Who Says TV Isn't Good For You

Study Finds Reruns of TV Shows Help Us Cope With Stress

September 11, 2012 5:11 PM

(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

This week the new fall television lineup kicks off with premieres from The Voice and X Factor. Some people though would rather watch another rerun of their favorite show. (Maybe we are watching reruns because many of the the new shows that are being produced just plain Hoover.)  Turns out, this might be better for your health.

A new study finds that watching reruns can help people recover after a stressful experience. (Hopefully we won't have a rerun of the 2008 election because that still is very stressful for most Americans.)

It is even believed that spending some time with your favorite characters can be more beneficial to your mood than hanging out with your friends. (I wonder if this would still apply if you were schizophrenic. If you were schizophrenic then you could spend time with all of your favorite characters all at once but I suggest that you make them take turns talking otherwise it could get quite confusing and that is the last thing that you want to have happen when you are talking to yourself.)

 

I wouldn't want this guy in my session, would you?

Jaye L. Derrick, a research scientist at the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions, says this is because there are fewer complications when it comes to your TV friends.

“There are a lot of benefits you can get from close relationships, but there are also a lot of problems,” Derrick says. “You have to put up with someone else’s needs, you have to get through fights, there are conflicts of interest… Fictional worlds can be a way of seeking connection to others without having all the strings attached.” (This sounds like being a politician)

Derrick, whose findings were published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, led two separate studies. One took a look at two different groups of people who were feeling stressed. While one group wrote an essay about their favorite TV show, the other simply wrote about the objects in the room. The group focusing on TV ended up performing better on a mental concentration test.

The other study asked subjects to keep a diary where they wrote about their day, mentioning if they watched reruns of their favorite shows after feeling stressed and how they felt after. Those who did ended up feeling better and less stressed out. (Wait a minute! Maybe the reruns aren't the cure, maybe it is writing down your feelings. I know when I blog I feel better. I don't know if my blogging helps any of my readers but it has helped keep me from becoming a dictator of a Banana Republic in Central America. Thank God for the Internet!)

“With a rerun, you already know what’s going to happen and don’t have to pay as much attention,” she said. (Maybe educators should use this method for raising test scores. Give the kids the same test over and over since they don't seem to be paying attention anyhow and watch those scores rise. Have you seen those test scores lately?) “You’re just enjoying it, getting positive mood benefits, and feeling like you’re there with comfortable people.” ( I wonder if being in a room full of mannequins can have the same effect? How could anyone be uncomfortable around mannequins unless they were evil mannequins.)

Hey, it's like a family reunion

Derrick doesn’t advise you sit around all day watching TV (Not good for your back side), but she does say people shouldn’t feel bad about watching an hour or so of television after work.

So now you don’t have to feel bad about watching those nightly marathons of How I Met You Mother or The Big Bang Theory. You’re just working on stress management. (Nice plug for CBS, huh?)

- Shannon Carlin, CBS Local


Since reruns make you feel good feel free to read this blog again and again.

Leon

Images: Yahoo Images

Feeling good about yourself, that's your job, now get busy.

How Cute For the Kids

Rahm on Casino: "I Want it For Our Kids"

Chicago mayor confident state and city can work out issues

By Marcus Riley

|  Friday, Aug 24, 2012  |  Updated 7:28 AM CDT

Mayor wants to direct casino revenue toward education, Quinn has until Tuesday to act on gambling bill.

(Of course the following thoughts are mine) I can see it now the first only casino for kids. I hope they have an adult day care center so when the kids are playing Texas hold'em to sharpen up their math skills the parents don't get in trouble. The casino should be built with a play land for the adults with a full bar, masseuse, and a cigar shop. 

Ain't it great when adults put the children first. When the children are first everyone seems to win. Well how can we call Rahm the Godfather of Chicago if they don't have a few casinos.

Hey, the revenues from the casino are to be used for educational purposes (wink, wink) and not for the city's coffers.

Leon

Public announcement time: If you have a gambling problem seek help because Vinnie is only going to wait so long before he busts your knee cap for not paying your debts.

All Together Separate

Why can't elections in America be about the candidates skills and abilities? I want a President that possesses the skills necessary to make America competitive and one that won't apologize for America's greatness when we do succeed. Over the last couple of decades the media and politicians have turned the political selection process into rich versus poor, the Hispanic and black voters for the Democrats, the evangelical base, gun owners and big business voters for the Republican party and everyone else is an Independent voter. 

Why must a candidate have to purposely target a gender, religious base, or a race to win the Presidency? The race must be about who can lead America the best for everyone. The race must be about who can provide American businesses with the best atmosphere for creating jobs. And the race must be about protecting our individual freedoms that separate the U.S.A. from the rest of the world. 

I know I get tired of hearing the same old garbage from both teams and the media about who is going to win the black vote, who is more in tune with the Hispanic voters, and which candidate will come out on top with women voters and this is why I have decided to throw my name in the ring. Not too many Americans know me now but once I introduce myself to you and you see my unusual background and I think that you will agree that I am the man for the job and not the two other guys.

