If you see free medical screening tests at your local pharmacy or gym – skip it...

There’s a new trend in medical diagnostics to-go...

Fancy machines that offer diagnostics such as electrocardiograms and echocardiograms are popping up in pharmacies, the gym, the mall and even some churches. These tests are often offered at discounted rates or for free. So are they worth it? No, according to the American College of Physicians. The problem is that preventative tests really need to be administered by experts. The commercial testing machines are often placed in high-traffic areas just to drum up business. 

Your doctor should be the only one to determine your need for tests. You have individual risk-factors and circumstances that need personal attention. Walk-up medical tests can be unnecessary, or worse - you could wind up with inaccurate results.

It’s never too late to get an Ivy League education – for free!

How about a Harvard education, free of charge, without leaving home? 

School is in session online - and there are some fascinating courses available to you, right now, at no charge. Here is your potential schedule:

• Computer Science: Take CS50 at Harvard or MIT’s Introduction to Computer Science and Programming.

• Economics: Go to Yale, online, and sign up for ECON 252. If you’re pressed for time, University of Pennsylvania offers a course called Finding Money to Start a Business, which is just 3 hours long.

• Science and Medicine: MIT, Yale, Caltech and Duke all offer free courses in this category.

• Humanities: Go to Princeton for History of the World 1300, or to Yale for Roman Architecture.

• Law: Liberty University offers Introduction to Forensics and Duke University has How to Reason and Argue.

Just Google "free Ivy League courses" for links to these courses and more.

If someone in your family is prone to motion sickness – there are a few spices that might help...

If a long car ride or day on the water is in your near future – you might want to pack some cinnamon...

The scent of cinnamon can actually be very effective at preventing motion sickness. Take a few whiffs before you go. If you do start to feel queezy once your rolling, floating or flying, take a few more whiffs and the sensation should subside. 

Ginger is another great spice for motion sickness. The most effective method of using it is to chew on a piece of raw ginger root for 3 minutes, then spit it out. Ginger is also available in capsule form or in tangy ginger chews.

When all else fails, press the P6 spot on your wrist for motion sickness relief. It’s on the inner forearm, about 1 ½ inches above the center of your wrist. Apply pressure with your thumb for 3 minutes.

If you have pretty colorful plates – be careful what you serve on them. When NOT to use them...

Pretty painted dishes and plates can make for a festive table...

...but there are some foods that don’t belong on there. Some of those colorful plates contain lead in the paint, especially hand-painted ones. Any foods containing vinegar, such as salad dressing, can cause the lead to leach from the plates and into your food.

It’s hard to know if painted plates contain lead. The only way to find out for sure is to use a lead-testing kit, which can be found at most home improvement stores.

When a little kid has a temper tantrum in public – what should you do?

Few things are more stressful than a little kid having a meltdown in public...  

If that little kid happens to be yours, here’s what to do, from parenting coach Meghan Leahy:

• Get out – ASAP! If you can go home, do it. If can’t, go to the car. If you don’t have a car, go for a walk.

• Skip the punishments, lectures or threats. Have as little physical contact as possible. Your child’s brain has short-circuited and nothing will get through until they calm down.

Once the tantrum has passed, it’s important to make some mental notes of what may have triggered it. Was your child getting sick? Were they hungry, tired or bored? Identifying triggers will help you plan accordingly in the future.  

If you’ve got a teen that will be driving soon, I’ve got some parental driver’s ed...

If you’ve got a young or soon-to-be driver in the family, you’re probably a bit nervous – and with good reason! 

The statistics are scary but it’s really important for parents to know and face the facts BEFORE handing over the keys. Here’s what you need to know:

• Check their seat belt. Besides being the law, seat belts have been proven to save lives, but the message is not getting through to all young drivers. In fatal crashes, recent data found 60 percent of 16 to 20 year olds were not wearing them.

• Make sure they have their cell phone - somewhere they CAN'T reach it. The risk of talking or texting while driving is high, especially for young people. 

• Remind them to slow down. Teens tend to have the need for speed due to their impulsive nature and poor judgment. Thirty-seven percent of male drivers between the ages of 15-20 were speeding right before their fatal crash. 

• Be prepared. Before they hit the road, pack an emergency kit in the trunk. It should include a flashlight, jumper cables, a first aid kit and a light colored blanket.

