HEARD IT AND READ IT
Prepared by Bassam Mechammil
July 2008
HEALTH:
Facts about water:
Without water, life could not exist. Everything from bacteria to elephants must
have it. How much do you need? Most people would answer 8 eight ounces of water
a day. Recently an editorial in the journal of the American society of
nephrology (the study of kidneys) pointed out that nobody even knows where this
idea came from.
- drinking lots of water does not improve kidney
functions or help kidneys eliminate toxins. Sometimes drinking lots of
water can make the kidneys less efficient at filtration.
- how much to drink? For healthy people, thirst is the
best guide. If your urine is a light yellow you
can be sure you are drinking enough. Most fruit and vegetables are 90%
water and other beverages do count in the total. Even coffee and tea
supply water. Older people do need to try and drink more water because
they cannot rely on their thirst inductor. Sometimes, they also forget to
drink.
- vitamin enhanced water and other beverages offer little
or no nutritional advantage, reported by nutritionist Susanna Havala
MIGRANE HEADACHES may be LINKED TO VISION LOSS: Reported by Kathyrn Ross, PHD.
The problem started with the blood supply to the retina of the eye. This may
mean that an underlying vascular problem caused both the headaches and the loss
of vision.
MENOPAUSE STARTS THREE YEARS EARLIER on the AVERAGE with Women who smoke than in women who don’t
smoke, reported by
FOOT FUNGUS:
To avoid foot fungus, never go
barefoot in shared bathrooms- wear flip flops even when you’re showering. Scrub
your feet during a shower, then dry them thoroughly. Wear socks made of cotton
or other natural fiber. Avoid tight shoes. Check feet and toe nails for flaky
skin. If you get Itchiness between toes and the bottom of your feet or
thickening of nails and discoloration you have to see a foot doctor.
Colonoscopies are underused.
ALZHEIMER'S RISK:
High blood pressure may raise
Alzheimer’s risk, warned researcher
You are less likely to develop high blood pressure –
cholesterol problems and other factors related to heart disease if your parents
live to age 85.
Fasting once a month may lower heart disease risk. Benjamin Horne, PHD says that having nothing but water for
24 hours allows the body to reset its metabolism and adjust its glucose and
insulin sensitivities. A monthly fast for decades can have substantial
benefits, including 40% lower risk for clogged arteries. Short term fasting has
not been studied but also may be helpful. Caution: people with chronic health
conditions, such as diabetes, should not fast.
YOUR CAREER:
Best careers for the next decade
are in health care, education and financial service. Avoid jobs in
manufacturing, which will decline as the
FINANCE:
Investors are not panicking about
the stock market down term. 3 quarters of investors are concerned about the
losses financial companies have written off due to the subprime-mortgage
crisis. But 72% of those surveyed say they don’t plan to change their
investment mix.
Q
& A: What are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
July 12, 2008
What are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
They are publicly traded mortgage finance companies created by the federal
government.
Fannie Mae is the common name for the Federal National Mortgage Assn., based in
Washington. Freddie Mac is the common name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corp., based in McLean, Va.
Why are they so important?
They are the two largest providers of financing for U.S. home loans. They own
or guarantee almost half of the $12 trillion in outstanding U.S. home loans.
How do they work?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages from banks, savings and loans and
other mortgage lenders. They package some of those home loans into
mortgage-backed securities, which then are sold as guaranteed investments.
Who owns Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
Investors. The companies' shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
How much have their stocks fallen?
Compared with a year ago, Fannie Mae's market value is down 84% and Freddie
Mac's has dropped 87%.
Could the government take over the companies?
It's possible. Under a 1992 law, if the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise
Oversight concludes that either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is "critically
undercapitalized," the agency can place the company into government conservatorship.
CELLPHONE LAW:
The threat of a $20.00 fine may
not sway every
PRICES OF GAS below are all around the world:
HIGHEST paid Soccer Players:
