Saturday 14 July 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Cover of Time magazine
Does Breastfeeding Really Save Money?
By Kimberly
Palmer | U.S.News
This week's cover of Time magazine,
featuring a woman breastfeeding her tall three-year-old son, launched a range
of strong reactions across the blogosphere. Some supporters of attachment
parenting lauded the cover as
"normalizing" breastfeeding past the age of one, while others felt
the defiant stance of mother and son seemed designed to spark outrage and even
evoked pornography.
Amid the controversy, the actual article, which explores the birth of attachment parenting, was
barely discussed. But attachment parenting, which often includes co-sleeping,
long-term breastfeeding, and near-constant togetherness of mother and child
also comes with a price. As Hanna Rosin of Slate has pointed
out, round-the-clock breastfeeding is hardly compatible with most women's jobs,
and the constant sleep deprivation can interfere with getting work done during
the day.
Rosin writes
in Slate, "There is the very basic objection that it is
virtually impossible to do what the advocates say is best for your baby and
have a job, which the vast majority of American mothers have these days."
There's also evidence that extended breastfeeding can have
a negative impact on earnings. As Ruth Mantell wrote in the Wall Street Journal, breastfeeding
can hurt a woman's ability to earn money for
her family, largely because of the time it takes. She cites research that shows
women who breastfeed for six months or longer face a steeper income decline
than those who breastfeed less than six months. And as the researcher points
out, money plays a vital role in children's well-being.
Breastfeeding
itself is not always as free and easy as it might seem, either. In fact, it can
be costly. While avoiding formula certainly saves a lot of money in the first
year, by some estimates. and breastfed babies are less likely to come down with
certain illnesses, which reduces healthcare costs, breastfeeding today is
certainly not "free," at least not for most people.
For parents committed to the attachment parenting model and
breastfeeding, there are free
resources that can help. La Leche League and
the website kellymom.com offer assistance and support to nursing moms. The IRS
also recently changed flex spending rules so breast pumps and related nursing
supplies are eligible for tax breaks. But it's not so easy to overcome the
challenge of finding the time to both work and practice attachment parenting.
For parents with jobs that require them to be away for nine to 10 hours a day,
it might not even be possible.
What do
you think about the price of attachment parenting--is it worth it?
Why does your car's oil light come on?
By Mark McDonald | Popular Mechanics
Q: The oil light on my 2000 Chevy Cavalier comes
on at low rpm and then shuts off as I start driving. I checked the oil level
and it's fine. Is this something I should be worried about?
A: Any time the oil light goes on, it's cause for concern. Many
newer and high-feature cars have oil-life monitors that determine when the oil
needs to be changed, but the glowing red oil light in your Cavalier indicates
the oil pressure is low. That's bad for several reasons. Low pressure means
there either isn't enough oil in the system or the oil pump isn't circulating
enough oil to keep the critical bearing and friction surfaces lubricated. If
the light comes on while at speed, do your best to pull off the road quickly,
turn the engine off, and investigate the problem to avoid damage.
Oil is the lifeblood of any engine, but the oil circuit is
probably the least appreciated engine system. The oil-supply path starts in
the oil pan, where a pump sucks up the lubricating fluid and distributes it to
passages cast into the block. From there oil is directed to the crankshaft
bearings, the camshaft bearings, the valve shafts, and other important moving
parts. Modern oil formulations include detergents, so regular oil and filter
changes at intervals recommended in the owner's manual generally keep the
system happy. Unfortunately, everything wears over time, which increases the
tiny gaps between sliding parts. Those alone can cause a slight drop in oil
pressure, as can an aging pump.
Before you go too far in diagnosing the problem, it probably makes
sense to double-check the oil level and top it off to make sure that isn't the
problem. Since the light comes on at low engine speeds and then shuts off, the
oil pump is probably fine; if the pump were dying, you'd see low pressure at
high engine speeds as well. The most likely culprit is the sensor that operates
the light. The sensor is screwed into the engine and has a probe that resides
in an oil passage. It's basically an on/off switch that uses the oil pressure
to close an electrical circuit. Sometimes a particle of dirt or some other
foreign matter gets into the probe and fouls the part. The sensor is fairly
easy to replace—as long as you can get at it, which is sometimes difficult.
