Courtesy of Men's Health magazine:
I'm a research geek. Every day here at MensHealth.com, at our 10 a.m. news meeting, we assess dozens of new studies from researchers from around the world. Then we publish the most surprising, practical, and empowering research—findings that can change your life today—in our daily news channel.
You probably run across some of these studies, too; the major ones get a lot of media attention. That's why I actually prefer sifting through smaller, more obscure periodicals, hunting for research no one else is reporting. For example, over the past week I've learned:
You can lose weight by paying for groceries with cash; turns out, you're more likely to buy unhealthy foods if you pay with a credit card.
Taking a vitamin D supplement fortifies your muscles, making them less prone to injury.
Flirting at work is a hidden sign that your job isn't right for you.
Google is making us forgetful, because we're less likely to try to remember information that we know is readily accessible.
Who knew, right? Here are nine more fascinating strange-but-true study findings we've run across over the past few years.
Live Longer by Changing Your Name
People with "positive" initials—ones that spell out things like J.O.Y. or W.O.W.—live nearly 4-1/2 years longer than people with neutral initials, according to a University of California, San Diego study. D.U.D.'s live nearly three years less. Other initials that may shorten life: I.L.L. and D.E.D.
Keep Your Mind Sharper by Being a Jerk
Research from the U.S. Administration on Aging suggests there's a marked difference between how younger and older people interpret misplacing their car keys. A young guy usually blames someone else. An old man typically blames himself. Never use your age as an excuse—you'll remain sharper longer.
Break a High Fever With Your Armpits
Anything up to 102°F is mild and can be treated by drinking plenty of fluids. But to quickly bring down a reading above that, put an ice pack under your arm or near your groin. Icing either spot will cool your body's core. It's uncomfortable, but it works fast. Then see a doctor.
Prevent Claustrophobia by Smelling This Fruit
If you get nervous in small spaces such as subways, elevators, and that closet of an office they stuck you in, visit your local fruit stand. A sniff of green apple may help relieve claustrophobic sensations, says Dr. Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. Carry one with you. Also, if you're selling your house, placing a basket of fresh green apples on the table may make potential buyers perceive the house as larger.
Disinfect a Wound with Honey
No Neosporin in the house? Dab the cut with honey before covering it with a bandage. Believe it or not, honey has powerful antibacterial properties. A study in the Archives of Surgery found that honey is capable of destroying almost all strains of the most common wound-infecting bacteria.
Stop Bleeding with This Spice
Next time you nick yourself in the kitchen, reach for the black pepper, says Roberta Lee, M.D., vice chair of the department of integrative medicine at the Beth Israel Medical Center. Run cold water over the wound to clean it, using soap if you were handling meat. Then sprinkle on the pepper and apply pressure. In no time, the bleeding will stop. Turns out, black pepper has analgesic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. And don't worry—it won't sting.
See Your Tailor to Cure Back Pain
If you have an aching back, it may be because one of your legs is shorter than the other, says Steven McCaw, Ph.D., a researcher at Illinois State University. Even a slight imbalance can cause the spine to curve to the short side when you walk or run. Eventually, the bend puts painful pressure on disks. Most people can’t tell if their legs are different lengths, but a tailor can. Ask one for a quick measurement. If he finds an imbalance, correct the problem with a therapeutic, Dr. Scholl-type insert or see a podiatrist for a custom-made orthotic.
Massage Away Nicotine Cravings
If you’re a smoker who’s trying to quit, try this simple trick the next time a craving hits: Rub the skin between your index fingers and thumbs and the center of your palms. A study in Preventive Medicine found that men using this technique smoked 25 percent fewer cigarettes in a month than 10 quitters who used traditional distraction methods such as chewing gum. The quick self-massage evidently calms you and keeps your hands busy.
Drink This to Lower Your Cholesterol
The fiber supplement Metamucil can help lower elevated cholesterol levels. In one study, men who took one packet mixed in water before each meal for eight weeks experienced drops in LDL cholesterol averaging 7 percent. Metamucil also helps to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and the risk of heart disease, according to the National Fiber Council.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Voice Mail Message Of The Year
How can someone brighten your day without even interacting with you? Just tried to call Jack and got this message (in a just-rolled-out-of-bed style of voice) that had me guffawing in my living room.
You've tried to reach Jack,
Which is very rewarding,
But I cannot answer,
So leave a recording.
