Dee Tales

Fortune Teller

2011-10-16T18:22:00.000-04:00

A women used Bananagrams to tell fortunes at the Boston Book Festival yesterday.

Schoolmaster Hill

2011-10-11T19:03:00.000-04:00

Remains of a Puddingstone shelter, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, stand on Schoolmaster Hill. The "Schoolmaster" in the hill's name refers to Ralph Waldo Emerson who lived there in a rented farmhouse with his mother and brother between 1823 and 1825 while teaching school in Roxbury.

Reach

2011-07-31T22:54:00.000-04:00

The sculpture, Reach, is meant to symbolize the immigrant experience of reaching up to climb the latter of success in America. It is located in Jamaica Plain's Mozart Park.

Sculptor Douglas Kornfeld explains the process of creating Reach here.

Wait Still

2011-07-31T22:33:00.001-04:00

This is the tomb of Wait Still and other worthy Winthrops, located at Kings Chapel Burying Ground in Boston.

Teens Behaving Dangerously: Climbing Into Bed with UV Rays

2010-02-07T15:38:00.000-05:00

It's a frozen February in New England and winter tanners are reclining inside hot, glowing pods, soaking up ultraviolet radiation: the main cause of skin cancer. But the lag-time between that cause and its potentially deadly effect can be decades, an unfathomable forever to a teenager. Why forgo the adornment of a glowing tan today for fear of a fate that might or might not happen at some point in a distant future? As a rule, teens don't open retirement accounts and they don't worry about developing skin cancer.

A sixteen-year-old might act differently if the consequences were immediate; if, for example, one out of every hundred tanners emerged from the radiation chamber with instant melanoma. Still, the odds would be slim enough to disregard.

When vain ladies of centuries past ingested arsenic to achieve a porcelain pallor, did they understand that they were swallowing poison? Did they knowingly expose themselves, the way tanners do today? And if they did know, would it have mattered?

The Melanoma Foundation of New England is attempting to shatter teen apathy toward the dangers of ultraviolet rays by having skin cancer survivors share their stories at schools throughout New England. To learn more, visit the link above and click on "Your Skin is In."
State by State Indoor Tanning Restrictions for Minors

Video: Tanning is Out: Your Skin is In

VPI Hambone Awards: Vote Now

2009-09-01T10:16:00.006-04:00

No matter how hale and hardy your pet may be, never underestimate his ability to get himself into a predicament requiring medical care.

Meet the nominees for this year's VPI Hambone Award, twelve healthy pets who played, ate, exercised or explored their way into big trouble. Read their tales then vote for your favorite.

The winner receives a bronze trophy in the shape of a ham bone and a guest appearance on the Rachel Ray show. The Hambone Award is named in honor of a VPI-insured dog who got stuck inside a refrigerator and devoured an entire Thanksgiving ham before being discovered. The dog suffered a mild case of hypothermia - which, no doubt, he probably considered a minor price to pay for the feast.

Death by Numbers

2009-08-30T17:30:00.010-04:00

As a 44 year old white woman living in Massachusetts, I have a 1,600 out of a million chance of dying within the next year. Were I to die during that time, it would most likely be from some form of cancer.

I am about a third less likely to die during the next year as is an African-American woman of the same age and living in the same state. But both of us have better chances of surviving the next twelve months than our counterparts in Kentucky or Mississippi.

All of this grim information comes compliments of the Death Risk Calculator developed at Carnegie Mellon University. This easy-to-use tool allows you to calculate your risk for up to 66 causes of death, from skin cancer to homicide to accidental poisoning.

Sure, it's fun but what's the point? Site developer and professor, Paul Fischbeck hopes it will bring focus and factual information to our nation's ongoing debate over healthcare policy.

"It's much easier to make a persuasive argument when you have the facts to back it up, and this site provides all sides with the facts," said Fischbeck. "We believe that this tool, which allows anyone to assess their own risk of dying and to compare their risks with counterparts in the United States and Europe, could help inform the public and constructively engage them in the debate."

Image courtesy of Stock.xchng

The Trouble with Multi=Tasking

2009-08-26T21:18:00.026-04:00

What a relief it was to read about this Stanford University study which found that heavy duty multi-taskers are not, in fact, super-human concentrators with the ability to polish off multiple projects simultaneously and flawlessly. Instead, researchers found that those who regularly juggle several sources of media at once were less successful at assigned tasks than people who usually do one thing at a time.

As someone who has trouble reading a book and listening to music at the same time - unless the music is instrumental only and coincides historically and mood-wise with what I'm reading, I have always been suspicious of multi-taskers. Are their powers of mental focus so superior to mine? How do they keep it up? Something's got to give. It turns out that the "something" is the ability to ignore irrelevant information.

"They're suckers for irrelevancy," said Stanford professor Clifford Nass, one of the lead researchers for the study. That inability to filter out what is immaterial to a task naturally decreases accuracy and delays the completion of that task.

Of course, this is not a big surprise to anyone who has ever been behind a multi-tasker in a check-out line. Trying to swipe a debit card, punch in a PIN and carry on a cell phone conversation at the same time inevitably leads to delays, not only for the multi-tasker but for everyone else in the line as well.

Other skills found lacking in multi-taskers were the ability to organize memory and the ability to switch from one task to another.

"They couldn't help thinking about the task they weren't doing," said Eyal Ophir, lead author of the study. "They can't keep things separate in their minds."

So I feel somewhat vindicated in my affinity for uni-tasking. I won't be pressured into a feeling of inadequacy when I'm happily engrossed in a single activity. I don't need to see how many balls I can keep in the air. I'm happy juggling one at a time.

Stanford University News Article

Teachers, Win Free School Supplies!

2009-08-26T12:42:00.005-04:00

Why does your class deserve to win a gift certificate for $2,500 worth of school supplies and how would you put those school supplies to good use? If you are a public school teacher and can answer this question convincingly in 400 words or fewer, you are ready to enter the 2009 Tools for Teaching Contest sponsored byCatalogs.com, and Nasco,

"As a mother of three, I understand the financial hardships many schools are facing this fall and I'm glad we can provide much-needed relief for purchasing school supplies," said Catalogs.com co-founder Leslie Linevsky. "We also hope this contest inspires other small and mid-sized businesses to do what they can to support public education."

Entries may be submitted on the Catalogs.com website starting on Tuesday, September 1 and ending on Wednesday, September 30.

Essays will be judged on persuasiveness, creativity, clarity and demonstration of need.

The top five essayists will receive eNasco gift certificates to be redeemed for school supplies. The grand prize winner will be able to spend $2,500; a second-place prize of $1,500 will be awarded and three runners-up will each receive $500 gift certificates.

Winners will be notified by October 30.

To enter the "Tools for Teaching" contest or for more information, visit


www.catalogs.com/teachers.

Top Ten "Human" Ailments That Also Plague Pets

2009-08-18T11:50:00.018-04:00

A dog can catch a chicken but it can't catch chicken pox. A cat can swat incessantly at a dangling be-feathered teaser but it won't develop carpel tunnel syndrome. And humans almost never come down with a raging case of mange. Still, there are many afflictions which people and pets endure in common. Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI) recently reviewed its 2008 claims data and compiled the following list of the top ten medical conditions common to people and pets.

1. Allergies - In 2008, VPI received 63,761 claims for skin allergies. Allergic reactions in pets can result from flea bite saliva, the pollen of nearby plants or foods that pets eat. Treatment for pets is relatively the same as it is for people: control the pet's exposure to allergens (in the environment or to certain foods), administration of antihistamines, and, in severe cases, administration of anti-inflammatory medications.

2. Bladder infection - 23,915 claims received. The symptoms of a bladder infection, or bacterial cystitis, can be difficult to recognize in pets. Don't assume all "accidents" in the house or a pet's frequent urination pattern is simply a behavioral issue. There could be medical basis to a pet's change in urinary habits. It is important to never ignore a pet that appears to be experiencing painful or difficult urination.

3. Arthritis - 19,537 claims received. The aging process occurs more rapidly in pets and has many of the same effects on pets as it does on humans. Arthritis, or degenerative joint disease, most often results from a lifetime of wear and can cause pain or decreased joint movement. Pets suffering from arthritis may need anti-inflammatory medications and/or pet specific pain relievers for their arthritis. (Note: never give a pet a human drug or pain reliever, since these can be toxic to pets.)

4. Diabetes - 8,590 claims received. As with humans, diabetes requires daily management of the disease and a combination of treatment involving weight control, specially timed meals, insulin injections and/or oral medications.

5. Skin Cancer - 2,114 claims received. It would be easy to think that with hair usually covering the majority of their bodies, pets don't have to worry about skin cancer. Unfortunately, the three most common skin cancers in humans also occur in pets. Areas of skin that are white or pink on a pet's coat are particularly susceptible to sunburn which, with long-term exposure, can lead to skin cancer. As such, it is important to monitor the skin of pets with white ear tips and pink noses.

6. Gum Disease - 1,748 claims received. Pets have a disadvantage compared to people in the dental category. Food particles tend to gather in the corners of their mouth after a meal, so tooth brushing and regular checkups are necessary. Without tooth brushing the pet is susceptible to the potentially harmful effects of excessive plaque buildup on the tooth's surface. The plaque harbors bacteria, which easily invade the adjacent gum lining, leading to gum recession and gum disease.

7. Acne - 705 claims received. Acne in dogs and cats affects the chin and lips. While dogs often outgrow the condition, cats are more likely to suffer lifelong breakouts. Most pets are not bothered by the condition, but in severe cases, the affected areas may become painful or itchy. Topical medications may be prescribed by a veterinarian to relieve the pet's discomfort.

8. Stomach Ulcers - 584 claims received. Ulcers in pets can be caused by drugs, cancer, kidney or liver disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic stomach inflammation. Pets with stomach ulcers may vomit or display abdominal discomfort.

