SECOND RATE SNACKS _ Have you ever wanted to test out some of those knock-off brands to see if they're just as good as your favorite name brands? This blog does just that! It's your chance to see one bloggers opinion of highly-hyped name brand products vs. no-name products. Could save you money! Could save your taste buds! Check out the blog here.
ROONEY AND MOON'S HOT TOPICS:
-Tiger Woods will compete in the 2010 Masters tournament next month, returning to golf from his five-month hiatus.
-Adventurer Felix Baumgartner plans to set a new record by parachuting from 23 miles above the earth and breaking the speed of sound in his descent.
-It's official -- playing Farmville and tagging friends in photos has become more popular than actually trying to find things on the internet, as a new report shows Facebook edged out Google as the most-visited site on the Internet last week. Facebook accounted for 7.07% of all web traffic for the week ending March 13, edging out Google's 7.03%.
-The patient was only slightly injured when he limped into a hospital in the northwest New Mexico city of Farmington. The only problem was, he was a dog. When the automatic doors at San Juan Regional Medical Center's emergency room slid open Saturday night, the pooch walked in, blood on his nose and paw, and a puncture hole in one leg. An animal control officer responded to a call from the hospital and suspects the puncture wound was from the bite of another dog. The officer said the German shepherd mix appeared to be intelligent and calm and knew enough to go to the right place.
-A company called Too Faced Cosmetics has come out with a new lip gloss called Mood Swing that supposedly changes color when the wearer is feeling rather randy.
-FACEBOOK MOST-VISITED WEBSITE _ It's official -- playing Farmville and tagging friends in photos has become more popular than actually trying to find things on the internet, as a new report shows Facebook edged out Google as the most-visited site on the Internet last week. Facebook accounted for 7.07% of all web traffic for the week ending March 13, edging out Google's 7.03%.
JEN ANISTON'S KNEES
Rooney brought up on the show this picture of Jennifer Aniston. His point is that her knees ruin her whole image. Yes, her knees! Duffy told him he was a complete and utter quack. Here's the picture, you decide:
ST. PATRICKS DAY FACTS
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 33.1 million Americans are of Irish descent -- almost 10 times the population of Ireland, 3.8 million. Here's bit more information on the Irish for St. Patrick's Day:
-St. Patrick's Day is not party time but a solemn religious holiday in Ireland, which has only about 30 parades nationwide that day.
-The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade stepped off in New York City on March 17, 1762. It was staged by Irish soldiers serving in the British army, to celebrate their heritage.
-It's not true that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, as popular legend claims. But he did convert most of the Irish from paganism to Christianity by the time he died in 461.
-Watch who you're calling Paddy: Some Irish consider this an insult. The name sprang up in the mid-1800s, when the Irish were among America's most abused immigrants. It's where we get "paddy wagon," the police vehicle that hauled people to jail.
HOW MUCH LAUNDRY SOAP? _ Chances are you’re using way, way too much detergent in your laundry machine, according to an article in last week’s New York Times, which quotes appliance expert Vernon Schmidt saying, "Most people use 10 to 15 times the amount of soap they need, and they’re pouring money down the drain." Modern machines are designed to use less water, and don’t need nearly as much soap as they used to. And with detergents getting increasingly concentrated, it’s important to remember a little goes a long way. Overdosing on laundry detergent can lead to stiff clothes, or a buildup of mold and mildew inside your machine. Schmidt says that using half to one eighth the recommended amount of detergent is adequate, depending on how hard or soft your water is. And though it’s a bit counter-intuitive, if you see suds, don’t think you’re cleaning -- you’re just using too much detergent. >>>Here's the full article for you...
STRANGE THINGS PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO
Allergy season is soon upon us. But it’s not just pollen and pets that trigger allergic reactions. It’s, well, anything.
Allergic to own new-born child - According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there’s a skin condition in which blisters appear on the abdomen and, in the worst cases, over large regions of the body. Women can develop the condition during the second or third trimester and after giving birth. In the rarest of cases, children can be born with the rash.
Allergic to water - It’s a condition said to affect one out of every 23 million people in the world. The person is hypersensitive to the ions found in non-distilled water, so most have to be very careful to only drink distilled water. Teenager Ashleigh Morris can't go swimming, soak in a hot bath or enjoy a shower after a stressful day's work - she's allergic to water. Even sweating brings the 19-year-old out in a painful rash. When Ashleigh gets wet her body explodes in sore, itchy red lumps that take about two hours to ease. She has to wash. But showering is a painful experience and she can only do it for a minute at a time.
