Índex per January 2013 a Reader's Digest

The coincidence does not escape my notice: I tap out this month’s editor’s note from the front seat of my hybrid Toyota so my hands can warm and my iPad can charge. A New Jersey resident with no electricity and heat after superstorm Sandy, I survey the damage to my neighborhood and marvel at the resilience of the millions without power and the thousands who lost their homes. Again and again, I hear people talk about their luck, their determination to rebuild, and the important bonds of family, friends, and community. We’re calling it. In the pages of Reader’s Digest, 2013 is the Year of Optimism. In this kickoff issue (see page 72), journalist Fareed Zakaria reflects on why the country and the world are entering their best years, Michael…

In case you missed it, go to readersdigest.com/recommends. Of Immediate Interest WEIRD AMERICA GETS A LITTLE EASIER TO FIND Grab the GPS! Funny site Eccentric Roadside (eccentricroad side.blogspot.com) lovingly chronicles big and bizarre oddball attractions across the country. INSTANT PICK-ME-UPS Feeling low? Try emergency compliment.com, which offers cheeky sayings to feed your ego and boost your mood, like “Your prom date still thinks about you all the time.” KITTENS BOOST BRAINPOWER! Next time you have a pile of work, coo over baby animals: A Japanese study showed viewing cute images increases concentration and productivity. COOL NEW APP FOR WANNABE DIRECTORS What Instagram does for your photos, Cinemagram does for your videos: filters your phone flicks and “freezes” them into animated snapshots. CAN YOUR PHONE REPLACE YOUR WALLET? Maybe. A Wired…

In the previous three issues of Reader’s Digest, we reported on the winners of our contest, ten terrific towns across America. Now we unveil the grand-prize winner (drumroll, please!): Lake Placid, Florida, for its unique variety of nature, culture, and fun. Take a mini tour and see what the fuss is all about. Toby’s Clown School Thanks to Toby’s Clown School, which has trained more than 1,500 professional kooks since 1993, Lake Placid boasts more clowns per capita than anywhere else in the country. But you won’t see them under the big top. These clowns goof around for smaller audiences—in hospitals and nursing homes, for instance. For $100 and 24 credit hours in classes like History of Clowning, aspiring cutups get a makeup kit, a spot in the student clown…

High Blood Pressure More than 35 million Americans have uncontrolled high blood pressure—and about 40 percent have no idea, according to a recent CDC report. The condition is serious: For every 20 points above a systolic blood pressure of 115 and every ten points above a diastolic reading of 75, the odds of dying from heart disease or stroke double. If you haven’t had a blood pressure reading recently, get tested at your next appointment. And if you know you have high blood pressure, take your medication as prescribed and monitor your BP at home if your doctor advises it. Early Menopause Women who go through the change before age 46 have double the risk of heart disease and stroke of those who experience it later, Johns Hopkins researchers recently…

Natural Remedy for Chronic Pain A large analysis confirms that acupuncture provides real relief for arthritis, headaches, and back, neck, and shoulder pain. The recent report, which reviewed about 18,000 patients in 29 separate studies, found that the ancient treatment performed significantly better than either no treatment or a sham treatment (which involves placing needles in random locations). The authors say this research suggests that the technique’s effects are not merely a placebo and would be a reasonable treatment for patients with chronic pain. Source: Andrew Vickers, PhD, statistician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture Device for Drug-Free GERD Relief The EndoStim system, powered by a matchbook-size device implanted under the skin in the abdomen, delivers tiny electrical impulses to the sphincter muscle between the esophagus and…

• FROM In Praise of Messy Lives It’s a troubling trend: You click on a friend’s name on Facebook, and what comes into focus is not a photograph of her but of a sleeping blond four-year-old or a sunhatted toddler on the beach. Where have all these women gone? Many of them work, attend book clubs, are involved in causes. But this is how they choose to represent themselves. The choice may seem trivial, but I think the photos signal a larger and more ominous self-effacement, a narrowing of worlds. Facebook, of course, traffics in exhibitionism: It is a way of presenting your life, at least those sides of it you cherry-pick for the outside world, for show. One’s children are arguably one’s most important achievement, but that doesn’t mean…

