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11 Signs You’re A Happy Man

(Mademan.com)

1. You Make a Lot of Eye Contact

According to a study in the British Journal of Psychology, happy people actively seek eye contact. Whereas sad people avoid the eyes. So if you’re “checking in” with everybody you see, you might be happy. (Or you could just be Jeff Goldblum.)

2. You’re 95 Years Old

Happy people live longer, according to a study from the University of Illinois. The Midwest researchers essentially showed that happiness causes better health and longevity. So if Willard Scott announces your birthday every year, you’re in good shape. Provided someone is around to change your diaper.

3. You’re Kind, Selfless and Empathetic

“Happier people tend to be more interested in the problems of other people,” says Gretchen Rubin, author of the book and blog The Happiness Project. “If you’re less happy, you’re going to be more self-absorbed and preoccupied with your own problems. Happier people don’t think of themselves as much. And they’re more likely to intervene to help other people.” So if you help ladies cross the street, you’re probably doing so with a smile on your face.

4. You’re Distracted

Happiness causes increased distractibility, according to a study at the Dresden University of Technology. So if you’re always saying, “Where was I again?” it might actually be because you’re happy. Or it could just be because you’re trying to have a conversation with someone while texting. In which case, stop doing that, jerk.

5. You’re Generous… and Laid Back

“Happy people give away more money,” says Rubin. “They volunteer more. It’s a very nice aspect of human nature. In fact, one of the reasons I started my Happiness Project is because I figured if I were happier, I would behave myself better. And it’s definitely true. I’m way more patient, more lighthearted, and I don’t take offense as easily. That’s another good sign that you’re happy—you’re not as prickly.”

6. You’re Healthy

Research shows that happiness correlates with a variety of health benefits, such as increased longevity (see Sign No. 2), less experience of pain, lower incidence of stroke and even fewer symptoms of the common cold. (That last one’s courtesy of Cohen, Doyle, Turner, Alper & Skoner, FYI.) Happy people are able to cope more effectively with stressful events and don’t get sick from them. Which explains why Paul Pfeiffer in The Wonder Years always seemed miserable… and sneezy.

7. You’re Not Addicted to Anything

“If you’re happy, you’re probably doing less self-medication,” says Rubin. “Through food, retail therapy, drinking, smoking, playing video games, reading celebrity gossip, whatever.” But these behaviors depend heavily on the context. So you should frequently ask yourself if you’re happy—and why you’re doing what you’re doing. “Are you buying a bunch of stuff because you’re going to have a party and that’s great, or are you buying a bunch of stuff because that’s the only thing that can make you feel better?” Ideally it’s the former.

8. You’re Successful

There’s a strong link between success and happiness. And according to a study at the University of California-Riverside, success doesn’t just make people happy. Happiness actually leads to success. So if you’ve got an awesome wife, great friends, cool hobbies and a dream job, you’re probably happy. And vice versa.

9. You’re Excited About the Future

“If you’re unhappy, there’s really nothing that you look forward to,” says Rubin. “Like, if you look at your calendar and it’s just a bunch of things that you dread, that’s a sign of unhappiness. Happy people look forward to things. They anticipate pleasure.”

10. Your Trust “Radar” Is Sharp

Here’s a quirky one. According to a study at The Ohio State University, happy people are better at trusting people who deserve to be trusted, and better at distrusting people who shouldn’t be trusted. In other words, if you’re loving life, you’re more likely to lend cash to a friend who’s good for it, and less likely to buy “magazine subscriptions” from some dude who’s just going to use the money to score blow.

11. You’re Breathing

“It turns out, most people all around the world say they’re either pretty happy or very happy,” says Rubin. And like we said at the top, if you’re not, try some of this stuff out. Seriously. You might be amazed at how much better you’ll feel. Like the poet once said: fake it till you make it.

The Best Beastie Boys Songs of All Time … According to “Rolling Stone” Readers:  

To pay tribute to the late ADAM YAUCH, “Rolling Stone” polled their readers to compile a list of The Best Beastie Boys Songs of All Time.  They released the results yesterday.  Here’s the list:

1.)  ”Sabotage” … from “Ill Communication”

2.)  ”Paul Revere” … from “Licensed to Ill”

3.)  ”So What’cha Want” … from “Check Your Head”

4.)  ”(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)” … from “Licensed to Ill”

5.)  ”No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn” … from “Licensed to Ill”

6.)  ”Intergalactic” … from “Hello Nasty”

7.)  ”Brass Monkey” … from “Licensed to Ill”

8.)  ”Sure Shot” … from “Ill Communication”

9.)  ”Shake Your Rump” … from “Paul’s Boutique”

10.)  ”Get It Together” … from “Ill Communication”

(—You can read brief write-ups on each song at RollingStone.com.)

It’s also a fun time to watch those great high school movies that feature memorable prom scenes.

Here are 10 movies with the most memorable prom scenes …

10. Twilight
9. Prom Night
8. Never Been Kissed
7. 10 Things I Hate About You
6. Napoleon Dynamite
5. Footloose
4. She’s All That
3. Pretty in Pink
2. Carrie
1. American Pie (NowPublic)

Check Out the Strangest Places People Fall Asleep … Including Church, Concerts, and the Toilet:

According to a new survey, 67% of Americans admit they fall asleep somewhere other than their bed at least once every few weeks.  10% say it happens daily.  So where are we randomly passing out?  Check it out …

—12% have fallen asleep at work.

—10% have fallen asleep at school or in class.

—7% have fallen asleep at church.

—5% have fallen asleep in a car … and 2% have fallen asleep WHILE DRIVING.

—4% have fallen asleep ON THE TOILET.

—3% have fallen asleep in meetings.

—And 1% have fallen asleep either at a bar … a party … the doctor’s office … STANDING UP … during a conversation … AT A CONCERT … in a court room … in the bathtub or shower … or DURING SEX.  

7 Mistakes People Make On Facebook

(Consumer Reports.org)

Here are 7 Mistakes People make when using the social networking site Facebook.

Using a Weak Password

Avoid simple names or words you can find in a dictionary, even with numbers tacked on the end. Instead, mix upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. A password should have at least eight characters. One good technique is to insert numbers or symbols in the middle of a word, such as this variant on the word “houses”: hO27usEs!

Leaving Your Full Birth Date in Your Profile

It’s an ideal target for identity thieves, who could use it to obtain more information about you and potentially gain access to your bank or credit card account. If you’ve already entered a birth date, go to your profile page and click on the Info tab, then on Edit Information. Under the Basic Information section, choose to show only the month and day or no birthday at all.

