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NEWS AND NUGGETS


MARIAH CAREY CANCELS INTERVIEW BECAUSE OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S DEATH
Mariah Carey pulled out of a TV interview on Tuesday (February 14) because she was still grieving the loss of her friend Whitney Houston. Reportedly, Mariah was supposed to appear on Good Morning America, but she said she was still too upset about Whitney's death on Saturday (February 12).
A rep said, "Mariah is still mourning the death of her friend and collaborator Whitney Houston and thought it was too soon to appear on TV to discuss anything else."
• Mariah tweeted, "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."
• On Valentine's day Mariah tweeted her fans a heartfelt message. She said, "A bittersweet Valentine's day... I hope everyone can share today with their loved ones!"
• Whitney and Mariah collaborated on the 1998 song, "When You Believe."

DID WHITNEY HOUSTON PREDICT HER DEATH?
In her final days, Whitney Houston reportedly told her friends that she "really wanted to see Jesus" and felt that she would die soon. According to TMZ.com, in the pop icon's final days, she was singing hymns and engaging in intense conversations about Jesus and the afterlife with close friends and family.
On Friday (February 10th) -- just one day after she performed "Jesus Loves Me" at Tru Nightclub in Hollywood, Whitney told one of her friends, "I'm gonna go see Jesus ... I want to see Jesus."
On Saturday (February 11th), just hours before her death, Whitney was reportedly quoting Matthew 3:13-17 -- when she flashed a big smile and said, "You know, he's so cool ... I really want to see that Jesus."
Another source said that Whitney had been telling friends she "felt like her time was coming" ... and wanted to make sure she spent her time praising her Lord and savior whenever she could.
• The scripture that she was reportedly quoting was, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John consented.
• As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'

WHITNEY'S FUNERAL TO STREAM ONLINE
According to The AP, Whitney's private funeral will be streamed online. The pop icon's publicist Kristen Foster announced that the Associated Press will be allowed a camera at the ceremony -- which will take place at The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. The event will also be available to broadcasters via satellite.
According to TMZ.com, family sources Whitney will be buried right next to her father's grave at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey. Sources say that Whitney wanted to be buried next to her dad John Russell Houston, who died in 2003.
• Whitney Houston was found dead in Beverly Hills on Saturday (February 11th). She was 48.

REPORT: ENABLERS ACCOMODATED WHITNEY'S DRINKING HABIT
Although Whitney's closest friends say she was sober before she died, reports say that Whitney drank alcohol every day leading up to her death -- and the people around her enabled her habit. TMZ.com reported that sources said that when she started shooting Sparkle, she was sober and her voice was "phenomenal." But after principal shooting, Whitney reportedly went back to the studio to dub several lines, and she was drunk.
• Whitney's family and Bobby Brown were reportedly "extremely upset" because they believed her friends were more than happy to accommodate her drinking habit and she had lost control.

CHARLIE SHEEN INVOLVED IN NEW WARNER BROS. DISPUTE
Charlie Sheen is still sparring with Warner Bros. The studio issued Sheen a cease and desist letter demanding he stop using photos from his days of Two and a Half Men to promote his upcoming FX sitcom, Anger Management.
The Hollywood Reporter said that at least two snaps of the actor from the Men set were included in a promotional publication that Sheen and his partners used to pitch their show at the NATPE conference in Miami last month.
A lawyer for Warner Bros. wrote in the letter, "That you are using Warner's intellectual property for a commercial purpose -- namely, to sell another show -- is especially egregious. Please immediately cease and desist from using these photographs or any other intellectual property belonging to Warner."
• Sources close to Sheen told THR that the images were merely used because Sheen hadn't taken new publicity photos recently and said "it won't happen again."

JENNY MCCARTHY TO HOST VH1 TALK SHOW
Jenny McCarthy is reinventing herself as a talk show host. The former MTV personality is developing The Jenny McCarthy Show, which will debut on VH1 later this year. The pickup comes on the heels of Bravo's success with Andy Cohen and E!'s hit with McCarthy's good friend, Chelsea Handler.
The show, which will premiere in the late summer or fall, will feature Jenny's take on pop culture along with guest panelists and celebrity interviews. VH1's EVP of original programming and production Jeff Olde told the Hollywood Reporter, "We wanted to get back in the game and create a signature show that really hit that female funny sweet spot, and Jenny was always on the top of our list because our audience grew up with Jenny."
• Although it seems like the show is a fit for late night, VH1 declined to say at what point during the day they intend to air the program.

