Oil spill culprit for heavy toll on coral

Report: Oil spill culprit for heavy toll on coral — After months of laboratory work, scientists say they can definitively finger oil from BP's blown-out well as the culprit for the slow death of a once brightly colored deep-sea coral community in the Gulf of Mexico that is now brown and dull.

In a study published Monday, scientists say meticulous chemical analysis of samples taken in late 2010 proves that oil from BP PLC's out-of-control Macondo well devastated corals living about 7 miles southwest of the well. The coral community is located over an area roughly the size of half a football field nearly a mile below the Gulf's surface.

This October 2010 photo provided by Penn State University shows the arms of a brittle starfish, red in color, clinging to coral damaged by the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico. After months of laboratory

The damaged corals were discovered in October 2010 by academic and government scientists, but it's taken until now for them to declare a definite link to the oil spill.

Most of the Gulf's bottom is muddy, but coral colonies that pop up every once in a while are vital oases for marine life in the chilly ocean depths. The injured and dying coral today has bare skeleton, loose tissue and is covered in heavy mucous and brown fluffy material, the paper said.

"It was like a graveyard of corals," said Erik Cordes, a biologist at Temple University who went down to the site in the Alvin research submarine.

So far, this has been the only deep-sea coral site found to be seriously damaged by the spill.

On April 20, 2010, the well blew out about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, leading to the death of 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and the nation's largest offshore spill. More than 200 million gallons of oil were released.

"They figured (the coral damage) was the result of the spill, now we can say definitely it was connected to the spill," said Helen White, a chemical oceanographer with Haverford College and the lead researcher.

She said pinpointing the BP well as the source of the contamination required sampling sediment on the sea floor and figuring out what was oil from natural seeps in the Gulf and what was from the Macondo well. Finally, the researchers matched the oil found on the corals with oil that came out of the BP well.

Also, the researchers concluded that the damage was caused by the spill because an underwater plume of oil was tracked passing by the site in June 2010. The paper also noted that a decade of deep-sea coral research in the Gulf had not found coral dying in this manner. The coral was documented for the first time when researchers went looking for oil damage in 2010.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The scientists said that they have gone back to the dying corals by submarine since 2010, but that they are not ready to talk about what they've seen at the site.

However, Charles Fisher, a biologist with Penn State University who's led the coral expeditions, said recovery of the damaged site would be slow.

"Things happen very slowly in the deep sea; the temperatures are low, currents are low, those animals live hundreds of years and they die slowly," he said. "It will take a while to know the final outcome of this exposure."

BP did not immediately comment on the study.

The researchers said the troubled spot consists of 54 coral colonies. The researchers were able to fully photograph and assess 43 of those colonies, and of those, 86 percent were damaged. They said 10 coral colonies showed signs of severe stress on 90 percent of the coral.

White, the lead researcher, said that this coral site was the only one found southwest of the Macondo well so far, but that others may exist. The researchers also wrote in the paper that it was too early to rule out serious damage at other coral sites that may have seemed healthy during previous examinations after the April 2010 spill.

Jerald Ault, a fish and coral reef specialist at the University of Miami who was not part of the study, said the findings were cause for concern because deep-sea corals are important habitat. He said there are many links between animals that live at the surface, such as tarpon and menhaden, and life at the bottom of the Gulf. Ecosystem problems can play out over many years, he said.

"It's kind of a tangled web of impact," he said. ( Associated Press )

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Reducing The Risk Of Painful Gallstones

Reducing The Risk Of Painful Gallstones - If you're a woman and over sixty years old you're at greater risk of developing gallstones. These crystal-like deposits, which develop in your gallbladder and can cause some severe pain, are often due to high cholesterol. But there are life style changes that can reduce your chances of getting them:

Avoid Roller-Coaster Weight Loss And Gain:

Studies have shown the ups and downs of crash diets can actually trigger gallstones. Weight loss should be slow and steady. If you're dieting, it's best to lose one or two pounds a week until you reach your goal. Then try your best to keep your weight off.

Know The Difference Between Good And Bad Fat:

Monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil and canola oil, and omega-3 fatty acids, found in avocados, canola, flaxseed, and fish oil, may lower the risk of developing gallstones. But stay away from saturated fats found in fatty meats, butter, and other animal products, because they can increase your likelihood of gallstones, among other health risks.

Make Fiber Your Friend:

Fiber found in whole-grain breads, cereals, and vegetables will help you lose weight and may prevent gallstones.

Stay Away From Sugar:

Too much sugar in your diet can cause gallstones, so stay away from sweets, and opt for low-sugar food alternatives when possible.

Choose Carbs Carefully:

Since carbohydrates are converted into sugar in the body, diets filled with pasta, white bread, and other carbohydrate-rich foods may increase your risk of gallstones.

Drink Coffee:

Studies suggest that moderate consumption of coffee may actually prevent gallstones. That goes for alcohol, too! But in both cases, moderation is the key.

Know Your Medication's Side Effects:

Certain prescription drugs used to lower blood cholesterol can put you at higher risk of developing gallstones. That's because these medications increase the amount of cholesterol released in bile, which can lead to gallstone formation. Hormone therapy also raises the risk of gallstones since estrogen causes the body to make more cholesterol. In both these instances, there are alternative medications. Speak with your doctor. ( ThirdAge.com )

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Does Deodorant Ingredient Affect Breast Cancer Risk?

Does Deodorant Ingredient Affect Breast Cancer Risk? -- For several years, researchers have studied a possible link between substances called parabens -- widely used as a germ-fighting preservative in cosmetics such as deodorant/antiperspirants -- and breast cancer.

Investigators have learned that parabens, also found in some drugs and food products, can mimic weakly the action of the female hormone estrogen -- an established risk factor for breast cancer. And the fact that a disproportionate number of breast tumors occur nearer the underarm also had scientists wondering.

But now, British researchers who examined breast tissue samples from 40 women who had mastectomies have found that traces of parabens are widespread in tissues, even in the seven women who said they'd never used underarm products.

"The implication is that in these seven nonusers, the paraben measured must have come from another product or products," said Dr. Philippa Darbre, a cancer researcher at the University of Reading who has long studied the issue.

In the study, published online in January in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, Darbre and her colleagues report that one or more kinds of parabens were found in 158 of the 160 samples taken from the tissue collected from the 40 women. They found 96 samples contained all five of the most common paraben esters (forms).

The levels of paraben found were higher, by about four times, than Darbre found when she did a similar but smaller study in 2004. "Since 2004, many manufacturers (although not all) have been removing parabens from the underarm deodorant/antiperspirant products and so I was rather surprised when we found higher levels of parabens in these breast tissues (sourced after 2004)," Darbre said.

Higher levels of one form of paraben were found in the region of the breast closest to the armpit, she said, and the women had a disproportionate incidence of breast cancer in that area.

However, Darbre cautioned that the research cannot be taken to imply cause and effect.

