A dog may be man’s best friend, but a cat might be baby’s best babysitter.
A Canadian baby named Connar was not a happy baby, nor did his teary protests hint that a feline friend would be welcome.
Then black cat Stewie arrived at Connar’s side. Stewie’s patient stroking calmed the infant who fell asleep at the paws of the family pet.
Cat soothes crying baby to sleep
“Super memory” pill–and possibly an Alzheimer’s cure–could be around the corner
Scientists have isolated a gene in mice that works to give them "super memories" and reverses the course of several degenerative mental illnesses like Alzheimer's. And because of the similarity of mice and human brains, a powerful brain pill for humans may now not be far off.(Damian Dovarganes/AP)
The brains of both mice and humans release a gene known as PKR, which is triggered by the onset of Alzheimer's. But the newly discovered gene can apparently block PKR's release--a development that not only can reverse the course of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, but induces a state of "super memory" in the mice it has been tested on.
"If we were to find an inhibitor, a molecule, a drug that will specifically block PKR, we should be able to do the same [in humans]," Maura Costa-Mattioli, who led the research study at Baylor University, told the Vancouver Sun. "And we did."
via news.yahoo.com
Find Tall Boots That Actually Fit
My calves are too wide to fit most tall boots—is there anything I can do? Unfortunately, the questions is all-too common. But luckily there are a few solutions. If you’re sick of struggling to get boots zipped, use one of these three resources to find a better fit.
1. Go to WideWidths.com. This site works directly with footwear brands like Naturalizer and David Tate to create exclusive styles that accommodate fuller calves. Also, check out plus-size retailers like Torrid and Silhouettes, which often feature roomier styles that are available online only.
Learn the secrets of wardrobe stylists.
2. Pick up the Boot Band. This clever leather insert, shaped like an inverted triangle, zips right into any pair of tall boots to extend the calf and ankle width. It comes in brown, black and a variety of fun patterns like zebra stripe. ($75; BootBand.com)
Get your kids to do what you ask
kids-chores
Whitney Noble has had the same problem since her kids were small. When she asks Ryan and Lindsay, now 12 and 15, to help out — put away the school bag, take out the garbage — they say, “Sure.” But too often, the Thornhill, Ont., mom ends up doing the dirty work herself. What gives?
“It’s always ‘Oops, I forgot!’ or ‘I’ll do it later!’ or, most infuriating, ‘It wasn’t my mess!’” says Noble, who claims her kids have always suffered from the magic fairy syndrome. “They figure the fairy (me!) will do their jobs if they don’t!” It’s a frustration we all can relate to — yet it’s important to keep calm while encouraging kids to follow through with age-appropriate household tasks. Here are some helpful strategies:
5 Ways You Should Be Wearing Your Eyeliner
COLORED BOTTOM LINEREye makeup guru Taylor Chang-Babaian says it's easy to wear a statement look even if you don't have a steady hand or hours of practice. All you need for this bold look is a long-wear pencil liner in a bright color of your choice. Long-wear liners are usually twist-up pencils, so you can't control the sharpness of the tip, which prevents drawing a straight edge. However, unlike kohl pencils, long-wear pencils will give you bold matte color that'll last for hours. (I like Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, $23.) Apply the liner to just your lower lashline from the inner to outer corners, using short strokes. To pull it into a cohesive look, you can apply eyeshadow in the same color family to your upper lids, but make it two shades brighter. Break up the bright color by applying a thin black line to your upper lashline and apply mascara.
World's Top 12 Worst Holiday Foods
Just when you thought Grandma's Christmas sugar cookies and hot buttered rum were the worst waistline wreckers out there, these 12 holiday foods from around the world may, er, take the cake. Full of butter, sugar, and notoriously fatty ingredients, the only thing these international foods are giving this holiday season is the gift of girth. See what deep-fried, gravy-layered dish takes first prize for the worst holiday food in the world.
Classic Cookie Recipes Made Lighter
The most common turkey-making mistakes - Shine from Yahoo! Canada
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, cooking a turkey can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be.(Thinkstock)
There are several common mistakes that people make when it comes to making a holiday turkey from the prep to the cooking and even serving. Thankfully, you can still salvage your turkey from most mishaps.
Below are five of the most common mistakes people make, and how to fix them.
Mistake: Thawing the turkey at room temperature
Thawing your turkey at room temperature ups your risk for food borne illness like E. coli and salmonella.
Powerful quakes hit N. Zealand city
New Zealand's Christchurch was rocked by a fresh series of powerful earthquakes on Friday, sending terrified people fleeing into the streets 10 months after a devastating quake claimed 181 lives.
