"This chair will protect me!" (Photo by Capture Queen) Halloween is right around the corner and it seems everyone is game for a little scare. Horror movies, haunted houses, and ghoulish costumes are all benign ways of generating a little jolt of fright, a rush of adrenaline to remind us we're still alive. There is, however, nothing enjoyable about a fear that becomes irrational and pervasive and overtakes one's everyday life. There is nothing fun about a phobia. Defined as an unrelenting or persistent fear of a situation, activity, or thing, phobias run the gamut from ablutophobia (fear of washing or bathing) to zemmiphobia (fear of the great mole rat), and just about everything in between. If it exists, there's a phobia associated with it. Some are relatively common, like claustrophobia (fear of small or tight places) and agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), while others, like homilophobia (fear of sermons) and kathisophobia (fear of sitting down), are decidedly rarer. To those who suffer from phobias, the world can be a terrifying place. Think of how difficult a simple trip to the grocery store would be for a sitophobic (one who fears food) or a lachanophobic (one who fears vegetables). A library would be a nightmare to someone suffering from bibliophobia (fear of books), not to mention poor papyrophobics (those who fear paper) and metrophobics (those who fear poetry), although it might just be the spot for a ligyrophobic (one who fears loud noises). And just imagine the terror a sushi bar would provoke to an ichthyophobic (one who fears fish), a consecotaleophobic (one who fears chopsticks), or a Japanophobic (one who fears the Japanese). Perhaps the most complicated phobia to understand is phobophobia. This affliction is characterized by an unrelenting fear of fear or phobias, and specifically, "of the internal sensations associated with that phobia and anxiety." Rather than being affected by environmental stimuli, sufferers of phobophobia are set off by the internal sensations of fear itself, which is further exacerbated by experiencing those exact same sensations. It's a lot to think about, I know. Let's just hope you aren't phronemophobic. Suggested Sites... The Phobia List - provides an extensive list of fears. MedlinePlus: Phobias - information on phobias from the National Institutes of Health. Anxieties.com - self-help site for persons suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, fear of flying, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety UK - works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support, and understanding. MayoClinic: Phobias - features resources and treatment information for a wide array of phobias.

Directory categories: Phobias, Agoraphobia, Mental Health, Horror, Halloween

Archived under: Halloween, Health, Horror, Mental Health, Phobias, Psychology

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting

Sugar cube dissolving into a glass of absinthe (Photo by spark_editor) Many of us have experienced absinthe and its rituals only vicariously through art, movies, and literature. The infamous anise-flavored liquor is named for its key ingredient: Artemesia absinthium, better known as wormwood. Wormwood is supposed to cause the notorious hallucinations much beloved of 19th century artists, writers, and philosophers. And wormwood is the reason why the liquor is still banned in some countries, including the U.S. Wormwood has been used medicinally for millennia, and it contains thujone, which is poisonous in large doses. Thujone levels in absinthe were probably completely harmless (unlike the 80% alcohol levels in some recipes), but it was a handy scapegoat for a prohibition-hungry society and a wine industry with a grudge. Their smear campaign essentially killed the absinthe business for a century, but a revival in interest (and the removal of European bans) led to a second boom in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, Europe produces both traditional absinthe and Czech-style "absinth," which contains wormwood but not the anise flavor. Meanwhile, Americans are stuck with varieties containing wormwood relatives or true wormwood without the thujone, though some more determined enthusiasts have been known to take such drastic steps as homebrewing or international travel in their quest to meet the "green fairy." Suggested Sites... Absinthe Buyers Guide - barrels of information on types of absinthe, its history, how to drink it, and where to get it. Erowid Absinthe Vault - lots of technical information on the effects of wormwood and thujone. La Fée Verte - surprisingly detailed reviews and information from avid absinthe drinkers. The Wormwood Society - these absinthe enthusiasts argue that it's not all about the thujone. Mansinthe - signature brand of absinthe from (who else?) Marilyn Manson.

Directory categories: Absinthe, Absinthe Makers and Retailers, Alcohol and Spirits, Prohibition, Bars, Puvs, and Clubs

Archived under: Absinthe, Alcohol, Artists, Drinking, Drugs, Europe, Fairies, Food and Drink, France, Health, Homebrewing, Mythology and Folklore, Prohibition, Society and Culture

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

"What are YOU doing this weekend?" (Photo by Veronica ML) Ah, the lazy days of summer are here. Wait -- "lazy?" We Americans are lazy enough already, according to this month’s American Journal of Medicine. That means it’s time to get out, get active, and to take advantage of some summertime activities! Nothing on your calendar? No problem! Ours is packed through the season. Here are just a few ideas for just this weekend: In major metropolitan areas, of course, there’s always something going on. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, this weekend is "Taste of Chicago," with free admission and filled with food and music. Speaking of music, everyone in Dallas is likely lined up for the "American Idol" auditions. If you missed registering in Texas, get your plane tickets now for one of the upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Orlando, or Denver. Are there events geared toward those who want to get or stay fit this summer? Certainly! Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer swims in the East River because the pool is too constricting? It turns out there's a gaggle of like-minded New Yorkers who are swimming around Liberty Island today. If you can't make it, don’t worry; they have more events scheduled. Of course, you don’t have to live in the big city to find cool things to do. Wherever you are, you can still participate in "Take Your Dog to Work Day" (provided your employer approves, of course!), Some folks in Petaluma, California, however, will be skipping work with their pooches to visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair and enter the "World’s Ugliest Dog Contest." If the thought of big crowds and rats on leashes makes you want to just stay home -- or if you’re just saving all your energy for the Fourth of July weekend -- you can still get involved by watching other people push the limits of hockey, golf, or pure speed. Just don’t say you’re bored!

