality Control
In addition to monitoring the manufacturing process using computers and monitors, three-piece balls are x-rayed to make sure the centers are perfectly round. Compression ratings are also used to measure compression-molded, wound golf balls. These ratings have no meaning when applied to two-piece balls, however. Instead, these balls are measured by a co efficiency rating, which is the ratio of initial speed to return speed after the ball has struck a metal plate. This procedure measures the coefficient of restitution.

Information provided by answers.com

Quote:
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling." ~ Mark Twain

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What is an Idiom?

2010-07-28T08:05:00.000-04:00

An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words.
Here are some - you may find you know/use many of them!
A penny saved is a penny earned: This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it.
A still tongue keeps a wise head: Wise people don't talk much.
All the tea in China: If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
Armchair critic: An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.
Call the dogs off: If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticising someone.
Case in point: Meaning an instance of something has just occurred that was previously discussed. For instance, a person may have told another that something always happens. Later that day, they see it happening, and the informer might say, 'case in point'.
Chickenfeed: If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.
Many moons ago: A very long time ago.
March to the beat of your own drum: If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do things the way they want without taking other people into consideration.
Mark my words: Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of seriousness to what the speaker is about to say when talking about the future.
Recharge your batteries: If you recharge your batteries, you do something to regain your energy after working hard for a long time.
Recipe for disaster: A recipe for disaster is a mixture of people and events that could only possibly result in trouble.
Red carpet: If you give someone the red-carpet treatment, you give them a special welcome to show that you think they are important. You can roll out the red carpet, too.
Waiting in the wings: If someone is waiting in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.
Wake up and smell the coffee: When someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them, you can tell them to wake up and smell the coffee.
Water off a duck's back: If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.
Oldest trick in the book: The oldest trick in the book is a well-known way of deceiving someone, though still effective.
Olive branch: If you hold out or offer an olive branch, you make a gesture to indicate that you want peace.
On a fishing expedition: If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to get information, often using incorrect or improper ways to find things out.
Elbow room: If you haven't got enough elbow room, you haven't got enough space.
Elephant in the room: An elephant in the room is a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Eleventh hour: If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens right at the last minute.
Empty vessels make the most noise: The thoughtless often speak the most.
Beating around the bush: Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Bend over backwards: Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Between a rock and a hard place: Stuck between two very bad options.
Bite off more than you can chew: To take on a task that is way to big.
Flash in the pan: Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Icing on the cake: When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
Idle hands are the devil's tools: You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
If it's not one thing, it's another: When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...
New York minute: A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.
No dice: To not agree. To not accept a proposition.
No room to swing a cat: An unusually small or confined space.
Not playing with a full deck: Someone who lacks intelligence.

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Exercising at Home

2010-07-27T08:01:00.000-04:00

Exercise at home: Top 10 fitness workouts to do at home ~ Written by Marie Hughes
Always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

1. STAIR CLIMBING
    You can get the same benefits at home as you would in a step aerobics class at the gym. If you have a staircase in your home, you can get a great workout by simply climbing the stairs. To start, stand at the bottom of the stairs and walk in place for about one minute to get your leg muscles warmed up. Next, step up onto the first stair, and then back down. Repeat this move on the first stair only ten times. Walk in place for fifteen seconds. Next, walk up the first two stairs, and then back down, then walk up one stair and back down. Repeat ten times. Then go up three stairs, come down, walk up two stairs, come down, and walk up one stair and come down. Repeat ten times. Continue the pattern up ten stairs. You will definitely feel the burn by the end of this step routine. I don’t recommend going up more than ten stairs because it will get tricky to walk back down after that point. If you feel winded or dizzy, start slow. Stick with the first three stairs, and gradually build up your endurance over the weeks and months to come.

2. COUCH KICKS
    You can work out your thigh and gluteus muscles by using your couch as a piece of exercise equipment. Stand up facing the couch, with one of the couch arms in front of you. Bend forward, supporting your weight on the arm of the couch. Keep your head down so that you do not put stress on your neck muscles. Kick your right leg back, so that the bottom of your foot is parallel to the ceiling, and then bring it back down. When you are doing the exercise properly, you should feel it in your thigh and butt. Do fifteen repetitions on your right leg, and then repeat with your left leg. Continue switching back and forth between your legs until you feel like you have to stop. You will get results after a few weeks of this “uplifting” workout.

3. LAUNDRY LIFTS
    A laundry basket full of clothes can be more than a household chore – it can be an arm sculpting piece of exercise apparatus! Hold the basket above you head, and lift upwards and back down. Do at least three repetitions of fifteen lifts each. If it is too heavy for you, all you have to do is take out some clothes. This exercise will work your shoulders, upper arms, and upper back muscles. Vary this workout by laying flat on your back, and lifting the basket up and down from your chest.

4. WORKOUT VIDEOS
    There are some excellent workout videos on the market today that can get you into tip top shape. The 8-minute video series has editions for the arms, back, butt, thighs, and more. Tae Bo, which features the fat-blasting and energizing moves of host Billy Blanks, is a great home workout option, and there are many videos in his series to choose from, including a beginner’s video. Visit your local video rental store, and check out their collection of exercise video rentals. This way, you can try out workouts before you buy a video, and you can get a diversified workout.

5. COMMERCIAL BREAKS
    If you are a devout couch potato, and you love vegging-out in front of the television, then commercial break exercise bursts are right for you. While you are watching, do some curls with five or ten pound weights. When a commercial comes on, get up for a burst of intense exercise. Do some sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, or crunches. Get your heart rate up. When the show comes back on, you can go back to the light exercise. Continue the cycle throughout your shows… every little bit counts! You will hardly realize that you are getting a workout.

6. CRUNCHES COMBO
    You don’t need an expensive membership to a fitness club or a personal trainer to get some killer abdominal muscles. Crunch routines can easily be done from the comfort of your own living room. If you have problems with neck pain when you do crunches, you might opt to invest in an “ab roller” machine because they cushion your head and neck. If you are doing crunches correctly, your neck should not be strained, but many people have a hard time getting them right, so the head cushion is helpful. Start with some isometrics. Take a five-second count to come up, and five seconds back down. Do five reps. You will feel the burn. Next, do three reps of fifteen crunches at a normal pace. Next, you will turn onto your side, with your upper back and shoulders still facing upward. Do the same workout that you did for the standard crunches (isometric, then at a regular pace) on both of your sides. This will work your oblique muscles, also known as love handles.

7. ROLLING CHAIR PRESSES
    If you have an office chair with wheels (a swivel chair), then you can do some arm workouts right at your desk. Just hold onto the edge of your desk while you are seated in the chair, and use your arm muscles to pull yourself close to the desk, and then push yourself back away. This will work your biceps.

8. MARCHING DISHES
    Life is busy, so try to multi-task if you don’t have time to fit in a proper work out. When you are stuck in front of the sink doing dishes, march in place. You can also try some calf exercises: just lift yourself up and down on your tiptoes. You should try to incorporate exercise into your daily tasks whenever possible.

9. TREADMILL TIME
    If you can afford to get just one piece of workout equipment for your home gym, it should be a treadmill. Walking and jogging on a treadmill will give you an excellent cardiovascular workout. Try to get in a minimum of thirty minutes a day. Experiment with different speeds and inclines.

10. BUST A MOVE
    Dancing is a great way to burn off pounds, and it also great fun. Turn on some off your favorites tunes with a fast and energetic beat, and break it down. It doesn’t matter what you look like – all that matters is that you are burning calories, and loving every minute of it.

Quotes:
"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." ~ John F. Kennedy

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~ Thomas Edison

"Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far." ~ Thomas Jefferson

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Top 10 Best House Cats

2010-07-26T11:13:00.001-04:00

Top Ten Best House Cats ~ By: Helen Polaski

    While there are about 71 different breeds, fewer than 40 are true house cats. Of that number, about half are longhaired and half are shorthaired. Some shed worse than others do.

1. Alley Cat: This cat is a domestic short hair (DSH), not to be confused with the American Shorthair, though the only real difference is that the American Shorthair will consistently give birth to kittens with all of the same qualities. An alley cat cannot do the same. Each litter an alley cat delivers will generally be different.
     The alley cat often exhibits some throwback qualities, including long hair or additional toes, such as polydactyl cats or mittened cats, also known as Hemingway cats. Though extra toes on each paw have long been known as a byproduct of inbreeding, many people seek this cat for its uniqueness. In fact, at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, approximately 60 polydactyl cats, descendants from Hemingway's original ship cats, still carry on the extra-toed tradition. Alley cats appear to have the best temperaments, are long-lived and come in an array of beautiful colors. However, this cat prefers to be an indoor/outdoor cat. The problem with letting your cat roam is that it can be injured or pick up illnesses from other outdoor cats. Once you get a cat, it is best to keep it indoors.

2. Himalayan or Persian: Longhaired and good-natured, this cat makes a perfect lap cat. The breed offers several colors, including everything from solid red to cats with multicolored points. This cat is an indoor only cat, and its long hair requires brushing on a regular basis. Mats will occur from time to time and require a visit to the vet. While there may be some maintenance involved, the Himalayan generally is a sweet cat with few issues.