Overlooking Useful Privacy Controls

For almost everything in your Facebook profile, you can limit access to only your friends, friends of friends, or yourself. Restrict access to photos, birth date, religious views, and family information, among other things. You can give only certain people or groups access to items such as photos, or block particular people from seeing them. Consider leaving out contact info, such as phone number and address, since you probably don’t want anyone to have access to that information anyway.

Posting Your Child’s Name in a Caption

Don’t use a child’s name in photo tags or captions. If someone else does, delete it by clicking on Remove Tag. If your child isn’t on Facebook and someone includes his or her name in a caption, ask that person to remove the name.

Mentioning That You’ll Be Away From Home

That’s like putting a “no one’s home” sign on your door. Wait until you get home to tell everyone how awesome your vacation was and be vague about the date of any trip.

Letting Search Engines Find You

To help prevent strangers from accessing your page, go to the Search section of Facebook’s privacy controls and select Only Friends for Facebook search results. Be sure the box for public search results isn’t checked.

Permitting Youngsters to Use Facebook Unsupervised

Facebook limits its members to ages 13 and over, but children younger than that do use it. If you have a young child or teenager on Facebook, the best way to provide oversight is to become one of their online friends.

Joe Jonas, Carmen Electra and The Situation Are Among the Celebrities Participating in Fox’s Dating Show “The Choice”:  

Fox actually landed some decent single celebrities to participate in their upcoming dating show, “The Choice”.  (—We heard about this last week.  It’s a total rip-off of “The Voice” … with the spinning chairs and everything.)

—On each episode, four celebrities will choose a non-famous bachelor or bachelorette to go on a date with.  Initially, the stars will have their backs turned to the contestants, so they won’t be able to judge based on appearance.

—The participating celebrities are:

—Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers

—Dean Cain, who played Superman on “Lois & Clark”

—Fashion model Tyson Beckford

—Season Five “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks

—“Jersey Shore” stars Pauly D and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

—Rob Kardashian

—Rapper Romeo

—Chef Rocco DiSpirito

—Radio personality Michael Catherwood, a.k.a. Psycho Mike

—Former NFL star Warren Sapp, and current NFL players Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions and Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots.

—Former “Saturday Night Live” star Finesse Mitchell

—Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom, Olympic snowboarder Seth Wescott and Olympic Taekwondo gold medalist Steven Lopez

—Soap opera actor Jason Cook, who’s on “General Hospital”

—Parker Young, who’s on the ABC sitcom “Suburgatory”

—And cosmetic surgeon Dr. Robert Nettles  (???)

—There will be one episode featuring female stars.  They will be:

—Carmen Electra

—“Playboy” model Hope Dworaczyk, who was on “Celebrity Apprentice”

—Former Miss USA Rima Fakih

—Australian actress Sophie Monk, who was in “Date Movie” and “Click”

—“The Choice” premieres on June 7th.  CAT DEELEY is the host.

—By the way, Fox is now ADMITTING the obvious:  That ‘The Choice” was initially a spoof of “The Voice”.

—Fox suit Mike Darnell says, quote, “What started out as a goof ended up being a ridiculously good format.  It really feels like a hit.  It was charming and funny … [the show] works beautifully.  It’s going to sell all over the world.”

—The show is more about the CHOICES than the actual DATES … but nonetheless it’ll be interesting to see what happens there.

—Darnell says, quote, “The [female contestants] took it ridiculously seriously … like they were getting married.  A couple of the setups really had chemistry.” 

Six Warning Signs You’re Addicted to Facebook: 

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway have developed a way to tell whether you’re becoming addicted to Facebook.  Check it out … 

—Women, introverts, and people who are disorganized are more likely to develop a problem.  The researchers also came up with six questions that will help determine whether you’re addicted.  

—Using a scale of one to five, rate how closely each question relates to you.  If you give yourself a four or a five on at least four of the questions, you might be an addict.          

#1.)  Do you spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook, or planning HOW you’ll use it?  

#2.)  Do you feel an urge to use Facebook more and more?

#3.)  Do you use Facebook to forget about personal problems? 

#4.)  Have you tried unsuccessfully to quit or cut down?

#5.)  Do you become restless or troubled if you’re prohibited from using Facebook?

#6.)  Has using Facebook had a negative impact on your job or studies?  (MedicalXpress)

Three Ways to Be Luckier in Your Career:

According to a recent LinkedIn survey, almost 70% of workers say the most important factor when it comes to being “lucky” in your career is having a strong worth ethic.

—The big misconception about “luck” is that you don’t have to work for it.  The truth is, you have to be proactive.  And you have to take advantage of opportunities whenever you can.  Here are three ways to be luckier in your career. 

#1.)  Network with Everyone.  Not just people you meet through your job.  Talk to anyone you can, whenever you can.  Even if it’s the person standing next to you in line for coffee.

—The more people you meet and connect with, the better your chances are of finding someone who can do something for your career.  They might not even work in the same industry as you do.  They might just know someone.

#2.)  Break Out of Your Routine.  You won’t be lucky in your career unless you give yourself a CHANCE to be lucky.  And if you have the exact same routine every day, your chances of meeting new people aren’t very good.

—Try going to lunch with someone new from your office.  Or maybe just try a different bar for happy hour this week.

—The bottom line is, any time you surround yourself with new people, you give yourself a better chance of meeting someone who can help you out.  

#3.)  Don’t Be Shy About What You Want.  You don’t want to seem like you’re just USING the person.  But if you speak up, your chances of getting what you want will skyrocket.  (Investors.com)

Words Women Use

(Facebook)

This has been on the Internet forever. But it’s wisdom is as true as the day it was when it was first an email forward on America Online back in 1995.

Nine Words Women Use

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the football before helping around the house.

3. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!

4. A Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer quickly to No 9 for the meaning of nothing.)

5. That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

6. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you’re welcome. (I want to add a clause here - This is true, unless she says ‘Thanks a lot’, which is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome’ - that will bring on No. 7).

7. Whatever: Is a woman’s way of saying, “F— YOU!”

8. Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to No. 4.

9. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in “Fine”.

……………………….that is all

Here Are the Top Ten Things Men Put on Their Bucket Lists … and Marriage is Ninth:

The search engine Bing and a tabloid in Ireland called “The Irish Daily Star” did a survey on the top things men put in their ‘bucket lists’ … and marriage was NINTH.  Here are the eight things they had ranked ahead of getting married …  

#1.)  Travel the world.

#2.)  Live in another country.

#3.)  Have kids. 

#4.)  Learn a new skill.  

#5.)  Drive a Formula One race car.

#6.)  Record an album. 

