Why Do Women Worry More Than Men?

Two new studies indicate there's an answer. There conclusion is that women are more likely than men to believe that past experiences accurately forecast the future. The research, involving both 3- to 6-year-olds and adults of both genders, tested how worried they were that a bad event that took place in the past could happen again in the future. The findings of these studies appeared in the Sept./Oct. issue of the journal Child Development. Furthermore, these studies found that children increasingly made these kinds of past-to-future connections as they got older, which yields insight into their cognitive development.

Alcohol Linked to Cancer in Women

American researchers led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif., revealed their findings at a meeting of the European Cancer Organization in Barcelona. They found that all types of alcohol, including wine, beer or liquor all equally increase the risk of breast cancer in women. There's not really good news when a study like this comes out, but if there were some, it's that cancer risk increases based on consumption--something that's controllable.

Again, regardless of the alcohol, women who had less than one drink a day showed no difference in their risk. Women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk of developing breast cancer by 10 percent. Women who had more than three drinks a day raised their risk by a whopping 30 percent.

Researchers analyzed the drinking habits of 70,033 women of various races and asked them questions during health exams between 1978 and 1985. By 2004, 2,829 of these women had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Three drinks or more a day is a pretty significant number, but even one drink a day on average makes this study very frightening. To read the full article on MSNBC, click here.

Man Hikes 40 Miles To Save Wife

Talk about going the distance. And in record time too. While hiking on Glacier Peak in Snohomish County, Washington, Max Tenscher and his wife, Roxanne, were enjoying the day on another one of their outings. But this outing would leave Roxanne with torn ligaments in her knee and unable to move. Her husband, a nurse, left his wife with food, water and equipment and went for help. When asked the decision to leave his wife behind Tenscher said, "it's a decision that you re-think over and over again." He hiked 40 miles to Stehekin, located on the northwest edge of Lake Chelan and found help. In sickness and in health as we like to say. To see the Hover's discuss their ordeal, click here

Journey Man Dilemma

Okay, so I'm a little slow watching TV, but that's what a DVR is for, right? Anyway, I just caught the premier episode of Journey Man on NBC and man did it have a great philosophical hitched dilemma. Kevin McKidd of Rome fame plays the main character, Dan Vasser. Dan inexplicably travels back in time and finds himself following a complete stranger. In these journeys back, Dan runs into his old fiance, who has since died. Dan, however, is now married, but is presented with an opportunity to relive some of his old-time romance. What do you think? Would it be cheating if he hooked up with his now deceased fiance while traveling back in time? You can find out what he decides to do by watching the episode. It's available for free on NBC.com, click here.

111 Across: "Will You Marry Me?"

Aric Egmont of Cambridge, Massachusetts had plotted for months. And it happened. A long time fan of the Boston Globe Sunday magazine crossword puzzle, Egmont contacted the writers and asked if they would grant him a special request; to allow one of the answers to read "Will You Marry Me?" His girlfriend Jennie Bass, also a fan of the crossword, sat down with Egmont on that Sunday and began to fill in the answers. When she came to 111 Across she was presented with the clue "Generic Proposal." Luckily for Egmont, his girlfriend is good and filled the question mark inside his head with a "YES." Congratulations! For more click here.

Housing Market Gets Worse

It's hard to believe, but new numbers coming in have confirmed that the month of July saw that steepest price drop in homes in 16 years. This information is according to S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. This article from MSNBC says sales of existing single-family homes dropped by 4.3 percent in August from July according to the National Association of Realtors. And sales dropped to a seasonally adjusted rate 5.5 million units a year, the slowest pace since August 2002. With all this negative talk, there is some silver lining for some. According the the S&P data, five cities witnessed prices rising--Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Portland, Ore., and Seattle. Even with this news, however, it was also revealed that growth is slowing. Atlanta and Dallas are close to moving into negative territory, S&P said.

