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US by the Numbers: 5 Facts About Americans, Tech, and Gadgets

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:32:15 PDT

It comes as no surprise to me that residents living in Hawaii are said to be the happiest in the country, but what about the most gadget-obsessed, tech-savvy, and virus-prone? Find out which states take these titles (among others) in this informative slideshow about the state of tech in the US.

Which Is the Most Gadget-Obsessed State?

GeekSugar — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 03:06:11 PST

People in California seem to be totally obsessed with their gadgets. With Silicon Valley and the San Francisco start-up scene, plus Apple and other tech companies scattering the state, you'd think that we would spend the most per month on our tech. But you'd be wrong. Which of these states' residents spend the most on new gadgets and electronics?

Take the Quiz

Most Dangerous States for Driving This Summer

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:15:00 PDT

The national Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS) at the University of Minnesota recently released a list of the states where Americans are more likely to die in a traffic crash on a rural road. To see where your state falls in the top 15 most dangerous states to drive,

read more

1.) Maine 2.) North Dakota 3.) South Dakota 4.) Iowa 4.) Vermont 5.) Montana 6.) Wyoming 7.) South Carolina 8.) Mississippi 9.) Arkansas 10.) West Virginia 11.) Kansas 12.) Nebraska 13.) New Hampshire 13.) Kentucky 13.) Idaho 14.) Oklahoma 15.) Missouri 15.) Minnesota ...And no, I am not losing my mind. There are double numbers because some states tied. So please be extra careful this summer if you're going to be taking a trip in the car and buckle-up too!

Link Time - Adele Is the Answer to Our Problems

TresSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:38:19 PST

Here's an Adele song for every problem life might throw at you - Huffington Post
New Jersey's state senate passes gay marriage bill - The Daily Beast
Valentine's Day dates for newly engaged couples - YourTango
The dos and don'ts of PDA - CollegeCandy
10 reasons to love small boobs - The Frisky
Disturbing tweets from Chris Brown's female fans - Slate
The Vow tops the box office - BuzzSugar
Afternoon eye candy: Rupert Grint - theBERRY
Move in with your boyfriend without going broke - Betty Confidential

6 Things to Do With Scallions

Susannah Chen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:23:26 PST

Ever buy a bunch of herbs for a recipe, only to use a scant stem and find the rest wilted with dehydration a week later? This has admittedly been a long-standing problem in my kitchen, and I've been determined to cultivate a solution for it. This week I'm addressing an aromatic I have a chronic problem forgetting about: scallions.

When they're fresh, green onions have a biting smell and are resilient to the touch, but days later, the exact same stalks will take on a muted brownish hue, made slimy thanks to dehydration, and hunched over in sadness and neglect.

Since they age quickly, the key is to make sure you use them up before they get to such a sorry state! Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do that; scallions have a mild pungency that's versatile enough to go into just about every savory dish. A few examples:

Slice green onions as thinly as possible, then toss a handful into a garden salad.
Make a four-ingredient ginger scallion sauce to drizzle on eggs, chicken, and fish.

For four more suggestions, keep reading.

President Obama Shares a Spotify Mixtape

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:35 PST

Tech-savvy President Obama is known for his proficiency in navigating the world of social networks. Both the White House and president have been on Twitter for years. He recently joined Instagram (@barackobama) and held a post-State of the Union Hangout on Google+. The president's latest tech move is for the musically-minded; he (well, his reelection staff) released a 2012 campaign Spotify playlist.

The 28-song digital mixtape is a combination of staff choices and a few of the commander in chief's personal favorites. With songs from Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and U2 among others, it's a playlist with a message of how the staff wants to look at the election season. After the president's soulful rendition of Al Green, it's likely "Let's Stay Together" was one of his selections.

Obama Compromises on Contraception

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:55 PST

Despite the fact that 99 percent of women who have ever had sex - religious or not - have used contraception, the Obama administration's decision to make birth control free under all employer health insurance packages has caused a controversy. Today, the White House announced that it will make a change to its new policy to accommodate religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, who do not want to cover prescriptions like the pill. Under the compromise, religious employers would not have to offer free birth control. Rather, insurance companies themselves would have to provide free contraception to workers at religiously sponsored institutions if the worker requests it.

The original policy, similar to laws that already exist in states like California and Oregon, would have required groups affiliated with religious institutions, like hospitals, charities, and universities, to provide insurance plans that cover birth control for free. Churches themselves would be exempt. But some religions, like the Catholic Church, oppose all forms of birth control, and leaders, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, put pressure on the White House to change course, threatening to make this a major campaign issue.

So far, it looks like the compromise has pleased both sides. Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards said it "does not compromise a woman's ability to access this critical birth control benefits," and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, says she is "pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated."

Prince Harry Visits With Vets and Preps For a Return to Afghanistan

Allie Merriam — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:41:25 PST

Prince Harry visited with fellow servicemen and women this morning while at the Royal Air Force's Honington base. Dressed in fatigues, Harry checked out equipment, like rifles and night vision systems, and said hello to veterans. The Prince has seen combat action himself, and is poised for a second tour of duty. Prince Harry will return to the front line in Afghanistan later this year with the Army Air Corps. He'll serve as an Apache helicopter pilot, having been trained to fly the choppers during a program in the United States last year. He must first, though, complete a predeployment training course. Harry has received high marks in his work so far, earning the distinction of "best copilot gunner" in his class. Harry's brother, Prince William, is now also serving his country. He's one week into a month-and-a-half-long stay in the Falkland Islands, where he's manning search and rescue helicopters.

Safe House: A Standout Thriller

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

While working for the CIA may seem like a dream job, Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) current position at a Safe House is certainly no picnic. He's a new agent, stationed alone in South Africa, waiting for the chance that he will have a "house guest" (someone who is taken prisoner by the CIA.) Matt's desperately trying to get some field experience so he can be stationed in some other city where he can see a little action. After a year of boredom, his wish comes true when Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) arrives.

I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout the film, and felt everyone in the theater being equally enraptured with what was unraveling before our eyes. Safe House has high-stakes moments cut with sardonic, nonchalant comedy that Reynolds and Washington both pull off nicely. I felt connected to everyone's struggles, but the plot kept me unsure if I wanted the good guy or the bad guy to come out on top. To find out why Safe House exceeded my expectations, just keep reading.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.