KOBE AND VANESSA BRYANT SHARE A KISS ON VALENTINE'S DAY
Are Kobe and Vanessa Bryant getting back together? Less than two months after Vanessa filed for divorce from the NBA star, the two were spotted sharing a kiss at the Lakers vs. Hawks at the Staples Center. Vanessa sat down behind the Lakers bench-- wearing red-- in honor of Valentine's Day interview, and showing off tons of cleavage. It was the first home game she has attended this season.
After the game, she was spotted kissing Kobe in the tunnel before waiting outside of the locker room.
Vanessa reportedly got $75 million and 3 mansions from Kobe in their divorce settlement. The divorce will not become final until mid June.
• TMZ.com reported that at the time that Vanessa filed, sources said "don't be surprised if she goes back to Kobe. The site also reported that Kobe and Vanessa are not living together . . . yet."

FCC PUTS NEW RULES IN PLACE AGAINST ROBOCALLS: The Federal Communications Commission is cracking down on robocalls, saying yesterday (February 15th) that it will now require telemarketers to get written consent from people before being able to place the automated phone calls. Previously, telemarketers had been able to place robocalls if they had a, quote, "established business relationship" with a consumer. Telemarketers will also have to provide a way for people to revoke their consent to a robocall by pressing a few keys on their phone during the call, which would also automatically add them to the company's do not call list.

MAN SUFFERS APPARENT HEART ATTACK AT HEART ATTACK GRILL: The name of the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas didn't turn out to be a joke on Saturday (February 11th) when a man suffered an apparent heart attack while eating there. Jon Basso, who portrays "Doctor Jon" at the restaurant that also features fake nurses and health warnings, told AP Wednesday that the man in his 40s was sweating, shaking and could barely talk as he tried to eat a Triple Bypass burger. Paramedics were called and the man was hospitalized.
• Diners at the Heart Attack Grill are given surgical gowns and choose from a menu of calorie-heavy items like bypass burgers and flatliners fries with free meals given to people who weigh over 350 pounds.

TRINIDAD MORUGA SCORPION NAMED WORLD'S HOTTEST PEPPER: The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion has taken the title of world's hottest chile pepper after months of research by the experts at New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute. The pepper had more than 1.2 million units on the Scoville heat scale, while fruits from some individual plants reached as high as 2 million heat units. By comparison, jalapeno peppers range from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units and Tabasco sauce has 2,500 to 5,000. The previous hottest chile record-holder was the Bhut Jolokia, also known as the "ghost chili," which has more than one million Scoville units and was certified by Guinness World Records in 2007

POLICE SURROUNED EMPTY CAR FOR TWO HOURS: San Diego police shut down a highway for a stand off that lasted more than two hours. The problem was, the car was empty. After two hours, the officers drew their guns, approached the car and smashed several windows, a dog was allegedly seen jumping from the back seat into the front seat but the car was otherwise empty. Officers reported they initially received a report that a home invasion robbery suspect refuesd orders to get of the car but it turned out there was no one in the car. The traffic caused was heavy for miles becuase the police closed the interstate while they positioned around the suspects' vehicle. An officer said, "Officers are taking precautionary actions to get this all resolved peacefully."

 

10 REASONS WEDDINGS ARE DUMB (TruTV)

Reason #1: The average wedding can cost $27, 800: There are people who spend north of $100K on their weddings. The amount of money Americans spend on weddings is ridiculous and obscene. Even the average cost is over-the-top. Why not spend all that money on a honeymoon? Honeymoons are awesome. For $27 grand, you could, like, rent a Monster Truck and go on a tour of heart-shaped hot tubs across America.

Reason #2: Gigantic wedding cakes that look fancy, but tastes like regular, old cake: Sorry, this wedding cake doesn't taste like "apricot butter cream" or "lemon champagne mousse." Strangely, it just tastes like "cake." When you make a cake that is three stories tall and weighs the same as a fully-loaded F-16, then it is impossible to serve anything approaching "subtle." Most wedding cakes are "sugar" flavor. The only good thing about a usually overly sweet slice of wedding cake is it's a sign the wedding is almost over.

