How to Tell Someone at Work that They Smell Bad

If someone you know seems to suffer from a "failure to bathe", you don't have to suffer in silence. There's no great way to address the issue, but there are good ones.

Steps
1. Get the best attitude - an empathic, informative attitude.
2. Find a quiet place to initiate the discussion.
3. Use neutral, impersonal language that refers to professionalism and the impact on the office.
4. Say something like, "I have noticed the smell of (the offensive odor), and I'm concerned that it is having an impact on your ability to interact with your co-workers and our customers."
5. Let them know you are pointing it out to be helpful. Use the Power Phrase, "I'm telling you because it's important for you to know."
6. Set up a follow-up discussion.
7. Let them know how they're doing.

Alternate Methods
1. Buy two very nice scented soap/shower gel/perfume/deodorant and bring them to work.
2. Show one to your offender. Explain how much you love it.
3. Let them keep the one you showed them. You can have the other.
4. If this doesn't work, ask them how they liked their product. If they look sweaty or nervous, suggest a new way of how to use it. Repeat again the next time you see them.

Tips
• Tell the offender, not anyone else.
• Be as low key as you can, but don't hide the truth in hints.
• If they become reactive, be empathic about it.

Does Eating Veggies Shrink the Brain?

Could going veggie be bad for your brain?Scientists have discovered that those on a meat-free diet are six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage.

Participants between the ages of 61- 87 were tested with memory tests, physical checks and brain scans.Researchers discovered that after 5 years, that participants who had the lowest levels of B12 were also the most likely to have suffered brain shrinkage.

Vegans and vegetarians are the most likely to have B12 deficiencies, because meats are the best sources of vitamins.

But being a vegetarian was certainly not the only brain-shrikage risk.

• Participants who had a regular 2-plus drinks a day had an increased 1.6% brain shrinkage than those who did not drink.
• Being overweight or obese is also linked to brain shrink.

There are also benefits to vegetarianism that may outweigh the possible brain shrinkage.

Vegetarians generally have:

• A lower risk of obesity
• Lower Blood Pressure
• Lower Cholesterol
• Lower Rates of Colon Cancer
• Lower Rates of Diabetes

15 Thing you probably never knew about Monday Night Football:

Monday Night Football has been one of the most popular televised sporting since early on in its inception. It has hosted some of the biggest games in regular season history and also played home to some of the biggest moments the NFL has ever seen. It grew from a controversial start, with many saying that there was no place for professional football in a weekday primetime slot, to become one of the most watched programs ever. As famous as it is though, here is a list of 15 things you may not know about Monday Night Football.

1. Only three teams have scored 50 or more points in a Monday Night Football game. The Indianapolis Colts scored 55 points in 1988, the San Francisco 49ers scored 52 points in 1991, and the San Diego Chargers scored exactly 50 points in 1982.

2. Following the 2007 season, two different matchups were tied for the most televised game on Monday Night Football. Dallas vs. Washington and Oakland vs. Denver have both been broadcast fourteen times.

3. The first company to sign up as a sponsor of Monday Night Football was Marlboro Cigarettes.

4. The first Monday Night Football game ever played had the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Jets on September 21st, 1970.

5. The final score of ABC's first Monday Night Football game was 31-21, coincidentally the final score of ABC's last Monday Night Football game was also 31-21.

6. The lowest total points scored in a Monday Night Football game happened during the 2007 season when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 3-0.

7. The team with the most shutouts in Monday Night Football history is (surprisingly) the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have shutout their opponents five times during MNF games.

8. The best career winning percentage of Monday Night Football games by any coach is held by former Oakland Raiders head coach, and future broadcaster and video game endorser, John Madden who had a career MNF win percentage of .740.

9. In 1985, the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears would suffer their only loss of the season on Monday Night Football in a game against the Miami Dolphins.

10. Frank Gifford broadcasted Monday Night Football games for 28 years, from 1971 through 1998.

11. The highest scoring differential in Monday Night Football history occurred in 2005 when the Baltimore Ravens beat the Green Bay Packers 48-3, a 45 point blowout.

