| Posts from February 2013 |
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 28 2013 5:32AM
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Well gas is creeping up towards $4 a gallon and it isn't even summer yet! So once again we dig deeper to pay at the pump and ways to be more fuel efficient. As we look at ways to save, here are 3 myths about your car and fuel that most of us believe. Get ready for a dose of reality!
-Chris Malone
Your fuel economy gauge should be your guide.
That’s just not so, Edmunds says. “Our testing reveals that one such gauge claimed fuel economy 19% higher than the actual result,” Edmunds says. “Calculating gas mileage manually is the most accurate way to monitor your car's fuel economy.”
Cheap gas will wreck your car's engine.
Again, this “fact” is right up there with the existence of the Easter Bunny and the ability of leprechauns to find gold. Edmunds performed a blind test on three samples of gasoline from major and independent gas stations and found no difference. “Because of the advances in engine technology, a car's onboard computer is able to adjust for the inevitable variations in fuel, so most drivers won't notice a drop-off in performance between different brands of fuel, from the most additive-rich gas sold by the major brands to the bare-bones stuff at your corner quickie mart,” Edmunds reports. The firm does point out the value of fuel tank cleaning agents, which consumers may want to use twice a year.
Using lower octane gas in a premium-recommended car will cause the engine to knock.
Edmunds says that with the average cost of premium gasoline north of $4 per gallon, “drivers who are pumping premium are undoubtedly asking themselves if they can safely switch to regular grade, which is about 30 cents a gallon cheaper. In many cases, the answer is yes,” Edmunds reports. The company says that with advancements in fuel technology, even regular gasoline is sufficient enough to avoid “knocking” from your vehicle’s engine. Edmunds does say performance may suffer “slightly” from using regular gasoline over premium, with engine speed a half-second slower on the way from zero-to-60 miles per hour. But knocking won’t be an issue. Just be aware, not following the manufacturers recommendations in the owner's manual may void your warranty.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 27 2013 5:37AM
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Ahh the marketing department of food corporations! They will try just about anything to re-invent the wheel. Some are successful while many fail. Here's a list of 10 foods that, thankfully, failed.
-Chris Malone
1. The Chicken Dinner Candy Bar
Fortunately for gastrointestinal tracts worldwide, this candy bar didn't actually include chicken in its list of ingredients. And equally lucky for Sperry Candy Co., which introduced the "treat"Â in the 1920s, consumers actually figured this one out on their own. The company introduced the chocolate-and-peanut butter bar right before the onset of the Depression, hoping the name would give consumers the feeling they were about to have a big home-cooked meal at Grandma's house—hence the juicy roast chicken on the advertisements. Strangely, the gimmick worked, even well after the economy recovered, and Chicken Dinner candy bars were available until the 1960s. Does this mean it qualifies as a true marketplace "flop"Â? No. Did we put it on the list anyway because it sounds like it really should have been? Absolutely.
2. Cereal Mates
Sometimes, new products fail because they're simply bad ideas (ahem, New Coke). Other times, it's because they're just impossible to market. Such was the case for Cereal Mates. Beating the dead horse of über-convenient breakfast foods, Kellogg's introduced Cereal Mates in 1997. The idea was simple: a small box of cereal, a container of specially packaged milk (no refrigeration required!), and a plastic spoon. It was the perfect A.M. answer for the person on the go ...who enjoys warm milk on cereal. Trying to patch up one mistake with another, Kellogg's then moved the product to the dairy section, where no sane person looks for cereal. On top of all that was the price. At about $1.50 for only four ounces of the stuff, Cereal Mates was deemed too expensive for most consumers. After two years, Kellogg's pulled it from the shelves.
3. Flower-Flavored PEZ
No, that's not a typo. Although it would be equally disgusting, we're talking about flower, not flour. Introduced in the late 1960s, flower-flavored PEZ was designed to appeal to the hippie generation—complete with a groovy, psychedelic dispenser. But even in the decade of free love, no love could be found for the flavor power of flower. Floral scents make for great perfume, but nobody eats perfume, and apparently, there's a reason why. The flower version flopped, and became the next addition to PEZ's long and disturbing list of flavor failures. Since its introduction in 1927, the company has also sold coffee, licorice, eucalyptus, menthol, and cinnamon flavors.
