BETTER SLEEP
There are many ways to get better sleep, according to this article--for example:
"Deepen zzz's with exercise. Deep, restorative sleep (called delta or slow-wave sleep) decreases in your late 40s, making nighttime awakenings more frequent.  Working out more may help. Your muscles and tissues are repaired during slow-wave sleep, Arand explains. When you give your body more repair work to do thanks to increased physical exertion, it responds by stepping up the amount of slow-wave sleep you'll get.
The type of exercise that's best for triggering slow-wave sleep isn't clear, but aim for 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days, suggests Wilfred R. Pigeon, Ph.D., director of the Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center."

Read the whole thing...

LOVE YOUR HAIR
A new character on Sesame Street is urging just that these days--and all of us with Moebius Syndrome can readily identify with loving yourself as you are:
"A plucky little muppet in a pretty pink dress, her brown hair a perky 'fro, is helping little girls — and their moms — to accept themselves just the way they are by loving their hair.

The nameless muppet manages to trim away generations of yearning for long, silky locks with her song, "I Love My Hair" and has become an Internet sensation. Now her creator wants to give her a life beyond YouTube.    "I really want to sit down with the writers and figure out what we can do with her and give her a name, and really expand her out," said Joey Mazzarino, head writer for "Sesame Street," who co-wrote "I Love My Hair" with composer Chris Jackson. (Jackson played Simba in "The Lion King"; Chantylla 'Chauncey' Johnson, who sings the song, also appeared in the Broadway show as Nala.) The video is being shared on Twitter, and posted on gossip sites and blogs. It is popping up on Facebook pages and discussed in the comments section on YouTube, where the original clip gets a steady stream of views. It was posted Oct. 12, and had more than 600,000 views on YouTube as of a week ago, and tens of thousands more at other sites.  The tune is breezy and bouncy, the lyrics simple and filled with pride: "Don't need a trip to the beauty shop, 'cause I love what I got on top — it's curly and it's brown and it's right up there. You know what I love? My hair!"  With fast cuts, the Muppet changes hair styles — braids, pouffy ponytail, curly top. And no matter what the style, "I want to make the world aware, I love my hair," she sings with happy confidence."

FOOTBALL PICKS:

I was a little bit better last week, but still just 3-3-1.

Let's start with COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
Oregon v USC.  My pick:  DUCKS.  Some people give USC a big chance for an upset in this game.  Problem--USC has given up a lot of points to teams like Washington and Stanford; so just wait 'til you see what Oregon's high-powered offense will do to them.

Michigan State vs Iowa.  My pick:  SPARTANS.  A lot of people are picking Iowa in this one.  I just think Michigan State may be one of those teams of destiny, with lots of senior leadership and good players in key positions--which will keep finding ways to win.

Baylor at Texas.  My pick:  LONGHORNS.  Baylor has done a great job in getting back to the top 25.  They can score.  Texas has been inexplicable this year.  But Texas still has good players; they're at home; and one worries that Baylor's players won't be used to this kind of big stage.  And Mack Brown should have the Longhorns fired up after all the bashing he's done of them lately.

NFL PICKS:
Cincinnat 2 over Miami.  My pick:  DOLPHINS.  They're unbeaten on the road this season, and I have the feeling the Bengals are all messed up.

Detroit 3 over Washington.  My pick:  LIONS.  Matthew Stafford is back.  The Lions are at home.  They're an improved team; here's a chance for them to show it.

St. Louis 3 over Carolina.  My pick:  RAMS.  St. Louis and Sam Bradford have played well at home this year.

Oakland 3 over Seattle.  My pick:  RAIDERS.  Oakland is on a high after their 59 point outburst in Denver last week.  They're at home.  Seattle meanwhile on the whole has not been a good road team.

Arizona 3 over Tampa Bay.  My pick:  CARDINALS.  They're a different team at home.  Tampa will struggle with the long trip and the hostile arena.

MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Today we learn of another hero--Hayley Harbottle, of the UK.  Here's part of her story:
"SHE has a condition which means she cant even smile, but brave teenager Hayley Harbottle is determined to get on with her life.  The 14-year-old was born with the rare condition Moebius syndrome a neurological disorder which affects only 200 people in Britain. Those affected have facial paralysis, meaning they cant smile, blink, move their eyes, or show any facial expression.

Sadly, the Woodhorn Special School pupil has a wide spectrum of problems linked to her condition, including having no hands, a clubbed foot, speech problems, hearing loss and gastrointestinal issues.
But she is determined not to let her disability hold her back and loves swimming and spending time on her computer.  Speaking from their home in Cramlington, Northumberland, mum Jane Thompson said: "Hayley has not had an easy life because of her condition but she tries not to let it hold her back.
Although she cant smile we can tell when she is happy by her eyes and the fact that she laughs. Im very proud of how well she copes with things and we take it day by day. It can be difficult but we try to remain as positive as we can."....Jane, who also has children Gemma, 25, and Carl, 22, said: "We had no idea Hayley had Moebius syndrome until she was nine months old and it came as quite a shock. Id never heard of the illness before and I didnt know what it was.  When we were told how it was going to affect her it was upsetting but Id not change her for the world and she is an inspiration.  For any family in our situation Id tell them there is light at the end of the tunnel and to keep positive."

Amen.  All the best to our new friend Hayley Harbottle and to her parents...

