MOSCOW - Boris Yeltsin developed a penchant over 15 years in high office of jolting world leaders by committing gaffes, cracking off-colour jokes or blurting out flippant comments.
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Monday, April 30, 2007
Drinking Provokes Fighting on Beaches
DRINKERS at pubs and clubs in Manly are the most likely to become involved in street or violent crime, NSW police figures show, and local councils have called for more power to control the problem.
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Seattle Shelter Allows Alcoholics to Drink
Seattle shelter for street alcoholics let's them keep drinking
Most shelters for street alcoholics requires them to give up the bottle to get a place to sleep.
But a 75-unit apartment building run by the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle is trying a different approach. It lets residents drink in their rooms. The goal is to give residents some stability and break a cycle of repeated trips to jail and emergency rooms at taxpayer expense.
The "National Alliance to End Homelessness" says associated groups and government agencies across the country are watching the Seattle experiment.
A study of the effectiveness of the housing is expected by later summer or fall. Some neighbors oppose the spending. It costs about $15,000 a year in King County, state and federal money for each resident.
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Most shelters for street alcoholics requires them to give up the bottle to get a place to sleep.
But a 75-unit apartment building run by the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle is trying a different approach. It lets residents drink in their rooms. The goal is to give residents some stability and break a cycle of repeated trips to jail and emergency rooms at taxpayer expense.
The "National Alliance to End Homelessness" says associated groups and government agencies across the country are watching the Seattle experiment.
A study of the effectiveness of the housing is expected by later summer or fall. Some neighbors oppose the spending. It costs about $15,000 a year in King County, state and federal money for each resident.
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Drinking Alcohol Linked to Breast Cancer
Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, even when consumed in moderation. Now, new animal studies confirm alcohol consumption stimulates tumor growth and malignancy of breast cancer.
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Indian Groom Too Drunk to Wed, so Brother Steps In
Villagers at a wedding in eastern India decided the groom had arrived too drunk to get married, and so the bride married the groom's more sober brother instead, police said on Monday.
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Thief Betrays Himself to Get Free Beer
A German phone thief led police right to his front door when they called the stolen mobile to say he had won some free beer and he willingly gave his address.
"An officer called and said, 'You've won a crate of beer'," said a spokesman for police in the eastern town of Neustrelitz Friday.
"Then he asked where he lived so he could drop the beer off, and the guy told him. I think the man was drunk."
"An officer called and said, 'You've won a crate of beer'," said a spokesman for police in the eastern town of Neustrelitz Friday.
"Then he asked where he lived so he could drop the beer off, and the guy told him. I think the man was drunk."
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Dad Dies After Drinking From Lava Lamp
A father-of-two who had been battling alcohol addiction for 15 years died after drinking lava lamp oil.It remains a mystery why insurance broker Joseph Clarke, 50, drank the corrosive acid - but his wife believes he never intended to kill himself.
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Nude Paris Hilton to Caution Underage Drinking
Washington, April 28: A naked and outstretched Paris Hilton autopsy sculpture will now warn teens about the dangers of underage drinking.
A public service announcement featuring a tiara-wearing and provocatively posed yet dead Paris Hilton has been created by Capla Kesting Fine Art to caution teenagers about the hazards of underage drinking.
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A public service announcement featuring a tiara-wearing and provocatively posed yet dead Paris Hilton has been created by Capla Kesting Fine Art to caution teenagers about the hazards of underage drinking.
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Alcohol Ads Target Young Blacks
Young Blacks see far more than their share of the $383 million worth of advertising placed in major magazines by the nation's alcohol industry.
A report developed with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.
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A report developed with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.
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Women's Early Drinking Problems Unlikely to be Diagnosed
Women at risk for alcohol dependence may be slipping through the cracks.
A new study shows while men are more likely to have problems commonly associated with non-dependent drinking, women are prone to different alcohol-related problems that are less likely to be diagnosed.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota wanted to see whether the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence were as accurate for women as for men. They compared 1,348 men and 1,402 women with similar levels of alcohol problems.
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A new study shows while men are more likely to have problems commonly associated with non-dependent drinking, women are prone to different alcohol-related problems that are less likely to be diagnosed.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota wanted to see whether the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence were as accurate for women as for men. They compared 1,348 men and 1,402 women with similar levels of alcohol problems.
