Virgin Galactic

Last month Virgin Galactic announced it would begin offering commercial space flights later this year.

The two-and-a-half hour trip just cracks the space barrier and offers about five minutes of weightlessness. It also comes with a fairly prohibitive price tag of $200,000 a pop.

But let’s say money was no object. Would you want to be among the first commercial space travelers?

Poll Position asked 1,145 adults that very question and found that only 23 percent thought the thrill of the great beyond outweighed the risks. Fifty-two percent said they would not be willing to take such a flight and 26 percent had no opinion.

[Poll Position]

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Facing huge budget shortfalls, the United States Postal Service has proposed solutions including closing hundreds of post offices and eliminating Saturday deliveries. Now it may be considering jacking up the price of stamps, too.

The popularity of internet services like online bill pay have led in part to a 1.7 percent decline in mail volume, causing the USPS to anticipate losing $14.1 billion in 2012 — with bigger losses expected in the years to come.

In response, postal officials sent a letter to Congress last Thursday in which they recommended several changes, including the possibility of increasing the price of a stamp from its current 45 cents up to 50 cents. While stamp prices have gone up four times since 2006, chief financial officer Joe Corbett said, “Clearly, we’re [still] underpriced [and] would like the ability to move that price up.”

The USPS says the extra nickel, which would likely be added in one or two-cent increments until 2015, would raise revenues by $1 billion annually. Although taxpayers don’t foot the bill to keep the postal service running, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told Congress that failing to help the organization limit its losses would result in a “long-term burden to the American taxpayer.”

[Time]

Getty Images

Billy Crystal returns to host the 84th Academy Awards this Sunday night, February 26th on ABC. This will be Crystal’s ninth time to play host to Hollywood’s biggest night. Johnny Carson hosted  five times, Jack Lemmon and Whoopi Goldberg each have four, but the host with the most times at the microphone was Bob Hope with an amazing nineteen hosting gigs going back as far as 1939.

It’s hard to pick a favorite host for an award show that has such a long history as the Oscars, but my top three would be Johnny Carson, Bob Hope and Billy Crystal. You may notice I like the funny guys.

The Academy Awards show is one of the very few awards shows I watch anymore, and it’s usually not because I care which movie wins top picture of the year, most of those I never see anyway, or who gets the top actor or actress nod, my motivations are purely entertainment driven. I watch for the inevitable train wrecks, you know; who’s going to show up wearing a bird suit, who’s going to be falling out of her dress, who’s going to drop the F-bomb trying to fumble through an acceptance speech, who’s going to make a complete idiot of themselves trying to spout some leftist political statement just because they have been given a microphone and one minute with a huge TV audience? Who, who, who? The train wrecks happen every year, and personally, I can’t wait to see who makes them.

Sometimes the hosting duties are the biggest train wrecks of the night; 2011′s James Franco and Anne Hathaway were not very well received or reviewed. While Chris Rock managed to keep it pretty clean in 2004, he was a bit rough on actors that night and “for some reason” hasn’t been invited back. Could be it has something to do with biting the hand that feeds you. Just saying.

Since we don’t know how it’s going to go this year yet, how about we get your opinions on who you think has been the best host of the Oscars since the turn of the century.

Jupiterimages

Weight gain may not always be due to what you eat. Researchers in Texas find your medication can cause serious weight gain.

Ryan Roux, PharmD, the chief pharmacy officer at Harris County Hospital District’s Drug Information Center, found certain medicines can cause significant weight changes, which can be challenging for anyone wanting to shed pounds or maintain weight.

Weight side-effects are common in medicines used for diabetes, high-blood pressure and mental health conditions. Big gainers are likely for users of steroids for cancer treatment.

“Because of the stigma of weight gain, patients may tend to stop taking their medicines or decrease their  dosage without talking to their physician,” explained Roux. “Doing this is a bad thing. It can affect your health in a number of negative ways.”

Roux said patients should report weight gain due to medication usage to their physician immediately.

“Your healthcare provider should advise you of any potential side effects associated with your medication,” said Andrea Henry, PharmD, formulary manager, Harris County Hospital District. “However, patients also should be actively involved in their treatment and become informed about their long-term medication use.”

