Maxy's Hideout: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Awkward! Oprah mistaken for whoopi Goldberg at Oscars

Before the 2016 Oscars began, fashion blog Total Beauty made the unfortunate attempt to weigh in on the Oscars went horribly wrong when it confused an image of Whoopi Goldberg for Oprah Winfrey. The website Total Beauty tweeted a photo of Goldberg showing off her massive shoulder tattoo with the caption: "We had no idea Oprah was tatted, and we love it." The website responded,. "We'd like to apologize to Oprah and Whoopi, as well as everyone we've offended. It was our error, and there are no excuses. We're sorry."

The tweet was eventually deleted, but nevertheless made its way to Oprah herself. Best friend Gayle King posted a photo of the media mogul's reaction on Instagram, writing, "@Oprah & favorite daughter watching #Oscars & seeing @totalbeauty snafu! We all love @whoopigoldberg but we don't all look alike Jeeeze!"

Sunday, February 28, 2016

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

By Everyday Health Editors
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.

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www.pneumococcal-disease-info.com
What Is Pneumococcal Disease? Learn
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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.
Maxy sez stay tune for next week post .

Next step: Protecting Your Kidneys

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Obesity linked to 'bad memory'

People who are obese have a worse memory than their thinner friends, a small study shows.

Tests on 150 people showed being overweight was linked to worse "episodic memory" or the ability to remember past experiences.

The study in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology argues that a less vivid memory of recent meals may lead to overeating.

However, other aspects of memory - such as general knowledge - were unaffected.

Tests on rats have previously shown that with burgeoning waistlines come poorer performances in memory tests, but the evidence in humans has been mixed.

The latest experiments looked at episodic memory - the video tape in your mind - that remembers the smell of a cup of coffee or the feel of holding someone's hand.

Of fifty people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 18 (healthy) to 51 (very obese) who took part in a memory test - a bit like doing a treasure hunt on your own.

They had to "hide" objects at different times and on different scenes displayed on a computer screen.

They were later asked to recall what they had hidden, when and where. The results showed obese people's scores were 15% lower than thinner people.

Can't remember what I had for dinner

Dr Lucy Cheke, from the University of Cambridge, said, "The suggestion we're making is that a higher BMI is producing reduction on the vividness of memory, although they're not drawing blanks and having amnesia.

"But if they have a less strong memory of a recent meal, with a less strong impact in the mind, then they may have less ability to regulate how much they eat later on."

Hunger hormones play a huge role in how much we eat, but it is already recognized that our minds have a key role too.

People watching TV while they have their dinner have been shown to eat more or feel hungrier sooner.

And those with amnesia will repeat meals in a short period of time. Dr Cheke concluded: "It is too early to talk in terms of advice, but we are certainly beginning to observe the mechanisms with which obesity perpetuates itself.

"Concentrating on your food intake has been a recommendation for a long time, but that may be a harder if you're overweight."

The other factor to be aware of is that a high carb intake just creates a craving for more carbs. Combine that with a poor memory of what one has already eaten and you have the recipe for obesity.

"Hopefully knowing what's going on will help us to develop ways of helping people."

Maxy sez : Type 2 Diabetes Is the Leading Cause of Kidney Disease: Here’s How to Avoid It

By Everyday Health Editors
Type 2 diabetes increases your risk of kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy. This condition develops when the network of tiny blood vessels in your kidneys are damaged to the point that they can no longer filter out waste properly. If kidney problems are left untreated, you may eventually need dialysis (a treatment to filter out waste products from the blood) or even a kidney transplant.

Symptoms of Diabetes-Related Kidney Disease

Typically, you won’t notice symptoms of kidney disease until it has advanced, so it’s important to have your kidney function checked every year.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor as it may indicate kidney trouble:

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What Is Pneumococcal Disease? Learn
About How To Prevent It Here.
Swelling in your ankles and legs
Leg cramps
A need to go to the bathroom more often at night
A reduction in your need for insulin
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness and paleness
Itching
The best way to prevent kidney problems is to have your urine, blood, and blood pressure monitored regularly and to keep your blood-glucose levels and your blood pressure under control.