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Friday, April 27, 2007
Urinating Drunk Golfers on TV
Mom teed off by urinating drunk golfers.
A mother teed off by drunken golfers urinating near her house by the 18th hole resorted to videotaping the men after no action was taken on her complaints. Video of some men relieving themselves behind trees at the city-owned course was played on local and national television news.
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A mother teed off by drunken golfers urinating near her house by the 18th hole resorted to videotaping the men after no action was taken on her complaints. Video of some men relieving themselves behind trees at the city-owned course was played on local and national television news.
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Formulating the Perfect Pint
Of beer and bubbles: The formula for a perfect pint.
A mathematical formula can now predict how the frothy head on a beer changes over time, a finding that may have a wide range of commercial uses beyond pulling the perfect pint, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
The formula explains how the tiny bubbles that make up foam grow -- an explanation that could lead to the development of products such as metal shrink wrap.
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A mathematical formula can now predict how the frothy head on a beer changes over time, a finding that may have a wide range of commercial uses beyond pulling the perfect pint, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
The formula explains how the tiny bubbles that make up foam grow -- an explanation that could lead to the development of products such as metal shrink wrap.
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Monday, April 23, 2007
Damage from Alocohol Faster In Women
Alcohol damages women's brains faster than man's.
The brain-damaging effects of alcohol strike women more quickly than men, a new study conducted in Russia confirms.
Female alcoholics performed worse on a number of tests of neurocognitive function compared with males, Dr. Barbara Flannery from RTI International in Baltimore and her colleagues found.
However, Flannery cautioned in an interview with Reuters Health, the findings aren't good news for alcohol-dependent men. "Women are vulnerable to the extent to which they will experience the negative consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism more rapidly than men, but men will also experience it -- the same kinds of effects," she said.
Female alcoholics performed worse on a number of tests of neurocognitive function compared with males, Dr. Barbara Flannery from RTI International in Baltimore and her colleagues found.
However, Flannery cautioned in an interview with Reuters Health, the findings aren't good news for alcohol-dependent men. "Women are vulnerable to the extent to which they will experience the negative consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism more rapidly than men, but men will also experience it -- the same kinds of effects," she said.
Bar Lets Diners Tipple From IV Tubes
A Taipei restaurant-bar is letting visitors order "medicine" from a menu and dripping it into their glasses from a transparent ceiling-suspended vat, becoming the latest oddball themed restaurant in Taiwan's capital.
As many as 10 visitors can sit around each bed at the D.S. Music Restaurant, a hospital-themed eatery, and watch showgirls dance on weekend nights or chat up "nurses" whose rabbit-ears complement their starched white uniforms.
As many as 10 visitors can sit around each bed at the D.S. Music Restaurant, a hospital-themed eatery, and watch showgirls dance on weekend nights or chat up "nurses" whose rabbit-ears complement their starched white uniforms.
Study Finds Fruity Cocktail Count as Health Food
A fruity cocktail may not only be fun to drink but may count as health food, U.S. and Thai researchers said on Thursday.
Adding ethanol -- the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits -- boosted the antioxidant nutrients in strawberries and blackberries, the researchers found.
Adding ethanol -- the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits -- boosted the antioxidant nutrients in strawberries and blackberries, the researchers found.
Gift Born of Addiction
It's one of those images he will never be able to shake. There were all the little signs that led up to the moment -- the missing money, the declining grades, subtle changes in appearance, the constant tardiness, changing moods.
And then Jim and Nancy Bildner reached the end of what he would later describe as "a parent's seemingly endless reserve of hope." With his son in bed, they turned over the boy's knapsack on the rug of their study and braced themselves for what would fall out.
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And then Jim and Nancy Bildner reached the end of what he would later describe as "a parent's seemingly endless reserve of hope." With his son in bed, they turned over the boy's knapsack on the rug of their study and braced themselves for what would fall out.
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Alcohol Detecting Anklet Used in Vegas
Alcohol anklets detect drinking in Vegas court
Robert Fry has a dirty little secret shackled to his ankle.
It sits above his work boot, right where the construction worker sweats, right where his buddy could see it and snicker -- Fry's little Big Brother, an alcohol monitoring machine that detects any drinks he sips by analyzing secretions of his skin.
Identical anklets are strapped to about 60 Clark County residents, men and women whose problems with alcohol have landed them in court.