4. "I Hate Peas!"Â
For as long as children have been shoving Brussels sprouts under mashed potatoes and slipping green beans to the dog, parents have been hunting desperately for a way to end the vegetable discrimination. Finally, in the 1970s, American Kitchen Foods, Inc. came to the rescue (or at least tried) with the release of "I Hate Peas!"Â Since kids love French fries so much, the company decided that disguising peas in a fry-shaped form was a sure-fire way to trick tots into getting their vitamins. Not a chance. Children all over America saw through the ruse. After all, a pea is a pea is a pea, and the name of the product was more than apropos, no matter what it looked like. There were other thinly disguised vegetables in the company's "I Hate"Â line, but kids hated those, too.
5. Reddi-Bacon
Any company smart enough to bless mankind with sprayable whipped cream—the sort that promotes direct-to-mouth feeding—has got to know a thing or two about immediate gratification. But sadly, the makers of Reddi-wip® were unable to meld their keen understanding of human laziness with one of processed meat. They figured, if you're cooking breakfast in the morning and you've got a hankering for bacon, why dirty up a pan you'll only have to clean later? The solution: foil-wrapped Reddi-Bacon you could pop into your toaster for piping-hot pork in minutes.
While it seemed perfect for the busy 1970s household, the absorbent pad designed to soak up the dripping grease tended to leak, creating not only a fire hazard, but also a messy (if not totally ruined) toaster. Ultimately, the product lasted about as long as it took to cook; the company scrapped it before it went to market nationwide.
6. Coffee-Flavored Jell-O
In 1918, the makers of Jell-O introduced a new flavor: coffee. Its release was ostensibly based on the logic that, since lots of people like to drink coffee with dessert, they'd be game for combining the two after-dinner treats. Not the case. The company soon realized if anyone wants dessert coffee, they're going to have a cup of it. In fact, if anyone wants coffee at all, they're going to have a cup of it. Not surprisingly, this realization came about the time they yanked the product off the shelves. Coffee wasn't Jell-O's only misstep: Cola-flavored Jell-O was sold for about a year starting in 1942, and for a brief while, the clear, wiggly dessert was sold in celery and chocolate flavors, too.
7. Heublein's Wine & Dine
In the mid-1970s, Heublein introduced Wine & Dine, an upscale, easy-to-make dinner that included a small bottle of vino. How refined. How decadent. How confusing. Consumers knew Heublein for their liquor and wines, so how were they supposed to know the wine included in Wine & Dine was an ingredient for the pasta sauce? Hasty consumers who didn't read the directions closely ended up pouring the contents of the bottle into a nice glass and getting a less-than-pleasant mouthful of salted wine.
8. Funky Fries
In 2002, hoping to follow the success of Heinz's new "kiddie"Â ketchup versions (in green and purple), Ore-Ida introduced Funky Fries: chocolate-flavored, cinnamon-flavored, and blue-colored French fries. An awful lot of money was sunk into the product, but after a year of marketing, consumers still found the idea funky—in the bad way. Funky Fries were pulled off the shelves in 2003, and images of blue fries with green ketchup were once again relegated to the world of Warhol-esque pop art.
9. Pepsi A.M.
Creating a super-caffeinated soda worked well for the makers of Red Bull, but not for the folks at Pepsi. With 25 percent more caffeine than a cup of Joe, PepsiCo introduced the cola-flavored product in 1989, only to discover that most people just couldn't bring themselves to drink soda with their cornflakes. For those who wanted a Pepsi in the morning, regular Pepsi did just fine, thankyouverymuch. Pepsi A.M., like the coffee-flavored Pepsi Kona before it, was scrapped after just a few months.
10. Gerber Singles
At some point in time, almost every adult has tasted baby food and discovered that the stuff isn't half bad. But that doesn't mean people want to make a meal out of it. For some reason, Gerber had to learn that lesson the hard way. In 1974, the company released Gerber Singles, small servings of food meant for single adults, packaged in jars that were almost identical to those used for baby food. It didn't take long for Gerber execs to figure out that most consumers, unless they were less than a year old, couldn't get used to eating a pureed meal out of a jar—particularly one depressingly labeled "Singles."Â Baby food for grown-ups was pulled from the marketplace shortly after its birth.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 27 2013 5:04AM
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Of course you're going to be stinky and sweaty after a long run or working in the garden. But what if you're stinky and sweaty at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday and all you've done is sit at your desk all day? That's when you need some help. Prevention magazine outlined five surprising, natural ways you can fight body odor.
