Maxy's Hideout: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Why have jeans always had that little pocket ???

Most jeans have it – but who ever uses it?

We’re talking about the teensy-tiny fifth pocket above a normal-sized pocket on the front of your jeans.

Editors at the Yahoo Canada office have used it for everything from lipstick to subway tokens to “tiny snacks,” but we’ve often wondered what it’s really for.

Wonder no more! It’s a watch pocket.

According to Perth Now, the always-pressing question was revisited in a Quora thread, where people have been discussing the mystical fifth pocket for years.

“The first blue jeans had four pockets—only one in back and, in the front, two plus the small watch pocket,” explains a Levi’s blog post. Originally included as protection for pocket watches, hence the name, this extra pouch has served many functions, evident in its many titles: frontier pocket, condom pocket, coin pocket, match pocket and ticket pocket, to name a few.”

The pocket dates back to the oldest pair of jeans in the Levi’s archive, Levi’s historian Tracey Panek, explains. And those jeans are from 1879! Every pair of genuine Levi Jeans has sported the watch pocket ever since. And the basic design of Levis has never changed. Why change something that works so perfectly.

What do you put in your watch pocket ? Hmm?
Thanx Yahoo

The world's oldest surviving pair of jeans dates from 1879

Levi Strauss & Co. was founded inSan Francisco by Bavarian born tailor Levi Strauss in 1853

Blue jeans were created as durable, inexpensive workwear. When they did start to be worn as casual wear, it was a startling symbol of rebellion - the spirit captured by Marlon Brando in his 1953 film The Wild One and by James Dean two years later in Rebel Without a Cause.

If you were a 15-year-old boy in 1953 you wanted to be Marlon Brando. Hollywood costume designers put all the bad boys in denim.
Dean and Brando wore denim off-screen too. Both represented a subversive counter-culture - a group of young GIs just returned from war, who rode around the US on motorcycles instead of moving to the suburbs and having children. They freaked out the establishment in the United States because they were not conforming and they were wearing those common, low-life blue jeans worn only by renegades and the great unwashed.
They were soon banned in schools from coast to coast which only added to the fervor with which teenagers embraced them. The hippie sub-culture of the sixties and seventies made them the required uniform of that era. Now the world and all generations embrace them. About ninety percent of the population of North America and the United Kingdom live in jeans and the rest of the world is catching up.
Although, right now, I have to admit that yoga pants are giving them a run for their money.

A Diabetes Diagnosis Can Be Scary, But a Diabetes Educator Can Help

By Joan Bardsley, MBA, BSN, RN, CDE
American Association of Diabetes Educators
If you have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, or have been living with it for a while, you know how challenging it can be to manage your disease.

At times, it may seem overwhelming to do all of the things you have to do to take care of yourself.

A diabetes educator can help. As a member of your healthcare team, a diabetes educator – who may also be a nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, or a specialist in another discipline such as physical therapy or social work – will work with you to develop a plan to stay healthy, and give you the tools and ongoing support to make that plan a regular part of your life.

Diabetes may not have a cure, but you can manage it and live well; and diabetes education helps people learn how to manage their disease by focusing on seven self-care behaviors:
Healthy eating
Being active
Monitoring your blood sugar
Taking medication
Problem solving
Healthy coping
Reducing risks
The goal of diabetes education and support is to show you how to practice these behaviors every day, which will help you lower your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Most people with diabetes know self-management is important, and there is overwhelming research to show that those who have had diabetes education have better blood sugar control. Good diabetes educators work with each person to design a specific plan that includes tools and support tailored to that person.

How Do You Get Diabetes Education?
Diabetes education is often prescribed by a primary care provider, who writes a referral. Diabetes education programs, sometimes called diabetes self-management training, are found in a variety of places – hospital outpatient facilities, clinics, doctors’ offices, to name a few – and staffed by diabetes educators. These specialists focus on all aspects of diabetes care, and are also skilled in counseling, education, and communication.

What Do Diabetes Educators Do?
Diabetes educators teach people with diabetes how to manage their diabetes and live their healthiest life. Diabetes educators ask many questions to better understand your goals and challenges, and then, together, they develop a diabetes self-management plan with you that works for you.

For example, diabetes educators can help you understand how certain favorite foods affect your blood sugar, how to fit a prescribed medication into a daily routine, and how to lower the risk of diabetes-related complications. Your plan can include advice on everything from getting through the excesses of holiday dinners and parties to coping with the challenges of managing diabetes while traveling for work or fun.

Diabetes education is not a lecture on what not to do. It’s real-life guidance, coaching, and support proven to help you understand exactly how to best manage your diabetes, and to feel less alone while you’re doing it.

Diabetes education takes place in group or one-on-one settings, and in formal or informal formats.