"Although estrogen is an acknowledged component in the development of breast cancer, it remains to be established as to whether environmental chemicals with estrogenic [estrogen-like] properties contribute a functional component to the disease process," she said.

"I remain as ambivalent as ever about hounding any one chemical," she added. "I feel sure the issue is bigger than one chemical." Darbre believes the parabens found in breast tissue come from a wider range of products than underarm cosmetic products.

More research is needed, Darbre noted. Meanwhile, she suggests women cut down or cut out the use of cosmetic products as much as possible. "We simply use too much in the modern world -- too much for our body systems and too much for the wider environment," she said.

For its part, the American Cancer Society finds no clear link between deodorant/antiperspirants and breast cancer. In a posting on its Web page, it notes that, "There are no strong epidemiological studies in the medical literature that link breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim."

Dr. Michael J. Thun, vice president emeritus of epidemiology and surveillance research for the American Cancer Society, reviewed the new study findings. The fact that the preservatives were found in the majority of the breast tissue samples cannot be taken to imply they actually caused the breast cancer, he said, reiterating a point the authors also emphasized.

"Rather," Thun said, "the study merely confirms earlier, smaller studies which detected parabens in breast tissue of women with cancer. It shows that parabens can be absorbed (probably from personal care products) and the underarm deodorant is not the only source."

Other studies have found that parabens, also found in lotions, makeup and sunscreen products, can be absorbed through the skin, according to the American Cancer Society. However, the society says more and larger studies are needed to find out what effect, if any, the parabens might have on breast cancer risk. ( HealthDay News )

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Tourism Threatens Tiny Philippine Primate

Tourism Threatens Tiny Philippine Primate - The tiny creature turns its head slowly through 180 degrees and stares, boggle-eyed as another group of noisy tourists takes its picture from just inches away.

This is the Philippine tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world. It is a remarkable animal, just 10 centimetres (four inches) tall, weighing 120 grams (four ounces), with a rat-like tail, bat-like ears, and giant eyeballs, each one as big as its brain. Its strange appearance is obvious, but what these tourists may not realise is that their very presence is putting the animal at risk.

The tarsier is nocturnal, lives in the forest, and is highly sensitive to daylight, noise and human contact. According to conservationists, if it becomes stressed it will kill itself by bashing its head against a tree or the bars of its cage.

“People go near and they’re loud, or make a picture with the flash, or they’re touching them. Most of those tarsiers, when they become stressed they commit suicide,” says Carlito Pizarras, known as The Tarsier Man.

“They don’t breathe and slowly die. If you put them in a cage they want to go out. That’s why they bump their heads on the cage, and it will crack because the cranium is so thin.” Pizarras is the field manager at the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella on the island of Bohol, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

Unlike other tarsier attractions on the island, visitors at the sanctuary are allowed to look, but not to get too close, and definitely not to touch. Different species of tarsier are found in the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. And populations in all these countries are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “decreasing”.

The Philippine tarsier, or tarsius syrichta, is categorised as “near threatened”, while species in other countries are already “vulnerable”, “endangered” and “critically endangered”. As a child Pizarras would hunt tarsiers with his father, a taxidermist. The stuffed creatures were best sellers, fetching 250 pesos ($6) a time.

Aged 12, he decided to start keeping the animals in captivity, venturing into the forests at night to collect crickets for them to eat and learn about their habits in the wild. He realised how sensitive they were to human contact. By the time he reached his 20s the tarsiers living around his village were becoming scarce. Hunting, habitat destruction and predatory house cats were causing numbers to dwindle.

Pizarras knew he was also partly to blame, so he stopped hunting them and became a pioneer of conservation. The tarsier became Bohol’s logo, and a big tourist draw. And the Tarsier Man, once derided for his strange behaviour, became a national treasure, even presenting a pair of the animals to Britain’s Prince Charles in 1997.

But Pizarras, now in his 50s, believes not enough is being done to protect the creature. It may be a tourist symbol, but more should be done to make it a symbol of conservation. “In other areas they are still putting tarsiers in cages for the tourists,” he says.

“I don’t know why but the government gives them permits.” At one of these attractions, a guide calls to a group of tourists and points to a tarsier clinging to a tree branch.

“Now there you are, I think you are hiding,” he says in a loud sing-song voice, before encouraging the group to move closer and take a picture. A sign warns visitors not to use their camera flash, and the guide tells them not to touch.

But the tarsiers here live in a thinly forested area, with light seeping through. Their ultra-sensitive eyes are murky, and their movements slow. At this time of day they should be asleep.

“Before we put them in our hands,” the guide says. “But if you touch, they die. They are so very sensitive.” These ones have been “domesticated” using cages, he adds, and now they are “tame”.

“Try to go closer,” the guide says. “They won’t bite.” Pizarras argues that tarsiers in the wild are very defensive and do bite — and that these docile animals are not tame but weak.

“The tarsier is a superstar but unfortunately it’s suffering because of its fame,” says Joannie Mary Cabillo, the programme manager at the Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary.

“The government is backing up but not that much. We have a presidential proclamation and laws to protect the tarsiers but unfortunately nobody is sanctioned.” The government declared the tarsier a “specially protected” species in 1997, outlawing hunting of the animal, and effectively banning restaurants and souvenir shops from keeping them on display.

Theresa Mundita Lim, director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), says the indications are that the tarsier population has gone up since then. But she acknowledges that tarsier tourism is a double-edged sword, and more needs to be done to protect the animal.

“We can still do more through education and stricter enforcement,” she says. “There has to be stricter monitoring, also for tourists.

“It’s not just up to us. We issue the policy but the policy needs to be implemented at the field level.” The DENR’s tarsier conservation programme has an annual budget of five million pesos ($115,000).

“It’s not enough. But we also rely on social mobilisation,” says Lim, adding that it is sometimes concerned tourists who report centres where the tarsiers are not being well treated.

People caught breaching the wildlife act can be fined or even jailed, but tarsiers are still found on the black market in Manila for sale as pets, fetching about 6,000 pesos each. There are only several hundred tarsiers left living in the wild on Bohol, according to the Philippine Tarsier Foundation.

Pizarras says most of these live in the 167 hectares (413 acres) of forest around the sanctuary — elsewhere it is much harder for them to thrive.

“In the 70s the population was going down so I decided on my own to stop hunting tarsiers,” he says.

“My father got angry with me because this was our means of livelihood.

“But I said maybe someday my kids and my grandchildren can see them no more, and he understood.” ( AFP )

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Soccer Brain Injury Raises Concerns Among Researchers

Soccer Brain Injury Raises Concerns Among Researchers - Abby Wambach may have set the sports world aflutter last summer with a blazing header that gave the U.S. women's national soccer team a crucial overtime win over Brazil. But new research suggests the practice it takes to achieve that level of cranial competence may have serious implications for players' brains.

In new data presented Tuesday at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine used an advanced MRI technique to detect microscopic changes in the brain's white matter. They looked at 32 amateur soccer players who were approximately 31 years old and had played soccer since they were kids.

