Thought For Me Today

" My power today lies in practice. I play fair and can hold my own in against my peers in my chosen arena. I develop confidence, refine my intentions, and make progress by being prepared to put my desires, beliefs, ideas, or skills to the test or put my "money where my mouth is." I am empowered by healthy competition and I transform through preparedness."

Do You Have One Of These - 33 - Differant types of Phobia's

"You’ve probably heard of arachnophobia, thanks in part to the movie with the same name, and claustrophobia, but what about gamophobia or phobophobia? Here’s a brief introduction to phobias, from the familiar to the more obscure:

Acrophobia: Fear of heights .....(I have this one bad!!)

Agoraphobia: Fear of being in a public place...( I dated a guy that got crappy when we were in a store that was crowded, and had to get out in open space.)

Ailurophobia: Fear of cats

Androphobia: Fear of men

Anthropophobia: Fear of human companionship

Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders ...(Okay I have this one too! I hate Hobo's as we have them where I live bad every year.)

Bathophobia: Fear of deep places ....(this one is as bad as high places to me cause I could still fall.)

Claustrophobia: Fear of enclosed spaces....(Okay I have a bit of a problem with this one too, boy maybe I am a sickoo..lol)

Cynophobia: Fear of dogs

Entomophobia: Fear of insects

Ereuthophobia: Fear of blushing

Gamophobia: Fear of marriage...(okay the last guy I dated I think had this problem, always ran away when women got this close, I got him to at least 2-months from saying I DO..lol)

Gephyrophobia: Fear of crossing a bridge...(this one bothers me if its a high bridge)

Gymnophobia: Fear of seeing a naked person

Gynephobia: Fear of women

Hedonophobia: Fear of pleasure

Hypengyophobia: Fear of responsibility....(I know my kids have this one..lol)

Hypnophobia: Fear of sleep

Ichthyophobia: Fear of fish

Mysophobia: Fear of dirt

Nostophobia: Fear of going home...(wished my kids had this one now, moved them out they came back.)

Nyctophobia: Fear of night or darkness

Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes...(okay I hate snakes too)

Pathophobia: Fear of disease

Pediophobia: Fear of children or dolls

Phobophobia: Fear of phobias

Psychrophobia: Fear of the cold

Scopophobia: Fear of being stared at

Spectrophobia: Fear of mirrors

Tocophobia: Fear of childbirth

Theophobia: Fear of God...(okay I confess I did this one to my kids when I use to tell them I was going to put the fear of GOD in them if they didn't knock off what they were doing)

Triskaidekaphobia: Fear of the number thirteen

Zoophobia: Fear of animals

(Okay now that I know I'm truely messed up in the head, guess I better head to a shrink appt. FAST!!)

Do You Have Social Phobia?

1. Are you afraid you'll embarrass yourself if you have to give a talk or attend a social gathering with people you don't know well?
2. Do you sometimes panic in unfamiliar social situations?
3. Do you know that your fear of social situations is unreasonable or excessive?
4. Do you avoid social situations whenever possible?
5. When you can't avoid social situations, do they cause significant distress or anxiety?
6. Does your distress or fear of social gatherings interfere significantly with your work, relationships with friends and family, or normal routines?

If you answer yes to three or more of these questions, you may have social phobia. If so, talk with your doctor or a therapist about your concerns. Social phobia can be mild, moderate, or severe. ends and family, or normal routines?

Symptoms: Extreme fear of situations that pose little or no danger or that are no more dangerous than other situations that don’t induce fear.

Common phobias: Include fear of flying, heights, animals, insects, injections, and the sight of blood. Facing the situation or object that induces the phobia produces anxiety immediately, sometimes in the form of a panic attack. Children may cry, have tantrums, freeze, or cling to an adult. Although adults with phobias realize that their fears are excessive or unreasonable, they try to avoid the situations that provoke them. They may refuse to fly in an airplane or visit the home of a friend who has a dog. But this avoidance may interfere with their ability to function normally at work, at school, or in social situations. Many people with this condition also have social phobia, a fear of social situations.

Cause: Traumatic events often lead to specific phobias. Genes are also believed to play a role because the tendency to develop specific phobias runs in families.

Prevalence: More than 10% of people have specific phobias.

Who’s at risk: Women face a slightly higher risk than men. Individuals who have a close relative with a specific phobia are at higher risk. A terrifying or deeply troubling experience, as well as a genetic predisposition, increases the likelihood of developing specific phobia.

Effective treatments: The main treatment is a form of behavioral therapy called desensitization, also known as exposure therapy, in which people are gradually exposed to the source of their phobia until it no longer scares them. Relaxation and breathing exercises can also reduce symptoms. No medication has proved effective in controlling specific phobias, but antianxiety drugs may help. For example, if you’re afraid of flying, an antianxiety medication can control your fear enough that you can get on the plane.

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

Symptoms: A persistent and powerful uneasiness, self-consciousness, and fear of humiliation in ordinary social situations with unfamiliar people or where scrutiny by others is possible. These situations usually cause anxiety and sometimes a panic attack. This phobia often leads people to avoid parties and other gatherings. Adults with social phobia realize that their fear is excessive or unreasonable, but most children do not. The symptoms and diagnostic criteria differ somewhat for children and adults. In children, common symptoms are crying, throwing tantrums, and withdrawing when in the company of unfamiliar peers or adults. But children with social phobia are capable of appropriate social relationships with familiar people. Their symptoms must last at least 6 months, whereas in adults the symptoms can come and go with the waxing and waning of stress. For example, a person who has social phobia when single may find that it nearly disappears after marriage, but it flares up again after divorce or the spouse’s death. In both children and adults, the symptoms tend to be ongoing and severe. More than half of those with a social phobia also have a specific phobia. Because social phobia shares some of its symptoms with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, it can be difficult to distinguish them. But there are important differences. Though social avoidance is sometimes a symptom of panic disorder, it’s not the main symptom. People with panic disorder may withdraw from social situations, but they also avoid other situations, such as driving through tunnels. And though fear of embarrassment or humiliation can be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder, it’s not the main source of anxiety.

Cause: Preliminary animal research suggests that reduced brain levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters that affect mood and anxiety, may be a cause. Researchers are also studying the amygdala.

