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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Chocolate is Good for You and Working Out Makes You Smarter

?I try to focus on the positive as much as possible. Some days that is harder than others. The news is full of doom and gloom about what ?foods are chocolate makes me happy making us fat and how everything is shortening our lives. However, I ran across an article that may give you something to be happy about!! I know it makes me happy.. Anything that says I can have more chocolate makes me VERY happy indeed - Here is the article: 10 Health Studies to Cheer About... Which of the studies makes you the happiest?

Oh yea... Enjoy your nap at work this afternoon too!

Source: http://rainingcatsandblogs-snt.com/post/3492335/chocolate-is-good-for-you-and-working-out-makes-you-smarter-

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Winners, losers from MLS semis

Never mind the spin and the overly spun ? here?s who had a good and bad weekend as the MLS conference semifinal first legs played out over four cities over the weekend:

WINNERS

MLS Cup host hopes for Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Los Angeles: San Jose still has the inside track, of course. But when Houston seized control of its home-and-away series against top Eastern seed Sporting Kansas City, hope began to float for these three Western Conference hopefuls. Previously, even if they had gotten past San Jose (the top Western seed), the conventional wisdom said the big 2012 decider date would go to Kansas City. Now?hmmmmm.

Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando: I?m not quite sure it was quite what it?s been made out to be. The tendency to make the present more historically significant than it really is will always be a powerful force. Still, he was exceptional against Seattle, doing so much heavy lifting in his team?s 0-0 draw.

Every center back on the field in Houston: Sporting Kansas City?s Matt Besler was best of all, but central partner Aurelien Collin (who won everything falling his way in the air), along with Houston?s Bobby Boswell and Jermaine Taylor, all had strong matches. Collin did have one bad moment, getting turned on the home team?s second goal. (And Taylor had to leave, injured, so his day was ultimately undone by misfortune.)

RSL center back depth: Speaking of strong performances along the back line, Kwame Watson-Siriboe is RSL?s fourth choice. But you sure couldn?t tell it from the performance he put in Friday against Seattle.

Dominic Kinnear: The Dynamo manager won two playoff games; his spiffy post-season record now stands at 12-7-4.

LOSERS

Anyone who likes scoring:?Four matches, five goals. Blek!

Three home teams that couldn?t get it done: Neither D.C. United nor Seattle could exploit their initial home field advantage. The idea is to win at home, which doesn?t just provide the obvious, numerical edge in goals. It also shifts more of the second-leg pressure over to the other guys. Win at home and you just need a draw on the road ? and the other fellows know it. Well, D.C. United and Seattle may be sitting pretty next to the Galaxy, who can win by a goal at San Jose and not be assured of advancing. Houston?s win at home meant the hosts were 1-1-2 during the weekend.

Logic: Yes, logic. Because I keep hearing about how a failure to win at home in these first legs wasn?t so bad. No, it?s not grim disaster wrapped in imminent doom, but it?s certainly not ideal, now is it? Bottom line here, three of four home teams failed to score a goal at home (no matter how hot a certain goalkeeper was). That spells ?opportunity lost? in my book.

Landon Donovan: He keeps telling us that he feels older than 30. Now he?s starting to look the part, too. Not only in Sunday?s loss to San Jose, but in the win over Vancouver, Donovan seemed to be missing some his old zip and zoom. He needs to deliver big in Wednesday?s return leg in Northern California.

Andy Najar: Whether you believe the young D.C. United right back?s story, that he wasn?t really throwing the ball at referee Jair Marrufo is really beside the point. It was a silly, silly thing to do. It hurt his team, not just Saturday, but in Wednesday?s return leg, too.

AND SOME ?TIES?

Goalkeepers: Rimando, Seattle?s Michael Gspurning and New York?s Luis Robles, held up their end, but gaffes by Los Angeles? Josh Saunders and D.C. United?s Bill Hamid split the decision here. (San Jose?s Jon Busch and Houston?s Tally Hall were fine, even if neither were too busy.)

MLS attendance: We talked about this one here.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/05/winners-and-losers-from-mls-semifinal-opening-legs/related

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Friday, November 2, 2012

* Tongue in Cheek * - Family Hair-itage

Longest hair contest

My five youngest nieces and I have a standing contest to see whose hair is the longest each time I come home to visit.

Last March I was in third place. But since I am the oldest my hair doesn't seem to grow as fast, nor as long as theirs. I think I should have a handicap of five inches extra per six months. But they said no go.

Gina

The Longest Hair contest started over eighteen months ago when I noticed that my nieces were cutting their hair shorter and shorter. First to their shoulders and then to their chin...

I had to do something, you see long hair to means young and staying young is what I want my little nieces to be... forever young would be fine by me.

