1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling 2. Bouts of rapid heart beat 3. Irritability, Mood swings 4. Sudden tears 5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats) 6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles 7. Loss of libido 8. Dry vagina 9. Crashing fatigue MORE INFO 10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease 11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom 12.Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion 13. Disturbing memory lapses 14.Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence 15. Itchy, crawly skin 16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons 17. Increased tension in muscles 18. Breast tenderness 19. Headache change: increase or decrease 20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea 21. Sudden bouts of bloat 22. Depression 23. Exacerbation of existing conditions 24. Increase in allergies 25. Weight gain 26.Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair 27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance 28. Changes in body odor 29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head 30. Tingling in the extremities 31. Gum problems, increased bleeding 32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor 33. Osteoporosis -- MORE INFO 34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier 35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing' buzzing etc.
For how many years have we, and our children, been taught of the solar system and it's 9 planets? Well ALL science books will need to be re-written since now we are only recognizing 8 planets. So our 9th planet has been rejected, and what about Walt Disney's famous dog named Pluto? Will he be taken out of orbit too?(lol) After all, he was named after our "last" planet in our solar system. If Pluto where to land here, on our planet, it could fit nicely into the USA, since it is smaller. HEY maybe a few hundred years down the road we Amnericans will become PLUTONIANS, (he he he...) Who knows, we may soon find yet another "unknown" celestial body, bringing it back to 9, and even 10 or 11 or 12..... etc.
ALL ABOUT PLUTO
*Pluto's day: 6.4 Earth days.
*Pluto's year: 248 Earth years.
*Average distance from sun: 3.7 billion miles, or 5.9 billion kilometers.
*What's in a name? Pluto is also the name of the Roman god of the underworld. It was suggested by many people, but credit was given to an 11-year-old girl from England.
Giving Pluto The Boot: PRAGUE, Czech Republic (Aug. 24) Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club. For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit." Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's. Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun -- "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.
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Say "Yes" to Cilantro
Adding chopped cilantro to your salsa could help keep illness-causing bacteria to a minimum. Cilantro contains antibacterial compounds that may help inhibit Salmonella choleraesuis, a common culprit in food poisoning. The best safeguards against food-borne illness are still frequent hand washing and safe food handling practices. However, serving meals with a side of cilantro-seasoned salsa may be both a nutritious and protective bonus.
Soda sales are down for the first time in 20 years in the United States. Given soda's reputation as the Darth Vader of drinks, a sales slump is good news according to American nutritionists.
"Soda, whether regular or diet, offers no health benefit besides the water it contains," says Milton Stokes, M.P.H., R.D., of the American Dietetic Association. In fact, the nation’s leading nutrition researchers recently issued guidelines urging Americans to cut back on soda, while allowing up to 40 ounces of coffee and tea per day -- and a little room for alcohol, too.
So, if you're a die-hard Diet Coke fan, what's the best thirst-quenching alternative? Here's a look at some options:
Alcohol: That's right. Alcohol may help slow the absorption of food and keep blood sugar levels in check (pasta with Chianti anyone?) And research shows that moderate drinking (one drink per day for women and two for men) may increase circulating leptin, a natural hormone that curbs the appetite for sweets. The drawback: Alcohol can lower inhibitions -- potentially zapping your ability to resist caloric temptations.
Water: Can’t get jazzed about the plain stuff? Try seltzer. It provides pizzazz without the calories. Or add orange slices or strawberries to a pitcher of water for a fruity, refreshing flavor.
Milk: Skim or low fat, milk is quite possibly the most nutrient dense beverage available, says Stokes. "With nine essential nutrients, it’s a true powerhouse. And there’s emerging research suggesting that calcium from dairy may promote weight loss."
Coffee: America’s no. 1 source of antioxidants, coffee is linked with a reduced risk of several chronic diseases. Just be careful not to sabotage your diet by pouring in tons of sugar and cream.
Tea: Research shows that green tea may promote weight loss. "It's not the answer to obesity, but it’s a healthful addition to your diet," says Stokes. Don't bother with green tea supplements though. Just drink the actual tea. And if you use mint tea to placate your sweet tooth, you may be able to skip dessert.
Some soda substitutes are better left on the shelf altogether: Vitamin Waters: "Skip ‘em," says Stokes. "You’re better off buying a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement and drinking plain water."
Energy Drinks: These concoctions are for endurance athletes, not the average American working out to lose weight. In fact, some energy drinks have as many calories and sugar grams as soda, and a hefty dose of caffeine, too.