Source: TheCheckup.com

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News

A new Nielsen poll finds smartphones are becoming less of a luxury and more of a so-called necessity — at least for younger people.

Nielsen gathered data to learn more about the age, income and demographics of the typical US smartphone user. Specifically, the firm wanted to know if lower prices are making the devices more popular among those who earn less money.

Turns out more than half of people between 18 and 24 who make less than $15,000 per year are smartphone owners, compared to 43 percent of those aged 25 to 34 and just 31 percent of folks between 35 and 44 years old.

While researchers don’t know if the people surveyed, especially those in the younger group, have outside financial help (parents, spouses, etc.), it’s clear that even the respondents on limited budgets are making room for smartphone ownership.

But what researchers found most interesting is that although the younger set deems the devices a necessity, older people consider them more of a luxury — which is valuable information for developers, publishers and advertisers.

[TechCrunch]

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment

There’s no better night to celebrate cinematic magic than Oscar Sunday! Whether you’re a child, or just a child at heart, you may be rooting for one of this year’s nominees for Best Animated Feature Film like “Kung Fu Panda 2” or “Puss in Boots.” Adults, on the other hand, may be waiting to see what Rooney Mara (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo“), Meryl Streep (“The Iron Lady“) or Michelle Williams (“My Week With Marilyn“) will be wearing as they grace the red carpet on their way into the Kodak Theatre. Regardless of age, or what moment you’re looking forward to during the 2012 Academy Awards, this is the perfect time to host a divine Oscar party with friends!

PLANNING

How do you host the perfect party? Remember that Oscar’s big night is a lot like watching the Super Bowl, so everyone will be glued around the television set. Folks need to have a lot room to sprawl out and enjoy the show. Make sure everyone will be able to view the television, then count how many seats you really have available.

Decide whether you want to go fancy or keep it simple.  Do you want to roll out a red carpet, create a media backdrop for snapping photos, and have everyone wear black tie? Or can they merely don their favorite track suits, zhuzh them up a bit with some sparkly bling and sip their favorite adult beverages? Either way, you’re sure to have a good time. Once you make your decision, send out the invitations.

In this day and age, it is easy and affordable to send out electronic invitations. Some of our favorite sites to do this are Evite, Pingg, Paperless Post and Punchbowl. Of course, you can simply create an event on Facebook and invite your friends that way too.

Finally, come party time, one fun thing to do is to pass out ballots to your guests and let them check who they think will win the various categories. At the end of the evening, the person with the most right answers wins a prize, like a gift card to RedBox, Netflix, Blockbuster, or a local cinema!

Get More Oscar Party Photo Booth Ideas from Sparkbooth

THE MENU

You don’t have to be Iron Chef Cat Cora to plan the perfect menu for your Oscar party. And you can’t hire her either, because she’ll already be busy at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscars party on Feb. 26.  But you can read about what she’ll be dishing up to her celebrity guests over at YumSugar.

One of the great things about the Oscars is that you don’t have to create a movie-themed menu for your party. Remember, folks are coming for the show! As long as they have great snacks and yummy drinks, they’ll likely be satisfied. Here’s my suggestion for a relatively simple and delicious menu to keep your guests happy!

First, start with a great cocktail! My favorite is a Blueberry Mojito, which is fresh and fruity. Also, a good quality champagne is always a marvelous choice. If you want something for younger guests or those who prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, a Hawaiian Breeze is just what the doctor ordered!

Great Drinks Make A  Better Party! Get More Recipes at Drink Mixer

Then, go for the finger foods! In Texarkana, my guests love their Mexican inspired flavors. So I serve up my Chunky Guacamole with Serrano Peppers with tortilla chips or a sweet and sassy Corn, Tomato and Black Bean Salsa with Toasted Flautas.

If you’re going for a full menu or want to make the event a pot luck dinner, you can’t go wrong with Chicken Enchiladas Salsa Verde to complement your Mexican inspired appetizers. Or you can also try dishing up Seared Spicy Fajitas!

