Category: News

All health professionals agree that the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is to modify diet and exercise. Cardio intensive workouts burn the most calories and this is the best way to lose body fat.

Because exercise needs to be regular and somewhat consistent to yield results, it is best to choose an exercise that you enjoy or at least don’t hate. Generally it is best to mix up slow & steady workouts with high intensity workouts. Slow and steady workouts involve a duration of between 45 minutes and an hour; low intensity exercise; will burn fat rather than carbs; and are easier on your joints. High intensity workouts are 20 – 30 minutes in duration; involve interval training and ‘explosive’ movements (like sprinting); burn a lot of calories while also boosting your metabolism throughout the day.

The best cardio exercises to burn the most calories are: Bicycling, swimming, step aerobics, racquetball, rock climbing, cross-country skiing (outdoors or in the gym), running, elliptical trainers, rowing, and walking.. All of these activities will burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes apart from walking which will burn up to 180 calories in 30 minutes. The latter is obviously an excellent choice for those with joint or back problems who need a low impact way of burning calories.

Running is a popular choice because it is cheap: A good pair of running shoes will last 6 months to a year (if you run regularly) and there are no other fees to worry about. If you can, do a variety to keep you interested and work the most muscle groups.

When I was a kid I seemed to attract criticism the way that some kids attract dirt. I was always the kid that the other parents thought  badly of even though I was actually pretty careful not to break rules. In fact, I heard one mom mutter to another mom that I just had one of “those” looks. I was never sure what that meant. My mom said that I just looked like trouble.

Me, Dorothy Hamill hair cut and all. June 1978.

By the time I was in high school I had a horrid reputation amongst those elite beings known as “high lifes”, “cheerleaders”, and “football players”. It was largely unfounded, based on gossip, assumption, and total fiction. I never did figure it out but what I do know is that after awhile I gave up trying to change anyone’s opinion – most importantly my mom’s. She seemed to think that I was doing things I wasn’t. Most of the school staff seemed to think I was; more than one male teacher came on to me expecting me to acquiesce to them. Other than my friends, many who were as outcast as myself, most of my world seemed determined to think the worst of me. So, being a teenager I decided, what the hell? and began to act in the ways I was being accused of acting.  I lifted my chin, looked the world squarely in the eye and shot society a well manicured finger. I spent the next few years using everything I had to prove to all those people that they were right. My one saving grace was my dad who believed in me. No matter what I did he responded with ” You might not be perfect but you are perfect enough for me”. He was my lifeline and his love kept me from going deeper into the pit I was creating.

I am reminded of this because I am in a similar situation in my personal life. It doesn’t matter what it is. It is enough to know that I am being silently accused of doing the wrong thing when I am not. You know what? It hurts just as bad now as it did then. Dad is gone. There are a few people who love me enough to believe in me and right now they are my lifelines..the reason I don’t cave and do what I am accused of by people I trusted.

What does this have to do with parenting? Quite simply your child will live up to your expectations…or down to them.  Have a habit of telling them that they are no good or stupid? You are asking for trouble.  How hard is it really to tell your child that you believe in them and that you are proud of them?

Everyone is going to make mistakes. That is a given. But…a child that has someone who believes in him will make less mistakes, will right himself more quickly, and will end up a healthier adult that someone who has to fight consitantly to prove his worth.

Your child is acting exactly how he feels you expect him to. You can change that today. My dad did not give up on me and I think he would be proud of the woman I have become. Don’t give up. Ever.

image:marye audet

Post from: Blisstree

I Believe in You

Here’s a look at the Ferrari California tuning by Novitec. Both the engine unit and look of the car have been modified as part of the Novitec Rosso program. A new carbon fibre aerodynamic kit has been added, including a front spoiler, side skirts, diffuser and rear wing. New 21 and 22-inch alloy wheels are available with tyres measuring 255/30 and 255/30. The California has been lowered, but a system of raising the front by 40 mm has been included for speed bumps, garage entrances and other obstacles.

The V8 motor has new engine mapping and stainless steel exhaust with metal catalysts and internal valves, compatible with the eletronic shift. The 4.3-litre engine now reaches 500 hp and 518 Nm of torque, with a rev limit increased to 8,300 rpm. Check out the California Novitec tuning gallery below, and add this to your dream Christmas list.

Two new pan-European soil maps have been released to the general public through the European Soil Data Centre: the Saline and sodic soil map of Europe and the Soil compaction map of Europe.

The first map shows the area distribution of naturally saline or sodic soils and potentially salt affected areas within the European Union. Salinisation is the accumulation of soluble salts of sodium, magnesium and calcium in soil to the extent that soil fertility is severely reduced. The soil compaction map of Europe shows the natural susceptibility of agricultural soils to compaction when the weight of livestock or heavy machinery compresses the soil, causing it to lose pore space. Affected soils become less able to absorb rainfall, thus increasing runoff and erosion. Plants have difficulty growing in compacted soil because the mineral grains are pressed together, leaving little space for air and water, which are essential for root growth.

Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories have developed tiny, glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that are ten times thinner than conventional solar cells and could one day be used in a variety of applications – from satellites and remote-sensing, to tents and perhaps even clothing. Yep, these cells could turn the average Joe into a walking solar-battery charger…

Tags: Efficiency,
Electrical,
Electricity,
environment,
Photovoltaic,
Solar

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• U.K. team researches thinner, cheaper solar cells

There’s no doubting the time saving convenience of microwave ovens. But what about the time wasted because of them? Their super fast cooking means there really isn’t enough time to go and do something else while we wait for our food, so we find ourselves loitering around watching the seconds tick down. A couple of researchers from Japan’s Keio University have come up with the perfect solution for those of us who need to be entertained at every minute of every day in the form of the CastOven, which lets users enjoy a bite-sized piece of YouTube goodness while they wait for their food…

Tags: Entertainment,
LCD,
microwave,
Video,
YouTube

Related Articles:

• Celebrating 40 years of microwave cookery
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• Digital Cookware

Fiat-Chrysler devrait présenter à Detroit en janvier son premier véhicule,ou plutôt le premier fruit de sa politique de rebadgeage entre Chrysler et Lancia.Donc,la Lancia Delta sous le Pentastar.

Comme c’est prévu dans le nouvel organigramme du groupe Fiat,voir ici,les marques Chrysler et Lancia seront désormais soeurs,et chacune présentera sur ses marchés respectifs les mêmes voitures que l’autre.Cette stratégie,décidée récemment et encore en cours d’affinage,verra chacune des marques occuper « ses » pays,sans que l’autre y soit.Pour Lancia,ça signifie l’Italie,et peut-être la France et la Belgique,voire l’Espagne.Pour Chrysler,tous les autres.

Présentée à Détroit début 2009,la 200C pourrait faire une très élégante Lancia…

Le premier fruit de cette nouvelle ligne pourrait être vu dès le prochain salon de Detroit,selon des sources non révélées,mais qualifiées de fiables par Bloomberg.Autant qu’elles le soient,fiables,car Detroit est en janvier,et l’annonce Lancia/Chrysler a été faite un mois avant.C’est donc très court pour préparer quelquechose.Ceci dit,c’était certainement déjà dans les tuyaux.Une information à prendre avec précaution donc,d’autant que Rick Deneau,porte-parole de Chrysler,a déclaré à l’AFP vendredi que la marque,contrairement à ses habitudes,ne présenterait rien de nouveau à Detroit cette année.

Quoi qu’il en soit,si ça devait se faire,pas étonnant que les choses aillent vite; Chrysler a le plus grand besoin de nouveautés,et de donner des gages.Présenter une compacte à Detroit serait un bon coup pour la marque,d’autant qu’elle est en délicatesse avec ce segment.Concrètement,il ne peut s’agir que de présenter la Lancia Delta en version Chrysler.On ne voit en effet pas quel autre modèle Lancia Chrysler pourrait rebadger.Les choses pourraient se faire d’autant plus rapidement que l’homologation américaine faisait partie du cahier des charges de la nouvelle Delta et qu’elle est donc prête à passer l’obstacle,réputé compliqué.

Illustration de ce que pourrait donner un rebadgeage rapide de la Delta pour Chrysler

Rappelons qu’il y a quelques semaines,c’est Olivier François,le surprenant patron de Lancia,qui a été nommé à la tête de la marque Chrysler.C’est presque anecdotique,mais il a déjà produit ce remake pour la marque US du spot de son idée pour Lancia avec les prix Nobel.Un premier rebadgeage en quelques sortes…

!: Plus d’informations sur cette news ici.

Nouveau: pour profiter facilement et rapidement des notifications de nouveautés sur le site,pensez à vous abonner via Twitter.Chaque modification,nouvel article ou nouvelle vidéo sur notre chaîne Youtube,fait l’objet d’un Tweet immédiat!

Eco Factor: Zero-energy building generates solar energy for heat and power.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects have won a competition for a new zero-energy administration building for the Municipality of Aarhus. The winning entry focuses on sustainability and renewable energy generation for a low environmental impact.

(more…)

Purina wants to welcome you to visit Petcentric if you haven’t already! You can do lots of stuff over there, like read pet stories, look up pet-friendly lodging or parks, enjoy upon some fun pet slideshows or videos, play games, and — of course — read more pet blogs. You can also share your own photos and videos.

One of my favorite stories on Petcentric right now is about Walking Your Cat. Yes, it’s possible for cats to get very comfortable walking on a leash. I’ve even witnessed one cat who loved the leash so much you’d think she was a dog. The kitty walked right into the animal hospital lobby and started exploring while her owner chatted.

