Dat's d name of my new 2000 Honda Civic sedan dat arrived at 7.30pm sharp yesterday(not too sure though)...She came after much prayer, financial planning, being broke, etc etc...now she's finally here....oooo am ecstatic......so ecstatic I brought her to work today but I din't drive her myself..[i did d initial introduction when she came last night....as in a test drive] but dat's gist for anoda day..the important thing is she's here:-).....pardon my not taking any pics.......am attaching a link to her look alike so u can have an idea...she's an american spec, auto, metallic green beauty and she's all mine!!!!
So look out lasgidi.......nyomsis is goin' be ridin' durrti an' havin' a blast.....
Silly me....my ultimate gratitude first and foremost to God Almighty, my parents for collabing their efforts especially my Dad, thanks to my elder sis for tolerating my bellyaching for a car, and telling me how to prepare for one....my gratitude specially to a fellow blogger for giving me the idea on how to actually acquire it....my gratitude to all friends and supporters for earnestly waiting for her arrival and rejoicing with me.....love u all and God Bless.
Let's riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidddeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
link to see her is http://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2000/index.html
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Labouring Too Hard For Love?
Here are some tips for you..........
Some single people find themselves toiling hard, really hard to make love happen. Consider the case of Toni Larusso of New York. She put intense effort into making a guy her exclusive boyfriend. "I was crazy about him," she recalls. "I changed my work schedule, dropped most of my friends. They begged me to quit seeing him and their concern helped me realize what I'd gotten myself into. Now that I'm over him, I'm trying to figure out why I wasted so much effort on someone who didn't reciprocate."
Like Toni, many of us are guilty of laboring for love. We try too hard to make things work with someone who's unworthy—or just plain uninterested. We accept things we otherwise wouldn't want to and turn a blind eye to egregious flaws and foibles in our relationships. But we don't have to keep doing it.
Get Real: "The first thing you can do is to become honest with yourself and raise your self-esteem," counsels Sonia Choquette, author of Trust Your Vibes. "Somewhere along the way, you came to wrongly believe that you are not OK and are accepting poor behavior from others or are aligning with those who have nothing to offer because of your weak self-image." That's the root problem. "If you are in the habit of being with the wrong person, take a break from dating and fall in love with yourself," she suggests. "Do for yourself all the things you tend to do for the other. Give yourself gifts, take yourself to lunch or dinner, and give yourself statements of appreciation." Recognize your talents when you do a good job or when you're a good friend. You may also want to seek the services of a therapist or counselor if these little pick-me-ups don't work. "The key to getting what we deserve is to know that the first place to look is within ourselves," she says. "No one will treat you better than you are willing to treat yourself. If you criticize yourself, never speak up, don't ask for what you need, or are in the habit of over-giving in order to manipulate others, all relationships you have will show signs of strain."
Question whether to pursue: Does this mean you have to stop going after a certain someone or break off a budding relationship ASAP? "Not necessarily," says clinical social worker Helen King. "Once you have a realistic assessment of the relationship, decide if you are really with the person you want." Then figure out if the person is willing to work with you to make things better. "If you stop working so hard, you may allow your date to step up and participate," she notes. "If you don't give the person the chance, you may never know how invested he or she is." If you think your behavior may have entered the realm of working way too hard, King suggests answering these questions for yourself:
• How is the rest of my life affected by this situation?
• Am I losing sleep or not taking care of myself?
• Is my work suffering?
• Am I ignoring friends?
If you have some answers that indicate that your approach to dating is detrimental, King notes, "you may need to step back from the romance."
