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4 Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:30:00 PDT

Lately we have become so hyper-sensitive about sun exposure and the damaging effects it has on our health. Wearing sunscreen and using self-tanners can all help to prevent possible future outbreaks of skin cancer, but what about the sun exposure we've already had?

Unfortunately, there was probably a time when we weren't so careful. Previous sun exposure might cause skin cancer, so it's important for you (or a close friend) to check your skin. Look carefully at moles and beauty marks to see if they have any of these symptoms:

Fit's Tips: If you have any doubts about a specific mole, make an appointment with a dermatologist. They may perform a biopsy where they remove a portion of it and check for cancer. Since skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., it's better to be safe, so if they do find cancer cells or are unsure, they'll remove the entire mole. To protect yourself from future sun damage, check out these tips.

Source

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Teach Your Mom Tech: Pinterest

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:01:00 PDT

If Mom floods your email on the daily with her favorite links, help her organize the chaos by introducing her to Pinterest. The virtual pinboard site lets Mom bookmark and share items she loves, but give her fair warning that this will be an addictive hobby. It's a win-win situation - Mom has a new way of sharing beautiful Internet finds, and your inbox lightens its load.

Here's how to set up Pinterest for Mom:

Set up an account: Pinterest makes it really easy to connect via Facebook or Twitter, so preferably sign Mom in with an account she already has.
Check out interest streams: Before explaining the pinning process, let Mom explore her interests to develop a better understanding of what she should pin. Architecture, Art, Design, DIY & Crafts, Food & Drink, Gardening, Home Decor, Pets, and Travel & Places are good starting places for Mom.
Repin, like, and comment: Pinterest has a very active social community, so Mom can and should engage with no limit! Show her how to hover over photos to repin or like. If something really catches her eye, then show her how to comment.
Follow awesome pinners: Visit the pages of active pinners to view and follow their board collections.
Add pins and create boards: After your mom has the hang of Pinterest, help her add new pins to her user page and organize them into boards.
Pin It browser bar: Lastly, drag the "Pin It" button to your mom's browser, and show her how she can pin anything across the web with a single click.

The Poem That Inspired Mad Men's "Lady Lazarus"

Annie Scudder — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:05:16 PDT

Megan Draper sets out for a new life this week on Mad Men, as she quits her job at Sterling Cooper Draper Price to resurrect her acting career. As the title of the episode, "Lady Lazarus," suggests, our friends on Mad Men are adapting to new lives. Don lets Megan pursue her acting dream, but he's lost at work without her. Pete has morphed into the sad Don of the past, cheating on his wife and sneaking around. Megan is leaving the working world to go back to acting class and auditions, finding time to play the housewife in between.

The episode borrows both its title and themes from a Sylvia Plath poem ("Lady Lazarus") about rebirth. Lazarus, of course, refers to the man Jesus raises from the dead in the Bible. In Sylvia Plath's poem, which uses allusions to Nazi Germany, the narrator almost dies three times. The first is an accident, the second is a failed suicide attempt. Sylvia Plath did commit suicide in real life, and her "Lady Lazarus" poem reads in part:

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

Finally, the third time, she is reborn like a phoenix: "Out of the ash/ I rise with my red hair/ And I eat men like air." The rebirth is not wanted, and she hopes to eat the men who continue to revive her.

The episode about new life came filled with overt references to death, just like Sylvia Plath's poem. When Pete talks life insurance with his train buddy, Howard, he touts that his current plan even covers suicide after two years. Howard later mentions that Pete's father died young, but in a plane crash - an accident. We also see Don warn Megan about the dangers of cooking barefoot, and Don nearly step into an empty elevator shaft. Later, Megan lies lifelessly on the floor during her acting class, and Don listens to the Beatles song "Tomorrow Never Knows," off their album Revolver. This season, you can find signs predicting the death of a variety of characters. But perhaps the line from the poem - "Dying/ is an art, like everything else/ I do it exceptionally well" - references Megan. After all, Peggy complains that Megan does everything exceptionally well.

