Brad Who?

If you bump into Brad Pitt, don’t feel bad if he snubs you. 

Brad Pitt might blow you off - but don’t blame his ego. He recently revealed in Esquire Magazine that he thinks he suffers from prosopagnosia - or face blindness. About one in 50 people suffer from face blindness on some level and Neuroscientist Marlene Behrmann says it can wreak havoc in your social life. Those suffering from a severe case may not even recognize their own face in the mirror. But for others, mild to moderate face blindness may go undetected and be chalked up to bad memory or an attention disorder.

For Brad, it’s a big problem and he plans to be tested. He says some people hate him because they think he’s disrespecting them and assume he’s being egotistical or conceited. Scientists say face blindness falls into the same category as dyslexia and that most people with the condition are born with it. 

Hang This!

Wallpaper is back! Whether the new trend is worth the hassle or not.

Good old wallpaper. It was huge in the 70’s and then took a decorating dive over the next few decades. Just as we’ve finished scraping and sandblasting off the remnants - it’s back in style. Wallpaper has come a long way and new digital printing technology has added texture and dimensions to make designers dreams come true.

So is wallpaper worth the price and hassle? It’s still backbreaking and more expensive than paint. Expect to pay anywhere from about $30 a roll to $100 a yard for the fancy stuff. Unless you’re a pro, you’ll probably want to hire someone to hang it right. Expect to pay $2 to $4 per square foot for a professional paperhanger. 

Passing the Test

Are you due for a blood test? How not to flunk it.

If your doctor or job needs you to take a blood or urine test, you might want to study first. According to Internist Dr. Joseph Lamb, certain vitamins, supplements and herbs could cause you to flunk that test and leave you with false-positive or false-negative results:

* Vitamin C can interfere with the chemical reaction of certain blood tests used to detect colon cancer. Avoid C for three days before taking that test. The same goes for iron. Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re taking it.

* Riboflavin. High doses of this B vitamin can interfere with urine tests that use a dipstick.. Skip that the night before your test.

* Folic acid can mask a B-12 deficiency. If you take a lot of it, tell your doctor. 

* Calcium supplements can screw up a bone-density scan. Skip those for 48 hours before the test.. 

* Vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, hops extract, red clover, ginger and garlic all have blood-thinning properties that can cause problems for people taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin and interfere with blood tests used to monitor its effectiveness.

Skip the poppy seed bagel if you’re due for a drug test any time soon. Poppy seeds can trigger a false-positive. Some cold medications and antidepressants can also pose a positive problem.

When Bad News Comes Calling

Can I have a word with you in private? 

It’s not easy to deliver bad news at work and bosses usually give themselves away with their opening line. Here is the list of ten phrases we DON’T want to hear, from Steve Tobak at BNET Business Management:

1. We've got a crisis on our hands. It may not be your crisis, but that pronoun means you're being dragged into it. The boss is counting on you to solve it.

2. There's no easy way to say this. This could mean you're about to get fired, or worse...

3. Why don't you take some time off? Ouch. They don't want you in the office? Now think! What did you do? 

4. All your meetings have been canceled. Unless you have a contagious skin rash, this is NOT a good sign.

5. Did you really just say that? Joe Biden feels your pain.

6. I accidentally deleted it. It's gone. The only thing worse than hearing that is DOING that.

7. Do you really think your presentation went well? That's a subtle way of saying it didn’t.

8. Can I have a word with you in private? If your boss says this, take a deep breath and brace yourself.

9. Um... how long did it take you to do that? No matter your answer, expect instructions to do it over again.

10. You've been served. Whether it happens at work or not, this is never good.

Whoopee!

Making whoopee makes you look younger. 

If you'd like to look several years younger - grab your partner. Scientists at Scotland's Royal Edinburg hospital say making love on a regular basis can make you look a lot younger. The recommended anti-aging dose of whoopee is three times a week. That regular surge of endorphins and oxytocin will reduce stress ease pain and Could make you look up to 12 years younger.