9. Cataracts - 495 claims received. A cataract is a change in the transparency of lens in the eye. An opaque lens blocks light from reaching the retina and may cause a partial or complete loss of vision. Cataracts in pets may be caused by diabetes, malnutrition, radiation, inflammation, or trauma. Like humans, surgery may be required to remove the affected lens or lenses.

10. Laryngitis - 382 claims received. Dogs and cats can bark or meow for hours upon hours, but every so often, one will lose his voice. The cause may be an upper respiratory tract infection, irritation due to an inhalant, or just excessive vocalization. An inflamed larynx will cause vocal difficulty. Fortunately, it is rarely serious.

Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Image Library

Most Creative Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

2009-08-17T14:09:00.006-04:00

How can a PB&J help pay your child's way to college?

Ask Mommy Reporter: t he busy mom's source for news and information.

The Paw Project

2009-08-12T09:59:00.006-04:00

Banned or considered unethical in many other countries, de-clawing surgery is commonly performed in the U.S. to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Since a cat's claw grows from within the last bone of its toe, de-clawing requires an amputation at the last "knuckle."

"Declawing is one of the most painful surgeries routinely performed by veterinarians, and it can result in serious physical and behavioral complications," said Jennifer Conrad, DVM, who founded The Paw Project in 2000 to promote public awareness about the crippling effects of de-clawing, to rehabilitate de-clawed cats through reparative surgery, and to support measures to eradicate de-clawing.

Do Your Kids Take School Too Seriously?

2009-08-10T10:36:00.014-04:00

For many parents, September brings the blessing of getting to send the kids back to school - a safe and stimulating environment where they will be mentored, protected and enriched, where new universes of knowledge will open up for them to explore with supportive and sensitive teachers and peers.

But, along with the optimistic rush that a fresh start can bring, comes worry about the unknown. What peer pressure is lurking in that new grade or new school? What little ne'er-do-wells populate that new afterschool program?

A recent study reveals that the biggest (29 percent) back-to-school fear in moms' minds is that their children will be exposed to kids who drink and use drugs. Certainly understandable. This was followed closely by worries that teens "will feel pressure to do well academically or pressure from tests" (22 percent). That one surprised me. I guess things have changed mightily in the 20-plus years since I was a teen. Let me just say this; the fear that I was putting too much pressure on myself academically was never one of the things that kept my mother up at night. Not once did I cause her to break into a cold sweat at the thought of her my obsessive study habits.

Still, personal experiences aside, school pressure does seem to be a legitimate cause for concern. On a 2007 survey, teens ranked it first on a list of reasons they've used drugs and alcohol, out-scoring other popular responses such as "to feel cool" and "to feel better about myself."

For more information, visit Partnership for a Drug Free America

Learn about talking to your kids about drug and alcohol abuse at Time to Talk

First School Bus

2009-08-03T16:32:00.016-04:00

In 1869 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed the first legislation in the United States allowing the use of public funds for transporting children to and from school. Over the next half century, the other 48 states followed suit.
In its earliest days, long before bright yellow paint and flashing red lights, the school bus took the form of a long, wood-framed wagon, pulled by horses or mules, with wide planks running the length of the sides, to serve as benches. Children boarded and exited the wagons at the rear to avoid frightening the animals.
In the anthology Good Old Days Remembers the Little Country School House, Emma B. Lee recalls chilly Indiana mornings, riding to school with classmates, in a wagon drawn by two horses. "The only heat we had came from one of those little round kerosene heaters that was anchored behind the driver's seat. That didn't make much heat for a wagon big enough to haul 18 to 20 kids."

Photograph of a school wagon

Scented Puzzles

2009-07-01T17:42:00.009-04:00

Imagine yourself on some rainy summer evening, tackling a brand new 300 piece jigsaw puzzle. Little by little, starting with the outer edges, you begin to assemble a lovely pastoral scene of an apple orchard. As you handle the smooth, wooden pieces, flipping them around in your fingers and fitting them snugly together, you are forming the image of a basket brimming with the ripe, red fruit. You can almost smell the sweet, crisp scent of MacIntosh apples on a fall day in New England. No, wait; you really can smell apples. It's coming from those puzzle pieces you've been handling. Move over Smencils. Behold the scented puzzle.

A partnership between Yankee Candle and Hasbro has produced a trio of pleasantly pungent puzzles, each with 300 pieces and each selling for a suggested retail prices of only $9.99. Inside the aromatic packages, buyers will find a $10.00 coupon redeemable at Yankee Candle.

Dancing in Duct Tape

2009-06-20T21:32:00.009-04:00

This prom-bound diva, Lauren, and her dashing prom date, Paul are adorned entirely in the sticky splendor of duct tape. Back in 2005, the young couple from Fair Oaks, California took 3rd place in the 2005 Duck Brand Duct Tape "Stuck at Prom" Contest, winning scholarship dollars for themselves and a matching gift for their high school.

Now, from over 200 entries, ten couples have been selected as the 2009 finalists. Behold these adhesive-clad fashionistas and vote for your favorite. Which of the 20 colors of the Duck Brand duct tape rainbow will they use to fashion their formal wear? Which crafty couples will collect this year's prizes?

Winners will be announced on July 9th.

View the entries and vote.

Contest for Kids:The Legend of the Dough

2009-05-01T21:09:00.002-04:00

What happens when two little boys find themselves on a deserted island with some nasty and very smelly pirates? I have no idea. But your child might. If so, he could end up with an extra hundred bucks in his treasure chest.

"The Legend of the Dough" is an adventure tale with a beginning but no end - yet. Children are invited to use their imaginations to add the next chapter and send it to the Yohoho Dough website .

"I thought it was important to show both parents and kids that creativity can and should be rewarded," says Holly Palm, who, with her son Chase, created Yohoho Dough. "That kind of cash can really help show kids that they can do something with the fun things in their minds,"

How to Optimize Doctor Visits by Donna Verry Dee

2009-05-01T17:37:00.007-04:00

Making the Most of Your Next Appointment

You wait weeks for an appointment, rearrange your schedule to arrive on time, sit in the waiting room for at least half an hour and then, finally, you are face to face with your doctor. This is your chance to get your needs met. And you only have about 15 minutes to do it. How can you make the most out of your limited time?

The most satisfying doctor visits begin long before you enter the examination room. As the patient, it is your job to come prepared. Here are some strategies for optimizing your next visit to the doctor.

Get Organized

Keep a diary to track symptoms or health complaints, recommends Carol J. Levy, author of A Pained Life, which chronicles her experiences as a chronic pain patient. "This way you can give a better picture of the timeline of what is wrong, as well as how the symptoms have waxed and waned or what makes them
better or worse." Before your appointment, summarize your findings into a few sentences and bring them with you. "The anxiety inherent in seeing the doctor as well as the time crunch makes forgetting what we meant to say way too easy to do."

Know Your Medications and Tests

“To help you get the treatment you need, doctors need to know what tests you’ve had – and when – as well as what medications you’re taking,” says Dr. Michael Pignone, chief of the division of general internal medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This eliminates the expense and inconvenience of duplicate testing and reduces the chances of a doctor prescribing medication that has a bad interaction with something you're already taking. The more doctors that are involved in your healthcare, the more important this step becomes.

But shouldn't your doctor already know what medication you're taking? Yes, in an ideal world where information was shared instantly among all of your health care providers and where every patient followed doctor's orders exactly. "What really matters is what pill bottles are in the home and exactly what
medications at what doses the patient is actually taking and swallowing as of today. Only the patient knows that," says Carla Mills A.R.N.P., author of A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices . "A patient carrying a copy of their current med list carries the ultimate check and balance."

Set Goals for the Visit

Decide what you want to achieve from the visit. "Have your top three concerns written down," says holistic chiropractor Dr. Tom Hyland Robertson. "Let your doctor know that you have three concerns - or two or only one - at the beginning of the visit. This will help to streamline [the doctor's] thought processes."

Speak the Language

One of the most powerful things a patient can do is to speak the doctor's language, according to LaRita B. Jacobs, a health educator for people with chronic illness. Jacobs teaches seminars on communicating with doctors. She says . "Doctor's think in terms of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). You will get the doctor's attention if you also speak in terms of ADLs. For example, if I speak to my doctor and tell her that it hurts to have my hands above my head, I may get a patronizing answer reminding me that with the arthritis in my shoulder I can't expect to play tennis. However, when I say 'After I unload the dishwasher I am in so much pain I need to lie down to recover,' I have given the doctor context."

Be an Active Listener
As your doctor talks to you, ask for definitions or clarifications of any words or instructions you don't understand. Take notes or have someone come with you to take notes while the doctor gives instructions. Paraphrase the information back to your healthcare provider so he or she can determine whether the message is clear. If you're still unsure about something, request additional information.

The bottom line is, a passive patient, who sits back and lets the doctor call the shots, is more likely to leave the office unsatisfied, with lingering questions and festering symptoms. A pro-active patient, who takes initiative, sets goals and expresses opinions and concerns is destined to have a more effective healthcare experience.

To Learn More

13 Questions You Will Be Asked About Your Chief Complaint

by Carla Mills A.R.N.P., author of A Nurse Practitioner;s Guide to Smart Health Choices

7 Secrets to an Extraordinary Doctor's Visit

by Pamela Wible, M.D.

Images courtesy of Stock.xchng

Tree-Loving Artists of All Ages

2009-04-27T09:12:00.004-04:00

Are you an artist who loves trees - doodling dogwoods, painting maples, etching elms? Would you like to win a year's supply of paper products? If so, you have until June 30 to send your original, arboreal artwork to the "Save the Trees Paper Towel Design Contest," sponsored by Marcal to promote its new Small Steps line.

In an ongoing effort to save a million trees (according to their website, they're up to 20,618,043) Marcal's new Small Steps brand is made from 100 percent recycled paper. In addition, the line is hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, manufactured without chlorine bleaching and made without added dyes or fragrances.

Artists of all ages are encouraged to apply. Multiple entries from each artist will be accepted. Children must have a parent or guardian sign their entry form.

Entries will be judged on three criteria: the appreciation for trees theme (30%), originality/creativity (30%) and appeal (40%). In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the highest appeal score.

