Tuesday, December 18, 2007

The Health Benefits of Purple Grape Juice

Medical studies show that purple (Concord) grape juice slows LDL cholesterol oxidation, improves arterial elasticitiy, helps reduce blood pressure and fights atherosclerosis. Read more.

Monday, December 17, 2007

3 Stress-Reduction Techniques You Can Practice Every Morning

The morning is an ideal time to incorporate stress reduction strategies that will set the tone for the rest of the day. Read more.

5 Good Mood Foods to Have Around

Rather than turning to the pharmacy for relief from a bout of the blues, you can turn to the supermarket instead. Here are five foods that are loaded with mood-elevating vitamins and minerals. Read more.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Holiday Culture Wars

Activists on all sides of the political spectrum are taking shots at various aspects of the Holiday season. For example, environmentalists are pushing Buy Nothing Day, an international moratorium on shopping that urges people to curtail their consumption in the interest of the environment. On the other side of the isle we have the American Family Association's Project Merry Christmas, who have targeted stores like Lowe's for advertising "family trees" instead of Christmas trees in its catalog. Lowe's capitulated and offered that it was a "breakdown" in their proofreading that led to the use of "family trees" in place of Christmas trees.

In Australia, a department-store Santa Claus was told not to say "Ho, ho, ho" because it might be offensive to women. Swerving to the right again we have Pat Robertson, who feels that wreaths and Christmas trees are pagan relics and not an important part of the Christian tradition.

All of this bickering over which Christmas symbols and traditions are worthy has put retailers in a precarious situation. And making matters worse are factors such as rising gas prices, a sinking dollar and the credit crises. As a result, 27% of shoppers say they will be spending less this year.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

National Handwashing Awareness Week (Dec. 2-8)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 million elementary, middle and high school days are lost each year due to the common cold. Since the germs that cause the illness usually enter the body via dirty hands, the Clean Hands Coalition is promoting National Handwashing Awareness Week. Dr. Will Sawyer, a founding member of the CHC, has created "Henry the Hand, Champion Handwasher." The online program (www.henrythehand.com) includes free downloadable songs, a video and posters that teach the four principles of hand awareness:

1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating.
2. Do not cough into your hands.
3. Do not sneeze into your hands.
4. Above all, do not put your fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth.

Check out the website for information on additional Henry the Hand products and details regarding a handwashing competition for families and schools during National Handwashing Awareness Week.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

The Issue of Immigration: What is a Sanctuary City?

It seems as though the term, "sanctuary city" has acquired a number of different meanings. Initially, the term was coined by American churches in the 1980s, and referred to humanitarian efforts to create havens in U.S. communities for the victims of civil wars in South and Central America. These cities put forward policies under which police officers and other city employees were not obligated to report illegal immigrants to immigration authorities.

What was the rationale for these policies? Well, this is where the definition of "sanctuary city" gets a little murky. Some contend that the protection was needed to prevent illegal immigrants from being targeted by criminals. (absent the policies, these criminals would not have to fear that their victims would report them to the police.) Others emphasize the notion that if illegals were not allowed to report crimes without the fear of deportation, a lot of criminals would go free.

Many cities extended protections and decided to not deny services on the basis of immigration status. Thus, illegal immigrants could have access to public libraries or send their children to public schools. Some cities, such as New York and Cambridge, Mass., allow illegals to use the public health system and, as noted above, allow them to report crimes without fear of deportation. So there is no real working definition of the term, "sanctuary city." Rather, there are gradations of different policies.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Berkeley Cracks Down on the Homeless

The City of Berkeley, California, a town known for its very liberal-leaning policies, has done something of an about face: It has just adopting a get-tough policy with respect to its homeless population. The Berkeley City Council passed a law that will hire dozens of "monitors" to patrol city streets and parks to root out and report any suspicious or untoward behavior (think aggressive panhandling, public defecation, etc.) by the homeless. The new policy will make it easier for police to enforce various laws, including those banning camping in public places and lying down on commercial streets during the day.

It should come as no surprise that many members of the council had a hard time with the decision. After all, Berkeley is the home to the Free Speech Movement and all manner of anti-establishment causes. Indeed, it was Berkeley's reputation for tolerance and abundant social services that drew a lot of the homeless to the city in the first place.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Theater Chain Embraces No-Children-Allowed Policy

Though ticket sales to the nation's movie theaters have declined, some in the industry believe that adults can be lured back with upscale amenities and adults-only sections. Muvico, a Florida-based chain of movie theaters, is a pioneer in this movement, and their Rosemont 18, a luxury multiplex theater in the Chicago suburb of Rosement, is putting the philosophy into practice -- that is, it caters to adults who want to watch a movie without the distractions and annoyances of antsy toddlers and raucous teens.

