NEW YORK - Blockbuster Inc., once the dominant movie rental company in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday after reeling from mounting losses, rising debt and competitors that have better catered to Americans' changed media habits.
Blockbuster will continue to operate its 3,000 U.S. stores. But the move, long expected, marks the end of an era that Blockbuster and its gold-and-blue torn ticket logo helped establish — of Americans visiting video-store chains for the latest movie-rental releases. Increasingly, Americans are forgoing Blockbuster and watching movies via video subscription services like Netflix Inc., video on demand and vending machine services such as Coinstar Inc.'s Redbox.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
fat Americans
PARIS (AP) — Citizens of the world's richest countries are getting fatter and fatter and the United States is leading the charge, an organization of leading economies said Thursday in its first ever obesity forecast.
Three out of four Americans will be overweight or obese by 2020, and disease rates and health care spending will balloon, unless governments, individuals and industry cooperate on a comprehensive strategy to combat the epidemic, the study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
That plus the fact that people are much less physically active than in the past means that the ranks of the overweight have swelled to nearly 70 percent in the U.S. this year from well under 50 percent in 1980, according to the OECD.
In 10 years, a full 75 percent of Americans will be overweight, making it "the fattest country in the OECD," the report said.
Three out of four Americans will be overweight or obese by 2020, and disease rates and health care spending will balloon, unless governments, individuals and industry cooperate on a comprehensive strategy to combat the epidemic, the study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
That plus the fact that people are much less physically active than in the past means that the ranks of the overweight have swelled to nearly 70 percent in the U.S. this year from well under 50 percent in 1980, according to the OECD.
In 10 years, a full 75 percent of Americans will be overweight, making it "the fattest country in the OECD," the report said.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
5 things for good health
After 12 years, this will be my last column for USA WEEKEND Magazine. It has been tremendously rewarding to be able to provide helpful hints on health. I'd like to leave you with a few of my thoughts on maintaining good health. Given all the uncertainties the national health care debate has brought, it makes even more sense to make personal health maintenance a high priority. So here are some tips to remember:
Health is your responsibility. It is not the doctor's job, the hospital's job, your spouse's job or the government's job to keep you healthy — it's up to you. We suffer from chronic diseases that are too often the result of poor habits. The choices you make today usually determine the health you have tomorrow.
Stay active. If you're looking for the fountain of youth, look no further than that pair of sneakers in your closet. A daily “dose” of 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise will go a long way toward keeping you healthy as you age.
You are what you eat. Diets high in saturated fats and refined sugars provide lots of calories and little nutrition. Imagine your plate in four quadrants; three of them should be filled with colorful fruits and vegetables. This is a simple but very important image to maintain whether you're at home or eating out.
Stop smoking. Smoking is the greatest modifiable health risk facing our nation. For people who want to try to kick the habit on their own, stop-smoking aids are available at the local pharmacy. For those who need an extra push, professional help can be found with the help of your local doctor. However you do it, live smoke-free.
Keep a healthy emotional outlook. Life has ups and downs for all of us, but how we react to adversity influences not only our own psychological health but also the quality of life of those who live and work with us. It's like Grandma Moses said: “Life is what we make it — always has been, always will be.”
TEDD MITCHELL, M.D., is president of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.
Health is your responsibility. It is not the doctor's job, the hospital's job, your spouse's job or the government's job to keep you healthy — it's up to you. We suffer from chronic diseases that are too often the result of poor habits. The choices you make today usually determine the health you have tomorrow.
Stay active. If you're looking for the fountain of youth, look no further than that pair of sneakers in your closet. A daily “dose” of 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise will go a long way toward keeping you healthy as you age.
You are what you eat. Diets high in saturated fats and refined sugars provide lots of calories and little nutrition. Imagine your plate in four quadrants; three of them should be filled with colorful fruits and vegetables. This is a simple but very important image to maintain whether you're at home or eating out.
Stop smoking. Smoking is the greatest modifiable health risk facing our nation. For people who want to try to kick the habit on their own, stop-smoking aids are available at the local pharmacy. For those who need an extra push, professional help can be found with the help of your local doctor. However you do it, live smoke-free.
