5 WAYS POSITIVE THINKING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Looking on the bright side can go a long way. Learn how a positive attitude can transform your life for the better

See the glass half full, find the silver lining, look on the bright side … there are endless platitudes and clichés that are so regularly recited, they don't seem to carry much meaning. This seems especially true on the days when metaphorical rain pours down on your metaphorical parade, or when a storm cloud seems to be hovering over your head for days on end. But taking a closer look at optimism reveals these everyday turn of phrases actually have the right idea in mind. When put into routine practice, positive thinking can change your whole life for the better … and in more ways than one.

Now, this may run the risk of sounding pessimistic, but of course, there is a slight catch. Becoming a positive thinker isn't as simple as looking at a colorful "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster more often. "It's easier said than done," says Noelle Damon, a holistic psychotherapist. "It takes practice. Positive thinking is not to be confused with a belief that everything is OK or should be OK. It's about maintaining balance even when it isn't." Now for the good news: Once you equip yourself with the proper tools to transform negative thoughts into positive ones, you'll begin to notice a change, not only in yourself, but in other aspects of your life from relationships to even your physical appearance.

To help you get started on the path toward optimism, we asked professional therapists and psychologists to not only reveal the many benefits of positive thinking, but to offer advice on how to incorporate the practice for long term effects. Click ahead to learn the five ways positive thinking can change your life and how you can start being more positive today.

IT CREATES A SOUND MIND

"POSITIVE THINKING ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH," SAYS DR. CHLOE CARMICHAEL, WHO HOLDS A PHD IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. "DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY LINKED TO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, SO IT IS DEFINITELY IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS TO FOCUS ON THE BRIGHT SIDE." CHANGING YOUR OUTLOOK CAN EVENTUALLY REVAMP YOUR ATTITUDE LONG TERM.

"THE BRAIN TENDS TO REPEAT FAMILIAR THINGS OVER AND OVER, GOING OVER ESTABLISHED NEURONAL PATHWAYS. REPEATING A MANTRA, AN AFFIRMATION, OR A CHOICE OVER AND OVER CREATES NEW PATHWAYS, WHICH EVENTUALLY BECOME AUTOMATIC. THE NEW THOUGHTS WILL RUN THROUGH YOUR HEAD LIKE THE OLD THOUGHTS DID, OR LIKE A POPULAR SONG YOU'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY," SAYS TINA B. TESSINA, PHD, PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND AUTHOR OF "IT ENDS WITH YOU: GROW UP AND OUT OF DYSFUNCTION."

AUTOMATIC POSITIVE THOUGHTS ALLOW FOR A MENTAL FOUNDATION THAT PUTS YOUR MIND AT EASE. THIS IN TURN MAKES YOU BETTER EQUIPPED TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND HELPS YOU TO STOP SECOND-GUESSING YOURSELF. WITH CLEAR GOALS AND LESS-CLOUDED JUDGMENT, YOUR MOTIVATION AND DESIRE TO REACH SUCH GOALS WILL BE INCREASED SINCE YOU WILL SEE THEM AS ATTAINABLE.

IT STRENGTHENS YOUR BODY
At first glance, positive thinking may seem to only directly affect your mental health, but a shift in attitude can be just as beneficial for your physical health. "Positive thinking reduces the effects of stress hormones on the body and allows the body to draw on its innate healing abilities," Damon explains. "Negative thinking, however, activates centers of the brain that cause stress hormones to be released. This hormonal cascade, if not managed properly, can lead to many of the disorders and diseases that commonly afflict people today."

In the long run, regularly harboring positive thoughts can make your body more resilient and help it combat ailments by releasing neurohormones to offset stress hormones. "It's like righting a ship on the water so one can continue smooth sailing," says Damon. "If the negative thoughts prevail, the ship runs the risk of capsizing and the body becomes worn down, exhausted, and the immune system is weakened."

IT GIVES YOU A GLOW

In addition to helping your body on the inside, positive thinking can work wonders on your outer appearance too. "Focusing on negative things increases the cortisol levels in the body which is a stress hormone -- and we all know that people who are stressed don't tend to have that radiant, healthy glow," says Carmichael.

Unmanaged stress may not be the root of skin problems, but it tends to be a trigger factor for pre-existing conditions such as acne and eczema. A simple smile (which already works to brighten your appearance) can quickly put you on the path of positive thinking. This, in turn, will keep those stress levels in check and help keep your skin clear. "Research shows that maintaining a pleasant, happy expression actually lifts your mood because you interpret it as a sign of happiness," says Carmichael, and a better mood translates into a healthier look.