Prevalence: About 4% of Americans have social phobia.

Who’s at risk: Social phobia is twice as common among women as it is among men. It rarely starts after age 25, and children, adolescents, and young adults are at the highest risk. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is usually combined with medication in treating social phobia. Two forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy are especially

beneficial: anxiety management training and cognitive restructuring. Anxiety management focuses on teaching relaxation techniques such as deep breathing to help control anxiety. Cognitive restructuring teaches people how to recognize the thought processes that lead to the phobia and replace them with new assessments and expectations. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy and advice on improving social skills can also help build confidence in social situations."

Dating Problems Read This

" Borderline Personality Disorder :
Is characterized by poor self-image, great difficulty coping with loneliness and feeling empty. People with this disorder have unstable relationships most of the time, highly reactive and intense moods, and impulsive behavior. They are more likely to attempt or commit suicide.
Sometimes they harm themselves (for example, cutting or burning, take pills or drugs or take bad risks) as a form of self-punishment or to combat a numb feeling. At those times, suicide is not the goal, they are crying for help to those around them.
When stressed, people with borderline personality disorder may develop psychoticlike symptoms. They experience a distortion of perception or belief rather than a distinct break with reality. Especially in close relationships, they tend to misinterpret or amplify what other people feel about them.

For example: They may assume persecutory or hateful feelings when a friend or family member may be only mildly annoyed or angry.

Personality disorders are caused by both environmental and biological factors. Some researchers have suggested that borderline personality disorder springs from an abusive or neglectful childhood. A significant number of people with this disorder report a history of abuse in childhood.
Experts also have suggested that people with this disorder may have inherited difficulties regulating their anxiety or moods. They may be more vulnerable to loss or more sensitive to stress.
Scientists have begun to see how people with borderline personality disorder are biologically different from people without this disorder. In some of these people, specific brain regions show alterations in size and function. Researchers have also discovered change in hormone levels and the immune system.

People with borderline personality disorder have a deep fear of abandonment. They compete for social acceptance, are terrified of rejection and often feel lonely even in the context of an intimate relationship. Therefore, it is more difficult for them to manage the normal ups and downs of a romantic partnership. Impulsive, self-destructive behavior may be an attempt to ward off rising anxiety related to the fear of being left alone.

The flip side of the fear is the hope that a relationship will be completely soothing. These people may idealize a family member, romantic partner or friend, then become enraged when an inevitable disappointment occurs. They might hold that person responsible for the pain they feel and devalue the relationship.

It is quite common for people with borderline personality disorder to also have a mood disorder, eating disorder or substance abuse problem. The person may turn to alcohol or drugs to escape from painful, uncontrollable emotions.

There is no clear line between a personality style and a disorder. Personality patterns are considered to be a disorder when they impair a person's functioning and cause stress.

Three times as many women as men are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It occurs in about 2% of the population in the United States.

Symptoms :


It is normal to feel vulnerable, so most people have experienced some of the symptoms on this list. The diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is made only when someone has had many of these symptoms to a severe degree, over a long period.:

* Unstable, intense and difficult relationships

* Poor self-image

* Self-destructive, impulsive behavior

* Suicidal threats or attempts

* Self-mutilation

* Extreme mood reactions, including intense, inappropriate anger

* Feeling empty or alone

* Fear of abandonment

* Short-lived psychoticlike distortions of perception or belief, especially under stress

The diagnosis is normally made on the basis of a person's history, usually by a mental health professional. There are no laboratory tests to determine whether someone has a personality disorder.

Since there is often an overlap with mood disorder or substance abuse, these possibilities should be considered in anyone who has the symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

All personality disorders are lifelong patterns, There is no way to prevent borderline personality disorder.


Psychotherapy is a key part of the treatment of borderline personality disorder. The problems in this disorder are related to the person's habitual ways of relating to others and coping with obstacles. People with this disorder tend either to idealize the therapist or to become frustrated easily.

They have exaggerated reactions to disappointment. Therefore, it may be difficult for them to sustain a relationship with a mental health professional. This disorder tests the skill of therapists, who have to use a combination of techniques to be effective.

It's not enough for a person with this disorder to learn coping strategies on an intellectual level. The person has to learn how to tolerate the emotional discomfort that is common in relationships and to manage their intense emotions more successfully.

A form of treatment called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) tries to take the special problems of borderline personality disorder into account, using a combination of psychotherapy techniques, education, and both individual and group psychotherapy to support the patient's progress.

At first, treatment aims at helping the person endure feeling isolated, depressed or anxious without resorting to self-destructive behavior. To accomplish this, hospitalization sometimes is necessary. Outside the hospital, a person with borderline personality disorder may need additional support.

There have been relatively few controlled studies of psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. Since the problems in this disorder vary widely, the researchers tend to study a few factors at a time. In some studies, DBT has reduced the frequency of self-harm and the intensity of suicidal thinking. It has also been shown to reduce the intensity of symptoms of depression or anxiety.

As with psychotherapy, there is no single medication that is clearly helpful in borderline personality disorder. Instead, medication is usually used to treat symptoms as they emerge, may be tried if the person's thinking is distorted.
People with borderline personality disorder are more likely than average to commit suicide. They should discuss self-destructive impulses with their health care professionals and make specific plans for what to do to get help when these thoughts or impulses arise.

Because personality styles tend to become more entrenched with age, it is best to seek treatment as soon as significant distress or poor functioning is noticed.


The course of this illness varies and depends on the severity of the symptoms; the amount of stress; the availability of support; the degree of functional impairment; the extent of self-destructive or suicidal behavior; and the presence of other psychiatric disorders, such as depression or substance abuse. It also depends on the person's ability to stay in treatment. Some people are quite resolute and courageous about their treatment and are able to bear deep disappointment, even though it may be very difficult. Others, however, find themselves in a cycle of seeking help, then feeling rejected and rejecting the help.

Also, because this disorder is difficult to treat, some people find themselves poorly matched with a clinician, and the treatment turns out to be ineffective. As in the person's life, it is difficult for him or her to distinguish between real and exaggerated disappointment in a treatment setting. Many researchers are now more optimistic about the long-term outcomes in borderline personality disorder. With persistence, many people with this disorder eventually can resolve painful problems and have fewer symptoms, which ultimately leads to more comfortable relationships and satisfying life achievements."

