GeekSugar

What If Websites Were Rated Like Movies?

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:00:23 -0800

What if you went to a website and a rating popped up, telling you it was PG-13? That's the suggestion of British Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, who thinks that "film-style ratings" for websites is a good idea.

Whether it would work or not, I think it's a logical conclusion to come to, since even video games are given ratings these days. Of course, the big questions would have to be worked out - How would it be decided? How would it be enforced? And whose responsibility would it fall under? The little questions abound too - what about personal blogs and individual social networking pages?

I could see this being a relief to parents who are eager to shield their children from all that can be found on the Internet, but I could also see it as a big hassle for those of us who are of age, if we're talking age verifications.

What do you think?
Source

Could Twitter and Foursquare Bump the Price of Home Insurance?

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:47:44 -0800

I suppose this makes sense: a UK-based price comparison website predicted that homeowners insurance rates could rise up to ten percent thanks to the popularity and use of location-based services like Twitter and Facebook. I've already suspected that Foursquare could equal overshare thanks to the "check-ins" that let everyone know where you are (or where you're not: home), and insurance companies could be bracing for an increase in break-ins because of it.

Aptly-named website PleaseRobMe is trying to make people aware of how easy it is to determine whether your place is empty by locating and compiling tweets and status updates of people who obviously aren't home, using it as a "slap across the face" to make you more aware of what you tweet. I'm pretty darn careful when it comes to broadcasting where I am, but that's not to say I don't like to brag a bit when I'm at a really great restaurant, or seeing a show I'm excited about. At least the knowledge that my renters insurance rates could spike will make me even more cautious about what I'm declaring to the world! Want some tips on how to keep your location private? Then just read more.

Only use location-based services when you need them. Sites like Loopt, Where, and Foursquare may be fun, but letting everyone know your routines could spell bad news for your home security.
Don't post your address anywhere. This should be a given!
Don't tweet about vacations, unless you have a house sitter. Declaring that you'll be in Mexico during Spring Break is only asking for trouble.
Think before you tweet! Something as simple as tweeting about your meal while out to dinner could tip someone off that you're away from home.
Don't friend anyone you don't know on a location-based app or service. Yes, Twitter may be all about the numbers, but do you really want some dude knowing where you are right now cause you friended him on Loopt just to add one to your list? I don't think so.

Gear Review: miCoach by Adidas

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:30:18 -0800

After spending much of my day telling other people what to do - in a nice way of course - it's oddly comforting to have my miCoach Pacer ($139) tell me to speed up or slow down when I am out for a run. The miCoach is Adidas's answer to the Nike+ running system, but it offers real time audio coaching. This means a voice, you select the accent (I have chosen British male and like to think James Bond is coaching me), interrupts your music to let you know if you're running too fast, too slow, or just right for the selected workout. Some runners might find this annoying, but it does help me stay on track. No pun intended.

I have learned a couple things from my miCoach, which I've been using since Adidas unveiled the product at the Consumer Electronics Show, where the company gave me one to test. First, I am a visual person. I had become quite accustomed to checking my heart rate monitor watch for my stats: heart rate, time, and if I am using my foot pod, distance and pace. With the miCoach Pacer all this data comes to you in audio form. It is a bit of a tricky transition, but once made, all will go smoothly. You can press the center button on the Pacer to hear your real time stats. You pre-select what you would like to hear using the Adidas website, where you manage your information and select your workout schedule.

For more on the miCoach keep on reading!

Have You Scored a Travel Deal From Twitter?

SavvySugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:00:25 -0800

At first, I followed travel-related twitterers willy nilly. While I have my favorites for airlines (@JetBlueCheeps announces last-minute rates every Tues.), hotel chains (@Kimpton often has Twitter-only deals), and online travel sites (@Expedia actually DM’d me to fix a problem!), problem was, so many got lost in the shuffle!

If you either choose to follow just a few folks period (including @SavvySugar, I hope), or don’t want to get bogged down with too many more tweeps, I’ve got one must-follow for travel. The website FareCompare.com has special twitterers for US origin airport/location. Search for http://twitter.com/flyfrom_ _ _ and add in your airport code (in my case @flyfromsfo) or region if you have multiple airports near you (like @flyfromnyc).

OK, so after that tip, it's time for my question. I know there are plenty of deals - so have you gotten one yet?!

