Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Classic Twinkies Commercial - YouTube
Classic Twinkies Commercial - YouTube: ""
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ploaded by asteriskpix on Mar 23, 2008
A pair of youths lasso Twinkie the Kid, they have no idea what they're in for. This spot is from the early 70s. Are the twinkies used in the film in better condition today than this video?
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Twinkie and Wonder Bread fans react to Hostess' bankruptcy news - Your Community
Twinkie and Wonder Bread fans react to Hostess' bankruptcy news - Your Community:
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Hostess Brands Inc., the makers of Wonder Bread and Twinkies, is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States, a report claimed Tuesday.
- The Irving, Texas-based company has more than 19,000 workers and operates in 49 states and Canada, generating about $2 billion US in annual sales.
Hostess is well-known for its confectionery treats including Twinkies, SnoBalls and Ho Hos. The Twinkie in particular has become ubiquitous in American pop culture since its invention in 1930 by James Dewar.
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Thursday, January 12, 2012
Addicted! Scientists show how internet dependency alters the human brain - Science - News - The Independent
Addicted! Scientists show how internet dependency alters the human brain - Science - News - The Independent:
Internet addiction has for the first time been linked with changes in the brain similar to those seen in people addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. In a groundbreaking study, researchers used MRI scanners to reveal abnormalities in the brains of adolescents who spent many hours on the internet, to the detriment of their social and personal lives. The finding could throw light on other behavioural problems and lead to the development of new approaches to treatment, researchers said.
An estimated 5 to 10 per cent of internet users are thought to be addicted – meaning they are unable to control their use. The majority are games players who become so absorbed in the activity they go without food or drink for long periods and their education, work and relationships suffer.
Henrietta Bowden Jones, consultant psychiatrist at Imperial College, London, who runs Britain's only NHS clinic for internet addicts and problem gamblers, said: "The majority of people we see with serious internet addiction are gamers – people who spend long hours in roles in various games that cause them to disregard their obligations. I have seen people who stopped attending university lectures, failed their degrees or their marriages broke down because they were unable to emotionally connect with anything outside the game."
Although most of the population was spending longer online, that was not evidence of addiction, she said. "It is different. We are doing it because modern life requires us to link up over the net in regard to jobs, professional and social connections – but not in an obsessive way. When someone comes to you and says they did not sleep last night because they spent 14 hours playing games, and it was the same the previous night, and they tried to stop but they couldn't – you know they have a problem. It does tend to be the gaming that catches people out."
Researchers in China scanned the brains of 17 adolescents diagnosed with "internet addiction disorder" who had been referred to the Shanghai Mental Health Centre, and compared the results with scans from 16 of their peers.
The results showed impairment of white matter fibres in the brain connecting regions involved in emotional processing, attention, decision making and cognitive control. Similar changes to the white matter have been observed in other forms of addiction to substances such as alcohol and cocaine.
"The findings suggest that white matter integrity may serve as a potential new treatment target in internet addiction disorder," they say in the online journal Public Library of Science One. The authors acknowledge that they cannot tell whether the brain changes are the cause or the consequence of the internet addiction. It could be that young people with the brain changes observed are more prone to becoming addicted.
Professor Michael Farrell, director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia, said: "The limitations [of this study] are that it is not controlled, and it's possible that illicit drugs, alcohol or other caffeine-based stimulants might account for the changes. The specificity of 'internet addiction disorder' is also questionable."
Case studies: Caught in the web
Xbox addict killed by blood clot after 12-hour sessions
Chris Staniforth, 20, died of a blood clot after spending up to 12 hours at a time playing on his Xbox. Despite having no history of ill health, he developed deep vein thrombosis – commonly associated with long-haul flight passengers. Mr Staniforth, from Sheffield, had been offered a place to study game design at the University of Leicester. But he collapsed while telling a friend he'd been having pains in his chest.
Toddler starved to death while mother played online
A mother was jailed for 25 years after her daughter starved to death while she played an online game for hours at a time. Rebecca Colleen Christie, 28, from New Mexico in the US, played the fantasy game World of Warcraft while her three-year-old daughter, Brandi, starved. The toddler weighed just 23lbs when she was finally rushed to hospital after her mother found her limp and unconscious.
Woman jailed after gamble fails to pay off
A woman who stole £76,000 from a company to fund her internet gambling addiction was jailed this week. Lucienne Mainey, 41, from Cambridgeshire, was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting fraud. The court heard she secretly paid herself by changing old invoices. Mainey turned to internet bingo following the breakdown of her marriage.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Best Heart-Healthy Diets | US News Best Diets
Best Heart-Healthy Diets | US News Best Diets:
Best Heart-Healthy Diets
Being overweight is just one factor that puts people at risk for heart disease and stroke. A heart-healthy diet can help you lose weight or lower cholesterol, blood pressure, or triglycerides. According to experts who rated the 25 diets below, the Ornish diet is the most heart-healthy.
http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-heart-healthy-diets?
#1 Ornish Diet
(4.6 out of 5.0)Dieters are sure to do their heart a favor on the Ornish diet, according to experts, and if they use a rigorous version of the plan they could actually reverse heart disease. But the balanced, sound menu promotes heart health only if—experts emphasized if—the diet’s rules are followed.
#2 TLC Diet
(4.5 out of 5.0)The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet helps keep cardiovascular disease at bay, according to experts who reviewed the research. Following the diet should bring down blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels, for example.
#3 DASH Diet
(4.3 out of 5.0)The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension program, or DASH, was devised to help control high blood pressure, and its effects on that marker of cardiovascular health have been extensively studied. So it’s no surprise that experts regarded it as a good diet for the heart.
#4 Mediterranean Diet
(4.0 out of 5.0)Lots of research has validated the Mediterranean diet’s ability to prevent cardiovascular disease because of its emphasis on produce, monounsaturated fats, and protein from fish, with only a small amount from red meat.
#5 Vegan Diet
(3.9 out of 5.0)Veganism earned high marks for its potential to boost cardiovascular health. It emphasizes the right foods—fruits, veggies, and whole grains—while steering dieters away from salty, processed choices.
#6 Mayo Clinic Diet
(3.6 out of 5.0)Experts saw the Mayo Clinic Diet as a sound option for preventing or controlling heart problems. Its focus is on coaching dieters to develop healthy, lasting habits around which foods they choose to eat and which to avoid.
#7 Vegetarian Diet
(3.6 out of 5.0)A vegetarian diet has the potential to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to experts, as long as vegetarians don’t load up on full-fat dairy and processed foods. It’s a good bet for heart-conscious dieters, especially those who don’t have the heart to eat animals anyway.
#8 Biggest Loser Diet
(3.5 out of 5.0)The Biggest Loser diet scored above average in the heart category. It mirrors the medical community’s consensus about what makes a heart-healthy plan. It’s heavy on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, and light on saturated fat and added sugar. And exercise is integral to the program, not an add-on.
#9 Volumetrics Diet
(3.5 out of 5.0)Research indicates Volumetrics can improve cardiovascular health, and the diet reflects the essence of a heart-healthy approach to eating: It’s heavy on fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and light on saturated fat and salt.
#10 Weight Watchers Diet
(3.4 out of 5.0)Weight Watchers is a healthy diet for the heart, according to experts, but it’s not as strong in this area as it is for weight loss. Some evidence suggests it helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, potentially warding off heart problems. And weight loss can help prevent heart disease.
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