3. Maine Coon: Longhaired and good-natured, this native of Maine is one of the oldest natural cat breeds of North America. While there is no proof, legend claims the cat bred with a raccoon, hence the markings. This cat is built for outdoors and cold climates. Extra-thick fur and a long, bushy tail help protect it against the elements. Maine Coons reach their mature size by around five years of age, but-especially males-tend to retain kitten qualities throughout their lifetime. Occasionally, a polydactyl will appear in a litter, as was common in the beginning, but breeders have done a good job of eliminating this benign inbreeding deformity.

4. Exotic: This breed includes several favorites, such as the Bengal, a leopard-spotted cat that looks just like the wild cat it's named after. Because its hind legs are longer than its front legs, this cat has a graceful stride that is also reminiscent of a wild Bengal Tiger.
     The Savannah is another exotic breed that is sought after. This breed has been around for about 10 years; it is a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat. Tall and lanky, with solid, dark spots over a tawny basecoat, these cats look wild and some still act the part. However, as the cats are further domesticated, the breed as a whole is expected to become more docile.

5. Siamese: Shorthaired cats with dark points (similar to the Himalayan) were transported in from Thailand in the 1800s. With deep-blue, almond-shaped eyes and clean, sleek lines, this cat is known for its grace and elegance. The Siamese cat, however, has changed over the years. Today's Siamese, the Modern Siamese, is a mere shadow of its former self, the Traditional Siamese, which was a well-rounded cat with beautiful blue eyes and a disposition to match.

6. Ragdoll: This breed is semi-longhaired and adorable. This laid-back cat has captured the hearts of many across the globe because of its affectionate nature. Less finicky than your usual cat, Ragdolls enjoy and seek out human company, whereas many cats will not. This cat is well-behaved and does not shed much.

7. Abyssinian: A shorthaired cat that resembles the Egyptian cats of old. No one is quite sure where the Abyssinian breed came from. With its arched neck, almond-shaped eyes and muscular body, the Abyssinian is as graceful as it is beautiful. Its large ears, dark upper body markings and lighter underbody markings make this cat strikingly handsome.

8. Sphynx: This breed is hairless. These cats may have eyebrows and ear hair and some peach fuzz on their body. The Sphynx is intelligent, curious and generally very active. Because they do not have hair or fur, they tend to be great cuddlers.

9. Oriental: A shorthair with wide, large ears and a whippy tail. The Oriental is usually devoted to its owner, staying close by throughout the day. As long as this cat gets the attention it requires, it will be playful and spirited throughout its lifetime.

10. Birman: This longhaired breed originated in Burma. Markings are similar to that of a Siamese or Himalayan, except that this cat's fur is silkier and doesn't mat like a Persian. Strikingly, the cat's front toes are pure white. With rounded eyes the color of a beautiful blue sky, this cat has very expressive face, framed within a dark mask. Considered sacred in its homeland, the Birman is playful and inquisitive, but with a knack for understanding when it's playtime and when its master is busy.

Quotes:
"In ancient times, cats were worshiped as gods; they have never forgotten this." ~ Unknown
"You own a dog but you feed a cat."- Jenny de Vries

"Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." ~ George Eliot

Below is a small compilation of well-known sayings about cats (and their meanings), and a few cat-inspired proverbs from around the world.
--It’s raining cats and dogs – This is an expression used to indicate that it’s pouring hard and heavy.
--Curiosity killed the cat - This phrase is used as a cautionary expression. To mind our own business.
--Let the cat out of the bag – To spill the beans, so to speak.
--Sick as a cat – Cats are known for hiding any sign of illness, so when they appear to be sick it usually means that their ailment might be quite advanced. So this phrase suggests that the person is very sick.
--To fight like cats and dogs – This phrase makes use of the legendary animosity between cats and dogs. No holds barred kind of battle.
--To be like a cat on a hot tin roof – To be excited and nervous.
--To grin like a Cheshire cat – To display a very big, and mischievous smile. The exact origins of this saying are not exactly known, but it has been widely associated with The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, and the equally famous Cheshire cat.
--Like herding cats – An almost impossible task.
--Dogs have owners, cats have staff – I think that this cat saying is pretty much self-explanatory.

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Cataract Information

2010-07-22T08:25:00.001-04:00

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. The vast majority of cataracts are related to age. Most people do not even realize they have a cataract, as cataracts grow very slowly and may not impede vision early on. After a number of years vision will likely be affected. When the cataract has become so dense that it compromises the patient's quality of life, the patient and ophthalmologist will discuss the appropriate time to remove it. Surgery is the only treatment.

What Causes a Cataract?
The human lens is transparent so that light can travel through it easily. It has no blood supply. It is 65% water. Although new cells are being made for the lens continuously throughout our lifetime, many factors combine as we age to cause areas in the lens to become cloudy, hard, and dense. The lens can then no longer transmit a clear picture to the retina where it can be processed and sent through the optic nerve to the brain.

What are the Different Types of Cataract?

Congenital – although it is not common, some babies are born with cataracts or develop them within the first year of life.
Traumatic – this results from an injury to the eye.
Secondary – this is a cataract that is caused either by medications (most commonly prednisone or other corticosteroids) or disease, like diabetes. Cataracts are 10 times more common in diabetic patients than in the general population.
Age-related – this is the most common kind of cataract. There are three subclassifications, based on location: nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular.

Facts and Figures:

By age 65, over 90% of people have a cataract.
50% of people between the ages of 75 and 85 have lost some vision because of a cataract.
In the United States, cataract surgery is the most frequent therapeutic procedure performed on people age 65 and above.
Over 2 million cataract procedures are performed in the United States every year and include patients who range from newborn to those in their 90s.
Cataract is the most common cause of blindness in the world, although it is treatable.

Symptoms:
Typically patients will experience blurry vision, double vision, sensitivity to light, glare, colors that appear washed out, and frequent changes to eyeglass prescription. An ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to diagnose a cataract by looking through a slit-lamp during a dilated eye examination or by looking through an ophthalmoscope.

Treatment:
Surgical removal of cataracts and replacement with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens) is the most successful surgical procedure in the country. This is performed on an out-patient basis under local anesthesia.

Preventing Cataracts:
Although there is no surefire way to prevent cataracts from forming, there is evidence to show that protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light may prevent or slow the progression of cataracts. Smoking also increases the rate of cataract formation, so stopping smoking will decrease the risk.

Mythbusters - Facts about Cataracts:
Cataracts do not travel from one eye to the other.
Cataracts are not caused by using the eyes too much.
Cataracts are not related to cancer.
Cataracts cannot be treated or removed with a laser.

Quote:
"The spiritual eyesight improves as the physical eyesight declines." ~ Plato

A Bit of Humor:
“No one ever injured his eyesight by looking on the bright side of things” ~ Author Unknown

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78 Reasons to Avoid Sugar

2010-07-21T09:54:00.000-04:00

78 Reasons to Avoid Sugar ~ Straight from the writings of Dr. Victor Frank, founder/creator of Total Body Modification

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
5. Sugar can adversely affect children's school grades.
6. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
7. Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
8. Sugar can cause kidney damage.
9. Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol.
10. Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol.
11. Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
12. Sugar may cause copper deficiency.
13. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
14. Sugar may lead to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, and rectum.
15. Sugar can cause colon cancer with an increased risk in women.
16. Sugar can be a risk factor in gall bladder cancer.
17. Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
18. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
19. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which can narrow blood vessels.
20. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
21. Sugar can produce acidic stomach.
22. Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
23. Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
24. Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and gray hair.
25. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
26. Sugar can produce tooth decay.
27. Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
28. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
29. Sugar can case a raw, inflamed intestinal tract in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
30. Sugar can cause arthritis.
31. Sugar can cause asthma.
32. Sugar can cause candidiasis (yeast infection).
33. Sugar can lead to the formation of gallstones.
34. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
35. Sugar can cause ischemic heart disease.
36. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
37. Sugar can exacerbate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
38. Sugar can indirectly cause hemorrhoids.
39. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
40. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraception users.
41. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
42. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
43. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
44. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
45. Sugar leads to a decreased glucose tolerance.
46. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
47. Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
48. Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
49. Sugar can change the structure of protein causing interference with protein absorption.
50. Sugar causes food allergies.
51. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
52. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
53. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
54. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
55. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.
56. Sugar can cause cataracts.
57. Sugar can cause emphysema.
58. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
59. Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
60. Sugar lowers the enzymes' abilities to function.
61. Sugar can cause the loss of tissue elasticity and function.
62. Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar can cause constipation.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can cause hypertension.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
72. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
73. Sugar can cause depression.
74. Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low-sugar diets.
75. Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.
76. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
77. Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness, which increases risk of blood clots.
78. Sugar can increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease

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Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

2010-07-20T08:17:00.001-04:00

Heat exhaustion: This condition often occurs when people exercise (work or play) in a hot, humid place and body fluids are lost through sweating, causing the body to overheat. The person's temperature may be elevated, but not above 104°F.

Heat stroke: This medical condition is life-threatening. The person's cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point where brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result (temperature may reach 105+°F).