Stay the course: But how can you make sure you don't step into a negative situation again with the next person you date? "Knowing that we each deserve to be in happy, loving, mutually supportive relationships is the key to not repeating the mistakes of the past," King says. "Learning from each romantic experience, building upon the positive aspects, and getting out of situations that repeat the negative, will ensure that the next relationship is closer to what you are looking for." To do that, think hard about what you need and the type of person you want. Then, King says, "commit to yourself and a buddy who can help you stay on track. "As you date, you will continue to check in with yourself and your support [person], to ensure that what you said you wanted and who you are with match, at least on the important things," she notes. "Don't stay in a budding romance because you fear being alone or failing. Listen to your heart and your inner self; they will lead you on the right path."
Sound off: Chime in on a thread where Boomers are sharing the joys of independence… Freelance writer Margot Carmichael Lester labored and lost in several relationships before getting it right. Her advice appears in the anthologies How to Survive Your Marriage and How to Survive Your Divorce.
NB: This is for single and searching like me that keep asking themselves what the hell is going on and y they dont have someone............Please note that these are TIPS!!! U dont have to go by them.
Some single people find themselves toiling hard, really hard to make love happen. Consider the case of Toni Larusso of New York. She put intense effort into making a guy her exclusive boyfriend. "I was crazy about him," she recalls. "I changed my work schedule, dropped most of my friends. They begged me to quit seeing him and their concern helped me realize what I'd gotten myself into. Now that I'm over him, I'm trying to figure out why I wasted so much effort on someone who didn't reciprocate."
Like Toni, many of us are guilty of laboring for love. We try too hard to make things work with someone who's unworthy—or just plain uninterested. We accept things we otherwise wouldn't want to and turn a blind eye to egregious flaws and foibles in our relationships. But we don't have to keep doing it.
Get Real: "The first thing you can do is to become honest with yourself and raise your self-esteem," counsels Sonia Choquette, author of Trust Your Vibes. "Somewhere along the way, you came to wrongly believe that you are not OK and are accepting poor behavior from others or are aligning with those who have nothing to offer because of your weak self-image." That's the root problem. "If you are in the habit of being with the wrong person, take a break from dating and fall in love with yourself," she suggests. "Do for yourself all the things you tend to do for the other. Give yourself gifts, take yourself to lunch or dinner, and give yourself statements of appreciation." Recognize your talents when you do a good job or when you're a good friend. You may also want to seek the services of a therapist or counselor if these little pick-me-ups don't work. "The key to getting what we deserve is to know that the first place to look is within ourselves," she says. "No one will treat you better than you are willing to treat yourself. If you criticize yourself, never speak up, don't ask for what you need, or are in the habit of over-giving in order to manipulate others, all relationships you have will show signs of strain."
Question whether to pursue: Does this mean you have to stop going after a certain someone or break off a budding relationship ASAP? "Not necessarily," says clinical social worker Helen King. "Once you have a realistic assessment of the relationship, decide if you are really with the person you want." Then figure out if the person is willing to work with you to make things better. "If you stop working so hard, you may allow your date to step up and participate," she notes. "If you don't give the person the chance, you may never know how invested he or she is." If you think your behavior may have entered the realm of working way too hard, King suggests answering these questions for yourself:
• How is the rest of my life affected by this situation?
• Am I losing sleep or not taking care of myself?
• Is my work suffering?
• Am I ignoring friends?
If you have some answers that indicate that your approach to dating is detrimental, King notes, "you may need to step back from the romance."
Stay the course: But how can you make sure you don't step into a negative situation again with the next person you date? "Knowing that we each deserve to be in happy, loving, mutually supportive relationships is the key to not repeating the mistakes of the past," King says. "Learning from each romantic experience, building upon the positive aspects, and getting out of situations that repeat the negative, will ensure that the next relationship is closer to what you are looking for." To do that, think hard about what you need and the type of person you want. Then, King says, "commit to yourself and a buddy who can help you stay on track. "As you date, you will continue to check in with yourself and your support [person], to ensure that what you said you wanted and who you are with match, at least on the important things," she notes. "Don't stay in a budding romance because you fear being alone or failing. Listen to your heart and your inner self; they will lead you on the right path."