Finally, indulge everyone’s sweet tooth with dessert. One of my favorites is Strawberry Dream Cake or the super quick Simply Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream and Berries. If you want something on the cool side, prepare a decadent Mango Daiquiri Sorbet.

Try Nine More Oscar-Worthy Menus at Epicurious

No matter what you decide to do this Oscar Sunday, invite your favorite people over to watch the show with you. The people you surround yourself with, laugh with and love are what is truly important anyway. If you try one of our menu items above, let us know. Or share your recipes with us, send us photos from your own Oscar party and we’ll post them on Facebook. Just remember, you don’t have to be in the Kodak Theatre to feel special. This year, make your own movie magic at home.

Dave J Hogan / Rob Loud, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:

Smokey Robinson
Age: 72
Occupation: Legendary Singer, Songwriter and Producer
Known For: Being an original member of Motown Records’ first vocal group The Miracles, known for hits like ‘Shop Around,’ ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ and ‘Tears of a Clown,’ a long solo career including the songs ‘Cruisin” and ‘Being with You,’ and serving as Motown’s vice president from 1961 to 1988

Seal
Age: 49
Occupation: Singer and Songwriter
Known For: Top 10 singles including ‘Crazy,’ ‘Kiss from a Rose’ and ‘Fly Like an Eagle,’ the scars on his face caused in childhood by a type of Lupus, and recently ending his marriage to supermodel Heidi Klum

Jeff Daniels
Age: 57
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Films including ‘Terms of Endearment,’ ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo,’ ‘Pleasantville’ and ‘The Squid and the Whale,’ and acting as spokesperson for his home state of Michigan’s Economic Development Corporation

Justine Bateman
Age: 46
Occupation: Actress, Writer and Producer
Known For: Starring as Mallory Keaton on the popular 1980s sitcom ‘Family Ties,’ running the production and consulting company SECTION 5, and being the big sister of actor Jason Bateman

Benicio del Toro
Age: 45
Occupation: Actor
Known For: His Oscar-winning performance in ‘Traffic,’ acclaimed roles in other movies like ‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’ ‘Snatch,’ ‘Sin City’ and ‘Che,’ and recently having a child with Rod Stewart’s daughter Kimberly

Stockbyte

It may seem that our modern culture doesn’t really encourage children to read much these days. With all the cartoons, video games and social media sites available today, it is no wonder that our young people are easily distracted. That’s one of the reasons I’m so delighted when I see parents who work hard to engage their children and teach them the power of literacy.

One parent who really works hard to get kids reading these days is bestselling novelist James Patterson. When he realized that his son Jack didn’t love to read, Patterson and his wife Sue started searching for books that would captivate their child’s imagination. This endeavor led to the development of Read Kiddo Read, a site where the author showcases the “creme de la cream” of children’s books so parents and educators can find reading material that children look forward to reading. He’s also the author of numerous books for children of all ages, including the Maximum Ride, Daniel X, Witch & Wizard and Middle School books which have all climbed national bestseller lists.

Michael Buckner, Getty Images

Growing up, my own parents taught me early on the joys of reading, and this resulted in my lifelong love affair with books. Perhaps that’s why I ultimately married a librarian and spend much of my free time perusing book shelves of thrift stores and book shops, indulging my bibliophile nature.

I soon became the boy whose head was always in a book. I much preferred to take fictitious adventures with Babar the Elephant, speed around the living room with Beverly Cleary‘s mouse and his motorcycle, and attempt to solve mysteries alongside Encyclopedia Brown than get dirty, make mud pies or swing from the monkey bars like my friends did.

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

But even folks who have never had a child of their own can teach children to love books. For instance, before Patterson created his site, country music legend Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library in 1996. Her goal was to put books in the hands of preschool children in her home state of Tennessee, regardless of their family’s income. Since then, Dolly’s dream has grown and books are now given to children in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. According to the program’s website, since the Imagination Library’s inception, Dolly’s put nearly 40 million books in the hands of delighted young readers.

Do you love to read? Who introduced you to the wonderful world of books? Share your literacy story with us, then tell us your favorite childhood titles!

Then, check out these brilliant kids whose parents taught them to read from a surprisingly early age! (This first baby isn’t actually reading, but at least the dad is getting her in the habit!)

