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Now that the new year is here, it’s time to get serious about your drinking. As you ease into 2012 and refine your list of resolutions, we have five more important ones you should consider adding. Let’s make this a truly spirited year!
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While Americans may have invented the cocktail, we have a lot to learn from Europeans about enjoying one. On the Continent, many people fix an appetite-stimulating drink before dinner, like a Negroni (pictured above); a digestif afterwards, like the Fernando; and then at the end of the evening, a nightcap, like the Cruzan

We’re all aware of the sobering statistics that tell us that 50% of marriages end in divorce. We know that the modern marriage is vulnerable to a myriad of obstacles that couples must learn to navigate if their partnership is to succeed. We want to do everything we can to divorce-proof an impending marriage. Our culture supports premarital counseling for the couple to learn essential tools for conflict resolution but it still fails to prepare each person as an individual for the life-altering transition of getting

I recently made a six-hour car trip with my two children, ages 14 and 11. As a wily old veteran of this particular form of maternal torture, I thought I was as prepared as humanly possible. Both had fully charged phones and iPads and backpacks full of books and snacks — two of everything, just like Noah’s Ark. They had the option of watching movies, listening to music, reading, talking to or texting with

The word theory is used a lot. However, among the lay population there is a fundamental misunderstanding or, in some instances, a purposeful misrepresentation of what the scientific meaning of word “theory” is. Does the misunderstanding and the misrepresentation of the word theory matter? The answer is an emphatic yes.
While there are many similar scientific definitions of “theory,” they are all something like the following. One definition of a scientific theory is, “a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena”

Water- or hydro-therapy can be traced to about 4,500 BC to the areas that are now Egypt, Iraq and Iran. Immersing the body in water has been shown to be very relaxing, therapeutic and a complement to a healthy lifestyle The deep muscle relaxation associated with a good hot bath helps to reduce cramps, tension headaches and improves muscle elasticity. The process is similar to a massage and beneficial for everyone from athletes to those who sit at a desk all day. It has even been said that taking a bath takes you back to a time when you were in the womb, thus creating a comforting and relaxing

Drugs designed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have been widely available for decades, but America now faces its most severe shortage of these drugs since they came on the market.
Adderall, Ritalin and similar drugs are used by an estimated 5.4 million children and 1.5 million adults who suffer from ADHD. Drug company marketing strategies are behind much of the shortages, says Gary Boggs, agent for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
Many who rely on these medications drive for hours to find them — searching from one pharmacy to another.
Meanwhile, more and more health professionals are recognizing the viability of effective meditation for overcoming

A few nights ago while watching Fox Business, an argument which I had thought to have been over for months was reignited — an argument over class warfare. Being that the Obama administration has recently issued new intentions of raising the debt ceiling once again for just over one trillion dollars, a debate in congress and senate has erupted once more. Arguments over taxes and trickle-down theories is nothing new. Republicans arguing for reducing taxes overall, especially on the rich, and cutting social welfare programs such as public housing and medicaid, detours many of the lower class voters and increases

Until a couple of days ago, Republican voters and the media seemed to be settling on Newt Gingrich as the front-runner for the GOP candidacy. Although Mitt Romney won (barely) the Iowa caucuses and Gingrich was far behind, Gingrich was ahead in the Republican national polls, and far ahead in the polls for the Florida and South Carolina caucuses, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Now, although slightly behind Romney in the Republican national polls, he has settled as a major contester to Romney’s nomination, particularly in South Carolina and Florida.
I wrote a while ago about Rick Perry’s emergence as a seemingly stable front-runner after the media and Republican voters had cycled through many others (always avoiding, of course, Mitt

I’m often asked, “If I were to change just one thing about my diet, what could I do to help me lose weight and/or improve my health?”
I’d definitely make my recommendation based on what I learned as the nutritionist for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” for 12 seasons. BL contestants personify overweight America. The habits that helped them and millions of Americans earn top ranking among obese nations of the world include:
Have absolutely no idea how many calories their body really needs (and how many more they’re actually taking in)
Skipped breakfast and often, many other meals
Didn’t eat enough fruit or vegetables
Didn’t eat enough protein (lean protein)
Didn’t eat enough whole grains
Ate too much white stuff: white flour, white pasta, white sugar, white rice, simple carbs
Didn’t feel they had time to plan ahead — they found themselves grabbing something quick for a meal — often consumed in the car or at their desk
Often had enough calories in beverages alone to meet their daily caloric needs
Didn’t drink enough water
Didn’t exercise enough (if at all)
Prioritized their spouse, partner, children and/or their jobs over their own health and well-being
There are so many small changes that can quickly make a big difference to improve our health and achieve an optimal weight. One easy step is lose the white stuff and switch to whole grains.
Easier said than done, I