Does Insurance Pay for Diabetes Educators?
Diabetes education is a recognized part of diabetes care and is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans when provided by a diabetes educator within an accredited and recognized program. To find an accredited program or a certified diabetes educator near you, check out AADE’s diabetes educator database.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Babies Are At high Risk From The Mosquito-Borne Zika Virus

El Salvador and Colombia have advised women not to get pregnant over fears of babies infected in the womb. Here's what you need to know about the virus.

The Zika virus is "spreading explosively", the head of the World Health Organization has warned amid fears it may be carried by the common mosquito.

Speaking at a meeting of WHO member states, Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said the level of alarm over the virus has become "extremely high".

The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to a steep increase in the number of babies born with severe birth defects, including abnormally small heads.

"A causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth malformations and neurological syndromes has not yet been established, but is strongly suspected," the WHO chief said.

"The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika, from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions," she added.

Dr Chan has called an emergency meeting on 1 February to discuss whether the outbreak, which is taking hold across South and Central America and the Caribbean, qualifies as an international public health emergency.

The WHO warning came as scientists in Brazil said it is possible the virus is carried by the common mosquito.

Up until now it was thought the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is confined to the tropics, was solely spreading the virus.

Cases have so far been reported in 23 countries and territories, with Brazil among the worst affected.

Between three and four million cases of the virus are expected, infectious disease expert Marcos Espinal warned, although he did not give a time frame.

US health authorities have confirmed 31 reported cases of the Zika virus in the country among people who have travelled to affected areas. A small number of Europeans have also tested positive.

The European health ministers are advising pregnant women to reconsider travel to affected areas while France's health minister has gone a step further and "strongly" urged pregnant women to postpone their trips.

In several of the affected areas, including El Salvador and Colombia, women have been advised not to get pregnant altogether.

There are no known vaccines, specific treatments or rapid diagnostic tests for the virus, something the WHO has highlighted as a particular concern.

With the exception of the risks for unborn babies, Zika is not considered dangerous.

Common symptoms can last up to a week and include fever, rashes, joint pain and conjunctivitis.
Regardless of medical authorities prevaricating on the effects to unborn babies, this virus has terrifying potential and permanent consequences. It is now well established in the United States and it has just been reported that three cases have developed in Canada. They suspect it can also be transmitted sexually. People may be completely unaware they are carrying the infection. That is what makes it the most dangerous. This is now a pandemic of frightening proportions. Ladies, be extremely cautious. The next generation may depend on it.

Food for Thought : See You Later Gator

To all the friends and readers of Food for Thought ... Grand-poppa has to take a leave of absent , not to worry he will be back as soon as possible .

Some important matters that need his personal attention .

To the ones here that know him personally , the family thinks you for being so kind .

Witchy

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Needle-phobic's pancreas transplant 'world first'

A British woman has become the first person in the world to have a pancreas transplant because of a severe needle phobia, her doctors have said. Sue York - who has had type-1 diabetes since she was seven - would shake uncontrollably and vomit when injecting herself with insulin.
Ms York said the operation had "completely altered my life". Doctors said her life expectancy had now doubled.
Ms York, 55, from Lincoln, England, related that, following the operation, at Manchester Royal Infirmary, she felt "incredible" and full of energy.
"No longer am I struggling to walk up a flight of stairs, getting breathless walking into the wind. No longer is my skin yellow or grey. No longer do I look constantly exhausted," she said.
"I've had to get new glasses because my eyesight has improved and feeling has returned to areas on my feet where I'd begun to lose sensation."

Ms York said her phobia had reached a critical point in 2012, when the DVLA had changed its regulations in relation to diabetic drivers, insisting they checked blood glucose levels - requiring her to prick her skin - before driving and once every two hours behind the wheel.
"It was just too many needles, too many invasions into the flesh," she said.
Ms York had decided to give up driving, she said, but her body had been too weak to walk long distances - leaving her at risk of becoming housebound.

She had tried hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in an attempt to cure her phobia, but without success. And injecting herself with insulin would frequently take 20 minutes.
It took more than two years for Ms York to be placed on a waiting list for the transplant, during which time she appeared in front of a panel three times to discuss her eligibility.

She said questions had been raised over her need for the transplant, given that she did not have any kidney complications, and over whether her phobia was a strong enough reason to undergo major surgery. But, she said, a phobia of needles was common among long-term diabetics and her story could give hope to others.
"I don't know who my donor is, but I thank them and their family from the bottom of my heart," she said.

Oprah Tweets About Eating Bread and Losing Weight, Gains $12.5 Million

Oprah Winfrey's loss is also her gain. On Tuesday, the 61-year-old icon tweeted out a video to her 30 million followers proclaiming that she has eaten bread "every single day" on her Weight Watchers diet and has still lost 26 pounds.

Following Oprah's carb confession, Weight Watchers stock went up 20 percent, closing at $13.29 a share. Seeing as she owns 10 percent of the company, Oprah earned $12.5 million dollars, or roughly $3 million an hour.

USA Today points out that if you factor in her 3.5 million Weight Watchers stock option, she made a staggering $19.2 million, or nearly $5 million an hour, after her single tweet.

Oprah joined forces with the diet brand in October and immediately caused their stock to sky rocket. Once news broke of Weight Watchers' partnership with the Queen of Talk, the company's stock went up 53 percent in pre-market trading to $10.36. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing obtained by USA Today, Oprah purchased her shares at $6.79 for a total investment of $43.2 million.

"Weight Watchers has given me the tools to begin to make the lasting shift that I and so many of us who are struggling with weight have longed for," she said in a statement at the time. "I believe in the program so much I decided to invest in the company and partner in its evolution."

While Oprah is all about Weight Watchers, other stars -- including Jessica Alba and Allison Williams -- are really into Kayla Itsines' 30-minute workout. ET sat down with the 24-year-old trainer to reveal her secret behind her fitness regimen.

Thanx ET

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Seven Foods that make you look younger and fresher

By David Zinczenko
Some of the most beautiful people I know are the most insecure about their looks.
Take my friend Giselle (believe me, not her real name!). She’s one of those women always invited to events most of us rarely go to—award shows, boutique openings, glamorous parties. With her long blonde hair and sparkly blue eyes, she could have her pick of men. But she spends most of her time picking on herself.
“I wake up every morning looking older than the day before!” she told me recently. She already does a lot of the right things—doesn’t smoke, avoids too much sun, gets enough sleep, and takes time to relax and let go of her stress. But when I asked about her diet, she was surprised. “I don’t worry about my weight!” she said.
Maybe not, but the right diet can do more than just lead to weight loss. It can turn back the hands of time, as well. If finding eternal youth youthful is on your to-do list, try adding these Eat This, Not That!-recommended foods to your daily diet plan.

STOP THE GREY!

Beauty Food Fix #1: Shiitake Mushrooms

Grey hair is beautiful when it’s age-appropriate, but unfair for folks who start to salt-and-pepper before they’ve finished life’s main course. One cause of early greying: a lack of copper. A study in the journal Biological Trace Elemental Research found premature-graying individuals had significantly lower copper levels than a control group. Your body requires copper to produce pigment for your skin and hair, and shiitake mushrooms are one of the best dietary sources. Just a half cup provides 71 percent of your recommended daily intake of copper—and for only 40 calories! If you're not a fan of mushrooms, then make these 6 nuts part of your diet.

REGAIN YOUR GLOW!

Beauty Food Fix #2: Sweet Potatoes

A study in the Journal Evolution and Human Behaviour showed eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables gives a healthier, and more attractive, golden glow than the sun. Researchers found people who ate more portions of red and orange fruits and vegetables per day had a more sun-kissed complexion than those who didn’t consume as much—the result of disease-fighting compounds called carotenoids that give those plants their colors. And no, you won’t look like an Oompa Loompa. In fact, given the choice between a real suntan and a glow caused by diet, study participants preferred the carotenoid complexion. Few foods are as rich in the beauty stuff than sweet potatoes; just half a medium potato with the skin provides 200 percent of your daily recommended intake. Add more sweet potatoes to your diet with the 10 best recipes for weight loss.

WHITEN YOUR TEETH!

Beauty Food Fix #3: Cheddar Cheese

Good news, politicians: Cheesy smiles may be good for you. One study in the journal General Dentistry of people who didn't brush their teeth for 48 hours (don’t try that at home),found snacking on cheddar cheese raised their mouths' pH to freshly-brushed levels. (Like cavities, discoloration is increased when you have an acidic environment in your mouth.) Plus, compounds in the cheese that adhere to tooth enamel, like a white strip, help to fend off acid. Speaking of morning rituals, don’t miss our science-backed 8 Ways to Lose Weight Before Noon.

ERASE DARK CIRCLES!

Beauty Food Fix #4: Spa Water

Puffy, dark circles under the eyes may indicate you had too much fun the night before, but it can also indicate another more common, less exciting issue: dehydration. Salty foods, alcohol, exercise, hot weather and just plain not drinking enough water can create inflammation, which results in the Rocket Raccoon complexion. Start replenishing your body right away: Cut up some citrus fruits (rind included) and soak them in a pitcher of ice water. Now drink copiously. The citrus not only improves flavor, but the rinds contain a powerful anti-inflammatory compound called de-limonene, which helps the liver flush toxins from the body, according to the World Health Organization. In fact, we found the 14 best detox waters that banish bloat.

GET STRONG, SHINY NAILS!

Beauty Food Fix #5: Lean Beef

Weekly manicures can keep your nails in tip-top shape, but so can Sunday's top round roast dinner. Researches say a diet rich in protein, iron and zinc are the key to long, strong, beautiful nails. And you’ll get a healthy serving of all three nutrients from a small portion of lean red meat. A recent study in the Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology that looked at nail growth over the past 70 years found that dietary protein was the difference between spurts and lags in nail growth. It’s perhaps no wonder, considering nails are made from protein—keratin, specifically. Nail it with a small 3-4 ounce portion of top round or sirloin, which are the leanest cuts of red meat, one to two times a week. Find out the 5 best cuts of beef for weight loss.

THICKEN YOUR LOCKS

Beauty Food Fix #6: Almond butter

No, you don’t rub it into your scalp like Rogaine. But almond butter is one food that contains a wide variety of nutrients—including protein, healthy fats, and certain vitamins—that have all been linked to hair health. It’s the vitamin E content in the nuts that researchers say is particularly good for keeping your locks thick and lustrous. One eight-month trial found men who supplemented daily with vitamin E saw an increase in hair growth by as much as 42 percent. Just a tablespoon of almonds provides nearly two thirds of your RDA for fat-soluble vitamin E. Discover the 20 full-fat foods that can help you stay skinny.

REVERSE SUN DAMAGE

Beauty Food Fix #7: Tomatoes

New research has found that the reason melanoma rates are so low in regions like the Mediterranean—where going topless on the beach is all part of the summertime fun—has to do with the Mediterranean diet. Foods high in antioxidants, particularly deeply colored fruits and vegetables, can help fight the oxidizing effect of UV rays. One study in the British Journal of Dermatology found participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste (a highly concentrated form of fresh tomatoes) daily showed 33 percent more protection against sunburn than a control group. And tomatoes work double duty to boost beauty: While the carotenoids and antioxidants help the body fight off oxidation that ages skin cells, they also boost pro-collagen—a molecule that gives skin its taught, youthful structure.
Health and beauty always go hand in hand. Like my mom used to say... "You are what you eat."

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Dangers of Diabetes

By Everyday Health Editors
Type 2 diabetes can lead to a range of serious complications, so it’s important to understand what can happen and how to recognize the symptoms.
Right now, you might be experiencing some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, which include:

Frequent urination
Unusual thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Extreme fatigue and irritability
Blurred vision
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
Tingling/numbness in the hands and feet
Skin, gum, or bladder infections
As you bring your blood-glucose levels under control, these symptoms will begin to abate. However, like many people with type 2 diabetes, you might not have any symptoms at all — which can sometimes make it harder to grasp the seriousness of your diagnosis.

Whether you have symptoms or not, over time uncontrolled levels of high blood sugar can lead to tissue damage throughout your body, from your eyes to your toes. When you have diabetes, you will be seeing your physician on a regular basis to monitor your progress. And it will become more important than ever to get regular dental and eye exams. That’s because diabetes can lead to a range of complications, which you need to know about and be on the lookout for because they are so serious. Fortunately, controlling your blood-glucose levels can help prevent many of these secondary problems.

Diabetic Complications :
Gum disease and infections
Vision problems, including a risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and eye infections; a condition called diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss or blindness
Neuropathy, or nerve damage, that can cause pain or numbness in your hands and feet
Circulatory problems that can eventually lead to amputations (feet, legs)
Heart disease
Kidney problems
High blood pressure
Remember: Taking control of your blood-glucose levels can help prevent many of these secondary problems. Work closely with your care team to maintain a proper diabetes management plan and to watch carefully for troubling symptoms or signs of a developing problem.

Mom Empowers Thousands Of Women to Share Pictures Of ‘Flawed’ Bodies

Constance Hall

Constance Hall is becoming quite the influential feminist warrior. Her hilariously unfettered blog on ‘parent sex’ went viral earlier this month opening up a dialogue on a subject often considered taboo.

Constance is on a heartfelt quest to promote a realistic view of motherhood and modern-day femininity through social media. Reaching out by sharing her own “mammoth fails and micro victories” she’s been galvanizing women across the world, letting them know it’s okay to be an ‘imperfect’ mother, wife, woman.

Tackling self-worth issues Constance took to Facebook this week posting a candid picture of herself in her underwear, “She’s flawed, she swears, she eats the cake,” wrote the mom-of-four.

She then went on to encourage other women to stamp body shame underfoot and do the same. “I nominate you, all of you, to take a picture of yourselves, a picture that society has deemed you unfit for because you’re too old, or skinny, or fat, or you’ve had too many kids, or you’re not confident enough, or for whatever reason you have been made to feel like you don’t deserve to love your body or yourself.”