It’s no coincidence that some people are just like their dogs. Researchers in Bath, England, conducted an online survey of 1,000 dog owners and found that certain human personality traits link to specific canines. The research claims that if you own a German shepherd, you’re most likely outgoing. Got a golden retriever? Odds are you’re conscientious. A Chihuahua? Research says you’re agreeable. “It seems likely that personality types are subconsciously drawn to certain breeds,” reported study author Lance Workman in a British Psychological Society news release. The study indicates that you may be able to predict someone’s personality based on his or her dog of choice. Of course, lifestyle plays a part too. For example, according to Workman, more active individuals are better suited to athletic, pastoral breeds such as…

If you send e-mail, post updates on Facebook, check your bank account balance online, or do most anything that requires the Internet, you’re at risk of being hacked. In fact, last August, Mat Honan, senior writer for tech magazine Wired — someone presumably well aware of the dangers of hacking—got hacked. He lost data from his iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, including all photos of his one-year-old daughter. “My entire digital life was destroyed,” he wrote on wired.com. Luckily, embracing the Luddite lifestyle isn’t your only option. These five simple steps can greatly reduce your chances of being hacked. 1 Be aware of what you share You don’t have to delete your Facebook or Twitter account to stay safe, but posting birth dates, graduation years, or your mother’s maiden name—information often…

Beats Tour $149.99 • Available in two colors with a prominent “b” logo • Includes silicone ear cushions in seven sizes • Comes with carrying case • Good sound quality, including strong bass output • Built-in microphone and remote control for switching between phone and music player • One-year limited warranty • “Made for iPod” licensing agreement JVC Gumy $7.95 • Available in eight colors • Made in China • One-size-fits-all rubber earbuds • Simple, plastic packaging • Poor sound quality; weak bass output • No remote control, carrying case, or other accessories • Thin 3.3-foot cord likely to tangle • One-year limited warranty QUOTABLE QUOTES CLIFFORD STOLL…

The five-year-old boy at our school was from a military family: His mother was a fighter pilot, and his father served in Afghanistan. “Do you know my full name?” he asked me. “No, I don’t,” I said. “It’s James Phillip Thomas Steven Harold Jackson the Third. But my mother calls me Steven. My father’s full name is James Phillip Thomas Steven Harold Jackson the Second.” “And what does your mother call him?” “Cupcake.” M. Jackson, Montgomery, Alabama As we set out on patrol in Afghanistan, my platoon leader was torn between which route to take. “One road will probably get us ambushed,” he said. “But if we take the second, we’ll likely run into IEDs. What do you think?” I considered our options, then gave him my suggestion: “I say…

Strolling down a street near his Brooklyn, New York, apartment, wearing a polo shirt and jeans, his close-cropped hair masking a slight bald patch, 41-year-old Kerry Albright appears unassuming, almost ordinary. When he speaks, his sweet drawl pegs him as a Southerner, but he’s without any small-town reserve. Instead, Kerry speaks with dramatic flair that shows off his 19 years in musical theater, performing on international stages. He’s an avid Facebook user with 1,000 “friends” and regularly posts stories about his travels and other pastimes. “I’m one of those people who just want to hang out with friends and laugh,” he says. Until prompted, though, he says nothing about his childhood in the poverty-strangled coal-mining town of Lorado, West Virginia, and he owns but one photo of the golden-haired, angel-faced…

January 13 Ship Wrecked The fleeing captain of the Costa Concordia is ordered back on board after the cruise ship runs aground off Italy. “It’s starting to look like that Captain Schettino was less than brave. I’m not saying the captain has to go down with the ship—but at least get wet.” Bill Maher February 4 Linsanity Debuts “Linsane,” “Just Lincredible,” “Lin Your Face,” and “Linderella” are just some of the bon mots that celebrate New York Knicks benchwarmer Jeremy Lin’s surprising basketball fame. Still, David Letterman felt the pun-dits came up short. So his staff wrote a few more: • Law and Order: Criminal Lin-tent • Lin-ternational House of Lin-cakes • Lin-terest-bearing Lin-vestment Grade Financial Lin-strument February 6 The Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years on the throne.…