Five of the screens in the complex have separate, adults-only balconies which can be reached through the bar inside the theater. Customers can enjoy an array of upscale amenities, including filet-mignon mini-burgers, cocktails, and comfy love seats. In addition, one screen is strictly adults only. Muvico first test-marketed this all-adults strategy in their home state of Florida. Today, four of the chain's 14 theaters have adults-only sections. The company has plans to expand into Charlotte, NC, Los Angeles, New York and Washington.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Web Series Heading to Prime Time

The web-only dramatic series, "Quarterlife" will begin airing hour-long episodes on NBC in early 2008. The series was created by the production team of Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick (whose credits include such television shows as "thirysomething," and "My So-Called Life"), and centers on the character of Dylan Krieger (played by Bitsie Tulloch), a young woman in her 20s who blogs about her circle of friends.

Interestingly enough, the show began as a pilot for ABC, but the network rejected it. As a result, Herskovitz and Zwick retooled the show for the web, and it will retain a web presence on Quarterlife.com even after it begins airing on NBC. The producers also have plans to develop Quarterlife.com into a social networking site.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

STDs on the Rise

For the second year in a row, the number of newly diagnosed cases of the three most common sexually transmitted diseases has risen. The diseases in question are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the rise is due in part to risky sexual behavior.

Particularly troubling is the rise in the cases of syphilis because, in previous years, great advances had been made in preventing the disease. In fact, officials note that it was on the verge of being eliminated. Why are STD rates going up? Officials believe that it can be attributed to insufficient pubic health funds, and an increase in risky sexual behavior among some groups.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Writers of the World Plan Protests in Support of the WGA

Writers from multiple countries -- including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, and Britain -- will be showing their support for the ongoing Writers Guild Strike by staging what is being billed as an "international day of solidarity." About 21,000 writers will be taking part in various protests in the aforementioned cities on November 28.

The plan was hatched at a meeting of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds, which took place in Montreal last Thursday. Members realized that a contract that undermines and shortchanges their American counterparts will have a ripple effect in their own countries.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas Obliterated

The New Frontier Hotel/Casino was imploded on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. The hotel was the second property to ever open on the Las Vegas Strip, and, in what is perhaps its greatest claim to fame, was the scene of Elvis Presley's Las Vegas debut back in 1956.

With its cowboy/Wild West motif, it also had the distinction of being Las Vegas' first-ever themed casino. It will be replaced by an $8-billion dollar luxury hotel/casino/resort that is slated to open in 2011. The new project is being developed by IDB Group and Elad Group, owners of the Plaza hotel in New York City.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Cheaperthanhotels.com

Are you planning a trip to France? If you are, than you ought to check out Cheaperthanhotels, an online hotel reservation service that provides a spectrum of useful services to those travelling to France and other top world destinations. Accommodations run the gamut from 5 star hotels to dormitory-style accommodations for backpackers. The site has its own travel expert who reviews and rates a wide variety of accommodations. You can book anything from weekend getaways to special events to conferences. And to further ensure that you travel experience runs smoothly, you have a multi-lingual staff of concierges available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Cheaperthanhotels is able to offer the lowest available rates because they are affiliated with one of the world's top negotiators of special deals on accommodations to the world's most popular destinations. What's more, if you find a lower rate for the same location, Cheaperthatnhotels will honor the rate and refund the difference (provided you notify them within 24 hours). What could be better than that?

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping (also known as secret shopping, performance evaluations, front line evaluations, etc. ) is a way for companies to quickly and effectively evaluate business practices and the performance of employees. Mystery shopping companies hire folks to evaluate the quality of a wide variety of businesses -- restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, financial institutions, etc.

As a mystery shopper, you will, for example, dine at an assigned restaurant and file a detailed report noting such things as the quality of service, the ambiance, cleanliness, and food quality. The mystery shopping company will then reimburse you for the cost of your meal. Some assignments will pay you in addition to reimbursing you for the cost of your meal.

A reputable company will never charge you to sign-up as a mystery shopper. Check out http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/ if you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper. You can dine-in at restaurants, have pizza delivered, shop at retail stores, and get other assignments. After writing a report and furnishing them with proof of purchase, they will reimburse you for your effort. Pretty cool, eh?