1. Choose natural fabrics.
Instead of wearing synthetic fabrics, switch to cotton because it will better absorb perspiration and then allow it to evaporate.
2. Skip the garlic and onions.
Garlic and onions not only give you bad breath, but also can be absorbed in your body in such a way that the odor is released in your sweat. In addition, these strong cooking odors can cling to your hair and clothes and will stay there until you shampoo your hair and launder your clothing.
3. Apply some apple cider vinegar.
if you're looking for a natural underarm deodorant, use apple cider vinegar. Really! Just apply it directly to your armpits to kill body odor.
4. Cut back on meat.
Extracts of proteins and oils from certain foods, especially meat, as well as some types of spices, can remain in your body's excretions and secretions long after eating--and they can make you stink.
5. Benefit from good bacteria.
Take a daily acidophilus supplement to fight odor from the inside out. Acidophilus is a probiotic bacteria that helps aid digestion. |
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by Chris Wells
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posted Feb 26 2013 8:28AM
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Put an end to those small money drains that you barely notice, and you could save hundreds -- or even thousands -- of dollars a year.
Read it all here.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 26 2013 5:58AM
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As a child I was brought up to know that stealing is wrong as I think the majority of us were. But according to a recent survey of 1,000 people by Paintballing.co.uk, people have no guilty conscience when it comes to taking certain things without paying.
1-93% Hotel shampoos, lotion and other room items. OK, shampoo and lotions are complimentary and implied for you top take home but towels, sheets, coffee and even batteries from the remote control you may have a Klepto problem.
2-88% unsecured Internet connection. With the monthly fees of Internet access routinely over $30 a month it's no wonder that people look for a free ride online (just walk inside a Panera or Starbucks). Stealing your neighbor's Internet signal via an unsecured WiFi connection is perfectly OK to 4 out of 5 people. Yet if you were to ask if stealing $30 from the guy who you steal Internet from I bet the percentage would drop. If anything, offer to pay half of the Internet bill for a clearer conscience.
3-55% restaurant condiments. One of my favorite episodes of My Name Is Earl was when Joy was refilling the family's ketchup bottle with individual packets of ketchup lifted from a fast food store. Funny joke but sad in reality. Considering condiments are one of the lowest priced grocery store items, it pretty sad to be tipping the basket of saltines into your purse, pocketing a salt shaker and loading up on sporks!
4-37% steal beer glasses from a bar. i must admit I fell in love with a pint glass from a local bar once. After remarking about it the bartender for what must have been hours, the bar key washed out the glass and handed it to me. I guess looking back at it, I am guilty of stealing (although I left a big tip afterwards) a glass. I hang my head in shame but to this day I still have the pint glass and only use it for special occasions as I do not want the lettering to fade or the glass to fall and break.
5-27% stationary from work. Ahhh yes a box of staples, a couple of post-it pads and a few ball point pens from the supply closet have found their way home. If you were to do this at Target or Walmart, Loss Prevention would escort you to a back office while calling the police to come and arrest you! Yet we feel little shame in doing the same thing from our employers.
6-22% co-workers food/beverages. It's been scandalous for years here at 98.5KTK. From cartons of half & half to frozen burritos stored in the office freezer, 1 in 5 of your co-workers see no problem of helping themselves to your coffee creamer, tea bags and left over lunch containers...even with colorfully-worded post-it notes warning to keep their hands off!
7-17% loose candy. An after dinner mint or chocolate is just that., for after your mea, not to load up for later! Or better yet the Brach candy displays at grocery store where an honor system box asking for a dime for a piece of candy is often overlooked.
8-11% fruit. Walking past the grapes at the grocery store, it's almost irresistible to pick off a grape or two or three. Of course we are just wanting to know if the grapes are sweet and tasty...but be honest, even if they are sweet and tasty do you take from the bunch of grapes you tasted? Or an unopened bag?
9-8% taking pens. Unless you are inside a bank, where the pens are secured with a chain, we find it acceptable to take a pen from stores and restaurants.
A spokesman for Paintballing.co.uk, which carried out the survey, said: “Everyone loves a freebie but it seems the lines between what is intended as a complimentary giveaway and what is someone else’s property isn’t always clear.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 26 2013 5:01AM
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It has become very hard to tell anymore if a picture you see online is real or fake. Now with a little help from Photoshop, and Tim Mathenson’s tutorial, you can tell.
