Monday, August 31, 2009
A Sign of Further Progress On the Blog by Bratprince
I recently listened to a radio report on NPR about blogs that are approached by businesses and corporations to promote their products. They send samples and let the blogger try them out...and if approved...the blogger recommends them on his/her blog. I'm sort of surprised, but I got my first one today! I will try the product out and see if it works and if so pass it on to you. We have over 300 people a day reading or at least looking at this blog...which honors me so much...I can't thank all of you enough!!! I feel like a real blogger when corporate America thinks that my blog is good enough. I hope you feel the same. I try to keep true to my original intention...a little news..a little gossip...a bit of sex...and some eye candy and gossip. Thanks for supporting me.
Further notes on the economy by Bratprince
Well...I'm still not seeing much in the way of economic recovery here in Dallas or the rest of the country.
My VERY qualified partner is going on 7 months unemployed.
Today I agreed to "take Friday off" ..without pay as part of cost cutting measures at my company. I actually have an appointment that day so will be working, but I'm just thankful they didn't cost cut me out of a job.
Retail is a mess and I know the wholesale showrooms are posting huge losses.
I deal daily with very famous designers. For the first time ever some are reporting to me that they have NO clients at all. Unheard of.
As more and more of these businesses collapse or are severely hampered, less money will be spent on consumer goods, thus hurting even more companies. My spending has dropped to almost nil. I'm watching pennies...something if you know me I have never done in my entire life.
Yesterday a dear friend treated me to a spa day. He thought after my horrible stay in the hospital that I needed a little R&R. It was lovely..mani/pedi/massage...the works. We had a delightful light lunch at one of his favorite spots. After that we had to go to a North Dallas mall so that he could order new business cards through Crane (fortunately my friend is doing better than okay right now business wise). I couldn't believe the mall. Very upscale and not a soul to be seen. The mall was vitually empty. The normally packed Neiman Marcus looked like a ghost town with bored employees literally rushing up to us trying to sell everything from jewelry to cologne. Signs offering significant mark-downs were everywhere. When we got to Crane Stationery (usually packed with brides-to-be and uppercrust la-de-dahs looking for that perfect shade of robins egg blue stationery..there was not a person in the shop. The two employees were sitting at a table drinking coffee. It looked like they had been settled down for quite some time. During our hour there not another person entered. The glass elevators that took you from floor to floor were empty. The food court (we got some fat free frozen yogurt) was almost completely empty.
Obviously, whatever we are doing is not working. More and more people's jobs are in jeopardy (including my own) and as more people lose their jobs...inevitably things can only get worse.
I read the WORST opinion letter in the paper yesterday about health care. The writer suggested that he worked hard for his company and that he was a proud recipient of health care benefits. His suggestion was for all these lazy people to go get a job and get health care through their corporations. Well, let me tell you...Gary has even starting applying at places like Whole Foods and Lowes and still doesn't have a job. It infuriates me that these people that think they are SO secure judge those that cannot find a job. I'm not that vindictive (that's a lie), but I really wish that the writer of that letter loses his job and has to struggle a bit. Welcome to the world, Mr. Perfect.
It's not getting better and I am living it.
(P.S. Click on an ad at the bottom right of my blog. You don't even have to read the ad...just click on it. Every click and my blog makes a penny or two. Like I said, I'm counting pennies).
My VERY qualified partner is going on 7 months unemployed.
Today I agreed to "take Friday off" ..without pay as part of cost cutting measures at my company. I actually have an appointment that day so will be working, but I'm just thankful they didn't cost cut me out of a job.
Retail is a mess and I know the wholesale showrooms are posting huge losses.
I deal daily with very famous designers. For the first time ever some are reporting to me that they have NO clients at all. Unheard of.
As more and more of these businesses collapse or are severely hampered, less money will be spent on consumer goods, thus hurting even more companies. My spending has dropped to almost nil. I'm watching pennies...something if you know me I have never done in my entire life.
Yesterday a dear friend treated me to a spa day. He thought after my horrible stay in the hospital that I needed a little R&R. It was lovely..mani/pedi/massage...the works. We had a delightful light lunch at one of his favorite spots. After that we had to go to a North Dallas mall so that he could order new business cards through Crane (fortunately my friend is doing better than okay right now business wise). I couldn't believe the mall. Very upscale and not a soul to be seen. The mall was vitually empty. The normally packed Neiman Marcus looked like a ghost town with bored employees literally rushing up to us trying to sell everything from jewelry to cologne. Signs offering significant mark-downs were everywhere. When we got to Crane Stationery (usually packed with brides-to-be and uppercrust la-de-dahs looking for that perfect shade of robins egg blue stationery..there was not a person in the shop. The two employees were sitting at a table drinking coffee. It looked like they had been settled down for quite some time. During our hour there not another person entered. The glass elevators that took you from floor to floor were empty. The food court (we got some fat free frozen yogurt) was almost completely empty.
Obviously, whatever we are doing is not working. More and more people's jobs are in jeopardy (including my own) and as more people lose their jobs...inevitably things can only get worse.
I read the WORST opinion letter in the paper yesterday about health care. The writer suggested that he worked hard for his company and that he was a proud recipient of health care benefits. His suggestion was for all these lazy people to go get a job and get health care through their corporations. Well, let me tell you...Gary has even starting applying at places like Whole Foods and Lowes and still doesn't have a job. It infuriates me that these people that think they are SO secure judge those that cannot find a job. I'm not that vindictive (that's a lie), but I really wish that the writer of that letter loses his job and has to struggle a bit. Welcome to the world, Mr. Perfect.
It's not getting better and I am living it.
(P.S. Click on an ad at the bottom right of my blog. You don't even have to read the ad...just click on it. Every click and my blog makes a penny or two. Like I said, I'm counting pennies).
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Please help my favorite charity, Diffa Dallas
Please share the following with your fmaily and friends. We need more votes.Visit www.christiecookies.com to nominate DIFFA/Dallas as your favorite charity. DIFFA could receive up to $10,000 if enough people participate.
Again - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Add Samuel Stiles as the contact on the nomination page.
We are 3,500 votes behind the current winning charity - Young Singers Foundation, Tulsa, OK.
Your help is required to WIN!!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Ads on the blog continued.......
Hey everyone. If you notice, there are ads at the bottom of the blog. Everytime you sign on to the blog I would "love it" if you clicked on an ad. You don't have to read it or even participate...just CLICK. Each click makes this blog a tiny bit of money, thus I can continue to keep it updated and full of info.
WOW!!
I really am just surprised at how well this blog is taking off. Since yesterday we have had 273 hits. That is so cool. I hope you are all enjoying the content, discourse and eye candy. I love having you with me on this journey!!!
I Guess I Will Never Understand by Bratprince
Today on Facebook I was challenged by a "friend" on the health care issue. To be honest, the "friend" was someone I went to high school with and frankly I don't actually really remember very well aside from he wasn't someone I particularly thought well of (I dropped him off of Facebook after getting his message).
I don't really understand why people feel they can debate with other people when they have absolutely no common ground to stand on. As a complete liberal I have trouble relating to the conservative position. It seems that there are a lot of moderates out there that an arch conservative could utilize his/her time better debating.
It always shocks me when somebody that is EXTREMELY conservative contacts me. Rather than intelligent discussion I get a lecture on "do nothing lazy people", "system abusers" etc. etc. In this particular case, my debater believes that ALL 40 million people in this country uninsured are just lazy and not trying hard enough to get insurance or a job. That cuts a little deep considering both myself and Gary are on Cobra. I have a job that has health insurance that won't cover TX, thus I am using Cobra from my other job which my current company pays. Gary has Cobra from his last job and is spending HOURS and HOURS a day trying to find a new job and health insurance.
My debator was practically frantic that the "govt. was going to take away his private insurance and force him into some socialist plan". Obviously he hasn't read a thing about the health care plan. It makes it quite clear that if you have insurance...if your company provides it...then keep it by all means. I've read almost the whole thing (long, long, long) and firmly believe that a lot of the skeptics and people that are freaking out and screaming at their local politicians know absolutely NOTHING about which they speak. They are going on gut instinct. These are the people that resent food stamps so much that they would let children starve. These are the people that hate unemployment insurance because they have never lost a job. These are the people that think welfare is the most evil thing on earth, yet would tell a woman in abject poverty that she should not get an abortion. These are the people that resent taxation so much that they don't believe they should even pay it (if you don't, please stop driving because all roads are built by taxation).