Sound off: Chime in on a thread where Boomers are sharing the joys of independence… Freelance writer Margot Carmichael Lester labored and lost in several relationships before getting it right. Her advice appears in the anthologies How to Survive Your Marriage and How to Survive Your Divorce.
NB: This is for single and searching like me that keep asking themselves what the hell is going on and y they dont have someone............Please note that these are TIPS!!! U dont have to go by them.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Eight Dating Lines Decoded
It's no secret that the language of love isn't always the most, well, direct. That's why so many single people spend hours analyzing emails from dates trying to figure out if "I'm busy at work" is a brush-off, or wondering whether that invitation of "I'll make dinner for you" indicates a desire to share a whole lot more than a favorite garlic chicken recipe.
How can you suss out what someone's really trying to say? To help you out, we got a bevy of dating experts to decode eight common lines so you'll spend less time scratching your head and more time communicating.
Line: "I'd love to stay out, but I have to get up really early tomorrow."
What it means: "Sorry, you just aren't floating my boat."
Of course, if it's 2 a.m. or your date follows up with, "But let's get together soon—maybe this weekend?" the fact that he or she want to end the date is no big deal. But if the night is young or your date mentions an aversion to staying out late in the middle of, say, appetizers, that's not a good sign. Your date may sense there's no connection and want to exit sooner rather than later, says Steve Nakamoto, author of Men Are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Catching A Man. At least look at the upside: This person's also freeing you from a situation that's not going anywhere, so just enjoy your dinner, then skedaddle.
Line: "I had such a good time with you."
What it means: "Wow, you're actually fun and different from all the other guys/girls!"
This sentence might sound generic, but try saying it out loud: It sounds far more intense than a mere "I had a nice night," doesn't it? "This is a way of revealing how you feel without getting too heavy," says Laurie Puhn, J.D., author of Instant Persuasion: How to Change Your Words to Change Your Life. "The person is letting you know that he or she really might like you, and trying to find out if you possibly feel the same." So if the interest is mutual, let your date know by responding in kind.
Line: "I'm just not ready for a relationship."
What it means: "I'm just not in love with you."
It's hard when someone you like tells you he or she's not in a place to seriously date anyone. But it also makes you hope that the problem is timing, not your personalities. If you can just be patient, you think, things could percolate, right? Wrong. "This means 'I don't love you, so if that's what you want, we should break up,'" says Puhn. Don't be fooled—when this person does meet someone who has that spark, he or she will indeed be ready for a relationship.
Line: "I'd love to meet up, but I'm just really busy with work right now."
What it means: "I'm trying to think of a really nice way to blow you off."
Of course, this person could very well have a full schedule that week. But if he or she doesn't offer any alternative dates to hang out, what you're really being told is that this person would rather work than hang out with you. (Sorry.) "Your date very well could be busy. The question is whether your date's focusing on the problem or finding a solution," says Puhn. "You can always get away long enough for dinner or a drink with someone or say, 'I'm going to call you in two weeks after this project is done.' It's a matter of priorities." So if your date isn't trying to pencil you in, it could be time to write that person off.
Line: "So, gotten any funny emails on Match.com lately?"
What it means: "Are you interested in seeing each other exclusively?"
Let's face it, it's intimidating to ask: "So are you seeing anyone else?" And with online dating, there's a sneakier way to put out feelers: By asking a question that reveals whether someone's been checking his or her Match.com account for new suitors. "In online dating, you can receive flirtatious emails 24/7, so leaving your profile up sends a message that you're still open to other prospects," says Nakamoto. So if your date's asking anything about your online activities, it's probably a sign he or she might pop the "So... do you want to see each other exclusively?" question soon.
Line: "So, want to meet for coffee?"
What it means: "Want to meet for a coffee and then have dinner if we like each other?"
