THE PERFECT KISS

TEN TIPS TO HELP YOU WITH THE FIRST KISS:

There's nothing better than a FIRST KISS. With that in mind, here are TEN TIPS to help you out this weekend . . . so you don't screw up your chances of getting a SECOND KISS.

#1.) MAKE IT HAPPEN. First dates are nerve-wracking, but don't be too aloof when it comes to the first kiss. That means you shouldn't pretend that you don't care about whether it happens or not . . . let your date know you're interested, but subtly.

#2.) LET HER MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. Guys, you should think about letting HER initiate things. If you're not sure whether she's open to a kiss, let her know you had a great time, tell her she looks beautiful, and stand close enough for her to make a move.--Only . . . if you wait for her to make a move without any indication that it's what YOU want too, you may be waiting for a long time. So try to strike a balance between eagerness and detachment.

#3.) TONGUE. Show restraint the first time. When you pull away from a first kiss, your date shouldn't have to wipe saliva off their face . . . so keep it neat and polite. You can use a LITTLE bit of tongue, but don't shove it in the other person's mouth.

#4.) BREATH. This one is a no-brainer. You should already be brushing and flossing daily, but lay off foods like garlic and onions if you're hoping to do some kissing later on. --At the same time, don't go overboard on the breath fresheners. Take advantage of the after-dinner mint or pop in a piece of gum as you're leaving the restaurant.

#5.) LIPS. Use lip balm to avoid dry or cracked lips. But ladies, don't wear too much lipstick or gloss, or the kiss could get too messy.

#6.) STUBBLE. Guys, don't subject your date's face to the sandpaper texture of your facial hair. Maybe that'll fly once you're dating, but not for a first kiss. So don't press your face to hers before considering exactly how clean-shaven you are.

#7.) GROPING. Unless it's been made VERY clear that the first kiss is the beginning of something more, keep your hands to yourself. Grabbing or squeezing ANYTHING is absolutely unacceptable. If you just HAVE to touch: Guys, try cupping her face with your hands. Ladies, wrapping your arms around him in an intimate hug is fine.

#8.) TIMING. A first kiss shouldn't be a surprise, so wait for the right moment. Make sure you've got your date's complete attention before leaning in. Pay attention to things like body language and eye contact, so you'll know when to make your move.

#9.) LOCATION. The lips work just fine. (--HI-YO!) Seriously, you need a distraction-free location for your first kiss. Do it in private without your friends watching . . . and judging. Don't try to force it. Wait until you're both in the right frame of mind.

#10.) Don't get your hopes up too high . . . it's just ONE kiss. (Canoe / Ask Men)

NEAR FATAL JUMP SHOT

OUCH! THAT'S GOTTA HURT!

A Wyoming basketball player named Adam Waddell almost kills himself dunking a basketball. He steals the ball, runs down the court, and dunks it. But he hangs onto the rim a little too long, does a full flip and lands hard.

(--Note: The dunk happens at :19, and you can watch it in slow-motion at :40.)

SNGLE & FREE

***FIVE REASONS TO CELEBRATE BEING SINGLE***

People sometimes take being single for granted. Because staying unattached actually comes with a lot of advantages. If you're feeling depressed because you haven't found someone special yet, here are five reasons to celebrate the single life . .

REASON #1.) YOU HAVE A BETTER BODY. A recent study found that women generally gain five to eight pounds in the first few years of marriage. And UNHAPPILY married women gain an average of 54 POUNDS in the first 10 years.

REASON #2.) YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have the time. A study found that people who stay single longer are much more productive and do better at work.

REASON #3.) YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH YOUR MONEY. According to a survey by SmartMoney magazine, 40 percent of women and 36 percent of men have lied to their spouses about a purchase. But things can get a lot worse than that.

--Research shows that, during a divorce, men and women generally lose THREE-FOURTHS of their personal net worth.

REASON #4.) YOU'RE SMARTER WHEN YOU'RE SINGLE. And it's because you're better rested. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleeping in bed with someone else can make you lose an average of 49 minutes of sleep per night.