Getting to Know Me

Click the arrow for my theme song

First my name is Leon Eggleston. I am a white guy with a first name that is traditionally black, I have a black nephew, I also once lived in a black frat house for one semester in college so I feel, for a white guy I could be in touch with the black voters more than the average white guy.

The Eggleston sir name can be traced to Ireland or Scotland. In my case we have a Scottish ancestry. This explains my desire to wear a kilt. Being a Scot should show people that I can relate to immigrants and that they should vote for me. Another thing about my family tree is that it is loaded with Jewish blood. When I looked at my family tree I thought I was looking at a New York City phone book and not my own family bloodline. I am a staunch supporter of Israel too. Shalom brothers. Jewish vote locked up.

I married a Mexican-American woman when I lived in Brownsville, Texas. I lived in Brownsville for seven years so I have a good feel for the Hispanic culture and what they believe is important.  I like jalapenos and flan. 

Flan

Great on pizza

My name Leon means lion in Spanish and who would go against a lion, only a fool. Hispanic vote locked in.

"Really, you are going to vote for him?"

I am married to a woman and not a man that should give me a good shot at getting the married women voters to turn my way since I support the traditional family unit. I am a conservative Bible believing man so the conservative evangelical voters in the Bible belt should back me since I think a lot like they do. 

I have a business degree and have run a few businesses in my day so business owners (who did or didn't build their own businesses feel free to vote for me because I understand your needs unlike Obama). 

Now that leaves two more categories the poor and gun owners. Last year I  made under $250,000 a year so I must be considered one of the poor brethren, rock on! I also believe women should be packing heat so if the occasion arises and they need to defend themselves against bad guys, the bad guys would pay dearly, NRA votes locked and loaded.

Danity and lady like

I forgot to mention that my great grandmother was a full blooded Blackfoot Indian. Being from indian descent makes me a person of color. More minorities can now feel comfortable voting for me.

As you can see I am the most well rounded non-candidate that you should vote for because of my unusual background I can relate to all of you except the following, liberals, white supremacist, and people who hate Chick-fil-A. 

Don't worry about my qualifications America, we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it after all I have to win the election first.

So remember in November it's not about issues nor is it about electing the most competent leader for our troubled land it is about voting for the guy that gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling. If I have given you that warm and fuzzy feeling feel after you have read my colorful background free to use my name as a write in candidate.

Now without rambling any longer here is a video that makes the point I am trying to convey. America should not be separated into white, black or Hispanic people. It is a rainbow of people that when they come together is stronger than an other nation on the face of this earth. Come November vote for the candidate that is most capable of bringing us back to our glory not the one who panders most to what you think you deserve. Freedom comes with responsibility.

 

Leon

Write in candidate for President

Images: Yahoo Images



Badges of Honor

Written for women but fitting for men.

Well today I will be talking to women. If you are a man still feel free to read this blog because you have to hold your woman accountable for the information that I am presenting to her.

Let's face it women, men act like dogs sometimes. When you own a dog and throw the dog a ball to fetch they fetch the ball and bring it back to you and then expect you to say or do something to acknowledge the fact that they did what they were supposed to in the first place. Sometimes men are no different than dogs. Ladies this is why I have invented a new word and reward system to help build the man/woman relationship. Thank me later.

The new word is mandages. A mandage is a hybrid word, it is a cross between the word man and the word badge. These man badges i.e. mandages are to treated with honor and respect. The mandages are not to be given to a man without earning them for the simple fact we will not appreciate them. Women if you want the full effect of a mandage (the shock and awe) to take place as soon as your man has earned a mandage make a party for him and invite his friends and then place the mandage on the front door of the refrigerator. By placing the mandage on front of the refer door your man will see his reward every time that he goes for a cold one, scientist call this positive re-enforcement. He will also brag to his buddies.

To help you good women get started I have provided a few examples of mandages.

Errand Mandage

Earned for picking up shopping items on his way home from work because you forgot an item. He would get a double mandage if he has to pick up woman products.

Love Mandage

This is earned when your man points out to you that he chose you from all of the other fish in the sea. "Remember I married you but I could have married her." Warning to all men reading this: Make sure you don't smile when you point at that girl that is definitely out of your league. A small smirk will do, pig.

Manners Mandage

Earned when your man either compliments your appearance or corrects it. "You can't wear that to the game, where is the face paint I bought you?" 

Atta Boy Mandage

Earned for cleaning up after himself and or taking the trash out without being told (nagged). If your man even bothers to wash out the trash can once in a while that would earn him a double mandage.

Maturity Mandage

One way to earn this mandage is by your bo admitting that you are more important than golf and he won't buy any new golf equipment until you get a new dress.

Birthday Mandage

If he brings you a birthday gift and says happy birthday give him that mandage. Heck if your man even knows your birth date he should get  a mandage.

Sympathy Mandage

Do you remember when you were sick that one time and he said, "Are you going to be okay honey, by the way do you know where I put my work shoes?"  

I hope this will help build a strong bond between a man and his woman. Just doing my part to keep America strong.


Leon

Tires- The Safe Driving Tip O' the Day

What to do if gas pedal gets stuck.