This one-year-old baby, however, actually reads! She’s truly amazing!!!

gibsonsgolfer, Flickr

Ticket prices for movies recently hit an all-time high of almost $8.00, and with the current state of the economy, that’s meant a lot of people don’t head to cineplexes as often as they used to.

But that doesn’t mean folks aren’t seeing movies — they’re just finding more cost-effective ways to do it.

According to a new survey of more than 2,000 people from CouponCabin.com, more than half of respondents said they go to movies less frequently these days, and 61 percent of adults said they rarely or never visit cineplexes at all.

But among movie-goers who still visit theaters, these were the most popular ways of saving money:

• 62 percent said they go to matinees instead of an evening show
• 38 percent said they bring their own snacks and/or drinks instead of buying them from pricey concession stands
• 32 percent said they use coupons to save on ticket costs and/or refreshment purchases
• 6 percent said they pay for one movie, but later sneak into additional movies (for shame!)

The survey also found movie-lovers who skip theaters altogether get their fix in a variety of ways:

• 51 percent buy or rent DVDs
• 34 percent stream movies (a quarter of them use a paid online provider like Netflix or Amazon, and 18 percent use free services)
• 30 percent watch on-demand movies from a cable or satellite provider

[ABC News]

Matthew Lloyd, Getty Image

Forget about a clear conscious or sleeping pills — according to a new survey, the best way to get a good night rest is a teddy bear.

Travelodge polled 6,000 British adults and found that a surprising 35 percent still sleep with a teddy bear because they find the stuffed toy relaxing and comforting.

In fact, 25 percent of British men admitted to taking their teddy bear with them on business trips, and 15 percent classify their teddy as a “best friend.”

“Teddy Bears represent happiness and security in childhood,” explained Dawn James of the Teddy Bear Times. “They are the best friend that always listens and never criticizes. This is why so many adults hang on to their childhood bears, because they see them as a lifelong friend.”

[PR Newswire]

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn

Photo by:Owner Lookout Point

My wife, Melody and I really enjoy getting away for a little R&R and one of our favorite places we like to go is Hot Springs, Arkansas. I really like to surprise my wife from time to time and one of the places I discovered while surfing the net one day was Lookout Point Lakeside Inn. This place was a absolutely beautiful and amazing from the moment you stepped into the inn and were greeted by the owners. We had a room with a balcony which overlooked a waterfall which flowed down to the lake, surrounded by a garden type atmosphere complete with a labyrinth. Sitting on the hammocks watching the sunset over the lake was breathtaking, they even have a small boat you can take out on the lake. We topped off our weekend with a scrumptious breakfast made to order from the owners of the inn. We found that this inn, projects peace, spirituality, tranquility, simply put a little bit of heaven on earth.

1884 Tinkerbelle’s Wildwood Bed and Breakfast

TripAdvisor

Another great place in Hot Springs was staying at Wildwood Bed & Breakfast inn, it was like stepping back in time. From the soft pastel colors and stain glass windows throughout, it made this inn seem very warm and romantic to say the least. I felt like Clark Gable waiting for Scarlett to show up in the foyer for a cup of tea. But of course, my Scarlett was my wife Melody (sucking up). Each room in the inn is themed and we stayed in the Rudyard Kipling room that had a jungle safari theme. What I liked about this room it had a private entrance and a full size Jacuzzi. The owners also added that special touch with rose petals on the bed, lighted candles, and soft music playing. Expect a great breakfast, lots of sweet treats and a tour of the inn from the owners. Unforgettable!

Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas

TripAdvisor

My wife surprised one weekend by making me believe we were flying out of town, but instead we wound up at a place called the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas. What a memorable weekend it turned out to be, this place was phenomenal from the huge king suite, high atop this high rise hotel with a balcony view of surrounding Dallas and the lake canal below. My wife pulled out all the stops including a gondola cruise that picked the two of us up and proceeded down the winding canal. She had dinner arranged from the hotel (Italian cuisine) complete with a bottle of wine and a red rose. And if that weren’t enough the driver of the gondola serenaded the two of us with O’ Sole Mio. I felt like I was one of those bachelors on the bachelor TV show. The boat ride took us under bridges that went through neighborhoods near the water, which gave off a vibe like the city of Venice. Perfect weekend!