Reason #3: The cornball DJ who can't help but play "YMCA" by The Village People twice: What is it about cheesy pop rock anthems that make a mixed crowd of the elderly and the young, family and strangers, spazz out? Play anything by Queen or Gloria Gaynor and people go mental. They shake their fat, sweat like bologna left in the sun, and put their hands in the air, because clearly they don't care. This phenomenon is a dark art practiced by the wedding DJ, a terminally uncool toad who conducts an orchestra of cheesy CDs containing music that would normally make mortal ears bleed.

Reason #4: Wedding meals are best described as "gourmet hospital food." Wedding invitations always politely ask if you'd like beef, chicken or fish. Pick the chicken, because it's harder to screw up. Never pick the beef because A.) someone in the bride's family will think you just picked it because it's the most expensive item and B.) because the beef will always be tough, like snow tires. The fish always smells like FISH, in all capital letters. If the food is a buffet, good luck grabbing a slab of protein to accompany the spinach goop and potato spackle. Wedding food is awful. If you've ever worked in catering, you'll know why.

Reason #5: "Throwing the bouquet" is basically "throwing a grenade bridesmaids want to jump on" During a wedding, every single woman is reminded that she is single and probably unlovable. For whatever reason, there are brides who hold their wedding over the heads of their bestest friends in the whole world. Sometimes, it's not enough for a bride to be happy; all of her bridesmaids must be miserable and envious. The tradition of throwing the bouquet, therefore, is an exercise in sadism. Tradition says whoever catches the bouquet is the next to be validated by society, so the bridesmaids fight over the flowers like piranha fighting for a bite of clumsy tourist.

Reason #6: The "Father of the Bride" has to be happy about being emotionally mugged: There's always a part in a wedding when the father of the bride gets misty. His eyes well-up and all the ladyfolk swoon. Maybe it's when the old man walks his baby girl down the aisle or takes to the floor to dance with her during the party. But the man definitely weeps when he gets the bill for throwing a party that ends with some creep he doesn't even like banging his daughter.

Reason #7: The "best man's toast" is when everyone just holds their breath: The best man is usually a jackhole. He might be a decent guy in "reality," but the role of the best man is a furnace that turns the nice into the douchetastic. The best man has three jobs: organize the bachelor party, which is an attempt to peer pressure the groom into one final Bad Life Choice. Second, get the groom to the wedding on time. Finally, drink a couple gallons of white wine and toast the groom. The toast will either sound like "Ah luffz dis guy hessa make'er huppa" followed by hot tears or it will be the most unfunny, hyper-awkward monologue of inappropriate non-sequiturs topped off with a mumbled "all the happiness in the world."

Reason #8: Bridesmaids turn lovely normal women into unhappy emotional sponges: Groomsmen have it easy, because society doesn't place as much pressure on men to get hitched as it does women. Being an unmarried bridesmaid can feel like one of those celebrities who are constantly shielding their eyes from paparazzi flashbulbs. But that's not the worse part of being a bridesmaid. The worst part is becoming a stress sponge for the bride. Bridesmaids have to absorb the emotional fury of a bride who has gone off the deep end because the table cloths aren't pink enough.

Reason #9: "If there is anyone here who thinks these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace." The vows are the best chance you have of grabbing a quick nap before the circus of illiness following the wedding. But has anyone in the history of weddings ever actually stood up and said "I think these two should not be married. I'm speaking now, because otherwise, according to the minister, I'd have to hold my peace." What is the protocol in case that ever happens? Does the father of the bride go berserk? Is the wedding cancelled? Do the groom and rival duel? This part of the vows is dumb because it's pointless. Maybe if more men or women stood up and gave reasons why the bride and groom shouldn't get married, then weddings would be more interesting.

Reason #10: The "open bar" is a necessary evil, emphasis on the evil: An open bar at a wedding is a double-edged sword, with one edge being far sharper than the other edge. Wedding guests want to toss back a couple to loosen up and have some fun. But every wedding since the beginning of weddings has ended with more than one pair of drunks having sloppy, poorly thought out sex. Of course, that is the most depraved consequence of an open bar. There's also Uncle Steve vomiting up the fish dish in the punch bowl and the best man blurting out "I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU" to the bride.


GUY THINGS THAT WOMEN SHOULDN'T OVERREACT ABOUT

He fails to plan: You've been pestering him to reserve airline tickets, concert tickets or make a doctor's appointment he really needs. And he keeps forgetting. But remember, women are multi-taskers by nature, and that includes our ability to think about multiple things at a time. When a man steps into the work place, for the most part, his brain is on the work track and he barely thinks about another thing until he gets home. And then it's too late: you're already asking him if he made the call and he already forgot. But it's not that he didn't care about what you asked him to do.

