Air Pollution Tied To Lung Cancer In Non-Smokers

People who have never smoked, but who live in areas with higher air pollution levels, are roughly 20% more likely to die from lung cancer than people who live with cleaner air, researchers concluded in a new study. A study conducted of 180,000 non-smokers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico showed that 1,100 of them died from lung cancer. Using participants’ ZIP codes, researchers estimated the amount of air pollution each individual was exposed to. According to the results, the pollution levels ranged from a low of six units to a high of 38; the average level of pollution was 17 units. After taking into account other factors involved in lung cancer such as second-hand smoke and radon exposure, researchers found that the risk of developing lung cancer for every person increased by 15 to 27 percent for every 10 extra units of air-pollution. “Lung cancer in ‘never smokers’ is an important cancer,” said lead author Michelle Turner. “It’s the sixth leading cause of cancer in United States.”

Dentists Say Let Kids Gorge On Halloween Candy

Many dentists are telling parents that it is okay to let kids gorge themselves on Halloween candy. And they aren’t hoping to make money on the inevitable windfall of rotting teeth. The fact is, if you’re going to eat candy, gorging is far better for your teeth than rationing. Slowly snacking on Halloween candy every few hours, day after day, keeps your teeth bathed in enamel-corroding acid, the byproduct of bacteria feeding on sugar and other carbohydrates in your mouth, leading to cavities. Dentists say, as far as oral hygiene goes, it is better to eat five candy bars at once than to eat one every few hours.

Halloween Calorie Haul

The average U.S. child collects between 3,500 and 7,000 calories from candy on Halloween night, a public health expert estimates. Donna Arnett, head of the department of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, said a 100-pound child who consumes 7,000 calories would have to walk for nearly 44 hours or play full-court basketball for 14.5 hours to burn off those calories. “Though Halloween alone is not going to be a major overall contributor to our children’s health, any behaviors they learn can have an effect,” Arnett said. Nearly 17% of U.S. children and teens ages 2-19 are obese and 31% are overweight or obese. Arnett suggested giving out non-candy items, such as plastic bat rings or spooky stickers, or better yet, money. Trick-or-treating does involve walking, so Arnett advised to leave the car behind and walk with children on Halloween – and other days as well. Give each child a pedometer and make a contest out of who takes the most steps – just don’t make the prize candy.

Bear Attack In Wyoming

An elk hunter was attacked by a bear Sunday in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The 32-year-old Jackson man was injured in an encounter with a bear along the Snake River. He was taken to the hospital and told rangers when he spotted the bear he dropped to the ground and covered his head. He did not fire any shots at the bear. His condition is unknown.

Occupy Wall Street Arrests In Texas, Oregon

Dozens of protesters in Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon, were arrested over the weekend for allegedly failing to comply with rules in each city. The protests were among many held across the country since September by demonstrators who say they are angry over economic inequality and what they see as Wall Street greed. At Occupy Austin, some 38 people were arrested on Saturday night and early Sunday after refusing to let police take down food tables and clean the City Hall plaza where they had camped for several weeks. They were charged with criminal trespass and issued citations that mean they can’t return to the protest site. In Portland, protesters’ attempt to extend their occupation to a third city park in an upscale downtown neighborhood was broken up by police early yesterday morning. Some 25 protesters were arrested on charges related to rules about use of the park. Protesters at the Nashville, Tennessee, Occupy encampment were spared a curfew check on Saturday night after more than 50 arrests last week over curfew violations. They were released after a court official said there were no grounds for charges.

Deal Reached In 2001 Anthrax Death Suit

The widow of a Florida tabloid photo editor who was the first of five people to die in 2001 anthrax attacks has reached a settlement with the U.S. government in her wrongful death damages lawsuit, according to a court filing. The October 27th document gave no details of the terms of the settlement. In her lawsuit originally filed in 2003, Maureen Stevens had argued that her husband, Robert Stevens, died after being exposed to anthrax as a result of alleged negligence on the part of the U.S. government, which she said had failed to safely secure the anthrax bacillus at a military laboratory. A Justice Department investigation concluded that a U.S. Army scientist, Dr. Bruce Ivins, committed the deadly attacks, mailing anthrax-laced letters to media outlets and government officials in Florida, New York and the Washington area. Ivins committed suicide in 2008 as prosecutors prepared to charge him with murder. Robert Stevens was the first of five people to die after one of the letters was received at the Boca Raton, Florida, building where he worked as a photo editor at the publisher of the National Enquirer and other tabloids. Maureen Stevens was demanding $50 million in compensatory damages in her lawsuit.

Biden’s Daughter Engaged

Vice President Joe Biden’s only daughter has gotten engaged to her doctor boyfriend, his office announced. Ashley Biden, 30, accepted the proposal last month from Dr. Howard Krein, a Philadelphia specialist in otolaryngology and facial surgery. The couple has been dating for about a year. No date for the wedding was announced. Ashely Biden is a social worker and the only child of the vice president and his wife, Jill.

Deadly Snowstorm

A rare October snowstorm has caused five deaths and cut power to more than 3 million homes and businesses in several northeastern states. More than two feet of snow fell in some areas over the weekend in parts of Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey, setting records and forcing officials to declare states of emergency. The storm also severely affected transportation with scores of flights canceled, roads closed and rail services disrupted. More than 100 passengers on a JetBlue Airlines flight were stranded on the tarmac in Connecticut for more than seven hours Saturday without food, water or working lavatories. They were on a flight from Florida to New Jersey that was diverted due to the storm. The deaths were caused by storm-related accidents in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. One of the hardest hit areas was New Jersey, where more than 650,000 customers are without power. Officials said it could be several days before all services are restored throughout the region.

Suspicious Seafood

A Consumer Reports investigation reveals that more than one-fifth of 190 pieces of seafood bought at retail stores and restaurants in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were not what they claimed to be – either mislabeled as different species of fish, incompletely labeled, or misidentified by employees. The report can be found in the December 2011 issue of the magazine and online at www.ConsumerReports.org. Among the findings:

• Only four of the 14 types of fish – Chilean sea bass, coho salmon, bluefin and ahi tuna – were always identified correctly.
  
• 18% of samples didn’t match the names on placards, labels, or menus. Fish were incorrectly passed off as catfish, grey sole, grouper, halibut, king salmon, lemon sole, red snapper, sockeye salmon, and yellowfin tuna.
  
• 4% were incompletely labeled or misidentified by employees.
  
• One sample, labeled as grouper, was actually tilefish, which averages three times as much mercury as grouper. The FDA advises women of childbearing age and children to avoid tilefish entirely.
  