The post received almost 45,000 likes and almost 4,500 shares. Empowered by Constance’s honesty, thousands of women spoke up about their body issues, sharing pictures of themselves in their undies using the hashtag #likeaqueen.

“We need more of you and less Photoshop!!! Be real, be beautiful. #likeaqueen”

Whitney Reed

“I will never be embarrassed at the fact my belly looks like an 80 year olds and I’m 31! My belly has housed 3 children. Be proud of your body!!! #likeaqueen”

Hayley Thomas

“Me and my gorgeous sister in law #we #are #queens.”

Emma Kada

“#likeaqueen I have a two and a half year old and an 8 week old And have been feeling super self conscious about my body but thanks to you I managed to get this photo with a smile even!”

Waikeri Snowden

“I hated my stretch marks and once tried to edit this photo so they weren’t there- now that my little boy is here I couldn’t give a crap what my stomach looks like! It was what kept my son safe and warm and I couldn’t be prouder of my mummy stripes!! #likeaqueen”

Danielle Hopkins

“My body has gone through a lot to bring my beautiful son into this world ❤ thank you Constance for looking past what we see as flaws and encouraging us to be empowered and love ourselves you are a beautiful human. #likeaqueen”

Kayla Blanchard

“It took me ages to work up the courage to share a pic of me in my AWESOME new bathers, but a few days ago I took the leap after deciding I didn’t care what others think. #likeaqueen”

Sarah Scott

“Stretch marks, flabby bits and all. Proud of what my body can do: create small humans! #likeaqueen”

Nadine Mahomet

“3 kids later! #likeaqueen”

Ema Logan

“#likeaqueen Never lost my pregnancy belly after having my two children; people I don’t know still ask if I’m pregnant but I don’t care, my boys are worth it!!”

Amy Briggs

Constance shared her delight at the popularity of her self-styled #likeaqueen campaign in a follow up post on Facebook: “I can’t even say how grateful I am for this club of feminine love. I just want to invite you all over for drinks.”

She also thanked her husband Billy, who has been working tirelessly to run the house and look after the kids while she keeps up-to-date with her social media admin. “He hasn’t had a rogering since my 'parent sex' post. If I can get the wildlings to sleep before 10 tonight I’m giving the guy some unshaved queen poon.”

I love what this gal is doing for us. Own it ladies ! We are all queens.
The Genie

Food for Thought : Tea

Tea is becoming more popular in restaurants , supermarkets , convenience stores and vending machines . Tea is only second to water as the most popular beverage in the world . Tea contains naturally occurring plant compounds that may be good for your health . The antioxidants in tea are most attributed to the tea's health benefits associated with overall heart health . Here are a few tips to help you enjoy tea in a healthy way .
Be mindful that tea contains caffeine . Typically a cup of tea contains less than half of the caffeine than coffee , however , actual caffeine amounts depend on the specific blend and the strength of the tea .

If you are looking to manage your weight , some studies have suggested that drinking tea may help with weight management . Tea can help you meet your fluid requirement without the added calories of other popular drink options .

Try cooking with tea . Brew up a batch of your favorite flavored tea and use it for cooking instead of water . A simple green tea adds flavor and depth to rice . Teas with fruit blends make great oatmeal .
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 minutes Bake: 45 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon paprika
6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 pounds), skin removed
6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 6 ounces)
Add to Shopping List

1 . Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onion, oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
2 . In a small bowl, mix paprika and the remaining salt, rosemary and pepper. Sprinkle chicken with paprika mixture; arrange over vegetables. Roast 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and vegetables are just tender.
3 . Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. Top vegetables with spinach. Roast 8-10 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender and spinach is wilted. Stir vegetables to combine; serve with chicken.

A proud grand-poppa G .

Thursday, January 21, 2016

This creepy chart shows you when and how you’re most likely to die

You may want to sit down for this.

Statistician Nathan Yau has created a disturbing interactive chart that visualizes when and how you will most likely kick the bucket based on your sex, race and age.

Each dot on the chart represents a different probability of your life and the stats on the right tell you the likelihood of a particular cause of death as you grow older.

To create the chart, Yau combed through the CDC’s Underlying Cause of Death database and compiled data on deaths in the United States between 1999 and 2014. The data, which is based on death certificates, is categorized into 20 depressing causes including cancer, circulatory, respiratory, infection, endocrine and more.

At my current age, my odds are pretty great. There’s a one per cent chance I’ve already died of either infection, respiratory or external causes but seeing as I’m here typing this out at my desk, I think I’m good.

Things start to change pretty quickly once I hit 80, with circulatory issues overtaking cancer, a noteworthy trend that occurs across demographic groups.

If you’re feeling morbid curious, try it out for yourself here. Simply select your gender and race, toggle the slider to represent your current age and watch the simulation reveal your horrifying fate.

Good luck.