Mental Health Infro.

" Here are a few listings for places you can call or write fore more infro. if you feel you need it or know someone who does. They also have 1-800-Numbers I saw if you can't afford the phone call. Or do not know of a clinic in your or someone elses area, they could possibly help you find one. Bookmark this or mail it to yourself. As you never know someday you could need it for you or someone you care about, even if they live in a differant town you could get help...

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
120 Wall St.
22nd Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-363-3500
Toll-Free: 1-888-333-2377
Fax: 212-363-6237
Email: inquiry@afsp.org
http://www.afsp.org/index-1.htm

American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
Phone: 703-907-7300
Toll-Free: 1-888-357-7924
Email: apa@psych.org
Web site: http://www.psych.org/Public information site: http://www.healthyminds.org/

American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5510
Toll-Free: 1-800-374-2721
TTY: 202-336-6123
http://www.apa.org/

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: 703-524-7600
Toll-Free: 1-800-950-6264
TTY: 703-516-7227
Fax: 703-524-9094
http://www.nami.org/

National Institute of Mental Health
Office of Communications
6001 Executive Blvd.
Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Phone: 301-443-4513
Toll-Free: 1-866-615-6464
TTY: 301-443-8431
Fax: 301-443-4279
Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ "

E-Mail Etiquette - Are you E-mailing people the right way ?

"Say exactly what you mean. Ambiguity can cause misunderstanding. The recipient can't see or hear you... and can't pick up the subtleties of conversation. Also: Never use all capital letters -- they are equivalent to shouting. Use a style and tone appropriate to your relationship with the addressee. Many people tend toward informality in E-mail. Use proper punctuation and grammar when writing to superiors.

Respond quickly -- within hours, if possible.

Don't click the "Reply to All" box unless everyone on the original distribution list needs to see your response.

Respect recipients’ privacy. Keep your distribution list from each recipient by using the "blind cc" function when sending a message to multiple recipients.

Find out if the recipient is equipped to open attachments before sending them. Paste text into the body of the E-mail.

Don't send large attachments unless you know that the recipient has a fast broadband connection to the Internet. Call or E-mail first to see if his/her E-mail program can handle large attachments. Alot of this we all know but it never hurt in todays fast pace to brush up on a few facts, if your like me I always tend to find something I didn't know when I read something."

Steal forklift to steal ATMs

PHOENIX-Across the U.S., bank robbers scooping up, or trying to scoop up, machines-Leave the gun. Bank robbers have found an easier way to make off with other people’s money: Around the country, thieves have hot-wired forklifts at construction sites, chugged up to banks and scooped up their ATMs, with all the cash inside.
ATM manufacturers have been working on ways to stop the heists, and sometimes the money involved is so small it hardly seems worth the risk. But that hasn’t discouraged thieves in Arizona, California and Georgia.
They have pulled off or attempted such thefts at least 21 times this year in the Phoenix area alone.
“It’s called the smash-and-dash,” said Rob Evans, director of industry marketing for Dayton, Ohio-based NCR Corp., the world’s largest maker of automated teller machines. Evans is the company expert on ATM thefts.
Since the 1990s, thieves have used forklifts to steal ATMs in Indonesia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland and Estonia, as well as the U.S. Four years ago, criminals plowed through the front doors of a movie theater in Lethbridge, Canada, with a forklift, drove into the lobby, hoisted the bulky machine and carried it to a waiting pickup truck.
Payoff worth it? The payoff for those who succeed in breaking into the machines varies widely, from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
“The vast majority of those attacks are unsuccessful,” Evans said. “A lot of times you just get a lot of damage.”
Some attempts end in almost comic failure. Often, ATM thieves are spotted by security guards and surveillance cameras as soon as they come rumbling up, and they are eventually caught. (Some at least are smart enough to wear ski masks.) Others flee after failing to pry the ATM loose. Some get away with the machines, only to find the concrete-and-steel vault tough to crack.
In the Phoenix area — a booming region with plenty of construction projects and lots of drive-through banks with open-air ATMs bolted to the ground, instead of embedded in a brick wall — police will not say how much has been stolen.
One of the most recent cases took place Monday at a bank in Mesa. Sheriff’s deputies found the ATM later that night burned in the desert. The cash was gone.
Law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan area have formed a task force with banking industry officials to investigate the thefts. So far, authorities have made at least two arrests in one case and are looking into whether the crimes are connected.
“It could be some organized syndicate that’s just decided to hit,” said Sgt. Mike Angstead, who supervises the property crimes unit with Gilbert police.
Banks won’t talk about how much money their machines typically contain.
“Those with the highest concentrations of cash are in casinos and other venues with high security,” Evans said. “The little tabletop machine in your quickie mart, that literally has a couple hundred bucks in it.”
Machines have GPS technologyThe smaller machines with the least security tend to be the ones that get stolen, Evans said. “It’s hardly worth the trouble.”
To protect their money, many banks use ATMs equipped with global-positioning technology that tells authorities where the machines are. Some have an alarm that goes off if someone tampers with the machine. Even if the thieves get away with the machines, they have to pound away pretty hard to get the safe open.
In Sacramento, Calif., thieves took off with an ATM in a rented truck. Within hours, a GPS device inside the machine gave away its location. When police arrived, the smashed ATM was sitting on a back porch, covered in a blue tarp.
“They were just using a sledgehammer trying to open up the machine,” Placer County, Calif., sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Whigam said. “Once they got to the core, they discovered the GPS tracking device, and they knew the jig was up.”
Four people were arrested, on this one. Now I have to say these guys are pretty hard up, but to even think they could even get away with something like this. Seems like alot of work for a few hundred buck!!"

Need a Good Night Sleep

MSNBC:"Certain foods can hinder sleep, while other ones can help. Nutritionist Joy Bauer tells you how to get those 40 winks:

Recent studies show there's even more reason to get those eight hours of shut-eye — it can help you lose weight. Reseach indicates that people who are sleep deprived have lower levels of the appetite-regulating hormone leptin, which makes them hungrier, want to eat more and be at risk for weight gain. Nutritionist Joy Bauer visited "Today" to discuss foods that can help you sleep and to suggest ways you can get a longer, more restful night's sleep.