How To Avoid Gaining Scary Pounds At Halloween

The average American eats 25 pounds of candy per year, and the majority of those pounds come from the holidays - specifically Halloween. FindTheBest.com’s Candy Bar comparison sorts sweets according to brand, serving size, calories, total fat, sugar and more so health conscious trick-or-treaters can indulge in the fun of this spooky season while still picking a candy that is the least of all evils. And if community M&M’s and mini Butterfingers haunt the office, FindTheBest also has a comparison for various exercises that ward off extra weight. For example, users can sort exercises by type or calories burned. In a side-by-side comparison between running and biking, running burned 852 calories per hour (roughly 3.7 Snickers) for a 150-pound woman, which is 137 more calories than biking at a vigorous speed for the same time. If neither exercise nor staying away from the pumpkin full of candy is an option, then FindTheBest can help you find the perfect diet plan for the aftermath. Dieters can filter categories based on brand name, advertised (total) weight loss, advertised duration of diet, advertised loss of pounds per week and various other goals.

Halloween Trivia & Fun Facts

Halloween is the one of the most captivating holidays, celebrated by both adults and children. Halloween-website.com offers these Halloween trivia and fun facts:

• Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
  
• Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
  
• Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings!
  
• Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
  
• Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
  
• The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
  
• Halloween candy sales average about $2 billion annually in the United States.
  
• Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters, with Snickers No. 1.
  
• Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being first.
  
• Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
  
• Black cats were once believed to protect a witch’s powers.
  
• Vampires are mythical beings who defy death by sucking the blood of humans.
  
• There really are so-called vampire bats, but they’re not from Transylvania. They live in Central and South America and feed on the blood of cattle, horses and birds.
  
• Many people still believe that gargoyles were created by medieval architects and stone carvers to ward off evil spirits.
  

Candy Corn

Love it or hate it, one sure way to know that fall is here is the arrival of candy corn on store shelves. Those who love the tri-colored kernels say they enjoy the sweet taste and the candy reminds them of Halloween. But those that dislike it cite a waxy texture or say it is too sweet, the most common complaints on Facebook. Halloween kicks off the candy season that lasts through Christmas, Valentine’s Day and ends at Easter. According to the National Retailers Federation’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 70% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, and 73.5% of adults will hand out candy. Clearly not everyone hates candy corn. According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 35 million pounds will be produced this year – that is nearly 9 billion pieces – enough to circle the moon nearly 21 times if laid end-to-end, the NCA says. Here are some fun facts about candy corn:

• George Renniger, an employee at the Wunderlee Candy Company in the 1880s, invented candy corn. In 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company (now known as Jelly Belly Candy Company) started producing the confection, and still produces the candy today.
  
• The candy corn the Jelly Belly Candy Company makes is vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free. However it’s not vegan because they do use beeswax to create shine on the candy.
  
• An unopened package will last about nine months, according to the NCA. An opened package – stored properly – will last approximately three to six months.
  
• Each kernel has about 4 calories. One serving of candy corn contains only about 140 calories.
  

Top Candy Picks

According to a Yumsugar.com survey, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups top the list of American candy lovers. According to the Yumsugar poll, these are the Top 10 Candy Picks in the United States.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups	6. M&Ms
2. Twix	7. Butterfinger
3. Snickers	8. KitKat
4. Peanut M&Ms	9. Almond Joy
5. Gummi Bears	10. Sour Patch Kids

Angry Birds, Progressive’s ‘Flo’ Hijacking Halloween

Progressive is doing everything in its power to make sure you run into someone dressed as its leading lady Flo this year. Progressive has painstakingly outlined the 10 steps to dress like Flo for Halloween. The costume sells for $29.95 on Amazon. Progressive is also promoting a #DressLikeFlo hashtag on Twitter and has built a section on its website dedicated to videos on how to dress like her with, “I [heart] Insurance,” nametag printouts and a checklist. It even links to the exact shade of Mac lipstick and navy-blue Converse sneakers to wear. Dozens of pictures of people in Flo costumes have been posted to her Facebook page. By Friday, red, yellow and black Angry Birds were the No. 2, 4 and 10 best-selling costumes, respectively, on Amazon. Flo was No. 7. A child-sized Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story” topped the list. According to Ad Age, other brand-centric costumes that might show up at your door or party tonight include the Allstate Mr. Mayhem, Angry Birds’ green pigs, Jersey Shore’s The Situation, the cast of “Pan Am” and Steve Jobs. The Mac and PC guys may also be accompanying the Apple cofounder. Ad Age also predicts that the top scariest brand mascot costume this year will be the Kia Hamsters.

Creepy Americans

Just in time for Halloween, E-Poll conducted a survey to find out who gives America the creeps. The poll asked Americans to rate celebrities based on 100 different possible attributes. According to the poll, rocker Marilyn Manson and Casey Anthony, the Florida mom acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter, have a lot in common when it come to “creepiness.” Manson was voted 69% “creepy” in comparison to Anthony’s 57%. The top 10 creepy Americans:

1. Marilyn Manson	69%		6. Charlie Sheen	34%
2. Casey Anthony	57%		7. Eliot Spitzer	34%
3. O.J. Simpson	56%		8. Woody Allen	31%
4. Spencer Pratt	49%		9. Tim Burton	31%
5. Nadya “Octomom” Suleman	41%		10. Jesse James	30%

Hot Blondes

Carrie Underwood has been awarded the title of Hottest Blonde for 2011 in the first ever ranking of the 100 hottest celebrity blondes by NYBlondes.com. Underwood claimed the top spot on the inaugural list, beating out the likes of actress Chalize Theron, models Brooklyn Decker and Heidi Klum and socialite Paris Hilton. The Hot 100 Blondes of 2011 features a slew of the world’s most well-known blonde actresses, singers, athletes, TV hosts, models, socialites and reality TV stars. NYBlondes.com’s Top 10 Hottest Blondes of 2011:

1. Carrie Underwood	6. Cameron Diaz
2. Charlize Theron	7. Blake Lively
3. Brooklyn Decker	8. Beyoncé
4. Heidi Klum	9. Gwyneth Paltrow
5. Paris Hilton	10. Reese Witherspoon

Modern Medical Definitions

Safety expert Richard Hawk has compiled actual medical “definitions” used on medical reports. Suffice it to say, insurance companies and lawyers aren’t the only ones that know how to use “double speak.”

1. Mental activity at the margins: insanity
2. Therapeutic misadventure: medical malpractice
3. Hematophagous arthropod vectors: fleas
4. Aggravated bovine ejection: being bucked off by a bull
5. Negative Patient Care Outcome: death
6. Immediate Permanent Incapacitation: death
7. Chronologically Experienced Citizen: elderly person
8. Compensated Edentia: false teeth
9. Nutritional Avoidance Therapy: diet
10. Thermal Remediation Unit: ice bag

Men Not Exempt From Binge Eating

Binge eating is a disorder that affects both men and women, but men are underrepresented in research, researchers say. Lead author Dr. Ruth R. Striegel of Wesleyan University in Connecticut and colleagues found the medical impact of the disorder is as damaging to men as it is to women, yet research has shown that the number of men seeking treatment is far lower than the estimated number of sufferers. Striegel’s team used cross-sectional data from a sample of 21,743 men and 24,608 women who participated in a health risk self-assessment screening for obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, depression and work productivity impairment. The study found that out the 46,351 people questioned, 1,630 men and 2,754 women were found to binge eat.

