Friday, April 26
Diet Queen Receives $60,000 for Pill Mislabeling That Caused Six NFL Suspensions
Sport

Diet Queen Receives $60,000 for Pill Mislabeling That Caused Six NFL Suspensions

This past week, Nikki Haskell, a socialite who had referred to herself as a "Diet Queen to the Stars," was fined $60,000 by a U.S. magistrate judge for mislabeling her weight-loss supplement. The now-defunct company Haskell operated, known as Balanced Health Products Inc, was under investigation because of a pill they sold known as StarCaps. The pills, which were labeled as “a natural blend of papaya and garlic from the higher Andes of Peru," were spiked with an undisclosed prescription drug. The drug contained the ingredient bumetanide, which can have dangerous side effects. It is also on the NFL's list of banned substances, and in 2008, six NFL players were suspended after testing positive for the drug after having used the diet pills. Bumetanide is typically used to treat high blo...
New Research Suggests Botox Can Help Treat Depression
Fashion, Lifestyle

New Research Suggests Botox Can Help Treat Depression

A new study has revealed a new, unconventional way to treat clinical depression -- Botox injections. According to a July 11 Today Show article, Maryland dermatologist Dr. Eric Finzi, who pioneered the use of Botox for treating depression, conducted formal research that revealed more than half of patients with moderate to severe depression reported a "substantial improvement" in their mood after receiving a Botox injection. Finzi's research supports the “facial feedback theory” first proposed by Charles Darwin and William James, which suggests that our facial expressions can influence our mood, according to Today. And because Botox is a nerve inhibitor, an injection of it to one's brow can prevent the brain from responding to facial expressions associated with sadness, anger and fe...
Craft Beer and Outdoor Gear: The Best Combination
Lifestyle

Craft Beer and Outdoor Gear: The Best Combination

Although American Craft Beer Week ended last month (May), this doesn't mean craft breweries are off the radar until next year. Thanks to the outdoor industry, craft beer has found a new industry niche, and the feeling -- and taste -- is delightful. In May, Anchor Brewing Company announced that some of its proceeds from its California Lager will go to the National Parks Conservation Association as well as the California State Parks Foundation in an effort to promote environmental activism and protect the environment. The craft brew company also announced that it would expand its packaging from bottles to cans to improve outdoor versatility. According to Statista, the most popular outdoor activities in 2012 were hiking, biking, camping, and fishing -- and all of these recreational spor...
East Hamptons Proposes Drinking Ban to Combat Surge in Rowdy Beach Parties
Lifestyle

East Hamptons Proposes Drinking Ban to Combat Surge in Rowdy Beach Parties

Bad news if you like rowdy beach parties: Officials in one town in the Hamptons, the area of New York state known for its mansions and cocktail parties, are looking to crack down on alcohol-fueled beach parties. Indian Wells Beach, once a family-friendly stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, is now being referred to by disgruntled residents as "Fratster Beach" for the past two summers after out-of-towners started holding spring break-style parties there. As a result, East Hampton lawmakers are close to passing a ban on alcohol at the beach. Residents and officials say that the worst offenders become publicly intoxicated, pulling such antics as stumbling drunkenly into the ocean, using sand dunes as toilets and exposing children and other beachgoers to "unseemly" acts. East Hampton is ...
It Would Take OSHA 100 Years to Properly Inspect All Facilities
Business

It Would Take OSHA 100 Years to Properly Inspect All Facilities

Is OSHA doing the job they're supposed to do? According to data provided by OSHA itself, there's no way for OSHA to effectively do its job based on current budget constraints. This has resulted in many otherwise preventable accidental deaths. Last year, Tim Taylor was killed while working at Central Ready Mix LLC in Middletown, Ohio. Taylor was working with a cone-bottom silo and attempted to break up clumps of fly ash by climbing into the silo without a harness. After several hours of doing this, he became engulfed in the fly ash and asphyxiated, and his death was ruled accidental by the Butler County Coroner's Office. OSHA noted 10 serious violations within the facility, and OSHA area director Bill Wilkerson said in regards to the accident that "employers are responsible for identi...
New Helmet Technology Helps Keep Motorcyclists Safe
Lifestyle

New Helmet Technology Helps Keep Motorcyclists Safe

For many years, car drivers have avoided collisions through the use of an additional, third brake light located in the rear window at eye level. These brake lights have served as an effective warning system, especially in situations where traffic is packed, which makes low-lying taillights hard to see.Motorcycles have not benefited from this innovation, as the entire vehicle of the motorcycle is located closer to the ground. Now, however, a similar safety feature is available. For motorcyclists concerned about safety, it is now possible to have brake lights on the back of one's helmet. The Whistler WHL-80 Helmet safety light has LED lights that can be attached to any helmet. A wireless transmitter allows one's helmet lights to communicate with the motorcycle wiring so that the lights ac...
Pop Up Weddings Take the Stage in Washington, D.C.
Lifestyle

Pop Up Weddings Take the Stage in Washington, D.C.

A new business in Washington, D.C. is hoping to connect couples in a unique way. Considering how popular flash engagements have been online, it's no surprise, really, that someone would think to capitalize on the idea of a pop-up wedding.PopWed Co., which has been in operation since January, helps couples by choosing a creative location, taking photos, performing the wedding ceremony, and procuring the wedding license for interested couples who have to just hope they don't get asked to leave the venues that don't know what they're planning.Pop-up weddings aren't for everyone, of course, but for many people looking for a low-key but memorable way to celebrate, it's an option that might prove ideal. Maggie Winters is the photographer half of PopWed Co., and her boyfriend Steven Gauden is ...
Graphic Design Graduate Turns Resume Into a Drinkable Four-Pack
Business

Graphic Design Graduate Turns Resume Into a Drinkable Four-Pack

A freshly-printed document of one's career and educational experience on crisp, pristine paper is the standard for applying to jobs everywhere. But Brennan Gleason, who recently graduated with a graphic design degree from the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, wanted to stand out from the applicant crowd. According to a June 30 PSFK.com article, Gleason designed the packaging for a four-pack -- packaging that creatively contained the contents of his resume. Each bottle in the four-pack is labeled with a different portion of Gleason's resume, including examples from his design portfolio, along with a QR code that employers can scan with their smartphones to access his full resume. "One of the best parts of getting involved into graphic design and related areas ...
Chiropractor Lands in Prison for Submitting Fake Records to Insurance Company
Local

Chiropractor Lands in Prison for Submitting Fake Records to Insurance Company

Many people who find themselves victims of auto accidents may be wondering whether they should make an appointment with their local chiropractor before seeking a personal injury attorney, but what happens when the victim is the chiropractor? According to Lawrence Herman, it means attempting to submit phony chiropractic records to receive compensation for treating injuries that didn't exist. Herman, a chiropractor in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, had filed an insurance claim in May 2012 requesting thousands of dollars in compensation for injuries he suffered as a result of a car accident the previous August. Herman claimed that he had required chiropractic treatments for lower back and neck injuries after the crash, but it appears that the crash was a "minor, fender-bender type accident" and...
Bankruptcy Proceedings in NJ and Detroit Are Evidence of Continued Economic Failure
Business

Bankruptcy Proceedings in NJ and Detroit Are Evidence of Continued Economic Failure

Bankruptcy has held a significant, and certainly unfortunate, place in the American economy in recent years. It has affected private homes and large companies alike. And it doesn't seem to be lessening up any time soon. Atlantic City's Revel casino and resort recently filed for its second bankruptcy since its opening in 2012. The casino is staying open and for the time being and appears to have confidence that a court-supervised auctioning of its assets will allow it to remain open. But its future didn't look so bright a few days ago when over 3,000 employees were warned that the casino could permanently shut down as early as August if a viable solution was not found. For these thousands of hotel employees, and hundreds others employed at food and drink companies with whom the casino ha...