Friday, April 6, 2007

Freecycle.org

I've just discovered a wonderful website/organization! Check it out: www.freecycle.org. It's a global network of individual groups who are giving and getting things for free. It is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping things out of landfills that could be useful to its members. Check it out and see if there is a local group in your town. What a brilliant, eco-friendly idea!

Crossword Puzzles Boost Mental Fitness

Research has shown that doing crossword puzzles, sudoku and other logic games helps keep the mind sharp. Indeed, the phrase, "use it or lose it" applies to the mind as well as the body. This is particularly good news for the elderly, as mental capacity declines with advancing age. Urge the senior citizens in your life to take up crossword puzzles and/or other logic games.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Conversation 101

The ability to converse well will benefit you both personally and professionally. The following principles will dramatically improve your ability to start, sustain and politely end a conversation.

Starting a conversation - You can begin a conversation by either paying the person a compliment or asking a question. For example, if you admire their shirt or blouse or hairstyle, tell them so! Alternatively, you could ask a question. Suppose, for example, that they are carrying a book. Ask them about the book. Are they enjoying it? Do they recommend it? There are no limits to the use of this technique. Get creative and use your imagination. Have fun with it!

Sustaining a conversation - You sustain a conversation by asking open-ended questions. An open-ended question is one that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Open-ended questions typically start with how, what, where, when, and why. For example, How did you get into that line of work? Why did you move to Boston? Questions like these draw out the person with whom you are conversing, and provide opportunities to ask additional open-ended questions. Using this technique, you can sustain a conversation indefinitely.

Ending a conversation - You can always end a conversation with a good exit strategy. Wait for a natural pause or lull and politely excuse yourself. For example, if you are at a party and you have been nursing a drink, you could say, "I think it's time to freshen up my drink, will you excuse me?" Or you could simply say, "It's been nice talking with you."

So there you have it. Three principles that will help you to become a brilliant conversationalist. Good luck!

Friday, March 30, 2007

Humor in the Workplace

The other day I was working on location in a newsroom at the Los Angeles Times. One of the reporters had a hologram of a beautiful Hawaiian woman posted on the partition of his cubicle. As you pass the picture, the woman winks and smiles.

Above the hologram was a sign that read, "Smiling Miracle Lady. If the lady smiles when you pass, you will receive a miracle. To claim your miracle please enter and remit a small processing fee. Your miracle will arrive shortly thereafter. "

His work area was cluttered with humorous figurines and funny slogans. Clearly, this is a fellow who likes to laugh and enjoys sharing his sense of humor with his co-workers. And I commend him for it. Injecting a little levity into the workplace reduces stress and, ultimately, helps people to be more productive.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Elderly Lady with the Sweet Smile

There is an elderly woman with whom I often cross paths while she is out on her daily walk with her caretaker. The woman moves very slowly with the aid of a walker. Despite her fragile health and advanced age, however, she always offers a friendly hello accompanied with the sweetest smile you could imagine (a beatific smile, in fact).

I'm always struck by the aura of kindness that she carries. I guess I need to be reminded that, though are bodies deteriorate with the passage of time, our spirit need not follow suit. Her smile feels so sincere that there is no doubt in my mind that it genuinely reflects the joy and peace she feels inside.

I can recall past encounters with elderly people who were similar to this woman in their attitude and presence. But, sadly, they are few and far between. If she doesn't do so already, the woman with the beatific smile ought to visit convalescent hospitals and rest homes. There she will find many peers who are in desperate need of that smile.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Mad Magazine

I thumbed through a copy of a recent issue of Mad Magazine the other day. It is the first time I have done so in many, many years. It's still the irreverent, edgy and hysterically funny magazine I remember.

Back in the day, I had a complete collection. I distinctly remember that my copy of the first issue was in near mint condition. Regrettably, I sold the entire collection. I've got to believe that it would be worth quite a bit of money today. I'm having one of those "I could kick myself moments." Anyway, if you're a fan of the magazine, or know somebody who is, you may be interested to know that the entire collection (600+ issues) is now available on DVD.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Make a Joy List

Have you ever considered making a list of all the things that bring you joy and satisfaction? In the midst of our hectic, stressful lives, we sometimes need to be reminded of the things that make us happy.

