Pretty hoop earrings for summer

  

 

You can make several pairs of hoops in a rainbow of colors to suit every summer outfit. Get everything you need at your craft shop. They also make terrific gifts

 1. Gather your supplies and tools needed.  I used round nose pliers, flat pliers, 2- 2 inch silver copper wire, 14 sterling silver 5mm beads (7 for each hoop), my 7mm jade beads 16 each (8 for each hoop), 2 small open jump rings, 2 fish hook ear wires.

 2. You will take your round nose pliers and start at the open end of the hoop and you will curl to the outside one side. Make sure you don't have a big enough space for the jump ring to slip out once fastened. Just keep curling over your hoop.

 3. After you have done this thread your beads on as you like.  I alternated my jade and silver. You will then close the other end of the hoop as you did before. You will curl the end over with your round nose pliers. And it should look like this.

4. You will then take one jump ring and open it, place it through the hole in the bottom of the fish hook ear wire. 

 5. As you hold onto the hoop, slide the open jump ring through the two curled ends of the hoop and close the jump ring with your flat pliers.  Close it enough so your jump ring won't allow much movement for the curled ends to turn the ring. 

 

6. You will then be finished with your first hoop and can move onto the next. 

 

 

 

Here is your completed pair of hoops! 

 

Why are we so obsessed with celebrity culture? Is that the way our brains evolved?

 

I love a good quote. One of my all-time favourite quotes comes from Mark Twain, who once wrote to his friend "I am sorry for the length of this letter, but I did not have the time to write a short one".
It's an apology I have often repeated and it's a wonderfully wry, pithy insight. Typical Twain, you might say.
Except that it's not. Because, as the person who recently pulled me up for using it told me, the true author of the quote is in fact a less well-known French thinker, Blaise Pascal, who coined it in a letter to a colleague in 1657. I looked it up and they were absolutely right.

And it turns out not to be the only quote I've been abusing.  I'm sure most of you are familiar with Einstein's brilliant refrain: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." It's probably the most famous thing he said, apart from "E=mc2".
Only, there's no record of him every having uttered these words. The first time they appeared in print was in 1981, in a Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet, some 25 years after the great man died.

There are many, many similar examples. Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin and Martin Luther King have probably said less than half the things you've heard them quoted on. Because quotes are just so much more quotable when they come from individuals who are famed for their wit and wisdom. It's OK because misattributing quotes exemplifies our tendency to give too much credit to celebrities.

Fame is a powerful cultural magnet. As a hyper-social species, we acquire the bulk of our knowledge, ideas and skills by copying from others, rather than through individual trial-and-error. However, we pay far more attention to the habits and behaviours demonstrated by famous people than those demonstrated by ordinary members of our community.

Good quote, wrong person: Albert Einstein and Mark Twain

It follows that things are much more likely to catch on if they are associated with someone who is well known for one reason or another - even if the association is erroneous, as in the case of those Twain and Einstein misquotations. This raises the question of whether what is said is as important as who said it.

Another example of the way in which celebrities act as cultural magnets is that we frequently copy traits that have little, if anything, to do with what made them successful in the first place - like the clothes they wear, their hairstyles, or how they talk.

That's basically the reason that companies sponsor stars to use their products. Celebrities are always on the TV and in the media, so of course getting them to wear your brand of jeans or wristwatch is a great way to give them exposure. But it's not just about getting your products in the public eye. You wouldn't know from images on TV or in a newspaper or on a computer screen what kind of underpants David Beckham wears, what coffee George Clooney drinks, or what perfume Beyonce smells of.

Companies get celebrities to advertise these kinds of products because they know that our perceptions of value are actively influenced by fame. Celebrity endorsements not only make products more visible, they make them more desirable. So why is this? Part of our evolution perhaps? It makes sense. Celebrity culture may be very much a part of the modern world but it is rooted in our basic instincts and has been crucial to the evolutionary success of our species .
Prestige is a form of social status that is based on the respect and admiration of members of one's community. It is particularly interesting because it seems to be a unique characteristic of our species, and something that is universal to all human cultures. 

In other primates, social hierarchies are typically based on dominance, which is different from prestige because it implies fear, and the threat of violence. Individuals defer to more dominant animals because if they fail to let them have what they want then it would be perceived as a challenge to their status, which they will defend by force. Many types of hierarchy in human society are similarly characterized by dominance.

