10 health benefits of green tea

1. Antioxidant: Green Tea is loaded with epigallocatechin gallate, a catechin, which in layman's terms means it's a great natural antioxidant. Antioxidant help to keep the blood clean, thus reducing the chances of cancer and heart disease.
2. Antibiotic: Yes, green tea is also good for helping to destroy and/or fight harmful bacteria in the body, mainly because of the epigallocatechin gallate mentioned above. Does this mean green tea can combat the common cold? Yep, it does.
3. Weight loss: Some studies have shown that green tea raises the metabolism slightly, thus aiding the body in burning fat and muscles in growing.
4. Lower blood sugar: Polyphenols and polysaccharides found in green tea help the body to lower blood sugar levels, which can be helpful to diabetics.
5. Energy: Green tea boosts natural energy levels, putting a little extra pep in you step. How is this? Simple. Caffeine. Yes, even green tea has a little caffeine in it. Some drink green tea because they believe it to be free of caffeine, but it's not true. However, there are some decaffeinated green teas on the market. Still, green tea does have less caffeine than coffee and many other teas.
6. Cholesterol: In numerous studies, green tea has been shown to lower levels of LDL, "bad" cholesterol, while raising levels of HDL, "good" cholesterol. This is good for the heart and the body.
7. Tooth decay: Green tea helps to fight tooth decay and tooth rot. It won't necessarily prevent the disease of tooth decay, but it can help to keep your teeth clean, thus lowering the chances of tooth decay. And even if on suffers from tooth decay, green tea can still help the disease from worsening.
8. Arthritis: Several studies have shown that drinking green tea helps to lessen the aches and pains of arthritis.
9. Warts: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved wart-removing ointments that contain the catechin found in green tea. While using straight green tea might not do much good for warts, there are green tea ointments on the market that are helpful in removing warts, including genital warts.
10. Hangovers: That's right, if you had one too many the night before, give green tea a try. If nothing else, the caffeine should wake you up a little, but also the antioxidant effects can help to refresh the body.

10 most popular dog breeds in the U.S. 2010

1. Labrador Retriever: Yes, the Labrador Retriever is a popular breed. And who could doubt it because as of 2010, this breed has held the number one spot on the AKC dog registration list for 20 years straight.
2. German Shepherd: The German Shepherd held the number two spot last year and holds onto it this year. Not only is this breed popular with civilians, but it's also popular with law enforcement, security and military forces.
3. Yorkshire Terriers: These little guys were really boosted up the rankings this past year. In 2009, Yorkshire Terriers were ranked number seven, but in 2010 they made it all the way to the number three spot.
4. Beagles: A favorite of many people, the Beagle moved up one notch this year. But is that really a surprise? Beagles are friendly with everyone, especially children, though some of them do get a little loud. Meaning the Beagles, not the children. Though kids get loud sometimes, too.
5. Golden Retrievers: This breed moved down one spot this past year, basically trading places with the Beagle. But that's nothing to be ashamed of. Golden Retrievers have been a popular breed for a long time.
6. Bulldogs: These burly-looking fellows are holding their own in the ranks, and have for a few years now. According to AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson, "Not since the early 20th Century has the Bulldog enjoyed such sustained popularity."
7. Boxers: The Boxer is another breed to lose a spot in the rankings, but don't worry. Those cute little faces don't seem to mind, and why should they? They're still ranked pretty high.
8. Dachshunds: The "weiner" dogs held steady, keeping the number eight spot for 2010.
9. Poodles: The Poodle also stayed the same, holding on to the number nine spot in 2010.
10. Shih Tzu: And to round off the top ten, the Shih Tzu also holds onto the same spot it had the year before. But never fear, little ones! It's not a popularity contest. And there's always next year, right?

More dog links

10 Most popular Dog Breeds in the U.S. 2009

Beagles make great pets

The greatest of God's gifts: The dog

10 Unusual Burger Toppings

1. Potato chips: If you're one of those eaters who likes quality texture in your foods, add some crunch to your burger by following this tip. And if potato chips aren't your thing, try Doritos or Fritos or any of your favorite chippy foods.

2. Kim chee: Bring some Korean zest to your burger by plopping on some kim chee. And if you don't know what kim chee is, it's a pickled dish of vegetables and seasonings. Kim chee comes in all types of varieties, some of them quite spicy. At right is a photo of a bowl of traditional kim chee.
3. Fried eggs: This one tends to be a regional specialty. I seem to notice it more down South, but even there it's not all that common. Yes, it's a big, round, fried egg. This one's only for those not watching their cholesterol. Buy hey, you're already eating a burger.
4. Toasted nuts: Go nutty and put some sliced, toasted almonds or walnuts or cashews on that burger. Really, you could do this with any kind of nut. You'll get a unique flavor, for sure.
5. Black beans: Add some avocado and salsa, and you've got a Tex-Mex burger. Just think, there's all kinds of potential here. You could add your favorite taco sauce, shredded cheese, lots of stuff. Maybe live dangerously by discarding that bun and using a soft burrito shell instead.
6. Sweet and sour sauce: Yep, you can have your very on Chinese burger. Add a little teriyaki or soy sauce, and you're set. Deep fried chicken and pork optional, of course, just like everything else.
7. Sliced lamb: People add bacon to burgers, why not lamb? A little feta and a few olives and you're talking Greek burger. Drop the bun and bring on a pita pocket.
8. Cranberry sauce: Pretend it's Thanksgiving and go all out. Add some sliced turkey, a little mashed potatoes, maybe even some mashed sweet potatoes and a spoonful of dressing. Heck, you could even used ground turkey for your burger.
9. Cole slaw: In some parts of the South it's a tradition to put cole slaw on a barbecue sandwich. You can do the same with a burger, and add your favorite barbecue sauce, too. Top it with a pickle, if so inclined.
10. Buffalo sauce: Oh, yeah. Now we're talking. Bring on some chunks of blue cheese or blue cheese dressing and you're ready to rock and roll.

