Duh: Women Hate Pet Names in the Office
 ![""]("http://imgsrv.kafe.com/image/kafe/UserFiles/Image/D_and_S_content/salesman.jpg") If you've got a guy in the office who calls women "babe" or "honey" or "cutie"... you can now show him scientific proof that you're not the only one who hates that.
According to a new survey of 3,000 female office workers in England, almost THREE out of FOUR think that pet names in the office are, quote, "unacceptable." Frankly, we're surprised it's that low.
One out of four say that pet names make them ANGRY, and another one out of four say pet names are UNPROFESSIONAL.
The survey was conducted by a market research site called OnePoll. They say, quote, "Guys may think they are being affectionate by calling someone 'babe' or 'love', but it seems women simply find them patronizing and demeaning."
The survey also found the top 10 nicknames women hate around the office, although some of these are VERY British and don't really apply over here.
The top 10, in order, are: Love, darling, babe, mate, hun, kiddo, chick, dear, poppet and pet. Poppet?
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Five Ways To Help Your Kids Do Well In School
 No pressure here, but how your kids do in school influences their self-esteem, their future job prospects, and their financial success. And if you really want your kids to do well, you can't just rely on their teachers.
So here are five ways YOU can help your kids do better in school . . .
#1.) MAKE SURE THEY GET ENOUGH SLEEP. A recent study showed that missing just one hour of sleep a night can lower a child's cognitive ability by almost TWO YEARS. In other words, a NINTH-grader who gets six hours of sleep instead of seven will only perform at a SEVENTH-grade level the next day. Also, when they go to bed, make sure that they actually GO TO SLEEP, and that they're not playing games on the computer or watching TV. 62% of kids admit to using their cell phones in bed, and their parents have no idea.
#2.) DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT GRADES. Researchers at Columbia University found that it's better to concentrate on how HARD your kids are working, NOT how high their grades are. The study showed that if you praise kids for how much they study, they're more likely to grow up thinking anything's possible if they just try hard enough.
#3.) RESPECT THEIR LEARNING STYLE. Just because YOU studied in complete silence doesn't mean your kids have to. Children learn in different ways. So if they want to listen to their iPods and do their homework in bed, let them. But when they're using their computer, just make sure they REALLY ARE studying, not talking to their friends online.
#4.) HAVE DINNER TOGETHER. According to a recent study, kids get better grades if they sit down for dinner with their family on a regular basis. And they're also less likely to abuse drugs or develop an eating disorder.
#5.) DON'T STRESS THEM OUT. Fighting in front of your kids REALLY DOES affect them. Research shows that family-induced stress can lower a child's ability to learn for up to two days after the incident. So, arguing in front of your kids on a Wednesday night can affect how they do on FRIDAY'S test.
(Condensed from an article on GALTime.com)
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New iPhone App Detects What Store You Just Walked Into, And Gives You Coupons
.jpg) This is either a fantastic way for you to save money or the moment when corporations have officially become Big Brother, monitoring every move we make and every dollar we spend. Honestly, it could go either way.
Yesterday, a new, free iPhone app called Shopkick hit the App Store. Here's what it does. Whenever you enter a store, Shopkick detects your location and instantly sends coupons and deals for that store to your iPhone.
Of course, it ALSO sends a ton of data back to the company about your buying, spending and shopping habits. And it KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE at all times.
Obviously, a LOT of people think Shopkick is going to be a success. They've raised tens of millions of dollars in funding and already have partnerships set up with Best Buy, Macy's, American Eagle and Sports Authority.
A marketing rep from Best Buy says they partnered with Shopkick because, quote, "[It] bridges the digital and physical shopping experience. [We can now] personalize a Best Buy shopping experience from check-in to check-out."
Privacy advocates aren't quite as high on it. Jeffrey Chester is the director of the Center for Digital Democracy and he says this app basically bribes you to give companies an unlimited amount of personal data. "What appears to be a relatively harmless trade-off of your info for rewards or discounts [actually means] your info can now be instantly obtained and combined with databases about your health, finances and family."
You can read more at Daily Finance.com.
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11-Year-Old Grows Veggies for the Homeless
 Katie Stagliano of Summerville, South Carolina, is a superstar gardener: She has a magic touch that somehow leads to GIANT vegetables. She also runs a nonprofit that donates TONS of food to the homeless.
And she's 11-years-old, and in fifth grade.
Two years ago, when Katie was nine, she planted a cabbage for a class project. She took care of it, watered it, weeded around it . . . and it grew to FORTY POUNDS. At that point, she realized she was born for gardening.