We asked our Facebook fans to tell us what drives them crazy. Many responded with you’re/your and could’ve/ could of. Others decreed: “Use of the word like in every sentence.” Russell Clayton Oviatt “Ovenable … what a terrible word. Enough to make a cook cry.” Leonie Hippie Clarke “‘A whole ’nother.’” Kt Considine “‘Tough road to hoe,’ instead of ‘tough row to hoe.’” James Saccardi “Ginormous.” Erin Red Elk “‘The book was entitled …’ You are entitled to your paycheck. A book is titled!” Robin Seaton Jefferson…

My head is spinning—I’ve never seen so many people. In the yard outside the courthouse, a crowd is bustling in every direction. No one sees me: I’m too small for them. I’m only ten years old, maybe not even that. Who knows? PEOPLE SAY JUDGES are the ones who help people in need. So I have to find one and tell him my story. I’m exhausted. It’s hot under my veil, I have a headache, and I’m so ashamed. I spy a group of men in uniforms. If they see me, they might arrest me. A little girl running away from home. Trembling, I discreetly latch on to the first passing veil, hoping to get the attention of the woman it conceals. “I want to talk to the judge.” Two…

When I took my ten-year-old grandson to his first flea market, I taught him the fine art of haggling. “Say someone’s selling a hunting knife for $20. Offer him $15,” I instructed. He got the concept, and when he spotted a ring he wanted that was selling for $5, he went into action. “I only have $3,” he told the woman at the booth. She smiled. “Then $3 it is.” With that, he pulled out a $5 bill and waited for change. Cindy Coleman, Moscow, Pennsylvania Scene: My recent elucidating phone conversation with a car-rental service. Me: “Hello. I’m calling to see if I can rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle at the Albuquerque airport?” Customer-service rep: “Yes, ma’am, all our vehicles have four wheels.” Beth Vachon, Louisville, Kentucky Movie Madness Renting…

Amazing Animals “Hero Pets” was so heartwarming. I especially liked the story about Buttercup, the potbellied pig who helps special-needs students. As Buttercup demonstrates, pigs and other pets are smart, sensitive, and affectionate companions. Lindsay Pollard-Post, Holland, Michigan Conflicting Candidates I read with interest your interviews with our presidential candidates (“The RD Interviews: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney”). You graced us with two very insightful interviews with good questions! No debate, no facts with a lot of spin—just thought-provoking information. I found it very helpful in my decision. Joe Duggan, via e-mail In the midst of perhaps the most defining election for this generation and subsequent generations, I found the softball questions asked to be sophomoric at best. I suspect readers would want to read about the economy, debt,…

Wearing a turtleneck is like getting strangled by a really weak guy all day. Comedian Mitch Hedberg Have you heard the expression “If these walls could talk?” It means “If people only knew the interesting things that happen in this room.” But whenever I hear that expression, I always think, What could be happening in that room that is more interesting than the fact that the walls can talk? Comedian Lawson Leong What did one snowman say to the other? “I smell carrots too.” Have Thee Another? What were the top-selling beers of 1800? Glad you asked! • Benedict Arnold’s Dark and Bitter • St. Pauli Revere • Bonaparte Exile Ale Half-Pints • Ben Franklin’s Shocking Good Lager • O’Duels HOW ABOUT CALLING AAA!? I learned how to change a…

1 Many TV chefs don’t write or develop their own recipes. Some don’t have time. Others are more focused on being on TV than on cooking, so they would rather pay someone else. And a few just don’t know how. 2 If you want the food you make to look as pretty as mine, don’t fill the plate. Putting something small on a bigger plate always looks better, especially if you stack the foods or lay them against one another. 3 When a chef forgets to say something important, we have to do what’s called a voice-over. That’s when you’re watching and all of a sudden, you don’t see the chef’s face. Instead, you see a close-up of the bowl or their hands and you hear them saying, “Now add…

The expert physicians at the hit syndicated show The Doctors share some of their top heart-protective moves. STAND UP, RIGHT NOW When you sit for long stretches, triglycerides increase, good cholesterol drops, and your body becomes inflamed, which creates a perfect storm for a heart attack or stroke. DON’T OVER-RELY ON SPECIAL FOODS Just because a study finds dark chocolate reduces blood pressure slightly doesn’t mean it will dramatically decrease your heart disease risk, especially if you don’t have an otherwise healthy diet. DITCH FAST FOOD It’s packed with unnatural levels of heart-damaging sugar and fat. Your pancreas secretes insulin to help absorb it, which promotes fat storage. As your fat cells grow, they secrete toxic chemicals that raise heart disease risk. These foods also trigger dopamine, a brain chemical…