• Open Photoshop
• Open questionable image
• Press CTRL+U or go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation
• Set Hue to low
• Set Saturation to high
• Scroll the light bar back and forth, looking for areas of the image that don’t match
• If you find a splotch of discoloration, that may indicate the picture was retouched.
Tim says this will work on any retouched photo, not just Photoshopped ones.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 25 2013 5:26AM
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At the office when someone isn't feeling well, we are quick to banish them to home so that we don't catch whatever they have. But when it comes to your family there is little to avoid catching what they being home. So here's some helpful advice on what you can do to ward off the flu season sickness from the experts. I'm sure common sense has taught you most of what covered but there are a couple of things I didn't know about and will certainly begin until the sickness season is over!
-Chris Malone
Practical Defense
The common sense ways of avoiding the spread of germs are well known to most parents, but it doesn't hurt to go over them again. Sometimes, when your child is sick, you're so focused on being a caretaker that you can easily lose sight of these simple ways to avoid becoming ill.
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Wash your hands frequently. If you're dealing with a sick child, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after coming into contact with the child. Make sure your hand washing is effective; a quick swish under the water probably won't do the trick. According to The Centers for Disease Control, a 20-second scrub should be enough. A gel hand-sanitizing product also comes in handy. It can kill germs hand-washing may have left behind, or it can be used in a pinch when you can't get to a sink.
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Most respiratory illnesses, like the common cold or flu, are spread through the air. When a sick person sneezes or coughs, their germs find their way into the air and can be inhaled by other people. Teach your children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. You can also use a spray disinfectant to kill airborne germs.
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Don't forget that germs can live on surfaces. Use disinfecting wipes or sprays to attack germs on surfaces your children frequently touch, such as computer keyboards, refrigerator handles and doorknobs.
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Kids like to wrap themselves up in their coziest blankets when they're sick and these comforting objects can pick up lots of germs. Wash sick kids' bedding in hot water to make sure they're extra-clean.
Immune Boosters
Even when you follow all the rules for keeping germs at bay, some are bound to make their way into your body. Thankfully, our bodies have an immune system to help fight these germs off and keep them from becoming full-blown illnesses. In healthy people, the immune system does a great job fighting off illness, but it can always use a little extra boost, especially when cold and flu season comes around.
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Eating a healthy balanced diet is one important way to keep your immune system strong. This is easier said than done, but it's definitely not impossible. Make sure you're getting adequate protein and other nutrients in your diet. A good-quality multi-vitamin can give your diet some extra help.
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Keeping hydrated is another way to keep your body at its best. True, water can taste a bit boring, but you can always jazz it up with some flavoring. Flavored herbal teas work well for this, and they're caffeine free. Another simple and tasty way to flavor water is with lemon juice.
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Lemon is a great immune booster because it helps balance your body's supply of healthy bacteria. For sweetness, add some honey or stevia. Stevia is a plant-based natural sweetener that is fairly new on the mainstream market. It's about 300 times sweeter than sugar so a little goes a long way.
Staying fit doesn't just help you look great; it benefits your immune system too. Even during the frosty days of cold and flu season, be sure you make time for some physical activity. Walk around the block, take the stairs at work, or go sledding with the kids
Do your best to maintain good mental health. When you're stressed or anxious, your body can't properly fight off illness. Use relaxation techniques and other stress-management strategies to help keep your mind in a positive place. Seasonal depression can affect the immune system, too, so be sure you're getting enough sunlight. Get outdoors on sunny days and talk to your doctor about treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Natural Remedies
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Echinacea is the most popular natural immune-system enhancer available. Many people swear by it, and wouldn't go a winter without it.
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Probiotics help maintain a healthy stomach, but they also contribute to the overall health of the body's immune defense. You can take probiotics year-round to keep your body working in top condition.
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Occillococcinum is a difficult to pronounce but easy to use homeopathic treatment for flu. It's said to be effective against flu symptoms when taken at the first signs of illness. It has performed well in clinical trials and is available at many national drugstore chains.
There are many natural supplement products that have (or claim to have) immune-boosting potential. Always do some homework before shopping for these products so you get one that's right for you. |
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 22 2013 5:58AM
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It's Friday night and that annoying guy at work keeps asking you out on a date. So when you say that you have plans tonight washing your hair, try one of these 8 DIY hair treatments that is sure to make your locks even lovelier! Seriously, some really good info that will save you money and probably be better to your hair and scalp than store chemicals! (Woman's Day)
-Chris Malone
Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components of a tasty breakfast — but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and affordable, all-natural ones at that. And they're not the only ones. Did you know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own skin's oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Or that the mild acidity in lemon is an effective — and gentler — alternative to chemical-laden products? Next time your locks need a lift, save money by using one of these kitchen fixes.
