Women Smokers Lose 14.5 Years Off Life Span - washingtonpost.com

Women Smokers Lose 14.5 Years Off Life Span - washingtonpost.com:

"...smoking takes an average of 14.5 years off women's lives, almost one in five American women age 18 and older smokes.

'The damaging effects of smoking on women are extensive, well-documented, and can be observed from the cradle to the premature grave,' Dr. Sharon Phelan said in an organization news release. She helped develop ACOG's smoking cessation materials for health care providers.

'Smoking is a harmful habit that negatively affects nearly every organ in the body. There's just no good reason not to quit,' she said."

Please do me two favors: 1. Quit. 2. Next time you are in the Park and Shops, ask the manager to quit selling tobacco. Better yet, call the main office and tell them the same.

My new year's resolution is to have it out of at least one of our stores by this time next year.

Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death by Customers - NYTimes.com

Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death by Customers - NYTimes.com:

"A Wal-Mart employee in suburban New York died after being trampled by a crush of shoppers who tore down the front doors and thronged into the store early Friday morning,"

Are you kidding ? Folks, take a breath. Crazy. Why anyone would get up early to shop, let alone act in such an uncivilized manner for things they don't need, is totally incomprehensible to me.

A day late, but found a good article on the History of Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Story - History of Thanksgiving:

"George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.

It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving"

Free RangeTurkeys from Portville!

Free range poultry and meat have several advantages over mass produced meats. In the Olean area we are lucky to be near Sprague's Turkey farm from Portville. The OTH ran the following:

"When he started, Mr. Sprague said, 'practically everything was free-range.'

Now, he said, 'we are probably one of the very few (raising) free-range turkeys in the state.'

Only two other vendors, Park N' Shop...and Mak's Meat in Cuba, offer free-range turkeys now. Both stores run orders directly through Sprague's Turkey Farm.

Many stores are wary of investing in the higher cost of free-range turkeys

and later:

"Mr. Sprague said that in part the increased cost comes from several production factors. One is a longer growing period. "It takes us a week or two longer to achieve the same results," Mr. Sprague said. More time equals more feed. Mr. Sprague uses a feed specially designed for turkeys. The feed begins at "28 protein feed, and gradually comes down to a 14 protein feed," he said.

They will also lose some of their turkeys due to the foxes, coyotes and bobcats that prey on the turkeys."

and later

"Some free-range proponents prefer the free-roaming bird for improved quality. Francis Mahar, manager of the Front street Park N' Shop said "They just have a different taste, or moisture, without having the junk." Mr. Sprague's turkeys are raised free of any hormones, steroids, or other enhancements.

"We don't use any additives at all. We don't use anything," Mr. Sprague said."

In addition to no additives, the birds are raised in a more humane manner, since they are raised to close to home less energy is used in their transportation, and they support the local economy.

Orders for Christmas turkeys will be taken at the service desks of all of our stores.

Go exercise!

Depression's Behavior Changes Linked to Heart Risks - washingtonpost.com:

"The researchers found that patients with depression had a 50 percent greater risk of cardiovascular events -- 10 percent among those with depression compared to 6.7 among those without depression. When the researchers adjusted for other existing conditions and cardiac disease severity, depression was associated with a 31 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Whooley and her colleagues further adjusted for certain health behaviors, including physical inactivity, and found there was no longer a significant association between depression and cardiovascular events. They calculated that physical inactivity was associated with a 44 percent greater rate of cardiovascular events"

At Walmart, "W" is for "Wait"

Stumbled upon this from one of the blogs I regularly check for finance info:

Free Money Finance: At Walmart, "W" is for "Wait", At Costco, "C" is for "Come on Through":

"I was in Walmart a couple weeks ago and was again underwhelmed by their lack of checkouts operating. When I got up front at 11 am on Saturday morning, three checkouts were open -- one was the '12 items or less' line, one was the 'check yourself out line', and one was a regular line. Since I had more than 12 items and a few of those items were ones I knew would present a problem for the 'check yourself out' machines, I got into the regular line. Or, more accurately, I joined the line that the rest of the shoppers in the store also were in.