We are at the beginning of a year that is poised to be momentous and unlike any time we have experienced in the history of humankind. Some believe it is the beginning of the end of the world; I believe they are right — figuratively. The changes we have experienced in recent years have brought us to the end of the world — as we know it. Nothing is the same, all bets are off; the past has let go of it’s hold on the

The central battleground in the war against workers today is the Indiana Statehouse. Anti-worker lawmakers are frantic to pass a bill that would weaken unions and shrink Indiana’s middle class. The legislative fight over the measure could make the Super Bowl look like a stroll in the park.
Indiana’s Republican leadership is desperate to pass a so-called “right to work” bill before

Source:Associated Press
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SAN ANTONIO — Anyone seeking the negative effects of the NBA’s compressed season should look no further than Dirk Nowitzki’s performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.With the Dallas Mavericks playing their sixth game in eight nights, the team’s star forward scored only six points on 3-of-11 shooting in a 93-71 loss. It was his lowest scoring output since he put up five in a Dec. 18, 2009, game against Houston that he left early because of an injury.Nowitzki acknowledged that the short turnaround is affecting him.”I like that we fought back and tried, but offensively nobody had legs,” Nowitzki said. “A bunch of shots were right there that could have gone. (Jason Terry), myself, everything seemed to come out.”
More on the Mavericks
News, notes and analysis of the Mavericks from ESPNDallas.com’s Jeff Caplan, Tim MacMahon and our team. Blog

Making matters worse was an injury to Jason Kidd, who left late in the first quarter with a lower back injury and never returned. The team said he will be re-evaluated Friday.The Mavericks hit only 27 of 77 shots, including 1 of 19 from 3-point range. The Spurs, meanwhile, made only 34 of 86 shots from the field but hit 16 of 33 from long range.Matt Bonner led San Antonio with 17 points, going 5 of 9 from 3-point range. Richard Jefferson added 16 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and Gary Neal scored all his 12 points on 3s.”It’s important,” Bonner said of the win. “It’s a long season, it’s early in the season. They were coming off a back-to-back, so you’ve gotta keep some perspective. We played hard tonight, protected our home court, and we’re happy with the win.”Bonner’s 17 points gave him more than Nowitzki and Spurs veteran Tim Duncan (10 points) combined. It’s not a feat that Bonner expects to repeat any time soon.”That was a Christmas miracle,” Bonner said.A miracle made possible by a tired Mavericks team.”Some of it is on us,” Nowitzki said, “but six games in eight days is a lot for anybody.”The Spurs were playing their second game without leading scorer Manu Ginobili. Ginobili had successful surgery on the fifth metacarpal in his left hand Thursday morning, the team announced. He’s expected to be out about six weeks. He was hurt at Minnesota on Monday night.Neal started for the Spurs and made his presence felt on the opening possession.”It was originally designed for Timmy in the post,” Neal said of his basket only 12 seconds into the game. “But my defender was sagging off me a little bit, and I shot it. I’m glad it went in. It might have been a quick sub if I missed it.”Neal hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter and the Spurs jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first quarter. The Spurs led 55-29 at halftime behind 11-of-18 shooting from 3-point range.The teams combined for only 24 points in the third quarter, and with his team trailing 66-42 heading into the fourth, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle elected not to play Nowitzki in the final period.Terry scored 12 points to lead the Mavericks, while Delonte West added 10. No other Dallas player reached double figures.While the Spurs aren’t about to give back the victory, they were the first ones to admit this wasn’t the typical Mavericks team — and certainly not a typical Nowitzki.”You didn’t see the real Dirk tonight, that’s for sure,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “As the season wears on, all the teams will get into better shape and get sharper and look better.”Terry, for one, is ready for the rematch.”We’re a team that prides ourselves on getting stops defensively and making them pay on the offensive end, and that didn’t happen tonight,” Terry said. “Maybe when guys get their legs back, we’ll start making shots at a higher percentage.”Game notes The Mavericks have 22 back-to-backs this season and the Spurs have 20. … F Ike Diogu, signed earlier this week, played his first game for the Spurs. He played 4:43 and didn’t score. … James Anderson, who started the previous game in place of Ginobili, played only 6 minutes and scored five points.
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Rick Santorum gripes about “blacks” getting welfare, Newt Gingrich calls Obama a “food stamp president,” Mitt Romney parrots the KKK line, “America for Americans” and the list goes on. Republicans haven’t evolved since Ronald Reagan talked about “welfare queens,” quoted Jefferson Davis in Macon, GA, and pointedly visited Philadelphia, Mississippi without mentioning the civil rights massacre there.
read full news from www.huffingtonpost.com

