Faux Pas #1: You Forgot Her Birthday
The moment you realize the date got away from you, “offer an apology, but not an excuse,” says Irene Levine, PhD, professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, and author of Best Friends Forever. An “oops” birthday card or gift and an offer to buy her a drink or lunch are good moves. Remember, too, that how much your friend is hurt by your forgetfulness depends on her birthday-importance meter. If she’s super-sensitive (what Dr. Levine calls a “birthday princess”), you may have to work harder to get back in her good graces.

Faux Pas #2: You Don’t Like Her Husband
Leave her hubby out of the friendship as much as you can; it’s not fair to force her to divide her loyalties, especially if she knows he’s not your favorite person. “Remind her how important her friendship is to you, and restrict your time together to girls only,” says Dr. Levine. Employ a little diplomacy (or a harmless white lie): no reason you have to detail to her what you don’t like about her man.

Faux Pas #3: You Are (or Want to Be) Dating Her Ex
“I’m sure there are friends who have navigated this successfully without causing hurt feelings, but my general advice would be, if you want to keep the friend, avoid the ex,” says Elaine Zelley, PhD, associate communications professor at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, who has studied female friendships. This is particularly true if it’s a recent breakup, but even long-ago exes can stir up a world of emotion. If you’re already involved, be prepared for a painful adjustment period—or even the long-term loss of your friend. But if you’re only in the contemplation stage, “talk to her about it, honestly,” says Dr. Zelley, which is the only way you can hope to emerge with your friendship intact.

Faux Pas #4: You Weren’t There for Her at a Crucial Time
Don’t make excuses or offer justifications (“I was just so busy that month!”). “That only trivializes her experience and makes it seem that your life is more important than hers,” says Dr. Zelley. Instead, admit that you let her down, and that you realize how bad your absence made her feel. Ask, humbly and sincerely, if there’s anything you can do to make it up to her. Then let it go; depending on how hurt she is (and how much other support she had at the time), it may take time for the friendship to fully heal.

Faux Pas #5: You Were Late to Meet Her
You have to apologize, of course, and offer something to assuage her annoyance, such as picking up the lunch tab. If it’s a recurring problem, “you’re giving her the message that your time is more valuable than hers,” says Dr. Levine. Chronic lateness can seriously damage a friendship. Acknowledge that it’s you who has a punctuality problem; it’s nothing she did. Together, come up with a solution, such as meeting someplace she doesn’t mind waiting (a bookstore rather than a street corner), or meeting at your home instead.

Faux Pas #6: You Didn’t Call Her Back…for Months
Don’t keep putting off calling her—just do it. If you truly have no excuse, “a white lie may be in order,” says Dr. Levine (overtime at work, or a needy family member monopolizing your time). But keep it short and sweet, and then launch right into catching each other up on news. Remember, too, that different friendships have a different “pace,” says Dr. Levine. If this is a friendship that normally allows time to elapse between calls, it may not be as big a deal as you imagine.

Faux Pas #7: You Didn’t Tell Her When Something She Did Hurt You
“If what your friend did was a one-time event that isn’t likely to happen again, weigh the cost versus the benefit of telling her how you felt,” says Dr. Zelley. Her advice: “Only reveal the hurt if the benefit—a deeper level of trust and understanding in the friendship—outweighs the cost,” otherwise you could be creating distance in the friendship. But if what she did was so hurtful you’re not sure you can spend time with her without it bugging you, talk to her. Keep it simple: “I overheard you talking to Gina about my infertility problems, which I’d asked you to keep private.” Give her a chance to apologize, and see if you can regain trust again.

By Denise Schipani

Tune It On – iTunes/Starbucks Pick Of The Week
Every time we prance in for our grande cinnamon cappuccinos, we score a little jive with our java. Pick up one of the iTunes cards sitting on the counter and download a free song by punching in the code. Good for our ears – and wallets!

Scream For Ice Cream – Baskin-Robbins Birthday Club
The only thing we love more than ice cream is free ice cream. Sign up for the Birthday Club (online or at a store), and they’ll send you a coupon right before your big day. It’s good for a free scoop. You can try playing the B-day “card” at restaurants, too. If it’s your friend’s birthday, ask if the restaurant does complimentary birthday desserts. It’s always sweet to surprise someone with a cake, candle, and song at the table!

Freezer Fun – Fancy Freezer Labels
Opening up your freezer to find a stash that’s been there since the Ice Age is scary. This is why we love Martha Stewart’s free printable freezer labels. They’re pretty and practical. Just jot down the contents and date on the labels, stick them on your food packages, and you’ll never have a glob of funky lookin’ stuff in your freezer again.

Posh Postcards – Personalized Postcards
Martha to the rescue, again. The diva of do-it-yourself provides two printable postcard templates. You simply supply a 4×6 photo for the front of the card and then voila, you’ve got a free, fashionable way to keep in touch with friends and family.