Hey, wait a minute !

funny pictures,auto,dog,suspicious,hospital,chef

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Food for Thought : Potatoes

Do you love potatoes ? Potatoes are definitely America's favotite vegetable . Each year we consume about 110 pounds of potatoes per person . Potatoes are packed with healthful carbohydrates , vitamins , minerals and fiber . A medium size potato with the skin gives you nearly 4 grams of fiber .Potatoes are low in fat an excellent source of calcium . Enjoy your potatoes with the following tips :

When purchasing potatoes , look for ones that are fairly clean and smooth .

Store them in a cool , dark place with high humidity , but not the refrigerator . Do not store your potatoes and onions together . Onions ptoduce gas that speeds up the decay of potatoes .

Before baking potatoes , make sure you pierce the skin with a fork a few times . This allows steam to escape during cooking .

Use chicken broth and milk instead of cream and butter for mashed potatoes . Chop or slice potatoes and mix with olive oil , onions and spices , such as garlic for a great side dish .

Peanut Butter Potato Chip Cookies :

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

The following recipe can be doubled if you wish. Do not, however, double the baking soda. Use one and a half teaspoons.

1 cup softened butter (2 sticks, 1⁄2 pound, 8 ounces)
2 cups white (granulated) sugar
3 Tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 beaten eggs (just whip them up in a glass with a fork)
2 cups crushed salted potato chips (measure AFTER crushing) (I used regular thin unflavored Lay’s potato chips)

2- 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)

1- 1⁄2 cups peanut butter chips (I used Reese’s, a 10-ounce by weight bag. I know that’s close to 2 cups, but I like lots of peanut butter chips in these cookies)

TIP : The butter in this recipe should be at room temperature unless you have an un-insulated kitchen and it’s winter in Minnesota. In that case, you’d better soften it a little.

TIP : 5 to 6 cups of whole potato chips will crush down into about 2 cups. Crush them by hand in a plastic bag, not with a food processor. They should be the size of coarse gravel when they’re crushed.

Mix the softened butter with the white sugar and the mo lasses. Beat them until the mixture is light and fluffy, and the molasses is completely mixed in.

Add the vanilla and baking soda. Mix them in thoroughly.

Break the eggs into a glass and whip them up with a fork. Add them to your bowl and mix until they’re thoroughly incorporated.

Put your potato chips in a closeable plastic bag. Seal it carefully (you don’t want crumbs all over your counter) and place the bag on a flat surface. Get out your rolling pin and roll it over the bag, crushing the potato chips inside. Do this until the pieces resemble coarse gravel. (If youcrush them too much, you won’t have any crunch—crunch is good in these cookies.)

Measure out 2 cups of crushed potato chips and mix them into the dough in your bowl.

Add one cup of flour and mix it in.

Then add the second cup of flour and mix thoroughly.

Add the final half cup of flour and mix that in.

Measure out a cup and a half of peanut butter chips and add them to your cookie dough. If you’re using an electric mixer, mix them in at the slowest speed. You can also take the bowl out of the mixer and stir in the chips by hand.

Let the dough sit on the counter while you prepare your cookie sheets.

Spray your cookie sheets with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, or line them with parchment paper, leaving little “ears” at the top and bottom. That way, when your cookies are baked, you can pull the paper, baked cookies and all, over onto a wire rack to cool.

Drop the dough by rounded teaspoons onto your cookie sheets, 12 cookies on each standard-sized sheet.

TIP : I used a 2-teaspoon cookie scoop at The Cookie Jar. It’s faster than doing it with a spoon.

Bake your Peanut Butter Potato Chip Cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until nicely browned. (Mine took 11 minutes.)

Let the cookies cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then remove them with a metal spatula. Transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Yield: Approximately 5 dozen wonderfully chewy, salty and soft cookies that are sure to please everyone who tastes them.

TIP : DO NOT bake these for anyone with a peanut allergy!

TIP : These cookies travel well. If you want to send them to a friend, just stack them, roll them up like coins in foil, and cushion the cookie rolls between layers of Styrofoam peanuts, or bubble wrap.