It's always smart to schedule a short, easy-to-end date when you're first meeting a new person. "Committing to a dinner with someone new can seem like too much for a person who doesn't want to get stuck at a table for hours if things aren't clicking," explains Puhn. Still, many online daters will leave the ensuing hours free in case you two hit it off. That doesn't mean you should head to your rendezvous with overly high expectations and an empty stomach. If you're hungry, eat already. If you end up wanting to prolong the fun on your date, you can always suggest going for dessert or a drink.
Line: "I'm meeting my friends for a drink—want to come?"
What it means: "I really like you and want to know if you get along with my pals."
It may sound like a casual invite, but what your date is saying is that he or she is totally comfortable being seen with you as a couple—and is interested in how you'll relate to his or her closest comrades. "Meeting the friends is an approval thing," says Nakamoto. "Women want to see how he treats their friends, and men want to know if his friends like the girl." It may seem intimidating, but it should actually boost your ego: You've passed the first tests and are now on your way to becoming a full-time boyfriend or girlfriend—provided the buddies sign off. If you're feeling just as positive about the relationship, say "Yes," and charm away.
Line: "Why don't you come over and I'll cook for you?"
What it means: "Ready to get physical?"
Cooking for a person is a show of intimacy in a couple of ways. "The person is really inviting you into his or her life," says Puhn. "Someone's apartment is their whole world, so they're obviously very comfortable with you." Then, of course, there's the fact that you'll conveniently be just a few steps from the couch—and the bedroom —later that night. If it's a first or early date, this might actually be a bit too personal, especially if you're not sure how you feel about your future together. But if you're pretty sure you're ready to explore things further, congratulations, tonight could be the night!
Sound off: Tell us about the best and worst dating lines that you've encountered. New York City freelance writer Laura Gilbert has written for Health, Stuff, Maxim, The Knot and other publications.
How can you suss out what someone's really trying to say? To help you out, we got a bevy of dating experts to decode eight common lines so you'll spend less time scratching your head and more time communicating.
Line: "I'd love to stay out, but I have to get up really early tomorrow."
What it means: "Sorry, you just aren't floating my boat."
Of course, if it's 2 a.m. or your date follows up with, "But let's get together soon—maybe this weekend?" the fact that he or she want to end the date is no big deal. But if the night is young or your date mentions an aversion to staying out late in the middle of, say, appetizers, that's not a good sign. Your date may sense there's no connection and want to exit sooner rather than later, says Steve Nakamoto, author of Men Are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Catching A Man. At least look at the upside: This person's also freeing you from a situation that's not going anywhere, so just enjoy your dinner, then skedaddle.
Line: "I had such a good time with you."
What it means: "Wow, you're actually fun and different from all the other guys/girls!"
This sentence might sound generic, but try saying it out loud: It sounds far more intense than a mere "I had a nice night," doesn't it? "This is a way of revealing how you feel without getting too heavy," says Laurie Puhn, J.D., author of Instant Persuasion: How to Change Your Words to Change Your Life. "The person is letting you know that he or she really might like you, and trying to find out if you possibly feel the same." So if the interest is mutual, let your date know by responding in kind.
Line: "I'm just not ready for a relationship."
What it means: "I'm just not in love with you."
It's hard when someone you like tells you he or she's not in a place to seriously date anyone. But it also makes you hope that the problem is timing, not your personalities. If you can just be patient, you think, things could percolate, right? Wrong. "This means 'I don't love you, so if that's what you want, we should break up,'" says Puhn. Don't be fooled—when this person does meet someone who has that spark, he or she will indeed be ready for a relationship.
Line: "I'd love to meet up, but I'm just really busy with work right now."
What it means: "I'm trying to think of a really nice way to blow you off."
Of course, this person could very well have a full schedule that week. But if he or she doesn't offer any alternative dates to hang out, what you're really being told is that this person would rather work than hang out with you. (Sorry.) "Your date very well could be busy. The question is whether your date's focusing on the problem or finding a solution," says Puhn. "You can always get away long enough for dinner or a drink with someone or say, 'I'm going to call you in two weeks after this project is done.' It's a matter of priorities." So if your date isn't trying to pencil you in, it could be time to write that person off.
