Ecotouring along Florida's Hidden Coast - Robin's Eco Simple column in the Sunday Examiner - June 1 issue coast to coast. Click here for the DC edition ... and here for the full version in the San Francisco Examiner.
May 30, 2009
Ecotouring along Florida's Hidden Coast
Ecotouring along Florida's Hidden Coast - Robin's Eco Simple column in the Sunday Examiner - June 1 issue coast to coast. Click here for the DC edition ... and here for the full version in the San Francisco Examiner.
May 29, 2009
The father of all still life paintings
May 26, 2009
Young whale fatally hit by ship
Hit by a ship, this 41-foot juvenile whale washed up on Delaware National Seashore just north of Ocean City Md. Article in today's Washington Post.
Fighting fleas without toxins
Click here for a guide about alternative, effective ways to control fleas and ticks without toxic products.
May 22, 2009
Nano-size seahorse and other species revealed
Arizona State University's International Institute for Species Exploration just released a list of newly identified species worldwide. On the list: a pea-sized seahorse, caffeine-free coffee, bacteria that live in hairspray, a snake 4 inches long, a 22.3 inch Malaysia insect, a fossil of the oldest known live-bearing vertebrate, a snail whose shell twists around four axes, a palm that flowers itself to death (ouch), a ghost slug, and a deep blue damselfish. Shown here: the tiny seahorse. More here.
May 18, 2009
Dogs have soul
Researcher Marc Bekoff has documented rich evidence of observable emotional and ethical behavior of dogs. Such as:
* Dogs have a sense of fair play. They dislike cheaters. They experience joy in play. They delight in friends. Big dogs handicap themselves in games with little dogs.
* Dogs get jealous when a rival gets more or better treats or treatment. They are resentful, unnerved or saddened by unfair behavior. They are made anxious by suspense. They get afraid.
* They are embarrassed when they mess up or do something clumsy. They feel remorse or regret when they do something wrong. They seek justice. They remember the bad things done to them, but sometimes choose to forgive.
For more, check the report here.
Disaster prep for pet folks - new video
Kansas State University veterinarian Susan Nelson tells you how to evacuate pets in an emergency. Click here for a 4-minute clip worth watching before disaster strikes your area. And a related tip from Heloise: make an emergency pet carrier by tying 2 plastic laundry baskets together.
May 16, 2009
Knoxville: Recycling resources, renewing a city
From rubble to riches: Knoxville artist recycles race car wreckage into sculptures...while creative citizens revitalize their community. Check Robin's latest Eco Simple column in the Sunday Examiner editions nationwide. Click here for the San Francisco edition.
May 14, 2009
City declares a weekly vegetarian day
The city of Ghent in Belgium has declared every Thursday a vegetarian day in an attempt to fight climate change. Details here.
May 13, 2009
How to green your diet
Robin's new article in the May 2009 edition of The Village Green...on page 7.
May 12, 2009
Get up! Sitting is hazardous to your health
More proof that moving around will give you more good years. Watch for my HyperActive Traveler reports in the coming weeks.
May 11, 2009
Sleep can help shed pounds
Sleep is critical to maintaining a healthy body weight, according to new research being presented this week at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Diego. BM) is linked to length and quality of sleep. Researchers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center analyzed the sleep, activity and energy expenditures of volunteer in a heart-health program [W]e found that short sleepers tended to have a higher BMI, 28.3 kg/m2, compared to long sleepers, who had an average BMI of 24.5. Short sleepers also had lower sleep efficiency, experienced as greater difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep,” said Arn Eliasson, M.D.
Got stuff?
I first reported on this cool animated video after its initial release. Now read about it again in this New York Times piece.
May 10, 2009
Teaching your dog to WAIT
Don't reward pushy or rude behavior when training or anytime you're with your dog. Instead of granting the attention or favor your dog seeks - unless he's trying to alert you that "I have to relieve myself!" - say "Oops!" and ask for a "Sit."
"Wait" is a very useful cue, and here's how to teach it to your dog. Click for this new Dog Tip.
May 5, 2009
Neurotic guys rock
Conscientious and even neurotic folks are good for their partners' health, suggests results of a large-scale study of “compensatory conscientiousness effect” reported this month in Psychological Science.
“Highly conscientious people are more organized and responsible and tend to follow through with their obligations, to be more impulse controlled and to follow rules,” said University of Illinois psychology professor Brent Roberts, who led the study.
Past studies have shown that conscientious people are more likely to exercise, eat nutritious foods and adhere to vitamin or drug regimens, and are less likely to smoke, abuse drugs or take unwarranted risks. They also tend to have more stable relationships than people with low conscientiousness. Those on the neurotic side, though, tended to report poorer health and less satisfying relationships. In contrast, this new study examines how one’s personality can influence the health of another.
“There’s been kind of an individualistic bias in personality research,” Roberts said. “But human beings are not islands. We are an incredibly interdependent species.” His team studied data from the Health and Retirement Study, for which about 2,000 U.S. couples rated their own levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness and to answer questions about the quality of their health. Participants also reported whether or not a health problem limited their ability to engage in a range of activities such as jogging one block, climbing a flight of stairs, shopping, dressing or bathing.
Both men and women benefit from being paired with a conscientious mate, and women had additional health benefits when their mates were also neurotic. Alas, men paired with neurotic women did not get the same health boost.
“Highly conscientious people are more organized and responsible and tend to follow through with their obligations, to be more impulse controlled and to follow rules,” said University of Illinois psychology professor Brent Roberts, who led the study.
Past studies have shown that conscientious people are more likely to exercise, eat nutritious foods and adhere to vitamin or drug regimens, and are less likely to smoke, abuse drugs or take unwarranted risks. They also tend to have more stable relationships than people with low conscientiousness. Those on the neurotic side, though, tended to report poorer health and less satisfying relationships. In contrast, this new study examines how one’s personality can influence the health of another.
“There’s been kind of an individualistic bias in personality research,” Roberts said. “But human beings are not islands. We are an incredibly interdependent species.” His team studied data from the Health and Retirement Study, for which about 2,000 U.S. couples rated their own levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness and to answer questions about the quality of their health. Participants also reported whether or not a health problem limited their ability to engage in a range of activities such as jogging one block, climbing a flight of stairs, shopping, dressing or bathing.
Both men and women benefit from being paired with a conscientious mate, and women had additional health benefits when their mates were also neurotic. Alas, men paired with neurotic women did not get the same health boost.
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