Luscious Locks – Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner
Treat your tresses to free treats courtesy of Procter & Gamble. They’ll send you free samples — all you have to do is sign up.

Creams ‘n’ Things – Kiehl’s
This fancy pantsy bath products purveyor gives three free samples with any online purchase from their website. Fine, it’s not totally free since it comes with a purchase, but it makes us feel like we scored a major deal. And we love that we get to customize our freebies to suit our tastes.

Fantastic Facials – Department Store Facials
High-end cosmetics brands at your local department store often offer free facials or treatments. Naturally they’re promoting their products, but there’s absolutely no obligation to buy anything. If it’s true and makes you more comfortable, tell the facialist that you want to go home and see what it does for your skin before you buy. Check online at sites like Clarins or go to your local counter to ask a salesperson to keep you posted on other free offers.

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight Though he died of an accidental drug overdose this past January, a full seven months before “The Dark Knight” opened, Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s grim superhero blockbuster has already garnered Oscar talk. The Australian actor died while shooting Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” but a trio of other stars — Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell — stepped in to film the character’s remaining scenes.

James Dean – Giant
James Dean – GiantDean was a mere 24 years old when he died in a car wreck in 1955. But in that short time, he starred in three movies and garnered two posthumous Oscar nominations, one for “East of Eden” and the other for “Giant.”

Oliver Reed – Gladiator
Oliver Reed – GladiatorLegendary British actor Oliver Reed died of a heart attack during production of this epic sword and sandal flick. As a result, a number of his scenes had to be re-edited using a double, digital effects, and plenty of shadows.

Bruce Lee – Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee – Enter the DragonBruce Lee died just three weeks before his breakout movie opened, killed suddenly by a cerebral edema. “Enter the Dragon” proved to be such a hit — one of the most profitable movies of all time — and there was such a demand for its departed star that Hong Kong soon started cranking out films with leads named Bruce Li, Bruce Lei, Brute Lee, and Lee Bruce.

Brandon Lee – The Crow
Brandon Lee – The CrowIn a coincidence so ghoulish people speculated there may have been some sort of “curse” involved, Bruce Lee’s son Brandon was killed in a freak on-set accident during filming of 1994′s “The Crow.” An improperly-cleaned prop gun discharged a blank that pierced Lee’s abdomen and lodged in his spine. After the tragic mishap, production resumed using stunt doubles and digital trickery for the remaining scenes.

Spencer Tracy – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Guess Who’s Coming to DinnerSpencer Tracy starred alongside Katharine Hepburn and Sydney Poiter in the 1967′s landmark “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” which broached the then-taboo subject of interracial marriage. Tracy’s health was so bad prior to shooting that insurance companies refused to cover him for the production. He died after the film wrapped and posthumously received his ninth Oscar nomination.

Adrienne Shelly – Waitress
Adrienne Shelly – WaitressWhen “Waitress” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007, the film was hailed as being a sweet, witty comedy about one of life’s true pleasures: pie. Sadly, writer/director/actress Adrienne Shelly was not there. She was murdered months prior by Diego Pillco, a New York City construction worker. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this year.

Peter Finch – Network
Peter Finch – NetworkThough he did die two months after “Network” opened, Peter Finch, who brilliantly played crazed newscaster Howard Beale, is the only person to win an acting Oscar posthumously.

Tupac Shakur – Gridlock’d
Tupac Shakur – Gridlock’dRapper Tupac Shakur proved to be almost as posthumously prolific in movies as he was with music. After he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Vegas in 1996, Tupac appeared in both “Gridlock’d” and “Gang Related,” both of which were released the following year.

Clark Gable – The Misfits
Clark Gable – The MisfitsThe day shooting for John Huston’s 1960 movie “The Misfits” wrapped, Clark Gable was reported to have said, “Christ, I’m glad this picture’s finished. [Co-star Marilyn Monroe] damn near gave me a heart attack.” He keeled over from a heart attack the next day and died 11 days later. “The Misfits” also proved to be Monroe’s final film as well.

To hear Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Leal and director Malcolm D. Lee reminisce about their experience working with Bernie Mac on “Soul Men,” watch the exclusive interview below.

by Jonathan Crow

Olive Riley “passed away peacefully on July 12 and will be mourned by thousands of Internet friends and hundreds of descendants and other relatives,” a note on her website said.

Riley had posted more than 70 entries on her blog from Woy Woy on the east coast since February last year, sharing her thoughts on modern life and her experiences living through the entire 20th century.

Born in the outback town of Broken Hill on October 20 1899, she lived through two world wars and raised three children while doing various jobs, including ranch cook and barmaid.

