Eat more ‘superfoods’ to lose weight

By doris | Published: April 10, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com

(CNN) — When you’re on a diet, food consumes your life.

You can’t eat carbohydrates, so you think about them constantly. You can’t dig into your co-worker’s candy drawer, so M&M’s float across your computer screen like a desert mirage.

You skip the bar after work because that’s where the margaritas live. And forget snacking after 8 p.m.; that would be breaking diet rule No. 364.

“I’ve hated diets all my life,” says Lucy Danziger, who is ironically the author of a new weight-loss book, “The Drop 10 Diet.”

“If I tell you ‘Don’t think about this,’ that’s all you can think about.”

What if losing weight didn’t have to be so negative?

Posted in Food, Weight loss | Leave a comment

Rose farm helps adults with autism bloom

By doris | Published: April 9, 2012

Full Story at  CNN.com

Guilford, Connecticut (CNN) — Tom Pinchbeck never dreamed he’d turn his family rose farm into an employment center for people with autism.

In 2008, faced with a sagging U.S. economy and fierce international competition from South American rose growers, Pinchbeck found himself priced out of the market. He had no choice but to do the unthinkable — close the farm started by his great-grandfather.

Posted in Adults, Autism, Family, Farmers | Leave a comment

America’s Public Schools: Still Unequal and Unjust

By doris | Published: April 8, 2012

Full Story at huffingtonpost.com

Millions of children in America are denied the opportunity to receive a fair and high quality education. In March, the U.S. Department of Education released new information showing that children of color face harsher discipline, have less access to rigorous course offerings, and are more often taught by lower paid and less experienced teachers.

Inequities in funding and educational resources place poor children in low-performing schools with inadequate facilities and often ineffective teachers. Practices such as tracking, grade retention, out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, and one-size-fits-all zero tolerance policies continue to contribute to the discouragement, disengagement, and eventual dropout of countless children in America to their detriment and to all of us who need a competitive future workforce.

Posted in America, Education, Financial, Policy, Risk, School | Leave a comment

Ex-California teacher who moved in with student arrested on 1998 molestation charge

By doris | Published: April 7, 2012

Full Story at USNews.msnbc.msn.com

Christopher James Hooker, the Modesto, Calif., ex-teacher whose romance with a student drew attention from around the world, was arrested Friday after being charged with one count of oral copulation with a minor in an incident that police said happened 14 years ago, the Modesto Bee reported.

The charge stems from a relationship Hooker is accused of having in 1998
with a 17-year-old student at Davis High School in Modesto, where he
was teaching at the time, the newspaper said. Hooker was arrested at his
home and booked into Stanislaus County Jail, police said.

Posted in Abuse, Arrested, Children, School | Leave a comment

Wyoming town with 1 resident sold for $900,000

By doris | Published: April 6, 2012

Full Story at news.Yahoo.com

BUFORD, Wyo. (AP) — Buford is a small place for sure, but so is the world.

A remote, unincorporated area along busy Interstate 80 that advertised itself as the smallest town in the United States, Buford was sold at auction for $900,000 on Thursday to an unidentified man from Vietnam.

It’s owner for the last 20 years, Don Sammons, served with the U.S. Army as a radio operator in 1968-69.

Posted in Home, Resident, Sold | Leave a comment

Ammonia used in many foods, not just ‘pink slime’

By doris | Published: April 5, 2012

Full Story at msnbc.com

Surprise rippled across America last month as a new wave of consumers discovered that hamburgers often contained ammonia-treated beef, or what critics dub “pink slime.”

What they may not have known is that ammonia – often associated with cleaning products – was cleared by U.S. health officials nearly 40 years ago and is used in making many foods, including cheese. Related compounds have a role in baked goods and chocolate products.

Posted in Ammonia, Bankruptcy, FDA, Food | Leave a comment

US warns of cancer-agent in Japan weight loss pills

By doris | Published: April 4, 2012

Full Story atnews.Yahoo.com

The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday warned consumers not to take a product called “Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills” because they contain a suspected cancer-causing agent.

The pills, advertised as promoting weight loss, are distributed by a company called Xiushentang and sold on popular web sites including Amazon.com, said the FDA.

Consumers are advised to stop using the pills — which are packaged in three colors: green, yellow and blue — and discard them. They should also see a doctor if they have experienced any side effects, the agency said.