She ended up donating the cabbage to a local soup kitchen, and they used it to make soup for 275 people. Katie says, quote, "I thought, 'Wow, with one cabbage I helped feed that many people? I could do much more than that.'"
So Katie started a nonprofit called Katie's Krops, which runs a bunch of gardens that grow food to feed the homeless. In two years, she's up to six gardens, including one that's the size of a football field.
People in the community help take care of the gardens and donate the seeds and land.
In the past year, Katie donated more than 2,000 pounds . . . or a full TON . . . of vegetables to soup kitchens. In October, Katie's Krops will donate another 1,200 pounds.
Here's Katie's website,
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The Five Best Foods To Stockpile For An Emergency
 It's hurricane season, so "Real Simple" magazine made a list of the five best foods to stockpile for an emergency.
But even though we don't live in a hurricane zone, this is stuff you could stockpile for ANY emergency, because all the things on the list have a long shelf life.
#1.) PEANUT BUTTER. It's a good source of energy, and it's full of healthy fat and protein. And unless the jar says so, you don't have to refrigerate it.
#2.) GRANOLA BARS AND POWER BARS. You can usually store them for six months to a year, and they're a great source of carbs. Carbs get a bad rap because you gain weight if you eat too many. But if you're in the middle of a disaster, that's not what you'll be worried about.
#3.) DRIED FRUIT. You want raisins and prunes, because they have a lot of potassium and dietary fiber. And obviously they'll last a lot longer than grapes or plums, especially if they're vacuum-packed.
#4.) CANNED MEAT. According to their labels, cans of tuna, chicken, and SPAM will last about two years if they're not opened. But they'll actually last about FIFTY. In 2006, a guy in England named Les Lailey celebrated his 50th anniversary by eating canned chicken that he and his wife got as a wedding gift in 1956. He didn't die, and afterward, he said, quote, "It was alright, but I don't like chicken." That said, you should check the expiration dates at least once a year. And if anything in your emergency kit is about to go bad, just use it and replace it.
#5.) BOTTLED WATER. It's by far the most important thing to have in an emergency, because the average person needs a half-gallon of water a DAY. And according to FEMA, you need a two-week supply for each person in your house. So that means for a family of four, you're supposed to store 28 gallons of water . . . which is a lot if you're in a small apartment with nowhere to store it. But it's important, because if you've got even a LITTLE bit of fat on your body, you can actually go WEEKS without food. But you can only survive a few DAYS without water.
Want more ideas? Click here.
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Which Is More Expensive: Owning A Cat Or A Dog?
 The website WalletPop.com did a cost breakdown of owning a cat versus owning a dog . . . and it's a one-sided massacre. Here's what they came up with:
Adoption. A cat costs about $75 to $125 for adoption. A dog costs $75 to $200 for the same. ADVANTAGE: CATS.
Spaying and neutering. It costs about $160 to neuter a cat and $290 to neuter a dog. Spaying is cheaper, but the price ratio stays about the same. ADVANTAGE: CATS.
Routine health care. Assuming your pet is relatively healthy, it costs about the same for cats and dogs. ADVANTAGE: NONE.
Setting up your home. Some stuff is the same for both, like food and water dishes and a collar. But dogs need more equipment, and it's more expensive... a leash, a crate, tougher toys, and more expensive treats. ADVANTAGE: CATS.
Food. Cats like wet food -- dogs are more likely to settle for cheaper dry food. Except most dogs eat more food than most cats, so things basically balance out. ADVANTAGE: NONE.
Care when you're away. No contest. Cats just need someone to swap out their litter and food every few days. Dogs need walking and feeding multiple times in a day. ADVANTAGE: CATS.
Check out the full story here.
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How To Get a Customer Service Rep on the Phone
 We've all been there -- trapped in the never-ending circle of a company's automated operator, pressing numbers, saying and repeating the nature of your problem, hoping that someone, anyone, will eventually pick up. In an effort to help, the here are four things you can try.
1) By Keypad: Press "O" in a menu. This is typically a default to connect you through to a service rep. If it does not work in the main menu, try it in the second menu, and the third. In most systems, you do not need to hear all of the options of each menu in order to press a number.
2) By Voice: Say "Agent" sternly into the phone. Many systems are voice activated through each of the menus. Also try "Representative" or "Real Person". Some phone systems are actually designed to hear agitation in your voice.