Source:Associated Press
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ATLANTA — Chris Bosh scored 33 points and the Miami Heat, playing without injured stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, beat the Atlanta Hawks 116-109 in triple-overtime on Thursday night.Mario Chalmers had 22 of his 29 points after the third quarter for the Heat, including five in the third overtime.Wade missed his second straight game with a sore left foot and James was held out after he turned his left ankle late in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s 118-83 win over Indiana. Neither star was in uniform.
MIAMI HEAT
Even more coverage of the Big 3 and their adventures in Miami. Heat Index »
Bosh hit a last-second, tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force the first overtime.Joe Johnson had 20 points for the Hawks, who did not score in the third extra period. Josh Smith added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, which was seeking its second win over the Heat in four days but missed 15 of 46 free throws.Bosh, the only healthy member of Miami’s Big Three, had 14 rebounds.The Hawks led 93-90 when Bosh launched the tying 3-point attempt from the wing over Marvin Williams with only six-tenths of a second remaining in regulation.Miami took a 67-54 lead on a 3-pointer by Chalmers midway through the third before the Hawks closed the quarter with a 16-1 run to take control.Little-used rookie Ivan Johnson was a big surprise with 13 points for Atlanta. Johnson, an undrafted player from Cal State-San Bernadino, had a steal and jam to cut Miami’s lead to one point and then closed the third quarter with two free throws to give the Hawks their first lead of the second half.Ivan Johnson and Al Horford fouled out in the third overtime.Before the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wade “was a little bit more unlikely” than James to play.”We’re weighing everything: the schedule ahead, rest, how much treatment we can do,” Spoelstra said.”Thankfully, these aren’t debilitating injuries.”Wade hurt his foot at Charlotte on Dec. 28.James, who participated in pregame warmups, and Wade were often active and animated as they watched from Miami’s bench, at times leaping up as they reacted to plays.James Jones and Shane Battier were the fill-in starters.The Hawks, who won at Miami on Monday night to give the Heat their only loss, struggled with poor shooting as there were 17 lead changes in the first half.Miami led 54-49 at halftime.Game notes G-F Tracy McGrady played 29 minutes off Atlanta’s bench after coach Larry Drew said the veteran’s status was uncertain due to a bruised knee. … The Hawks play at Charlotte on Friday and host Chicago on Saturday to complete three games in three days. … Heat F Mike Miller, recovering from hernia surgery, has been cleared for full contact. Spoelstra said he would ease Miller into action.
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Lost in the debate about budget cuts and payroll taxes is the dire situation facing 2.8 million American workers, men and women who live in our neighborhoods, who are trying to provide for themselves and their families while struggling to find work. With limits on the amount of time individuals can receive support through state-based unemployment insurance programs, federal unemployment benefits have become a safe harbor of sorts for the long-term unemployed, with the impact of these benefits extending far beyond individual workers’ wallets.
Although the modest unemployment insurance is significantly less than what is required to meet the basic household needs, which WOW estimates to be nearly $68,000 for two-parent households, it certainly helps make a dent in regular bills.
And, these dollars get