In her final post on June 26, she wrote: “I can’t believe I’ve been here in this nursing home for more than a week.

“How the days have flown, even though I’ve been in bed most of the time. I still feel weak, and can’t shake off that bad cough.

“Penny, who’s in the next bed to mine, had a visit one day this week from her daughter, who’s a professional singer. Guess what happened! She and I sang a happy song, as I do every day, and before long we were joined by several nurses, who sang along too. It was quite a concert!”

Riley’s blog, initially on www.allaboutolive.com.au and more recently at http://worldsoldestblogger.blogspot.com, was “mind-blowing to her,” her great grandson Darren Stone said.

“She had people communicating with her from as far away as Russia and America on a continual basis, not just once in a while,” he told the national AAP news agency.

“She enjoyed the notoriety — it kept her mind fresh.”

By AFP News

Even though I’ve grown up (and wisened up) since then, I still have trouble convincing myself to crawl into bed at night: I keep a running tally of all the things I haven’t crossed off my to-do list—reading manuscripts, prepping for a TV appearance, even laundry! And I’m always tempted to stay up just a bit longer to get everything done before morning.

So what stops me from burning the midnight oil? Not only has personal experience proved that I’ll be more stressed (not to mention less chipper) when I’m sleep-deprived, but studies suggest that not getting adequate zzz’s can increase your risk for heart disease and depression, and even cause weight gain (ever found yourself heading to the fridge or the vending machine when you’re tired? I have!).

Try these tips to help relax before you hit the sack:

Unplug
Avoid having long conversations on your cell phone before bed: Researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit found that people who were exposed to the slight radiation that emanates from cell phones took longer to fall asleep and spent less time in the deep stages of slumber.

Make Your Bedroom a Haven
Draw the blinds and turn on a fan or a soothing CD of nature noises to block out distracting sounds. Swapping ordinary bedroom bulbs for yellow ones (GE makes a 25-watt version sold at drugstores) can help you feel more tranquil as you’re getting ready to nod off. Consider treating yourself to a cozy new comforter or putting flowers on your nightstand so that being in your bedroom—and sleeping!—becomes something you look forward to.

Say Thanks
Once you’re under the covers, take two minutes to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. Studies show that practicing grateful thinking makes people more optimistic. And going to sleep with happy thoughts will help you sleep more soundly.

By Lucy Danziger

That’s because research shows sad people are willing to pay significantly more money for everyday items such as a water bottle.

Cynthia Cryder, a doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, recently explored the issue of emotion and spending in a simple experiment. She got some young people to come into the psychology lab, then showed film clips.

Manipulating Emotions
For one group, she played a teary scene, “one of the classic methods of inducing sadness,” says Cryder. She chose a clip from the 1979 movie The Champ, in which a boy weeps inconsolably over his dead father’s body.

Afterward, participants were asked to write an essay about what it would be like “if they had lost a mentor in a similar way,” Cryder says.

Another group saw a clip from a more emotionally neutral movie: a National Geographic documentary about the Great Barrier Reef. It features a beach, underwater scenes and shots of the reef and fish. The essay assignment for these viewers was to write about their daily routine.

Study participants were paid $10 for their time. Cryder told them they could use part of the money to buy a really nice water bottle. She asked how much they’d be willing to spend.

Sadness Induces Spending
It turns out, Cryder says, “the people in our study who are induced to feel sad are willing to pay more for the same item than are people who feel neutral.”

It wasn’t just a little more. Those who watched the documentary scenes paid an average of 56 cents. Those who watched the tearjerker paid an average of $2.11.

When Cryder and her study co-authors looked closely at the people who watched the sad scene, they realized something. Their essays were more self-focused, containing more words such as “I,” “me” and “myself.”

Self-focus is “a necessary condition for the influence of sadness to carry over to our decisions,” Cryder says.

The findings will appear in the June issue of the journal Psychological Science.

The study builds on work by Jennifer Lerner of Harvard University, who has been studying how emotions influence economic transactions. People deny that watching a sad movie affects their spending decisions, Lerner has found, suggesting no conscious awareness.

Symptom or Cure?
Other experts say the study raises some fascinating new questions. Nicholas Epley, a researcher at the University of Chicago who has looked at the psychology of spending tax rebates, says the experiment doesn’t show whether this buying behavior is an effective mood enhancer for sadness.

“We don’t know if people who bought the water bottle actually were happier then,” Epley says. “Did that wipe out the initial mood manipulation?”

It’s not yet clear what this study means for consumers, Epley says. “Do you not get in your car and go to the mall when you’re sad? Or do you especially go to the mall when you’re sad?”

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Dr. Michael Salzhauer is set to release his controversial book My Beautiful Mommy, the first book to describe cosmetic surgery to children, this Mother’s Day.

