Monday Reads

1. The majority of people do not negotiate for a better salary.  When you think you're worth more than the offer, here are the 5 things that will get you the better deal.
2. With Ebola research being fast tracked, why do we still not have an HIV vaccine?
3. What's in the mind of a school shooter?  A man who almost committed such a crime lets us know what he was thinking.  Though published just before the latest shooting in Washington, the timing is now particularly relevant.
4. By the time you finish reading this article, you'll be sitting up straight.

Monday Reads

1. Halloween is nearly upon us, which means I will intentionally overbuy trick or treating candy so I have some leftover for myself.  Here's a handy wine-pairing guide for all those Halloween sweets.
2. When I was watching the Miss America pageant last month I noticed there was a lot of talk and [even better!] scholarships about women embracing STEM majors/professions.  I didn't know exactly what that was but, thankfully, Will.i.am explains not only what it is, but also why it's important.  
3. While people are busy arguing about women's access to birth control via healthcare, Facebook and Apple just announced they will cover egg freezing.  Seems like they're trying to say women really can have it all.
4. You may have heard that it's Midterm Election time...but still may not be sure exactly what that means.  Now you can peruse this easy to navigate guide to learn what the big issues are and why you should care.

Monday Reads

1. I use a trip to the grocery store as a way to unwind and don't find the NYC lines frustrating at all (once I learned how to navigate the different stores).  I wonder how many people will opt into Chicory, a delivery service that works by attaching a "Get Ingredients" button to the bottom of online recipes.
2. Protesters in Hong Kong are looking for the leader, Leung Chun-ying, to step down because they aren't happy with his policy of prescreening candidates for his successor.  Basically, it's freedom on a very tight leash. 
3. Has anyone noticed all the songs about rear ends that popped up at the end of summer?  Maybe all this booty talk is good for society.
4. California is outlawing plastic bags but charging for paper ones.  Will people adapt to bringing their own from home?

Monday Reads

1. Research shows that transgender children who take hormones to delay the onset of puberty (which would further transition them into the sex they do not wish to be) are more likely to be happy adults when they eventually undergo gender reassignment.
2. Two weekends ago, a ton of New Yorkers participated in the People's Climate March.  The march took place in advance of the UN General Assembly meeting for climate change. 
3. In a book club, you talk about books (and drink wine).  In a reading club, you just shut off all distractions and read in silence.  What's the point?  Well, devoting time to reading improves their ability to concentrate, reduces stress levels, and deepens the ability to think, listen and empathize.
4. The color of the packaging plays a major role in your grocery shopping.  Ever wonder why you gravitate towards that box of Cheerios?

Monday Reads

1. On Thursday, Scotland is voting to break from UK.  The United Kingdom has been, well, united for over 300 years so this is kind of a big deal. 
2. Betty Boop did not just emerge from a cartoonist's imagination.  Did you know the inspiration for the animated sexpot was actually an African American woman?
3. You know that ISIS kidnapped and publicly beheaded two people recently.  What you may not realize is that the activities of these Islamic terrorist groups are funded by the ransoms they collect from these kidnappings.  What you also know is that the ransom industry goes beyond terrorists and governments.  There is also a major insurance biz going.
4. We all watched Sesame Street.  So did some of our parents.  And I know my nephew will be learning right along with Big Bird, Snuffleupagus, Grover, and the rest of the gang.  The folks over at Sesame Place are committed to not letting the show get stale, which is how they are entering their 45th season.

Monday Reads

1. If you're a girl/woman/lady/female you have some sort of handbag with you at all times, but do you know the history of the thing that holds all of your most important items? 
2. I've always been a fan of hearing it like it is from my friends and I try to do them the same "courtesy" by not sugarcoating things.  But if I am humiliating them in the process, I may be doing more harm than good.
3. Last week a ton of inmates managed to escape a juvenile detention center.  How is this possible?!
4. For the first time, NYC is allowing a gay group to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade.  True, it's because the group is from NBC, the network televising the event, but progress is progress.