Allergic to wood - While people are allergic to certain types of wood or sawdust, there are cases when people are allergic to any type of wood in many types of forms, whether it is dust or solid. Along with wood allergies comes the fact that you can't touch paper, use a pencil, or be a lumberjack! The allergy can be so strong that it can cause the skin to look as if it was burned. In most cases wood allergies cause skin irritation, coughing, sneezing, and hives.
Allergic to exercises - Don't go laughing if a friend tells you he or she is allergic to exercise. He may be one of the 1,000 people who actually have this allergy. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a severe allergic reaction caused by exercise, and may be related to eating certain foods before exercising. This life-threatening allergic reaction is usually seen when the victim is allergic to certain foods or medications and works out after partaking of the offending item. Shellfish, wheat, hazelnuts, grapes, and drugs such as ibuprofen, antibiotics, cold medications and herbal supplements can be the culprits.
Allergic to apples eaten near a birch tree - Many food allergies occur when the specific food is consumed, but Grace Morley has a rare and bizarre food allergy. She is not allergic to either apples or birch trees on their own, but if she eats an apple close to where a birch tree is growing she will go into shock and could die within minutes. When these two are combined Grace responds by going into severe shock.
Allergic to the sun - It is said that very few people in the world suffer from it. Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare condition in which exposure to ultraviolet or UV radiation, or sometimes even visible light, induces a case of urticaria or hives that can appear in both covered and uncovered areas of the skin.
Allergic to modern living - For most people talking on a mobile phone, cooking dinner in the microwave or driving in a car is simply part of modern living in 21st century. But completing any such tasks is impossible for people like Debbie Bird – who is allergic to modern technology. The 39-year-old is so sensitive to the electromagnetic field or 'smog' created by computers, mobile phones, microwave ovens and even some cars, that she develops a painful skin rash and her eyelids swell to three times their size if she goes near them. Doctors say there is little scientific evidence to back up a link between EMF and poor health. They claim the symptoms, often attributed to flu or viruses, are psychosomatic.
Allergic to kissing - Real kisses can develop hives, rashes, itchy eyes, blisters on eyelids, puffy lips, wheezing and respiratory distress. A small peck on the cheek does not pose any serious dangers but passionate kisses can. Though this allergy doesn't mean one is allergic to another's lips or…tongue, the person who suffers from this allergy is usually one with a severe food or medicinal allergy. Because of the close contact and sharing of saliva, food particles or particles from medicine can be left in the mouth, causing an allergic reaction in some.
Allergic to underwear - It's that type of reaction in which skin develops rashes, itching and even blisters. Anyone suffering from underwear allergy can get rid of it very easily and quickly. The main reason responsible for causing this type of allergy in both men and women could be the different types of fabrics used in making it such as polyester, cotton, latex etc. The best solution for avoiding this type of allergy is to use high quality, skin friendly and bacterial resistant underpants.
THINGS WE'RE DOING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE
Consumer Reports magazine recently told us we're doing what we shouldn't do. For example:
* Nearly 3 of every 4 Americans put cotton swabs inside their ears, risking a perforated eardrum, according to the magazine's telephone survey of 1,000 adults.
* Nearly 4 in 10 often eat raw cookie dough, which could carry salmonella.
* Only half the respondents have a carbon monoxide detector at home.
* 61 percent don't have a rubber mat in the shower.
* 13 percent admitted sometimes drinking beer while using power tools.
* 58 percent never wear a helmet while bicycling.
* 27 percent never use sunscreen.
STEVE'S UNUSUALLY BURNED SCALP
If you missed it on the Showgram, Steve Rooney spent a little too much time in the sun without sunscreen on his cranium. The result is this really weird sundburn on his scalp! Take a look:
YOUR AMAZING BODY: THE SENSES
-Your smell is unique: Your body odor is unique to you — unless you have an identical twin. Even babies recognize the individual scents of their mothers.
-Humans use echolocation: Humans can use sound to sense objects in their area using echolocation. It is thought that those who are blind develop this ability to heightened effectiveness.
-Adrenaline gives you super strength: Yes, with the proper response in certain situations, you really can lift a car.
-Women smell better than men: Women are better than men at identifying smells.
-Your nose remembers 50,000 scents: It is possible for your nose to identify and remember more than 50,000 smells.
-Your hearing decreases when you overeat: When you eat too much food, it actually reduces your ability to hear. So consider eating healthy — and only until you are full.