10 Facts About the Mcdonald's Happy Meal

1. The very first Happy Meal was served in Kansas City in June of 1979. It was the original Circus Wagon Happy Meal, a collectible item to this day.
2. The virst Happy Meal to be tied in with a movie came in December of 1979. It was for the first Star Trek movie, and contained a little comic strip of parts of the movie on the boxes.
3. The original Happy Meal included a small bag of McDonald's cookies.
4. By sheer numbers, the most popular toy given away with Happy Meals has been the Ty Beanie Babies.
5. The Happy Meal goes by different names in different countries. For example, in Germany it was called Juniortute, which translates roughly as Bag for Juniors, until the late 1990s.
6. Dick Brams, an advertising manager, was the creator of what would eventuall be called the Happy Meal in 1977. His original name for the meal was the McDonaldland Fun-to-Go.
7. The original happy meal from 1979 only costs $1 and it included a burger, cookies, a small drink, a toy and french fries.
8. In 2004, the 25th anniversary of the Happy Meal, McDonald's began offering healthier choices for the famous kids' meal. Apple slices, juice and low-fat milk are just a few of the newer options.
9. The toys available in the very first Happy Meal were an identification bracelet, a McWrist wallet, a puzzle book, a stencil and pencil erasers shaped like McDonaldland characters.
10. In 1992, Happy Meal toys for the Batman Returns movie were withdrawn from McDonald's restaurants apparently because a number of parents had complained the movie was too adult for children.

10 most popular dog breeds in the U.S. 2009

Near the beginning of every year, the American Kennel Club announces what were the most popular dog breeds according to registration statistics. The numbers for 2010 have not been published as of yet, though they probably will be in the next week or so. Still, it might be a good time to take a look back at what were the 10 most popular dog breeds for 2009.

1.) Labrador Retriever: This fine animal has held the number one spot for 19 years now. Will it make it an even 20 years in 2010? According to AKC numbers, fewer cities report the Labrador retriever as the most popular of dog breeds, so we'll have to wait and see if this breed remains at the top spot.

2.) German Shepherd: German Shepherds have been a popular dog breed in the U.S. going back more than 50 years, since the days of the popular Rin Tin Tin television show about a German Shepherd. This is also one of the more common working animals as they can often be spotted working with law enforcement and security forces.

3.) Yorkshire Terrier: This tiny breed has jumped in popularity over the last decade or so. Cute and bold, these little guys have only been around since the 19th Century when they were first bred into existence in Yorkshire, England.

4.) Golden Retriever: The Golden Retriever has long been popular in the United States, and its no wonder consider it is such an intelligent and friendly animal. They make great hunting animals, but also great family pets.

5.) Beagle: Beagles always seem popular, and why not? Sure, they can be stubborn and loud, but they are loving to family members and they are a great size, not too small and not too large, for many. The Beagle, or its ancestors, have been around for a long time, possibly all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece.

6.) Boxer: Like the Beagle, Boxers are no stranger to popularity. Again, this can be expected because Boxers are known to be good with children and though sometimes mistrustful of strangers, they are nearly always loyal members of any family. Early on a hunting dog, since the 19th Century the Boxer has become mainly a household pet.

7.) Bulldog: The Bulldog is another breed that has really become popular in the last decade, especially in California where it is the most popular breed. There are several different Bulldog breeds, including the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog, and the French Bulldog. This breed gets its name because in the 17th Century these dogs were often used to in sporting fights against bulls.

8.) Dachshund: The wiener dog has gone down a little in popularity over recent years, but it still ranks here in the top ten. This is one of the older breeds on this list, even older than the Beagle, with roots going back possibly to ancient Egypt. Though modern Dachshunds have been bred to have shorter legs than their ancestors, which were commonly used to hunt smaller game.

9.) Poodle: Are poodles ever not popular? Though not everyone's favorite, they do seem to keep a spot in the public eye. And why not? They are easy to train and always read to please us humans. Sure, sometimes they are a little energetic and a little yippy, but some people love that in them.

10.) Shih Tzu: Often known as the "Lion Dog," because it looks something like a lion in traditional Chinese art, this little dog is actually related to wolves. Some scientists date this dog breed going back as far as 10,000 years. Yikes! That's an old dog breed.

More dog links

Beagles make great pets

Is a Weimaraner the right dog for you?

The greatest of God's gifts: The dog

Image via Wikipedia

10 health benefits of strawberries

High blood pressure: Strawberries contain high levels of potassium and magnesium, two elements which are effective in combating the effects of sodium on the body. And what does sodium do? It holds in fluid, which in the body can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Cancer: No, strawberries are not a cure for cancer. But strawberries have lots of Vitamin C and flavonoids which are known to help reduce the chances of contracting cancer. Load up on your strawberries, then, and other fruits and vegetables to lessen the possibilities of having cancer.

