| Fri, 3 Aug 2007 | | When a condom broke last winter, Grace Stering, then 25, and her fiancé knew that they still had a good chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Stering went to her local drugstore and asked for Plan B, an emergency contraceptive commonly known as the "morning-after pill," which had recently become available over the counter. To her surprise, the pharmacist refused to sell it to her, telling her that he thought using the pill was ethically wrong. | | More information |
| Sun, 29 Jul 2007 | | Cholesterol-busting statins, which benefit an estimated 13 million Americans and 25 million people worldwide, protect against the ravages of heart disease caused by clogged coronary arteries. But they caused some palpitations last week, when the Journal of the American College of Cardiology released a report from Tufts University School of Medicine that the lower levels of cholesterol achieved by statin therapy are associated with an increased risk of cancer (1 extra cancer per 1,000 patients). The "C" word carries such a chill that the journal's own editors toyed with rejecting the report, fearing it would cause patients to dump their lifesaving pills. The better editorial angels prevailed, and the report is out, cushioned by cautionary commentary that the findings could be a statistical fluke. With medical practice shifting toward more intensive cholesterol-lowering treatment, based on numerous clinical studies that show a reduction in heart attacks and cardiovascular mortality, people are taking statins in droves--at higher doses and for life. So it is that much more important to sort out unexpected longer-term side effects. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | They've put up extensive websites, started to write blogs, and created YouTube videos. They happily answered debate questions from online videos featuring rednecks, snowmen, and tax-hating musicians. Now to give even more validity to online activism, almost all the Democratic presidential candidates are planning to appear at a progressive convention this weekend centered on Internet grass roots and named after a popular and sometimes controversial liberal blog, the DailyKos. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Vital stats> Jon (l.) and Jason Araghi, 37 and 43, respectively, of Green Beans Coffee Co. Inc. LINK (greenbeanscoffee.com) in Larkspur, CaliforniaCompany> Gourmet coffee and tea company that supports U.S. troops2007 projected sales> $21 million | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Ori Sivan and Joe Silver co-founded Greenmaker Supply Co. to market sustainable building supplies to mainstream builders, contractors and homeowners. To help people unfamiliar with sustainability make more informed choices, Sivan, 31, developed a set of guidelines called "Seven Seeds of Sustainability" that explains trade-offs between water and energy conservation, low toxicity, recycling, renewability and other issues. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Americans may finally get a taste of Europe on their cellphones, after the Federal Communications Commission decided Tuesday to force some carriers to let consumers use any device they choose, rather than only the devices preselected by the company. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | If you're like most entrepreneurs, you haven't laid eyes on your business plan in a while. Back then, motivated by the prospect of attracting venture capital or securing bank financing, you gave it plenty of attention, poring over projections and getting the words just right. Now, years later, it's collecting dust in a file drawer, and the details within likely bear little resemblance to the business you're currently running. But with sales strong and no immediate need for cash, does it matter? | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Running your own business can provide the flexibility, income and work-life balance that you crave. And it's exactly that flexibility that makes entrepreneurship a great match for the frequently transferred military spouse. "Managing your own business takes more effort as a military spouse, but it can be very rewarding," says Rebecca Poynter, co-founder of the Military Spouse Business Association. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Consumers are trained to buy, even when they don't really want to. Companies have developed a range of strategies, from quickly rotating merchandise to infusing stores with certain scents and sounds, to get customers to spend more than they would otherwise. Fueled in part by a growing mound of research that suggests consumers are responsive to such tactics, more and more retailers are turning to them. Within the past 18 months, "it really got legs in U.S. retail," David Van Epps, chief executive of ScentAir, says of scent. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Scientists have discovered that smells, sounds, and even wall colors can influence whether someone decides to buy those cute Capri pants or put them back on the rack. Companies have long relied on such research to shape the design and general atmosphere of stores. Here is a roundup of leading studies on the subject, so you can be armed with the same knowledge as the retailers trying to get into your wallet. | | More information |
| Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | | Companies use all sorts of tricks to get shoppers to spend money. Here are some ways to beat them at their own game. | | More information |
| Thu, 2 Aug 2007 | | Each year, at least 1.2 million American infants lose their foreskin?that retractable fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the end of the penis?to a doctor's scalpel. Though circumcision is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the country, it's also among the most controversial. That particular patch of skin happens to lie at the intersection of conflicting notions about personal hygiene, sexually transmitted diseases, masculinity, sexuality, and religion. | | More information |
| Thu, 2 Aug 2007 | | ChiWalking, like ChiRunning, is based on the principles of tai chi and emphasizes good alignment and engaging the core muscles so that they, not the limbs, do the bulk of the work. The result looks nothing like the posture most people associate with power walking—chest raised to the sky, elbows furiously pumping, legs straight. But it is far more relaxed and easier on the body. ChiWalkers don't lock their knees, they tilt their shoulder-hip-ankle line forward so that gravity pulls them along, and they allow the spine to twist and hips to rotate. Like ChiRunning, it can be learned by reading (ChiWalking, Fireside, $14.95), watching a DVD, or attending workshops around the country (a half-day runs $100; see www.chirunning.com for the schedule). | | More information |
| Thu, 2 Aug 2007 | | My running technique consists of putting one foot in front of the other until my iPod runs out of Britney Spears songs or someone hangs a medal around my neck, whichever comes first. Some people put a lot more thought into it than that: If you wanted to, you could spend more time reading and learning about how to run than actually doing it. | | More information |
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