Directory categories: American Idol, Recreation in Manhattan, Chicago Travel Guides, Activities for Dogs, Sports

Archived under: American Idol, Animals, Boredom, Calendars, Chicago, Cities, Contests, Dogs, Eating, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Health, Outdoors, Pets, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Seinfeld, Sports, Summer, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Vacations

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

Fresh farm food like this nearby? (Courtesy of USDA.gov Photo by Scott Bauer) When you're cooking dinner, you probably consider the tastiness of the meal, the healthiness of the ingredients, the calories, and the cost -- but do you consider the mileage? The local food movement is all about eating closer to home. The philosophy is simple: Food that is shipped long distances isn't as fresh, and therefore isn't as flavorful or healthy. Such foods also have a bigger carbon footprint than those produced locally. Each ingredient on a North American's plate typically travels 1,500 miles to get from field to table. To help reverse that trend, and to get more in tune with the local ecosystem, local food advocates -- or locavores -- look closer to home: often a 100-mile radius from where they live and eat. The movement is also about community responsibility. Buying from local farmers and food producers supports local economies instead of corporations that run factory farms and long-haul shipping lines. Many shoppers also find big discounts at local farmers' markets -- or save even more by eating homegrown veggies from backyard gardens. And foodies know that the fresher the ingredients, the tastier the meal. Gourmet restaurants featuring local menus are cropping up all over. Obviously, there are challenges and limitations to eating local produce. You're not likely to grow avocados in Alberta or produce maple syrup in Arizona. Some locavores make exceptions for region-specific foods, or to supplement limited midwinter diets. In the spirit of health and moral spending, they'll pick organic non-local foods if they can't buy local, family farm products over corporate, and local retailers over supermarket chains. Whether you're a hippie, a foodie, or just a frugal shopper, making an effort to put more local products on your table can have a positive impact on your community, the environment -- and your taste buds. Suggested Sites... 10 Reasons to Eat Local Food - from the environmental to the epicurean. Locavores - a group of Bay Area foodies and environmentalists who attempt to eat only foods produced within a 100-mile radius of San Francisco. Seeing Red: Eating Locally and Debunking the Red-Blue Divide - Barbara Kingsolver, author and avid gardener, recounts her family's efforts to eat only local food for a year. Local Harvest - find local and organic foods close to home.

Directory categories: Local Food, Bioregionalism, Environmental Movements and Philosophies, Sustainable Eating, Sustainable Development

Archived under: Cooking, Environment, Food and Drink, Global Warming, Health, Issues and Causes, Locavores, Recipes, Sustainability

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

(Photo by MST7022) It’s no secret that people are obsessed with body image. Those magazine covers at the supermarket check stand (just above all the candy) somehow manage to feature headlines about stars’ weight every week. Today is a day to ignore those gossip rags. International No Diet Day (INDD) is an occasion where we can move our attention away from reducing our body size and focus on expanding our minds. The way we think about weight and about people of different sizes is in need of a major adjustment. One important goal of INDD is to raise awareness about weight discrimination. While discrimination takes many forms, those affected by weightism do not yet have the protection of federal law. Just last month, United Airlines introduced a policy that could result in many overweight passengers being charged for two seats. This news did not sit well with the Association for Airline Passenger Rights. While it's difficult to measure the prevalence and effects of weight discrimination, there is evidence that it's as pervasive as racial bias. Its existence, though, does not seem to inspire the outrage that racism does. In the media, at least, it's taken as normal. Jessica Simpson recently put on a few pounds, and although she was quoted as saying that "curves are better," and that being super thin is not good for your body or mind, after being ridiculed in the press, she dropped two sizes in two months. If the number of advertisements for weight loss products and programs are any indication, we are pouring an incredible amount of money into that industry. While many of those products are most likely legitimate, there are health hazards to crash dieting, weight loss surgery, and, of course, the "miracle drugs" that are peddled aggressively. Last week, one of the most popular weight loss supplements, Hydroxycut, was recalled in response to reports of liver problems and one death. More than 9 million packages of the stuff were sold in the U.S. last year. So, at least for today, let’s take a break from all that. No "dieting." No obsessing. This doesn't mean, of course, to throw your doctor’s dietary advice out the window and have a junk food feast, but rather to take care of yourself, make healthy food choices, and not jump on the latest diet fad. If we can maintain positive, respectful attitudes about our bodies, and the bodies of those around us, maybe we can slowly change the behemoth we know as the beauty industry, and loosen its grip on our psyches. Suggested Sites... National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance - dedicated to ending size discrimination. The Council on Size and Weight Discrimination - consumer advocates in medical treatment, job discrimination, and media images. Body Positive - boosting body image at any weight. Big Fat Blog - more than 8 years of blogging the struggle for fat equality. Size Wise - resources and support for self-acceptance at any size.

Directory categories: Fat Acceptance, Weight Issues, Discrimination, Nutrition, Eating Disorders

Archived under: Diets, Eating, Food and Drink, Health, Issues and Causes, Obesity, Recalls, Society and Culture

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting