Daily Archives: April 10, 2011

Apr 10 2011

Focusing on looks is bad? Well, it depends.

So…

Focusing on looks is bad for romance?

Sure, it’s nice to have a looker at your side. But it turns out that concentrating on their partners’ physical attractiveness may make people less happy in relationships, new research suggests.

The study also saw that magazines and movies that portray people as sex objects can cause you to see your partner in that light, though not yourself.

Self-objectification — when a person is obsessively concerned about he or she looks — has been shown to affect women’s self-image, school performance and life happiness. But this quality hasn’t been studied much in the context of romantic relationships. Partner-objectification, where that focus is placed on a partner’s physical qualities over everything else, hasn’t been studied at all in this context.

“If you have these kinds of thoughts and beliefs about your partner, it might be a block that stops you from having that intimacy, which is important in relationships,” said study researcher Eileen Zurbriggen of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Objectifying others

The objectification doesn’t need to be blatantly obvious to have a negative effect. “In many relationships you don’t see a really egregious manifestation of this, but I think it can manifest in smaller ways,” Zurbriggen told LiveScience. “If someone gains a little bit of weight, their partner might be unhappy with that or make comments about it.”

This goes against theories put forth by some philosophers, including Martha Nussbaum of the University of Chicago, that some objectification can be safe and even enjoyable in a relationship.

Having an attractive partner and being attractive to your partner could increase sexual satisfaction, Zurbriggen said — “When you hear that you are really hot and sexy and that can be satisfying.” But Zurbriggen found the opposite effect: Partner-objectification lowered relationship satisfaction, as well as men’s sexual satisfaction. This could be because concentrating on your partner’s attractiveness tends to make you less concerned with your partner as a whole, leading to a less satisfying relationship and decreased intimacy, she said.

Janet Hyde of the University of Wisconsin, when asked about Zurbriggen’s study, called it “new, clever, and important.”

Hyde told LiveScience in an email, “So, self-objectification hurts oneself, and then the effects of media exposure seem to extend to partner objectification, which hurts relationships.” [Read More]

But focusing on looks is good for the belly?

Apparently.

HOW does a bird know which of its brood to feed? It just checks how much UV light they reflect.

Birds are known to see UV light, but it wasn’t known why. To find out, Jesús Avilés at the Arid Zone Research Station in Almeria, Spain, examined European rollers (Coracias garrulus) and found that the foreheads of heavier chicks reflect less UV than weaklings.

The team then weighed 84 chicks born in nest boxes near the city of Guadix. They applied either a jelly containing a UV blocking agent or just jelly to the foreheads of the chicks. Four hours later they weighed them again to find out how much they’d been fed by their parents (Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1164-8).

Parents with large broods preferentially fed UV-reflective nestlings over UV-blocked ones, suggesting that they used UV to decide which mouth to feed. [Read More]

Not sure what these two articles say (because my twisty brain connected them together) exactly about looks…

Maybe that the weaker are “shinier”, that looks need to be the focus for some because they are used for compensation on some level?

Applying the Laws that exist in Mother Nature makes sense in some way, I suppose.

And in regards to looks for both man and beast?

Compensations are everywhere if one just takes the time to look for them.

Apr 10 2011

Exercise Responsibly: Drink a good beer afterwards!

As a fan of both exercise AND beer…

Must say, news like THIS?

Makes my day:

[The Blaze] Via the blog JammieWearingFool comes news of this scientific report that says drinking beer after working out is actually better for you than drinking water. And who are we to argue with science?

The Telegraph:

A beer after playing a game of football, a long run, or a strenuous round of golf can be good for the body, scientists say.

In a rare piece of good news for those who like a pint, Spanish researchers say beer can help someone who is dehydrated retain liquid better than water.

Prof Manuel Garzon, of Granada University, also claimed the bubbles in beer help to quench the thirst and that its carbohydrate content can help to replace lost calories.

Prof Garzon asked a group of students to do strenuous exercise in temperatures of around 40ºC (104ºF). Half were given a pint of beer, while the others received the same volume of water.

