CasaSugar

DrSugar Answers: Weather and Colds

DrSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I have a friend who lives in the warm suburb of Fairfield, CA, and commutes to foggier, colder San Francisco every day. She is wondering if the daily climate switch from hot and dry weather to the foggy cold is making her sick, or at least more vulnerable to cold and flu? I am curious too. Is it a myth?
– Friend of Sniffles

To see what DrSugar has to say about the connection between abrupt and drastic changes in the weather and the common cold,

It is a common misconception that cold weather can cause the common cold or flu. The common cold is caused by a virus and has never been shown to be related to exposure to cold weather or wet weather. The idea that cold weather itself leads to colds is likely related to the observation that people get viral illnesses more often in the Winter. Health officials and epidemiologists believe that viral illnesses are more common in the Winter because they are highly contagious and people are often in closer indoor contact in the Winter months. When you were young Dr. Mom always said, “Put on a sweater or you’ll catch a cold.” She would have been more correct to say, “Don’t go to school or you’ll catch a cold.” Wouldn't that have been great?

The temperature difference between the warmer, dryer climate of Fairfield and foggy Summers of San Francisco is unlikely to have anything to do with her increasing frequency of illness. However, there are a number of other factors that could contribute to her getting sick more often. If this is a new job in the city, it could be related to new exposure to large groups of people in close quarters, i.e. an office environment. Also, new jobs and long commutes can increase stress levels, which can weaken the immune system. The other possibility is that she is allergic to molds or pollens in San Francisco that are less prevalent in her home city. In summary, there could be a number of things making her sick more often, but that actual climate change is an unlikely culprit.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Casa Quickie: Eco-Color Theory

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:09 PDT

Ever remember burning your bare feet on a black top in the Summer as a kid? The black color of the paved surface absorbs the light particles that it hits, exciting the pavement's particles, making the black surface warmer because its particles are moving faster. Contrarily, white surfaces reflect light, so they are cooler. So for those of you living in a warm climate, think about painting your home light colors, which will absorb less light, meaning less need for turning on that a/c. And, those of you living in a cold climate should think about painting your home darker colors, which will absorb the light, meaning less need for turning on your heater! Maybe Orlando Bloom should consider repainting his black house, and I should alter my poll to read "Chicken or the Egg or the Climate"?
Source

Battleship: Needs a Lifesaver

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

I don't remember aliens making an appearance in my own childhood sessions with Battleship, but I suppose when you try to make a toy into a feature-length film, you're afforded a few liberties. Unfortunately, the producers of Battleship may have spent too much time finding creative ways to explode things and not enough time on a plot, ending up with underutilized actors, in a wishy-washy destruction story.

Battleship starts out in 2005, when the US establishes the Beacon Project, an effort to reach out to potential life forms on a planet that has a similar climate as the Earth. The government sets up a powerful signal on Hawaii capable of sending transmissions to the foreign territory. Little do they know the frequencies are being received, and not by friendly folks. Enter brothers Alex (Taylor Kitsch) and Stone (Alexander Skarsgard). Stone is clean-cut and responsible while Alex is generally a mess. We first meet them in a bar scene that turns to Alex breaking into a convenience store to steal a chicken burrito for his future girlfriend, Sam (Brooklyn Decker). Thanks to Kitsch's surprising physical comedy skills, the scene is the highlight of the movie. It all goes to the aliens after that.

Read the rest of my thoughts on Battleship after the break.

18 Spring Activities to Get Your Geek on

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:42:00 PDT

Whether you prefer to be in the kitchen or on the road, we've come up with several creative ideas to keep you busy this Spring. Looking for some new pastimes? From DIYs to nerdy day trips, we've got 18 fun, geeky ideas to get you through the season.

Have a documentary marathon: Not sure where to start? Check out Frozen Planet, a seven-part series from the team behind Planet Earth, to learn more about climate changes (and adorable animals!) in the Poles.
Become an amateur astronomer: Pick an especially clear night and look at the stars with the 5 Stars Astronomy Guide App. It's simple: hold your phone to the sky and you'll learn all about the constellation in front of you.
Host a Comic-Con party: Get your pals to dress up as their favorite comic book characters and go for bold, bright decorations. Keep your favorite comic-inspired flicks playing in the background and serve drinks in these Vintage DC Comic Tumblers ($125 for 6).
Try a coding class: Do a bit of research to find local coding classes at a community college. Sign up solo or invite your Internet-obsessed pals to join so that you can help each other learn the HTML ropes.

Keep reading for more geeky things to do.

How a Determined Desiree Davila Won a Spot on the US Olympic Marathon Team

espnW — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:25:02 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here.

By Bonnie D. Ford

At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Desiree Davila, fellow favorites Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher, and Amy Hastings. Davila increased her tempo. Hastings dropped back. Davila forged on with Flanagan and Goucher, her five-foot-two, 98-pound frame dwarfed by her taller rivals. Then, with two miles to go, Flanagan kicked into a higher gear, and Davila was faced with another decision: should she try to match the surge and bid for the win, taking the chance that her cramping calves would betray her, or maintain her pace and protect her spot on the team?