IT INCREASES SELF-CONFIDENCE

Perhaps one of the most important benefits of positive thinking is its ability to change the way you see yourself. "Most of my clients don't realize that they are responsible for their own feelings, and no one else is responsible for making them feel better," Tessina says.

 She recommends taking time to become aware of what you're saying to yourself. "Is it a constant stream of negativity? If so, it can be just as stressful as if someone was constantly over your shoulder, tearing you down. It's hard to know what you really want." Once you begin to have a more positive attitude, you'll begin build confidence and a sense of sureness, because you'll start to trust and believe in yourself. "Remember, the first person you need to be in relationship with is yourself," says Tessina. "By being kind to yourself and bringing yourself to positive thoughts, all the other benefits will gently unfold and only increase over time."

IT STRENGTHENS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

In addition to mending your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence, positive thinking will eventually radiate out towards those around you. "The form of mindfulness that springs from positive thinking can help you develop compassion -- not only toward yourself, but toward others," Damon explains

 "This can lead to increased understanding, kindness, and cooperation," all of which will help you build and foster the many relationships in your life, from family, significant others, and coworkers you see on a daily basis. Furthermore, having a positive attitude will increase your relationship satisfaction and attract positive people.

GET STARTED

To reap the benefits of positive thinking, Tessina, Carmichael, and Damon recommend implementing these simple changes into your daily routine to slowly shift your mindset.

Take note: Write positive comments on your daily calendar for any achievements you want to celebrate or any instances that made you feel good (i.e. feeling proud because you went to the gym, your boss gave you positive feedback, you received a compliment from friend).

Engage yourself : Actively take part in things that make you happy, even if you need to schedule it into your daily schedule. Catch up with an old friend, listen to your favorite songs, paint, read, or pick up tickets to a sporting event.

Picture it : Surround yourself with visible evidence of your successes. Display photos of fun events, sports trophies, articles you've published, etc. It's a constant reminder that you appreciate yourself and when you see them daily, you'll feel the appreciation.

Find a place: Develop a peaceful place inside yourself that you can "visit" whenever you are not at ease. Think about a place, real or imagined, that evokes a feeling of calm. Close your eyes and totally immerse yourself in the experience of that place. Practice going here in your imagination frequently so you can call upon it any time, particularly when you are stressed.

Coconut Oil, A Healthy Solution For Skin Care

As you know organic and herbal products are best for the skin and hair. One among such ingredients is coconut oil. It has many beneficial uses for the skin. It is a great resistant agent to any potential dermal problems in future. Many people are mistaken by the name oil restricting it for hair use only. It works great for skin too.

Benefits of coconut oil
Coconut oil contains vitamin E and other essential properties that are good for healthy skin. It removes scars, bruises, wrinkles, burns and fine lines caused by aging. The oil helps fight free radicals that speed up the aging process with the skin. It has an antiseptic that helps protect from skin infections, fungus and bacterial growth. Moreover, it makes the skin spotless making you look young and fresh all the time.
This oil is widely used in making soaps as it helps the skin retain its natural moisture while removing the dead cells. It makes the skin smoother, spotless and softer as you desire. Virgin coconut oil is a great anti-aging element. It prevents bacteria, infections, fungus, scrapped, cuts, chapped skin, flakes and bruises.

Skin-filler
It fills in cracks and lines with ease because it is not a water-based moisturizer. It provides them with vitamins and essential nutrients. It has healing power and the ability to prevent rashes, chapped skin, blisters, wound scars, bruises etc cleaning out the pores of the skin. Thus it helps in keeping the skin younger, fresh and neat.
So this wonderful oil full of many benefits must be regularly used. The researchers looking for an amazing skin product and spending millions of dollars for the purpose should realize the importance of coconut oil. It is a wholesome panacea for all skin disorders and epidermis problems. What are you waiting for? Go to the market and get a good quality coconut oil. Get started with the surprising benefits that Nature has kept hidden in it.

Lollapalooza 2013 Sold Out

Just an hour after they went on sale Wednesday, single-day tickets to Lollapalooza have sold out.

The festival was already fresh out of all of its "secret sale" souvenir, "early bird" and three-day passes, so now all that remains available for the Aug. 4-6 festival -- save a trip to StubHub or Craigslist -- are travel packages that will set you back at least $1,599 (but include three nights of lodging) apiece.

