Fatbob

If you're making a health-related New Year's Resolution this year, you may want consider focusing on just being healthier rather than weight loss. Often, if you choose to improve the quality of your diet, you will lose weight anyway. Also, focusing on health gives you more ways to measure success than simply seeing the numbers on the scale. (See also: 9 Cheap, Healthy Filler Foods)

If you'd like to improve your health but aren't sure where to start, consider adding some (or all!) of these foods to your diet over the next year. For a manageable goal, try adding one food each month. Make including it in your daily consumption a habit, and you will have a healthy new year, all year long.

1. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate isn't just an easy way to start adding healthy food to the diet, it's actually good for you. It contains chemicals that can reduce blood pressure, and it also has flavonoids, which are antioxidants that lower bad cholesterol and raise good.

Add a square or two of dark chocolate to your diet each day as a dessert or part of a snack. The darker the chocolate, the healthier, because darker chocolate contains more flavonoids and less sugar. Start with 70% cacao, and work your way up to 85%. (See also: 10 Flavorful Foods Worth the Splurge)

2. Beets

Beets are one of those vegetables that scare a lot of people. While they do have a very distinct taste, they are also fairly sweet. Their dark red color indicates that they are high in phytonutrients, which lower inflammation and are high in antioxidants. In addition, beets are high in many vitamins and minerals that help the body function better.

Add beets to your diet by eating them raw in a salad, roasting, or pickling them and adding them to sandwiches and salads.

3. Flaxseeds

These little seeds don't look like much, but they pack a big nutritional punch. Not only are they high in fiber, but they seem to offer some protection against certain types of cancer.

Flaxseeds can seem a little intimidating at first, but they are actually easy to incorporate into the diet. Grind them up, either with a mortar and pestle or in a coffee grinder, then put them in smoothies, use them to top yogurt or cottage cheese, or put them in juice to add some texture.

4. Black Beans

Not only are black beans economical and easy to cook, but they pack quite a nutritional punch. They are high in protein and fiber, and they can function as a meat substitute, at least some of the time. Black beans also have some omega 3s, so they can aid in heart health, and they contain the same antioxidants — anthocyanins — that are in blueberries. The darker the bean, the more of these there are.

Black beans are great by themselves, as a side to Mexican-inspired dishes, as an ingredient in salsa, or as a main course in black beans and rice. (See also: 20 Healthy Black Bean Recipes)

5. Spinach

Lots of people think of spinach as the picture next to "Yuck!" in the dictionary. However, the leafy green contains so many nutrients. It's high in folate and in vitamins A and C, among others. It seems to encourage immune functioning, protects against the vision diseases that can come with age, and works against heart disease and some cancers.

If you're not sure about spinach, try fixing it in a way that's different from how you've eaten before. Try cooking it and serving it with pasta, or throw it raw into a salad. You can spice it almost any way you want to, so almost everyone can find a way to eat it that they can enjoy. (See also: 35 Ways to Use Frozen Spinach)

6. Avocados

Sometimes, people avoid avocados because they're known to be high in fat. The fat in avocados is monounsaturated, though, which is considered a good fat. Your brain needs this kind of fat to function, as do several other major organs. In addition to being packed with good fat, avocados are high in vitamins and fiber, and they have been proven to lower cholesterol.

Avocados are great in guacamole, even for people who are turned off by their slippery texture. Some people eat them on salads and in tacos, too. And others eat them straight, or maybe with a tiny bit of added salt.

7. Eggs

Eggs are another food that some people avoid, because they believe that eating them can raise blood cholesterol. However, studies show that a moderate consumption of eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods does not to correlate with a higher risk of heart disease. Eating an egg a day should be fine (unless you have other risk factors for heart disease. Then, consult your doctor). Egg yolks also have some nutrients that are harder to find, like choline, which can lower breast cancer risk.

Eggs are pretty easy to incorporate into the diet. Scramble a couple of eggs in the morning, add a fried one to your sandwich for lunch, or hard boil them for snacks. (See also: 10 Eggs-for-Dinner Recipes)

8. Blueberries

Blueberries have long been touted as a superfood, and it seems to be true. They seem to lower both bad cholesterol and blood pressure, which is great news for your heart. They're also full of polyphenols, which are great for your body. The fresher and bluer the berries, the better they are for you. (See also: The Best Way to Choose and Store Fruit)

In the summer, when blueberries are in season, eat them fresh or as part of a dessert parfait with yogurt. Later on, you can eat frozen or dried berries. Put them in smoothies (especially the frozen ones) for a taste of summer all year round.