ROBOT CARS--ANOTHER VIEW
A couple of weeks ago we remarked here on the development of some new technology--cars that would be able to drive themselves.  It would seem to be a godsend to some with Moebius Syndrome, for example, who perhaps have a hard time driving.  But maybe cars driving themselves isn't always such a good idea--here's another view on the subject:
"A big part of what makes driving enjoyable is the freedom and control it gives you, the individual. It is your car and you are in charge of directing its course, of deciding how to get there. You can choose your route and proceed at whatever speed seems reasonable to you. If you like, you can stop for a cup of coffee. Or to admire a scenic view.  You control your destiny. You are a driver.
If cars drive themselves, then you become a passenger. A passive pound of flesh transported by the intelligence of and under the direction of someone (or something) else. You get there when someone else decides you get there. You travel at the speed someone else (or a machine) determines to be the "right" or "safe" speed. There will be no stopping along the way; no taking the scenic route just because.
The only difference between an automated car and taking the bus is that you don't have some stranger sitting beside you coughing his flu all over your face.  But the essential thing is identical. You have surrendered your autonomy; for the duration of the trip, your fate is out of your control. You are now a member of the Mass. One of Many, another sardine to be fileted and packaged and sent on its way.....A smartly executed fast pass or perfectly timed corner exit is a form of art in motion.  Knowing you are a good driver -- that you can handle it -- is immensely satisfying.   Automated cars would take that all away. In effect, we'd be reduced to the state we were in as young children -- when our parents buckled us in and took us for a drive when and how they wished. Our role was to sit quietly and await our arrival -- more or less shut down in the meanwhile."

Something to think about...

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust

MORE REASONS TO EXERCISE
Because even if you exercise, if you sit in a chair all day, it's not good for you:
"Do you lead an active lifestyle or a sedentary one? The question is simple, but the answer may not be as obvious as you think. Let's say, for example, you're a busy guy who works 60 hours a week at a desk job but who still manages to find time for five 45-minute bouts of exercise. Most experts would label you as active. (Put your body to the test: 10 standards to assess your fitness level.) But Marc Hamilton, Ph.D., has another name for you: couch potato. Perhaps "exercising couch potato" would be more accurate, but Hamilton, a physiologist and professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, would still classify you as sedentary. "People tend to view physical activity on a single continuum," he says. "On the far side, you have a person who exercises a lot; on the other, a person who doesn't exercise at all. However, they're not necessarily polar opposites."  Hamilton's take, which is supported by a growing body of research, is that the amount of time you exercise and the amount of time you spend on your butt are completely separate factors for heart-disease risk. New evidence suggests, in fact, that the more hours a day you sit, the greater your likelihood of dying an earlier death regardless of how much you exercise or how lean you are. That's right: Even a sculpted six-pack can't protect you from your chair"

They say just trying to stand up more can help...
Or, just take the stairs: 
"When you’re told about stair-climbing, you might think of a treadmill that simulates stairs, but this list isn’t about activities that are done in the gym. Instead, do the real thing -- there are few things like it. We’ve all seen athletes running stadium steps long before fans arrive, and they do it for a reason. The climbing motion works not only your lower body and quickly firms your glutes, but also makes your upper half strain as well. Mix up your routine by jumping with your feet together up one stair, then two at a time."

"Patience and time do more than strength or passion." -Jean de la Fontaine

MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Today a person with Moebius writes in the Detroit News--read what he has to say:
"My biggest dream when I was younger was that one day I might wake up and be just like all of the other "normal" kids at school. Because I was born with a rare medical condition called Moebius Syndrome that caused me to look and speak noticeably different and to have very weak muscle tone, I was a frequent target for my schoolmates to bully and make fun of. I was laughed at, pushed around and called names such as "Dummy," "Stupid," and "Retard" so often that I would frequently leave school an emotional wreck, never wanting to leave the safety of my home ever again.  Yes, sticks and stones can break our bones. But being labeled with hate filled, disparaging words while you are still awkwardly developing as a tender child can really hurt, too.  Thankfully, those emotionally deflating years of childhood didn't last forever. The dreaded days of youthful insecurity slowly morphed into far superior days of self confidence, self-acceptance and even self-love.  Am I perfect? Far from it! I'm still maturing and developing in life just like all of you. But we don't have to be perfect in order to appreciate how wonderfully unique we all are.  Your differences really do make you special. Just think about it. Who ever fell deeply in love with their soul mate because they thought their lover was just like everybody else? Nobody, that's who! We only fall passionately in love with someone when they touch our hearts in unique and magical ways."

Very well said.  Read the whole particle--it's worth it.

"Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and
make your dreams come true." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

ATTENTION MOMS AND DADS
What factors encouraged really smart kids to become, well, really smart--besides their natural ability and all?  CNN today explores this:
"Parents should encourage their children to ask questions like "why" and "what if," rather than stifling those inquiries, Carson said.  "When they explore the environment, if they're rewarded for that, that encourages that behavior and they're more likely to do that in the future," she said.  Jolisa, one of two students to have earned straight A's at her school every quarter, has an inexhaustible love of reading; without prodding, she will read books faster than her parents can afford to buy new ones. But they also join in -- right now, she and her mother are reading "Outcasts United," about a refugee soccer team, together....Parents should observe and cheer on their children, but should not be attached to outcomes, said said Robyn McKay, a psychologist and creativity researcher at Arizona State University. Some kids will rebel and drop an activity if they believe their parents have too many expectations about it.   "My advice to parents who have a child who does have that passionate interest is to roll with it, to be curious and interested about the child's interest and to do some research to find teachers and lessons and activities that support your child's talent," she said."

Read the whole thing...

FOOTBALL PICKS:
I was only 3-5 last week.  Ugh!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Oklahoma at Missouri.  My pick:  TIGERS.  There just seems to be something in the air.  #1 teams are in danger these days.  And I haven't come across anyone who sees Oklahoma as a true powerhouse.  They're still too young and inexperienced; and here, they're on the road.

Wisconsin at Iowa.  My pick:  HAWKEYES.  The Badgers just won a huge game.  But now they have to go on the road, AND it's tough to maintain focus after knocking off the #1 team, AND they play a tough opponent in Iowa.  Go with the Hawks...