On Monday, Lollapalooza formally announced its 2013 lineup, a verbatim match of a leaked lineup that hit the Internet the week prior and appeared to prompt the festival to bump up its lineup announcement date from April 9.

Strangely, as Consequence of Sound points out, Sunday single-day tickets were the last of the bunch to sell out on Wednesday, despite The Cure -- arguably the festival's most noteworthy booking -- playing that day.

Also headlining the festival -- to be held in Grant Park before a capacity crowd of 100,000 people each day -- are Mumford & Sons, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails. They'll be joined by Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, New Order and a reunion of The Postal Service. All but three of those bands have playe

Golf Channel's Holly Sonders Will Dominate Cover of Golf Digest Fitness Issue

If you are wondering what makes the perfect golf body, you can look no further than Holly Sonders, who will adorn the cover of Golf Digest's fitness issue.

For those who can't wait until the May issue of the magazine hits stores, you can take a gander at some pictures and video of the Morning Drive host at GolfDigest.com.

Yahoo! Sports helps us out on what you can expect from the issue, which is dedicated to fitness and the kind of body that will aid your golf game.

Alongside Sonders, you can get tips from Rickie Fowler, Mark Wahlberg and Jason Dufner. Yes, apparently Dufner has some thoughts on proper fitness.
As Yahoo! Sports reminds us, Sonders played golf at Michigan State before making her way into broadcasting. She's since worked at such places as KATV in Little Rock, Ark. and the Big Ten Network.

Currently, she is seen by golf fans on Golf Channel's Morning Drive and is featured in School of Golf segments.
Golf Digest was able to find out more from the woman who will feature heavily in the upcoming issue, such as what kind of golfer she is.

I play from the reds now, but if I would tee it up from like 6,400 to 6,500 yards, I'd be about a 3- or a 4-handicap. I played with Natalie Gulbis the other day, and I was 30 yards behind her off the tee. At 150 yards, I'm hitting an easy 6-iron.

While humble, it sounds like she can pretty much dominate most on the golf course.
Don't think for a second that she doesn't work tirelessly on her fitness. Sonders states she is limited in running because she has no meniscus and also has scoliosis, so fitness is far more important than merely keeping her golf game right.

If you are wondering what kind of workout keeps this kind of body, she works out four times a week and does "500 ab exercises three times a week." I will go ahead and assume this differs slightly from what my favorite player, Dufner, performs on a weekly basis.
She would also like to inform you that one of her teeth is fake, a byproduct of it getting knocked out when she was in second grade. And she is also not beyond impressing pros with her sweet golf game.

I filmed one with Ian Poulter, the ultimate match player. We had a bunker contest—hardest shot in golf, a 35-yarder to a pin on a ridge. He knocked it to three feet. I went next and almost holed it. He said on-air, "Wow, Holly Sonders can officially play golf."

Sonders is yet another example of what hard work and passion can get you. She wakes up in the early hours of the morning to shoot her show, trains tirelessly in the gym and continues to push herself for more.

Emma Watson Shows Off 'The Bling Ring' Style On British 'GQ'

We already know that Emma Watson is a versatile actress. After all, her genre-skipping onscreen roles are exactly the reason she's received the MTV Trailblazer Award! However, the 22-year-old's talent for transforming herself isn't restricted just to movies— she's proven her style chameleon status time and again in magazines, too.

But despite her recent edgy Marie Claire UK look, her preppy-cool NYLON style, and repping her inherently chic beauty in T, the actress's new British GQ cover STILL called for a double take, because it's just so different than how we're used to seeing her. The star graces the publication's May issue decked out in total Bling Ring fashion, channeling her onscreen alter ego Nicki with the same long hair and body-hugging styles she sports in the forthcoming Sofia Coppola flick. The cut-out dress might conjure up major '90s Pretty Woman vibes (see the resemblance?), but the body jewelry, the giant Frappuccino, and the sunglasses propped atop her head keeps the ensemble firmly planted in the here and now.

In other words, it's Emma but it's not REALLY Emma, since she admits to British GQ that her character in The Bling Ring "is everything that I felt strongly against - she's superficial, materialistic, vain, amoral. She's all of these things and I realised that I hated her." Yikes!

Her Bling Ring alter-ego might be a total 180 from Emma's genuine personality, but she reps the Hollywood sticky-fingered teen perfectly throughout the spread, showing off her sunkissed glow in a short LBD and tons of statement jewelry (including brass knuckles spelling out "QUEEN," which perfectly match her bright pink lipstick). The look is a scandalous side of Emma we rarely get to see, but it definitely won't be the last time. We hear that Emma and the rest of The Bling Ring cast will be live from MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week, Friday April 12th.

