Daily Dose of Common Sense

As few as 25 years ago, neuroscientists stuck firmly to the belief that as we aged our brains became fixed and static–hence the saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. However, new research is saying otherwise. Enter the relatively new concept of brain plasticity and the related practice of brain fitness.

In the simplest terms, brain plasticity is the brain’s capacity for continuous physical, chemical and functional change. Brain fitness is the purposeful exercising of our gray matter to keep it engaged and healthy.

And, while brain plasticity has bona-fide roots and application in the neuroscientific community, brain fitness seems to be a new ‘it thing’ for some quacky websites, books, training seminars, and even diets. The Wikipedia entry for brain fitness notes, “The term is virtually never used in the scientific literature, but is commonly used in the context of self-help books and commercial products.” But, if you wade through the brain fitness drivel, essentially the premise is use it or lose it. Moreover, how you use it is equally important.

One source lists the following the ideal components of brain fitness activities:

• They should teach you something new.
• They should be challenging.
• They should be progressive.
• They should engage your great brain processing systems.
• They should be rewarding. (My personal favorite.)
• They should be novel or surprising.

And there you have it. In order to maintain our brain health and take advantage of the newfound concept of brain plasticity, we need to continually engage our noggins in new and challenging ways.

Hmmm. I don’t think I need a website or seminar to tell me that.

A new weight-loss device puts a spin on the term “comfort food.” A doctor has invented a postage-stamp sized patch that is surgically adhered to a person’s tongue. The patch makes eating painful, and the patient is forced to go on an all-liquid diet to gain nutrients.

The creator claims patients lose as much as twenty pounds in one month. Um, yeah. That’s what we would expect when someone has to drink caesar salad milkshakes and steak smoothies for thirty days. Mmmmmmmmmm….steak smoothies.

I sure hope anyone considering this mumbo jumbo realizes that the results won’t last. What happens when you return to real food? You’re back to your original weight, I’d wager. And, how can you talk with this thing sewn onto your tongue? If it makes eating painful, it’s probably not fun to talk, either. But, hey, if you want to sound like Cindy Brady in your staff meetings, then be my guest. For a real glimpse, check out the photo of the patch’s application.

Losing weight isn’t easy, and people are always looking for a quick fix. Unless you need to fit in your Oscar gown, I think this is just a way to torture yourself for a month.

[Via Pat's Papers]

A man in Florida claims he opened a can of Diet Pepsi, took a sip, and got a mouth full of rotting frog. Hmmmmm…. The FDA confirms the can contained amphibian parts, but I’m sure skeptical of how the frog got into the can in the first place. Chances are, based on the packaging process, the couple put it in there themselves. If not, the frog’s presence would have to be the result of a worker placing it in the can deliberately. Seems unlikely.

Most claims of this sort turn out to be hoaxes. Remember the woman who found a severed finger in her Wendy’s chili? Turned out the finger came from the husband’s friend, who lost it in an industrial accident. The big tip off? The finger hadn’t been cooked, so investigators smelled a scam.

The FDA has launched an investigation into how the frog got into the can. They have already checked the Pepsi bottling plant from where the can originated. No “adverse conditions or association to this problem” were found. Next, I assume they will be looking at the couple involved with a more discerning eye.

Speaking of the couple, they are seeking legal advice. Even if it were a legit case–which I doubt–is suing the company appropriate? To me, it just smacks of a desperate play to extort money from a big corporation.

So, drink up! The chemical additives and acid in the soda will do far more harm than anything else you might find in there.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: sailorbill

Spam is the bane of every email account. Emails you don’t want from people you don’t know, usually trying to sell you something you don’t need. Many aren’t even in your native language. According to one company in California, spam volumes have increased four-fold in the last six months. Guess it’s one of the few areas that’s booming in this recession.

Here’s an email that slipped past my spam filter and recently landed in my in-box. Both annoying and nebulous, I had to laugh over this one. Does this really work on anyone? (I sure hope not.)

Hello,

I am Mr. XX, supervisor on investment in Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong.; I have a sensitive, confidential brief from Hong Kong and I am asking for your partnership in re-profiling funds ($18,500,000.00 USD).

Hmmm….sounds like a lot of money. What, exactly, does “re-profiling” funds entail? Is that similar to what they do to criminals on CSI? If I can get a lab coat and microscope out of the deal, I’m in!

What I require from you is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you.

Very polite. Yet, not informative. I still don’t have any idea what is going on. Why do we need protection from the law? This all seems very clandestine.

All confirmable documents to back up this fund shall be made available to you, as soon as I receive your reply, I shall let you know what is required of you.

Will this message self-destruct in thirty seconds?

I can tell the spammers what they DO need, and that is an editor. (I’m available if they want someone to fix punctuation, grammar, and spelling mistakes.)