Politician Wants Marriages to End at 7 Years

In Germany, a politician, Gabriele Pauli who is standing for the leadership of Bavaria's Christian Social Union--sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats--has suggested that marriages expire after 7 years. Pauli says once the 7 years are up, couples need to decide is they want to extend the marriage for another 7 years or if it has expired. I guess that's one way to deal with the seven year itch. If you were curious about Pauli's personal history and how it may affect her views, she's bee divorced twice. Click here for the full article.

No Butts About It

The rules of the workplace are changing. Employers are now able to determine what personal habits and lifestyle choices, even those unrelated to what you do at work, an individual makes in a move to cut heath-care costs. Smokers may lose their job or not even be considered. High cholesterol candidates may pay higher premiums for their insurance. Even high blood pressure, body mass and glucose levels are up for inspection. For more on how companies are trying to control your life after the whistle blows, click here

Get Your Wine On

Are you a wine lover? Well, now you can play with it. Beginners Wine DS for the Nintendo DS is launching to help wine lovers and particularly those just getting into wine, make the right selection. The game goes over a lot of the basics, including step-by-step instructions on choosing a bottle for a romantic dinner, and how to correctly swirl a glass when wine tasting. The game is slated to hit store shelves Nov. 15 to coincide with this year's release of Beaujolais Nouveau, a globally popular seasonal French wine. So cheers!

New Census Data On Marriage

FIrst, since the Census is a little slow getting data out, we're talking 2004 numbers. Did you know that 57% of married women have been married for at least 15 years? And of that group, 6% have been married for 50 years! Who says marriage is dying. Okay, so the numbers are down from where they once were. back in the 1950s, the number of couples lasting 15 years was nearly 80%. Get the full specs of the data here.

Wash Those Mitts

We're not saying to go "Howard Hughes" when washing the hands, guys but a study by researchers who "spy on people in public restrooms," (don't ask me what that means, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione wrote it) says that one-third of men don't bother to wash their hands after using the bathroom, compared with 12 percent of women. The study was based on observations last month of more than 6,000 people in Atlanta, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. So, next time you're in the bathroom, gentlemen, wash those hands... someone may be watching. Anyway, for the full article about people who study people who do and don't wash their hands in public restrooms click here.

Another Reality Show to Save Marriages

I guess if you're a divorce judge, you probably get tired of hearing the stories. So rather than quit, one divorce judge decided to address the couples before they got to her court room. Judge Lynn Toler will share her knowledge with troubled couples on "Decision House" on MyNetworkTV, Wednesday at 7 pm. Decision House is a one-hour show that takes troubled married couples and puts them in a home. They're monitored by cameras - and experts - and the judge comes in at the end to mediate. The creator of the show is Dr. Phil's son--I guess it runs in the family. If you watch it, tell us what you think on our message board.

Where Do The '08 Candidates Stand On Health Care

It might be a little confusing in the beginning. Heck, it might be a little confusing in the end. But, hey, that's politics, right? When it comes to health care, and where a politician stands, the confusion and back-and-forth, flip-flopping philosophies get buried in smooth spoken rhetoric. But thanks to the Chicago Tribune, where the 2008 candidates stand at this time now is all conveniently placed for your viewing pleasure here. Discuss who you think has the best plan on our message board here

How to Retire With $1 million

Yeah, yeah, we know, $1 million isn't what it used to be. But heck, I think I could still live comfortably from that. Shoot, if you pulled $50,000 from that every year (not taking into account interest, yada, yada) that money would last 20 years. Not too shabby. Anyway, this article from USA Today says the earlier you start saving, the better. For example, if you're 10 years from retirement, you'll need to save $3,500 per month. However, if you're 40 years away, you only need to save $400 per month. You can see that saving early offers substantial benefit and your money goes farther.

I know, this isn't earth shattering news. The article mentions that many people know they should save, they just don't. Furthermore, the article gives advice on investment, taxes and expenses, and more to get you to that realistic retirement threshold of $1 million.