Keep a healthy emotional outlook. Life has ups and downs for all of us, but how we react to adversity influences not only our own psychological health but also the quality of life of those who live and work with us. It's like Grandma Moses said: “Life is what we make it — always has been, always will be.”
TEDD MITCHELL, M.D., is president of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.
save your brain
“The idea that Alzheimer's is entirely genetic and unpreventable is perhaps the greatest misconception about the disease,” says Gary Small, M.D., director of the UCLA Center on Aging. Researchers now know that Alzheimer's, like heart disease and cancer, develops over decades and can be influenced by lifestyle factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, depression, education, nutrition, sleep and mental, physical and social activity.
The big news: Mountains of research reveals that simple things you do every day might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.
In search of scientific ways to delay and outlive Alzheimer's and other dementias, I tracked down thousands of studies and interviewed dozens of experts. I put the results in a new book: 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss (Little, Brown; $19.99). Here are 10 strategies I found most surprising.
The big news: Mountains of research reveals that simple things you do every day might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.
In search of scientific ways to delay and outlive Alzheimer's and other dementias, I tracked down thousands of studies and interviewed dozens of experts. I put the results in a new book: 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss (Little, Brown; $19.99). Here are 10 strategies I found most surprising.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
continuous chest compression CPR
The American Heart Association has updated its CPR guidelines and now advocates continuous chest compressions, a method developed at The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center.
Learn Sarver Heart Center's Continuous Chest Compression CPR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5huVSebZpM
[via unclewilfred (aunty laura) via paula via Carol.Briseno@sudler.com]
Learn Sarver Heart Center's Continuous Chest Compression CPR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5huVSebZpM
[via unclewilfred (aunty laura) via paula via Carol.Briseno@sudler.com]
Friday, September 17, 2010
relationship killers
Certain actions are relationship killers. Here are some areas where action -- or inaction -- will make all the difference.
1. Money. It is the No. 1 cause of divorce. If a partner has been unscrupulous, getting the trust back can be a challenge. You can start over, but you have to be willing to make up for what was lost and make sure the business side of your relationship is tuned up.
2. Sex/infidelity. A sexless marriage or unfaithfulness can extinguish love quicker than blowing out a candle. Don't let the flame burn out when keeping things warm is much easier than you think.
3. Disrespect. Research shows that if you call your partner names, belittle him or her, threaten to leave or use insulting language and yell, your relationship has a very low chance of survival.
4. Children. To some, children are bipedal germ carriers; to others, they are a reason for living. When families blend or go through difficult changes, the kids can become the entire focus of your relationship. Make sure to keep things in balance with your partner, so you have the energy to deal with any child issues.
5. Opposite-sex friends. Would you want your mate to hang out with a member of the opposite sex, having lunches, texting, etc.? If the answer is no, then you need to follow the same guidelines and talk with your partner about keeping appropriate boundaries.
6. Resentments. When you are holding pain, hurt or anger in your heart, there is little room for love. If you are harboring some resentment -- and who isn't? -- talk it out and put the matter to rest, so you can enjoy your relationship.
7. Discomfort/remodeling. If you are living in a construction zone, it's pretty hard to feel comfortable. Injury or illness can create a similar situation. Your home should be a place of serenity, so if you are remodeling or are dealing with physical issues, make your comfort a priority.
8. Lying/broken promises. Once you have been caught in a lie or break a promise, things change -- and not for the better. Even if you're afraid of getting in trouble, tell the whole truth and don't break promises, and find a way to make up for past mistakes.
9. Laziness. All good relationships require work. If you are unwilling to do it, your connection will diminish and you will begin to resent your partner. Talking about the kind of work your relationship needs is a good start.
10. Being mean. If you punish your partner when you don't get your way, or if the two of you give each other the silent treatment, you are headed for a lifetime of emotional pain. Stop the nastiness and learn how to heal what bugs you.
It's not very complicated. Avoid these relationship killers, and keep the love alive.
1. Money. It is the No. 1 cause of divorce. If a partner has been unscrupulous, getting the trust back can be a challenge. You can start over, but you have to be willing to make up for what was lost and make sure the business side of your relationship is tuned up.
