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Laughter: More Than The Best Medicine

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We have all heard that laughter is the best medicine; well some Norwegian researchers think it might just be more than that. Folks that have a sense of humor, especially in the face of cancer, outlive those who don't find life funny. The study tracked 57,000 Norwegians for 7 years and the larger role humor played in participants' daily lives, the greater their chances for surviving. Check out this article at USA Today for more on this study.

Now another recent study, this one British, found laughter acts as a "social lubricant" and can thereby make folks more altruistic as a group. Participants were shown either serious or comic videos in groups and then asked to "invest" money. They could invest either "privately" with a guaranteed return or "communally" with all participants receiving an equal return, but with no guarantee that it would match the amount put into the investment. Yep, you guessed it - the participants that laughed with their investing partners, who they had never met before, were more likely to invest communally. Laughing together makes people feel like they are more connected. The researchers are postulating that laughter could have evolutionary significance in creating group bonding which increases the group's survival in stressful situations.

Well...laugh and the world laughs with you...and you might live longer...and you might invest your money more altruistically which would make you feel warm inside.

Now if you are looking for a laugh, a chuckle or a guffaw...check out my buddy GiggleSugar. I am sure she has something to help you live longer.

MyPath*TV

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:00:00 -0800

Sometimes, I want to sign up for classes and be with people while I learn. Other times, I want to stay in my pj's and learn via computer.

For those pj times, try MyPath*TV. MyPath*TV is an online resource and community that provides hundreds of videos on virtually any topic you can think of relating to health and wellness. The videos tend to be a bit low budget and cheesy (nobody is looking to win an Oscar here), but they definitely contain good quality content. The site is motivational and soothing. The best part is there are videos from industry notables like Dr. Andrew Weil, a "guru" in the natural and preventative medicine world. There is one snag though: You have to subscribe. A daily subscription is $1.95, a monthly subscription is $9.95 and a 3-month subscription is $25.35.

PopSugarUK Meets the Me & Orson Welles Cast: Zac Talks Footloose & Finding Seclusion, and Claire Talks Flirting!

PopSugarUK — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:53:19 -0800

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend an hour with Zac Efron! He and his castmates in Me and Orson Welles, Claire Danes and Christian McKay, talked about their new movie in a Q&A session with UK journalists alongside their director Richard Linklater. Zac looked handsome and casual in a blue t-shirt and jeans, and fiddled with a bottle top on the table while talking, he was pretty self-deprecating, as was Claire who looked gorgeous and was really funny. Look out for more from this session right here next week, but without further ado - here's part one!

Richard, finding Orson must have been the key to the movie?

And once you found your Orson, it was time to find your “Me”?
R – "I was just really lucky that Zac had read the script and liked it and wanted to meet me. You know, Zac was being offered every film in town."
Z - (deadpans) "You were so lucky."
R – "It’s true! It’s never a given, and we sat down, and I was convinced about fifteen seconds in and I felt like I’d found Richard. Like I did when I found Christian. Even though Richard’s only 17 you see it through his eyes, he needed to be a leading man, he needed to go toe to toe with Welles. I just needed that quality that Zac has, that charisma and that kinda presence."

Zac, were you trying to break out from High School Musical box?
Z - "I recognised almost immediately that this was a pretty unique opportunity. I got the phone call that Rick had a script that he’d like me to read, and he wanted to have a conversation about it. And I was… so excited, I remember running home to read the script. And I read it and was pleasantly surprised that the role was pretty big. That’s not exactly what I expected. I was the “Me”, that was pretty cool. I was looking for that opportunity. Not necessarily to change my image or anything. But for a new role, that was a new challenge, and something interesting – and this was it."

To hear why Zac dropped out of Footloose, find out how his efforts to find seclusion on the Isle of Man went, and Claire's opinions on having to flirt with him, just read more.

Claire, your character hovers on the outside of things, organising things…

What was it like to flirt with Zac Efron?
C – (sighs) "Tough. Going." (Zac nods) "I don’t know... it was amazing. First of all the dialogue was very special. It’s very rare to find writing of this quality, very witty and engaging and I had a lot of fun with the flirty slang words and goofy vernacular. And the scenes, I thought, were very tender. And you know, Zac’s amazing."
Z (laughing) – "Yeah, the dialogue made me look really good."
C – "I was delighted to discover how fine an actor he is. And he can move very well. We took some dancing lessons for a brief scene in a dance hall, and that was very humbling. Zac was a much quicker study than I was, my god. A very coordinated guy."
Z – "It was the first time I actually led! It was great!"

Zac on dropping out of Footloose:
Z - "Footloose didn’t happen for a number of reasons, but...you know, I think it just felt like territory that I’d already explored. I felt like I’d already been there before. As opposed to trying something brand new, which is a bit riskier and it was a whole lot scarier, but so much more interesting, I think."