Cholesterol: All the fiber, flavonoids and Vitamin C in strawberries work to reduce cholesterol in the body, which can help to stave off heart disease.

Heart disease: Speaking of heart disease, besides the effects strawberries have on cholesterol and blood pressure, this fruit also contains plenty of various forms of Vitamin B. And Vitamin B helps to strengthen the muscular walls of the heart thus allowing the heart to function stronger and better.

Birth defects: All that Vitamin B in strawberries also reduces the chances of birth defects in babies, especially in cases of spina bifida.

Sight loss: Strawberries, containing plenty of Vitamin C and other vitamins and elements, help to reduce the possibilities of suffering from loss of sight, especially in the elderly.

Arthritis: A study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that women who ate strawberries were less likely to have a C-reactive protein. What does this mean? Well, the C-reactive protein shows signs of inflammation in the body, especially from those who suffer from cancer, heart disease and arthritis. So, eating strawberries lessens the C-reactive protein in the body and thus helps to stave off arthritis.

Antioxidant: All those vitamins in strawberries act as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants work within the blood stream to help the body’s cells heal from toxins, disease and other ailments. Not only are cancer and heart diseases combated, but antioxidants help the body to fight off all kinds of illnesses, even the common cold.

Brain function: With more than a little help from the antioxidants, the Omega-3 fatty acids found in strawberries help to bring about healthier mental functioning and can possibly protect against mental disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

Irritable bowel syndrome: The antioxidants in strawberries help to fight irritable bowel syndrome, but this small red fruit also contains a fair amount of fiber, which also helps with irritable bowel syndrome and other stomach and intestinal problems.

Related links

Health benefits of 10 common foods

10 Health Benefits of Honey

10 Health Benefits of Wheat Germ

10 things grocery stores can do to improve service

Clear off that floor space

For almost seven years I worked in a grocery store, even as a low-level manager for two of those years. I'm well aware of how important floor space is. All those displays of cookies and stacks upon stacks of 12-pack sodas really do draw customers to them, and then there's the fact many companies will offer discounts to stores for the extra space. But guess what? Stores do not do any service to their customers when the aisles are so crowded you can barely get around, and heaven forbid two customers try to make it down an aisle side by side. Displays and end racks are important, but does there have to be one every two or three feet. Heck, sometimes you can barely get to the stuff on the shelves!

Get rid of the lottery tickets

I'm talking about at the office at the front of the store. I'm sick and tired of standing there to get done whatever it is I need done while waiting for some yahoo to buy his or her $300 worth of Powerball tickets. The automatic lottery dispenser off to the side doesn't bother because it's not in my way. Try more of that.

Space out your office services

And speaking of the office or desk at the front of the store, that office has way too many of the services needed by customers. Have to send a telegram? Go to the office. Need to rent a rug cleaner? Go the office. Need stamps? Go to the office. Get my drift? Stores need to space out those services somehow. Maybe have more automated machines, like for stamps, for example. Or have some of those services available at the checkout lanes. Having all those services packed into one little place usually with just one person working the counter means customers have to wait and wait and wait.

Have more lanes open

This is an easy one. Hire more checkout clerks. Get those lanes open. There should never, ever be more than three customers waiting in a lane. Ever. I mean it. And I don't want to hear your complaining about how your store can't afford any more workers because of the recession, yaddy yaddy yaddy. I worked in the grocery business, remember? I know what kind of money those stores pull in. I can walk into any grocery, look around a bit, take into account the size of the store and the amount of supplies on the shelves and the general neighborhood, and come up with a ballpark figure for how much money that store's pulling in every day, every week, month and year. You're making money. But you won't be if I have to wait in another line for longer than a few minutes.

Make the self-checkout lanes more user friendly

If you're a manager at one of those stores with these new-fangled self-checkout lanes, please make sure the scanners work correctly. The dang things are slow! Half the time they don't work and the computer monitor gives you some message about waiting on a customer representative to fix the thing somehow. If I have to wait through all that garbage, I might as well just wait through the regular checkout lines. And those weight-checking scales that are supposed to show whether I've bagged my groceries or not? They're way, way, way too sensitive. I'm not trying to rob your store. If you're worried about theft, I'd much rather you spend the money on more cameras or something else less intrusive.

Make sure sale and discount items are marked well

We've all seen it. Frozen peas are on sale for a buck a bag. But you walk up and down the frozen food aisle, looking for those peas. Then you finally find them, but they're marked the regular price of $1.01. But ya gotta have that sale price. What to do? You have to go hunt down some schmo and make sure those are the correct frozen peas on sale, and then you have to hope, hope, hope that the peas will ring up correctly at the cash register and that you'll remember to check the price on the price tag before you get all the way home. No. It shouldn't be that difficult. Stores need to clearly mark the sales prices of their items. Clearly. Let me repeat that, CLEARLY.

Hell, make sure the regular items are marked well

I'm tired of going to the produce section, finding all the different kinds of onions mixed together or at least so close you couldn't tell the difference, but lo and behold there is a price nowhere to be found. Oh, wait! There's the price for the white onions, way over in the corner there on a little sticker stuck on the counter beneath the yellow onions. But now I want the yellow onions. How much do those cost?

Don't make customers wait on price checks

Some stores used to have a policy that if an item didn't ring up and/or didn't ring up correctly at the register, then the item was free. I like that. It meant the stores had to get their butts in gear and make sure everything was in their pricing system. I don't see that policy too much nowadays. I guess it's better to make the customer wait than it is to make some employees do their jobs.

