Feel blue, say "I do" as weddings boost mood: study
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lonely? Feeling low? Try taking a walk -- down the aisle. Getting married enhances mental health, especially if you're depressed, according to a new U.S. study.
The benefits of marriage for the depressed are particularly dramatic, a finding that surprised the professor-student team behind the study.
"We actually found the opposite of what we expected," said Adrianne Frech, a PhD sociology student at Ohio State University who conducted the study with Kristi Williams, an assistant professor of sociology.
They expected to find that one spouse's depression weighed too much on the marriage, but "just mattering to someone else can help alleviate symptoms of depression," Frech said.
Frech will present their findings at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting in Montreal on Sunday.
The researchers used a 3,066 person sample that measured symptoms of depression -- such as an inability to sleep, or persistent sadness -- in the same people both before and after their first marriage.
They found that depressed people experienced a much more extreme decrease in the incidence of those symptoms.
"Depressed people may be just especially in need of the intimacy, the emotional closeness and the social support that marriage can provide ... if you start out happy, you don't have as far to go," Williams said.
On the other hand, if you're not depressed, marriage could have the opposite effect, Frech said.
People who were happy before getting married and end up in a marriage plagued by distance or conflict -- qualities associated with a depressed spouse -- might be better off single.
"It seems right to say that people who are not depressed are at risk, that if they marry a depressed person this could be a bad deal for them," Frech said.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
No (M)Alice In Wonderland
This was sent to me by, of all people, my ex-wife. Kudos to her for remembering how much I love Alice Cooper!
Read below!
************************************************
Alice Cooper To Open Christian Youth Center
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Excerpts from USA Today:
Alice Cooper is opening a center where kids can learn to play guitar, shoot
hoops and find Jesus? Apparently so.
The 58-year-old father of shock-rock is teaming up with Grand Canyon
University in Phoenix to establish a $3 million youth haven featuring a
"school of rock," a concert hall and sporting attractions.
"It's a sanctuary where they don't get shot, they don't get stabbed, they
don't have to worry about somebody trying to sell them drugs," says Cooper,
who plans to announce the project today (Tuesday).
He concedes that some parents might view him as unlikely, if not
objectionable, in the role of a philanthropist bringing morality and
religion to America's young people.
"It's a great juxtaposition," he says. "Trust me, I walk that tightrope
every day. Part of the fun is the edge of it."
Cooper says those who understand his shtick recognize that the show has
always been a blend of farce and satire. They also know that he became a
born-again Christian 16 years ago when he quit drinking.
Since 1995, Cooper has operated the Solid Rock Foundation, a non-profit
organization that provides money to children's causes and college
scholarships to Christian students.
Cooper insists that his stage persona is a polar opposite to his personal
life: He has been married 30 years "without cheating" on his wife, and they
have raised three children.
The son of a minister and grandson of an evangelist, Cooper says America
"needs a good hypodermic needle shot of morality."
That will be one goal for his 20,000-square-foot recreational hall, to be
known as The Rock, on the urban campus of Grand Canyon University. It will
be open to children 12 to 18 at no charge; the prime target is at-risk
teens, whose parents may be in jail or on drugs, and whose brothers are
thugs.
"Even kids who grow up in gangs have a creative place in their body," Cooper
says. "They have a choice between a 9mm and a nine-iron."
Cooper, who still tours with his band five months each year, says alcohol
and tobacco will be banned at The Rock. There won't be a chapel, but
counselors will proselytize by example and offer religious guidance to kids
who want to learn about the faith.
"We are overtly Christian," he says, "but we're not going to beat you over
the head with a Bible."
The project, still in design stages and not fully financed, is scheduled to
break ground next year. An artist's rendering shows a concert hall,
recording studios, game rooms, a basketball court and a rock-climbing wall.
Cooper says he's seeking corporate sponsors to provide everything from
guitars to construction materials. In the meantime, his foundation will
raise money with an annual golf tournament and a Christmas music show.
Grand Canyon University will provide the land, security and some of the
financing, says Brent Richardson, CEO of the non-denominational Christian
school. Richardson concedes that some of the university's patrons and its
10,000 students may be leery of the shock-rock image.
But he says Cooper has an honorary degree from the university and has
provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships through his Solid
Rock Foundation.
"Look at his actions," Richardson says. "I think it's a great thing, and I
don't worry about it at all."