9. Walnuts

Once again, the healthy fats in these nuts seem to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. While this is true of many nuts, walnuts often seem to get lost in the shuffle. (See also: The Best and Worst Nuts)

Eat more walnuts by adding them to salads, or by eating them plain as a snack. Combine them with dried fruit — raisins and figs work especially well — for an added dietary punch.

10. Oatmeal

That breakfast mush you eat every once in a while? Add it to your daily diet, and you could see a reduction in your overall cholesterol, as well as a reduction in your bad cholesterol. Oats can also work to change the shape of the bad cholesterol molecules that remain, so that they are less harmful to your heart. It may also lower your risk for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Many athletes also swear that oatmeal improves their performance.

If you don't like oatmeal for breakfast, try using it to make granola bars or cookies. You can also use it to add texture to smoothies, or toast it with a light coating of honey for a crunchy snack. (See also: Ways to Eat Oats When You Hate Oatmeal)

11. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a major source of lycopene, which helps prevent some types of cancer and seems to prevent skin damage from UV rays. It also seems to be tied to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, by helping blood vessels regulate blood pressure and by helping your body handle cholesterol in healthier ways. Tomatoes are also a rich source of other vitamins, which work together with the lycopene to improve your body's functioning.

Raw tomatoes can be added to sandwiches and salads, or they can be eaten on their own. Cooked tomatoes are incredibly versatile, forming the base for pasta and pizza sauces. Stewed, they can be seasoned and eaten as a side dish.

12. Sweet Potatoes

Often overlooked, sweet potatoes contain carotenoids, as indicated by their orange color. They also have vitamin C and potassium, and are a decent source of fiber. While they are carbohydrates, they are healthier than white potatoes because of how they are absorbed in your body.

Try to avoid adding sugar to sweet potatoes, and instead let their natural sweetness shine. Make roasted sweet potato "fries" in your oven, or bake them and add butter just like you would with a white potato. You can even mash them, if that's a texture that works for you.

Do you plan to add these or any other foods to your diet in 2014? Tell us about it in the comments.

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(614): You sent 2 glasses of water to the table next us and told to the waitress they were on you. I repeat: water.

(586): I'm supposed to nail the old lady at 1:30 so I'll see you at 1:35ish.

Half Minute Hero director Kotaro Yoshida has returned with a new deconstruction of the Japanese role-playing game called 100-Turn Hero.

Like Yoshida's previous work, 100-Turn Hero sports exaggerated pixel art and limits on how much players can do within the game's various stages. However, rather than imposing time constraints, it sounds like players will need to defeat their foes in 100 turns or less. I can dig it. Hopefully this one makes it over to western shores.

100-Turn Hero will release in Japan on January 17, 2014 for 100 yen on iOS.

『勇者30』や『百人勇者』に続くシリーズ最新作『100TURN勇者』のリリース日が決定 [Famitsu via Siliconera]

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A stash of exposed but undeveloped film was found at an old supply depot in Antarctica. The depot had been built by the doomed Terre Nova expedition (1910-1913) and then restocked by the Ross Sea Party with supplies for Ernest Shackleton's 1914-1917 expedition, which never collected them. It is believed that the negatives were left by the Ross Sea Party, who were stranded when their ship blew out to sea in a blizzard. The 22 negatives have been carefully developed, and came out pretty clear, considering they've been frozen into a block of ice for a century! -via the Presurfer

(Image credit: The Antarctic Heritage Trust New Zealand)

Mary sends along this Craigslist ad for a “slightly used “office chair.  Might need a little “spot cleaning”.

Thanks Mary

 

Thanks Miss Silver

 

cold fjord writes "The Independent reports, 'Being pulled into the world of a gripping novel can trigger actual, measurable changes in the brain that linger for at least five days after reading ... The new research, carried out at Emory University ... found that reading a good book may cause heightened connectivity in the brain and neurological changes that persist in a similar way to muscle memory. The changes were registered in the left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with receptivity for language, as well as the primary sensory motor region of the brain. Neurons of this region have been associated with tricking the mind into thinking it is doing something it is not, a phenomenon known as grounded cognition — for example, just thinking about running, can activate the neurons associated with the physical act of running. "The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist," said neuroscientist Professor Gregory Berns, lead author of the study. "We already knew that good stories can put you in someone else's shoes in a figurative sense. Now we're seeing that something may also be happening biologically."'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

There's nothing quite like roasting a meal you just caught while you're braving the great outdoors. It's an experience made all the better with a campfire grill that doesn't feel like a sack of bricks in your backpack. And while designer Roee Magdassi's Stakes grill doesn't exist just yet, we're hoping at least one manufacturer sees the brilliance of this design.