Erica Rae Chong

January 20, 2016

Thanx Yahoo

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Baby Girl Telling Mom She Loves Her .Just too

Just too sweet for words , ain't see a cutie .

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Diabetes : How to Avoid Nerve Damage and Infection When You Have Type 2 Diabetes

By Everyday Health Editors
About half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, which can lead to serious problems over time.
Over time, the presence of too much glucose in your cells can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels called capillaries that deliver blood to your nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning, or pain.

Poorly controlled blood glucose can even cause you to lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs – and a loss of feeling in your feet makes you more vulnerable to injury and infection. Let’s say you get a blister or small cut on your foot that you don’t feel: Because you don’t know it’s there, you may miss the symptoms of an infection in the wound. It’s imperative for you to check your feet regularly to avoid this and be meticulous in your foot care, because untreated infections can result in gangrene (the death of tissue) and may lead to the amputation of the affected limb or toes.

Diabetes can also make it more difficult for your body to fight infections in general. Various skin conditions are linked to diabetes, and even the most minor cuts or sores can turn serious fast. Any bumps, cuts, or scrapes should be cleaned and treated with an antibiotic cream and monitored carefully.

Nerve Damage: What to Watch For

If you notice any of these symptoms associated with nerve damage or infection, see your doctor:

Inflammation and tenderness anywhere on your body
Red, itchy rash surrounded by small blisters or scales
Cuts, sores, or blisters on your feet that are slow to heal and are not as painful as you would expect (due to a loss of sensation)
Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet, including your fingers and toes
Sharp pain that gets worse at night
Muscle weakness that makes walking difficult
Bladder infections and problems with bladder control
Bloating, stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness in women
Remember: If you keep your blood-glucose levels on target, you can help prevent or delay nerve damage. If you already have nerve damage, this will help prevent or delay further damage. You should also speak to your doctor about other treatments that can help.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Food for Thought : Mardi Gras

Get ready for Mardi Gras. The season began with the Twelfth Night parties last weekend where Krewes from the area got together for a party to begin the season. This series of articles will explore the history of Mardi Gras as well as the events in the Shreveport/Bossier area.
MARDI GRAS HISTORY
When you think of Mardi Gras, what comes to mind? New Orleans, floats, beads, costumes, queens and kings, masks, king cakes, parades, and revelry, no doubt. Let me tell you what I know about Mardi Gras. I've lived in Louisiana for twelve years and can sum it up in one word, PARTY! OK, that's not really true, but it comes very close. In truth, Mardi Gras itself is a one day holiday and is on the calendar as the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but the entire season has evolved to be called Mardi Gras by most revelers. It, however, is not the entire season as we like to think; the season is called Carnival, and is celebrated worldwide in cities such as Nice, France; Cologne, Germany and Rio de Janeiro.
Carnival begins on the Feast of Epiphany or the twelfth night (January 6th) and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, determined by the date of Easter. It celebrates the arrival of the three kings at Jesus' birthplace, thus ending the Christmas season. The gifts that the kings brought with them may be the reason for the gifts of the Mardi Gras season, trinkets such as cups, beads and doubloons. But the tradition of throwing trinkets during parades began in the 1870's by the Twelfth Night Revelers and remains a time honored tradition in New Orleans. The parade goers traditionally scream “Throw Me Something, Mister” to plead for the trinkets, and in New Orleans and other cities, women often bare their breasts to show themselves deserving and to garner the attention of the throwers.
Not surprisingly, Mardi Gras has its roots in paganism of the ancient Greeks and Romans celebrating fertility rites, but it was adopted by the Catholic church as a way to prepare the people for Lent. The leaders of the church quickly realized that it would be easier to allow some type of traditional festivals rather than abolish them altogether, while still bringing the people to Christianity. So they acquiesced to this period of raucousness.
During Medieval festivals, participants donned costumes, and that tradition continues today. The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near New Orleans in 1899, therefore, New Orleans became the obvious city to host modern day celebrations, and they continue to be the main American host city for parties and parades. But, the celebrations are taking hold across the United States and moving to northern Louisiana and east and west across the Gulf states. The larger Louisiana cities such as Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Shreveport are all areas with full Mardi Gras schedules. It should be noted that the city does not put on the events, they just issue the parade permits. Events are put on and funded by private organizations, called Krewes. These Krewes select royalty, hold balls (usually closed to the public), and often organize the massive parades.
Purple, Green and Gold symbolizing Justice, Faith and Power are the official colors of Mardi Gras and were selected by the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia when he visited New Orleans in 1872. A little known fact is that the colors he chose impacted the colors of two arch rival Louisiana College football teams. The stores stocked up on fabric for the official Mardi Gras colors, and Louisiana State University purchased a large amount of the purple and gold colors leaving only the green in stock. Tulane University then chose the green for their uniforms, and today their colors are green and white.
The King Cake, on the other hand, has its roots in the fact that the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus. The King Cake is a sweet yeast cake covered in poured sugar in the Mardi Gras colors and usually has a plastic baby hidden inside. Long ago the queen was selected by which lady found the baby in the cake. In modern day, the tradition is that the person who finds the baby has to buy the next King Cake or host the next King Cake party.
As for floats and parades; in 1833 a wealthy plantation owner near New Orleans solicited money to help finance an organized Mardi Gras celebration, and in 1837 the first parade was held. But, it wasn't until two years later in 1839 that one single float rolled through the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and thus began the tradition of floats in the parades.
King Cake