Hang up the phone

I'm your customer. I'm in the store. I'm right here at the front office counter staring you in the face. I'm talking to you. Trying to get help with something. Then the phone rings and you say, "Excuse me while I get this." Um, no. I don't care if it's another customer on the line. I don't care if it's Santa Claus or the president on the line. I was here first. They can wait. I had to drive or walk to the store and they can do the same. Or you could hire more employees to answer the phone, employees who aren't waiting on me.

Get those carts fixed

It seems every cart you grab at the front of the store has a bad wheel. Are they all that way? Are they built that way on purpose for some reason? Fix it. Change it. Whatever needs to be done, for the love of all that's holy, just give me a grocery cart that has wheels that don't want to lock up every three feet unless I'm out in the parking lot trying to put the groceries in my car; for some reason, only then does the cart want to roll all over God's creation.

Other grocery-related link

10 People at the Grocery Store Who Make Me Hate

What's the difference between cement and concrete?

The basics

Cement is a binder made of various rock-like elements. Concrete is created from mixing cement, sand and rock.

Cement

Cement is a dry powder used for binding. Modern cement is usually made of ground up limestone, silicon and calcium, often with aluminum, iron and other trace elements included. Cement is used to make concrete. Today, there is a wide variety of cements used for different purposes. Cement has been around for thousands of years, at least since the Roman Empire and perhaps even earlier. When Rome fell, the secrets of making cement were also lost for more than a thousand years. In 1824, an English engineer named Joseph Aspdin patented what is called Portland cement (after the limestone on the Isle of Portland), though earlier engineers had also been working on creating various mortars similar to modern cement.

Concrete

Concrete is made of cement, sand and usually gravel, though other rocks such as limestone or granite are sometimes used. Cement normally makes up about 15 percent of concrete. Much like cement, the recipe for good concrete was lost after the fall of the Roman Empire. It wasn't until 1756 that Englishman John Smeaton is credited with re-discovering the secrets of concrete by using hydraulic lime. There were versions of concrete used earlier than Smeaton's discovery, though generally they are not considered as durable as more modern concrete.

5 great, fun gifts for Passover

Whether you're Jewish or not, you still might find these gifts lots of fun. And some maybe even a little goofy.

Pharaoh punching bag

Yes, you read that correctly. If you've ever wanted to travel back in time and plant a fist in the face of one of Egypt's ancient rulers of thousands of years ago, you can't do much better than this. He must have been a short pharaoh, however, because this punching bag is only three feet tall. Or maybe it's for the kids. Also, the words "Let my people go!" are across the top of this fun-sized gift. If you're interested, you can buy one online at Eichler's.

Ten plagues finger puppets

I am not making this up. I swear. Even Stephen Colbert did a segment on his show about these finger puppets. And yes, they literally are ten finger puppets, one for each of the ten plagues. You've got a puppet for Boils, Darkness, Lice and more. Even a puppet for the deaths of the Firstborn. Seems kind of creepy to me, but I guess it could be used to teach kids about Passover. But don't you think just telling them the story would do the trick? Check out the Jewish Bazaar online if you'd like to purchase the puppets.

Dog shirts

Every Jew who has a dog will want one of these. Right? Dog shirts with Passover messages come in a variety, so you don't have to worry about your pooch looking the same as all the other pooches around the table during he Seder. What kind of messages can you get on these shirts? Here are a few examples: "What Happens at the Seder Stays at the Seder," "Mommy's Little Matzah Ball" and "Matza Matta Mit You?" Of course there are plenty of other options. Only in America, right? Maybe, but you can buy these worldwide from Jew Tee. Pet lovers, this one is for you.

Bag of plagues

This is actually a Passover gift you can make yourself, though you'll probably have to purchase a few items. What exactly is a "bag of plagues?" Well, it's a bag for the kids that teaches them about the history of Passover while also having a little fun. What kind of fun? How about Kosher Chiklets gum (not to be confused with Chiclets gum, though they might have those in Kosher, too) to represent the hail from the Ten Plagues? You could also use plastic toy frogs to represent ... well, the frog plague. The idea here is to be creative. I have to thank Martha Stewart for this idea, so check out her site on the "Bag of plagues" for more ideas.

Matzah toilet seat cover

No, it's not made of real matzah, but boy does it look like it. With the message of "Let my people go," this is quite the unique gift for Passover. I'm thinking that after eating a bunch of matzah the last thing you'd want to see is more matzah, but hey, each to their own. Pop Judaica has them for sale online if you'd like one.