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If a cup of hot chocolate sounds good to you, this video from America's Test Kitchen shows you how to make your own "instant" hot chocolate from real chocolate that you can heat up any time you want a cup. Best of all, you can make it using whatever chocolate you prefer, and flavor to your tastes.

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With 2014 approaching, movie news will continue to be incredibly slow until early January, so we figured we’d write about a massive rumor that is unsubstantiated, but fun to think about and actually quite plausible. It involves Fox’s Marvel properties the X-Men and Fantastic Four.

An investment website is reporting Fox is planning on following in Marvel and Warner Bros.’ footsteps by creating a film based on the 1987 miniseries Fantastic Four vs. X-Men.

Update: The original source has already retracted its first info, killing the rumor.

The site who reported this is called The Motley Fool, a long-running financial advice site. Thanks to io9 for the heads up. Here’s the exact wording to start:

After multiple movies in their respective franchises, Fox has now decided to combine the Fantastic Four and the X-Men for an “Avengers”-style movie that could pay off huge for shareholders.

Based on a 1987 four issue comic called Fantastic Four vs. X-Men, the movie will see the characters against each other because of secrets regarding the Fantastic Four’s origin. The new movie also comes as Fox is rebooting the Fantastic Four series with new actors and actresses.

Where’d they get this information? Is it true? Who knows. That’s why we’re staying it’s a rumor. But let’s discuss the logistics.

We know Mark Millar was brought in a few years back (or said he was) to oversee a larger Fox universe. Simon Kinberg was then brought in to do something similar, and he hinted at something like this. ”I want to be able to build stories over multiple movies,” he said. We also know there’s a new Fantastic Four movie in 2015 and X-Men movies in 2014 and 2016.

That means by 2016 there could be at least three films building up towards this potential crossover. There’s also the potential Wolverine sequel in there. Make it four. Four films is one short of how many it took Marvel to build to The Avengers. And that’s not even counting X-Men: First Class or The Wolverine, which are part of the universe but hypothetically exist before the introduction of this new Fantastic Four. So by the time this film could potentially happen (for arguments sake, let’s say 2018), they’ll have more ground work set than Warner Bros. does for a Justice League movie.

That is, of course, if this rumor is true and these new movies are being made with this crossover in mind. That’s a big “if.”

If you’d like to read about the plot of the 1987 comic series, written by Chris Claremont, Wikipedia has a good synopsis. It doesn’t necessarily sound like that plot line fits in with what is getting set up in the universe, but it gives an idea of how it might work.

Anyway, until Fox announces something, take this potential news with a grain of salt. But it would make sense knowing the current superhero landscape and penchant for Hollywood copycatting.

Update: The Motley Fool now has a statement that reads “A previous version of this article inaccurately reported a planned film release that combined both X-Men and Fantastic Four. The Fool regrets the error.“

• Simon Kinberg to Make Expanded Universes for ‘X-Men’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ Films
• Bryan Singer Recruits ‘X2′ Writers for ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’
• How Did Wolverine Become a Time Traveler? ‘Days of Future Past’ Writer Explains
• Who Really Killed JFK in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’? [Video]
• Fox Lines Up ‘Fantastic Four’ Actor Shortlists
• Simon Kinberg Will Rewrite Josh Trank’s ‘Fantastic Four’

It was only six months ago that Sprint decommissioned and shut down the Nextel iDEN push-to-talk network, and while the carrier has no plans to bring that legacy service back, the brand is another story.

According to a source close to the company, Sprint wants to introduce Nextel again — as a brand for business services. The source tells TechCrunch that this is part of a larger branding overhaul coming in Q1 in which Sprint plans to launch a new prepaid brand called “Sprint Freedom” — merging Boost and Virgin Mobile.

Sprint declined to comment for this story, but if the information from the source is accurate, the moves point to Sprint raising its game targeting businesses (particularly smaller and medium businesses) as well as streamlining its patchwork of services.

It also fits with the idea of Sprint – now majority-owned by Japan’s SoftBank – marching on in consolidation mode, shoring up to present a more competitive face against the likes of AT&T and Verizon. Most recently, Sprint has been reportedly preparing an offer for T-Mobile USA, its latest move after acquiring Clear and buying a portion of U.S. Cellular earlier this year.

