Dec
26
2009
It’s that time of year again. Gifting, re-gifting, wrapping and shopping. That’s combined with eating, parties, candy and leftovers. Oh, lets not forget that extra bit of weight we all seem to pack on over these holidays which comes from the extra calories and lack of exercise. Does this sound like our kids? Can we all say-Childhood Obesity!!!It’s contagious - all that candy and cake and food, we can’t seem to resist the temptation. For those Nerdel News readers living in the wintery north, the recent blasts of severe weather certainly limit your outdoor activities. So bring it on inside my friend! And for my loyal readers in the good weather states, what’s your excuse? Yes, I would agree that walking in the mall is exercise. It counts on a pedometer toward your goal of 10,000 steps a day (which is approximately equal to between 3 to 5 miles). But when you are eating your way through these holidays, it will take extra calorie burning, that’s right that means exercise, to maintain your present weight. During these several weeks, our calorie intake may go up an extra 1000 calories a day, maybe more. Let’s not forget that a pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. So it’s easy to see that an extra thousand calories a day that’s not burned off will cause you to gain at least one ...
Posted in: Editor's Page
Dec
15
2009
Hip Hop Holiday!
Hip Hop Holiday!
Hip Hop every day…
Oh, what fun it is to dance
And stay healthy Nerdel’s way…Hey!
Hip hop dance is a form of street dance. It’s often improvised and representative of a dancer’s style. The words, “hip hop”, bring images of DJs, rap music, graffiti, and battles between two groups. Breakin’ and Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo are two movies from the eighties that highlight hip hop dance and ciphers, circles that dancers formed around a soloist showing off his or her stuff. Many people gravitate towards hip hop dance as a deviation from classical styles that dictate who your partner is and rehearse with strict schedules in a dance studio. Hip hop dancers form their own ‘crews’ with friends and rehearse at home or in the street. Hip hop dancers don’t have a union or auditions to be in their groups. It is a “come as you are” philosophy; each person has something unique to bring to the table. Believe it or not, hip hop dance has been around since the seventies. James Brown used drum solos in his songs to strut his stuff. Soul Train was responsible for showcasing so much of this talent. When Don Campbell appeared on Soul Train doing “campbellock”, his stylistic short pauses within movement, our version of “locking” was born. The world was watching, and many more young artists used Campbell’s inspiration to ...
Posted in: Home, Moves That Groove
Dec
15
2009
Happy holidays everyone! Here is my last column for 2009. I have decided that it will be more like a combination of my opinion and some sports highlights. After all, I’m Benny, and this is Sports My Way! So here we go: 2009 was and is a year of rants and revelations: From Andre Agassi’s drug use and lying while on the ATP tour published in his autobiography (can we all say book sales), ex-Kansas City Chiefs and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Larry Johnson ‘s rants (now you know why he lives in Ohio instead of Kansas City), tennis great Serena Williams threatening rants at a line judge at the 2009 U.S. Open, to Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams flipping the middle finger towards the Buffalo Bills with NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodall sitting next to him. Did you forget multi-gold Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps photographed smoking marijuana, and President Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey tried their best to get the IOC to pick Chicago for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games but they selected Brazil. Los Angeles Dodger’s Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games during the 2009 season for violating a league drug policy, and the New York Giants released wide receiver Plaxico Burress for carrying a gun in a club-Buress is currently serving a two year prison sentence. Ron Artest of the NBA Los Angeles Lakers admits to drinking ...
Posted in: Benny's Sports My Way
Dec
01
2009
The holidays are around the corner and one of the most popular gifts to give and receive is a new puppy or kitten. Breeders and shelters sell and adopt more animals during the holiday season than any other time of the year. This can be a wonderful experience for both the animals and their new owners. Nothing is greater then giving a new home and family to an animal in need. However, many times, especially during the holiday season, puppies and kittens are adopted without owners entirely understanding and considering the love and care they need to provide, not just for the moment, but for the animal’s lifetime. It is important to understand the responsibility and care an animal requires before purchasing or adopting a new puppy or kitten in order to avoid heartbreak for new owners and new pets. The best and most loving homes for animals are prepared homes.
Once your pet is a new member of the family, it will require a lot of attention and care not only while it is young but for its entire life. Puppies and kittens require examinations and vaccinations every 3 weeks until they are 4 to 5 months of age. In addition, they require the proper monthly heartworm, tick, and flea prevention throughout their lifetime.
It is very important to have your pet spayed and neutered. Many rescue groups and humane societies ...
Posted in: Home, Your Pet with Dr. Birken