I don't hate ultra-conservatives. I just don't understand them. They don't understand me. We have no possible way to come to a valid middle position. I have a few conservative friends and relatives that I adore. We long ago came to the conclusion that discussing politics or social programs was a mistake and we don't do it.
I appreciate comments on this blog...even if you completely disagree with what I say or think, but PLEASE, PLEASE don't expect me to debate you.
I don't really understand why people feel they can debate with other people when they have absolutely no common ground to stand on. As a complete liberal I have trouble relating to the conservative position. It seems that there are a lot of moderates out there that an arch conservative could utilize his/her time better debating.
It always shocks me when somebody that is EXTREMELY conservative contacts me. Rather than intelligent discussion I get a lecture on "do nothing lazy people", "system abusers" etc. etc. In this particular case, my debater believes that ALL 40 million people in this country uninsured are just lazy and not trying hard enough to get insurance or a job. That cuts a little deep considering both myself and Gary are on Cobra. I have a job that has health insurance that won't cover TX, thus I am using Cobra from my other job which my current company pays. Gary has Cobra from his last job and is spending HOURS and HOURS a day trying to find a new job and health insurance.
My debator was practically frantic that the "govt. was going to take away his private insurance and force him into some socialist plan". Obviously he hasn't read a thing about the health care plan. It makes it quite clear that if you have insurance...if your company provides it...then keep it by all means. I've read almost the whole thing (long, long, long) and firmly believe that a lot of the skeptics and people that are freaking out and screaming at their local politicians know absolutely NOTHING about which they speak. They are going on gut instinct. These are the people that resent food stamps so much that they would let children starve. These are the people that hate unemployment insurance because they have never lost a job. These are the people that think welfare is the most evil thing on earth, yet would tell a woman in abject poverty that she should not get an abortion. These are the people that resent taxation so much that they don't believe they should even pay it (if you don't, please stop driving because all roads are built by taxation).
I don't hate ultra-conservatives. I just don't understand them. They don't understand me. We have no possible way to come to a valid middle position. I have a few conservative friends and relatives that I adore. We long ago came to the conclusion that discussing politics or social programs was a mistake and we don't do it.
I appreciate comments on this blog...even if you completely disagree with what I say or think, but PLEASE, PLEASE don't expect me to debate you.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thanks to my readers.
As of today, over 1,000 people have viewed this blog. I appreciate your support and would love more feedback. Please comment on articles that appeal or don't appeal to you. Again, thanks so much for allowing me to reach 1,000!
Hyphenation
As most of you know, I am married to Gary in five states. Lately I have been contemplating hypenating our last names legally. So...readers...what do you like better? Bellomy-Kolb or Kolb-Bellomy?
WHAT ON EARTH is going on with our politicians? by Bratprince
I am stunned. I just have to admit it. What on earth is going on with our politicians these days?? It has become a field day of Obama attacks....and these are not just your usual "bad president" attacks. The verbal assaults on the President are frightening and completely out of control.
Although not a politician, Rush Limbaugh called Obama a Nazi. In a way I wish he was, then Limbaugh would be scooped up in the middle of the night by the SS and never heard from again.
However, what is much more disturbing and frightening is what actual politicians are saying. Once they say it, they immediately backtrack and try to claim that they were generalizing or joking, but for heavens sake. The worst president in history, George W. Bush didn't even get this kind of stuff.
Idaho candidate for Governor, Rex Rommell, joked about "hunting Obama". Considering that every day people with automatic weapons have been stationed outside of Obama events lately that is possibly the most moronic thing I have EVER heard a politician say. "Hunting" the President??? If a normal citizen said that in any form, the Secret Service would arrest them and detain them for months. Fundamentalist preachers talk about "hunting gay people" and we see hate crimes upon hate crimes where the perpetrators claim they "did it for God".
The ever so charming Republican legislator from Kansas, Lynn Jenkins, talked about finding a Republican "Great White Hope" to defeat Obama. I don't know about you, but this sounds pretty racist to me. She did the expected thing and tried to soundbite her way out of her stupid comment...but...sorry babe...damage done. Racist through and through.
Okay America...we have a BLACK PRESIDENT. I am not thrilled with all he has done....but even when George Bush was president, I still respected the OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. The President of the United States is the most powerful person on the planet. We are lucky as a nation that we actually get to vote for the office holder (even though far more people vote for the favorite on American Idol). Obama inherited the biggest mess the U.S. has ever faced. His poll numbers are dropping fast. Odd how we expect him to fix eight years of disaster in only eight months. I still have some hope that he will find his way and begin to repair the damage done.
He has not even addressed the difficulties that the gay community face (which he promised as he campaigned). He is obviously learning that you can't buck the system and thus is back peddling on many of his promises. I would remind those uninitiated in politics that the President does NOT MAKE LAW. Congress makes the laws, the President enforces them. Yes, a President has an agenda, but that does not mean that Congress will follow. This President has faced serious opposition from his own party (I believe because he was too young and jumped ahead of his turn...I still believe Hillary would have been the much better President).
However, as a Nation we must not tolerate racist or "hunting" messages from our politicians. Lynn Jenkins should be censored by her own legislature. Rex Rommell should be investigated by the Secret Service and possibly arrested. President Barack Obama should NOT be threatened by the politicians in this country. I view their opinions close to terrorism or at least treason. I believe in free speech...I believe in it to the hilt....but threatening a sitting President is beyond the pale, dangerous and intolerable. Enough. Politicians beware...we are watching you and your behavior is intolerable. Racism and threats should not be permitted upon a sitting President.
Although not a politician, Rush Limbaugh called Obama a Nazi. In a way I wish he was, then Limbaugh would be scooped up in the middle of the night by the SS and never heard from again.
However, what is much more disturbing and frightening is what actual politicians are saying. Once they say it, they immediately backtrack and try to claim that they were generalizing or joking, but for heavens sake. The worst president in history, George W. Bush didn't even get this kind of stuff.
Idaho candidate for Governor, Rex Rommell, joked about "hunting Obama". Considering that every day people with automatic weapons have been stationed outside of Obama events lately that is possibly the most moronic thing I have EVER heard a politician say. "Hunting" the President??? If a normal citizen said that in any form, the Secret Service would arrest them and detain them for months. Fundamentalist preachers talk about "hunting gay people" and we see hate crimes upon hate crimes where the perpetrators claim they "did it for God".
The ever so charming Republican legislator from Kansas, Lynn Jenkins, talked about finding a Republican "Great White Hope" to defeat Obama. I don't know about you, but this sounds pretty racist to me. She did the expected thing and tried to soundbite her way out of her stupid comment...but...sorry babe...damage done. Racist through and through.
Okay America...we have a BLACK PRESIDENT. I am not thrilled with all he has done....but even when George Bush was president, I still respected the OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. The President of the United States is the most powerful person on the planet. We are lucky as a nation that we actually get to vote for the office holder (even though far more people vote for the favorite on American Idol). Obama inherited the biggest mess the U.S. has ever faced. His poll numbers are dropping fast. Odd how we expect him to fix eight years of disaster in only eight months. I still have some hope that he will find his way and begin to repair the damage done.
He has not even addressed the difficulties that the gay community face (which he promised as he campaigned). He is obviously learning that you can't buck the system and thus is back peddling on many of his promises. I would remind those uninitiated in politics that the President does NOT MAKE LAW. Congress makes the laws, the President enforces them. Yes, a President has an agenda, but that does not mean that Congress will follow. This President has faced serious opposition from his own party (I believe because he was too young and jumped ahead of his turn...I still believe Hillary would have been the much better President).