• Limit night driving. In 2010, 17 percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight, and 24 percent occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. 

• Check the weather. In inclement weather, it is even more dangerous for a young driver to be on the road due to their inexperience handling the car in those situations. 

• Limit passengers. The more passengers in a vehicle the higher the fatal crash risk. With three or more in the car, it's about four times higher than when a beginner drives alone. Studies also show that teens with passengers are more likely to take risks and be distracted, and when things go wrong, the tragedy is multiplied. 

Bad news for anyone who smoked pot as a teenager...

This is your brain. This is your brain on pot...  

A new study out of Duke University states: The use of cannabis in adolescence, while the brain is undergoing critical development, may have neurotoxic effects. In other words, if you smoked pot as a teenager, you may have permanently lowered your IQ. Nice going genius.

So how much of a hit did your intelligence take? Pot smoker’s IQs dropped an average 8 points. Those who quit smoking pot still had lower IQs than they did at the start of the study.

If you’d like to live a little longer – run for your life!

Running is a primal human instinct – and it’s really good for us... 

Results from a new Danish study found that jogging each week could actually add 6 years to your life. And if you’re not big on running – here’s some good news: You won’t have to run too far. The researchers looked at the lifespans of non-runners, moderate runners and long-distance runners and the moderate group had the best old-age statistics. Those runners ran between 1 and 2.5 hours a week at a slow-to-average pace. 

The bottom line: Just 1 hour of casual jogging per week can have a significant impact on your health and lifespan. That’s just 20 minutes 3 times a week.

If you’d like to do something at least once in a blue moon – hurry up...

The next blue moon is coming! 

Friday, August 31st is the night and if the sky is clear, you’ll be able to see the blue moon. Don’t be disappointed if it looks like any other full moon. The phrase “blue moon” refers to rarity, not to color. It really means it’s the 2nd full moon of the month, the first one this month was on August 1st. 

So what’s the big deal? It’s a somewhat rare phenomenon. The last blue moon was on New Year’s Eve, in December of 2009 – and the next blue moon won’t be until July of 2015.

If you’ve made a fool out of yourself lately – don’t feel bad...

The next time you stick your foot in your mouth or have toilet paper stuck to your shoe – savor the moment...

According to a recent study, feeling publicly humiliated is apparently good for us. In one experiment, adults were asked to imagine themselves in an embarrassing situation, such as being naked in a bedroom and discovering that the shades are open, and then rate how they would feel. Those who felt humiliated were more likely to be happy, pro-social and generous types. 

In another experiment, adults were shown videos of people in embarrassing situations. Victims of humiliation that let it show were rated as much more trustworthy and likeable than those who took would-be shame in stride. 

Fast food may be convenient – but slow food is so much better. What it is and how to eat it...

When is the last time you ate some slow food? 

Fast food chains took the world by storm in the 19080s and slow food is still hoping to take the lead – but it could be awhile. Michael Pollan, author of “Food Rules,” says the slow food movement is something we should all get on board with. The movement started in Italy and celebrates the virtues of the disappearing slow life. 

Slow food is typically a traditional meal served in a communal style. It’s the opposite of fast food and consists of well-grown, well-prepared food. Ideally, you either grew your own slow food, or bought it locally – it doesn’t get any fresher than that. Take your time preparing and cooking that slow food and when it comes time to eat, slow down. It’s best to relax and enjoy your meal. Savor the taste, the texture and appreciate all the different nuances, preferably with other slow flood lovers.

Which are healthiest – red, white or purple potatoes?

If you’re having potatoes for dinner tonight – pick the purple kind...

Those little roasting potatoes come in several colors, red, white, yellow, brown and purple. Nutritionally speaking, the red, white and yellow potatoes are pretty similar – but the purple potatoes are a bit superior. Like blueberries, the compounds that give the purple spuds their rich color contain antioxidants and help protect the brain against age-related disease. Purple potatoes are also high in iron, potassium and vitamin C.

If you want your Tweet or Facebook post to be seen – post it in prime time...

If you want a lot of people to see your Facebook post – wait until Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. eastern time...

According to social networking clicking analysis – that is the absolute peak time to get noticed. If that’s too small of a posting window for you, try for any week day between 1 and 4 p.m., unless it’s Friday. The social networking weekend starts at 3 p.m. on Friday. Experts recommend avoiding the weekends and overnights if you’re hoping to go viral.