Monday Reads

1. I try my best not to curse but appreciate this chart depicting the evolution of swear words.
2. A group of college guys is creating a nail polish that will change colors when it comes in contact with a drink that's been drugged with Rohypnol or GHB.  Though I've been lucky enough not to have been slipped a roofie, my boyfriend likes to remind me how easy it can happen and that I may be a bit too trusting.  We should always remain on high alert, but any help detecting nefarious deeds in the bar is welcomed by me.
3. The 6.0 level quake that struck California this weekend (the worst in over two decades) will result in an expensive recovery since 88% of Californians don't have earthquake insurance. Bloomberg Businessweek examines why people living in such a high risk area are choosing to chance it.
4. $1,000 may sound like a lot of money, but it's really not in the grand scheme of things.  Here are 35 things you could do with just that amount that could have major long term returns.

Monday Reads

1. You've probably heard a lot about a kid named Michael Brown recently.  Here's what you need to know about the unarmed black teen who was shot by a police officer in a small Missouri town and the riots that have followed.
2. The ALS ice bucket challenge has taken over everyone's facebook feed.  For those unfamiliar, once challenged by someone, you have 24 hours to dump a bucket of ice water over your head (and then tag someone else in the challenge) or else you must pay $100 to an ALS charity.  With so many videos of people accepting the challenge (and therefore not required to pay), can this viral project has actually raise any money?  YES.  Bravo to all.
3. The history behind why some items are always tied to certain colors is interesting.  I, for one, am glad I now know why pencils are always yellow.
4. In response to the uproar occuring since the Michael Brown incident (see first link), three teens from Georgia (yay for my home state!) have created Five-O, an app to record interactions with local law enforcement.  First off all, let's give these three teens a huge round of applause for 1) being awesome enough to get after it and get trained in coding at such a young age and 2) seeing a problem and finding a solution.  The app will hopefully show trends of police brutality so problems may be addressed as well note officers who do an outstanding job and should be commended.

Monday Reads

1. My boyfriend always works on his best man speech while he's in the shower, but he's not the only one who gets their best ideas while scrub a dub dubbing.  Thanks to a state of mind called the default mode network, we really do get some of our best ideas in the shower.
2. This handy guide will make it easy for you to know when to use "who" and when to use "whom" so you'll speak like the intelligent person I know you to be.
3. The CDC has ramped up their response to the ebola outbreak to "Level 1 Activation."  This is reserved for the most serious issues.  All the Nervous Nellys out there need not worry because the plan is to send more people to Africa, meaning they don't see any issues here in the US.
4. Many cities have been building casinos in hopes that the tax dollars and jobs openings they generate will boost their economies.  Outside of Vegas, however, this doesn't seem to be working. 

Monday Reads

1. I used to get so so many bug bites when I was little.  My Mom said it was because I'm "just so sweet."  I believed it for a while but in the end recognize that moms just love spewing that kind of B.S.  Here's the real reason(s) mosquitos like some of us more than others.
2. OxyContin is known to be an amazing pain reliever; however, it is often abused long after the healing is done.  The FDA has now approved a new form that is not addictive.  The catch: it only blocks the habit forming tendencies if it's swallowed whole.  As soon as it's crushed, the euphoric effects kick in.  It's not perfect, but since so many abusers become addicted after using the drug for legitimate reasons (vs. actively seeking it out for a high), this could prevent misuse.
3. At certain points in the year I work really weird hours, which makes it difficult to get a good night's sleep.  A study now shows that you can get your circadian clock back on track with a few tweaks to your diet.  
4. Apple once led the music industry with iTunes, but that's grown boring now that streaming services like Spotify are preferred.  They hope buying Beats will bring them back to the foreground.