REASON #5.) YOU HAVE BETTER RELATIONS. Married couples actually have MORE relations. . . about 98 times a year versus 49 times for single people. But married people are much more likely to report PROBLEMS with their sex lives. (Match.com)

HALF HUMAN/ HALF COMPUTER

A GUY IN FINLAND HAS A USB FLASH DRIVE IN HIS PROSTHETIC FINGER:

Last May, 29-year-old Jerry Jalava of Helsinki, Finland was on his way home from work as a computer software designer when a deer darted in front of his motorcycle . . . and caused Jerry to crash. For the most part, Jerry was unharmed in the accident. But he did lose the tip of his left ring finger.

Anyway, Jerry was discussing plans for his new prosthetic finger with his doctor . . . when he came up with a "genius" idea: Why not build a prosthetic finger that also doubles . . . as a USB flash drive. (???)

Jerry says, quote, "I told the doctor what I do for a living and he said it would be fun to try to do something new. [So] we started planning the current [USB flash drive] finger. "It's not attached permanently to my body. It's a removable prosthetic, which has a USB memory stick inside it. When I'm using the USB, I just leave my finger inside the slot and pick it up whenever I'm ready." (ABC News)

(--Check out some pictures of Jerry's prosthetic flash drive . . .)

HOW TO HELP THE DRUNK FRIEND

HERE ARE SIX TIPS TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH A DRUNK FRIEND:

Whether you spend every weekend at the bar, or you only drink occasionally, you've probably had to nurse a drunk friend back to life once or twice. If one of your friends drinks WAY too much this weekend, here are six tips to help you deal with them . . .

#1.) STAY NEARBY. Your blitzed friend is most dangerous if they're wandering around alone. So try to keep them at your table or next to you at the bar. Treat them like an accident-prone kid you're stuck babysitting . . . because that's basically what they are.

#2.) BUY THEIR DRINKS. If you control what your friend drinks, you can control what happens. If your friend won't STOP drinking, let the bartender know, and they can make the drinks as weak as possible. Your friend will be too drunk to notice anyway.

#3.) MAKE THEM USE THEIR BRAIN. Asking questions or riddles will make your friend THINK . . . and talk . . . which means they won't be drinking. Plus you get to mess with a drunk person. FUN!

#4.) STAY POSITIVE. If you start getting annoyed, it's hard to keep smiling, and if things turn negative, there's no telling what might happen. So remember to stay positive. Because a happy drunk is annoying, sure. But it's MUCH better than an ANGRY drunk.

#5.) FEED AND WATER THEM. If your friend only has booze in their system, they'll be drunk all night. So, when you start noticing they're tipsy, try slipping in a glass of water between drinks. And make sure they eat as soon . . . and as often . . . as possible.

#6.) TAKE THEM HOME. The sooner you do it, the sooner they'll be out of your hair. Just make sure you get them ALL THE WAY home. A drunk person can get into all sorts of trouble on the way from the cab to the front door.

--Once they're home, make sure the car keys are put away. Drunk people tend to make a lot of bad decisions . . . like jumping in the car to go BACK to the party. (AskMen.com)

MARCH MADDNESS

PRESIDENT OBAMA PICKED NORTH CAROLINA TO WIN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT:

The NCAA basketball tournament gets under way today . . . and for some reason, the media has gone absolutely dog-nuts over BARACK OBAMA'S March Madness bracket. So who did Obama pick to win the tournament? Obama's Final Four consists of Pittsburgh, Louisville, North Carolina and Memphis. And he has Louisville and North Carolina in the championship game . . . with NORTH CAROLINA coming out on top. (USA Today)

(--You can check out all of Obama's picks here. http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/entry?entryID=2813746 )

Check out a video of Obama filling out his bracket here . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQmaCk7OV4 )

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THE MOST VALUABLE COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM IS . . . THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS:

The NCAA tournament starts today, and "Forbes" has released its second annual list of the most valuable college basketball teams . . . based on merchandise sales, ticket sales, and TV revenue, among other factors.