My daughter got this recipe from Southern Living magazine about 7 or 8 years agos , she tried several , we like this one better .
Ingredients:
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 (1/4-ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
6 to 6 1/2 cups bread flour*
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Creamy Glaze
Purple-, green-, and gold-tinted sparkling sugar sprinkles
Preparation:
1 . Cook first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts. Set aside, and cool mixture to 100° to 110°.
Stir together yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.
2 . Beat sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until smooth. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add enough remaining flour (4 to 4 1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms.
3 . Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top.
Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.
4 . Punch down dough, and divide in half. Roll each portion into a 22- x 12-inch rectangle. Spread 1/3 cup softened butter evenly on each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over butter on each rectangle.
5 . Roll up each dough rectangle, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Place one dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with second dough roll.
Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
6 . Bake at 375° for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cakes on pans on wire racks (about 10 minutes). Drizzle Creamy Glaze evenly over warm cakes; sprinkle with colored sugars, alternating colors and forming bands. Let cool completely.
7 . Cream Cheese-Filled King Cake: Prepare each 22- x 12-inch dough rectangle as directed. Omit 1/3 cup softened butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Increase 1/2 cup sugar to 3/4 cup sugar. Beat 3/4 cup sugar; 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 large egg; and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on each dough rectangle, leaving 1-inch borders. Proceed with recipe as directed.
TIP : 6 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour may be substituted.
get ingredients

A proud grand-poppa G .

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Things No Self-Respecting Adult Should Be Doing on Facebook

Stop posting pictures of you being 'cuddle bunnies'

NOBODY CARES!!!!

Facebook has a funny way of turning even the most tolerable humans into oversharing, overbearing agents of off-the-charts annoyance. Maybe that's just the nature of social networking... or maybe Justin Timberlake is to blame? (I’ll re-watch The Social Network, and circle back...)
At any rate, there are some serious Internet etiquette faux pas that are unacceptable after you become a “real” fully functional adult (with rent, and at least one failed career and/or long-term relationship). The first step on your path to digital enlightenment is acknowledging the problem areas, and nixing them from your newsfeed. You want to be taken seriously -- it's the only way you'll ever get a bank loan.
Welcome to the Internet in the 21st century: where teenagers pretend to be 30-year-olds, and 30-year-olds act like teenagers. Let's change that, OK???

Posting "chain" statuses
The limping ancestors of those chain-mail messages your mom used to send around on her AOL account, these are the scourge of teeny-bopping Facebookers the world over, and bringing them to an adult level makes the act even more egregious. If you think you can change fate with a Facebook status, I know a prince in Nigeria that might like to speak with you about your finances...

Being an annoyingly over-enthusiastic, semi-delusional sports fan
The whole reason televisions come with mute buttons is so we don't have to listen to sports commentators. And those guys are professionals. Your weekly soliloquy on how and why Eli Manning is a "nancy boy" gives me some insight as to why your career as an ESPN anchor never panned out, or even got started in the first place.

Obsessively posting about babies, weddings, and/or engagements
Facebook is designed to help us celebrate and share our lives, but not to the extent that you alienate everyone else on the planet with the uncomfortable glow of your personal success. Oh my God, I’m so happy your life is so much better than mine. Did you know more than half of weddings result in divorce, and 75% of kids turn out to be dickheads?

55 Funny Drunk People Who Will Make Your Day -39

Posting pictures and/or bragging about drinking excessively

Drinking all night and (occasionally) during the day certainly doesn’t have to stop after college, but documenting it with photo evidence probably should. The guy sipping on a 40oz before his 9am English lit class was a legend. The guy sipping on a 40oz before his 9am client meeting is a stumbling cry for help. Sorry, but videos of you slamming beer bongs won't become cool again until you're an 80-year-old grandma.

... and then apologizing for it the next day

If you do post something embarrassing after a night of tying one on, it's even worse to try and atone for your sins publicly when the sun comes up. "Guys, I'm sorry for everyone I may have groped and/or offended last night, I hardly ever drink pinot noir. Also is anyone missing an off-white male alpaca?... Asking for a friend." Just delete last night's stupidity, stupid

Sending multiple invites to your art show/improv show/band's gig

It’s great that you are pursuing your passions and still have some creative drive this late in life. But look, I don’t even say “hi” to you when we see each other in the elevator, I’m not going to your improv show that's 50 miles away. Oh, wait, you sent me THREE invites? In that case..