Even in the early years, Cooper says, his shows featured no foul language,
nudity or satanic glorification. In fact, he says, more than 30 of his songs
assail devil worship.
On the other hand, there were songs about necrophilia, sadomasochism and
hedonism; his theme was "Nothing in moderation."
Cooper says he and his family will be regulars at The Rock, working with children and helping to produce shows. He says no decision has been made on
an emblem for the school, but he would prefer that it not have anything to
do with Alice Cooper. Then, with a mischievous grin, he suggests, "How about
a cross through my heart?"
****************************************************************
And the following news article is being reprinted without permission. Tough beans!
******************************************************
Alice Cooper to Build Teen Center in Ariz.
Alice Cooper's Christian foundation to develop teen center in Phoenix
PHOENIX, Aug. 1, 2006
By TERRY TANG Associated Press Writer
(AP) For all the envelope-pushing Alice Cooper has done as a shock rocker, he also knows the value of boundaries, especially for children.
"Kids love boundaries. We used to fight against them. But in all reality, what we really did want was to know where we could go. Of course, you always step over the line just a little bit to see what's going to happen," said the 58-year-old rocker, known for his ghoulish makeup and hits such as 1975's "Welcome to My Nightmare."
Cooper said his Christian, nonprofit Solid Rock Foundation has begun fundraising efforts for a 20,000-square-foot teen activity center to be called The Rock, to be built at Grand Canyon University in West Phoenix.
The $3 million center will feature a recording studio, indoor basketball courts, rock-climbing walls, coffeehouse, game room and concert hall. Construction is expected to begin next year.
"People don't lay in the sun in southwest Phoenix. There's lots of shootings going, there's lots of meth going on, there's lots of gangs," Cooper said. "In the middle of all that is a bunch of 12-, 13-, 14-year-old kids that can go one way or the other."
Officials for Grand Canyon University, a private college with a Christian focus, came to Cooper with the offer to build the youth center on the campus. Cooper has given scholarships to the school for more than five years.
"We're not going to beat them over the head with a Bible," Cooper said. "But we're certainly going to be available to tell them that that's available to them."
Cooper, who spends about seven months of the year at home in suburban Paradise Valley, said that when he walks off the stage, "I'm going back to Phoenix, play golf, work on Solid Rock, go shopping and do everything that a father and a husband's supposed to do."
"I watched all of my best friends _ Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Keith Moon _ every one of them, die trying to live their image," he said.
"The one thing that my generation learned was `be a rock star when it's time to be a rock star.'"
Read below!
************************************************
Alice Cooper To Open Christian Youth Center
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Excerpts from USA Today:
Alice Cooper is opening a center where kids can learn to play guitar, shoot
hoops and find Jesus? Apparently so.
The 58-year-old father of shock-rock is teaming up with Grand Canyon
University in Phoenix to establish a $3 million youth haven featuring a
"school of rock," a concert hall and sporting attractions.
"It's a sanctuary where they don't get shot, they don't get stabbed, they
don't have to worry about somebody trying to sell them drugs," says Cooper,
who plans to announce the project today (Tuesday).
He concedes that some parents might view him as unlikely, if not
objectionable, in the role of a philanthropist bringing morality and
religion to America's young people.
"It's a great juxtaposition," he says. "Trust me, I walk that tightrope
every day. Part of the fun is the edge of it."
Cooper says those who understand his shtick recognize that the show has
always been a blend of farce and satire. They also know that he became a
born-again Christian 16 years ago when he quit drinking.
Since 1995, Cooper has operated the Solid Rock Foundation, a non-profit
organization that provides money to children's causes and college
scholarships to Christian students.
Cooper insists that his stage persona is a polar opposite to his personal
life: He has been married 30 years "without cheating" on his wife, and they
have raised three children.
The son of a minister and grandson of an evangelist, Cooper says America
"needs a good hypodermic needle shot of morality."
That will be one goal for his 20,000-square-foot recreational hall, to be
known as The Rock, on the urban campus of Grand Canyon University. It will
be open to children 12 to 18 at no charge; the prime target is at-risk
teens, whose parents may be in jail or on drugs, and whose brothers are
thugs.
"Even kids who grow up in gangs have a creative place in their body," Cooper
says. "They have a choice between a 9mm and a nine-iron."
Cooper, who still tours with his band five months each year, says alcohol
and tobacco will be banned at The Rock. There won't be a chapel, but
counselors will proselytize by example and offer religious guidance to kids
who want to learn about the faith.