The Nextel service, our source says, will be part of a bigger push to court business customers. That makes some sense: Nextel’s existing business subscriber base, and brand recognition with that segment, were seen as some of the main reasons behind Sprint’s $35 billion acquisition of the company in the first place.

The new Nextel business, says the source, will be underpinned by more service streamlining: it will be a “premium” offering consisting of the 4G fixed and mobile broadband services that were originally the Clear business. The Nextel name, our source says, will go “on top of everything that was Clear and then target businesses.”

Along with previously-Clear services, there will also be more devices introduced, specifically around Sprint Spark — the tri-band LTE service debuted earlier this year that gives users faster speeds and more reliable connectivity.

Introduced with smartphones from HTC (the One max), LG (G2) and Samsung (Galaxy Mega and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini), Sprint Spark will be extended with two hotspots and three tablets as part of the offering.

And with that, some changes also around pricing, apparently. “Unlimited data options will come back for the hotspots at a premium, but pricing will be tiered by speed,” the source claims. Sprint will also introduce group plans that will apply to the new Nextel devices.

Sprint Freedom

Another part of plan, says that source, concerns Sprint’s prepaid businesses Virgin Mobile and Boost. Collectively, users on these two networks may generate less revenue than Sprint’s postpaid operations, but they serve as a useful counterbalance to the other service, adding customers last quarter as the number of ARPU-rich postpaid users declined.

Like Nextel and Clear, Virgin Mobile and Boost came to Sprint via acquisitions, and it looks like the carrier is now putting that in order, too.

Boost and Virgin Mobile will get wrapped into a new, single service called “Sprint Freedom.” It’s not entirely clear but it sounds as if this could mean the eventual scrapping of the two existing brands. Assurance Wireless, the free mobile phone service provided by Virgin Mobile under the Universal Service Fund, will not be affected, our source says.

While a lot of these plans sound like logical consolidation moves for the company, the question mark will be whether Sprint will manage to juggle all the changes without dropping anything (or anyone) in the process. A new Nextel business service would effectively mean a double-leap with a set of legacy products: first turning the Clear service into one focused less on consumers and more on businesses; and second rebranding it as a Nextel offering, but different from what Sprint was selling as a Nextel service not too long ago.

In the meantime, it is also not clear how a service called Sprint Freedom would sit alongside other services also called “Freedom” — such as Sprint’s international calling plans, not to mention the Freedom Pop “free” wireless service that is a wholesale customer on Sprint’s network.

And just as the closure of the Nextel brand earlier this year may have left some wondering whether Sprint would really let Nextel disappear into thin air, now the same might be said for Boost, Virgin Mobile and Clear. “It’s been a contentious issue for many,” our source said of the internal response to the changes. Perhaps one reason why these details got leaked to us.

[Image modified from Shutterstock]

This incredible photo of a SR-71 Blackbird being refueled in mid-air was taken by Sgt. P.A. Tubridy in 1988. It was the symbol of the United States' military power. It was the symbol of the country's incredible technological prowess. Now, it represents the future that we used to dream of—and make. A future that feels gone forever.

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Phoenix, Madrid, even Astana: These are the cities we tend to hold up as examples of the havoc that construction booms—and busts—can wreak on a housing market. Ireland is in the news less, but its situation is just as dire; an estimated 300,000 brand-new Irish homes have sat empty for years. And now the government is demolishing them.

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Pinterest's popularity in the United States has surged in the last year, particularly among women, according to a new study.

The social bookmarking service is now used by more than one-fifth (21%) of American adults, up from 15% a year earlier, according to a survey of U.S. social networking habits from Pew Research. That puts Pinterest slightly ahead of Twitter and Instagram, though all three are well behind Facebook.

Pew's data suggests that Pinterest has experienced strong growth among women in particular. One-third of U.S. women now use Pinterest, up from 25% as reported in a similar study in February. Just 8% of men use Pinterest, though that's up from 5% previously Read more...

More about Social Networks, Pinterest, Business, Pew Research, and Travel Leisure

The Mega Man Board Game is a thing that's happening, and starting today, international pledges will be honored. The gates have opened for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, which is a major upgrade from the limited territories offered initially.

If you're in those locations and want to pledge, an early bird pledge level has been added to allow for you to obtain the same initial deal as everyone else. As a side note, the Kickstarter has pushed the $250,000 mark with 20 days to go. Wow!