Foods to avoid :

Three to eight hours before hitting the sack. Caffeine is a mild stimulant that increases the activity of the central nervous system. Caffeine’s stimulant effect peaks in about one hour and then declines as the liver breaks it down. If you’re an occasional coffee drinker, you’ll tend to be more sensitive to the stimulant effects. So, if you go to bed by 11:00 p.m., you’ll have to stop your caffeine intake by 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. to avoid insomnia. Also, beware of some “energy” drinks, which incorporate “herbal” caffeine including guarana seeds, kola nuts, and yerba mate leaves.

Caffeine amounts in popular foods and beverages:

Brewed coffee (8 ounces) = approx. 100 to 150 milligrams
Brewed decaf (8 ounces) = less than 5 milligrams
Espresso (1 ounce) = 40 milligrams
Brewed tea, black and green (8 ounces) = approx. 50 milligrams
Red Bull (8.5 ounces) = 80 milligrams
Popular soda, diet and regular (8 ounces) = 25 to 45 milligrams
Chocolate (1.7-ounce bar) = 12 to 20 milligrams for popular brands

Caffeine amounts in over-the-counter medications:

Vivarin = 200 milligrams
No Doz = 100 milligrams
Excedrin = 65 milligrams

All liquids :

90 minutes before going to bed. It takes about 90 minutes for the body to process liquids, so limit liquids of any kind for at least 90 minutes prior to bedtime if the need to urinate wakes you up in the middle of the night. This problem is especially common in older men.
Alcohol & Smoking:.

Do not use alcohol to help you fall asleep. Although alcohol may initially induce sleep, once it wears off, the sleep tends to be fragmented. Also, limit nicotine prior to bedtime, as it is a stimulant and will keep you up.
Heavy meals:

Less than three hours prior to bed. Meals loaded with calories and fat rev up active digestion and can often leave you feeling uncomfortably full or, even worse, cause heartburn or aggravate a hiatal hernia.

How to improve your sleep :

Eat a light snack before bedtime to help produce serotonin (the calming hormone). Try a light snack — 200 calories or less — that’s mainly carbohydrate with a touch of protein. Many scientists claim that by combining an ample dose of carbohydrate together with a small amount of protein (which contains the amino acid tryptophan) your brain produces serotonin, which is known as the “calming hormone.” And when we’re calm, we are certainly more apt to fall asleep.

Suggested bedtime snacks:
1 slice of whole wheat toast topped with 1 small slice of low-fat cheese
1/2 cup healthy cereal topped with 1/2 cup skim milk
1 banana with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter
1 rice cake topped with 1 tomato slice and 1 slice turkey breast

Regular exercise can increase your odds of getting a good night’s sleep. But avoid exercise within three hours of going to bed, as this will boost alertness and have a negative effect on sleep. Studies have shown that exercising more than three to six hours before going to bed has the most positive effect on falling asleep and staying asleep.
Sleep aid supplements

Melatonin has gotten a great deal of attention in the past few years because this hormone controls the body’s circadian rhythm — our internal 24-hour clock that tells us when to sleep and when to wake up. As we get older, we produce less melatonin, which may account in part for insomnia in older adults. I would not recommend supplemental doses without speaking with your physician first. Studies have not been conclusive in regard to its effectiveness, and these supplements may interact with other medications.
Valerian root:

Is an herb believed to have a calming, relaxing effect on the body. It has been used for centuries to treat insomnia, mild anxiety and restlessness. The exact mechanism of action is unknown. However, it may act as a depressant to the central nervous system to produce a mild tranquilizing effect. As with melatonin supplements, first speak with your personal physician to find out if it’s an appropriate option — and certainly first try the other sleep inducers discussed above."

Climb to True Independence

"Real self-independence is the fruit of an awakened inner life. And just as fruit on a tree must develop into fullness following a certain order of natural events, so too is there a natural order of self-realizations that lead up to winning your own life and living it as you please.

Every step along the way to this higher independent life is both the challenge and the reward. The challenge is always in how dark and uncertain the next step appears to be; and the reward, after you take the step, is the sweet and relief-filled discovery that who you, really are cannot fall!

In this way, step by step, a man or a woman walks into the fullness of their own independent, true nature. However, as with any climb to a loftier view, there are always those spots that are more difficult than others to negotiate. The more light we can shed on these psychological outcrops that obscure our vision, the smoother our upward journey will be. Remember, the Truth will never lead you to an impasse.

If it ever seems that way, it is only because you are needlessly trying to take something along with you that can't be part of the Higher Life which awaits you just ahead..... So let go.

You will rise to the next step effortlessly. One of the major obstacles in the climb to self-independence, where many falter and so fail to take the next important step upward, is in their reluctance to see that the actual human condition is far worse off than they ever imagined. You must be different. As you are about to see, only your unwavering insight into the low life-level of society can bring into play the Higher Forces necessary to transform you into a truly independent person.

So you must never hesitate to see through people, nor should you ever feel guilty for what your Higher Vision reveals to you about them. This guilty feeling, like you've done something bad by seeing badness in others, is a trick of the false self. It needs to keep you believing in others so that later on you can feel stressed and betrayed when they fail to live up to your expectations. So it is both wise and profitable to collect facts about the weakness of human nature. Indeed, if our search for true independence is to have a happy ending, we must learn not only to welcome these temporarily shocking insights but we must gather ourselves up and ask to see more. The Truth will oblige. Here are three friendly facts to help us let go and grow more independent.

Fact 1: You can only depend on others for as long as it pays them to tolerate your dependence.

Fact 2: No matter how it may appear on the surface of human events, self-interest governs individuals.

Fact 3: Even the typical display of human kindness or benevolence comes not from that person's compassionate nature, but from his unconscious desire to enrich himself with the intoxicating feelings of being a good person. Forget to thank him or acknowledge his generosity and watch how quickly his goodness turns into repressed resentment or outward indignation.These higher facts are not negative. What is negative is to hide from ourselves that we have been betrayed by others. The evidence is overwhelming.Depending on others for a sense of independent psychological well-being is an accident waiting to happen. You do not have to live with this kind of fear for one more moment. If you will give yourself permission to see the whole truth about human nature and its affairs, the Truth will show you something about yourself that will lift you high above any of your present painful concerns. So don't be afraid to come to the temporarily disturbing but wonderful understanding that there is no one for you to count on -- because there isn't -- at least not where you have been looking. This gradual realization of your true and present position in life is actually a step up. It only feels like a step down. And the only reason it feels like this is because, unknown to yourself, you have been living with the self-limiting belief that one day someone would give you what you haven't been able to give to yourself -- true independence........http://www.guyfinley.com/ I Love the things he writes, really makes me think about things, alot more."