Posted in America, Cancer, drugs, FDA, Japan | Leave a comment

Salmonella in sushi may have sickened 90

By doris | Published: April 3, 2012

Full Story at Vitals.msnbc.msn.com

Government health officials are investigating a growing outbreak of salmonella food poisoning possibly tied to restaurant sushi that may have sickened at least 90 people in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

The outbreak of salmonella Bareilly that may have sent seven people to the hospital is mostly clustered on the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast, although cases have been reported as far west as Missouri and Texas, according to an internal Food and Drug Administration memo. No deaths have been reported

Posted in FDA, Hospital, Salmonella, Sushi | Leave a comment

Plane carrying 43 passengers crashes in Siberia

By doris | Published: April 2, 2012

Full Story at WorldNews.msnbc.msn.com

Updated at 8:24 a.m. ET: MOSCOW — Thirty-two people were killed but 11 were rescued alive from a plane crash in Siberia, Russia, an official reportedly said Monday.

The ATR 72, a twin-engine, turbo-prop plane, with 43 people aboard, crashed some 18 to 22 miles from the western Siberian city of Tyumen, Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said.

The mid-range plane belonging to Russian airline UTair crashed after taking off from Tyumen on a flight to Surgut, an oil town further north in Siberia.

There were 39 passengers and four crew on board, according to preliminary information, Andrianova said.

Posted in Airplane, Crash, Death, Siberia | Leave a comment

Bugs in sterile drugs? Behind the shortage of critical meds

By doris | Published: April 1, 2012

Full Story at Vitals.msnb.msn.com

In a move that highlights dilemmas plaguing the U.S. drug supply, federal regulators warned a major manufacturer about problems including bugs in vials of sterile drugs — insects, literally — the same day that health officials allowed the firm to ramp up scarce medications for kids with cancer.

Food and Drug Administration officials on Tuesday posted a warning letter sent to APP Pharmaceuticals LLC of Schaumberg, Ill., citing violations at a New York plant that included insects found in clean rooms and in vials of distributed drugs and failure to report defects such as vials contaminated with foreign matter and glass.

The firm also had problems with documenting sterile technique and was marketing unapproved drugs, according to the warning.

Posted in Bugs, drugs, FDA, Shortage | Leave a comment

Winning ticket for record Mega Millions jackpot sold in Maryland

By doris | Published: March 31, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com

(CNN) — Someone in Maryland is about to have a wildly euphoric weekend.

A winning ticket for the record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions jackpot was sold in Baltimore County, the Maryland Lottery said Saturday.

Lottery officials are waiting for information on potential jackpot winners from other Mega Millions states.

The winning numbers in the Mega Millions lottery Friday night were 2, 4, 23, 38, 46 with a Mega Ball of 23.

California Lottery Commission spokesman Alex Traverso said 29 tickets sold in that state matched five of the six winning numbers. He said the payout will be about $125,000 to $130,000.

Posted in Financial, Lottery, Money | Leave a comment

Honda recalls 554,000 SUVs over headlights

By doris | Published: March 30, 2012

Full Story at BottomLine.msnbc.msn.com

When it comes to safety-related quality problems, 2011 wasn’t a good year for Honda, and 2012 isn’t getting off to any better of a start.

The Japanese maker, traditionally known for solid reliability, has announced it will recall about 550,000 of its Pilot and CR-V crossover due to problems that could cause the low beam headlights to suddenly stop working.

Honda Latest to Add Plant in Mexico

It’s the latest of a half-dozen safety-related service actions Honda has announced during the first three years of 2012 – and comes in the wake of Honda recalling more vehicles than any other auto manufacturer operating in the U.S. in 2011, a dubious distinction held by Toyota the previous two years.

Posted in Cars, Honda, Recall, Safety | Leave a comment

Vegans bash Starbucks for beetle coloring in frappuccinos

By doris | Published: March 29, 2012

Full Story at USATODAY.com

Starbucks has the vegan community seeing red over what it recently began using to color its Strawberry Frappuccinos: beetles.

That’s beetles as in ground up cochineal beetles — mostly found in Mexico and South America.

Gross
as that may sound, it’s a common, government-approved food coloring
used widely throughout the food industry. It’s in everything from some
Yoplait yogurts to three Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts flavors.

Posted in Animal, Bugs, Coffee, Food | Leave a comment

Seven Proven Treatments for Arthritis Pain

By doris | Published: March 28, 2012

Full Story at BetterMedicine.com

Arthritis is a general term for more than 100 rheumatic diseases. More than 46 million Americans reported having diagnosed arthritis or chronic joint symptoms in a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Arthritis can affect the joints, muscles, connective tissues, skin and organs. The most obvious warning signs are pain, swelling, stiffness or problems moving one or more joints.

Although there’s no cure for arthritis, the symptoms can be treated effectively in many cases. Here are some proven treatments:
The Right Kind of Exercise

Daily exercise is an important part of arthritis treatment. It helps build and preserve muscle strength, protects joints from further stress, and keeps them flexible. An effective exercise program consists of these three types of exercises:

Range-of-motion exercises to keep muscles and joints flexible.