Unhook the wiring, loosen with a wrench, and follow the instructions to replace
the sensor. Take the car for a test drive and see if the light still goes on at
idle. If it does, you might be due for a new oil pump after all.
Common Conversation Mistakes
Common
Conversation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Have you ever shown
up at a job interview and not known what to say? Ever had to make friendly
conversation with an important client or colleague and been at a loss for
words? Of course you have- we ALL have!
One woman who has
navigated these obstacles and mastered the art of the conversation is NBC
Veteran and Emmy Award winning journalist, Jane Hanson.
For close to 30
years, Jane has interviewed everyone from U.S. Presidents to people on the
street (and she happened to be the anchor of Today In New York when I started
out as reporter for the show!)
Informed, warm,
direct and always charming- Jane has truly learned the tricks for building
instant rapport and getting people to open up- be it on-camera or in the
elevator.
To get the secrets
to conversation etiquette "do's" and "don'ts", we headed to
NYC to sit down with the pro and do what she does best…chat.
BUILDING INSTANT
RAPPORT
When it comes to
first meetings, most of us tend to talk a lot more about ourselves than listen.
This is often out of nerves or a desire to be interesting or entertaining. Jane
emphasizes that this is a no-no. Instead, look for things that might be of interest
to the person you're talking with and use them to open up the conversation.
Notice a baseball on their desk and ask about it. If they are wearing a
colorful brooch, ask them where they got it from. Keep your eyes open and your
mouth shut. It's that simple.
Jane's advice:
Don't talk too much about yourself on initial
meetings.
Do ask more about others. Look around for clues
for conversation openers.
BEATING NERVES
For many of us,
walking into a job interview feels like walking into a death trap. We get that
sick feeling in the pit of our stomach and those charming sweaty palms (perfect
for shaking hands, not!). But it doesn't have to be this way. We figured if Jane
can stay calm on LIVE TV, perhaps there were some tips we could learn.
Jane believes that a
lot of the nervous energy stems from a lack of research and going into a
meeting unprepared. Her secret to beating the nerves is to fully research the
person and company you're meeting with. With online search engines able to
reveal practically what your interviewer ate for breakfast, there's no excuse
to go in blind.
Jane's advice:
Don't go to any interview unprepared.
Do research your interviewer.
LOSE THE "DO OR
DIE ATTITUDE"
Instead of going
into a job interview and treating it like an audition, take the pressure off
and think of it as a place to practice. Don't worry so much if you don't get
the job, see it as a learning process for the next interview.
Jane's Advice:
Don't stress.
Do see each interview as practice- taking that
pressure off will help you shine.
DEALING WITH
"FOOT IN MOUTH"
We've all said the
wrong thing, at the wrong time, to the wrong person- and that was just this
week! Sure it can be embarrassing but it's also very human and normal.
Jane believes that
owning up to a mistake is a much better direction to go than covering up. Don't
dwell on it, admit it and then move on. Done!
Jane's Advice:
Don't make excuses or brush over mistakes
hoping they will go away.
Do own up to your errors, apologize and get on
with it.
PUT A CORK IN IT
When it comes to the
best advice Jane has ever been given- it's all about paying attention. Jane
highlights how not listening is a problem not only as a journalist, but also as
a person navigating everyday life and relationships. If you find yourself in a
difficult conversation make sure you really listen to what's being said for
clues as to how to respond. Most misunderstanding comes from spending too much
time talking and not enough time listening.
Jane's Advice:
Don't blabber on hoping that they will
understand you. Eventually.
Do really listen to what they are saying. Often
people will give you the answers you're looking for if only you would be quiet
long enough to hear them speak.
How to Ask for a Raise
How to Ask for a Raise
By Kathryn
Eisman | Secrets
to Your Success
Show me the $
You're
heart is racing, your palms are sweating, swallowing feels you have a bolder in
your throat -- if only you could get those five little words out…Can I have a
raise?
We've
all been through it and know that asking for more money at work is one of the
most nerve-wracking, stomach-churning, knee-weakening experiences we have to go
through in our professional lives. It's little wonder most of us would prefer
to ask for a lobotomy than a raise. But it doesn't need to be this way…
To find
out how to ask for more mullah we headed to New York City to catch up with
workplace champion Tory Johnson. Not only is Tory "Good Morning
America's" go-to gal for career advice, she is also the founder and CEO of
Women for Hire, the countries first and most successful female only career
expo, so we figured she might have some words of wisdom…boy were we
right!
Your career fairy godmother has left the building
Most of
us grow up thinking that if we work hard, keeps our heads down and our tails up
then eventually someone at work will notice and tap us on the shoulder and
offer us a raise. Wrong!
You're
going to have to be your own fairy godmother and make your professional career
dreams come true for yourself, and here's how…
1. Justify your raise
In
today's economy, with so many people losing their jobs, going the extra mile at
work is almost expected. Once upon a time just being with the company a certain
amount of years justified a pay increase; these days you will only get paid
more if you can prove that you deliver more value to the company. Show your
boss just how much you are bringing to the business and that a pay increase is
still a bargain considering the extra revenue and value you contribute. Tory
says that you should ask yourself: What are you really worth? And if it's what
your current salary is paying you to do, focus on stepping up your value before
asking for a raise.
2. "No" can mean "Yes"
Sure it
hurts when you hear the dreaded "No", but don't be disheartened. Find
our why your boss has rejected your request and ask him, "what could I do
that would turn that 'no' into a 'yes'?" Tory suggests that you shouldn't
take it to heart, but rather use it to open a dialogue about what areas the
company is hoping to grow in and how you can be a part of that growth. And
before you walk out that room and eat a chocolate block, ask your boss if you
can reschedule to discuss this further at a later date. As Tory says,
"No" isn't always a solid no - it could mean "Not Now."
3. Don't be afraid of butterflies
Don't
kid yourself, it's NEVER easy picking up the phone or stepping inside an office
and asking for a raise, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still do it. In
life, fortune favors the brave, quite literally. If you want to make that
fortune you better start working on your courage. To overcome nerves, be sure
to prepare in bullet-point form all the reasons why you truly deserve a raise
and why it's not just in your interest, but more importantly, in the best
interest of the company. Think about all the reasons why your boss may object
and consider if the objections are valid and if you can do something to
overcome them. The more prepared you are, the better, but set a timeline for
your meeting or you'll be preparing (read: procrastinating) for years. Remind
yourself that while you hope they say yes, it may be the first step in getting
a yes down the road.
4. Find a champion
Most
people are told to look for a mentor, but Tory suggests getting a champion
instead. What's the difference? A champion not only supports and encourages you
as a mentor does, but is in a position to actually help leverage her contacts
and political clout to help you get what you seek. Having someone believe in
you who is in a position to help you is far more powerful than someone simply
cheering from the sidelines.
5. If you want a raise, step up
If you
are seen to be taking initiative, moving forward with confidence and
commitment, and seeking to be the very best you can be…it's only a matter of
time before you find people to support you. People are attracted to others that
have a passion and are making it happen for themselves. If you want others to
help you (and give you more money), start by elevating your own efforts. Step
up to the plate...after all, they don't call it a "raise" for
nothing!
Ketchup. We love it.
Ketchup's Unsavory Secret History
By Piper
Weiss, Shine Staff | Summer Kick-Off
Ketchup. We love it. But do we really
know it?
An estimated 97 percent of American households have a
bottle in their fridges right now. Most people
like Heinz' original recipe, which
consists of tomatoes, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, spice, onion
powder and some other "natural flavorings" the company isn't required
to list. Heinz recentlyre-introduced its limited
edition ketchup with balsamic vinegar in
time for burger season for all you fancy types. But before Heinz, ketchup, or
even catsup, there was katchop. The Chinese condiment, from which the burger
topping originated, was nothing more than shellfish brine.
A mixture of sea creatures, soaked for days in pickling vinegar
and spices, was the basis for the french fry dip we know and love. When British
explorers caught wind of it in Singapore in the 1700s, they brought it back to
their own Western European kitchens. The result was the first ketchup recipe: a
mixture of vinegar, shallots, spices, horseradish, and get this,
ANCHOVIES.
