SOME NOTES AND ASIDES
Some blurbs here and there that many of you might find interesting...

A woiman, newly split up from her husband, offers some advice on how to establish some good independence:
"1. Resist the urge to explain yourself.

As you alter the way you live, people will object to the changes. Think of a phrase that you can deliver without elaboration, like "I'm doing this because it makes me happy."

2. Spend time with someone who has a different worldview.

He or she can offer fresh perspectives, which may inspire you to reevaluate your own routine and goals.

3. Make "alone dates"

And guard them as if they're dates with your best friend. On my inaugural alone date, I went to the National Gallery of Canada.

It was the first time in years I'd bought a ticket without purchasing an audio guide, too. John had always insisted on the earphones. To him, wandering was inefficient, but to me, following my whims could be revelatory -- as, indeed, that afternoon it was: In the quiet of the gallery, surrounded by beauty and limitless time, I realized that my life felt truly my own."

Does vitamin C help lower your blood pressure?  Well...

"People have placed lots of stock in vitamin C to address all kinds of health issues; many people swear by it as a way to ward off the common cold, for instance, even though that connection is scientifically shaky.

The idea that vitamin C might help lower blood pressure got a bit of a boost with the publication on Monday of a study showing a modest reduction in blood pressure readings associated with consumption of vitamin C supplements.

The catch? People in the study, which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, had to take about 500 milligrams of vitamin C a day to see their blood pressure drop. That’s more than five times the 75 to 90 milligrams currently recommended for most adults."

Why do guys go crazy watching their favorite teams in the big game on TV? (and I admit, I'm guilty of it)  There are scientific reasons:
"You can witness this same ferocity among Philadelphia Eagles fans – so ornery they once booed a man dressed as Santa Claus before pounding Saint Nick with snowballs. Then again, if you are any sort of sports-obsessed guy – (OK, let’s just say, if you’re a guy), you, too, probably talk smack with your buds and vent venom at the flat screen whenever the score gets close.
Well, now we know exactly why – on a chemical level – boys will be boys when a ballgame hangs in the balance. According to a study published Wednesday, dudes actually become even more dude-like while watching their beloved teams compete.

Blame steroids. The natural kinds, that is. During games, two hormones – testosterone and cortisol – increase within the bodies of sports boosters, especially “dedicated, young, male fans,” writes a study team headed by Leander van der Meij, a PhD at the University of Valencia in Spain and VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands."

 

Have back pain?  Here is a surprising possible cause of it--and what you can do:

"Mobile technology has not been kind to our backs and necks, Prather says. "We're hovering over laptops, iPads, and smartphones all the time," she notes. "This head-down position strains the muscles in the neck, and the pain can extend all the way down your spine to your lower back." Take frequent breaks, and try to look straight ahead--rather than down--while using a laptop, tablet, or phone. You can buy a stand to help hold your laptop or tablet at a more back-friendly height and angle."

 

 

“Mix a little foolishness with your prudence: It's good to be silly at the right moment. ”--Horace 

 

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true." -L.J. Cardinal Suenens