This and That

Want to make someone you don't even know feel instantly lonely? Do NOT look at them. A study found those who received a glance and a smile from a passing stranger felt less disconnected from others. Conclusion - stop staring at your phone while walking.

A survey found 9 out of 10 women over the age of 35 snack between meals, and the heaviest snacking happens in the late evening hours. (That's what happen to my secret stash of Oreo's!)

Expecting mom's are making plans at home! Births taking place outside of a traditional hospital increased 29% between 2004 to 2009 (around 30,000 births). Some believe women are choosing to stay home because hospitals are too quick to opt for a C-section. (This is great news for dads who are already scared to death over baby's first ride from the hospital) Source

Women are making more shopping decisions for friends and family, according to a new study. 54% of American women think they're responsible for helping family and friends make a smart buying decision. That's up from only 31% in 2008. Source

Buying a car is a man's game, right? Not so fast, a new study by LeaseTrader found women are more careful and less superficial than their male counterparts. For example, 95% of women say they care most about the car's safety performance. That ranked just above incident history and functionality, which were second and third. For men, on the other hand, it's all about performance (translation: speed!). Fewer than half the men cared about the safety features. Source

Have a nosebleed that's out of control? Use bacon! Research found packing "nasal packing with strips of cured pork" to be an effective way to treat uncontrollable nosebleeds. (Of course, this could lead to painful confrontations with your dog, so watch out._ Source

Nagging -- the Relationship Killer!

Relation experts agree that constant nagging can spell doom for a relationship. Experts also add, and you may want to sit down for this, that women are more likely to nag than men. Why? Because women feel more responsible for managing the home and are therefore more sensitive to early signs of problems.

There is good news -- a nagging relationship can be saved before it is too late. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid "death by a thousand reminders:"

•Calm down—both of you. Recognize the pattern you are in and talk about how to address it as a team. You will both need to change your behavior, and ground rules can help.

•Look at it from the other person's perspective. 'Honey, when you ignore me I feel that you don't love me.' 'I feel that you don't appreciate what I am already doing when you nag me.'

•If you are the nagger, realize you are asking for something. Use an 'I' not a 'you' statement. Say 'I would really like you to pay the Visa bill on time,' instead of 'You never pay the bill on time.'

•Explain why your request is important to you. 'I worry about our finances when you pay the bill late. We can't afford to pay late fees.'

•Manage your expectations. Make sure you are asking for something that is realistic and appropriate. Does the light bulb need to be changed immediately?

•Set a timeframe. Ask when your partner can expect to finish the task. ('Can you change the car oil this weekend?') Let him tell you when it works best for him to do it.

•If you are the naggee, give a clear response to your partner's request. Tell her honestly if you can do what she asks and when. Then follow through. Do what you say you will do.

•Consider alternative solutions. Maybe it's worth it to hire a handyman, rather than harm your relationship with arguing.

[WSJ]

Yer So Smart

Washington, D.C. is once again on top of the "Most Literate Cities" list -- which makes two years in a row. The annual list factors in a number of things including library resources, the number of bookstores and education. With that, here are the top ten most literate cities:

Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Pittsburgh, PA
Cincinnati, OH
St. Louis, MO
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO

See the full list of 75 here

Cuttin' Cake

James Cromwell (72)

Mimi Rogers (56)
Bridget Fonda (48)
Rapper Lil Jon (41)
"Bachelor" Jake Pavelka (34)

Primetime, Baby!

ABC: Shark Tank (NEW), Primetime: What Would You Do? (NEW), 20/20
CBS: A Gifted Man, CSI: NY, Blue Bloods
NBC: Chuck (NEW), Chuck (FINALE), Dateline (NEW)
FOX: Kitchen Nightmares (NEW), Fringe (NEW)
CW: Nikita, Supernatural

Joke of the Day

Two bats are hanging in their cave. One turns to the other and says,

"Oh, I'm really thirsty for some fresh blood."

The other bat is amazed and says, "Well, it’s a bit late. Daylight is almost here, and we can't be exposed to any light - you know we'll die." "Yeah, I know," says the first bat, "but I'm really starving for it."

So he flies out of the cave and returns five minutes later with blood dripping from his mouth.

"You lucky thing. Where'd you find blood that quick?" asked the second bat.

"You see that tree over there in the distance?" mumbled the bat, his mouth full of blood.

"Yeah, I think I do!"

"Well, I didn't."

Nagging - the Marriage KILLER!