3) By Placing an Order: You do not actually need to place an order, but most systems will punch you through to a live rep if they know you are going to buy something from them. From there you can ask to be directly connected to whichever department you need.
4) Check out www.gethuman.com. This web site offers phone numbers, customer service shortcuts, reviews & tips for more than 2,000 companies worldwide.
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YouTube Turns Five
 On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of YouTube we thought it would be appropriate to list some of the most popular "viral" videos that got the nation watching their computers.
Admittedly, there are some huge ones missing from this list: Leave Britney Alone, Miss Teen South Carolina, Don't Tase Me, Bro, Obama Girl....
But this is our list. These are the ones that are family friendly (except, at times, for the comments) and they're the ones that made us smile.
How many of these have YOU seen?
Susan Boyle - Who didn't well up just a little the first time they watched this every-woman knock 'em dead on Britain's Got Talent? It still inspires us.
David after the Denist - This little guy was in a bad way. Whatever that dentist gave him messed the poor little guy up good.
Charlie Bit Me - It's Charlie's laugh at the end that really brings this one home. That kid enjoyed it all.
Evolution of Dance - Comedian Judson Laipply entertains us while offering a funky history lesson at the same time.
Numa Numa - This guy is having enough fun for all of us. We think he's probably heard this song before.
Laughing Baby - Oh the joy. This little one will challenge you not to laugh, even on your worst days.
Star Wars Kid - We have to admit to feeling a bit sorry for this young man, simply because he must have taken a lot of ribbing for this. We're hoping he continued his Jedi training and ended up the master he was clearly on his way to becoming.
Roomba Driver - Cat on a Roomba... what more can you say?
Ok Go - Here It Goes Again (The Treadmill Video) - We can't help but wonder how many takes they did before they got the keeper.
Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog - We've all seen dogs do this. But this dog takes it to the extreme. Ken just about wet his pants at this video.
Noah Takes a Picture of Himself Every Day for Six Years - Others have done this since, but Noah was the first one we saw. We still find it cool.
Baby Panda Sneezing - Sometimes it's the simplest, silliest things that get our attention. This one was both.
Matt Harding Dances - 32-year old Matt Harding quit his job as a videogame designer in 2003 to travel the world. While abroad, he recorded himself dancing - if you want to call it that - in all sorts of places. He ended up getting a contract to do more of it for Stride Gum.
Grape Lady Falls - You have to feel sorry for this poor reporter. Not only does she hurt herself... not only does she do it on TV... but then the footage becomes one of the most watched videos in the world. Proof that the internet is just waiting for you to fail.
Christian the Lion - While there are plenty of videos on YouTube that involve laughing at others' misfortune, there are also a few that will absolutely warm your heart. This is one of those. It's a true story and, while he won't admit it, it makes Dave cry like a baby.
Dramatic Chipmunk - Easily the funniest 6 seconds on the internet.
Single Ladies Devastation - This three year old boy just wanted to be included.
Baby Dancing to Beyonce - This baby has some serious moves!
Surprised Kitty - Cute Cute Cute Cute Cute! (Thanks to KAFE listener Kim!)
JK Wedding Dance - Weddings should be a joyous occasion. The couple really embraced that notion. (Thanks to KAFE listener Melody!)
Validation - This is by FAR the longest video on our list. At more than 16 minutes long it's really more of a short film. We thought it was worth it. (Thanks to KAFE listener Sam!)
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7 Surprising Things That Can Make You Gain Weight
(Most Aren't Even Food!)
Glamour Health and Fitness just released this interesting list of seven things most of us forget to consider when trying to lose weight.
1) Sleep is your lowest priority - If you routinely sleep only a few hours a night you could be hampering your body’s attempts to burn fat. Studies have shown that lack of adequate sleep can disrupt our appetite-regulating hormones and slow our metabolism.
 2) Your life is a constant emergency – When you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol, which tells your body to store fat for later use.
3) Your meat is on steroids - You may be getting more from your meat than a strong dose of protein. You could also be ingesting all the hormones the animal was fed to help it grow faster. Trouble is, these chemicals have the same effect on you that they’re having on the animals.
4) You think organic produce isn’t worth the price - Pesticides used on our produce can worm their way into our bodies and mess with our hormones and genes, leading to slower metabolism, the inability to build and maintain muscle and the increased capacity to build new fat cells.
5) You don’t think about what your food comes in - Plastic compounds can leach into our bloodstreams and disrupt our hormonal systems and lead to weight gain. So don’t heat plastic in the microwave; buy foods in pouches or boxes rather than cans whenever possible, and use plastic bottles once and then recycle them.