Lindsay Lohan Showcases Bikini Body, Multiple Bruises in Rio

Party bruises? Lindsay Lohan hit the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Easter Sunday, March 31 in a bright blue halter-style bikini. The redhead was happy to flaunt her curvy figure (and a bit of sideboob) in the two-piece as she sunbathed and went for a swim. Wearing sunglasses, a chunky silver bracelet and a necklace for her beach day, Lohan was also sporting several unmissable -- but unexplained -- bruises on her left leg.

Even with the painful-looking bruises, the Mean Girls actress was typically unfazed by photographers as she listened to her iPod, swept her long red hair off her face and enjoyed the waves. (Late last week, she was photographed nearly passed out beneath a table at a local club.) Lohan is in Brazil to honor promotional commitments before she's out of the public eye for a bit.

Lohan who has been arrested six times in less than 10 years, was recently sentenced to spend 90 days in a court-ordered lockdown rehab facility, in addition to other punishments -- all stemming from a June 18, 2012 car accident in which Lohan's Porsche rear-ended a truck while she was en route to the Liz & Dick set.
She's expected to report for her rehab stay soon -- but was playful as ever on April Fool's. In a tweet that has since been deleted, she pranked her Twitter followers joking that she was "pregnant."

"To Dory" proof "Everything is possible," Ellen DeGeneres said

After spending the last decade begging on national television for 'Finding Nemo' sequel the comedian confirmed plans on Tuesday.
After a decade of begging Disney and Pixar for a sequel to the 2003 hit "Finding Nemo," Ellen DeGeneres "just keep swimming" and finally got her wish.

Comedian, the protracted Doktersvis Dory played in the original, announced on her talk show on Tuesday that there is, in fact, a sequel to "Finding Nemo" and that it would called "Dory find." "Here's the good news: They say I'm one of the top five contenders to play the part of Dory," DeGeneres joked.

According to director Andrew Stanton, the story of "finding Dory" fetched a year after the original film and Dory's background, including a few new characters that will be very important to her to explore. "There is no Dory without Ellen," said Stanton. "She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world - not to mention our team here at Pixar One thing we can not stop thinking about why she was alone in the sea on the day she met Marlin In find Dory .., "she will be reunited with her ​​loved ones, learn a few things about the meaning of family along the way."

The announcement brings years of campaigning to end for DeGeneres, who made ​​her hope for a follow very famous over the last decade, and during the big reveal, she poked fun at her dogged efforts.

"Kids, let this be a lesson to you: Anything is possible if you are patient and beg hard enough on national television," she said. "I'm excited that it finally happened, and I read the script it is fantastic .. It's hilarious. This is hot. This is everything you want it to be."
Disney-Pixar's "find Dory" is expected to hit theaters November 25, 2015.

Athens Police Department to Buy Cell Phone Scanning Technology

ATHENS, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The Athens Police Department has been approved to buy special software and hardware used to scan cell phones for potential evidence during the course a of a criminal investigation.

The City Council approved the $17,000 purchase this week.

The police department will use the funds to buy three software and hardware combination units to analyze cell phone data.

Police currently have to drive the phones to Columbus to be analyzed and are not able to get information back for up to four weeks. Police Chief Tom Pyle says the new technology will allow them to do the same work in-house and get results back in less than 24 hours.

Pyle says the department runs into situations where this technology could be used two to three times a week.

Investigators will only be able to analyze phones if they are given permission, have a warrant or are collecting evidence as part of an investigation.

Pyle says data not important to the case will be thrown out, destroyed, or returned to its owner by a judge.

According to Pyle, any information taken from the phones will be stored remotely and treated carefully like any other piece of evidence.

Justin Bieber Banned From Vienna Nightclub After Bodyguards Reportedly Grope Female Fans, Outbreak Of ‘Bieber Fever’

Justin Bieber has been banned from a Vienna nightclub after a violent incident in which his bodyguards reportedly groped several young female fans and broke cameras and cellphones belonging to patrons.
According to the Austrian Times, several young women left the popular Vienna nightclub, Passage, in tears on Saturday night. The club’s manager, Joachim Bankel, confirmed that the Canadian popstar was banned from the club, saying, “Justin Bieber is no longer welcome here.”