-Your sense of time is in your head: How you experience time is all about your perception. Some speculate that stress can help you experience time dilation. Apparently, time manipulation isn’t just for superheroes.
STATMAN!
A Glamour magazine survey shows that a whopping 82% of young adults say they're more stressed now than five years ago.
* 51% of women say they're very stressed
* 31% of women eat to relieve stress
* 5 pounds is the average number of pounds a stress-eater gains a year
* 23% of stressed out women say it has affected their sex lives
* 44% of women say stress keeps them up at night
* 20% would take a pay cut for less stress
5 THINGS TO STOP CLEANING
1. Grill grate. Instead of scrubbing the grate after using it, leave the grill on high with the cover on for 15 minutes. Residue will cook away.
2. Shower curtain liner. Liners are so cheap that laundering them to remove mildew is a waste of time. Just replace your liner every six months.
3. Pillow. After washing and drying a pillow, it’ s never quite the same. Instead, throw it out and buy a new one every six months.
4. Making the bed. Microscopic dust mites -- a leading cause of allergies -- thrive on moisture in your mattress and bedcovers. Leaving the bed unmade allows moisture to escape. If you really can’t stand an unmade bed, then use a comforter instead of a top sheet and bedspread. Just shake out the comforter, and you’re done.
5. Waxing the car. Newer cars have tough finishes that don’t need wax for protection.
WE TAKE OUR INTERNET TO BED
A new Yahoo survey marking the company’s 15th birthday shows that a majority of Americans are taking their Internet to bed with them. The study reveals that only 19% of those surveyed ban the use of the Internet in bed. 41% check email as soon as they wake up. And a whopping 87% feel it's fine to go online before they’ve even had their first cup of coffee.
... Why do people feel compelled to jump on the web whenever and wherever they are? Perhaps it’s because we can. In the 15 years since Yahoo was founded, the Internet has become central to our personal lives. Today, 96% of those surveyed use the web at home compared to less than a third back in 1995.
... Today's Internet users have an average of 3 or more personal email accounts and more than 50 contacts. 86% use search engines to find out information that touches every aspect of their lives.
... 67% of those interviewed said they "couldn't live without email" and 50% said the same goes for instant messaging and social networking. 46% said the web is extremely important for online banking and investing.
... And the poll also found out that people would be willing to make some pretty big sacrifices if they had to choose between going online and other parts of their lives. More than a third told pollsters they would even give up sex! They were also willing to forgo their MP3 players (81%), video games (78%), alcohol (75%) and chocolate (70%).
SURPRISING EFFECTS OF THE CHILE EARTHQUAKE
Some less-discussed and rather odd consequences of the 8.8 magnitude temblor:
1. Our days on planet Earth will be shorter
The magnitude of the quake was so great it actually tilted the planetary axis — as a result, the world will spin infinitesimally faster and our days will be shorter by 1.26 millionths of a second. "It's interesting," says seismologist David Kerridge in the Wall Street Journal, even if "it has no particular consequence on anything."
2. Volcanoes may become rather common
Chile's earthquake is likely to prompt a "legacy of volcanic explosions," says Kate Ravilious in the New Scientist. Large quakes have historically acted to "resurrect previously inactive volcanoes" and make "active ones" more likely to erupt.
3. Chilean wine just got more rare
Reports from Chile's wine region paint a disastrous picture of "wine casks destroyed; huge vats cracked, their wine spilling out; ruined equipment." One vintner laments that the quake is "a double whammy" — it hit right at harvest time, meaning much of this season's crop will likely rot in the fields.
4. Printer paper may get pricier
Chile is one of the world's largest wood pulp producers and most mills in the country "have been shuttered owing to damage and power outages." Consequently, global paper prices could leap to $40 a ton — a roughly 5 percent bounce — according to analysts' estimates.
5. Virginians may sense a certain dryness
Water levels in a monitoring well in Christiansburg, Va., dropped two feet as a result of Saturday's quake, reports the Baltimore Sun. The only explanation: The site is "well known" for its sensitivity to "seismic waves."
THERE IS NO CONFLICT
(PicktheBrain) We all hate conflict, but sometimes it's impossible to avoid. So, how do you deal with it? Here are seven helpful ways:
-Stay calm -- It's not always easy to stay calm when you're having a disagreement with someone, but if you can remain calm. . . the other person should calm down a lot faster.