The uncomfortable changes and rebirths present in both the poem and the episode could represent the societal upheavals happening in 1960s America. Change is coming whether these individuals want it, and rebirth is being forced on some of them.

Photo courtesy of AMC

10 Signs You're A Bad Date

YourTango — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:55 PDT

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. Today, find out if you're second date material.

Ever wonder why your initial dates rarely lead to a great dating relationship? Find out if you're unknowingly doing or saying 10 things to turn off a potential love match and discover what to do instead if you want to find great love and create a great relationship. Below are 10 warning signs that you are a rude date and a few suggestions on what to do instead!

You're late! You arrive late for a date or change plans last minute instead of honoring your date's feelings and your commitment to be together as planned.
You're distracted! You stare at attractive people who pass by or allow distractions of cell phones, text messages and/or silent vibes to interrupt your dating conversation instead of devoting your full attention to your date. Remember, where your attention goes your affection grows!
You lie! You exaggerate your accomplishments and dating goals in hopes of getting laid instead of being honest about your life resume or your desire for a casual fling, so that your date can decide if your life experiences and dating goals are a good match.
You're depressing! You bog down the mood with heavy, negative stories from your past instead of starting fresh and creating exciting new stories on your own with your new potential love match.
You're intense! You pressure a commitment quickly or invite a date to an event two months later instead of allowing time to get to know each other and discovering if you can create a solid dating relationship based on shared values, chemistry and complementary interests.
You're lazy! You use electronic communication to confirm dates or to keep track of your date's online dating activities instead of making a human connection your priority and dealing with dating issues face-to-face.
You're self-centered! You control conversations with a monologue about yourself instead of finding common ground, asking about your date and becoming an active listener as an act of love.
You're judgmental! You pass judgment, put down your date's dreams or suggest that your date change to fit your ideals instead of accepting your date - quirks and all - as you determine if you are a compatible love match.

For the rest of the signs, head to YourTango: 10 Signs You're A Bad Date

Written by Hadley Finch for YourTango.

Who Says a 3-Year-Old Can't Use a Pacifier?

BabyCenter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:03:29 PDT

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Andrea Updike about toddlers using pacifiers.

I have a confession to make. My 3-year-old uses a pacifier when he sleeps. Also? I have no intention of taking it away.

We’ve all seen the pictures of Suri Cruise with her pacifier/bottle/high heels and made our judgments. We all think we will do things a certain way before we have kids. And we all find our own system that works that is somewhere between total control and total anarchy. Today? I am standing up for sleep. And for our family, that means the paci stays.

Related: What's Up With Big Babies?

My son sleeps. He sleeps well. He sleeps with a paci. Last year, we decided to drop the paci. We ceremoniously said good-bye, and he even (quite bravely) threw it in the garbage all by himself. That night he went right to sleep without a second thought. I was victorious. I was proud. I even blogged about it.

I was arrogant.

Not two days later, he stopped napping. Like, as in completely. He went from three-hour naps to nonstop chatter. I turned to Google to find out if he was ready to drop the nap. Post after post appeared saying that children dropped naps about the same time they dropped pacifiers. I knew the paci would be back.

Thankfully, I am really good at eating my words.

I marched myself right out to the store and purchased not one, but two new pacifiers. We named them "bedtime pacis" and told Oscar that they had to live in his bed. He gladly accepted those terms and is back to nice, long afternoon naps!

Of course, I worried that I would ruin his teeth forever, but my pediatrician gave me the OK, saying that he isn’t really sucking on it in his sleep, so it doesn’t cause the issues that might take place if he had it during waking hours. And that was all I needed to hear about that.

My name is Andrea Updyke, and I am proud of my pacifier-using 3-year-old.

When did your child drop the paci?