However, as a Nation we must not tolerate racist or "hunting" messages from our politicians. Lynn Jenkins should be censored by her own legislature. Rex Rommell should be investigated by the Secret Service and possibly arrested. President Barack Obama should NOT be threatened by the politicians in this country. I view their opinions close to terrorism or at least treason. I believe in free speech...I believe in it to the hilt....but threatening a sitting President is beyond the pale, dangerous and intolerable. Enough. Politicians beware...we are watching you and your behavior is intolerable. Racism and threats should not be permitted upon a sitting President.
Waking up in the hospital by Bratprince
A lot of you guys have been super sweet on Facebook regarding my recent little health glitch. I can't thank all of you enough for the really kind messages of concern and support. Many of you asked me what exactly happened so I will briefly try to explain. I woke up on Tuesday night having some trouble breathing. Gary and I talked about it because I really was sort of gasping for air thus he drove me to the emergency room. By the time I got there my breathing was so shallow that the doctors decided to intubate me. I don't really remember them doing it and I really don't remember much until I woke up about 14 or 15 hours later. By this time I was breathing on my own and they had removed the inbubation tube. I have been intubated before thus I am really glad I don't remember much about it this time...it is a scary thing. I had to stay until early Thursday evening in the hospital because my blood pressure was very low and I needed to go through a round of antibiotics and breathing treatments. I have Lupus and Lupus can do very strange things. Lupus is an auto-immune disease causing your own immune system to not recognize helpful white blood cells thus your own immune system attacks itself. This time it just decided to do it around my lungs and caused a minor amount of fluid in the lungs and respitory distress. Obviously, it wasn't serious enough to keep me in the hospital for weeks (like the last time a number of years ago) and REALLY FOLKS...I am doing just fine. Aside from I.V. marks all over my arms and a few patches of chest hair ripped out from the things they put on to monitor your heart...I really am okay. I just have to take it easy for a few days. So, there you have it. I'm lucky that this was so minor and I do appreciate all the love and support! No worries...I will back to full speed in a day or so and hitting the streets for my run!
Harvey Milk to be Inducted into California Hall of Fame
Harvey Milk to be inducted into California Hall of Fame
Friday, August 28, 2009 No CommentSlain gay rights activist Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, will be among the newest inductees to the California Hall of Fame.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver unveiled the list of 2009 inductees earlier this week, saying the 13 men and women “embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history.”
Last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would designate a day each year to honor Milk.
A similar introduced bill by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, has passed the Senate and is expected to be taken up in the Assembly in the next few weeks. It would designate Milk’s birthday, May 22, as a “day of special significance,” but not an official holiday.
“It should be kept in mind that he literally gave his life so I and others can serve in public office and that every generation of LGBT Californians can pursue their every hope, dream and aspiration,” said Leno.
Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and was one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall on November 27, 1978, by former Supervisor Dan White.
Earlier this month, Milk was among 16 recipients awarded the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Other inductees in the California Hall of Fame are “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, football commentator John Madden, entertainer Carol Burnett, former Intel chief executive Andrew Grove, former Gov. Hiram Johnson, decathlete and philanthropist Rafer Johnson, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, philanthropist and peace activist Joan Kroc, artist Fritz Scholder, author Danielle Steel, bodybuilder and Schwarzenegger mentor Joe Weider and Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager.
The nominees will be inducted in a December 1 ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Shriver started the program to honor artists, sports figures and others who’ve helped shape the state.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Passing of Dominick Dunne (I will miss him!)
In Memoriam Dominick Dunne: 1925-2009
by Vanity FairAugust 26, 2009, 4:39 PM
A portrait of Dominick Dunne that accompanied his November 2006 Vanity Fair article, “Who Didn’t Kill JonBenet?” Photograph by Mark Seliger.Dominick Dunne, a best-selling author and special correspondent for Vanity Fair, died today at his home in Manhattan. He was 83.
The cause of death was bladder cancer, said his son Griffin Dunne.
Dunne—who joined Vanity Fair in 1984 as a contributing editor and was named special correspondent in 1993—famously covered the trials of O. J. Simpson, the Menendez brothers, Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith, and Phil Spector, as well as the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. He wrote memorable profiles on numerous personalities, among them Imelda Marcos, Robert Mapplethorpe, Elizabeth Taylor, Claus von Bülow, Adnan Khashoggi, and Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. His monthly column provided a glimpse inside high society, and captivated readers.
His first article for the magazine appeared in March 1984—an account of the trial of the man who killed his daughter Dominique. Throughout his life, Dunne was a vocal advocate for victims’ rights.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 29, 1925, Dunne was awarded the Bronze Star, at age 19, for his service in World War II. In 1949, he graduated from Williams College with a B.A.
In April 1954, Dunne married Ellen Beatriz Griffin, who went by Lenny. The marriage ended in divorce in 1965.
Dunne began his career in New York City as the stage manager of The Howdy Doody Show, and in 1957 he moved to Hollywood, where he became the executive producer of the television series Adventures in Paradise. Later, Dunne was made a vice president of Four Star Productions, a television company owned by David Niven, Dick Powell, and Charles Boyer. He then moved on to producing feature films, including The Boys in the Band, Panic in Needle Park, Play It as It Lays, and Ash Wednesday.
But by this time drugs and alcohol had become an unmanageable part of his life, and in 1975 he drove himself up to the woods in Oregon. Living alone in a cabin, he became sober and began, at age 50, to write.
In 1980, Dunne moved back to New York and saw eight of his books become bestsellers. His books include The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (Crown, 1985), Fatal Charms (Crown, 1987), People Like Us (Crown, 1988), An Inconvenient Woman (Crown, 1990), A Season in Purgatory (Crown, 1993)—which was adapted for television as a four-hour CBS mini-series—and Another City, Not My Own (Crown, 1997). A collection of essays, Fatal Charms (Crown), was published in 1987, and his memoir, The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper (Crown), was published in 1999. Justice (Crown), a collection of articles that had appeared in Vanity Fair, was published in 2001. And his last book, Too Much Money: A Novel, is scheduled for publication in December 2009 by Random House.
The documentary series Dominick Dunne’s Power, Privilege and Justice premiered on Court TV in June 2002. Dominick Dunne: After the Party, a documentary about his life, premiered in 2008.
In addition to his son Griffin, of Manhattan, Dunne is survived by another son, Alex, of Portland, Oregon, and a granddaughter, Hannah.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
My Friend Mike H.
Let us talk about support and friendship for just a moment. Starting my own blog was a scary proposition at first. FYI...I have over 211 hits a day...so....some of you out there like it. Still, I want to talk about my friend and supporter, Mike H. What a great guy. He actually reads my essays and gives amazing feedback. When I am not sure that I am on track I can count on Mike to tell me if I have hit the mark. The most important part of my blog (to me) is the personal essays. There I get to express what I am thinking and how I feel about the world in general. Mike is a scholar and a gentleman. He lives in a difficult world but still is able to participate in a most upfront way. This is not an essay...simply a shout out to a true friend and supporter of this blog. Mike H...........thank you so much. I adore you and would not enjoy blogging half as much without you.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ads on the Blog by Bratprince
I have received a few comments from people that have noticed that advertisements have now appeared at the bottom of the blog (notice I make sure they are at the VERY BOTTOM). Let me explain; I in no way endorse any of the advertisements. By regulation with Google I am not allowed to click on any of them or read them because it somehow messes up their count. With Gary unemployed I decided to go ahead and allow advertising because each time a reader "clicks" on one I make a TINY amount of money. You don't have to buy anything...or even read the ad. It's all about the "click". You click and I slightly profit. I'm not even asking you to "click". It's just an option I decided to allow. I hope people realize that I don't even consider the advertisements important. I hope people find my blog interesting. Along with original essays, news, gossip...and of course the infamous eye candy I also provide links to such great news options as 365 Gay News, National Public Radio and The Huffington Post (all of which I strongly endorse). Google "apparently" selects ads they feel will compliment the blog. I look at them of course and actually a few have even sounded slightly interesting to me. Remember, they are at the very bottom of the page and can easily be ignored. Thanks for your readership and support. I appreciate you all.
Further Comments on Courtesy by Bratprince
The other day I was amazed by what someone told me. I held the door for an elderly black lady as she was entering a pharmacy. She looked at me as if I had come from Mars. Finally she turned and said, "No white man has ever held the door for me, ever." I was stunned. I didn't even know how to reply.