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Causes
Heat exhaustion is typically caused when people who are not well adjusted to heat exercise in a hot, humid environment.
•At high temperatures, the body cools itself largely through evaporation of sweat.
•When it is very humid, this mechanism does not work properly.
•The body loses a combination of fluids and salts (electrolytes).
•When this is accompanied by an inadequate replacement of fluids, disturbances in the circulation may result that are similar to a mild form of shock.

Heat stroke may often develop rapidly.
•Medical conditions or medications that impair the body's ability to sweat may predispose people to this problem.
•Heat stroke happens in the following two ways:
     1. The classic form occurs in people whose cooling mechanisms are impaired.
     2. The exertional form occurs in previously healthy people who are undergoing strenuous activity in a hot environment.
•Infants and the elderly are more likely to have this problem, as are those who are taking antihistamines and certain types of medication for high blood pressure or depression.

Heat exhaustion symptoms:
•Often pale with cool, moist skin
•Sweating profusely
•Muscle cramps or pains
•Feels faint or dizzy
•May complain of headache, weakness, thirst, and nausea
•Core (rectal) temperature elevated-usually more than 100°F-and the pulse rate increased

Heat stroke symptoms:
•Unconscious or has a markedly abnormal mental status (dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, or coma)
•Flushed, hot, and dry skin (although it may be moist initially from previous sweating or from attempts to cool the person with water)
•May have slightly elevated blood pressure at first that falls later
•May be hyperventilating
•Rectal (core) temperature of 105°F or more

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How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

2010-07-19T08:13:00.000-04:00

Naming the Big Storms
    The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)'s site explains that the first use of a proper name for a tropical cyclone was by an Australian forecaster early in the 20th century.
    He gave tropical cyclone names "after political figures whom he disliked. By properly naming a hurricane, the weatherman could publicly describe a politician (who perhaps was not too generous with weather-bureau appropriations) as 'causing great distress' or 'wandering aimlessly about the Pacific.'"
    During World War II, US Army Air Corp and Navy meteorologists named Pacific storms after their girlfriends or wives. You'll have to decide for yourself whether the women were happy with having terrible cyclones named after them!
    From 1950 to 1952, tropical cyclones, including hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean, were identified by the standard radio names: Able; Baker; Charlie;... etc., but in 1953 the US Weather Bureau switched back to women's names. Then, in a politically correct move in 1979, the WMO and the US National Weather Service (NWS) added men's names.
    Choosing names for cyclonic events, like hurricanes, that are potential international disasters takes the work of an international group. Names for these storms are approved by a committee of the World Meteorological Organization. There are six lists of hurricane names. The names are reused every six years unless a storm creates enough havoc to have its name retired.

Why name hurricanes at all?
    Names just makes it easier to talk about the storms and warn people about the dangerous ones. During peak hurricane season in late summer, there may be several storms heading in the same direction at the same time. If each one has a name, it makes talking about the storms easier and less confusing.
    Since the name list started in in 1950, the furthest they have gone down the list has been in recording-breaking year of 2005, the first season to use "V" and "W" names.
   In fact, after using up all 21 names, forecasters resorted to using letters from the Greek alphabet for the first time, dubbing the last storms of that year Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta.

~ The above information was written by Katrina Cramer-Diaz

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Ad Jingles and Slogans

2010-07-16T08:13:00.002-04:00

Remember these?

Ad Jingles:
1. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" - Coca Cola 1971
2. "You Deserve a Break Today" - McDonald's
3. "Two All Beef Patties" - McDonald's
4. "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz" - Alka Seltzer 1976
5. "I Don't Want to Grow Up" - Toys R Us
6. "Stuck on Me" - Band Aid
7. "I'd Love to be An Oscar Myer Wiener" - Oscar Myer
8. "Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun" - Wrigley's Doublement Gum
9. "Wouldn't You Like to be a Pepper Too?" - Dr. Pepper
10. "M'm M'm Good" - Campbell's Soup 1935
11. "Hot Dogs, Armour Hot Dogs" - Armour
12. "Yum, Yum Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee tuna" - Bumble Bee tuna
13. "Ask any mermaid you happen to see: "What's the best tuna?", Chicken of the Sea" - Chicken of the Sea
14. "Candy coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize" - Cracker Jacks
15. "In the Valley of the Jolly, Ho! Ho! Ho!" - Green Giant
16. "N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best ... ch-a-a-aw-clit!" - Nestles
17. "Does your shoe have a boy inside?" - Buster Brown Shoes

Ad Slogans:
1. "A little dab will do ya" - Brylcreem 1949
2. "Reach out and touch someone" - AT&T 1979
3. "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" - Charmin 1964
4. "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't" - Almond Joy/Mounds 1953
5. "Breakfast of champions" - Wheaties 1934
6. "Don't leave home without it" - American Express 1975
7. "Have it your way" - Burger King 1973
8. "Calgon take me away!"- Calgon 1985
9. "Does she or doesn't she?" - Clairol 1964
10. "Put a tiger in your tank" - Esso 1964
11. "Say it with flowers" - FTD -1917
12. "Look, Ma, no cavities!" - Crest 1958
13. "When you care to send the very best" - Hallmark 1934
14. "Nothing runs like a Deere" - John Deere 1972
15. "Snap! Crackle! Pop!" - Kellogg's Rice Krispies 1932
16. "Finger lickin' good" - KFC 1952
17. "Betcha cant eat just one" - Lays 1981
18. "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hands" - M&Ms 1954
19. "Good to the last drop" - Maxwell House 1915
20. "Got Milk?" - Milk 1993
21. "When it rains, it pours" - Morton Salt 1911
22. "Just do it" - Nike 1988
23. "You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent" - Pepsodent 1956
24. "It take a licking and keeps on ticking" - Timex 1956
25. "The Uncola" - 7 Up 1973
26. "Which twin has a Toni?" - 1946
27. "Where's the beef?" - Wendy's 1984
28. "Let your fingers do the walking" - Yellow Pages 1964

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Fingernails Can Provide Signals of Deficiencies, Disease, Medical Issues

2010-07-15T08:16:00.000-04:00

Victoria Anisman-Reiner, B.Sc., C.C.A. writes: The truth about your health is written in your nails.

    It may sound like palmistry or fortune reading, but medical experts claim they can tell a lot about a patient's health by examining their nails. Abnormal marks or color in the fingernails can even be useful in finding the right diagnosis for serious health problems.

Your Health is Written in Your Nails

    Many diseases manifest themselves early in small changes. Things like minor skin conditions, alterations in the texture of hair, or changes in the fingernails can be important signs that something is not right inside the body.
    Changes in the shape, color, or condition of the nails "may be the first sign, it may be the herald sign of… an internal disease," says Dr. Yves Poulin, president of the Canadian Dermatology Association. "It helps to make the correct diagnosis to look at the nail."
    Changes in nail color, texture, or the health of the nail bed can easily be overlooked – and may not mean anything if there was a prior trauma to the nail that caused the damage. If there's no rational explanation for a change in nail shape or pigment, however, it's usually best to have it checked out.

What Your Fingernails Could be Telling You

    Changes in the appearance of fingernails can mean nothing or they can mean many things. The following are some of the nail changes that have been linked with particular symptoms and diseases.

Color Changes:

White nail bed – Anemia
White nails – Liver disease
White nail with dark band at the tip – Heart problems, liver disease, diabetes or malnutrition
White lower nail bed, while tip of nail bed is a healthy pink – Kidney problems
Bluish nails – Lack of oxygen
Green nails – Bacterial infection
Yellow nails – Respiratory infection or any illness that slows nail growth
Brown or black streak/dot under the nail – May be a bruise/trauma or may be skin cancer
White dots or marks on the nails – Calcium or other vitamin/mineral deficiencies

Texture Changes:

Thick or misshapen nails – A fungus, similar to "athlete's foot"
Horizontal grooves or lines across the nail – Illness has disrupted nail growth: usually caused by diabetes, circulatory disease, malnutrition or high fever
Pitting – Psoriasis, dermatitis or autoimmune disease
"Clubbing" or enlarged finger tips with curved nails – Many diseases, including lung cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or liver disease
Nails separating from the nail bed – Thyroid disease, infection, drug reactions or psoriasis
"Spoon nails" that curve into the nail bed and make a small cup or depression – Iron deficiency anemia

Your Nails and Your Health
Take a quick look at your fingernails (your toes, too, if you're feeling ambitious). Are they pale pink, uniform in color, with a smooth texture and no visible discoloration? Then you're doing well.
On the other hand, if you do spot any of these abnormalities you're still probably fine; nails can sometimes go through changes that aren't linked to underlying health problems. Don't worry, but do mention any changes to your doctor or a health care practitioner just to be safe.

Diet and Tips for Healthy Nails ~ By Kathryn M. D'Imperio

Enjoy these great foods for healthy nails:

Apples - Asparagus - Brown rice - Cucumbers - Eggs - Garlic - Grapes - Liver - Nuts - Onions - Salmon - Seeds - Soy - Tuna - Whole grains

If you want healthy, strong and beautiful nails that last, don't stop with diet. Make some minor changes in your life and you can enjoy lovely nails without the price tag that comes with a trip to the nail salon. Avoid biting your nails, buff away rough edges when necessary and make a few other small changes to achieve the perfect nails you've always wanted.