The Lodge at Mount Magazine

TripAdvisor

My wife, Melody and I, enjoy the beauty and serenity that the state of Arkansas has to offer when it comes to romantic weekends together. A few years ago, I took her to the Lodge at Mount Magazine high atop the highest peak in Arkansas. When driving up the road to this lodge, for a minute you would think this is a ski lodge in Colorado and all you need is some snow. What a great place, the views at this lodge are simply breathtaking. There are many picnic areas and hiking trails throughout the park to take in the beauty of Arkansas. My favorite time of the year to go is Spring when the trees and flowers are blooming or Fall when the leaves are changing colors. Whenever you choose, just make sure you book early as this lodge stays booked on a regular basis. The Lodge also has cabins that you can stay in, when we went we stayed in a one bedroom cabin overlooking the valley. These cabins come with a hot tub on the porch with color changing lights to set the mood. Want a weekend to remember then  The Lodge at Mount Magazine is the place for you.

Petit Jean State Park

TripAdvisor

Another beautiful state park in Arkansas is not too far from Mount Magazine, Petit Jean State Park is one of the oldest state parks in the state. Rich in history, breathtaking views, lots of hiking trails, and a unbelievable waterfall that flows into a canyon below the mountain. You will be amazed at all the different caves, rock formations, and running creeks you will discover on your adventure. Just make sure your in excellent shape if you plan on walking the trail down to the waterfall. The rock cabin we stayed in was set back in time and hugged the cliffs overlooking the valley below. Great place to have a cookout on the outdoor grills and take in the view. We saw lots of eagles and hawks on our visit. If you want to be one with nature and see some of God’s artistic beauty, then Petit Jean Mountain is the place for you. Just be careful though, you might see the ghost of Petit Jean!

So, as you can see it doesn’t take much, but a little patience and time to turn a weekend into something special for you and your significant other. The memories you will make is priceless and will last a lifetime.

Have you’ve been to any of these places? What was your experience like there?

Thinkstock

New research reveals the amount and quality of sleep you get may actually affect your memory as you get older.

Yo-El Ju, MD, from Washington University School of Medicine and his colleagues tested the sleep patterns of 100 dementia-free people between the ages of 45 and 80, half of whom had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. A device was used to measure sleep for two weeks, and the participants also kept sleep diaries and filled out questionnaires.

The average time a person spent in bed during the study was about eight hours, but the average sleep time was 6.5 hours due to short periods of wakefulness during the night.

After the study period, researchers learned that 25 percent of the volunteers had evidence of amyloid plaques, a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease. What’s more, people who woke up more than five times per hour were more likely to have amyloid plaque build-up compared to people who didn’t wake up as much.

The study also found those people who slept “less efficiently” were more likely to have the markers of early stage Alzheimer’s disease than those who slept more soundly.

“The association between disrupted sleep and amyloid plaques is intriguing, but the information from this study can’t determine a cause-effect relationship or the direction of this relationship,” Ju said in a press release. “We need longer-term studies, following individuals’ sleep over years, to determine whether disrupted sleep leads to amyloid plaques, or whether brain changes in early Alzheimer’s disease lead to changes in sleep.”

He added, “Our study lays the groundwork for investigating whether manipulating sleep is a possible strategy in the prevention or slowing of Alzheimer disease.”

Source: TheCheckup.com

Creatas

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for recipes that are tasty, easy to prepare and quick to get to the table to feed a hungry brood. Last night, while going through my mom’s recipe box I stumbled across a dish that she used to prepare frequently for our family when I was a child. When I asked her where the recipe came from, she said that our friend’s mother, Mrs. Lollis, taught her how to make it.

Although I don’t remember ever meeting her, I’m told that she was a phenomenal cook. In fact, Mrs. Lollis used to cook some of the tasty dishes served at Bryce’s Cafeteria, a popular family-owned restaurant that served hungry folks for over 75 years. Once you try this recipe, you’ll realize how she got the job!

