WORKPLACE FRIENDSHIPS ARE GREAT. BUT THEY CAN BE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, SO YOU NEED TO HANDLE THEM WITH CARE.

LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE JUDGED BY THE COMPANY WE KEEP, & WE NEED TO SET SOME BOUNDARIES:

*When you “click” with a co-worker, resist the urge to share too much personal information right away.

* Keep office socializing to a minimum. Sharing lunch breaks or coffee once in a while is fine, but hanging out at each others desks cam be overkill.

* Believe it or not, an obvious close bond can alienate others in the office. We might not notice it, but they do. It’s best to save the personal stuff for after hours.

* Who we associate with in the workplace also affects how our superiors & co-workers perceive us. And remember, if an office friendship “falls apart,” it can really make things uncomfortable.
Source: Helen Cooke-Cooke Consulting

IF NOT, YOU SHOULD.

COUPLES WHO HOLD HANDS MAY BE DOING THEMSELVES A LOT OF GOOD.
Research shows that physical intimacy of any kind improves any relationship. But it also turns out that people in stressful or threatening situations remain calmer & cope better when they hold hands with their mate.

It also seems to have a beneficial effect on pain, & can lower the level of stress hormones that can do damage to your immune system.

Even monkeys know the importance of hand holding. They’ve been observed holding hands in reconciliation after a fight.

PERSONALLY, I REALLY ENJOY A GOOD HUG.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL VISIT FORT BLISS ARMY BASE IN EL PASO TEXAS TODAY TO THANK SOME OF THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN IRAQ. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE TROOPS, OBAMA WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON TO ADDRESS THE NATION AND FORMALLY END THE COMBAT MISSION IN IRAQ. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS IN IRAQ TO PRESIDE OVER A FORMAL CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY.

HURRICANE EARL IS NOW A POWERFUL CATEGORY 4 STORM AND IS HEADED TOWARD THE EAST COAST. HEAVY DOWNPOURS STILL THREATEN TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES IN PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. EARL COULD BRUSH THE EAST COAST LATE THURSDAY.COASTAL RESIDENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO MAINE ARE BEING ADVISED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE STORM.

FLOODWATERS THAT HAVE DEVASTATED PAKISTAN FOR 5 WEEKS ARE HEADED TO THE ARABIAN SEA. BUT THE CHALLENGES OF DELIVERING EMERGENCY AID TO 8 MILLION PEOPLE REMAIN. FOREIGN COUNTRIES HAVE PLEDGED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. EVEN THE COUNTRY’S ARCHENEMY, INDIA, HAS INCREASED ITS AID TO 25 MILLION DOLLARS.

2 MEN ARRESTED IN AMSTERDAM MAY HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A DRY RUN FOR A POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACK. OFFICIALS SAY A CELL PHONE TAPED TO A PEPTO-BISMOL BOTTLE AND A KNIFE AND BOX CUTTERS WERE FOUND IN ONE OF THE MEN’S LUGGAGE. THE ARRESTS COME JUST DAYS BEFORE THE 9^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TERROR ATTACKS.

IT’S PROBABLY HAPPENED TO ALL OF US. AND LIKE THE SONG SAYS: “BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO.”

IN A NEW STUDY, researchers looked at brain scans of subjects who had recently been rejected by their partner-& who were still in love with the person who rejected them.

They found that romantic rejection stimulated the same parts of the brain as cocaine & other addictions. In other words, romantic love acts much like an “addiction” in the brain. This helps to explain why behaviors by people who have been rejected-like stalking-are often difficult to control.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TIME DEFINITELY HEALS THE HURT. After a period of time, the subjects were shown photos of the person who had rejected them, & those parts of the brain that showed so much activity before, had quieted down.

Source: Dr. Helen Fisher-Journal of Neurophysiology

HURRICANE EARL IS BATTERING THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND COULD SWIPE THE U.S. EAST COAST IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 100 MILES PER HOUR IT’S ON TRACK TO BECOME A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE. EARL WILL SPREAD WESTWARD INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TODAY AND POSSIBLY INTO PUERTO RICO.