Two shallow quakes of magnitude 5.8 and 5.9 and a series of aftershocks struck as malls were packed with afternoon Christmas shoppers, sending stock tumbling from the shelves and turning the festive mood to panic.
The quakes, which temporarily closed the international airport and disrupted communications, were the latest in a series that began 15 months ago and have destroyed much of the inner-city.
Local news media reported people fleeing in fear as the quake and a series of aftershocks rattled the city, leading to liquefaction and flooding in some suburbs worst hit by previous earthquakes.
Liquefaction is caused when shaking loosens the bonds between soil particles, turning the ground into a quagmire.
Kiefer Sutherland attacks another poor, defenseless Christmas tree
Twitter/Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland is proving that he doesn't take himself too seriously: The Canadian actor's new holiday greeting card pokes fun at his somewhat infamous 2006 Christmas-tree incident.
Yesterday, the actor tweeted a "Happy holidays!" message to his Twitter followers, and attached the above photo of himself jokingly attacking a Christmas tree. For those worried the gorgeous ornaments would get destroyed, Sutherland helpfully included the caption "(just kidding)."
Good thing he made that clear, considering the actor has a bit of a history with Christmas trees.
via ca.omg.yahoo.com
3 Holiday Foods that Actually Help You Lose Weight
It's the holidays and you're supposed to be enjoying yourself! Problem is, you're reading all these blogs about how fattening eggnog is, so you'll have to borrow Santa's pants after the string of holiday soirees you've got lined up.Related: Which Is Healthier: Hot Chocolate or Eggnog?
Today, I'd like to bring you a little good cheer, to tell you about three holiday foods that might actually help you lose weight. Cue: Little Drummer Boy… Drumroll, please.
Holiday Weight-Loss Wonder #1: Pistachios. Various studies show that people who eat nuts tend to be leaner than those who don't, and a recent Harvard study revealed that nuts are a top food for driving weight loss. Read the full list: Top 5 Foods for Weight Loss (and 5 That Make You Gain). Pistachios, in particular, are a great choice: a 1-ounce serving (157 calories) contains a generous 49 nuts. The ones you have to shell yourself are even better, as removing the shells slows you down and seeing evidence of what you've eaten may prevent you from reaching in for more. In a recent study out of Eastern Illinois University, people who were given unshelled pistachios consumed 41 percent fewer calories than those offered nuts with the shells already removed.
13 causes of cancer that you can avoid
One of the most troubling things about cancer is that it can strike almost anyone, anywhere at any time - and that the likelihood of getting cancer is increasing. But according to a recent story by Michelle Roberts over at the BBC, over 40% of cancers are related to lifestyle choices - and therefore presumably preventable.
The key lifestyle-related causes of cancer are:
1. Tobacco
2. Alcohol
3. Lack of fruit and vegetables
4. Meat
5. Lack of fibre
6. Overweight
7. Lack of physical exercise
8. Post-menopause
9. Infections (such as HPV)
10. Ionising Radiation
11. Occupational hazard (including chemical exposures)
12. Reproduction
13. Sun exposure and sun beds
Three Financial Lessons Gen Z Needs to Learn to Survive
A new approach to raising money-smart kids needs to be embraced by parents of Generation Z (children born between 1997 and 2004). While the parents are adjusting to a tough economy and a "new normal" for investing, the children will be forever marked by the recession and the societal changes because of it. Parents in the past may have wrestled with whether or not to give an allowance and if so, whether to tie it to chores. Parents today have a bigger dilemma. They are wondering how to raise a self -sufficient child and the answer to that question will make or break whether the child survives and thrives financially in the future.
There is no doubt that Generation Z will feel the compounding effects of the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2008 with a net loss of wealth in American households of $11.2 trillion dollars. While these youngsters slept soundly in their beds at night, there were decisions made that mortgaged their future with $700 billion initially committed for TARP, $1.2 trillion for federal stimulus programs, and $6.4 trillion for Federal Reserve rescue efforts. Forget "new normal." This is the "normal" for Generation Z. They are facing an uncertain future with continued high unemployment rates, increasing cost of college tuition, and the possibility of a sustained period of low growth in the U.S. economy.
Giant plumes of methane bubbling to surface of Arctic Ocean
Russian scientists have discovered hundreds of plumes of methane gas, some 1,000 meters in diameter, bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are concerned that as the Arctic Shelf recedes, the unprecedented levels of gas released could greatly accelerate global climate change.Igor Semiletov of the Russian Academy of Sciences tells the UK's Independent that the plumes of methane, a gas 20 times as harmful as carbon dioxide, have shocked scientists who have been studying the region for decades. "Earlier we found torch-like structures like this but they were only tens of meters in diameter," he said. "This is the first time that we've found continuous, powerful and impressive seeping structures, more than 1,000 metres in diameter. It's amazing."