The Longest Hair contest took the scissor away and the race was on.

Maci

Maci, won again with her curly long hair.

I told her I heard a secret to keeping hair long and beautiful, when she asked me what I heard I told her, "Bubble gum, a big wad of it in your mouth when you go to bed."

She didn't fall for it.

Kate

Kate is the youngest and her hair color is what I want.

Notice she has chocolate on the tip of her nose. So cute.

Gina, Maci and Kate are sisters, they also have a brother named George.

Family

We stood by the family barn while George took a photo of us. He counted, "One, Two..." and when he said three, without planning it that way, my youngest nephew Warren ran in front of the camera. Perfect timing!?

Long hair

I think I might have the longest hair contest with my nephews instead. I think I could win that way. Though George had a trick up his sleeve. Long white hair?

Marie

Marie is my brother Mat's daughter. Her hair grew the most. It was on her shoulders less than a year ago. Marie told me her secret to long hair... horse shampoo. I tell you I thought my line about the bubble gum being a good one, she had me beat with horse shampoo secret.

Molly

Molly's hair was the shortest eighteen months ago. I think playing soccer has made her hair grow, she laughed at that idea. Warren is Molly's brother.

Upside down

Hair Flip

Hair Flip with glasses.

Teased

Teased.

Blow dry

Blow Dry.

Poptart

Pop-tart!

Hair

Family Hair-itage!

Source: http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2012/11/family-hair-itage.html

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NY brides trying to save Sandy-soaked wedding plans

ABC News' Linsey Davis reports:

They say it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but all those brides-to-be whose walk down the aisle has been interrupted by Sandy might disagree.

These brides are now facing their worst fears for their fairy tale day. Many are unable to bring family and friends together to take part in the nuptials, but they're still finding ways to save their weddings.

Shelby Ebert, of New York City, can't reach her florist or her hair stylist, and her wedding party's attire is, until further notice, stuck at the tailor's.

"Luckily my color was black, and we've asked bridesmaids if you have a black dress, throw it on," Ebert told ABC News.

None of her careful planning could have prepared her for the most dreaded unexpected guest, Hurricane Sandy.

"We have guests that can't fly in. We have 60 people that are supposed to stay at a hotel. The hotel has no power," Ebert said.

READ ALSO: Residents Head Back to Everyday Life After Superstorm Sandy: What's Open, What's Not

Though the Manhattan couple has power in their apartment, they are completely in the dark when it comes to what will become of the wedding day they've been planning for more than a year.

"My fianc? does not have a wedding band because it is currently locked up at a jeweler without power, so we can always use an old-fashioned aluminum foil ring if we have to," said Ebert.

Ebert's plans were foiled, along with more than 4,000 East coast couples who've had their weekend weddings crashed by Sandy, according to statistics compiled by the wedding website TheKnot.com. So the TheKnot set up a Facebook page to help couples facing wedding chaos.

"We decided there's going to be a lot of weddings canceled, so we needed to do something to really connect brides and vendors to one another," Anja Winika, TheKnot.com's site director, said.

Ebert was among those who posted a plea on the page, and right away the online community chimed in to help. Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, N.J. said they are "available to help in any way." Another woman posted a wedding dress she was happy to donate.

"The mood is less panicky, and more like, 'Let's get this done,'" Winika said.

READ ALSO: Sandy Recovery Could Be Most Expensive in US History

Hurricane Sandy was devastating, but for any wedding disaster Winika suggests following these tips: Re-read all the contracts you have with your vendors, be honest and open with vendors about your situation and be flexible about changing the date.

But most importantly, Winika said, "Don't panic. At the end of the day, you're still getting married."

Ebert is keeping is a positive outlook.

"I think at the end of the day it's going to be a totally unconventional wedding," Ebert said. "We're going to have photos for the rest of our lives with people in sweatpants, but people are going to be smiling. As long as we can feed our guests and I have a fianc? to marry, it can't be the end of the world."

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Acne Cause | Bodybuilding, Supplements, Diets, Workouts & Fitness ...

Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. Hyperkeratinization and formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest change. Enlargement of sebaceous glands and an increase in sebum production occur with increased androgen (DHEA-S) production at adrenarche. The microcomedo may enlarge to form an open comedone (blackhead) or closed comedone (whitehead). Whiteheads are the direct result of sebaceous glands becoming clogged with sebum, a naturally occurring oil, and dead skin cells. In these conditions the naturally occurring largely commensal bacteria Propionibacterium acnes can cause inflammation, leading to inflammatory lesions (papules, infected pustules, or nodules) in the dermis around the microcomedo or comedone, which results in redness and may result in scarring or hyperpigmentation.