Related links

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10 bicycle safety tips

1. Wear a helmet: This is so obvious, so I thought I'd get it out of the way first. But truly, a helmet can safe you not only from a nasty bump, but possibly even brain damage or death. It's better to have it on and not need it than to need it and not have it on.
2. Obey traffic rules: A bicycle is a vehicle. Not only is it somewhat a matter of respect for others on the road, but it's also a matter of your own safety and that of others for you to obey traffic laws. Often, car drivers can't see bicyclists very well, and often they're not looking for bicyclists. By obeying the rules of the road, you increase your own safety by far.
3. Keep your bike in good condition: Nothing's easier to have an accident on than a bicycle needing repair. Maybe the brakes need replaced or a tire with a slow leak needs patched or a new chain needs to be put on, but whatever it is, you need to have it fixed. If you can't for whatever reason, you probably shouldn't be out biking. Something as simple as weak brakes could cost you your life, especially in an area of high traffic.
4. Keep both hands on the bicycle handlebars and ready to brake: You've seen it a thousand times. The guy riding real cool-like down the road with only one hand on his bicycle handlebars, or maybe even no hands. That guy is headed for an accident. By keeping both hands on the handlebars, you are much more prepared to brake if you need to. And don't fool yourself into thinking one hand is good enough, because one brake is not good enough. In an emergency situation, you might have to be able to brake quickly, and that's much more possible if you can use both brakes.
5. At nights, use lights and reflective gear: As I mentioned above, vehicle drivers often can't see bicyclists and aren't prepared to see bicyclists, mainly because they're so used to seeing other vehicles near the size of their own vehicle. This is tough enough during the day for bicyclists, but is even more so at night. Save yourself some trouble, and possibly save yourself, by wearing reflective clothing and having a headlamp on your bike. Also, make sure the reflectors on your bike are not broken and not covered by dirt or mud. If you don't have any reflective garb, most bike shops will sell reflective tape you can put on your clothes, and they usually sell vests and other clothing with reflective strips on them.
6. Know your bike: Not all bicycles are created equal. Some have better brakes than others. Some are lighter or heavier than others. Make sure you are familiar with your own bike before taking it out into high traffic areas. Knowing all the little ins and outs of your own bike could save you from getting hurt or accidentally hurting others.
7. Make eye contact with drivers: This is the best way to ensure that vehicle drivers can see you and know you're there.
8. Glance behind you: You can't do this one all the time, because you do need to keep your eyes out front, too, but you should try to scan behind yourself every few seconds when possible. This will let you know if their is a car or truck or something else flying up behind you. Rear view mirrors for bicycles are helpful, but just like in a car, mirrors can't show you everything.
9. Never have more than one person on a bike: This might have been fun to try as kids, but it's also dangerous. More than one person on a bicycle puts too much weight on the bike and it highly increases the chances of the driver losing control or something else going wrong. Unless you have that bicycle build for two, just don't do it.
10. Give pedestrians the right of way: Bicycles can go really, really fast compared to someone walking or jogging. And those walkers and joggers often can't react as fast as someone on a bike. Save yourself some possible trouble and give them the right of way. Keep in mind that just because you're on a bicycle doesn't mean you rule the road, or the sidewalks.

10 health benefits of chocolate

1. Antioxidant: Chocolate contains flavonoids, which are a type of flavonol. What are flavonols, you might ask? Flavonals are natural compounds found in plants, and these compounds help the plants to fight off toxins and to heal themselves. Guess what? Eating lots of food with flavonols transfers those benefits to you. You do remember that chocolate in its natural state is a plant, right? The flavonoids in chocolate act as natural antioxidants in your body, helping your body's cells to fight damage, and the flavonoids even help with bad cholesterol.
2. Tooth decay: What? How in the world can chocolate fight tooth decay, especially with all that sugar. The sugar is the key. Chocolate in its natural state doesn't include sugar, and we tend to forget that because of all the candies and cakes and treats and cookies that include chocolate. But chocolate that has not had sugar added to it has natural antibacterial agents that combat tooth decay. It's adding all that sugar that can make chocolate unhealthy for you, so keep that in mind when you are seeking chocolate for health purposes and try to buy chocolates that don't have a bunch of additives like sugar and marshmallows and nuts and caramel ... I've got to stop or I'll make myself hungry! Just remember, dark chocolates usually have less sugar than milk chocolates. And white chocolate isn't really chocolate, so it doesn't count.
3. Depression: It's sometimes a joke that chocolate can put you in a better mood, but it's actually true. The carbohydrates found in chocolate raise the serotonin levels in your brain, which can make you feel happier. Chocolate also raises the level of endorphins in your brain, which can put you in a better mood. Try it. Then you decide.
4. Stroke: A study of 44,000 people who ate at least one serving of chocolate per week showed each person in the group was 22 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke than people who did not each chocolate. The results from this study, and others, will be released at the American Academy of Neurology's 2010 annual meeting.
5. Math: All you students, remember this one. A 2009 study showed that those who drank chocolate cocoa had an easier time counting and doing math. It's all those flavonoids in the chocolate helping the flow of blood to the brain. Really.
6. Blood pressure: Okay, I'm back to those flavonoids again, that natural compound found in chocolate. It also helps to reduce blood pressure. You just have to remember a little chocolate a day can be food for you, but a lot of chocolate a day is very bad for you.
7. Alertness: Feeling tired? Need something to pck you up a little? Try chocolate! It contains natural caffeine, which can give you a little extra pep.
8. Longer lifespan: This one might sound a little wacky, but a study done at the Harvard School of Public Health showed that people who ate chocolate at least three times a month tended to live at least a year longer than people who at a lot of junk food. I'm thinking just staying away from the junk food would do the job, but hey, adding a little chocolate could be fun, too.
9. Coughing: Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine which has been shown to help reduce the coughing reflex. But this theobromine cannot be digested by dogs, which is why you should never feed chocolate to a dog.
10. Menopause: Some studies have suggested chocolate helps to ease the symptoms of menopause and PMS. Even if those studies would happen to be incorrect, remember that chocolate can help put you in a better mood, so painful symptoms might seem less stressing.