A proud grand-poppa G.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Still Smiling - Indian women fight back from acid attacks

DOLLY

Ritu Saini, Neetu Mahor, Dolly Kumari, Rupa and Gita Mahor pose for a photograph at the Sheroes' Hangout cafe on September 16, 2015 in Agra, India. A GROUP of acid attack survivors are baring their scarred faces to empower other abused women. Sheroes' Hangout is run by Laxmi, Rupa, Chanchal, Ritu and Sonam, who do everything from cooking and cleaning to accounting and designing dresses. The café in Agra, India, was opened by an NGO aiming to encourage society to accept acid survivors - who are often shunned by their community. Rupa, now 22, was attacked when she was just 15-years-old whilst sleeping at home. The acid melted her skin, burned her eyebrows and disfigured her upper lip, leaving her in a coma for six weeks.

A young girl stands in the doorway of the restaurant.“Welcome to our little cafe,” she says above the rumble of the rush hour traffic. Her name is Dolly and she is 15 years old.
“I'm the youngest here and the naughtiest,” she says, and then laughs - it is impossible not to join in. A few customers arrive for a quick cup of masala chai. Agra is submerged in a dense winter fog, so the cafe's colourful murals offer some morning cheer. Dolly takes an order and heads off to the kitchen, flashing another broad grin.

Three years ago someone tried to destroy that winning smile. He didn't succeed but there is no ignoring the thick scar tissue which snakes across most of Dolly's face.
The trouble began when a man from the same neighbourhood - twice Dolly's age - wouldn't leave her alone. He started stalking the 12-year-old schoolgirl, making lewd remarks and suggesting they should sleep together.

Then one day he suddenly turned up at her house while she was playing with other children. I ran away towards my room but he threw acid on my face. It started to burn and I screamed and shouted. Dolly's family immediately doused the raw flesh of her face with water and she was rushed to hospital. Thanks to the quick thinking of a doctor, her eyes were washed out and her sight was saved.

Even so, Dolly is now permanently scarred and she still has trouble breathing because of the damage to her nostrils. She recalls the moment she asked to look in a mirror after returning home from the hospital.
“My mother refused and told me I was still beautiful. She said I could look in the mirror later. Then my little sister accidentally put a mirror in front of me and I saw it. I cried and howled and screamed.”
Dolly didn't want to eat or leave the house. “I even thought it would have been better if I had died,” she says.
Her gut instinct was that she should cover her face with a veil. For a year, she would ignore the gentle encouragement from her mother to try venturing outside the house.

Dolly's life changed when her family heard about Sheroes. Here she met another survivor called Sonia, who changed her view of the attack.
“She told me that I wasn't the one who needed to keep my face covered since I hadn't done anything wrong. The person who has committed this crime should be the one to cover his face.”
Her assailant is now in prison. Dolly recently sent him a letter to tell him that he had failed to break her spirit. “You burned my face, but not my will to live. You cannot throw acid on that,” she wrote.
She said she had forgiven him but she admitted that it had been a difficult process. “Sometimes, I have wondered how it would be to empty a full bottle of acid on you,” she told him.
In the cafe Dolly dances and sings, but she is wise beyond her years. She is troubled by the fact that some people think the victims of acid attacks bring their misfortune on themselves, by rejecting the assailant's advances. That is why she believes it is so important that survivors like her engage with the world instead of hiding themselves away.
She works hard at the cafe, serving backpackers who pass through town on their way to see the nearby Taj Mahal. She jokes with them in broken English and tries to teach them snippets of Hindi. Sheroes helped her get her confidence back. I like the fact that my parents feel pride in my work and that I'm standing on my own two feet.”
Dolly hopes one day to return to her studies and perhaps become a doctor.
So what would she say to another woman who was attacked today? “I would tell her that whatever has happened has happened. Look forward. Don't look back.”
“The fear of reprisals inhibits many women from coming forward to report their ordeal,” explains Ashish Shukla, a coordinator at Stop Acid Attacks, a Delhi-based non-profit that has rehabilitated and empowered over 100 acid attack victims since its inception in 2013.

“In India, acid attacks are even worse than rape as the victims, who are usually female, are subjected to humiliation on a daily basis. Most of the women are shunned and ostracized,” explains Shukla.