Gizmodo's Rachel Swaby dug up the first
English recipe on record published in the 1727 cookbook, Compleat Housewife,
which called for 12 to 14 anchovies and zero tomatoes.
"Way back it was more like a fish sauce than our condiment
today… and maybe really gross," writes Swaby. "But apparently people
didn't think so, because cookbook authors were reprinting the above recipe well
into the 19th century."
Ketchup made from pickled oyster juice was another popular dipping
sauce. It wasn't until the 1820s that tomatoes got involved in the mix, and
slowly muscled out sea creatures. Thank Heinz, which brought the bottled
version to homes in the 1870s.
Not that the brand has had a perfect record. Remember not too long
ago, when Heinz introduced 'funky purple' and 'blastin' green' EZ Squirts
ketchup? I'll take ground anchovies over Blue No. 1 and Red No. 3 any
day.
Secret nuclear reactor
Kodak’s (sort of) secret nuclear reactor
By Jeff Stacklin | The Lookout
How's this for a revelation: The Kodak Eastman Co. had
a small nuclear research reactor in a little-known underground labyrinth at its
Rochester, N.Y., facility.
And, although locked down and under tight security, it also
contained 3½ pounds of highly enriched uranium, reports
the the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester.
The writer succinctly notes:
That's the material that nuclear bombs are made of. Terrorists
covet it.
The imaging company, which
has filed for bankruptcy, used the reactor to
check chemicals and other materials for impurities, as well as for neutron
radiography testing, the newspaper reported. The reactor, acquired by the
company in 1974, was about the size of a refrigerator and kept in a 14- by
24-foot cement-lined cavity dug below a basement of one of
its research buildings.
"This
device presented no radiation risk to the public or employees," company
spokesman Christopher Veronda told the newspaper. "Radiation from the
operation was not detectable outside of the facility."
Kodak
didn't necessarily mean to keep the reactor a secret, the newspaper reported.
Rather, it was just never truly public knowledge.
Although
it had been mentioned in research papers, Veronda told the newspaper, the
company never made a public announcement about it. And he wasn't sure the
company ever notified local police, fire or hazardous materials officials that
it possessed
the reactor.
The
newspaper acknowledged it learned of the reactor when a Kodak employee
mentioned it.
As for
the uranium, it is no longer at the facility. It has been shipped to a federal
facility in South Carolina,
the newspaper reported.
Slash Your Car Insurance
How to Slash Your Car Insurance Bill in Half
These nine tips could help you make significant
savings in your car insurance.
By John Loos
We all want to cut our expenses in half. The good news is that
while the monthly costs for your smartphone or cable TV may be relatively
fixed, your auto insurance rate may have some room to shrink.
The average driver may spend up to $84,000 in a lifetime on car
insurance, according to a February 2011 posting on the Motor Trend magazine's
website - a figure that could be reduced if you know how to save on your
policy.
"The average yearly auto insurance premium is
about $850, but there is wide variation around this average," says Loretta
Worters, a vice president of the Insurance Information Institute (III), an
organization dedicated to improving the public's understanding of insurance.
"Many factors can affect your premium."
Check out these nine saving methods to see how you can reduce
your car insurance rate.
#1 - Get a Variety of Quotes
Be curious. When purchasing auto insurance, explore your options
instead of simply buying the first policy presented to you.
"A good rule of thumb is to get three identical quotes from
different insurance companies," says Melissa Fox, deputy press secretary
for the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.
A quote is the estimated price you will pay if you purchase the
policy in question.
Quotes can vary significantly from company to company. For
example, a sampling of prices given through the Texas Department of Insurance's
Price Guide revealed that annual rates can run as high as $1,795 and as low as
$316. That's a $1,479 difference!
#2 - Dig for Discounts
Just as you might scour a store for sales and deals, make sure
to research your insurer to know what discounts you could qualify for.
According to the III, available discounts provided by your
insurer may include:
- Low annual mileage - Drivers who use their vehicles sparingly throughout the year.
- Anti-theft devices - Devices that could prevent car theft, such as car alarms and wheel-locking devices.
- Long-time customer - Sticking with the same insurance company could yield customer loyalty discounts.
