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Photographer Has a Sick Sense of Humor

GiggleSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00:00 -0700

This can't possibly be good for business.

Thanks, College Humor!

Zombie Classified Ad

GiggleSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:50:00 -0700

A zombie with a plan!

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Do You Know Your Winter Squash?

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:50:00 -0800

Winter squash are to Fall as tomatoes are to Summer. Much like tomatoes, squash are usually considered vegetables, despite the fact that they are actually botanically classified as fruits. And, just like tomatoes, they're unavoidable this season, and come in so many countless varieties that it's hard to keep track of all of them.

I thought I'd sneak in a pop quiz to find out exactly how much you know about Fall's most fetching fruit. I'll shoot you a picture, and you guess the name of the Winter squash. Ready? Let's go!

Question 1 of 8

What variety is this dark green, orange-fleshed squash?

Weird Personal Ad

GiggleSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0800

I don't know what they're serving at Tiki Bobs, but it's led this woman to yearn for a man who groped her butt at a bar. And then to pay good money to place a classified ad. Or maybe she's actually ready to kill him? I'm confused . . .

Grade Your Hikes

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

I love hiking in the Fall because of the beautiful scenery and perfect weather - the crisp air never leaves me too hot or too cold. On the weekends I often go on all-day or multi-day hikes in Yosemite valley or the Lake Tahoe region. Some of my friends equate hiking with a leisurely stroll through the woods, but anyone who hikes regularly knows this isn't always the case. Whether it's steep, rocky, or exposed terrain, a hiking trail can be quite difficult.

One way I prepare for an all-day hike is by researching the difficulty of the trail I'm walking. I'll use guidebooks and the Internet as resources, as well as the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). The YDS is a three-part classification system that rates the difficulty of walks, hikes, and rock climbs based on categories of terrain, length, and level of danger. Not all routes are graded in each category - generally speaking, rock climbs are the only routes that use all three grading systems of the YDS.

To learn how hikes are classified, read more.

Classifying a route's terrain is what's most applicable to hiking trails, especially longer, more intense hikes such as the John Muir trail or Half Dome hike. Here's a general breakdown of the different terrain class types found in the YDS:

Class 1: Walking on a relatively flat trail with little chance of injury. Many backpackers compare a class 1 route to walking on a sidewalk.
Class 2: A simple trail that might have a slight incline. You may have to use your hands to balance while scrambling up rocks.
Class 3: You'll definitely need to use your hands and feet to find balance along parts of the trail while scrambling up rocks. There may be exposed terrain during the hike, though a fall should not prove fatal.
Class 4: This hike will involve climbing up steep terrain, and even though the route will have some natural protection, a fall could prove fatal.
Class 5+: Reserved for rock and aid climbing. Protection and gear recommended for these climbs as a fall will prove fatal.

Keep in mind that the YDS is a somewhat subjective grading system and there can definitely be some overlap and debate over a class assignment. I continue to use it as a guide because I can search for harder or easier trails depending on my mood that day. I'm also finding that more and more backpackers are using the YDS lingo when describing a trail to one another.

You can also keep a journal with details of your favorite trails and try rating them for yourself. If you do assign a class rating to a trail, the class assignment should reflect the hardest part of the hike. (For example, if you went on a hike that was mainly class 1 but had a few elements of a class 3 route, classify the hike as a class 3 route.)

Tell me, what class of hikes do you usually stick to?

It's True! We Really Do Crave Fatty Foods When We're Stressed

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:42 -0800

If your chocolate cravings are any indication, you may have already suspected that high-fat foods are a woman's go-to snack when stressed. Now there's evidence to confirm your suspicions - UCSF recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between eating habits and chronic stress.

Researchers surveyed 600 overweight or obese women regarding their diet and stress. Issues classified as chronic stressors included job dissatisfaction, financial worries (like inability to pay rent or mortgage), or dealing with an ailing loved one. The women dealing with these taxing personal issues reported a higher likelihood of being unable to control what they ate, and a tendency to eat more fattening foods. Chronically stressed women were also more likely to force themselves to keep a regimented, strict diet to control weight gain, even skipping meals. The downside is that it's hard to keep up a regimented program, and being stressed means a plan like this is bound to backfire - ultimately there's a breaking point, and we're more likely to overeat.

To learn more about stressed-out eating, just read more.

While this study may not offer any groundbreaking info, it does serve as a healthy reminder: Be conscious of when you're actually hungry, and remember, there is such a thing as emotional eating. Be more mindful of your mental health and how it affects your food choices, and make healthy eating a priority. If you need some creative, healthy snack alternatives, visit our Snack Attack group for ideas.

Must Read: Field Guide to Candy

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:04 -0700

With tomorrow being Halloween, we've unofficially opened the Pandora's Box that is Fall sweets season. That's why the Field Guide to Candy ($16) couldn't have come at a better time. Pastry chef Anita Chu, who authored the Field Guide to Cookies, has come out with a second book, which promises to teach you "how to identify and make virtually every candy imaginable." Does it live up to its promise? To find out, keep reading.

Health Food Obsession Gone Too Far: Orthorexia

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

If you're reading this site, chances are you're into eating healthy. While it's beneficial to be conscious about what you put in your mouth, it's not good to become so obsessed that your lifestyle goes from a healthy diet to an unhealthy fixation on a healthy diet. The condition is referred to as an eating disorder by some, known as orthorexia nervosa. Symptoms include sticking to a strict diet such as a raw food diet, making a list of foods that are off-limits, or nervously avoiding foods deemed unhealthy, such as those with artificial flavors, preservatives, or that aren't organic.

Being obsessed about eating healthy seems like a positive thing, but problems arise when a person's healthy lifestyle becomes so overwhelming that it pushes other activities and interests to the periphery, and interferes with relationships and day-to-day responsibilities. As the quality of their diet increases, the quality of their life decreases. It can ironically lead to unhealthy consequences like malnutrition or starvation (anorexia orthorexia).

This is not to say that those who have diet restrictions such as vegans or those following a macrobiotic diet have orthorexia. It has to do with the rigidness of the lifestyle, and whether or not it's actually detrimental to a person's health. While some mental health professionals classify orthorexia as an obsessive compulsive disorder, others think orthorexia isn't a real disorder at all. What do you think?

Geek Tip: Use Listpic For Visual Classifieds

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:00:27 -0700

One of the downfalls of using Craigslist is the fact that it has a clean design, but is pretty messy when it comes to searching. Perusing online job listings is tolerable without images, but if you are looking for electronics, housing or furniture you probably only want to consider the entries with photos.

If you are a visual learner (or just want to save a couple of hours) consider using listpic, which filters out classifieds that don't have images and offers you a neatly organized wall of visual results. The site is not affiliated with Craigslist and was recently ordered to stop using Craiglist ads, but it's still a real timesaver and works for most major metropolitan areas.

Someone Must Be Out of Stamps

GiggleSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

. . . and an Internet connection.

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