Monthly Archives: February 2014

Pregnant teens under age 15 face unique risks: study

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Sexual Health News Headlines – Yahoo! News
Pregnant teens under age 15 face unique risks: study
That statistic “is very serious and represents complicated relationships with unequal power,” said lead author and obstetrician Dr. Marcela Smid, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Girls who became pregnant before age 15 were twice as likely as older girls to be Hispanic or black, the researchers found. Only 25 percent of the youngest teen group reported using contraceptives the first time they had sex, compared to 56 percent of older girls. In general, U.S. teen pregnancy rates have gradually declined, but, for the youngest teens especially, “any pregnancy rate above zero is too high,” she said.

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Little Kid Amazes Costco Shoppers With Piano Skills (VIDEO)

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Good News – The Huffington Post
Little Kid Amazes Costco Shoppers With Piano Skills (VIDEO)
The last thing you’d expect to get at Costco is a free concert.

But for a few unsuspecting customers, that’s exactly what happened. While shopping with his parents, a fedora rocking child name Felipe stopped at a piano in the store’s musical instruments section and started breaking it down. Although nobody has confirmed his identity, his skills are not in question.

A group of onlookers quickly gathered once they heard the young man’s talent, and a few — including Jonathan Velasquez — even started recording videos while he performed Vittorio Monti’s ‘Czardas.’The video was originally uploaded in 2011 and is recently making the viral rounds online.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be supremely impressed by this Costco concert.

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Laser surgery for correcting vision is popular, but it may not be a complete solution

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Health & Science: Science News, Health News, Scientific Developments, Healthcare & Nutrition – The Washington Post
Laser surgery for correcting vision is popular, but it may not be a complete solution

With eyeglasses, contacts, eye exams and laser surgery, U.S. adults spent more than $35 billion on vision care in the year ending June 2013, according to the Vision Council, a trade group. But not all of what we buy for our eyes is necessarily a good idea or worth the money. Consumer Reports reviewed the evidence and consulted experts for the latest on what helps, harms or has no effect.

Read full article >>

    



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The Genesis of Writing

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TED Weekends – The Huffington Post
The Genesis of Writing
Click here to watch the TEDTalk that inspired this post.

When recollecting the origins of my writing, I am reminded of the 16-year-old teenager who wrote her first poem on the eve of her daughter’s birth.

There, seated on the hospital bed awaiting the chance to hold my newborn child, I heard the whispers of those around me who warned about all of the obstacles that lay ahead. Amidst the negative comments and the ill behaviors of family members and attending nurses arose the gift of the written word. The thoughts and raw emotions that remained unspoken were released within the prose. Inside the words stirred the anger and distress not yet expressed. In that time of youthful discomfiture, these thoughts and feelings never met my voice. And thus, the pen became my weapon to annihilate my fears and release my frustrations, as well.

What I came to learn was that the limits I set were of my own making. In expanding my consciousness, I learned that the limitation had become the ultimate liberation. — Lillie Leonardi

In the days, weeks, months and years that followed the birth of my daughter, I penned my poetry. Not in the traditional format of a tutored poet, but in an unconventional stance that conveyed the sentiment of my heart. During that time, I wrote sagas that mirrored my life. I recall the soft summer afternoons when I sat perched on the terrace stairwell of my patio and wrote. There basking in the sun, I composed with feral abandonment the words closed off from the awake ear. And there among the brightly colored roses and peonies, I bloomed into a novice author. Oh, the treasured moments of the genesis of my writing when the dreams of tomorrow lingered in the soft recesses of my soul. There awaiting the opportunity to be set free and share the essence of my being.

But alas, as time all too swiftly passed, I seemed to lose the ability to be creative. And before too long, I abandoned the pen to tend to the trials and tribulations of life. It would take a series of misfortunes before I once again picked up the pen and unearthed the stories contained within.

In my recent blogs for The Huffington Post, I have written how horrific events in life can either destroy an individual or make them stronger. The old adage, “What doesn’t kill you will make you strong,” is one often uttered in the law enforcement profession.

Like so many fellow responders who served on September 11, 2001, the impact of that fateful day resulted in an altered life. What I saw, heard and felt on 9/11 and in the post days of recovery, had a tremendously negative effect on my psyche. For all too long, I dwelled in a state of depression and found myself incapable of moving forward. The fall from grace and lifestyle once known rapidly changed. As a result, I was left wondering how to recoup. Not only from the loss of a job, but from what I perceived to be my identity. For 25 years, I believed that I served the greater good of humanity. Every emergency call I responded to was a chance to better the lives of those involved. Every problem resolved restored some balance to the world. And in serving, I grew to become a more compassionate individual.

Yet through it all, my passion for writing diminished. The harsh realities and stresses witnessed in my occupation stymied my ability to express my feelings. The linear brain became predominant and my creative mind faded away. As my mind descended into the darkness of despair, I reluctantly picked up the pen once again and released the emotions locked inside. The resulting factor was the beginning of an exceptional journey. The pages penned became the chapters of my first published book.