Manners seem to have flown out the door over the years. For decades, the rich held the banner of courtesy and manner. In addition, the South always had a rigid code of ethics. The middle and lower classes were not taught these things. Along came Emily Post. She wrote a book called Etiquette that has seen more printings than almost any book in history. In it she told the everyday common man and woman what to do in any situation and how to handle it gracefully and with style. The book is still available and has been updated many times. In addition, we have ladies like Miss Manners that write about these situations each week in the newspaper.
So much of style and manners is just common sense, but much of it seems outdated to the young. In fact, I know some young ladies that feel the courtesy of a gentleman is misogynist.
I grew up with the most rigid of parents. My father in the Air Force (with a whole code of conduct that if not followed could get you discharged) and with the ultimate Southern Belle (who could be quite a tough businesswoman) for a mother. I won't say it was always easy. Manners, courtesy and polite behavior were drilled into me constantly. I hate to say it, but I sometimes fail at these instructions. I have been known to have a temper and when that happens all courtesy seems to leave my brain and body. I always feel terribly when this happens and strive to do better. However, here are a few of things that I have learned. Some seem ridiculous in this day and age, but others still make a lot of sense.
I was taught NEVER to hold two utensils at the dinner table in my hands at one time unless cutting something. I was also taught to put my napkin back in my lap when I picked up a utensil. Sounds dumb, but looks much more graceful.
I learned to always stand when a lady entered the room or joined a table. It is also correct to pull out a ladies chair so she may sit comfortably.
It is never acceptable to not open a door for another person.
Hand written thank you notes are not an option, but a necessity. Emails will not do when someone does something kind for you, invites you to dinner, etc.
Always take a hostess/host gift when invited to another person's home for a party or dinner.
Return phone calls in a timely manner.
Ask your guests at a dinner party if they have food restrictions.
Wear appropriate clothing to the theatre, opera, or symphony. It shows respect to the artists and their performance. I also think dressing for church is important. It amazes me at times what people think is acceptable for a service.
Athletic shoes are for the gym or exercise. Flip flops are for the beach.
Don't ask a very sick person, "What can I do?". Make a meal, offer to drive them...but give them actual options.
It really is dreadful when an acquaintance asks how you are and you actually tell them. That should be reserved for close friends..or in this day and age; your therapist.
Talking about money is tacky.
Never discuss religion, politics or sex at a dinner party where the guests are not of your same persuasions.
Don't tour your house unless a guest asks to see it.
Drive as you wish other drivers to treat you. Driving like a maniac actually can kill people.
Apologize when you have to...and mean it. Usually as quickly as possible is the best way.
Remove your child from a restaurant/theatre/etc. if they become unruly. Better yet, leave young children with a sitter.
Of course the list goes on and on, but these are just the things that popped into my head. Perhaps this all sounds elitist or that I believe I am "better than others". Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe that people can behave in any way, shape or manner they wish. If you don't want to be polite..then don't be.
I just think that the world would be such a better place if we all agreed that common courtesy, a wish to be polite and a bit of grace and polish could come back.
I'm hardly perfect and I occasionally forget what I was taught, but I usually snap out of it and remember that opening a door for an elderly black woman can mean something far more important to her than the intent I originated.
Manners seem to have flown out the door over the years. For decades, the rich held the banner of courtesy and manner. In addition, the South always had a rigid code of ethics. The middle and lower classes were not taught these things. Along came Emily Post. She wrote a book called Etiquette that has seen more printings than almost any book in history. In it she told the everyday common man and woman what to do in any situation and how to handle it gracefully and with style. The book is still available and has been updated many times. In addition, we have ladies like Miss Manners that write about these situations each week in the newspaper.
So much of style and manners is just common sense, but much of it seems outdated to the young. In fact, I know some young ladies that feel the courtesy of a gentleman is misogynist.
I grew up with the most rigid of parents. My father in the Air Force (with a whole code of conduct that if not followed could get you discharged) and with the ultimate Southern Belle (who could be quite a tough businesswoman) for a mother. I won't say it was always easy. Manners, courtesy and polite behavior were drilled into me constantly. I hate to say it, but I sometimes fail at these instructions. I have been known to have a temper and when that happens all courtesy seems to leave my brain and body. I always feel terribly when this happens and strive to do better. However, here are a few of things that I have learned. Some seem ridiculous in this day and age, but others still make a lot of sense.
I was taught NEVER to hold two utensils at the dinner table in my hands at one time unless cutting something. I was also taught to put my napkin back in my lap when I picked up a utensil. Sounds dumb, but looks much more graceful.
I learned to always stand when a lady entered the room or joined a table. It is also correct to pull out a ladies chair so she may sit comfortably.
It is never acceptable to not open a door for another person.
Hand written thank you notes are not an option, but a necessity. Emails will not do when someone does something kind for you, invites you to dinner, etc.
Always take a hostess/host gift when invited to another person's home for a party or dinner.
Return phone calls in a timely manner.
Ask your guests at a dinner party if they have food restrictions.
Wear appropriate clothing to the theatre, opera, or symphony. It shows respect to the artists and their performance. I also think dressing for church is important. It amazes me at times what people think is acceptable for a service.
Athletic shoes are for the gym or exercise. Flip flops are for the beach.
Don't ask a very sick person, "What can I do?". Make a meal, offer to drive them...but give them actual options.
It really is dreadful when an acquaintance asks how you are and you actually tell them. That should be reserved for close friends..or in this day and age; your therapist.
Talking about money is tacky.
Never discuss religion, politics or sex at a dinner party where the guests are not of your same persuasions.
Don't tour your house unless a guest asks to see it.
Drive as you wish other drivers to treat you. Driving like a maniac actually can kill people.
Apologize when you have to...and mean it. Usually as quickly as possible is the best way.
Remove your child from a restaurant/theatre/etc. if they become unruly. Better yet, leave young children with a sitter.
Of course the list goes on and on, but these are just the things that popped into my head. Perhaps this all sounds elitist or that I believe I am "better than others". Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe that people can behave in any way, shape or manner they wish. If you don't want to be polite..then don't be.
I just think that the world would be such a better place if we all agreed that common courtesy, a wish to be polite and a bit of grace and polish could come back.
I'm hardly perfect and I occasionally forget what I was taught, but I usually snap out of it and remember that opening a door for an elderly black woman can mean something far more important to her than the intent I originated.
Mixing Medication Mistakes That Can Kill and How To Avoid Them
Medication Mistakes
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Provided By Caring.com
The numbers are simply staggering: Every year 1.5 million people are sickened or severely injured by medication mistakes, and 100,000 die. And yet all of those deaths are preventable. What's the answer? We have to protect ourselves. Here are the ten medication mistakes experts say are most likely to kill or cause serious harm.
1. Confusing two medications with similar-sounding names
It can happen anywhere in the transmission chain: Maybe the doctor's handwriting is illegible, or the name goes into the pharmacy computer incorrectly, or the swap occurs when the wrong drug is pulled from the shelves. "Most pharmacies shelve drugs in alphabetical order, so you have drugs with similar names right next to each other, which makes it even more likely for someone to grab the wrong one," says Michael Negrete, CEO of the nonprofit Pharmacy Foundation of California.
According to the national Medication Error Reporting Program, confusion caused by similar drug names accounts for up to 25 percent of all reported errors. Examples of commonly confused pairings include Adderall (a stimulant used for ADHD) versus Inderal (a beta-blocker used for high blood pressure), and Paxil (an antidepressant) versus the rhyming Taxol (a cancer drug) and the similar-sounding Plavix (an anti-clotting medication). The Institute for Safe Medication Practices' list of these oft-confused pairs goes on for pages.
How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor to write down what it's for as well as the name and dosage. If the prescription reads "depression" but is meant for stomach acid, that should be a red flag for the pharmacist. When you're picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, check the label to make sure the name of the drug (brand or generic), dosage, and directions for use are the same as those on the prescription. (If you don't have the prescription yourself because the doctor sent it in directly, ask the pharmacist to compare the label with what the doctor sent.)