After we waited 10 minutes or so with the line backed up into the ladies apparel section (by this time, I was third in line), some genius at Walmart recognized the issue and opened another line. It was filled in seconds, and since I had moved up so far (now next in line), I stayed put. The only problem -- the person in front of me had some items that needed a price confirmed, she had to fumble for a method of payment, and so on. 15 minutes later I stumbled out of Walmart wondering if getting the best price was worth it any more. If I have to wait so long at the checkout counter each time I go to Walmart, I can tell you that my days as a Walmart shopper are limited."

Time, not money, is your most valuable resource. Wasting time is almost inexcusable. The stress, the aggravation, the anger. For a few cents? No way!

Monks' Bread: Holiday Bread

It is that time of year! The Monks Holiday Bread is in stores again. I bought some last night and is a nice "dessert" bread.

For those of you who don't know, Monks' Bread really is made by Monks. From their website:

Monks' Bread: Monks' Bread:

"The Trappist monks of the Abbey of the Genesee have been baking Monks' Bread since 1953. We do so to support ourselves by the work of our hands. A large portion of the proceeds goes to various charities. We thank you for your purchase.
No High Fructose corn syrup,
No Trans Fat and No cholesterol"

Drop That Cigarette, Today Is The Great American Smokeout : dBTechno

Drop That Cigarette, Today Is The Great American Smokeout : dBTechno:

"Today marks the annual Great American Smokeout hosted by the American Cancer Society, and is trying to get people all across the U.S. to drop their cigarettes for just one day.

It is estimated that 45 million Americans across the country still smoke."

Few things amaze me more than that anyone still smokes. Such a horrible habit. How can anyone still do it? PLEASE stop.

Health groups lash U.S. states over tobacco efforts - Yahoo! News

Health groups lash U.S. states over tobacco efforts - Yahoo! News:

"In the 10 years since the landmark deal, the states have received $79.2 billion of the settlement and another $124.3 billion from tobacco taxes, but have spent only about 3 percent of it -- $6.5 billion -- on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, the groups said in a report."

Hey want to do me a favor? When you are in the stores, ask the managers (or better ask one of my dad or uncles) to quit selling tobacco all together. It is not worth it. We want you around as a customer for a long time!

Vitamin C, E Supplements Won't Help Prevent Cancer - washingtonpost.com

More bad news for vitamin makers and takers.

Vitamin C, E Supplements Won't Help Prevent Cancer - washingtonpost.com:

"Coming on the heels of two studies discounting the usefulness of vitamin B, folic acid, vitamin D and calcium supplements for cancer prevention, U.S. researchers report that vitamins C and E supplements won't help prevent cancer, either.

The same team also recently reported that vitamin C and E supplements weren't helpful in protecting users against heart disease.

'At least in the context of two very common outcomes -- cardioprotection and chemoprevention -- we see no compelling evidence to take vitamin E or C supplements,' said one of the study's authors, Dr. Howard Sesso...."

Shopping Spree at Front St. Park and Shop

Shopping Spree at Front St. Park and Shop
From the Olean Times Herald

"Lindsey Coburn loads up her cart at the Service Store Park and Shop on Front Street in Olean Wednesday afternoon. She rounded up $341.75 worth of groceries in 180 seconds. The contest was a first-time effort of the Olean Rotary Club. Tickets to enter, which were sold throughout the last two months, were $5 each. Club President Melissa Meyers said the fundraiser generated more than $600 for the service club."

Butter, Heart Healthy Food, Recipes, Cooking Oil and more by Smart Balance

Butter, Heart Healthy Food, Recipes, Cooking Oil and more by Smart Balance--The SmartBalance site has some good nutritional info plus it even allows you to print out a coupon.