9 - Ways To Meet A Man

"Many admit to being discouraged because the process is “so hard.” But I think you have to tackle meeting guys like you would any big project—by putting lots of effort into it, perfecting your skills as you go, and realizing that some strategies work a whole lot better than others.

1 - Don’t develop hard-and-fast rules about the ways you’re willing to go about your search. Some women, for instance, have a policy against being fixed up. But you need to be flexible and willing to experiment with a variety of strategies, particularly if you find yourself in a drought. My theory has always been that a winning prospect only comes around every six to seven blind dates, so you may have to chit-chat with five chumps in order to get there. You also need to be flexible about the places you go to meet guys. If you head to the same bars all the time, you’re going to see the same old guys—or the same type. There are always interesting new ways to meet men, and you need to keep your ear to the ground to hear what’s hot at a given moment. It keeps changing. One minute networking cocktail parties are all the rage, and the next something else is. I heard lately, for instance, that day spas are starting to offer times when singles can mingle.

2 - Be unashamedly proactive and methodical. Cold-hearted calculation doesn’t seem like a very magical approach to meeting the love of your life, but there will be plenty of time for magic once you’re dating. Tell yourself that you will do at least two specific things every week to facilitate your quest. And when opportunities present themselves, make things happen rather than just allowing them to unfold. For instance, if you see a hottie and there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to meet him, accidentally bump into him, for God’s sake.

3 - If you’re going to a party, bar or event, don’t travel in huge wolf packs of women. It’s hard to break into a group that size, plus it’s easy for a guy to think that the moment he turns around after talking to you, all the other chicks are going to laugh hysterically about a comment he made or even the pants he’s wearing. Two is an OK number (you and a friend), but three is even better because one friend has a pal to talk to if you start chatting someone up.

4 - Avoid being too glam. When you’re all dolled up, you may feel like a man magnet, but guys are often put off by too much product. Lots of makeup and tons of designer labels scream high-maintenance, and guys don’t like that. One other tip: Consider wearing something that could be a conversation-starter, like a t-shirt with something funny written on it or a faux-fur vest that a guy may ask to touch.

5 - Have a drink in your hand. We once had a girl write a piece about her experience being a wing woman—someone hired by shy guys to chat up women in bars and then introduce them. She provided a great tip: Don’t stand around empty-handed. If you’re holding a drink, a guy won’t feel he has to immediately buy one for you. But then later, if things are going well, ordering you a refill gives him something positive to do.

6 - Do not be too coy. Guys, as we know, like the chase. But if you seem too elusive, guys won’t approach. These days, men shy away from the slightest chance of rejection. So what’s a coy move that works? Make eye contact with an object of desire, hold for three seconds, and then look away. Repeat. If he’s interested, you’ve given him a pretty clear signal that it’s safe to head your way. Once you’re talking to a guy, you don’t want to be all over him. But let him know in a more subtle manner that you’re interested—for instance, by laying your hand on his arm when you make a point.

7 - When there’s an adorable guy suddenly in your path, don’t be so worried about saying the perfect thing that you end up saying nothing at all. As long as you seem friendly, you’ll be OK—so just get something out. Asking for help is a surefire conversation-starter. If you’re in an electronics store, try “Excuse me, could you tell me the difference between LCD and plasma screen TVs?” Humor can work, too. If you’re standing by an elevator, you could slyly say, “I hear that pressing the button 20 or 30 times actually does make it come faster.” Another good trick: playfully polling a guy. An example: “I’m taking a survey for the bar. Did you have to drive more than five miles to get here?” You could also come up with a question about yourself, like: “Do you think I should get blue contact lenses?”

8 - Be positive. A few years ago I arranged for a single friend of mine to sit next to a hot guy at a charity dinner. Through the night, I watched them from my table and I had every reason to believe things were going well. But later the guy told me that my friend had offered up an endless stream of negative riffs. She hated the subway, her boss, teacup dogs, etc. She thought that confessing things she didn’t like was a way of bonding with him, but guys are turned off by negativity.

9 - Really hear what he has to say. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to become overly self-conscious. You might ask a guy you’ve just met plenty of questions, but be so worried about what to say next that you don’t pay close attention to his answers. Here’s a trick to help you focus: Wait a few beats after he says something and think about what he’s said. Then allow your next comment or question to really play off what he’s told you. "

Consecrated - Virginity - New Way Of Life

"Well here's something to think about on Gods day...Heck, I must be a reformed virgin? as much sex as I have had(minus the last 4-they were fun) the last 30-yrs. of my life ! Wonder if they have a club for "Women who aren't sleeping with a man, and not a Vigrin? Thats the one for me, not that I don't like men guess I'm to picky who I lay down with, Or maybe I do belong to a club that men call the 'Stupid Women Club" Because we keep falling for men that hurt us ....Anyway heres the story..

East Auroa N.Y. - She stood at the altar in a white gown and veil, but she was there for no earthly man. Lori Rose Cannizzaro was dedicating her virginity to Jesus.
Saturday's rare Catholic ceremony, one her own pastor didn't know existed, turned the 42-year-old into a "consecrated virgin.

" Fewer than 200 women in the United States and 2,000 worldwide have declared their perpetual virginity this way, according to U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins "There are people who think I'm nuts," Cannizzaro said.

The ceremony was a revival of one of the church's oldest rituals, Mystical marriage. The rite is available only to virgins, who agree to abstain from sex so they can dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ in what the association describes as a mystical marriage and a profound spiritual blessing.

Each woman wears a band on her left ring finger as a symbol, much like a wedding band. Cannizzaro, who is not a nun, will continue to live on her own and work as a cook at Christ the King Seminary in a Buffalo suburb, she said she has plenty of support from family and friends.

"It is a good and holy thing to want to be in a virginal state," she said. The ceremony was just the second of its kind performed in the Diocese of Buffalo.

