Ricardo

In 1991, 60 Minutes broadcast a story that dealt with a phenomena we have come to know as the "French Paradox". The story posed an important question. How can it be that coronary heart disease rates among French males is significantly lower than the rate for US males when the French consume much more saturated animal fat than Americans? The French Paradox appears on the surface to contradict everything health professionals have been telling us about the rules of healthy eating.

It's instructive to look at the details of how the French and American diets differ.

According to research data cited in Wikipedia, in 2002 the average French person consumed 108 grams of animal fat, while the average American consumed only 72 grams. The French eat four times as much butter, sixty percent more cheese and nearly three times as much pork as Americans. Overall the consumption of saturated fat is much higher in France. Yet astoundingly according to data from the British Heart Foundation for 1999, death among males 35-74 was 230 per 100,000 in the US, but only 83 per 100,000 in France.

How to explain this? The 60 minutes story attributed the French results to the red wine that is a staple of French diets. Many researchers believe red wine is the magic bullet that explains the mystery. This article endorses that finding, while also acknowledging that other factors in the French diet likely contribute to greater longevity. For example the French are less inclined to snack-on-the-run and are not as keen on fast foods as Americans. The French diet in addition tends to be more varied and the portions smaller on average.

Scientists believe the key to the healthful benefits of red wine lie in the antioxidants, or flavonoids. Flavonoids help to reduce the production of LDL, low density lipoprotein - sometimes referred to as "bad" cholesterol. They also have the effect of increasing HDL, high density lipoprotein, the so-called "good" cholesterol. These combined effects help to prevent blood clots and improve the lipid profile overall.

Some researchers claim that the positives of drinking red wine go beyond cardiovascular benefits. A number of studies have discovered that an antioxidant concentrated in the skin of the grape, resveratrol, may actually help inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors. Research into the properties of resveratrol also indicates that it may be helpful in the formation of nerve cells, and so could potentially be a factor in the treatment of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

However since resveratrol occurs in wine at very low levels of concentration, it's unlikely that this antioxidant alone can explain the French Paradox. It appears to be best explained by the combination of elements in wine, including the very important oligomeric polyphenols. Some scientists believe that they offer the greatest protection to human blood vessel cells. Interestingly enough these polyphenols are found in greatest concentration in European red wines from specific areas. Wines made from the Tannat grape, grown in the Gers region of south-west France have some of the highest concentrations.

Aside from these Tannat vintages, which wines confer most health benefits? Based on flavonoid count - Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Petit Syrah rank highest. Although Merlot and Zinfandel have become more popular in recent years, they tend to have fewer flavonoids. White wine is even lower on the scale, and the sweeter the white, the fewer the flavonoids.

Although most medical advice recommends moderate wine consumption, new research appears to indicate the contrary. In a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School and National Institute of Aging, large amounts of red wine extract was fed to mice. Even though the mice were fed a high fat diet, they lived a long and healthy life. Scientists hail the results as "spectacular". The death rate for the mice on the wine extract supplement dropped 31%, as compared to the untreated mice. The treated mice also lived longer than average. Another aspect of the study that surprised researchers, was that the organs of the overweight mice that received the extract looked entirely normal.

Scientists caution that it is too soon to tell how these benefits will carry over into humans and that people shouldn't be tempted to overdo the wine consumption on the basis of these results.

Based on the research over the past few years, there is little doubt that red wine does indeed confer significant health benefits. But as I mentioned above, other factors also come into play. The benefits of red wine will be less apparent if a person has a driven lifestyle high on stress, with junk food as the primary diet. But when the eating habits are conducive to a healthy lifestyle the benefits of red wine rank high.

Here's to everyone's good health!

Aidan Maconachy is a freelance writer and artist based in Ontario.

Modern skin care products contain various ingredients that are effective for many purposes, including cleansing, healing, soothing and firming. The following is a list of ingredients to look for in these products:

ALLANTOIN is a chemical extracted from the comfrey root. It is an anti-irritant with healing and soothing properties that makes an excellent additive in face creams, masks and lotions.