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Cup 'O Java, Anyone?
Caffeine May Boost Female Sex Drive By LiveScience Staff
Caffeine motivates female rats to have more frequent sex, a new study suggests. But don't start guzzling more coffee just yet.
Scientists gave 108 female rats a moderate dose of caffeine. The caffeine shortened the amount of time it took the females to return to males after a first romp, indicating they were more motivated to do it again.
Loading up on more caffeine is not expected to improve human sex drive in most cases, however.
"These rats had never had caffeine before," said study leader Fay Guarraci, an assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern University. "In humans, it might enhance the sexual experience only among people who are not habitual users."
The research could help scientists better understand sexual motivation, however.
"Understanding the circuits that control this behavior will help us understand how the brain works and what part of the brain mediates motivation because sexual behavior is a motivative behavior," Guarraci said.
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Senior Citizens - Mortgages - Expense
Is a reverse mortgage something to celebrate?
"The National Council on the Aging wants us to observe this week as "National Aging in Place Week." It's a public relations gimmick, of course, organized by the reverse mortgage lending industry, which provides financial support for the nonpartisan council.
But they raise a legitimate issue, for if you're an older American homeowner of modest means, it's getting tougher to remain in your home. And "aging in place" - staying in the home you've paid for or the retirement condo you've moved into - has become a mantra for older Americans determined to avoid a nursing home.
The squeeze on the middle-class homeowner is getting tighter. Next year's 4.1 percent Social Security cost- of-living raise won't keep up with the soaring costs of home heating fuel, gasoline and health care. And with Medicare charging higher fees and facing competition from private insurance in the new drug bill, our only national health insurance program for the disabled and elderly is becoming unaffordable.
As a result, the council on the aging NCOA is leading a campaign to popularize something I've been pushing for years: using the equity in your home to help keep you in your home with an FHA-guaranteed reverse mortgage. To that end, the council has published a couple of well-written booklets on how to "Use Your Home to Stay at Home." They can be downloaded from www. ncoa.org, or ordered from NCOA, 300 D St. SW, Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20024.
"Many seniors and their families are looking for creative ways to pay for the assistance they need, so they can stay in their own homes and remain independent for as long as possible," said James Firman, who runs the council. Yet their greatest asset, their home equity, remains idle.
One survey by the council found that more than 13 million older Americans could use a reverse mortgage to help pay for long-term care at home. But few have applied.
Members of Congress and several governors, eager to save Medicaid money, have been considering incentives to encourage the use of reverse mortgages. A crackdown on the use of Medicaid to pay for long-term care is almost inevitable.
For those who don't know, a reverse mortgage is a loan against the equity in your home or condo (no co-ops) for persons 62 and older. The proceeds, which are tax-free, may be taken as a lump-sum, a line of credit or in periodic payments, and may be used for any purpose. The home remains in your name, and the unused portion of the loan will continue to grow with interest.
One type of reverse mortgage, called the "Cash Account," is sold by Financial Freedom, the nation's largest lender of reverse mortgages. The "Homekeeper," is sold by Fannie Mae. But the best and the most popular is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, sold and guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
How much you'll get depends on where you live and your age. To find out what your home or condo would bring from the various lenders, use the calculator at www.reversemortgage. org, the Web site of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, or www.financialfreedom.com. Or go HUD's site: http://www.hud.gov/groups/seniors.cfm and click on reverse mortgages.
Despite the increase in reverse mortgages (500 percent since 2001), there were only about 43,000 HECM loans throughout the country this fiscal year, including 4,000 in Los Angeles but only 1,400 in New York. Last year, the loan limit for a HECM was raised to $312,896 in metropolitan areas, and $172,632 in rural areas. The loan limit for a Homekeeper is $359,650.
The typical borrower no longer is a 76-year-old widow in need of help with her daily living expenses. While the average borrower is in his/her 70s, increasingly, couples and younger homeowners are making their equity work for them to enhance their retirement years.
The proceeds of a reverse mortgage can be used for a dream trip, or it may be invested or help eliminate payments on existing debts.
While reverse mortgages can be a great help, they have their downside, as NCOA the council points out. Closing costs could amount to more than 5 percent of the value of your home. Although the costs can be financed as part of the loan, you'll lose money unless you remain in the home for at least five years.
Also, even if the interest rates are favorable, interest will add up over the life of the loan.
Although the closing costs and the interest are paid at the end of the loan, the accrued interest plus what equity is used by the borrower means the value of the home to be left to heirs will be sharply reduced. Indeed, the heirs will be left with a heavy debt, should they wish to keep or sell the home.