More great reads from BabyCenter:
Eight teacher appreciation gifts you can make
The 10 commandments of dance moms
Celebrate Earth Day with a neighborhood party
Twenty Cinco de Mayo ideas to get your fiesta on
Six warning signs of bogus parenting advice

Source: Flickr User KitchenDesigner

California Inspection Finds Toxins in Nail Polish Labeled Toxic-Free

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:44:00 PDT

California is throwing down the gauntlet on toxic beauty once again. First it was Brazilian blowouts, and now it's nail polish. The state's Department of Toxic Substances Control announced that some of the lacquers used in California salons are guilty of false advertising. In fact, of the 25 products gathered in the group's recent investigation, 12 claimed to be free of toluene. Ten of these, however, were found to contain the toxic ingredient. In addition, of the seven products that claimed to be completely three-free (void of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde), five were discovered to have one or more of these dangerous substances.

The problem is, these ingredients have been linked to birth defects, asthma, and developmental disorders when inhaled. "We know there are exposures at salons, both to workers and customers, and we're concerned about potential harm," Karl Palmer of the DTSC told the AP. "Our strategy first and foremost is to shed light on the reality of what's in these products and put this information out to everyone."

The list of culprits includes salon-only brands Sation, Dare to Wear (for which the owner refutes the claim), Chelsea Nail Lacquer, New York Nail Polish, Sunshine Nail Lacquer, Cacie, and Golden Girl. The decision to take legal action against the offenders is up to the California attorney general. The companies would be in violation of Proposition 65, which states that all harmful chemicals must be revealed by the manufacturer with warning signs.

8 Reasons You're Not Ready For A Relationship

YourTango — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:00:51 PDT

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. You may want a relationship, but the real question is “are you ready?” Your answer may surprise you.

I know what you’re thinking right now - “of course I’m ready for a relationship - it’s what I’ve been waiting so long for! I just need to know how I can get one started!”

Well, I’m certainly not arguing that you want a real relationship; I’m asking if you’re ready for a real relationship. That one’s tough to answer, because it entails really looking at yourself and your beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in a real, open, and honest way. And that’s never easy.

One thing I can tell you is that I’ve been there. I’ve been in that spot where all I could think about was how I so wanted a real relationship, with all of the affection, understanding, support, and love that comes with it. And that’s when I asked myself this very same question, and I realized that I didn’t like the answer. I had some major changing to do.

So how do you know if you’re ready for a relationship before you start one with either the wrong guy or Mr. Right at the wrong time?

Well, if you’re showing any of these warning signs, it means you’re not ready for a relationship and you have some work to do on yourself before you can be in a healthy, happy relationship with someone else.

Your compass is not pointing north. Your great guy compass is off, and it's consistently pointing you to the wrong type of guy. This typically happens because you’re subconsciously trying to sabotage the relationship from the beginning by choosing a guy who’s not actually relationship material. Your friends and family have warned you that he’s a player, or a loser, or a (enter your favorite derogatory term for a bad boyfriend here), but you’ve written them off, believing that you’re going to be the one woman that can change him into the perfect partner. No, the truth is that inside you know you won’t change him, and that’s actually OK with you, because you subconsciously fear a deep relationship.
You need a guy to feel happy. You feel miserable unless you’re coupled up. If you get an invite to a party or event, and you don’t have a guy to bring, then you’re likely to make up an excuse, send your regrets, pass up the night out and sit at home feeling sorry for yourself because you are oh so alone. Then you spend the entire night googling “best places to meet men” and reading articles about what men find attractive instead of doing something would make you happy (like going to the party you were invited to.) The truth is that if you did meet a great guy while in this mindset, you’d hold on so tight so quickly that you’d most likely strangle the relationship anyway. Find what makes you happy before you’re in a relationship, then find someone to share that happiness with.

Written by Jane Garapick for YourTango.

Do You Think Sugar Is as Addictive as Drinking or Smoking?

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:12:57 PDT

If you thought a little sugar never hurt anyone, think again. 60 Minutes reported that the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar a year, and scientists are confirming that this overloaded amount is causing liver damage, heart disease, and cancer. While we are biologically designed to enjoy sweet tastes because they are a sign that a food isn't poisonous, in today's society, most of our sugar ingestion comes from a refined source, stripped of its nutrients, fiber, and natural makeup.