However, unlike other primates, we also differentiate social status in terms of prestige. In contrast to dominance, prestige is given voluntarily. It is freely conferred to individuals in recognition of their achievements in a particular field, and is not backed up by force. How did such systems arise?  It came as a result of  our acquiring culture and learning. It allowed our ancestors to recognize and reward individuals with superior skills and knowledge, and learn from them.

Although imitating prestigious individuals has generally helped promote the spread of  beneficial behaviors, it can also lead to copying traits that are of no use in themselves, or which may even be harmful. The reason for this is that prestige-biased learning is targeted at successful role models, rather than specific traits. This is precisely what makes it such a powerful and flexible tool... it makes sense to copy whoever happens to be doing best at a particular time and place.

However, because this strategy is somewhat indiscriminate, it can lead to people adopting all kinds of behaviours exhibited by a role model, including ones that have nothing to do with their success. This tendency explains our interest in what sports stars and singers wear, what car they drive, and where they go shopping.

In the past any useless traits we acquired as a result of prestige-biased learning were offset by the benefits of picking up useful skills. So, in the long-run, it was an effective, adaptive strategy.

The modern world is very different from the one in which our brains evolved, and the originally adaptive bias for imitating successful people has today morphed into an unhealthy obsession with celebrities, who we give far more attention to than they deserve.

The point can be illustrated by way of an analogy to diet. We have an evolved preference for sweet-tasting and fatty foods because they motivated our ancestors to seek out ripe fruits and meat, which are rich in essential nutrients. But in today's world of mass-produced confectionery and intensive agriculture, these previously adaptive tastes have led to a massive obesity epidemic and all the health problems it's associated with.

Similarly, we can think of the mass-media as junk food for the mind. Quick. Convenient. But not exactly nutritious. We gorge ourselves on images of wealth and success because they appeal to our appetite for prestige. But are celebrities actually good role models?

We still imitate them because our brains are programmed to associate prestige with adaptive behaviour. And because fame is the primary cue of prestige, the more attention celebrities get, the more they attract. It's not surprising then, that fame has become an end in itself. Because in the modern world, it does not really matter what you are famous for.

Indeed, while celebrities today get more attention and prestige than at any other point in human history. You may ask, what are celebrities for if they are not to be role models? Why give them the benefits of our prestige, if it is not reciprocated with anything that might be of use to us?

In pondering those questions, we would do well to reflect on the words of Samuel Johnson: "To get a name is one of the few things that cannot be bought. It is the free gift of mankind, which must be deserved before it will be granted."

At least, I think that was Samuel Johnson.


 Research materials derived from the studies of social anthropologist Jamie Tehrani.

Life term for US woman who cut off ex-husband's penis

 

Catherine Kieu reportedly told police: "He deserved it."

A California woman convicted of severing her ex-husband's penis and throwing it in a kitchen waste disposal has been sentenced to life in prison.

Catherine Kieu, 50, may seek parole after seven years. Her lawyers said she had mental health issues caused by abuse as a child and by her ex-husband. But the victim said he lost part of his life and identity after the attack.

Kieu attacked her former spouse with a knife in July 2011 after drugging him with sleeping pills, prosecutors said. She also tied him to the bed, prosecutors in Orange County, California, said.

Police have said the couple were going through a divorce at the time of the attack.
Kieu told the officers responding to the scene that her husband deserved it, police said.

So ladies, before you get any ideas...because your husband is a lazy drunk, consider the consequences and reconsider ...LOL. Go buy a good bottle of wine and go to a friend's house and diss the whole male sex together.

Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy ,
I am supposed to speak at my graduation  and don't know where to start . I have written down a speech with various ideas, but I am nervous  about them being in a jumble  and about my speech not having an impact . I am not worried about messing up because people will forget about it in a few weeks  ---but I am not sure I want people to forget about the speech! I want it to have an important enough impact for them to remember  it , but I am not particularly philosophical or profound . I also want it to be light enough for people to laugh . Where do I start ?
Stage Fright
Dear Stage Fright,
Think about the big message  you want to share  with your class . What stands out for you as emblematic of the class ? What are your class strengths ? Do your best to remember funny stories  and moving moments  that you can use to reflect on your time together . Write an outline  for your speech  just as you used to do in English class . Build out your thoughts in an organized manner . Sprinkle in humor throughout while maintaining the tenor  of the core theme . As you write your speech , stick to your outline . Then read it out loud a few times  to see if it works as a spoken piece . Ask someone you trust to listen to you to help you edit  and refine .
Maxy

