Why do we nod for "yes" and shake for "no?" Let's ask Darwin.

Why do we nod our heads for yes – and shake them for no?

We humans have been nodding our heads for “yes” and shaking our heads for “no” for a long, long time. It’s a pretty universal expression – so who started it all? Charles Darwin wondered the same thing, and wrote about it in the book “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals” in 1872. In his research, he found the nodding and shaking to be innate behavior to some extent. He noticed babies almost always turned their heads from side to side when refusing food – and would move their heads forward in a nodding gesture when they were hungry.

Darwin also discovered some cultures had their very own version of nodding and shaking. In Bulgaria, the nod and shake were reversed. The Turks said “yes” by shaking their heads from side to side, and “no” by tossing their head back and clucking. We’re still likely to see head-tossing for “no” in parts of Greece and Italy too. The Dyaks of Borneo raised their eyebrows for “yes” and contracted them together for “no.” Eskimoes nodded like us for “yes” – but winked for a “no.”

If you don't get along with your sibling - you may want to work on that.

The relationships we have with our siblings can have a big effect on our lives...

 If you don’t get along with yours – or if your kids can’t stand each other – you might want to work on that. According to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, those who don’t get along with their siblings before age 20 were more likely to be depressed later in life than closer brothers and sisters.

Researchers believe sibling relationships can have a big impact on the ability to relate with peers and social skills that stick with us for life.

Residential doors open in, while public doors open out. There's a reason for that.

Have you ever wondered why the door to your house opens in – while public doors usually open out?

Hopefully, the doors to your house open in. Residential doors are designed that way because doors are relatively easy to take off the hinges. That’s really convenient if you have a refrigerator to get into the house. If your door were hung the other way around, it would be really convenient for robbers.

Public buildings, on the other hand, have other factors to consider when installing doors. It’s assumed there could be a lot of people in there at any given time – and effective emergency exits must have doors opening outwards for a more efficient mass exit. Most public doors have elaborately concealed or protected hinges to prevent removal, which are much more costly than the simple pin-hinges on our own doors.

If you or your child is having back-to-school anxiety, here's some advice.

That first day of school is a big day for some kids – and for some parents...

If there’s any anxiety in your house about it – here are a few tips to prepare everyone and take the edge off:

• Get back into a routine ahead of time. No more falling asleep in your bathing suit or lax bedtimes. Try to transition back into school mode before the first day.

• Celebrate the end of summer. It can be fun to have a neighborhood marshmallow roast, or something along those lines, so your child can bond, commiserate or get excited for day one.

• If your child is new to the school – a tour and a map are musts before that first day. Encourage a sense of ownership on the tour: “This is your school, your gym, your lunch room.”

Remember, school probably felt easier when you were a kid. You had someone telling you where to go and what to do. Parents need to prepare too and take the lead with younger students. Do yourself a favor and get organized before the first day. Your confidence will help reassure a tentative child.

Good old beer is good for lots of stuff.

Even if you don’t like beer – you might want to have some handy....

Do you like beer? So do most critters. Beer works like a charm on slugs. Just put some in dishes around the garden and they’ll slither right in and die happy. Here are a few more uses for good old beer:


• Leave a can of it on the kitchen counter, cover the top with plastic wrap with a few holes – and you’ve got a fruit fly trap.

• If bees or wasps are ruining your picnic or barbeque – put some cups of beer around the perimeter to keep them at bay.

• You can catch mice with beer. Put a small amount in a bucket with a ramp for happy hour access. They’ll take the beer bait – but won’t be able to get out of the bucket. Don’t put too much beer in there if you prefer a drunken mouse to a drowned mouse.

If you’ve got some flat beer, but don’t have a critter problem – go ahead and feed it to your plants. The sugars in beer can give them a boost. Beer can also perk up a brown patch of grass by killing off fungi and pests.

The color of your car says something about you.

Do you drive a silver car?

If so, that suggests you’re cool, calm and slightly aloof. According to a new car psychology study from the U.K.’s Churchill Motor Insurance – car color can say something about you – and your driving: Here’s what they claim:

• Black cars denote an aggressive personality or someone who’s an outsider or rebel.

• Green cars can often be chosen by people with hysterical tendencies.

• Yellow cars signify someone who is idealistic and novelty loving.

• Blue cars are chosen by the more introspective, reflective and cautious driver.

• Gray cars represent those who are calm, sober and dedicated to their work.

• Red cars denote those who are full of zest, energy and drive and who think, move and talk quickly.

• Pink cars are chosen by gentle, loving and affectionate drivers.

• White cars represent status-seeking extrovert drivers.

• Cream cars are the least likely to be involved in accidents and denote self-contained and controlled owners.

If you itch for no reason - it could be something more serious.

Dry skin, bug bites and allergies – all perfectly good reasons to itch...

...but if you’re itchy without any of those, it could be a problem. Itching is a human defense mechanism that is actually an alert to a potential problem. On the surface, it’s a protection sensation that tells you to “get this thing off of me.” Itching that seems to come from below the skin can be a different type of alarm. It usually means that something is disrupting your body’s normal environment – and it’s worth getting checked out.

• Certain types of lymphoma and malignancies could cause itching – and so can anemia, diabetes or multiple sclerosis.

• Melanoma can cause severe itching. If you’ve got a skin growth or discoloration that won’t stop itching, see a doctor right away.

