Wisdom Archive 6

~ words of wisdom ~

HAPPY 2010 ~ new year, new page

_____________________________________________________________

friday, january 29

Food Labels

Kid Approved? Doctor Recommended? Some of the stuff they put on labels mean nothing at all...

We consumers can really be influenced by certain labels. Phrases like "Kid Approved" or "Doctor Recommended" usually have no real meaning at all. Even the words healthy, organic and antioxidants can be used to lure us in. Here are some common phrases to watch out for:

Free-range

Green

Immunity Formula

Made with whole grains

May lower cholesterol

Natural

Strengthens you immune system

Although this wording on labels may be truthful, they have little or no real meaning because there are no standards for definition. If the package is labelled 'Organic', it really doesn't mean much unless it has the USDA Organic Seal.

Source: Bruce Silverglade, director of legal affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest

thursday, january 28

Sleepwalking

We've heard it's dangerous, but what really happens when you wake up a sleepwalker? Could they die? That's a myth. In reality, a sleepwalker will rarely freak out upon being awoken. It's more likely they'll be a bit confused and disoriented, maybe even annoyed or embarrassed. And it turns out waking up a walking sleeper is a lot safer then letting them take a late night stroll which could result in even more embarrassment, injury, or even death. The best way to deal with it is to gently assist them back into bed, using a quiet voice and subtle motions.

wednesday, january 27

CraigLook

If you like to actually see images of stuff on Craigslist, I've got another site you're going to LOVE!

If you like finding great deals on Craigslist, but get sick of clicking into each item, there's another way to do it. It's a site called CraigLook.com. It's works like a search engine for Craigslist, with pictures! All you do is type the item you're looking for into the search field, and your zip code, and presto, all the items with pictures pop up on one page. It's still the Craigs List stuff, but with images, and a fraction of the clicking. CraigLook.com.

tuesday, january 26

Winter Birds

There are a lot of pretty winter birds out there who'd be happy to liven up your landscape, and it's pretty easy to lure them into your view. Here are a few things you can put out to let them know you're open for business:

Eggshells. Crush them up and put them near the other feed you have.

Stale Cereal. Bigger chunks and crushed pieces attract different sized birds.

Water. It can be a challenge for birds to find clean, non-frozen water. If you put some in a dark colored bowl in the sun, it will stay thawed for longer.

monday, january 25

Blue Monday

Happy Blue Monday! It's today, January 25th, and it's considered to be the most depressing day of the year....

If you're feeling down in the dumps today, you're not alone, it's Blue Monday. Blue Monday is a phenomenon that occurs once a year, each and every year, according to a study developed by scientists at Cardiff University. Here's how they figured it out, they've developed a formula that takes six factors into account:

Weather conditions

Debt level

Ability to pay the bills

Time elapsed since Christmas

Time elapsed since failing our New Years resolutions

Seasonal motivation levels

Lack of something to look forward to

The good news is Blue Monday is the one day each year we can feel totally free to sit down and feel good about feeling really crummy.

friday, january 22

Shower Massage

Rushing through that morning shower? Not so fast! There's something you can do while you're in there to make yourself more productive...

For many of us, that morning routine can be rushed and a bit stressful. But there's something you can do in the shower to get your energy flowing and even prevent headaches. Give yourself a mini head massage, it's one of the few massages you can effectively give yourself. The shower is the perfect spot, because your hands are already warm, and when shampooing your hair, you're halfway there. Start at your temples, apply pressure in circular motions with your fingers towards the back of your head where it meets the neck. When your hands meet, start at the temples again and repeat the next band, an so on, until you've worked all the way to your forehead.

If you want to finish like a pro, give your hair a gentle tug, and then pinch yourself between the eyebrows, this releases tension that tends to build up there.

thursday, january 21

Security Check

It's no wonder identity thieves love the social networking sites, your profile could be like one stop shopping for them. According to Internet security company Webroot, over a third of us have at least three pieces of information posted in our profiles that come in really handy for a crook. Here are the stats you may want to skip:

Birth date with year

Addresses, current and previous

A list of schools you attended

Also, keep in mind if your connected to your mother online, there's a good chance an identity thief might see her maiden name and birth date. Those are are important pieces of information because they're often used as security questions. Another reason to be sure you've set your privacy settings.

wednesday, january 20

Look Who's Talking

If you think women talk more than men, think again. New research says it isn't always so.