Mega Man The Board Game [Facebook]

Although it's not a very serious virus, the common cold can make you feel miserable, and leave you wanting nothing more than for it to go away. Unfortunately, there is no cure for a cold, other than time. Despite this, there are many things you can do to ease the symptoms and shorten the duration of a cold. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most popular, effective and fast-acting cold-relief methods.

Edit Steps

Part One: Decongesting Your Sinuses

1. Use steam treatments. Steam can be really useful when it comes to clearing your head. The heat of the steam loosens mucus while the moisture from the water helps to relieve dry nasal passages.^[1] Use steam in one of the following ways:
   
   
   
   • Take a hot shower. Yes, even if you're feeling under the weather you shouldn't skip your daily shower, as it can actually help to clear a cold faster. Try to turn the water to as a hot a temperature as your can stand and let the bathroom steam up as much as possible. If the heat leaves you feeling a little weak or dizzy, consider bringing a plastic chair or stool into the shower with you.
   • Take a hot bath. A hot, steamy bath can work wonders for you when you have a cold -- not just in terms of decongestion, but also in terms of relaxation and heat. Again, try to make the water as hot as possible. If you decide to wash your hair (either in the bath or shower) remember to dry your hair thoroughly afterwards, as damp hair can cause you to lose body heat, which is not good for a cold.
   • Alternatively, you can just give yourself a steam facial by boiling a pot of water, then placing your face over the steaming water and holding a towel over your head to keep the steam in. Add a couple of drops of a sinus-clearing essential oil (such as tea tree or peppermint) to maximize the sinus-clearing benefits.
2. Take an expectorant. An expectorant is a form of over-the-counter medication which clears the sinuses by thinning mucus and loosening phlegm. This will allow you to breathe easier and leave you feeling more comfortable. It will also help you to clear mucus from the airways, which can lessen coughing.
   
   
   
   • Expectorants are available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. They are usually taken in liquid form, but they can also be found as tablets and powders. Ask your pharmacist to recommend which expectorant is best for you.
   • Be aware that expectorants, like all medications, may cause a number of side effects. Those most commonly associated with this form of medication include nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop taking the expectorant immediately.^[2]
3. Blow your nose when necessary. It's natural to want to blow your nose when you're feeling stuffed up, but just be careful not to overdo it. While blowing your nose can indeed help to clear the nasal passages of excess mucus, blowing to hard or too frequently can actually have adverse effects.
   
   
   
   • In fact, some experts suggest that blowing your nose can lead to a build up of pressure due to trapped mucus, which may even become infected.^[3] You can avoid this by blowing only when absolutely necessary, and by using the correct blowing method.
   • The correct blowing method involves pressing one nostril shut with a finger, then blowing very gently to clear the other one. The same process is then repeated on the other side. Make sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap after you blow, to avoid spreading the cold virus.^[4]
   • Prevent your nose from becoming irritated due excessive nose blowing by using soft, high quality tissues and by using a little petroleum jelly to moisturize and lubricate the nostrils.
4. Try using a neti pot. The neti pot is a treatment for clearing nasal passages which has been gaining in popularity over recent years. It uses a saline solution to thin and flush mucus from the nasal passages.
   
   
   
   • The neti pot itself is a type of ceramic or clay teapot, which is oblong in shape and can be purchased online or in health food stores. However, any kind of bottle or container with a thin spout can also be used.
   • The saline solution used in the neti pot can also be purchased in health food or drug stores. It is sold in packets, in powdered form, so all you need to do is add water. However it is also possible to make your own saline solution by mixing half a teaspoon of kosher salt into a cup of water.
   • To use a neti pot, simply fill the pot with the saline solution and, tilting your head to one side (over a sink), insert the spout into one nostril and pour. The solution should flow in one nostril before coming out the other. When the water stops dripping, blow your nose gently, then repeat the process on the opposite side.^[5]
5. Drink hot fluids. There's nothing more comforting than a hot drink when you're suffering from a nasty cold. But beyond comfort factor, a hot drink can actually help to clear your nasal passages and soothe a sore throat, making it the perfect cold-busting remedy.
   