Nebraska at Oklahoma State.  My pick:  HUSKERS.  Sure, it seems an easy pick--Okie State is riding high, Nebraska just suffered a stunning loss, so OSU should be in the driver's seat, right?  But remember this--Nebraska's defense remains very, very good.  And good defense wins games.  Hint:  Oklahoma State's defense is not very good at all.

NFL PICKS:
Atlanta 4 over Cincinnati.  My pick:  FALCONS.  Because the Bengals have been so, so inconsistent and mistake-prone.

New Orleans 14 over Cleveland.  My pick:  SAINTS.  Usually I don't pick a 14 point fave to cover.  That's too many points.  But in this case I have the sense the Saints are getting it together (see their dismantling of Tampa Bay on the road last week) and the Browns must again start rookie QB Colt McCoy.

San Francisco 3 over Carolina.  My pick:  49ERS.  They finally got their first win under their belt.  The Niners defense is playing well.  And Carolina remains in turmoil...so 3 points shouldn't be too hard for San Fran to cover.

San Diego 3 over New England.  My pick:  CHARGERS.  I've heard a lot of Patriots talk this week--people suggesting the smart bet here is on the Pats.  I wonder.  Yes, they snuck out a win last week.  But New England still have defensive issues, especially with that secondary.  And the Chargers are at home, they still have a very capable offense able to exploit Patriot defensive weaknesses, and frankly, you've got to believe San Diego has too much talent to continue struggling as they have.  Go with the Fighting Norvs.

MOEBIUS MEMORY
You know, sometimes, unscrupulous persons will try to use Moebius Syndrome--or perhaps any physical difference--against you.  But don't let it faze you.  You can win out in the end.  My story:  I teach at the college level.  So several years ago a student of mine, having failed my class, suddenly e-mailed me a week or so after the semester had ended, wanting to challenge the grade received.  Why?  The student said that, why, throughout the semester, she simply could not understand me.  (Moebius Syndrome of course usually means that adults who have it have a slight speech impediment, and that certainly applies to me; though the vast majority of people claim to have no difficulty in understanding me).

Hmmm.  Well, via e-mail I recounted to the student all the grades she'd received, her attendance record for the class, and how we'd arrived at her grade.  But she and her father were determined to challenge her grade, come what may, and they wound up going through all the different steps and levels of the appeals process, eventually taking their appeal to the vice-chancellor of the university.

But, well...this student had problems, though.  Her grades throughout the semester had been very consistent (consistently bad, that is).  She'd asked me for help--for how she could study better and improve how she was doing on tests, and I'd sent her a long e-mail with tips about halfway through the semester.  She had never, at any point during the course, said anything at all about not being able to understand me, about that having that anything to do with how she was doing in the course.  Not a thing.  Oh, and...I took attendance for the class every time it met.  And the student had missed class close to 50% of the time.  She missed a ton of class.  No wonder she didn't do well.

I wasn't going to change her grade.  And the powers that be at the university completely agreed with me.  It was really just a desperate attempt, arrived at through prejudice and ignorance, to escape the consequences of one's actions.  It didn't work.

It reminds us that we with physical differences have to deal with prejudice sometimes, too.  But it can be overcome.  And others, who don't share our difference, still can be made to see the light on this and can gain awareness, too.

Today's thought of the day is one the student in question above probably needed to take to heart way back when:

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man
who can't read them." -Mark Twain

IMPORTANT STEPS
Americans don't walk and exercise like they need to, says a new study:
"Americans are thousands of steps behind other countries when it comes to daily physical activity, according to new research that used pedometers to measure movement.  The study tracked the steps of 1,136 adults around the United States who wore pedometers for two days in 2003. The results were compared to similar pedometer studies in Switzerland, Australia and Japan. The data collected showed that Americans, on average, took 5,117 steps a day, far short of the averages in western Australia (9,695 steps), Switzerland (9,650 steps) and Japan (7,168 steps). The findings were published in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.  The fitness gap detected by the pedometer studies is equal to about 30 to 40 minutes of walking each day. One mile of walking covers about 2,000 steps, researchers say. The health community typically urges people to take at least 10,000 steps a day to maintain good health, which is equal to about five miles of walking"

That's a lot of walking.  I try to take the stairs when I can...

P AND B PRONUNCIATION
On another forum, a Moebius mom mentioned her son and that he has had trouble learning how to pronounce his Bs and Ps.  That's always an issue for people like us.  Here is what I told her:

"I think the point to stress with pronunciation of things like Bs and Ps is that, yes, one with Moebius will to a degree have that issue throughout one's life.  I mean, hey, with Moebius you're not going to get full lip closure and so that obviously is going to affect how you pronounce letters like that.  There is no way around it....However, as your Moebius child grows up, he or she will undoubtedly realize the difficulty in pronouncing those letters...and will almost surely, with the help of speech therapists but also on their own, be able to figure out how to make their pronunciation better.  I know this happened with me.  I don't think I even realized I was doing it...and I know that it was something I had to keep working on throughout my life.  But it does happen.  We with Moebius, as we grow up, age, mature--we figure out how our mouth works, what we need to pronounce, how to do it...and we adapt.  Your child will too."

WE'RE SOME OF MANY
There's a lot of users on this here web:
"If the internet is feeling a little more crowded these days, there's good reason.  According to a report out Tuesday, there will be 2 billion Web dwellers by the end of this year.  The number of internet users worldwide has doubled in the past five years according to the report, from the International Telecommunication Union.  Much of the big number can be attributed to internet growth in developing countries. The report said 162 million of the 226 million new Internet users in 2010 will live in those countries, where Web access is still growing."

And think of this--how many people used the web in, say, 1990?  A tiny amount compared to now.  We've seen a technological revolution--and it has happened with remarkable speed.