ALMOND OIL is a vegetable oil extracted from almond seeds. It stays fresher longer than many other similar nut oils and for this reason it is used in many skin care products.

ALOE VERA is a natural moisturizer. It serves as a delivery system for other vitamins and nutrients in skin care products and can probably be considered an essential ingredient in almost all skin care products.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID is an anti-oxidant with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The fat soluble portion of alpha lipoic acid is of tremendous benefit to the skin. Substances that are water soluble do not penetrate the skin very well, but fat soluble molecules do penetrate.

ASCORBIC ACID is a water soluble form of Vitamin C which promotes collagen production. Vitamin C also has anti-inflammatory properties and defends against free radicals in the skin created by sunlight, ozone and harsh chemicals.

CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) EXTRACT is from chamomile which is one of the few herbs that has any value for the skin. A mild mixture of chamomile leaves produces an oily substance that is soothing to the skin. Matricaria is a derivative of chamomile that some experts believe hastens skin healing.

DMAE is a nutritional substance that can be found in fish such as salmon. It is an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging topical agent that increases skin health, tone and radiance. A landmark study in which DMAE and alpha lipoic acid were combined in a topical solution showed marked resolution in scarring for patients with surgical scars when applied twice daily. It can also reduce the severity of atrophic (indented) acne scars. DMAE can also act as a penetration enhancer to increase the anti-inflammatory effects of alpha lipoic acid. Topical application of DMAE has a cumulative effect and can decrease the appearance of large pores over time.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL is a source of GLA (Gamma Linoleic Acid), an Omega-6 essential fatty acid which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

GLYCERIN is a clear, syrupy liquid made by chemically combining water and fat. The water splits the fat into smaller components, glycerol and fatty acids. It improves the spreading quality of creams and lotions and prevents them from losing water through evaporation.

GRAPESEED EXTRACT is important to skin care because it protects collagen from damage by free radicals, dampens inflammation and helps maintain the health and integrity of blood vessels.

GREEN TEA EXTRACT helps protect the skin from damaging free radicals. It contains powerful anti-oxidants called polyphenols that are also excellent anti-inflammatories.

HYALURONIC ACID is a substance found in human cells that helps hold moisture in the skin, as much as 300 times its own weight in water. This is an extremely effective ingredient that can also be quite costly.

JOJOBA OIL is an expensive oil extracted from the jojoba seed that can provide a good film of moisture.

KERATIN is the protein that is the primary constituent of the hair, nails and skin.

OMEGA-3 & -6 OILS are essential fatty acids important to skin health. The Omega-3 essential fatty acids dramatically reduce the body's production of inflammatory compounds. The active ingredients in Omega-6 oils are derived from linoleic acid.

PANTHENOL is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.

SQUALENE is a substance derived from shark lipid that contains large quantities of Vitamins A and D and has very good emollient properties.

TRIETHANOLAMINE is an alkali that handles oil well by emulsifying it.

UBIQUINONE preserves the anti-oxidant action of Vitamin C and protects cell membranes against oxidative damage.

UREA is a natural substance that removes dead, dry skin cells. Urea both soothes dry skin and stimulates cell growth in the epidermis. It is a valuable additive in moisturizers. It is an aquaphilic compound that both attracts water and prevents its loss. It is the dry epidermis' best friend. Acne-prone people should also use products containing urea as it seals in moisture without clogging pores.

VITAMIN A is probably the most important vitamin involved in the appearance of the skin. It can pas through the skins' layers and may exert an effect on the rate of keratinization of the skin. It is also an excellent ingredient in acne preparations, dry skin care and soothing creams for burns and irritated skin. Retinyl palmitate is a form of Vitamin A that some studies indicate turns into Retin-A (the acidic form of Vitamin A) in the skin. Retin-A appears to be one of the only products that when applied to the surface of the skin reduces lines and wrinkles and restores pink color to aging skin.

VITAMIN D is absorbed through the skins' outer layers. There is some evidence demonstrating that it exerts a healing effect on the skin when applied topically. It seems to work particularly well when combined with Vitamin A.