Treating your profile like your personal blog

Your Facebook status is not a personal blog. It's not a diary. No one cares about what you had for dinner, what the temperature is, or how much your nephew loved Monsters Inc. 2 (which, honestly, was vastly inferior to the original -- there I said it). Just go get a Wordpress. No one will read it, but at least you'll have your dignity.

Friending people you don't actually know

Let's get something straight. Adult-Facebook isn't a gateway to meet new and exciting people; it’s a means to stay in touch with people you never really cared about in the first place. Do you really need the comfort of having 2,000 friends if only 12% would actually recognize you in person? Would you walk up to a stranger in the grocery store, show them 30 pictures of yourself, tell them where you live and everything you like, and then demand they do the same? It just isn't done.

Or interacting with people you have no business interacting with

When your high school history teacher sends you a friend request, you kind of feel obliged to accept. When she starts commenting on all of your photos and picking fights with your friends in the comments section, it's time to reevaluate your personal friend-accepting policies. No joke: my brother's ex-girlfriend's brother's friend will like and comment on my statuses all the time. We met once. It's as weird as it sounds.

Bragging excessively

We all know by now that a life viewed through the Facebook lens is, on average, 5x crappier than it appears. But even still, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. This includes more than one #gym selfie a week, 40+ photos of your three-day vacation, and any pictures of your (probably shitty anyway) car.

Bragging humbly

Examples: "Okay, so I don't mean to name-drop, but Miley Cyrus is easily one of the most down-to-earth celebs I've ever partied with." "I swear owning a Porsche isn't even worth it sometimes! Cops just keep pulling me over!" "Doctor/tailor friends, I need your help: having a penis this large is seriously messing with my life. I can't find underwear that fits!"

Posting cryptic messages or lyrics that nobody gets

Clinical depression is nothing to joke about, if that's what's really going on. But overdramatic people begging for attention is. You know who you are. Fishing for compliments also applies. As does posting unprompted song lyrics with no context, including music from (but not limited to): Green Day, Oasis, Coldplay, Taking Back Sunday, Bon Iver, Drake, and Bright Eyes.

Selfies, of any variety

If a picture needs to be taken of you, but there’s no one else around to take it, does it really need to be taken after all?

Going on rambling, incoherent political rants

Using Facebook as a platform to spout your political views makes you look a lot like the intoxicated uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. You're not going to change the world, or anyone's mind, by stumping on immigration issues in between your cousin's engagement photos and ads for Arby's roast beef sandwiches. You have a right to believe what you want to believe, but we have the right not to care.

Talking bad about your job (past or present)

From what I've been told, part of being a successful adult is making and maintaining connections. Calling your old manager Beverly “a horse-faced goober who couldn’t close a sale if her life depended on it,” is a quick way to burn bridges, and sends a strong signal that you are kind of a sucky person in general.

Posting cheesy motivational statuses/pictures

Did you ever notice none of your truly happy, successful friends ever post these things? Hmm, coincidence? Probably not. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and you hate 100% of the people that would actually ever say that.

Giving a shit about relationship statuses

Once you're old enough to rent a car, you should probably strip phrases like "Facebook official" out of your lexicon. And, if you actually put “It’s complicated” on your profile, you probably don’t deserve the privilege of reproduction.

Desperately begging for someone to hang out with you

Act like an adult and accept your harrowing loneliness for what it is: a permanent condition. Sorry for the bummer, but don't make all your friends think about it, too.

Creating cheesy photo collages

Sorry, I was under the impression you weren’t a 13-year-old girl.

Annoyingly self-promoting

As any free marketing seminar will tell you, Facebook is an essential tool for any business -- large or small. But promoting your world-changing multi-level marketing platform (*cough* pyramid scheme *cough*) five times a day is a one-way ticket to unfollow-ville.

Blocking your relatives

Your mom’s on Facebook, dude. Deal with it. She thinks it's lovely and enjoys all the nice videos of baby elephants. If you’re still worried about your family seeing your posts (on an online public forum), maybe it's time to rethink the stuff you're into. Unless you are a furry. Then please go ahead and block your parents. They don't want to see that. Actually, block me, too.

Oversharing

Father always said, "Pretend like anything you are posting on the Internet will be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper." With Facebook, this is actually kind of our reality now (sorry for laughing at you, Pops). So please, keep bodily functions, diseases, sexual habits, fetishes, gruesome injuries, and dirty secrets to yourself. Or at the very least, to Instagram. #NoFilter.

Are you getting it?? Are you taking notes??

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