Soda A Day Equals Eating 50 Pounds Of Sugar Each Year

Drinking just one 20-ounce soda a day translates to eating 50 pounds of sugar a year, a New York City health department public education campaign says. Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City commissioner of health, said a 30-second TV spot will air on major broadcast and cable TV stations during the next two months as a stark reminder to New Yorkers about how sugary drinks can lead to obesity, which can cause diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. The TV spot is complemented by bilingual subway posters that ask New Yorkers to think about how far they would need to walk to burn off the calories from drinking just one sugary drink. For example, to burn off the 650 calories of a medium frozen vanilla coffee one would need to walk 8 miles. The campaign encourages New Yorkers to avoid sugary beverages and quench their thirst with water, seltzer or low-fat milk instead.

Man Thought To Be Gacy Victim Found Alive

Siblings who feared their brother was one of serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s eight unidentified victims were amazed and overjoyed to learn that he’s been living in Florida for decades. Tim Lovell and Theresa Hasselberg hadn’t seen their brother, Harold Wayne Lovell, since he left their family’s Chicago home in May 1977 in search of construction work. At the time, Gacy was trolling for young men and boys in the area. A contractor, Gacy lured many of the 33 young men and boys he killed by offering them work. Lovell, now 53, was reunited with his family this week after police finally tracked him down, decades after he failed to return from a construction job. Lovell says he didn’t know his family thought he was dead. Lovell left Chicago for Florida because of a “family situation,” saying he “couldn’t stay around the house any longer.” Investigators searching Gacy’s home following his 1978 arrest found most of his victims buried in a basement crawl space, although detectives said Gacy dumped four victims in a nearby river after he ran out of room at his house. Gacy confessed to the slayings after his arrest and was executed in 1994.

Exotic Pets Won’t Be Returned To Ohio Widow

The six surviving exotic animals freed by their suicidal owner in Ohio will be kept under quarantine at a zoo for now instead of going to the man’s widow, the state Agriculture Department ordered yesterday. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was trying to stop Marian Thompson from reclaiming three leopards, two primates and a young grizzly bear that have been cared for by the zoo since last week, when Terry Thompson set them free in a rural area of eastern Ohio. The zoo said it had Marian’s permission to care for the six surviving animals, which have been kept separate from other animals, but has no legal rights to them. A private veterinarian for the Agriculture Department looked at the animals and determined they needed to remain quarantined, as allowed by Ohio law. The Agriculture Department said it was concerned about reports that the animals had lived in unsanitary conditions where they could be exposed to disease, and the order provides a chance to investigate their health. It prevents the zoo from releasing them until it’s clear they’re disease-free.

The Politics Of Halloween

A new nationwide Clarus Poll finds that more Americans would rather dress up for Halloween as Lady Gaga and the Geico Caveman than as well-known political figures. The poll found that, among women voters across the nation, 36% would rather go costumed as Lady Gaga, 24% picked Sarah Palin and 20% selected Michelle Obama. More men want to dress up as the Geico Caveman (46%) than Donald Trump (26%) or President Obama (14%).

Fido & Fluffy’s Halloween

Planning to dress up your pup or costume your cat this Halloween? If so, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey by DogTime Media, 57% of pet owners will be outfitting their pet on October 31st. The majority of pet dresser-uppers (68%) are dog owners according to the survey. But as companion animals are increasingly embraced as important members of the family, adults are including both cats and dogs in traditions once reserved for human children. The study shows that 40% of pet owners will spend upwards of $10 on their pet’s costume. About 30% said they will make their pet’s costume. The top 8 most popular pet costumes for 2011:

1. Pumpkin	5. Sheep
2. Devil	6. Witch
3. Ladybug	7. Court Jester
4. Ghost	8. Skeleton

How To Hook Up On Halloween

Romance might not be the first thing you think around Halloween, but a new survey shows it ranks high as a time to meet a potential mate. There are a few reasons for this, such as men are more likely to be attracted to someone wearing a sexy costume, while women like seeing someone in a funny outfit. A survey of single people by online dating network Zoosk.com shows that 66% of respondents feel Halloween is a good time to meet a romantic partner. Other highlights:

• Both men and women would be more attracted to someone wearing a Halloween costume.
  
• 71% of men said they would be interested in someone in a sexy costume, while 51% of women would be attracted to someone in an amusing outfit.
  
• Only 5% of men and 12% of women said they would be attracted to someone in a scary costume.
  
• 44% of men and 42% of women said Halloween would “definitely” be a good occasion to have a first date.
  

Tech Words That Tick Us Off

“Sexting” has been voted the most annoying new tech word added to the dictionary over the last few years. “Sexting” topped an online poll conducted by YouGov for Computeractive magazine to become the “most annoying or horrible” new tech-related word in the dictionary, bringing in about 24% of the votes. “Sexting” earned almost twice as many as “intexticated,” which placed second at 13%. “Intexticated” means unable to concentrate while driving due to texting. Tech words “Defriend,” “Twittersphere” and “Tweetup” rounded out the top five, respectively.

Halloween Tricks And Treats

The scariest thing many parents will see this Halloween may be their bank balance, according to LivingSocial Families. The survey found that more than half of families plan to reduce their Halloween spending this year due to the economy. Among the other findings:

• 53% of families plan to reduce their Halloween spending this year due to the economy.
• 35% plan to spend less on costumes and decorations, 14% are giving out less candy, and 12% are making their families’ costumes this year instead of buying them.
• 65% of parents check their kids’ candy for tampering.
• 15% have seen a ghost before.
• 50% of parents said they steal their kids’ Halloween candy.
• 42% of parents believe that young girls are dressing too sexy for Halloween.
• 17% dress up their pets for the holiday.
• 10% hate dressing up for Halloween.
• 21% of parents said their city is not safe for trick-or-treating.
• Only 5% do not celebrate Halloween.

Top Family Halloween Activities
1. Trick or Treating	78%	6. Making Halloween Arts and Crafts	39%
2. Pumpkin Carving	71%	7. Making Halloween Treats for School	36%
3. Decorating the House	62%	8. Visiting a Haunted House	35%
4. Going to a Pumpkin Patch	53%	9. Going to a Halloween Party for Adults	29%
5. Attending a Kids’ Halloween Party	45%

Top 10 Favorite Halloween Candies
1. Reese’s	43%	6. Milky Way	22%
2. Snickers	38%	7. Butterfinger	22%
3. M&Ms	37%	8. Candy Corn	18%
4. Kit Kat	36%	9. 3 Musketeers	18%
5. Twix	29%	10. Skittles	17%

The Five Best Cities for Trick-or-Treating (as ranked by residents)
1. Chicago	4. Minneapolis/St. Paul
2. Cleveland	5. Los Angeles
3. Dallas

The Five Most Haunted Cities (by reported ghosts/ghost stories)
1. Boston	4. Chicago
2. New York City	5. Philadelphia
3. Washington, DC

The Five Best Party Cities for Adults on Halloween
1. Miami	4. Atlanta
2. Orlando	5. Tampa/St. Petersburg
3. New York City