Dear Maxy ,
My wife and I received many gift cards to restaurants as wedding presents last year . We haven't used them because  we are concerned about etiquette.
When we use one of the cards, do we need to invite  the person that gave it to us to join us at the restaurant ? If so, do we need to cover the cost of their meal ? We don't want to be rude .
Newlyweds
Dear Newlyweds ,
You would not invite  the gift-giver  to join you everytime  you use  a place setting or your new mixer, would you ? The gift cards are the same  . We do recommend , however, that you check to be certain the cards haven't expired .
Maxy

Dear Maxy,
I live in New York City  and I am sure you know that rent is crazy expensive; Therefore , I have a roommate to help out . She was a friend of mine  prior to becoming my roommate . It seems that living with her is a lot more difficult  than just being friends . She is always trying to outdo everything I do as if there is some competition . If I say  that I want a certain bag  or if I am dating a great guy, she always try to one-up me. I don't know how to address the issue  without sounding harsh  or mean .
Mocked
Dear Mocked ,
It is heart-to-heart time. Sit down with your roommate  and tell her  you want to talk  about something  that makes you feel uncomfortable . Point out  that now that you live together  you have  noticed  that she likes  to copy everything you do . Give her examples, such as the bag  or even the date . Suggest  to her that if your relationship is going to work, you both need your space . That includes space to express your individuality without  feeling that your roommate is going  to steal  your style or your friends .
Maxy

Five Nutrients Women Must have as They Age

As women age, their risk of developing health problems such as heart disease and stroke increases, especially after menopause.

"Women have a limited amount of estrogen once they go through menopause," said Dr. Nereida Correa, a gynecologist at Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. "Once they’re estrogen-deficient, they’re at risk for heart disease."

Heart disease, which could include having a heart attack or heart failure, is the leading cause of death among women, and stroke is the third leading cause of death, according to government statistics.

Here are five nutrients that may help protect women from heart disease, as well as lower the risk of other chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, breast cancer and high blood pressure.

 

 

Vitamin D

Women who don’t get enough vitamin D could develop brittle bones, or even worse, osteoporosis.
A study published in July in the New England Journal of Medicine found taking high doses (800 international units) of vitamin D daily could reduce the risk of hip fractures in older women by 30 percent.
There are three ways of getting vitamin D: from the skin, from your diet and from vitamin supplements.
Unfortunately, as the skin ages, it has less ability to produce vitamin D in response to sun exposure. But women can boost their vitamin D intake by consuming four 8-ounce servings of low-fat dairy products every day.
That would be equal to three glasses of either 1 percent or skim milk.
"Women don’t drink a lot of milk," Correa said. She recommend women take a multivitamin, eat low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, and try hard cheese, vitamin D-fortified orange juice or legumes as part of a daily diet.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which helps keep aging bones strong.

 

 

Vitamin B12

Postmenopausal women who lack certain nutrients in their diets, including vitamin B12, have an increased risk of becoming anemic, according to a recent study.
Researchers looked at nearly 73,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the nine-year Women's Health Initiative study. Among the women in the study, 5.5 percent were anemic. The researchers found that women with anemia tend to consume less protein, folate  (also called vitamin B9), iron, vitamin C and vitamin B12. 
Low levels of vitamin B12 tend to occur in women as they age. Older adults may not have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach to absorb the vitamin.
Women who don’t get enough of B12 can experience fatigue, weight loss, poor memory, dementia and depression.
Although B12 has been suggested as a way to treat memory loss, boost mood and increase energy and concentration, there isn’t enough evidence to show that it improves these conditions.
The recommended daily amount of B12 is 2.4 micrograms daily for adults, and the vitamin can be found in foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and fortified breakfast cereals.
For women who are vegetarians or vegans, a supplement is often necessary. Correa said she recommends B12 injections, because they are the best way promote the body's absorption of the vitamin.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Eating a higher amount of fish and omega-3 fatty acids is linked with a lower risk of heart disease among women, according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  
Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat. This healthy fat may also help slow down the growth of plaque buildup in the arteries and lowers blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
"Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids can increase the good cholesterol, and decrease the bad one," Correa said.
Several studies have found that fish oil supplements — about 1 to 4 grams per day — reduced triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent.
The AHA recommends eating fish — particularly fatty fish like salmon, tilapia or codfish — at least twice a week.
Olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fatty acids, has also shown health benefits.
 