2. Taking two or more drugs that magnify each other's potential side effects
Any drug you take has potential side effects. But the problems can really add up whenever you take two or more medications at the same time, because there are so many ways they can interact with each other, says Anne Meneghetti, M.D., director of Clinical Communication for Epocrates, a medication management system for doctors. "Drugs can interfere with each other, and that's what you're most likely to hear about. But they can also magnify each other, or one drug can magnify a side effect caused by another drug," says Meneghetti.
Two of the most common -- and most dangerous -- of these magnification interactions involve blood pressure and dizziness. If you're taking one medication that has a potential side effect of raising blood pressure, and you then begin taking a second medication with the same possible effect, your blood pressure could spike dangerously from the combination of the two. One medication that lists "dizziness" is worrisome enough, but two with that side effect could lead to falls, fractures, and worse.
Be particularly careful if you've been prescribed the blood-thinner Coumadin (warfarin), "the king of drug interactions," according to Pharmacy Foundation of California's Michael Negrete. "You need just the right amount of Coumadin in your system for it to work properly; too much or too little and you could have serious heart problems such as arrhythmias or a stroke. But so many other drugs interfere with its action that you have to be really careful."
How to avoid it: Ask your doctor or a pharmacist about potential side effects when you get a new prescription, and make sure the pharmacy gives you written printouts about the medication to review later. Keep all such handouts in a file, so that when you get a new prescription, you can compare the info provided with the handouts from your older prescriptions. If you see the same side effect listed for more than one medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's cause for concern.
3. Overdosing by combining more than one medication with similar properties
Think of this one as the Heath Ledger syndrome, says Michael Negrete of Pharmacy Foundation of California. It's all too easy to end up with several medications that all have similar actions, although they were prescribed to treat different conditions. "You might have one medication prescribed to treat pain, another prescribed for anxiety, and another that's given as a sleeping pill -- but they're all sedatives, and the combined effect is toxic," explains Negrete.
The risk for this kind of overdose is highest with drugs that function by depressing the central nervous system. These include narcotic painkillers such as codeine; benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Halcion, Xanax, and Valium; barbiturate tranquilizers such as Seconal; some of the newer drugs such as BuSpar, for anxiety; and the popular sleeping pill Ambien.
But oversedation can also happen with seemingly innocent over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines (diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl, is one of the worst offenders), cough and cold medicines, and OTC sleeping pills. This type of drug mixing is responsible for many medication-induced deaths, especially among younger adults.
How to avoid it: Pay attention to the warnings on the packaging of over-the-counter medications, and the risks listed in the documentation for prescriptions. Key words are sleepy, drowsy, dizzy, sedation, and their equivalents. If more than one of your prescriptions or OTC drugs warns against taking it while driving, or warns that it can make you drowsy, beware. This means the drug has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and shouldn't be combined with other drugs (including alcohol) that have the same effect.
4. Getting the dosage wrong
Drugs are prescribed in a variety of units of measure, units that are usually notated using abbreviations or symbols -- offering a host of opportunities for disaster. All it takes is a misplaced decimal point and 1.0 mg becomes 10 mg, a tenfold dosing error that could cause a fatal overdose.
Some of the most extreme dosage mistakes occur when someone mistakes a dose in milligrams with one in micrograms, resulting in a dose 1,000 times higher. This mostly happens in the hospital with IV drugs, but it's been known to happen with outpatient meds as well. Insulin, the primary treatment for diabetes, causes some of the worst medication errors because it's measured in units, abbreviated with a "U," which can look like a zero or a 4 or any number of other things when scribbled.
Another common problem, says pharmacist Bona Benjamin, director of Medication-Use Quality Improvement at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is getting the frequency wrong -- so, say, a drug that is supposed to be given once a day is given four times a day.
How to avoid it: Make sure your doctor's writing is clear on the original prescription; if you can't read the dosage indicated, chances are the nurse and pharmacist will have difficulty as well. When you pick up the prescription from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to check the dosage to make sure it's within the range that's typical for that medication. In the hospital, when a nurse is about to administer a new medication, ask what it is and request that he or she check your chart to make sure it's the right one for you and that the dosage is indicated clearly. Don't be afraid to speak up if you think you're about to get the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.
5. Mixing alcohol with medications
There are plenty of drugs that come with that cute bright orange warning sticker attached, telling you not to drink when taking them. However, the sticker can fall off, or not get attached in the first place, or you might just really need that cocktail and figure it'll be OK "just this once." But alcohol, combined with a long list of painkillers, sedatives, and other medications, becomes a deadly poison in these situations. In fact, many experts now say you shouldn't drink when on any medication without first checking with your doctor.
Alcohol can also have a dangerous interaction with OTC drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cough and cold medicines -- and if the cough or cold medicines themselves contain alcohol, you can end up with alcohol poisoning. Alcohol can also compete with certain medications for absorption, leading to dangerous interactions. Mix alcohol and certain antidepressants, for example, and you have the potential for a dangerous rise in blood pressure, while alcohol and certain sedatives such as Ativan or Valium can depress the heart rate enough to put you in a coma.
How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor or a pharmacist if the medication is safe to take while drinking alcohol. If you're a heavy drinker and you know it's likely you'll drink while taking the medication, tell your doctor. She may need to prescribe something else instead. Also, read the handouts that come with your prescriptions to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk. And read the labels of all OTC medications carefully, both to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk and also to see if alcohol is an ingredient in the medication itself.
jupiterimages
Provided By Caring.com
The numbers are simply staggering: Every year 1.5 million people are sickened or severely injured by medication mistakes, and 100,000 die. And yet all of those deaths are preventable. What's the answer? We have to protect ourselves. Here are the ten medication mistakes experts say are most likely to kill or cause serious harm.
1. Confusing two medications with similar-sounding names
It can happen anywhere in the transmission chain: Maybe the doctor's handwriting is illegible, or the name goes into the pharmacy computer incorrectly, or the swap occurs when the wrong drug is pulled from the shelves. "Most pharmacies shelve drugs in alphabetical order, so you have drugs with similar names right next to each other, which makes it even more likely for someone to grab the wrong one," says Michael Negrete, CEO of the nonprofit Pharmacy Foundation of California.
According to the national Medication Error Reporting Program, confusion caused by similar drug names accounts for up to 25 percent of all reported errors. Examples of commonly confused pairings include Adderall (a stimulant used for ADHD) versus Inderal (a beta-blocker used for high blood pressure), and Paxil (an antidepressant) versus the rhyming Taxol (a cancer drug) and the similar-sounding Plavix (an anti-clotting medication). The Institute for Safe Medication Practices' list of these oft-confused pairs goes on for pages.
How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor to write down what it's for as well as the name and dosage. If the prescription reads "depression" but is meant for stomach acid, that should be a red flag for the pharmacist. When you're picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, check the label to make sure the name of the drug (brand or generic), dosage, and directions for use are the same as those on the prescription. (If you don't have the prescription yourself because the doctor sent it in directly, ask the pharmacist to compare the label with what the doctor sent.)
2. Taking two or more drugs that magnify each other's potential side effects
Any drug you take has potential side effects. But the problems can really add up whenever you take two or more medications at the same time, because there are so many ways they can interact with each other, says Anne Meneghetti, M.D., director of Clinical Communication for Epocrates, a medication management system for doctors. "Drugs can interfere with each other, and that's what you're most likely to hear about. But they can also magnify each other, or one drug can magnify a side effect caused by another drug," says Meneghetti.
Two of the most common -- and most dangerous -- of these magnification interactions involve blood pressure and dizziness. If you're taking one medication that has a potential side effect of raising blood pressure, and you then begin taking a second medication with the same possible effect, your blood pressure could spike dangerously from the combination of the two. One medication that lists "dizziness" is worrisome enough, but two with that side effect could lead to falls, fractures, and worse.
Be particularly careful if you've been prescribed the blood-thinner Coumadin (warfarin), "the king of drug interactions," according to Pharmacy Foundation of California's Michael Negrete. "You need just the right amount of Coumadin in your system for it to work properly; too much or too little and you could have serious heart problems such as arrhythmias or a stroke. But so many other drugs interfere with its action that you have to be really careful."