Australia Sets Record For Vow Renewal

Sydney Australia is now the home of a new world record for the largest ever vow renewal. 278 couples gathered in the city's Centennial Park to say "I do" for a second time, breaking a Guinness Book World Record previously held by Orlando, Florida where 234 couples renewed in 2002. Have you ever renewed your vows? Discuss it here

What's That Dear?

You think you have to repeat yourself multiple times before your spouse hears you? Try being married to a rock star. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame says his deafness has caused problems in his marriage because sometimes his wife will talk and he says she sounds like Charlie Brown's schoolteacher. At least he's got an excuse, try to put your listening ears on guys.

The Justice Department Is No Cheap Date

In a report released Friday by the inspector general's office-an office that includes duties which are carried out through a nationwide network of audits, investigations, inspections and other mission-related functions performed by OIG components-claims the United States Justice Department has spent more than $7 million in taxpayer money on food items like meatballs, cookies and soft drinks at department conferences. Through 2005 and 2006, the report indicates that over a period of 10 conferences, the Justice Department splurged on items and, although the report didn't mention that any laws were broken, suggests the department is spending a little too much. One four-day conference in Los Angeles with 1,500 attendees, for example, cost $394,000 in August of 2005. Something to think about with your spouse over dinner tonight.

Stop Blindness With Breakfast

Protein found in some leafy greens, like spinach, and also found in eggs have been shown to prevent the most common onset of blindness. Researchers say it's the two nutrients in them, lutein and zeaxanthin, are both carotenoids — compounds that give many fruits and vegetables a yellow color. A full list of the foods that are considered good sources of the nutrients include eggs, spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, corn, garden peas and Brussels sprouts. Read the full article here.

New Twist on Vacations

The tourism industry has a new niche. "Why just take a vacation, when you can change your life?" they tout. That's right! Instead of taking the ordinary "fly to your destination, get the hotel room and relax by the pool" concept, vacation planners are promoting more than relaxation, they are promising transformation with yoga and wellness-type itineraries for their customers. And why would you want to do this? The response: people want to have a life changing experience. And for married couples, it's a whole new way to connect with your partner, purveyors of the new vacation style attest. Marketing and research firm Ypartnership said its latest survey of affluent travelers showed 30 percent of respondents named yoga as their favorite spa program or service. Massage was the most popular with 65 percent. Well, duh. Regardless, next time you sit down and plan a getaway, think about the possibility of changing your life with your spouse. Just make sure you don't overextend your yoga posses and come home broken.

Checking In--For 22 Years!

What would you do to avoid laundry or cooking? A British couple found their solution at a roadside TraveLodge. According to this article on Yahoo! News, David Davidson, 79, and his wife, Jean, 70, first tried out a Travelodge hotel while visiting a sick aunt in 1985--needless to say, they liked it. Over the years, they estimate they've dropped about $200,000 and credit their early booking for their great room rates. What's the longest you've staying in a hotel or motel. Discuss on the message board.

Russians Offer Car for Baby

That's right, if you're a citizen of Russia and you're looking for a new set of wheels, close your curtains and take part in a Day in Conception on Sept. 12. Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov wants Russians to procreate--even allowing them to take off work. To do so, the government is offering incentives, like cars, refrigerators and money and other prizes for couples who deliver 9 months later on June 12, Russia's national day. So why the incentives? Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the population has also fallen. Russia is the largest country in the world, yet by 2050, it's projected that they may have fewer than 100 million citizens.

Signing off: From Russia With Love.

No More Needles

Finally those of us who are needle-phobic can now sleep at night and not have to fret about getting that shot from the Doctor. Scientists are currently developing a patch that can deliver most medicines without inflicting any kind of pain. Tech giant Hewlett Packard announced Tuesday that in has employed their ink jet cartridge technology that will administer drugs through the skin in a controlled and painless way. Often patches do not administer drugs properly because the skin acts as a natural barrier. The patch will have tiny needles attached to it, but they are so small they would barely penetrate the skin. Sounds good to us!

What Marrieds Miss Most

Being married is a beautiful thing. That doesn't mean that it not without its sacrifices. A survey by InsightExpress for Reader's Digest asked married couples what they missed most about their single life. 41 percent said "Nothing," 26 percent said "Living by their own rules," and 25 percent said "Having less responsibility." So let us ask you, what do you miss most about being single?