Line: "So, gotten any funny emails on Match.com lately?"
What it means: "Are you interested in seeing each other exclusively?"
Let's face it, it's intimidating to ask: "So are you seeing anyone else?" And with online dating, there's a sneakier way to put out feelers: By asking a question that reveals whether someone's been checking his or her Match.com account for new suitors. "In online dating, you can receive flirtatious emails 24/7, so leaving your profile up sends a message that you're still open to other prospects," says Nakamoto. So if your date's asking anything about your online activities, it's probably a sign he or she might pop the "So... do you want to see each other exclusively?" question soon.
Line: "So, want to meet for coffee?"
What it means: "Want to meet for a coffee and then have dinner if we like each other?"
It's always smart to schedule a short, easy-to-end date when you're first meeting a new person. "Committing to a dinner with someone new can seem like too much for a person who doesn't want to get stuck at a table for hours if things aren't clicking," explains Puhn. Still, many online daters will leave the ensuing hours free in case you two hit it off. That doesn't mean you should head to your rendezvous with overly high expectations and an empty stomach. If you're hungry, eat already. If you end up wanting to prolong the fun on your date, you can always suggest going for dessert or a drink.
Line: "I'm meeting my friends for a drink—want to come?"
What it means: "I really like you and want to know if you get along with my pals."
It may sound like a casual invite, but what your date is saying is that he or she is totally comfortable being seen with you as a couple—and is interested in how you'll relate to his or her closest comrades. "Meeting the friends is an approval thing," says Nakamoto. "Women want to see how he treats their friends, and men want to know if his friends like the girl." It may seem intimidating, but it should actually boost your ego: You've passed the first tests and are now on your way to becoming a full-time boyfriend or girlfriend—provided the buddies sign off. If you're feeling just as positive about the relationship, say "Yes," and charm away.
Line: "Why don't you come over and I'll cook for you?"
What it means: "Ready to get physical?"
Cooking for a person is a show of intimacy in a couple of ways. "The person is really inviting you into his or her life," says Puhn. "Someone's apartment is their whole world, so they're obviously very comfortable with you." Then, of course, there's the fact that you'll conveniently be just a few steps from the couch—and the bedroom —later that night. If it's a first or early date, this might actually be a bit too personal, especially if you're not sure how you feel about your future together. But if you're pretty sure you're ready to explore things further, congratulations, tonight could be the night!
Sound off: Tell us about the best and worst dating lines that you've encountered. New York City freelance writer Laura Gilbert has written for Health, Stuff, Maxim, The Knot and other publications.
Friday, October 19, 2007
For all subordinates
Here's an excerpt:
Boss-to-English Translator: What your boss says and what he really means
Do you ever feel a trip to your boss's office is like a trip to a foreign country? Nice view, but no speaka dee English? In order to ensure that none of the buck passing, put- downing, or one- upping is lost in translation, make sure to bring along this cheat sheet so you know what the big enchilada is really trying to say.
"Great job on the report!"
Translation: "I'm taking credit for your work."
"I have to attend an off-site meeting."
Translation: "I'm having an affair."
"Let me give you some broadstroke ideas and you can fill in the rest."
Translation: "I still haven't learned how to create an Excel document."
"Headquarters has assured me we will not be affected by the merger."
Translation: "You are going to be fired."
"I'm not sure if what you are suggesting is in alignment with our core competencies."
Translation: "What exactly do we do again?"
"This office is a family and my door is always open if you ever need to powwow with Papa Bear."
Translation: "I am a tool."
"I'll be out of the office for a couple hours with senior management, but you can reach me on my mobile."
Translation: "I'm playing golf."