Gambler denied $58M jackpot over slot machine ‘software error’
When the fruit stops spinning after you pull a slot machine lever and the lights start flashing and bells start ringing, most people would assume they've won.That is exactly what happened to Behar Merlaku when he was playing at an Austrian casino, but instead of walking out of the casino with $58 million (43 million euros), he was offered $100 and a free meal.
Merlaku, a Swiss national, was playing when he saw four out of five matches appear earlier this year. Even though the machine told him he won, the casino bosses said the jackpot was due to a "software error."
Orange you glad Tangerine Tango is the colour of 2012?
Tangerine Tango, an electric orange red, is the colour of 2012, according to the Pantone Color Institute, and I for one am extremely excited about the news. It’s warm, uplifting, and energizing, and it happens to look great with almost every skin tone. The vibrant shade has already made its way onto fashion designers’ radars and surely there will be even more examples to come, as Pantone’s predictions influence all manner of consumer product manufacturers from cosmetic companies to paint suppliers. We’ve pulled together some fashion and beauty options that are already available to give you a jump on your 2012 style.Each year the Pantone Color Institute forecasts the colour for the year ahead and the due diligence is intense. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Institute who spearheads the project, notes Pantone experts scour the world and consider what’s percolating in every possible industry. They also put Eiseman’s background in psychology to good use. “There’s a lot of homework that goes into it. But it’s also, what is it that people are needing? There are a lot of concerns out there and serious issues we are facing. Colour, from a psychological standpoint, can be uplifting. We arrived at this particular orange because it’s hopeful and optimistic and also has sophistication.”
Presto 1781 23-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner Review
What To Look For In A Pressure Cooker And Pressure Canner
* Aluminum Vs. Steel: The former heats up well and costs less, but steel will last longer.
* Size: All pressure cookers need extra space for steam to build up, which you should factor into your decision.
* Pressure regulator: Different cookers have different ways of indicating the current pressure and keeping the pressure within a certain range.
* Safety: Pressure can be dangerous, so it’s wise to choose a cooker/canner with inbuilt protection.
* Warranty: It’s recommended to look for a 10 year+ warranty.
* Cooking Rack: Choosing cookers with a cooking rack will allow you to cook things above the water.
* Handles: Larger pressure cookers will need handles on both sides to help you move them easily.
Homes on Top of the World
Mountaintops have an allure as a destination, as the physical representation of a mission accomplished, of success achieved following hard work. “If you don’t scale the mountain, you can’t view the plain,” says one of numerous Chinese proverbs dealing with mountaintops. All this glamour is deserved. It’s tough enough getting to the top of a mountain, never mind making that place your own. Once there, there’s nothing like a commanding view from a house above the treetops, or from an apartment dozens of stories above street level, to make a homeowner feel like the Master of the Universe.While, for the most part, no one has yet figured out a way to put a price on the great outdoors, sellers do place a significantly higher price on a house that’s situated high up for spectacular views of mountains, fields, or scenic bodies of water. In cities, those penthouse apartments offering a twinkling panorama of the urban grid command a pretty penny as well. The following properties start out at nearly $3 million, and from there, the prices soar on up to nearly $50 million for one single-family house in Malibu. Very often, a buyer needs to be on top of the heap, financially speaking, to live at the top of the hill or apartment building. Those lucky buyers are likely to soon find themselves amassing friends in high places.
Brad Pitt Touched by Evil | Movie Talk
Giddyup! Check out this amazing transformation of Brad Pitt into a crazy-haired Kramer look-alike for the New York Times magazine's "Hollywood Issue." The theme for the issue is "Touch of Evil," which celebrates some of the year's best performances by asking actors such as Kirsten Dunst and Rooney Mara to turn to the dark side.Cover image courtesy of The New York Times Magazine
On the New York Times website the photos come to life with music and video, but be warned: Some of these creepy images may haunt you.
Not least of which is Pitt, who stares wildly as he moves his head slowly toward the camera, moths flying about him, mouth open in a silent scream, doing odd things with his tongue.
Mysterious planet-sized object spotted near mercury?
Is a giant, cloaked spaceship orbiting around Mercury?A mysterious object is seen following in Mercury's path
That's been the speculation from some corners aftera camera onboard NASA's STEREO spacecraft caught a wave of electronically charged material shooting out from the sun and hitting Mercury.