Follow-up: Did you catch Tell Me You Love Me? What were your thoughts? Go to the message board and discuss with others.

AuWerter: It's Best To Disclose All Financial Information

On CBS's "The Early Show," Stephanie AuWerter, Editor of SmartMoney.com, says that it's best to disclose all financial information to your spouse saying it's a major pitfall that tears marriages apart. "Now is the time to come clean. It's better to own up to the problem than to have your spouse find out another way." Paging Mrs. Shaquille Oneil. Another topic AuWerter hits on is the question of whether couples should merge their finances. She suggest creating three accounts: a "his" account, a "her" account and an "our" account. For more subjects and articles like this and other related topics visit our "Money"/ "Advice" section at hitchedmag.com

Tell Me You Love Me

When the TV in your home is not tuned in to the NFL this weekend, flip on over to HBO. No, not for Hard Knocks, the sports documentary following the Kansas City Chiefs through training camp. I'm talking about the premier of Tell Me You Love me on HBO on Sunday night at 9pm. The show is described as a provocative and honest exploration of intimacy through an unfiltered look at three couples. The couples all see a therapist who works to make each relationship healthier--and the therapist herself is dealing with marriage issues. In early reviews of the show, many were shocked by the intimacy, rawness and raciness of the show. The show has been getting a lot of buzz and we all know that it's not TV.

The Crying Marriage

Every culture has customs when it comes to marriage. But have you ever heard of a custom that says if your bride does not cry during the ceremony they will be looked down upon by their neighbors as a girl who is poorly cultivated and thus becomes the laughing stock of the village. Ouch! It is said that the bride was allowed to cry in different ways with diversified words, which was also called "The Crying Marriage Song." According to China Daily, "the somewhat exaggerated singing helps to enhance the wedding atmosphere. In a word, crying at wedding is a way by custom to set off the happiness of the wedding via falsely sorrowful words. Today, the custom is not practiced by many of the Chinese people but, alas, some still do in many areas. FOR SHAME.

Keep Track of the Recalls

If you're a parent you probably have heard about all the recalls. As a matter of fact, Mattel announced their third recall for another 850,000 toys! Wowza. If you want to stay up-to-date on all on all newly announced toxic toys in your kids playroom, check out Recall.gov. Perhaps the best part about this website is that you can sign up for e-mail alerts, letting you know when your beef is bad or your Barbie accessories may be harmful to put in your mouth. I know just what you want--more e-mail!

Why Women Love The Color Red

This article from USA Today says they know why women prefer red roses. It's science. Yep, neuroscientists Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling of England's Newcastle University, authored a new study in the journal Current Biology that suggests the color red preference for women is due to evolution. You see, back in the day of men as hunters, women as gatherers, women developed a keen eye for yellow fruit and red edible leaves in the middle of green vegetation. Over time, this ability stuck.

Another suggestion made by the scientists are that a woman's intuition is really their ability to pick up slight changes in skin tone (as in blushing and the like) with their sharper sense for the color red. So men, if you think she's reading you like a book--she probably is!

Vow Renewal: A Good Idea?

In this months issue of Esquire magazine, Kendall Hamilton lets you in on how to "Renew Your Vows (Without Renewing Your Vows)." Although Hamilton says this is something you should not put your friends through, relating it as "a spectacle," "tacky," and how it "tends to breed resentment," he does suggest other ways a couple can renew their vows without the above said descriptions. One suggestion is "Going Full-Martha," as in Martha Stewart, on an anniversary party. Another point Hamilton makes is that a spouse suggesting a vow-renewal may mean it could be a scapegoat for some larger problem, saying that a sappy ceremony would be nothing more than a Band-Aid anyway. Hamilton suggests that a couple might "propose, instead, a retreat... Be open. Listen. Talk. Have some fun together. And when you get back, keep working on things."

All good advice in our book!