LOCAL - Texting Thumbs The city of Glendale is looking at following Phoenix’s lead with a ban on texting while driving. The Glendale City Council has asked city staff to start crafting a “texting while driving” ban. Phoenix put such a ban in place in 2007, and numerous states have similar bans aimed at reducing accidents caused by drivers texting. Republicans at the Arizona Legislature have blocked a state texting while driving ban.
RANDOM - Brand Name or Generic? Consumer Reports offers some age-old advice the next time you're cruising the grocery aisle: Don't pay for the brand name. It recently sampled 21 food products and found that generic brands beat or tied the brand-name version in taste on 14 of them. Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, for instance, lost to Food Lion's Lotsa Noodles, while America's Choice hot dogs outdid Oscar Mayer. Bonus: A family that spends $100 a week on groceries will save $1,500 a year by buying generic.
- CURE FOR MORNING SICKNESS? For many women, morning sickness can be one of the most miserable parts of pregnancy. Unfortunately, new studies suggest that there is little women can do other than grin and bear it, since there appear to be no effective treatments. The pharmaceutical industry once weighed in on the issue heavily, with the result being the introduction of the now-notorious thalidomide, which caused severe birth defects in a large number of infants. That has led many women to try alternative treatments, including sugar solutions, ginger, vitamin B6, acupressure and acupuncture. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that any of them are effective, Dr. Anne Matthews of the School of Nursing at Ireland's Dublin City University reported Wednesday.
- Lending a hand A first-of-its kind survey of 153 nations ranking them on their citizens' donation of time and money to charity found Australia and New Zealand tied at the top of the list, with the U.S. sharing fifth place with Switzerland. The overall rankings in the report out from the British-based Charities Aid Foundation were made up of three categories: percentage of people who donated money in the previous month, donated time and helped a stranger. Australia and New Zealand were first at 57 percent, with Canada and Ireland next at 56 percent, and the U.S. and Switzerland at 55 percent. The breakdown for the U.S. was 60 percent had donated money in the previous month, 39 percent had volunteered time, and 65 percent had helped a stranger.
- Last Diets New research shows that one in ten dieters fall off the wagon after just one day, with only a fifth lasting past a week. Four out of ten women who diet end up heavier than when they started watching their waistline. The research also showed that a large percentage of women start noticing the pounds creeping back on just 21 days after reaching their ideal weight. Dr Ian Campbell of the Jenny Craig weight management program said, "'Too many women simply flirt with the notion of dieting via unhealthy yo-yo dieting or quick fix solutions -- rather than entering into a proper long-term relationship with healthy eating. Successful weight management requires a holistic and committed approach focusing on food, body and mind."
- Watch out! There are 8 Things You Do Everyday That Will Kill You Dead!! The world is a dangerous place. Everyday thousands of people are killed by car wrecks, war, earthquakes, tsunamis, and boring celebrity gossip shows. But there are also plenty of things that we do every day that put us at risk or nudge us just slightly closer to death. Why do we continue to do dangerous stuff that we know shortens our life span? Because we are a brilliant, rational, logical species that always acts smart, that’s why. And in case you weren’t aware, we will help educate you on the shit you do every day that’s gonna kill you, so hopefully you will stop doing it. SEE IT HERE!
ENTERTAINMENT - DMB and Football Dave Matthews Band will make a stop in New Orleans to perform at the "NFL Opening Kickoff 2010 Presented by EA Sports" tonight. The live program will be simulcast on NBC and NFL Network. The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints will face off against the Minnesota Vikings tonight in the Superdome to kick off the NFL season. The game will be a re-match of last season's NFC championship game, which the Saints won over a Vikings team that made five turnovers. Events being held today in New Orleans to celebrate the city hosting the opening of the NFL season include a concert featuring Dave Matthews and Taylor Swift, an NFL-sponsored parade and a citywide party.
- Gleeks! According to Rolling Stone, the Glee club will cover Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” Lady Gaga’s “Telephone,” Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire,” and Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” during the upcoming season.
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