• FROM cnn.com As a 26-year-old student at Harvard Divinity School, I had just begun working as a student chaplain at a cancer hospital when my professor asked me about my work. “I talk to the patients,” I told him. “What do people who are sick and dying talk to the student chaplain about?” he asked. “Mostly we talk about their families,” I responded. “Do you talk about God? “Not usually.” “Or their religion?” “Not so much.” “The meaning of their lives?” “Sometimes.” “And prayer? Do you lead them in prayer?” “Sometimes,” I said. “But not usually, not really.” I felt derision creeping into the professor’s voice. “So you visit people and talk about their families?” “They talk,” I said. “I mostly listen.” A week later, I sat in a…

Bagels in New York If the bagel is sliced or prepared in some way, you’ll be taxed. If it’s not, you won’t be taxed. If you eat it in the store, it’s taxed no matter what. Got it? Good. Balloon Rides in Kansas A law in Wizard of Oz country states that romantic rides are considered a form of air transportation and are tax free. However, if the balloon is tethered for riders to take in the scenery, the trip is considered a form of entertainment and is taxed. Tattoos and Piercings in Arkansas Few heavy metal bands emerge from the Natural State. And why would they? A 6 percent tax is levied on body piercings and tattoos. Candy in Illinois Sweet-toothed shoppers were not happy when the Prairie State…

I Won’t Throw Food Money Out with the Trash The average American family of four tosses out about $2,275 worth of food every year, according to a 2012 study by the National Resources Defense Council. Planning weekly meals, buying from bulk bins at amounts you need, and avoiding impulse buys and marketing gimmicks (like two-for-one deals on items your family doesn’t even like) will reduce costs and food waste. You can safely eat most foods past “sell by” and “use by” dates, which are manufacturer suggestions, aren’t federally regulated, and don’t indicate safety (except on certain baby foods). Freeze fresh produce and leftovers. If you can’t abide leftovers, be smart about portion control. The NIH Portion Distortion site offers great tips. I’ll Keep Better Tax Records Forget that shoebox full…

On September 19, 1982, Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Scott Fahlman, perhaps recognizing e-mail’s lack of nuance, sent a message to friends: “I propose the following character sequences for joke markers: :-) Read it sideways.” The emoticon has come a long way from its humble beginnings more than three decades ago. Source: digitalspy.com Here’s a look at the evolution: Typographic smiley faces began in the 1980s. By the 1990s, AOL AIM had introduced symbols for yelling, kissing, and more. Icons on Skype range from bandit to foul-mouth. The iPhone iOS 6 offers more than 450 emoticons.…

A customer complained about receiving calls from international telemarketers. I asked why she thought they were international. “Because,” she said, “the caller ID says it’s coming from the District of Columbia.” From reddit.com Work Jerks Meetingboy.com offers a running commentary about the workplace. Some of the best: • Thanks for the voice mail about the e-mail you sent. If you send me another e-mail about the voice mail, then we’ll complete the circle of life. • A group of lions is called a pride, a group of crows is called a murder, and a group of buzzwords is called a PowerPoint presentation. • We suspected the boss wasn’t reading things, so we gave him a report on top of ten blank sheets. Came back with a comment: “Looks good.” •…

We’re calling it: 2013 is the year of hope, heart, and happiness. For this, the first in our special monthly series about optimism, we selected three of the best pieces on the subject: Journalist Fareed Zakaria highlights our progress, Michael J. Fox embraces the everyday, and Anna Quindlen urges us to cherish the moment. They remind us why it’s never been a better time—for us, our nation, and our world. PHOTOGRAPHS BY YASU+JUNKO This Astonishing Age by Fareed Zakaria FROM HIS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS “We Live in an Age of Progress,” HARVARD GAZETTE, MAY 24, 2012 MANY OF US HEAR OF A BOMB going off in Afghanistan or of a terrorist plot in this country and think we live in dangerous times. But the number of people who have died as…