Theorists have seized on the images captured from the "coronal mass ejection" (CME) last week as suggestive of alien life hanging out in our own cosmic backyard. Specifically, the solar flare washing over Mercury appears to hit another object of comparable size. "It's cylindrical on either side and has a shape in the middle. It definitely looks like a ship to me, and very obviously, it's cloaked," YouTube-user siniXster said in his video commentary on the footage, which has generated hundreds of thousands of views this week. Now, how this user was able to determine that the object was "obviously" a cloaked spaceship with no other natural explanation remains as much a mystery as the object itself.
5 expenses that will consume 50% of your lifetime earnings
In these recessionary times, financial tips are flowing fast and furious about how to save money and stick to a budget. Facing a sea of information many people are asking, "Where do I start?" For most of us, five areas of spending will consume over 50% of the money we earn during our lifetime, so that's the best place to begin.
The five areas are: Home, car, children, education and retirement. Here's what you need to know about each:
- Don't bite off more HOME than you can chew. How much house can you comfortably afford? For most people the answer is a house with a purchase price of no more than 3x their annual household income. Rationale: the cost of a home includes much more than the monthly mortgage payment. It's also property tax, insurance, upkeep, etc. Typically these costs run 2%-3% of the price of your home each year. Assuming a 20% down payment, a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, and interests rates in the 5%-6% rate, the 3x your income rule of thumb will translate into total housing costs of roughly 30% of your gross income.
Winnipeg’s Sean Quigley has YouTube hit with holiday cover
Sixteen-year-old Sean Quigley, a grade-11 student at Winnipeg's Oak Park High School, produced, directed and edited the video of his going-viral rock-heavy rendition of "Little Drummer Boy." Quigley arranged, composed, recorded, mixed and mastered the song, in addition to playing all the instruments on the track.
"My dad was a drummer, so he got me into that early," Quigley told the Winnipeg Sun, adding that he began learning to play at age of 4.
"Then I just sort of expanded my music in general, learning different instruments. A lot was self-taught. There were a few formal lessons, as well."
"Drummer Boy speaks to me so much,"
6 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Most of us, I'd hope, would call a doctor if we were struck by blinding head pain, suddenly couldn't feel one side of our body, or, frankly, noticed fist-size bumps emerging from our foreheads. But some symptoms aren't so obviously dire. We asked writer Allen St. John to put together a list of surprising symptoms you should never ignore. Why? Because your life may literally be hanging in the balance. Call your doctor immediately if you feel . . .
1. SEVERE BACK PAIN
What it feels like: Similar to the kind of agony you'd expect if you'd tried to bench press an armoire. The usual remedies—heat, rest, OTC painkillers—offer no relief.What it could be: "If it's not related to exercise, sudden severe back pain can be the sign of an aneurysm," says Sigfried Kra, M.D., an associate professor at the Yale school of medicine. Particularly troubling is an abdominal aneurysm, a dangerous weakening of the aorta just above the kidneys. If it bursts, you’ll die within minutes.
5 Signs you've had too much caffeine
You may love caffeine's feel-good effects, but overdosing can harm your health. Here's how to tell if you're overdoing itPhoto by Nina Matthews Photography via Flickr
Photo by Nina Matthews Photography via Flickr
You know you're a caffeine addict when your eyes won't open before you've taken your first sip of morning Joe, or if your co-workers call you "Crabby" when you skip your afternoon Diet Coke. While the best part of waking up may indeed be Folgers in your cup, being over-caffeinated may also be harmful. "Studies have found that some caffeine can improve mental acuity and performance throughout the day, but too much caffeine can negatively impact your mood, energy, and even health," says Erin Palinski, RD, CDE, CPT, who has a private practice in New Jersey.
5 Worst Cars on the Road
Automotive design is all about personal choice. So hats off to automakers willing to take aesthetic risks. And now put the hats back on. Seriously, these five cars should never have been built.
Sometimes things just turn out bad. The best idea meets the tip of a stylist's pencil and it all goes wrong from there. But not all is necessarily lost when what works on paper doesn't in the real world. Many times the worst ideas take on a whole new life of their own as collector cars or really big flower boxes on the front lawn. Either way, it can bring closure to a project that should have never left the design studio. Case in point, read on.
Clark Gable’s Secret Daughter Dies
Judy Lewis, the secret daughter of screen stars Clark Gable and Loretta Young, has died at 76. But her fascinating story lives on.Lewis was conceived while Young was unwed and Gable was married to his second wife, Maria Langham. The two were filming "The Call of the Wild." Their affair resulted in a super secret pregnancy and a hush-hush birth. The actress left her love child at an orphanage for 19 months, returning only then to adopt her. Clearly, this was long before the Internet, DNA testing, or baby daddies.
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