You've tried to reach Jack,
Which is very rewarding,
But I cannot answer,
So leave a recording.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
God's Will
"Certainly there is no contending against the Will of God; but still there is some difficulty in ascertaining, and applying it, to particular cases." - Abraham Lincoln
What does God want of each of us individually? To have a mind, apparently, and then what? Thoughts pass through it based initially on circumstance. At some point as we age we choose our actions and course, within limits and other occasionally random circumstances. God presides over it with a unique sense of justice, including acts of nature beyond human influence.
What should we do?
Change others? Seems against the natural order. Change mostly happens from within, not without.
Enjoy creation? I think so. I think a creator of so much good is pleased by its enjoyment.
Help others enjoy creation? Yes, the tricky part. Ascertaining and applying the greatest good.
Tens of thousands of people will indirectly be counting on my contribution to a small measure of their future happiness through my work next week. A couple dozen will be counting on it directly. We'll see how much enjoyment results!
What does God want of each of us individually? To have a mind, apparently, and then what? Thoughts pass through it based initially on circumstance. At some point as we age we choose our actions and course, within limits and other occasionally random circumstances. God presides over it with a unique sense of justice, including acts of nature beyond human influence.
What should we do?
Change others? Seems against the natural order. Change mostly happens from within, not without.
Enjoy creation? I think so. I think a creator of so much good is pleased by its enjoyment.
Help others enjoy creation? Yes, the tricky part. Ascertaining and applying the greatest good.
Tens of thousands of people will indirectly be counting on my contribution to a small measure of their future happiness through my work next week. A couple dozen will be counting on it directly. We'll see how much enjoyment results!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Not Too Smurfy: Movie Ripped By Critics
From Yahoo! film reviews:
This probably isn't going to come as much of a shock: "The Smurfs" is not a critical darling.
The Hollywood Reporter's Michael Rechtshaffen gets right to the point, calling the film "numbingly generic." "For all the digitally enhanced Smurfness, the results are remarkably mirthless" and "thoroughly uninspired." The movie serves as proof, Rechtshaffen writes, that "Hollywood seems to have no intention of leaving any '80s pop culture touchstone unturned." What's next? "Where's the Beef: the Movie"?
Keith Staskiewicz of Entertainment Weekly gives the movie a D+ and writes that it has the stink of a shameless cash-grab full of recycled ideas. He calls the flick "half animated, half live action, and all careful studio calculation." Probably not the kind of pull-quote the studio execs were hoping for.
The Onion's AV Club also gives the movie a D+. Reviewer Tasha Robinson writes that kids may find the frantic action fun, "but for adults, watching 'The Smurfs' may feel a little too much like trying to wrangle an overcrowded kiddie birthday party." Most likely to enjoy the film are those "who can't get enough of characters smacking face-first into glass surfaces."
E! Online's L. Thompson rips right into the movie, calling it "the epitome of cynical studio cash grabs that it appears to be." Giving the movie a D+ (see a theme here?), Thompson does give some credit to the acting of Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria. "Harris works hard to make the movie work," Thompson writes, before adding that Azaria's evil Gargamel is "a hoot."
Alonso Duralde of The Wrap is the most brutal. He calls "The Smurfs" "a film that does for children's entertainment what lead paint does for children's toys." He writes that the flick is "too moronic and cringe-worthy for adults," though kids may find Azrael the cat amusing.
Roger Moore from Tribune Newspapers is a tad more forgiving. Giving the movie two out of four stars, Moore writes that the Smurfs are "still sickeningly sweet and upbeat. But if you've got kids, it's not nearly as torturous to sit through as you might have feared." That's not faint praise considering the director of "The Smurfs" also helmed two "Scooby Doo" movies and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."
But not everybody thinks the Smurfs deserve a swift extermination. Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks the film's chief (human) star deserves a lot of credit. It's "a better movie than anyone could have possibly expected, thanks in large part to an honest effort by (Neil Patrick) Harris in a thankless role." Variety has a similar take. While critic Justin Chang by no means calls the movie a masterpiece, he does call out its "appreciable amount of heart."
If the film is a box office hit, you can probably expect more Smurfs. Apparently this is just the first film in a planned trilogy. Moviegoers, you have been warned.
This probably isn't going to come as much of a shock: "The Smurfs" is not a critical darling.
The Hollywood Reporter's Michael Rechtshaffen gets right to the point, calling the film "numbingly generic." "For all the digitally enhanced Smurfness, the results are remarkably mirthless" and "thoroughly uninspired." The movie serves as proof, Rechtshaffen writes, that "Hollywood seems to have no intention of leaving any '80s pop culture touchstone unturned." What's next? "Where's the Beef: the Movie"?
Keith Staskiewicz of Entertainment Weekly gives the movie a D+ and writes that it has the stink of a shameless cash-grab full of recycled ideas. He calls the flick "half animated, half live action, and all careful studio calculation." Probably not the kind of pull-quote the studio execs were hoping for.