The Five Stingiest Cities for Candy
1. New York City	4. Washington, DC
2. Los Angeles	5. Atlanta
3. Miami

The Five Most Dangerous Cities for Trick or Treating (self-reported by residents)
1. Miami	4. Houston
2. New York City	5. San Francisco
3. Atlanta

More Scary Jobs

What makes a job frightening? Imminent danger? Public speaking? Eerie surroundings? As Halloween approaches, American workers voted on the scariest profession, choosing careers ranging from the death-defying (firefighter) to the potentially humiliating (stand-up comedian). The nationwide survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder. The scariest jobs are:

Bomb Squad Technician	High School Teacher
High Rise Window Washer	Cemetery Worker
Armed Forces	Exterminator
Miner	Stand-Up Comedian
Police Officer	Animal Control
Alaskan Crab Fishing	Stunt Person
Mortician	Politician
Firefighter

While most Americans won’t find themselves in any of the above careers, aspects of their own jobs can keep them on edge. More than a third of workers say layoffs are what they are most afraid of at work. Other work-related issues that may keep workers up at night include:

Pay cuts – 13%	Forced relocation – 4%
Workload – 9%	The boss – 3%
Presenting in front of other people – 9%

Using Smartphones As Babysitters

Back in the day, people used to fret over parents who would plop their kids in front of a TV set to keep them occupied. The modern-day version of that scenario is taking place in back seats of cars and restaurants. Parents have been handing over their smartphones so their little ones can be entertained with a game or video. Some parents swear by the practice of turning over a device worth hundreds of dollars to a toddler to keep them from throwing a fit in a restaurant. About 40% of 2- to 4-year-olds have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media.

Safe Trick-Or-Treating

An estimated 40 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 will trick-or-treat this Halloween, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Emergency physicians want all of them to enjoy the holiday safely and not experience any Halloween horrors that end up with them in the emergency department. The risk of a child being hit by a car is roughly four times higher on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to the CDC. Other common Halloween injuries include eye injuries from sharp objects and burns from flammable costumes. Emergency physicians recommend that children “trick-or-treat” at organized Halloween festivities, such as local churches, shopping malls or schools, so children are not walking in the dark and it allows constant adult supervision. Here are some other suggestions for a safe and fun Halloween:

• Make sure your child stays on the sidewalks as much as possible and obeys all traffic signals.
  
• Discuss the importance of staying together in a group. Require at least one adult to serve as chaperone.
  
• Make sure your child knows the potential dangers from strangers, not accepting rides from strangers or visiting unfamiliar homes or areas.
  
• Avoid costumes that could cause children to trip, such as baggy pants, long hems, high heels and oversized shoes.
  
• Avoid costumes that obstruct the child’s sight or vision.
  
• Avoid masks if possible. If your child must wear one, make sure it is well ventilated.
  
• Make sure costume fabric, wigs and beards are made of flame-resistant materials, such as nylon or polyester.
  
• Keep candlelit Jack-O-Lanterns away from children so they can’t get burned or set on fire.
  
• Make sure costumes are visible at night: avoid dark colors. Add reflective tape to costumes so your child is more visible to motor vehicles.
  
• Make sure you see all of the candy before your child eats it. Avoid candy that is not wrapped in its original wrapper, as well as all fruit.
  
• Take a flashlight while trick-or-treating.
  
• Check accessories such as swords, knives, wands and other pointed objects. Make sure they’re made from flexible materials and have dulled edges.
  

15 Minutes Of Exercise Burns One ‘Treat’

People who indulge in Halloween candy can burn off calories and have fun, being productive at the same time. Leigh Crews, a fitness trainer for the American Council on Exercise, said the average amount of popular candy – one Almond Joy Snack Size Bar, one Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or six Tootsie Rolls – is about 100 calories. To burn off the calories of one Halloween treat:

Dance for 20 minutes.	Dig, rake, plant and weed in the garden for 15 minutes.
Jog in place for 12 minutes.	15 minutes of intense weight training.
Walk for about 15 minutes.	Bike for 10 minutes at 12-14 mph.
Wax your car for 20 minutes.	Play a virtual sport or exercise games.
Shop at the mall for 41 minutes.	Bounce on a trampoline for 27 minutes.

Cities Begin Cracking Down On ‘Occupy’ Protests

After weeks of cautiously accepting the round-the-clock protests spawned by Occupy Wall Street, several cities are putting an end to it. In Oakland, police filled downtown streets with tear gas late Tuesday to stop throngs of protesters from re-entering a City Hall plaza that had been cleared of their encampment earlier in the day. Those protests, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and at least one life-threatening injury, appeared ready to ignite again last night as supporters of the Occupy movement promised to retake the square. Early in the day, city officials were trying to defuse the situation, opening streets around City Hall, though the encampment site was still fenced off. In San Francisco, city officials warned several hundred protesters that they were in violation of the law by camping at a downtown site after voicing concerns about unhealthy and often squalid conditions in the camp, including garbage, vermin and human waste. In Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed ordered the police to arrest more than 50 protesters early yesterday and remove their tents from a downtown park after deciding that the situation had become unsafe, despite originally issuing executive orders to let them camp there overnight. Similar confrontations could soon come in other cities, as city officials grow tired of the protesters.

Anti-Facebook Social Network ‘Unthink’ Launches To Public

Startup Unthink.com, which bills itself as the “anti-Facebook,” is now allowing in its first round of beta testers. The Tampa-based company sees itself as a more open, more honest form of social networking – one where its users are the owners of their data, and not the product being sold to advertisers. CEO Natasha Dedis said the idea for Unthink came to her when her son wanted to sign up for Facebook and she read the terms of service. On Facebook, your personal data, your posts, your likes – all your social networking activity – is used to provide advertisers with a way to directly target precise demographics. Dedis and others say that just feels exploitive. On Unthink, user data isn’t sold to brands. Instead, users choose a brand to sponsor their page, by way of an ad dubbed “iEndorse.” The idea is that a user will select a brand they feel some affinity with, and will then become an advocate for that brand. Users who don’t want to select a brand have the option to pay for the service instead at $2 a year.

Not-So-Safe Surfing

Online consumers are increasingly savvy about being online, but many still do not employ all of the right tools to protect their privacy according to the results from Anonymizer’s second annual online privacy and security survey. While 95% of respondents took precautions to protect their privacy online, the two most popular methods – running anti-virus software (77%) and enabling a firewall (60%) – do not provide adequate safeguards against online privacy and security risks. These measures only protect a consumer’s computer system, not their privacy or identity. When it comes to social networking, 56% of respondents are aware that being on Facebook means compromising their privacy. Despite these concerns, 29% had no plans to leave the popular social networking site. Other survey results include:

• Behind firewalls and anti-virus software, rounding out the list of the top five most popular privacy protection methods are: not storing credit information on e-commerce sites (44%), exercising caution when creating and using passwords (36%), and setting the highest possible security settings on social media sites (28%).
  