Calcium

Calcium helps the body make new bone cells, and "as women approach menopause, the ability to make new bone cells decreases," Correa said. Drinking milk does not provide enough calcium to make up the difference, she said.
Correa recommended that in addition to eating calcium-rich dairy foods, older women should take 600 milligram calcium supplements twice a day.
The two main forms of calcium in supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate is inexpensive, but is absorbed best when taken with food, according to the National Institutes of Health. While calcium citrate is more expensive, it can be absorbed on an empty stomach.
Besides dairy products, calcium can also be found in tofu, cereals, soy and rice beverages, vegetables such as kale, broccoli and Chinese cabbage, and fish with soft bones such as sardines and salmon.

 

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

Although folic acid is perhaps best known as a vital nutrient for women to get during pregnancy, it’s also necessary for older women.
"Folic acid is cardio-protective, so it helps build new tissue," Correa said. "It’s helpful all around."
Folic acid, or folate, is a B-complex vitamin the body needs to create red blood cells.
Signs of low folic acid levels include anemia, weight loss, weakness, headaches and high levels of homocysteine in the blood, a risk factor for heart disease.
In fact, women who consume more folic acid have a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a 2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers looked at nearly 94,000 women between ages 27 and 44, and about 62,000 women between ages 43 and 70 with no history of hypertension. The data were collected during the Nurses' Health Study.
The researchers compared women who consumed at least 1,000 micrograms of folic acid daily with those who consumed less than 200 micrograms daily.
They found that 12,347 of the older women had high blood pressure, and that those consuming the higher amount of folic acid were about 18 percent less likely to have the condition. In other words, there were about six fewer cases of hypertension per 1,000 women yearly among those consuming 1,000 micrograms of folic acid.
This doesn’t mean women should take 1,000 micrograms a day of folic acid, but they should try to take the recommended daily allowance of 400 micrograms, the researchers said.
Folic acid can be found in leafy green vegetables, citrus, squash, berries, nuts and olive oil.

Women mature earlier......and other newsy odds and ends

 

 

 



Lucky the Elephant.......Doorstop or Cuddly Toy ( without the weights added)

 

Elephants bring good luck if the trunk is turned up

Wanna make one?
You'll need:

• This pattern for the elephant
• This pattern for the bow
• Gray felt
• Pink felt
• Decorative scrap fabric
• Needle, embroidery thread and scissors
• Straight pins
• Plastic can gripper (that's my secret weapon!)
• Pebbles
• Stuffing
• Buttons for eyes optional ( But I think most people like eyes on their toys or lucky mascots

 First, you'll want to print this pattern (landscape-style at 250%) and piece it together.   I always like to give credit where credit is due, but it was super hard to find out who originally created this pattern.  One source said it was from an old Family Fun magazine, so we'll go with that.

Use the pattern to cut each of your pieces out of felt.  For the ear pieces, I cut two pieces out of fabric a little larger than the pattern so that I could turn it under before stitching, and two pieces out of felt (for the backs of the ears).**

Now the fun part!  Piece the gray felt pieces together and pin them in place. Start whip stitching the elephant together (I started at the back of the elephant's heel and went up towards the butt.)  If you don't know what whip stitching is, check out this youtube video.  (You're going to thank me for the awesome music!)

One quirky thing about the elephant pattern is that it didn't include a tail pattern piece so I made up my own.  I just cut a rectangle piece of felt about an inch or so wide and about 2.5-3 inches long.  I snipped the ends of one of the short sides of the rectangle and then rolled the felt up, whip stitching the roll closed.  The picture above should help you.

The picture below is how I pieced the tail in.  You're looking at the inside of the elephant's butt.

Keep whip stitching around the rest of the elephant.  When you get to the trunk be sure to put in some stuffing WHILE you stitch it closed.  It will be super hard to get the stuffing in there if you don't do it this way.

Now for my secret weapon... pull out that freebie can gripper that you got at the fair (the flexible plastic one) and use it to grip your needle when it gets really hard to pull it through two layers of felt and the fabric on the ears.  Works perfectly doesn't it?!

**Be sure to follow my above instructions about the ear fabric.  If you cut the fabric a little larger than the felt then you'll have space to turn the fabric under before you stitch it to the ear backs (made out of felt).

One more important note... TRUST THE PATTERN!  While you're stitching, line up the pattern pieces you cut perfectly, don't start making adjustments to the pattern while you're stitching because you think it's not lining up correctly.

When you're all done stitching the elephant the underneath will have an open flap for stuffing.  Put the stuffing in first (just a bit in the bottom of the feet too) then fill in the rest of the legs and the underneath belly with pebbles for weight.  