What the researchers found is that heading a soccer ball constitutes a form of repetitive, mild brain trauma among those who do it most.

The new data suggests that frequent headers, i.e. those players who headed the ball between 1,000 and 1,500 times per year (or around three to four times a day), had low fractional anisotropy (FA), which measures how water moves along the millions of nerve fibers in the brain. In healthy white matter, water moves relatively uniformly and FA is high. When the movement of water is more random, FA values decrease -- a state that has been linked to cognitive impairment.

"This is the first study that's really looked at the brain in this way," said Dr. Michael Lipton, associate director at the college's Magnetic Resonance Research Center and one of the study's authors.

"It's unique because we're showing this dose response," he continued. "The message here is that this low-level but repetitive injury is associated with these adverse consequences."

The researchers focused on FA measurements in areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, making plans and multi-tasking, as well as high-order visual functions. They took pains to control for outside factors that might impact the brain, like concussive injuries. They did not find any evidence to suggest that those who head the ball more frequently are more aggressive and thus sustain more concussions from head-to-head or head-to-goal contact.

Lipton cautioned that the new findings must be replicated and further evaluated before researchers truly understand what the differences in FA actually mean. Groups like the American Youth Soccer Organization have said that heading is a skill that must be properly taught and only to children age 10 and up, but have ultimately concluded that it is part of the game.

Other sources are equally unclear. A 2010 report in the journal Pediatrics looking at youth soccer injuries referenced earlier research that suggested that 81 percent of their pool of Norwegian adults who had played soccer since youth had deficits in attention, concentration and memory, but said further study is needed before conclusions can be made about the safety of heading in soccer.

Which at this point may be the one thing experts can agree upon: that the new study and others like it suggest a critical need for further study, particularly in light of estimates that as many as 18 million Americans play soccer.

"What does this mean clinically? People can have changes in brain MRIs, they can have obvious brain damage in imaging, and might never have a manifestation of [that] problem," said Dr. Jeffrey S. Kutcher, director of the University of Michigan's Neurosport Program. "It's very intriguing and it points to why we need to do more clinical research on this."

In the meantime, he said that soccer players and their parents should be aware of the "dose" of their impact and should limit that as much as reasonable. Players should avoid gratuitous contact and gratuitous heading.

"If it's part of a game, great. But it shouldn't be a 'practice half-an-hour every day' kind of deal," Kutcher cautioned. "And if you're going to play a contact sport like soccer, don't go from soccer one season to hockey and rugby the next. Use common sense." ( huffingtonpost.com )

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Some birth control shows higher clot risk

Some birth control shows higher clot risk - Some birth control products, including contraceptive pills, rings and patches for women, carry a significantly higher risk of blood clot than low-dose medications, US regulators said Thursday.

The US Food and Drug Administration said in its review of studies that have included more than 800,000 women that the higher risks are posed by products such as the pill Yaz, the transdermal Ortho Evra patch, and the NuvaRing vaginal insert.

All three methods are "associated with an increased risk of VTE (deep venous thrombosis) relative to the standard low-dose" pills, the FDA said.

Featured in the study were pills that contain drospirenone, as opposed to another type of progestin known as levonorgestrel. Some brand names include Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, Ocella, Loryna, Gianvi, Safyral, Syeda and Zarah.

Yaz is the second biggest selling product made by the German pharmaceutical giant Bayer, with 1.56 billion in global sales.

Some birth control shows higher clot risk: US

NuvaRing is a once-a-month vaginal insert made by Merck pharmaceuticals, and the weekly Ortho Evra patch is made by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

The finding about clot risk associated with patches and rings are new and need to be replicated, the FDA said. A full discussion on the matter is scheduled for December.

These "continuous exposure" birth control methods "potentially result in higher sustained exposure to estrogen and hence, increased thromboembolic risk," the FDA warned.

The European Medicines Agency concluded on May 27 that such birth control pills carry a higher risk of venous thromboembolism and that warning labels should be updated accordingly.

However it noted the overall risk of blood clot from any birth control method remains small and stopped short of advising women to stop taking pills containing drospirenone.

The pills have been the focus of numerous lawsuits, including one lodged earlier this year on behalf of a teenager who died from a blood clot allegedly linked to the German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer's Yaz contraceptive.

Michelle Pfleger, an 18-year-old college student in North Carolina, died of cardiac arrest last September after taking Yaz, also known as Yasmin or Ocella, to treat acne, according to the complaint.

Two studies out this year in the British Medical Journal found that drugs like Yaz and Yasmin increase the risk of serious blood clots three-fold or two-fold compared to earlier-generation oral contraceptives.

The official Yaz website says the drug is associated with "increased risks of several serious side effects, including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack."

According to Glenn Jacobowitz, vice-chair of the division of vascular surgery at New York University, doctors have been aware of the risks of Yaz and similar pills for some time.

"The information on NuvaRing and Ortho Evra would be a new, but similar finding. This is certainly worrisome, particularly for women over age 35 and for smokers," he said. ( yahoo.com )

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Court bans man with low IQ from having sex

Court bans man with low IQ from having sex - A man with a low IQ has been banned from having sex by a High Court judge who admitted the case raised questions about “civil liberties and personal autonomy”.

The 41 year-old had been in a relationship with a man whom he lived with and told officials “it would make me feel happy” for it to continue.

But his local council decided his “vigorous sex drive” was inappropriate and that with an IQ of 48 and a “moderate” learning disability, he did not understand what he was doing.

Under the judge's order, the man is now subject to 'close supervision' by the local authority to ensure he does not break the highly unusual orde

A psychiatrist involved in the case even tried to prevent the man being given sex education, on the grounds that it would leave him “confused”.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the case was “legally, intellectually and morally” complex as sex is “one of the most basic human functions” and the court must “tread especially carefully” when the state tries to curtail it.

But he agreed that the man, known only as Alan, should not be allowed to have sex with anyone on the grounds that he did not have the mental capacity to understand the health risks associated with his actions.


Under the judge’s order, the man is now subject to “close supervision” by the local authority that provides his accommodation, in order to ensure he does not break the highly unusual order.

The judge concluded: “I therefore make a declaration that at the present time Alan does not have the capacity to consent to and engage in sexual relations.

“In such circumstances it is agreed that the present régime for Alan's supervision and for the prevention of future sexual activity is in his best interests.”

It is the latest controversial case to come before the Court of Protection, a little-known authority whose proceedings are held behind closed doors.

Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, its judges have the power to make life or death decisions for people deemed to lack the intelligence to make them for themselves – such as ordering that they undergo surgery, have forced abortions, have life-support switched off or be forced to use contraception.

In the latest case, the man known as Alan was described as “sociable” and “presented as an able man” but who was “seriously challenged in all aspects of his mental functionality”.

He lived in a home provided by the council, where he developed a sexual relationship with a man called Kieron by the court. Alan was also accused of making lewd gestures at children in a dentists’ surgery and on a bus, although no police action was taken.