#7.)  Get your work/life balance just right.  

#8.)  Open a bar or restaurant.

#9.)  Settle down and get married.

#10.)  Appear in a blockbuster action move, like “Braveheart”.  (Joe.ie) 

Five Tips for Drinking at Work without Getting Fired:

If your weekend didn’t last long enough, Cracked.com has a list of tips for drinking on the job.  Obviously, you SHOULDN’T be drinking at work … and we DEFINITELY haven’t been drinking.  (???)

—But if you’re gonna do it, here’s how to do it right.

#1.)  Choose Your Booze Wisely.  The idea that vodka has no scent at all is just a myth.  But it IS the easiest scent to CONCEAL.  When you mix it with soda or something fruity, it’s pretty hard to smell it on your breath.

#2.)  Don’t Use a Flask.  It’s like ADVERTISING the fact that you’re drinking when you shouldn’t be.  You’re better off stopping at 7-Eleven and buying a Big Gulp, then leaving some room for the booze.

—If you’re drinking at work, you’re probably already a complete alcoholic.  So if you don’t want to walk around with a Big Gulp all day, there’s also the option of just putting straight vodka in a water bottle.

#3.)  Don’t Mask Your Breath with Mints.  Apparently they don’t work as well as fruit-flavored gum does.  Also, snack on things you know will give you bad breath … like an onion bagel.

10 Types of Douchebags You’ll Probably Run Into

(Collegecandy.com)

The Gorilla Juicehead

At this very moment, he’s probably at the gym in a strategically ripped muscle tee. He’s probably sweating out the copious amount of gel in his hair. He’s intently staring at himself in the floor length mirrors while lifting hubcap-size weights. And after his session, he’ll probably throw on his high school wrestling hoodie, put his baseball cap on (backwards, natch) and spray himself with Axe, blasting LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” on his iPod.

The Boaster

Accomplishments at work and in school are awesome. We all want each other to win. But the guy who brags about everything he does before you can get the c in “congratulations” out is the worse. Like, why do you have to pat yourself on the back? Jerk.

The Musician

No but seriously, I don’t need you to harmonize your dinner order or compose a (lame) freestyle for me. Don’t get me wrong – I think musicians are sexy. But the ones that constantly remind you of their musical ability, or the ones that publicize their mixtapes at every chance they get (Church, Thanksgiving, during class presentations, on Twitter) should just stop the music all together.

The Fronter

Oh, so you have a share in the Hamptons and you ran into Diddy at Denny’s? You already have a post grad gig lined up with more offers on the way? Come on, son. You need more people. If he has all this clout and nothing to show for it, he’s fronting with a capital F. 

The Show Off

Someone once told me that there’s strength in numbers. Not for douchelords! There’s always that guy who changes like a chameleon once his buddies arrive. One minute he’s soft and sensitive. But then when his pals touch down, he’s talking loud, handing out handshakes and flat out ignoring you. Whatever.

Mr. God’s Gift to Women

The men who believe that they invented sex deserve the ULTIMATE side eye. Have you really been “putting it down” since middle school? And can you really make a girl do this and that? I’ve overheard way too many guys talk about their game – usually to their other guy friends. And if you know you’re good, there’s no need to brag.

The User

No one likes being used and abused. The User will only call or text you when he needs something. But what about the times when he didn’t need help on your English essay? Or when I needed a lift to the supermarket? Consistency is key – so lock the User out for good, girl.

Super Stoner

Dude. I can’t take you seriously with your eyes low, smelling like an entire Woodstock ’69 summer. I’ve grown accustomed to the typical characteristics of sky-high guys – red eyes and rumpled clothing, way too mellow to properly converse and eating everything in sight. Just say no!

The Great Debater

Everything is an argument with this guy. He’s the heart of those neverending class discussions. He’s constantly checking CNN.com to be at the cusp of current events. TGD is the know-it-all of all know-it-alls and even when he’s wrong, he’s right. Just give up – you can’t win. 

The Player

The Player is nothing but trouble and plenty of it. Girls aren’t for relationships…they’re merely a hobby. He has one girl for the morning, one for the afternoon and a handful for nights and weekends. He’s not looking for commitment, even though he might tell you differently. He’ll woo you, wine you, dine you and dump you faster than you can say “so I’ll call you…?” You’ve been warned.

A New Survey Finds We’re Obsessed With Facebook … Even Though We Think It’s Useless and Wouldn’t Pay For It:

We’ve got the results of a new survey about Facebook that found we’re obsessed with it, we do embarrassing things on it … and yet we think most of what it offers is useless and we wouldn’t pay for it.  Here are six highlights …

#1.)  44% of people check Facebook before they even brush their teeth in the morning.

#2.)  79% say they can’t go more than 24 hours without checking Facebook … and almost half are scared by how dependent they are on it.

#3.)  BUT … 70% would stop using Facebook if it became a paid service.

#4.)  And only 8% of people think most Facebook status updates provide helpful or useful information.

#5.)  46% are tagged in photos where they’re clearly intoxicated.

#6.)  65% say they’d be embarrassed if people could see which friends they look at most frequently.  (Silicon Republic)

A Study Finds You Don’t Become an Adult Until Age 24:

No one between the ages of 18 and 23 would EVER believe it if you told them, but a massive new international study published in a medical journal called “The Lancet” found that people don’t become real adults until AGE 24.

—It’s not just that they don’t have life experience … the study found the BRAIN doesn’t even fully develop until then.

—Up until that point, the brain is still in its adolescent phase, where it’s less equipped to deal with the effects of drinking and drugs.  It also does a worse job assessing risk, which is why people keep acting like teenagers even in their early 20s.

—And now, let’s pile on.  When you look at the U.S. statistics from the study, we have the highest rates of teenage drug abuse, alcohol abuse, obesity, and violent deaths in the developed world.

—On the bright side, we’re middle-of-the-pack when it comes to teen sex rates, and toward the top when it comes to teen exercise rates.  

(Daily Mail)

The Top 10 Artists Who Should Return as Holograms:  

“Rolling Stone” recently polled their readers to come up with a list of the Top 10 Artists Who Should Return as Holograms.  They released the results yesterday.

—Here’s the list:

1.)  Jimi Hendrix

2.)  Kurt Cobain

3.)  John Lennon

4.)  Freddie Mercury

5.)  Jim Morrison

6.)  Jerry Garcia

7.)  Janis Joplin

8.)  Michael Jackson

9.)  Bob Marley

10.)  The Notorious B.I.G.

Things Women Should Do By 30

These lists pop up all of the time. This week the Huffington Post did a new list of30 Things Women Should Have Done By The Time They Are Thirty.