If you're not planning on using your elephant for a door stop or a book end, just omit the pebbles and use only stuffing.

 As a finishing touch, I embellished with a pink bow using this pattern.

A Different Kind of Sock Puppy

Argyll socks make awesome sock puppies

 

Plain socks can also be used and dressed up more...Buttons and bows etc.

 

You'll need:

• One men's sock
• Stuffing
• Ribbon for the collar
• Needle and thread
• Button for the nose (optional)....buttons for eyes if you wish
• Sewing machine (optional)

So, here's what you're starting with. The heel of the sock will be the top of Bertie's head. There are really four parts to this process: ears, body, tail and legs. I'll organize this tutorial that way so you don't get too confused.Ears: Cut the toe of the sock off about 1.5 - 2 inches in a slight arch, the more of the toe you cut off, the floppier her/his ears will be.
Now comes the tricky part. If the toe of the sock were a bowl, cut down the center of the bowl.
Separate the two halves of the toe of the sock and fold them in half with the right sides of the sock facing each other. I'm pointing to what it looks like before it is folded in half. The one below my hand is what it looks like folded.
With your sewing machine, sew along the straight edge, leaving as small a seam allowance as possible. You'll finish by turning these inside out. The ears will not be stuffed, so you can set them aside until the body is done and you can sew them on.

Body: Now let's move on to the body. Turn the sock inside out and stitch along the mouth in a slight arch.

Before you start stuffing we need to cut out her tail and her four legs. This is what the entire sock looks like cut up. From the far left: her four feet, tail, body and two ears. The legs are cut in straight rectangles, the tail and body have a slight arch to them.

Stuff body.

Each time you stuff a limb or her leg I would recommend pinning it like I did below before you stitch it on. The trick is to slightly tuck the edges in a bit and then whip stitch it closed.
Tail: Grab the portion of the sock that you cut for the tail. It should be a full loop, so cut one end of the loop, turn it so that the right sides of the sock are facing each other and stitch up the sides with your sewing machine like the picture below. Be sure to leave an opening so that you can stuff the tail. Turn the tail inside out and it will look like this, ready for stuffing. (Stuffing the tail isn't easy, I would recommend that you use a small amount of stuffing and stick it in with a chop stick little by little.)
Legs: With each of the four legs, you will sew along three of the sides of the rectangle, leaving one of the short ends open. Just like the other appendages, make sure the right sides of the sock are facing each other, sew, flip it inside out, stuff, pin to the body, and whip stitch it on.
You can finish with a button nose, maybe some eyes and a collar. 

Restore Memory With Brain Implant

 

 

 

A prosthetic device could restore memory to patients with brain damage due to epilepsy …

 

NEW YORK — In the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," the characters undergo a scientific procedure to erase their memory. But what if instead of erasing memory, you could restore it? One neuroscientist aims to do just that.

 

Theodore Berger of the University of Southern California is developing a prosthesis to restore memory, by replacing a circuit in the brain's hippocampus. Berger described the device at the Global Future 2045 International Congress, held here June 15-16. Already successful in rats and monkeys, the prosthesis is now being tested in humans.

Memory machine
The hippocampus, a brain structure tucked deep in the brain's temporal lobe, converts short-term memories to long-term ones. Epilepsy or other neurological disorders can damage the hippocampus, preventing a person from retaining new memories.

The device Berger and his colleagues are developing could replace parts of a damaged hippocampus, and even enhance an intact one. A tiny chip of electrodes implanted in the hippocampus records signals representing a short-term memory; the signals are sent to a computer that mathematically transforms them into a long-term memory; and signals representing the long-term memory are sent to a second set of electrodes that stimulates another layer of the hippocampus. The point of the device is not to identify individual memories, but to learn how they are transformed into long-term memory. "It's like learning rules for translation," Berger said, adding that the memories are like words, and the mathematical transformation is like a translator.

Berger's team tested the device in rats trained in a simple memory task. Each rat (with the prosthesis) was placed in a chamber with two levers. First, the lever on just one side was presented, and the rat would push it. After a short waiting period, the levers on both sides would appear, and if the rat pushed the opposite lever from the one it pushed before, the rat got a sip of water. Performing the task successfully required the rat to remember which lever it pushed originally.

To test their memory prosthesis, the researchers injected some of these rats with a drug that impaired the rats' natural memory function, and tested the animals in the lever experiment. The rats were still able to push the correct lever to receive their drink, suggesting they were able to form new memories. In other words, the rats' brain implant was remembering for them. Remarkably, the researchers found that the prosthesis could enhance memory function in rats even when they hadn't been given the drug that impaired their memory.