The incident took place on Saturday after Bieber performed a sold-out show at Vienna Stadthalle where a horde of fans had to receive medical treatment for “Bieber Fever.” In total, medics treated 178 fans for lightheadedness at the beginning of the concert, and one fan was even hospitalized overnight for what doctors described as “hysteria” induced by seeing Bieber perform live.

Not only is Bieber’s recent club banning the latest in a string of negative reports about the singer, it’s also not the first time he’s been banned from a nightclub. In February, the Manchester nightclub Sankeys turned the popstar away because of his predilection for what the club deems embarrassing dance moves. In a statement on their Twitter page, Sankeys wrote, “Yes the rumours are true, we turned Justin Bieber away. He shuffles on stage and we can’t be having that in Sankeys now can we.”

Bieber was also turned away from the London nightclub London's Cirque Du Soir on his 19th birthday, which he referred to as his “worst” ever, because he reportedly attempted to bring in underage friends.

The news also comes on the heels of several other troubling reports involving Bieber. The musician, who recently split from his longtime girlfriend Selena Gomez, made headlines last week for allegedly spitting on a fellow resident in his gated community who complained about his reckless driving. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reportedly now plans to recommend charging Bieber with battery over the incident.

Last week, Bieber’s pet Capuchin monkey was seized and temporarily quarantined by German customs officials because he had failed to obtain the appropriate paperwork for the animal.

The negative publicity prompted Bieber to tell Us Weekly that “The biggest misconception about me is that I’m a bad person.”

“I get upset about that,” he said. “I have a big heart. I want to be a good role model, but some people want me to fail. I’m young and I make mistakes. That’s part of growing up. I mess up sometimes. It’s part of growing up.”

Big improvements in preconception health trends among women of reproductive age reported

A woman's health status before pregnancy is critical for the health and wellbeing of the fetus and mother-to-be. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set Healthy People 2020 national objectives for women of reproductive age, and young women are making important gains toward achieving some of those health goals, while some trends are less encouraging, as reported in a study published in Journal of Women's Health.

Pamela Xaverius, PhD and Joanne Salas, MPH, Saint Louis University School of Public Health and School of Medicine, MO, report substantial reductions in smoking and alcohol consumption (including drinking any alcohol and heavy drinking) among women in the U.S. ages 18-44 years. The authors analyzed data on preconception health indicators from over 500,000 women from all 50 states in the U.S. gathered between 2003-2010 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. In the article "Surveillance of Preconception Health Indicators in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: Emerging Trends in the 21st Century," they also describe positive preconception health trends related to moderate or vigorous physical activity and a 68% increase in women having an influenza shot within the previous year. Health trends that have worsened and pose a potential threat to maternal and fetal health included binge alcohol drinking and having a chronic medical condition (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or obesity). "While the trends in smoking, alcohol use, and influenza prevention have improved, the worsening in binge drinking and chronic medical conditions among reproductive aged women are important concerns," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health.

Saudi Arabia: Women Finally Allowed to Ride Bikes - as Long as Male Relative Present

Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban on female cyclists, saying they are now allowed to ride bicycles and motorbikes in designated areas.

The Saudi newspaper Al-Yawm said an anonymous official from the kingdom's religious police has made it legal for women to ride bikes, but only in restricted recreational areas.

They must also be accompanied by a male relative and dressed in the full Islamic abaya.

According to the official, women will be allowed to ride bikes "only for entertainment" and should not use them as a means of transport.

Women should also avoid riding bikes where young men gather in order to "avoid harassment".

Saudi Arabia follows a conservative interpretation of Islam that bans women from driving. Under previous laws, they had been banned from using bicycles and motorbikes as part of this ruling.

Ali al-Zahrani, spokesman for the Eastern Province Traffic department, said traffic officials were not consulted before the ruling: "Our concern is the positive traffic culture, and full compliance with traffic rules and regulations by all drivers and riders."

Samia al-Bawardi, head of a non-governmental organisation for car crash victims, added: "Wearing abayas [and erratic driving] could result in terrible accidents."

More freedom?

It is unclear what has prompted the ban on women cyclists to be lifted.

However, the shift is one of several that give women in Saudi Arabia more freedom. In 2011, King Abdullah allowed women to run for office and they will be able to vote in municipal elections from 2015.

Fawzia al-Bakr, a women's rights activist and professor at King Saud University, told Time magazine: "Abdullah has a strong desire to see women advance in Saudi. He wants them to work, he has given them scholarships [to Western universities], and now, with the Shura, he is tackling the most difficult issue in our society today: segregation.

"If you can get rid of segregation, then most of our problems will be solved."