If you’ve got a chronic itch for no apparent reason – don’t scratch. That can actually damage the skin and increase the itching. Do get to a doctor if it’s not going away. And if you feel itchy right now – don’t panic. Itching is a contagious sensation and just thinking about it can trigger the urge to scratch.

Source: Zhou-Feng Chen, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine Pain Center

Got blackheads? Get some Elmers Glue!

If you liked playing with glue as a kid – here’s your chance to do it again...

It’s the Elmer’s glue facial. It’s getting a lot of attention since it was featured on the show “The Doctors,” and people who have tried it swear it works. Here’s what to do:

• Wash your face with warm water to open the pores, and pat dry.

• Grab your glue and slather a thin later over problem areas or blackheads.

• Let it dry.

• Go ahead and start peeling.

• Rinse clean with warm water and moisturize.

If you’d like a good night’s sleep tonight – have a glass of wine with dinner.

Not all red wines are created equal...

Some varieties might actually help you get a better night’s sleep. The skin of the red grape is a great source of melatonin, which is released in wine during fermentation. Cabernet and Merlot are two varieties with high levels of the sleep inducing compound. Researchers say having one glass with dinner can trigger your brain to produce even more melatonin right around bed time. Don’t have dinner too late though – drinking too much or too late can actually have the opposite effect.

New research could help with your next migraine.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraines...

Migraines can seem to come from nowhere – and can be debilitating. New research may have found something to help a bit – a head’s up BEFORE the headache hits. In a recent study – migraine sufferers were asked to record their non-headache symptoms before and during a migraine. What they discovered is that after three months, most patients were able to predict the onset of a full-blown headache before it set in. The most common warning signs were:

• Fatigue

• Difficulty concentrating

• Stiff neck

• Yawning

• Light sensitivity

• Thirst or food cravings

These warning signs can be a big help to anyone who dreads getting blindsided by a blinding migraine. Interrupting the onset of pain by taking medication with the first symptom, or changing your environment, could cut the headache short or even keep it at bay.

Source: Peter Goadsby, MD, PhD, University of California Headache Center

Twitter Wisdom

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Cute Factor

Cute people often get more attention in life – and the same may be true in the animal kingdom...

It’s no surprise that attractive people often catch a break in life – and the same may be true for good looking animals. According to Patrick Gallagher, director of the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, cute or charismatic animals have an unfair advantage. He says they have an easier time getting protection or making it onto the endangered species list.

There is a push now to add the loggerhead sea turtle to the U.S. Endangered Species List. The sea turtle stands a pretty good chance because people just like sea turtles. They’re really cute – especially right after they hatch. There are some endangered species of worms that never made the cut – and the wolverine could use a little protection – and a really good stylist.

Depressing Jobs

Is your job depressing?

Lots of people don’t love going to work – but some jobs are downright depressing. Deborah Legge, a mental health counselor in Buffalo, New York, says workers in these high stress jobs are most likely to complain of depression:

1. Nursing home/child-care workers top the list. Caring for others who are often incapable of gratitude or appreciation can take its toll.

2. Food service or waiting tables can be exhausting work for little pay. These workers often have to deal with rude people and high stress while maintaining a cheery disposition.

3. Social work can be very rewarding – and depressing. Dealing with families in crisis and emotional issues can result in professional burn-out.

4. Health-care workers, including doctors, nurses and therapists, likely have long, irregular hours. Dealing with stress, trauma, sickness and death can be terribly draining.

5. Artists, entertainers and writers may be passionate about their work – but also have to deal with irregular paychecks and isolation.

6. Teachers deal with pressures from kids, parents and the schools they work for – and usually have to take their work home with them.

7. Administrative support staff are usually on the front line, while at the bottom of the totem pole – which can result in frustration and depression.

8. Maintenance and ground work may not sound depressing – but they usually work odd or unpredictable hours. They’re often only needed when something goes wrong or to clean up someone else’s mess.

9. Financial advisors and accountants deal a lot of stress and demanding customers. The pressure of being responsible for other people’s finances can be overwhelming when things don’t go as planned.

10. Salespeople often have to travel, spend time away from family and friends – and usually aren’t sure how much they’ll be taking home this month.

Habitual Phone Checkers

When is the last time you checked your phone?

If you’ve got a smartphone, chances are it wasn’t that long ago. 34 times a day – that’s how many times the average person in a recent study checked it for messages, email, the time, or just because it’s there.

According to the authors of the study – most people don’t even realize they’re doing it. When we first set up a new phone, we get a little rush when that notification sounds. Our brains are almost instantly trained to like that – and before long it’s a reflex to reach for that phone. Here are some signs you’re a habitual checker:

• You check even if you haven’t heard a notification.

• You’re annoying other people.

• Other people comment on your checking.

• You feel anxiety or have to force yourself NOT to check.

If you are a habitual checker, you’re probably driving someone close to you nuts. Consider counting your phone checks for a day or two. For some people, just becoming aware of how often they reach for the phone is enough to curb the checking a bit.

Perfect Pocketbook

Ladies – your purse could be too big or too small...

Most of us try to match our style to flatter our body shape – and that giant purse could look all wrong if you’re petite. Here are a few purse picks for your shape:

• If you’re a pear – pick a purse with short straps that rests above your hip.

• If you’re busty – find a bag of soft construction that sits below your chest.

• If you’re tall and slender – opt for medium to large size purse that hangs at your waist.

• If you’re plus size – avoid a bag that’s too small and choose one that is structured and monochromatic.

• If you’re an hourglass – go ahead and pick any purse.