• Consumers are unsure about whether Facebook sells personal and behavioral data to advertisers. The majority of respondents (61%) are unsure; 29% believe their data is sold; 10% do not believe their data is sold.
  
• Overall, 66% of survey respondents indicated concern over websites and search engines collecting information as they surf the Internet.
  

When asked what makes them most nervous about being online, the top responses were:

• Having their bank account and credit card information stolen (31%)
• Computer viruses (19%)
• Having their online personal information hacked and stolen (17%)

How Scary Is Your Financial Situation?

Costume prepping, candy buying and pumpkin carving are in full swing, and for many people watching their favorite scary movie will also be on their Halloween checklist. Some of those horror movies may be more true life than expected though. A new CouponCabin.com survey reveals how famous scary movie villains represent U.S. adults’ financial situations. When asked which famous scary movie characters best described their current financial states, adults said:

Michael Myers from “Halloween” – I’m superhuman; no matter what circumstances arise, I find a way to make ends meet. (32%)

Ghostface from “Scream” – Unexpected financial circumstances catch me when I least expect it. (11%)

Freddy Krueger from “Nightmare on Elm Street” – My financial situation haunts my dreams and I lay awake at night worrying about it. (11%)

Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th” – I’m ashamed of my current financial situation and feel like I’m hiding behind a mask. (6%)

Chucky from “Child’s Play” – I’m immature with my finances and need to grow up. (3%)

Poor In The ‘Burbs

A new report from the Census Bureau shows the poor population in many parts of the nation are growing more rapidly in the suburbs.  The report says Atlanta has the widest income gap between rich and poor of the largest major cities - followed by New Orleans and Washington. The areas with higher income are found in the cities, while the most income-segregated areas are found in suburban areas. The top 10 list:

1. Atlanta, GA	6. Gainesville, FL
2. New Orleans, LA	7. Athens, GA
3. Washington, DC	8. New York, NY
4. Miami, FL	9. Dallas, TX
5. Ft. Lauderdale, FL	10. Baton Rouge, LA

Closing In On 7 Billion

The stork has been busy lately. The United Nations said recently that it expects the world’s seven billionth baby to be born on October 31st. While many have expressed concern and even outright fear for the fate of the planet under such duress, others are calling on the occasion for renewed efforts at family planning, environmental sustainability, education for all and radical plans to redistribute wealth. Here’s a look at the world’s population over the years, according to the United Nations Population Fund:

1 billion – 1804	5 billion – 1987
2 billion – 1927	6 billion - 1999
3 billion – 1959	7 billion – 2011
4 billion – 1974

What’s Embarrassing On Your Electronic Device?

A Norton survey found that 53% of adults have absolutely no material on their mobile devices that could cause embarrassment. However, some do have some potentially embarrassing contest on their laptop, smartphone or tablet PC.

1. Financial Statements/late notices	24%	4. Negative comments about someone	7%
2. Websites in browser history	12%	5. Medical information	7%
3. Pictures of myself	10%	6. Explicit pictures of someone else	7%

Scariest Movies Of All Time

Fears aside, the majority of Redbox customers watch horror films leading up to Halloween. Seventy-three percent of Redbox customers watch horror films around Halloween. When asked what is the scariest movie of all time, Redbox customers said:

1. “The Exorcist” – 31%	3. “Paranormal Activity” – 10% (Tie)
2. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) – 12%	5. “The Shining” – 9%
3. “Halloween” – 10% (Tie)

Man Carries Cellphone In Prosthetic Arm

A British man has gone “bionic” by being the first patient to have a smartphone docking station built into his prosthetic arm, doctors said. Trevor Prideaux, born without his left arm, said he used to have to balance the smartphone on his prosthetic arm or put it on a flat surface to use it. But with the help of medical experts and technicians at Nokia, Prideaux can now text and call easily from the phone docked into a special receptacle in his fiberglass prosthetic arm. A phone-shaped cradle in the skin-colored limb holds his Nokia phone, allowing him to make and take calls with just one hand.

Last Of The Largest Cold War Nuclear Bombs Dismantled

A plant in Texas has dismantled the last of America’s largest Cold War-era nuclear weapons, a 10,000-pound B-53 bomb. Production of the B53 was halted in mid-1965 after more than 300 had been built at Pantex in Amarillo, Texas, America’s only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. The National Nuclear Security Administration held a ceremony at the Amarillo plant to commemorate the dismantlement of the final bomb. The first B53s built in 1962 were intended as bunker busters. They had a rear compartment containing five parachutes designed to bring the bomb down softly so that its explosive power would send a shock wave through the earth to collapse underground shelters. The bomb was designed to deliver an explosion of 9 megatons, the equivalent of 9 million pounds of TNT, or 600 times the power of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.

Classic Halloween Movie Quotes

1. “I met this six-year-old child, with this blind, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the DEVIL’S eyes! I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up for I realized what was living behind that boy’s eyes was purely and simply... EVIL!”
A. Dr. Sam Loomis, played by Donald Pleasence in “Halloween.” (1978)
__________________________
2. “Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!”
A. Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley in “Hellbound: Hellraiser II.” (1988)
__________________________
3. “I dunno what the hell’s in there, but it’s weird and pissed off whatever it is.”
A. Clark, played by Richard Masur in “The Thing.” (1982)
__________________________
4.  “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
A.  Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins in “The Silence of the Lambs.” (1991)
__________________________
5. “They’re coming to get you, Barbara!”
A. Johnny, played by Russell Streiner in “Night of the Living Dead.” (1968)
__________________________
6. “THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!”
A. Father Merrin, played by Max von Sydow, and Father Damien Karras, played by Jason Miller, in “The Exorcist.” (1973)
__________________________
7. “They mostly come out at night, mostly...”
A. Rebecca “Newt” Jorden, played by Carrie Henn in “Aliens.” (1986)
__________________________
8. “Have you ever talked to a corpse?  It’s boring...”
A. Jack Goodman, played by Griffin Dunne in “An American Werewolf in London.” (1981)
__________________________
9. “Do you know why you’re afraid when you’re alone?  I do.  I do!”
A. Vincent Gray, played by Donnie Wahlberg in “The Sixth Sense.” (1999)
__________________________
10. “It was an evil house from the beginning – a house that was born bad.”
A.  Dr. John Markway, played by Richard Johnson in “The Haunting.” (1963)
__________________________
11. “Plans are pointless.  Staying alive is as good as it gets.”
A. Selena, played by Naomie Harris in “28 Days Later.” (2002)
__________________________
12. “I need to engage in homicidal behavior on a massive scale.  It cannot be corrected but I have no other way to fulfill my needs.”
A. Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale in “American Psycho.” (2000)
__________________________
13. “You know what I think? I think that we’re all in our private traps, clamped in them, and none of us can ever get out.  We scratch and we claw, but only at the air, only at each other, and for all of it, we never budge an inch.”
A. Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins in “Psycho.” (1960)
__________________________
14. “He doesn’t want us to cut through our chains. He wants us to cut through our feet!”
A. Dr. Lawrence Gordon, played by Cary Elwes in “Saw.” (2004)
__________________________
15. “Hello, Xavier, I want to play a game. It’s similar to the game you play as a drug dealer, the game of giving hope to the desperate.”
A. John/Jigsway, played by Tobin Bell in “Saw II.” (2005)
__________________________
16. “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard to concentrate when you’re surrounded by so many things you could kill me with. Like this axe I saw you looking at.”
A. Amanda, played by Shawnee Smith in “Saw III.” (2006)
__________________________
17. “Mrs. Lutz, get you and your family out of that house. Right now!"
A. Father Callaway, played by Philip Baker Hall in “The Amityville Horror.” (2005)

EWWWW! Scary Surfaces

Just when you thought filling up your car couldn’t hurt any more, researchers may have found another reason to avoid touching the gas pump: germs! Gas pump handles are the filthiest surface that Americans encounter on the way to work, according to a new study by Kimberly-Clark Professional. A team of hygienists swabbed hundreds of surfaces around six U.S. cities to see what everyday objects are breeding grounds for the worst bacteria and viruses. The results showed that more than 60% of gas pump and mailbox handles and more than 40% of escalator rails and ATM machine buttons can be highly contaminated, potentially exposing people to illness-causing bacteria. Illness in the workplace is not just a health issue, but can also have a major economic impact. Each year companies lose $1,685 per employee due to absenteeism and “presenteeism,” or employees coming to work while sick. The percentage of public surfaces tested and found to have high levels of contamination:

71% of gas pump handles	40% of parking meters/kiosks
68% of mailbox handles	35% of crosswalk buttons
43% of escalator rails	35% of vending machine buttons
41% of ATM buttons

Researchers said germs from people’s hands can transfer seven times before leaving the skin and that people should wash their hands as soon as they get to work.

Halloween Dining

Twenty percent of Americans say they plan to order takeout or delivery from a restaurant while trick-or-treaters come around this Halloween, according to new research by the National Restaurant Association. Among younger adults (age 18-34) and families with children, that figure rises to 33% and 28%, respectively. Just 16% of adults will go out to a restaurant or bar to celebrate Halloween during the weekend or on October 31st. When asked about the most important factor in selecting a restaurant or bar for Halloween celebrations, happy hours and Halloween costumes are the top choices among those planning to go out:

• 32% said they will seek out an establishment with happy hour or other pricing specials.
  
• 22% will select a restaurant that encourages Halloween costumes or competitions.
  
• 16% prefer locations with activities for families and children.
  
• 15% will choose a restaurant or bar located near activities, such as Halloween parties, parades or haunted houses.
  
• 7% say a location with Halloween-themed food and drink items and decorations is their top choice.
  

‘Save The Rednecks’ PSA Launched

Misconceptions, derogatory jokes and unfortunate images on the Internet have pushed many rednecks, found throughout all regions of the United States, into the closet. Some experts have even theorize that driving this smart, hardworking and resourceful community underground has fed the current economic trouble. It was the rednecks who quenched our thirst during Prohibition with moonshine, built the rockets that allowed the U.S. to land on the moon and win the space race, and invented the pick-up truck hot tub. And without their inspiration the world would have been deprived of some of our culture’s most beloved celebrities, characters and films, including Toby Keith, the Duke Brothers, Ricky Bobby, “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Thelma and Louise.” The National Geographic Channel has launched its “Save the Rednecks” campaign. Inspired by the network’s popular “hillbilly ingenuity” series “Rocket City Rednecks,” the initiative aims to break down negative stereotypes. Travis Taylor, the series’ host/rocket scientist/lead redneck, explains “There was a time when redneck was referred to hard-working, self-sufficient farmers whose necks would sunburn while working in the fields. Those farmers had to be smart and had to solve problems with just what they had on hand. That is what a redneck is! Being called ‘redneck’ ain’t an insult, it’s a compliment!” Taylor adds, “Nothing says you can’t have a Ph.D. and also be a redneck!” To do your part to support the cause, log on to facebook.com/natgeotv – because it’s never too late to save a redneck.

Zagat 2012 America’s Top Restaurants Survey

Zagat has released its 2012 America’s Top Restaurants Survey, covering 1,578 of the nation’s top restaurants across 45 major markets. The new guide incorporates the votes of over 156,000 food lovers who dined out an estimated 25 million times in the past year. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• 81% of consumers are in favor of restaurants being required to post their health department letter grades and a majority of diners in major cities say letter grades influence their dining decisions and most will eat only at restaurants that earn a B or better.
  
• The national average of meals out per week is 3.1. Texans eat out the most, with Houston (4.0), Austin (3.8), Dallas/Ft. Worth (3.6) and San Antonio (3.5) leading the national pack, while diners who eat out the least hail from the east coast: Washington, D.C. / Baltimore (2.6), Philadelphia (2.5) and Boston (2.5).
  
• U.S. diners are spending an average of $35.65 per meal, a slight increase from last year’s average of $35.37. The most expensive dining in the nation is in Las Vegas, with an average meal cost of $47.53.
  
• Looking at the 20 most expensive restaurants in each city, New York leads with an average cost of $163.34. The most affordable dining can be found in New Orleans at $28.36.
  
• New Orleans diners are the nation’s best tippers, leaving an average of 19.7% vs. the national average of 19.2%. West Coast diners (San Francisco, Seattle, Hawaii, Los Angles, Sacramento and San Diego) remain the least generous tippers at 18.6 to 18.9%.
  
• While service again tops the list of dining-out irritants, cited by 66% this year, complaints about noise/crowds, is now at 16%, up from 12% five years ago.
  
• 40% of diners say a famous chef makes them more likely to dine at a restaurant, while 57% say that has no effect.
  
• Although French and Japanese claim the top food spot in more than one-third of the 45 markets covered in the survey, Italian is the most popular cuisine, with 27% of respondents nationwide citing it as their favorite, followed by American (18%), French (12%), Japanese (10%) and Mexican (10%).
  
• When dining at a restaurant that does not take reservations, 67% of diners nationwide would be willing to wait no more than 30 minutes for a table, while 12% said no more than an hour.
  

Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

Forbes has unveiled its annual list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities and it came down to two Kings. Once again, King of Pop Michael Jackson took the top spot, earning a massive $170 million this year even as the circumstances of his 2009 death are still examined in court. In fact, Jackson’s posthumous income made him 2011′s second-highest earning act – dead or alive – after U2. Jackson blew away his closest deceased competitor, King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley, by more than $100 million. The newest addition to the list was Elizabeth Taylor (No. 5), who has earned $12 million since her March passing – and that’s before her highly anticipated Christie’s estate sale this December. The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list by Forbes takes into account any deceased famous figure who has earned at least $6 million between October 2010 and October 2011. This year’s list:

Celebrity	Earnings	Died
1. Michael Jackson	$170 million	June 25, 2009
2. Elvis Presley	$55 million	August 16, 1977
3. Marilyn Monroe	$27 million	August 5, 1962
4. Charles Schulz	$25 million	February 12, 2000
5. (Tie) John Lennon	$12 million	December 8, 1980
5. (Tie) Elizabeth Taylor	$12 million	March 23, 2011
7. Albert Einstein	$10 million	April 18, 1955
8. Theodor “Dr. Suess” Geisel	$9 million	September 24, 1991
9. (Tie) Jimi Hendrix	$7 million	September 18, 1970
9. (Tie) Author Stieg Larsson	$7 million	November 9, 2004
9. (Tie) Steve McQueen	$7 million	November 30, 1980
9. (Tie) Composer Richard Rodgers	$7 million	December 30, 1979
13. (Tie) George Harrison	$6 million	November 29, 2001
13. (Tie) Bettie Page	$6 million	December 11, 2008
13. (Tie) Andy Warhol	$6 million	February 22, 1987

Teen Violence Linked To Heavy Soda Diet

Researchers say they have found a “shocking” association between violence by teenagers and the amount of soda they drink. High-school students in inner-city Boston who consume more than five cans of non-diet soft drinks every week are between 9% and 15% likelier to engage in an aggressive act compared with those who drink less. They are also more likely to have been violent with peers, family members and dates. David Hemenway, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said the study was based on answers to questionnaires filled out by 1,878 public-school students aged 14 to 18 in the inner Boston area, where crime rates are much higher than in the wealthier suburbs. Hemenway noted that the murderer of gay rights activist Harvey Milk had his conviction reduced from homicide to voluntary manslaughter by the “Twinkie Defense,” which stated that an unhealthful diet made the perpetrator act irrationally. Several studies have established a link between very high sugar consumption and lack of social bonding or irritable and anti-social behavior.

Brothers Find Wyatt Earp Photo Album

Two brothers from California found a photo album at an antique shop containing more than two dozen photographs of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. Brothers Keith and Brian Collins discovered Earp’s personal photo album while picking through a Hesperia, California, antique shop. The photographs reportedly show Earp as a child, a teenager and as a young adult. The album, which the brothers paid $50 in May, also contains photographs of his mother and two of Earp’s three wives. Wyatt Earp is best known for being the deputy marshal of Tombstone, Arizona, when the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral occurred. The Collinses have invited experts to inspect the pictures and verify their authenticity. The brothers say the album could bring in as much at $1 million if sold, but they would like to keep them and lease out the rights to their use.

Connecticut Lawmaker Wants Halloween Date Change

A Connecticut lawmaker says he wants to change the traditional October 31st date of Halloween to the last Saturday of the month for safety and other reasons. The change would make the holiday easier for working parents, safer for trick-or-treaters and would boost the economy as well, Rep. Tim Larson said. While Halloween isn’t an official state holiday, Larson says his proposal is similar to the government proclamation that Thanksgiving be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. “This would be good for the economy and make Halloween a more family-friendly event every year,” he said. “Everyone looks forward to Halloween a little more when it falls on the weekend.”

Tons Of Tsunami Debris Headed For U.S.

An estimated 5 tons to 20 tons of debris sucked into the ocean during Japan’s massive tsunami is due to hit U.S. shores in the next two to three years. Nikolai Maximenko, a researcher at the International Pacific Research Center in Hawaii, developed a model of how the tsunami debris is likely to move across the ocean. He based his model on the movements of thousands of buoys placed in the ocean over 30 years to study the current. According to Maximenko’s calculations, the debris from the tsunami will wash up at Midway Attol – an island midway between Japan and Hawaii – this winter. It will start washing up on Hawaiian shores in the winter or spring of 2013. And in the beginning of 2014 it will hit the West Coast, mostly Oregon and Washington. Russian ship STS Pallada spotted some of the debris in the Pacific Ocean on its way from Honolulu to Vladivostok in Russia. It was some 2,000 miles from the original tsunami site and included pieces of houses and various items from shoes to televisions to home appliances. The tsunami was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan. The March 11th earthquake killed 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Walmart Extends Price-Matching Guarantee

Wal-Mart will expand its price-matching guarantee for the holidays with the promise to meet the lowest price shoppers find throughout the season, even on items they’ve already bought. The policy will apply to items purchased in stores and online between November 1st and December 25th; customers showing an original receipt and a competitor’s print ad with a lower price will receive a gift card for the difference.

The McRib Is Back!

The McRib, the elusive sandwich that has inspired a cult-like following, is back. McDonald’s announced yesterday that the boneless barbecue pork sandwich, usually available in only a few stores at a time, will be sold at all U.S. locations through November 14th. Most of the time it’s up to local franchises to determine when and if they want to sell the McRib – except in Germany, the only place where it’s always available. McDonald’s said the response was so great last November when it made the McRib available nationally for about three weeks that it decided to bring it back nationwide this year. The company hadn’t sold the McRib nationally since 1994. The sandwich was introduced nationally in 1982. Playing up the McRib’s elusiveness, McDonald’s is promoting it through an online game called the Quest for the Golden McRib, in which players contend with “emo pilgrims” and “viking accountants” to reach the sandwich. To play The Quest, visit McDonald’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/McDonalds. For those that don’t know, the McRib features a boneless pork rib patty topped with pickles, onions and BBQ sauce served on a roll. And it’s sloppy! And it’s sloppy! Here’s what Hollywood has said and tweeted about the return of the McRib:

Zach Braff: “’The McRib’: for people who have no interest in meeting their grandkids.”
Anthony Anderson: “I have to confess, the McRib aint what it used to be! 1 bite and I was done! Maybe I've outgrown fake meat sandwiches from fast food joints!”
Rob Delaney: “How 'bout I just kick you in the stomach, throw your McRib in a gas station toilet & we'll call it even? Seriously though, to McDonald's credit, the McRib IS made from real McFecal Matter.”
Damon Lindelof: “‘The McRib’ is trending. Take THAT, terrorism. #AMERICAEFFYEAH”
Patton Oswalt: “The McRib has come back like twenty times. Ball's in your court, Jesus.”
Rainn Wilson:“McRib is people! @McDonalds McRib is PEEE-PULLL!!!!!”
Diane Sawyer: “I've only had one McRib in my life and I fondly remember it. And will proudly succumb to another. But why? Why? WHY? so good.”

Scariest Movies Of All Time

What better way to celebrate the spookiest time of year than with a scary movie? 1=MOVIES4&photoidx=4">Movies.MSN.com has compiled a list of the top 50 scary movies. Here are the Top 20:

1. “Psycho” (1960)	11. “Dawn of the Dead” (1978)
2. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)	12. “Cat People” (1942)
3. “Halloween” (1978)	13. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956)
4. “The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935)	14. “Eyes Without a Face” (1960)
5. “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)	15. “Suspiria” (1977)
6. “Repulsion” (1965)	16. “Black Sunday” (1960)
7. “Nosferatu” (1922)	17. “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
8. “The Shining” (1980)	18. “Horror of Dracula” (1958)
9. “The Exorcist” (1973)	19. “Curse of the Werewolf” (1961)
10. “Carrie” (1976)	20. “The Haunting” (1963)

Cities With The Best AND Worst Credit Scores

According to Experian, Wisconsin is the preferred home of the credit elite, with four of its cities – Madison, Wausau, Green Bay and La Crosse – making the credit bureau’s list of American cities with the highest credit scores. Experian finds consumers in the Midwest generally demonstrate they are good for a loan, while those in the South are still struggling to establish creditworthiness. Eight of the 10 cities with the lowest credit scores are in the Southern U.S. Four of these – Harlingen, Corpus Christi, Tyler and El Paso – are in Texas.