Dr. Salzhauer revealed that he had the idea after seeing women bring their children with them to consultations.

“Parents tend to go into this denial thing. They just try to ignore the kids’ questions completely. But kids fill in the blanks in their imagination. With the tummy tucks, mums can’t lift anything. They’re in bed. The kids have questions,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

The book, aimed at kids under seven, features a superhero surgeon called Dr. Michael and a girl whose mother gets a tummy tuck, nose job and breast implants.

Before she goes for the chop, the mum tells her daughter: “As I got older, my body stretched and I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore. Dr Michael is going to help fix that and make me feel better.”

Her nose surgery, she explains, will make her look “not just different, my dear — prettier!”

After the operation, mum emerges “even more beautiful” than before.

Reported by ANI

Bacteria and viruses love this kind of closed-off space. However, even when sinusitis is due to infection, the cause is often a virus, not bacteria, so antibiotics still may not help.

It can be very hard to figure out if sinusitis is due to allergy or an infection, but the treatments are different, so it’s important to try. Here are some of the clues:

Time of year. If sinusitis happens around the same time or times every year, allergy is more likely.

Environmental differences. If the symptoms are due to allergy, they may get better or worse as you move between different environments: indoors vs. outdoors; home vs. work; weekday vs. weekend; going away on vacation.

Fever. A normal temperature or low grade fever (less than 100.5F) is more likely to be allergy. Higher fevers are more consistent with viral or bacterial infection. However, chronic infections don’t always cause fever, and the inflammation from allergies can cause fever.

Mucus color. Clear or light colored mucus is more likely allergy and darker is more likely infection. However, color alone isn’t enough information to make a diagnosis. It’s also pretty common to have some streaks of blood in the mucus, due to the inflammation and frequent nose-blowing, regardless of the cause.

Antibiotic failure. If one or more courses of antibiotics doesn’t cure the problem, then allergy is much more likely.

Coexisting conditions. People with asthma and/or eczema (a dry, scaly, itchy rash) are prone to developing allergies, too.

Infections often last from one to three weeks, while an allergic reaction will continue as long as the trigger is present. If over-the-counter remedies don’t help you enough with your symptoms, or if you’d like increase the intensity of your treatment, then it’s time to see your doctor for additional advice.

It came in first in a Harris Poll of nearly 2,513 adults but the second choice in the survey was not as clear cut.

“While the Bible is number one among each of the different demographic groups, there is a large difference in the number two favorite book,” Harris said in a statement announcing the results.

Men chose J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and women selected Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind” as their second-favorite book, according to the online poll.

But the second choice for 18- to 31-year-olds was J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, while 32- to 43-year-olds named Stephen King’s “The Stand” and Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons.”

Picks for second-favorite book also varied according to region. “Gone With the Wind” was number two in the southern and midwestern United States while easterners chose “The Lord of the Rings” and westerners opted for “The Stand.”

Whites and Hispanics picked “Gone With the Wind” as their second-favorite book after the Bible, while African-Americans preferred “Angels and Demons.”

“Finally, they may not agree on candidates, but one thing that brings together partisans is their favorite book. For Republicans, Democrats and Independents, the top two books are the same — the Bible followed by “Gone With the Wind.”

Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown, “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand and “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger rounded out the top 10 favorites.

(Reporting by Julie Mollins; editing by Patricia Reaney)

The Northeast pumps out an awful lot of carbon dioxide, but the Southeast, Midwest and Southern California are also responsible for voluminous pollution that billows out each day.

The precise sources of carbon dioxide have now been mapped, with 100 times more detail than was previously available, by Vulcan project researchers at Purdue University.

The high-resolution, interactive maps combine emissions data from power plants, factories and vehicles. The maps and movies compare the relative contribution of pollution from various parts of the country on an hourly basis. One of the most striking things one sees when watching the animations is the day-night “breathing” cycle of our pollution, with a long exhale of pollution all day, followed by a sharp decline each night. Seasonal spikes – such as those when hot days prompt millions of Americans to turn up their air conditioners – are also evident.

The maps also highlight an important political reality: While states in the Northeast, upper Midwest and West have agreed to state-level compacts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the nation’s pollution won’t be significantly cut until the South joins in. Depending on the estimate, the U.S. is the world’s biggest, or second-biggest (next to China) producer of greenhouse gas emissions; it produces 25% of the world’s carbon dioxide pollution, the key ingredient in atmospheric change fueling global warming.

“Before now the only thing policy-makers could do was take a big blunt tool and bang the U.S. economy with it,” said Kevin Gurney, an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric science at Purdue University and leader of the project. “Now we have more quantifiable information about what is happening in neighborhoods, on roads and in industrial areas, and track the CO2 by the hour. This offers policy-makers something akin to a scalpel instead.”

By Dan Shapley