But, as HUD says on its Web site, the government guarantee of a HECM means "you do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than your home's value." And the government guarantee protects the lender if the home's value declines below the value of the loan.
A reverse mortgage is a big, complicated step. But as reverse mortgage expert Dennis Haber of Hicksville, N.Y. points out, the HECM requires you to have counseling from a HUD-approved agency, so you know what you're getting into. Also, it's free.
To find the nearest counselor, call 1-800-569-4287."
Hurricane Katrina ( aug 2005 ) Among the messages and essays circulating in cyberspace that lament the lost lives and missed opportunities is one by Mark Naison, a white professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University in the Bronx.
"Is this what the pioneers of the civil rights movement fought to achieve, a society where many black people are as trapped and isolated by their poverty as they were by segregation laws?" Mr. Naison wrote. "If Sept. 11 showed the power of a nation united in response to a devastating attack, Hurricane Katrina reveals the fault lines of a region and a nation, rent by profound social divisions."
That sentiment was shared by members of other minority groups who understand the bizarre equality of poverty.
"We tend to think of natural disasters as somehow even-handed, as somehow random," said Martín Espada, an English professor at the University of Massachusetts and poet of a decidedly leftist political bent who is Puerto Rican. "Yet it has always been thus: poor people are in danger. That is what it means to be poor. It's dangerous to be poor. It's dangerous to be black. It's dangerous to be Latino."
Just Some Thoughts On The Tragedy...
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FUN FAQs & LESSONS
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED: 1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats. 2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair. 3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person. 4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato. 5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food. 6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair. 7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time. 8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. 9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. 10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED: 1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree. 2) Wrinkles don't hurt. 3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts. 4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. 5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside. 6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD 1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. 2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get. 3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there. 4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster. 5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. 6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. 7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE: 1) You believe in Santa Claus. 2) You don't believe in Santa Claus. 3) You are Santa Claus. 4) You look like Santa Claus.
SUCCESS: At age 4 success is...not piddling in your pants. At age 12 success is ... having friends. At age 17 success is ... having a drivers license. At age 35 success is . . . having money. At age 50 success is . . . having money. At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license. At age 75 success is . . . having friends. At age 80 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
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Daylight Savings Time
Remember to spring forward and set your clocks ahead one hour at 2AM this Sunday, April 3. The time change gives us an extra hour of daylight; it originated during wartime as a way to get people to use less electricity.
FYI:
Arizona and Hawaii and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa are the only places in the U.S. that do not observe DST but instead stay on "standard time" all year long. And if you've spent any time in the sweltering summer sun in those regions you can understand why residents don't need another hour of sunlight.
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Word Whimsies
Confusing English Words? forgiving( adjective ) = willing or able to forgive... forgiven ( verb ) = Has been forgiven- released from err or wrong doing... given ( adjective ) = presented as a gift : bestowed without compensation... giving( verb ) = to care to the extent of: to give of oneself: unselfish act of sharing...
red (noun) =A Color- Normal Blood Color read (adjective) =Past Tense- Of reading (pronounced like the color "red") read (noun) =the action or an instance of reading - The action of reading read (verb) =To interpret- Understand- to learn the nature of -
And There are So Many Others.. Can you spell fish "phisch"? Road or Rode? bite - byte? OH MY!!
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True Tidbit
FAQ: A ten year old mattress weighs double what it did when it was new, because of the (ahem) debris which is absorbed through the years. That debris includes dust mites (their droppings and their decaying bodies), mold, millions of dead skin cells, dandruff, animal and human hair, secretions, excretions, lint, pollen, dust, soil, sand and a lot of perspiration, of which the average person loses a quart per day. YIKES!!! Good night?
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FYI - HIV - STDs
Young Americans living with HIV are worse off -- and having much more risky sex -- since powerful AIDS drugs came along. You might think that the drugs, known as highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART, would make life better for HIV-infected youths. You might think that when teens learn they have the AIDS virus, they would be more careful about unsafe sex and substance abuse. But you would be wrong. Those that have taken the "HAART" drug are having more unprotective sex, using drugs, are more emotionally distress, and are living a "lower" quality of life. Youths (before-HAART therapy} averaged 5-6 sex partners, having unprotected sex 27% of the time.After HAART became available, numbers changed, they had more than 10 sex partners and unprotected sex 42% of the time. They also were twice as likely to have sex with an (injection) drug user. Don't any of them learn- or fear this deadly disease? Are We "leaving it" to stronger drugs to save us? As If That Where The Solution! This Is Not A Way To live!
