http://www.redorbit.com General http://www.redorbit.com/modules/news/images/tools/rss_logo.gif http://www.redorbit.com About Mars Veterinary(TM)Mars Veterinary is a division of MARS® Incorporated, a company known for innovative consumer and pet food brands that are trusted by people around the world. Its mission is to facilitate responsible pet care by enlightening pet owners and communities with valuable insights into their pets as individuals through innovative, science-based discoveries. For nearly a decade, Mars Veterinary has researched and developed state-of-the-art genetic tests for mixed-breed dogs, revolutionizing personalized pet care. By discovering a mixed-breed dog's ancestry, pet owners and veterinarians can work together to tailor wellness programs that fit the one-of-a-kind needs of a mixed-breed dog. For more information, visit www.wisdompanel.com.About Mars, Incorporated http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1788982/give_your_pooch_the_gift_of_wisdom_this_holiday/index.html?source=r_general Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0500 General People are unconsciously fairer and more generous when they are in clean-smelling environments, according to a soon-to-be published study led by a Brigham Young University professor.The research found a dramatic improvement in ethical behavior with just a few spritzes of citrus-scented Windex.Katie Liljenquist, assistant professor of organizational leadership at BYU’s Marriott School of Management, is the lead author on the piece in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1774568/clean_smells_promote_moral_behavior/index.html?source=r_general Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:20:00 -0500 General Canadian researchers say visiting grandma may help keep toddlers from forming negative age stereotypes about the elderly.The study, published in Educational Gerontology, suggests toddlers lacking contact with older people may attach negative cultural images -- such as being absent-minded or hard-of-hearing -- to the elderly.We've been able to show really early on that kids, when they're just starting to talk, have established beliefs about older people, Sheree Kwong See of the University of Alberta in Edmonton says in a statement. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1742882/study_to_grandmothers_house_we_should_go/index.html?source=r_general Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:50:00 -0500 General A California-based travel Web site picked structures in Mexico, Italy, France, Germany and the United States as the Top Five Pyramids Not in Egypt. VirtualTourist.com chose the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, which was named by the Aztecs centuries after it was abandoned by the Teotihuacanos, as the No. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1737787/site_picks_top_five_nonegyptian_pyramids/index.html?source=r_general Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:05:00 -0500 General U.S. clothing retailer Gap Inc. has revamped its denim line up to capture more market share in the premium blue jean business, the company said.Denim is our birthright. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1737663/gap_revamps_its_denim_look/index.html?source=r_general Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:45:00 -0500 General Home canning, fueled by movements to eat more fruits and vegetables, save money and eat locally, is gaining favor among younger people, a Seattle Web site says.A survey of its community by Allrecipes.com, a food Web site that receives 300 million hits annually, indicates the demographic of canners is shifting from baby boomers to Generations X and Y -- and nearly half of canners are age 40 or younger.Moreover, almost half of canners live in suburban areas, signaling that canning is no longer reserved to rural communities -- or grandma, the Web site says.As the recession progresses and food prices continue to rise, 61 percent of canners say their greatest motivation is saving money.Canning has traditionally been a family tradition passed down by generations, but younger people are looking for canning advice on the Internet. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1736815/canning_not_just_for_grandma_anymore/index.html?source=r_general Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:50:00 -0500 General Psychology professor says children truly value time with parents, not giftsMartha Wadsworth, associate professor of psychology at the University of Denver (DU), says during the holidays families should focus on what has been proven to matter most in psychological research – quality family time."I love the winter holidays because most of them are about being together with those you love and getting back to what is important in life and that's our relationship with each other," she says. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1785977/refocus_for_holidays_to_ease_financial_tension/index.html?source=r_general Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:20:00 -0500 General Online sales this holiday season are expected to increase by 8 percent, compared to last year, to $44.7 billion. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1779569/rise_in_online_sales_predicted_this_holiday_season/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:55:00 -0500 General National Sleep Foundation Launches Annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R) to Prevent Fall-Asleep Crashes With Tips and CountermeasuresWASHINGTON, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sleepiness is often overlooked as a major contributor to vehicle crashes. The National Sleep Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll shows that 1% or as many as 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in the past year. Even more surprising, 54% of drivers (105 million) have driven while drowsy at least once in the past year, and 28% (54 million) do so at least once per month."People underestimate how tired they are and think that they can stay awake by sheer force of will," said Thomas Balkin, Ph.D., Chairman of the National Sleep Foundation. "This is a risky misconception. Would there be 1.9 million fatigue-related crashes or near misses if people were good at assessing their own ability to drive when fatigued?" "The problem," says Balkin, "is that although we are pretty good at recognizing when we feel sleepy, we do not recognize the process of actually falling asleep as it is happening. The process robs us of both self-awareness and awareness of our environment. All it takes is a moment of reduced awareness to cause a crash."Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit in all states. Like alcohol, fatigue slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment. But unlike an awake driver impaired by alcohol, a sleeping driver is unable to take any action to avoid a crash."Too many Americans are exhausted when they get behind the wheel, and they may not fully understand how dangerous it is to drive while drowsy," says David M. Cloud, the National Sleep Foundation's Chief Executive Officer. "The National Sleep Foundation recommends that drivers take practical measures when they feel that sleepiness is impairing their driving. Unfortunately, many drivers are misinformed on what to do in this situation. Understanding crucial warning signs and countermeasures is key to preventing fatigue-related crashes."Feeling Sleepy? Stop driving if you exhibit these warning signs!The following warning signs indicate that it's time to stop driving and find a safe place to pull over and address your condition:Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelidsDifficulty keeping reveries or daydreams at bayTrouble keeping your head upDrifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble stripsUnable to clearly remember the last few miles drivenMissing exits or traffic signsYawning repeatedlyFeeling restless, irritable, or aggressiveCountermeasures - National Sleep Foundation's Tips for Drowsy-free Driving:Get a good night's sleep before you hit the road. Most adults need 7 - 9 hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness.Don't be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize their time by driving at night or not stopping for breaks. However, crashes caused by sleepiness are among the most deadly. It's worth extra time and money to arrive at your destination safely.Use the buddy system. Just as you should not swim alone, avoid driving alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue.Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.Avoid alcohol and sedating medications check your labels or ask your doctor or pharmacist about side-effects.Avoid driving at times when you would normally be sleeping.Take a nap; if you feel that you are in danger of falling asleep find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.Pack a cooler with caffeinated beverages or keep caffeinated gum and mints in the glove compartment. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours. Since caffeine in liquid form takes about 20 to 30 minutes to take effect, consume caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both. However, it should be remembered that caffeine does not replace sleep, it only delays its onset temporarily.Adequate sleep remains the best countermeasure for sleepiness!For more information about drowsy driving, visit www.sleepfoundation.org. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R)In an effort to reduce the number of fatigue-related crashes and to save lives, the National Sleep Foundation is declaring November 2-8, 2009 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R). This annual campaign provides public education about the under-reported risks of driving while drowsy and countermeasures to improve safety on the road.About the National Sleep FoundationThe National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known for its annual Sleep in America poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients, people affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities throughout North America. For more information about the National Sleep Foundation and a directory of its sleep center members, please visit www.sleepfoundation.org.Sponsors for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R) 2009Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz continues to be a leader in developing technologies to help keep drivers safe and alert. The ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness-detection system, an innovation released on the all-new 2010 E-Class sedan, is equipped with sophisticated sensors that monitor the driver's operation of the vehicle across 70 parameters that have proven to be strong indicators of alertness levels. Mercedes-Benz is a proud sponsor of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R) (Nov. 2-8). For more information, visit http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/whatsnew/)National Sleep Awareness Roundtable http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1778376/annual_drowsy_driving_prevention_week_launched/index.html?source=r_general Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0500 General FARE RULESFares are available on www.southwest.com or www.swabiz.com  http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1775511/southwest_airlines_offers_fares_as_low_as_25_to_select/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0500 General U.S. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1761616/starbucks_goes_national_with_instant_via/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:50:00 -0500 General Falling commodity prices have coincided with dropping prices in grocery stores, data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates.On the Chicago Board of Trade, corn prices are down 56 percent from their peak in July 2008, The Washington Post reported Thursday. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1755136/grocers_turn_to_price_cuts_is_this_war/index.html?source=r_general Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:20:00 -0500 General Industry market analysts said large U.S. toy retailers are gearing up aggressively for the upcoming holiday shopping season, as the recession continues.Toys R Us is expected to open 80 temporary stores for the holiday season, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1753358/toy_retailers_set_up_for_holiday_sprint/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:25:00 -0500 General Fast food giant McDonald's has forced a Toronto start-up restaurant to change its name from McFalafel in a trademark dispute.Restaurant owner Abdal Salam told the Toronto Star he's been hounded by the U.S. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1750680/mcdonalds_doesnt_like_mcfalafel_name/index.html?source=r_general Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:20:00 -0500 General Contributions and pledges to the 44th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in Las Vegas totaled $60,481,231, organizers said.The funds raised during the Labor Day weekend's 21 1/2-hour event will allow the non-profit Muscular Dystrophy Association to continue funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases.Contributions also provide assistance with the purchase of equipment such as wheelchairs and leg braces; send thousands of children to MDA summer camp; and support more than 200 MDA clinics across the country.Last year's telethon raised a record $65 million.These are very special people, and their money comes straight from the heart, MDA National Chairman and telethon star Jerry Lewis said in a statement. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1748865/mda_telethon_raises_605_million/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:15:00 -0500 General A U.S. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1748273/site_names_top_mountains_for_nonclimbers/index.html?source=r_general Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:20:00 -0500 General The females of the first family made the list of the 1,000 most popular baby names, says a new report, but the president did not.Michelle, the first lady's name, and those of her daughters, Sasha and Malia, appeared on the list released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration, The New York Times reports.Sasha, at 353rd, hasn't changed much in rank in the past few years. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1743550/barack_not_catching_on_as_a_baby_name/index.html?source=r_general Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:10:00 -0500 General Nickelodeon, the city of New Orleans and Southern Star Amusement have announced plans to create a themed water park called Nickelodeon Universe New Orleans. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1739852/new_orleans_plans_nickelodeon_theme_park/index.html?source=r_general Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:05:00 -0500 General Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children despite the widespread availability of effective child passenger restraint systems (CPRSs) such as child safety seats. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1767867/child_safety_seat_education_needs_a_boost/index.html?source=r_general Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:50:00 -0500 General U.S. food giant Kraft Foods Global Inc. says it is recalling about 4 tons of frozen pepperoni and sausage pizzas because they might trigger soy allergies.The U.S. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1738909/some_kraft_pizzas_are_recalled/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0500 General The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Paula Deen cast iron cookware due to burn and laceration hazards.About 51,000 Hammered Cast Iron Cookware pans and griddles were imported from China by QVC Inc. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1763933/paula_deen_cast_iron_cookware_recalled/index.html?source=r_general Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:40:00 -0500 General Ready or not, U.S. retailers are pushing the Christmas shopping season earlier this year to make up for slow summer sales, a marketing expert said.Everyone's fighting for that Christmas dollar. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1760645/shops_getting_into_christmas_spirit_early/index.html?source=r_general Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:50:00 -0500 General The California man behind Thursday's National Punctuation Day said he is holding a contest for pastries shaped like punctuation marks.Jeff Rubin, 59, of Pinole, a punctuation enthusiast and former copy editor, said he is celebrating this year's National Punctuation Day, which has been listed as a holiday in Chase's Calendar of Events since 2004, by starting a contest for punctuation-shaped desserts, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.The contest ends Sept. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1759309/thursday_celebration_of_punctuation/index.html?source=r_general Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0500 General People would be willing to pay more for products that carry detailed nutritional information than for the so-called light items. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1781974/consumers_spend_more_on_products_with_detailed_nutritional_information/index.html?source=r_general Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:37:23 -0500 General The booklet is based largely on insights from two academic experts on food pricing - Dr. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1749105/shopping_around_is_key_to_smaller_food_bill/index.html?source=r_general Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:52:21 -0500 General