VITAMIN E is a powerful anti-oxidant.

This list in fairly comprehensive but by no means exhaustive. It is important to note that many of the above ingredients work well together and can have a synergistic effect when combined.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Skin Care

ABC News

Pakistan Heightens Security at Airports After Bomb Threat Voice of America - Sep 25, 2008 By VOA News Pakistani authorities say they have heightened security at all airports after a phone caller threatened to bomb the Islamabad airport. Video: islamabad bombings : reaction on the web france24english Pakistan leader: Citizens must support terror war The Associated Press United Press International - Pakistan Dawn - Daily Times - New York Times all 3,700 news articles

Whereas 2D bar codes offer more security and safety for their subjects, 1D bar codes, as read by 1D bar code readers, are more practical for wide scale operations. The reason? Bar codes with single layers are more affordable to produce than the double layered inscriptions of 2D bar codes. Hence, there is a large demand for 1D bad codes and 1D bar code readers in todays busy times.

A 1D bar code reader is an essential, and preferred, tool for retail establishments where items pass through a counter several times a minute. A 1D bar code reader is also the device of choice for establishments that seek to monitor the ingress and regress of people, when such establishments are not considered as high security areas.

Why Are There 1D And 2D Bar Code Readers?

Though a universal type of bar code would greatly help a variety of industries, the various types of bar codes today, which are not limited to 1D and 2D bar codes alone, have provided a wider selection for different enterprises with distinct needs.

The creation of 1D and 2D varieties of barcodes stemmed from the attempts of bar code manufacturers to improve on the existing formula. But each improvement served a specific purpose distinct to its kind, hence, such was retained. Today, there are a lot of 2D bar code readers for 2D bar codes and 1D bar code readers for 1D bar codes. This is a sign of a very healthy industry!

Kinds Of 1D Bar Code Readers

A 1D bar code reader can come in many forms. Portable 1D bar code readers are the most commonly used in many establishments. Since a 1D bar code reader is generally manufactured for a market that experiences brisk operations, it is easy to assume that the sheer transportability of these portable 1D bar code readers make them more appealing to their target audience.

A 1D bar code reader can also come in the form of scanner-type 1D bar code readers. These are seldom used, however, as their more mobile counterparts are more appropriate for the market that 1D bar code readers seek to cater to.

The Road Ahead For 1D Bar Code Readers

It is understandable that people would feel hesitant about investing on a 1D bar code reader, mainly because of fear that the 1D bar code design would soon become obsolete. These fears are quite unfounded.

There will always be a need for a 1D barcode reader because there will always be a market for 1D bar codes. As we have mentioned earlier, a good number of establishments actually prefer 1D bar codes and 1D bar code readers because they are more resilient and responsive to businesses with busier processes. This accommodative nature of 1D bar code readers should assure everyone that they are here to stay and investing on them would be a prudent choice.

This, of course, is aside from the fact that 1D bar code readers are cheaper than other types of this device.

Ewen Chia is the owner of BarCodeReader.info providing excellent bar code reader information, news plus completely *free* barcode fonts! ==> http://www.BarCodeReader.info

The Southern Ledger

Father leaves nine children at Nebraska hospital Chicago Tribune - 10 hours ago Parents are abandoning teenagers at Nebraska hospitals, in a case of a well intentioned law inspiring unintended results. Over the last two weeks, moms or dads have dropped off seven teens at hospitals in the Cornhusker state, indicating they didnt ... Nebraska Children Being Abandoned At Alarming Rate AHN Neb. lawmakers consider revising 'safe-haven' law The Associated Press KPTM-TV - eFluxMedia - KCAU - Washington Post all 1,357 news articles

Well frankly I don't like it but unfortunately while striding through the wilds of Aseroth - I have a major dilemma - I'm broke. Not completely broke mind you - just not able to afford the best things in life - not unlike my real life - which doesn't feel entirely fair. Mind you World of Warcraft Money has always been a bit of an enigma to me - everyone else seems to earn it much more easily than me.