The Onion's AV Club also gives the movie a D+. Reviewer Tasha Robinson writes that kids may find the frantic action fun, "but for adults, watching 'The Smurfs' may feel a little too much like trying to wrangle an overcrowded kiddie birthday party." Most likely to enjoy the film are those "who can't get enough of characters smacking face-first into glass surfaces."
E! Online's L. Thompson rips right into the movie, calling it "the epitome of cynical studio cash grabs that it appears to be." Giving the movie a D+ (see a theme here?), Thompson does give some credit to the acting of Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria. "Harris works hard to make the movie work," Thompson writes, before adding that Azaria's evil Gargamel is "a hoot."
Alonso Duralde of The Wrap is the most brutal. He calls "The Smurfs" "a film that does for children's entertainment what lead paint does for children's toys." He writes that the flick is "too moronic and cringe-worthy for adults," though kids may find Azrael the cat amusing.
Roger Moore from Tribune Newspapers is a tad more forgiving. Giving the movie two out of four stars, Moore writes that the Smurfs are "still sickeningly sweet and upbeat. But if you've got kids, it's not nearly as torturous to sit through as you might have feared." That's not faint praise considering the director of "The Smurfs" also helmed two "Scooby Doo" movies and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."
But not everybody thinks the Smurfs deserve a swift extermination. Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks the film's chief (human) star deserves a lot of credit. It's "a better movie than anyone could have possibly expected, thanks in large part to an honest effort by (Neil Patrick) Harris in a thankless role." Variety has a similar take. While critic Justin Chang by no means calls the movie a masterpiece, he does call out its "appreciable amount of heart."
If the film is a box office hit, you can probably expect more Smurfs. Apparently this is just the first film in a planned trilogy. Moviegoers, you have been warned.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Time To Smile
"To change our response to circumstances is to change the circumstances." - Anonymous
When we awaken from a bad dream we spend little time reliving it, pleased to dismiss its fleeting nature. Aren't all things fleeting though? Today was a living dream of sorts, as if I were a boxer who knocked himself out at Madison Square Garden with a swing-and-miss, sprawling to the canvas before a worldwide audience.
So... today's a good day to turn another page. Time to re-stock the cushions against the winds of adversity. Tomorrow will be a day of meditation, along the road to celebration!
When we awaken from a bad dream we spend little time reliving it, pleased to dismiss its fleeting nature. Aren't all things fleeting though? Today was a living dream of sorts, as if I were a boxer who knocked himself out at Madison Square Garden with a swing-and-miss, sprawling to the canvas before a worldwide audience.
So... today's a good day to turn another page. Time to re-stock the cushions against the winds of adversity. Tomorrow will be a day of meditation, along the road to celebration!
Al-Qaeda Claims U.S. Mass Transportation Infrastructure Must Drastically Improve Before Any Terrorist Attacks
From The Onion:
WASHINGTON—In a 30-minute video released Thursday, al- Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri criticized the mass transportation infrastructure of the United States, claiming significant repairs and upgrades would need to be implemented before the militant group would consider destroying any roads, bridges, or railways with terrorist attacks.
Reading from a prepared statement, al-Zawahiri blasted the U.S. government for its lack of foresight and admonished its leaders for failing to provide Americans with efficient and reliable modes of public transport to reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, improve air quality, and supply suitable targets for terrorists.
"The al-Qaeda network is fully prepared to continue the jihad against the American infidels by launching deadly attacks, but your outdated and rusting transportation infrastructure needs to be completely overhauled for those strikes even to be noticed," al-Zawahiri said. "We want to turn your bridges into rubble, but if we claimed credit for making them collapse, nobody would ever believe us."
"We'd really just be doing you a favor because then you'd actually have to rebuild them," al-Zawahiri added.
The al-Qaeda commander confirmed his organization initially hoped to cripple travel in the United States by destroying its nationwide high-speed rail system, but had been shocked to discover no such thing exists. Calling it a cost-efficient, modern way of travel that would serve as a boon to small businesses and the national economy, al-Zawahiri implored U.S. officials to invest in not just one high-speed passenger train network, but many of them, so they could all be blown up simultaneously in a signature al-Qaeda attack upon the nation's major population centers.
Throughout the threatening video, the terrorist leader questioned the priorities of American politicians, asking why they would refuse to fund engineering projects that would create jobs, bombing opportunities, and new ways for the U.S. compete globally.