FIRST-TIMERS AND NEW SHOWS SHOOK UP LAST NIGHT’S EMMYS. MODERN FAMILY BEAT LAST YEAR’S WINNER 30 ROCK FOR BEST COMEDY. EDIE FALCO WON HER FIRST EMMY FOR A COMEDY FOR “NURSE JACKIE.” OTHER FIRST TIME COMEDY WINNERS WERE JIM PARSONS FOR THE BIG BANG THEORY AND JANE LYNCH FOR GLEE. BRYAN CRANSTON PICKED UP HIS 3^RD EMMY FOR “BREAKING BAD” AND MAD MEN WON ITS 3^RD CONSECUTIVE BEST DRAMA EMMY.

A NEW VIDEO OF THOSE 33 MEN TRAPPED IN A MINE IN CHILE HAS BEEN RELEASED. THE MEN ARE SHIRTLESS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT IN THE MINE AND WEARING WHITE SURGICAL PANTS THAT WERE SENT DOWN TO KEEP THEM DRY. THEY’RE GETTING FOOD, WATER AND MEDICINE THROUGH 3 HOLES.

7 TIME CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER ROGER CLEMENS WILL BE ARRAIGNED IN WASHINGTON TODAY ON A 6 COUNT INDICTMENT ALLEGING HE LIED TO CONGRESS WHEN HE SAID HE NEVER USED STEROIDS OR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. IF CONVICTED ON ALL CHARGES CLEMENS COULD FACE UP TO 30 YEARS BUT WILL PROBABLY FACE NO MORE THAN 15 TO 21 MONTHS IN PRISON.

IF YOU SWALLOW YOUR VITAMINS OR MEDICATIONS WITH COFFEE OR JUICE, YOU WILL BE REDUCING THEIR EFFECT.:(

It’s best to take them with WATER. Beverages other than water can have an adverse effect on how these pills work.

THIS IS TRUE EVEN FOR DRUGS TO TREAT LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES LIKE CANCER & HEART DISEASE AS WELL AS VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

IN ONE STUDY, peolple who took an antihistamine with grapefruit juice only absorbed about HALF the drug compared to people who took it with water

ALSO, WATER IS USED IN MOST CLINICAL TRIALS, so by sticking to that, there is less chance of altering the effect of the stuff we take.

Source: USC School of Pharmacy

THE GOVERNMENT IS OUT WITH A NEW REPORT THAT SHOWS THE ECONOMY GREW AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE THIS SPRING THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. IT’S MOSTLY DUE TO THE LARGEST SURGE IN IMPORTS IN 26 YEARS.THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NATION’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GREW AT A 1.6 PERCENT RATE FROM APRIL TO JUNE. THE ECONOMY NEEDS TO GROW AT ABOUT 3 PERCENT TO KEEP UNEMPLOYMENT FROM RISING.

HURRICANE DANIELLE HAS BECOME A CATEGORY 4 STORM AND IS HEADED FOR BERMUDA. DANIELLE SHOULD BRING LARGE WAVES TO BERMUDA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND COULD ALSO BRING DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TO THE U.S. EAST COAST. ALSO IN THE ATLANTIC TROPICAL STORM EARL COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY SATURDAY NIGHT.

FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER AND NORTH KOREAN PRISONER EYE-JAH-LAN GOMES ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE U.S. CARTER FLEW TO NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK ON A PRIVATE MISSION TO SECURE A PARDON FOR THE 31 YEAR OLD AMERICAN WHO WAS ARRESTED 7 MONTHS AGO AND SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS OF HARD LABOR. GOMES WAS THE 4^TH AMERICAN IN A YEAR ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING IN NORTH KOREA.