For great nails, follow these simple tips:

Consume foods containing calcium and zinc. Calcium effectively promotes nail growth. (You know those little white spots that show up on your nails in funny places sometimes? Those spots mean you aren't getting enough zinc in your diet.)
Consume less sugar and less alcohol.
Do not use your nails as tools. No picking, plucking, poking, prying
Don't bite your nails. Try applying nail polish or painting a bitter-tasting liquid to the nails. Such products have been specially designed to help people quit their nail-biting habits.
Don't remove hangnails by pulling at them. Gently clip them with manicure scissors to prevent damage to your skin and tissue.
Eat fewer saturated fats.
Ensure that you consume enough protein.
Increase your intake of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E.
Keep your nails short to prevent breakage.
Leave your cuticles alone.
Moisturize your nails often. When you apply lotion to your hands, legs or other areas, be sure to rub a little bit into your nails.
Reduce the amount of dairy in your diet.
Trim nails regularly, as needed. Use an emery board or nail file to smooth rough edges after trimming and when a nail breaks.

Quote:
"Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives." ~ Marilyn Ferguson

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Multigenerational Households on Rise

2010-07-14T11:15:00.000-04:00

(CBS) Living with Mom and Dad is a rising trend in America, as children -- and their children -- move in together, often to cut costs.

A survey by Grandparents.com says that 6.2 million or 5.3 percent of all U.S. households are now multigenerational and three-fifths of grandparents are providing some sort of financial assistance to their fully-grown children. That's up from five million multigenerational homes in 2000, according to Grandparents.com.

Gary Drevitch, senior editor of Grandparents.com, said the trend is largely due to the economy. He said on "The Early Show" Tuesday, in 62 percent of multigenerational households, it's the adult children who are moving back with their parents, who are the grandparents.

But "Early Show" substitute co-anchor Chris Wragge shared the story of a multi-generational family in Duxbury, Mass. that's successfully living together and saving hundreds of dollars a month sharing utilities, child care and other household costs. But the grandparents moved from down the street into their daughter and son-in-law's home.

However, their situation isn't usually the case, Drevitch said. That's because 55 percent of grandparents, he said, do not carry a mortgage, and grandparents control more than half of the country's wealth. So while grandparents have certainly taken a hit in this economy along with everyone else, he explained, they are, in many cases, more solvent than their young married children with young children.

How do you make sure you're living respectfully together?

Drevitch offered these tips for successful multigenerational living:

Respect each other's space and time . What Grandparents.com found in talking to families who have been doing this, is it's not so much the amount of space dedicated to being the private room or space for the grandparents, but how it's respected and how the adult children and the grandchildren learn how to respect the independence and privacy of the grandparents.
Don't take grandparents for granted. Just because they are living there doesn't mean they are obligated to babysit all day. The flip side is for grandparents to not let themselves get in that situation.
Make rules mutual. Whether it's grocery shopping, filling the car with gas or enforcing bedtime for the kids, it's really crucial that the two older generations are on the same page and when it's a multi-generational household, it's even more important because it involves every aspect of day to day life. It's really important for grandparents to remember that when it comes to the kids, it's the parents who set the rules. Grandparents everywhere across the country disapprove of something that their kids do with their grandchildren, but they do have to remember that the parents set the rules for the kids and respect that. It's the same advice that you give a husband and wife, which is to avoid sending mixed messages to the kids.
Treat your family like your friends. We treat our friends with patience, we listen to them, tread lightly before criticizing them and we ask them for advice, which, in short, is almost the exact opposite of how we treat family members.
Avoid slipping into old roles. So many adults have not lived with their parents since they were teens. They may slip back into old roles that they don't want to be in and there may be unresolved issues. Before you move in together, have a frank discussion about those issues. You may have to agree to disagree.
Remember the grandkids are watching. Kids take a lot of cues from how their parents and grandparents get along and how they resolve conflict. The adults in the household should take a moment before opening their mouths to criticize and to think of all of the good things about the other person. Also think about the situation and think about which battles to fight. Take a step back like you would with any conflict and try to be nice.

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History of the "Happy Birthday" song

2010-07-13T09:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to You, the four-line ditty was written as a classroom greeting in 1893 by two Louisville teachers, Mildred J. Hill, an authority on Negro spirituals, and Dr. Patty Smith Hill, professor emeritus of education at Columbia University.

The melody of the song Happy Birthday to You was composed by Mildred J. Hill, a schoolteacher born in Louisville, KY, on June 27, 1859. The song was first published in 1893, with the lyrics written by her sister, Patty Smith Hill, as "Good Morning To All."

Happy Birthday to You was copyrighted in 1935 and renewed in 1963. The song was apparently written in 1893, but first copyrighted in 1935 after a lawsuit (reported in the New York Times of August 15, 1934, p.19 col. 6)

In 1988, Birch Tree Group, Ltd. sold the rights of the song to Warner Communications (along with all other assets) for an estimated $25 million (considerably more than a song). (reported in Time, Jan 2, 1989 v133 n1 p88(1)

In the 80s, the song Happy Birthday to You was believed to generate about $1 million in royalties annually. With Auld Lang Syne and For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, it is among the three most popular songs in the English language. (reported in Time, Jan 2, 1989 v133 n1 p88(1)

Happy Birthday to You continues to bring in approximately 2 million dollars in licensing revenue each year, at least as of 1996 accounting, according to Warner Chappell and a Forbes magazine article.

Popular rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ Song

It was the first song to be performed in outer space. It was sung by the Apollo IX astronauts on March 8, 1969
Famous Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe's rendition to U.S. President John F. Kennedy in May 1962 is considered to be the most famous performances of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ song.

Lyrics of the Songs

‘Good Morning to All’ lyrics:
Good morning to you,
Good morning to you,
Good morning, dear children,
Good morning to all.

‘Happy Birthday to You’ lyrics:
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear (name)
Happy Birthday to you.

This traditional version of the song generally known is actually the chorus to the original. The first verse goes like this:
So today is your birthday
That's what I've been told
What a wonderful birthday
Now you're one more year old
On your cake there'll be candles
All lighted, it's true
While the whole world is singing
Happy Birthday to you ....
(Happy Birthday chorus)

Some add another phrase to the end, sung to the same tune:
How old are you now,
How old are you now,
How old are you (name),
How old are you now.

And another version:
From old friends and true,
From good friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.

Many alternate versions exist, most commonly sung as a joke, for example:
Happy Birthday to you,
You live/belong in a /Zoo>oo,
You look like a monkey
And you smell like one, too.

Information from about.com and

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Vitamins and MInerals

2010-07-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

Unlike protein, carbohydrates and fats, vitamins do not yield usable energy when broken down. They assist the enzymes that release energy from carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but they do not provide energy themselves. (Thus, beware of claims for "energy vitamins" or for diets that replace foods with vitamin supplements.) Vitamins and minerals are widely available from the natural foods we eat. So, before you reach for the vitamin jar, try eating your vitamins from natural foods.

Here are some of the best sources for each:
Vitamins:

B1 (thiamin) - Supports energy metabolism and nerve function. Found in: spinach, green peas, tomato juice, watermelon, sunflower seeds, lean ham, lean pork chops, soy milk.
B2 (riboflavin)- Supports energy metabolism, normal vision and skin health. Found in: spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, eggs, milk, liver, oysters, clams.
B3 (niacin) - Supports energy metabolism, skin health, nervous system and digestive system. Found in: spinach, potatoes, tomato juice, lean ground beef, chicken breast, tuna (canned in water), liver, shrimp.
Biotin - Energy metabolism, fat synthesis, amino acid metabolism, glycogen synthesis. Found in: widespread in foods
Pantothenic Acid - Supports energy metabolism. Found in: widespread in foods.
B6 (pyridoxine) - Amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, red blood cell production. Found in: bananas, watermelon, tomato juice, broccoli, spinach, acorn squash, potatoes, white rice, chicken breast
Folate - Supports DNA synthesis and new cell formation. Found in: tomato juice, green beans, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, okra, black-eyed peas, lentils, navy, pinto and garbanzo beans.
B12 - Used in new cell synthesis, helps break down fatty acids and amino acids, supports nerve cell maintenance. Found in: meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs
C (ascorbic acid) - Collagen synthesis, amino acid metabolism, helps iron absorption, immunity, antioxidant. Found in: spinach, broccoli, red bell peppers, snow peas, tomato juice, kiwi, mango, orange, grapefruit juice, strawberries.
A (retinol) - Supports vision, skin, bone and tooth growth, immunity and reproduction. Found in: mango, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, tomato juice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beef liver.
D - Promotes bone mineralization. Found in: self-synthesis via sunlight, fortified milk, egg yolk, liver, fatty fish.
E - Antioxidant, regulation of oxidation reactions, supports cell membrane stabilization. Found in: polyunsaturated plant oils (soybean, corn and canola oils), wheat germ, sunflower seeds, tofu, avocado, sweet potatoes, shrimp, cod.
K - Synthesis of blood-clotting proteins, regulates blood calcium. Found in: brussels sprouts, leafy green vegetables, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, liver.

Minerals

Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. Minerals are needed by the body in small amounts to help it function properly and stay strong. Iron, calcium, potassium, and sodium are some of essential minerals. Humans need small amounts of about 14 minerals to maintain normal body function and good health.Sodium - Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, supports muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmissions. Found in: salt, soy sauce, bread, milk, meats.

