Sophia is the most popular girls name in the US Jacob retains top spot for boys

Step aside, Isabella. Sophia has you beat as the most popular name for girls.
But Jacob remains the top boy’s name for the 13th year in a row.

And Elvis is back in the house — although at No. 904 his name is way, way down on the Social Security Administration’s annual list of most popular baby names.

“Last year I was all shook up when Elvis dropped way down below the top 1,000, but Elvis is back into the promised land of the top 1,000, and that’s all right,” Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said.


This is the first time that Sophia, a vintage name that is thought to have originated with the Greek Orthodox St. Sophia — and was made famous by a now-77-year-old Italian bombshell whose last name was Loren — has topped the list. Read More.

iPad – The Easiest Computer to Learn

Are you smarter than a two year old? Okay, “smartness” is relative to age, so that’s probably not fair on two year olds around the world, but let’s put it another way – if a two year old can learn to do something in five minutes and twenty eight seconds, how would you rate your own chances? You’re right in thinking that if a two year old can manage, it should be a piece of cake for you – right? Okay, so now that we’ve got that sorted out, watch this video clip at how quickly a two year old mastered one of the latest and most popular gadgets in the world today – the Apple iPad. Click here to see video

Daily Checkup: Simple precautions can help reduce the risk of melanoma. HOW TO DO A SKIN SELF-EXAM

Mount Sinai specialist Dr. Ellen Marmur says no one is immune from skin cancer

As the vice chairman of the department of skin cancer and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Ellen Marmur is a dermatologist who performs about 1,500 skin cancer surgeries a year. As part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Monday has been declared Melanoma Monday.
Who’s at risk:
Of the three major types of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest and least common, accounting for less than 5% of the 3.5 million new skin cancers diagnosed annually. Read More.

Seven effective habits to prevent hearing loss

(ARA) - Hearing loss is common, but the perception that hearing loss is only caused by aging is incorrect. More than 36 million American have hearing loss. Changing lifestyle habits, and treating a variety of health conditions can help to prevent hearing loss.

Seven healthy habits may help prevent or delay the onset of hearing loss.

1. Noise
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common yet preventable cause of hearing loss. Exposure to dangerous levels of noise can occur at work, home and in many recreational activities. Wear ear plugs or muffs when operating loud equipment (i.e., lawn mowers, power saws, leaf blower, etc.) or when using firearms. Buy quieter products (compare dB ratings advertised on the products - the smaller the better).

2. iPod/MP3 Players
Listening to MP3 players at dangerous levels can cause permanent hearing loss. You can download apps to ensure noise exposure through your iPod does not exceed dangerous decibel levels. "Volume Limit" is a switch in the "settings" section of your iPhone or iPod to make sure that your hearing is protected. This allows you to set a maximum level for the volume output of the media player and even put a 4-digit code on it to keep it fixed.

3. Diabetes
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has found that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes. Furthermore, of the 79 million adults with pre-diabetes, the rate of hearing loss is 30 percent higher than in those with normal blood sugar levels. Moderate weight loss, eating healthy and exercise can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes among adults at-risk for diabetes.

4. Smoking
Smoking is a risk factor for hearing loss. Smokers are nearly 70 percent more likely than nonsmokers to suffer hearing loss. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke almost doubles the risk of hearing loss among adolescents. Studies show that smoking, age and noise exposure together increase the risk for hearing loss more than each of these factors alone.

5. Cardiovascular disease
Not only does exercise help to prevent type 2 diabetes, but cardiovascular health and hearing health appear associated. Growing evidence suggests a link between hearing loss and poor cardiovascular health.

6. Earwax (Cerumen)
Don't swab your ear canals. Cerumen cleans and lubricates the skin of the ear canal and provides protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water. Attempting to remove cerumen or cleaning the ear canal with a cotton swab tends to push earwax deeper into the ear canal. Excess or impacted cerumen can press against the eardrum and/or occlude the external auditory canal resulting in hearing loss.

7. See an audiologist
Susceptibility to hearing loss is often undiagnosed and unrecognized. The Audiology Awareness Campaign, a nonprofit foundation aimed at providing the public with information on hearing loss, is sponsoring the fifth annual Listen Up America Week, National Hearing Screening Week, May 14 to 18, where audiologists will offer free hearing screenings nationwide. Call 888-833-EARS (3277) or visit www.audiologyawareness.com to find an audiologist in your area.

May 15th dealine for Homeowners' - Elderly/Disabled (Circuit Breaker) Tax Relief Program

Program Description
State law provides a property tax credit program for Connecticut owners in residence of real property, who are elderly (65 and over) or totally disabled, and whose annual incomes do not exceed certain limits. The credit amount is calculated by the local assessor and applied by the tax collector to the applicant's real property tax bill. The amount of the credit that may be granted is up to $1,250 for married couples and $1,000 for single persons. Credit amounts are based on a graduated income scale. Application may be made with the Assessor's Office between February 1 and May 15. For more information contact your town/city tax assessors office.  Click here for an overview of the state sponsored programs.

Jelly Beans and President Ronald Reagan

My kids love jelly beans and their favorite brand by far is Jelly Belly. Jelly Belly has perfected the art of making and marketing jelly beans. They make their jelly beans in 50 true-to-life flavors like Sizzling Cinnamon, Orange Sherbet, Strawberry Daiquiri and they are soooo good! Now I've learned that my favorite President Ronald Reagan played a big role in popularizing jelly beans during his time in the Oval Office and helping make the Jelly Belly brand a huge success. Click here to learn more about the history of jelly beans and the story of the Jelly Belly brand.

Alzheimer Diagnosis Possible With Scan

A much-anticipated test developed by Eli Lilly & Co. that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer's disease was approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.

A much-anticipated test developed by Eli Lilly that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer's disease was approved Friday by the FDA . Shirley Wang has details on Lunch Break.

The tool could enable clinicians to detect Alzheimer's earlier and more accurately in patients at the earliest sign of memory problems—a potential boon to treatment and developing drugs against the disease. Read More