As far as Twitter is concerned, the first half of the week is the most tweetable, with 1 to 3 p.m. holding the sweet tweet spot. The life of your tweet on Twitter is about 2.8 hours. After that, your tweet will be fading fast. If you’re tempted to tweet after 8 p.m., don’t bother, it’s the least re-tweetable time-frame.

Have you ever been dubbed as overqualified? What that really means...

Being referred to as overqualified may sound like a compliment – but that’s not always the case...

According to Dave Fecak, founder of the recruiting company Fecak Inc, being told your overqualified almost always means something else. Here are some of the likely hidden meanings:

• You’re overpaid: If you have more experience than they need, your salary is probably above their budget. 

• You’re stagnant: Candidates who have worked for many years in a regulated environment often don't thrive in a less regulated, more diverse firm. The conventional wisdom, right or wrong, is that you can't release the zoo lions back into the jungle once they've been tamed.

• You’re a threat: If you’re more experienced than those conducting the interviews, their fear-factor goes up.

Dave says terms like ‘overqualified' and ‘not a fit' are the laziest and safest ways for companies to reject you. If you can determine what the real reason is, it might help you tweak your resume or change your interview approach accordingly. 

Now that we’re sharing the roads with school buses again, a school bus safety review is in order...

Are stuck behind a school bus? 

Too bad. Passing is NOT an option. We’re sharing the roads with students again and we’ll have to make some adjustments to keep everyone safe. The National Highway Trarffic Safety Administration has some back-to-school rules of the road reminders:

• Never pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. It is illegal in all 50 states.

• If you are traveling in the same direction as a stopped school bus, you must stop as well. 

• When waiting with your own child, teach them to wait until the stop arm is fully extended and the bus door opens before moving toward the bus. 

• The area ten feet around a school bus is at the highest risk for a child being hit. Most states have distance requirements, and they may be much further away than you may think.

Kids walking to school or standing at bus stops should be following the rules too - but it’s up to you to expect the unexpected and watch out for the occasional misstep or wise-guy. Also, keep in mind a lot of older kids have ear-buds in and can’t hear you coming.

Most of us could use a little help saving money. A simple trick that might just help...

Do you have any $2 bills in your wallet? 

You might want to start carrying those around. Although they’re not really all that rare, people tend to think they are. In a recent experiment, those who had $2 bills were less likely to let go of them, or at least save them for a special occasion.

If you’re giving a gift of money, consider less common currency like the $2, $50 or $100 bills and the recipient will likely hold onto them for a little longer. Most people think twice before breaking a large or unusual bill or coin.

A baby dog is called a puppy. So what’s a baby platypus called?

We all know what puppies, kittens, chicks and lambs are – but what’s a puggle? 

It’s a baby platypus. Here are a few more baby animal names you don’t hear every day:

• Opossum – joey

• Armadillo – pup

• Cattle – calf, or dogie if it’s an orphan

• Oyster – spat

• Jellyfish - ephyna

• Turkey – poult

• Quail – cheeper 

• Cockroach – nymph

• Spider – spiderling

• Dinosaur – jeuvenile or hatchling

We humans aren’t the only infants and babies out there. A baby gorilla is called an infant – and an infant ape is called a baby.

If you’re into designer bags – I’ve got the most popular purse picks...

Women all over the world LOVE designer handbags... 

Some recent tracking by Digital Luxury group reveals which high-end bags are getting the most search attention online:

• Coach: The average cost for one of these classics is $298.

• Louis Vuitton: $1,910 for this practical velvet and crocodile skin shoulder bag.

• Chanel: $2,099 for the black caviar petite timeless tote – USED!

• Gucci: $2,290 for the new bamboo zebra print calf skin model.

• Longchamp (Long-shomp): Average price $145 for a plain old tote bag. But it’s French.

• Prada: $2,270 for a clutch with a gaudy 50’s car on it.

• Hermes: $4,600 for the Victoria ii – but it’s nothing fancy.

• Mulberry: $1,500 for the Bayswater pinky mink metallic snake suede number.

• Mark Jacobs: $1,195 for the Sutton bag.

• Michael Kors: For just $238, you too can display the giant MK medallion with pride.

Where is the best place to stash your valuables? Let’s ask a burglar...

If you’d like a really good hiding spot in your home for your valuables, just ask a burglar...