For all hair types
"The [raw] egg is really the best of all worlds," says Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty at Home". The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils, she explains.
To use: For normal hair, use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize dry, brittle hair, Cox says. Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from "cooking") and shampoo hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks.
For dull hair
Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film that both saps moisture and dulls shine — but dairy products like sour cream and plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. "Lactic acid gently strips away dirt while the milk fat moisturizes," says Lisa Belkin, author of "The Cosmetics Cookbook".
To Use: Massage 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other week.
For itchy scalp
To fight flakes — brought on by poor diet, stress and climate, among other factors — try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. "The acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin, while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head," says Cox.
To Use: Mix 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week.
For limp or fine hair
To add body to hair, reach for an unlikely beauty beverage: beer! The fermented drink contains generous supplies of yeast, which works to plump tired tresses, explains Cox.
To use: Mix 1/2 cup flat beer (pour beer into a container and let it sit out for a couple of hours to deplete carbonation) with 1 teaspoon light oil (sunflower or canola) and a raw egg. Apply to clean, damp hair, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Or add flat beer only to a spray bottle and spritz onto dry hair. "When the liquid evaporates, the remaining protein residue (from the wheat, malt or hops) continues to strengthen and structure hair," says Belkin. Treatments can be applied every other week.
For dry or sun-damaged hair
Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon — hard water, sun overexposure, your trusty flat iron — nature's sweetener can help. "Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture," says Cox.
To use: Massage approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application. For extremely sun-damaged hair, trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 tablespoons of a protein-rich ingredient, like avocado or egg yolk, which will help replenish the keratin protein bonds that UV rays attack. Treatment can be applied once a month.
For oily or greasy hair
"Used properly, [cornmeal or cornstarch] is an inexpensive way to remove oil and grease," says Belkin.
To use: Pour 1 tablespoon cornmeal or cornstarch into an empty salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you’ve used it all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out. Treatment can be applied every other day.
For frizzy hair
Home beauty experts swear by avocado — and not just to repair damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair, explains Cox.
To use: Mash up half an avocado and massage into clean, damp hair. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Amp up moisturizing power by combining mashed avocado with 1 to 2 tablespoons of a hydrating ingredient, like sour cream, egg yolks or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.
For residue-ridden hair
"Nothing eats through product buildup like baking soda," Cox says. Sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks down anything acidic.
To Use: Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons baking soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.
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by Chris Malone
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posted Feb 21 2013 5:10AM
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Here we go again, the fine art of finding out about your personality! The way you answer "yes" or "no" questions reveals much about you, says Dr. W. Beryl West, a professor of psychology. "When someone asks you to respond in a positive or negative way, they're asking you to put yourself on one side or the other. This clearly expresses the way you feel," says West. "The way we usually or most often say yes or no definitely reveals our personality."
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If you respond "yeah" or "nah," it means you are a casual person, spontaneous and fun-lovin. You enjoy throwing last-minute parties, and always see an easy way to accomplish things.
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If you answer "yessiree" or "nosiree" -- or "yo", "yay" or "nay" -- you're generally a happy person, a free spirit. You're extremely flexible, well-liked and have an active social life.
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Responding with "yes, sir" and "no, sir" means you're extremely polite, consider manners to be very important and enjoy being in charge. You're good at setting priorities and sticking to them.
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If you answer "yes" or "no" you are a precise person. You're always on time. You usually have your days planned in your head. You're very sensitive and always know the proper thing to do or say.
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If you respond with "mm-hmmm" for "yes", and "uh-uh" for "no," you're a physically strong person who believes in teamwork and likes people a lot. You also love animals and enjoy having pets.
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People who reply "yep" or "nope" are extremely creative and set high goals for themselves, have lots of self-confidence and style, yet are tactful and polite when speaking their mind.
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by Chris Wells
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posted Feb 20 2013 7:22AM
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The proposed 2013-14 student code of conduct does not reinstate the controversial punishment of paddling. But one board member hopes to get enough votes in April to add it back in after a three-year absence.
"This (paddling) is an alternative to out-of-school suspension if parents choose it," said School Board member Carol Ely, who retired as Shady Hill principal two years ago.
Read it all here.
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