‘Dating wasn’t working’The idea of consecrated virgins faded in the Middle Ages, but Pope Paul VI restored the rite in 1970. Only a bishop can perform the special Mass. Bishop Edward Kmiec led Cannizzaro's ceremony at her home parish, Immaculate Conception.
Cannizzaro, who spent the past two years taking seminary classes in preparation, said she knew more than a decade ago she would be better off single.
"Dating wasn't working. I wasn't connecting," she said. Not that I never wanted to be married or never wanted children."

Smoking tobacco through a waterpipe, or hookah

"Smoking tobacco through a waterpipe, or hookah, may be hip but it's rapidly turning into more than a worrisome fad, according to a Georgetown University researcher. "People who use these devices don't realize that they could be inhaling what could be the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes in one typical 30-60 minute session with a waterpipe," says Director of Georgetown's Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology program.
The trend has hit European and American cities, especially colleage towns, who has just published a series of studies on the recent boom in waterpipe use in the Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly among young women, who are culturally discouraged from smoking cigarettes. Increasingly, clubs in the U.S. offer hookah pipes at a fee, using tobacco flavored by apples, molasses, or other ingredients. For some reason, waterpipe smokers typically believe that this form of tobacco use is less dangerous.
"People think the water absorbs the toxins, and that is true to some extent if the toxins are water soluble, but tar isn't. And tar contains the carcinogens," We believe that, compared to the typical cigarette smoker, waterpipe smokers are exposed to larger total amounts of nicotine, carbon monoxide and certain other toxins. And because the tobacco is burning at a lower temperature, it is more tolerable to inhale deeply, and in fact you need more force to pull air through the high resistance of the water pathway. "That means the tobacco smoke can be penetrating deeper in a person's respiratory tract than cigarette smoke does. The damage could be even worse than seen in cigarette smokers."
What it means: Sure, puffing on a vintage hookah at a swell club is more glamorous than catching a furtive smoke break in the rain or cold outside your office building or classroom. But then again, it's all the same to your lungs....Here's another one click link : Healthy or Not, the Hookah Habit Is Hot "

Naked Man Caught In Act

"Saw this and laughed, thought to myself ? What the heck is his girlfriend still doing with him if he's doing this with other women...lol Maybe he's one of those types who gets turned on doing it public ?? Why am I always at the wrong dock ! When my ship finally comes in ...

Pa. - Police in Fayette County are searching for a man who walked into convenience store and then took off his clothes. Police said they caught the man on surveillance with his pants down, literally.
When the man walked into the Kwik Fill in Menallen Township on Wednesday night, the clerk thought he wanted money, but when she turned around, the man started taking off his clothes.
The clerk said the man propositioned her until his girlfriend walked into the store and caught him in the act.
The pair left together and haven't been seen since."

FOOD ?? The- 5-Second Rule

"In households, restaurant kitchens, and almost anywhere people prepare or consume food, you'll occasionally hear someone call out "five-second rule." Whether it's uttered as a way for the speaker to let others know he's civilized, as an excuse to salvage expensive food, or as an incantation to ward off sickness, the meaning is the same: If food hits the floor and you snatch it up in less than five seconds, it's safe to eat."
Is the food really safe? Or should we throw it away or wash it off?

Yes, someone really has conducted a scientific study of the five-second rule. It was the project of high school senior Jillian Clarke during a six-week internship at the University of Illinois, has since earned her doctoral degree and is a scientist in new product development for Rich Foods in Buffalo, N.Y. All bets are off when it comes to carpet, damp floors, gum, or ice cream, as these were not included in the study." For her work, Clarke was awarded an Ig Nobel prize in 2004 at Harvard University.

BUT!!

Experts explore whether it's safe to eat food that's made quick contact with the floor ??

YOU !!..Should never eat food that's has fallen on the floor. Bacteria's are all over the place, and 10 types, including E. coli, cause foodborne illnesses, such as fever, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms." Foodborne illnesses can have varying onset, ranging from 24 hours to a week. So, if the food you picked up and ate last Wednesday was responsible for sidelining you over the weekend, you probably wouldn't even associate the two events.

Restaurants and the 5-Second Rule:

Restaurant operators are concerned about the bottom line. So they might be reluctant to throw away food, even though they know the risk." Violators are unlikely to get caught. "When a health inspector is in a restaurant, everyone is on their best behavior." If the food is dry, and there's no stickiness to it, it's less likely that bacteria will stick to it but in most cases we're talking about a $20 steak or a piece of fish that's not dry, if it's dry food, then we're just talking about filth, like hair or whatever is on the soles of shoes. That includes counters that have been washed and sanitized. If the precaution sounds extreme, consider the potential for damp floors and what might be on the shoes of a worker who walked her dog or used the restroom before coming to work. Then someone lifts a carton of produce from the floor and sets it on the counter. Maybe you don't want to eat food that has fallen on that counter, least I would think twice about it.

A Smorgasbord of Opinions :

Until further studies are done, there's no consensus on how safe it is to eat dropped food. Foodborne illnesses are not serious for most of the 76 million Americans who contract them every year. But, according to the web site of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, it's estimated that of those cases, 300,000 people are hospitalized, and 5,000 die. Most deaths occur among susceptible populations that include small children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Microorganisms present, they will transfer in less than five seconds is it worth your health to eat what you picked up?? "

5-Must Have Lifesaving Tests for Women

"No. 1 Heart Smarts
Heart diseaseHeart disease claims about 500,000 women's lives a year. That's more than the next five causes of death combined, according to the American Heart Association. But it doesn't have to be this way, The best way to know where you stand is to get a yearly blood test. If there is any question of extra heartbeats, chest pain, or shortness of breath, women should have a stress echocardiogram test.

No. 2 The Power of the Pap Test
Starting three years after becoming sexually active or by age 21, whichever comes first, women need an annual pap test to detect any abnormal cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer. But there's more. A human papillomavirus test. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer. If you are younger than 30, it's recommended you have the HPV test, if you are 30 or older, experts recommend you have the HPV test at the same time as your Pap test, this summer, new vaccines are expected to be licensed to provide protection against HPV.