Chloride - Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, aids in digestion. Found in: salt, soy sauce, milk, eggs, meats.
Potassium - Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, cell integrity, muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission. Found in: potatoes, acorn squash, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, carrots, green beans, tomato juice, avocado, grapefruit juice, watermelon, banana, strawberries, cod, milk.
Calcium - Formation of bones and teeth, supports blood clotting. Found in: milk, yogurt, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, tofu, sardines, green beans, spinach, broccoli.
Phosphorus - Formation of cells, bones and teeth, maintains acid-base balance. Found in: all animal foods (meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk).
Magnesium - Supports bone mineralization, protein building, muscular contraction, nerve impulse transmission, immunity. Found in: spinach, broccoli, artichokes, green beans, tomato juice, navy beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, sunflower seeds, tofu, cashews, halibut.
Iron- -Part of the protein hemoglobin (carries oxygen throughout body's cells). Found in: artichoke, parsley, spinach, broccoli, green beans, tomato juice, tofu, clams, shrimp, beef liver.
Zinc - A part of many enzymes, involved in production of genetic material and proteins, transports vitamin A, taste perception, wound healing, sperm production and the normal development of the fetus. Found in: spinach, broccoli, green peas, green beans, tomato juice,lentils, oysters, shrimp, crab, turkey (dark meat), lean ham, lean ground beef, lean sirloin steak, plain yogurt, Swiss cheese, tofu, ricotta cheese.
Selenium - Antioxidant. Works with vitamin E to protect body from oxidation. Found in: seafood, meats and grains.
Iodine - Component of thyroid hormones that help regulate growth, development and metabolic rate. Found in: salt, seafood, bread, milk, cheese.
Copper - Necessary for the absorption and utilization of iron, supports formation of hemoglobin and several enzymes. Found in: meats, water.
Manganese - Facilitates many cell processes. Found in: widespread in foods.
Fluoride - Involved in the formation of bones and teeth, helps to make teeth resistant to decay. Found in: fluoridated drinking water, tea, seafood.
Chromium - Associated with insulin and is required for the release of energy from glucose. Found in: vegetable oils, liver, brewer's yeast, whole grains, cheese, nuts.
Molybdenum - Facilitates many cell processes. Found in: legumes, organ meats.

Information provided by Health Check Systems

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Most Popular Breeds of Dogs

2010-07-09T08:28:00.000-04:00

Each year, the American Kennel Club announces their "Most Popular Breeds" of dog. Some of these dog breeds return to the list year after year, while others are surprisingly new contenders.

1. Labrador Retrievers
Easily the most popular dog breed of them all, Labrador Retrievers are friendly, lovable, smart and great with kids. They have continually been labelled as the most popular family dog according to breeder surveys.

2. Golden Retrievers
Right next to the Labrador Retrievers you'll find the Golden Retrievers which are also true American family dogs. These large dogs are extremely kind and gentle by nature and love playing with people and their toys. Just make sure you have enough space in your home as they can grow up to 90 pounds.

3. Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers, also referred to as "Yorkies" for short, are the smallest and mightiest terriers of them all. These tiny pooches are highly energetic and very protective and loyal to their family. This means that they don't always get along well with strangers and they are not afraid to speak up and let you know this!

4. German Shepherds
Among the most intelligent and most loyal dog breeds in the world is the German Shepherd. Because of their extreme intelligence and strength it's no wonder they are the dog of choice among the police force. This doesn't mean they won't make a great pet at home. On the contrary - they make great pets as long as you have room in your home for a large, lovable dog.

5. Beagles
The Beagle has been poplar in American households ever since Snoopy hit the big screen. Once raised as hunting dogs, this medium sized pooch is strong for its size. Just don't expect it to have an aggressive hunter attitude as this dog is kind and gentle and loves families.

6. Dachshunds
Dachshunds, also known as "wiener dogs' have also been a favorite among adults and children alike because of their cute, unique body shape. With a long body and short legs it may look like they can't run fast but don't let their appearance fool you. They love to run and play and can keep up with the ball. However, Dachshunds can also be quite protective animals and have been known to nip at strangers and other dogs.

7. Boxers
The American Kennel Club says that the Boxers play well with children, are extremely loyal and are low maintenance dogs. While they may not be the most intelligent dog in the bunch, they make up for it by being very energetic and fun-loving. Being headstrong, boxers require obedience training while they are young.

8. Poodles
Both standard and miniature size Poodles have long been popular both with the rich and famous and the not so rich. They are beautiful, loyal and extremely intelligent dogs which makes them popular among every socio-economic group.

9. Shih Tzu
New to the American Kennel Club's list, the adorable dog with the funny name has been growing in popularity over the last few years. Cut and cuddly, it's no wonder that the Shih Tzu is also popular in Hollywood making it into the homes of many famous celebrities. You don't have to be rich to own a Shih Tzu as they make great companions to the young and old.

10. Miniature Schnauzers
This miniature dog breed just made it onto the list new for 2008 but it's likely that we'll see them on the list again in the future. Miniature Schnauzers are smart, obedient and love to engage in non-aggressive play. They'll play well with children and or chew toys. Originally raised as farm dogs, miniature Schnauzers are energetic dogs that love to be around people. Similar to the miniature Schnauzer is the Schnoodle. Part Schnauzer, part Poodle, the Schnoodle is becoming ever more popular and makes a great pet.

Quotes:
“A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn't care if you're not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.” ~ Louis Sabin

"A dog can express more with his tail in minutes than his owner can express with his tongue in hours." ~ Anonymous

Things we can learn from a dog:
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride. When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them. Take naps, and stretch before rising. Be loyal. Never pretend you're something you're not. When somebody is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. Avoid biting when a growl will do. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Bond with your pack. Allow the experiences of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

How True:
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can do all these things, ...............
Then you are probably the family dog!

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Hurricane Watch vs. Hurricane Warning

2010-07-08T08:28:00.000-04:00

The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from 1 June to 30 November.

The difference between a Hurricane Watch and a Hurricane Warning:

•A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the specified watch area within the next 36 hours.

•A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected to affect the warning area within 24 hours.

Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan:

Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places -- a friend's home in another town, a hotel, or a shelter. You should tell a relative or friend outside the area where you plan to go and how you plan to get there.
Keep handy telephone numbers as well as a road map of the area. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and WTOK for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit containing the following:

First aid kit and essential medications.
Canned food and a non-electric can opener. Remember the power may be out for several days.
At least three gallons of water for each person in your family.
Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water if authorities advise you to do so. Remember, a professional will need to turn on natural gas service back on.

Prepare for high winds:

Install hurricane shutters or purchase precut one-half inch outdoor plywood boards for each window of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and predrill holes in the plywood so that you can put it up quickly.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

When a Hurricane Watch is issued:

Listen to Weather Radio for up-to-date storm information.
Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by wind.
Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood as described above. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking, so tape is not recommended.
Fill your car's gas tank.
Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.

When A Hurricane Warning is issued:

Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
Complete preparation activities.
If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows.
Be aware that the calm "eye" can be deceptive; the storm is not over. Often, the worst part of the storm will happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects damaged by the winds before the eye can be broken or destroyed by the winds following the eye.
Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and water is rising rapidly around you, get out of your car and head for higher ground.

After a hurricane is over:

Keep listening to Weather Radio for instructions and the latest information.
If you evacuated, return home only when local officials tell you it is safe to return.
Inspect your home for damage.
Use flashlights instead of candles.

~ The above information was provided by the American Red Cross

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Helping Seniors Stay in Their Homes as They Age

2010-07-07T08:17:00.000-04:00

Mary-Louise Langlois writes the following article about "Helping Seniors Stay in Their Homes as They Age"

     Aging often brings difficult decisions about matters such as accommodation and health-care needs. A senior's family is well advised to plan ahead together.
     Life for senior citizens has changed a lot in the last century. It used to be common for multiple generations of families to live together under the same roof – it is no longer the case. In fact, extended families now are often not even in the same city.
     Children worry about their aging parents and wonder if the family elder can manage on their own. This is becoming a common occurrence as the "Baby Boom" generation creeps toward senior status themselves and yet their own parents are still alive. Who will take care of this aging population?

The Aging Population
     It is tough to grow old and it is difficult watching a parent grow old and no longer be able to care for himself. What can an adult child do to help?
     In truth, some parents don’t want help while others become very dependent.
     In every instance, it is very important to treat aging seniors with dignity and help them to make some tough choices. Sometimes they may not even be aware that they are no longer coping.
     Some seniors sound great over the phone. They become adept at, in a sense, “acting.” They don’t let on to anyone, even their out-of-town children, that all is not well. Recognizing this possibility, if visiting the parent isn’t an immediate possibility, it may be helpful to speak with someone who comes into contact with the parent on a regular basis.

Knowing When Senior Parents Need Help
     Recognizing the subtle symptoms when senior parents are no longer capable of living on their own without help is not always easy.