"I'll be off-site and unreachable for the rest of the afternoon."
Translation: "I'm playing golf and I expect to be very, very drunk."
"I think we should order in some lunch for the team."
Translation: "None of you are getting a raise. Enjoy your pizza."
"I don't want to have to micromanage this whole operation!"
Translation: "I'm the boss because I made good business contacts at my Ivy League university; I don't know how to actually do things."
"This came down from up top."
Translation: "I have no real power."
"I can't give you an answer at this moment. Let me survey the situation and see what we can leverage out of it."
Translation: "Oh God, I wish I was still in sales!"
"It's good to see you take such bold initiative!"
Translation: "You are a threat to me. You will be fired the next time we so much as run out of coffee."
"I'll think about it."
Translation: "I'll tell you no in an e-mail, long after I've left the office."
"Did you finish those projections I asked you about on Friday?"
Translation: "I completely forgot to ask you about the projections on Friday, and I'm hoping your memory is even worse than mine."
"This is a very sensitive issue."
Translation: "I may need you to shred some documents."
"Let's push the boundaries on this one. We need something really innovative! Throw out the conventions, I want something edgy!"
Translation: "Present only safe, traditional ideas to me. I wouldn't know what to do with innovation if my life depended on it."
"We're going to be pulling some long hours and I'll be right here with the rest of you."
Translation: "My home life is miserable."
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news."
Translation: "Disappointing you is the only pleasure I have left in my dead-end, crappy job."
Boss-to-English Translator: What your boss says and what he really means
Do you ever feel a trip to your boss's office is like a trip to a foreign country? Nice view, but no speaka dee English? In order to ensure that none of the buck passing, put- downing, or one- upping is lost in translation, make sure to bring along this cheat sheet so you know what the big enchilada is really trying to say.
"Great job on the report!"
Translation: "I'm taking credit for your work."
"I have to attend an off-site meeting."
Translation: "I'm having an affair."
"Let me give you some broadstroke ideas and you can fill in the rest."
Translation: "I still haven't learned how to create an Excel document."
"Headquarters has assured me we will not be affected by the merger."
Translation: "You are going to be fired."
"I'm not sure if what you are suggesting is in alignment with our core competencies."
Translation: "What exactly do we do again?"
"This office is a family and my door is always open if you ever need to powwow with Papa Bear."
Translation: "I am a tool."
"I'll be out of the office for a couple hours with senior management, but you can reach me on my mobile."
Translation: "I'm playing golf."
"I'll be off-site and unreachable for the rest of the afternoon."
Translation: "I'm playing golf and I expect to be very, very drunk."
"I think we should order in some lunch for the team."
Translation: "None of you are getting a raise. Enjoy your pizza."
"I don't want to have to micromanage this whole operation!"
Translation: "I'm the boss because I made good business contacts at my Ivy League university; I don't know how to actually do things."
"This came down from up top."
Translation: "I have no real power."
"I can't give you an answer at this moment. Let me survey the situation and see what we can leverage out of it."
Translation: "Oh God, I wish I was still in sales!"
"It's good to see you take such bold initiative!"
Translation: "You are a threat to me. You will be fired the next time we so much as run out of coffee."
"I'll think about it."
Translation: "I'll tell you no in an e-mail, long after I've left the office."
"Did you finish those projections I asked you about on Friday?"
Translation: "I completely forgot to ask you about the projections on Friday, and I'm hoping your memory is even worse than mine."
"This is a very sensitive issue."
Translation: "I may need you to shred some documents."
"Let's push the boundaries on this one. We need something really innovative! Throw out the conventions, I want something edgy!"
Translation: "Present only safe, traditional ideas to me. I wouldn't know what to do with innovation if my life depended on it."
"We're going to be pulling some long hours and I'll be right here with the rest of you."
Translation: "My home life is miserable."
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news."
Translation: "Disappointing you is the only pleasure I have left in my dead-end, crappy job."