** American Journal of Health Behavior-February Issue UCLA researcher Marguerita Lightfoot, PhD, and colleagues. Info Based On 13 to 24 year olds living with HIV from: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Miami.
Just 13 ... and With Aids!? That Is Scarey!
You already know about the birds and the bees. But what about the snakes in the trees?
Know your STDs?
Concerns about AIDS in recent years have overshadowed other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) that also have serious health consequences, including sterility, cancer or death. Some STDs can even make you more prone to the AIDS virus. Learn how to safeguard your health and recognize signs of an STD. http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-stds.html READ ABOUT IT
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Vive Le Sex
"Libido Meter" May Be First True Sexual-Arousal Gauge Israeli scientists have developed a test that they say can measure brain waves to objectively determine the level of a person's sexual desire.
A Measure of Health Keeping track of sexual desire may be a more serious health issue than many people realize. Sex contributes to the overall physical and mental health of a person, researchers say.
"I think having frequent, satisfying sex keeps the hormone levels up and keeps us young, both physically and mentally," said Barbara Bartlik, a psychiatry professor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York State.
In describing how sex helps, scientists are looking at three neurotransmitters released in the brain during sex:
Oxytocin: Promotes emotional bonding. "It is probably oxytocin that helps to explain the benefits of sexual experience," said Sue Carter, a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "This hormone influences the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates and can reduce heart rate and blood pressure."
Endorphins Provide natural relief from the pain of arthritis, injury, and even migraines. Endorphins also boost the immune system by dampening the harmful hormones that stress stimulates.
Serotonin Contributes to the feeling of pleasure, satiety, and relaxation that people usually experience after good sex.
"Take all of that together, and its easy to see how pervasive sexual pleasure is to our well-being," said Jim Pfaus, a behavioral neuroscientist at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Well... "Vive Le Sex"!
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Crazy Climate??
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.... We all have seen/heard the movie- now of course it is a bit exaggerated (is it?) Looking at the way things are going on our planet ...it is possible. It may not come as "quickly" (as in the movie)- but it is happening! Research: Continued global warming could have many damaging effects. It might harm plants and animals that live in the sea. It could also force animals and plants on land to move to new habitats. Weather patterns could change, causing flooding, drought, and an increase in damaging storms. Global warming could melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. In certain parts of the world, human disease could spread, and crop yields could decline.
The impact of global warming Harm to ocean life It Kills Our Coral reefs/ spreads diseases affecting sea creatures. Changes of habitat. Widespread shifts might occur in the natural habitats of animals and plants Many species would have difficulty surviving in the regions they now inhabit. Weather damage. rainfall patterns could increase-flooding and drought in some areas. More hurricanes/ tropical storms might occur, and they could become more powerful. Rising sea level. melting of ice (a vast sheets covering most of Antarctica) Results: sea level would rise - coastal areas would experience: flooding/erosion/loss of wetlands/entry of seawater into freshwater / submerging some coastal cities/small island/nations, and other inhabited regions. Threats to human health. Tropical diseases, ie:malaria /dengue, spread to larger regions. Intense heat waves causing more deaths and illnesses. Floods/droughts increasing hunger and malnutrition. Changes in crop yields. floods/hurricanes- washing away crops - high temps in tropics- where plant cannot tolerate the heat and die.. etc etc ---------------------------------------------------------
Qori Kalis (glacier-Andes Mountains-Peru ) melted substantially - 1983 and 2000 (17 yrs). This melting provides a clear sign of global warming.
Technology/Progress - Has a Price... but should it be this high?
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I BELIEVE...
I believe- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I believe- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I believe- that when you think you've reached your end of the road- a new crossroad appears before you- offering a path to more possibilities.
I believe- You should think before you speak- 'cause, sticks and stones can break your bones... but some spoken words- can really harm thee.
I believe- That confession and true forgiveness is a private matter kept within oneself... And if made public- for self-righteous reasons,it only belittles, and "nulls" the act in itself.
I believe- That "those" that Go Around "speading untrue-beliefs/stories" will Have to answer to a "higher authority"... One that does not discriminate- nor pass judgment.. but will be be just in giving back "just deserved" for your actions.
I believe- That Only God can mark a person- mortals just mark themselves.
I beleive- that whatever you do in life- weather be right or wrong- you'll see the day that you pay for it- before darkness takes over your life.
I believe- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. Only shows, that You are Vein!