"It's ridiculous that the Netherlands, the world's 16th-ranked economy, is continuously investing in its infrastructure, while the No. 1 economy simply refuses to enter the 21st century," said al-Zawahiri, adding that Americans should be ashamed of having only one operational high-speed rail line, considering the Dutch have 120. "And of course, we don't want to bring the Netherlands to its knees and make its people question the unholy excesses of their way of life. No one would care if we did that."
"Also, to the Great Satan American leader Barack Obama: Investing in mass transit infrastructure would have positive, long-term effects for the environment," he added. "Stop being so shortsighted."
Al-Qaeda sources confirmed that members of terror cells living in America regularly complain about the extreme difficulty of traveling around the country and say it has prevented them from doing their jobs effectively. A plot to destroy O'Hare International Airport was reportedly abandoned after constant flight delays made coordinating an attack nearly impossible.
In addition, al-Zawahiri said a terrorist attack on O'Hare couldn't make the commercial aviation center any worse.
He also revealed the terrorist organization had wasted six months planning to take down Amtrak's regional operations before realizing that with its constant delays and malfunctions, the government-owned passenger train service "basically terrorizes itself."
"We spent countless hours on training, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering for absolutely nothing," al-Zawahiri said. "We falsely assumed that disrupting key Amtrak lines would instill fear and cause chaos throughout the nation. Unfortunately, the overall impact and limited number of casualties wouldn't even make it worth the effort."
While al-Zawahiri mainly focused on reprimanding the U.S. for not updating its mass transportation system, the al-Qaeda leader also recommended the government repair sewage treatment plants, dams, waterlines, and the power grid.
"Frankly, America is a complete mess," al-Zawahiri said. "How could we even think about cutting electricity across multiple states, leaving millions of Americans terrified in darkness, when there are brownouts all the time? And of course, we would like nothing better than to poison your lakes and rivers, but it looks like you already beat us to it."
"At least the Empire State Building is still standing," he added.
WASHINGTON—In a 30-minute video released Thursday, al- Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri criticized the mass transportation infrastructure of the United States, claiming significant repairs and upgrades would need to be implemented before the militant group would consider destroying any roads, bridges, or railways with terrorist attacks.
Reading from a prepared statement, al-Zawahiri blasted the U.S. government for its lack of foresight and admonished its leaders for failing to provide Americans with efficient and reliable modes of public transport to reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, improve air quality, and supply suitable targets for terrorists.
"The al-Qaeda network is fully prepared to continue the jihad against the American infidels by launching deadly attacks, but your outdated and rusting transportation infrastructure needs to be completely overhauled for those strikes even to be noticed," al-Zawahiri said. "We want to turn your bridges into rubble, but if we claimed credit for making them collapse, nobody would ever believe us."
"We'd really just be doing you a favor because then you'd actually have to rebuild them," al-Zawahiri added.
The al-Qaeda commander confirmed his organization initially hoped to cripple travel in the United States by destroying its nationwide high-speed rail system, but had been shocked to discover no such thing exists. Calling it a cost-efficient, modern way of travel that would serve as a boon to small businesses and the national economy, al-Zawahiri implored U.S. officials to invest in not just one high-speed passenger train network, but many of them, so they could all be blown up simultaneously in a signature al-Qaeda attack upon the nation's major population centers.
Throughout the threatening video, the terrorist leader questioned the priorities of American politicians, asking why they would refuse to fund engineering projects that would create jobs, bombing opportunities, and new ways for the U.S. compete globally.
"It's ridiculous that the Netherlands, the world's 16th-ranked economy, is continuously investing in its infrastructure, while the No. 1 economy simply refuses to enter the 21st century," said al-Zawahiri, adding that Americans should be ashamed of having only one operational high-speed rail line, considering the Dutch have 120. "And of course, we don't want to bring the Netherlands to its knees and make its people question the unholy excesses of their way of life. No one would care if we did that."
"Also, to the Great Satan American leader Barack Obama: Investing in mass transit infrastructure would have positive, long-term effects for the environment," he added. "Stop being so shortsighted."
Al-Qaeda sources confirmed that members of terror cells living in America regularly complain about the extreme difficulty of traveling around the country and say it has prevented them from doing their jobs effectively. A plot to destroy O'Hare International Airport was reportedly abandoned after constant flight delays made coordinating an attack nearly impossible.
In addition, al-Zawahiri said a terrorist attack on O'Hare couldn't make the commercial aviation center any worse.
He also revealed the terrorist organization had wasted six months planning to take down Amtrak's regional operations before realizing that with its constant delays and malfunctions, the government-owned passenger train service "basically terrorizes itself."