The grand prize is a trip for four to "hug a giant tree" at California's Sequoia National Park, a year's supply of Small Steps paper products and the chance to have their artwork used "as inspiration for future Small Steps brand product packaging." The second prize is a tree for the artist's yard, awarded in the form of a $250 check made payable to the winner, plus a year's supply of Marcal Small Steps paper products. The third prize is a $100 gift certificate to a local garden center, plus - you guessed it - a year's supply of Marcal Small Steps paper products.

So get out the crayons, charcoals, chalks and markers. We'll be "root"ing for you.

Kids Fear End of World

2009-04-23T19:07:00.008-04:00

As we recycle, conserve, preserve and do whatever else we can think of to "greenify" our homes, schools and lives, children are getting the invaluable message that the Earth is vulnerable. But that message is making some kids nervous about the future. A survey conducted earlier this month, finds that one out of three children, aged 6 through 11, fear that the planet won't exist when they grow up and more than half believe that the Earth will not be as nice a place to live.

Hurricanes and tornadoes are the natural disasters that most worry half of the 500 children polled.
Clean drinking water was a big concern. Nearly a quarter of all children polled are afraid that there is not enough for everyone on the planet.
Penguins, polar bears and other species becoming extinct, is the biggest environmental fear for another 28%.

"I am more committed than ever to help educate children around the globe in a way that is not scary to them," says Sharon Lowe, founder of Habitat Heroes, an ecologically-themed, playful and educational webiste targeted toward children aged 6 - 14. "Hopefully Habitat Heroes fills a void and gives us the opportunity to raise awareness in ways that children embrace to maintain a healthy and beautiful planet."

This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted by CARAVAN Opinion Research Corporation, using a national sample of 500 children (half boys, half girls) ages 6-11, living in private households in the Continental United States. The poll was completed during the period of April 3-7, 2009.

Marriage Calculator

2009-04-14T17:17:00.002-04:00

Before heading to the altar or the Justice of the Peace, surf over to the Marriage Calculator to decide if you and your beloved are in danger of ending up divorced. Already married? Check your chances of staying that way for the next five years. The Marriage Calculator uses information from the U.S. Census Bureau to figure the odds of living happily ever after with your spouse.
Matrimonial track records suggest that factors such as level of education and age at time of marriage are strong indicators of longevity. Income isn't one of the specific factors on the Marriage Calculator but level of education is often related to income level.
"The past is being used to determine the future with this calculator," says G. Cotter Cunningham, CEO of divorce360.com. "Here's a tool for everyone who is thinking of getting married right now."
What do you think? Would you let the Marriage Calculator influence your choice of spouse?

Fired Over Faulty Nose

2009-04-09T15:14:00.006-04:00

"The evidence sufficiently demonstrated that Agostino suffered a physical disability that rendered him unfit to serve as a police officer," wrote Judge Bernard L. McGinley in a decision delivered by a Pennsylvania appeals court last month. The disabling injury in question is an inability to smell, a condition called anosmia.

Officer David J. Agostino, who had served as a police officer for Collier Township since 1998, acquired the rare condition as the result of a head injury sustained in an off-duty motorcycle crash in 2004. After two years of rehabilitation, when he was finally able to pass a physical and return to duty, his dimmished sniffer became an issue.

Fellow officers testified that Agostino's nose was no longer able to detect alcohol on a driver's breath or natural gas leaking from a furnace.
Perhaps a larger police department could have found a clerical position for the olfactorally-deprived officer. But apparently, in Collier Township, there are no paper pushers. All police officers work the streets and all are first responders. Therefore, all must be able to pass the smell test.

Except there is no smell test.
According to Pennsylvania State Police Major, John Gallaher, executive director of the state municipal officers' training commission, there are standards for an officer's vision, hearing and cardiovascular health, but not for smell.

Do you use your nose at work? Would losing your sense of smell lead to losing your job?

Sandwich Challenge

2009-03-27T09:26:00.005-04:00

Take American Idol, add a little Iron Chef and serve between two slices of bread. The Best in Class Sandwich Challenge is on! From now until May 4, kids aged 6 to 18 are invited to submit their original grilled, pressed, toasted or cold sandwich recipes to the makers of Arnold Bread. And it's not just a lot of bologna, winners will receive one of four grand prizes of $1500, plus an additional $5000 for their school.
The company's first kid-centered recipe contest was inspired by their new line of Arnold Soft 100% Natural Breads made with whole grains and without high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, artificial colors, artificial flavors or preservatives.

Contestants will be divided into the following age groups.

6-8 years of age
9-12 years of age
13-15 years of age
16-18 years of age

Twelve finalists - three from each age group - will be selected by a panel of judges. Recipes will be judged on:

(#1) Originality And Creativity - 50% - Uniqueness and creativity of recipe.
(#2) Healthfulness - 25% - Includes ingredients that are healthy and nutritious.
(#3)
Perceived Ease of Preparation - 25% - Your Entry must be easy for users
to prepare and include ingredients that are available everyday.

Will the judges be taste-testing every entry? An Arnold spokesperson says, "We've already received over 100 entries so we're not going to end up trying each sandwich, but will taste the sandwiches in contention for the finalist slots ... So far we've received some really different, fun creations!"

Then, once the judges have selected the most original, healthful, delectable dozen, it's your turn. Starting May 24th, the twelve finalist recipes will be posted online and the public will have a month to vote for their favorite.

The Rentable Ear

2009-03-18T19:05:00.004-04:00

Have you heard? March is International Listening Awareness Month. Defined by the International Listening Association as "the process of receiving, constructing meaning from and responding to spoken and/or non-verbal messages," listening is at the root of all communication.
If you're not lucky enough to have a first-rate listener on hand next time you feel like venting, there is a new service that can help. Consider confiding in one of the non-judgemental, polite and professional listeners at We Just Listen? For just a dollar a minute, any time of day or night, you can count on a supportive, receptive ear on the other end of the line. We Just Listen is completely anonymous. Even your listener won't know who you are.
"I've found that needing to talk and not being able to has been a major source of frustration in my life." says Robert Connerley, company founder. "We Just Listen offers something that can't always be attained from a friend or a loved one -- the opportunity to speak frankly and openly to
an unbiased empathetic listener."

Sleep More; Weigh Less

2009-03-16T21:16:00.002-04:00

If you are serious about losing those extra pounds, then it's time to get up off the couch - and go to bed. Getting too little sleep may increase hunger and affect the body's metabolism, making it more difficult to stick to sensible eating habits.
A commitment to weight loss should go hand in hand with an increase in sleep, according to Michael Thorpy, MD, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. "Sleep loss is associated with striking alterations in hormone levels that regulate the appetite and may be a contributing factor to obesity." said Thorpy.
Specifically, sleep loss has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that regulates appetite. As a result, individuals who lose sleep may continue to feel hungry despite adequate food intake. Additionally, lack of sleep may interfere with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and cause high blood levels of glucose. Excess glucose promotes the overproduction of insulin, which can promote the storage of body fat.
But, it's not just getting sleep that's important; it's the kind of sleep you're getting. For example, decreased amounts of restorative deep or slow-wave sleep ( non-REM sleep) have been associated with significantly reduced levels of growth hormone 1 --a protein that helps regulate the body's proportions of fat and muscle during adulthood.
"Sleep loss disrupts a complex and interwoven series of metabolic and hormonal processes and may be a contributing factor to obesity," said John Winkelman, MD, PhD, medical director of the Sleep Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "What most people do not realize is that better sleep habits may a be instrumental to the success of any weight management plan."
Unfortunately, many of us are not taking advantage of this snuggly weight-regulation technique. According to the National Sleep Foundation, in the past eight years, the number of Americans who sleep less than six hours a night jumped from 13% to 20%, and those who reportedsleeping eight hours or more dropped from 38% to 28%. Two out of every ten Americans sleep less than six hours a night. People sleeping too few hours report being too tired to work efficiently, to exercise or to eat healthy.

If you have trouble sleeping for more than a few weeks, or if sleep problems interfere with daily functioning, speak with your doctor.

MSPCA Top Dogs Take Home Over $200,000

2009-02-20T13:53:00.011-05:00

The Boston Globe reports that, despite a financial downfall which is forcing the MSPCA to close three shelters, downsize several programs and eliminate a total of 46 positions, four of the non-profit's top officials are earning upwards of $200,000 annually. MSPCA spokesman, Brian Adams explains the generous salaries to the Globe. "We have to attract the right talent, and we have to remain competitive. We can't remain competitive by asking people to work for free."Free? Isn't there something between six figures and free? Actually, the MSPCA does ask people to work for free. Every day shelter volunteers clean out cages, feed, water and exercise animals, assist with adoptions and perform any number of necessary hands-on tasks to keep the operation going. Could they be spending their time elsewhere, padding their income? Sure. But, because of their dedication to animals, they choose not to.

The MSPCA is funded by memberships, private donations and fees for services such as veterinary care. It receives no state or federal funding. The Society's website states, "When you give your money, time or energy to the MSPCA-Angell, you can be sure you are having a very real impact on very real animals as well as on the issues that determine the quality of human and animal lives - today and in the future." Well, that's true; donations are certainly improving the quality of human life for the big four at the MSPCA.

Image by Bubamara. Available at Wikimedia Commons.

When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen

2009-02-20T07:30:00.009-05:00

From the small stuff - like wearing weird clothes - to the serious - such as suicidal behavior - When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen offers exasperated parents of teenagers an immediate and practical course of action. Subtitled "The Why, the How and What to Do NOW," Michael Bradley's latest tome on taming teens is chock full of bullet lists and bite-sized advice. Set up like a reference book, it's not so much a book to read cover to cover as it is one to consult when the inevitable need arises. For instance, your 15 year old daughter insists she absolutely has to have her nose pierced. Quick! What do you say? What do you do? Pick up this book and scan the alphabetized sub-headings under Body/Appearance Issues until you find "Piercing, Wants A." Turn to the appropriate page and start following the DO list.