12. The graphic on the screen showing the timeclock and game score first appeared on a Monday Night Football game during the 1997 season.

13. In Monday Night Football history, there has only been one tie game. It happened during the 1984 NFL season and was in a game between the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals.

14. The New York Jets hold a distinction in Monday Night Football history, they lost the first ever MNF game in 1970 and also lost the last MNF game to be broadcast on ABC, 36 years later.

15. The last play from scrimmage during a Monday Night Football game while still being shown on ABC was a quarterback kneeldown by the New England Patriots' backup quarterback Doug Flutie.

Real things not to do while driving:

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined that it is not just cell phone use that can cause drivers to be involved in a crash or near-crash. In general, accidents may happen when drivers perform secondary tasks, become drowsy, are inattentive to the roadway, and when drivers glance away from the roadway.

Here are 10 things not to do while driving:

1.Wireless devices:

Use of wireless devices by drivers is one of the most dangerous activities. Cell phone activities  which are dangerous while driving include reaching for a ringing phone, fumbling with a headset, dialing phones, talking on phones or reading information on the cell phone display. Use of PDAs while driving can be equally hazardous when the driver is searching for the PDA, reading it or entering information on the PDA.

2.  In car communication:

It's not just talking on a cell phone that poses hazards, it's also talking to passengers, including children, in the car.

3.  Internal distractions:

There are many dangerous activities drivers distract themselves with while driving. The ones we can limit are reading a book, map, newspaper or magazine, moving objects in the vehicle while driving or reaching for objects, or being distracted by a pet. Some distractions inside the vehicle may be accidental such as dropping an object or if there is an insect is in the vehicle.

4.  Personal Grooming:

We've all seen those smart commuters who try to save time by saving their grooming routine for the road. Engaging in personal hygiene activities while driving, including applying make up, shaving, combing or brushing hair, brushing or flossing, removing or altering contact lenses, or putting on or adjusting jewelry can be hazardous to your health.

5.  Dashboard Tinkering:

 Try setting these control before you shift into park, as they are dangerous driver distractions: looking at/reaching for/adjusting climate control, looking at/or reaching or adjusting the radio, inserting or retrieving a cassette or CD, and looking at or adjusting other in-dash systems.

6.  Eating:

We've all done it. Drive-thrus wouldn't exist if we didn't. Dining while driving, with or without a utensil, drinking out of a covered or uncovered container are all equally dangerous activities to engage in while driving. An open cup or container poses further dangers as they may spill easily.

7.  External distractions:

There is a difference between paying attention to your surroundings and being distracted by them. Any of the following external distractions can be dangerous: staring out the window at a previous accident, looking at pedestrians not in the forward roadway, looking at an animal that may or may not pose a safety hazard and construction zones.

8.  Singing and talking:

For some of us the only two places we sing are the shower and the car. Apparently, singing and talking to yourself in your car is also a dangerous driver distraction. This also includes "instances where the driver exhibits dancing behavior."

9.  Smoking:

It is not just smoking that can be dangerous while driving, it is the whole process of smoking, from the initial reaching for a cigarette, to lighting the cigarette, smoking it and extinguishing it in the ashtray.

10.  Daydreaming:

can be a dangerous activity while driving. This includes becoming lost in thought or looking a haphazardly round but not at any single distraction, or when a drives looks but does not see.

Ten Signs You Have A Toxic Boss!

If you've been on the job for years or just meeting your potential boss at an interview, here are ten ways to tell if he/she is a toxic boss:

Disrespectful Behavior: "Don't overlook unprofessional behavior, such as emails that aren't returned or disregard for stop and start times for the interview without apology," says Anna Maravelas, president of TheraRising.com and author of How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress. "These mini-moments are microcosms of your potential supervisor's style."

Visual Cues: "If your boss scans you from head to waist versus waist to head as they extend their hand in greeting you, they are intuitively sending a message that you are smaller than they are," explains Zannah Hackett, author of The Ancient Wisdom of Matchmaking. Though subtle, it's the nonverbal equivalent of a belittling comment. "This is not a good sign that your talents are going to flourish in this environment."