By 30, you should have …

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age — and some money set aside to help fund it.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account — all of which nobody has access to but you.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

13. The belief that you deserve it.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know …

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.

2. How you feel about having kids.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.

8. Where to go — be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat — when your soul needs soothing.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15. Why they say life begins at 30

Link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/turning-30-30-things-every-woman-should-have-and-should-know_n_1447368.html?ref=women&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

HIS SECRET INSECURITIES

Little secret, ladies — guys are insecure about their bodies too. And the guys over at ModernMan.com confirmed it. Check out his biggest body hang ups:

His Butt: Every guy fears that they have pancake butt.

His Abs: Even Robert Pattinson has been reported as saying he hates being shirtless because he doesn’t have a six-pack.

His Hands: All guys fear having overly feminine hands.

His Hair: He doesn’t want to lose it. It’s been stressing him out since high school.

His Facial Hair: Even if he prefers a smooth shaven look, no guy wants patchy facial hair — it doesn’t seem manly.

Excess Body Hair: Dudes stress over this — better not to tease them about it.

His Height: Tall is what he wants to be, and he definitely doesn’t want to be shorter than his girl. (Cosmo)

10 Most Romantic Gestures of All Time

(Match.com Magazine)

1. Richard Burton’s Rock for Elizabeth Taylor

Sure their relationship was a roller-coaster—they married and divorced each other twice—but wouldn’t you be somewhat forgiving of a guy who liked to shower you with expensive jewelry like, say, a 69.42-carat diamond? Burton bid on this Harry Winston wonder at an auction in 1969, but lost out to business tycoon Robert Kenmore, who coughed up just over a million bucks for the beauty. Burton didn’t take the auctioneer’s hammer for an answer, though, and after some heated haggling on the phone, Kenmore sold the gem to Burton for an undisclosed sum. The Taylor-Burton diaamond, as it’s called, ended up being a gift that kept on giving: After the couple parted ways, Liz sold the gem in 1979 for a whopping $5 million. 

2. The Taj Mahal

India’s most popular tourist attraction is actually a tomb, created for emperor Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. Heartbroken, the Shah commanded 20,000 workmen to spend 22 years building this marble-and-jewel-studded effigy. As if that weren’t enough blood, sweat and tears spent, rumor has it that upon its completion, the Shah ordered that the right hand of the chief mason get chopped off so the building could remain truly one of a kind. Let’s just say that when an emperor’s in pain, his subjects feel it, and how.

3. Posh Spice’s Cologne for Beckham

What do you get for a toned, tan, highly-swooned-over metrosexual millionaire who has everything? If you are Posh Spice, you get your husband—soccer superstar David Beckham the world’s most exclusive cologne. The one-of-a-kind, $50,000 bottle of Clive Christian No. 1 fragrance took six months to produce, and came encased in a crystal bottle shaped like—what else?—a soccer shoe. 

4. DiMaggio’s Flowers for Marilyn

Marilyn Monroe may have dated some pretty powerful guys, but no man showed her more TLC than her husband of nine months, baseball player Joe DiMaggio. After Marilyn’s death in 1962, Joe placed a 20-year standing order with a local flower shop to have long-stemmed roses placed on her grave three times a week. Talk about touching. 

5. O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi

This author crafted what many consider to be the most generous—albeit cheapest—romantic gesture ever. In this short story, a poor-in-pocket but rich-in-love couple secretly makes huge sacrifices in order to buy each other Christmas gifts: He sells his grandfather’s gold watch to buy his wife a set of tortoise-shell combs for her beautiful hair; she cuts off that beautiful hair and sells it to a wig-maker to buy her hubby a platinum chain for his watch. When they realize what’s happened, they’re wise enough to just be thankful that they have each other. 

6. Eric clapton’s Love Song Layla

Talk about annoying neighbors: When guitarist Eric Clapton moved into best friend George Harrison’s neighborhood, he fell in love with Harrison’s wife, fashion model Pattie Boyd. Clapton pleaded for her to leave her Beatle, but Pattie tuned out his requests. Despondent, he began recording a song, fueled by the words of the ancient Persian love poem, The Story of Layla and Majnun. The resulting tune, Layla—which included the lyric “Please don’t say, we’ll never find a way, and tell me all my love’s in vain”—was a hit in more ways than one. Pattie soon left her husband and got hitched to Clapton. Even though they divorced nine years later, the popularity of “their song” will probably last forever. 

7. Ben’s Sweet Toilet Seat for J. Lo

During their much-publicized courtship, Ben Affleck took it upon himself to pamper J. Lo’s most prized attribute: Her butt. That’s right, he bought her a $105,000 gem-encrusted toilet seat. “Jennifer is my princess and she deserves only the best—even when it comes to toilets,” was Ben’s explanation. And J. Lo’s reaction? “I never thought I’d say this about a toilet seat, but it’s beautiful—almost like a piece of art,” she said. Sitting on a john bedazzled with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds might not sound comfortable, but don’t worry, Ben thought of everything. Explained an anonymous pal, “The stones are set inside plastic, so Jennifer’s behind won’t get scratched.” 

8. Wagner’s Symphony to His Wife

Some lovers bring their ladies breakfast in bed; others, like Richard Wagner, bring them symphonies. To celebrate his wife Cosima’s 33rd birthday, the famed composer had written Siegfried Idyll for her—and, to boot, hired a fifteen-piece orchestra to play the tune on their staircase as he conducted them. Recalled Cosima in her diary: “When I woke up I heard a sound. What music!” 

9. Carole Lombard’s Car for Clark Gable

Hollywood hunk Clark Gable loved fancy cars, and screen siren Carole Lombard could afford to buy him the best. Ain’t it quaint, then, that on their first official date in 1936, she bought him a beat-up Model T Ford for just fifteen bucks? Quainter still that she had it painted white with red hearts all over it, delivered with a note saying, “You’re driving me crazy”? Thoroughly swept off his feet, Gable got to return the favor to his future wife that evening when he picked her up in his newest set of wheels to go dancing at the legendary Trocadero Ballroom. 

10. The Garbage Disposal

Architect and inventor John Hammes wanted to bestow a nice birthday gift on his wife—who, we imagine, had a sink full of dirty dishes and a disinclination to scrape the leftovers into the trash. Thus was born the world’s first garbage disposal in 1927. Called the In-Sink-Erator, it soon swept households across the country. Might not sound as romantic as a dozen roses, but what says “I love you” better than an invention that cuts down on crappy housework? 

Here Are the Ten Dirtiest Names in Sports History:

A website called Sports Pickle came up with the funniest names in sports history, and it was a tough competition. 