Don’t ever reply to spam. This ploy is obviously a scam, and these are awful people looking to do you harm. If you’re overly curious and want to see what kind of nuts run these scams, check out Dean Cameron’s Spam Scam Scam. Cameron responded to one of the Nigerian spam emails and began a correspondence with the spammers. The results became a live show, and it’s hilarious.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: borman818

Sometimes I think animal lovers go too far. This is a perfect example. A company in Brazil has manufactured the first sex toy for dogs.

The DoggieLoveDoll is aimed for dogs who are alone a lot of the day, presumably because no owner is around to rub against. What’s wrong with the couch?

And, how disturbing is this photo? (Answer: Really disturbing.)

[Via Gizmodo]

This past week, The Amazing Meeting 7 congregated in Las Vegas. Today, the final day, $1 million was on the line as self-proclaimed psychic Connie Sonne stepped up to take JREF’s infamous challenge.

If you don’t know about the challenge, here’s the deal. James Randi and his organization have offered a $1 million prize to anyone who can offer scientific proof of the paranormal. Since 1964, no one has been able to win the money. About 1,000 people have applied for the challenge, and testing has been completed on astrology, ESP, dowsing, psychics, faith healing, and more. No one to date has been able to prove their abilities are real.

Today’s applicant also goes home without the money. Asked to dowse three cards, Ms. Sonne failed. To read more about the test and the set up, read this JREF blog thread.

If you believe you have a paranormal “gift,” then submit your application to JREF and try to win the million bucks. Until then, we’ll remain skeptical about anyone who claims to possess paranormal abilities.

My three-year old loves ghosts. She loves any book with a ghost in it, and Boo Berry cereal is always a huge hit. But, she’s never afraid of them, and doesn’t consider them any more real than Spongebob Squarepants. To her, as well as rational people everywhere, ghosts are fictional, amusing things. We can say this because the existence of ghosts, or any kind of paranormal activity for that matter, has never been credibly documented or recorded using true scientific methods.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ladies, do you want to increase bust size without surgery? Well, step right up and take a gander at the Magic Massage Bra!

According to the company, this “micro-computerized, low-voltage, intensity adjustable” Magic Massage Bra will do all these things:

• Make breast up.
• Dredge breast glands.
• Eliminate blood stasis.
• Effectively prevent women from breasts diseases and flaccid.
• Also can move fat and make a well-shaped figure.
• If use it often, you can have a sound sleep, immunity from disease and better internal secretion.

This really needs no explanation, as there is no way this product can really work. What is the science here, exactly? Breasts don’t get enlarged this way, folks.

But, it’s good for a laugh. [Thanks, Gizmodo!]

An AP story came out this week discussing how alternative medicine is more often sneaking into the mainstream. But, at what cost? The benefits of alternative medicine have yet to be proven, and some practices and supplements are flat-out harmful.

A few herbal supplements can directly threaten health. A surprising number do not supply what their labels claim, contain potentially harmful substances like lead, or are laced with hidden versions of prescription drugs.

“In testing, one out of four supplements has a problem,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, an independent company that rates such products.

Some doctors interviewed said they include alternative methods in their treatment because it causes patients to relax and, at the same time, feel as though they are receiving better care. The doctors know it’s hoodoo, but are concerned more about what the patient perceives than the science. It’s almost a prescription of the placebo effect.

And it’s not just supplements, which may be just a waste of money. More dangerous are people with life-threatening diseases who miss a critical treatment window while off seeking unproven cures. Last week, a couple in Australia were found guilty of manslaughter after homeopathic treatments of their daughter’s eczema failed. The little girl died after the parents continued to reject conventional treatments for the condition.

Mainstream medicine and big pharmaceutical companies have had problems over the years, for sure. But, regulatory agencies, consumer watch-dog groups, and standard guidelines are in place to act as a system of checks and balances. So, the level of risk involved isn’t as high as that of alternative medicine.

The latest government survey shows the magnitude of risk: More than a third of Americans use unconventional therapies, including acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and native or traditional healing methods. These practitioners are largely self-policing, with their own schools and accreditation groups. Some states license certain types, like acupuncturists; others do not.

The “natural” claim doesn’t mean it’s without risk. If a treatment promises something that is too good to be true, chances are it is a waste of time and money.

No one likes to talk about it, but it’s out there. And, with swimsuit season ahead, it’s about to see the light of day. Yep, it’s… cellulite.

The dimpled appearance of cellulite is caused by fat deposits that distort the outer layer of skin. And, it’s your genetics that determine whether you will develop cellulite. The desire to get rid of the unsightly bumps has led to a multi-billion dollar industry, including creams, supplements, massages, and serums.

Do any of these treatments work? Nope. Quick fixes for cellulite can’t get under the skin and inside your fat cells. The best defense against developing cellulite is to eat a healthy diet and keep your muscles toned. So, save your money and hit the gym.