In June 2009 the town hall began court proceedings to restrict his contact with Kieron on the grounds that he lacked mental capacity, and an interim order was made to that effect.

“Since then Alan has been subjected to close supervision to prevent any further sexual activity on his part,” except when he is alone in his bedroom.

However he told representatives of the Official Solicitor, who acts in the Court of Protection, to tell the judge “I want to kiss them again”.

Mr Justice Mostyn highlighted the fact that the court cannot prevent people from merely making “unwise” decisions, and that a simple test can be carried out to see if a person is capable of consenting to sex based on the act itself rather than the proposed partner.

The judge said it requires an understanding and awareness of the “mechanics of the act”, “that there are health risks involved” and that sex between a man and a woman may lead to pregnancy.

He said that the psychiatrist thought Alan “believed that babies were delivered by a stork or found under a bush”, and that “sex could give you spots or measles”.

On that basis the judge ruled that Alan did not have the capacity to consent to sex, but also ordered that the council should provide him with sex education “in the hope that he thereby gains that capacity”. ( telegraph.co.uk )

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Vatican denies Pope said condoms could be used to avoid pregnancy

Vatican denies Pope said condoms could be used to avoid pregnancy - The Catholic Church has moved to clarify remarks made by the Pope which suggested contraceptives could be used to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The Vatican's moral watchdog, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a statement insisting some commentators had misunderstood and misrepresented the Pope's remarks in a book-length interview released last month entitled Light of the World.

In the book, the pontiff said that condoms were not the real or moral solution to battling HIV and Aids but added that condom use in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, could be a first step in a more moral and responsible human sexuality.

Confusion: An extract from a interview with the Pope suggested he approved the use of condoms as artificial contraception

Since the comments were published in a Vatican newspaper last month, the Holy See has been under pressure from conservative theologians to issue such a clarification after widespread confusion about what Pope Benedict XVI meant and whether he was breaking with church teaching.

A Vatican statement issued today reaffirmed that the church considered prostitution gravely immoral'.

'However, those involved in prostitution who are HIV positive and who seek to diminish the risk of contagion by the use of a condom may be taking the first step in respecting the life of another even if the evil of prostitution remains in all its gravity,' it said.

It stressed the Pope's logic was 'in full conformity with the moral theological tradition of the church'.

Benedict XVI's comments have caused confusion ever since their publication ahead of the official release date of the book in an excerpt in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on November 20.

The official Italian translation of the original German published in L'Osservatore made two errors that fuelled the confusion; it used the word 'justified in the pope's analysis and also used the feminine version of 'prostitute' as opposed to the masculine - an important distinction given that condoms in heterosexual intercourse are a form of artificial contraception, which the church opposes.

Theological traditions: A Vatican statement insisted the Pope had not backed the use of condoms to avoid pregnancy

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi then added to the confusion when he said at the official book presentation on November 23 that he had spoken to the pontiff and asked if it mattered whether the prostitute in question was male or female.

Mr Lombardi said the pope told him no, and that it did not matter if it was a man, woman or transsexual.

In its new statement, the Vatican stuck closely to what the pontiff originally said in the interview and stressed that he was not talking about sex between husband and wife or condom use as a means of contraception.

'The idea that anyone could deduce from the words of Benedict XVI that it is somehow legitimate, in certain situations, to use condoms to avoid an unwanted pregnancy is completely arbitrary and is in no way justified either by his words or in his thought,' the statement said. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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A little love and attention can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come

A little love and attention can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come -- and save you a bundle - Irv Gordon owns a 1966 Volvo P1800 with more than 2.8 million miles on the odometer. He holds the Guinness world record for the most miles driven by a single owner in a noncommercial vehicle. The car still has the original engine (although it has been preventively rebuilt twice), transmission and radio.

The secret to his car's longevity? Gordon has always changed the oil and fluids -- and performed other maintenance -- according to the recommendations in the owners manual.

Think about how much you'll save by keeping your current car on the road before you surrender to the lure of a new set of wheels. For example, buy a 2011 Ford Fusion SEL ($25,380) and in the first year you'll lay out about $7,450 on the down payment and loan payments -- assuming you put down 10% and get Ford's 2.9% financing for five years -- plus taxes, tags and registration fees. And those loan payments go on for four more years.

But if you have a paid-off Fusion that's a few years old, you skip the monthly payments and new-vehicle taxes, and you'll probably pay less in insurance premiums. Maintenance and repairs will cost more, but they're likely to average only $1,000 a year, according to numbers from Vincentric, an automotive research firm.

So how do you keep your car in the pink? Whether you're aiming for a couple more years or a couple hundred thousand miles, the advice is the same.


1. Read the owners manual

According to CarMD.com, slightly more than half of people who have owned or leased a car follow a regular maintenance program. Stick to the manufacturer's recommendations on oil changes (forget the old 3,000-mile rule and go by your book), as well as other regular maintenance. And getting checkups at regular intervals can help spot problems that could imperil your car's overall health.

But don't be swayed by every service notice from your dealer. Dealerships typically recommend more-frequent maintenance than the manual does, says Phil Reed of Edmunds.com. For example, the book may recommend an automatic-transmission flush, which runs about $120, at 80,000 miles, but a dealer might recommend it as early as 20,000 miles.


2. Use online forums

You want to learn about potential problems before they happen so that you can prevent them -- or fix them immediately. Jeff Cuje of Sag Harbor, N.Y., plans to be buried in his 1986 Mercedes-Benz SL, so he's taking pains to make it last. His best advice is to find an owners forum online and "get on the wavelength of what the problems are as your car gets older," he says.

Sports cars and classic vehicles have enthusiastic online followings, but you'll also find lots of sites that cover daily drivers. For example, we searched the Internet for "Nissan Altima owners forum" and "Ford Taurus owners forum" and got plenty of hits.


3. Become friends with your mechanic

Finding a mechanic you can trust is key to keeping up with repairs you need.

But even then, don't say yes to every fix. Get a second opinion on anything major if you're unsure about the problem or the cost.


4. Don't ignore small problems

Cuje pays close attention not only to his vehicle's noises but also to its warning lights and even cosmetic things, like a piece of rubber trim that's loose. Ignoring a problem allows it to get worse, he says, and parts for aging vehicles get harder to find.

Amazon.com is a good place to look for parts. If you're handy, you may be able to do small repairs yourself. Reed spent $20 for new brake parts and installed them himself -- a repair that would have cost $350 at the dealership.


5. Give your car some love

Wash it, wax it and vacuum it. Treat leather surfaces with Armor All or a similar product, and lubricate plastic and rubber parts. Doing these things protects both the paint and the interior from premature aging. Also consider having your car detailed, which typically includes steam-cleaning the carpet, shampooing the upholstery, buffing out scratches and sometimes even removing small dents. The cost is usually less than $300. The better your car looks, the more you'll want to take care of it. ( moneycentral.msn.com )

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Have You Really Fallen Out of Love With Your Spouse?