I urge you to start a joy list and add to it as often as you can. As the list grows, you will be amazed at how many joy-producing activities you have at your disposal. Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Blogsvertise

We bloggers are constantly writing about our favorite products and websites. Wouldn't it be great if we could get paid for it? Well, the good new is that we can! For information visit www.blogsvertise.com. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling than getting paid for what you love.

Travelvelocity CEO Michelle Peluso: A Great Role Model for Young Women

Michelle Peluso doesn't get much sleep. And she doesn't expect that to change anytime soon. Clearly, she's resigned herself to this as her motto is, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

As CEO of the online travel company Travelocity (a position she attained at the tender age of 32), she's simply been too busy to sleep. Under her leadership, the company has gone from losing $55 million a year to making $13 million.

Prior to her stint at travelocity, she helped start and develop the online travel company Site59. In 2002 she sold the company for $42 million to none other than......can you guess? ....yep, Travelocity!

Ms. Peluso has always been driven and ambitious. Before her rise to the upper echelons of corporate America, she studied philosophy at Oxford University, earned a BS from Wharton and served as a White House Fellow and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Labor.

And to what, you may be asking, does Peluso attribute all this glorious success at such a young age? It's all about passion. Feeling passionate about her goals has given her the wherewithal to blast through obstacles while rising to the top.

There can be no doubt that this impressive young woman, this superlative role model for young women, will accomplish a lot more with her life (maybe become president?). After that, she may be able to catch up on her sleep.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Suicide Epidemic Grips South Korea

Statistics demonstrate in no uncertain terms that a suicide epidemic is sweeping through South Korea. Over the last decade, suicide rates have more than doubled. It is the leading cause of death among men in their 20s and is the fourth-leading cause of death in the country overall.

One can understand the problem and its causes by considering the country's culture and recent history. Recoiling from a brutal colonial past, South Koreans in the early 1960s embraced a Puritan-like work ethic. The result of their efforts is the modern industrial nation we know today. The transformation has been so dramatic, in fact, that it has been described as nothing less than a miracle.

But then in 1997 catastrophe struck in the form of a financial crises. For the first time since the early 1960s, South Koreans began to experience substantial financial reversals. As well, they began to feel that hard work could no longer be a guarantor of upward social mobility.

This is the crux of the problem. For in South Korea, nothing is more highly revered than status and power. Leading South Korean psychologists and sociologists believe that this sense of economic stasis and hopelessness is fueling the rise in suicides.

Whereas South Korea has adopted the ethos of Western business practices, it has not done so with respect to Western philosophical ideals. Rather, it clings to its traditional preoccupation with status and class division. It seems to me that suicides will continue to rise unless South Korea embraces a value system whose central tenet is the principle that all men are created equal.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Online contest seeks book with oddest title

Take a gander at this sampling of nominees to beat at the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for oddest book title:

"How Green were the Nazis?" by Thomas Zeller, Franz-Josef Bruggemeier and Mark Cioc; "The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: a Guide to Field Identification," by Julian Montague; "Tattoed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan," by Robert Chenciner, Gabib Ismailov, Magomedkhan Magomedkhanov and Alex Binnie, and "D. Di Mascio's Delicious Ice Cream: Di Mascio of Coventry, an Ice Cream Company of Repute, With an Interesting and Varied Fleet of Ice Cream Vans" by Roger De Boer, Harvey Francis Pitcher and Alan Wilkinson.

Some of the authors' names could certainly qualify as contenders for an oddest names contest, don't you think? But I digress.

The winner will be chosen by the public via online voting at http://www.thebookseller.com/. The winner will be announced on April 13.

In case your curious, last year's winner was "People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It," by Gary Leon Hill. Wow, that's one I'm definitely going to add to my reading list. Not.

The decency of Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen is widely regarded as one the finest actors of his generation. But, more importantly -- at least in my view -- he is an exceptionally kind and decent person.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sheen while working as an extra (I prefer the term background artist) on the set of the film Bobby (directed by his son Emilio, who, incidentally, is a splendid fellow in his own right.) Mr. Sheen introduced himself and engaged me in a friendly conversation.

I can assure you from firsthand experience that an actor of Sheen's stature does not often engage an extra in conversation. You see, film sets are profoundly hierarchical and, it pains me to say, extras reside at the bottom of the pecking order. They are frequently treated with indifference if not outright contempt.

