Extend Your Life

There's evidence life spans in America may actually shrink if we keep our couch-potato ways. But some surprisingly simple steps (more sleep, anyone?) may put us on the right path. Our guide to extending your golden years.

KEITH HAYES was willing to try almost anything to lower his blood pressure. He sat quietly, breathing deeply, in his car. In empty conference rooms. Even in his own cubicle, with his eyes closed. But the best oasis he found for destressing during the day was a tiny 4-by-8-foot room — otherwise known as the office utility closet.

Everyday Mysteries

Did you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why our joints make popping sounds? These questions deal with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but each can be explained scientifically.

Everyday Mysteries will help you get the answers to these and many other of life's most interesting questions through scientific inquiry. In addition, we will introduce you to the Library of Congress' rich collections in science and technology.

All of the questions presented on this Web site were asked by researchers and answered by librarians from the Library's Science Reference Services.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #403

The Happiness Formula

A new six-part BBC series, starting this week, looks at the newest research from around the world to find out what could it be that makes us happy.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #403

The Creation of American Idol

Network television programmers face a challenging job, though not a complicated one: they need to find hits. That's why they spend millions to find and hire talented writers, actors and producers. In many cases they would be wiser to invest in a catcher's mitt, because really big hits, ones that can transform the fates of networks — and of network executives — tend to fall from the sky. Here is the story of how "American Idol," the biggest hit on television, hovered over every network in 2001, waiting for one of them to grab it. This article is adapted from "Desperate Networks" by Bill Carter, a reporter for The New York Times. Doubleday will publish the book on Tuesday.

Religious Tolerance

[5/26/06] Religioustolerance.org promotes religious tolerance. That is, we encourage people to respect the freedom of other individuals to follow freely their own religious and spiritual paths, without discrimination and oppression. This is a human right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.. Ultimately, it leads to peace in a land of religious diversity, and to religious freedom for all.

Unfortunately (in my view) not all are tolerant with this site's views.

-- found from a link from the BBC site on religion which was featured in Cool Tricks and Trinkets #404

daily health

5/16/06 - Stress Busters
The idea behind living a stress-free life is to remove the obstructions in your life that are causing you to be stressed. Of course this is easier said than done, but it is truly the only way to not have stress. Here I list some things that can be done on a daily basis, or as needed, to reduce the symptoms of stress.

• Walk outside for at least 20 continuous minutes every day
• Take the stairs whenever possible
• Take 10 deep belly breaths every hour, if possible
• Drink plenty of pure water — at least 10 glasses a day
• Avoid sugar and caffeine in all forms
• Regulate sleep and wake cycle to a consistent daily routine
• Engage in Mindfulness Meditation for at least 15 minutes per day
• Prioritize your life, work, family and personal time and activities
• Do six shoulder shrugs whenever you are tense
• Realize that when people criticize and judge, they are labeling an "image" of you and not you personally
• Realize that you are worth so much more than the sum of your titles, money and belongings


5/11/06 - Excercise Your Breath
There are innumerable ways in which one can benefit from the practice of the deep breathing exercises of qigong. The practice of qigong improves blood circulation and enriches the blood with more red blood cells. This increases the supply of oxygen to the tissues and promotes healthier tissues and organs. The greater supply of oxygen enables the heart to pump slower, while still providing enough oxygen to the body.

gas saving tips

With the statewide average price of regular gasoline passing $3.40 last week, drivers are looking for ways to cut their gas consumption. "There's lots of things you can do," said George Nitta, host of a local radio show about cars. If you really want to save gasoline, get a bicycle, Nitta said.

[6/15/08] Here's Edmunds' article on what really saves gas (article dated 11/22/05, from frwr-news of 6/3/06)

David Blaine

Performance Artist, Illusionist, Magician and newbie diver David Blaine has ended his 177-hour stay in a water-filled acrylic sphere, failing in his attempt to free himself from chains and shackles while holding his breath beyond the 9-minute mark.