While watching Phil Hansen chat about his misfortunes and awakening in his TEDTalk, I immediately resonated with his story. It appeared that I understood all too well how life can change in one stroke of time. The clock ticks once and life is running smoothly. The clock ticks twice and some terrible event occurs. The clock strikes a third time and the devastating news rendered forever transforms destiny.

Through adversity, I too adopted a new philosophy about living. In letting go of preconceived expectations that I had thought were most important to achieve, I accepted the imperfections in myself. As a result, I was able to break free of my creative blocks and find how the limitations imposed had actually become the catalyst to attain my lifelong dream. A dream to become a published author. By embracing these limitations, my creativity became inspired. And just like Phil, I found my new norm. What I came to learn was that the limits I set were of my own making. In expanding my consciousness, I learned that the limitation had become the ultimate liberation. With the added support of loved ones and a positive outlook, I was able to flip the negative situation in my favor. Thus, I spurred the renewal of my passion for writing and the genesis of a second career.

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TEDWeekends will highlight some of today’s most intriguing ideas and allow them to develop in real time through your voice! Tweet #TEDWeekends to share your perspective or email tedweekends@huffingtonpost.com to learn about future weekend’s ideas to contribute as a writer.

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The Power of Intention to Create a Business and Life You Love

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GPS for the Soul – The Huffington Post
The Power of Intention to Create a Business and Life You Love
Talking is great. Sharing what you want to accomplish, how you feel, and what you desire is powerful. Words carry energy, actual vibrations that affect you and those around you. But if you don’t pair your words with action, they’re meaningless.

Action is awesome. It moves you forward, shows you mean what you say and you’re a person of integrity who follows through. It shows the Universe that you’re willing to meet it half way and co-create something amazing. Action is important. Incredibly important. But action without intention? This is where we usually go wrong.

Intention is everything. It’s not enough to take blind action or speak words that sound nice and fluffy. Whether working towards a goal, trying to build a fulfilling relationship, or doing anything else worthwhile in this life, many of us fail to act with intention. And when intention is missing, things often go awry.

Before you do or say anything, ask yourself to be honest… “What is my intention in this moment?”

Is your intention to mislead someone or embody the words you speak?
Is your intention to be conscious of the environment or to simply appear green?
Is your intention to be a force in the world or to just look the part?
Is your intention to build a business or just talk about it for years?
Is your intention to fall in love or is it to have fun?

Clarifying your intentions is key to understanding how exactly you need to be, act, speak and show up in order to create what you desire in your life.

When you’re clear on your intention, you take inspired action that’s in alignment with your words and truth. You say what’s on your mind and you’re aware of how it’s landing, as well as the effect those words have on the recipient. You manifest what you desire because you’re clearly putting out words and actions that are in alignment with the things you want to attract into your life.

If you’re not becoming who you desire to be, getting what you desire to get, or creating the relationships you desire to have, check in with yourself. There’s a very good chance your intentions are out of alignment with your actions.

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How to align your intentions with your actions:

I encourage you to take out a sheet of paper and work through the following questions and subquestions in your journal or a notebook.

1) What is my intention in this moment?

How do I want to feel? What do I really want to create as a result of saying this thing, doing this task, or taking this action? What is the outcome I want to see?

2) Are my words and actions really in alignment?

I mean, really really in alignment? Am I just saying things to say them so I sound in alignment, or am I actually following through on what it would take to actually be in alignment? Am I doing things from a space of alignment, or am I just plowing forward without really thinking about what I’m doing?

3) How can I better align my words and actions?

Knowing my intention in this moment, how do I need to shift my actions? What do I need to be saying and how do I need to be following through? What would inspired action look like in this situation? What would it feel like? How would others respond? If I fully embodied my intention, what would that experience feel like to me?

Take action now!
After working through the questions above, I want to know one thing you’re going to do right now to better align your actions and intentions.

Stephenie Zamora is the founder of www.stepheniezamora.com, a full-service, life-purpose development, design and branding boutique. Through her Mastery program, she merges the worlds of personal development and branding to help men and women build passion-based lives and businesses they love. Click here to access her free Foundations for Unshakable Joy™ video training series and learn the unexpected trick to transforming your life with one single question!

Connect with Stephenie on Facebook and Twitter!

For more by Stephenie Zamora, click here.

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Cavalli scorches Milan with ring of fire catwalk

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Animal and Pets News Headlines – Yahoo! News
Cavalli scorches Milan with ring of fire catwalk

A model displays a creation by fashion designer Roberto Cavalli as part of the Milan's Women's fashion week Autumn/Winter 2014 collections on February 22, 2014Models in furs paced around a ring of fire at Roberto Cavalli's catwalk show at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday, which was picketed by animal rights protesters. The typically over-the-top designer put a water feature in the centre of a large tent next to Milan's Arco della Pace, around which a ring of fire was lit at the start of the show as models circled. Cavalli opened his largest shop in the world in Milan this week, which includes furniture, kitchenware and even wallpaper.

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