When I go to a barbecue, I rarely eat a hamburger without cheese, or a hot dog without ketchup. The condiments and fixings just make the meal, don't they? They problem is they aren't void of calories, fat, or sodium, so take this little quiz to see how they measure up.
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I'm ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, but must admit I am not a fan of the noise that accompanies fireworks — lovely as they may be. Those booming sounds can really damage the delicate structures in your ears; once they're damaged, they never regenerate and can't be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The loss is permanent and may cause impaired hearing or total loss of hearing down the road.
NIHL can be caused by one exposure to a loud noise such as an explosion, or by regular exposure over an extended period of time. If you continuously experience sounds over 85 decibels (dB) then a hearing aid may be in your future. Check out how some common sounds compare:
Rustling leaves: 10 dB
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB
To see how fireworks measure up read more
When the US women's soccer team won the Word Cup in 1999, it was thanks to Brandi Chastain. She scored the winning goal on a penalty kick and promptly ripped off her shirt to celebrate. The moment has been nicknamed "the bra heard 'round the world." The photos of her are infamous, and she became a household name, her moment in the spotlight eclipsing an amazing win for US women's soccer.
Her dark sports bra was part of the memorabilia installed at the Sports Museum of America in New York City. But when the museum went bankrupt and all the sporting souvenirs placed in probate, Brandi's bra was held for a ransom of $250, plus shipping. After many e-mails and phone calls, her bra is back in her hands to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her famous penalty kick win — an oddly sweet and sentimental tale.
Her disrobing on the field, to me, was a consoling gesture. When my husband sees me wearing a sports bra with no shirt, he always calls me Brandi. Kind of funny but also kind of sad that this is what she is remembered for since she is also a tremendous athlete. What do you think? Was this a great moment in women's sports? Can you name any other infamous sporty gal moments that have captured the nation's attention? Are there moments in sports where our nation's female athletes made you proud to be an American?
This is a different kind of Summer concert series: a series of stretches! Because while you're never too old to go see live music, being on your feet all day doesn't get any easier as you age. It can be tough on your back and your leg muscles, especially if you worked out earlier in the day. But doing some simple, subtle stretches between sets or before, during, and after the show can keep you rocking all day. Here are a few ideas.
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