Set a minimum age requirement before she "has" to have them (if it's not too late).
Stay calm (now that it's too late).
Ask if she has researched the health risks.
Require a consultation with a physician
Have the doc list the piercing areas be relative risk
Insist on the least risky area.
Trade off piercing for increased responsibilities (grades, chores).
Negotiate the minimum interval before any other piercing can be considered (if any).

Next, consult the DON'T list for actions to avoid in this situation.

Flip out and yell "NO!"
Say OK right away.
Accuse her of "following a fad." (Of course she is - so what?)
Assume that all piercings have equal risks.
Allow an additional piercing within a short time (six months).
Assume that a pierced nose indicates pierced character.

It's not all this recipe-ish. There are also brief narrative Why and How sections, as well as general introductions to each issue area. And the book ends with "The Twenty Minute Guide to the New Millennium Teen." But, as Bradley himself states unapologetically in the preface, "In this book, you'll find little theory and lots of advice - practical, specific and well-researched advice."

Voluntary Madness

2009-02-09T08:46:00.006-05:00

Being of sound mind and body, author Norah Vincent feigned depression, checked herself in to the psychiatric ward of a large, public, city hospital and started taking notes with a blunt-tipped Crayola marker. (Her ballpoint pen had been confiscated during admission - too pointy.) The result is Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin. Throughout the course of Voluntary Madness, Vincent samples three mental health facilities from the inside - the public hospital, a private, suburban clinic and an alternative treatment center which touts exercise and intensive talk therapy over medication. The author shares her blunt observations along with her strong opinions on the pharmacuetical industry and its cozy relationship with psychiatry.

Cats and Dogs Exterminated During Plague

2009-02-08T13:01:00.002-05:00

During the Great Plague of London (1664-65), cats and dogs fell under suspicion of spreading the disease that was claiming the lives of over a thousand Londoners a week. In his Journal of the Plague Years, author Daniel Defoe wrote of the widely-held belief that because dogs and cats were "domestic animals and are apt to run from house to house, and from street to street, so they are capable of carrying the effluvia or infectious steams of bodies ... even in their furs and hair." Hoping to end the spread of this fatal "effluvia," the lord mayor issued an order to kill all cats and dogs in the city. A special executioner was appointed to the gruesome task. An estimated 40,000 dogs and 200,000 cats lost their lives in a useless effort to contain the Plague. Not only did the disease rage on, but the natural predators of the true Plague carriers - flea-infested rats - had been eliminated.

Tea Poisoning: A Time-Honored Tradition

2009-01-11T15:11:00.007-05:00

January is National Hot Tea Month. In honor of this, here are some examples of the time-honored tradition of tea poisoning. A 40 year old Missouri woman was arrested this week for allegedly trying to poison her husband by adding Visine to his tea. She is being held on $100,000 bail. In July 2008, a Saudi court sentenced two Asian housemaids to four months in prison and 250 lashes each for contaminating the tea of their employer with urine and menstrual blood. In 2006, former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, died after radioactive polonium-210 was added to his tea at a London hotel In 1997, a 50 year old UK man denied that his dropping rat poison pellets into his wife's tea was an attempt to harm her. On the contrary, he said, they were experimenting with the blood-thinning properties of the toxic pellets in an effort to relieve his wife's leg pains. "It has great medicinal properties," he told a jury. "Like nearly everything, it is the dose that counts." During World War II, British agents planned to assassinate Hitler by poisoning his tea. Although the poison of choice was known to make tea appear suspiciously cloudy, agents were optimistic that the dictator would not detect it since he always took his tea with milk. "Since the milk is poured first into the cup," a report noted, "it is unlikely that its opalescence would be noticed as it came from the teapot." In the end, the plot was abandoned. In 1867, a seventeen year old Boston girl, Alice Christiana Abbott, was tried for poisoning her step-father's tea. Described by the New York Times, rather ironically, as having "a demeanor that would have been appropriate at a tea party," the young girl denied the charge and stated that her mother's husband had had "improper connection" with her from the time she was 13 years old. When she threatened her step-father with exposure, she says, he committed suicide by poisoning himself. The jury promptly committed Miss Abbott to the Taunton Lunatic Asylum.

Image by Vivek Chugh, provided courtesy of stock.xchng.

Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors

2009-01-03T16:08:00.007-05:00

Could Bubble Wrap end world hunger? It can help, according to 12 year old Kellan Horner of Lenexa Kansas, a semi-finalist in this year's Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors. He is hoping that his Bubble-Wrap-encased hydroponic green house, which enables plants to grow without soil, will not only help the hungry but also earn him the contest's grand prize of $10,000. Not to burst his bubble or anything, but competition is stiff. There's the Bubble Wrap Emergency Shelter designed by 10 year old Andrew Teesdale of Sherwood Oregon. This lightweight tent is meant to provide temporary shelter for disaster victims. (FEMA take notice.) Then there's the amazing Pop-Up Solar Cooker Book, invented by 11 year old Jared Mann of Christiansburg Virginia. The portable, solar-powered appliance can be used as a grill or an oven, depending on which page the "book" is turned to.
In all, 2200 students in grades 5 through 8 submitted original inventions. Of these, 15 - including Kellan, Andrew and Jared - were selected as semi-finalists. Three finalists will be announced some time in early January and will be flown to New York City, with a family member, for a three-day trip, where the grand prize winner will be announced on - when else - Bubble Wrap(R) Appreciation Day (January 26, 2009 for those who don't know). The grand prize winner of the competition will receive a $10,000 U.S. savings bond, while the second and third place winners will receive $5,000 and $3,000 U.S. savings bonds, respectively. The teacher/mentor of each finalist will receive a $500 gift card. awarded by the Sealed Air Corporation, the mother company of Bubble Wrap.
Check out all of the semi-finalists and their inventions here.
Good luck everyone!

Bedbug Dogs

2008-12-29T11:52:00.002-05:00

Bomb sniffing, cadaver recovering, seizure sensing, cancer diagnosing... Now, add another talent to the canine resume, bedbug detecting. Over the past decade, incidences of bedbug infestation have skyrocketed in the United State due to increases in international travel and the elimination of powerful pesticides such as DDT. With bedbugs infesting hotels, cabs and airline baggage compartments, even the most fastidious traveler can inadvertently transport these tiny pests over international borders and straight into the home.
While humans can find and treat bedbug infestations too, dogs are quicker and more accurate at the task. Tim Leatherman of Perfection Pest Control told WLWT News in Cincinnati that his canine bedbug detector, Betty, is 98 percent accurate as opposed to his human help's 30 percent accuracy rating. And Betty can work a room in 20 to 60 seconds, far faster than any human. Betty's pinpoint accuracy allows for minimal chemical use. This, combined with her speed, means lower fees for clients.
For a list of accredited bedbug detecting dogs, visit the National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association (NESDCA) at http:/www.nesdca.com.
Top Reasons to Use a Bedbug Dog
http://www.advancedk9detectives.com/gpage.html

$20,000 in Scholarships from Fire Sprinkler Association

2008-12-19T12:49:00.003-05:00

The American Fire Sprinkler Association,(AFSA) is offering high school seniors a chance to win $20,000 in scholarships in its National Scholarship Contest, http://www.afsascholarship.org/. Unlike the majority of scholarships, the AFSA's does not require applicants to painstakingly craft a grammatically impeccable, stand-out essay. Nor does it require a panel of judges to comb through thousands of overwrought entries about how the applicant's life was altered by the presence and precision of fire sprinklers. Instead, students are asked to read an essay, a 3,000-word opus on - you guessed it - the importance of fire sprinklers. Next, they complete a ten-question test based on the information in the essay. Each correct answer gives the student a chance to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships. Each student can win only one scholarship but, for such minimal effort, it might be the easiest $2,000 you'll ever make. Deadline for entries is April 1, 2009. For details or to apply, visit http://www.afsascholarship.org/.

Clip Art curtesy of www.clker.com

Redeeming Qualities of Bed Bugs

2008-12-14T19:10:00.003-05:00

The oldest known bed bug on record was found by archaeologists while excavating el-Amarna,
an ancient city south of Cairo. The fossilized specimen is estimated to be 3500 years old. So bed bugs - nicknames: mahogany flats, red coats, crimson ramblers - have been bugging humans for a long, long time. Were they put on this earth simply to feed on and harass humans? Maybe not.
They may have some redeeming qualities after all. In Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs, author May R. Berenbaum, writes that ancient Greek physician Dioscorides "attributed to bed bugs no fewer than eleven medicinal virtues." To treat wounds, for example, mix a concoction of crushed bed bugs and tortoise blood and apply liberally to the affected area. To cure nocturnal fevers, attach a single bed bug to the left arm. Berenbaum goes on to quote some traditional Chinese treatments employing bed bugs. For "lip-turning furuncle" [also known as an infected hair follicle or a boil], pound seven bed bugs thoroughly with some cooked rice and apply the paste on the lesion. It will effect a quick cure." "For stye, drop a little blood squeezed from bed bugs on the affected spot. The swelling will soon subside."It would be nice if these parasitic companions were able to give something back, to soothe some pain after all the itching and aggravation they've caused. Leeches and maggots have made a big comeback in medicine. What
about mahogany flats?

Silent Night, Holy Night. Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite.

2008-12-12T09:28:00.010-05:00

If you are celebrating Christmas away from home this year, don't forget, before the decking of halls and the drinking of egg nog, before even the unpacking of suit cases must come the inspection of the mattress.

The following bed bug defense measures are provided to holiday travelers by Protect-A-Bed.

1.Using a travel flashlight, conduct a very basic inspection of the bed by pulling back the bed linens and checking the visible edges of the mattress. You are looking for evidence of live bugs, dark brownish to black spots or stains that could indicate bed bugs. (See image above for an example of a heavily infested mattress.)

2. Inspect the headboard and the spaces between the carpet and the wall where moulted
skins, excrement and eggs of the bed bugs could be found.

3. Do not place your luggage near the places where bed bugs are typically found - on the
bed, near the bed, on the couch or any type of upholstered furniture.