"We are overtly Christian," he says, "but we're not going to beat you over
the head with a Bible."
The project, still in design stages and not fully financed, is scheduled to
break ground next year. An artist's rendering shows a concert hall,
recording studios, game rooms, a basketball court and a rock-climbing wall.
Cooper says he's seeking corporate sponsors to provide everything from
guitars to construction materials. In the meantime, his foundation will
raise money with an annual golf tournament and a Christmas music show.
Grand Canyon University will provide the land, security and some of the
financing, says Brent Richardson, CEO of the non-denominational Christian
school. Richardson concedes that some of the university's patrons and its
10,000 students may be leery of the shock-rock image.
But he says Cooper has an honorary degree from the university and has
provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships through his Solid
Rock Foundation.
"Look at his actions," Richardson says. "I think it's a great thing, and I
don't worry about it at all."
Even in the early years, Cooper says, his shows featured no foul language,
nudity or satanic glorification. In fact, he says, more than 30 of his songs
assail devil worship.
On the other hand, there were songs about necrophilia, sadomasochism and
hedonism; his theme was "Nothing in moderation."
Cooper says he and his family will be regulars at The Rock, working with children and helping to produce shows. He says no decision has been made on
an emblem for the school, but he would prefer that it not have anything to
do with Alice Cooper. Then, with a mischievous grin, he suggests, "How about
a cross through my heart?"
****************************************************************
And the following news article is being reprinted without permission. Tough beans!
******************************************************
Alice Cooper to Build Teen Center in Ariz.
Alice Cooper's Christian foundation to develop teen center in Phoenix
PHOENIX, Aug. 1, 2006
By TERRY TANG Associated Press Writer
(AP) For all the envelope-pushing Alice Cooper has done as a shock rocker, he also knows the value of boundaries, especially for children.
"Kids love boundaries. We used to fight against them. But in all reality, what we really did want was to know where we could go. Of course, you always step over the line just a little bit to see what's going to happen," said the 58-year-old rocker, known for his ghoulish makeup and hits such as 1975's "Welcome to My Nightmare."
Cooper said his Christian, nonprofit Solid Rock Foundation has begun fundraising efforts for a 20,000-square-foot teen activity center to be called The Rock, to be built at Grand Canyon University in West Phoenix.
The $3 million center will feature a recording studio, indoor basketball courts, rock-climbing walls, coffeehouse, game room and concert hall. Construction is expected to begin next year.
"People don't lay in the sun in southwest Phoenix. There's lots of shootings going, there's lots of meth going on, there's lots of gangs," Cooper said. "In the middle of all that is a bunch of 12-, 13-, 14-year-old kids that can go one way or the other."
Officials for Grand Canyon University, a private college with a Christian focus, came to Cooper with the offer to build the youth center on the campus. Cooper has given scholarships to the school for more than five years.
"We're not going to beat them over the head with a Bible," Cooper said. "But we're certainly going to be available to tell them that that's available to them."
Cooper, who spends about seven months of the year at home in suburban Paradise Valley, said that when he walks off the stage, "I'm going back to Phoenix, play golf, work on Solid Rock, go shopping and do everything that a father and a husband's supposed to do."
"I watched all of my best friends _ Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Keith Moon _ every one of them, die trying to live their image," he said.
"The one thing that my generation learned was `be a rock star when it's time to be a rock star.'"
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Another Reason That Marriage Is Good
This article is copied, from the Yahoo Homepage.
All legal rights remain the rights of the authors.
Staying Single May Shorten Life-Span -
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Staying single all your life may not be good for your health.
That's the conclusion of new research that shows that people who never marry face an even greater chance of dying early than people who have been divorced, separated or widowed. All of these groups had shorter survival prospects than people who were currently married.
The effect held true across all age groups, even younger ones, the researchers noted.
"This seems to happen all the way along," said lead researcher Robert Kaplan, professor and chair of the department of health services at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health. His team published the findings in the September issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Previous research had found a connection between being married and a longer life expectancy and, more specifically, between being married and a lower incidence of heart disease. Marriage is considered a rough proxy for "social connectedness," which experts believe can help people live longer.
Most of these studies, however, haven't distinguished between people who are separated, divorced or widowed and those who have never been married. "We're getting at never-married people," Kaplan said. "That hasn't been looked at as much."