Cities With The Highest Credit Scores:		Cities With The Lowest Credit Scores
1. Wausau, WI	789	1. Harlingen, TX	686
2. Minneapolis, MN	787	2. Jackson, MI	701
3. Madison, WI	785	3. Corpus Christi, TX	702
4. Cedar Rapids, IA	781	4. Monroe, LA	706
5. San Francisco, CA	781	5. Shreveport, LA	706
6. Green Bay, WI	780	6. Augusta, GA	709
7. Boston, MA	779	7. Bakersfield, CA	709
8. Peoria, IL	778	8. Las Vegas, NV	709
9. Sioux Falls, SD	778	9. Tyler, TX	710
10. La Crosse, WI	777	10. El Paso, TX	710

Doctors Say Avoid Alcohol 3 Days A Week

British doctors say drinkers should avoid alcohol three days a week to avoid binge drinking cycles and liver disease. The Royal College of Physicians says after a day of drinking “there is a need for a time to recover and that is why we need rest days in between our alcohol consumption.” Sir Ian Gilmore, special adviser on alcohol at the RCP, said they “recommend a safe limit of 0 to 21 units a week for men and 0 to 14 units a week for women, provided the total amount is not drunk in one or two bouts and that there are two or three alcohol-free days a week. At these levels, most individuals are unlikely to come to harm.”

Best Places To Sleep With A Ghost

For travelers intrigued by eerie apparitions and things that go bump in the night, BedandBreakfast.com offers its top 10 list of haunted bed and breakfasts where you can sleep with a ghost. B&Bs and inns across the country report ghost sightings, unexplained noises and moving objects, and hair-raising stories for travelers who enjoy paranormal experiences. More than 15% of adults say they’ve seen a ghost in their lifetime and another 44% have visited a house that was allegedly haunted. While 37.1% of adults would like to visit a real-life haunted house, 27.5% would like to spend the night in one. The top 10 most intriguing B&Bs where you can sleep with a ghost:

Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast Resort, Nice, CA: Guests stay in 1 of 9 former railroad cabooses. A number of guests have told the innkeepers that at night they have seen a man in striped pajamas either walking around the Celebrations caboose room or sitting on the bed. The innkeepers think the ghost may be the spirit of a former railroad worker.

1872 John Denham House, Monticello, FL: This 130-year-old National Historic Register B&B is certifiably haunted. Enjoy a ghost tour and seminar and learn hands-on skills for ghost tracking, plus how to record orbs and vortexes in audio, video, photographic and temperature formats.

Foley House, Savannah, GA: Legend has it that this house was owned in the late 19th century by a widow who rented rooms to travelers and boarders. One night, a boarder attempted to strangle her. She grabbed a candlestick, beat him over the head, and ran to another boarder’s room for help. Returning to the bedroom, they discovered the man was dead. Fearful that she would be imprisoned, she asked the boarder to help her conceal the body in return for free rent. On her death bed, she told friends what happened, but never revealed the location of the body. In 1989, during a renovation, human remains believed to be the boarder that Mrs. Foley murdered were found in a wall. Today, locals refer to this person as “Wally.” Some have reported hearing the door of the room where the man was killed suddenly open then feeling a rush of air.

Kehoe House B&B,  Savannah, GA: Set in a restored 1892 Queen Anne-style mansion, this B&B is reputed to be haunted by the ghosts of the twin Kehoe children who may have died while playing in one of the house’s fireplaces, which is now blocked. There are many reported sightings of the ghosts and the sound of children laughing and playing in the dead of night.

Penny House Inn, Eastham, MA: Home to the “Goodnight Ghost” along with other playful spirits, ghost stories from this inn are well documented. One ghost named Charlotte loves to turn the music up full blast in the inn’s on-site spa, so care is taken before every treatment to turn the music down.

Captain Lindsey House, Rockland, ME: Captain Lindsey is still hanging around here, along with 35 other spirits, according to what he told the “spiritologists” on their recent visit to the inn. Included in the band of happy ghosts is the Captain himself, along with T. B. Severence, the 41-year-old who purchased the inn in 1857; a dominant spirit named Ensign; a 5-year-old named Jeffrey and a 4-year-old named Emmy. The majority of the spiritual activity takes place in the parlor, where glasses of water slide across tables, and doors have been known to slam on their own.

1906 Pine Crest Inn & Restaurant, Tryon, NC: Several psychics have visited the inn and said an “energy vortex” is present. People hear voices – the head chef hears a man greet her many days with a “Good morning!” Once, a salad plate spun around and shot across a table and broke, and utensils and furniture have moved right before employees’ eyes. A former innkeeper said his dresser was moved in front of the door while he slept and all the clothes were taken out and strewn about the room. One night, two employees heard something pounding on the inside door of the locked walk in-cooler. It was empty when they looked inside.

Inn at Herr Ridge, Gettysburg, PA: The former tavern here served as an impromptu field hospital for the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle of Gettysburg. Innkeeper Steven Wolf said that someone once ordered a beer, but no one was there. Odd occurrences regularly happen, including mysterious whispers, calling the names of the employees, cold spots, glasses and silverware flying off tables, even knives and forks falling blade or prongs-first into the floor. Occasionally, computers type gibberish on their own, extinguished lamps re-light, and unexplained crashes occur in the kitchen. Wolf attributes much of the activity to the “house ghost,” Frederick Herr, who purchased the tavern in 1828.

Black Horse Inn, Warrenton, VA: Three ghosts have been accounted for in this former Civil War hospital. The first is a woman believed to have been a nurse in the hospital, who is inclined to laugh only in gentlemen’s ears. The second ghost is known to the whole community as “The Dancer” because his shoes are heard throughout the night as he dances at the top of the stairs. A male ghost makes an impression on the comforter in the Burgundy Room. The Ghost of Christmas tipped over the Christmas tree – breaking all the ornaments – several years so now the tree is wired to the corner of the room.

Green Mountain Inn, Stowe, VT: “Boots” Berry, a tap dancing ghost and former local hero, can still be heard dancing on the third floor of the inn during severe winter storms. The son of the inn’s former horseman and chambermaid, Boots was born in Room 302 in 1840, and grew up in the inn. One morning, Boots stopped a runaway stagecoach, saving the lives of the passengers. His heroism turned to too many congratulatory drinks, and Boots neglected his duties at the inn. He was dismissed and ended up in jail where he learned to tap dance, earning his nickname. Once out of jail, a storm hit the town, and a little girl became stranded on the roof of Room 302. Boots went to the icy roof and lowered the girl to the ground. Just as she reached safety, Boots slipped and fell to his death.