10 unusual toppings for a peanut butter sandwich

1. Molasses: My favorite molasses is the really dark and heavy kind, which honestly is most types of molasses. The flavoring can be a bit strong for some tastes, but it still brings a bit of sweetness and fluidity to what otherwise could be a dry peanut butter sandwich. Keep in mind I'm talking about traditional molasses that's made from sugar. There is a type of molasses made from beets, but I'll admit to not being familiar with that type of molasses.
2. Tomatoes: Okay, this one isn't for me, but I've seen it done and the person eating it raved on and on about how great the sandwich tasted. Basically, just slice some tomatoes and add it to your peanut butter. To be fair, I'm not a big tomato person anyway, so it's natural this one wouldn't appeal to me.
3. Bananas: This one isn't too big of a stretch. The king of rock music Elvis Presley was known for eating fried banana and peanut butter sandwiches, but I've always had the non-fried version. And actually, it's pretty good. Banana seems to go well with peanut butter, though it can still be a little dry.
4. Chocolate syrup: I like peanut butter and chocolate mixed in candy bars, so this one shouldn't seem too out of the ordinary. You'd have a lot of options here because while you could use traditional chocolate syrup, you could also switch to chocolate fudge or even try cherry syrup or butterscotch or any kind of syrup usually offered for ice cream.
5. Corn syrup: Light or dark versions of this syrup are usually the available options. Both are sweet, with dark corn syrup usually having a little molasses or burnt maple flavoring. Again, it's sweet and sort of wet, which can help a peanut butter sandwich go down more smooth. I've tried this one on occasion and it's not too bad.
6. Chocolate chips: This suggestion can still leave you with a dry sandwich unless you pop it into the microwave for a few seconds to melt the chocolate and peanut butter, but it still sounds like it might be worth trying. If you don't go the microwave route, you could end up with a slightly crunch sandwich with all those chocolate chips. And this is another suggestion where you'd have more than a single option since most grocery stores will also carry butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, etc.
7. Fried eggs: Yikes! I don't know if I'd want to try this one, but I've been assured by several people that this is a good sandwich to eat. I'd probably try it, but I'll have to work up my nerve first.
8. Marshmallows: As with the chocolate chips, I'd suggest nuking this one in the microwave a little. Of course you're going to end up with one of the most sticky, gooey sandwiches of all time, but it should still be pretty sweet and tasty.
9. Pineapple: Why not? Many people put bananas on their peanut butter sandwich, so this should just be an extension of that, another type of fruit worth adding to peanut butter. Fresh pineapple can almost be like a stiff jam in a way, anyway, so don't shoot this one down too soon. Of course it'll help if you like pineapple.
10. Honey: This suggestion should almost be expected, especially since there are brands of peanut butter made with honey. I've eaten this one on many an occasion, and it makes for a fine sandwich. After grape jelly or blackberry jam, this is probably my next favorite topping to add to a peanut butter sandwich.

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10 tips for saving grocery money

1. Match your coupons with items already on sale: This can seem like you're doubling your savings! Cans of kidney beans on sale this week? Use that coupon to save even more.
2. Shop at more than one store: This will cost you a little in gas, unless you can walk or ride a bike, but the savings are likely worth it. Go not only to different stores, but to different store brands altogether. Went to Kroger yesterday? Today check out that Fresh Market. What's on sale will vary from store to store each week. Maybe one place has Pepsi on sale, but another store will have Coke on sale.
3. Buy a newspaper: At least while newspapers are still around. The couple of bucks you plop down for that Sunday paper can almost always be recouped through the many coupons found inside. And in most towns, the grocery store circulars (those weekly 4 to 6 page pullout sections showing what a store has for sale) usually run in most daily papers on Wednesday or Thursday.
4. Buy fruits and vegetables when in season: They'll be cheaper then, and you can freeze the fruits and vegetables to use later.
5. Try to stay away from prepackaged foods: I'm especially talking about those already prepared meal-in-a box thingies. You know what I'm talking about. Those boxes that come with crackers and ham slices and cheese and maybe a pudding. And those frozen dinners that include a meat and maybe corn, mashed potatoes and a roll or dessert if you're lucky. Not only are those meals not healthy for you, but they cost a bunch of money. Yes, they're convenient, but we're trying to save money here.
6. Drink water: It's cheap at home and readily available from the tap. If you don't quite trust drinking water from the tap, get a Brita filter or something similar. Yes, you do have to pay for water used at home, but it's much, much, much cheaper than those soft drinks and juices and milks from the store.
7. Buy the store brands: Some of you will complain the quality isn't as good. You're letting the label fool you. Yes, the quality of store-brand items might not be top-of-the-line, four-star material, but it's still as good as many of the name brand products. In fact, often it is the very same item as a name brand product, the store has just been allowed or paid to put their label on the package. Stores are willing to do this because enough people will search out the cheaper deals to make it worth the stores' while.
8. Save those expired coupons: Yes, the expired coupons. But this one only works in some areas. Some stores will accept expired coupons, or they'll have a special day or week every so often where they'll take expired coupons. Some Cub Foods will do this.
9. Look for coupons online: For some reason, plenty of people seem to forget this one. There are tons and tons of free coupons available on the Internet. Sometimes you have to go to a particular companies Web site and sign up with them to receive a coupon or coupons, but there are other, general Web sites that offer all kinds of coupons. My favorite is coupons.com.
10. Be flexible: You're in mood for fish this week, but the turkey burgers are on sale? Buy the turkey burgers. You're going to have to sacrifice if you truly want to save money. Hankering for cheddar cheese, but have a coupon for American? Buy the American; the cheddar will be on sale eventually and you can get it then, or better yet, you've already got cheddar at home because you bought it last week when it was on sale.