• FROM THE New York Times The first time I questioned the conventional wisdom on the nature of a healthy diet, I was in my salad days, almost 40 years ago, and the subject was salt. Researchers claimed that salt supplementation was unnecessary after strenuous exercise, and this advice was passed on by health reporters. I recalled high school football practices in suburban Maryland, sweating profusely through double sessions on swamplike 90-degree days. Without salt pills, I couldn’t make it through a two-hour practice; I couldn’t walk across the parking lot afterward without cramping. While sports nutritionists have since come around to recommend that we should replenish salt when we sweat it out in physical activity, the message that we should avoid salt at all other times remains strong. Experts…

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSE LENZ For couples craving solitude, the beach at Guana River State Park is an ideal spot for a late-night tryst. Hidden by thickets of saw palmetto, the ribbon of sand unspools along a lonesome stretch of Route A1A south of Jacksonville, Florida. Entry after sunset is officially forbidden, but intrepid lovers often park on the roadside and follow wooden walkways into the dunes. Justin Barber, 30, and his wife, April, 27, had done just that on August 17, 2002. They were tipsy and amorous, Justin later recalled, having celebrated their third wedding anniversary with dinner at an Italian restaurant, followed by drinks at a bar. Around 10:30 p.m., as they strolled along the water’s edge, a tall man in a baggy T-shirt approached them. He waved a…

… Differently If this magnificent structure puts you in mind of a flower, that’s by design. The Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi, India, is known as the Lotus Temple: It’s composed of 27 marble “petals” surrounded by nine ponds. Designed by Iranianborn architect Fariborz Sahba (who now lives in Canada), the temple has attracted tens of millions of visitors since opening in 1986. Photographer Nicolas Chorier shot these images from a camera affixed to a remote-controlled kite.…

Tony Bennett’s Grace Notes Life Is a Gift by Tony Bennett (HarperCollins, $28.99) The singer offers life lessons and delightful anecdotes from an extraordinary career. He answered some questions for Reader’s Digest: RD: You’ve been in the entertainment business for more than 60 years, and you’re still thriving personally and professionally. If you could give just one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? Bennett: The key to keeping your creativity going is to be true to yourself. I was told when I was starting out that you shouldn’t try to imitate someone else, as you will just end up being one of the chorus. I would also advise [young artists] to be patient. It’s tough these days because once they have their first success, with…

Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward. Hillary Clinton Break as few bones as possible and make as much noise as you can. Chevy Chase As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. Sam Levenson, humorist The world does not deliver meaning to you. You have to make it meaningful … and decide what you want and need and must do. Zadie Smith All being finished means is that you haven’t started yet. Aaron Sorkin You have to dream big, wish hard, and chase after your goals, because no one is going to do it for you. Cee Lo Green FINISH THIS SENTENCE TOMORROW IS … … promised to no one. Clint Eastwood ……

“‘In the jungle, the mighty jungle ...’” Seth Jennings “Life in Narnia wasn’t what you expected, right?” Henrik Anchelia “Great, just lie there while I do the lion’s share of knitting.” Ludwig Juliata Simbajon “The mane activity today is just lion around.” Robin Mack-Roberts “He has been like a sheep ever since he saw my robe and realized the leopard is missing.” Nikhil Deo “I told you Grandma needed new glasses.” Amanda Lucas “Catnap, anyone?” Anne Adrales-Barrios “If I play dead, maybe she won’t remember the vet appointment.” Curtis Miller “Who needs insurance with protection like this?” Rishard Lee Responses submitted via facebook.com/readersdigest…

Shelly Henry, 45, chief revenue officer for a medical-device company in Oklahoma City, still chokes up when she recalls the day nearly 12 years ago when her daughter, Kara, almost died. Kara, then 15, took a ride with a few classmates to high school that morning. Her friend ran a stop sign, and a truck struck the car’s passenger side, where Kara was sitting, singing along to the radio. When Shelly, a premed student and single mother, arrived at the scene, she saw a knot of flashing emergency vehicle lights. Then she saw her daughter lying motionless on the side of the road. “At that point, I was just hoping to be able to say goodbye to her,” Shelly remembers. A witness to the accident had pulled Kara from the…