Reader’s Digest did just that and stole some pretty good advice: Your kid’s room: Burglars admit they rarely go in there. 

If you do have kids, don’t advertise it by leaving toys and sporting equipment visible in the yard or driveway. That’s a dead giveaway that there are probably some valuable gaming systems and electronics inside.

If you’re wondering where the worst spots to hide jewelry and cash are, those would be dresser drawers, the bedside table and the medicine cabinet - the spots they check first. And if you have a safe that’s not bolted down, make sure there's nothing you care about inside - it’s considered to-go.

Fat-free salad dressing RUINS your salad...

If you’re eating salad to get something healthy into your system – DON’T use fat-free dressing! 

Mario Ferruzzi, associate professor of food science at Purdue explains: In order for our bodies to absorb the nutrients from vegetables, we actually need some fat with it to get the job done. 

They tested several kinds of dressings and found that dressings made with monounsaturated fat such as olive and canola oil were the most complimentary to the carotenoids found in our plant foods – or salads.

Who are angrier drivers – women or men?

If you’re tempted to cut someone off in traffic – you might want to reconsider if it’s a woman behind the wheel of that car...  

According to a recent Harris poll, more women are prone to road rage than men. 61% of the female respondents admitted experiencing road rage, compared to just 51% of men. Drivers over the age of 55 are the most relaxed.

If it’s a young woman behind the wheel – get out of the way! The 25 to 34 age group is the most aggressive and admit they are more likely to blow their tops.

Fresh, sweet, juicy corn is in abundance right now. How to choose the best ears...

If you’re buying fresh corn on the cob – make sure you choose the best ears... 

The husks should be moist and bright green with a little yellow or brown tassle on top. If the husks are dried out, the corn will be too. Make sure the kernels feel full and plump and you’ve got some good ears on your hands.

Leave the corn in the husk until you’re ready to cook and eat it. Those ears will start to dry out as soon as their husked. If you’re boiling the corn, skip the salt. Adding salt to the water will actually toughen the kernels. You can add a tablespoon of sugar to the cooking water to enhance the corn’s natural sweetness.

You know that little voice inside your head? Tell it to shut up!

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of really listening to your inner voice once in a while – then tell it to shut up! 

When our brains are full of subconscious thoughts and reminders, they start to compete with each other to be heard. Unfortunately, nagging and negative thoughts usually speak louder and are more persistent than your positive or constructive inner voice. That negativity is bound to conjure up some stress and worry and even interfere with what really needs to be done.

When you do start to hear that inner nag that is judgmental or negative, remind that voice that you know what you’re doing and tell it to take a break. There’s a good chance you’ll hear a “thank you!” from your positive, supportive inner voice.

Move over olive oil – there’s a new favorite oil in town...

If you like olive oil – you’re going to love avocado oil!

Like olive oil, it’s got some nutritional benefits, such as antioxidants and vitamin E – but its also got potassium and protein. It's flavor is a bit more subtle than olive oil, with a hint of pepper.

Avocado oil is perfect for homemade salad dressings or for sautéing fish or chicken. It won’t smoke as easily as olive oil which means you can cook with it at higher temperatures - up to 500%.

Could lying give you a sore throat? Yes! The truth about lying...

The truth will set you free...

...from all sorts of health problems. Even the little white lies can be really bad for us according to researchers at the University of Notre Dame. Their study revealed that people who rarely lied were actually much healthier than average or problem liars. People who bend the truth, withhold information or tell the occasional whopper often suffer in several ways. Symptoms ranged from physical problems such as headaches and sore throats to some serious emotional woes, including feelings of sadness, stress and even self-loathing.

Have you thanked a soldier lately? Why and how you should do that today...

Things are really slow for our armed forces abroad right now – in the department of mail...

The troops experience a real lull in mail during the time between July 4th and Thanksgiving. We may be wrapping up our vacations or busy getting back-to-school, but our men and women in the military are still working hard every day, protecting our country and our way of life. 

It’s really easy to let them know we appreciate all they’re doing and brighten their day with a little mail. Just go to www.ForgottenSoldiers.org and click on “write a soldier.”

It’s a brand new school year. Here's a list of what NOT to say to your child’s teacher...

Welcome back-to-school. If you’d like to stay on the good side of your child’s teacher – watch what you say! 

Here are the top 10 things teachers don’t want to hear:

1. “My child is acting up because he’s bored. He’s so bright.”