The activist adds that public and government apathy results in a double victimization of the survivors. “They are forced to repeatedly appear in court, recount their trauma, and [visit] doctors even as they grapple with their personal tragedy of physical disfigurement, loss of employment and social discrimination,” elaborates the activist.

As per the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, a person convicted of carrying out an acid attack in India can be sentenced to anything from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court ruled on Jul. 16, 2013, that all states regulate the sale of easily available substances like hydrochloric, sulfuric, or nitric acids – common choices among perpetrators – adding that buyers must provide a photo identity card to any retailer, who in turn should record each customer’s name and address.
However, most retailers interviewed, demonstrated complete ignorance of the law. “This is the first time I’m hearing about this ruling,” Suresh Gupta, owner of Gupta Stores, a small, family-owned outfit in Noida.
Campaigners say that this horrific form of gender-based violence will not end until the government makes it much harder for offenders to procure their weapon of choice; currently, one-litre bottles of acid can be purchased over the counter without a prescription for as little as 33 cents.
The Supreme Court has condemned the government for failing to formulate a strong enough policy to curb acid sales. In early April, the Court directed private hospitals to treat acid attack survivors free of cost, and additionally ruled that states must take action against medical facilities that fail to comply with this directive. Bangladesh has the highest rate of acid assaults, approximately 400 per month.
Why do Indian men do such vicious things ? Because they can. Until now , they got away with it and also rape,without reprisal or punishment. India is a strongly patriarchal society... men rule, their word is law and they hold all the positions of power. Women have little or no value to these guys. They are disposable commodities, only good for sex , child bearing and being household drudges. Many are virtual slaves. Enlightenment comes slow to those who do not wish to change.

Giant panda plays with cubs...Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo's female giant panda, Er Shun is now spending time with both her cubs together! Er Shun's first reaction was to try picking up both cubs at once, something she had difficulty with since the cubs are now quite large, weighing 6.859 and 5.920 kg. Moving forward, they will continue to spend more time together and you will be able to publicly see Er Shun with both cubs starting March 12!

Don't forget to help name our cubs, now through February 28 at http://ow.ly/XNGmT. VOTE NOW!

Canadian judge strikes down law barring patients from growing medical marijuana

A cannabis plant is shown in southwest Quebec on Oct. 8, 2013. A Federal Court judge is expected to release a decision today on whether medical marijuana patients have the right to grow their own cannabis.The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government violated their charter rights.

VANCOUVER - A Federal Court judge has struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation introduced by the former Conservative government that barred medical marijuana patients from growing their own cannabis.

Judge Michael Phelan found the law violated patients charter rights, but he suspended his decision for six months to allow the federal Liberal government time to create a new medical marijuana regime.

Phelan also extended a court injunction allowing people who held licences to continue to grow their own marijuana.

The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that the 2013 Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations blocked their access to affordable medicine.

"Their lives have been adversely impacted by the imposition of the relatively new regime to control the use of marijuana for medical purposes," Phelan wrote.

"I agree that the plaintiffs have ... demonstrated that cannabis can be produced safely and securely with limited risk to public safety and consistently with the promotion of public health."

Kirk Tousaw, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, hailed the decision as a victory not just for medical cannabis patients, but all Canadians.

He called on the federal government to allow new patients to grow medical marijuana. About 28,000 people held licences under the old regime and are covered by the injunction. Two of the plaintiffs were not covered by the injunction, he said.

"They're suffering because they have an inability to access sufficient quantities of medicine to meet their medical needs as a result of the government's actions," he said.

"The health minister, prime minister, they need to act very quickly. Don't wait the six months. Don't come up with a lame and weak response as the previous governments have."

Health Minister Jane Philpott said it was too early to say if the government would appeal. She said she will be working with the Justice Department to ensure there's an appropriate regulatory regime in place.

The Liberal government has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana, but has said little about any plans for medical marijuana since being elected.

Philpott said recreational and medical cannabis should be treated as "two separate issues."

"We're going to have to completely review the regulations around access to medical marijuana," she told reporters in Ottawa.