4.Elevate your luggage on a luggage stand.

5.Keep your luggage closed at all times. If possible, use hard shelled luggage.

6.When not in use, keep items like laptops, books, toiletries, jewelry and electronics in sealed
plastic bags.

7.Notify the manager-on-duty immediately if you suspect bed bugs or if you begin to develop
itchy welts on your body.

Returning home with wonderful memories of holiday cheer is good. Returning home with bed bugs in your suitcase is not. Protect-A-Bed offers these basic tips for travelers to follow upon returning home.

1.If you are a frequent traveler, encase mattresses and box springs before you leave
home.

2.Do not take luggage inside your home.

3.Unpack your luggage in an area that is well-lit and away from furniture and sleeping areas, such as a garage.

4.Unpack one suitcase at a time. Immediately place all of your clothing that can be
hot-laundered into the washing machine or into a garbage bag that can be sealed and placed aside.

5.All items being laundered should be laundered in the hottest possible wash cycle and placed in the dryer on the hottest possible setting.

6.Place all dry-clean clothing in a garbage bag, seal it and place it aside. Consider using
GreenClean™ Dissolvable Laundry Bags to transport your clothes from your luggage to the washing machine a simple one-step process.

7.Empty items that you sealed in plastic bags (computer, books, toiletries, etc.) and immediately discard the bags in an outdoor trash can.

Cloned Pet Pup Celebtrates First Birthday

2008-12-06T17:17:00.008-05:00

Mira, the first clone of a pet dog, celebrated her first birthday today in Mill Valley California. Although she never met her genetic doner, Missy, who died in 2002 at age 15, Mira shares many traits with her predecessor. Not only is there a striking visual resemblance, but their unique mink-soft coats feel exactly the same to owner Lou Hawthorne. And then there's the weird broccoli thing. Mira, along with her fellow Missy-clones, Chingu and Sarang, love to chow down on steamed broccoli, just like Missy did. The three pups belong to the same extended family and meet up for playdates several times a week.

For information on how to have your pet cloned, visit www.bestfriendsagain.com.

Camping with Kitty

2008-12-04T19:25:00.007-05:00

A Texas family was reunited with their cat, Fluffy, three months after having lost her on a camping trip in Yellowstone Park. Last summer, the Wattenbargers - Mom, Dad, three girls and two cats - took off on a cross-country tour of National Parks. At each stop, the cats, Fluffy and Tiger, were let out to explore the new terrain. But they always came back to the trailer when they get hungry for supper. One particular August day, however, when the family was camping in Yellowstone, Fluffy went off to explore and never returned for her meal. The Wattenbargers figured that their vanished tabby must have become someone else's meal -maybe a bear's, bobcat's or coyote's. And Mom admits that, "Fluffy wasn't the smarter of our two cats." They didn't have much faith in the feline's ability to fend for herself in the wilderness. After searching for several days, the family packed up and went back to Texas.
In November, three months after the ill-fated camping fiasco, the Wattenbargers get a call from 79-year-old Shirley Armstrong, who lives along the outskirts of Yellowstone. Armstrong had been feeding a stray tabby who had not allowed her close enough to read the name and phone number on its collar. With the weather getting colder, this resourceful woman had borrowed a trap from the local police department and snagged the skittish critter. After contacting the Wattenbargers, she was even able to arrange a chaperon to escort Fluffy back to Texas by air. One of Armstrong's neighbors was a retired flight attendant who was able to fly free. All the family had to do was pay Fluffy's fare and show up at the airport.
It was a joyful reunion to be sure. But has the family learned their lesson about letting pets wander freely among wild animals in strange surroundings? No, they've decided to continue camping with their cats.
"They seem to enjoy themselves out there," says Dad, in an article from the Houston Chronicle.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6146212.html

Image of a Yellowstone Park resident, courtesy of the Official Website of Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
http://www.nps.gov/yell/

Pass the Turkey Pardon

2008-11-24T16:34:00.009-05:00

In the spirit of change, could our next President please consider doing away with the ceremonial pardon of the Thanksgiving turkey? This annual ritual is just embarrassing. The person with, what is generally considered to be, the most important job in the world, should not have time for these fowl photo-ops.
Following this year's pardon, the turkey and its alternate will fly first class - on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year - to Disneyland Resort.
.
According to Snopes.com, the first official presidential pardon of a turkey was bestowed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Don't Blame Cell Phone for Low Self-Esteem

2008-11-13T17:00:00.021-05:00

In his November 13th article, "Dial 'S' for Shame," Boston Globe staffer Christopher Muther writes about a seventh grader from the Jamaica Plain neighborhood who is so embarrassed by her non-state-of-the-art cell phone that she actually leaves it at home when she goes to school. Although the paper names the young lady, I will not. Some day she is going to grow up and realize how silly she sounds and she doesn't deserve to have her typical tween nonsense live on in perpetuity on the Internet.
The rest of the article, unfortunately is filled with actual adults - chronologically, at least - who, without the excuse of youth, are either ashamed by their older phones or truly believe that their cutting-edge models elevate their status in society.
"An iPhone is like the Rolex of phones," Muther quotes Steve Kidera of the Consumer Electronics Association. "You want people to see you on your iPhone or your BlackBerry to show your status." No, Steve; you want people to see you on your iPhone or BlackBerry. When most people use their phones, they just want to make a phone call.
An "image consultant" named Doris Klietmann insists that you can size up a person's worth by the kind of phone they carry. "If you have someone with a BlackBerry, you can usually assume they're educated and they either earn a good salary or they have an important job that requires them to be in constant communication."
But we all know what happens when we assume. . . Maybe the guy posing with his BlackBerry is just some loser who hired an image consultant who convinced him that that's what he needed in order to appear educated, financially successful and professionally important.
As I read this article, I kept waiting for the Voice of Reason, some sage expert to explain what went so wrong in these people's up-bringing that they are depending on an electronic device to define their sense of self. But there was nothing along those lines. The piece read as if this were perfectly normal human behavior. So much the sadder.
Image courtesy of http://www.clker.com/
Boston Globe Article: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2008/11/12/dial_s_for_shame/

Free Treats for First Pup

2008-11-11T15:34:00.011-05:00

When I read that Wagatha's, a Vermont-based maker of organic dog treats, is offering to donate four years worth of premium treats to the yet-to-be-adopted first pet, my first reaction was, why give something away free to people who certainly don't need anyone's charity? Aren't there shelters filled with needy dogs, who would love to sink their teeth into one of Wagatha's certified organic, certified kosher biscuits baked with human-grade ingredients and available in six chef-inspired flavors? As I read on, however, I learned that Wagatha's owners, Neil Reilly and Norman Levitz already had that covered. Last year, they donated over 2000 pounds of treats to canine-friendly causes such as shelters, rescues organizations and therapy dog programs. In addition, if the Obama family adopts a shelter or rescue dog, Wagatha's will take care of that group with a steady stream of treats. So, if Wagatha's grabs some publicity by pampering what will already be a pampered pet, who am I to judge? Besides, do I really think that the President pays for his pet supplies with his own personal money? No, we, the taxpayers do. So, actually, Wagatha's is doing us all a service by picking up our dog treat tab for the next four years. Thanks guys!
Illustration courtesy of http://www.clker.com/

The Insulin Pump vs. the Over-Zealous Proctor

2008-11-06T15:44:00.011-05:00

Sara Kingsley, 24, showed up to take the G.R.E exam last month in Lowell. She is diabetic and wears an insulin pump. The exam proctor spotted the pump, with its digital screen and vaguely iPod-like appearance, and, suspecting that it was some sort of high-tech cheat sheet, instructed the young lady to remove it before entering the exam room. After Kingsley explained the device's crucial function, that it stabilizes her blood sugar by injecting insulin into her body, and went so far as to lift up the back of her shirt to show him that the pump's tubes were actually attached to her body, he relented and allowed her to enter the exam room, pump and all. But not so fast with that cranberry juice and blood-sugar monitoring kit. Kingsley was made to leave them outside of the room, even though they are essential tools she uses to keep her blood sugar levels stable. Once the test was underway, the over-zealous proctor hovered around Kingsley and told her, during a break, that he was still suspicious of her so-called insulin pump. I'm sure Sara KIngsley was able to focus, full-tilt, on her exam. I'm sure she aced it.
What could she have done differently? She could have asked for prior written approval to bring her medical equipment and the cranberry juice into the exam. Thousands of special accommodations are made each year.
What could the proctor have done differently? Once he had grilled her about the pump, he should have just left her alone, no hovering or snide remarks. And he should have made darn sure that that blood-sugar monitoring kit and cranberry juice were within easy reach. What would he rather have on his conscience, someone who cheated their way into grad school or someone who went into insulin shock?
Read the Boston Globe story here:

Two Too Seldomly-Used Scholarships

2008-11-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

Aren't today's college students willing to make a few sacrifices to help pay for their education? Here are two shameful examples of available scholarship dollars going to waste.
At Vassar College, students who can prove they are descendants of benefactor, Calvin Huntington - or who are willing to change their middle name to Huntington - are eligible for a full scholarship. This scholarship has been awarded only twice in the past 25 years. Tuition at Vassar this year is $39,635 , plus another $9040 for room and board. Isn't that worth changing your middle name for? It's not as if you have to change your major to bagpipes or something. That would be a requirement for a seldom-sought scholarship at Carnegie Mellon University. This school offers the only bagpipe major in the United States and a $7000 a year scholarship to the student willing to pursue it. In the program's 16 year history, only six students have chosen the major. Three of those six ended up dropping it before graduation.

PooPrints(TM)

2008-10-24T15:48:00.009-04:00

Fun Fact of the Day
It is estimated that the 75 million dogs in the United States produce 3.6 billion pounds of waste per year. That is equivalent to filling 800 football fields one foot high.