However, other recent laws suggest authorities are working to further segregation in the country.

In January, labour minister Adel Faquh ordered shops that employ both men and women to build walls at least 1.6m high in order to separate the sexes.

The move was confirmed by Abdullatif al-Sheik, the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN DOODLE

Google doodle celebrates Maria Sibylla Merian's 366th birthday.

As a pioneering artist of science, she was a revolution and a revelation.
Maria Sibylla Merian was attracted to insects from a young age, and soon they, in turn, is drawn by her. Metamorfeer childhood meters of the silk worm, Merian has emerged as a barrier-breaking woman in full, an emerging 17th century illustrator of flora and fauna rendered not only art, but also newfound knowledge.

MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN

"In my youth, I spent my time investigating insects," the naturalist wrote in the preface of her book "" Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of the insects of Suriname). "At the beginning, I started with silkworms in my hometown Frankfurt., I realized that the other caterpillars beautiful butterflies or moths, and that the silkworms did the same. This led me all the caterpillars I could find to see how changed to raise them. "
Daughter to a famous copper engraver / publisher (Matthäus Merian), stepdaughter to a quiet life botanical painting (Jacob Marell), Merian was the medium born and bred. She followed her fascination with science at a time when few women enter the profession, and pursued her passion for scientific illustration at a time when so relatively little about pupating insects are known or documented.

 

Google doodle celebrates Maria Sibylla Merian's 366th birthday

By tirelessly studying and drawing the pupa, and crystallized further our understanding of errors and bushes, leaves and larvae. And the more his journey to new sites, looking at each new species across an ocean, the more of a pioneer in her field.

On 28, Merian her first book of natural illustration ("Neues Blumenbuch") published, and shortly thereafter her caterpillar book, the daughter of a carpenter metamorphosis relieved by her richly tinted brass pressure.

In 1699, the divorced Merian (with his daughter Dorothea) trip to the Dutch colony of every of the South American species Suriname to study, drawing her findings for two years - sometimes through dangerous journeys gained for malaria forced her house . The result, in 1705, the book ("Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium") which rests so much of her fame and reputation.

"Using her sharp observation skills, Maria Sibylla Merian revolutionized both botany and zoology," writes the Washington, DC-based National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA).

"She was truly an exceptional artist and naturalist," said Washington's Dumbarton Oaks Research Library Rare Book Collection, which took part in 2012 in NMWA's joint Citywide exhibition of women artists Merian's work, influences and legacy.

Today, Google celebrates the great naturalist and artist with a home-page Doodle to mark the 366 anniversary of her Frankfurt birth. (Now enough Notice and you will see "Google" spelled out in the midst of the scene turns green.)

Merian died in Amsterdam in 1717. Her brilliant, and brilliantly tinted contributions to the science and art - a centuries-long "butterfly effect" - forever remain in full bloom.

Pizza Hut rolls out 'Crazy Cheesy Crust'

Pizza Hut has a new way to introduce Americans more cheese - a cheese pizza crust little stuffed bread bowls.

The chain on Wednesday the launch of a new pizza by 16 semi-circles of cheese that can be pulled and eaten separately surrounded. "Crazy Cheesy Crust," which will be available for a few weeks, it is not the first time Pizza Hut cheese in his crusts.

In 1995, the chain introduced its Stuffed Crust Pizza as a limited time offer, but the pies were such a hit that soon becomes a permanent part of the menu.

Even if fast-food chains are constantly looking to satisfy health-conscious diners, Pizza Hut's latest invention shows Americans still have an appetite for indulgent new creations. Burger King, for example, recently rolled out his first turkey citizen as part of a limited time spring menu. But the menu also a burger stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese and tater tots stuffed with bacon and sweet onions.

Pizza Hut also offered variations of the cheese-stuffed crust with pepperoni and other toppings hidden inside. Fast-food fanatics can also see the latest pizza has a similar form to the chain's "Crown Crust" pie in the Middle East a year ago. That pie, surrounded by mini-cheeseburgers, are not available in the U.S., but the images of the widely circulated online. In Japan and Thailand, Pizza Hut offered pizza with hot dog stuffed crusts.

Doug Terfehr, a spokesman for Pizza Hut, noted that the cheeseburger and hot dog crusts worked abroad because people often group together the food and pizza as American, so combining them makes sense. He said the Crazy Cheesy Crust was developed specifically for the U.S. market.