—Here are the top 10.  

#1.)   Lucious Pusey  (—LOO shus poo-SAY):  He was a linebacker for Eastern Illinois University in 2006 … and he changed his name to Lucious Seymour when he turned 18.

#2.)  Rusty Kuntz (—Coonts):  He was an outfielder who won a World Series with the Tigers in 1984.  

#3.)  Dick Trickle:  He’s a NASCAR driver … and one of his two career wins was the 1998 Dura-Lube 200. 

#4.)  Ivana Mandic:  She played women’s basketball for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2002, and went by the nickname Ivi. 

#5.)  Chubby Cox:  He played basketball for Villanova and briefly in the NBA.  He’s also Kobe Bryant’s uncle.

#6.)  Johnny Dickshot:  He played outfield for the Pirates, Giants and White Sox in the 1930s and 1940s.  And his nickname was “Ugly Johnny.”  

#7.)  DeWanna Bonner (—BONN-er):  She’s a WNBA player and won the Sixth Woman of the Year the last three years.

#8.)  Jack Glasscock:  He was a shortstop in the late 1800s.  

#9.)  Dick Shiner:  He was a quarterback for six NFL teams in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Steelers.

#10.)  Dick Paradise:  He was a minor league hockey player in the early 1970s.  (Sports Pickle)

Here are the 50 States Ranked From Most to Least Peaceful … and Louisiana Finishes Last for the 11th Straight Year:

The Institute for Economics and Peace just rolled out their annual list ranking the U.S. states from MOST PEACEFUL to LEAST PEACEFUL.  And for the 11th year in a row, they have some serious beef with Louisiana.

—Louisiana has been named the least peaceful state every year since 2000.  This year, for the first time, Maine was named the most peaceful state.

—The rankings are based on five criteria:  Homicides per capita, violent crimes, incarceration rate, number of police employees, and availability of small arms.  I’m not sure why they penalize states for having more cops, but whatever.

—The top 10 most peaceful states in 2011 were:  Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah, North Dakota, Washington, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Iowa.

—The 10 least peaceful states were:  Louisiana, Tennessee, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Mississippi.

—The study also ranks cities by their peacefulness.  Cambridge, Massachusetts was named the most peaceful city in the U.S… . Detroit was the least.  

(USA Today)  

Four Things That Make Your Co-Workers Hate You:

According to a new article, your co-workers are silently judging everything you do at work.  And a lot of little things you do can end up making you the office outcast.  Here are four things that might make your co-workers hate you.

#1.)  Sucking Up to the Boss.  Especially if it’s at the expense of someone else.  For example, if someone makes a mistake, you don’t always have to go over their head.  You can tell THEM about it, and let THEM tell the boss.

—Also, don’t take sole credit for something when other people worked on it too.  It makes you seem untrustworthy.     

#2.)  Negativity.  Yes, even when you’re complaining about your boss.  It’s okay in small amounts … because EVERYONE likes dumping on the boss every now and then.  But after a while it makes you seem negative in general.

—Constantly shooting down ideas is something else to avoid.  And a Monster.com survey from last year showed that too much gossiping can also make your co-workers think of you as overly negative.

#3.)  Messiness.  In your own work area, it’s not such a big deal.  A recent survey showed that some people view a messy desk as a sign you’ve been busy.  While other people think it just means you’re lazy.

—But NO ONE appreciates it when you leave a mess in communal areas, like the kitchen. 

#4.)  Bad Cubicle Etiquette.  Two of the biggest offenders are talking too loud, and eating something that stinks up the whole office.  Even if no one says anything when you re-heat your fish dinner from last night … they definitely aren’t happy about it.

(MarketWatch.com)

Another Person Collapsed at the “Heart Attack Grill” in Las Vegas:

In Las Vegas, there’s a restaurant called the HEART ATTACK GRILL that brags about how it serves the world’s least healthy burgers … and they let anyone over 350 pounds eat for free.

—Back in February, a man in his 40s was eating at the restaurant and had an ACTUAL HEART ATTACK.  He survived … and the restaurant swore it wasn’t a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Well … another person has collapsed while eating there.  

—On Saturday night, a woman in her 40s from Las Vegas was eating a double bacon cheeseburger … which is named the Double Bypass Burger … while drinking a margarita and smoking cigarettes.

—And she passed out unconscious.  We’re not sure if the cause was a heart attack or something else … it wasn’t disclosed.  She was taken to a hospital where she’s recovering.  (Good Morning America)

The Black Eyed Peas Hit “I Gotta Feeling” Is Now the #1 Song Played at Weddings?  

A new study found that the BLACK EYED PEAS song “I Gotta Feeling” is now the most popular song to be played at weddings.  

—To come up with a Top 20, the “researchers” looked at 78,000 wedding playlists on Spotify.  In general, they found that couples wanted more modern “party” songs, and fewer traditional, quieter love songs.

—Here’s the list:

1.)  ”I Gotta Feeling”,  The Black Eyed Peas  (2009)

2.)  ”Sex on Fire”,  Kings of Leon  (2008)

3.)  ”Mr. Brightside”,  The Killers  (2004)

4.)  ”Superstition”,  Stevie Wonder  (1972)

5.)  ”Dancing Queen”,  ABBA  (1976)

6.)  ”Don’t Stop Believin’”,  Journey  (1981)

7.)  ”Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”,  Beyoncé  (2008)

8.)  ”White Wedding”,  Billy Idol  (1982)

9.)  ”Hey Ya!”,  Outkast  (2003)

10.)  ”Make You Feel My Love”,  Adele  (2008) … It was written by Bob Dylan.

11.)  ”I’m Yours”,  Jason Mraz  (2008)

12.)  ”Signed, Sealed and Delivered (I’m Yours)”,  Stevie Wonder  (1970)

13.)  ”Blame It on the Boogie”,  Jackson 5  (1978)

14.)  ”Crazy in Love”,  Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z  (2003)

15.)  ”Let’s Stay Together”,  Al Green  (1971)

16.)  ”Greatest Day”,  Take That  (2008) … This one’s a little “overly British.”

17.)  ”I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”,  The Proclaimers  (1993)  (???)

18.)  ”You’re the First, the Last, My Everything”,  Barry White  (1974)

19.)  ”9 to 5”,  Dolly Parton  (1980)

20.)  ”(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life”, Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (1987)

13 Places You Don’t Want to Run into Your 2nd Grade Teacher

(Collegecandy.com)

1. Making Out

So you’re snuggling up with your cutie on a park bench and you start kissing him. But what’s this? OMG it’s Mrs. Eng! “Brooke Hamroff? How are you my dear?” Awkward. “Hi, Mrs. Eng! How is everything? This is my…” She already knows. She saw you lick his tonsils already.