"We spent countless hours on training, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering for absolutely nothing," al-Zawahiri said. "We falsely assumed that disrupting key Amtrak lines would instill fear and cause chaos throughout the nation. Unfortunately, the overall impact and limited number of casualties wouldn't even make it worth the effort."
While al-Zawahiri mainly focused on reprimanding the U.S. for not updating its mass transportation system, the al-Qaeda leader also recommended the government repair sewage treatment plants, dams, waterlines, and the power grid.
"Frankly, America is a complete mess," al-Zawahiri said. "How could we even think about cutting electricity across multiple states, leaving millions of Americans terrified in darkness, when there are brownouts all the time? And of course, we would like nothing better than to poison your lakes and rivers, but it looks like you already beat us to it."
"At least the Empire State Building is still standing," he added.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Seven Dwarfs' Families Win Settlement Against Disney
After months of closed-door legal negotiation, Disney agreed Friday to pay the families of seven dwarfs an undisclosed sum.
The class action suit alleged that likenesses of the plaintiffs were used for profit without consent, leading to public harassment that eventually drove the fireplugesque men into hiding.
After a motion filed by Disney was denied on Friday, July 8 by the Florida Supreme Court, dwarf spouses were all but guaranteed victory if the case went to trial.
"You made my first experience wonderful, thank you!" said Tracy Jordan before the court following the 75-minute session to deliberate. "Happy would have been so tickled."
Disney worked quickly throughout the ensuing week with grim-faced miniature lawyers to avoid a prolonged public media relations squabble. Family members were eager to celebrate upon the announcement once the deal was closed.
"Grumpy was completely typecast after that," said Kim Hawaspa with disgust. "He'd say 'Off to work I go,' but he never could hold a job for long. This makes my day."
Katie Varble was clearly pleased on behalf of her husband Bashful, but shrugfully declined to comment, tracing her foot lightly along the ground with her eyes down.
"If Doc were here, he'd be beaming so wide his spectacles would fly off," said Carla Knowles. Knowles, the eldest of the plaintiffs, is hospitalized with a thyroid condition brought on by chronic stress.
Connie Tullworks hasn't heard from Sleepy in over a decade, since he moved to Delaware in hopes to catch on with a mattress factory. "He needed a change. His narcoleptic reflex had spun out of control. He was going to send paychecks back this way," adding that the settlement amount would provide enough security for "lifetime unemployment."
LeAnn Attitudes was quick to scrub any thought of investing her new found funds, choosing to soundproof and sterilize the walls of her and Sneezy's home in hopes that he could at least return home peacefully.
Kelly Kiku waved her hands about gleefully as she spoke her thoughts on the experience. Although she chose to speak into a nearby glass of water rather than the podium microphone provided, reporters closer to the scene said that she made several nonsensical noises about her future with Dopey.
The class action suit alleged that likenesses of the plaintiffs were used for profit without consent, leading to public harassment that eventually drove the fireplugesque men into hiding.
After a motion filed by Disney was denied on Friday, July 8 by the Florida Supreme Court, dwarf spouses were all but guaranteed victory if the case went to trial.
"You made my first experience wonderful, thank you!" said Tracy Jordan before the court following the 75-minute session to deliberate. "Happy would have been so tickled."
Disney worked quickly throughout the ensuing week with grim-faced miniature lawyers to avoid a prolonged public media relations squabble. Family members were eager to celebrate upon the announcement once the deal was closed.
"Grumpy was completely typecast after that," said Kim Hawaspa with disgust. "He'd say 'Off to work I go,' but he never could hold a job for long. This makes my day."
Katie Varble was clearly pleased on behalf of her husband Bashful, but shrugfully declined to comment, tracing her foot lightly along the ground with her eyes down.
"If Doc were here, he'd be beaming so wide his spectacles would fly off," said Carla Knowles. Knowles, the eldest of the plaintiffs, is hospitalized with a thyroid condition brought on by chronic stress.
Connie Tullworks hasn't heard from Sleepy in over a decade, since he moved to Delaware in hopes to catch on with a mattress factory. "He needed a change. His narcoleptic reflex had spun out of control. He was going to send paychecks back this way," adding that the settlement amount would provide enough security for "lifetime unemployment."
LeAnn Attitudes was quick to scrub any thought of investing her new found funds, choosing to soundproof and sterilize the walls of her and Sneezy's home in hopes that he could at least return home peacefully.
Kelly Kiku waved her hands about gleefully as she spoke her thoughts on the experience. Although she chose to speak into a nearby glass of water rather than the podium microphone provided, reporters closer to the scene said that she made several nonsensical noises about her future with Dopey.
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