   
   
   • Herbal teas, such as chamomile and peppermint, are a good option, as they are soothing and hydrating. Regular tea and coffee can help to perk you up if you're feeling groggy, but are not as good for hydration.
   • One traditional cold remedy which still packs a punch is a simple drink made from warm water, lemon and honey. The warm water clears congestion, the lemon boosts the immune system, while the honey soothes a sore throat. Simply add a slice of fresh lemon to a cup of warm water and add honey to taste.
   • Chicken soup has long been the chosen sustenance of cold patients -- and not just because it's comforting and easy to eat. There is actually scientific evidence to back up the idea that chicken soup limits the production of certain white blood cells which contribute to cold symptoms -- so eat as much as you like!^[6]
6. Use a nasal spray. Nasal sprays can provide immediate and effective relief from congestion, with just one or two quick squirts. They work in two ways: first, they thin and loosen mucus, making it easier to clear your nose; and second, they shrink blood vessels in the nasal passages, widening the airways and making it easier to breathe.
   
   
   
   • Nasal sprays can be purchased over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. If you don't like the idea of spraying fluid into your nose, you can also buy nasal decongestants in tablet form.
   • Be sure to use the nasal spray only as often as directed. Overuse can actually lead to adverse effects, as too much of the spray may encourage mucus production and lead to infection. Nasal sprays might need to be prescribed before being bought.^[7]

Part Two: Giving Your Body a Break

1. Take some time off. One surefire way to make your cold drag on and on -- for days or even weeks -- is to continue with your normal routine and not give your body time to recuperate. The best way to get over a cold quickly is just to take a few days off, hole up somewhere warm and cozy, and give your body a break.
   
   
   
   • Even if you're reluctant to take time off work, just think of your co-workers -- they don't want you spreading your germs around the office! You're doing them a favor by staying home.
   • Aside from that, the common cold is a virus which attacks and weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to contracting other illnesses or your cold becoming worse. Therefore, staying in your home environment is the safest option, at least until you start to feel well again.
2. Get plenty of rest. Try to remember that your body is doing it's best to fight off the cold virus, and it needs all the energy it can get in order to win. Over-exerting yourself with housework, exercise, travelling, or other physical activities will just prolong the cold and make you feel worse. Ensure that you are getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and take frequent naps during the day.^[8]
   
   
   
   • Even if you can't sleep, try curling up on the couch with a warm blanket and a hot drink , Use this time as an excuse to binge on multiple re-runs of Friends or read the entire Harry Potter series. Again.
   • When sleeping, try to prop your head up on an extra pillow. It may feel a little strange if you're not used to it, but the raised angle will aid in the draining of your nasal passages. If it really feels uncomfortable, try placing the extra pillow beneath the bottom sheet or under the mattress on your bed, for a less severe angle.^[9]
3. Stay warm. What's the opposite of cold? Warmth! (Well, sort of). Even though cold weather or "catching a chill" doesn't actually cause a cold (the cold virus does), staying warm during the recovery process will help to speed up your recovery. So turn up the thermostat, light a roaring fire and pile on the blankets -- you'll feel much better soon.
   
   
   
   • Despite the benefits of heat, dry heat can actually irritate inflamed nasal passages and sore throats. You can combat this by using a humidifier to add moisture back into the air. This can help to make breathing more comfortable.
   • Just be aware that humidifiers can spread pathogens and molds if they are very old or are not cleaned regularly.^[10]
4. Drink lots of fluids. All that nose blowing and sweating it out under heavy blankets can leave you feeling dehydrated, which can worsen cold symptoms, leading to headaches and dry, irritated throats. Try to drink slightly more than average when you're sick -- whether the fluids come in the form of hots teas, soups, water-heavy fruit and veg (watermelon, tomato, cucumber, pineapple), or just plain ol' water.
   
   
   
   • A handy way to check for dehydration is to examine your urine. If it's very pale yellow or almost clear, you're doing okay. But if it's dark yellow, this means that there are higher concentrations of waste in your body that are not being diluted -- which is a sign that you should drink more water.
   • Don't overdo it, however. Drinking too much fluid can actually put extra pressure on your liver and kidneys, sapping away energy that would otherwise be used by your body for fighting the cold. Around 8 glasses of water a day should be more than enough.^[11]
5. Ease a sore throat. Congestion isn't the only nasty symptom you have to contend with during a cold -- dry, tickly, or sore throats can be an equal pain in the posterior. An easy, natural way to deal with this is to gargle a salt solution. The water hydrates the throat, while the antiseptic properties in the salt help to fight infection.^[12]
   
   
   
   • Make the solution by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. If the taste is too unpleasant for your liking, add a little baking soda to take the edge off the saltiness. Gargle this solution up to four times a day.
   • Alternatively, you could use cough suppressing medications, also known as antitussives which are useful in the treatment of dry (unproductive) coughs. These are available over-the counter, in liquid, tablet and powder form. They should not be given to children under the age of four.
6. Relieve other symptoms using OTC medications. Over the counter medications can help to relive other symptoms associated with colds and flus, such as headaches, muscle pains and watery eyes. Although not everybody agrees with using such medications, preferring to use more natural treatment methods, certain OTC options can help to make you feel more comfortable while you are sick.
   