Sugar, even the smallest amount, activates the brain and releases a burst of dopamine into the bloodstream, much like cocaine's effect on the body. Just like drug addictions, the highs diminish with the more sugar you consume, so you develop a craving for more and more to get that same feel-good fix.

While it's hard to fathom that sugar is as addictive and deadly as a drinking or smoking habit, several studies are currently proving otherwise. How do you feel about the great sugar debate? Perhaps in the near future, we could see warning labels appear on soda cans and candy boxes, urging consumers to reduce consumption.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Tea Leaves"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:32:43 PDT

On this week's episode of Mad Men, Betty's back - and in an, um, "big" way. Thanks to January Jones's real-life pregnancy, Mrs. Francis has packed on a few pounds after what appears to be more than one afternoon spent on the couch with a box of Bugles. Things take a dramatic turn when Betty's mother-in-law advises a trip to the doctor, and he finds a tumor in her throat.

As Betty contemplates her mortality, Don and Harry take a little work offsite to a Rolling Stones concert in the name of Heinz. Back in the office, Peggy adds a new copywriter to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and the tension between Roger and Pete continues to build. It's a relatively slow episode ("Zou Bisou Bisou" is a tough act to follow), but let's break down the biggest moments when you

Scary situation: Betty's clearly a bit bored in her life as Mrs. Francis, and as her mother-in-law points out, Betty is starting to let herself go. She heads to the doc in hope of scoring some diet pills, but he finds a tumor instead. Betty begins contemplating what will happen to her kids if she has cancer, and starts having nightmares to go along with it. Ultimately, the tumor is benign, but the scare doesn't shake Betty into reevaluating her life: it only makes her help herself to more ice cream.
Wise beyond her years. Betty's not the only one who's initially shaken up by her tumor: Don is also starting to panic. He's suddenly caring and introspective (perhaps because he recently lost Anna to cancer), but he's also pushing Megan away. When bikini-clad Megan is hurt that he wants to blow off their trip to Fire Island because he's upset about Betty, he tells her that she's 26 and basically insinuates that she's too young to understand. Megan handles the situation nicely, reminding Don that she's old enough to handle death and even manages to convince Don to come along on the trip. Yet another case of Megan proving that Don's temperament doesn't scare her.
Let's spend the night together: Don and Harry head backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in hope of scoring the band for the new Heinz campaign. They basically redefine "fish out of water" standing in their suits and ties among teenage girls smoking joints. Harry gets an in with a groupie, which leaves Don fraternizing with a young fan - and for the first time, Don actually seems fatherly instead of trying to hit on her. It's all for naught though: Harry ends up signing a band called The Trade Winds thinking he got the Stones. Whoops!
Tension in the ranks: Even with his new office, Pete and Roger are still butting heads around SCDP. Pete concedes the Mohawk account to Roger, much to Roger's pleasure - only to essentially take it back at the end of the episode. As he pops a bottle of champagne, Pete announces that Roger will be dealing with the day-to-day, but he'll still be the one in charge. Roger is obviously disgruntled about this and laments to Don that he's starting to feel like he's being shoved out the door at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. This relationship seems like a ticking time bomb, but what will prompt the big blowout?
New guy: With Mohawk airlines back on the client list for SCDP, Roger demands that Peggy find a new copywriter. Enter Michael Ginsberg, whom Stan dismisses as too qualified (he warns Peggy of hiring someone who might be her boss someday), and Roger likes because of his Jewish background. Peggy is immediately turned off when he thinks she's a secretary, and is concerned how Don will feel about his off-putting remarks. As it turns out, Don's completely fine with Ginsberg, and he gets a job. There's just one late-breaking twist: despite Michael's claim that he has no family, friends, or ties of any kind, we learn at the end of the episode that he lives (and cares for) his father. Wonder how this one will affect his promise to live in the office 24/7.

I was happy to see Betty back on the show, but I'm not sure where they'll take her character throughout the season. Plus, it felt like more Betty meant less Joan, and I definitely missed Joannie this week. How'd you feel about the episode?

Photo courtesy of AMC