Although I don't like it - I have looked at ways of getting a few extra gold coins. Frankly grinding away earning gold bores me stupid - but in World of Warcraft money is vital to buy the best things in the game. I can't say I was too keen in purchasing gold - although the clandestine meeting where the gold was passed to me in a rolled up sack at midnight behind the stormbank quite appealed. But then again I was bound to find the Blizzard undercover agent who was out to entrap utter noobs like me. I did have a happy half hour remembering all my favourite spy films though - remember Harry Lime - no of course you don't this is about World of warcraft money isn't it.

World of Warcraft Money making Guides

So how do I earn some cash - I turned in fact to some of the money making guides that are for sale - still not overly keen on paying for this sort of information - I did clear it in my mind - if the purchase made my online time that much more pleasurable and saved me months of my usual pathetic money making attempts - buy low - and sell well erm lower - then it was probably worth the small investment.

The growth of Digital information products is probably built on the same decision making process - how much am I willing to pay for the information I need -in my case about World of Warcraft money. This did make it easier and after all the guys who wrote these things had spent many, many hours researching, trialling and perfecting these methods and then preapring all the reports and documentation - so if I got decent documentation it seemed a good purchase.

Now I'm not sure exactly what sort of person creates a huge guide to World of Warcraft money making but two thoughts do cross my mind.

1) Thanks for figuring all this out for me.
2) I suspect they spend way too much time playing this game!

World of Warcraft is a fantastic game but there are some extremely boring bits and these inevitably seem to revolve around money making. I tried quite a few of these guides and I am afraid they are a very mixed bag. There are a few that are not however and one of these is by Wayne Williams - one of the Rockafellers of World of Warcraft Money.

You get quite a lot of stuff for your money - a huge guide to making money in WoW, lots of step by step guides complete with lots of screen captures to help explain the concepts. there are specific instructions on how to perform these and I don't think many players would have the knowledge of many of these World of Warcraft Money Making schemes. Some really surprising methods that I am quite sure would have continued to elude me without this guide.

There is also a mining map guide which shows you the very exact spots for the most profitable mining - needless to say I'd managed to avoid all of these as well ! The other major bonus is the Auction House guide -which is extremely good - many reports write very vague tips around World of Warcraft Money making in the auction houses but Wayne actually delivers videos of his techniques so you can see the exact process he is following. All the methods are thus explained very well and clearly.

There's also a really well written Basics guide for anyone new to World of Warcraft.

The guides are all well written and delivered - particularly the videos, there are so many new and innovative ways to make World of Warcraft money very quickly - that there's bound to be one to suit your style of play. I believe the product is definetely worth the money purely as it will save many, many hours earning gold which can be better used in the game.

If you want to learn the secrets of World of Warcraft Money making - you'd definitely be advised to buy this guide.

Joe Simpson
Often plays World of Warcraft when his wife thinks he's working as an Internet Consultant.

See more information here on this and other methods: World of Warcraft money

The Fox networks television show is an American version of the U.K. show called Pop Idol. American Idol is produced by Ken Warwick and Simon Fuller, the very same U.K. producers of Pop Idol. The American Idol TV show made its U.S. debut on June 11, 2002. The shows first television season was enthusiastically received by record television viewers from across America. By way of doing a nationwide search for talented singers, the TV show aims to discover the best unknown singing talent in the country. The contestants are selected from the American Idol auditions which are usually held in six to seven U.S. cities every season.

From American Idol Auditions To The Finals
During these tryouts, the contestants are culled from thousands of singers into a few hundred. The judges will whittle down the remaining contestants even further still during the Hollywood round. In the end, from the thousands of hopeful singers who signed up for the tryouts with dreams of being acclaimed the American Idol winner, only 24 contestants, 12 males and 12 females, go to the semifinals.

The survivors of the semifinal round, 12 contestants in all, will then go on to give it their all in the final round. To make it all the way from the tryouts into the final round takes a great deal of talent. In the final rounds, one singer will be eliminated from the bottom three contestants each week until the final episode of the season where there are only two singers remaining from which the winner and runner up are then selected. Too bad the name is already being used by another popular TV show because it should be more aptly named "Survivor".