No. 3 The Benefit of Mammograms
Women aged 40 and older should get a mammogram (breast X-ray) every one or two years, Greenberger says. "If there is a history of breast cancerbreast cancer in her family, a woman should get her first mammogram 10 years before her relative was diagnosed." Women older than 50 should have annual mammograms. In addition, most women should have an annual clinical breast exam by a doctor to feel for suspicious lumps and bumps. Although there are no definitive studies showing the benefit of self-breast exams, ACOG recommends this safe and easy test.

No. 4 Colonoscopy Test
Colon cancer is not just a man's disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 106,680 new cases of colon cancer (49,220 men and 57,460 women) and 41,930 new cases of rectal cancer (23,580 men and 18,350 women) will be diagnosed in 2006. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and in women in the U.S. Beginning at age 50, men and women should have a colonoscopy every 10 years, according to the ACS.

No. 5 Skin Sense and Sensibility
Every woman at the age of 18 should start having an annual skin exam by their dermatologist. "This entails a head-to-toe skin exam looking for unusual brown or red spots but, every month you should do a skin self-exam using a hand mirror or hair blower to part your hair and look at your scalp. Don't forget to check for unusual or new molesmoles on your fingernails, the bottom of your feet and toes, and your underarms. The earlier you start doing this, the better you will know your skin, and if you find something suspicious, your brain will start off an alarm and that will bring you in to see your doctor earlier." MelanomaMelanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancerskin cancer cases, but it causes most skin cancer deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma in the U.S. is on the rise. In fact, the ACS estimates that in 2006 there will be 62,190 new cases of melanoma in this country. About 7,910 people will die of this disease.

Well I know I'm going to book-mark this to remind me what about you, or sending this to someone you know."

A Letter to my Mate

"To My Deastest Wife,

During the past year I have attempted to make love to you 365 times, which is an average of only once every 10 days. The following is a list of why I didn't succeed more often:

It's to late, you said - 15 times

You said you were too tired - 42 times

It's was to early - 12 times

It's was to hot - 18 times

You pretending to be asleep - 31 times

The neighbors will hear us, you said - 9 times

You has a headache or backache - 26 times

You were sunburned - 10 times

Your mother will hear us - 9 times

Not in the mood - 21 times

You were watching the late show - 21 times

To sore - 26 times

New hairdue - 6 times

Wrong time of the month - 14 times

You had to go to the bathroom - 19 times

Of the 36 times that we DID suceed, the result was not always satifing because 6 times you just laid there. 8 times you had to remind me that there was a crack in the ceiling, 4 times you told me to hurry up and get off .
7 times I had to wake you up to tell you I was finished. And once I was afraid that I hurt you because you started thrashing around and breathing heavy. Lets try to improve this shall we ??

Your Loving Husband.

....(REPLY)............

To my Dearest Loving Husband,

I think things are a little confused. Here are the REAL reasons you don't get more than you did this past year :

You...Came home DRUNK !! and tried to screw the cat - 23 times.

You...Didn't COME HOME !! at all - 36 times.

You...Did not CUMN when we did do it - 21 times.

And when you did, you CAME TO QUICK !! - 38 times.

You...Went SOFT before you got it in me - 19 times.

You....Had cramps in your LEG !! - 16 times.

You...Working too LATE !!, again - 33 times.

You had a RASH !! probably from a toilet seat, I hope that was where it came from - 29 times.

You had a COLD !! and you nose kept running onto me - 21 times.

You had BURNED !! your tongue on a cup of hot coffee - 9 times.

You had a SPLINTER !! in your finger - 11 times.

You lost the NOTION !! after thinking about it for to long - 42 times.

You CREAMED !! in your pajamas after reading a dirty book - 16 times.

The reason I laid still was because you had missed me and were screwing the SHEETS !!. You seemed to be having a good time and I didn't want to move and spoil it for you. I wasn't talking about the CRACK !! in the ceiling, what I said was. Would you like me on my back or on my knee's ! And the time I was thrashing around and GASPING!! Was because you FARTED!! And didn't even know it, and I was under you, fighting for some fresh AIR!!

Soooo My dear loving husband, maybe you can also work on your short-comings ...If you want me to give you what you ask for as your bed-partner and mate.

Your Loving Wife."

Here’s one way to stop a wedding

"Parents drove their daughter out of state, face kidnap charges

SALT LAKE CITY - The parents of a bride-to-be told their daughter they were taking her on a shopping trip, but then drove to Colorado and kept her there until she missed the nuptials, officials said.
Lemuel and Julia Redd have been charged with second-degree felony kidnapping. Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson said Tuesday he met with the couple’s daughter, Julianna, and her now-husband Perry Myers before charging the parents.
“I’ve never had a case quite like this,” Bryson said. “It is strange that parents would go to that extent to keep an adult daughter from marrying the man that she had chosen to marry.”

The Redds told their 21-year-old daughter they were taking her on a shopping trip Aug. 4 and then drove 240 miles from Provo to Grand Junction, Colo., according to Provo police Capt. Rick Healey. Myers, 23, called police when his bride didn’t attend a pre-wedding dinner with his parents that night.
The Redds spent the night in Colorado and drove back to Provo, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, the next day, Healey said. They arrived after the young couple was supposed to have been married in a ceremony that day at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple in Salt Lake City.
The couple, both students at Brigham Young University, were married in the temple on Aug. 8, Myers said. They are expecting their first child in May.
The Redds didn’t want their daughter to get married, but the bride has been reluctant to say what happened on the drive. Myers said he and his wife were not discussing details of the car ride but said her parents’ objections were not about him.
“It really has nothing to do a lot with me. It really is some issues with the family,” he said.
Bryson said after reviewing the police investigation it was clear a crime was committed. Charges were filed Friday.
Lemuel, 59, and Julia Redd, 56, are scheduled to make an initial court appearance Oct. 26. If convicted, the Redds could face one to 15 years in prison.
A call made to a listing for Lemuel H. Redd at the address in Monticello, Utah, listed in court documents went unanswered Tuesday. No attorney for the Redds is listed in court documents and it couldn’t immediately be determined if they had legal representation. Well I guess I understand these parents a bit myself, as my daughter also wanted to marry a man that I was not in favor of. But never thought of doing this, thank goodness she changed her mind,,,I hope this girls parents get the charges dropped in my view were only looking out for what was best for their daughter. Oh I found this while reading msnbc.msn.com"

Baby sitter botches first day, picks up wrong kid

"Police issue missing child report for boy that was taken by mistake:

LONG BEACH, Calif. - A baby sitter bungled her first day on the job by picking up the wrong 5-year-old boy from his elementary school, police said.
Angel Guerrero was taken by mistake Monday when the woman arrived at the school and took him without knowing what the child she was to care for looked like, said Sgt. David Cannan.
The mix-up caused alarm when Angel’s grandmother came to the school and was told someone had already picked him up. Police issued a missing child alert, and his name and picture were broadcast on several TV stations.