Still, there are a number of warning signs to look for:
•Loss of weight because they are no longer eating properly
•Forgetting to take medications or over-medicating
•No longer able to take care of house/living space
•Not going out to see friends
•Increasing fearfulness or anxiety
•Unable to manage finances
•Having trouble with personal care
•Not staying in touch with loved ones

Children as Caregivers
     Just because someone can’t do some of these things doesn’t mean he is ready for a “home,” but it may be an indicator that he needs more help and it may be time to have a family meeting.
     It may also be time for the children of seniors to help their parents look at all the living situations available – from finding home-care assistance, to retirement living accommodations to more permanent long-term care – and all the variations in between. It takes time and patience to investigate the available options.
     If the parent is closer to one child than another that reality should be respected and discussed openly so everyone is aware how that particular adult child may have to take the lead in helping out.
     Taking on the care of an adult parent is a demanding task. Most aren’t fully prepared for all the time, energy, consultation and decision-making that is required. With that in mind it is wise to look at all options before jumping into any one thing.

Ongoing Support is Key to Keeping the Elderly Safe in Their Homes
     Aging brings inevitable change and difficult decisions for everyone. While it is not a subject that families generally want to address in advance, the sooner the reality of a loved one needing assistance is discussed, the better. Elderly parents deserve the love and attention they will need to deal with the end stages of life.
     Whether they realize they need help or not, there are practical – and often emotionally-charged – decisions that must be made. Planning and making those decisions together as a loving family unit can sometimes make caring for an aging family member a less painful journey.

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Germs Lurking and Illness... OH MY!

2010-07-06T09:54:00.005-04:00

You find yourself with a cold, sore throat or worse yet, you have
contacted E-coli. When asked, "How did you get that?" what do you say?

There are four major types of GERMS: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

AND, they are EVERYWHERE!

Germs: They are in common households and places we visit while “out and about”. They don't discriminate or choose between who gets infected and what the severity of the infection will be. Here are some examples and helpful hints on how to improve the odds of contracting microorganisms that make us sick. The most convenient safety measure is to just carry around disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizers to use when in doubt!

1. Cell Phones: Our cell phones go everywhere, in our purses, pockets, holders, on tables and counters, and touch most everything in our environment. Our hands may not always be germ free; mouths, coughs and sneezes emit germs as well as when we allow someone else to use our phone. How often do you clean your phone? By keeping this in mind, make a habit of wiping down your phone with a germ killing cleansing cloth daily. Don’t be so eager to lone your phone to anyone and be choosy where you lay your phone. Clean your phone holder, too.

2. Remotes: This seems to be an item we all have and use regularly. Not only at home, but in hotels, hospitals, retirement homes, and dentist offices, to name a few. These are rarely left unused but rarely at the top of the item cleaning list. When you stop to think about it – where HAS that remote been last? Another job for the disinfectant wipes!!

3. Restaurant Menus: Every restaurant has them, and every restaurant lays them on the table, or even on your plate and utensils if they are set. RARELY are menus cleaned! They are handled, spilt on, dropped on the floor and FULL of germs! After you order, go wash your hands and while in the bathroom, use a paper towel to touch the door handle after you wash!

4. Lemon Wedges: Restaurants often serve these with drinks. There are over 25 different microorganisms (including E coli) that linger on these!! Forgo the lemon wedge to be cautious.

5. Shopping Carts: We have all heard about this one. Not only are they only cleaned when we choose to wipe it down before we use it, they can harbor things like juices from chicken or beef that have dripped from the containers. Children sit in the seats after perhaps being in sandboxes, just changed on a public restroom pad, or sitting on the floor! Swab the handle and seat well with the wipes provided in most stores now.

6. Elevator Buttons, ATM and Touch Screens: These are not cleaned often and used repetitively! The same with pens we are offered to use when our signature is needed.

7. Vacuum Cleaners: Ever think the vacuum can spread germs through the house? The contaminates on the surfaces attach to the vacuum brushes and transfer from room to room. Spray the brush with a disinfectant after every use - traces of bacteria can survive as long as 5 days inside the vacuum after you empty the dirt. And disposable-bag vacuums promote more bacterial growth. The bag-less vaccums are suggested.

8. Bed Linens: Dust mites are an allergen and cause asthma as well. They live and thrive on our bed linens by eating the dead skin we shed. They need moisture to live, and by making our beds, we seal in the moisture they thrive on! Let your bed air out before making it. Use a dehumidifier if your home is very humid.

9. Airplane travel: We’ve heard it said that there is ‘stale air’ in the airplane cabins which causes colds and sicknesses. The airline attendants are in contact with the passengers – handling beverages, blankets, pillows, and foods. The bathrooms in the airplanes harbor germs as they are used by everyone and not cleaned often enough. Wash your hands and use a towel to touch the bathroom door on the way out. Hand sanitizers come in hand in these close quarters.

10. Computer keyboard and mouse: As different users share a keyboard and mouse, germs become prevalent. Cleaning these surfaces daily is a proactive way to keep germs and bacteria at bay.

11. Purses, light switches, toilet flushing handles: OH BOY – the list goes on and on! Purses are placed floors in restaurants, in public bathrooms, and in cars and then placed on home counter tops, tables and chairs ... spreading germs! Light switches and those handles… how often are they cleaned?

12. Reusable grocery bags: Items placed in these bags may have leaked - juices from meat packages, fruits and vegetables, etc. These bags are often stored in cars that are hot from the summer heat, allowing bacteria to grow! Wash the bags in hot water and soap, air dry. This will allow them to be used again within safe measures.

13. Shopping for hats, bathing suits, clothes, shoes: This sounds like an unassuming routine. However, hats can harbor lice from a previous shopper that tried them on, transferring them to you. Bathing suits can also harbor unwanted microorganisms from previous shoppers who have tried them on... very unwanted microorganisms! Wash ALL clothing before putting them in with your clothes and before wearing them. One never knows "where they have been" before we handle them; be it in their making process, transportation or handling when at the store. Concerning shoes: there is a reason many shoe stores supply nylons for trying on shoes. Always use them or your own footwear when in the store. Once you purchase the shoes, it is recommended to spray them with a disinfectant before wearing them.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" ~ Ben Franklin

Be alert, be advised and be safe; we can help our environment and ourselves with some measures of precaution!

Note from this author: ...And if this makes you want to live in a bubble…floating away you'll find me at my new address: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”! ~ Mary Blair

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Words for an Inspirational Independence Day

2010-07-02T09:21:00.002-04:00

The birth of America has long been celebrated with patriotism and enthusiasm.

Happy Birthday America!

We are proud and grateful
to call the United States of America our "Home Sweet Home"!

Thank you to our service men and women

who achieved and/or still strive to preserve our freedom!

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

"It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism." ~ J. Horace McFarland

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." ~ Erma Bombeck

"Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall." ~ John Dickinson

"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!" ~ Daniel Webster

"One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation evermore!" ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

"From every mountainside Let Freedom ring." ~ Samuel F. Smith, "America"

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~ Thomas Jefferson

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." ~ Abraham Lincoln

"It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. ... I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not." ~ John Adams

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” ~ Albert Einstein

“What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom “to” and freedom “from.” ~ Marilyn vos Savant

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Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

Fourth of July is Independence Day
Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof
Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday.

Originally entitled Yankee Doodle, this is one of several versions of a scene painted by A. M. Willard that came to be known as The Spirit of '76. Often imitated or parodied, it is a familiar symbol of American patriotism.

This Land We Love ~ By Roger Robicheau

How beautiful this land we love
We cherish all good people of
With pride we call this home our own
Oh how our seed of freedoms grown
American is what we are
Our time has nurtured us so far
For truth and justice we do strive
Our laws are meant to not deprive
We know we’re not the perfect place
As we are of the human race
In God we trust along our way
His goodness near, both night and day
So please do stop and pray awhile
Ask help in facing each new mile
And now I’ll end with words so clear
Concerning freedom we hold dear
Let Grateful Thought – Well Deep Inside
For Soldiers Brave – Our Country’s Pride

Quotes:
"The United States is the only country with a known birthday." ~James G. Blaine

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me." ~ Lee Greenwood

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~ Thomas Jefferson

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Protect Yourself from the Sun