The authors argued that widowed and divorced people are more likely to have children and are thus more likely to be socially connected. Never-married people would not have these benefits.
To test their theory, the researchers looked at the 1997 U.S. National Death Index and the 1989 National Health Interview survey.
In 1989, almost half of the sample were married, almost 10 percent were widowed, 12 percent were divorced, 3 percent were separated, 5 percent were living with someone, and 20 percent had never been married.
The death rate for people who were unmarried, whether because of divorce, separation or widowhood, was significantly higher than it was for those married and still living with their spouses.
But among those not now married, the effect was strongest for those who had never been married and was more pronounced among men than among women. Compared with currently married folk, people who had been widowed were almost 40 percent more likely to die between 1989 and 1997, while those who had been divorced or separated were 27 percent more likely. Those who had never been married were 58 percent more likely to have died than those who were married and cohabitating.
The findings held true across all age groups, and with different causes of death, not just heart disease, according to the researchers. For those aged 19 to 44, the main causes of early death among never-married adults were infectious diseases, presumably HIV/AIDS and other external causes. For the older segment, the main causes were cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
According to the authors, the risks of being never married were similar to the risks of having increased blood pressure or high cholesterol.
It's not clear if there is a cause-and-effect relationship. "We don't know if it's causal," Kaplan cautioned. It's possible that never-married people suffer from poor health or engage in risky behaviors, either of which could make them less likely to marry, he said.
Additional research done since this study was completed has yielded identical results, Kaplan added.
All legal rights remain the rights of the authors.
Staying Single May Shorten Life-Span -
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Staying single all your life may not be good for your health.
That's the conclusion of new research that shows that people who never marry face an even greater chance of dying early than people who have been divorced, separated or widowed. All of these groups had shorter survival prospects than people who were currently married.
The effect held true across all age groups, even younger ones, the researchers noted.
"This seems to happen all the way along," said lead researcher Robert Kaplan, professor and chair of the department of health services at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health. His team published the findings in the September issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Previous research had found a connection between being married and a longer life expectancy and, more specifically, between being married and a lower incidence of heart disease. Marriage is considered a rough proxy for "social connectedness," which experts believe can help people live longer.
Most of these studies, however, haven't distinguished between people who are separated, divorced or widowed and those who have never been married. "We're getting at never-married people," Kaplan said. "That hasn't been looked at as much."
The authors argued that widowed and divorced people are more likely to have children and are thus more likely to be socially connected. Never-married people would not have these benefits.
To test their theory, the researchers looked at the 1997 U.S. National Death Index and the 1989 National Health Interview survey.
In 1989, almost half of the sample were married, almost 10 percent were widowed, 12 percent were divorced, 3 percent were separated, 5 percent were living with someone, and 20 percent had never been married.
The death rate for people who were unmarried, whether because of divorce, separation or widowhood, was significantly higher than it was for those married and still living with their spouses.
But among those not now married, the effect was strongest for those who had never been married and was more pronounced among men than among women. Compared with currently married folk, people who had been widowed were almost 40 percent more likely to die between 1989 and 1997, while those who had been divorced or separated were 27 percent more likely. Those who had never been married were 58 percent more likely to have died than those who were married and cohabitating.
The findings held true across all age groups, and with different causes of death, not just heart disease, according to the researchers. For those aged 19 to 44, the main causes of early death among never-married adults were infectious diseases, presumably HIV/AIDS and other external causes. For the older segment, the main causes were cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
According to the authors, the risks of being never married were similar to the risks of having increased blood pressure or high cholesterol.
It's not clear if there is a cause-and-effect relationship. "We don't know if it's causal," Kaplan cautioned. It's possible that never-married people suffer from poor health or engage in risky behaviors, either of which could make them less likely to marry, he said.
Additional research done since this study was completed has yielded identical results, Kaplan added.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Gaming Fun
My Baldur's Gate II update!
Okay, so, my party of adventurers finally contacted the head guy in the Shadow Thieves organization (his name escapes me right now, so I'll call him BTD - Big Thief Dude), and...
...BTD promised to help the 6 adventurers rescue Imoen!
First, of course, they had to do a few small favours for him. The first two were simple and easy jobs, The third involved going to the caverns below the city graveyard and attacking the Vampires organization. And that was a CRAZY hard fight! In the end, they had to face the leader, Bodhi. Dick and friends beat on Bodhi for, like honestly, it must have been three or four minutes, while she just stood there and took it! Then, apparently unharmed and a little bit amused, she took off in a wisp of smoke and was gone. But not before dropping hints that she was in league with Irenicus. And that they would meet her again.
