Friday, June 30, 2006
He has no job
Christine asks: "I have been dating a guy for almost two years now. He is 22 and has no job... He lives with his parents and plays video games all day long... What can I do to motivate him and help him get a job?" VictorM answers in Ask A Real Guy.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Coffee or tea?
Read this article for the benefits of each:
Daily cups of coffee have been linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease, liver cancer, gallstones and type 2 diabetes. In addition, green tea and white tea have been touted for their health benefits. "What's interesting really is for years we were beating up on coffee. … And now study after study is suggesting benefits.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Dumping mom
Laura asks: "I've been living with my mum for 4 years and all we do is scratch each others eyes out. It's my place. I don't know how to ask her to leave or if asking her to leave is too harsh?"
Lee answers in Ask A real Girl.
Lee answers in Ask A real Girl.
Can Air Conditioning Make You Fat?
Something to ponder:
I think it's the air conditioning at McDonald's that does it!
Modern technologies — such as air conditioning and heating — help keep us in "the thermoneutral zone," a temperature range where we do not have to regulate our body temperature, a report suggests. When our bodies are above or below this zone, we increase the amount of energy we spend, which "decreases energy stores," such as fat, the study's authors say.
I think it's the air conditioning at McDonald's that does it!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Love recklessly today
joanie says: "...I dated someone else before, and after a year and a half, out of nowhere, they just fell out of love with me and we broke up. Now I get scared that the same thing will happen..." Ask A Real Guy has words of wisdom for joanie.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Invading the lives of celebrities
Irina wonders "how far the paparazzi are willing to go when it comes to invading the personal lives of celebrities and their families." Pop Culture
Sunday, June 25, 2006
An Indiscriminate Illness
This article is an excellent account of a politician diagnosed with depression and some facts worth knowing about:
Nearly one in 10 adult Americans deals with depression every year, struggling through a range of often debilitating symptoms, seeking help if they are smart or fortunate, and trying to carry on with life... Depression commonly surfaces first during the late teens to mid-twenties -- influenced at times by such factors as biochemistry or genetics -- but it does not discriminate by age, gender, race or economics.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Is he holding back?
She's 23 and the mother of a child. He's 20 and non-committal. Are her age and motherhood the issues? She's afraid to approach him with this topic. Any suggestions for her? Visit the "Is he holding back?" topic in the Ask ARGers forum.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Girls and Flirting
"What does it mean when a girl flirts with you? Is she serious or just messing with me?" Lee comes to the rescue in Ask A Real Girl.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Use those condoms
Using condoms should be a no brainer, as this article shows:
Slowing the spread of one of the nation's most prevalent STDs among college tudents — the human papilloma virus, or HPV — requires knowing how the virus is prevented. That has been somewhat of a mystery — until now. A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that consistent condom use can prevent the spread of HPV in up to 70 percent of cases, giving Innis and other health educators better proof that condoms can prevent HPV, helping to dispel any myths that they are not effective. "It's the first study to nail home the point that condoms prevent against HPV transmission," said Peter A. Leone, an epidemiology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Exercise: good for sex
People didn't know this already? In any case, it's worth a reminder:
Everybody knows exercise is key to a good ticker and a more sleek physique. But did you know working out may improve your sex life, trigger a better night's sleep and help you stop smoking?
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Are you proud of yourself?
Homosexuality and Religion
Check out Religion Today for an opinion about homosexuality that will be sure to please some and anger others. So what's new, right? Well, this opinion is worth taking a look at.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Dating websites experiences
Irina shares her personal experiences with online dating sites like OK Cupid, Plenty of Fish, and eHarmony. Singles Center
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Happy Fathers Day
To all the dads in the world... Happy Fathers Day to you.
Getting ripped off eating out
This article list several tricks used by waiters to rip-off customers. If you eat out often, you should take a look.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Bye-Bye Mall Rats
Malls kicking out teens. A growing trend?