   
   
   • Analgesics such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen can help to ease pains and aches and bring down fever, while antihistamines (which are found in many cold medications) can help to prevent a runny nose and watery eyes.
   • It is very important that you never take more than the recommended dosage of any OTC medications, and that you be particularly cautious when it comes to giving medication to children. Aspirin should never be given to children and young teenagers, due to its potential links with Reye's Syndrome.^[13]

Part Three: Using Natural Remedies

1. Take elderberry syrup. Elderberries are said to be a great natural immune booster, and are therefore very popular as a natural cold remedy. You can use elderberries in a number of ways:
   
   
   
   • By taking a spoonful of elderberry syrup every morning. This syrup can be found in most health food stores.
   • By adding a couple of drops of elderberry extract (also found in health food stores) to a glass of water or juice.
   • Or by drinking elderberry tea - a hot beverage with elder flowers and peppermint leaves.
2. Eat a spoon of raw honey. Raw honey is an effective natural immune booster which also contains anti-viral properties and soothes sore throats, making it a star ingredient in many natural cold remedies.
   
   
   
   • You can eat a spoonful of the raw honey by itself, or stir it into warm water or tea.
   • Try to source raw honey from your local area, as it will help your body to develop a tolerance for allergens native to your region. ^[14]
3. Increase your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C has long been touted for its cold-preventing properties, but did you know it can also help to shorten the duration of a cold?
   
   
   
   • Up your intake by drinking orange juice and eating foods like strawberries, kiwis and leafy green vegetables, which have a high vitamin C content.
   • You can also take a vitamin C supplement, available in tablet form in drug and health food stores. The recommend dosage is 90 mg a day for men and 75 mg a day for women, according to the National Institutes of Health.^[15]
4. Take natural supplements. There are certain natural supplements which are believed to help with cold symptoms. While they won't necessarily cure the cold or stop it in its tracks, they can help it to go away faster. For example:
   
   
   
   • Echinacea is a herbal supplement which is believed to contain anti-viral properties, aiding in the treatment of respiratory infections. When taken in tablet form it is said to reduce the span of a cold, if taken as soon as the first symptoms appear.^[16]
   • Zinc is another natural substance which scientific research has shown to shorten the duration of colds by preventing the virus from reproducing. It can be taken in tablet, lozenge or syrup form.^[17]
   • Ginseng is an ancient cold remedy which is scientifically proven to help shorten the duration of colds, while also reinforcing the immune system. It can be taken in supplement form, or the root can be boiled in water to make tea.^[18]
5. Eat garlic. Garlic boasts an impressive array of health benefits, thanks to its antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic properties. There is evidence to suggest that raw garlic can help to relieve cold symptoms, shorten a cold's duration and boost the immune system, thus preventing future colds.
   
   
   
   • Garlic can be taken in supplement form, but for the most effective results, it is best taken raw. Crush up a clove of garlic and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. This allows a compound known as allicin to develop -- a potent anti-bacterial agent which gives garlic most of its health benefits.
   • The garlic can be eaten on its own (if you have a strong stomach) or mixed with a little honey or olive oil and spread on a cracker.^[19]

Edit Video

Edit Tips

• When you are going somewhere take a small packet of tissues with you.
• Take a few cough drops wherever you go. But, don't drink too much cough syrup as it can make you drowsy.
• A mix of crushed or grated ginger, lemon juice, a jar of honey and a generous splash of apple cider vinegar makes a great home made cough and sore throat remedy. Try a tablespoon every couple of hours, or every hour if it is a bad cough/sore throat/cold.