2. Getting Waxed

Mrs. Eng doesn’t need to know how you remove your body hair. She also doesn’t need to know you’re getting a brazilian. She knew you before you had pubic hair. Oops.

3. At the Gynecologist

So now she knows you’re sexually active, on the pill, pregnant, and/or have a vagina. And now you know the same about her.

4. At the Drug Store

“What’s that in your cart, sweetie? Tampons? Condoms? Laxatives? Wow, you’ve grown up!”

5. In the Victoria’s Secret Dressing Room

Buying a sexy little thong? A lacy bra to wear under a big, loose tank top? Who wants their 2nd grade teacher seeing them buy hot underwear? Not me. Even worse? She could be doing the same…

6. On Facebook

YAY! Now she can see your outfit from last week’s themed party, and those pictures you posted from that frat party. You looked good, maybe she can “Like” your new default. #winning

7. On Spring Break

“NO WAY! You’re having a relaxing week in Mexico with your husband? I’m here with all my friends! Oh, this? It’s a virgin pina colada!”

8. At a Bar

Shots anyone? Mrs. Eng is buying!

9. Anywhere… When You Have a Hickey

Try explaining that one. “I developed this weird skin disorder after I left your class.”

10. On the Street… When You’re Waiting to Get in the Club

High heels, short skirt, crop top. Look down. Mrs. Eng wouldn’t approve.

11. Buying Alcohol

Well obviously you’re of age now, right? Who would ever buy alcohol under 21? No one. Maybe Mrs. Eng will buy a few beers. Party With Teacher!

12. At the Register

After a long day of shopping, you run into Mrs. Eng as you’re about to hear your total. It’s a big number. Awkward. I don’t know why, but it just is.

13. Planned Parenthood

Doesn’t matter what you’re there for - yourself, medicine, a friend, a procedure - that’s just not where you should run into Mrs. Eng. She taught you how to add and subtract. This isn’t the place.

And Now … Nine Movie Characters That May Have Secretly Been Stoners:

Today is April 20th … a.k.a. 4/20 … a.k.a. THE STONERS’ HOLIDAY.  Not that you would know anything about that, right?  (???)

—In honor of this day, a website called CoolMaterial.com has come up with a list of nine characters that may have secretly been stoners.  Here they are … 

#1.)  Fat Bastard from the “Austin Powers” movies.

#2.)  Doc Brown from “Back to the Future”.

#3.)  Yoda from “Star Wars”.

#4.)  Shaggy from “Scooby Doo”.  (—This one’s kind of a no-brainer.)

#5.)  Rex from “Toy Story”.

#6.)  Neo from “The Matrix”.

#7.)  Crush from “Finding Nemo”.

#8.)  Bella from “Twilight”.

#9.)  Willy Wonka from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.  (—That’s the GENE WILDER version, not the JOHNNY DEPP version.)

(—Check out the list … and read the write-ups on all their choices … here.)

FOOD & DRINK: The Unhealthiest Burgers In America (Posted 3:00 AM, 4/20/2012)

Through the years, burgers have changed. Back in the 1980s, the average restaurant burger had 333 calories. Today’s, they’re coming in at almost twice that — 600 calories on average. 

Here’s a rundown of some burgers to avoid if you’re trying to slim down for swimsuit season:

Worst Fast-Food Burger — Burger King Whopper with Cheese (760 calories) 

Worst Burger Kids’ Meal — McDonald’s McDouble Mighty Kids Meal (765 calories) 

Worst Double Cheeseburger — Denny’s Double Cheeseburger (1,400 calories) 

Worst “Healthy” Burger — Ruby Tuesday Avocado Turkey Burger (968 calories) 

Worst Burger in America — Chili’s Jalapeno Smokehouse Bacon Burger (1,910 calories)

Source: Yahoo Health

“Time” Magazine’s List of the 100 Most Influential People Includes Jeremy Lin, Adele, Ron Paul, and Stephen Colbert … But Not Oprah:

“Time” magazine released its list of the 100 most influential people yesterday.  Here are some of the highlights …

—JEREMY LIN

—TIM TEBOW

—The comedian LOUIS C.K.

—RIHANNA

—KRISTEN WIIG

—VIOLA DAVIS and JESSICA CHASTAIN from “The Help”

—The group of hackers who go by the name ANONYMOUS

—CHELSEA HANDLER

—SARA BLAKELY, the woman who became a billionaire after inventing Spanx

—WARREN BUFFETT

—TIM COOK, the CEO at Apple who took over after STEVE JOBS passed away, and WALTER ISAACSON, who wrote the Jobs biography

—BARACK OBAMA, MITT ROMNEY, and RON PAUL

—HILLARY CLINTON

—The actress TILDA SWINTON

—KATE and PIPPA MIDDLETON

—ADELE

—MATT LAUER

—CLAIRE DANES

—North Korea’s new leader KIM JONG-UN

—STEPHEN COLBERT

—One more note:  This is the first time EVER that OPRAH hasn’t made the list, since it began in 1999.  She’s the only person who’d made it every single year.  

—The end of her show and the struggles of the Oprah Winfrey Network have definitely taken their toll on her level of influence.  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both making their sixth appearances on the list.  

(Time)

Three Strange Things That Affect Your Memory:

Have you ever walked into a room, and immediately forgotten why?  Researchers at Notre Dame think it’s because when you walk through a doorway, your brain thinks you’re in a totally new environment.

—So the stuff you were thinking about in the OTHER room doesn’t matter anymore.  They tested it by having students look in a box filled with things like red cubes and blue spheres.

—Then the students tried to remember what was in the box after walking through a doorway … or walking the same distance WITHOUT going through a doorway.

—The results were so dramatic, the researchers stopped using the word “doorways,” and started calling them, quote, “event erasers” instead.  Here are three more strange things that affect your memory on a daily basis.

#1.)  Looking at the Floor or the Ceiling.  A lot of people … especially older people … do it subconsciously when they’re trying to think of something.  And the reason is simple:  You’re better at recalling things when you’re looking at a blank slate.

—Psychologists at the University of Scotland had two groups of elementary school students do a bunch of memory tests.

—Some of the kids were allowed to look anywhere they wanted to, while the other group could only look at a blank piece of paper on the floor.  And the second group did almost 20% better.

THE HOTTEST WOMEN OF ALL TIME

Men’s Health magazine took on an impossible challenge by ranking the top 100 Hottest Women of All Time.