2. Sex/infidelity. A sexless marriage or unfaithfulness can extinguish love quicker than blowing out a candle. Don't let the flame burn out when keeping things warm is much easier than you think.
3. Disrespect. Research shows that if you call your partner names, belittle him or her, threaten to leave or use insulting language and yell, your relationship has a very low chance of survival.
4. Children. To some, children are bipedal germ carriers; to others, they are a reason for living. When families blend or go through difficult changes, the kids can become the entire focus of your relationship. Make sure to keep things in balance with your partner, so you have the energy to deal with any child issues.
5. Opposite-sex friends. Would you want your mate to hang out with a member of the opposite sex, having lunches, texting, etc.? If the answer is no, then you need to follow the same guidelines and talk with your partner about keeping appropriate boundaries.
6. Resentments. When you are holding pain, hurt or anger in your heart, there is little room for love. If you are harboring some resentment -- and who isn't? -- talk it out and put the matter to rest, so you can enjoy your relationship.
7. Discomfort/remodeling. If you are living in a construction zone, it's pretty hard to feel comfortable. Injury or illness can create a similar situation. Your home should be a place of serenity, so if you are remodeling or are dealing with physical issues, make your comfort a priority.
8. Lying/broken promises. Once you have been caught in a lie or break a promise, things change -- and not for the better. Even if you're afraid of getting in trouble, tell the whole truth and don't break promises, and find a way to make up for past mistakes.
9. Laziness. All good relationships require work. If you are unwilling to do it, your connection will diminish and you will begin to resent your partner. Talking about the kind of work your relationship needs is a good start.
10. Being mean. If you punish your partner when you don't get your way, or if the two of you give each other the silent treatment, you are headed for a lifetime of emotional pain. Stop the nastiness and learn how to heal what bugs you.
It's not very complicated. Avoid these relationship killers, and keep the love alive.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Law of Success
Happened to catch this informercial on CNBC.
This guy was hawking this book by Napoleon Hill of Think and Grow Rich fame.
The premise was that Think and Grow Rich is a very watered-down version of this original publication purportedly first printed in 1925 with a run of about 100 copies distributed.
Then came another (the official?) version in 1928. Then the popular Think and Grow Rich in 1937 [pdf here along with a number of other classics].
A search of Google brought this.
The 1928 version is available on the web here [also at archive.org] and in book form at Amazon. The book is from Wilshire Publishing [I remember them. That's Melvin Powers' company and at one time I tried to sell their books. I did like The Magic of Thinking Big from them.]
I see the book is $30 at Wilshire vs. $17.55 at Amazon (vs. $50 from the infomercial -- actually $49.95 plus $9.95 s/h). [Here's another site for his informercial. Don't know why there's two.]
And I see it's available on ebay for $28.95 (plus $3.99 shipping) from bigbluemonster.
Apparently the guy in the informercial is Steve Paris (from the website above). Googling Steve Paris shows the book is oddly available on itunes. The guy is on twitter with 124 followers (account created 11/26/09). His company is Orne Publishing which apparently only publishes this one book.
Here's something interesting. Orne Publishing interviewing Steve. In other words, Steve hired somebody to interview himself. (Hmm. Like an informercial..)
And there you have it. The Law of Success in practice (assuming Steve is making a profit at this).
***
(See also The Secret)
[5/29/14] 10 Rules of Success
This guy was hawking this book by Napoleon Hill of Think and Grow Rich fame.
The premise was that Think and Grow Rich is a very watered-down version of this original publication purportedly first printed in 1925 with a run of about 100 copies distributed.
Then came another (the official?) version in 1928. Then the popular Think and Grow Rich in 1937 [pdf here along with a number of other classics].
A search of Google brought this.
The 1928 version is available on the web here [also at archive.org] and in book form at Amazon. The book is from Wilshire Publishing [I remember them. That's Melvin Powers' company and at one time I tried to sell their books. I did like The Magic of Thinking Big from them.]
I see the book is $30 at Wilshire vs. $17.55 at Amazon (vs. $50 from the infomercial -- actually $49.95 plus $9.95 s/h). [Here's another site for his informercial. Don't know why there's two.]
And I see it's available on ebay for $28.95 (plus $3.99 shipping) from bigbluemonster.