A pepperoni slice of the new pie has 390 calories and 20 grams of fat. In comparison, a part of the regular hand-mixed pepperoni listed at 310 calories and 13 grams of fat. A pepperoni slice of Stuffed Crust pie has 340 calories and 16 grams of fat.

The new pies come just before the last four games this weekend, when the pizza sales typically spike. In February, Pizza Hut also his "pizza sliders" as a way to charge sales for the Super Bowl weekend, when people may pizza fatigue.

Pizza Hut has 6,400 locations nationwide and is a unit of Yum Brands Inc., which also owns KFC and Taco Bell. Last year, sales at Pizza Hut restaurants open at least a year rose 3% to flat growth in the previous year.

The metric is a key gauge of health, because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.

Shain Gandee Funeral fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow

In the wake of Shain Gandee's tragic death yesterday, the cousin of this Buckwild star is springing into fundraising action.
Ashley Gandee tells TMZ that Shain's parents cannot afford a true funeral for their 21-year old son, so she is organizing a "mud run" tomorrow night in Proctorville, Ohio.

There will be a $10 charge per vehicle and proceeds will go toward laying Shain to rest.
"I know the strain they are going through," Ashley says. "It's hard to provide a proper burial. It's already tough with the loss of family members ... expenses are tough as well."

Shain's body was one of three discovered early yesterday by officials in West Virginia.

He, his uncle and an unidentified woman were stuck inside a Ford Bronco, which was nearly buried completely in mud off deep in the town woods.

Initial reports point to carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death.

In response to the incident - along with two other arrests for Buckwild cast members - Mayor Danny Jones wants MTV to halt production on the series.

SEASON THREE OF GAME OF THRONES STARTS TONIGHT (YAY!), WILL HAVE LESS TYRION LANNISTER

We have eight hours and counting until Game of Thrones starts back up again. But when season three does get underway, it’ll be light on the Tyrion. It makes sense, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Peter Dinklage noted his relative lack of screen time compared to last season to Entertainment Weekly, explaining: “It’s still fun, but easier. I’ve had fewer days shooting. With all the [show's] different story lines, the focus sometimes shifts, which is fine.”

He adds: “I don’t mind. My character probably minds.”

(In that same interview, Dinklage explains why show-Tyrion didn’t lose his nose at the Battle of Blackwater like book-Tyrion did: “It would cost a lot of money, because they’d have to put a little green sock on my nose. Every scene I was in they’d have to [digitally paint] over my face in every frame and that’s costly and time consuming. I think a scar solves everything.” Fair enough. And it leaves more of the CGI budget for dragons.)

The end of season two saw Tyrion replaced as the Hand of the King by his father Tywin Lannister, and in much of the book upon which season three is based Tyrion is on the sidelines. Make no mistake, he’s still a major character, but thinking back I have a hard remembering what he actually did in book three. There was the subplot with Shae and her BFF singer Symon Silver Tongue, but I’d be surprised if they don’t cut that. And I seem to remember a lot of scheming, but when you have around 500 pages to cover in only ten hours (remember, book three is being divided into two seasons), that’s going to have to be condensed.

Ah well. There’s a silver lining here: Tyrion having fewer scenes means the scenes he does have will be like manna from the heavens.

Katherine Webb Shows Off Cleavage During Splash Swim Practice

It is safe to say Katherine Webb make quite the splash.
After landing a spot in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, the girlfriend of the University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron showed some great cleavage while her best dive for her upcoming reality competition show, Splash.

The 2012 Miss Alabama stunner nearly popped her low-cut bathing suit as she exited the pool, showing off her legs in a short black shorts.
Webb made ​​headlines earlier this yea, after ESPN's Brent Musberger show her in the crowd at the BCS title game, flowed over her and catapulted her into stardom.

"I have such a short time to deal with adjusting to this new life, and so it was stressful to deal automatically with my life in public for all to see and everyone to form opinions and judge [me]," Webb said Access Hollywood Friday about her newfound fame. "So, what is difficult."
The 23-year-old model also said that although it "hard" away from her footballer beau, they are working on their relationship and he is a "great" support system for her.

Anal cancer may be on the rise in the U.S

 The number of people in the U.S. with anal cancer has tripled since the 1970s, according to a new study suggesting that rates of detection in high-risk groups may partly explain the increase in cases.
A U.S. cancer database search found that the rate of anal cancers of about one person per 100,000 between 1973 and 1996 three people per 100,000 between 1997 and 2009.