Everyday just before 5 p.m., a message blares over the loudpeakers saying, "Any one of our guests that is under 18 years of age should be prepared to leave the center at 5 p.m"... Retailers complained of problems with shoplifting and security. And for many older shoppers — who are the bigger spenders — the teens created an atmosphere they did not want to be around... At Fairlane the number of seniors walking the mall has doubled since the curfew, and the mall reports better sales all around. So does the Galleria in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., which implemented a similar policy... There are already more than 100 shopping malls with some kind of curfew in place, and the number is growing.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Interactive exercise
Lee wants your participation. Go to Ask A Real Girl and use the Visitor Comments to tell us why you're proud of yourself.
Size doesn't matter
... so says Stacy. If you're a fetus, that is. Ask A Real Mom
Annoying celebrities
Are there celebrities that irritate you? Tell us about them.
He claims they are just friends
Kim asks: My boyfriend has a new "friend". They talk on the phone and text message each other more than he does with any of his guy friends. He constantly tells me how great she is, knowing that he is hurting my feelings. They say they are just getting to know each other and that they are just friends. Should I believe him? Answer at Ask A Real Guy.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The famous soccer chant
Many people think the chant so famous at soccer matches goes "Ole, ole... ole, ole" but it doesn't. It's actually "oh Lee oh Lee... oh Lee, oh Lee". And why is that? Because Lee is the best! To see what I mean, visit Ask A Real Girl.
Protection from the sun
Most of us worry, and with good reason, about the affects of sun on our skin. There are tons of products out there catering to that concern. But do they deliver what they promise? This article looks at several products and offers professional opinions about their effectiveness.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Happy Six Months
Today marks our sixth month of existance. It seems just like yesterday.
We're still looking for more people to help us. I know some of you may not feel like committing, but if you'd like to contribute to any of the blogs (except the advice ones), we invite you to consider being co-blog moderators. This means you don't have to commit to any schedule; just update when time permits. If you're interested, please fill out this application. Thank you.
We're still looking for more people to help us. I know some of you may not feel like committing, but if you'd like to contribute to any of the blogs (except the advice ones), we invite you to consider being co-blog moderators. This means you don't have to commit to any schedule; just update when time permits. If you're interested, please fill out this application. Thank you.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Beer Ingredient May Fight Prostate Cancer
PORTLAND, Ore. -- ... an ingredient in beer seems to help prevent prostate cancer, at least in lab experiments. The trouble is you'd theoretically have to drink about 17 beers a day for any potential benefit... Researchers at Oregon State University say that the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland. The protein acts like a switch that turns on a variety cancers, including prostate cancer... "It's every man's dream to hear that beer and pizza can prevent cancer," he said. "However, the 17 beers and four large pizzas needed to get enough xanthohumol and lycopene to help prevent prostate cancer is unfortunately not advised."
At first this sounds like good news, but is it really? Can you imagine the size of the beer bellies?
Monday, June 12, 2006
Hurray for the Socceroos!!
In their first World Cup match in 32 years, Australia was trailing Japan by 0-1 on a very controversial non-call by the referee, with only a few minutes left in the game, with the team looking disorganized and the fans feelings dejected, magic happened -- Australia scored 3 goals in 8 minutes to win their first ever World Cup match 3-1.
Moral of the story? Never... NEVER give up!
Moral of the story? Never... NEVER give up!
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
What, might you ask, is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the measure of the amount of carbon dioxide — the major man-made global warming greenhouse gas — that goes into the atmosphere as you go about your daily life... Many people have employed a number of low-tech ideas that all play a small part in reducing their footprints: reusing canvas shopping bags, taking shorter showers, and walking or riding a bicycle for short trips around town.
Read this article for more information and ideas.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Women's Confidence Day
The singer and actress Queen Latifah, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., and the YWCA-USA teamed up today to launch the first annual National Women's Confidence Day on Capitol Hill. Now printed in the Congressional Record, womens' confidence, self-esteem and self-respect will be officially celebrated the first Wednesday of every June by millions of women across the country.
The goal of the day is to acknowledge and increase the confidence of individual women in their personal and professional lives, say organizers. The YWCA hopes that the day will remind women to radiate confidence daily, which should help them reach their goals.
Read more about it here.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Cervical Cancer Vaccine
June 8, 2006 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents infection by some strains of the human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer if left untreated. "It marks a very important step forward in women's health," said Dr. John O. Agwunobi, the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services... Gardasil will protect against at least four of the 10 known cancer-causing strains, Merck said. About 270,000 women worldwide die from cervical cancer each year; about 4,000 die in the United States.
