With the arrival of the May long weekend, the collective mentality changes from concerns of the cold of winter to the aspirations of the warm days of summer. People venture out of the home in search of locales where they can take in the sun and enjoy the warm breezes....

At one time or another, most of us will experience a sense of discomfort in the lower back . It can be acute, lasting only a few days to weeks, or chronic, lasting months or years. Depending on the severity, it could be little more than an annoyance...

When it comes to advice, there is nothing more common than the saying, "Keep Your Nose Clean." The rather odd advice has a long history, stemming from the 17th Century. In 1659, a collection of sermons from a University of Oxford professor, John Hales, was published under the...

With spring upon us, there will be no doubt plans for the summer vacation and for many, the always enjoyable road trip. But we are not driving like we once used to. At a time, jumping in the car and heading to destinations unknown was a hallmark of North American...

Without a doubt, Stephen King is one of the most recognized names in literature and he has become the focus of both academic courses and even graduate theses. His books are almost guaranteed to make the bestseller list but only a few have become legendary,...

Over the last four decades, the influence of the diet on our health has become better understood. We now have a picture of how nutrition affects infancy, adulthood , and even old age. Paralleling this increase in knowledge, however, has been the realization that...

The problem of obesity has become a major focus in public health. Since 1980, the numbers of obese people have doubled and approximately one-fifth of the population is now classified as obese. The explosion in the prevalence of the disease, which is not only characterized by...

The emergence of pimples on the skin can be a frustrating experience for the majority of adolescents and up to 5% of the adult population that suffer through them. More colloquially known today as zits, these blemishes have both plagued and perplexed us for

February 4 of this year was a momentous day for numismatists as the Canadian Mint officially stopped distribution of the one-cent coin, the penny. The staple of change purses had been retired and would soon head the path of the $1 and $2 bills. While the...

A trip to the dentist is for many a stressful event, especially when accompanied by the dreaded words: "You have a cavity." The news can be both a personal and financial nightmare as future visits must be scheduled for the sometimes painful and expensive remedial action. It's a natural part...

In the weeks following Valentine's Day, many couples will head back to their favorite pharmacy although they will walk past the chocolate and flower aisles and head straight to the early pregnancy test kits. For those who are positive -- and who actually want to become pregnant -- the news...

We tend to believe -- and quite rightly so -- that germs are a detriment to our economy. The billions of dollars spent each year to treat infections can overburden the budget of any healthcare institution and the pocketbooks of anyone without appropriate health...

There's nothing quite like the pastime of cloud watching. We can spend hours watching these ethereal formations pass by. We can find shapes in them, try to imagine where they came from -- and where they are going -- and whether or not they are going to open up and...

Most of Canada and parts of the United States has been gripped in a cold snap that has seen temperatures dip below -40ºC in some places and given the city of Ottawa the dubious distinction of being the coldest capital in the world.

While this...

This week, an incredible revelation took the world by storm. The news was featured worldwide and sent millions into reactions of frustration, anger and even worry. Yet those who were in the know understood that there was no surprise; in fact it should have been known for some time.

Of...

Last week, the renowned Homeland Security expert, Colonel Randall J. Larsen, USAF (Ret) made a stunningly bold claim that the most prevalent threat to humans today is infectious disease. In light of the current situation of an epidemic flu outbreak, the rampant spread of

The holiday party is a tradition of the season. We're offered the opportunity to forget about the normal stresses of everyday life and take a few hours to spend time with colleagues, friends and family in a united celebration. The occasion is meant to be joyous and fun; usually ending...

We've all been there. The holidays are approaching and there's that one person on our list for whom we have no idea what to give. It's a common problem that is usually resolved with the purchase of a gift card from a local retailer. From hardware stores to electronic shops...

We tend to love our space captains and put them in high regard. Fictionally speaking, some of the most memorable characters have been captains, such as Kirk, Solo, Reynolds, and Starbuck. The one trait all of these individuals possess is the ability...

Since the dawn of the millennium, reality programming has inundated the media with the competition format making the lion's share of offerings. The process is simple: a collection of individuals undergoes a series of challenges to vie for a prize and the title of champion, master or idol. At one...