Replacement recall
Berger's team found that the device was similarly effective when they tested it in monkeys. The researchers are now running a human trial on patients with epilepsy. They haven't gotten much data yet, Berger said, but he thinks it will be fascinating. Figuring out how to mathematically transform a short-term memory into a long-term one is a major challenge, Berger said — you only have one shot at getting it right. The brain's adaptability, or plasticity, is going to be hugely important for the device's effectiveness in humans, Berger said. "There's going to be more influence of the human on the device than the device on the human."

Ultimately, the hope is that memory prostheses could restore or enhance human memory. But the philosophical implications of meddling with memory are immense: If humans could control memories, could they also alter them? Could memories be decoded and used as evidence in a courtroom? And could people erase memories and replace them with new ones altogether? For now, at least, these are questions for the future.

DIY homemade ketchup recipe....Very tasty

 

Ingredients

• 156-mL can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/8 salt

Instructions

• WHISK all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a medium-low. Simmer, stirring often (it may splatter), about 4 min. Let cool before using. It will keep well, refrigerated, up to 1 month.

Four ways to use it

Ketchup popcorn: Mix 3 tbsp Homemade ketchup with 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp granulated sugar in a small saucepan and set over medium. Whisk until sugar dissolves. Drizzle over 8 cups popped plain popcorn on a baking sheet. Toss until coated. Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 300F, stirring occasionally, until popcorn is dry and crisp, 12 to 15 min.
Currywurst: Barbecue 2 bratwurst sausages, turning often, on a medium grill until cooked through, about 15 min. Slice into 1/2-in. pieces, then drizzle with Curry ketchup.
Glazed chicken legs: Whisk 3 tbsp Ballpark ketchup with 2 tbsp each honey and soy sauce, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp herbs de provence and 1/2 tsp re-hot-chili-flakes. Coat 4 chicken legs with mixture in a 9×13-in. baking dish. Cut 1 large red onion into wedges and tuck among chicken legs. Bake at 400F until juices run clear, 35 to 40 min. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Yucca oven fries: Cut away thick, waxy skin from 500 g of yucca root (also known as cassava), then slice into french fry sticks. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil and 1/4 tsp salt on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400F, flipping halfway through, until tender and golden, 25 min. Serve with Banana ketchup.

Thanx to Chatelaine Magazine

Breast cancer scientists say less invasive surgery...more than possible

 

 

Some breast cancer sufferers can be treated with radiotherapy instead of more invasive surgery after a Europe-wide study. Cardiff specialists who led the UK arm of the trial which studied 5,000 women found less invasive methods can be as effective as surgery for many patients. It also means radiotherapy could be used instead of removing lymph nodes. Consultant breast surgeon Prof Robert Mansel said it could mean fewer women requiring additional surgery.

The trial studied nearly 5,000 women to see if radiotherapy was equivalent to surgical removal of lymph nodes in the armpit. Prof Mansel, of the University Hospital Llandough, and professor of surgery at Cardiff University's School of Medicine (Institute of Cancer and Genetics), was chief investigator for the UK study.
"This is a very important trial because it is going to change practice," he said. "What normally happens nowadays is we check the lymph nodes under the arm when we do the first operation for breast cancer, and if there is spread to those to lymph nodes, conventionally at the moment, all the remaining lymph nodes are removed - it is a big operation. What the trial shows is you don't need to remove those lymph nodes, because you can actually treat under the arm area by radiotherapy instead. This is the first trial to show this conclusively. This is nearly 5,000 patients who have been studied. The rate of any problem coming back in the arm is actually tiny. It is in the order of 1% - and it is no different from doing surgery."

Prof Mansel said adopting a radiotherapy approach, rather than secondary surgery, would lead to swifter recovery with fewer side effects for patients - and cost the NHS less.
"It has great potential for savings in the NHS, which is unusual, because we will do less surgery," he said. "That means saving on expensive operating theatre time, and the patient is having radiotherapy anyway to the breast area."

Alison Essaye, from Tondu, Bridgend, had surgery for breast cancer four years ago, followed by radiotherapy. She said: "I think it's fantastic what they've done with the research and the study.

Because if you had to go through a second lot of surgery, that's going to be even more painful again.
They have got good results for the future, for women and men -  we mustn't forget men get breast cancer too."

Jimmy and Brad Yodel Harmony...Believe it or not

 

 



Laughing Twins

 

 

 



Signs Signs Signs