Canada's system involving licensed producers has grown into a multi-million dollar industry, and the decision caused stock prices to dip. Canopy Growth Corp. share prices on the on the TSX Venture Exchange had dropped about 7 per cent as of Wednesday afternoon.

Mark Zekulin, president of Tweed Marijuana Inc., a subsidiary of Canopy, said it would be "heartbreaking" if the federal government shut down the licensed-producer system entirely. But he doesn't expect that will happen.

"We've built a world-class facility ... and are producing very high quality product that you can't get anywhere else," he said. "I don't think six months from now it's just going to get shuttered and people are going to be out of jobs."

Peace Naturals CEO Mark Gobuty said personal growth can co-exist with licensed producers in a regulatory regime.

"We're all allowed to grow tomatoes and cucumbers at home, but how many of us do?" he asked. "If that is what's in the best interest of all Canadians, then I'm all for it."

The Cannabis Patients Association of Canada, which represents people who held licences to grow marijuana under the old regime, applauded the decision.

"This is about putting the rights of the patient at the centre of public policy decision-making," executive director John Lorenz said in a statement.

But Ronan Levy of Canadian Cannabis Clinics, a network of Ontario medical marijuana clinics, said allowing people to grow their own marijuana might make doctors more wary of prescribing it.

"Can you imagine what it would be like if you went to a doctor, they prescribe antibiotics, and you got to go home and mix up your own antibiotics? I don't think doctors are going to be comfortable with that," he said.

The judge awarded costs to the plaintiffs to be determined by the court at a later date.

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Obamas dance with 106 year old lady

Barack and Michelle Obama met energetic 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin during her visit to The White House, who was keen to show the US President and First Lady her dance moves.
Virginia McLaurin waited all her life to see an African-American in the White House. So, when she finally got a chance to meet President Obama, the 106-year-old woman couldn't contain her excitement.
She squealed with delight. She waved her cane in the air. And she danced -- busting moves that have made her the newest Internet darling.

In a video posted by the White House Sunday night, McLaurin opens her arms wide, greets Obama with an excited "Hi!" and begins swaying.
"It's an honor, it's an honor," she tells the President. McLaurin was at the White House to celebrate Black History Month.
Obama asks if McLaurin wants to meet the first lady and the answer is an obvious one. As she rushes over, Obama, who appears amused, says, "Slow down now. Don't go too quick."

Michelle Obama is in disbelief when her husband mentions McLaurin is 106.
"I wanna be like you when I grow up," Michelle Obama tells her.
"You can," McLaurin replies. " The secret is, just keep moving."
"I thought I would never live to get in the White House. .... And I'm here to celebrate black history," said the energetic old lady to which the Obamas replied "You have just made our day."

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Maxy sez : 4 Bad Habits That Can Make Diabetes Worse

Avoid these pitfalls to help you better manage your condition.

Diabetes can be a manageable disease if you practice good health habits, follow your doctor's advice, and stay away from these four bad habits:

No. 1: Watching TV. One study found that for every two hours people spend glued to the tube, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 20 percent.

No. 2: Skipping sleep. Not getting enough shut-eye can cause night sweats, which can worsen symptoms by dehydrating your body. Being tired or stressed can also increase your appetite for sugar and other diabetes no-no's.

No. 3: Not tracking blood glucose. Gauging whether medication or insulin shots are working to control the disease requires frequent blood tests.

No. 4: Yo-yo dieting. Diabetes maintenence centers around proper nutrition — not diets. Losing and re-gaining weight all the time may throw off your metabolism.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Thousands of Canadian university students seek 'sugar daddies'

Last March, 20-year-old art history student Hannah joined SeekingArrangement.com (SA) and became a “sugar baby,” a well-paid companion to older men called “sugar daddies.”

A friend urged her to sign up because Hannah’s finances were tight. Since then the York University student has earned $10,000 in taxable income.

Asked why she chose sugaring, as the practice is called on SA’s blog, over the demanding retail job she held in college, Hannah replies, “It’s quite enriching. When you hang out with people who are older they have wisdom to share.” In addition to knowledge, the three sugar daddies she connected with in 2015 each gave her a monthly allowance that paid for her textbooks and basic living expenses. She figures she’ll continue until graduation. (Her identity isn’t being revealed to protect her privacy.)