Those stereotypes of the strong, silent man, and the verbal, nagging woman, are being challenged by the results of a recent study. Researchers at the University of Arizona studied how many words college students spoke over several days. Their findings had the men speaking about 15,700 words, while the women clocked in at just over 16,000. Even though the women's count was slightly higher, statistically speaking, the difference is considered insignificant.

These findings are a huge contrast to an older study that claimed men spoke 7,000 words a day, and women, 20,000. It turns out that study was based on unreliable data. Now we need to get some data on which sex is the better listener.

tuesday, january 19

The Color of 2010

Do you know the color of the year? It was Blue Iris in 2008, then Mimosa in 09...

What color is 2010? According to Pantone, experts on color for the design industry, it's Turquoise. What's so great about Turquoise? Leatrice Eiseman, of the Pantone Color Institute explains Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color. It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. They've done even done Turquoise studies and have found that it represents escape to many, taking them to a tropical paradise, even if only a fantasy.

If you'd like to get in on the color trend for 2010, check your jewelry box, chances are there's a splash of Turquoise in there somewhere. Turqoise ties for guys, and accessories for women make a great compliment to browns and other earth tones, and decorative items can also add some excitement to a lackluster kitchen or tabletop.

monday, january 18

Why Dye?
1979 Miss Clairol Hair Color Ad - My Painting

Gray hair. Love it, or leave it? Research shows hair dye can have an effect on more than our appearance.

If you want to feel wiser, you might consider leaving those gray hairs alone. But if you need a boost of energy, there's some bottled up in that hair dye. British researchers measured how women felt before and after a dye job. The results, 100% experienced a surge in energy and confidence! These results even applied to those just covering up a few stray grays.

If you opt for a do-it-yourself energy boost, keep it within one shade of your natural color. If you want a super-sized energy boost, changing your natural color all together, leave it to the professionals, and get to a salon.

friday, january 15

Lost Calls

A few years ago, it seemed everyone was talking on their cell phones. Those numbers are falling fast, as a matter of fact, the number of calls placed has dropped 15% over the past 2 years, and keeps dropping. So what's everyone NOT talking about? Texting. The number of text messages sent has more than doubled in that same period of time. And it's no wonder texting has taken over. While there's nothing quite like hearing someone's voice, texting gives us the freedom to get a message to multiple contacts, regardless of where they might be. Studies show more people are likely to respond to a text message at their convenience, than answer a call and commit to a conversation.

thursday, january 14

Sleep Study

Is it possible to learn by listening to recorded lessons or lectures while we sleep?

Unfortunately, studies show it just doesn't work. But the research did give some key insight to what does. The amount of sleep you get before and after absorbing that information is key. Getting a good night's rest before learning frees up your mind to absorb the information you want to retain. And then a quality sleep at the end of the learning day allows the information to sink in deeper. The study also found that the sleep time after learning is when our brains get busy linking together key information.

wednesday, january 13

Function Fatigue

If you can't figure out some of the functions on your cell phone, you're not alone...

Sure, your cell phone can do lots of cool stuff, but how? According to a survey of 15,000 consumers, function fatigue is the number one complaint of mobile phone users. Choosing a new device is usually pretty straight forward, but a lot of retailers send you on your way without explaining things. Chances are, you'll learn more about how to use your phone from friends with similar devices. Of course you can grab the manual, and a magnifying glass, and give yourself a tutorial, but there are some other resources to tap into your phone's functions. Some manufacturers have demonstrations on their websites, and you'll even find some interesting tricks on Youtube from fellow customers, just type your model number into the search.

tuesday, january 12

Can of Beer

BeerCanCollection.jpg Beer Can Collection image by kjv31

Everyone knows beer tastes better from a bottle than a can. Or does it?

It seems canned beer has been getting a bad rap. Most people assume that bottled beer tastes better, and that canned beer tends to have a metallic tinge. The truth is, most high-end craft beers have a protective coating inside the lids and cans, so the beer doesn't actually come in contact with the aluminum. Canned beer might actually have a slight advantage over bottles. Cans are airtight and oxygen-free. When light consistently hits a bottle of beer, it can turn skunky. And for those who enjoy beer, many prefer draft beer, which after all, is housed in a metal keg, a giant can.

monday, january 11

Counting Calories

If you go straight for the light or healthy section of a menu, don't believe everything you read. The calorie content could be higher than what's printed on the menu, sometimes even TWICE as high. So how can this be? Calorie counts are determined by weight and portion, and in restaurants, meals are prepared and doled out by hand, and chances are, they're not weighing every scoop. An extra dollop in your portion means extra calories.