Does it sometimes seem like the sidewalks and parks in your neighborhood are like dog-poop minefields? BioPet Vet Lab, a genetic testing and veterinary reference laboratory in Knoxville Tennessee, has a solution, a dog-poop data base. Remember the city in Israel where dog owners were being asked to register their dog's DNA so that unscooped poop could be traced back to the canine culprit? Same idea here. Except now, BioPet is marketing their service to home-owners' associations and condo complexes.

Here's how it works.

First, a participating HOA should pass an amendment to its existing covenant that requires all dog owners in the community to have their pet's DNA analyzed and filed with Bio-Pet's "DNA World Pet Registry." Registering each dog with its DNA on file costs $29.95.

Once the DNA is on file, any dropping found in the public areas of the neighborhood can be sent to BioPet to be analyzed and matched up with the DNA already on file. Processing of waste samples costs $49.95 each. BioPet provides complete program kits to the HOA which include waste sampling devices and containers for shipment.

When the dog is identified by BioPet, an email report is sent to the HOA, which then can match the pet with the offending owner. The matching process takes three to four days after receipt.

With positive proof through the DNA matchup, the association may choose to impose fines on the offenders, which will defray the cost of the program.

Photo Caption: Tom Boyd, CEO of EDP Biotech Corp., of Knoxville, Tenn., poses with his dog, Luke. Boyd hopes homeowners associations and apartment buildings will use his company's new DNA kit to identify neighbors who don't clean up after their dogs.

A Very "Bat" Idea

2008-10-15T17:40:00.011-04:00

Here's a nice pre-Halloween story. A pet cat in Stevensville Montana presented his mistress with a dead bat. The woman, a nurse and mother of two, decided it would be fun to bring the bat corpse with her when she dropped her children off at school the next day. The students in her younger child's kindergarten class were so excited to see the dead creature, some of them even stuck their fingers in its mouth. The kids in her fifth-grader's class were equally impressed. Then, the mom exhibited her bat in other classrooms, five in all. A total of around 80 children were treated to a touch. The bat was such a hit that, after leaving the school, the mom stopped by a soccer field and showed it to more people. Later that day, the school nurse got wind of the situation. A notice was quickly dispatched to parents. The bat body was confiscated and taken to a lab for testing. The results came back positive. The show-and-tell bat had rabies. Parents were called and informed that their children would need a rabies vaccination, a series of 5 shots given over a month's time.
The cost of the treatments could run as high as $800 per student. The school's insurance policy will cover up to $70,000.
In an effort to prevent something like this from ever happening again, the school has enacted a new policy requiring that all visitors to the school obtain a pass from the office!

Cutout Dissection.com

2008-10-14T18:09:00.004-04:00

There's more than one way to skin a cat. In the last post, we read about a scholarly collection of essays on animal ethics, eloquently defending the non-human animal as our moral equivalent. Today, we read about another defender of all creatures great and small, Cutout Dissection.com. What is it? Actually, the proper question would be, who is she? Cutout is a 19 year old PETA intern. She shed her former name, Jennifer Thornburg, in an effort to draw attention to her pet cause, eliminating animal dissection in school labs.

Every year, 6,000,000 animals are killed for use as dissection props in anatomy and biology labs. Cutout argues that alternatives, such as computer simulations, diagrams, or 3D models, could be used instead - and more economically. What's worse, these animals often suffer painful deaths which I won't elaborate on here. But for more information, you know where to go: www.cutoutdissection.com

So, her Norfolk Virginia driver's license reads Dissection.com, Cutout, But do people really call Cutout "Cutout?" According to this interview, her PETA pals actually do call her Cutout. But to her family, she's still Jenny.

Animal Subjects

2008-10-12T17:17:00.010-04:00

Animal Subjects: An Ethical Reader in a Posthuman World, is not an easy book to read. Whether or not you put animals on the same moral plane as humans, whether or not you believe that beasts should be bestowed with all the unalienable rights of "personhood", it's unpleasant to confront some of the truths in this collection of essays on animal ethics. Take, for example, "Power and Irony: One Tortured Cat and Many Twisted Angles of Our Moral Schizophrenia about Animals," by Lesli Bisgould. The essay recounts the case of Jesse Power, a Canadian art student who filmed himself and friends torturing a cat and then claimed it was part of a school project on animal rights. In 2002, Power was sentenced to just 90 days in jail, which he chose to serve on weekends so his class schedule wouldn't be disrupted. Bisgould makes the point that, while anyone who saw or even read about the feline torture film knew viscerally that it was wrong, we generally ignore that animals are used, abused and murdered every day, in order to produce food and clothing, test household products or medications, or just for purposes of entertainment. "Should we not finally confront Orwell's observation literally and ask, why are some animals more equal than others?" Bisgould asks. "Is there really a difference between the animals we call 'pets' and the animals we call 'dinner' or does the difference reside in the comfort of our own imagination?"

If you've ever taken your children to the zoo or aquarium for a day of wonder and fun, gazing at exotic animals, applauding for somersaulting sea lions, you might see things differently after reading "Monsters: The Case of Marineland." In this essay, author John Sorenson draws disturbing parallels between these animal exhibits and the sideshows of human "freaks" put on display by P.T. Barnum and other legendary exploiters of people with genetic disorders and physical abnormalities. "Zoos and aquaria are prisons for animals where the public can visit and observe the suffering of the inmates, just as the circus sideshow allowed paying customers the opportunity to derive pleasure from viewing the misfortunes of the disabled." Sorenson focuses in on Marineland, a marine mammal theme park in Niagara Falls Ontario, to illustrate his point with disturbing clarity.

Throughout the 14 essay collection, edited by Jodey Castricano, spirited arguments are made for the elimination of any moral distinction between human and non-human animals. In "Electric Sheep and the New Argument for Nature," Angus Taylor rejects a litany of mental attributes traditionally used to elevate humans above animals. "Not all humans can reason better than animals; not all humans are moral agents; not all humans can imagine an extended future for themselves or have a sophisticated conception of self. Many animals exhibit more autonomy than many humans do, in the sense that they are better able to care for themselves and to navigate successfully through their natural and social environment."

For those who believe all creatures should be treated with dignity, this volume is full of difficult reminders about how far we have to go. For those who abuse, mistreat or neglect animals, this book should be required reading.

I'll end where the introductory essay begins, with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Animal Subjects is published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press

NIne Kids Out: Nebraska Safe Haven Law Overdoes It

2008-09-26T12:15:00.005-04:00

Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe haven law but when they finally did, it was a doozy. Meant to prevent abuse, neglect or death of infants, from overwhelmed new parents, safe haven laws offer the option of abandoning a child at designated locations, anonymously, without threat of criminal charges.

Usually, safe haven laws come with some stipulated age limit. In Maryland, the baby can be up to 3 days old. North Dakota will accept babies up to a year after birth. Not in Nebraska. In an effort to avoid arbitrary age limits, Nebraska simply used the word "child," when indicating who could be abandoned without parental consequence. This unique law took effect in July.

Last night, nine siblings, five boys and four girls, ranging in age from 1 to 17 were abandoned by their father at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room in Omaha.

The father, Gary Staton, says he had become overwhelmed with the responsibility of taking care of his family since his wife died from a brain aneurysm 17 months ago. He tried to improve matters by quitting his job; but that only led to an inability to pay the rent. So, he went to plan B. Last night, around 8 o'clock, he gathered up nine birth certificates, loaded the kids into the family vehicle, and drove them to the emergency room. He handed the birth certificates to a woman working there and informed her that he was surrendering his family.

"I was able to get the kids to a safe place before they were homeless," he told reporters today. "I hope they know I love them."

Pooper-Scooper Law Meets CSI

2008-09-17T20:42:00.004-04:00

DNA samples are being collected from canine residents in the city of Petah Tikva, Israel. For the next six months, unscoooped poop found on the city sidewalks and other inappropriate places will be brought to a municipal lab and compared to the DNA samples in an effort to identify the pooper and slap a fine on the non-scooper. Meanwhile, poop deposited in specially-marked receptacles around the city, will be identified and the depositor awarded with dog toys and coupons for dog food. If this voluntary trial period is successful, the city is considering making the DNA testing mandatory for all dogs. Of course, the major flaw with the trial period is that people who don't scoop are not about to bring their dogs to the municipal veterinarian for the oral DNA swab in the first place. Also, how long are people going to have to carry the poop around to get it to one of those specially marked receptacles? Unless there's one on every corner, I don't think they're going to do much business.

The idea is catching on.

Balance: In Search of the Lost Sense

2008-09-15T17:10:00.009-04:00

Have you noticed any changes in your equilibrium lately? Feeling a little less steady on your feet? If you're past your twenties, you might be experiencing a natural deterioration in your sense of balance. In his intriguing book, Balance: In Search of the Lost Sense, Scott McCredie explores the importance of the often ignored vestibular system, the rapid-fire sensory superhighway connecting the eyes, the inner ear and the proprioceptors - cells in muscles and joints that indicate our position in space. Inspired, in part, by a fall suffered by his aging father on a hiking trip, McCredie delves into balance's past, present and future and scours the research for a solution to the "epidemic" of falls among the elderly.

The author intersperses anatomy and physiology lessons with fascinating field trips - some, back in time, to the early 19th Century, when the mentally ill were treated by strapping them into spinning chairs to induce vomiting: some, to unusual places, such as the School of Circus Arts in San Francisco or an anti-gravity training flight for astronauts. Readers join Lord Nelson on his ship, battling not only the enemy but persistent sea-sickness as well. We are in the cockpit with John Kennedy Jr. on his final flight. We walk the high wire without a safety net, with Karl Wallenda as he supports his wife on his shoulders. And we wobble and sway along with Robin Grindstaff, who suffered from severe vestibular disorder until she made the decision to sacrifice her hearing, in an effort to recover her balance.

If you've never thought much about balance, this book will give you a new-found respect for the "lost sense.". And if you haven't tried standing on one foot lately, you just might be surprised at how challenging it has become.