Hannah isn’t alone. SA claims that, as of December 31, 2015, more than 156,000 male and female students across Canada are registered members of SA; it’s an 11 per cent increase from a year earlier. SA attributjes this to the 3.2 per cent rise in university tuition and says that sugaring eases the financial burden and subsequent stress of post-secondary education. The site is LGBT friendly and has about 10 per cent LGBT users. The average age of sugar babies is 26, and the average sugar daddy is 45.

Shortly after Valentine’s Day, the site released its annual ranking of post-secondary schools with the highest number of sugar babies. The University of Toronto ranked first with 133 new sign-ups in 2015 for a total of 594 sugar babies. University of Guelph came second with 122 sign-ups and 479 sugar babies, while tech giant University of Waterloo was last with 22 sign-ups and 152 sugar babies. Hannah’s alma mater York is ranked sixth with 90 new sign-ups and a total of 465 sugar babies.

Hannah, busy with her studies at York, opts to provide companionship to one man at a time and agrees to meet between five and six times a month. Most recently, she dated a 46-year-old Quebecer who lives in Ottawa. She described him as a hippie.

“We go to Montana’s. I’m vegetarian and they have the best veggie burgers. And then we’ll go to a movie. And we eat a lot of pizza.” She can’t see him much on account of the distance between Toronto and Ottawa. Her $1,000 allowance, however, is deposited directly into her bank account, every month, on the 15^th.

Brook Urick, a spokesperson for SA explains that sugar babies set their desired allowance on their profile in a section called ‘Expectations.’ “The options range from negotiable, low, moderate, high. This is only an indicator of how much they expect, or would like to receive in gifts and allowances,” she said. Some sugar babies like to be compensated in clothes or car payments.

Hannah is clear about the minimum $1,000 ‘Expectation.’ She has others, most importantly the stipulation that she wants a platonic relationship. “It’s a good way to weed out the people looking for that sort of stuff. Sex.” After a beat she adds, “I’m actually still a virgin.”

Her job as a sugar baby, she said, is to provide good company, be an activity partner, and help someone feel less lonely.

She’s not the type Mackson McDowall is looking for. The 60-year-old retired immigration lawyer joined SA five years ago, estimating he has compensated up to 70 women for their companionship. Ten of those were serious in that they were “sensual in nature and lasted more than a year,” he says.

McDowall explains why someone like him would be interested in signing up to be a “sugar daddy.”

“Well, I’ve never been married and I’m not gay,” he says. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Basically I enjoy meeting women. And if something sensual comes of it then so be it. Basically…I always hope for it.”

But he wants people to know SA is not a site filled with ladies of the night.

“A prostitute is a person that sells their body for the immediate transmission of wealth,” he says. "And that’s not the objective of SA."

In fact they offer companionship and partnership in dining, dancing, attending business events, gambling, outdoor activities or just hanging out and talking. If the chemistry is there and there is mutual attraction, a relationship can develop.

There are American girls available on SA also. In fact, they out number Canadians.... I'm not sure what other North American mothers think of this but I venture to say they would be in as much turmoil as I would be, if my daughter chose to be a 'sugar baby'.

Thanx Yahoo

Snickers' Ad

Snickers pokes fun at Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with Photoshop fails ad

Can you spot eleven errors the hungry photo retoucher missed??

Friday, February 19, 2016

This 'simple' children’s brainteaser has the entire internet arguing - can YOU find the answer?

A deceptively simple children's brainteaser is sweeping the internet as adults struggle to work out the correct answer.

The perplexing puzzle, based around a basic mathematical equation using a range of fruits, asks you to decipher which number each fruit symbolizes, similar to algebra, then work out the total.

But the apples, bananas and coconuts appear to be leaving adults completely flummoxed.

The deceptively simple brainteaser featuring apples, bananas and coconuts has left adults flummoxed. It is not clear where the puzzle originated from, but it has been circulating since December and has now resurfaced as Facebook users are still no closer to agreeing on an answer.

The first sum shows that three apples added together amounts to 30, suggesting that one apple is equal to the number 10.