Meanwhile, the baby sitter had no idea she picked up the wrong child until her employers returned home.
“The baby sitter said ’This is your son,’ and the parents said, ’No, this is not our son,”’ Cannan said. When the parents saw Angel’s picture on their TV screen, they immediately called police.
School officials didn’t notice the mix-up, Cannan said, because Angel willingly left with the woman. Meanwhile, the boy she was supposed to pick up waited for several hours until school staff called an uncle to pick him up.
“There’s a lesson here,” Cannan said. “What an opportunity to tell parents to talk to their kids, and communicate with their caregivers. This young child was full of trust, and he sees an older, caring adult and just walked off with that person.Now this one seems strange? I ask why didn't this child say something when she toke him home to a house where he didn't live? Also I have a hard time understanding this because most people would notice if the child didn't know where anything was in his house, wouldn't you think??”

Eat a live cockroach

"CNN.com. Gurnee, Illinois --Wanna cut in line? Why wait in line when you can just eat a cockroach?
That's the question Six Flags Great America is asking thrill seekers during a Halloween-themed FrightFest. The amusement park is daring customers to eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach in exchange for unlimited line-jumping privileges.
The promotion, which has Lake County Health Department officials shaking their heads, starts October 7.
Anyone who chows down the entire 2- to 3-inch horned cockroach gets a pass for four people to cut to the front of ride lines through October 29.
Park officials insist it's safe to eat the crunchy critters, but health officials are cautioning participants.
Consuming live roaches might increase risks of gastrointestinal illness and allergies, according to County Health Department's community health director.
Cockroach eaters will have to sign waivers, said Six Flags spokesman."

Wal-Mart to use more part-timers

"Retailer seeks cheaper, more flexible workforce" Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is pushing to create a cheaper, more flexible work force by capping wages, using more part-time workers and scheduling more staff on nights and weekends.
Wal-Mart executives say they embraced the new policies for a large number of their 1.3 million workers to better serve customers.
But some Wal-Mart workers say the changes are further reducing their modest incomes and putting a strain on personal lives, Wal-Mart company wants to transform its work force to 40 percent part-time from 20 percent.
Wal-Mart denies it has a goal of 40 percent part-time workers, although company officials said part-timers now comprise 25 percent to 30 percent of its workers, up from 20 percent.
Wal-Mart spokeperson added that it is important that Wal-Mart staff are working at times when customers want to shop.

If your reading this you may want to go to this Web-page link and read some of the comments on how others feel about this. As for how I feel I live in a very small town and Wal-Mart as in other towns drives out other stores with low-prices. I guess maybe we need to look at things and ask our selfs if getting low-wages is worth working in a cheap -ass store that claims to care about Americans and the famlies that work for them...What a joke!!

Sound off: Is Wal-Mart helping or hurting the economy?
Wal-Mart doesn't discount politicians"

How We Became Human...

"I found this and YES!! it is long but worth reading if your like me always wondering about things. I found this on CNN.com./ makes you think about things after reading this article, just clikc on all the links at the bottom of this page to read the rest of the story:

What Makes us Different? Not very much, when you look at our DNA. But those few tiny changes made all the difference in the world.

You don't have to be a biologist or an anthropologist to see how closely the great apes--gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans--resemble us. Even a child can see that their bodies are pretty much the same as ours, apart from some exaggerated proportions and extra body hair. Apes have dexterous hands much like ours but unlike those of any other creature. And, most striking of all, their faces are uncannily expressive, showing a range of emotions that are eerily familiar. That's why we delight in seeing chimps wearing tuxedos, playing the drums or riding bicycles. It's why a potbellied gorilla scratching itself in the zoo reminds us of Uncle Ralph or Cousin Vinnie--and why, in a more unsettled reaction, Queen Victoria, on seeing an orangutan named Jenny at the London Zoo in 1842, declared the beast "frightful and painfully and disagreeably human."
It isn't just a superficial resemblance. Chimps, especially, not only look like us, they also share with us some human-like behaviors. They make and use tools and teach those skills to their offspring. They prey on other animals and occasionally murder each other. They have complex social hierarchies and some aspects of what anthropologists consider culture. They can't form words, but they can learn to communicate via sign language and symbols and to perform complex cognitive tasks. Scientists figured out decades ago that chimps are our nearest evolutionary cousins, roughly 98% to 99% identical to humans at the genetic level. When it comes to DNA, a human is closer to a chimp than a mouse is to a rat.
Yet tiny differences, sprinkled throughout the genome, have made all the difference. Agriculture, language, art, music, technology and philosophy--all the achievements that make us profoundly different from chimpanzees and make a chimp in a business suit seem so deeply ridiculous--are somehow encoded within minute fractions of our genetic code. Nobody yet knows precisely where they are or how they work, but somewhere in the nuclei of our cells are handfuls of amino acids, arranged in a specific order, that endow us with the brainpower to outthink and outdo our closest relatives on the tree of life. They give us the ability to speak and write and read, to compose symphonies, paint masterpieces and delve into the molecular biology that makes us what we are.
Until recently, there was no way to unravel these crucial differences. Exactly what gives us advantages like complex brains and the ability to walk upright--and certain disadvantages, including susceptibility to a particular type of malaria, AIDS and Alzheimer's, that don't seem to afflict chimps--remained a mystery.
But that's rapidly changing. Just a year ago, geneticists announced that they had sequenced a rough draft of the chimpanzee genome, allowing the first side-by-side comparisons of human and chimpanzee DNA. Already, that research has led to important discoveries about the development of the human brain over the past few million years and possibly about our ancestors' mating behavior as well.
Page 1 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>"