Mr. Sheen's name comes up often while conversing with fellow background artists on the sets of various movie and television productions. It does not surprise me in the least that nearly everyone has personally experienced -- or knows somebody that has -- the decency of Martin Sheen.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Movies available sooner on DVD

During the last four years, the average time it takes movies to go from theaters to DVD has shrunk by one month (from 5 months and 22 days to four months and 8 days).

This shrinking window has understandably provoked the ire of theater owners. Will moviegoers blow off going to theaters if they know the movie will soon be available on DVD? One does not need a doctorate in economics to assume that a significant portion will. And, as a result, theater owners will be forced to raise ticket and concessions prices. These prices are already ridiculously high. But, if this trend continues, they will soar into the stratosphere!

According to the MPAA, 63% of movie fans prefer watching films in theaters as opposed to in their living rooms. Hence the rising costs of seeing movies at the multiplex negatively impacts millions of people. Yes, millions of movie lovers are being deprived of the unique, communal experience of seeing a movie on a giant glowing screen. How sad.

The making and marketing of a major motion picture is a complicated, multifaceted process. I do not have the expertise to propose a spectrum of cost-cutting measures (though common sense tells me they exist). However, I do know that a very high percentage of movie production costs go to paying the obscenely high salaries of A-list movie stars. If movie stars did not demand and command such monstrous salaries, the savings could be passed along to their fans in the form of cheaper ticket prices.

Perhaps I'm being delusional to even ponder this, but wouldn't it be lovely if Brad Pitt and his ilk lowered their asking price from $20 million per film to, say, $15 million per film? Dare to dream.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

101-year-old Mugging Victim Forgives Assailant

What decent person would NOT be outraged after viewing the vicious mugging of 101-year-old Rose Morat in the vestibule of her apartment building in Queens, New York? I was profoundly disturbed by the attack. In fact, I was so outraged that I wanted to beat the perpetrator's face to a bloody pulp. It's one thing to snatch an old lady's purse. But this lowlife, this craven punk, pummeled Rose's head with three sharp blows. Honestly, how sick and depraved does a person have to be to beat up a defenseless 101-year-old lady? As a result of the beating, Rose suffered a broken cheekbone and had to be hospitalized. Thankfully, she has recovered and is doing well.

Forgive me for being presumptuous, but I am 99.99% sure that the perpetrator is a drug addict. An addict so desperate for drug money that he is willing to commit a heinous crime. Indeed, drug addiction is a social problem of immense proportions. One cannot emphasize this enough. It is beyond the scope of this posting to delve too deeply into the causes and cures of drug addiction, but I will say this: people who grow up in intact, loving homes do not generally grow up to become drug addicts who beat up old ladies.

I will venture to guess that Rose Morat grew up in a home that instilled good values. In fact, she was on her way to church when the mugging occurred. What she had to say to a reporter about the perpetrator speaks volumes about her character: "I have no hate for the man, I just don't want him hurting anymore people." Perhaps this also accounts for her longevity. She is unwilling to let awful circumstances destroy her spirit. Indeed, this may be why this Rose has not wilted.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Anne Frank's Chestnut Tree

Consider this entry from Anne Frank's journal (dated Feb. 23, 1944) :

"Nearly every morning I go to the attic to blow the stuffy air out of my lungs. From my favorite spot on the floor I looked up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little rain drops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind...

"As long as this exists, I thought, and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts I cannot be unhappy."

Wow. That a mere teenager in such a perilous situation could offer such infinitely profound wisdom is astonishingly poignant. What this angel teaches us is that at every moment of our lives, we have the choice to transcend our circumstances by processing our world with the energy of beauty and appreciation.

In case you may not know, Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager, hid (along with her family and four friends) in an annex of rooms above her father's office in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. They were in hiding for 25 months before being arrested by the Nazis and deported to concentration camps. In March of 1945, at the age of 15, Anne died of typhus at Bergen-Belson.

In the courtyard of the building where Anne and her family hid, stood the above-mentioned chestnut tree. She often made reference to it in her diary (posthumously published as "The Diary of Anne Frank") .

It turns out that the Amsterdam City Council recently gave the current owner of the property permission to cut down the tree. The 150-year-old tree has been attacked by a fungus and is in danger of falling. But let not your heart be troubled. Thankfully, The Anne Frank Museum announced that a sapling from the original chestnut will replace it.

Alas, a chestnut tree will again grow in Amsterdam! And may it stand for at LEAST another 150 years as a symbol of the sacred wisdom and beautiful spirit of Anne Frank.