When he doesn't act appreciative: Men don't get as gushy over nice things women do for them. Often, you make a man a meal, he kisses you on the cheek and says "Thanks baby" and sits down to happily eat. And silently. Somehow, men think we know how appreciative they are just by watching them enjoy what we've done for them. Women need more words to feel appreciated, but really should pick up from the smile on his face that he appreciates it.

When he doesn't invite you along: Women are more comfortable talking about most things with their friends or family, when their boyfriend is standing right there. Men, however, compartmentalize who they talk to about what. Sometimes they don't want to bring their girlfriend because they want to get to shoot the bull with their friends or family in the way they just don't feel comfortable doing in front of their woman.

When he abandons you at a party: He should definitely check in on you throughout the night and sit next to you if it's a dinner party. But, the two of you have plenty of time together alone. And at a party, you should be socializing with other people. Your boyfriend probably assumes you are able to fend for yourself, and you should be able to. If you are shy, that is not his fault. Let him enjoy himself.

When it seems like his friends don't know about you: You're hanging out with his friends, and when you tell them about a recent promotion at work, or the death of a loved one, they draw blanks. Your man clearly hasn't talked to them much about you. But, in general, women talk to their friends way more about their significant others than men do. It's nothing personal. It's just your man not wanting to annoy his friends by going on and on about his girlfriend.

When he doesn't overreact: You get into a fender bender. You have a cold. Your phone is stolen. And all he wants to know is how and when it can be fixed. But, he doesn't seem to feel for you. Keep in mind that men are fixers. So, they worry more about the solution, than the emotional ramifications of the problem.

4 REASONS YOU DRINK TOO MUCH

The Media. The more you're exposed to images of alcohol in the media, the more likely you are to drink, reports a study published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism. The researchers monitored the alcohol consumption of 80 males (ages 18 to 29) who were exposed to media that either did or did not display images of alcohol with the film (or commercials). The men were broken up into groups and placed in comfortable theatre-like rooms where there were both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available to them. The results found that those who watched commercials or movies where drinking was highly prevalent drank an average of 1.5 bottles (300 ml) more than those who watched similar media where alcohol played a less-prominent role.

The Suffering Economy. Researchers from the University of Miami found that the worse off the economy is, the worse your drinking habits become. Over a span of 4 years, the study surveyed more than 43,000 people -- monitoring drinking behaviors and the state unemployment rates. And after punching the data, the researchers found that every time the state unemployment rate increased by 1 percent, there was a 17 percent increase in cases alcohol abuse.

Your Brain. Although scientists have assumed this for quite some time, the latest research confirms that drinking releases feel-good chemicals in the "pleasure center" of the brain. Researchers from the University of California used PET imaging (which captures the regions of the brain that "light up" in response to alcohol) to monitor the effects of drinking in the brains of 13 heavy drinkers and compare them against images of 12 infrequent drinkers. Although all of the subjects experienced a release of endorphins from the alcohol, those who were heavier drinkers experienced higher levels of endorphins -- which ultimately leads to more alcohol because they received more pleasure from drinking.

The Loud Music. Cranking up the volume at the bar may actually cause people to drink more, reports a study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. French researchers monitored 40 men over the course of three Saturday evenings, tracking the amount of alcohol they consumed when the music in the bar was played at various volumes. Their results showed that there was a positive correlation between loud music and the amount of time it took for men to empty their glasses. When the music was loud, it took the average guy roughly 12 minutes to finish his drink -- compared to about 15 minutes when the music was being played at a normal level.


NEW AIRFARE RULES GO INTO EFFECT TODAY

New airfare rules go into effect today (January 24th). Here are some things you need to know about the new rules:

1. Airlines will have to include taxes and fees in their advertised prices. But starting Thursday, consumers will have a more-accurate idea of how much their tickets will really cost. The change applies to mandatory fees, however, not optional charges for bags and on-board entertainment -- though those fees must be more prominently displayed on airline websites as well, and they can't automatically be tacked on to your fare. Some airlines are concerned that customers won't understand what the higher prices are really all about. "We're not raising our fares, but it will look to the consumer like we've had a big price increase," Robert Kneisley, Southwest's associate general counsel, told the Associated Press.

2. You'll have 24 hours to cancel your reservation. As long as you've booked your flight at least a week in advance, you'll be able to hold your reservation (without having to pay for it) or cancel it without a penalty for 24 hours after making it -- even if you've made the reservation through a travel website instead of directly with the airline.