How to avoid it: Ask your doctor or a pharmacist about potential side effects when you get a new prescription, and make sure the pharmacy gives you written printouts about the medication to review later. Keep all such handouts in a file, so that when you get a new prescription, you can compare the info provided with the handouts from your older prescriptions. If you see the same side effect listed for more than one medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's cause for concern.
3. Overdosing by combining more than one medication with similar properties
Think of this one as the Heath Ledger syndrome, says Michael Negrete of Pharmacy Foundation of California. It's all too easy to end up with several medications that all have similar actions, although they were prescribed to treat different conditions. "You might have one medication prescribed to treat pain, another prescribed for anxiety, and another that's given as a sleeping pill -- but they're all sedatives, and the combined effect is toxic," explains Negrete.
The risk for this kind of overdose is highest with drugs that function by depressing the central nervous system. These include narcotic painkillers such as codeine; benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Halcion, Xanax, and Valium; barbiturate tranquilizers such as Seconal; some of the newer drugs such as BuSpar, for anxiety; and the popular sleeping pill Ambien.
But oversedation can also happen with seemingly innocent over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines (diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl, is one of the worst offenders), cough and cold medicines, and OTC sleeping pills. This type of drug mixing is responsible for many medication-induced deaths, especially among younger adults.
How to avoid it: Pay attention to the warnings on the packaging of over-the-counter medications, and the risks listed in the documentation for prescriptions. Key words are sleepy, drowsy, dizzy, sedation, and their equivalents. If more than one of your prescriptions or OTC drugs warns against taking it while driving, or warns that it can make you drowsy, beware. This means the drug has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and shouldn't be combined with other drugs (including alcohol) that have the same effect.
4. Getting the dosage wrong
Drugs are prescribed in a variety of units of measure, units that are usually notated using abbreviations or symbols -- offering a host of opportunities for disaster. All it takes is a misplaced decimal point and 1.0 mg becomes 10 mg, a tenfold dosing error that could cause a fatal overdose.
Some of the most extreme dosage mistakes occur when someone mistakes a dose in milligrams with one in micrograms, resulting in a dose 1,000 times higher. This mostly happens in the hospital with IV drugs, but it's been known to happen with outpatient meds as well. Insulin, the primary treatment for diabetes, causes some of the worst medication errors because it's measured in units, abbreviated with a "U," which can look like a zero or a 4 or any number of other things when scribbled.
Another common problem, says pharmacist Bona Benjamin, director of Medication-Use Quality Improvement at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is getting the frequency wrong -- so, say, a drug that is supposed to be given once a day is given four times a day.
How to avoid it: Make sure your doctor's writing is clear on the original prescription; if you can't read the dosage indicated, chances are the nurse and pharmacist will have difficulty as well. When you pick up the prescription from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to check the dosage to make sure it's within the range that's typical for that medication. In the hospital, when a nurse is about to administer a new medication, ask what it is and request that he or she check your chart to make sure it's the right one for you and that the dosage is indicated clearly. Don't be afraid to speak up if you think you're about to get the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.
5. Mixing alcohol with medications
There are plenty of drugs that come with that cute bright orange warning sticker attached, telling you not to drink when taking them. However, the sticker can fall off, or not get attached in the first place, or you might just really need that cocktail and figure it'll be OK "just this once." But alcohol, combined with a long list of painkillers, sedatives, and other medications, becomes a deadly poison in these situations. In fact, many experts now say you shouldn't drink when on any medication without first checking with your doctor.
Alcohol can also have a dangerous interaction with OTC drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cough and cold medicines -- and if the cough or cold medicines themselves contain alcohol, you can end up with alcohol poisoning. Alcohol can also compete with certain medications for absorption, leading to dangerous interactions. Mix alcohol and certain antidepressants, for example, and you have the potential for a dangerous rise in blood pressure, while alcohol and certain sedatives such as Ativan or Valium can depress the heart rate enough to put you in a coma.
How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor or a pharmacist if the medication is safe to take while drinking alcohol. If you're a heavy drinker and you know it's likely you'll drink while taking the medication, tell your doctor. She may need to prescribe something else instead. Also, read the handouts that come with your prescriptions to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk. And read the labels of all OTC medications carefully, both to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk and also to see if alcohol is an ingredient in the medication itself.
Americans Are Dirty
The Great American Hygiene Survey Results Revealed
By SARA ABADI
We asked more than 20 questions regarding the cleanliness of your home and your body -- and more than 20,000 of you delivered the dirty details. Armed with your responses, we went to the germ experts, including Philip Tierno Jr., M.D., Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center and author of "The Secret Life of Germs." Read on as the experts review our daily habits to see if we're falling within healthy guidelines.
Dirty Details About Personal Hygiene
Nose Picking Be honest, do you pick your nose? Seventy-one percent confessed to doing so, while 29 percent say they don't. While picking your nose isn't harmful to yourself, Dr. Tierno says you risk spreading pathogens to others. "If you do pick, wash your hands," he says.
Cleaning Your Ears Remove earwax carefully, clearing just the canal, advises Dr. Tierno, cautioning that large, waxy build-up should be removed by a professional. Seventy-three percent of you clean your ears every few days to a week, and 20 percent clean them a few times a month. Those who never clean their ears (eight percent) need not worry. Although earwax can cause auditory problems, Dr. Tierno says hygienically it isn't a major problem.
Re-wearing Clothes: No, or a Go? Sixty-four percent of poll-takers admitted to re-wearing clothing once or twice, which the doctor says is just fine (so the 23 percent of you who said you never re-wear clothes can give your washer a breather). The 11 percent who claimed to re-wear clothes three to five times and two percent who said you re-wear clothes more than five times might want to remember we shed 40,000 skin cells per minute, not to mention perspire.
Re-wearing Underwear Seventeen percent admit to re-wearing your undies once or twice, and five percent of you 'fessed you re-wear them more than three times, which Dr. Tierno isn't so keen on. "Undergarments should be changed daily," he says. "Maybe wear them twice in an emergency."
Re-wearing Bras Dr. Tierno says that if left to air dry, wearing your bra a couple of times between washings is fine. Almost 90 percent of the ladies fall within these guidelines -- 65 percent switch to a clean bra after a day or two and 23 percent after a week. Six percent wait a couple of weeks, three percent wait more than a month and another three percent never re-wear their bras.
Bathing When it comes to keeping clean, Dr. Tierno suggests bathing once a day in the morning because we perspire at night and typically spend about eight hours of shuteye between dirty sheets. If you haven't perspired excessively, Dr. Tierno gives you permission to skip a day. And if you do something to warrant a second shower at night, just remember to take another in the morning. Sixty-five percent of our poll-takers reported showering daily, 21 percent say they shower every other day, 10 percent are stretching it at a few times a week and four percent do it more than once a day.
Hand Washing "If 80 percent of infections are transmitted by direct and indirect contact, hand washing is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself," according to Dr. Tierno. Wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom and any time before you touch your mouth, nose or eyes. Nineteen percent wash after going to the bathroom, two percent wash before eating and 77 percent do both. The two percent who never wash their hands may want to take Dr. Tierno's advice.
Hair Washing When it comes to caring for your luscious locks, the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD) says you don't have to wash every day, as over-washing can strip the hair of oil and make it dull and coarse. However, most of you (39 percent) say you wash your hair at least once a day. Thirty-one percent lather up every other day, and 25 percent do it once or twice a week. A few of you (five percent) skip a week in between shampooings.
Time to Toss it?
Cleaning the Trash Can Only 10 percent of us fall in line with the weekly trash-can cleaning Dr. Tierno recommends. The remaining 90 percent of us vary in our diligence in keeping a clean bin -- seven percent clean their trash cans every other week, 34 percent do it once every few months, 18 percent do it monthly, 16 percent clean once a year and 15 percent never do. "If trash cans are soiled, they should be cleaned immediately. If not, once a week will work fine." His can-cleaning prescription? Rinse with soap and water or a sanitizing agent, like bleach. Not doing so on a weekly basis raises the risk of "dealing with dead animals and even plants that can carry harmful diseases, like E. coli, and salmonella," says Dr. Tierno.