10 Ways to save money on air conditioning

1. Watch placement of your appliances: Electric appliances put off heat. Sometimes it's not much heat, but sometimes it is. Even televisions put off a certain amount of heat. So don't place any appliances near your thermostat. This fools the thermostat into thinking it's actually warmer than it really is, and then the thermostat will kick on more often.
2. Keep out the sun: Whether you've got blinds or heavy drapes or some other kind of window covering, keep them closed so the sunlight doesn't allow in more light and heat. Adding awnings outside above your windows can help even more to keep out sunlight.
3. Paint your house with light colors: Darker colors hold in more heat. Light colors hold in less heat. It's that simple. Paint your house using lighter colored paints. This will help to cool your house.
4. Cook outdoors: This one isn't feasible for everyone, but for those with outdoor grills, this could help keep down your air conditioning costs. How? Because cooking and baking creates quite a bit of heat, and that heat will linger a while when the cooking is done indoors. Remember that if you have central air, not only is your unit pumping in cool air, but it's also pumping out warm air. Thus, the less warm air there is, the less work your central air unit has to do.
5. Don't block those vents: The cool from your air conditioner can't circulate if the vents are covered or obstructed by drapes or curtains or furniture. Keep anything from covering those vents, allowing the air conditioner to do a better job at cooling. This would allow your place to cool better and faster, instead of tying up the thermostat which will keep reading a warmer temperature even though the air conditioner is running.
6. Make sure your attic is ventilated: The sun beats down a lot of heat onto rooftops, and that heat will linger at the top of your house unless there's a way for it to dissipate. The best way is through attic ventilation. Most houses will have some kind of vents for the attic, but some old houses do not. If your house doesn't have ventilation, talk to a contractor about correcting this situation, or if you're one of those do-it-yourself persons then look into it yourself. Also, make sure not to block any of your vents from the inside or the heat will have a harder time getting out.
7. Turn up the temperature: This is the easiest way to save a little air conditioning money. Turn that thermostat up. Even just a couple of degrees can save money, but the higher you turn it up, the more money you will save. Just don't let your place get too warm because that can be unhealthy and downright dangerous in extreme warm weather.
8. Inspect those coils: Central air units will have an indoor coil and an outdoor coil. You need to keep those coils clean for the air conditioner to work to its best potential. If you don't know what the coils look like, check your owner's manual or call the company's help line. Dust tends to gather on the indoor coil, and sometimes dirt or dust can build on the outdoor coil.
9. Watch those seals: If you have a window air unit, one of the most common ways to lose cool air is for the seal between the unit and the window to have a hole or not be tight. Check those seals frequently, at least once a week. Sometimes you'll have to replace a seal altogether, put other times you can close up a small hole with a piece of duct tape.
10. Don't forget the fans: Ceiling fans. Floor fans. Handheld fans. Doesn't matter. They're all cheaper on the electric bill than an air conditioner. A fan can't bring in cool air like an air conditioner, but fans do help to circulate what cool air there is. Also, fans can feel pretty good when they blow on you on a hot day!

Dear online video advertisers, have you learned nothing?

We've all gone over to YouTube to check out some new hot video, then been caught up short by some advertisement we have to watch at the beginning of the video. Many of us have tried to watch television programs online, and again right there are the beginning is a rather lengthy video advertisement, and often other ads spread throughout the program.

Now, right up front, let me say I'm not complaining about advertising in general. Those ads pay for what we get to watch, so advertising itself doesn't bother me.

No, but I still have multiple complaints about today's online video advertising. Listen up, ad producers, because it's time you caught up with today's consumers and customers and stopped living in the television era.

What are my complaints? Here we go:

Repetition

I've seen some of the same video advertisements way too many times. I'm betting you have, too. With television advertising, the same ad can run again and again without frustrating the viewer because that ad might only be seen a couple of times a day because the ads are spaced out. Online video advertising hasn't seemed to catch onto this, often showing the exact same video ad over and over again all over the place. Enough! It's dull, and it's ineffective. After viewers have seen the same ad multiple times, especially during one sitting, they are likely to just stop watching videos or at least switching to another video.

Length

A short three to ten second advertisement at the start of a video or show isn't bad. Viewers can tolerate that. But when you're psyched up to watch your favorite show or something funny on YouTube, you don't like suddenly being pulled up short by watching a thirty-second or longer advertisement. Length isn't quite as jarring in the middle of a longer show, mainly because viewers are more used to that from television. But the person who can come up with online fast-forward software that will blur you past the advertisements is likely to make billions. And it will happen. It'll just take time. And fighting it won't do any good.

Compatibility

Ever sit down to watch a video online and suddenly get slammed with a Viagra ad? What, am I sixty here? Well, maybe you are, but the majority of folks out there aren't, at least not yet. I mean to point out this as just one example of how online advertisers still don't seem to know their market. Sure, there'll be a different demographic for different shows, channels and videos, but so far it doesn't seem the advertisers are paying attention to those demographics very much.