Here are the ten most valuable college basketball teams:

#10.) Ohio State University Buckeyes (--Value: $16.1 MILLION)

#9.) University of Maryland Terrapins ($16.7 MILLION)

#8.) Duke University Blue Devils ($16.8 MILLION)

#7.) University of Illinois Fighting Illini ($19.6 MILLION)

#6.) University of Arizona Wildcats ($21 MILLION)

#5.) University of Kansas Jayhawks ($21.7 MILLION)

#4.) Indiana University Hoosiers ($22.3 MILLION)

#3.) University of Louisville Cardinals ($24.1 MILLION)

#2.) University of Kentucky Wildcats ($25.4 MILLION)

#1.) University of North Carolina Tar Heels ($25.9 MILLION)

(--Here's the full list of teams . . .)http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/16/most-valuable-college-basketball-teams-business-sports-final-four_slide.html?thisspeed=25000

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NEARLY ONE IN FIVE WORKERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MARCH MADNESS OFFICE POOL:

This is just a reminder for the 18% of you who are participating in March Madness office pools: The NCAA tournament officially kicks off today at 12:20 P.M. Eastern . . . so you'd better have your bracket filled out and handed in by then. (--If 18% seems low to you, then THIS might help explain it. 24% of men say they're taking part in their March Madness office pool . . . but only 11% of women are.) (PR Newswire)

TWITTER & FACEBOOK ARE BAD IN COURT

MEATBALL JURY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SCREWING UP TRIALS BY POSTING TWITTER AND FACEBOOK UPDATES . . . ABOUT COURT CASES:

For some reason, people just love posting status updates on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter . . . and that's fine. But THIS is not . . .

According to a trial attorney from Milwaukee named Anne Reed, "Dozens of [jury members] a day are sending [Twitter] or Facebook updates from courthouses all over America." So why is that such a big deal?

#1.) Last week, a federal judge in Florida declared a mistrial in an eight-week drug trial . . . after he learned at least NINE jury members had done research about the case online.

#2.) Last week, a building materials company in Arkansas appealed a $12.6 MILLION verdict against them . . . after learning a juror named Johnathan Powell was posting Twitter messages . . . or "tweets" . . . about the case while the trial was still ongoing.

#3.) On Monday, a former Pennsylvania senator . . . named Vincent Fumo . . . was convicted of 137 counts of federal corruption.

--But now that conviction is in jeopardy because on Friday, an idiot jury member . . . 35-year-old Eric Wuest . . . posted a Facebook update about the case which read, "Stay tuned for a big announcement on Monday everyone!" (Orlando Sentinel)

(--Look, people, I realize you're desperate to be noticed . . . but this is seriously NOT COOL. Not only are you making wasting taxpayer dollars with your cries for attention . . . you're making it more difficult for prosecutors to convict CRIMINALS.) (--So stop interfering with the judicial process by posting status updates! Thank you & have a nice day!)

NEW SCRABBLE WORDS

"SCRABBLE'S" OFFICIAL WORD LIST NOW INCLUDES "ZZZ" . . . WHICH IS THE SOUND YOU MAKE WHEN YOU SNORE:

I am absolutely LIVID this morning. Would you like to know why? Because I'm a "Scrabble" enthusiast, and I just found out that the latest edition of the game's official word list includes three new "words" . . . which are completely ridiculous.

See for yourself . . .

#1.) "Za" . . . an 11-point word which is slang for "pizza"

#2.) "Qi" (--pronounced "Chi") . . . an 11-point word which is defined as the human "life force"

#3.) "Zzz" . . . a 30-POINT WORD which is the sound you make when you snore

(--I know, you probably don't really care about this. But you have to admit that if one of your friends beat you in a tight game of "Scrabble" by using the word "Zzz" . . . you'd probably think it was a cheap way to win. Right? Yeah, you would.) (Wall Street Journal)

A DOG WITH A TASTE FOR MONEY

A WOMAN'S DOG ATE $400 IN CASH AND SHE'S RECOVERING IT BIT BY BIT . . . AS IT COMES OUT THE OTHER END:

Last Friday, 42-year-old Kelley Davis of Apex, North Carolina put $400 in cash . . . THREE $100 bills and FIVE $20 bills . . . on her bedroom bureau. But later on when Kelley went to retrieve the money to deposit it into her bank account . . . it was gone. So where did it go?