No two guys on the planet could ever agree on how the top 10 are ranked, much less the top 100. There’s going to be controversy.

For example, Kim Kardashian is ranked 26 — five slots hotter than Farrah Fawcett. Seriously?

Let the arguments begin!

The Top 10:

10. Angelina Jolie
9. Jane Fonda
8. Pamela Anderson
7. Bettie Page
6. Ursula Andress
5. Madonna
4. Britney Spears
3. Marilyn Monroe
2. Raquel Welch
1. Jennifer Aniston

The TV Shows That Made the Most Money Last Year:  

Forbes.com has put out their annual list of TV’s Biggest Moneymakers, which estimates the amount of ad revenue TV shows bring in per 30 minutes.

—All “regularly scheduled” primetime shows were considered … excluding sports programming.  Forbes.com used the “30 minutes” base so that half-hour series could be comparable to shows that are an hour or longer.

—Not surprisingly, “American Idol” was #1.  It banked $6.6 million per 30 minutes.  That’s down 6% from the year before, when it raked in $7.1 million per half-hour.  (—It was also #1 last year.)

—Here’s the Top 10, and their estimated ad revenue per 30 minutes:

1.)  ”American Idol”, Fox … $6.6 million

2.)  ”The X Factor”, Fox … $5.6 million

3.)  ”Two and a Half Men”, CBS … $3.2 million

4.)  ”Glee”, Fox … $2.8 million

5.)  ”Grey’s Anatomy”, ABC … $2.75 million

6.)  ”Dancing with the Stars”, ABC … $2.72 million

7.)  ”Desperate Housewives”, ABC … $2.6 million

8.)  ”The Big Bang Theory”, CBS … $2.57 million

9.)  ”Mad Love”, CBS … $2.5 million

10.)  ”Modern Family”, ABC … $2.1 million

—Most of this list is self-explanatory, but two shows stick out:  ”The X Factor”, because its ratings were such a disappointment … and “Mad Love”, because it premiered last spring, and was promptly canceled three months later.

—Yet “The Voice”, a breakout hit for NBC, didn’t make the cut.  Well, here’s the deal:

—Most ad time is purchased BEFORE a series premieres … so for new shows, advertisers are gambling on a show’s hype, not on actual ratings.  That’s why “The X Factor” did so well, and “The Voice” isn’t on this list.

—So, “The Voice” should rank highly on next year’s list, while “The X Factor” will probably make a lot less.  (—Unless SIMON COWELL is able to generate hype all over again with new high-profile judges and hosts.)

—For “Mad Love” the gamble was less about hype than OPPORTUNITY.  CBS had it scheduled between “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men”.  But that wasn’t enough for it to catch on.

(—For more information, you can hit up Forbes’ complete report, here.)

People in Their 20s Switch Between Different Types of Media 27 Times an Hour:

According to a new study by Time Warner, people in their 20s go back and forth between different types of media 27 times an hour.  That’s once every two minutes and 13 seconds.      

—In other words, young people only spend about two minutes on any one type of entertainment.  

—Examples of using different types of media in short bursts includes Tweeting while watching a TV show, going online during commercials, or multitasking by using two devices at once, like a computer and a cell phone.

—Older people do it too, but not quite as frequently.  They switch media 17 times an hour, or once every three minutes and 32 seconds.  

—Not surprisingly, advertisers are using the information to find new ways to get us to watch ads.  (Gawker)

4 Types of Bars You Shouldn’t Waste Your Time In

(Mademan.com)

1. College Bars with a Lax ID Policy. While the owners of the bar won’t usually come out and say it, everyone knows that one bar in town where underage drinkers have an easier time sneaking in. Don’t get sucked in by the energetic crowd outside. There are too many other places to go without the risk of legal complications, especially if you are looking to hook up at the end of the night.

2. True Dive Bars. The term “dive bar” has different meanings, and someplace calling itself a dive bar is often a good location to drink that just underplays the setup of the building to seem more casual. True dive bars are dank and lonely places, which should be avoided, unless you’re looking to get to know the one or two regulars that frequent the establishment.

3. Bars with Loud, Bad Music. If you’re going to a bar to see a band you enjoy, the music will be an added perk. But when it comes to bars that book whatever bands they can just to fill a time slot, you might find yourself yelling at the top of your lungs to ask a woman at the bar if you can buy her a drink. Also, nobody needs their buzz offset by ringing in their ears.

4. Chain Sports Bars. Stick to sports bars when your only intention is to focus on the game. Chain sports bars are usually worse because they attract families eating dinner, often carry mediocre beer, and lack intimacy. Chain sports bars might be fine now and then when you’re looking for the biggest screen you can find, but just don’t plan on meeting any women there.

The Seven Unhealthiest Frozen Dinners:

Obviously, you shouldn’t survive on frozen dinners alone, because most of them are bad for you.  But it’s okay every now and then if you don’t have time to cook … as long as you don’t eat any of the stuff on THIS list.

—Here are the seven unhealthiest frozen dinners you can buy.

#1.)  The Hot Pockets Calzone with Pepperoni.  Here’s a good rule of thumb:  The more ingredients something has, the worse it is for you.  And the Hot Pockets Calzone has over a HUNDRED ingredients.

—A better choice is the Amy’s organic version of a hot pocket, which only has 15 ingredients.

#2.)  Kashi’s Sweet and Sour Chicken.  Most Kashi products are fairly healthy.  But this one is LOADED with sugar.  One serving has 25 grams of it … which is the same as two DONUTS.

—Kashi Lemongrass Coconut Chicken only has 6 grams of sugar per meal.

#3.)  Banquet’s Boneless Pork Ribs.  The first red flag should be the way it’s described on the box.  They call it a, quote, “shaped patty meal.”

—Then if you look at the ingredients, you’ll find out it contains all kinds of junk … including MSG.

—Another Banquet brand product made the list:  Their Mexican Style Enchilada Combo Meal also has a ton of MSG in it.  And even though it LOOKS like you’re eating beef … it’s mostly just meat-flavored soy.

#4.)  Boston Market’s Chicken Pot Pie.  The kind they sell frozen at the grocery store has 780 calories and 48 grams of fat.  Just to put that in context, a Big Mac has 260 calories and 29 grams of fat.

#5.)  Totino’s Party Pizza with Hamburger.  One serving has 5 grams of trans fat, which raises your “bad” cholesterol and lowers you “good” cholesterol.

—A better choice is the Pepperoni French Bread Pizza from Healthy Choice, which has 75% less fat, and NO trans fat.

#6.)  Bourbon Steak Strips from Hungry Man.  It has 9 grams of saturated fat, and 72% of the salt you should get in a day.