Bright kids act up too. If you truly think your kid is bright, ask for more work.

2. “I know it’s open house, but let me tell you about my child’s…”

Open house is a time for everyone to get comfortable. You’ll have time to brag or complain about your kid at the parent-teacher conference.

3. “Jane is picking on my daughter. I want her punished!”

Parents only hear one side of the story. Ask if the teacher is aware of a problem and what can be done to solve it.

4. “You give too much homework!”

Homework is an opportunity for you to see what your child is learning and take an active role in their education. 

5. “Billy’s homework is not done because...”

Unless it’s a major life crisis or emergency, don’t bother with the excuses. Your child will learn a better life lesson if they have to face the consequences.

6. “Our old teacher didn’t make us do that.”

Good teachers usually have an individual style. Give your new teacher at least one marking period before you judge the technique. 

7. “I talked to the principal and superintendent about this…”

Going over a teacher’s head as a first step is both disrespectful and unproductive.

8. "Why did you give my child this grade?”

Unless you spot an obvious error, try asking what your child can do to improve the grade.

9. “I’d like to hear your side of the story.” 

This may sound diplomatic – but it may put the teacher on the defensive and seem as though you’re pitting teacher against student.

10. "We're going on vacation for a week. Can you put together a packet of my daughter's work so she doesn't fall behind?"

First of all, pulling your child out for more than a day for a non-emergency is a bad idea. If you must – ask for a general overview of what the teacher will be covering that week. The teacher should not be expected to put in a lot of extra work to accommodate your leisure time.

If you’d like to keep your guests happy – serve barbecued chicken! How it works...

Your cookout will be even happier if you serve barbecued chicken...

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario explain: The chicken is rich in vitamin B6, which boosts our mood-boosting serotonin levels. Slather that in tomatoes and spices used in barbecue sauce and you’ll be getting even more blues-busters thanks to the high antioxidant levels in there.

If you’re looking for some happy side dishes – try some black-eyed peas, mustard greens or beets. They’ve all got feel-good folic acid. And don’t forget the blue tablecloth – it’s the color that evokes the most positive emotions from people.

Which ear do you hold your phone up to? What that says about you...

Do you hold your phone up to your left ear – or your right? 

According to scientists at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, your answer reveals a lot about your personality. They say those who use their left ear are more likely to be right-brained thinkers. Those are the extra-creative and intuitive type. 

If you’re a phone lefty, you’ll probably stay on the line a little longer too. Those who use their right ear are left-brained thinkers. They are logical, practical and probably won’t want to chit-chat unless it involves some serious problem solving.

If you really want someone not to do something – don’t say don’t. Why it backfires...

Don’t chew with your mouth open! Don’t leave the garage door open! Don’t run with scissors! 

Don’t say don’t! If you really want someone NOT to do something, find a way to phrase it in the positive. Close your mouth when you chew, close the garage door and WALK with scissors - please.

When we receive an order or request, our brains create a flash image to help us process and make note of that thought. It’s a lot harder for someone to picture themselves NOT doing something than it is conjure up the positive action shot.

The next time you take a bite of something – count your chews. We’ll find out if you’re normal...

How many times do you chew your food? 

If you counted 21 per bite – you’re probably the average lean person. That’s how many times they chewed per bite in a recent study. The average obese person chewed only 17 times per bite. 

You’ve probably already heard that chewing more can result in weighing less – and apparently it’s true. Dr. Shuran Wang, author of the study explains: The act of chewing releases hormones that tell the brain when to stop eating – and will eventually start suppressing the appetite.

What’s up with the fancy led lighting around high-end vehicle headlights?

Those cool led headlights on high-end cars are pretty impressive – right? 

Not really. Consumer Reports put them to the test and were not impressed. Although manufacturers claim they add some brightness while reducing energy consumption, the models that Consumer Reports tried had a shorter reach on both low and high beam settings.

Led headlight technology is expected to trickle down to some more moderately priced cars – but it will be an expensive extra. Right now, that option costs about $1,400. Car makers also say those fancy lights will last the lifetime of the car; however, if they do need to be replaced for some reason, it’ll cost a bundle.  

Is pizza a smarter “fast-food” choice?

When it comes to fast-food options – pizza is a surprisingly UNhealthy one... 