What It Takes To Become An American Idol Winner
Getting a break on the TV show is what many novice singers can only dream about. They hope that some day the results will have their name as the winner. After seeing the successful careers of past contestants, many singers are also trying very hard to get a tryout. While some contestants fail and some come out on top, we need to realize that there can be only winner at the end of each season and not every singer performing on the show can wear the crown. Singing talent alone is not enough to make you a winner. A beautiful voice may get you through the American Idol auditions, but you also need to have a special personality to have a chance at winning the competition. I is important to have the rhythm and command over different tunes in addition to having a beautiful singing voice. Knowing how to dance along with your singing is a talent that is sure to give you a huge advantage over other competitors who can't dance a lick.

The American Idol Official Website
If you are planning to tryout for an American Idol audition you need to be prepared. It's a good idea to head over to Fox television's official American Idol website and read and memorize all of the helpful information provided there. You will find plenty of frequently asked questions and answers on their website. If you have any misconceptions about trying out for the auditions and/or competition, you can clear many of them up by reading the information provided. A couple of the eligibility requirements to get into the competition are: You should be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. and You should be between the ages of 16 and 29.

Tips To Make You An American Idol Winner
Some helpful advice for aspiring contestants from previous winners of the TV show competition are:

1) It is imperative that you rehearse the songs you choose over and over again until you have got it perfect. Then, make sure you sing that same song in front of the judges with full confidence. If you do it right, you will capture their attention and imagination and leave them wanting to hear more form you.

2) You really need to put everything you can into the song you are singing.

3) You should feel the lyrics when you are singing a song. When you do it right, the expressions should show on your face.

4) Remember to focus all of your attention on getting though the audition or current round. Each time you make it into next round you have an extra chance to show your talent and you are that much closer to the crown.

5) Always treat the judges with respect. Be completely honest and truthful at all times.

6) American Idol judges often like contestants who dedicate songs to their family members and friends.

7) If you are asked about your role models, try to come up with at least two or three names. When you describe them, you need to fine tune your verbiage and if at all possible try to come up with some interesting words to describe those personalities, but only if you are comfortable doing so. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, then do not use it because you could only end up getting embarrassed.

8) Be prepared to tell about yourself succinctly. Make sure that you dress well. It's important to dress fashionable, but never be under dressed or too overdressed.

9) It never hurts to train. By taking a few voice-training classes you will greatly increases your chances of making it past auditions.

Are You The Next American Idol Winner?
By following the tips discussed above you can only enhance your chances of making it past the American Idol audition. Who knows, with your talent and my tips there should be no stopping you. I look forward to seeing you on the next TV show. Heck, who knows, the next results may have as the next American Idol winner!

Neil Gerstein writes informative articles on various subjects like American Idol Auditions when he isn't busy building and promoting his own websites. He currently have several websites that are great for content. At Movies, Music, Games & More he reviews the best unlimited free download sites for movies, music, games, zune, psp and iphone.

The Associated Press

Dave Matthews helped produce new Palahniuk film The Associated Press - 13 hours ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dave Matthews has acted in a few films, but the Grammy-winning musician has been playing a behind-the-scenes role in Hollywood of late - that of film producer. Chokin' on Chuck Salon 'Choke': Addicted To Love, By Kurt Loder MTV.com The Virginian-Pilot - Los Angeles Times - Lansing State Journal - Washington Post all 365 news articles

As my sites get more and more search engine traffic, I am faced with trying to figure out how to best monetize my traffic. I am currently using mainly Google Adsense ads, but since I have added more affiliate programs to pages that are getting traffic I am noticing a very nice increase in my monthly income.

I have read in many places that affiliate ads that are prominently displayed will take away from your adsense income. I must agree that on sites where my affiliate programs are simply generally related to my site as a whole, my affiliate income is almost non-existent. However lately I have been studying my traffic logs closely and looking at the search phrases people have been using to find my pages.