• FROM Eating Well It was a gray-sky day, and outside the cabin, a bitter wind was swatting down the last damp leaves. I needed to put myself in a better mood—and to lose a few pounds. So I picked up bunches of the dark greens that thrive in cool weather: shiny leaves of chard, spinach, kale, Italian parsley, and cilantro. I started to chop. I threw some sliced onion into hot olive oil and heard the happy sizzle. I added garlic. Soon the cabin was filled with that greatest of perfumes. My spirits were already lifting. The washed greens went into another pot with water and sea salt and a diced potato. When the onions, slowly sizzling in the skillet, turned the color of caramel toffee, into the soup…

• from Psychology Today Scientists have discovered that willpower is like a muscle that gets tired from exercise: Our self-control gets sapped by decisions, distractions, and stress. But anything that reduces stress, boosts mood, or recharges energy can help restore spent willpower. Treat these “temptations” as strategic indulgences: Reality Television Willpower is contagious, research suggests. Since many reality shows feature people overcoming obstacles as they lose weight, face their fears, or organize their clutter, you can “catch” extra self-control just by watching someone else pursue a goal. Snacks The brain uses energy for willpower. When blood sugar drops, your brain is less able to concentrate, so a small nibble can nudge the brain back into self-control mode. Eat protein or fiber for sustained willpower without post-snack regret. Afternoon Nap Willpower…

FROM spousebuzz.com Some of the slang my husband uses on the ship comes in handy at home. Five of the most useful terms: 1. Bravo Zulu, or “BZ” That’s militaryspeak for “well done,” and it sounds so much cooler. 2. Mandatory Fun A good term for that company picnic or holiday party that you’ve been strongly encouraged to attend. This phrase is best used in the privacy of your home. 3. … and a Wake-up As in, “Dad will be home in four days and a wake-up!” That makes it sound so much more manageable than five days. 4. Got Your Six Simply put, “I’ve got your back.” 5. Zero Dark Thirty My daughter’s favorite time of day—really, really, really early in the morning. QUOTABLE QUOTE AUTHOR UNKNOWN…

Do you remember when Searchlight resigned in 1974? How about when Eagle ran against Timberwolf? We didn’t think so. Match presidents, candidates, and their family members with their Secret Service nicknames: 1) DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER 2) JOHN F. KENNEDY 3) JACQUELINE KENNEDY 4) JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR. 5) RICHARD NIXON 6) RONALD REAGAN 7) NANCY REAGAN 8) GEORGE H. W. BUSH 9) BARBARA BUSH 10) BILL CLINTON 11) HILLARY CLINTON 12) GEORGE W. BUSH 13) LAURA BUSH 14) BARACK OBAMA 15) MICHELLE OBAMA 16) SASHA OBAMA 17) MALIA OBAMA 18) MITT ROMNEY 19) SARAH PALIN 20) DICK CHENEY A) Javelin B) Tumbler C) Scorecard D) Searchlight E) Timberwolf F) Evergreen G) Denali H) Rosebud I) Angler J) Rawhide K) Lace L) Tempo M) Renegade N) Eagle O) Renaissance P) Snowbank…

FOOTBALL College $100–$3,000 Shorter schedules and fewer home games than the pros increase demand. • Ticket prices drop after two losses, as a team’s major bowl hopes fade. The Michigan Wolverines, for instance, started the 2012 season with an average ticket price of $185.20. After their second loss, the price fell to $121.27. • Rivalries are a factor in championship ticket prices, which can reach $3,000. When Alabama and LSU met last year, the average price was $1,918.32. NFL $100–$5,000 Despite falling attendance (due to HDTV and other tech) ticket prices rise yearly. • Teams play only eight regular-season home games, so demand exceeds supply, says Chris Matcovich of tiqiq.com. • Winning teams can charge more. At 5.1, the Chicago Bears got an average of $418.19; the 3.3 Miami Dolphins,…

Despite the lengthy URL, this site is refreshingly simple. Click on a movie category, from Classics to Criminals, then sit back and watch one of 350 trailers that the site chooses at random. Click the image to skip to the next preview. The movie trailers play in your browser in a large format with no distracting flashing ads, but you’ll have to go to another site such as Netflix to find the entire film. Creator Kevin Yaun filled WMSIWT with movies he loves: “I was tired of other overwhelming movie-preview sites, so I created a website to make it easier.”…