According to dietician and nutrition expert Erin Palinski, most varieties of take-out pizza are actually loaded up with more junk than junk food itself. One serving, or two slices, has about 680 calories. Fried chicken only has 480. Pizza is also SUPER salty. You’ll be getting a whopping 1,600 milligrams. Tacos will only have about 1,000. Don’t forget the sugar – about 10 grams, or 2 ½ teaspoons in those 2 slices.

Erin says, if you’re still going to opt for the fast-food pizza, a thin crust will be a little better for you. It’s also a good idea to blot some of the oil off the top with a napkin before wolfing it down. 

Sharing is nice. Oversharing is annoying. Why people do it...

Do you know anyone on Facebook or Twitter who is guilty of oversharing? 

About 80% of all posts on social media are about the poster. Researchers at Harvard University decided to see why people feel the urge to share that pastrami sandwich they just ate – or what they’re doing or thinking around the clock. They hooked the social networkers up to some sensors and discovered the pleasure centers of the brain LIT up when the participants posted about themselves. The bottom line was they liked self-disclosure – a lot. The happy brain activity was right up there with other pleasure triggers like food, money and sex.

What time is it? The trend of carrying watches has come full circle – sort of...

If someone asks you the time, chances are you’ll be reaching into your pocket or purse to check it – on your phone...

Fewer people are wearing watches on their wrists these days and checking the time, and more, on their smartphones. The wrist watch was a handy gadget and all the rage starting after World War I. Before that, people were carrying watches in their pockets or on chains.

If watchmakers have their way, the time will be back on our hands soon. A new trend of state-of-the-art watches may be keeping our phones in our pockets. They will display more than just the time – and eventually sync to our phones and all the information in there. 

Could your popcorn be putting you at risk of Alzheimer’s?

If you like fake butter flavored popcorn – you could be at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease... 

According to a study from the University of Minnesota, diacetyl (die-a-SEE-til), or DA, which is used to produce artificial butter flavor, can have a toxic impact on our nerve cells.

Other problems have been associated with DA in the past, including respiratory problems. To be on the safe side, we should be avoiding anything with artificial buttery flavor. If you really love buttery popcorn, go ahead and have some – just make the real thing, with real butter.

Is your dog OCD? Some tell-tail signs...

Does your dog lick the furniture or the carpet? 

He or she could be suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. That’s one of the common behaviors in dogs with OCD. Some others include:

• Tail chasing

• Air snapping

• Light chasing

• Flank sucking

• Water bowl digging

If you do think your dog may have OCD, it’s important that it be addressed. Talk to your vet about it or search the web. There are a lot of resources out there for canine OCD, and you’ll find a lot of advice on how to deal with it and even change some of the behavior.

There’s a reason why most of us feel blah on rainy days...

If you feel tired or unmotivated on a rainy day – there’s a good reason for that...  

In a recent study, participants were asked to keep journals for 105 days. Those journals were then crosschecked with the NOAH weather database, which revealed some interesting findings. First and foremost, people felt a lot more tired on rainy days. Ironically, the journalists actually slept much better at night at the end of a sunny day.

Experts say the body doesn’t produce enough serotonin on rainy days and that can take a big toll on everyday activities. Simple tasks will likely feel much more difficult, especially if it’s been raining or cloudy for several days in a row. 

If we don’t do much on a rainy day, we’re probably not burning up enough energy to get a sound sleep that night. On a sunny productive day, we’ve done more to warrant the sleep that night. And the contrast of sunshine to dark night triggers a much stronger sleep signal.

Do coffee and tea really dehydrate us?

You’ve probably heard that too much coffee or tea will leave you dehydrated... 

But according to fitness expert Jonathan Ross, that’s not necessarily true. It is true that they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic – but they are also made with water. That caffeine/water ratio is not enough to leave you depleted. He says you can go ahead and credit some of that coffee and tea toward your daily intake of water. 

As for the 8 glasses of water a day we’re supposed to be drinking, Jonathan says we shouldn’t worry too much about drinking any exact amount. Our individual water needs vary a lot due to several factors. If you’ve got a healthy diet, you’re getting some significant water through high-water content foods like fruits and vegetables.

There’s a new trend in baby talk. How to speak it...

If you’d like to have a conversation with a baby – consider using your hands...