- Defensive driving courses - Completion of accredited driving courses, particularly for drivers over 50.
- A college student away from home - If your child is driving your vehicle less often, you may be able to take him or her off your policy.
#3 - Regularly Review Your Policy
What fit your driving needs a year ago may not be the best fit
today. To allow your policy to reflect your lifestyle, you should get into the
habit of regularly reviewing your car insurance policy. Otherwise, you could be
paying for unnecessary coverage on your policy.
In order to make sure that you're taking advantage of possible
discounts, you should review your policy if you've changed vehicles, added or
removed a vehicle, added or removed a driver, or had a significant change to
your number of annual miles, according to the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners' (NAIC) website, a group comprised of insurance commissioners
from all 50 states.
#4 - Improve Your Credit Score
How you spend money says a lot about how responsible you are.
Depending on the state, insurance companies could look to your credit score
when determining if you are likely to be a safe or more reckless driver.
"For many insurers, credit-based insurance scoring is one
of the most important and statistically valid tools to predict the likelihood
of a person filing a claim and the likely cost of that claim," says
Worters.
What makes up your credit score? Factors such as your payment
history, any unpaid debt, your credit history length, or bankruptcies help
formulate these credit-based insurance scores, according to Worters.
#5 - Maintain a Good Driving Record
Drive smart, drive safe.
Insurers often reward good driving habits with reductions in
rates or lower initial rates, according to the "What Determines the Price
of My Auto Insurance Policy," an article on III's website.
For example, look at these annual sample rates - randomly
produced by the Texas Department of Insurance's Price Guide - from three
insurance companies:
- Male, 25-65, no violations: $495, $365, $599
- Male, 25-65, 1 at-fault accident in the past three years: $767, $459, $699
Between the three companies, the motorist with no violations
could have saved $272, $94, and $100 per month, respectively.
#6 - Drop Unnecessary Coverage
Trim the fat! Find out what types of coverage are required in
your insurance policy.
Most states require some type of minimum liability coverage,
which covers damage to other people and their property, according to the Rocky
Mountain Insurance Information Association website, a nonprofit insurance
information organization.
But some types of coverage could be considered optional. Check
with your state's Department of Insurance or your insurance company to learn
which insurance elements are required for your policy.
According to Fox, these types of coverage may be optional in
your state:
- Collision - Covers damage to your vehicle.
- Comprehensive - Covers theft or damage to your vehicle from various hazards, such as a fire or extreme weather.
- Uninsured Motorist - Covers you in the event of a hit-and-run, or if you're hit by a motorist with no insurance.
- Underinsured Motorist - Covers you if you are hit by a motorist without sufficient insurance to cover your claim.
#7 - Change What Car You Drive
"If I could recommend one or two ways to make significant
savings on your rate, it would probably be the car [you] drive," says
Worters.
Worters recommends looking at a vehicle's overall cost, repair
costs, safety record, and probability of theft - each of which can affect your
rate.
The III article supports Worters' point.
"Some cars cost more to insure than others," notes the
article. "Engine sizes, even among the same makes and models, can also
impact insurance premiums."
Know the cost of insuring your vehicle. Changing your ride may
significantly lower your costs.
#8 - Move to a Suburban or Rural Area
“More cars equals more chance for an accident,” says Fox.
So what does this mean for you? Where you drive and live may be
affecting how much you pay for your auto insurance.
"Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft, and
accidents, urban drivers pay a higher auto insurance price than those in small
towns or rural areas," says Worters.
Some locations also see a greater number of lawsuits as well as
higher medical and car repair costs, adds Worters.
#9 - Raise your Deductible
One of the simplest ways to see immediate savings could be
changing your deductible, or the amount you agree to pay in the event of an
accident before your insurer will contribute any money.
"Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce
your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent," says
Worters. "Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or
more."
The reason that higher deductibles may result in lower monthly
rates is because a higher deductible means an insurance company will end up
paying a smaller amount in the event that you file an accident claim, according
to the Texas Department of Insurance website.
But be careful. You should have enough money set aside to pay
your deductible in the event of an accident. If you are unable to cover your
deductible, your insurance company will only pay part of your claim or could
refuse to pay anything.