Taking out the Trash When it comes to garbage, there is no set timeline for how often you should ditch it, because of varying trash can sizes and contents. The goal here is to beat the stink. "Where there is smell and odors, there is bacterial build up," says Dr. Tierno, so as soon as you smell something, "Get rid of it!" he advises. Another word of warning: If a trash bag rips, you risk contaminating the whole area of the kitchen. As for how our readers compare? No one admitted to leaving their trash lying around for more than one week. Thirty-four percent toss their garbage every other day. Second place is a tie with 26 percent taking it out daily and another 26 percent taking out twice a week and 14 percent take it out once a week.
Keeping House
Doing the Dishes "You can wait a day, but not more than a couple of days," says Dr. Tierno. Almost half of you don't even bother waiting a day -- 49 percent you’re your dishes immediately, and 37 percent wait just a day. Ten percent wait two to three days, which is Dr. Tierno's maximum delay time. The four percent who wait at least a week might want to wash the dishes more frequently, or at the very least leave the dishes soaking in soapy water to avoid growth -- even if it's a huge pain.
Washing Fresh Produce Only seven percent of you always wash your produce. Fifty-seven percent never do and 36 percent remember to wash sometimes. At a minimum, you should soak your fruits and veggies in water and a small amount of citric acid to loosen up the grime, advises Dr. Tierno. "E. coli 0157 and salmonella have been found on fruits as well as veggies. So it is more than just washing pesticide residue off."
Cleaning Out Your Refrigerator Food and drink spills should be cleaned up right away to limit exposure to E. coli or Salmonella. But assuming there are no major spills, Dr. Tierno says you can get away with cleaning your fridge every couple of weeks. This is good news for the 22 percent who do just that and the 15 percent who clean their fridges weekly. The once-a-monthers (21 percent) can probably get away with their current cleaning schedule. But, those who go every three months (19 percent) or once a year (21 percent) may want to clean more frequently. And the two percent who never tackle the fridge may want to start!
Scrubbing the Tub/Shower Even though water and soap are key parts of bathing, your tub or shower should be given its own bath once a week. The reason, Dr. Tierno explains, is that biofilm, a substance that builds up on the inside of the tub, gets left behind. "Biofilms only go away with mechanical action like scrubbing with a sponge and soap." And if you think you're getting away with spray-on cleaners like Tilex or Scrubbing Bubbles, Dr. Tierno says it's not enough -- a little elbow grease is needed. For those who shower, take note: Mold tends to grow on shower curtains -- even the mold-resistant ones. The good news is that 45 percent of respondents scrub the tub on a weekly basis, and some go above and beyond, cleaning daily (six percent) while others get to the job once a month (28 percent) or every few months (12 percent). For some of you, this chore can be daunting and you only get around to cleaning the tub every few months (12 percent) or don't get to it at all (two percent).
Cleaning the Toilet Add this to your weekly cleaning list. About half of you (51 percent) opt for an every-seven-days cleaning, and 15 percent go at it a few times a week. Twenty-two percent clean every couple of weeks and eight percent get to the task once a month. Very few of you wait every few months (four percent) or don't clean at all (one percent). Dr. Tierno warns that moisture allows bacteria to grow, so rooms like the bathroom should be disinfected regularly.
Dusting "Surface disinfection is really important," says Dr. Tierno. He recommends making it a weekly habit, or more often if you have allergies, as letting dust accumulate can aggravate allergies. But keep in mind, there's more to dust than just your bookshelves and TV stand. The living room is not the most unsanitary room in the house, that honor is reserved for the kitchen. Twenty-nine percent of you are in good shape with your weekly dusting, although the highest percentage of you (33 percent) opt to do it every couple of weeks. Some dust monthly (14 percent), while others get around to it every few months (15 percent). Five percent diligently dust a few times a week, and four percent never do.
Washing Your Sheets Forty percent of you change them weekly, which is how often Dr. Tierno recommends people wash their sheets -- as long as you have a protective cover to protect from dust mites and debris that build up in your mattress. "You could do it more, but that can be excessive and a waste of water," he says. To the 16 percent who wash their sheets monthly and 10 percent even less than once a month -- you might want to consider changing your bedding more frequently.
Tossing Out Old Pillows "In five years, 10 percent of the weight of the pillow is dust mite and dust mite debris," says Dr. Tierno. To fight the mites, he recommends a protective cover for your pillow in addition to using a pillowcase. The National Library of Medicine recommends purchasing allergen-impermeable pillow covers, or replacing your old pillows with synthetic, washable pillows and wash them in hot water weekly. So let's hope the 15 percent of survey respondents who said they never throw away their pillows are making every effort to keep the mites away.
Cleaning Your Towels "The best thing to do with a towel is to let it air dry," Dr. Tierno says, "because folding keeps in moisture." As long as you air dry your towels, Dr. Tierno says they can be used two to three times, four max. So instead of dumping your towels in the washing machine based on the amount of time that's passed, Dr. Tierno suggests tracking the number of uses. However, the two percent who admitted to changing their towels monthly or even less than once a month (one percent) should probably throw in an extra load.
Are You Protecting Your Smile?
Brushing Your Teeth The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice a day, which 41 percent of you do. Forty-two percent brush slightly less frequently, but still daily. Some of you skip a day (five percent), while others tend to their teeth more than twice a day (12 percent). Be aware, leaving your teeth un-brushed allows decay-causing plaque to build.
Flossing Your Teeth Ah, the one habit we all seem to have trouble picking up. Sixty-eight percent of you skip a day or more before you floss. Twenty-six percent manage to floss to once a day, which falls in line with the ADA guidelines. A few of you go above and beyond, flossing twice a day (three percent) and some are flossing fanatics who do it more than twice a day (two percent). These over-flossers might want to come back to the ADA's recommendation of once per day.
Replacing Your Toothbrush The ADA suggests replacing your toothbrush every three to four months as bristles become frayed and worn, rendering them less effective. Over half of you (51 percent) replace your toothbrush every three months, while others (nine percent) replace it monthly. Thirty-seven percent wait a little longer and replace it once or twice a year, while some wait longer, replacing it every two years (three percent) or never get a new toothbrush (one percent).
By SARA ABADI
We asked more than 20 questions regarding the cleanliness of your home and your body -- and more than 20,000 of you delivered the dirty details. Armed with your responses, we went to the germ experts, including Philip Tierno Jr., M.D., Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center and author of "The Secret Life of Germs." Read on as the experts review our daily habits to see if we're falling within healthy guidelines.
Dirty Details About Personal Hygiene
Nose Picking Be honest, do you pick your nose? Seventy-one percent confessed to doing so, while 29 percent say they don't. While picking your nose isn't harmful to yourself, Dr. Tierno says you risk spreading pathogens to others. "If you do pick, wash your hands," he says.
Cleaning Your Ears Remove earwax carefully, clearing just the canal, advises Dr. Tierno, cautioning that large, waxy build-up should be removed by a professional. Seventy-three percent of you clean your ears every few days to a week, and 20 percent clean them a few times a month. Those who never clean their ears (eight percent) need not worry. Although earwax can cause auditory problems, Dr. Tierno says hygienically it isn't a major problem.
Re-wearing Clothes: No, or a Go? Sixty-four percent of poll-takers admitted to re-wearing clothing once or twice, which the doctor says is just fine (so the 23 percent of you who said you never re-wear clothes can give your washer a breather). The 11 percent who claimed to re-wear clothes three to five times and two percent who said you re-wear clothes more than five times might want to remember we shed 40,000 skin cells per minute, not to mention perspire.
Re-wearing Underwear Seventeen percent admit to re-wearing your undies once or twice, and five percent of you 'fessed you re-wear them more than three times, which Dr. Tierno isn't so keen on. "Undergarments should be changed daily," he says. "Maybe wear them twice in an emergency."
Re-wearing Bras Dr. Tierno says that if left to air dry, wearing your bra a couple of times between washings is fine. Almost 90 percent of the ladies fall within these guidelines -- 65 percent switch to a clean bra after a day or two and 23 percent after a week. Six percent wait a couple of weeks, three percent wait more than a month and another three percent never re-wear their bras.