New research has found that hearing children who learn sign language in infancy scored as much as 12 points higher on IQ tests. The concept of infant sign language seemed logical to Joseph Garcia, author of “Sign With Your Baby.” Through his work with the deaf, he noticed that hearing children of deaf parents could communicate much sooner than other babies – some as young as six weeks.

Now it seems that teaching sign language to babies is all the rage. It’s very popular among the Hollywood parent crowd and books and videos on teaching baby sign-language are seeing a real spike in sales.  

How much money will you need to retire? A simple calculation...

We hear lots of advice on saving and calculating money for retirement...

It can be very complex and involve a lot of factors such as age, investments, current savings, projections and on and on. But according to the Lincoln Financial Group, we can ditch all that data and use some simple math to figure it all out. Their experts say we need 10 times our current annual income, in the bank, in order to comfortably retire. They say even though our salaries will change over the years, the 10-times rule will still apply for most of us.

If you’d like to predict the weather today – check your cup of coffee...

If you missed today’s forecast, watch closely as you pour your cup of coffee... 

It can actually help you determine whether or not you’ll need the umbrella. As you’re pouring the coffee into your mug, take note of the tiny bubbles rising to the surface. If the bubbles move rapidly to the cup’s edge – it’s going to be a nice day. That’s because high pressure pushes the bubbles outward to the edge of your mug – and high pressure indicates good, clear weather. If the bubbles stay towards the center of the mug, the pressure is dropping and clouds and rain are probably in the forecast.

Prunes anyone? Why we should all be acquiring a taste for them...

If you’d like to keep your heart happy, you may want to consider munching on some prunes today... 

Prunes, or dried plums if you prefer, are chock full of good stuff, including fiber, potassium and antioxidants. And researchers at the University of Minnesota say they’ve now found a chemical in dried prunes that could keep our arteries clear of plaque.

If you find it difficult to choke down chewy prunes in the whole - try chopping them up and sprinkling them into salads or on deserts. They’re also tasty and sweet and can add a nice texture to baked goods. It’s important to eat your prunes in moderation though. Eating too many will have a laxative effect on most people.

Who wakes up crankier – men or women?

Good morning? 

Generally speaking, women are crankier when they wake up in the morning than men are. According to a survey conducted by The Sleep Council, women report more bad moods in the morning than men. The women also tend to stay in a bad mood for longer than the guys. 24% of the men in the study say they NEVER wake up grumpy, while only 14% of women say they have good mornings.

The women who do admit to waking up grumpy say that bad mood can last for 2 to 4 hours. Men who wake up cranky tend to shake it off much faster.

73% of workers complain of being stressed out. What’s irritating them...

If you’re not stressed out or irritated at work, chances are the person sitting next to you is...

According to an Everest College Work Stress survey, something at work is bothering 73% of us. Here is a list of what gets under our skin the most:

• Pay: 11% say they’re not getting what they deserve.

• Coworkers: 10% say theirs are annoying.

• Commuting: 9% hate it.

• Balance: 5% complain of too much work and not enough play in their lives.

• Dead end job: 5% say there is a lack of opportunity for advancement where they are.

• The boss: 4% don’t like theirs.

Here are the top complaints of workers regionally:

• Northeast: Workload

• South: Low pay

• West: The commute

If you’d like to ease your kids back into school mode, try these apps...

You might want to take a few minutes to do some back-to-school shopping on your smartphone... 

Here are a few really good apps that might just help your kids make that end of summer transition a little more fun:

• Chalk Walk (iPad ) Free: This one helps to teach kindergarteners how to hold pencils with a proper pincer grip. It’s got some other features that include basic word construction and challenges that develop motor skills.

• iStoryBooks (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android) Free: It’s like an e-reader for small children, with the added option of having a narrator read the books for you. Selections include classic tales like The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. 

• Number Line (iPhone) Free: For students between second and eighth grade, the fun and mildly addictive math game will challenge most parents as well – and will put traditional flash cards to shame. 

• Wikipedia Mobile (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android) Free: A great resource for middle and high school students, Wikipedia is community-vetted, which isn’t always the case with Google search results. The app also includes professionally-produced stories and historical tidbits of the day.

• iStudiez Pro (iPhone, iPad) 99 cents: This one helps your high schooler or college student stay on top of term paper deadlines and exam prep. Entries are color-coded based on subject, and information entered into iStudiez also syncs with your calendar. The app provides Push Alerts when assignments are due, and includes a GPA calculator. There is also a free version available.