MaoBah

It is reported by the UK’s Daily Mail that a tabby cat from the Qingyan province in China recently sprouted a pair of fur-covered wings on his back during a hot-weather spell. Immediately, the unique feline became a spectacle to behold, as visitors flocked to see the unusual cat. The cat’s owner said that her pet’s wings were the result of stress from too many females desiring to mate with him.

She said, “At first they were just two bumps, but they started to grow quickly and after a month there were two wings.”

The cat’s owner is also growing fearful that the tabby would either be stolen by admirers or that it would fly away and decided to cut one of the two flappers off.

Scientifically speaking though, cats with wings can be explained through leg deformities, huge mats of hair or a condition known as feline cutaneous asthenia or FCA, which causes the cat’s skin to grow in heavy folds on its back or shoulders.

Recent research has found that regular consumption of nut products during pregnancy raises the odds of your child having asthma symptoms by nearly 50 percent.

About 4 percent of American children have food allergies, and roughly 3 million people in the U.S. are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts. It’s already recommended that children under 3 not be given nuts or nut products, because their immune systems are still developing and may be more susceptible to allergens.

Daily consumption of nut products increases the odds that a child will have wheezing by 42 percent, shortness of breath by 58 percent, and steroid use to ease asthma symptoms by 62 percent.

Overall, the odds of developing asthma symptoms for a child whose mother ate nuts daily are 47 percent higher.

As I write this article, I’m running my tongue on one of the three sores I have right now. This actually causes stress sometimes. A friend of mine was also complaining about having them, so I decided to write an article about canker sores and its causes and treatment.

First of all, what are these sores? Well, they are small, white sores that form in the mouth of a person. They commonly appear inside the cheeks, under the tongue, or on your gums. If left untreated, they go away in seven to ten days.

Possible causes of canker sores are:

• fatigue
• food allergies
• menstrual periods
• stress
• weakened immune system
• biting the tongue or cheek or lips
• chewing sharp bits of food such as nachos
• nutritional problems or deficiencies
• genetics

Some doctors recommend applying ice to the canker sore, avoiding food that is irritating, and rinsing your mouth with over-the-counter preparations such as diluted hydrogen peroxide or elixir of Benadryl. Some people find relief by rinsing the mouth with a solution of ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water.

In my case, I go to a drugstore and ask if they have canker sore drops. It’s medicine specifically for these types of mouth sores. You use a cotton bud and dip it into the solution, then put it on the sore for 20 seconds. That would be 20 secods of excrutiating pain, but after that the sore is healed. 

No, it’s not a real life love triangle. But it definitely is bizarre.. Kate Winslet is to star in a new movie with Leonardo DiCaprio entitled "Revolutionary Road", and her husband Sam Mendes will be directing them. Let me stress the fact that there will be sex scenes in the film and it was definitely awkward for Sam’s wifey to film those in front of her husband.

"I just kept saying, `This is too … weird,’" Winslet tells Entertainment Weekly magazine. "And Leo was like, `Oh, get over it.’ And I’m going, `Yeah, a little reminder: You’re my best friend. He’s my husband. This is a bit weird.’"

Mendes, who directed "American Beauty" and "Road to Perdition," says, "I will admit it was quite bizarre to direct my wife in how to make love. But it’s difficult whether you’re married to a person or not."

It’s been 11 years since Kate and Leo, who have great chemistry by the way, co-starred in the Oscar-winning blockbuster "Titanic," and Winslet says a spark remains between them.

They play suburban couple Frank and April Wheeler in "Revolutionary Road," based on Richard Yates’ 1961 novel. It is slated for release in December, just in time for Oscar consideration.

When Kate heard about the new film coming up, she was eager to bring Leo on board, and set up a sneaky way to do it: She arranged a meeting with the 33-year-old actor in March 2007, but sent Sam Mendes in her place.

"Leo and I have such a history together and I couldn’t imagine not being able to apply that to this story and these characters," she says. "So I played this very clever cat-and-mouse game to get my husband and then my best friend involved."

Men who take up cycling could be harming their health if they don‘t choose the right bicycle. They should be wary of problems ranging from genital numbness, erection problems and soreness to skin irritation in the groin area.

Men who cycle frequently can also experience changes to their sperm function because of the excessive heat generated in the pelvic area. Male infertility is recognized as a possible side effect of cycling. Regular cyclists also run a higher risk of testicular damage and impaired testicular function. Mountain bikers run a particular risk. What should men look for in a bicycle? The proper fit, including the correct level of pedal resistance and saddle height. A properly padded saddle, along with bike shorts, can also help to reduce sexual problems among male cyclists.

1. Avoid eating out on holidays and Saturday nights. The volume of customers guarantees that most kitchens will be pushed beyond their ability to produce a high-quality meal.

2. There are almost never any sick days in the restaurant business. A busboy with a child to support isn‘t going to stay home and miss out on $100 because he‘s got strep throat.

3. When customers make personal attacks, adulterating food or drink is a convenient way for servers to exact covert vengeance. Waiters can and do spit in people‘s food.

4. Never say "I‘m friends with the owner." Restaurant owners don‘t have friends. This marks you as a clueless poseur the moment you walk in the door.

5. Treat others as you want to be treated.

6. Don‘t snap your fingers to get attention.

7. Don‘t order meals that aren‘t on the menu. You‘re forcing the chef to cook something he doesn‘t make on a regular basis, and it won’t be as good.