WHAT'S UGLY?
This new IPhone app would sure appear to be--at least, it's sure ripe for misuse, don't you think?:
"A new iPhone app called the "Ugly Meter" is just what cyberbullies -- including elementary school kids -- need to target easy marks, online security experts told FoxNews.com.  The 99-cent app, now available for iPhone users on Apple's iTunes Store, uses facial recognition software that measures symmetry and other features. Downloaded more than 20,000 times and designed for users ages 9 and above, the app scans a snapshot and then submits a score of 1 to 10.  Bo Derek is not a 10. On this scale, you want desperately to be a 1.   A 10 garners this message: "You're so ugly, when you walk by the bathroom, the toilet flushes."....

While the app's creators say they're just having some fun, some critics say the software can be malicious in the wrong hands. It's "right on the borderline" of appropriate and inappropriate, said Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Washington-based Family Online Safety Institute.  "I can see that the guys who programmed it were having a bit of fun and all," Balkam said. "If you're 25, 26 or 28, this sort of thing could be quite funny or amusing. But in the hands of a 14- or 15-year-old, it could be quite the reverse, and particularly if someone is submitting someone else's photograph and then circulated that photo around school."

That sounds right to me.  And imagine how someone with Moebius Syndrome or with other facial differences would be "rated" by that app.  But maybe I'm missing something.  Feel free to educate me, if I am...

"Study is the bane of childhood, the oil of youth, the indulgence of
adulthood, and a restorative in old age."-Walter Savage Landor

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK
Did you guys hear about this story?:
"A motivational speaker with cerebral palsy says he was kicked off a U.S. Airways flight after being told he was too disabled to fly alone.  The Grand Rapids Press reports that 47-year-old Johnnie Tuitel of Grand Rapids Township, Mich., says he has flown over 500,000 miles to give motivational speeches. Tuitel says he missed a speech because of the Sept. 23 incident at Palm Beach International Airport.   U.S. Airways' website says people can't fly alone if they wouldn't be able to help themselves or others in an emergency. A company spokeswoman says the crew was following company policy.  Tuitel says he will meet with U.S. Airways employees in coming weeks to discuss his concerns with the policy, which he hopes will be changed."

Outrageous.  I realize that the employees who denied him entry onto the flight were simply following policy.  But one also needs to use discretion and common sense.  This is an individual who'd flown many, many times--over 500,000 miles.  He's a motivational speaker.  He's shown that he IS capable of flying.  Why didn't somebody at that airport do a quick google of this guy?  I hope US Air gets all the negative publicity they deserve out of this.

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings,
not in figures on the dial; we should count time by heart-throbs. He
most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. -Bailey

FOR PARENTS
A new study/analysis suggests that good parents need to be more like cavemen--seriously, it's true!:
"In 2-year-old Nate Macauley's world, the arms of mom and dad — and a small cadre of family friends — are always available for a snuggle, whether it's to help calm the toddler's woes, or just to keep him close. To his mom, Amy, the plentiful hugs and cuddles they lavish on Nate provide an important lesson.  "I want Nate to grow up to be a kind person," says the 33-year-old from Cleveland. "And the way we can do that is to show him kindness.”  The Macauleys' take on parenting — showing compassion for a little one just learning to navigate his world — sounds so easy even a caveman could do it.  In fact, that's just how doting Stone Age parents reared their children, according to three new studies presented this week at a University of Notre Dame conference. While our hunter-gatherer ancestors may not have been big on dental hygiene, they did get it right when it came to raising well-adjusted, empathetic children, says lead researcher Darcia Narvaez, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame, whose research focuses on moral development of children.  “They instinctively knew what was right for a child, and children thrived because of that,” claims Narvaez, who discussed her research on hunter-gatherer societies at a meeting exploring the psychological, anthropological and biological conditions related to human development.  When every day brings a new report about packs of student bullies , teenage cyber-harrassment and even 6-year-old kindergarteners terrorizing their less-fashionable peers, a return to Stone Age parenting may be just what we need to reverse what’s widely being called a rampant “culture of mean,” the researchers suggest...Hunter-gatherers , the human way of life until the agricultural revolution about 8,000 years ago, were responsive caregivers, who didn’t let a baby cry it out. Moms breast-fed, probably for about five or six years. Cave kids had hours of unstructured free play, with children of all ages. And the little Pebbles and Bamm-Bamms of that Paleolithic period probably had multiple caregivers who provided nurturing and love. Cavemoms and dads didn’t spank their kids. Rather, they were the first adopters of positive touch, constantly carrying, cuddling and holding their children"

Read the whole thing.  Makes a lot of sense...

FOOTBALL PICK TIME:
I was something like 5-5 last week...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Ohio State at Wisconsin.  My pick:  BADGERS.  I just think Ohio State, which has had a lot of good fortune the past few trips it's taken to Madison, will have its luck run out.  And Wisconsin is capable of an upset.

Iowa at Michigan.  My pick:  WOLVERINES.  I just think Michigan will find a way to pick itself up off the canvas.

Oklahoma State at Texas Tech.  My pick:  RED RAIDERS.  Because they'll outscore 'em at home.  Neither team has much defense.  That usually spells trouble for a visiting team.

NFL PICKS:

Chicago 7 over Seattle.  My pick:  EEARS.  Seattle has been a horrible road team.  And the Bears' defense is suffocating at times (ask Carolina).

San Diego 9 over St. Louis.  My pick:  RAMS.  St. Louis is at home; they've played well there.  San Diego has not played up to expectations so far; I don't see it happening here, at least not yet.

New England 3 over Baltimore.  My pick:  RAVENS.  Are you kidding?  The Ravens have already won at the Jets and at Pittsburgh.  And the Pats now are without Randy Moss.  The Ravens are tough enough to make it 3 big road wins.

NY Giants 10 over Detroit.  My pick: LIONS.  Not to win; but to keep it close.  The Giants have been up and down the last couple of years.  I predict they lose a bit of focus here.