Prof Garzon, who announced the results at a press conference in Granada beneath a banner declaring “Beer, Sport, Health”, said the hydration effect in those who drank beer was “slightly better”.

Juan Antonio Corbalan, a cardiologist who worked formerly with Real Madrid football players and Spain’s national basketball team, said beer had the perfect profile for re-hydration after sport.

He added that he had long recommended barley drinks to professional sportsmen after exercise.

Previous studies have shown most alcoholic drinks have a diuretic effect – meaning they increase the amount of liquid lost by the body through urination.

Dr James Betts, an expert on nutrition and metabolism at Bath University, said a moderate amount of beer might be just as good as water at helping the body retain liquid, but that he doubted it could be any better.

Dr Betts said: “If you are dehydrated to start with following exercise, a beer, as opposed to a spirit, probably does not have a high enough concentration of alcohol to induce a diuretic effect.” [Read More]

Beer is good for you?

Yes…

Yes it is.

Oh, happy day!

And on that note?

Options…

The Best New Beers of Spring (and Summer)

The warm-weather seasons are all about lightness, not flavorlessness. Once the sun shows up, ditch the stout and try one of these exceptional seasonal releases.
By Evan S. Benn

Bell’s Oberon Ale

With a smirking sun on the label and a golden-honey liquid that looks like it was tapped directly from the center of the solar system, Bell’s Oberon Ale is spring in a bottle (or on draft). Zippy, slightly tart lemon flavors from Saaz hops make this Michigan-brewed wheat ale endlessly refreshing. And, at 5.8 percent alcohol by volume, you can enjoy a few Oberons during a ball game without worrying too much about a hangover the next day.

Flying Dog Backyard Ale

Maryland’s largest craft brewery teamed up in March with chef Bryan Voltaggio, a Maryland native and Top Chef season six finalist, to create this smoky amber ale that’s suitable for backyard barbecues. Its light base and smoked malts should be an ideal complement to, in the brewery’s words, “all things grilled, charred, broiled, roasted, and smoked.” Look for it to be released soon in 750-ml and 12-ounce bottles.

Southern Tier Hop Sun

This hopped-up wheat beer has the bright, grassy aroma of a pilsner and the citrusy bite of a pale ale. In fact, the wheat in Hop Sun’s grain bill is barely detectable save for its crisp, clean finish. Brewed in New York, it’s the sort of craft beer that demands respect not because it’s fussy or rare or complex, but simply because it’s just so damn good. So good it might even make yard work or cleaning out the garage seem enjoyable.

Victory Summer Love Ale

Philadelphia’s Victory Brewing Co. is bringing back a beer it made last year in tandem with the city’s tourism board for Philly Beer Week. But this summer, Victory is increasing the brew’s production and spreading the love to all 29 states where its beers are sold. Summer Love Ale — an easy-drinking golden ale brewed with German hops, pale malts, and water from Chester County’s own Brandywine Creek — is due out in May. You’ll want to pick some up.

Moylan’s Orange & Black Congrats Ale!

Brewed to honor the current World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, Orange & Black Congrats Ale! is, as its name suggests, a black ale that incorporates zest from California-grown oranges. Moylan’s Brewery and Restaurant released the dark, celebratory brew on opening day in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at its Novato, California, brewpub and at select locations around the Bay Area. Its production is limited, so if you want to grab one to toast the Giants (or, you know, just to drink), better do so now.

Arcadia Whitsun Ale

Arcadia Brewing Co. recently released Whitsun — its Americanized take on a Belgian-style witbier — in bottles and kegs. And the Battle Creek, Michigan-based brewery plans to add cans to its Whitsun repertoire by the end of this month, marking Arcadia’s entrance into the growing world of canned craft beers. What’s so great about cans? For starters, they actually do a better job than bottles of keeping oxygen and light from skunking your beer. Plus, cans are welcome at places where glass is not — like beaches, golf courses, and concert venues — which means you’ll have more places to savor Whitsun, a tasty warm-weather wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel. At the beach, what could be better? [Read More at the Fantastic Esquire!]