8. Splitting entrées is okay, but don‘t ask for water, lemon, and sugar so you can make your own lemonade.

9. If you find a waiter you like, always ask to be seated in his or her section. Tell all your friends so they‘ll start asking for that server as well. The server will be grateful and take good care of you.

10. If you can‘t afford to leave a tip, you can‘t afford to eat in the restaurant.

11. Always examine the check. Sometimes large parties are unaware that a gratuity has been added to the bill, so they tip on top of it. Waiters "facilitate" this error.

12. If you want to hang out, that‘s fine. But increase the tip to make up for money the server would have made if he or she had had another seating at that table.

13. Never, ever come in 15 minutes before closing time. While you‘re chitchatting over salads, your entrées will be languishing under the heat lamp while the dishwasher is spraying industrial-strength, carcinogenic cleaning solvents in their immediate vicinity.

A friend of mine went out on a date with a guy who has been courting her for a few weeks now. When she got back from the date, I asked how it went. She started complaining about a lot of things and told me she didn’t want to go out with him again. Well, here are some of the very common mistakes that both sexes have when going on dates.

For men:

Splashing on excessive amounts of cologne. This is just not that necessary unless you’re trying to disguise the smell of a skunk. Dabbing or spritzing yourself with cologne once or twice would be enough. Your date doesn’t have to smell you a mile away to know you exist.

Wearing globs of hair gel. According to an article in the Internet, the wet look just isn’t in right now. If you’re not confident about how your hair looks, go get a haircut.

Yammering on about ex-girlfriends. One thing my friend complained about during her date. Why in the world would you think WE women would want to hear about your past relationships and your exes? Do you know how annoying that is? When you’re with us and you want to talk about girls, you talk about us and think about us; NOT your exes.

Suggesting they want an open relationship. Umm.. Let me get this straight. You asked us out and now you tell us you want an open relationship? How insulting can you be..

For women:

Getting lazy about love. Sometimes women can be such procrastinators and some can be pretty much laid back. They just sit there in their homes or hang out with their girlfriends somewhere and they expect to find love in an instant. Whatever happened to effort? Try getting to know people of the opposite sex and be more outgoing. Ask friends if they know anyone they can hook you up with. Go to various events and try online dating.

Giving off the wrong dating signals. Women should give off the right signals and use body language to show interest. For example, if you’re at a bar, stand next to the single man you find attractive and smile at him. At the same time, don’t overdo it. Make sure you’re smiling and not staring!

Listening to words before actions.  Pay close attention to how your date acts versus what he says. The language of behavior says it all!

Sticking with cyber-communication. After getting comfortable with someone online, get past the initial stage of dating and lay off the gadgets a bit! Make time to hang out in person to really get to know someone — not just the persona he presents online or on the phone.
 

I’ve actually had about enough of people who think they’re so smart and they insist that the appendix doesn’t have any use so it should be taken out. Well, exactly how much do these people know about the human body? If indeed the appendix has no use at all, then why would it be there in the first place? Same thing goes for tonsils and wisdom teeth, which I’m currently researching on. Everything happens or is there for a reason. With regards to the appendix, researchers FINALLY now believe that it is a “safe house” for commensal bacteria, the symbiotic germs that aid digestion and help protect against disease-causing germs.

The appendix is isolated from the rest of the gut, with an opening smaller than a pencil lead. In times of trouble, such as an infection that flushes the system, these commensal bacteria could hide out there, ready to repopulate the gut when the danger is past.

Biofilms, colonies of beneficial microbes, form in your large intestine. They aid digestion and protect against infection, while enjoying the protection and nutrition of the human host. Researchers have found biofilms on the epithelial lining of the appendix as well.

Researchers have ranked 10 beverages according to their antioxidant levels. Here is how the rankings
turned out:

1. Pomegranate juice
2. Red wine
3. Concord grape juice
4. Blueberry juice
5. Black cherry juice
6. Açaí juice
7. Cranberry juice
8. Orange juice
9. Tea
10. Apple juice

Pomegranate is the healthiest of them all, because it contains the most of every type of antioxidant. It may protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer. It might also modify heart disease risk factors.

Concord Grape Juice Concord grape juice is a source of very potent antioxidants. There‘s some research indicating it may be good for your heart and help reduce blood pressure.

Blueberry Juice Blueberry juice contains lots of antioxidants and fiber, and is very high in vitamin C. There‘s some indication that blueberries may have a beneficial effect on age-related cognitive abilities.

Black Cherry Juice Not only is it high in antioxidants, but there is evidence that black cherry juice can diminish exercise-induced muscle injuries.

Cranberry Juice It‘s also high in antioxidants and vitamin C. There is evidence that it can decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections.

Plastic releases trace amounts of some of its ingredients as it is exposed to heat or stress or when it ages. Of particular concern are bisphenol-a (BPA), used to strengthen some plastics, and phthalates, used to soften others.

These chemicals are used in hundreds of household items; BPA is in everything from baby bottles to can linings, while phthalates are found in children’s toys as well as vinyl shower curtains. They enter your body through the food, water and bits of dust you consume, or are simply absorbed through your skin.

BPA and phthalates are endocrine disrupters, which mimic hormones. Estrogen and other hormones in relatively tiny amounts can cause vast changes, so researchers worry that BPA and phthalates could do the same, especially in young children.

To cut down on your exposure, avoid plastic bottles and toys labeled with the numbers 3 or 7, which often contain BPA or phthalates, and canned foods, especially those with acidic contents like tomatoes. You should also avoid heating plastic in microwaves.