Pittsburgh 14 over Cleveland.  My pick:  BROWNS.  Yes, Big Ben is back; and Colt McCoy has to start at QB for Cleveland.  But Ben R is likely rusty; 14 points is a lot to give against a somewhat-improving Browns squad.

A TRULY SMART CAR

This story caught my eye today:

"German scientists have unveiled the latest in self-driving car technology:- an autonomous vehicle named "MadeInGermany" (MIG), which passengers can even call for a lift.

Computer scientist Raul Rojas and his team at Berlin's Free University (FU) have developed the experimental car which they hope will revolutionize the future of driving.  Passengers can phone their MIG using an iPad or smartphone and the Global Positioning System integrated into these devices reveals the caller's location to the car, which then works out the best route and tells the passenger how long it will take it to get there.  The car's designers say their invention will support environmentally friendly developments by making car-sharing more practical -- if several people are traveling in the same direction, one unmanned taxi can pick them all up.

Optimal use of the technology could see the number of cars in Berlin reduced to one-fifth of their current number, they say."

Wouldn't that be neat?  I can imagine plenty of Moebius persons who would enjoy it...starting with me.

A MESS OF TEXTING

How do they find the time?:

"The average 13- to 17-year-old sends and receives a whopping 3,339 text messages a month, and adults' use of text messaging is starting to climb -- although to nowhere near the levels of American teens.  The Nielsen Co. analyzed cell phone bills of 60,000 subscribers at the request of The Wall Street Journal. Nielsen's study contrasts with another done recently that finds text messaging to be on the rise, but not to the same degree.  Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, in its research, said that teen texting averages 50 messages a day -- compared to the 100 a day average cited by Nielsen....No matter whose numbers you consider, they're impressive for teens -- well, maybe not if you're a teen or a parent.  Last January, the Kaiser Family Foundation said that 7th- to 12th-graders spend an average of an hour and 35 minutes a day sending or receiving texts."

Do Moebius teens, or other teens with facial differences, text that much?  Maybe.  I don't know.  It would be interesting to find out.  Sure seems like, whoever's doing it, it sucks up a lot of one's time...

LOVE IS THE ANSWER

And really, when you think about it, this shouldn't surprise us:

"Love really can be a drug, according to new research that shows feelings of intense love can relieve pain.

Researchers from Stanford University studied the link between love and pain by scanning the brains of 15 college students who all professed to being deeply in love. The eight women and seven men were placed in brain scanners that tracked their body’s response to pain — in this case a heated probe placed on the palm of the hand....Then the researchers studied the brain’s pain response under three different conditions. In one scenario, the study subject looked at a picture of an acquaintance. In another, the student looked at a picture of his or her beloved. And because other research has shown distraction also can relieve pain, the student was given a distracting word task — in this case, they were asked to name sports that don’t use balls.
Looking at a picture of a loved one reduced moderate pain by about 40 percent and eased severe pain by about 10 to 15 percent, compared to viewing the picture of an acquaintance."

"It isn't silly...it isn't silly...Love isn't silly at all."---Paul and Linda McCartney, "The Silly Love Song", 1976.

FRIENDS
We all need them, and new research suggests that our brains recognize that and respond to it as well:
"Your friends may matter to you in ways that you can't even see - at the level of neural circuitry in the brain.
It turns out that the brain's frontal midline, an area between the two hemispheres that is associated with socialization and the way you think about yourself, also shows a greater response from friends than strangers, even strangers with similar interests and lifestyles, said Fenna Krienen, graduate student at Harvard University and lead author of a new study on the subject.  "What we ended up finding is that closeness really seems to matter to these circuits in the brain much more than similarity," she said."

So remember--good friends are not only fun, but they also stimulate your brain!  We Moebius people always need that. :+)

TODAY'S HERO
...is Brenda Scott Coleman of West Virginia, who was in an accident as a young girl.  No one knew it at the time, but young Brenda's jaw was injured, and the injury left her with a permanent facial difference, making it difficult for her to talk and eat.  Here's more:
"The poor, segregated, West Virginia coal-mining town where Brenda was born did not provide medical care and support sufficient to repair her jaw while she was still an infant. Instead, she grew up making accommodations for her facial difference: She ate the softest foods, hid her face in public, and relied on her family and her faith in God to comfort her, especially when she was old enough to attend school.
"We moved to Pennsylvania when I was 4 or 5 years old. I had a normal childhood except for my face," Brenda Scott-Coleman said, "and I always hid my face."  Scott-Coleman has written "Bren-Dee: A Child Who Survived on Bookmarks," a book about the challenges she faced as a child with facial differences. Her book takes readers through her childhood in the coal-mining camps of 1940s West Virginia, her experiences in school as a child whose differences made social interaction difficult and academic respect hard-won. She writes about her extended stay in a Pittsburgh hospital, awaiting her first reconstructive surgery, and her reaction to the surgery's results at age 7....Scott-Coleman eventually had 25 surgeries on her face.
She also pursued a successful career as an international trade specialist, and as a designer of jewelry marketed to girls with similar facial differences. After settling in Huntingtown and retiring from federal service, Scott-Coleman wrote "Bren-Dee," to share her story with children, teachers and parents. Scott-Coleman said she is working on a second book, which explores her continued struggles and surgeries as a young girl.
Though the surgeries never gave Scott-Coleman the face she once desired, she is able to see the good in the life she has, and in her book she shares that perspective.  "I can eat. I can talk. I still have a tendency to cover my mouth, but it never interfered with my work," Scott-Coleman said. "I still am reminded every day in the mirror that I had a problem. You just have to have hope and faith in God and a good family that supports you. Nothing's going to be perfect — I'm not perfect, but I can live with this."

Good for her.