Also keep in mind, some restaurants offer low calorie entrees, but don't include the calories of the side dishes that may come with it. It's not unusual for side dishes to contain twice the calories of the entree itself. If you're counting calories, experts suggest you factor in 20% more calories when you're eating out.

Source: Susan B. Roberts, PhD, author of "The I Diet"

friday, january 8

Big Interview

So you've got that important interview, and you overslept! What do you do? Don't panic. It's a terrible feeling, but there are ways to deal with interview mishaps. Here are some worst case interview scenarios, and how to handle them:

Your late. Maybe you overslept, or got stuck in traffic, either way you need to call immediately and let them know. Give them the chance to call the shots, somehow fitting you in, or rescheduling for a different day.

You forgot your materials. Portfolio or letters of recommendation on the kitchen counter? You can avoid some of this by keeping important job related stuff on line somewhere, such as in your saved mail documents or on a personal blog. This way you'll be able to retrieve important material from any computer.

Forgotten name. It happens to the best of us. If you forget the name of the person your interviewing with, find the first opportunity to say "Before I forget, may I have your business card?".

thursday, january 7

Good Gossip

Did you hear about Oprah and Tiger? I've got some gossip that could be good for your health...

Barely a day goes by that a celebrity doesn't make the headlines, but that could actually be good news for your health. Research shows that discussing celebrity gossip can actually be useful. Chatting it up with a pal releases progesterone which can reduce anxiety levels. But we all know gossiping about people we know can have some ill effects, that's where celebrities come in handy. We can speculate about Oprah's diet, or Tiger's career without risking harm to a personal relationship with them. If you happen to know Oprah or Tiger, you might want to pick on someone else.

wednesday, january 6

Warm Shake

Withdraws from Office Social Activities If you're at a get-together, do you hold your drink in your right or left hand?

We all know the importance of a good handshake. Firm, confident, dry. The next time you're at a social gathering, consider holding your drink in your left hand. It's a simple step we can take to make our hands more shakable. Not only will this help to keep your fingers warm and dry, you've saved yourself the steps of switching hands, the quick dry, and the awkward apology shake. It's an easy trick to help you master that all-important handshake.

If you find your palms are sweatier than they should be on a regular basis, you might want to let your doctor know. You could have a condition called hyperhidrosis that is medically treatable.

tuesday, january 5

Lost Luggage

If you've lost luggage, and never got it back, you might want to check a store in Alabama, before someone else buys your stuff...　

So what happens to that lonely suitcase after hours of going around and around on that luggage belt with no owner in sight? Well if nobody ever claims it, it could end up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama. It's a store a block long, and they've got just about everything you can think of there, including designer clothes, jewelry, electronics, you name it. They've even got a museum with some of the really odd stuff that's never been claimed. Ancient Egyptian Artifacts, a violin from 1770, and Hoggle, from the Jim Henson movie Labyrinth all reside there, and have been deemed too weird or wonderful to sell.

You can check out the the Unclaimed Baggage Center online, but to buy stuff, you'll have to plan a trip to Scottsboro. Pack light.

Source: UnclaimedBaggage.com

monday, january 4

Refrigerator Door

Your refrigerator door speaks volumes about you, even if there's nothing on it. Here's what it's saying:

If there is a lot of stuff stuck to your fridge, such as a calendar and invites, but it's relatively organized, you generally keep your families life in order.

If the magnets you're not using are lined up neatly, you prefer order and are prone to perfectionism.

If your refrigerator door is an inconsistent and random collage of photos, receipts, coupons and art work, chances are you're a bit scattered and are prone to missing important stuff. Especially if those magnets are doing double duty.

If your door is just a door, with nothing on it, this suggests you are image-conscious, and may be overly concerned with how others might view you.

friday, january 1, 2010

Social Suicide

If you'd like to wipe your social slate clean for 2010, there's an app for that. While millions are still tweeting and checking their Facebook, there's a new anti-social trend on the rise, people opting for a low or no profile online. There's a company based in the Netherlands called the Web 2.0 Suicide Machine. They invite you to "click here and sign out forever". You give it your passwords and it totally purges your social media accounts at Facebook, LinkedIn and beyond. Poof, you're gone. So how is life after social suicide? Anti-socialites report their lives are richer and more productive without the tools of social media.

Source: SuicideMachine.org

Anne Rondepierre

Words Of Wisdom