Have You Really Fallen Out of Love With Your Spouse?. Why do we use the words, “fall in love” or “fall out of love”? What does it really mean to be “in love” with someone? First of all, understand that you cannot fall “in love” or fall “out of love”. Love just becomes what it is when two people spend a lot of time together and get to know each other.


Marriage thrives on intimacy and closeness with one another and when that declines or discontinues couples feel they are no longer “in love” with their spouse, even though they still care for and love their spouse. So what does that mean? It means they are confused about what love really is.


Loving the person we married will not always make us feel good inside, no matter how good the marriage is or how close we are in the intimacy department. But if we want the feelings of being “in love” brought back in our marriage then we can re-ignite the passion of intimacy by doing something about the attitude we have of not being “in love” anymore.


You didn’t “fall out of love” with your spouse, it’s just that those feelings of excitement are gone and it is up to you to do something about it.


What I am saying here is stop basing your marriage on feelings but on principled acts of love instead. If you are looking for a feeling to keep your marriage alive then make that feeling happen! But don’t sit around brooding over how you are not “in love” with your spouse anymore and want out of the marriage. Take responsibility for your marriage and do something about it.


We have to bring passion and excitement back into our marriage – it is not going to happen without our efforts! We only need to shift our attitude from needing to feel excitement for our personal happiness to creating excitement in our marriage for both of our happiness.


The more we keep looking outside the bounds of marriage for the feelings we are looking for the more tempting outside boundaries will become to us. The reason is simple, what we perceive in our mind eventually becomes a reality. If we dwell on how boring or bad our marriage is, we will create temptation in our mind and act on it. Is that what we really want?


What couples do not understand is they made their marriage to be what it is today. If their feelings are telling them that happiness is being with someone else then they are confused about what love in marriage is. It is not the feeling of dating or the feeling of being with someone else, it is the principled acts of loving and caring for someone until death do you part. It is not a feeling at all but actions.


The most important thing to keep in mind, if and when you do get tempted, is feelings don’t last – they are temporary. But love is for a lifetime – it is real and can be made more complete by your principled actions of love. Remember, you’re not dating anymore, you’re married, and that means you have a duty and responsibility to your marriage. ( heavenministries.com )

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Are your sleeping habits making you ill?

Are your sleeping habits making you ill?. A good night's sleep is said to be the great restorative - but sometimes our habits do us more harm than good. Here, we examine the worst culprits.

Grinding your teeth If your partner doesn't tell you, apart from the toll it takes on teeth - which will wear down faster, may chip off or even crack - one of the key signs to watch for is waking up with a crushing headache. Dentists can make you a night guard which will stop you from locking your teeth. They cannot stop the motion but the plastic guard will ensure that teeth are rubbing against a smoother, softer surface.

Cold feet A team of Swiss scientists recently confirmed that it is virtually impossible to get to sleep with cold feet and recommended a hot water bottle for curing insomnia. Dr Kurt Krauchi, who led researchers, also favours the hot-water bottle as a means for cooling the body, claiming the arteries in the hands and feet dilate just before sleep, allowing more blood to flow through which cools down the body temperature, which he argues triggers sleep. Some sleep disorders may be caused by a failure of those arteries to dilate and a hot-water bottle can synthetically dilate the veins so that the body temperature falls - inducing sleep.

Curling up Curling up in bed could cause backache or even osteo-arthritis. During the day we adopt postures that are not good for us. 'When we curl up in bed, we are perpetuating an exaggerated form of the bad posture we have assumed all day,' says Robin Shutt, lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia. 'This may lead to backache but, more seriously, could cause osteo-arthritis in later years from an overload on the vertebrae.' Rather than automatically curling into the foetal position in bed, try some stretches.

Sleep-walking Sleep-walking tends to run in families and affects one-in-six children at some stage. During sleep, memories of what occurred during the day are processed, activated and stored. At the stage in sleep where the mind becomes most active, the body becomes most relaxed, except in families genetically predisposed to sleep-walking where the emotional processing of problems may get linked to movement. Sleep-walkers should be gently steered back to bed and possible stress factors should be examined to try to prevent it in the future. Protective measures, such as putting locks on windows, doors and securing gates to the top of stairs, should be taken.

A nightcap Alcohol at bedtime is best avoided on a regular basis. It will send you off to sleep faster but as the drink metabolises, the brain becomes more excitable and you are more likely to wake a couple of hours later.

Falling asleep without removing make-up Make-up left to clog pores - which will open in the warmth of your bed - will result in blackheads or eruptions. Eyeliner and mascara left on over night can cause conjunctivitis.

Sleeping tablets These should only be regarded as a temporary measure. 'Although you wake up feeling as if you have slept very well, what you have got is a suppression of some of your sleep cycles,' says Dr Peter Fenwick, consultant neuro-psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry. 'Most tablets have a knock-on effect,' says Dr Fenwick, 'This means you think less clearly during the day, and will feel sluggish.'

Insomnia How much you suffer may depend not only on the amount of sleep you lose but at what stage in the sleep cycle it occurs. Early insomnia, says Dr Fenwick, is often due to life events. Problems at work, a row with your partner, means you may have difficulty getting off to sleep. Waking in the middle of the night is virtually always due to anxiety. Late insomnia - where someone sleeps through the night but wakes at 4am, unable to drift off again - is usually associated with depression. The most effective treatment is through trying to tackle the underlying stress or anxiety responsible. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Will Your Online Profile Get You Hired or Fired?

Will Your Online Profile Get You Hired or Fired?. By now, most of us have heard a handful of horror stories about how a person's online profile wrecked his or her job search or career. Yet, every day people swarm social networking Web sites making the exact same mistakes. Maintaining an "It-won't-happen-to-me" attitude, many people have no idea that the derogatory statements they just posted or the lewd pictures of themselves online may cost them the job of their dreams.

Fortunately, some job seekers are wising up to how they present themselves in cyberspace. Rather than developing a profile that could quickly get them fired, savvy professionals are increasingly using social networking Web sites to find jobs, develop key contacts and advance their careers.

"Having an online identity is becoming increasingly important as a way to establish your credibility and personal brand and to attract career or business opportunities," say Ellen Sautter and Diane Crompton, co-authors of "Seven Days to Online Networking." To ensure that people create a profile savvy enough to help them land a job, they offer the following tips.

How to get hired

Be consistent from site to site.

Too often recruiters and hiring managers get mixed messages about job candidates based on their online profiles. For example, you might have a LinkedIn profile that portrays you as a driven go-getter with an excellent sales background, but your MySpace profile portrays you as someone who lives the life of an '80s rock star. Make sure that every profile you create portrays the same person -- someone who's respectable, professional and high-achieving.

Master a brief sound bite.

When looking at your profile, hiring managers and recruiters want to learn more about you. The "About You" section of your profile offers the perfect opportunity to briefly describe your work history, strengths and notable achievements. This paragraph should be similar to a thirty-second elevator speech you may have already prepared about yourself.

Develop a network.