"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting
for our wits to grow sharper." -Eden Phillips

TODAY'S HERO
...is a young woman named Sara Brooks.  No, she doesn't have Moebius Syndrome.  But due to a bout with cancer when she was a toddler, along with the radiation used to cure her, her face was permanently affected; she lost an eye; and she has had other physical issues as well, along with being teased by others when she was younger.  We can relate to that.  Yet all agree:  Sara is beautiful, inside and out.  She wants to be a model.  And she already is, in more ways than one:  she models the right attitudes, can-do spirit, and optimism, that we all need.  Hear her voice, along with some of her story:
"Sara Brooks faces the camera head-on, knowing there's no way to hide the scars left by cancer.

She aspires to be a model, but there's more to her goal than appearing on a magazine cover. She wants to show cancer survivors that anything is possible.   "Everyone is beautiful in their own way," said Brooks, 28, of Cleburne. "I'm living proof of that."....For Brooks, the effects of treatment made it difficult to attend school with kids who made fun of her appearance. Although she learned to laugh it off -- even using her glass eye as a Halloween prop -- she still felt isolated. It was only at a camp for childhood cancer survivors that she felt accepted by others.   Amanda Comstock met Brooks at camp, and said she was a determined person even back then.   "When she puts her mind to something, she does it," said Cornstock, 27. "She is beautiful inside and out to me."...Brooks said cancer indeed gave her a purpose.   When she started modeling, she said she felt ugly in front of the camera. But then she had a change in attitude and stopped hiding so others would see that they could face cancer too.   "I decided to use my face to my advantage, and make it art," she said."
 
Amen!  Read the whole story...
 
WHAT DAY IS IT?
And by the way, given that today is Tuesday, after all, I found the following amusing:
"If you thought Mondays were bad – it turns out Tuesdays are even worse, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A study by the London School of Economics monitored the mood swings of more than 22,000 people using an iPhone application called “Mappiness.”  Over a two-month period, an alert was sent to the study volunteers twice a day asking them how they felt, who they were with, what they were doing and whether they were at home. And the results showed that people felt at their lowest on Tuesdays.  "It seems plausible that on Monday, the weekend has not quite worn off,” study autho, George MacKerron, said. “By Tuesday, [people] are well into the working week and the following weekend is not in sight.”

Hopefully you're avoiding the Tuesday blahs...

"Down deep in every soul has a hidden longing, impulse, and
ambition to do something fine and enduring...If you are willing,
great things are possible to you."  -Grenville Kleiser

 

DON'T FORGET--GET SOME SLEEP
Because too many of us don't:
"It’s midnight and Carolyn Donaldson is clacking away on her keyboard. Although she’s yawning, it might be another hour before Donaldson's head hits the pillow.  Meanwhile, Donaldson is zipping off e-mails to members of one of the three nonprofit boards she sits on. She’s coming up with new marketing strategies for her son’s fitness business and she's working on projects for her own consulting clients. With only 24 hours in a day, she's willing to give up sleep to get more done.  And, so it goes with American workers today. We push our bedtime back to fit in extra work. We get up early for a jump-start on the competition. Our disrespect for sleep has become a national epidemic.  “People look at sleep as expendable,” says psychologist Diane Halpern of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., author of “Women at the Top: Powerful Leaders Tell Us How to Combine Work and Family.”  In a Working Mother survey, a stunning 77 percent of mothers said they don’t get the shut-eye they need. A survey by Men’s Health shows men aren’t doing much better. Indeed, 62 percent said they manage on less than seven hours of sleep a night."

I'm sure this is an issue in our community, too.  We have moms and dads of Moebius kids who work at their daily jobs to bring in the bacon; and also have to attend to the special needs of their child.  We have Moebius adults who, owing to the occasional prejudices of society against those with physical differences, know they have to work extra hard to try and get ahead.  I know there are times when I don't get enough sleep.  I always figure that, oh, well, I'll catch up on my sleep tomorrow, or on the weekend, or whenever a vacation comes.  But it's hard to catch up.  We do need to try, though.  Sleep is important.

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and
go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101009/LIFESTYLE/10090340/1005/LIFESTYLE/Too-busy-to-sleep?#ixzz124Kt5cIE

HERO OF THE DAY
A breast cancer sufferer doesn't let it stop her--check out the story, it's inspiring.  Her motto--"You just gotta stay positive."  Amen...

MEANWHILE, YET MORE REASONS TO EXERCISE ETC

"A surprising jump in the number of Americans hobbled by arthritis may be due to obesity, health experts said Thursday.  About 22 percent of U.S. adults have been told by a doctor that they have arthritis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The statistic comes from national telephone polling of tens of thousands of adults in 2007 through 2009.  That translates to nearly 50 million people with the joint disease. It's also roughly the same percentage with arthritis as reported in a 2003-2005 study.  But there was a significant jump in adults who said their joint pain or other arthritis symptoms limited their usual activities, to 9.4 percent from 8.3 percent. That means more than 21 million adults have trouble climbing stairs, dressing, gardening or doing other things, up from less than 19 million only a few years before, the CDC researchers estimated.  Klippel said the increase probably was due mainly to baby boomers, who are at an age when they are more likely to suffer osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. It breaks down cartilage and causes pain and joint stiffness.  He added that a complicating factor is high rates of baby boomers who are overweight and obese. Extra weight puts more pressure on arthritic joints, making the problem worse, he said."

COLLEGE AND PRO FOOTBALL PICKS

I need to improve.  I was only 4-5 last week.  Here we go!

COLLEGE PICKS:

Alabama vs South Carolina.  My pick:  CRIMSON TIDE.  They've looked so good; how can one pick against them?  And I doubt that South Carolina's players are used to this kind of challenge.

Texas A&M vs Arkansas at Cowboys' Stadium.  My pick:  AGGIES.  Just a hunch.  I suspect the Razorbacks will still be feeling the after-effects of the tough loss to 'Bama, and won't be fully focused.  A&M's offense can score.

Michigan vs Michigan State.  My pick:  WOLVERINES.  It's simple.  He's convinced me.  Denard Robinson can simply outscore lots of teams by himself...