A Conversation with Merle Haggard
Mike Ragogna: Merle, let’s talk about your recent album Working in Tennessee, but first, how are you doing?
Merle Haggard: I’m doing alright, Mike. How’re you?
MR: Doing very well, thanks. And thank you so much for your time, I’m very honored.
MH: Absolutely, my pleasure.
MR: Merle, the thing that I love most about Working In Tennessee is that it really comes across as a family album. Is that what you were going for?
MH: It certainly

I know that I began my last recap of “The Vampire Diaries” with “Oh my god,” but… oh my god. I guess it pays to be patient, because the epic Delena moment that we’ve all being waiting for finally happened. Damon told Elena how he felt about her — and then he kissed her!
And the best part? This time no one was dying, and they were both consciously aware of what they were doing.
Let’s just relive this moment in “Vampire Diaries” history, shall we?
After a brotherly rumble, one that obviously involved some playful staking, Stefan tells his brother the truth about why he saved

Imagine the members of a nonprofit board being so committed to the mission that they put the board meetings in their calendars in advance and attended all meetings in person; made financial contributions and asked their company and friends to support the organization; always acted to advance the mission; and disclosed any potential conflicts of interests.
Imagine the board having a highly effective board chair and officers; with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives having the experience, expertise, networks and relationships needed to advance the nonprofit; a clear set of board member expectations and a system of accountability; a sound board structure so that the board is logically organized to accomplish its work; agendas focused to help facilitate the board’s work; and a leadership succession plan.
Imagine the board chair and the board working in collaboration with the CEO, a highly effective leader and advocate.
Imagine the board fulfilling its legal duties of care, loyalty, and obedience.
Imagine the board also fulfilling a fourth duty: the duty of imagination — envisioning the greater potential of the organization to advance the community it serves. The board would do this by addressing the following question with the CEO: “Where will we take this organization in the next few years so that we can provide even greater value in achieving our mission?” For some organizations, that could mean expanding services, either within the community or beyond. For others, it might mean establishing strategic alliances and collaborations with other service providers.
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On Dec. 28 New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma tweeted that men should not have “female tendencies.” He denied being homophobic and sexist, but in doing so he proved he simply has “asshole tendencies.”
His grown-up tweet read (and please excuse his spelling error):
Period. With “NOT” in all-caps. Seems pretty all-encompassing, right? He didn’t have to put “not” in

Mingling at a New Year’s Eve party, I heard the “boiling frog story” for the first time. More an anecdote than a story, it goes like this: a frog will jump out if placed in a pan of boiling water, but if submerged in cold water that is heated very slowly, the frog won’t jump out and will actually allow itself to be cooked to death.
The telling of this story was followed by frozen silence, with drinks pausing in mid-air. You could see the cerebral wheels turning and then came outbursts of knowing laughter. This story struck a chord in

I recently attended a seminar where I was talking to another attorney about whether more marriages are ending because one or the other spouse is involved in an extra-marital affair. It was her position that she sees almost all of her clients coming in to seek a divorce based upon one or the other spouses’ infidelity. I thought about this for awhile. My response was that I have seen every possible reason for a divorce

A researcher has come out complaining that a religious-right “expert” distorted her work to stigmatize the LGBTQ community.
According to Box Turtle Bulletin, Rick Fitzgibbons of the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) wrote a piece about same-sex adoption. In the piece Fitzgibbons cites the work of Seton Hall professor Theodora Sirota to make the case that children in same-sex households are not raised better than children “in stable homes with a mother and a father.”
However, according to Sirota, Fitzgibbons misused her work. You can read her statement here, but Box Turtle Bulletin breaks the distortion down nicely:
The problem is not with what Fitzgibbons said; it’s what he left out: The gay and bisexual fathers in Sirota’s study were married to the mothers.

If you heard a collective gasp New Year’s Day, that was the sound of New York Times readers, newly resolute about losing weight, reading Tara Parker-Pope’s sobering article about the near impossibility of achieving that goal. Once we become fat, most of us, despite our best efforts, will probably stay fat. That’s what Parker-Pope concluded in writing last Sunday’s magazine piece, “The Fat Trap.”
To be clear, I don’t exactly share Parker-Pope’s conclusion. While I agree that dieters have a heck of a time keeping off what they manage to lose, the difficulty, in my professional opinion, is in the dieting, not the