Apparently, the family dog . . . a Swiss Mountain Dog named Augie . . . had EATEN IT.

Now, Kelley's recovering the money bit by bit . . . as it comes out Augie's backside. Kelley says, "Who knows if there's more coming or not. We're anxiously awaiting." As of Tuesday, Kelley had recovered $180 from Augie's movements. (News & Observer)

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THE PLANT PRODUCTS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO POISON AND KILL YOUR PET ARE . . . GRAPES AND RAISINS???

Yesterday, the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company released a list of the top ten plants and plant products . . . which are most likely to POISON and KILL your pet. Take a look . . .

#10.) Hydrangea plant #9.) Azalea plant #8.) Macadamia nut #7.) Sago Palm #6.) Onion #5.) Walnuts #4.) Lily #3.) Marijuana #2.) Mushrooms #1.) Grapes / Raisins (PR Newswire)

(--I had no clue most of this stuff was toxic to animals . . . but, apparently, grapes and raisins have been known to cause kidney failure in dogs and cats. Who knew?)

THE NEW HOTTNESS

AND NOW . . . PICTURES OF JAPANESE TEENS POSING WITH THEIR TRICKED-OUT MOPEDS:

Now it's time for a new segment we like to call "What's Hot with the Youth of Japan". So . . . what's hot with the youth of Japan? --The latest trend that's all the rage with Japan's young people is . . . riding around on ridiculously tricked-out mopeds.

(--Check out a photo gallery of this "awesomeness" here . . .) http://galleries.thelondonpaper.com/motorbikes-japan-oversized-suzuki-skywave-japanese-teenager-fashio-accessory/1

(London Paper)

WEIGHT LOSS FOODS

***FOUR FOODS THAT HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT***

Processed foods wreak havoc on your blood sugar and make it hard to lose weight. Other foods do just the opposite, but it's not always obvious which ONES. If you want to shed some pounds, try incorporating these four random foods into your diet . . .

#1.) SARDINES. If just the THOUGHT of eating them makes you gag, then sardines might not be for you. But they're loaded with protein, which helps stabilize your blood sugar, makes you feel full, and stimulates your metabolism.

--And because they're really low on the food chain, they're remarkably free of contaminants like mercury, which is one of the main drawbacks of canned tuna.

#2.) GRAPEFRUIT. A 2004 study showed that eating grapefruit before a meal can help you lose a significant amount of weight. Grapefruit juice and supplements are okay too, but EATING half of a grapefruit is best . . . and it only has 39 calories.

#3.) PUMPKIN. You probably associate it with weight GAIN because of Thanksgiving, but plain old canned pumpkin is loaded with fiber . . . which helps manage weight. Plus, it's easy to prepare.

--You can pair it with a zero-calorie sweetener like Splenda, or sprinkle on some cinnamon, which naturally lowers your blood sugar.

#4.) GREEN TEA. Drinking it on a daily basis speeds up fat oxidation and boosts your metabolism. If you're trying to burn fat, some research shows that five cups of green tea a day is the magic number . . . but even one or two cups should help. (iVillage.com)

THAT'S JUST CREEPY

A GUY FOUND A NEST OF 41 SNAKES IN A CRAWL SPACE IN HIS HOUSE:

On Sunday, 25-year-old Jeff Stafford was hanging out at a friend's house in Westminster, Colorado. . . when they spotted a snake near the crawlspace underneath the house.

Since Jeff's friend was already underneath the house fixing a leaky pipe . . . he asked Jeff to do him a favor and capture the snake. So Jeff grabbed a flashlight and climbed into the crawlspace . . . where he found a colony of at least 41 BULL SNAKES living underneath his friend's house. (!!!) (Denver Post

(--Just so we're clear, bull snakes aren't poisonous. But they can grow up to six-feet long and . . . let's be honest . . . a slithering mass of 41 snakes is a slithering mass of 41 snakes. Check out a picture of these bull snakes in the photo above. . .)