"I think the literature already showed that there is an increase in anal cancer cases, but we were surprised to see how dramatically increased," Dr. Lily Lai, the study's senior author of City of Hope in Duarte, California.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 7,000 people are diagnosed with anal cancer in the U.S. in 2013, and about 900 will die of the disease. By far the most common type of anal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which account for about 85 percent of the cases.

For the new study, Lai and her colleagues analyzed trends in the 11,231 squamous cell carcinoma cases described in a U.S. database for the years 1973 through 2009.

They had a big jump in the 23 years before that in 1997, 4224 people were diagnosed, compared with 7007 people in the 13 years thereafter.

Although both sexes showed an increase in the anal cancers, the rate for men jumped most dramatically - one in every 100,000 to three in every 100,000 men. Compared to the women's rate, which rose from 1.4 in every 100,000 women in every 100,000 to about 2.4.

Lai Reuters Health said that the big increase in cases among men was a novel finding, and her team suspect it may be due to more people to be screened more often, especially people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
According to the team's report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a majority of people with HIV also persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The sexually transmitted virus is slightly less widespread in HIV-negative people, whose immune systems may eventually clear HPV infections of the body.

HPV is linked to the development of cervical cancer and anal cancer. The ACS says eight of every 10 anal in squamous cell carcinomas are caused by HPV.

"It may be that there is an increase in people (anal cancer) and that there are other factors involved that we do not know," Lai told Reuters Health. "We think it's probably a detection bias, which is the simplest explanation."

Dr. Robert Cima, a surgeon in the department of colon and rectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said that could also mean that the number of in squamous cell carcinomas has not changed much in people without HIV or compromised immune systems.
"It shows, but definitely a patient without risk factors are at very low risk for developing this type of cancer, and a blanket screening program for all patients across the country would be a useful approach," said Cima, who is not involved in the new study.
But, he says, when people who fall into these high-risk groups observed, they should be checked by a doctor who specializes in the identification and treatment of these cancers.

Pope appeals for end to Korea tensions in first Easter message

(Reuters) - Pope Francis, appearing before more than 250,000 people for his first Easter Sunday address, called for world peace, respect for the environment and a diplomatic solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

In his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, he also appealed for a resumption of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, an end to the civil war in Syria and political solutions to conflicts in several African countries.

The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, who has made defense of nature an early hallmark of his pontificate, also condemned the "iniquitous exploitation of natural resources" and urged everyone to be "guardians" of creation.

Francis delivered his message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica - the same spot from where he first appeared to the world as pope after his election on March 13 - to a crowd estimated by the Vatican at more than 250,000.

"Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow," he said, speaking in Italian

North Korea said on Saturday it was entering a "state of war" with South Korea. Tensions have been high since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a third nuclear weapons test in February, breaching U.N. sanctions and ignoring warnings from North Korea's sole major ally, China, not to do so.

People thronged the open jeep that carried Pope Francis around at the end of a Mass. He stopped to accept a jersey with his "Bergoglio" name on it from fans of an Argentine football club and to comfort a handicapped man.

Francis, who has brought a more simple and personal style to the papacy, said the message of Easter is that faith can help people transform their lives by letting "those desert places in our hearts bloom".

GUARDIANS OF CREATION

"How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross?! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the creator has given us and continues to give us," he said.

Earlier, at a Mass in a square bedecked by more than 40,000 plants and flowers, he wore relatively simple white vestments, as opposed to his predecessor Benedict, who preferred elaborate robes.

The huge crowd spilled out of St. Peter's Square and into surrounding streets. They included many who had come to see a pope counted on to rehabilitate a Church marred by scandals to do with sexual abuse of children and allegations of corruption.

"It's a new pope and new beginning," said Tina Hughes, 67, who came to Rome with her family from Nottingham, England to see the pope. "I think he brings something special. He connects with people. I feel good about him."

Francis, who took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is revered as a symbol of austerity and the importance of respecting nature, said the world was "divided by greed looking for easy gain". He condemned human trafficking and violence linked to drug trafficking.

Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion, was the culmination of four hectic days of activity for the pope, during which he instituted several novelties.

On Holy Thursday, two women were included among the 12 people whose feet he washed and kissed during a traditional ceremony that had previously been open only to men.

Francis again showed on Sunday that he would carry out his papal duties his own way. The Vatican had prepared a list of brief Easter greetings for him in 65 languages - identical to those read by his predecessors - but he decided not read them, and spoke only in Italian.

Instead of moving into regal papal apartments, he is still living in the Vatican guesthouse where he stayed during the conclave that elected him as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years.