Following the orders of BTD (now I remember, his name was Arin Linvail!), the party boarded a ship sailed by a pirate crew, and they transported us to an island. Disembarking, the adventurers were immediately attacked by a few Vampires and pirates. No big deal.
There was a small town to explore, and Dick's Six (my new name for them, at least for now) explored it. After a few adventures there, we learned that we would have to enter Spellhold, an asylum on the island, one for crazy people with power. That was where Imoen was being held.
But they needed to have a wardstone that would let them into Spellhold, so they tracked down the one Cowled Wizard in the town and killed him for his wardstone.
On the way out fo town, Dick's Six met up with a Shadow Thief that Arin Linvail (BTD) had sent to help them find Spellhold, and they were led along the path to it, then left alone again.
Entering the asylum, Dick's Six were shown around by the curator/director, who then revelaed himself to be none other than the recently freed (by his own power, i guess) Irenicus! He had been experimenting on Imoen again, too, the ba**ard! Irenicus locked up Dick's Five. I say "Five", because Yoshimo was revealed to be Irenicus' plant in the party, although Yoshi stated that he did what he did on fear of death from Irenicus if he disobeyed. Then Irenicus experimented on Dick as well.
Apparently, Irenicus learned, finally, what he had wanted to discover through his experiments, and asked his accomplice Bodhi (surprise, surprise!) to dispose of the five heroes, and Imoen.
But Bodhi made a bad mistake, in deciding to play with the heroes instead, and she let them all loose in the deadly Dungeon Maze that she had designed.
Now, joined at last with Imoen, they are a party of six once again, and are trying hard to stay alive in this dungeon and escape to wreak justice upon all evildoers!
Okay...
That's it for now!
Ciao!
Okay, so, my party of adventurers finally contacted the head guy in the Shadow Thieves organization (his name escapes me right now, so I'll call him BTD - Big Thief Dude), and...
...BTD promised to help the 6 adventurers rescue Imoen!
First, of course, they had to do a few small favours for him. The first two were simple and easy jobs, The third involved going to the caverns below the city graveyard and attacking the Vampires organization. And that was a CRAZY hard fight! In the end, they had to face the leader, Bodhi. Dick and friends beat on Bodhi for, like honestly, it must have been three or four minutes, while she just stood there and took it! Then, apparently unharmed and a little bit amused, she took off in a wisp of smoke and was gone. But not before dropping hints that she was in league with Irenicus. And that they would meet her again.
Following the orders of BTD (now I remember, his name was Arin Linvail!), the party boarded a ship sailed by a pirate crew, and they transported us to an island. Disembarking, the adventurers were immediately attacked by a few Vampires and pirates. No big deal.
There was a small town to explore, and Dick's Six (my new name for them, at least for now) explored it. After a few adventures there, we learned that we would have to enter Spellhold, an asylum on the island, one for crazy people with power. That was where Imoen was being held.
But they needed to have a wardstone that would let them into Spellhold, so they tracked down the one Cowled Wizard in the town and killed him for his wardstone.
On the way out fo town, Dick's Six met up with a Shadow Thief that Arin Linvail (BTD) had sent to help them find Spellhold, and they were led along the path to it, then left alone again.
Entering the asylum, Dick's Six were shown around by the curator/director, who then revelaed himself to be none other than the recently freed (by his own power, i guess) Irenicus! He had been experimenting on Imoen again, too, the ba**ard! Irenicus locked up Dick's Five. I say "Five", because Yoshimo was revealed to be Irenicus' plant in the party, although Yoshi stated that he did what he did on fear of death from Irenicus if he disobeyed. Then Irenicus experimented on Dick as well.
Apparently, Irenicus learned, finally, what he had wanted to discover through his experiments, and asked his accomplice Bodhi (surprise, surprise!) to dispose of the five heroes, and Imoen.
But Bodhi made a bad mistake, in deciding to play with the heroes instead, and she let them all loose in the deadly Dungeon Maze that she had designed.
Now, joined at last with Imoen, they are a party of six once again, and are trying hard to stay alive in this dungeon and escape to wreak justice upon all evildoers!
Okay...
That's it for now!
Ciao!
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