Some people prefer massive networks that consist of hundreds of strangers from around the globe. Others prefer a small network that includes only people they've befriended, are related to or have worked with. Crompton and Sautter suggest developing a network of 50 to 150 contacts through each site.

Showcase your skills through links.

You should include links to your blog, webfolio or Web site, if they are relevant to your career. If you don't have any of these things, consider including links to any projects or work you might have been involved in that can be viewed online.

Strategically use keywords in the "Tags" section.

Similar to using keywords in a résumé, this strategy allows you to list words that help other people in your network or search engines find you. These words can include your area of expertise, job titles, industries, hobbies and anything else that defines you as a professional.

Just as there are plenty of things people can do with their profiles to help them stand out in cyberspace, there are dozens of faux pas people commit all too often. The following five mistakes are some of the most common social networking missteps.

How to get fired

Post a scandalous photo.

You know what I'm talking about: It's the photo of you showing off your hot, bronze body in a barely there bikini. It's the portrait of you -- in all your glory -- bonging a beer while sporting a Bears jersey at last week's tailgate. Profile pictures like this may be amusing and help you score a ton of friend requests, but they certainly won't impress your employer.

View or update your profile on company time.

You can't help it. You have to accept a friend request as soon as you receive it. You have to know who has added pictures to their profile in the past hour. And as soon as you realize wakeboarding tops your list of interests, you have to immediately change your profile to reflect this. You jokingly refer to it as your Facebook addiction, but it's no laughing matter to your employer. Instead, it's considered a waste of company time if you're scoping out these Web sites while at work.

Post information that conflicts with your employer's values.

Remember that anything you wouldn't want to share with your supervisor or co-workers is better left off your profile. This information may include how you spend your leisure time, how you feel about sensitive issues or any personal experiences you may have had. Also, be cautious about things your friends post on your profile that may portray you negatively.

Reveal why you're a lousy employee.

Ever taken a sick day to hit the beach, rather than nurse a cold? Or maybe you were supposed to work from home one afternoon, but your profile suggests you slept in and spent the afternoon catching up on your soaps. Believe it or not, some people actually make this information public on their profile! Whether you reveal this kind of information in your profile status or a friend has left a comment ratting you out, be aware that if others can see it so can an employer.

Vent about your employer, boss or job.

Many social networking sites allow people to include their work history. Posting unnecessary, negative information about a particular aspect of the job, such as "Job sucks, but it pays the bills," gives an employer all the reasons he needs to slap you with a pink slip.( msn.com )

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Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job

Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job. I've opened up my mailbag and there seems to be a theme of two extremes among some job seekers in today's economy -- those who want to leave the country, and those who want to get closer to home.

Some of you have written to me about wanting to land a job overseas until the bad economy here blows over. Others want to find a job working from home, or as close to home as possible, because of escalating gas prices.

My advice: Don't make any rash decisions.

If you're intrigued by the idea of working abroad, there are lots of opportunities. But pulling up your roots in the U.S. and heading off to a foreign land is anything but easy.

"Since international experience is becoming increasingly more important all around, choosing to work abroad for a few years can not only help executives dodge a shaky U.S. economy, but it can also have a long-term career payoff," says Lisa Tromba, vice president at Battalia Winston, an executive search firm.

That is, if you do your research.

"Think carefully about whether you are going to move before securing a position or if you will wait to find a role before taking the plunge," advises Diane Morgan, director of career services at London Business School.

"If you are looking to be a surf instructor in Costa Rica and are comfortable with ambiguity, have some money stashed away. If you are flexible, you could move first and then look for a job," she adds. "However, this strategy is usually limited to students on gap years who are more interested in experience than pay or rewarding work. The more skilled you are, the more you have to carefully investigate the move to and return from a country other than your own."

Sound too good to be true?

And beware of international job offer scams. I know you're all worried about finances and maybe even desperate to find a gig. But don't let common sense fly out the window.

One reader sent me this e-mail recently:

"I'm from a small town in New Mexico. I recently received a job offer from a company by the name of Caltex in London. They offered me what seems to me a handsome salary of 15,200 pounds (a month). Since this would be a huge change of environment for me and my family I just need to know if you've heard of Caltex Oil and Gas in London."

Immediately, I thought this sounded too good to be true, so I asked him how he found out about the job.

"I heard about the position via e-mail from a recruiting company. I then submitted my résumé, and a few days later they e-mailed a contract. I will attach to this e-mail. I have insisted that I get a phone call from them, but they have not done so. In fact, the last e-mail I was sent had instructions of what to do for me to get a work visa. Part of those instructions said that they needed a $2,400 security deposit for the visa."

Warning sign! You should never have to pay anything to get a job, folks. And if they don't call you or ask you for a face-to-face interview, then I'd say run like heck.

I called Caltex, which is a division of Chevron Corp. The spokesman I talked to said he'd heard about scams like this before. He stressed that the company does not solicit job applicants randomly via e-mail and does not ask for money upfront.

So, the rule of thumb is that finding a job overseas is just like finding a job in the good old USA. No one is going to send you an unsolicited e-mail offering you the chance of a lifetime. You have to check out any firm you are considering applying to, and make sure you meet a hiring manager before you pack up your suitcase.

Go to reputable job boards and type in locations you're interested in relocating to, and make sure to do extensive research on the firm. Also, talk to expatriates who are now working for these companies and find out what their transition was like. A reputable firm will be more than happy to share this information with you once you get to the point when they've made a job offer.

Other useful tools, according to Morgan, include "newspapers written in English but published in the area. For example the Bangkok Post can give insights to non-Thais living and working in Thailand." Also, she says, "discussion groups on the Internet as well as your local librarian can all give you insight."

Another good source, she adds, "is your college alumni network, which usually has chapters set up in major international cities. LinkedIn is a good networking tool that can also offer you introductions to professionals working in the area."

Make big bucks from home!

The other major topic I have been hearing about has to do with readers wanting staying closer to home.

I have written extensively about work-at-home scams both in this column and on my blog, CareerDiva.net, but many of you keep sending me e-mails asking me if certain job offers are legit.

Of all the e-mails you all have sent me in recent months, not one of the jobs offers you've received via e-mail sounded real to me.

And readers keep wanting me to recommend companies that offer telecommuting options. Unfortunately, I don't recommend firms because I don't want to be seen as endorsing one company over another. You'll all have to do your research to figure out where these opportunities are. There are lots of sources on the Web, including the major job boards.

Also, don't rule out applying to a company you know and like and asking if telecommuting is an option. More and more employers are considering this options for workers, especially in light of high prices at the pump.

While I won't recommend companies, I will try to offer you advice on certain types of jobs or industries you can look into, and I'll also try to answer any general questions you have on work-at-home offers you come across. So keep the e-mails coming.

Do not pay money up front

Here's one from a woman who lives in Chadwick, Mo.:

"Are there any legitimate work-at-home jobs for health care workers? I am a registered nurse. I have investigated several advertisements. However, most of them want money up front just to tell you where to look for a job. I would be very interested in any information or links that would assist me. I have a background in management, med surge, hospice and acute care. At this time, I drive 80 miles round-trip."