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
10 things you didnt know about you
10. Your Stomach Secretes Corrosive Acid:
There's one dangerous liquid no airport security can confiscate from you: It's in your gut. Your stomach cells secrete hydrochloric acid, a corrosive compound used to treat metals in the industrial world. It can pickle steel, but mucous lining the stomach wall keeps this poisonous liquid safely in the digestive system, breaking down lunch.
9. Body Position Affects Your Memory:
Can't remember your anniversary, hubby? Try getting down on one knee. Memories are highly embodied in our senses. A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one's childhood. The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable. A recent study helps decipher some of this embodiment. An article in the January 2007 issue of Cognition reports that episodes from your past are remembered faster and better while in a body position similar to the pose struck during the event.
8. Bones Break (Down) to Balance Minerals:
In addition to supporting the bag of organs and muscles that is our body, bones help regulate our calcium levels. Bones contain both phosphorus and calcium, the latter of which is needed by muscles and nerves. If the element is in short supply, certain hormones will cause bones to break downeupping calcium levels in the bodyeuntil the appropriate extracellular concentration is reached.
7. Much of a Meal is Food For Thought:
Though it makes up only 2 percent of our total body weight, the brain demands 20 percent of the body's oxygen and calories. To keep our noggin well-stocked with resources, three major cerebral arteries are constantly pumping in oxygen. A blockage or break in one of them starves brain cells of the energy they require to function, impairing the functions controlled by that region. This is a stroke.
6. Thousands of Eggs Unused by Ovaries:
When a woman reaches her late 40s or early 50s, the monthly menstrual cycle that controls her hormone levels and readies ova for insemination ceases. Her ovaries have been producing less and less estrogen, inciting physical and emotional changes across her body. Her underdeveloped egg follicles begin to fail to release ova as regularly as before. The average adolescent girl has 34,000 underdeveloped egg follicles, although only 350 or so mature during her life (at the rate of about one per month). The unused egg follicles then deteriorate. With no potential pregnancy on the horizon, the brain can stop managing the release of ova.
5. Puberty Reshapes Brain Structure, Makes for Missed Curfews:
We know that hormone-fueled changes in the body are necessary to encourage growth and ready the body for reproduction. But why is adolescence so emotionally unpleasant? Hormones like testosterone actually influence the development of neurons in the brain, and the changes made to brain structure have many behavioral consequences. Expect emotional awkwardness, apathy and poor decision-making skills as regions in the frontal cortex mature.
4. Cell Hairs Move Mucus:
Most cells in our bodies sport hair-like organelles called cilia that help out with a variety of functions, from digestion to hearing. In the nose, cilia help to drain mucus from the nasal cavity down to the throat. Cold weather slows down the draining process, causing a mucus backup that can leave you with snotty sleeves. Swollen nasal membranes or condensation can also cause a stuffed schnozzle.
3. Big Brains Cause Cramped Mouths:
Evolution isn't perfect. If it were, we might have wings instead of wisdom teeth. Sometimes useless features stick around in a species simply because they're not doing much harm. But wisdom teeth weren't always a cash crop for oral surgeons. Long ago, they served as a useful third set of meat-mashing molars. But as our brains grew our jawbone structure changed, leaving us with expensively overcrowded mouths.
2. The World Laughs with You:
Just as watching someone yawn can induce the behavior in yourself, recent evidence suggests that laughter is a social cue for mimicry. Hearing a laugh actually stimulates the brain region associated with facial movements. Mimicry plays an important role in social interaction. Cues like sneezing, laughing, crying and yawning may be ways of creating strong social bonds within a group.
1. Your Skin Has Four Colors:
All skin, without coloring, would appear creamy white. Near-surface blood vessels add a blush of red. A yellow pigment also tints the canvas. Lastly, sepia-toned melanin, created in response to ultraviolet rays, appears black in large amounts. These four hues mix in different proportions to create the skin colors of all the peoples of Earth.