Once I have determined the key phrase, I then narrow it down to the page they found when they typed in that phrase. Once this is established I search high and low for an affiliate product that matches that page and that key phrase. Once this golden affiliate program has been found, I add it prominently to the page.

On the two sites I have used this method, not only have my adsense income remained almost unchanged but last month but my affiliate income doubled as well.

My advice is, do what works for your site, all sites are unique and react differently, but you may want to give this combination a try it has really worked wonders for me.

This article was provided by Jon Yarbrough of http://www.articlebooster.com, also if you would like to get more traffic monetizing tips like this one, you can also find Jons newsletter at http://www.trafficloot.com. You may use this article as long as the article is unchanged and all links are intact including this resource box.

Biotechs Get Rival Deals To Build Anthrax Vaccine Washington Post - 12 hours ago By Kendra Marr The race to develop and supply the government with anthrax-fighting drugs just got more heated. Two rival biotechs -- Emergent BioSolutions of Rockville and PharmAthene of Annapolis -- announced yesterday that they received separate ... PharmAthene wins anti-terrorism contract worth up to $84M Bizjournals.com PharmAthene, Emergent Land NIAID Anthrax Vaccine Contracts TMCnet CIDRAP - MarketWatch - RTT News - Genetic Engineering News (press release) all 39 news articles

Let's face it, once we step outside our home, we are surrounded by insects and other organisms. What we do about them depends largely on what they are doing to us -- especially in our garden, and to our lawn, flowers or trees. Generally, trying to eliminate most pesky pests is an almost impossible situation. However, there are plans available to help you to deal with the problem while keeping people, pets and the environment safe.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is such a plan. What makes this worth pursuing is the fact that it is based on common-sense, economical means of containing the pests while keeping the safety of people, property and the environment in mind. IPM begins at the beginning -- the threat, and works through to containment and/or elimination. There are basically four steps to the IPM Plan:

1. Prevention. This is the most preferable and simplest method to use. Select pest-resistant variety of vegetables for your garden, rotate between different crops and plant pest-free rootstock. Talk to your County Extension Agent (check your telephone directory under government) before buying seeds or plants. Ask for the Master Gardener's help in choosing pest-resistant plants, shrubs, trees, etc.

2. Assess the seriousness of the problem. This assessment indicates when action should be taken. Seeing a few insects is not a problem, seeing continuing damage done to your plants is! Is there a real threat to your lawn and garden? If the answer is yes, move to the next step.

3. Identify the culprits. Once you verify that the insects, organisms or weeds are a danger, the next step is to identify and monitor them. After they are identified and the danger is determined to be real, you can take the proper steps to control or eradicate the problem. If you know what you are up against, you are less likely to use a pesticide when it is not needed or use the wrong kind. Ideally, after you identify the culprit, you can investigate and use natural methods rather than dangerous pesticides.

4. Control. Before indiscriminately spraying everything in sight, begin with an effective but less risky approach such as spraying pheromones to disrupt the pest mating. Depending upon the pest you might even try trapping. Natural predators might be introduced into the area. These are insects that eat other insects and may control the infestation. There are also insect growth regulators which also may take care of the pests.

Talk with the Master Gardener at your County Extension Office and get his/her recommendations as to your best choice. If these don't work, move on to the next level which would be "targeted" spraying of a pesticide. The last level and highest level would be a broadcast spraying of a non-specific pesticide.

NOTE: Choose a pesticide that is produced from natural sources rather than those using synthetic chemicals. Only by identifying the pest can you be sure to use the correct pesticide.

As you can see, even in Step 4, there are levels of control going from effective but less risky to the broadcast spraying. By following the IPM plan you reduce or eliminate exposure to dangerous, synthetic pesticides to yourself, your family, pets and the environment.

For more information on all facets of lawn care: organic lawn care, natural lawn care, maintenance tips, diy lawn care, products and tools, and new ideas for environmentally safe lawn care products, visit us at http://lawncareideas.com/