OK, I can't say this enough: Do not pay money up front to get a job. This is not how it works in the real world of employment. Requests for any money or personal information in e-mails or over the phone are scams, 99.9 percent of the time.

As for her options, Tim Schoonover with talent management firm OI Partners in Cincinnati offers some examples.

With a health care background, he says, she could get work answering medical questions from home via health help lines. Some insurance companies and nonprofits have these types of call centers, he says, including Aetna's Informed Health Line, the March of Dimes and the Arthritis Foundation.

In addition, Schoonover adds, she could also look into coordinating home health carerecruitment of nurses for medical facilities, writing training materials and protocols or developing safety compliance protocols. services, managing

The key is paring your expertise and skills with jobs that can be done from a home base, and then actively going out and finding companies that could be a fit. Please don't wait for offers to show up in your e-mail box. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job

Felony on Your Record ... ???

Felony on Your Record? Ten Job Hunting Tips. If you have a criminal record in your past, are you forever barred from rejoining corporate America and taking advantage of professional opportunities? Not necessarily. It is achievable, but definitely an uphill battle, says Pat Kendall, career coach and author of "Jumpstart Your Online Job Search and eResumes: Everything You Need to Know".

According to Kendall, an estimated 80 percent of companies perform background checks on job applicants. Today's terror-aware atmosphere and litigious society makes employers responsible to a greater degree for checking out the candidates they hire. It can be very difficult for most employers to get past a conviction on an applicant's record, so be prepared for rejection. You also have to realize you are starting over fresh after a conviction and must begin the laborious process of gathering experience and gaining society's trust. Here are some suggestions for getting back to employment:

1. First, consult legal council about the possibility of getting your record expunged, sealed or the conviction reduced. These actions may not be available for every case, but it is definitely worth looking into.

2. Contact local human services organizations in your area to see if they offer programs and support for ex-felons. For example, Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, www.metrofamily.org, operates the Young Fathers Initiative, a program that helps young dads, many with felony records, re-enter the workforce and reconnect with their children. Quincy Roseborough, case manager for Metropolitan's Young Fathers Initiative, says "There are companies that will hire ex-felons as long as the crimes are not violent crimes."

3. "Take whatever job you can to start rebuilding your experience and credibility," Kendall advises. Now is not the time to be picky. "Many of our clients start with jobs in manufacturing and fast food," Roseborough says. "The pay is mostly minimum wage and often the hours are long. But, some have opportunities to go to warehouse jobs where they can learn to drive a fork lift and gain other skills." Take the job and use it as an opportunity to showcase good job performance and to rebuild your experience and others' trust in you.

4. "Look to personal contacts and friends to help you get a job," Kendall asserts. Someone who knows you will not be as wary to take a chance on you.

5. Seek employment with small and local companies. "We promote looking for jobs with small companies and independent businesses and employers, instead of major chains," Roseborough divulges. Local businesses may have less stringent hiring requirements and are more willing to give you a chance.

6. Consider self-employment. Walt* was convicted at age 19 of drug possession and attempted sale. After serving time in prison, he took odd jobs in various auto shops and car dealerships to learn about car repair. He now works as an independent contractor and operates his own auto repair business. "We encourage the young men we work with to look into entrepreneurship. We suggest taking up a trade that a felony record wouldn't hinder, such as plumbing, construction or janitorial work. You can be your own employer with these skills," Roseborough says.

7. "Don't put the conviction on your resume," Kendall declares. "Consider putting it in your cover letter and enclosing letters of recommendation. Be honest and upfront." Most applications will require you to indicate if you've ever been convicted of a felony. If the question is not on the application, you don't want to let the process go too long without coming clean. You should let them know early on that you have a past record because it will show up in the background check.

8. Be professional and confident. "Many young men we see lack people skills. We tell them that when they go to an employment office or are in an interview if they are dressed appropriately, speak well, and have confidence it will show," Roseborough says. "We explain that their resume is like an ad in the newspaper, but they are the 'product;' and they have to go in and 'sell' themselves. Some employers will take a chance if there is a nice presentation."

9. Don't harbor false hope. "It's going to be hard. Having a felony on your record is a real obstacle, and it is only getting harder," Roseborough warns. You will be rejected. Just don't give up.

10. Seek emotional support. Whether it's family, close friends or a professional counselor, you will need to talk to someone for encouragement. Many ex-convicts experience depression when they meet repeated resistance in trying to once again find employment. Having that support system will help you stay focused and motivated when you feel discouraged. *Name changed to protect his identity ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Felony on Your Record ... ???

Top Ten Online Job Search Tips

Top Ten Online Job Search Tips. While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one's fingertips, it has also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually can be a great resource for job seekers -- they just need to know how to use it.

When it comes to a fruitful online job search, successful job seekers follow these 10 guidelines.

1. If you build it, they can come.

Instead of simply posting your résumé on a Web site, take it one step further and design an easily-navigable Web site or online portfolio where recruiters can view your body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information.

2. Check yourself to make sure you haven't wrecked yourself.

Google yourself to see what comes up -- and what potential employers will see if they do the same. If you don't like what you find, it's time to do damage control.

3. Narrow your options.

Many job boards offer filters to help users refine their search results more quickly. You should have the option to narrow your job search by region, industry and duration, and, oftentimes, you can narrow it even more by keywords, company names, experience needed and salary.

4. Go directly to the source.

Instead of just applying for the posted job opening, one of the best strategies to finding a job is to first figure out where you want to work, target that company or industry and then contact the hiring manager. Also, many employers' career pages invite visitors to fill out candidate profiles, describing their background, jobs of interest, salary requirements and other preferences.

5. Find your niche with industry Web sites.

Refine your search even more by visiting your industry's national or regional Web site, where you can find jobs in your field that might not appear on a national job board. More and more employers are advertising jobs on these sites in hopes of getting a bigger pool of qualified applicants.

6. Try online recruiters.

Recruiters will help match you with jobs that meet your specific skills and needs. Not sure where to start? Sites such as recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com, searchfirm.com and i-recruit.com provide links to online headhunters for job seekers.

7. Utilize video résumés.

Video résumés are just one more way to stand out to employers. Intended as supplements to -- not replacements for -- traditional résumés, video résumés allow job seekers to showcase a little bit of their personalities and highlight one or two points of interest on their résumés.

8. Run queries.

You run searches on everything else, from your high school sweetheart to low-fat recipes, so why not jobs? Enter a query that describes the exact kind of job you're seeking and you may find more resources you wouldn't find otherwise (but be prepared to do some sorting).

9. Utilize job alerts.

Most job boards have features that allow you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts about newly available jobs that match your chosen criteria. Or go a step further and arrange an RSS (really simple syndication) feed from one of these job sites to appear on your customized Internet homepage or your PC's news-reader software.