6) You have an undiagnosed food allergy - Some detective work is required if you suspect this is an issue for you - eliminating common trigger foods like dairy, eggs or gluten and seeing how you feel in response is a good starting point.
7) You use diet soda as a weight-loss crutch - Though diet soft drinks have no calories, they’re not doing your waistline any favors: Studies have repeatedly shown that people who down diet sodas have a greater chance of becoming obese. New research has shown that artificial sweeteners may in fact lower your metabolism. Drink water instead, and satisfy your desire for something sweet by eating fruit.
(This list was edited down from the original Glamour article. Find more details here.)
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Not Lovin' Your Job? Here Are 5 Ways to Make Work Better
 Does every day at work feel like Monday? Most of us can't just quit our jobs... but we can do little things to make work better.
1. Take your lava lamps and green plants to work. Both are scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve health on the job. The motion of the lava lamp is visually relaxing, and green plants increase job satisfaction by providing a sense of rest. Research shows that having plants in your office is more beneficial than having a window!
2. Develop strategies for coping with workplace bullying and office conflicts. The better equipped you are to cope with conflict at work -- such as dealing with office politics -- the less mental stress and strain you’ll feel. Achieving your career goals is more about empowerment than getting a job promotion. Take classes or read books about dealing with difficult coworkers. Go to workshops or "brown bag sessions" on workplace communication, job success, or employee interactions. Take an evening course on succeeding on the job, or creating a better work environment .
3. Schedule “mental health” days. Don’t reserve time off for when you or your family is physically ill, or you're on vacation! Schedule one workday every couple of months just for relaxing, pursuing your favorite leisure activity, or catching up on stuff at home. This may be a lot to ask your employer -- and it's often difficult to leave work for "no reason" -- but it's worth the effort.
4. Deal with your health problems immediately. If you're flirting with depression, stomachaches, stress headaches, or chronic fatigue, go to a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially important if you've recently won a job promotion ! Research on job promotions shows that after advancing at work, employees are 20% less likely to visit their doctors for routine physicals or specific health complaints. Promoted workers have more time constraints that, coupled with increased mental strain and stress, leads to fewer doctors’ visits and poorer health.
5. Know thyself -- get comfortable with your own personality. For example, people with introverted personality traits may feel socially inept, weird, or antisocial. Introverts don’t always realize that they’re simply drained by groups of people and that they process their thoughts differently than extroverts. The more you know about your personality – and the more comfortable you are with yourself – the easier it’ll be to like your job. And, dealing with workplace stress is easier when you have a little self-awareness and insight into how you tick. If you're an introvert, you might find career tips for introverts helpful.
(See the original article from Yahoo)
( FYI: Looking for a good adult education class designed to help you get to know yourself better? Dave recommends checking out Excellence Northwest in Bellingham. )
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What You Didn't Know He Notices About You
 "Cosmo" put together this list of three surprising things men notice instantly in a woman.
#1.) HER FRIENDS. Even if a woman seems great, her friends give off a lot of clues about what she's REALLY like. If they seem like they're painfully obnoxious, or catty, or overdramatic, that's a big red flag.
#2.) HER LAUGH. Men need women to laugh at their jokes. But no guy can see any long-term potential with a woman who laughs TOO much . . . who's obviously faking her laugh . . . or who has one of those unbearably annoying goat laughs.
#3.) HER CELL PHONE USAGE. If a woman interrupts a guy during their first meeting or on a first date to take phone calls or do a lot of texting, it's a big sign she's not that invested or interested in him.
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Yes...These are Different Flavors of Beer
If you're looking for something a little more interesting from your beer, try one of these flavors:
Pizza Beer-featuring flavors like oregano, basil, tomato, and garlic.
Steak Beer-a non-alcholic beer that actually tastes like beef.
Banana Bread Beer-Brewed with bananas and fermented juices of sorghum.
Bilk-Yep...beer with milk (30% milk to be exact).
Chocolate Doughnut beer-It tastes like...chocolate
Tomato Beer-It's like the pizza beer but without all the beer.
Creme Brulee beer-The burnt sugar taste is what makes this stand out.
Smoked beer-yep...they found a way to give beer a smoky taste.
Watermelon beer-no seeds, please.
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Cell Phone Myths...Debunked
You've received the email forwards from a co-worker about how dangerous cell phones are. But are they? Some myths debunked:
MYTH-Your cell phone can unlock your car!
