What's in a name? Choose your child's name thoughtfully.

What's in a name? Turns out quite a bit. Social science research has shown that names have influence on later life success. Parents need to choose their children's names carefully with a view on how the name will affect the child's life prospects.

This video describes popular names chosen in Western New York city of Buffalo, NY in 2014. They all sound like Caucasian middle class names to me. Names are associated with race and ethnicity and so their implications are significant for first perceptions and initial impressions.

Do you like your name? Has it caused problems for you. Many people change their names for a variety of reasons. Would you change yours? While you can't tell a book by its cover many people wouldn't even pick up a book with certain covers, and many people find it hard to get past their initial prejudices stimulated by a name.

Sex in long term marriage

From Science Daily 02/16/15:

While people in the early years of marriage have sex more frequently, and their sexual activity tapers off over time, a slight rebound occurs for those whose marriages endure longer than half a century, according to new research.

For more click here.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Are You a Cat Person or Dog Person? University of California Television (UCTV) (Visit: http://www.uctv.tv/) A web-based survey of more than 1,000 pet owners nationwide analyzed the key personality traits and nurturing styles of people who identified as a “cat person,” a “dog person,” “both” or “neither.” Surprisingly perhaps, those who expressed the greatest affection for their pets also rated among the most conscientious and neurotic, suggesting that the qualities that make for overbearing parents might work better for our domesticated canine and feline companions, who tend to require lifelong parenting. The research was conducted by UC Berkeley and California State University, East Bay. Mikel Delgado, a doctoral student in psychology at UC Berkeley co-authored the study. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Show ID: 29308]

Managing vicarious trauma

From Sojourners, July 2017

Tips for Digital Self-Care

WITH NEARLY 7 in 10 Americans using some form of social media, journalists aren’t the only ones wrestling with the images and videos that flood their newsfeeds without warning. Here’s what to do next time you find yourself confronted with traumatic content online.

Hit “pause.” Don’t view traumatic material without a procedure in mind. Take a moment to stare out a window or at an indoor plant. This disrupts the tendency to cruise-ahead on autopilot.

Ask: Do I need to see this? If you know this material is old or is of no real relevance to your objectives, it is best not to engage.

Ask: Do I need to see this now? It is best not to view violent material when you are tired. If you decide to continue viewing ...

Make the viewing window on your computer smaller. This disrupts the narrative flow of the material and builds in distance.

Steel yourself. Put on imaginary protective clothing of some kind, such as a raincoat, or visualize that bulletproof glass exists between oneself and the screen—techniques used by forensic investigators.

Lower the sound, or turn it off altogether. Sound is often the most affecting part of a video. You can always turn it back on later if you need to.

Scrub through. Drag your cursor through the timeline to locate aversive sections. If you don’t need to look at those parts in detail, don’t.

Adapted from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Catherine Woodiwiss

Study suggests drinking tea, black or green made from tea leaves, can reduce the risk for Alzheirmer's in people over 55.

Drinking tea is linked to a dramatic reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment in older people, new research suggests.

A single daily cup of tea reduces cognitive decline in those over 55 by 50%, the Chinese study found.

For more click here.

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Check your schadenfreude

Schadenfeude is taking pleasure in other people's misfortune.