Defensive Body Language: "An insecure boss will find you threatening if you are good at your job and will use the power of the position to make your life miserable," says Pamela Lenehan, president of Ridge Hill Consulting and author of What You Don't Know and Your Boss Won't Tell You. Watch for constant shifting, avoiding eye contact or rifling through papers as you talk, she notes.

Bad Attitude: If your interviewer exhibits a general lack of enthusiasm or interest in the company, watch out, warns Donna Flagg, a principal with human resources and management consulting firm The Krysalis Group. It could be a bad day, or it could be a bad boss. "Ask for company turnover [data] and turnover [data] for that individual manager," she suggests.

Excessive Nervousness: Don't ignore extreme behavior, cautions one worker. "My boss used to eat sugar packets and raisins, and she downed them with large cups of black espresso," she recalls. "And she spoke in triplets: 'hi, hi, hi,' 'good, good, good,' 'when, when, when.' Her stress level telegraphed to everyone in the department."

Distrust of Others: A toxic boss "openly displays a lack of trust in people, especially for those on the team in which he or she is supposed to lead," notes Gregg Stocker, author of Avoiding the Corporate Death Spiral: Recognizing & Eliminating the Signs of Decline. Ask what the company's problems are and what their causes might be. "If the answers to these questions consist of blaming others in the organization, especially those on his or her team, the person lacks trust in others."

Fear Used as a Motivator: Ask the prospective boss about others on the team with whom you will be working -- specifically, how well they work together, stay focused and meet objectives, Stocker advises. Be wary if the response identifies a lack of respect for people. When managers disrespect and distrust others' motivations, they resort to extrinsic means with which to motivate, such as threats, public humiliation and comments about layoffs.

Word Choice: "Your ears are your best hunch barometer," Hackett says. "Our choice of words sets up a dynamic that can raise or lower the energy in a room. If they begin every sentence with a negative message and then try to diffuse it somewhat, it is likely that negativity prevails in their life and carries over into work."

Extreme Friendliness: "It may sound odd, but what should have tipped me off was how nice she was," one administrative assistant says of her toxic boss. "I compare it to children being lured into dangerous situations with candy. How many kids don't want candy? And how many adults don't want to work for a boss who is nice? It was a trap I could've easily avoided had I caught on earlier."

Self-Absorption: "If his ideas seem to be more important than finding out about your ideas, or if you provide an answer and the interviewer tells you you're wrong or interrupts with his own answer to the question, it may be an indication that he will be difficult to work with," notes one technical support staffer.

PHONE TOPIC:  How have you dealt with an a-hole boss?  Did your co-workers agree that he was a jerk or was it just you?  What's the worst thing he/she did to you or that you saw him/her do to another employee?

Thanks to the advent of technology like computers, automated machines, voice recognition systems and cell phones, many jobs that used to be deemed essential to the work force are on the decline. 

If you're looking for job security during the next 10 years, here are 12 jobs to eye with caution and their more secure job alternatives. While they'll have job openings to replace workers who leave the industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects they'll have fewer and fewer of new jobs over time.

1. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers

Why it's endangered: Many companies now use self-monitoring production machines, which alert inspectors to flaws they would normally detect by hand.

2. Data entry and information processing workers

Why it's endangered: Personal computers are abundant. People either do their own word processing or contract out their work, rather than hiring full-time staff. Other technologies like barcode scanners and voice recognition systems reduce the need for data entry keyers.

3. File and order clerks

Why it's endangered: Organizations use automated systems to place orders and most files are now stored digitally and retrieved electronically, thus reducing the need for file and order clerks.

4. Photographic process workers

Why it's endangered: Since digital cameras have virtually taken over photography, digital camera owners have the ability to download, view, retouch and print pictures on their own computers, reducing the need for workers to do so manually.

5. Telephone operators

Why it's endangered: Cell phones and 411 call services have reduced the demand for telephone operators, because fewer people use directory assistance, collect calls and pay phones.