Apr 10 2011

Big Pharma has no moral dilemmas when it comes to money!

Is it just me, or does THIS…

(PhysOrg.com) – At the April 4, 2011 annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society the subject of moral dilemmas and what people would really do was addressed. In a study presented by Oriel Feldman Hall of Cambridge University shows that when it comes to moral studies, hypothetical scenarios do not work to determine the complexities of what people’s real decisions would be.

FeldmanHall’s study showed that what people say they will do in a given situation and what they really do are two very different things. If given a hypothetical situation of a choice of giving someone an electrical shock for money or walking away, most people answered they would never be able to inflict pain on another person.

However, in a real-life scenario, with real money and real electric shocks, the actions were much different. In FeldmanHall’s study, subjects were placed in an MRI scanner and then given the choice to either administer an electrical shock to a person located in another room and make money (one British pound) or not inflict pain and receive no money. They also broke down that one pound into percentages based on the severity of the shock, so they would receive the full pound for administering a severe shock and less for more mild shocks.

The subject in the MRI was shown a video of the person receiving the shock and would either see just the person’s hand jerk or be shown both the hand jerk and the person’s face. Each participant was given the choice to shock another person 20 times, with the opportunity to make 20 pounds.

In the hypothetical scenario, 64 percent of participants said they would never administer a shock to someone else for money. However, in the real world that number changed, and in a big way. When faced with real money, 96 percent chose to shock the person in the other room for . [Read More]

Explain THIS just a whole heck of a lot?

(NaturalNews) A recent U.S. News & World Report piece highlights new studies that point to serious problems down the road for the over-medicated population. According to reports, more than 60 percent of American adults now take at least one drug every day for a chronic health problem, and more than half of seniors take at least three medications every day. But the end result is more diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, arthritis and cancer.
While some disease rates have declined over the years, many others have rapidly increased in their place, even though a lot more people take pharmaceutical drugs than they used to. The cause, say many, is the drugs themselves. And experts fear that millions of people are being over-diagnosed and over-medicated due to aggressive, uncontrolled marketing bydrug companies, which is exacerbating the problem even more. [Read More]

Shocking.

Would Big Pharma risk the lives if people for the love of money?

Pffft…

Seriously?

Yes, I know…

Dumb question.

Apr 10 2011

Another serial killer utilizes Craigslist? Looking that way!

A new serial killer on the loose…

And one that taunts family members of his victims?

Monstrous.

And it’s looking this serial choose their victims through Craigslist…

Again.

What – Is that like the go-to place for serial killers?

Cause it’s kinda seeming like it is.

Terrifying.

[via Gawker] As police try to unravel the case of a suspected serial killer in Long Island, they’ve found their work hampered by the killer’s unusual savviness. The killer seems so well-versed in police techniques that some are wondering if he or she is in law enforcement.

Eight bodies have been discovered off Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in Long Island. The four women already identified are prostitutes, one of whom is 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy. After Barthelemy disappeared, a man who is believed to be her killer called her sister a number of times and taunted her. But police say he made the calls in New York’s most crowded places to avoid video surveillance, and kept the short to hinder any tracing. The killer also used disposable cellphones to hire his victims on Craigslist.

One person involved in the investigation told the New York Times “He is a a guy who is aware of how we utilize technology… Frankly, people are thinking maybe he could be a cop.” Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that a 48-year-old drifter was partying with missing Craigslist sex worker Shannon Gilbert the night she went missing near Gilgo Beach in May of last year. The search for Gilbert was what initially led police to discover the bodies, but Gilbert has yet to be found. [NYT, NYP, Image via Getty] [Read More]

Apr 10 2011

The oddest things discovered to fight cancer?

Cheap arthritis medication and strawberries?

Yep.

Apparently.

What does a common arthritis medication have to do with skin cancer? More than you might think.

Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have found a promising link between the anti-inflammation drug leflunomide, often prescribed for arthritis, and treatment for melanoma. In a recent issue of Nature, they write that leflunomide could become an affordable treatment for the deadly disease — a valuable resource given that skin cancer is on the rise around the world, and has traditionally been very expensive to treat. [Read More at io9!]

As for strawberries…

Something that tastes so good is good for us and helps us fight an ugly disease?

Proof: God does love us.

Strawberries not just tasty
ORLANDO, Fla. — Eating freeze-dried strawberries can slow the growth of precancerous lesions in the esophagus, researchers reported on April 6. After noting that strawberries could fight esophageal cancer in rats, a U.S.-China research team gave 60 grams of freeze-dried strawberries every day to 36 Chinese volunteers who had been diagnosed with precancerous growths in the esophagus. Inspections done before and after treatment showed that the amount of aberrant growth in the esophagus decreased in 29 of the patients, stayed the same in six and increased in one over six months. Tissue samples showed that the strawberries inhibited cell proliferation, suggesting a possible treatment for esophageal cancer. —Nathan Seppa [Read More]

Apr 10 2011

So, UFO’s did land in New Mexico prior to 1950?

Crazy as it sounds?

Apparently.

Or so says the FBI.

Crazy!

A bizarre memo that appears to prove that aliens did land in New Mexico prior to 1950 has been published by the FBI.

The bureau has made thousands of files available in a new online resource called The Vault.

Among them is a memo to the director from Guy Hottel, the special agent in charge of the Washington field office in 1950.

In the memo, whose subject line is ‘Flying Saucers’, Agent Hottel reveals that an Air Force investigator had stated that ‘three so-called flying saucers had been recovered in New Mexico’.

The investigator gave the information to a special agent, he said. The FBI has censored both the agent and the investigator’s identity.

Agent Hottel went on to write: ‘They were described as being circular in shape with raised centers, approximately 50 feet in diameter.

‘Each one was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall,’ he stated.

The bodies were ‘dressed in a metallic cloth of a very fine texture. Each body was bandaged in a manner similar to the blackout suits used by speed flyers and test pilots.’

He said that the informant, whose identity was censored in the memo, claimed the saucers had been found in New Mexico ‘due to the fact that the Government has a very high-powered radar set-up in that area and it is believed the radar interferes with the controlling mechanism of the saucers’.

He then stated that the special agent did not attempt to investigate further.

The release of the secret memo is likely to fuel conspiracy theorists’ claims of a government cover-up.

The town of Roswell in New Mexico became infamous after reports that a flying saucer had crashed in the desert near a military base there on or around July 2, 1947.

The bodies of aliens were said to have been recovered and autopsied by the U.S. military, but American authorities allegedly covered the incident up.

Military authorities issued a press release, which began: ‘The many rumours regarding the flying disc became a reality yesterday when the intelligence officer of the 509th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force, Roswell Army Air Field, was fortunate enough to gain possession of a disc.’

The headlines screamed: ‘Flying Disc captured by Air Force.’ Yet, just 24 hours later, the military changed their story and claimed the object they’d first thought was a ‘flying disc’ was a weather balloon that had crashed on a nearby ranch.

Amazingly, the media and the public accepted the explanation without question. Roswell disappeared from the news until the late Seventies, when some of the military involved began to speak out.

Another memo published in The Vault from 1947 claimed that an object ‘purporting to be a flying disc’ had been recovered near Roswell.

The disc was ‘hexagonal in shape’ and ‘suspended from a balloon by a cable’, according to the memo, marked as ‘Urgent’, to the FBI director.

The memo noted that the disc resembled a weather balloon – but claimed that a telephone conversation between the Air Force and the field office ‘had not [word censored] borne out this belief’.

The disc and balloon were being transported to Wright Field for further inspection, the memo noted.

It added that the information was being flagged up because of ‘national interest’ in the episode, and noting that both NBC and the AP were set to break the story that day. [Read More]

Not sure what to think about this…

If this is true?

Makes one question if investing in tinfoil hats is as a sound investment as it seems.

I have my hat ready…

Do you?