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LUCK

HERE ARE FOUR TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR "LUCK":

Richard Wisemen is a psychology professor at the University of Hertfordshire in England, and he claims the average person can improve their "luck" by up to 40% . . . just by, "creating, noticing and acting upon chance opportunities" in our lives.

So what can you do to improve your "luck"? Here are FOUR TIPS to get you started:

#1.) Prepare your mind: Yes, your luck depends on chance encounters. But if you prepare yourself for good things to happen, then when something happens by chance, you'll almost expect it . . . and that will help you seize the opportunity.

#2.) Give "chance" a shot: If all you do is sit at home and watch TV . . . then you're not giving "luck" a chance to find you. But if you get out and actually do stuff . . . you're increasing the likelihood that good things will happen.

#3.) Relax: If you're anxious, stressed or preoccupied . . . then you probably won't notice when good things are waiting to happen. So take a few deep breaths, try to chill out . . . and just go with the flow.

#4.) Network: Meeting new people and staying connected to the ones you already know is probably the best way to improve your luck. Why? Because people are opportunities . . . and you never know where a relationship with another person could lead. (CNN)

--- Remember what Nazzy always say's, "Think Positive & Positive Will Happen!!" (It's true!)

EARTH FROM 20 MILES ABOVE

SOME STUDENTS FROM SPAIN SENT A WEATHER BALLOON 20 MILES ABOVE THE GROUND . . . TO TAKE PICTURES OF EARTH:

Last month, a group of 18- and 19-year-old students from Spain sent a camera-operated weather balloon 20 MILES into the stratosphere . . . in order to take pictures of the Earth with a $75 digital camera. (Daily Telegraph)

(--Take a look at one of the pictures captured by this weather balloon . . .)

BE PREPARED

***TEN THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR DISASTER KIT***

March is Red Cross awareness month . . . so it's time to put together your disaster kit!!! Here are ten things you need to include, according to the American Red Cross . . .

#1.) WATER. You and your family could be without water for days after a disaster. The Red Cross recommends storing at least three gallons of water for each person for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

#2.) FOOD. Make sure you store three-days-worth of non-perishable food that requires little or no cooking to prepare it. And don't forget to include a can opener. Most Swiss Army knives have one, and they also have a ton of other things you might need.

#3.) MEDICATIONS. Pharmacies might be closed in the wake of a disaster, so the Red Cross recommends that you include a week's supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

#4.) A RADIO. Your whole neighborhood could lose power for days, so have a battery-powered radio handy, and include plenty of spare batteries. But remember, batteries CAN go bad, even when you're not using them, so make sure you replace them every few years.

#5.) A FIRST AID KIT. You should be prepared to treat minor injures, so pick up a first aid kit at any drug store . . . or go to www.RedCross.org and view their checklist.

#6.) PERSONAL DOCUMENTS. If you have to evacuate, you might not be able to come home for weeks. So have your ID, passport, birth certificate and insurance policies in one place. Also, put an extra set of glasses in your emergency kit alongside any other personal items that you need on a daily basis.

#7.) CASH. Following a disaster, banks might be closed, and ATMs might run out of money. So keep small bills and change on hand to buy any other supplies you'll need. It's best to have at least $100 stored away, just in case.

#8.) CLOTHING. In a disaster, you might have to leave in a hurry without packing. So make sure your disaster kit includes a spare set of warm clothes and some good shoes that you can walk in if you need to.

#9.) PET SUPPLIES. People sometimes forget that they'll have to keep taking care of their pets during a disaster. Remember to pack things like pet food, leashes, medicine and extra water so you'll be able to bring your pet with you if you have to evacuate.

#10.) TOOLS. Keep an adjustable wrench in your disaster kit in case you need to turn off your gas. Other things that might prove useful include garbage bags, a flashlight, a survival handbook, a map and duct tape. (RedCross.org)

OCD PETS?

YOUR PET MIGHT HAVE OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER:

Do you ever get the feeling that your PET is mentally ill? For example, does your pet constantly lick himself . . . or bite at imaginary flies . . . or relentlessly chase his own shadow? (Mine does)

If so, there's a chance your pet has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder . . . or OCD. I know what you're thinking . . . "Isn't OCD that mental disorder where people are always washing their hands?" Yeah, it is. And a new study has found that dogs, cats and even horses can suffer from OCD . . . just like humans.