On to the prizes!

One winner will receive a large Snoozer Pool & Patio Dog Bed in Black Rain Floral. It’s made of water-resistant fabric that also resists fading. Can you picture your sweet dog lounging on it this summer?

Another winner will receive an EveryDay with Rachael Ray tote bag filled with pet goodies, such as toys and brushes. It will be like a second Christmas for your pet!

How to enter

You must have a US mailing address. Go to Petcentric and pick out your favorite story. Come back here and leave a comment with your pick. For a second chance to win, Tweet this contest and leave another comment telling me you Tweeted. Want a third chance to win? Become a Facebook fan of Petcentric and leave another comment.

To qualify to win, you must leave your comment by January 12, 2010 at 11 pm CST. The winners will have five days to respond to my request for a mailing address before a replacement winner is chosen. Please check your spam filter.

(Image via Snoozer)

Post from: Blisstree

Win a Large Pool & Patio Doggie Bed

Eco Factor: Gardens to occupy 101 hectares of prime land in Singapore.

Grant Associates and Gustafson Porter have won an international competition to design the Gardens by the Bay that will occupy 101 hectares of land by the water near Marina Bay. The Bay South by Grant Associates, located next to the Marina Bay integrated resort, will also become the largest garden at 54 hectares.

(more…)

Eco Factor: Water saving shower reduces shower time.

There is nothing better than a warm shower on a cold evening after a hectic day at the office. However, relaxing and craving for those few minutes of extra shower time costs us a fortune in terms of water use, a resource that should rather be preserved. The Shower Brake by industrial designers Sang-in Lee and Dae Hyun Kim helps us preserve water by limiting the shower time.

(more…)

Back in January, the WTO ruled against the US in an intellectual property dispute with China. Well, to be specific, there were three issues being discussed, and on the two important ones, the US lost. On the final, not particularly important one, the US won. But, as it has done before, the US took that and declared victory, leading to all sorts of headlines claiming that the US had “won” a trade dispute with China. So, when similar headlines showed up, again with the US claiming victory, it seemed worth exploring in more detail. You can read the full WTO report, where you’ll see how highly technical this specific argument was, and note that, indeed, the WTO basically upheld the earlier rulings, with minor (mostly meaningless) exception.

So, the US does get to declare “victory” on this particular issue, but it’s unlikely that China really cares. Also, it’s more than a bit ironic that the US suddenly acts like a WTO ruling like this is meaningful. It’s also striking to hear US Trade Rep Ron Kirk claim that “We expect China to respond promptly to these findings and bring its measures into compliance,” when the US itself continues to ignore similar WTO rulings against the US when it comes to online gambling in Antigua. For the US to act like the WTO rulings mean something, shouldn’t it need to live up to those rulings when it loses as well?

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If you’re a minor and your mother tells you to stop playing video games and head off to bed, it’s probably a smart idea to just do as you’re told. Otherwise, she might call the cops on

Eco Factor: Concept zero-emission electric-assist trike.

The Roadrunner Trike is the work of industrial designer Cikaric Dragan, who knows that one major hurdle that bikes face is the unavailability of adequate space to carry belongings. The trike features a carbon-fiber body that keeps its weight down to just 26kgs.

(more…)

The seafood industry is plagued by environmental and social consequences. From questions of sustainability to slavery, eating ethical seafood can be a challenge. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Guide is now available for your iPhone, including a sushi guide.

Our new iPhone application brings the latest Seafood Watch recommendations directly to your iPhone or iPod touch. Now you can make sustainable seafood choices quickly and easily–whether you’re eating at your favorite restaurant or shopping for dinner. And at a time when the world’s oceans are severely overfished, your seafood choices make a big difference.

Seventy percent of the world’s fisheries are either in decline or are already fished at their capacity. Fortunately, there are many types of tasty fish that are plentiful and are readily available. Through your iPhone, iPod Touch or mobile device with internet connection, you can search by fish and a color-coded grid identifies fish by: Best Choice, Good Alternative and Avoid.

This iPhone application is free!

Did you get your children the H1N1 vaccine earlier or even later this year? Chances are if you did they may need to go back and get a second dose, otherwise they may still be able to come down with that troublemaking Swine Flu.

IMG: Sxc.hu

WebMD:

Australian researchers report that a 15-microgram dose of H1N1 vaccine — double the dose approved for U.S. kids under age 3 but the same dose given to older kids — raised anti-H1N1 antibodies to protective levels in more than 90% of children ages 6 months to 9 years.

But the CDC warns parents not to act on this information, noting that that in other studies, kids needed two doses of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine for protection.

Currently Australia and the CDC are in disagreement on this and are trying to prove one another wrong. Who do you agree with?

Post from: Blisstree

Australia and CDC Disagree on H1N1 Shot