Apparently the guy in the informercial is Steve Paris (from the website above). Googling Steve Paris shows the book is oddly available on itunes. The guy is on twitter with 124 followers (account created 11/26/09). His company is Orne Publishing which apparently only publishes this one book.
Here's something interesting. Orne Publishing interviewing Steve. In other words, Steve hired somebody to interview himself. (Hmm. Like an informercial..)
And there you have it. The Law of Success in practice (assuming Steve is making a profit at this).
***
(See also The Secret)
[5/29/14] 10 Rules of Success
Monday, September 13, 2010
money buys happiness?
WASHINGTON (AP) — They say money can't buy happiness. They're wrong. At least up to a point.
People's emotional well-being — happiness — increases along with their income up to about $75,000, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For folks making less than that, said Angus Deaton, an economist at the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University, "Stuff is so in your face it's hard to be happy. It interferes with your enjoyment."
Happiness got better as income rose but the effect leveled out at $75,000, Deaton said. On the other hand, their overall sense of success or well-being continued to rise as their earnings grew beyond that point. "Giving people more income beyond $75 thousand is not going to do much for their daily mood ... but it is going to make them feel they have a better life," Deaton said in an interview.
Not surprisingly, someone who moves from a $100,000-a-year job to one paying $200,000 realizes an improved sense of success. That doesn't necessarily mean they are happier day to day, Deaton said.
***
Money can't buy happiness, but a study shows that we can earn it.
The study, which analyzed Gallup surveys of 450,000 Americans in 2008 and 2009, suggests that there were two forms of happiness: day-to-day contentment and overall satisfaction with one's place in the world. While a higher income brings little day-to-day contentment, it does boost people's overall satisfaction.
The study, conducted by Princeton University economist Angus Deaton and famed psychologist Daniel Kahneman, found that there's a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.
As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. That is, until you hit the magic number: $75,000 a year. After that, it's just more stuff, with no gain in happiness.
People's emotional well-being — happiness — increases along with their income up to about $75,000, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For folks making less than that, said Angus Deaton, an economist at the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University, "Stuff is so in your face it's hard to be happy. It interferes with your enjoyment."
Happiness got better as income rose but the effect leveled out at $75,000, Deaton said. On the other hand, their overall sense of success or well-being continued to rise as their earnings grew beyond that point. "Giving people more income beyond $75 thousand is not going to do much for their daily mood ... but it is going to make them feel they have a better life," Deaton said in an interview.
Not surprisingly, someone who moves from a $100,000-a-year job to one paying $200,000 realizes an improved sense of success. That doesn't necessarily mean they are happier day to day, Deaton said.
***
Money can't buy happiness, but a study shows that we can earn it.
The study, which analyzed Gallup surveys of 450,000 Americans in 2008 and 2009, suggests that there were two forms of happiness: day-to-day contentment and overall satisfaction with one's place in the world. While a higher income brings little day-to-day contentment, it does boost people's overall satisfaction.
The study, conducted by Princeton University economist Angus Deaton and famed psychologist Daniel Kahneman, found that there's a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.
As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. That is, until you hit the magic number: $75,000 a year. After that, it's just more stuff, with no gain in happiness.
Monday, September 06, 2010
respect my authority
Does Jerry Coffee respect Barack Obama? Does he honor and pray for our president? Judy Bader raises these good questions in her letter last week. I’ve had occasions to witness Mr. Coffee’s sincere faith in Jesus and his devotion to the Bible, so I have hope that Jerry fully intends to follow the Apostle Paul’s dictum in Romans 13: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
It is unfortunate and patently unbiblical for Christians to disrespect and dishonor our governing authorities. Amazingly, when these words were written, the authority was the Roman emperor Caesar - not an amenable or particularly friendly administration! Still, scripture insisted on respect. Certainly there is a clear Biblical precedent and constant societal need for prophetic speaking of truth to power. This is what Mr. Coffee sometimes does. All of us have a right and responsibility to make our voices heard on issues of justice and mercy, but always with kindness and love for our political “enemies.” I am ashamed of outraged, undisciplined Christians, both left and right, who ignore God’s standard of honorable discourse indulging in hyper partisan pandering to putrid political prejudices.