No one seems to know where this story came from, but it’s been circulated in a number of emails. The basic idea is that you’re out and about and in your frenzy to get things done, you lock your keys in the car. Crud. But, being clever and knowing you have a spare set complete with keyless entry at home, you call home and have someone press the button on your spare set to unlock your car over the phone. The signal goes through the phone, to your car and you’re driving again. Now that’s crafty. So popular is this myth that TV's Mythbusters themselves had to test it. Guess what they discovered... you’re going to be pointing your phone at your car for a long, long time. The problem is the phone uses an audio frequency while your keyless entry is on a much higher radio frequency.
MYTH-Cell phones cause gas pump explosions!
This winner has become so ingrained in our minds that gas stations actually have signs asking you to not use your phone while at the pumps for fear of a massive fireball of death and destruction, all because you needed to say goodnight to grandma. But when’s the last time you saw this happen on the news? As it turns out, in the entire history of the entire world, there has never been an incident where someone blew themselves or any gas stations up with a cell phone. It’s a complete fabrication. According to Snopes, the story just showed up one day in 1999. And every time it got mentioned, they said the explosion happened somewhere else. So basically it’s a friend of a friend story, only in this case the friend is an explosion, and no one’s ever seen it in person.
TRUE-Cell phones cause infertility!
Potentially the most horrible rumor of all, at least for some people, is the one that says cell phones lower your sperm count. And apparently it’s true. Research conducted at the Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio suggests that there’s a chance using a cell phone is bad news for your boys if you’re the hands free type who keeps the phone in your pocket. Long term exposure to all that electromagnetic radiation so close to the goods may lead to an increase in body temperature. And that can effect sperm count as well as mobility and shape. The jury’s not out, of course, and odds are you need to be doing a lot of talking with the phone in your pocket, but probably to be on the safe side you could keep the phone over a couple of inches or two. You never know.
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Personal Care Products For Women Cost More Than The Identical Products For Men
 Ladies... it appears you are getting ripped off. According to a new study from "Consumer Reports", women pay up to 50% more than men for the same products.
For example, Barbasol Original shaving cream for MEN costs 15 CENTS per ounce. But Barbasol Pure Silk for WOMEN costs 26 CENTS per ounce, even though it's basically the same stuff. And that's not the only example of your drugstore's sexism . . .
Excedrin Complete Menstrual contains the exact same amount of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine as Excedrin Extra Strength, but it costs 50 CENTS more.
Neutrogena's Hydrating Eye Reviver for men costs $5 less than its Ageless Essentials Continuous Hydration Eye for women.
Nivea for Men body wash costs $2 less than any of Nivea's body washes for women.
And a four-pack of Schick Quattro razor blades for women sells for 50 CENTS more than the exact same product for men.
You can read more about it here.
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Shari's Hand Dipped, Chocolate Drizzled, White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies go well with coffee!
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
10 ounces white chocolate chips
10 ounces semi- sweet chocolate chips
For dipping and drizzling: 1 large bar white melting chocolate & 1/2 bar dark, milk or semi-sweet chocolate.
Mix sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla. Beat for about a minute on low. Gradually add baking soda, salt and flour and then mix for another 2 minutes on low. Add chocolate chips and increase speed for a few minutes to incorporate. I use a pretty small scoop to have uniform size of the cookies. Bake at 350 for 10 or 12 minutes depending on your oven and the type of pan used. I use the shiny air bake pans. Remove cookies from oven when they are slightly browned and place immediately on cooling rack.
Once cookies have cooled, melt white chocolate. Dip each cookie 1/3 to 1/2 ways into white chocolate, place on wax paper to cool. After chocolate has 'set' slightly, melt the 1/2 bar of chocolate, place in a piping bag or a sandwich bag and snip off just a tiny bit of the tip.....drizzle dark chocolate on to the cookies....Cookies are best left out overnight covered lightly with foil while the chocolate sets more firmly.
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Grandma Ruby's Death Weenies!
Okay, not really..... as long as you don't eat them every day you should be okay. This is a recipe from my Southern Granny Ruby although there are many different versions out there.
* * 1 pkg small cocktail wieners, (I used little smokies)
* * 1 pkg bacon (I use the center cut....a little less grease and fat)
* * Brown sugar
Cut bacon in half (or thirds), wrap around smokies. Secure with toothpick, place on old cookie sheet. Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar.
Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes, until bacon is crispy and brown sugar has caramelized
***These are really messy and will destroy your good cookie sheets so use the old ones your kids have already destroyed!
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