There's one dangerous liquid no airport security can confiscate from you: It's in your gut. Your stomach cells secrete hydrochloric acid, a corrosive compound used to treat metals in the industrial world. It can pickle steel, but mucous lining the stomach wall keeps this poisonous liquid safely in the digestive system, breaking down lunch.
9. Body Position Affects Your Memory:
Can't remember your anniversary, hubby? Try getting down on one knee. Memories are highly embodied in our senses. A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one's childhood. The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable. A recent study helps decipher some of this embodiment. An article in the January 2007 issue of Cognition reports that episodes from your past are remembered faster and better while in a body position similar to the pose struck during the event.
8. Bones Break (Down) to Balance Minerals:
In addition to supporting the bag of organs and muscles that is our body, bones help regulate our calcium levels. Bones contain both phosphorus and calcium, the latter of which is needed by muscles and nerves. If the element is in short supply, certain hormones will cause bones to break downeupping calcium levels in the bodyeuntil the appropriate extracellular concentration is reached.
7. Much of a Meal is Food For Thought:
Though it makes up only 2 percent of our total body weight, the brain demands 20 percent of the body's oxygen and calories. To keep our noggin well-stocked with resources, three major cerebral arteries are constantly pumping in oxygen. A blockage or break in one of them starves brain cells of the energy they require to function, impairing the functions controlled by that region. This is a stroke.
6. Thousands of Eggs Unused by Ovaries:
When a woman reaches her late 40s or early 50s, the monthly menstrual cycle that controls her hormone levels and readies ova for insemination ceases. Her ovaries have been producing less and less estrogen, inciting physical and emotional changes across her body. Her underdeveloped egg follicles begin to fail to release ova as regularly as before. The average adolescent girl has 34,000 underdeveloped egg follicles, although only 350 or so mature during her life (at the rate of about one per month). The unused egg follicles then deteriorate. With no potential pregnancy on the horizon, the brain can stop managing the release of ova.
5. Puberty Reshapes Brain Structure, Makes for Missed Curfews:
We know that hormone-fueled changes in the body are necessary to encourage growth and ready the body for reproduction. But why is adolescence so emotionally unpleasant? Hormones like testosterone actually influence the development of neurons in the brain, and the changes made to brain structure have many behavioral consequences. Expect emotional awkwardness, apathy and poor decision-making skills as regions in the frontal cortex mature.
4. Cell Hairs Move Mucus:
Most cells in our bodies sport hair-like organelles called cilia that help out with a variety of functions, from digestion to hearing. In the nose, cilia help to drain mucus from the nasal cavity down to the throat. Cold weather slows down the draining process, causing a mucus backup that can leave you with snotty sleeves. Swollen nasal membranes or condensation can also cause a stuffed schnozzle.
3. Big Brains Cause Cramped Mouths:
Evolution isn't perfect. If it were, we might have wings instead of wisdom teeth. Sometimes useless features stick around in a species simply because they're not doing much harm. But wisdom teeth weren't always a cash crop for oral surgeons. Long ago, they served as a useful third set of meat-mashing molars. But as our brains grew our jawbone structure changed, leaving us with expensively overcrowded mouths.
2. The World Laughs with You:
Just as watching someone yawn can induce the behavior in yourself, recent evidence suggests that laughter is a social cue for mimicry. Hearing a laugh actually stimulates the brain region associated with facial movements. Mimicry plays an important role in social interaction. Cues like sneezing, laughing, crying and yawning may be ways of creating strong social bonds within a group.
1. Your Skin Has Four Colors:
All skin, without coloring, would appear creamy white. Near-surface blood vessels add a blush of red. A yellow pigment also tints the canvas. Lastly, sepia-toned melanin, created in response to ultraviolet rays, appears black in large amounts. These four hues mix in different proportions to create the skin colors of all the peoples of Earth.
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