2010-06-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

Sun Sense: What You Must Know
There’s a lot of information to take in when it comes to the details of protecting your skin in the sun. Everything from UV rays to understanding why no amount of sun tanning is safe plus skin care considerations play a role in determining the essentials of sun protection. Below are the most critical points everyone needs to be familiar with if their goal is to avoid sun damage. By avoiding sun damage, you’re not only preserving your skin’s health but also its appearance. Practicing good sun sense will result in fewer wrinkles, discolorations, and will help your skin resist developing the most insidious type of sun damage: skin cancer.
•There is no such thing as a safe tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning booth. Even if you tan slowly without burning (what many people refer to as “developing a base tan”), the damage is hazardous to the health and long-term appearance of your skin.
•UVB radiation is the sun's burning ray and has an immediate, harmful impact on skin. Damage from UVB rays takes place within the very first minute (yes, 60 seconds) of walking outside.
•UVA rays are the sun's silent killers. You don't feel them but they are the primary cause of skin cancer, wrinkles, and a weakened immune system. (UVA rays penetrate through clear glass windows that do not have a UV coating.)
•Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the sun's rays are present and impacting the skin.
•Sitting in the shade or wearing a hat only protects against a portion of the sun's rays. Plus, other surrounding surfaces such as water, cement, and grass reflect the rays from the ground to your skin giving you a double whammy of exposure.
•Altitude is a sun enhancer: for every 1,000-foot increase in altitude, the sun's potency increases by 4%. Don’t forget the sunscreen when you’re skiing!
•According to the FDA, a product's SPF (sunscreen protection factor) number tells you how long you can stay in the sun before getting burned. If you can normally stay in the sun 15 minutes before you start turning pink, an SPF 15 product will let you stay in the sun for approximately 3 1/2 hours without burning. If you begin turning pink after 10 minutes, an SPF 15 will let you stay in the sun approximately 2 1/2 hours. The formula is 10 (minutes) x 15(SPF) = 150 (minutes), or 2 1/2 hours. If you're swimming or perspiring, you must wear a water-resistant sunscreen which provides 40 (labeled as “water-resistant”) to 80 (labeled as “very water resistant”) minutes of protection before you need to reapply it to maintain a sufficient level of protection.
•SPF is crucial, but it is only a measurement regarding sunburn (UVB) rays. It is dangerous for your skin to not have UVA protection and many sunscreens do not have ingredients that can provide true full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage. There are no numbers to tell you about protection from UVA radiation. For that protection you have to check the active ingredient list to see if either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb (Tinosorb is only available in products sold outside the U.S.). If one of those isn't part of the active ingredient list (it doesn't count if it is just part of the regular or "other" ingredients) you are not applying adequate UVA protection and that is dangerous for your skin.
•Oxybenzone (also called benzophenone-3) is a UVA-absorbing sunscreen ingredient that sounds similar to avobenzone, but is not the same. There are several sunscreen ingredients approved for use in the United States for sunburn protection. While benzophenones and oxybenzone do provide some UVA protection, they are not as effective as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone, Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb.
•For those of you who want more specifics about the issue of UVA vs. UVB protection: According to the Skin Therapy Letter published by the Division of Dermatology at the University of British Columbia (vol. 2, no. 5, 1997), "UVA [range is] 315-400 nanometers." According to the FDA, the UVB range is from 280 to 315. The range of protection for the following sunscreen ingredients is listed as "Padimate O, 290-315 nanometers; Benzophenones, 250-350 nanometers; Octyl methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate), 290-320 nanometers; Avobenzone, 320-400 nanometers; Oxybenzone 270 to 350 nanometers; Titanium dioxide, 290-700 nanometers; and Zinc oxide, 290-700 nanometers."
•Crunching the numbers: an SPF 2 blocks about 50% of UVB rays; an SPF 10 filters out about 85% of UVB rays; an SPF 15 stops about 95%; and an SPF 30 stops about 97%. An SPF that's higher than 30 does not provide any more UV protection, it just offers more time that you can stay in the sun without burning. Even if you choose to wear a higher SPF product, you still need to reapply after swimming or perspiring to ensure continued protection.
•Even if the SPF number on your sunscreen's label is an SPF 50, it still has limitations and can let approximately 3% of UV rays penetrate your skin, which explains why you still might get some color after prolonged exposure to the sun despite slathering sunscreen on your skin.
•As a general rule it is best to apply sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure. This gives the sunscreen time to absorb and to spread over and into the uppermost layers of skin.
•You must apply sunscreen liberally. A study published in the Archives of Dermatology (October 2002, pages m1319-1325) said "Sunscreen users are only applying 50 percent of the recommended amount, so they are only receiving 50 percent of the SPF protection." Because of this issue concerning liberal application, expensive sunscreens can be dangerous to your skin's health. After all, how likely are you to liberally apply a sunscreen from Lancome that costs $48 or, even more absurdly, a sunscreen from La Prairie that costs $170 for 1 ounce? Liberal, even application is critical to a sunscreen’s protective ability (Source: Lancet, August 2007, pages 528-537).
•If you are using AHA, BHA, Retin-A, Renova, Differin, or any topical pharmaceutical retinoid, it can make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage due to the surface exfoliation and changes (removing the top layer of sun-damaged skin) caused by using these products. This information does not impact those who are already diligent about using sunscreen, but if you are not being diligent, your skin is even more at risk for sun damage and sunburn, even with minimal sun exposure.
•If you are using more than one product that contains sunscreen, the two sunscreens do not add up to one SPF number. In other words, an SPF 8 and an SPF 15 do not add up to an SPF 23. Though you would get an increased SPF value for protection, there is no way of knowing what that increased protection would be. If you want to count on getting an SPF 30's worth of protection, then that is the number you should look for in one product.
•Getting sunburned is bad enough, but what you may not know is that sunburn continues to develop for 12 to 24 hours after the initial burn takes place! Treat a sunburn the way you would treat any other burn. Do not cover it with thick salves (thick moisturizers are the worst). These will trap the heat and cause more damage. Get the skin in contact with cool (not cold or icy) water or pure aloe vera immediately (do not put ice directly on the skin—that's too much cold and can cause a different kind of burn). Then keep applying the cool water or pure aloe vera on and off for several hours. You may also want to take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as aspirin, to reduce pain and swelling. If you are unsure what to take, consult your physician.

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Crafts As Therapy

2010-06-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

ABOUT CRAFTS AND THERAPY ~ By Judith Zausner, Caring Crafts Inc.
Craft therapy is healing and invigorates the mind as well as the body. Robert Reiner, PhD, a New York University psychologist, says that crafts reduce stress. "The act of performing a craft is incompatible with worry, anger, obsession, and anxiety…. They're stress-busters in the same way that meditation, deep breathing, visual imagery, and watching fish are."

So whether the need to craft is because of an illness or accident, crafting not only exercises physical skills but also reduces stress and enhances well being and self esteem. It provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that triggers positive feelings and promotes a can-do attitude toward other situations. And that is a real benefit of crafts; feeling purposeful in life.

Benefits of therapeutic crafts
In addition to a fun and creative leisure experience, there are many therapeutic benefits of crafts such as:
· Increased cognitive functioning
· Increased self expression and decision making skills
· Increased or maintenance of fine motor skills
· Enhanced hand-eye coordination
· Increased self esteem and emotional well-being
· Increased opportunity for empowerment and self expression
· Increased socialization

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First Cruise Travel Tips

2010-06-28T08:05:00.000-04:00

Taking your first cruise? Top Ten Cruise Tips for first-time cruisers.
10. When you first receive your cruise documents in the mail take time to review them in detail. It may be a few weeks before your departure, but if you wait to the last minute, you may miss the opportunity for online check-in or pre-registering for excursions.
9. Plan on changing your outfit before dinner the first night? Bring those clothes in your carry-on bag as it may take some time for luggage to arrive at your cabin. Better yet...toss your bathing suit in your carry-on, too, and hit the pool before dinner.
8. Once you settle into your cabin, head straight the spa if you'd like to book a massage or facial. The prime time slots fill up quickly and you want to ensure you get that relaxing massage. Ask if there are any specials on any particular day.
7. Toss a sweater or wrap that you can wear with all outfits into your luggage. The air conditioning may be blasting in some areas or it may be windy when taking a late night stroll on the top deck.
6. Resist the urge to go shopping in the ship's stores the first few days. There may be specials on certain items as the days go by.
5. Depending on your port-of-call, you may need a photo ID to get back onboard after your shore excursion. It may be easier to carry a driver's license then your passport as you go ashore. It’s easier to get a new driver’s license that passport should you lose it.
4. Keep all the receipts you get onboard. Not only does this help when reviewing your final bill, but some ships may offer a special if you buy a certain number or amount of things. For example, if you purchased and have the actual receipts for four photos, there may be an offer to get a free photo frame.
3. Look under the bed! You may be able to store your suitcases and onboard purchases under the bed instead of taking up valuable closet space.
2. Pack an alarm clock. Many cabins do not have clocks in them. You can easily arrange for a wake-up call, but you don't want to be late for dinner or miss the mid-night buffet.
1. Be Leonardo DiCaprio. Go to the front of the ship, raise your hands in the air and scream, “I’m the King of the World.”
~ Information provided by Club ABC Tours

Quote:
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." ~ Mark Twain

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Baseball Trivia and Fun Facts!

2010-06-24T09:17:00.000-04:00

For the Baseball Fans out there - some trivia and fun facts!

In April of 1961 Maris hit only one home run, but had 50 before September 1st. The only player to reach that mark before September until Sosa and McGwire did it in '98. Maris had no stolen bases that year.
Ted Williams won the AL batting titles when he was 39 and again at 40. The last At Bat of Ted's career was a homerun on the last day of the 1960 season.
The first "Babe" in baseball was Babe Adams who pitched from 1906 to 1926.
Joe DiMaggio is the only person to play on four World Championship teams in his first four years in the big leagues, the 1936-39 Yankees.
Mickey Lolich, who pitched for 16 years, hit his only home run in his first World Series game (1968).
Reggie Jackson had four consecutive home runs spanning Games Five and Six of the 1977 World Series.
Hank Bauer of the Yankees had hits in 17 consecutive World Series games spanning 1956 to 1958.