3. Airlines have to tell passengers promptly about delays. With the new rules, airlines will have to notify you by email, over the phone, or with a sign at the airport if there are any delays longer than 30 minutes. They also have to let passengers and the public know quickly if there are flight cancellations, if flights are diverted, or if a plane is delayed on the tarmac.

4. Baggage fees must be disclosed in advance. Instead of finding out about checked-baggage fees when you're at the curb or counter, airlines now must let you know how much you'll pay for your luggage when you make your reservation. (It can be pricey: Continental charges economy passengers $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second, as does Delta. American Airlines charges $25 for the first, $35 for the second, and a whopping $150 for the third -- and that doesn't count additional fees for extra-heavy bags.) The new rules also state that airlines have to disclose any baggage fees you might have if you're changing flights or switching from a major airline to one of their affiliates during a single trip.

5. Airlines can't raise prices after you've purchased your tickets. It sounds crazy, but it can happen: Some airlines stipulate in their contracts that they can raise prices after you've booked your flight, and charge you the difference before you board. According to the Associated Press, Allegiant Air has considered raising prices on already-purchased seats if oil prices rose.


Top Other Phrase’s Besides “We Need To Talk” Men Hate To Hear
 
“Let’s wait till were married”
 
“I’m a born again virgin”  (and clearly delusional!)
 
“I didn’t get my period”
 
“I need emotional before the physical”
 
“I’m moving in”
 
“You would if you loved me”
 
“My parents want to meet you”
 
“I’ve seen smaller”
 
“Let’s take a break while I’m in Vegas”
 
“Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine”
 
“Don’t talk, just listen”
 
“Not now I have a headache”
 



Bad bosses use words to emotionally injure and humiliate their employees in an attempt to make themselves seem more important and powerful. It rarely works that way. Instead, demoralized employees lose their enthusiastic spirit for working hard and working smart. Good bosses encourage their employees, recognize their work and have honest conversations to solve problems and jump hurdles together. Bad bosses taunt and intimidate. How? Bloomberg News assembled a list of the top 10 things only a bad boss would say.
 
1. "If you don't want this job, I'll find someone who does."
Good managers give employees latitude and let them know their contributions have value. Bad managers constantly remind employees, "You work for me and don't forget it."
 
2. "I don't pay you to think."
Engaged employees offer creative "what if?" ideas, which are usually embraced by good managers. Bad managers view others' ideas as threatening. Another way of saying this, which is even more rude is: "Do what I tell you and nothing else."
 
3. "I won't have you on eBay/ESPN/Facebook/etc. while you're on the clock."
Good managers know there is no "clock," at least for white-collar workers, since engaged employees work as long as it takes to get the job done. So if they're reading and responding to e-mail, finalizing spreadsheets and polishing that report at 11 p.m., shouldn't they be allowed to check their Facebook page at noon? It's called a mental break, and good managers know this.
 
4. "I'll take it under advisement."
It's the ultimate brush-off that translates, "Go away and leave me alone. I'm not going to do what you suggest, and I value your opinions less than I could ever describe in words."
 
5. "Who gave you permission to do that?"
Managers who guard their power by obsessing over hierarchy, permission and employee grade levels can make your life miserable.
 
6. "Drop everything and do this now!"
Of course, there will be emergencies in every business at one time or another that require an "all hands on deck" mentality. But good managers do this only occasionally and in real emergencies. Bad managers do it frequently.
 
7. "Don't bring me problems. Bring me solutions."
Business is complicated, and it's typical for an employee who spots a problem to not have the information or skills to solve it. Good managers appreciate the heads up. Bad managers who say this really mean: "Stop telling me what I don't want to hear."
 
8. "Sounds like a personal problem to me."
Personal problems are work problems when they involve employees who aren't getting along. Is one a bully? Good managers are capable of stepping in to mediate the situation. Bad managers tell the employees to figure it out themselves.
 
9. "I have some feedback for you, and everyone here feels the same way."
When good managers give feedback, they try to emphasize and reinforce the good things, as well as being honest and forthright about the bad. Lousy managers don't praise and instead ladle out the criticism. The really bad bosses get mean about it, insisting everyone in the office feels the same way.
 
10. "In these times, you're lucky to have a job at all."
Translation: Your bad manager is really saying he can't believe you aren't among the unemployed, considering what a lousy employee you are. It's a huge insult. People who live in fear for their job, don't see potential in themselves.