Edit Warnings

• Don't take too many cold medicines.
• Don't over-exercise.
• If you are feeling too sick, stay in bed.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Tissues
• Medicine
• Shower
• Bed
• Hot drinks
• Movies and books (or something to do without being physical)

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Get Rid of a Cold Without Using Medications
• How to Care for a Rabbit With a Cold
• How to Cure a Toothache

Edit Sources and Citations

• Read on wikiHow
• Email this Article
• Edit
• Discuss

FuzzNugget writes "Wired presents this damning perspective on so-called social media addiction: 'If kids can't socialize, who should parents blame? Simple: They should blame themselves. This is the argument advanced in It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens, by Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd. Boyd ... has spent a decade interviewing hundreds of teens about their online lives. What she has found, over and over, is that teenagers would love to socialize face-to-face with their friends. But adult society won't let them. "Teens aren't addicted to social media. They're addicted to each other," Boyd says. "They're not allowed to hang out the way you and I did, so they've moved it online." It's true. As a teenager in the early '80s I could roam pretty widely with my friends, as long as we were back by dark. Over the next three decades, the media began delivering a metronomic diet of horrifying but rare child-abduction stories, and parents shortened the leash on their kids. Politicians warned of incipient waves of youth wilding and superpredators (neither of which emerged). Municipalities crafted anti-loitering laws and curfews to keep young people from congregating alone. New neighborhoods had fewer public spaces. Crime rates plummeted, but moral panic soared. Meanwhile, increased competition to get into college meant well-off parents began heavily scheduling their kids' after-school lives.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

odditiesoflife:

The Remarkable Dinosaur Footprint Wall

Located 3 miles (5 km) from Sucre, Bolivia is Cal Orko, an imposing limestone slab 0.9 miles (1.5 km) long and over 328 feet (100 m) high. On this steep face with an inclination of 72 degrees, visitors can look back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth over 68 million years ago.

At Cal Orko you will find 462 distinct dinosaur tracks from at least 8 different species, totaling an incredible 5,055 dinosaur footprints. So how do thousands of dinosaur footprints come to be, on a seemingly vertical rock face hundreds of feet high? The location used to be the shore of a former lake, that attracted large numbers of dinosaurs.

The creatures’ feet sank into the shoreline in damp weather, leaving marks that were solidified by later periods of drought. Wet weather then returned, sealing the prints below mud and sediment. The wet-dry pattern was repeated several times, preserving multiple layers of prints. Tectonic upheaval then pushed the flat ground up to the brilliant viewing angle that it is today.

Over the past several years numerous studies have shown that on average file-sharers spend more money on legal purchases, including concert tickets and merchandise.

The most logical explanation for this finding is that “pirates” are more engaged than those who don’t share, and that they complement their legal purchases with unauthorized downloads.

This means that unauthorized file-sharers are in fact the music industry’s best customers. So, instead of hunting down these pirates for lawsuits, it may be more rewarding to play for them.

The English heavy metal band Iron Maiden is reportedly doing just that. The veteran musicians use the services of music analytics company Musicmetric which allows them to see where their albums are most pirated.

“If you know what drives engagement you can maximize the value of your fan base. Artists could say ‘we’re getting pirated here, let’s do something about it’, or ‘we’re popular here, let’s play a show’,” Gregory Mead, CEO and co-founder of Musicmetric told Cite.

Instead of suing these unauthorized file-sharers, the band used the information as input for its tours, and not without success.

“Maiden have been rather successful in turning free file-sharing into fee-paying fans,” Mead said.

The overview below, for example, shows that Iron Maiden is most popular among Brazilian pirates with 463,467 downloads in recent years. The band is also relatively popular in Chile with 1,300 downloads per 100,000 Internet users, which totals 70,932 downloads.

Iron Maiden’s popularity on BitTorrent (large)

Iron Maiden’s recent tour had a heavy focus on South America, where the band has a lot of Twitter followers and unauthorized downloads. The band played in Paraguay for the first time, for example, and concerts were sold out throughout the region.

Musicmetric suggests that the file-sharing data helped Iron Maiden turn these pirates into paying customers, simply by heading over there and playing for them. It’s impossible to download the true experience of a live concert, so the chances are high that several pirates will turn up.

“If you engage with fans, there is a chance to turn a percentage into paying customers. You can see that through various bands using the BitTorrent network in a legal way to share content,” Mead says.

It’s refreshing to see that instead of hunting down pirates for lawsuits, file-sharing data is being used by artists to plan their gigs. After all, it is much more rewarding to play for your fans than to try to bankrupt them in court.

Update: The Cite report suggested that Iron Maiden used the analytics to plan their concerts, however, this claim remains unsubstantiated. TorrentFreak contacted Musicmetric before publication but we were unable to get a comment in time as they were out of the office for a few days.

Source: TorrentFreak, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing and VPN services.

It took me a second to wrap my brain around what exactly is going on here, but even if I didn't know, I could listen to these two Moog synthesizer modules play the Tetris theme over and over again forever. I think this music made my brain more smarter.

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