-Let them do the talking -- Just chill out and let them spill out whatever it is they have to say. They'll get tired of talking eventually. Sometimes all they're looking for is someone to listen to them.
-Consider what they're saying -- Even if what they're saying is completely ridiculous, put yourself in their shoes. Never say, "You're wrong".
-Let them know you hear them -- Tell them that you understand what they're saying to you. It's possible that all they want is to be validated.
-Don't let them verbally abuse you -- If the conversation comes to this... put an immediate STOP to it. Tell them they're getting into a shady area... and you'll talk to them when they calm down.
-Take responsibility if you're wrong -- If you know you're wrong... let them know that you made some mistakes... and you'll do whatever it takes to fix it.
-Visualize them in a good setting -- This might seem a little weird, but if you deal with them on a daily basis... start visualizing them in a nicer setting... like playing at the park with their kids. It'll be easier to handle them.
COWBOY ETHICS IN WYOMING
The principles of "cowboy ethics" are now part of Wyoming law. Wyoming's governor (Dave Freudenthal) signed legislation last week adopting an official Wyoming state code. The symbolic measure spells out 10 ethics derived from a "Code of the West" outlined in a book by author and retired Wall Street investor James Owen. The ethics code carries no criminal penalties and is not meant to replace any civil codes.
They are:
1. Live courageously
2. Take pride in your work
3. Finish what you start
4. Do what's necessary
5. Be tough but fair
6. Keep promises
7. Ride for the brand
8. Talk less and say more
9. Remember that some things aren't for sale
10. Know where to draw the line
LARGEST TWISTER BOARD _ Between 350 and 400 students from the University College Dublin took part in a game of Twister, which was played on a mat covering a ground area of 4,700 square feet -- setting the new world record for the Largest Twister Board.
USING A CELLPHONE WITHOUT SPEAKING _ One of the problems with cellphones is that they force personal conversations out into the world. Arguing with your spouse? Speaking your PIN and Social Security number to a customer service rep? Having an intimate chat on a cross-country bus trip? Cellphones make all those private details available to anyone who's listening. But a German institute (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) has invented a soundless phone that lets you hold a conversation in complete silence. The system works using sensors that attach to the face. The sensors measure the movement of facial muscles related to speech, and converts the movements into sound on the other end of the line. Potentially, by recalibrating the sensors to correct for injuries or defects, this technology could allow the speech-impaired to speak again.
TODAY IS MOTHER IN LAW DAY
Here are just a few tips from experts on how to deal with your in-laws:
- Treat your spouse well. Nothing pleases parents more than knowing that their son or daughter is being well-loved and pampered.
- Present a united front. Never squabble with your spouse in front of his or her parents. If you think hot issues may come up, discuss how you will deal with them ahead of time. If they erupt, stifle yourselves until you can duke it out in private.
- Recognize the fact if you were raised in a different family structure. Realize that a proper New Englander may have difficulty being comfortable in an outgoing Hispanic family. Remember, his or her mom believes her baby is perfect.
- Ask mom-in-law to teach you how to cook a certain meal that he comments on while visiting her house -- even if it's stewed possum. And if her cooking is terrible, forget about honesty being the best policy.
- Pray for your mother-in-law. Do this for two weeks until you are feeling better about her. And remember, you're married to her child, not her.
- Frequently ask their advice, even if you don't plan to take it. They'll be glad to feel they still have influence on their child's life -- even if they don't.
- Discover what their likes and hobbies are. Even if it's hunting and you're an animal rights activist, show interest and don't start an argument.
- Don't clog the toilet. If you stop up their toilet by accident, clean it yourself. Overflowing sewage doesn't impress anyone and they'll be pleased with your effort.
TIGERTEXT _ Tiger Woods, if you're hearing this, remember that you've been through what mothers call a "valuable learning experience" and you're probably a "better man for it" and so on. Having said that, an iPhone app that launched on February 25 could totally have saved your hide. Called, coincidentally enough, TigerText, it allows users to set a time limit for a sent text to hang around after it has been read. When that life span has been exceeded, the message will disappear, say the developers, from the recipient's phone, the sender's phone and any servers. The message cannot be forwarded anywhere, stored anywhere or sold to any tabloid for an undisclosed sum.
USELESS TRIVIA
TRIVIA: It's estimated that what type of people contribute about $400 million to the U.S. economy each year? (Nudists. The American Association for Nude Recreation is the source.)
TRIVIA: Vegetarians do this more than the rest of us. (Pass gas. But their flatulence tends to be less odorous.)