Bathing When it comes to keeping clean, Dr. Tierno suggests bathing once a day in the morning because we perspire at night and typically spend about eight hours of shuteye between dirty sheets. If you haven't perspired excessively, Dr. Tierno gives you permission to skip a day. And if you do something to warrant a second shower at night, just remember to take another in the morning. Sixty-five percent of our poll-takers reported showering daily, 21 percent say they shower every other day, 10 percent are stretching it at a few times a week and four percent do it more than once a day.
Hand Washing "If 80 percent of infections are transmitted by direct and indirect contact, hand washing is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself," according to Dr. Tierno. Wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom and any time before you touch your mouth, nose or eyes. Nineteen percent wash after going to the bathroom, two percent wash before eating and 77 percent do both. The two percent who never wash their hands may want to take Dr. Tierno's advice.
Hair Washing When it comes to caring for your luscious locks, the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD) says you don't have to wash every day, as over-washing can strip the hair of oil and make it dull and coarse. However, most of you (39 percent) say you wash your hair at least once a day. Thirty-one percent lather up every other day, and 25 percent do it once or twice a week. A few of you (five percent) skip a week in between shampooings.
Time to Toss it?
Cleaning the Trash Can Only 10 percent of us fall in line with the weekly trash-can cleaning Dr. Tierno recommends. The remaining 90 percent of us vary in our diligence in keeping a clean bin -- seven percent clean their trash cans every other week, 34 percent do it once every few months, 18 percent do it monthly, 16 percent clean once a year and 15 percent never do. "If trash cans are soiled, they should be cleaned immediately. If not, once a week will work fine." His can-cleaning prescription? Rinse with soap and water or a sanitizing agent, like bleach. Not doing so on a weekly basis raises the risk of "dealing with dead animals and even plants that can carry harmful diseases, like E. coli, and salmonella," says Dr. Tierno.
Taking out the Trash When it comes to garbage, there is no set timeline for how often you should ditch it, because of varying trash can sizes and contents. The goal here is to beat the stink. "Where there is smell and odors, there is bacterial build up," says Dr. Tierno, so as soon as you smell something, "Get rid of it!" he advises. Another word of warning: If a trash bag rips, you risk contaminating the whole area of the kitchen. As for how our readers compare? No one admitted to leaving their trash lying around for more than one week. Thirty-four percent toss their garbage every other day. Second place is a tie with 26 percent taking it out daily and another 26 percent taking out twice a week and 14 percent take it out once a week.
Keeping House
Doing the Dishes "You can wait a day, but not more than a couple of days," says Dr. Tierno. Almost half of you don't even bother waiting a day -- 49 percent you’re your dishes immediately, and 37 percent wait just a day. Ten percent wait two to three days, which is Dr. Tierno's maximum delay time. The four percent who wait at least a week might want to wash the dishes more frequently, or at the very least leave the dishes soaking in soapy water to avoid growth -- even if it's a huge pain.
Washing Fresh Produce Only seven percent of you always wash your produce. Fifty-seven percent never do and 36 percent remember to wash sometimes. At a minimum, you should soak your fruits and veggies in water and a small amount of citric acid to loosen up the grime, advises Dr. Tierno. "E. coli 0157 and salmonella have been found on fruits as well as veggies. So it is more than just washing pesticide residue off."
Cleaning Out Your Refrigerator Food and drink spills should be cleaned up right away to limit exposure to E. coli or Salmonella. But assuming there are no major spills, Dr. Tierno says you can get away with cleaning your fridge every couple of weeks. This is good news for the 22 percent who do just that and the 15 percent who clean their fridges weekly. The once-a-monthers (21 percent) can probably get away with their current cleaning schedule. But, those who go every three months (19 percent) or once a year (21 percent) may want to clean more frequently. And the two percent who never tackle the fridge may want to start!
Scrubbing the Tub/Shower Even though water and soap are key parts of bathing, your tub or shower should be given its own bath once a week. The reason, Dr. Tierno explains, is that biofilm, a substance that builds up on the inside of the tub, gets left behind. "Biofilms only go away with mechanical action like scrubbing with a sponge and soap." And if you think you're getting away with spray-on cleaners like Tilex or Scrubbing Bubbles, Dr. Tierno says it's not enough -- a little elbow grease is needed. For those who shower, take note: Mold tends to grow on shower curtains -- even the mold-resistant ones. The good news is that 45 percent of respondents scrub the tub on a weekly basis, and some go above and beyond, cleaning daily (six percent) while others get to the job once a month (28 percent) or every few months (12 percent). For some of you, this chore can be daunting and you only get around to cleaning the tub every few months (12 percent) or don't get to it at all (two percent).
Cleaning the Toilet Add this to your weekly cleaning list. About half of you (51 percent) opt for an every-seven-days cleaning, and 15 percent go at it a few times a week. Twenty-two percent clean every couple of weeks and eight percent get to the task once a month. Very few of you wait every few months (four percent) or don't clean at all (one percent). Dr. Tierno warns that moisture allows bacteria to grow, so rooms like the bathroom should be disinfected regularly.
Dusting "Surface disinfection is really important," says Dr. Tierno. He recommends making it a weekly habit, or more often if you have allergies, as letting dust accumulate can aggravate allergies. But keep in mind, there's more to dust than just your bookshelves and TV stand. The living room is not the most unsanitary room in the house, that honor is reserved for the kitchen. Twenty-nine percent of you are in good shape with your weekly dusting, although the highest percentage of you (33 percent) opt to do it every couple of weeks. Some dust monthly (14 percent), while others get around to it every few months (15 percent). Five percent diligently dust a few times a week, and four percent never do.
Washing Your Sheets Forty percent of you change them weekly, which is how often Dr. Tierno recommends people wash their sheets -- as long as you have a protective cover to protect from dust mites and debris that build up in your mattress. "You could do it more, but that can be excessive and a waste of water," he says. To the 16 percent who wash their sheets monthly and 10 percent even less than once a month -- you might want to consider changing your bedding more frequently.
Tossing Out Old Pillows "In five years, 10 percent of the weight of the pillow is dust mite and dust mite debris," says Dr. Tierno. To fight the mites, he recommends a protective cover for your pillow in addition to using a pillowcase. The National Library of Medicine recommends purchasing allergen-impermeable pillow covers, or replacing your old pillows with synthetic, washable pillows and wash them in hot water weekly. So let's hope the 15 percent of survey respondents who said they never throw away their pillows are making every effort to keep the mites away.
Cleaning Your Towels "The best thing to do with a towel is to let it air dry," Dr. Tierno says, "because folding keeps in moisture." As long as you air dry your towels, Dr. Tierno says they can be used two to three times, four max. So instead of dumping your towels in the washing machine based on the amount of time that's passed, Dr. Tierno suggests tracking the number of uses. However, the two percent who admitted to changing their towels monthly or even less than once a month (one percent) should probably throw in an extra load.
Are You Protecting Your Smile?
Brushing Your Teeth The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice a day, which 41 percent of you do. Forty-two percent brush slightly less frequently, but still daily. Some of you skip a day (five percent), while others tend to their teeth more than twice a day (12 percent). Be aware, leaving your teeth un-brushed allows decay-causing plaque to build.
Flossing Your Teeth Ah, the one habit we all seem to have trouble picking up. Sixty-eight percent of you skip a day or more before you floss. Twenty-six percent manage to floss to once a day, which falls in line with the ADA guidelines. A few of you go above and beyond, flossing twice a day (three percent) and some are flossing fanatics who do it more than twice a day (two percent). These over-flossers might want to come back to the ADA's recommendation of once per day.
Replacing Your Toothbrush The ADA suggests replacing your toothbrush every three to four months as bristles become frayed and worn, rendering them less effective. Over half of you (51 percent) replace your toothbrush every three months, while others (nine percent) replace it monthly. Thirty-seven percent wait a little longer and replace it once or twice a year, while some wait longer, replacing it every two years (three percent) or never get a new toothbrush (one percent).
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