The Principal's Office

2008-09-12T10:11:00.005-04:00

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. In truTV's new "actuality" show, The Principal's Office, we get to watch real high school administrators confront real - as in, you couldn't possibly make these people up - high school students. It's fine entertainment seeing the teens attempt to rationalize inappropriate behavior and negotiate their way out of punishment. Some of them are skilled strategists, like the girl who refused to participate in gym class because she didn't want to mess up her hair. The gym teacher sent her to the principal who delivered a half-hearted lecture on the goal of coming to school being learning not looking good. The student argued altruistically that people depend on her to show up looking good and she didn't want to let them down. She added that, were she to be forced into exercising and showering, her temporarily straight hair would frizz and she would end up looking "like a lion." Eventually, the dumbfounded principal sent her on her way with a warning. Out in the hallway, the hair-obsessed student told truTV's camera that she considered this a "win-win" situation. Not only had she escaped detention or any other punishment from the principal, she had, most importantly, avoided messing up her hair in gym class.
Other students struggle to utter a coherent sentence. Last night's episode featured one such language-challenged soul who, ironically, was sent to the Principal's office for hanging out in the journalism room. Maybe he should be encouraged to spend more time there instead of less. It might expand his vocabulary beyond "like," "uh" and "y'know."

It's Perfectly Normal

2008-08-29T09:04:00.007-04:00

JoAn Karkos is going about things the wrong way. This grandmother from Lewiston Maine is facing jail time over her refusal to return a library book. The book in question, It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing up, Sex and Sexual Help, is geared toward 9 to twelve year olds and covers such topics as masturbation and sexually transmitted diseases, complete with illustrations of naked cartoon people. Ms. Karkos has kept the book for more than a year. She believes that, by refusing to return the library's property, she will be able to stop the children of Lewiston from reading what she calls a "sex initiation book." But, thanks to her efforts, the book is more available than ever. Since the brouhaha hit, multiple copies have been donated to the library and now five children at a time can check it out.

Karkos, 64, was ordered, by a judge in civil court, to return the book by 4:00 today or face possible incarceration.

Here's the ABC News report.

By the way, there is precedent for this. In February of this year, Keely Givhan, of Beloit Wisconsin, spent six days in jail when she was unable to pay the late charges on her overdue books.

UPDATE

The city of Lewiston has decided not to lock up Karkos. Instead, they are charging her $100 and barring her from the library until she pays the debt. Karkos has not yet decided if she will comply.

Still Paddling in Public Schools

2008-08-20T07:55:00.012-04:00

In a couple of weeks, my school will have its first faculty meeting of the new academic year. At this meeting, we will set school-wide goals for the year, meet new staff members and iron out mundane scheduling issues such as recess coverage and bus duty. And, as always, at some point during the meeting, our formidable principal will lean forward and announce, "I say this every year and I'll say it again for the new teachers. If you ever hit a child, I will fire you." I've been at the school several years now and the proclamation is just another harbinger of autumn. But the first time I heard it, the words startled me. Hit a student? What kind of teacher would do such a thing? Why would such absurd words even be uttered? After all, isn't all that knuckle wrapping and bottom paddling long gone with the one-room school house?

No, apparently it's alive and well in 21st century America.

According to an Associated Press article by Libby Quaid, 223,190 public school students were paddled at least once in the 2006-2007 school year. Forty percent of these children live in Texas or Mississippi. Other pro-paddling states include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida and Missouri.

Far from being a fireable offense, in places where corporal punishment is allowed, teachers and principals generally have legal immunity from assault laws.

Where do the paddles come from? Some of them are actually made by students in shop class.

Here is the disturbing report by Human Rights Watch on Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools.

Biodegradable Burials

2008-08-19T16:58:00.009-04:00

This is a great idea, biodegradable burial. No embalming fluid, no hardwood and metal caskets, no concrete grave liners. Nothing to inhibit your body's natural return to nature.

What kind of environmentally friendly burial container best suits you?

A burial shroud - a large piece of natural fabric such as cotton or silk, that is wrapped around the body
A cardboard casket (self-explanatory)
An ecopod - a pod-shaped container made from naturally-hardened recycled paper (pictured above in gold)

Ethical Love Potion

2008-08-13T15:12:00.001-04:00

A company called Behappy is giving away free samples of an all natural and environmentally friendly love potion, created using only alternative energy. Unlike other, run-of-the-mill love potions out there that commonly use pig pheromones to attract that special someone, Behappy's "Love Potion No. 9 Parfum" does not exploit our porcine friends for our own lustful pleasures. Instead, according to the web site, the potion contains 21 mysterious essential oils gathered from all over the earth and "slowly simmered and steeped in special antique containers using centuries old techniques." That explains it. The "free sample" of love potion is available in Spicy Sandalwood or Exotic Floral and will run you $5 for shipping and handling.

Thomas G. Plant Shoe Company

2008-08-11T14:41:00.009-04:00

During our trip to New Hampshire this summer, we visited Castle in the Clouds, a mountaintop estate overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. We thought maybe we would just grab a quick lunch at the Carriage House, a stable turned restaurant. But we ended up touring the 16 room, Arts and Crafts style home and discovering a connection to our own neighborhood.

Before beginning the self-guided tour, guests all gather in the sun room where a docent gives a brief introduction to the estate and its original owners, Thomas and Olive Plant. The Plants were something of an odd couple with Thomas 26 years Olive's senior and Olive, at 6'1", towering a foot above her husband.

Thomas Plant was a shoe manufacturer. And that's where the local angle comes in. His factory, the largest manufacturer of women's shoes in the world at the time, was right down the street from our home in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. In fact, the Thomas G. Plant Company stood on the spot where we now buy our groceries at Super Stop and Shop, on the corner of Centre and Bickford Streets.

The factory employed over four thousand workers from the surrounding neighborhood of predominantly German and Irish immigrants. Plant, a former factory worker himself, took pains to keep his workers happy, healthy and productive. His pay scale was above average. He provided workers with a free lending library, a gymnasium and swimming pool. He employed mothers of young children and started an on-site daycare center for them. Throughout the "bright, clean factory interior," a heating and ventilating system "change[d] the air completely every three minutes."

Castle in the Clouds

2008-08-09T08:12:00.011-04:00

This 16 room, arts and crafts style "castle in the clouds" was the home of shoe manufacturer, Thomas Gustave Plant, and his second wife Olive. The name they gave their mountaintop estate, "Lucknow," turned out to be something of a misnomer. Almost as soon as they moved into their new home in 1914, their considerable fortune began to dwindle, due to misguided investments, some made at the suggestion of Plant's pal and hunting buddy, Theodore Roosevelt. Plant died penniless in 1941. Lucknow was sold to settle debts. Olive moved back to her family in Illinois.

Plant, who stood only 5 feet 1 inch tall, was a great admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte. In the library are the emperor's portrait, bust and copies of his battle plans. Also in the library, cut inconspicuously into the wood paneling, is the chair-rail-high doorway to Plant's secret room. During his lifetime, Plant possessed the only key and was the only one allowed in the tiny space.

Other intriguing features of the home:

The kitchen floor is made from interlocking rubber puzzle pieces fitted together so snugly that no adhesive was needed.

Several of the bathrooms are equipped with "needle showers." These innovations of the late 19th century provided a flow of water not only from above but also via jet sprays from a series of ribcage-shaped pipes that nearly encircled the showerer.

In Plant's office, you can view a short-statured suit of armor which the diminutive millionaire enjoyed wearing to costume parties.

The game room features a large, built-in organ designed by the Aeolian Organ Company which could be played manually or mechanically. It's music was piped throughout the house via a series of ducts.

On Plant's orders, granite stones used to build the home were cut into pentagons., a task so labor-intensive that masons were able to complete only a few stones a day.

After touring Lucknow, visitors can enjoy lunch or a light snack in a renovated stall at the Carriage House Restaurant, the estate's former stable.

The tour is self-guided. Go at your own pace. Stay as long as you like.

Castle in the Clouds

Thomas Gustave Plant

The Lucknow Estate in Moultonborough, New Hampshire

Athletic Flashback: Ancient Olympics

2008-07-29T15:39:00.002-04:00

As the world readies itself for another round of summer Olympics, take a few moments to remember the ancients who started it all, more than 2500 years ago, as a tribute to their top god, Zeus.

While today's athletes may get more world-wide exposure via television than those in the original Olympics, it was the ancients who were truly exposed - as in naked. Yes, athletes of old wrestled, boxed, sprinted, jumped and threw javelins in the nude.

Due in part to this most casual of dress codes, married women were prevented from attending the games on the premise that they should not be gazing longingly upon that which they could never have. Wives caught attempting to crash the party were tossed over a cliff. Single women, however, were allowed to attend because it was thought that young virgins should see the best that the male gender had to offer and then aspire to win such a man for herself.

In contrast to the modern games, quashed three times so far because of war, a general truce was announced before and during each of the ancient Olympics, to allow visitors to travel safely to Olympia. During the truce, wars were suspended, armies were prohibited from entering the area, and legal disputes and the carrying out of death penalties were forbidden.

In the pankration - a cruel combination of boxing and wrestling- punching, kicking, choking, finger breaking, and blows to the genitals were allowed; only biting and eye gouging were prohibited.

In horse races, jockeys rode without saddle or stirrups and, subsequently, were sometimes thrown from their mount. One independent equine bumped his rider off at the beginning of the race but went on to complete the course, cross the finish line first and be declared the winner.

In "the kalpe," an equestrian event that never quite made it to the moderns, the rider would dismount on the last lap and, while holding the reins, would ran alongside the horse to the finish.

Women were allowed to enter their horses into equestrian events but were not permitted to act as their own jockeys or charioteer.

While females did not actively participate in Olympic events, girls and young unmarried women were allowed to run foot-races at Olympia as part of a separate festival for Hera, the wife of Zeus. Their uniforms, somewhat more modest than the men's, consisted of short tunics which revealed the right shoulder and breast. Their hair hung loose down their backs.

The ancient games ended with a race in which each competitor wore full armor and carried a shield as he ran, a reminder that the truce was about to end and that wars would soon resume.