Mrs. Lollis has been dead for many years now, but her culinary legacy lives on through the recipes she handed down. Mom says that every time she prepares this dish, she thinks of the lady who taught it to her. Perhaps you have recipes like that in your repertoire too, ones that are tied to special memories or family stories.

Beginning with this post, we’re going to start an online recipe exchange of sorts. Simply send us your treasured recipes and tell us the stories behind the people that passed them along to you. Feel free to be creative! We’d love to see a photo of the person who gave it to you (if you have one) or even a video where you tell us why this recipe is so special to you and your family.

Submit recipes, videos and more to jathanfink@townsquaremedia.com and type “Recipe Exchange” in the subject line of your email. Then, we may feature your story in an upcoming post!

Mrs. Lollis’ Marinated Chicken Breasts

PREP: 5 minutes + overnight marinating time
COOK: 10 – 14 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2 1/2 pounds
• 1 1/2 cups Italian salad dressing
• 2 tablespoons jalapeno juice taken from a jar of pickled jalapeno peppers
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 cups vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large resealable bag, combine Italian dressing, jalapeno juice and pepper. Place the chicken breasts in the bag and seal; shake gently until chicken is coated. Place bag in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish and refrigerate overnight.
2. Remove chicken from refrigerator and temper for thirty minutes at room temperature. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine flour, seasoned salt, and brown sugar. Remove chicken from plastic bag and toss poultry in flour mixture until well covered, set aside.
3. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers in the pan, add chicken and cook for five to seven minutes on each side. Chicken should be golden brown when cooked through. Serve.

TIPS: If you’re short on time and aren’t able to marinate the poultry overnight, you may do so for as little as two hours. However, the longer the marinating time, the more flavorful the meat will be. Also, when cooking the chicken, try not to move it around in pan. Chicken is ready to flip when the pieces lift easily off the bottom of the pan while frying. Don’t know what it means to temper meat? Tempering is simply the culinary term for bringing meat to room temperature.

YIELDS: 6 servings

For more great recipes and kitchen tips, visit Jathan & Heather online.

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Is weight loss contagious? According to a new study published in the journal Obesity, it is.

Researchers at the Miriam Hospital Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center and the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University found people who are in a team-based weight loss competition influence each others weight loss to a large degree.

“We know that obesity can be socially contagious, but now we know that social networks play a significant role in weight loss as well, particularly team-based weight loss competitions,” said lead author of the study Tricia Leahey. “In our study, weight loss clearly clustered within teams, which suggests that teammates influenced each other, perhaps by providing accountability, setting expectation of weight loss, and providing encouragement and support.”

Study findings were based on a 2009 12-week statewide weight loss competition in Rhode Island. More than 3,300 overweight or obese people participated in the competition where teams of five to 11 people competed in three divisions: weight loss, physical activity and pedometer steps.

Weight loss outcomes were determined by which team an individual was on. Participants who lost significant amounts of weight — at least 5 percent of their initial body weight — tended to be on the same teams. Being on a team with more teammates in the weight loss division was also associated with a greater weight loss.

People who reported higher levels of teammate social influence increased their odds of achieving a clinically significant weight loss by 20 percent.

“Being surrounded by others with similar health goals all working to achieve the same thing may have really helped people with their weight loss efforts,” Leahey said.

Obesity is the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Obesity can lead to a host of serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one-third of American adults suffer from obesity.

Source: TheCheckup.com

That will probably help you feel better on these cool and wet February days. The Four State Area really had been under well below normal rainfall and drought conditions for two years, so we are just now re-filling the lakes and reservoirs across our area and saving trees, grass and plants and helping wildlife.. Exceptional drought conditions are now gone in Texarkana and across most of the area.

The outlook is for continued improvement through the spring months as La Nina finally fades away. The La Nina which is an unusual warming of portions of the Pacific Ocean leads to weather pattern changes across North America, with our area generally experiencing much drier than normal and warmer than normal weather.

So  next time you think about complaining about the rain just remember last summer with the crunchy dry grass and 110+ degree temperatures!!!!!!