NFL PICKS

Atlanta 3 over Cleveland.  My pick:  FALCONS.  Yes, Cleveland is at home.  But the Falcons have more talent...

Detroit 3 over St. Louis.  My pick:  LIONS.  They're at home; they're slowly getting healthier; rookie QBs like Sam Bradford often struggle on the road; and the Lions have gotten so close, they are bound to break through.  This week they will.

Chicago 3 over Carolina.  My pick:  BEARS.  The Bears' defense will set up the offense for at least two scores...

Baltimore 7 over Denver.  My pick:  RAVENS.  This is Denver's 2nd straight tough road game.  And the Ravens' defense is tough.

New Orleans 7 over Arizona.  My pick:  SAINTS.  The Cardinals appear to be in disarray.  Meanwhile it's time for Drew Brees and those receivers to break out.

NY Jets 4 over Minnesota.  My pick:  JETS.  The Jets are playing real well; meanwhile, I don't get the feeling Favre and the Vikings have found that rhythm yet.

STILL GOT STRESS?
Don't we all--but here's something else that may help:
"Herbal supplements containing kava or passionflower appear to be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of anxiety, a new review of existing research suggests.  Kava and passionflower have long been used in traditional medicine for their calming properties, and the herbs are now sold in stores as capsules or liquid extracts. The evidence is "strong" that such products may actually help people with anxiety, according to the review.  By contrast, the authors found insufficient evidence for the use of St. John's wort, a popular herbal remedy used primarily to treat mild depression."

Read the whole thing; naturally there are no guarantees and, as the article points out, there are some scientists who remain to be convinced.

FACEBOOK NEWS
Since so many of us are on FB, many of you will be interested in this:
"An easy way to create personal groups within your friends list and the ability to download everything you've posted are coming to Facebook.  Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the planned changes Wednesday at a media event about several tweaks to the ubiquitous social-networking site.
He said the new features would begin rolling out later Wednesday.  Facebook Groups, Zuckerberg said, is designed to solve "the biggest problem in social networking."  "A lot of people talk about this as a privacy problem, but I think even more than that, it's an annoying [others] problem," Zuckerberg said.   A user might say, "I would post this, but do I really want to bug all my friends who don't like jogging how great it is that I had an awesome jog this morning?" he said.   Groups will let Facebook users make groups like family, work friends, friends from school or friends with a specific interest.  They'll be able to share information specifically with members of those groups and even create group chats with those members."

Somethuing tells me Moebius groups will be popping up...

"I realized the enemy was more afraid of us...than we were of them."---General Ulysses S. Grant, explaining how he got over being nervous in battle.

MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Others in the Moebius community have already noted this and commented on it, but in case you haven't seen it, be sure and go here.  A rapper from Dallas, Texas named Dorrough has a two-year-old daughter...and she, it turns out, has Moebius Syndrome.  And I'm delighted that Dorrough seeks to raise awareness about Moebius.  Welcome to our community, my friend...

And I'm sure he can help raise awareness.  And I think it important as well that we in the Moebius community reach out to Dorrough and to anyone else who has Moebius--or who has a member of the family with it--but who doesn't yet know about our community.  Dorrough, if you're out there, or if any friends of Dorrough are out there and come across this, let him know that there are a lot of us out here, that there's a whole Foundation, a whole support group, out there, and we're here for you and for everybody else.  And we send our best to you and your daughter.

"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it.
Establish your priorities and go to work." H. L. Hunt

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Robert
Francis Kennedy

GET YOUR SLEEP
"Are you trying your best to eat right and exercise, but still not losing weight? One study suggests that lack of sleep could throw off a diet.  Research from the University of Chicago showed that dieters who slept for 8.5 hours lost 55 percent more body fat than dieters who slept 5.5 hours.  "Lack of sufficient sleep may compromise the efficacy of typical dietary interventions for weight loss and related metabolic risk reduction,” the study authors concluded in an article released Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American College of Physicians.  Not having enough sleep could affect a hormone called ghrelin, known to affect appetite and weight. An increase in this hormone level has been shown to make people hungrier and cause higher fat retention.  The dieters who slept less reported feeling hungrier throughout the course of the study."


AND ONCE AGAIN, WITH FEELING:  MONEY CAN'T BUY YOU HAPPINESS

"Most of us have thought, 'If only I could win the lottery, then I'd be happy forever.' But according to one of the first studies to look at long-term happiness, major life events, like a sudden cash windfall, are not what make us happy, rather, it's the priorities we set in life.  "The main thing that's surprising about these results is that it challenges this whole field," said lead author Melbourne University sociologist Bruce Headey. "This study goes against the prevailing wisdom that happiness is fixed." The study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Previous studies suggest that happiness is predetermined by genetics and early upbringing, and that we eventually revert back to the same level of happiness regardless of changes in our lives. Looking at data from about 60,000 Germans for up to 25 years, however, Headey found that the more people decided to prioritize goals such as good relationships and good health, the happier they were, regardless of major life events.  How do you change so-called life goals? According to Heady, one way may involve concentrating on helping others, or making family, rather than material possessions, a priority. People who prioritized having a good marriage, a good relationship with their children, and being involved in social and political activities reported higher levels of life satisfaction over time. On the other hand, researchers found those who focused primarily on being able to buy what they wanted or being successful in their careers reported less happiness.  "It looks like the less involved people were in their relationships, the less happy they got," Heady said."

I like to think that those with Moebius or other physical differences have known this for a long time..