#7.)  Buitoni’s Four Cheese Spinach Ravioli.  If you only eat one serving, it’s not that bad.  The problem is, it has two servings per box … and the box is about the same size as a normal SINGLE-serving frozen dinner.

—If you eat BOTH servings … which a lot of people do … you end up getting 42 grams of fat, two-thirds of the cholesterol you’re supposed to get in a day, and 78% of the salt.

(TotalBeauty.com)

Six Habits of Skinny People:

Around 80% of people who lose weight by dieting end up gaining it back within two years.  And a lot of them end up heavier than they were before.  Obviously, the secret to staying thin LONG-TERM is exercise.

—But that’s definitely not the only factor.  Here’s a list from Yahoo of six habits skinny people have.

#1.)  Don’t Skip Breakfast.  You’ve probably heard this before, but when you skip meals, your metabolism slows down.  And people who don’t eat breakfast are almost five times more likely to be obese.

#2.)  Drink a Lot of Water.  Researchers at Virginia Tech found that people who drank two glasses of water before a meal ate a lot less than they would have.

—And compared to people who DIDN’T drink two glasses of water, they lost 30% more body fat over the course of three months.

#3.)  Weigh Yourself Every Day.  I’m not sure it’s something “skinny people” do in general.  But it’s something you should try if you WANT to be skinny.

—A lot of diet plans tell you to weigh yourself once a WEEK.  But according to a study at the University of Minnesota, weighing yourself every day is more effective.

#4.)  Don’t Eat in Front of the TV.  It’s referred to as “mindless eating,” and a study at Cornell found you consume 40% more calories when you do it.

#5.)  Stop Worrying So Much.  A ton of studies have linked weight gain with stress.  And people with CHRONIC stress specifically tend to gain more weight around their waist.

#6.)  Get Enough Sleep.  Sleep and stress basically go hand in hand.  Most of us require seven to eight hours of sleep a night, and if you get less than that, you’re more likely to start gaining weight.

—The good news is, if you normally get five hours a night … then you start getting seven … you should start losing weight, even without exercising.

(Yahoo)

Here Are America’s 10 Favorite Chocolate Candies:

When it comes to chocolate, Americans don’t like change.      

—Eight of the 10 best-selling chocolate candies over the past year have been around for more than 50 years.  That’s according to a study by a market-research company called the Symphony IRI Group.  Here’s the top 10:  

#1.)  Snickers:  407 million were sold in the last year, or $424 million worth.

#2.)  M&M’s:  384 million sold for $417 million.

#3.)  Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:  347 million sold for $420 million.  (—And it’s pronounced Rees-iz, NOT Ree-sees.)

#4.)  Hershey’s bar:  249 million sold for $261 million. 

#5.)  Kit Kat:  192 million sold for $210 million.  

#6.)  Twix:  161 million sold for $194 million.  Twix was introduced in 1967, making it the second-youngest candy bar on the list.   

#7.)  3 Musketeers:  94 million sold for $101 million.

#8.)  Milky Way:  80 million sold for $477 million. 

#9.)  Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme:  73 million sold for $82 million.  It was introduced in 1994 and is the only one that’s WHITE chocolate.

#10.)  Almond Joy:  61 million sold for $65 million.

(MSNBC)

France Was Rated the Rudest Country … and the U.S. Came in 6th:

A travel search website called Skyscanner.com just released the results of a global survey on the RUDEST COUNTRIES for tourists.  And of course, the top pick is … the most obvious top pick:  France.  Here’s the top 15 …

#1.)  France

#2.)  Russia

#3.)  England

#4.)  Germany

#5.)  China

#6.)  The U.S.

#7.)  Spain

#8.)  Italy

#9.)  Poland

#10.)  Turkey

#11.)  Switzerland

#12.)  Greece

#13.)  Croatia

#14.)  Austria

#15.)  Cyprus

—Brazilians and people in the Caribbean tied for being the most polite to foreign visitors.  The Philippines is the third-most polite country, Thailand is fourth, and Portugal is fifth.  

(Yahoo Travel)

10 Rap and R&B “Rotten Eggs” … Songs with No Redeeming Value:  

The Boombox.com has put together a list of 10 Rap and R&B “Rotten Eggs”, which are defined as “songs with no redeeming value … [that] we can’t justify liking, and that you shouldn’t either.”  Here’s the list:

1.)  ”Smell Yo [rhymes with ‘stick’]”, Riskay

2.)  ”Put It on Me”, Ja Rule

3.)  ”Lose Control”, Kevin Federline

4.)  ”(I Know I Got) Skills”, Shaquille O’Neal

5.)  ”Trapped in the Closet (Chapter One)”, R. Kelly

6.)  ”Massive Attack”, Nicki Minaj

7.)  ”Ice Cream”, JS

8.)  ”Sexy Boy Christmas”, B2K

9.)  ”Tonight”, Da Band

10.)  ”Better Run Run”, MC Hammer

Your Computer Mouse is Three Times Filthier Than Your Toilet:

We’ve seen PLENTY of reports on how innocent things you touch every day are filthy and germ-infested.  And here’s another one, to keep you on your toes.

—According to a study by a company called Initial Washroom Hygiene, the average computer mouse is THREE TIMES FILTHIER than a toilet seat.

—They also found the average keyboard, office chair, desk, phone, and elevator button are more germ-covered than a toilet too.

—Four out of 10 desks had at least one item with extremely high levels of bacteria.

—The germs can include things like staph and E. coli … so WASH YOUR HANDS before you eat.  

(eNewsleak)

The 20 Best Songs Written for Movies:  

“Paste” magazine has put together a list of The 20 Best Songs Written for Movies.  Just to be clear, that’s songs that were commissioned FOR movies, not old ones that were put in them, or that were popularized by movies.

—Here’s the Top 10:

1.)  ”Mrs. Robinson”, Simon & Garfunkel … for “The Graduate”

2.)  ”Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Bob Dylan … for “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”

3.)  ”Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, Simple Minds … for “The Breakfast Club”

4.)  ”Miss Misery”, Elliott Smith … for “Good Will Hunting”

5.)  ”Save Me”, Aimee Mann … for “Magnolia”

6.)  ”I’m Easy”, Keith Carradine … for “Nashville”

7.)  ”If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out”, Cat Stevens … for “Harold & Maude”

8.)  ”Can’t Help Falling in Love”, Elvis Presley … for “Blue Hawaii”

9.)  ”We Are Sex Bob-Omb”, Beck … for “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World”

10.)  ”Fight the Power”, Public Enemy … for “Do the Right Thing”

(—You can find the complete list at PasteMagazine.com.)