The cast on filming on the Isle of Man:
R – "We had a good time on the Isle of Man, we spent about three weeks working, we were just in the theatre the whole time."
Z – "It was great. No, I didn’t know where it was. I was looking forward to that seclusion. From what I’d heard it was a pretty quiet place, and there weren’t a lot of people there. You know? I can’t tell you how appealing that sounded."
R – "The girls did find out Zac was there and they showed up,"
Z – "Yeah… anyways… I found out there was a whole lot of people there. And we met… most of them. I mean, I felt pretty welcome."
C – "I don’t think anybody has been better received there."
Z – "It was funny, we couldn’t really go outside that much. We couldn’t really leave the theatre… we were there a whole lot. Day and night."
C – "Plus the theatre was literally next door, adjacent to the hotel we were staying in."
Z – "There was a tunnel from the hotel to the theatre."
C – "You didn’t have to go outside from your room to the set."
Z – "I didn’t. Didn’t go outside. It was great."

For more from the interview keep an eye on PopSugarUK next week, where you'll hear more from director and stars, including Brit newcomer Christian McKay.

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Zac Efron Makes the Rounds on Radio and in Person

PopSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:36 -0800

Zac Efron arrived in London earlier this week to promote Me & Orson Welles, and he was busy yesterday and today doing a variety of interviews. He made an appearance last night at the Notting Hill Gate cinema for a question and answer session with fans, and PopSugar UK was there to chat with him - check out their interview! He was out again this morning for a stop by the Capitol Radio studios. He kicked off his trip to England with a premiere on Wednesday alongside costar Claire Danes, as Zac's press tour goes into full swing.

For more photos of Zac just read more.

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Zac and Claire Are UK Red Carpet Ready for Orson Welles

PopSugarUK — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0800

British fans have certainly had their screaming capabilities tested lately, as we got a visit from Robert Pattinson last week, and last night Zac Efron walked the red carpet in London! We caught him arriving at Heathrow yesterday, but last night was the big UK premiere of his new movie Me and Orson Welles, which is based on a fantastic book. Director Richard Linklater looked pretty casual at the premiere, while Zac was smart in his suit and costar Claire Danes looked stunning in her black dress. Claire's husband Hugh Dancy was also on hand looking handsome at the event, and other guests included Ali Bastian and Ben Chaplin.

I'm heading to a press conference with Zac, Claire and Richard today to find out all about the making of the movie. Stay tuned to PopSugarUK here and on twitter to find out how it goes!

To see more photos from the red carpet, just read more

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Zac Efron Takes Orson Welles to the UK

PopSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:15 -0800

Zac Efron was on the go this morning as he made his way out of London's Heathrow Airport. He was in his signature shades on his way to a waiting car, before getting red carpet ready for the London premiere of Me and Orson Welles with costar Claire Danes. Zac was able to enjoy a little downtime in LA after recently wrapping up The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, but now it's time for him to get right back to work with a press conference tomorrow - PopSugar UK will be Twittering the whole thing, so make sure to check them out!

There's lots more Zac when you read more.

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Zac Efron and Claire Danes Arrive in London!

PopSugarUK — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:18:45 -0800

Zac Efron and Claire Danes arrived in London today as they start their UK promotion for new movie Me and Orson Welles, which comes out on Dec 4. Zac's definitely bringing some manjoyment to London in his grey blazer and cool shades, while Claire wrapped up warm for the cold weather. I'm heading to a press conference with them tomorrow, so I'll bring you all the gossip from that and let you know what the movie is like very soon - check out the trailer now and decide if you think you'll see it or skip it!

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How Well Do You Know Infant Dehydration?

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:30:09 -0700

It takes a lot of fluid to keep a tiny baby healthy, and infants are more prone to dehydration than older children and adults. Fortunately most cases of infant dehydration are moderate and easily remedied as long as you know the signs. Take the quiz to see how well you know dehydration in babies.

Take the quiz

Kiddie Wellness: Sick and Well Waiting Rooms

LilSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:00:48 -0700

In the five years my kids have been going to the pediatrician, I don't think we've ever spent more than five minutes in the waiting room. Whether my children were scheduled for shots, ailing or just attending an annual appointment, the nurse has promptly ushered us to an exam room to wait on the doctor. In talking to other mothers, I know not all practices are this efficient - parents complain of keeping their healthy kids from hacking and crouping youngsters in the holding area.

A friend on the East Coast told me she's never encountered this problem since many doctors' offices there have sick and well waiting rooms to separate the patients and to avoid having them handle the same toys. Does your pediatrician's office offer separate spaces?

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New Me and Orson Welles Trailer - Are You More Excited?

PopSugarUK — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:02:57 -0700

The brand new UK trailer for Richard Linklater's new movie Me and Orson Welles has been released ahead of the movie's opening on December 4. Zac Efron stars in the adaptation of Robert Kaplow's novel, about a teenager who gets cast in a Mercury Theatre production directed by a young Orson Welles in 1937. Also starring Claire Danes and Ben Chaplin, the movie looks like a great coming of age story. Check out the new clip and let me know - are you more excited for it?