Healthy App: Runmeter

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:50:34 -0800

You can harness the power of the GPS on your iPhone 3G/3GS to map your run while you're on the go with Runmeter. This app keeps all your data on your phone - no need to log onto a website or sync with another gadget. Runmeter tracks your distance, speed, time, elevation, and many other stats, and gives you audio updates of these stats while you're running. The app is designed to work with your iTunes playing, and you receive audio updates as often as you choose - I like to hear them every five minutes myself. If you don't run with music, no worries; Runmeter gives you audio updates through the speaker on your iPhone.

This little app functions as a motivational tool, too. Using Runmeter, you can compete against yourself - the app gives you feedback while you're running and compares it to previous data. This is great for tracking progress and helping you kick your speed into a higher gear. Another feature I like is that you can easily share your Google Map links of your runs by sending them to friends or to your Twitter account.

The only piece of information this app is missing is your heart rate, so you still need to wear your monitor, but it's nice not to worry about a footpod or other GPS device. I also found that when running on my lunch breaks in downtown San Francisco, tall buildings interfere with the GPS on my iPhone, making it difficult for the app to do its thing. Out in the open, though, Runmeter runs just fine.

You can purchase the app at iTunes for $4.99 - significantly cheaper than a new GPS watch.

Must Read: The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:00:51 -0800

If you're well-read in the food blog department, chances are you've come across Steamy Kitchen, a haven for East Asian-inspired recipes. A friend once described Jaden Hair, the mastermind behind the site, as "the Asian version of Rachael Ray," because her recipes are simple, straightforward, and speedy to prepare at home. Recently, she released her first-ever cookbook, The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook ($19), a compilation of 101 of her top recipes. Is her Eastern take on modern cuisine a good bet when celebrating the Lunar New Year? Find out when you keep reading.

5 Great Cleansers to Moisturize Dry Skin

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:05:56 -0800

Perhaps you caught my first installment of great cleansers for different skin types, which focused on the oily-prone, and now it's time to put the spotlight on those of you who experience dry, flaky, and/or patchy skin. I'm guessing that right now, many of you are having a bout with seasonal dryness, but fret no more. I've scoured through our Product Reviews website for some inspiration to dig up five highly rated products. The best part? Most of them are inexpensive. Score!

View Slideshow ›

Book Review: The 5 Factor World Diet by Harley Pasternak

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:50 -0800

Celeb trainer Harley Pasternak has traveled the world while keeping A-list celebs in A-plus shape, and he took some notes on international eating habits while on the road. Harley has turned his studies into the 5 Factor World Diet ($25), equal parts cross-cultural study and cookbook. The book makes for an interesting read and some tasty meals.

Pasternak selected 10 countries with the lowest obesity rates and highest life expectancies and studied what they eat, how they eat it, and how they burn it off. His world diet includes chapters on each country's dietary staples and food philosophies, including Japan, Singapore, Sweden, France, and Israel. The chapters are peppered with tips from each nation, like in Japan there is an emphasis on food presentation as well as flavor. We also learn that Swedes practice lagom, which means "just enough," eating until they are satisfied but not full. We learn that cabbage is popular in both Japan and Sweden and that yogurt is a staple in France as well as Israel.

Harley has taken popular dishes from each country to create the recipe portion of the book as well as a month of meal planning. His diet philosophy centers on the number five: you eat five small meals a day (or three meals and two snacks) to stabilize insulin levels; all meals need to meet the following five nutritional criteria and contain protein, carbs (healthy whole grains of course), fiber (5 to 10 grams in every meal), healthy fats, and a low-calorie, sugar-free beverage. His recipes are simple, using only five main ingredients or less. You can learn about the ins and outs of his diet plan at his website.

I tested a recipe last night, the Chinese 5-Spice Halibut, since it pays tribute to the number five. To see the recipe, just read more.

Five-Spice Halibut
Harley Pasternak's 5 Factor World Diet

Ingredients

1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons peeled and minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
2 halibut fillets (about five ounces each)
4 ounces sugar snap peas
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 1/2 cups cooled brown rice, warmed

Directions

In a medium nonreactive bowl, combine the lime zest, lime juice, oil, ginger, and five-spice powder. Add halibut and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to two hours.
Coat a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add the fish; cook for four minutes per side, until just cooked through. Transfer to a platter; cover to keep warm.
In the same skillet over medium heat, cook the peas for 4 minutes, until tender-crisp, stirring often. Add the garlic; cook for one minute.
Serve the halibut and peas atop the rice.

Serves two.