Monday Reads

1. A Comcast agent spent 20 minutes trying to dissuade customers from cancelling service.  Listening to the recording is actually painful.  I cringe.  Comcast is embarrassed but also stand by their aggressive retention tactics.
2. I get how a visit to a concentration camp could be a powerful experience - so moving you would want to document the moment.  Unfortunately, I do not think Instagramming a smiling selfie at Auschwitz is not the proper way to do so.  In an age where we are never without our cell phones - which are our cameras - we need to develop a more polite way to record serious events.
3. At first, it seems as though impulsiveness (the desire to act right now) and procrastination (the desire to act later) are opposites, but those traits may actually share genetic material.  One guy has compared behaviors of identical twins to those of fraternal twins to prove it.
4. 100+ scientists worked together to map the genetics of schizophrenia.  That's some serious teamwork.  They have been able to identify 108 spots in our DNA that link to the disease - 83 of which were previously unknown.  This is a big step towards treating the disorder.

Monday Reads

1. First Google Glass and now smart contact lenses.  Google and Novartis are joining forces to develop contacts that measure glucose levels and provide real-time updates to an app for people with diabetes.  Apparently there's data in your tears that can be transmitted to your smartphone.  It's like we're living with the Jetsons.     
2. Music sets the mood.  A mellow song is great for a cry sesh and a real rump shaker gets me ready for a night out.  Music can also actually serve as medicine to aid dementia patients, combat low birth weight, or enhance the taste of wine.
3. Chicago has seen some massive spikes in violence.  Over the weekend the city saw 40 shootings.  Where is this coming from?!
4. According to a new PEW study, Americans like Jews, Catholics, and Evangelical Christians...Muslims and Atheists, not so much.  Read through to see how the data has been sliced and diced.

Monday Reads

1. I kinda love these drunk horoscopes.  How spot on is yours?
2. I'm proud to say I got all five questions right on the test NYC private pre-Ks are now admitting.  But I had to think pretty hard.  And I'm 29.  Who are these baby geniuses?  
3. Violence in Israel is out of hand.  Let me break it down: First, 3 Israeli teens were kidnapped and murdered.  Then, a few rogue Israelis retaliated with the murder of a Palestinian teen (the Israeli nation does not condone this).  Then things got really bad.  While I was busy celebrating the 4th of July, Hamas terrorists launched over 200 rockets at Israeli civilians.  Then Palestinians tried to burn Joseph's tomb.  There is so much rocketfire that 1,500 IDF reservists had to be called into action (and the government authorized up to 40,000).  This is terrifying and needs to stop, but I hate to admit I don't know how that will happen.  I have now learned that 45% of the toddlers in the down of Sderot, my first [and potentially most meaningful] stop in Israel, have been diagnosed with PTSD.  
4. Pitbulls are infamous in American culture.  Sure, some think of the lovable dog from The Little Rascals with the ring around his eye, but more often then not the breed conjures images of vicious fighting dogs. 

Monday Reads

1. European Court has upheld France's ban of the niqab, the type of veil worn by many Muslim women that only leaves a slit for the eyes.  I'm not sure I like the veil itself...but I'm also not sure how I feel about a government telling someone they can't wear something that is a part of their religious practice.  Not sure how to keep all the different head-coverings straight?  This article also includes a handy guide.
2. Creative genius and mental illness often go hand in hand.
3. Knowing my neighbors makes me feel more at home which then makes me happier.  Not so for Euros, apparently.
4. It doesn't yet affect US domestic flights, but some travelers will soon not be able to board planes with an uncharged cell phone for security reasons so make sure your iPhone's got some juice before you fly.

Monday Reads

1. Home ownership used to be the American Dream, but now people are really into renting.  Unfortunately, the market can't quite keep up with the demand.  This is a whole new kind of housing crisis.
2. Forget the toilet seat liners; looks like nature has made your own skin a good enough barrier to germs.
3. Some people just want to wallow and maybe we should let them.
4. Now in its fourth installment, the Transformers franchise may be so successful because it glorifies the All-American manliness we want to uphold.