I saw a news report that showed a woman in a SUV that was traveling at speeds in access of 100 m.p.h. because her gas pedal got stock fully engaged to the floor. My first though on this subject was d-an-an-gerousss! I then thought a little deeper about this subject.

If my gas pedal or cruise control got stuck and propelled me down the highway at top speed (Which by the way wouldn't be too terribly fast since I drive a Government Motors vehicle, a Chevy Cavalier), would I know what to do? NO! The more I thought about it, as old as my car is I figured several things would happen, first the paint would peel off the car, the wind shield would disintegrate, and the tires would explode, so for the most part I should walk away from the incident in good shape but I would have to put Old Green down.

"Hold it right there, Old Green!"

Below is a website from a tire store in New York that knows what to do. I copied (borrowed, please don't sue) from their website some tips to help you if you ever find yourself in this predicament

Home » Tech Section » What to do if gas pedal gets stuck.

What to do if your gas pedal sticks

• Tap the gas pedal to try to unstick the throttle linkage.
  
• Hook your toe under the pedal to try and free it.
  
• Shift to neutral and apply firm pressure to the brakes without locking the wheels.
  
• Find a safe place to move the vehicle completely off the road. ( I am not sure I agree with this one)
  
• If your automobile has power steering or a locking steering wheel, do not turn off the ignition or you will lose either your power steering, or the ability to steer.
  
• Have your vehicle checked with a mechanic as soon as possible.

Sources: North Carolina Department of Transportation, sos.state.il.us

Website: Not here, it is belower. (Just thought I would take a pause and refresh myself)

Now if you are in the state of New York and you find a need for tires or you just like to smell new tires (and I know some of you people are tire sniffers) go to these guys because they are the tire guys with a heart, 

they have to have a heart otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to put those wonderful tips on their website. Tell them Leon sent you and that you want the Leon special. Of course they won't know what the heck you are talking about but the looks on their faces would be priceless. 

Store Locator

Home » Store Locator

(Click on the maps to enlarge or location name for more information)

New Rochelle, NY 914-636-7776 20 E. Main St. 10801

Elmsford, NY 914-592-3750 5. Warehouse Ln. 10523

Brewster, NY845-279-6197 266 N. Brewster Rd. 10509

Store Hours:Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8 am - 1 pm (Elmsford till 2 pm)

Finally the real website:

http://www.mktire.com/gaspedal.htm 

This blog was brought to you by The Responsible Bloggers of America organization which I don't have an affiliation with. I just blog from the hip. 

Leon

Images: Yahoo Images and MK Tire Center

You Get What You Pay For and Sometimes What You Don't Pay For

The old adage, "You get what you pay for" couldn't be truer. This is the story of what happens when an amateur performs the task of a professional. This like life and politics presents an undeniable truth. The truth is those that aren't qualified will eventually fail. (Peter Principle) 

Click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

Elderly parisioner's touch-up to 19th century church fresco turns Jesus into cartoon

By ANDY SOLTIS

Last Updated: 2:25 PM, August 23, 2012

Posted: 2:08 AM, August 23, 2012

 

An elderly parishioner’s attempt to touch up this cherished but deteriorating Spanish church fresco has turned Jesus into a cartoon figure.

The unidentified woman, in her 80s, was upset at the damage that moisture was wreaking on the 19th century fresco in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza.

Without authorization, the devoted woman scraped away some of the paint, leaving white marks on the wall.
Then she took out a paintbrush and replaced the strokes of artist Elias Garcia Martinez with her own, Spanish media reported.

When she realized how badly it had turned out, she contacted the city’s culture councilor, Juan Maria Ojeda.

  The Masterpiece
AFP/Getty Images

The Great Mess

I do like the Jesus fro though in the Great Mess. It's hip and fresh.

“I think she had good intentions,” Ojeda was quoted as saying. (So does Obama, but...)

As it turns out, the woman’s efforts weren’t even necessary. An organization that restores Spanish artwork, El Centro de Estudios Borjanos, had just received a donation from Martinez’s granddaughter to repair the damage done by the moisture.

Ojeda said art experts are trying to determine whether the woman’s work can be undone.
“If we can’t fix it, we will probably cover the wall with a photo of the painting,” he said. (Sad, a true treasure destroyed by the desire of an unqualified artist wanna be. The same thing is happening to America today and if the sitting President is re-elected in November there won't be enough paint to cover the permanent damage done to greatest nation on earth.)

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/jesus_what_happened_to_you_hxaywqTnwcAskuWs0UEiJO#ixzz24Q9ai0bb


Leon

Images: Drudge Report and Yahoo Images

What Ya Talkin about Willis?

Obama

"Yes I can! I can make the sound of a choo-choo train and that is why I should get a second term."

Big bad cleric dude from the evil empire in the Middle East

"Oh stop it, you are too much. A martyr's death to you all. No, I really mean it."

Biden being Biden

"Hurry somebody put a drink in the hand before I say something stupid. Ah too late."

Obama of the Corn

"Yes, this corn field can be compared to my administration the last four years, all burned up. Hey wait, who put that in the prompter? Has anyone ever heard of shovel ready?"

Leon

Images:  Drudge Report