Read more details here.
Friday, June 09, 2006
The waiting is over
FIFA's World Cup is here! Will the USA survive the first round? Will Australia be humiliated by Brazil? Will Spain fizzle again? Will Rooney play? If you don't know what the hoopla is all about just go about your life but if you have World Cup fever, enjoy the games.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Is your car safe from thieves?
Really, who'd want to steal a Ford Taurus?
For the fourth straight year, GM's luxury Cadillac Escalade topped the list of late-model vehicles most coveted by thieves, according to an analysis of theft claims in 2005 by the insurance industry. Ford's F-250/350 large pickup truck was in the top five most stolen models along with the Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab pickup and the Sebring four-door sedan, both made by Chrysler... The Ford Taurus and the Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre, both made by GM, were among the least stolen models.
Is your car safe from thieves?
Really, who'd want to steal a Ford Taurus?
For the fourth straight year, GM's luxury Cadillac Escalade topped the list of late-model vehicles most coveted by thieves, according to an analysis of theft claims in 2005 by the insurance industry. Ford's F-250/350 large pickup truck was in the top five most stolen models along with the Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab pickup and the Sebring four-door sedan, both made by Chrysler... The Ford Taurus and the Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre, both made by GM, were among the least stolen models.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Simply, the best answer ever!
Mike, 47, from North Carolina Asks: My wife has no sex drive. What can I do? Lee provides the best and most complete answer ever given in the history of advice columns. This answer is so good that if Bill Clinton ever read it he could turn Hillary into a Anna Nicole Smith type... sorta. Ask a Real Girl
A warning for pregnant women
Pregnant women pay attention:
Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it may contain harmful levels of mercury, Consumer Reports magazine said on Monday, taking a more cautious approach than that recommended by the U.S. government.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Do not read this short story
... if you're home alone -- it'll scare the bejeesus out of you. The short story is called "Scissors" and it's rather creepy. Short Stories
Monday, June 05, 2006
Vacation without burglars
Help prevent your house being burglarized when you go on vacation. In addition to the tips listed below, this article has several others that you should also consider:
Find a house sitter, or at least a neighbor or friend, to check the property every day or so. Just be sure it is someone you trust (you'll also want to avoid any unplanned frat parties).
You also might consider taking high-value items such as jewelry, silver or that prized Hummel collection to a family member's house for safekeeping. That way, the only thing you'll have to worry about on vacation is which margarita to order. Good luck out there.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
"You stupid son of a [blank]"
If you ever felt road rage, or know anyone that has, pay attention:
(Emphasis mine). If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about IED.
Intermittent explosive disorder [IED], an imbalance in brain chemicals, affects up to one in 20 people — more men than women. It is far worse than just having a bad temper. "They're having low-level outbursts — screaming, shouting, slamming doors — or they're having at least three episodes a year where they're destroying large amounts of property, physically assaulting, hurting people". For those who suffer from IED, the most minor traffic trouble can drive them into rage that is difficult to control... The type of road rage linked to IED can be controlled with medication and therapy.
(Emphasis mine). If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about IED.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Pain's affect on libido
As you might expect, being in pain all the time is exhausting. It has a debilitating effect on the libido. But, oddly enough, sex can ease that. Huh? You heard me. Singles Center
Friday, June 02, 2006
Virginity pledgers lie about past
Come on! Does this come as a surprise to anyone?
NEW YORK - Teenagers who take pledges to remain virgins until marriage are likely to deny having taken the pledge if they later become sexually active. Conversely, those who were sexual active before taking the pledge frequency deny their sexual history, according to new study findings. These findings imply that virginity pledgers often provide unreliable data, making assessment of abstinence-based sex education programs unreliable. In addition, these teens may also underestimate their risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Obesity Surgery Increases
Would you consider this surgery if you are obese?
In recent years, obesity surgery has increased by nearly 600 percent, according to a new study from the American Journal of Public Health. The number of patients in the United States receiving gastric bypass surgery increased from about 14,000 in 1998 to more than 82,000 in 2002... Once considered a fairly risky surgery, recent advancements have lowered the complication rate for patients.