On the second line, it states that one apple (10) plus two bunches of bananas equals 18, which seems to imply that each bunch of bananas is equal to 4.

The next line states that a bunch of bananas (equivalent to 4) minus a coconut equals 2- suggesting that a coconut is equivalent to the number 2.

On the final line, it asks you to guess the total of half a coconut (1), an apple (10) and a bunch of bananas (4).

A quick glance at the puzzle might suggest the answer is 15, however people trying their hand online were coming up with a plethora of different answers.

Some people failed to spot that the first bunch has four bananas, left, while the final bunch has just three, right

Not all coconuts are created equal: One was made up of two halves, left, while one was made up of just one

After one site shared the image on Facebook, almost 400 people tried their hand at solving the riddle.

One Facebook user stated that the correct answer should be 14, seeing as the bunch of bananas on the final line in fact symbolized 3, rather than 4.

Indeed, on closer inspection there are just 3 bananas in the final bunch, and 4 in the rest.

Paul Blanch wrote: '16 - easy! 3 apples = 30; therefore apples are worth 10 Apple - 2 bananas = 18; the apple is worth 10, so the bananas are worth 4. Banana - coconut = 2; the banana is worth 4, so the coconut is worth 2. The last line? Coconut (2) +apple (10) +banana (4) =16.'

Another user wrote: 'Its very simple, and the answer is 16. Each apple stands for 10, while each banana stands for 4 and each coconut stands for 2. You now have the answer.'

Obaidullah Khan Barcha said: 'On second and third line there are 4 bananas in a bunch but in the last line there are only 3 bananas in a bunch, that's why the answer is 15.'

Ethan Pearson agreedm saying: ' There is only 3 bananas in the last equation so it equals=15Apple=10, Apple+Apple+Apple=30Banana=4, Apple+Banana+ Banana=18.

'Coconut=2, Banana-Coconut=2Banana=3Coconut+Apple+3 Bananas=15. Answer is = 15.'

Perplexingly, one man came to the conclusion that the answer was 20. He commented: '1 apple equals 10, coconut equals 6 and banana bunch equals 4 so your answer is 20.'

Frustratingly there is no definitive answer to the riddle, leaving guessers with no choice but to continue scratching their heads.

Dr Kevin Bowman, professor of mathematics, said: ‘You can interpret it in many ways; one way is no more correct than another.

‘There’s no ambiguity in the first equation; 3 apples is 30, so one apple is worth 10.

'But because all the bananas aren’t the same, you could say that they all represent different amounts.

‘You might even say that the two coconut pieces in the third equation are different sizes, and therefore add up to three quarters or even seven eighths when put together.

‘In that sense, there are an infinite number of possible answers.' People are torn over whether the correct answer is 14, 15, 16 or even 20.

(I don't know about you but my head is spinning and I am going to get some aspirin.)

This isn't the first mind-bending puzzle to sweep the internet in recent months. Earlier this year, National Geographic's puzzle asking you to identify which direction a bus is travelling in left thousands of adults scratching their heads.

Their version of the popular puzzle showed a yellow bus with identical windows at either end - giving no clue as to which is the front or back of the bus. The correct answer is that - if you're in the UK - the bus is travelling to the right. And the key to solving the puzzle is the fact that you can't see the passenger doors. However in North America, you would be driving on the right side of the road, therefore you would be going left.

Which direction is the bus travelling in? National Geographic's version of a popular logic puzzle for their Brain Games TV series went viral earlier this month, but it often proves too much of a challenge for adults

There it is! Gergely Dudás' elusive panda is hidden in amongst hundreds of festive snowman; eighth row from the top, fourth from the right. The picture went viral in December with thousands of people sharing it online.

In December, an illustration featuring a hidden panda left thousands of people flummoxed as it swept social media. Hungarian artist Gergely Dudás posted the Christmas puzzle on his Facebook page on December 16th, showing hundreds of hand-drawn snowmen with the single black and white bear hidden among them.

I guess we are geared to problem solving. We also like challenges. Our fascination with puzzles give us the satisfaction we are seeking. It is also a great way to keep your mental faculties sharp. Sadly, mine weren't too sharp to begin with.