Monday Reads

1. I obsessed over the Fiske Guide to Colleges when I was in high school.  I'm not sure this scorecard can fully replace it (particularly without an input for test scores or GPA), but I like to see the White House taking the steps to encourage all students to go to college and to find the one that best suits them.
2. It's summertime so I am constantly craving lobster rolls.  While you're snacking on the delicious sandwich, you can think about these lobstah factoids.
3. After seeing an Indian wedding on a "Say Yes to the Dress" special, I was intrigued.  There are so many interesting customs that are so different from my own.  
4. There must be absolutely nothing to do in Alaska but drink...even if you're preggers (such a no-no).  Apparently the state has the highest rate of fetal alcohol syndrome so there a lot of women who are boozing while carrying a bun in the oven.  Hoping to combat this, the state is putting free pregnancy tests in the bathrooms of 20 bars and restaurants starting this December. 

Monday Reads

1. In Mexico City there is a shelter for elderly sex workers.  A photographer has documented their lifestyle and it is rather facinating.
2. It's strange to think about trading people and the value we thereby place on lives, but that's exactly what just happened as President Obama offered up five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in return for for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier captured in Afghanistan and held as a prisoner of war.
3. The Beverly Hills Hotel is iconic and forever set in my mind as the site of Troop Beverly Hills' epic campout.  It's currently being boycotted because it's owned by the Sultan of Brunei who recently enacted Sharia Law in his country.  I don't agree with such policies and I certainly wouldn't pay $25 for a salad with a side of implicit support - good for them for taking a stand.
4. Since everyone is currently binge watching "Orange is the New Black" you should better understand the difference between jail and prison.  Yes, there is a difference, but if you're confused you can just call it The Big House.

Monday Reads

1. If e-cigarettes are meant to help adults curb smoking, it seems like flavored nicotine may, indeed, be a marketing ploy for kids.  Otherwise, wouldn't we have seen cinnamon toast crunch cigarettes before now if it was something adults craved?
2. Dowries are not legal in India, but that has not kept people from paying them or put a stop to the "dowry deaths" that occur when the sum is not high enough.
3. I grew up with Reading Rainbow and love that its legacy can continue thanks to Lavar Burton resurrecting the program.  Update: the kickstarter project surpassed the $1 million goal and hit $2 million.  Literacy for all!
4. In case you missed Edward Snowden's interview with Brian Williams, this quick article captures the highlights.

Monday Reads

1. All you need to know about India's elections are best learned through conversations around street food.
2. In recent years, I have had many acquaintances be diagnosed with MS.  If you're noticing the same, I recommend learning what the disease is all about.
3. Including a middle initial in your name will make others perceive you as more intelligent.  This is good news for my manfriend who signs his name Albert O. Neudeck IV.  Wonder what a roman numeral gets ya?
4. You know how all these people suddenly became gluten free?  Though the epidemic seemed to come out of nowhere, I was willing to support my gluten-free friends when they swore it made them sick and endured annoying, complicated trips to restaurants (and their attention craving attitudes).  Looks like [with the exception of Celiac Disease] there's no such thing as a gluten intolerance.  So glad someone finally called these people out on their nonsense.  In the meantime, a multi billion dollar industry has been built around gluten-free products, seemingly unnecessarily.   

Monday Reads

1. With this app you could pay $45 per month for unlimited java.  This will make caffeine addicted New Yorkers very very happy.
2. Nearly 300 Nigerian girls have been kidnapped by an extreme Islamic sector that plans to sell them into slave marriages.  It's awful that it took two weeks for this story to gain traction, but I am glad to see world leaders announcing their commitment to rescuing the girls.
3. If a bottle of lotion can make me feel better about myself, I'm all for it.
4. It looks like it could pay to be cool with this new hotel booking service.