AND THE FIRST VIDEO OF THE 33 MEN TRAPPED DEEP IN A MINE IN CHILE HAS BEEN RELEASED. IT SHOWS THE MEN APPEARING SLIM BUT HEALTHY, STANDING ARM-IN-ARM AND SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. FAMILY MEMBERS WERE THRILLED AFTER SEEING THEIR LOVED ONES AND SAID THE MEN APPEARED TO BE IN BETTER THAN SHAPE THAN THEY THOUGHT. THE MEN MADE THE VIDEO WITH A SMALL CAMERA SENT DOWN TO THEM.

1. STRETCH. CATS & DOGS DO IT FIRST THING, & SO SHOULD WE.

It helps rev circulation & eases your muscles into action. Take a deep breath for an extra dose of oxygen for maximum effect.

2. FLOWERS. TRY PUTTING SOME ON YOUR BED SIDE TABLE. Studies have shown the scent of flowers helps you to have happier dreams. It sets a more positive tone first thing in the morning.

3. BLUE ACCENTS IN YOUR BEDROOM CAN HELP TOO. Blue is proven to trigger relaxing brain waves & a peaceful state of mind.

Source: Woman’s World Magazine

NEW REQUESTS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FELL SHARPLY LAST WEEK. IT’S THE FIRST DECLINE IN A MONTH. THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS NEW CLAIMS FOR JOBLESS AID DROPPED TO 473,000 WHICH WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED. THE DROP COMES AFTER A STEEP RISE THE PREVIOUS 3 WEEKS THAT SENT CLAIMS TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL IN 9 MONTHS.

FORMER U.S PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER IS ON DAY 2 OF HIS TRIP TO NORTH KOREA BUT THERE’S STILL NO SIGN THAT HE’S SECURED THE RELEASE OF A BOSTON MAN WHO’S BEEN JAILED SINCE JANUARY FOR ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE COUNTRY. MEANWHILE NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG IL HAS TURNED UP IN CHINA. IL WAS EXPECTED TO HOLD A HIGH-PROFILE PHOTO OP WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER.

PAKISTANI OFFICIALS ARE URGING ANYONE LEFT IN 3 SOUTHERN TOWNS TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLOOD WATERS BROKE THROUGH A LEVEE. THE DEATH TOLL STANDS AROUND 1500 PEOPLE AND THE U.N. SAYS 800,000 PEOPLE ARE STILL CUT OFF BY THE FLOODS AND CAN ONLY BE REACHED BY AIR.

WAL-MART HAS ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO STOP A HUGE SEX-DISCRIMINATION CASE BROUGHT BY ITS FEMALE WORKERS. WAL-MART IS APPEALING AN APRIL RULING BY THE 9^TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT AUTHORIZED THE CLASS ACTION, WHICH COULD INCLUDE MORE THAN 1 MILLION WOMEN. THE LITIGATION HAS GROUND THROUGH FEDERAL COURTS IN CALIFORNIA FOR 9 YEARS.

AND HURRICANE DANIELLE IS GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER IN THE ATLANTIC AS IT HEADS TOWARD BERMUDA. DANIELLE’S MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 105 MILES PER HOUR. FARTHER EAST IN THE ATLANTIC, TROPICAL STORM EARL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE BY SATURDAY.

THERE’S PROBABLY A REASON FOR IT. RESEARCHERS HAVE DETERMINED THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR PROCRASTINATING, & HOW TO DEAL WITH IT:

* YOU LIKE FUN. Most of us do, but some of us skip the tough stuff, & head right for the “dessert.” LOL Set aside 20 minutes to get a boring or challenging task out of the way, & the “fun part” will feel even better.

* YOU THRIVE UNDER PRESSURE. Procrastinating can actully be pretty effective for those who perform better with that last minute adrenaline rush. But is can also work against us if something goes wrong.

: INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT OFF, TAKE ON THAT TASK SOONER, & EVEN CONSIDER CHALLENGING YOURSELF WITH A CLOCK OR TIMER TO SIMULATE THE “PRESSURE” PERFORMANCE.

At college, I was one of those people that put off studying for exams until the night before the test. No wonder I got C’s.

Source: Debbie Mandel- Author of “Addicted to Stress”