But listen to this . . . The same drugs that are prescribed to humans to treat OCD . . . such as Prozac and Zoloft . . . can help animals suffering from OCD too. (KWWL News 7 - Iowa)

PARENTING TECHNIQUES FOR ADUTLS

HERE ARE SOME PARENTING TECHNIQUES YOU CAN USE ON YOUR SPOUSE:

#1.) POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Or in other words . . . reward good behavior. Actually, parents don't use this one enough with their kids either. Like, if one of them is keeping quiet and staying out of trouble . . . just tell them how well they're behaving.

--And if your spouse lets you sleep in while they make breakfast Saturday morning, don't take it for granted. Make sure you thank them . . . because it'll increase the chances of it happening again.

#2.) KEEP IT SHORT: You have to know when to pick your battles with kids when they're acting up. The same goes for relationships.

--If you make every un-done chore a major domestic meltdown, you'll lose perspective on your marriage. So a quick reminder here and there about stuff you want done is an easy way to make your point, without making a big deal. (--This is also known as nagging.)

#3.) THE TIME-OUT: Obviously, this is a tried-and-true method of disciplining your kids. But you can't exactly tell an adult to go to their corner. But you CAN go to your OWN corner. If tempers are flaring and the argument is going nowhere . . . take yourself out of the fight. It forces the other person to deal with the situation on their own, and gives you time to recharge your batteries.

#4.) EXCHANGE QUALITY TIME: You know that when your rugrats are driving you insane, if you give them just a little bit of your undivided attention, you've bought yourself some peace and quiet. The same goes for relationships. If you're willing to do something your spouse wants to do . . . but you HATE . . . they're more likely to be willing to spend some quality time doing what YOU want to do.

#5.) CREATIVE DISCIPLINE: This is just a fancy way of saying "confront the problem and talk it out." Like if your kid is being a real brat, instead of punishing them, sit down and figure out TOGETHER how to fix the problem and change their behavior.

--So if you're angry that your spouse comes home late all the time, don't hold your feelings in. You'll just end up blowing up anyway. Instead, explain why it matters to you in the first place and . . . together . . . figure out a way to manage your expectations. (CNN)

TRUCK DRIVER SAVES WOMAN HAVEING A HEART ATTACT

A WOMAN PASSED OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, SO A TRUCKER HELPED STOP HER RUNAWAY CAR:

Last week, Joanne Haplin of Weirton, West Virginia, was driving down the highway when she suffered a mild heart attack . . . and lost consciousness. But listen to this . . . An unidentified truck driver noticed that Joanne was in need of help. So to help minimize the damage, the guy pulled his truck in front of Joanne . . . and forced her car to come to a stop by allowing it to crash into his rear bumper.

According to a police officer who witnessed the whole thing, "When we got the vehicle stopped, we ran to the driver's side door and [Joanne] was completely unconscious. She started to come around but had no idea what was going on." Joanne was rushed to the hospital where she underwent surgery and, according to her doctors, she's expected to make a full recovery. (WTOV News 9 - Steubenville)

(--This whole crazy incident was caught on a police officer's dash camera. You can check out the video here . . .) http://www.wtov9.com/news/18924172/detail.html

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YOUR CHANCES OF SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK ARE THREE TIMES HIGHER . . . IF YOU'VE JUST BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC:

I think we can all agree that being stuck in traffic can take a serious toll on your mental health. But it turns out traffic can wreak havoc on your physical health too. Recently, a group of researchers from Germany studied more than 1,500 heart attack cases over a four-year span. What they found is that being stuck in traffic . . . whether as a driver, a passenger or even a bicyclist . . . increases a person's HEART ATTACK risk by more than THREE TIMES.

A woman named Annette Peters led the study. She says, "We found that when people are participating in traffic, they have a threefold increased risk to experience a heart attack one hour later. --"For someone with a very low risk for a heart attack, this doesn't mean much. But for someone already at a higher risk for a heart attack . . . then traffic might be an additional stressor that could cause a heart attack to occur." (Health Day)