Davila weighed the situation and decided not to risk it. Flanagan soloed to the line, and Davila secured her Olympic spot by finishing second, 17 seconds back, in 2:25:55. It was a tough, savvy race, and the latest evidence that Davila's gradual climb to the top is peaking at an ideal juncture.

After a largely anonymous high school and college career in the arid heat of Southern California and Arizona, she migrated to Michigan to join the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in 2005. The elite training environment in a harsher climate helped her transform herself into "a contender, not just someone who's on the line and might have a good day," as she put it.

The Lesson Learned From Second Place

Davila debuted at the marathon distance in Boston in 2007 and ran 2:44.56 in a raging northeaster. A year later on the same course, Davila thought she had progressed enough to make the Olympic team. At mile 21, running fourth, it looked as if she'd been right. But Davila, who hadn't hydrated and eaten enough before the race, ran out of gas and faded to 13th.

She was devastated. Fellow marathoner and friend Amy Hastings was there to comfort her, and so was sister Natalie Davila. "If I'm investing my money in someone right now, it's you," the older sister said. "You're going in the right direction - you're going up."

Read on for more of Desiree Davila's road to the Olympics after the break.

How Meatless Mondays Can Help the Planet

Susannah Chen — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:08:03 PDT

There are many ways to go about reducing your carbon footprint, but one of the easiest ways is to participate in Meatless Mondays.

Although forgoing meat also helps fight world hunger (and the issue of obesity), it's also proven to be kinder to Mother Earth, even if you're just skipping out on animal protein one day each week. To learn a few of the environmental benefits of going meat-free once a week, keep reading.

Live a Seaside Life With This Modern Houseboat

Elka Karl — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:16:07 PST

This morning on my way to work, I listened to an NPR story about Kiribati, a tiny island nation in the central Pacific Ocean that may be completely under water by the end of the century, if climate change predictions are correct. While that's a frightening possibility, there are some thoughtful designers who are preparing for such situations with grace and beauty - and houseboats. Since coastal lines across the world may also be underwater due to rising tides, a move to a houseboat, especially for those residents living seaside, is a practical solution to potential issues with changing and disappearing shorelines. And while that's a scary thought, you might as well make the best of the situation by living in one of these loft-style houseboats by SchwimmHausBoot. Featuring an open minimalist design, this small houseboat, named the Silberfisch, feels spacious thanks to the thoughtful interior design. Extensive glass throughout welcomes in sunlight and enhances the interior's look. Reclaimed wood is used throughout the houseboat, and a fantastic rooftop "lawn" will serve as a welcome green lounging space for residents. Additionally, a deck at the front of the boat provides another valuable outdoor space on the houseboat.

Take a full tour and find out about why this houseboat is an affordable housing option.

5 Apps to Get Gardening This Weekend

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:30:41 PDT

When April showers aren't prepping May flowers, we can be found in the backyard flexing our green thumbs. Since we're no professionals in the world of gardening, digital resources are a must in learning which plants will thrive in a specific climate and how to produce vegetables worthy of a farmers market. Download one of these five apps this weekend to get your Spring gardening in gear.

Landscaper's Companion ($6) - Need to know how to grow just about anything under the sun? With facts on over 22,000 plants, this app is your gardening go-to. You won't want to hit the garden store without downloading this.
Home Outside Palette ($2) - Draft a dream backyard to rival those on the pages of the most beautiful gardening magazine. Plot sections of produce, deck space, hammocks, or quiet meditation gardens to turn a drab backyard into a relaxation center.

See how your garden can grow with three more green apps after the break.

Look of the Day: Metallic Topper

FabSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:00:15 PDT

Fab reader Brunetteblogging amped up a cute striped skirt by pairing it with a slick metallic sweater. The cool contrast of a gilded hue against a wide nautical-inspired pattern offered up a sophisticated take on preppy springtime style. Dressing to a chillier climate, she added navy blue tights, two-tone laceups, and a brown textured tote, which provided a more classic accent to the gold topper statement.

Congrats Brunetteblogging!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

Prints, Pastels, and More - Get Wrapped Up in 20 of Spring's Prettiest Scarves

Marisa Tom — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:30:06 PDT

One-part fashion functional, one-part stylish décolletage accent, we've fallen hard for Spring's prettiest scarves. Aside from the fact that these neck-friendly wraps provide instant pops of color and dynamic to an outfit, they're just plain beautiful accessories to look at (and wear). And we have iconic brands like Hermès - see its gorgeous Spring '12 ad campaign for further proof - and Burberry to thank for our eternal love of scarves. Now, inspired by the season's temperamental climate and our affinity to everything floral, printed, and pastel, we've rounded up 20 ridiculously dainty, diaphanous scarves for your perusal. From Erdem's wildly bright flower power rendition to Zara's romantic dip-dyed iteration, there's a scarf for every style personality inside. Keep clicking and shop the version you love best.

Photo courtesy of Elle France