While each of these tips may not cut your bill in half on its
own, when combined they could noticeably slim down your car insurance rate.
Know what is necessary for your policy and understand the available discounts
at your insurance company.
Can a Kid Be a Psychopath?
Can a Kid Be a Psychopath?
By Lylah
M. Alphonse, Senior Editor
Can a young child really be a psychopath?The groundbreaking HBO
documentary "Child of Rage" years ago showed
how horrific abuse and neglect could leave a child unable
to bond with
other people, turning them into children "without conscience, who can hurt
or even kill without remorse." In other words: the child becomes a psychopath.
But what about the kids who aren't abused? What about the ones
who, for no discernible reason, do horrible things to other people?
"I've always said that Michael will grow up to be
either a Nobel Prize winner or a serial killer," his mother, Anne, tells
Jennifer Kahn in a recent shocking New
York Times Magazine article. At age 9, her son
has an extreme temper, lashing out violently and deliberately and showing no
empathy or remorse. He's intelligent, cold, calculating, and explosive.
"It takes a toll," she says, explaining her comment. "There's
not a lot of joy and happiness in raising Michael."
Experts are divided about whether it's right to label a child as a
psychopath. On the one hand, their brains are still developing; since
psychopathy is largely considered untreatable, such a label would carry a
heavy, life-altering stigma. On the other hand, identifying
"callous-unemotional" children early could allow for successful
treatment -- or at least a heads-up to society.
But reaching such a diagnosis can be tricky. Certain tendencies,
like narcissism and impulsiveness, that are obvious signs of a psychopath are
also part and parcel of childhood. And callous-unemotional kids are often
extremely intelligent; they're able to lie and manipulate without remorse,
making it harder to understand what they're doing and why. "They don't
care if someone is mad at them," Paul Frick, a psychologist at the
University of New Orleans, told the New York Times. "They don't care if
they hurt someone's feelings."
"If they can get what they want without being cruel, that's
often easier," adds Frick, who has spent 20 years studying risk factors
for psychopathy in children. "But at the end of the day, they'll do
whatever works best."
The New York Times article mentions the case of 9-year-old
Jeffrey Bailey Jr., who in 1986 pushed a
3-year-old into the deep end of a Florida swimming pool and then pulled up a
chair to watch the child drown; after the toddler died, Bailey got up and went
home. It's a disturbing crime -- and there are other equally disturbing cases
of young kids committing cold-blooded murder.
- In 1993, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10 years old, took 2-year-old James Bulger by the hand and led the trusting toddler out of a shopping mall in Liverpool, England. Once away from the mall, they spent hours torturing him before beating him to death, reports said.
- In 1984, Joshua Phillips' mother was cleaning his room when she discovered the dead body of their 8-year-old neighbor, Maddie Clifton, under his bed. The 14-year-old Phillips says he accidentally hit the girl in the eye with a baseball bat and then panicked when she screamed, so he took her to his room and beat and then stabbed her until she stopped.
- Alyssa Bustamente was 15 when she confessed to luring her 9-year-old neighbor Elizabeth Olten into a nearby forest and killing her in 2009. "I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead," Bustamante wrote in her diary at the time. "It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now...lol." In February, she was sentenced to life in prison.
- Eric Harris -- who, with his friend Dylan Klebold, killed 13 people and injured 24 others when they opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 -- had several of the hallmarks of being a psychopath. As ABC News points out, he was described as "controlling, manipulative, and sadistic, but very much in touch with reality."
"Psychopaths don't feel guilty because they are blind
to guilt," Frank Ochberg, a former FBI psychiatrist who led the counseling
team after Columbine, told
ABC News. And, unlike with psychosis (when people
are delusional or out-of-touch with reality), psychopaths know exactly what
they're doing -- they just don't care how it affects others.
It's not as if these kids simply lack a moral compass. In
"Child of Rage," 6-year-old Beth opens her blue eyes wide and calmly
tells her psychiatrist how she'd like to hurt, and even kill, her adoptive
parents -- a Baptist preacher and his wife -- and her biological brother. She's
calm and conversational as she describes how she has deliberately harmed and
killed animals, how she drives pins into her brother and sexually molests him,
how she repeatedly slammed his head into a cement floor and only stopped
because someone caught her.