These are some of the players that went straight to the majors having never played in the minor leagues:
Catfish Hunter, Al Kaline, Mel Ott, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Ernie Banks, George Sisler, Dave Winfield, and Robin Yount. Apparently Kaline didn't need time in the Minors because at age 20 he became the youngest player ever to win a batting title by hitting .340 in 1955. Kaline went on to appear in 16 All Star games and win 10 Gold Gloves. He was the first person to win a Gold Glove at two different positions. He played the entire 1971 season without committing an error. In 1980 Al was only the tenth player elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Cy Young Award facts:

First reliever to win was Mike Marshall in 1974. The youngest player to win was Dwight Gooden in 1984.
Rookie of the Year award fact: Johnny Bench was the first catcher to get the award, 1968.
Pete Rose: Pete has now admitted to gambling, but will he be forgiven, and get into the Hall of Fame? Pete's lifetime achievements are: 1st in number of games played, 1st in at bats, 1st in hits, 2nd in doubles, 6th in total bases, 4th in runs scored, 7th in fielding pct. among outfielders, etc.

Did You Know...

Johnny Plessey batted .331 for the Cleveland Spiders in 1891, even though he spent the entire season batting with a rolled-up, lacquered copy of the Toledo Post-Dispatch!
Owner of the Chicago Cubs, Bill Veeck, used to have midgets as food vendors at the clubs home ground, because he said that it meant that the paying public didn't have to have their view of the game spoiled!
The baseball tradition of spring training came about because in 1885 the Chicago White Stockings went to Hot Springs in Arkansas to prepare for the new season.
The world's longest baseball bat is only 120 feet long weighing in at 68,000 pounds. It resembles the 34 inch wood bat that the Bambino, Babe Ruth Swung, made by Louisville Slugger. It is located at : 800 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky at the Louisville Slugger Museum.
The shortest major league baseball player was Edward Carl "Eddie" Gaedel , born in Chicago, Illinois, June 8, 1925. He was an American dwarf who became famous for participating in a MLB game who secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns. He was only 3 feet 7 inches (109 cm) tall and weighing 65 pounds (29.5 kg), his uniform number was 1/8. He had just one at bat for the Brown's in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. Gaedel's strike zone measured just an inch and a half. He reached base on four consecutive balls that were all high!Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's, he latered passed on June 18, 1961.
The Longest Baseball Throw on record was in 1957 by Glen Edward Gorbous. Born on July 8 1930 in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The man with the canon was 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighted in at a modest 175lbs. So weight had nothing to do with it. He threw right and batted left. After a running start, the ball left his arm at an estimated 120 MPH. He was a Canadian minor leaguer, who had a three year stint in the Majors from 1955 - 1957 and still holds the record. The baseball covered a total of 445 feet 10 inches before hitting the ground and breaking the old record of 445 feet 1 inches set in 1956 by Don Grate. He broke into the show just before the 1950 season in an unknown transaction with the Brooklyn Dodgers later to be traded, November 22, 1954 and drafted by the Cincinnati Redlegs in the 1954 rule V draft.
Prior to the 1930 American League season, and prior to the 1931 National League season, fly balls that bounced over or through the outfield fence were home runs! All batted balls that cleared or went through the fence on the fly or that were hit more than 250 feet in the air and cleared or went through the fence after a bounce in fair territory were counted as home runs. After the rule change the batter was awarded second base and these were called "automatic doubles" (ground-rule doubles are ballpark-specific rules) and are covered by rule 6.09(d)-(h) in the MLB Rule Book.
Babe Ruth reportedly had no "bounce" home runs; Lou Gehrig had a few, so did Rogers Hornsby and many, many other players of that era.
The longest baseball game, based on time was between the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox. It happened in May 09, 1984, the game went 25 innings and lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes (not sure on the seconds!) The game began on May 08 but according to MLB rules an inning cannot begin after 12:59 AM so the players and fans had to come back the next day to watch the Chicago White Sox win 7- 6 on a Harold Baines' home run in the 25th inning.
The curveball was invented by William Cummings, also known as "the Father of the Curveball". It's said he invented the curveball after seeing a spinning clamshell curve across the water after being skipped on a Brooklyn beach. Some historians debate this but he did master the curve ball well before a lot pitchers. He stood 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed a colossal 120lbs. Candy, as he was also called, was born in Ware, Massachusetts on Nov 18, 1848. 27 years later on April 22, 1875, his journey took him to professional baseball where he broke into the Big Leagues with the Hartford Dark Blues. He lasted 2 years in baseball.

You might be a baseball nut if…

You subscribe to Baseball Weekly during the off-season.
You go to amateur ballgames (Little League, softball, etc.) even though you don’t know anyone on the teams.
Many of your summertime meals seem to consist of $6 hotdogs, $5 nachos and $4 cokes.
You’re still looking for that Todd van Poppel rookie card.
The last time you flew across country you planned a stop in Chicago so you could go to Wrigley Field.
You own a copy of the Official Baseball Rulebook. And you understand the Infield Fly and Balk rules.
You’ve ever scored a game.
You’re still carrying on a feud with your neighbor over whether Ichiro should have been eligible for Rookie of the Year.
You know who pitched the seventh game of the ’68 World Series.
You have Spring Training season tickets.
Your spouse asks where you’d like to go on vacation this year and you say, "Boston, Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit."
You search out the Internet for web sites about baseball.

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Lightening Safety

2010-06-23T09:17:00.000-04:00

Personal Lightning Safety Tips

1. PLAN in advance your evacuation and safety measures. When you first see lightning or hear thunder, activate your emergency plan. Now is the time to go to a building or a vehicle. Lightning often precedes rain, so don't wait for the rain to begin before suspending activities.

2. IF OUTDOORS...Avoid water. Avoid the high ground. Avoid open spaces. Avoid all metal objects including electric wires, fences, machinery, motors, power tools, etc. Unsafe places include underneath canopies, small picnic or rain shelters, or near trees. Where possible, find shelter in a substantial building or in a fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car, truck or a van with the windows completely shut. If lightning is striking nearby when you are outside, you should:

A. Crouch down. Put feet together. Place hands over ears to minimize hearing damage from thunder.
B. Avoid proximity (minimum of 15 ft.) to other people.

3. IF INDOORS... Avoid water. Stay away from doors and windows. Do not use the telephone. Take off head sets. Turn off, unplug, and stay away from appliances, computers, power tools, & TV sets. Lightning may strike exterior electric and phone lines, inducing shocks to inside equipment.

4. SUSPEND ACTIVITIES for 30 minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder.

5. INJURED PERSONS do not carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely. Apply First Aid procedures to a lightning victim if you are qualified to do so. Call 911 or send for help immediately.

6. KNOW YOUR EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS.

Teach this safety slogan:
"If you can see it, flee it; if you can hear it, clear it."

~ Above article prepared by the National Lightning Safety Institute, Louisville, CO.

Fact:
Summer is the peak season for one of the nation's deadliest weather phenomena, lightning. From June 20-26, the National Weather Service is sponsoring Lightning Safety Week. The campaign is designed to lower lightning death and injury rates and America's vulnerability to one of nature's deadliest hazards

A Bit of Humor:
“They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.” ~ Clint Eastwood
“If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.” ~
Lee Trevino

Facts: (These facts are taken from the Automated Weather Source)
1) Average Lightning Stroke is 6 miles long.
2) The Temperature of lightning's return stroke can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the sun is not even that hot! (around 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit).
3) Once the leading edge of a thunderstorm approaches to within 10 miles, you are at immediate risk due to the possibility of lightning strokes coming from overhanging anvil cloud. Because of this, many lightning deaths and injuries occur with clear skies directly overhead.
4) On average, thunder can only be heard over a distance of 3-4 miles, depending on humidity, terrain and other factors.
5) Average thunderstorm is 6-10 miles wide.
6) Average thunderstorm travels at a rate of 25 mph.

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Acupuncture - For Your Health

2010-06-22T09:50:00.000-04:00

Acupuncture is not just about needles, but is a comprehensive traditional therapy focused on correcting imbalances of energy flow throughout the body. It can be employed effectively for a wide variety of conditions:
* Emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
* Digestive complaints, including nausea, vomiting, and irritable bowel syndrome
* Pain syndromes due to an injury or associated with chronic degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
* Neurological problems like migraines or Parkinson's disease
* Respiratory conditions, including sinusitis and asthma
* Gynecologic disorders and infertility (it has demonstrated clinical success when used in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization)
* Fatigue or low energy
* Addictions
* Chronic lower back pain
     It can also be used as a rehabilitation strategy for individuals who suffered a stroke, can help control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and can help promote overall wellbeing.
     If you are considering seeing an acupuncturist, you should discuss this therapy and seek a referral for a licensed acupuncturist from your primary care physician.

Quotes:
"Every drug of choice has a receptor site mechanism that is very specific. What we do is meet the needs of that receptor site by supplying and directing the endorphins or enkaphilins through acupuncture."   ~ -Sir Jay Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D., Director of the Holder Research Institute in Miami, Florida

"Because the meridians influence every cell in the body and pass through every organ and organ system, acupuncture provides health practitioners with an accurate and noninvasive means of determining health deficiences, as well as a method of reestablishing balance." ~ William Michael Cargile, B.S., D.C., F.I.A.C.A., Chairman of Research for the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

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