Print recipe with images | without images

The meal was tasty (I will definitely be making it again) and the ingredient list is indicative of most of the others in the book: low in fat, low in salt, high in spice. The book is definitely a primer on clean cooking. I do wish there were photos of some of the dishes since I find them inspirational when perusing a cookbook. Harley is not into calorie counts, but I am still curious about the nutritional makeup of each of the dishes. There are a few details omitted from recipes, like how high the flame should be to cook the fish in the recipe above, and the ingredient olive oil is followed by the word "divided," which is confusing because the ingredient is listed once in the directions.

The recipe I prepared was easy to make, and many other recipes look enticing: Eggplant Caponata from Italy, Herb Falafel from Israel, and Swedish Pancakes with Raspberries. I like the idea of exploring other cultures' health habits in the kitchen, knowing I am not going to be racking up the calories while doing so since the recipes were prepared by healthy living guru.

DrSugar on Body Dysmorphic Disorder

DrSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:00:40 -0800

DrSugar knows that a healthy body image is an important part of healthy living and felt it important to discuss a growing phenomenon that affects the way women see themselves.

Reality show star Heidi Montag recently made headlines sharing with the world her recent plastic surgeries, which included breast augmentation to a DDD cup, brow lift, nose job revision, liposuction, and buttock augmentation among other things. Heidi’s story brought to mind a condition I studied in medical school, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Her story also begs the question, "Why would an already beautiful young woman undergo multiple cosmetic surgeries at such a young age?" Since BDD is fairly common disorder, I felt compelled share more information about it with you all.

Learn the details of this disorder, when you read more.

The Mayo Clinic defines body dysmorphic disorder as a serious condition involving a preoccupation with a perceived flaw in appearance, be it minor or imagined. But to an individual with BDD, this flaw makes them experience excessive shame, anxiety, and often depression, leading them to seek cosmetic surgical procedures. Much of their self-worth is related to how they feel about their appearance.

BDD sufferers commonly complain of imagined or minor flaws of the head and face, but any body part can be the focus of concern. Frequently, individuals with BDD are concerned with more than one body part and are often concerned about acne, wrinkles, paleness, scars, thinning hair, or the shape or size of body parts such as the nose, lips, or face.

The Los Angeles Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Body Image clinic website explains that BDD sufferers frequently perform certain behaviors, with more than 90 percent performing repetitive behaviors to check, hide, or attempt to improve what they perceive as a physical defect, including checking the supposed flaw in mirrors or other reflective surfaces. Many BDD sufferers tend to seek reassurance related to the imagined defect and usually compare their appearance with that of others. These repetitive behaviors may take many hours per day and usually only provide very temporary relief from obsessions about their appearance. Avoidance of social situations is also very common.

Research estimates show that seven to 15 percent of cosmetic surgery patients suffer from BDD. Preliminary estimates suggest that Body Dysmorphic Disorder may be very common, with a rate of one to two percent in the general population. Embarrassment and shame often prevents sufferers from revealing their true degree of distress, not only to their spouses, friends, and family, but to healthcare professionals as well, making BDD extremely difficult to diagnose. The condition frequently begins in adolescence and tends to be chronic, affecting men and women in equal numbers.

Contributing factors to the development of BDD vary from individual to individual, but family environment during early development and peer relationships may be important in shaping body image. Cultural factors may also be important in mediating the distress experienced by BDD sufferers, although BDD appears to exist in many different cultures and in different parts of the world.

I do not know whether or not Heidi Montag suffers from body dysmorphic disorder, given I am not her physician and have never treated her. However, her story provides an important starting point for discussion about this common disorder that both men and women all over the world suffer from. If you have any signs or symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, see your physician, mental health provider, or other health professional. Body dysmorphic disorder usually doesn’t get better on its own, and if left untreated, may get worse over time.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Reader Review of the Day: L'Oréal Sublime Slim Tightening and Toning Treatment Gel

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:00:54 -0800

For all the highest rated products on our Product Reviews website, there are also plenty of beauty goods that haven't received the most wonderful of ratings. Take the L'Oréal Sublime Slim Tightening and Toning Treatment Gel ($12), for instance, which claims to both tighten and tone the skin around the abs. Here's what reader Jen4 had to say:

I do not like this product for two reasons. The first, and also the major reason, is that it does not work at all. I do not expect this product to flatten my abs in a short of period of time, but I think at least it should be able to keep them tighter. Second, it smells like cough syrup or some kind of mint ointment. The scent does not bring me any pleasant feeling.

Have you tried any products that make certain claims, only to be disappointed? Or perhaps you've been pleasantly surprised by a product for which you had low expectations. Tell us all about it on the Product Reviews website. We love to hear your unbiased opinions!