SO THEREFORE...BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE NEED TO "FIT IN"

"Finally, science explains the scrunchie, parachute pants and those Silly Bandz the kids today are crazy about: You bought them (and your kids are buying them) because the cool kids have them. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research confirms what we already suspected -- people will buy really weird things in their quest to fit in.  "Social exclusion is a very painful experience, which makes it a strong motivator," explains Tyler Stillman, a visiting sociology professor at Southern Utah University, who is one of the study's co-authors.  In one experiment, researchers paired study participants with a partner who left midway through the study. Some of the participants believed their partners left because they didn't like them -- and those people were more easily talked into buying a silly school spirit trinket. In another study, people who felt excluded were more likely to say they were willing to try cocaine. Researchers say their findings could have real-life implications.  "I think people experience the threat of exclusion when they move to a new area, start a new job, or start college," says Kathleen D. Vohs, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota. "My hunch is that people in these circumstances are more likely to buy products that enable them to connect to their new social circumstances."  

The article goes on to say:

"So, does it ever work? Can you really buy your way into a group of friends?  "Ha, well -- I do think it works sometimes," Vohs says. "We know from decades of data, that when people want to fit in, one great strategy is to mimic or be similar to others with whom they would like to be friends. So showing a would-be friend that you have the same spending patterns (tightwad or spendthrift) as she does is a great way to show her that you are similar, which is a generally effective strategy to be likable."

Hmmmm.  But is it worth it????

MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
This time in the Philippines.

Looks like a good piece.
And our Filipino friend Paolo is exactly right--we smile on the inside.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Remember, Michael Jordan--the guy who became a Hall of Fame NBA superstar--was, as a boy, cut from his junior high basketball squad.

JOBS
Does your job make you feel a bit depressed?  Here's why:
"Most people in today's economy are happy just to have a job -- any job. But work-related factors like long hours, a poor relationship with your boss, and lack of control over daily tasks -- factors that can get worse when the boss is pinching pennies -- can contribute to depression as well.  Clearly having a job is better than not having one when you really need it. Those who are unemployed tend to have higher rates of depression (almost 13 percent) than those who are employed full time (7 percent)."

It's understandable to feel down when you have to work long hours and you have no control.  But I always find it helpful to brainstorm what one CAN do to gain more control...

Meanwhile, a lot of us in this community are very much into using technology and the latest techno-gadgets...and there's nothing necessarily wrong with that.  But texting on your cell phone while driving is a bad, bad idea 

"There's a disturbing number of people texting and driving, according to Vlingo's third annual "Texting While Driving in America Report." Released Thursday, the results show that 35 percent of mobile users

are owning up to the deed, a significant increase from last year's 26 percent.  "Despite the growing awareness of distracted driving, people continue to endanger themselves and their passengers by typing and reading messages behind the wheel," Dave Grannan, Vlingo's president and chief officer, said in a statement.  The study, conducted by independent research firm Toluna, surveyed more than 5,000 consumers. It showed individuals in their 20's to be the worst offenders with a staggering 62 percent admitting to texting behind the wheel. However, the 20-29 age bracket doesn't deserve all of the blame. Fifty-three percent of people ages 16-19 are guilty, as well as 17 percent of drivers 50-59. Idaho is home to the highest percentage of distracted drivers with 45 percent, followed by Kentucky and Missouri with 44 and 43 percent, respectively."

I'd like to think that persons with Moebius Syndrome, who have vision problems anyway, especially when driving, knew...and continue to know...from the get-go that something like texting and driving are a big no-no.  To drive well, you really have to work on seeing all you need to see, and you don't want to be distracted.  Texting distracts you.

And now...

FRIDAY FOOTBALL PICKS

College:

Stanford vs Oregon.  My pick:  CARDINAL.  I was really impressed with Stanford's win last week at Notre Dame--especially with their defense and physical play.  That can win championships.

Texas vs Oklahoma.  My pick:  LONGHORNS.  I know, seems strange...Texas looked awful last week in losing to UCLA, while OU is unbeaten.  But Texas has talent; and it's now a desperate team.  That gives it a mental edge over the Sooners, who are a bit weak defensively, have a young quarterback, and might have a hard time handling being such a favorite.

Michigan State vs Wisconsin.  My pick:  SPARTANS.  Everyone's picking the Badgers.  But I think MSU has the mental edge this time.  They're at home, they will celebrate the return of their coach, they have a strong running game and an experienced QB, and they want revenge for past Badger beatings they've taken.

Michigan vs Indiana.  My pick:  WOLVERINES.  Okay...I'll take the plunge.  I think Michigan's defense, so maligned this year and last, will want to make a point that they CAN stop people (at least once in a while).  And that will be enough, because I think Michigan's offense, engineered by Denard Robinson, will really be able to move the ball.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

New York Jets 8 over Buffalo.  My pick:  BILLS.  They're at home.  They played better last week at New England, behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, putting up 30 points and lots of rushing yards on the Pats.  I think they can keep this game close at home.

Green Bay 10.5 over Detroit.  My pick:  PACKERS.  The Lions are still beat up, they're not a good road team, and they're especially horrible against the pass.  So this week they play against Aaron Rodgers, perhaps the best passer right now in the NFC.  Not good...

New Orleans 12.5 over Carolina.  My pick:  SAINTS.  They should have won last week.  They didn't; they want to put that behind them.  And they can do it this week against a Carolina team led by a raw rookie, Jimmy Clausen.  Rookie QBs on the road in the NFL...not a good combo.

Baltimore even at Pittsburgh.  My pick:  RAVENS.  I have a great deal of respect for the Steelers and what they've done without Big Ben.  But at some point, playing your second-line quarterbacks is gonna hurt you in the NFL...and I think it will here, against the tough Ravens defense.

Philadelphia 7 over Washington.  My pick:  REDSKINS.  They'll keep it close--because Donovan McNabb will be as ready to play tonight, and to prove a point, as he's ever been; and he usually plays well in such situations.  The Redskins--and McNabb--will be the desperate ones tonight, and in the NFL, that's a great mental edge to have.

"It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of
wisdom to listen." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

We'll see if I truly have football "knowledge", though...