7 MYTHS ABOUT SLEEP

1. To function best, you need to get eight hours. There's nothing magic about that number. Everyone has different sleep needs, and you'll know you're getting enough when you don't feel like nodding off in a boring situation in the afternoon, says New York University psychologist Joyce Walsleben, Ph.D., co-author of A Woman's Guide to Sleep.
 
2. If you can get it, more sleep is always healthier. You wish. Some studies have found that people who slept more than eight hours a night died younger than people who got between six and eight hours. What scientists don't know yet: Whether sleeping longer causes poor health or is a symptom of it, says Najib Ayas, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia. Long sleepers may suffer from problems such as sleep apnea, depression, or uncontrolled diabetes that make them spend more time in bed.
 
3. Some people function perfectly on four hours of sleep. Legendary short sleepers -- including Bill Clinton, Madonna, and Margaret Thatcher -- don't necessarily do better on fewer Zs. "They're just not aware of how sleepy they are," says Thomas Roth, Ph.D., sleep researcher at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Too little sleep is bad for your health and your image: It can make you ineffective (it impairs performance, judgment, and the ability to pay attention), sick (it weakens your immune system), and overweight. In fact, women who slept five hours or less a night were a third more likely to gain 33 pounds or more over 16 years than women who slept seven hours, according to a Harvard Nurses' Health Study. Oddly, cutting too much sleep and getting less than six hours is associated with the same problems as sleeping too long: a higher risk of heart problems and death. And, of course, cheating on sleep hurts you behind the wheel: "Wakefulness for 18 hours makes you perform almost as though you're legally drunk," says Walsleben.
 
4. Waking up during the night means you'll be tired all day. Au contraire: It might be our natural cycle. Many animals sleep this way, and there are a lot of indications that our ancestors did, too, perhaps stirring nightly to talk or have sex, says Thomas Wehr, M.D., scientist emeritus at the National Institute of Mental Health. When 15 people in one of his studies lived without artificial lights for a few weeks, they wound up sleeping three to five hours, waking up for one or two, then sleeping again for four or more hours -- and they said they had never felt so rested.
 
5. You need prescription drugs if you have insomnia every night. Sleep meds are designed for short-term sleep problems, caused by stressful events like the loss of a job or taking a transatlantic flight. People with longer-term problems benefit more from cognitive behavioral therapy -- essentially, retraining your perceptions of sleep and learning better sleep habits, such as going to bed at the same time every night, avoiding TVs and computers before bed, staying away from caffeine at least six hours before sleep, and other lifestyle changes. In fact, in 2005, the National Institutes of Health concluded that this type of therapy is as effective as prescription drugs for short-term treatment of chronic insomnia. In many cases, a sleeping pill may not even solve your sleep problem. "About half the people who think they have insomnia may have anxiety or depression," says Daniel Kripke, M.D., a University of California at San Diego sleep expert.
 
6. You can make up for lost sleep on weekends. Bingeing on Zs over the weekend and not sleeping during the week -- what Harvard sleep expert Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., calls "sleep bulimia" -- upsets your circadian rhythms and makes it even harder to get refreshing sleep. Sleeping until noon on Sunday generally prevents you from hitting the sheets by 10 that night. So instead of correcting your deficit from the week before, you set up a no-sleep cycle for the week to come. "The body loves consistency," says Donna Arand, Ph.D., spokeswoman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Best to rise around the same time every day, even on weekends.

7. Tylenol PM is better than a prescription sleep med for an occasional bout of insomnia. Not if the bout lasts longer than a few nights, says Helene Emsellem, M.D., of the Center for Sleep & Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, MD. Tylenol PM is no better than a prescription drug for people who have trouble falling asleep, and may be less effective than some prescription drugs, she says. The active ingredient in Tylenol PM is an anti-histamine, and its side effect is that it makes you drowsy. Some have reported a greater possibility of feeling 'hung-over' after taking antihistamines than after taking prescription drugs. If you do decide to take antihistamines, don't do it in the middle of the night: They may stay active in your system for eight hours or more.

MORNING MENU TRIVIA



This is the first ever trivia question to STUMP you guys:

Question:
Which American President had a pet turkey named Jack?
 
Answer: 
Abe Lincoln
Charlie's wife had been after him for weeks to paint their toilet.  Finally, he got around to it while she was out...