Kosy 790 Radar

Thinkstock

Having a pet has been found to lower stress level. Now, a new study finds for those living with chronic disease having a fury friend improves heart healthy.

Researchers at Kitasato University in Kanagawa, Japan, monitored nearly 200 people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol over 24 hours, and also asked them about their daily activities and whether or not they were pet owners. About four in 10 were pet owners, Naoko Aiba and colleagues report in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Each person wore a heart monitor for 24 hours to determine their heart rate variability, or how well their hearts responded to the body’s changing requirements, like beating faster during stressful situations. Reduced heart rate variability has been linked to a higher risk of dying from heart disease.

For pet owners in the study, about five percent of their heartbeats differed by 50 milliseconds in length, but for non-pet owners, that number was 2.5 percent — which means their heart rate changed less.

While no one’s entirely sure what caused the difference and researchers were quick to point out the experiment only covered one 24-hour period, Judith Siegel, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health, told Reuters Health, “My guess is that pets are a form of social support, hence stress reduction, and they can satisfy some but not all social companionship needs.”

But should you get a furry, feathered or scaly companion just to keep your heart healthy?

Erika Friedmann, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said people who want pets should get them — but, she adds, “It’s not going to cure someone.”

Source: TheCheckup.com

falcon1961, Flickr

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1879 – President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the US Supreme Court (More info)

1903 – Teddy bears, named after President Theodore Roosevelt, first go on sale (More info)

1933 – Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who later dies of his wounds (More info)

1961 – A flight carrying the entire United States figure skating team crashes, killing everyone aboard (More info)

2003 – Up to 30 million people in 600 cities worldwide participate in protests against the Iraq War, making it the largest peace demonstration in history (More info)

Frederick M. Brown / Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:

Jane Seymour
Age: 61
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Her performances in the James Bond film ‘Live and Let Die’ and the television series ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,’ her signature jewelry line at Kay Jewelers, and being a celebrity ambassador for Childhelp, a national non-profit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect

Amber Riley
Age: 26
Occupation: Actress and Singer
Known For: Her role as Mercedes Jones on ‘Glee’ (where she routinely proves she’s the best singer on the show), auditioning for and being stupidly rejected from the second season of ‘American Idol,’ and her work with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Melissa Manchester
Age: 61
Occupation: Singer and Songwriter
Known For: Being discovered by Barry Manilow and Bette Midler before going on to have a string of adult-contemporary hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, including ‘Midnight Blue,’ ‘Don’t Cry Out Loud,’ ‘Through The Eyes Of Love’ and the Grammy-winning ‘You Should Hear How She Talks About You’

Matt Groening
Age: 58
Occupation: Cartoonist, Screenwriter and Producer
Known For: Being the creator of the comic strip ‘Life in Hell,’ the cult-favorite series ‘Futurama,’ and the insanely popular show ‘The Simpsons,’ which has spawned an enormous merchandising goldmine in addition to winning 10 Emmys during its now 12-season run

Janice Dickinson
Age: 57
Occupation: Model, Photographer and TV Personality
Known For: Being the self-proclaimed “world’s first supermodel,” cattily judging four cycles of ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ starring in the reality show ‘The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency,’ former relationships with a litany of rock stars and actors, and lately looking like she has more than a few plastic surgeons on speed-dial

Thinkstock

A new study reveals that although stress is a normal part of everyday life, what men and women find most emotionally-taxing can be very different.

Polaris Marketing Research, a research company specializing in consumerism, polled 1,200 U.S. adults about their sources of stress. They found that men felt the most angst about work issues, while women were more likely to cite financial concerns, a lack of time, family problems, living situations and relationship issues.

Both groups said their number one way of unwinding is watching television, but from there, things were again split along gender lines — men were more likely to play video games, exercise or have a drink to help relax. Women tend to sleep, listen to music, surf the internet, socialize, pray, read a book, write in a journal or eat their favorite comfort foods to relieve stress.

As a whole, women perceive themselves to be more stressed than men overall, but reported reduced stress levels compared to a year ago.

The news wasn’t as good for men — they said they’re just as stressed-out now as they were last year.

Source: TheCheckup.com