Mega-Busy Mom A friend of many, many years and I have been trying to get together. I like spending time with her, but between my job and my kids, I’ve had zero time for anyone else. Do I nicely explain that I just have no bandwidth right now? Or am I just vamping that I don’t have time or use for the friendship anymore? Reluctant Frie Dear Reluctant, Yeah, you’ve got no bandwidth right now. If the friendship means enough to both of you, it will survive your absence for a while. True friends can pick up where they left off after years of separation. If she needs more than you’ve got to offer during this stage, she’ll have to look elsewhere. Be straight with her, and don’t make promises…

• FROM Mental Floss 7 a.m.: Make a Baby! If you want kids, your best bet is trying when you wake up—men’s sperm counts are significantly higher in the early morning. 8:30 a.m.: Decide Something Researchers have found that we make our best decisions right after we wake up. Later, we suffer from “decision fatigue” and make the quicker or easier decision. 11 a.m.: Send an E-mail Analysis of more than 200 million e-mails found that people are most likely to read their mail shortly before their lunch break. Send one at 11 a.m. to be at the top of the pile. 10 a.m.: Take an Aspirin Mornings, specifically Monday mornings, are the most common time for both heart attacks and migraines. A preemptive aspirin could ward off pain or…

EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s hardly surprising that this article came under fire from the public health community after it was published. Salt has become a controversial topic as more conflicting research questions whether too much, or too little, is harmful. Critics point to flaws in some of the research this article cites, including studies that are too short-term, that over-rely on one-day measures of sodium excretion as a meaningful measure of salt intake, and that draw conclusions for the population as a whole from studies of people with specific health conditions. In November, the American Heart Association released a new analysis supporting its recommendation that all Americans reduce their salt intake. But as Michael Alderman, MD, editor of the American Journal of Hypertension, told the New York Times last May, one…

ROOT RIVALRY You never mean: preventative You always mean: preventive Why: Grammar sovereign H. W. Fowler banned the long form almost a hundred years ago. So someone who is health conscious might seek preventive care; responsible homeowners might take preventive measures to keep their roof from leaking. You almost never mean: infamous You almost always mean: famous Why: The rich and famous are widely known (and wealthy). But the rich and infamous have a reputation of the worst kind (… and money, which doubtless has dubious origins). Another way to look at it: Unless Aunt Donna’s chocolate chip cookies are notoriously evil and disgraceful, they are famous, not infamous. You might say: evoke You might mean: invoke Why: A photograph evokes emotion; a joke evokes laughter—evoke means “to elicit or…

• FROM Consumer Reports The economy may be struggling, but the fraud business is booming. Although comprehensive data aren’t kept, the fingerprints of a crime wave are all over. Fraud and identity-theft complaints tracked by the Federal Trade Commission topped 1.2 million last year, up 19 percent over 2010 and more than 450 percent since 2001. Moreover, the FBI says fraud involving investments, mortgages, and the Internet is growing. “Fraud is as high as it’s ever been because the scam artists are using brand-new channels and technology that didn’t exist 15 years ago,” says Martha Deevy, director of the Financial Fraud Research Center at Stanford University’s Center on Longevity. It is estimated that the measurable direct cost of financial fraud to Americans is $40 billion to $50 billion a year.…

To the Letter This month, we get down to the ABCs of words—the letters—with a quiz about their myriad faces, sounds, and symbols. Answers on next page. 1. serif (’ser-ef) n.— A: X to represent a kiss. B: lines at the ends of a letter. C: double letter. 2. zed (’zed) n.—A: dot over an i. B: British Z. C: underlined character. 3. cursive (’ker-siv) adj.— A: rounded, as B or C. B: in flowing penmanship. C: left-facing. 4. schwa (’shwah) n.— A: unstressed vowel. B: misspelled word. C: one-letter word. 5. aspirate (’as-peh-rayt) v.—A: end in-ess. B: start with an A. C: pronounce with an H sound. 6. majuscule (’ma-jeskyewl) n.—A: italic letter. B: boldface letter. C: uppercase letter. 7. assonant (’asuh-nunt) adj.— A: with the same vowel sound.…