6. Pharmacy aides

Why it's endangered: Pharmacy technicians will perform many of the duties aides normally do, like answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Pharmacy aides will also receive more training, moving up to the technician position.

7. Bindery workers

Why it's endangered: Computers allow binding to be automated and now, printing companies are binding products in-house, so the need for binding shops is decreasing.

8. Radio and television announcers

Why it's endangered: New technology and advancement of other media sources like syndicated programming means less need for radio and TV announcers. (Of course Danny and Mac will always be needed right?.......right?)

9. Floral designers

Why it's endangered: Many people leave the job because of its low starting pay and limited opportunities for advancement; also, Internet florists take away the demand for designers at independent floral shops.

10. Telemarketers

Why it's endangered: Thanks to the "do not call" registry, the need for these pesky sales people is not as prevalent.

According to Sam Gosling, a researcher at the University of Texas and Meredith Wells, a psychologist at East Kentucky University, here is what your office might be saying to your supervisors, bosses, and co-workers:

1. Plants -- healthy plants are a sign that you plan to stay.
2. Post-it Notes -- Too many Post-It Notes show that you're overwhelmed.
3. Clocks -- One or more clocks in your office are a sign that you get things done. "Clock lovers are often meticulous and hardworking," says Gosling.
4. Family Photos -- This could go either way. Some psychologists say family photos are a status symbol. Others say they are a genuine reminder of loved ones. You have to look at how the photos are displayed. If the pictures are facing guests, they are status symbols. If they are facing you, they are genuine reminders.
5. Candy Bowl -- An indication of an extrovert. Introverts don't put anything that brings others in their workspace.
6. Motivational Posters -- Show that you are engaged in your job and want to stay engaged.
7. Posters of Celebrities or Historical Figures -- Indicates you have values and big dreams.
8. Tidiness -- Tidiness is a personality trait that is extremely difficult to change. A neat and organized desk and workspace indicates a neat and organized person.
9. Empty Desk -- Empty workspaces indicate a worker who has little status in the organization and who probably isn't dedicated to his/her job. These people simply are not committed.

To celebrate Father's Day, we've compiled a list of TV's best and worst dads. While these dads are completely fictitious, these men have had a heavy influence on the way Americans approach fatherhood.

TV's Top Ten Best Dads: 

1. Andy Taylor- The Andy Griffith Show.  As a single dad, Sheriff Andy taught his son Opie and the rest of America one important lesson- do the right thing. Not only did Andy teach little Opie important life lessons, he also made sure to spend plenty of time with him on fishin' trips.
2. Homer Simpson- The Simpsons. Sure, he is a poor example of physical health. Sure, he constantly abuses Bart through strangulation. But at the end of the day, the man would do anything for his kids.
3. Hank Hill- King of the Hill. Hank Hill does a fantastic job of teaching his son Bobby the meaning of hard work, dedication, loyalty to friends and family, the importance of Dallas Cowboys football and Texas pride, and of course, the stupidity of political correctness. Yeah, Hank is overly concerned about Bobby being a sissy, but he's always there when Bobby needs him.
4. Steve Douglas- My Three Sons. This was one of many dad sitcoms from the 1950s and 60s based around a widowed father raising their kids. The show ran for 12 years and during that time, America saw Steve's three sons move out, go to college, and get married. Raising well adjusted and successful family men definitely makes you a great dad.
5. Ward Cleaver- Leave It To Beaver. Ward was a businessman that took his job as seriously as his family. Even when frustrated, the man hardly raised his voice. He read Mark Twain to his sons. When he did give bad advice, (like telling the Beaver to get in a fight with a girl) Ward would admit his mistake and teach his sons a lesson in the process.
6. Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable- The Cosby Show. Dr. Huxtable's advice to his children was always based on common sense mixed with a wisecrack. Dr. Huxtable taught his children that personal responsibility is the key to success in life.
7. Jim Anderson- Father Knows Best. The show is a bit campy and isn't a reflection of what real family life is like, but Jim always ended each episode by teaching his children some important moral lesson.
8. Mike Brady- The Brady Bunch. Mike was faced with the challenge of integrating his three sons with another woman's brood of three girls. He handled the situation by being both a strict disciplinarian and an empathetic guy.
9. Eric Camden- 7th Heaven.  Of all the best TV dads on this list, Eric Camden is the only one who was introduced in the last ten years. Eric was a father to seven children and a minister at a local church where he spent time helping churchgoers and troubled teens. Each episode took on some moral lesson that Eric's family had to deal with directly or indirectly. Eric was a good example of a father trying to keep his kids on the right path in a world that's constantly telling them to go down the wrong one.
10. Howard Cunningham- Happy Days. "Mr. C." as the Fonz lovingly called him, was not only the dad to Richie and Joanie Cunningham, but he also acted as a father figure for the Fonz, Ralph Malph, and Potsie. He always laid down the law in his house. He was never his kids' friend, but was always their loving authority figure.