Beth suffered extreme physical and sexual abuse and neglect
by her biological parents, which experts say could explain her detached,
calculating demeanor and her lack of "a sense of conscience." (She now claims that
she was "healed" by the time she
was 7 or 8, thanks to intensive therapy.) But Michael, in the New York Times
Magazine article, seems to have grown up surrounded by love and
affection.
So if nurture (or a lack of it) isn't the only way a person
becomes a psychopath, how much does nature have to do with it? Some experts say
that psychopathy, like other mental illnesses, may have a genetic component;
others think that it is a neurological condition all its own, like autism is,
though it's not part of the autism spectrum. Though some psychologists believe
one can start seeing psychopathic traits as early as age 5, there is not yet a
definitive test for children
that young.
"You're not born a psychopath but the foundation is
there," Robert Hare, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University
of British Columbia and author of "Without Conscience: The Disturbing
World of the Psychopaths Among Us," told MSNBC. He has developed specialized checklists to determine
whether people age 12 and older show psychopathic tendencies. "We're all
born with temperaments that can be shaped by the environment."
Lets get down and dirty!
Lets get down and dirty!
Divya
Sudarsanan likes to get her fingers dirty with her mangoes. The messier the
experience, the sweeter the taste.
By Divya Sudarsanan
How do
you like to eat mangoes? Yes, this is a fairly innocuous question and not
to be met with “a is-this-a-trick-question” glance.
Let me
rephrase: If I were to place a mango in front of you, how would you
prefer to eat it? Eat it organically like it was gorgeously meant to, or have
someone cut it up into slices and scooped with a spoon, or diced and cubed to
be eaten in piece-meal fashion?
Depending
on your answer, you’re either dead to me or an esteemed member of our mango
tribe, if you will.
But it
just boggles the mind, really, when I hear lame-ass excuses that range from the
usual “Oh, mangoes are just so messy” to “I do my own laundry” and an appalling
“Why on earth would you want to eat it like that? It’s just so… primitive,” and
so on.
Seriously,
people, when did you’ll become such sissies and prissies?
Mangoes,
if you haven’t noticed already, are an incredibly versatile fruit. And it is
probably the only fruit you can indulge in your childhood fantasies without
coming across as a douchebag.
Anyway,
to the sissies and prissies above, here’s what I have to say:
• Well, duh, mangoes are supposed to be messy. I don’t
see a manual that says otherwise.
•
Laundry missy, I don’t suppose you’re feasting on mangoes dressed in your
Chanel or Prada?
•
Oh, honey. Opposable thumbs, much?
The
best, and dare I say, the only way to eat a mango is with your hands. Get
down and dirty. There are no ifs and buts about mango eating. It is what it is,
and the results are marvelous: Pure. Simple. Unadulterated.
Joy.
No fruit
can take you on such a wonderful and wholesome experience like a
mango. Eating a mango, especially the juicy and pulpy ones is such
a holy treat for your senses. Right from the tearing of the skin with your
teeth to the first party-in-your-mouth bite and the subsequent trickle
around your mouth followed by succulent mouthfuls of sweet and sunshine-y
goodness. Nothing can beat the feeling of your teeth running against the
skin in a ribbed-like fashion just to savour the last piece of fibrous goodness
before you rid the skin completely. By then you ought to have had a delicate
sweet and sticky trail of golden goodness running down your arms which,
surprise, you are allowed to indulge in – adult or otherwise.
What’s
more if you have a group of friends partaking in this communion at the table,
it makes for great food fights and nostalgic childhood memories.
For me,
the pièce de résistance is the seed. This is where you unleash your
creativity and make several works of art that range from trolls to
paperweights. Alternately, you could use them as weapons at the anal
I-like-my-mangoes-chopped-and-diced-into-bite-sized-mango pieces who tragically
don’t know what they are missing. Evidently, the taste of metal holds more
promise when they eat their mangoes.
Like a
friend said: “Mangoes just tastes better when it’s half running down your
face”.
Let’s
get down and dirty, shall we?
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