10. Get connected.

How many times have you been told that it's not what you know, but who you know? Thanks to the emergence of professional networking sites like LinkedIn.com, job seekers no longer have to rely on the old standby of exchanging business cards with strangers. These sites are composed of millions of industry professionals and allow you to connect with people you know and the people they know and so forth. ( A word of caution: When you sign up for online social networking sites, you are in a public domain. Unless you are able to put a filter on some of your information, nothing is private, and it can be difficult to erase once it is posted. ) ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Top Ten Online Job Search Tips

Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer. In some cases, a pressing need for a paycheck may outweigh any potential drawbacks to a new role, especially given the uncertain economy and rising prices for gas and food. But if you are in a position to be selective, you must consider every angle before rushing to accept a prospective employer's offer. After all, a new full-time job usually isn't a short-term affair. Following are some guidelines to help you determine whether to accept a job offer or wait for a better opportunity:

Scrutinize the job description

Carefully reviewing the job requirements, key tasks and responsibilities, as well as whom you will report to, may be the single most important step in assessing an offer from a potential employer. Ask yourself these questions:

• Will you enjoy the day-to-day duties of the position?
• Will you be challenged?
• Is the level of responsibility appropriate considering your experience?
• Are you willing to make any required lifestyle changes (e.g., travel, longer commute, rigid work hours) that may affect your quality of life?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, accepting the position might not be in your best interest. While some negative factors can be overlooked -- a slightly lower starting salary than you prefer, for instance -- fundamental problems with the job itself are a definite deal-breaker.

Evaluate the company

The work environment affects how you feel on a daily basis, so make sure it's one you feel comfortable in. If, for example, you strongly prefer a conservative corporate culture with set hours and established processes, you probably won't be happy in an informal atmosphere with a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" business approach.

Also consider the work styles of your future boss and co-workers. If you sense that you and your potential colleagues have conflicting styles or personalities, tread carefully. While differences in character and opinion can result in better group dynamics, frequent disagreements often lead to unproductive and unhappy work teams.

Review the compensation package

How does the salary compare to what you made in your last position or what others in your specialty and with the same skills earn? Take a look at the benefits package, too. How generous are the perks? Keep in mind that attractive benefits can sometimes outweigh sub-par compensation.

Or perhaps you're offered a job that requires you to work long hours but offers the option to telecommute. Being able to work from home several days a week may give you the time you need to attend to personal obligations and compensate for the rigid work schedule. Additionally, if an offer meets most of your requirements but doesn't include a benefit that's important to you -- such as tuition reimbursement for a professional certification you seek -- it doesn't hurt to ask if that perk can be included in your employment agreement.

Ask about opportunities for growth

There's nothing worse for your career than getting stuck in a dead-end job. While a so-so role may be fine in the short term, holding a position that does not allow for advancement for an extended period of time can take a toll on your health and happiness.

Try to get a realistic idea of the growth opportunities available within the company. For example, have people who held the job before you moved up with the firm? Where did your prospective manager start out? If the answers to such questions don't seem to support a policy of promoting from within, you may want to continue your job search.

Careful consideration of the issues discussed above will help you decide whether to accept, reject or negotiate a better offer. If, after evaluating each of these points, you are still unsure which way to swing, go with your gut. If your intuition tells you that something is a little off, conduct some additional research or ask more questions of the hiring manager before making your decision. Moving into a new role is a big step, and you want to enter the arrangement knowing all the facts. With a thoughtful analysis of the pros and cons, you'll be able to make the best decision for your career. ( msn.com )

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What is teeth grinding?

What is teeth grinding?. Bruxism (teeth grinding) is a condition involving grinding or clenching of the teeth, often during sleep. Bruxism can be mild and occasional or can be so frequent or violent that the teeth are damaged.

What is the cause?

No one knows for certain why some children grind their teeth. Some think that it is because the child's top and bottom teeth do not fit together comfortably. This discomfort causes the child to grind his teeth to make the teeth feel better and later turns into a bad habit. Others believe that children grind their teeth because they feel tense, fearful, or angry. Still others suggest that children could have an allergy or a nutritional problem.

The cause in some cases is abnormal dental occlusion (the way the upper and lower teeth fit together when the person shuts the mouth). More often, the disorder is associated with anxiety, tension, and suppressed anger. Bruxism is usually worse after intake of alcohol.

What are the symptoms?

* Teeth grinding, severe or very loud, that occurs during sleep
jaw clenching
* Jaw pain or earache (referred pain caused by violent jaw muscle contractions)
* Abnormal alignment of teeth
* Anxiety, stress, and tension
* Personality, suppressing anger

How common is tooth grinding?

Dental examinations of children show that 1 in 6 children have done some tooth grinding. Also, some parents report the behaviour even though their child's teeth appear normal at the dentist. Altogether, 1 in every 3 children grind their teeth at some time in their childhood.

When does tooth grinding usually occur?

Almost all children that grind their teeth do it only at night. The behaviour is most common in children around the ages of 5 and 6; however, it can occur at any age. Grinding the teeth during the daytime should make parents more concerned than if the child is doing it only at night.

How is the diagnosis made?

Examination will rule out other disorders that may cause similar jaw pain or ear pain, including ear disorders such as otitis media, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and dental disorders. Detailed history may reveal abnormal stress or tension.

What is the treatment?

The goal of treatment is to prevent permanent damage to the teeth and reduce pain.

A night guard or protective dental appliance may be helpful if bruxism is severe enough to cause damage to the teeth or pain to jaw muscles. Orthodontic adjustment of the occlusion or bite pattern may be beneficial for some people.

Psychotherapy or counselling may help the afflicted person to express anger and deal with anxiety or stress. Relaxation or stress management techniques can be beneficial in reducing anxiety or stress. Avoidance of alcohol may be advised for some people.

Will the child's teeth be harmed?

Usually the wear to teeth from grinding does not harm the teeth. The baby teeth (also called primary teeth) can show a lot of wear to their surfaces without causing pain or other problems. If the teeth get very worn down, dental problems, such as tooth infections, can occur.

What can I do to help my child?

If you or your child's dentist sees wear on the tooth surface, it is important to make a special visit to a paediatric dentist. Dentists can polish the teeth to make them fit together more comfortably or make special devices for the mouth that are usually worn at night to keep your child from wearing away the teeth.

It is a good idea to help a child talk about what has caused tension, fear, or anger before going to bed. Do this in the course of the bedtime routine. For example, when your child is telling you about his day, ask some questions about how those events made him feel. While this may or may not help the child with tooth grinding, it does let him know that you care about how he feels. It is probably best not to draw attention to the tooth grinding itself.

Most children will stop tooth grinding on their own without the need for special treatments. Mention tooth grinding to your child's dentist at your child's next regular appointment.

How to prevent it?

Stress reduction and anxiety management may reduce bruxism in persons prone to the condition.

What is the prognosis?

Bruxism is not a dangerous disorder. However, it can cause permanent damage to the teeth and uncomfortable jaw pain or ear pain. ( ndtv.com )

READ MORE - What is teeth grinding?