Posted in Arthritis, Exercising, Health | Leave a comment

Airlines successfully hike airfares for third time this year

By doris | Published: March 27, 2012

Full Story at OverheadBin.msnbc.msn.com

Updated March 27, 10:50 a.m. ET — U.S. legacy and low-fare airlines have agreed to increase airfares by up to $10 on roundtrip flights.

Airlines have attempted five fare increases so far this year, and three have stuck.

In the second quarter of 2011, prices jumped twice, Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, said in an e-mail. “I expect to see something similar this year as we head into the historically busy summer travel season which is likely to be much busier this year.”

“Consumers who are traveling through early June should be shopping now and holding off a bit for late June onward,” Seaney said, as airlines haven’t yet unveiled their cheapest prices. “Those that wish to lock in tickets today should recall the drop in oil prices last summer.”

Posted in Airfares, Airplane, Financial, Prices | Leave a comment

FDA: Dissolvable tobacco better for health, but could lead to more users

By doris | Published: March 25, 2012

Full Story at CBSNews.com

(CBS/AP) A Food and Drug Administration scientific advisory panel says dissolvable tobacco products could reduce health risks compared with smoking cigarettes. But the agency also warned the products have the potential to increase the overall number of tobacco users.

Tobacco use claimed 6 million lives in 2011, report shows
PICTURES: Shocking ads: Tips from smokers

Dissolvable tobacco is finely milled tobacco pressed into shapes like tablets that slowly dissolve in a user’s mouth. It is gaining the attention of tobacco companies looking to make up for a decline in cigarette use as smokers face tax hikes, growing health concerns, smoking bans and social stigma.

Posted in FDA, Health, Tobacco | Leave a comment

More grocery chains drop “pink slime” from shelves: What about Wal-Mart?

By doris | Published: March 24, 2012

Full Story at CBSNews.com

(CBS/AP) The “pink slime” saga continues, but is the meat byproduct soon on its way out? Several of the largest supermarket chains in the country announced this week that they would drop the ammonia-treated meat with the colorful nickname from their shelves.

The beef with “pink slime” continues as supermarkets, schools drop byproduct
USDA: Schools can decide if “pink slime” will be served in school lunch

Now major chains including BJ’s Wholesale Club and Giant Food Stores are following suit, with Wal-Mart also announcing it plans to carry alternatives to the controversial meat products. N.Y.-based grocery chain Wegmans announced Friday it would phase out the product.

Posted in Business, Food, Pink Slime, Safety | Leave a comment

Some sausage products recalled for possible listeria

By doris | Published: March 23, 2012

Full Story at msnbc.com

ELGIN, Texas — Southside Market & Barbeque in Texas has recalled more than a ton of ready-to-eat sausage products due to possible listeria contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says no reports have been received
of anyone getting sick from eating items recalled by Southside Market
& Barbeque of Elgin, about 20 miles east of Austin.

The recall involves items smoked and fully cooked March 5. The
products were sold in Texas, plus through internet sales in California,
Florida, Illinois and Louisiana. USDA says the potential contamination
was discovered during routine product testing.

Posted in Food, Listeria, Recall | Leave a comment

Pharmacies investigated for price gouging of scarce drugs

By doris | Published: March 22, 2012

Full Story at msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are investigating three shadowy pharmacies in Maryland and North Carolina for diverting critical but scarce drugs from patients to wholesalers, who are then able to resell the medicine at sometimes big markups.

Elijah Cummings, the senior Democrat on the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, began a probe in October to discover
why certain companies were selling cancer drugs at more than a hundred
times their normal cost.

Shortages of hundreds of drugs including cisplatin, a highly
effective treatment for testicular cancer, and fluorouracil for colon
and other cancers have helped create a lucrative shadow market.

Posted in drugs, Gouging, Investigating, Law, Prescription Drugs | Leave a comment

Girl’s best friend is dog who carries her oxygen

By doris | Published: March 21, 2012

Full Story at TODAYHealth.today.msnbc.msn.com

Two years ago Aaron and Debbie Knobloch learned that their baby daughter Alida was suffering from a rare lung disease and that she would need a portable oxygen tank to help her breathe. The good news was that the oxygen tank would make their little girl healthy. The bad news was that she’d have to be tethered to the 6-pound tank most of the time.

The Knoblochs struggled to find a way to give Alida a normal life. Aaron built a walker with a pocket for the oxygen tank so she wouldn’t always have to be tied to one of her parents. But as the little girl grew older – and more mobile – the walker wasn’t enough.

Posted in Animal, Children, Disease, Health, Home | Leave a comment