Some of TV's Worst & Not-So-Great Dads: 

• Tony Soprano- The Sopranos
• Al Bundy- Married With Children
• Archie Bunker- All in the Family
• Frank Costanza- Seinfeld
• Peter Griffin- Family Guy
• John Locke's Dad- Lost
• Arthur Spooner-King of Queens
• Gob (pronounced "jobe") Bluth- Arrested Development
• Jack Bauer-24
• Ray Barone- Everybody Loves Raymond 

The "city" part of Sex and the City is, of course, New York.  But since Sex and the City is such a girly movie, we offer guys this list of more manly New York flicks:

Taxi Driver (1976): Hey, nobody said it had to be likable. Martin Scorsese's classic gets right to the seamy underbelly, by way of Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), and stays there. Sometimes people complain that they cleaned up Times Square or whatever. This is your reminder of why.

The Godfather: Part II (1974): A lot of the non-flashback action takes place in Lake Tahoe, but the flashbacks, in which we learn about the rise of Vito Corleone (De Niro, again), offer an engrossing look at the immigrant experience in early- 20th-century New York. De Niro is fantastic and was rewarded with an Oscar.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Attica! Attica! OK, it takes place in a Brooklyn bank. But what's more New York than Al Pacino's portrayal of a frustrated would- be bank robber trying to come up with the money for his lover's sex-change operation? The ensuing media meltdown reminds us that New York is, after all, the media capital of the world - for good and bad. Pacino is great and was nominated for an Oscar.

Escape From New York (1981): In the future, crime is out of control and New York City is a maximum security prison. Grabbing a bargaining chip right out of the air, convicts bring down the President's plane in bad old Gotham. Kurt Russell as gruff Snake Plissken, a one-eyed lone warrior new to prison life, is coerced into bringing the President, and his cargo, out of this land of undesirables.

Gangs of New York (2002):  It's 1863 and lower Manhattan is run by gangs, the most powerful of which is the Natives, headed by Bill "The Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis). He believes America should belong to native-born Americans and opposes the waves of immigrants, mostly Irish, entering the city. Amid the violence and corruption, young Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to establish himself in the area and also seek revenge over his father's death.

The Warriors (1979): Speaking of gangs...Cyrus, the leader of the largest gang in New York, declares a truce and calls a summit with all the major gangs in attendance. During the meeting, Cyrus is assassinated and the murder is pinned on a member of a gang known as the Warriors. Now, all the other wonderfully wacky but deadly-dangerous gangs are hunting the Warriors down before they can prove their innocence. "CAN YOU DIG IT?"

SKILLS EVERY MAN MUST MASTER: Part 1 (Esquire)

• Tell if someone is lying. Everyone has his theory. Pick one, test it. Choose the tells that work for you. Examples: Liars change the subject quickly. Liars look up and to their right when they speak. Liars use fewer contractions. Liars will sometimes stare straight at you and employ a dead face. Liars never touch their chest or heart except self-consciously. Liars place objects between themselves and you during a conversation.
• Take a photo. Fill the frame.
• Name a book that matters. The Catcher in the Rye does not matter. Not really. You gotta read.
• Cook meat somewhere other than the grill: Buy The Way to Cook, by Julia Child. Try roasting. Braising. Broiling. Slow-cooking. Pan searing. Think ragouts, fricassees, stews. All of this will force you to understand the functionality of different cuts. In the end, grilling will be a choice rather than a chore, and your Weber will become a tool rather than a piece of weekend entertainment.
• Not monopolize the conversation.
• Write a letter: So easy. So easily forgotten. A five-paragraph structure works pretty well: Tell why you're writing. Offer details. Ask questions. Give news. Add a specific memory or two. If your handwriting is terrible, type. Always close formally.
• Buy a suit: Avoid bargains. Know your likes, your dislikes, and what you need it for (work, funerals, court). Always get fitted.
• Swim three different strokes. Doggie paddle doesn't count.
• Show respect without being a suck-up. Respect the following, in this order: age, experience, record, reputation. Don't mention any of it.
• Throw a punch. Close enough, but not too close. Swing with your shoulders, not your arm. Long punches rarely land squarely.
• Chop down a tree. Know your escape path. When the tree starts to fall, use it.
• Calculate square footage. Width times length.
• Speak a foreign language. Pas beaucoup. Mais faites un effort.
• Sew a button.
• Know his poison, without standing there, pondering like a dope. Brand, amount, style, fast, like so: Booker's, double, neat.
• Drive an eightpenny nail into a treated two-by-four without thinking about it. Use a contractor's hammer. Swing hard and loose, like a tennis serve.
• Cast a fishing rod without shrieking or sighing or otherwise admitting defeat.
• Play gin with an old guy. Old men will try to crush you. You take a beating as a means of absorbing the lessons they've learned without taking a lesson. But don't be afraid to take them down. They can handle it.

SKILLS EVERY MAN MUST MASTER: Part 2 (Esquire)

• Shuffle a deck of cards: Guys who can't shuffle lose. Always.
• Know when to split his cards in blackjack: Aces. Eights. Always.
• Speak to an eight-year-old so he will hear. Use his first name. Don't use baby talk. Don't crank up your energy to match his. Ask questions and wait for answers. Follow up.
• Speak to a waiter so he will hear: You don't own the restaurant, so don't act like it. You own the transaction. So don't speak into the menu. Lift your chin. Make eye contact. All restaurants have secrets -- let it be known that you expect to see some of them.
• Talk to a dog so it will hear: Go ahead, use baby talk.
• Install: a disposal, an electronic thermostat, or a lighting fixture without asking for help.
• Ask for help: Guys who refuse to ask for help are the most cursed men of all. The stubborn, the self-possessed, and the distant. The hell with them.
• Tell a woman's dress size.
• Remove a stain. Blot. Always blot.
• Fry an egg sunny-side up. Cook until the white appears solid... and no longer.
• Break up a fight. Work in pairs if possible. Don't get between people initially. Use the back of the collar, pull and urge the person downward. If you can't get him down, work for distance.
• Point to the north at any time: If you have a watch, you can point the hour hand at the sun. Then find the point directly between the hour hand and the 12. That's south. The opposite direction is, of course, north.
• Avoid boredom. You have enough to eat. You can move. This must be acknowledged as a kind of freedom. You don't always have to buy things, put things in your mouth, or be delighted.
• Be brand loyal to at least one product. It tells a lot about who you are and where you came from.
• Throw a baseball over-hand with some snap. Throw a football with a tight spiral. Shoot a 12-foot jump shot reliably: If you can't, play more ball.
• Shake hands. Steady, firm, pump, let go. Use the time to make eye contact, since that's where the social contract begins.
• Stock an emergency bag for the car: Blanket. Heavy flashlight. Hand warmers. Six bottles of water. Six packs of beef jerky. Atlas. Reflectors. Gloves. Socks. Bandages. Neosporin. Inhaler. Benadryl. Motrin. Hard candy. Telescoping magnet. Screwdriver. Channel-locks. Crescent wrench. Ski hat. Bandanna.
• Caress a woman's neck. Back of your fingers, in a slow fan.