Jay Jarman
Aiea
It is unfortunate and patently unbiblical for Christians to disrespect and dishonor our governing authorities. Amazingly, when these words were written, the authority was the Roman emperor Caesar - not an amenable or particularly friendly administration! Still, scripture insisted on respect. Certainly there is a clear Biblical precedent and constant societal need for prophetic speaking of truth to power. This is what Mr. Coffee sometimes does. All of us have a right and responsibility to make our voices heard on issues of justice and mercy, but always with kindness and love for our political “enemies.” I am ashamed of outraged, undisciplined Christians, both left and right, who ignore God’s standard of honorable discourse indulging in hyper partisan pandering to putrid political prejudices.
Jay Jarman
Aiea
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Pogo Poge
No one quite expected that the lyrics of the "Checkers & Pogo" theme song — "Here comes Checkers, here comes Checkers, Checkers ... and Pogo Poge!" — would be quite so prescient. Three actors eventually played Mr. Checkers in the KGMB-TV children's show, but to his Hawaii fans, there could be only one Pogo.
Entertainer Morgan Branch White, better known to Hawaii schoolchildren as TV character "Pogo Poge," died yesterday in Utah, where he had retired. He was 86.
He had retired largely to farm in Sevier, Utah, after he left Hawaii television in 1982, said son Steve White.
From 1967 to 1982, White was an island TV fixture on the after-school program "Checkers & Pogo," considered the longest-running, most successful children's television show in Hawaii.
White recalled in a KGMB "Checkers & Pogo Remembered" special that station owner Cec Heftel rushed the show onto the air. Heftel drafted White, then a disc jockey at KGMB radio, as one of the leads, telling him to grab a costume from wardrobe. The first items White put on were a pointy hat, a too-tight vest, and a clashing striped shirt and pants. This ad-hoc outfit defined Pogo's look for the next 15 years.
In the book "Hi There, Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Shows," author Tim Hollis described Poge's costume resembled an Alpine climber complete with a Tyrolean hat.
The "Pogo Poge" character, as played by White, was kind, impish and innocent, a kind of Stan Laurel to Mr. Checkers' blowhard Oliver Hardy.
Gruff Mr. Checkers was portrayed by actors Jim Hawthorne, former Star-Bulletin columnist Dave Donnelly and Jim Demarest, all of whom have died in the last six years. White, who also wrote and produced several episodes of the children's TV series, carried on the show as a solo act for the last three years it aired.
White also appeared in the original "Hawaii Five-0" series, portraying the islands' attorney general six times. After retiring from Hawaii, White continued children's programming in Utah and played a judge in the 1987 TV movie "At Mother's Request."
Entertainer Morgan Branch White, better known to Hawaii schoolchildren as TV character "Pogo Poge," died yesterday in Utah, where he had retired. He was 86.
He had retired largely to farm in Sevier, Utah, after he left Hawaii television in 1982, said son Steve White.
From 1967 to 1982, White was an island TV fixture on the after-school program "Checkers & Pogo," considered the longest-running, most successful children's television show in Hawaii.
White recalled in a KGMB "Checkers & Pogo Remembered" special that station owner Cec Heftel rushed the show onto the air. Heftel drafted White, then a disc jockey at KGMB radio, as one of the leads, telling him to grab a costume from wardrobe. The first items White put on were a pointy hat, a too-tight vest, and a clashing striped shirt and pants. This ad-hoc outfit defined Pogo's look for the next 15 years.
In the book "Hi There, Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Shows," author Tim Hollis described Poge's costume resembled an Alpine climber complete with a Tyrolean hat.
The "Pogo Poge" character, as played by White, was kind, impish and innocent, a kind of Stan Laurel to Mr. Checkers' blowhard Oliver Hardy.
Gruff Mr. Checkers was portrayed by actors Jim Hawthorne, former Star-Bulletin columnist Dave Donnelly and Jim Demarest, all of whom have died in the last six years. White, who also wrote and produced several episodes of the children's TV series, carried on the show as a solo act for the last three years it aired.
White also appeared in the original "Hawaii Five-0" series, portraying the islands' attorney general six times. After retiring from Hawaii, White continued children's programming in Utah and played a judge in the 1987 TV movie "At Mother's Request."
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