The Olympics were held in Olympia every four years for about 12 centuries. After an extended 1500-year time-out, they resumed in 1896. If the modern Olympics enjoy such longevity, they will continue until at least the year 3000.

Dogs On Duty, Off Menu

2008-07-27T08:15:00.004-04:00

Dog meat will be banned from menus in China during the summer Olympics - at least the 112 official Olympics restaurants in and around the host city of Beijing. But canines are being put to good use for the games. More than 200 dogs will assist with security efforts, including sniffer dogs performing inspections of bags and travelers and rescue dogs who are ready to help with disaster relief if needed.

View video of Chinese security dogs in training.

The Beijing summer Olympics open on August 4th.

Lincoln deserves more respect.

2008-07-20T12:46:00.000-04:00

This was the message left on a promotional poster for a political mural created by street artist Ron English.

The commissioned mural, displayed along a construction wall in Boston's South End, consists of a series of multi-colored portraits, each melding the faces of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama. Soaring 13 feet high and running nearly a block long, the mural, entitled "Abraham Obama" hardly seems to need a full-press ad campaign. But inspired fans of the artist, armed with miniature prints of the portrait, fanned out around the South End, plastering every available surface with "Abraham Obamas."

So, on my way to work, I saw one of these mini-posters on an electrical box, with the hand-written note reading, "Lincoln deserves more respect," stuck between the image's eyes. I wasn't sure if the note-writer was complaining about the unauthorized placement of the poster or the blending of Lincoln's features with Obama's.

Jackpot Fantasies

2008-07-02T14:03:00.000-04:00

If you won a large sum of money tomorrow, would you tell anyone? Would you tell your spouse? If you said, "No way!" you're not alone. A survey conducted by BingoPort.co.uk revealed that nearly 15 percent of 2000 randomly chosen respondents would keep their new-found fortune all to themselves. That means, of the 2,000 adults asked, 300 of them would attempt to deceive their husband or wife by hiding life-altering amounts of money from them. One can only imagine what secret, hedonistic pleasures they would spend it on.

People surveyed spent an average of about twelve minutes a day fantasizing about winning a fortune. This seems innocuous enough until you run the numbers. Twelve minutes a day works out to almost one and a half hours a week, three days a year and six months of one's life. Surprisingly, for respondents who spend such substantial amounts of time dreaming about easy street, only 10 percent say that they would quit their jobs.

Rent-a-Pet

2008-07-02T06:38:00.000-04:00

I visited the Flexpetz website this morning to see what all the rent-a-pet hoopla was about.

Flexpetz is a service which provides members with access to a variety of dogs without the responsibility of full-time ownership. Flexpetz participants are allowed to borrow and return dogs like library books - except it's far from free.

Here's how it works. After signing up for a Flexpetz membership, you must meet with a trainer for a mandatory, in-home introductory session. After that, you will be given access to the online reservation system. Then it's time to choose your canine date and book a time to rendezvous. Your date can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. You can either pick up your temp-pet or have it delivered on the Flexpetz shuttle. According to the website,"You can take out the same dog time after time, or choose to meet different doggy friends on different days."

The orientation session will run you $150. There is a monthly membership fee of $99.95 plus $45 a day with a four-day monthly minimum. The fee for shuttle service can vary but is usually $25 one-way. Also, there is a $99 annual administration fee but, at this point, who's counting anymore.

Apparently, I've been approaching this dog ownership thing from the wrong angle. Instead of paying our wonderful dog walker to come and take Shadow to doggy playgroup, I could be on the collecting end of things, selling her escort services. All I have to do is find some lonely soul with deep pockets who's itching for a little canine companionship. Of course Shadow has a few quirks - chasing motorcycles, trying to bite the rear tires of mail trucks and SUVs, attacking basset hounds for no apparent reason - but, hey, that just makes your doggy date that much more exciting.

The Dime Novel Made Him Do It

2008-06-30T09:18:00.001-04:00

In the 1950's rock 'n' roll was branded "the Devil's music" by some and blamed for every kind of juvenile delinquency. Today, violent video games and "gangsta rap" are under the same spotlight of suspicion. But back in the late 1800's, it was the low-tech dime novel which was viewed as the evil influence on youth.

In Fiend: The Shocking True Story of America's Youngest Serial Killer, author Harold Schechter gives readers the gory details of Jesse Pomeroy's spree of torture and murder in Boston, ending in his 1874 arrest at the age of 14. In an intriguing passage, Schechter explores the sordid reputation of the dime novel genre. These action-packed, melodramatic adventure stories were chock full of bravado and bloodshed. And they were readily available and inexpensive enough for even a working-class boy to buy on a regular basis. As is the case today, there were those who chose to blame an individual's bad deeds on a popular form of entertainment. Schechter writes, "Denunciations of the dime novel's supposedly corrupting effects on young minds began appearing everywhere, from the pulpit to the newspaper editorial pages to such venerable publications as Harper's and the Atlantic Monthly."

Soon after Pomeroy's arrest, incriminating stories arose about the boy's fondness for this violent fare. The Boston Globe found it relevant to note that "There is plenty of evidence to show that dime novels ... constituted a good share of the boy's mental nourishment," and quoted a friend of Jesse's who revealed that the boy had been smuggling these volumes into school and hiding them inside his text books where he would would "devour [them] while pretending to study his lessons."

Golf Carts Going Off Course

2008-06-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, golf cart accidents have increased 132 percent since 1990. And in just the past few weeks, we've had several startling reminders that golf cart accidents aren't just for golfers anymore.

On June 23, a decorated 37 year old police detective in Michigan fell out of the passenger side of a golf cart at a motorcycle rally, bumped his head and later died.

On Saturday, May 31, a 63 year old South Carolina woman was driving her golf cart over to a friend's house so they could water flowers together, when she fell out of the cart on a turn. She died the next day from her injuries.

A few days before that, a 24 year old Minnesota man had gone out for a joy ride in a golf cart. As he was heading home in the dark, he hit a tree and ended up in the emergency room with a three-foot oak branch sticking out of his leg. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Golf carts aren't just for grown-ups anymore either. Last year, A 9-year-old Massachusetts boy was a passenger in a golf cart being driven around a cul-de-sac by a 9 year old driver, when he fell off the back of the vehicle and struck his head on the pavement.

And lastly, golf carts aren't just for people who can see anymore. In 1998, a blind man and his seeing-eye dog were detained by police for DUI and reckless conduct in Peachtree City, Georgia, after driving a golf cart two miles along winding streets and crashing into a parked car.

The Theraputic Purr

2008-06-17T17:00:00.000-04:00

If you've ever had a purring cat curl up next to you, you know how soothing the sound and gentle vibrations can be. But certainly cats don't purr for our benefit. No self-respecting feline would exert energy simply to please its human. At the Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina, scientists believe that the cat's purr acts as a self-mending mechanism, encouraging bones, ligaments and organs to heal quicker and grow stronger.

Cats purr when content but also when distressed, ill, injured or birthing. Not just house cats but most big cats are purrers. Since a certain amount of energy is required to purr, the theory goes, an injured or ailing animal is unlikely to exert that energy unless it was getting some benefit from it. According to Elizabeth von Muggenthaler, president of Fauna Communication Research Institute,. the frequency at which cats purr is the best frequency for bone growth, fracture healing and tendon mending.

Supposedly, the purr acts as a low-impact exercise program for the often-idol feline. Cats in nature are excellent and efficient hunters, using only a small fraction of their day to catch and consume their prey. This leaves them plenty of leisure time which they usually spend in various stages of lounging. How convenient, how genetically advantageous it would be if such a marathon napper is truly able to stimulate bone growth and muscle strength even while at rest, just by purring.

Whooping Cough

2008-06-16T07:31:00.000-04:00

I mentioned to my friend Ann that I had just been re-vaccinated for whooping cough. "Did I ever tell you that whooping cough was the beginning of my downfall?"she asked me. Now in her early sixties, Ann had struggled her whole life with anorexia nervosa.

"When I was born, my brother had whooping cough. It was a very dangerous disease for a baby. I could have died if I'd gotten it. So, to keep me safe, the doctors wouldn't let me leave the hospital and go home with my mother. I had to stay in the nursery for the first three months of my life. I couldn't have any contact with my parents except once a week, on my father's day off, they would come to the hospital and wave to me through the nursery window. Of course, I was so little, I didn't know who these people were waving to me. I'm sure the nurses took care of my basic needs but they were busy with their work and didn't have time to touch or cuddle me. And not much was known then about the importance of cuddling and bonding with babies. Everyone thought they were doing what was best for me."

Saint Audrey's Laces

2008-06-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

Cheap and showy, gaudy, sleazy. These are hardly words to describe a Saint. Yet, the adjectives are used by Webster's to define "tawdry," a word with saintly connotation.

"Tawdry" refers to Saint Audrey, who traded a queen's throne - and a penchant for exquisite necklaces - for the nun's humble habit and veil.

At her feast day fairs in Norwich England, brightly colored ribbons and necklaces were sold to remind the faithful of the splendor surrendered by the Saint in the name of God.

At first well-made and elegant, "Saint Audrey's laces" were soon being produced fast and cheap, sacrificing quality and artistry along the way.

Meanwhile, the phrase "Saint Audrey's laces" was being carelessly slurred into the contraction "tawdries" or "tawdry" which has come to mean anything flashy or tasteless.

Proximity Breeds Friendship

2008-06-13T13:40:00.000-04:00

In her book Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation, Sheila Weller writes of Carole King and her grammar-school girlfriend, Barbara Grossman, "Barbara and Carole's friendship started the way many friendships started back then: in line. Both were small so they were placed next to each other." In another chapter, Weller notes that Carly Simon, upon starting a new school in seventh grade, was befriended by Jessica Hoffmann "the other tall girl at the back of the line."

Does proximity breed friendship? A psychological investigation of college freshmen suggests it might. Researchers from the University of Leipzig found that students randomly assigned to sit next to each other when meeting for the first time had higher ratings of "friendship intensity" one year later than they had with those seated further away. The study was written up in a recent issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science.