Placement

I'll repeat, a very short advertisement at the start of a video is okay. A long advertisement sucks, and often will just make me go to another website. So, ads right at the beginning of a show or video are fine. Viewers expect that. Another ad at the end of a video is also fine, because viewers also expect that, and since we've watched the video we can go on about our day if we wish. The three to four or more video ads stuffed into the middle of a viewing are a slightly different case. They are jarring, to say the least. One or two wouldn't be so bad, say one every 15 minutes. But beyond that, it's getting annoying. And annoyed viewers are annoyed customers. And oh yes, they'll remember your advertised product. With vehemence.

Creativity

Far too many online video advertisements are boring. There, I've said it flat out. Too many of these ads are just pulled from TV and slapped onto some online video. Sorry, but that doesn't work. Demographics for online viewing are different from those of TV viewing, and the expectations are definitely different. Call it high expectations if you will, but online viewers are here to be entertained. If they want to want some boring old ads, they'll go watch television. Online advertisers need to spice things up a little. Have some fun with advertising projects. Don't do the same old boring stuff we see on TV all the time. Pay attention to the most mocking of bad advertisements as portrayed on Saturday Night Live, because many online ads are really that bad.

Variety of advertisers

This one can be a little tough for video producers. It seems advertisers like to buy ad space on shows or longer videos in whole, meaning they seem to like only their ad videos to appear on a particular show or video. This makes sense in some ways. It inundates the viewer with image after image of the advertiser's product, firmly planting that product in the viewer's mind. But it can also have the opposite effect, causing the viewer to hate your product because they are sick to death of hearing about it. Suggestion: Break it up a little. If the same product has to be advertised over and over again, at least have the decency to have different ads. Better yet, have different style ads that vary widely in their design. This will help keep viewer attention and, more importantly, help them from becoming bored. If a viewer is bored, they might just stop watching the video anyway.

10 tips for leather shoe care

• For patent leather shoes, rub them with petroleum jelly and let them sit that way for a while. Then use a clean cloth to wipe away the jelly. This helps to keep the leather from cracking and adds to the shine.
• Applying a little Castor oil and allowing it to dry before a regular cleaning will keep the shoes soft. Castor oil also helps with waterproofing, especially the soles.
• Using a shoe horn will help against unnecessary wear on the heel area.
• Don't wear the same shoes for consecutive days. This will allow the shoes to completely dry out and air out from any moisture. If it's been raining outside, get extra drying protection by stuffing the shoes with tissue.
• Saddle soap makes a great cleaner and polisher for leather shoes. After all, saddles are leather, too, and the smell is intoxicating.
• Cedar shoe trees can help leather shoes or boots keep their shape, and again, the smell is nice, too.
• Don't store your shoes in a warm place. Heat drys leather and increases cracking.
• Once your shoes are completely dry, after a day or two, use a good shoe wax or a wax-based polish. Use a soft brush to rub in the polish, and hit the tight spots and creases with a small, soft brush. A cloth or horse hair brush can be used to for polishing.
• Water and stain repellents are a necessity for suede shoes, being the best protection against stains. Spray on and brush off. Make sure to read the instructions on the repellent canister.
• Keep that shoe box! That's right, after you get home from shopping, don't throw the box away. Shoe boxes are great for storing the shoes because they help with any drying process. Shoe boxes are also a neat way to store shoes.

Want your own social bookmarking site? Try Pligg

If you're like many online writers who are always seeking a new place for sharing your links, a new option is Blingmyfaves.

Much like other social bookmarking sites, such as Reddit or Digg or StumbleUpon, Blingmyfaves allows you to post links of all sorts. Sure, you can post links to your own articles, but the fun here is to add links from all kinds of different sites from your favorites to oddities and beyond.

One of the most interesting aspects of Blingmyfaves is that it's a Pliggs oftware site. What is Pligg? To take it straight from the official website, Pligg is "an open source content management system that lets you create your own social network."

So, what does all that corporate-speak really mean? It means you can have your very own social bookmarking site. In fact, in case you haven't noticed the similarity in names, Pligg software is based upon the popular Digg. And just like Digg, viewers of a Pligg page get to vote and leave comments about the articles there.

That's right. You can have your very own site similar to Digg. You could potentially have hundreds or even thousands of viewers perusing your site looking for the latest interesting links.

Besides the fun aspects, is there a way to make money from running your own social bookmarking site? I'm sure there is, but I'm no business guru. To find out more, contact the folks at Pligg.

One more thing: Guess what's best about Pligg? The software is free. Yes, free. Of course you'd still have to pay for a website, but that's usually not too expensive.

20 most popular dog names in the U.S.

The website Pet-Tags.com has not only sold more than two million pet identification tags since 1995, but the company also keeps track of all the names on those tags, broken down by type of animal, dogs or cats, and sex. The company, working out of Australia, also breaks down their information by sales in Australia and sales in the United States. But what is that information good for?

Well, if nothing else, it tells you what are 20 of the most popular dog names since 1995. So, here is a list of the top 20 dog names according to information from Pet-Tags.com and Bow Wow Meow, a site that helps you pick pet names and find tags for your pets:

1. Max
2. Jake
3. Buddy
4. Maggie
5. Bear
6. Molly
7. Bailey
8. Shadow
9. Sam
10. Lady
11. Sadie
12. Lucky
13. Rocky
14. Lucy
15. Daisy
16. Buster
17. Casey
18. Cody
19. Brandy
20. Duke

Doggy links

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