Primary Cause

Acne is known to be partly hereditary, but no particular genetic cause has been identified. Acne is not contagious or infectious. Several factors are known to be linked to acne:

Family/Genetic history. The tendency to develop acne runs in families. For example, school-age boys with acne often have other members in their family with acne as well. A family history of acne is associated with an earlier occurrence of acne and an increased number of retentional acne lesions. Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty. During puberty, an increase in male sex hormones called androgens cause the follicular glands to grow larger and make more sebum. Inflammation, skin irritation or scratching of any sort will activate inflammation. Stress. While the connection between acne and stress has been debated, scientific research indicates that ?increased acne severity? is ?significantly associated with increased stress levels.? The National Institutes of Health (USA) list stress as a factor that ?can cause an acne flare.? A study of adolescents in Singapore ?observed a statistically significant positive correlation [?] between stress levels and severity of acne.? Hyperactive sebaceous glands, secondary to the three hormone sources above. Bacteria in the pores. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is the anaerobic bacterium that causes acne. In-vitro resistance of P. acnes to commonly used antibiotics has been increasing. Use of anabolic steroids.
Exposure to certain chemical compounds. Chloracne is particularly linked to toxic exposure to dioxins, namely Chlorinated dioxins.

Acne on an arm.Several hormones have been linked to acne: the androgens testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), as well as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I).

Development of acne vulgaris in later years is uncommon, although this is the age group for Rosacea which may have similar appearances. True acne vulgaris in adult women may be a feature of an underlying condition such as pregnancy and disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome or the rare Cushing?s syndrome. Menopause-associated acne occurs as production of the natural anti-acne ovarian hormone estradiol fails at menopause. The lack of estradiol also causes thinning hair, hot flashes, thin skin, wrinkles, vaginal dryness, and predisposes to osteopenia and osteoporosis as well as triggering acne (known as acne climacterica in this situation).

Signs and symptoms of insomnia

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How to Control your Weight with Protein Shakes

A key factor in any effective diet is controlling hunger pangs. Once you can control your hunger you have mastered the difficult part. The remainder of the diet should become relatively easy to tolerate. But how do you go about controlling hunger? There are a number of ways but in this article I will focus [...]

Lose weight fast after christmas

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Natural remedies of endometriosis for health

Endometriosis is basically a painful and chronic medical condition wherein the tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus. In most cases this growth is observed in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the pelvic lining and at times may even spread outside the pelvic area. Before deciding on the treatments for endometriosis one [...]

Source: http://stek.org/health-fitness/acne-cause/

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Uber Kills Surge Pricing In NYC For Customers, Drivers Paid 2X Rate To Meet Post-Sandy Demand

With the subway system down for the count in the wake of mega-storm Sandy, it's very, very tough to get around New York City today. And this morning, people who opened up their Uber apps to hail a car in Manhattan were met with another obstacle: "Surge pricing," which is when Uber hikes up fare prices during especially busy times.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/cGY_4UxQ2XE/

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Most of Congress coming back despite low approval

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah awaits the start of the Utah Senate Debate with Democratic challenger Scott Howell, in Provo, Utah. When the results are counted this Tuesday, Americans are poised to resoundingly rehire roughly 350 of the 535 members of the House and Senate despite railing for months about an ineffective, bitterly divided legislature. The once-in-a-decade redrawing of congressional districts is one of the main reasons why so many lawmakers will return to Washington _ and the first election after that politically driven process is typically a high point _ but redistricting isn?t the only reason. The power of incumbency with its name recognition and cash advantage also is responsible. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this June 7, 2012 file photo, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill. When the results are counted this Tuesday, Americans are poised to resoundingly rehire roughly 350 of the 535 members of the House and Senate despite railing for months about an ineffective, bitterly divided legislature. The once-in-a-decade redrawing of congressional districts is one of the main reasons why so many lawmakers will return to Washington _ and the first election after that politically driven process is typically a high point _ but redistricting isn?t the only reason. The power of incumbency with its name recognition and cash advantage also is responsible. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Americans rail about Congress, giving low marks to the bitterly divided legislature.

Yet next week, when the votes are counted, the nation is poised to resoundingly rehire a big majority of the 535 members of the House and Senate.

One of the main reasons so many lawmakers will return to Washington is the help that many get from the once-a-decade redrawing of congressional districts. Another is the power of incumbency with its name recognition and cash advantages.

At least 15 senators of the 22 seeking re-election are expected to cruise to new terms. The same is true for at least 330 House members from coast to coast.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-11-01-Rehiring%20Congress/id-701a3af81bcb4924ba1ca42f97d36228

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