It sits above his work boot, right where the construction worker sweats, right where his buddy could see it and snicker -- Fry's little Big Brother, an alcohol monitoring machine that detects any drinks he sips by analyzing secretions of his skin.
Identical anklets are strapped to about 60 Clark County residents, men and women whose problems with alcohol have landed them in court.
They're people who have agreed, as part of a pretrial promise not to drink, or for a reduced bail, or in lieu of jail time, to wear the black plastic devices, called SCRAM, short for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Is There a Hangover Cure?
Nausea, neadache, diarrhea, decreased cognitive performance, impaired memory and visual-spatial skills, increased risk of strokes. When its symptoms are spelled out, the alcohol hangover looks like more than just a morning nuisance.
In addition, alcohol consumption costs businesses in the United States between $12 billion and $30 billion dollars per year in lost productivity (some estimates, though criticized for being inflated, run up to $148 billion).
Unfortunately, there is no accepted remedy for the hangover other than tried-and-true temperance. But this fact hasn't stopped the widespread use of folk remedies. Common things said to work (by people who are arguably impaired, anyway) include fresh air, coffee or a morning bloody Mary. However, these curatives are more placebo than panacea.
A 2005 review in the British Medical Journal reported on eight studies that assessed eight different hangover interventions. The review found no compelling evidence in favor of any treatment for preventing or treating a hangover. The researchers also commented on the unfortunate dearth of randomized tests of proposed cures and studies investigating the biological nature of the hangover. But after reading the list of effects above, one imagines having a tough time finding willing test subjects.
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In addition, alcohol consumption costs businesses in the United States between $12 billion and $30 billion dollars per year in lost productivity (some estimates, though criticized for being inflated, run up to $148 billion).
Unfortunately, there is no accepted remedy for the hangover other than tried-and-true temperance. But this fact hasn't stopped the widespread use of folk remedies. Common things said to work (by people who are arguably impaired, anyway) include fresh air, coffee or a morning bloody Mary. However, these curatives are more placebo than panacea.
A 2005 review in the British Medical Journal reported on eight studies that assessed eight different hangover interventions. The review found no compelling evidence in favor of any treatment for preventing or treating a hangover. The researchers also commented on the unfortunate dearth of randomized tests of proposed cures and studies investigating the biological nature of the hangover. But after reading the list of effects above, one imagines having a tough time finding willing test subjects.
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Saturday, April 21, 2007
Human Brain Has Origin in Lowly Worm
The origin of the human brain has been traced back to primitive central nervous systems in worms and bugs, researchers now say.Humans and other vertebrates evolved from an ancient common ancestor that also gave rise to insects and worms, scientists have long known. But they're of course quite different today. Vertebrates have a spinal cord running along their backs, but insects and annelid worms such as earthworms, which have simple organs that barely resemble a brain, have clusters of nerves organized in a chain along their bellies. So biologists have long assumed these systems—key to ultimately putting a brain to use—arose independently, only after the split.
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Alcohol 'Time-Bomb' of Aborigines
A report from one of Australia's most respected research bodies has shown that alcohol abuse claims the life of an Aborigine every 38 hours.
Suicide is the greatest cause of death among intoxicated indigenous men; for women it is liver cirrhosis or strokes.
Australia's National Drug and Research Institute has described the situation as "very bleak".
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Suicide is the greatest cause of death among intoxicated indigenous men; for women it is liver cirrhosis or strokes.
Australia's National Drug and Research Institute has described the situation as "very bleak".
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"Drunkest Cities" Ranked
Ranking of 'Drunkest Cities'Wouldn't Pass a Sobriety Test
Magazines and Web sites love to compile "top cities" lists – the best small towns, best places to retire, most vibrant arts scenes, and so on. Such reports are easy for readers to digest, and can often lead to some free publicity when local news outlets pick up the lists to highlight (or dispute) them.
But while such rankings may make for interesting headlines, they're often arbitrary, and a far cry from scientific research.
Consider a recent report by Forbes.com on "America's Drunkest Cities," part of a broader look at the business of nightlife. The financial magazine's Web site (a competitor to the Online Journal) determined that Milwaukee is the heaviest-drinking metropolitan area out of the 35 it ranked in the U.S. Second-place honors went to Minneapolis-St. Paul, with Columbus, Ohio, third.
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Magazines and Web sites love to compile "top cities" lists – the best small towns, best places to retire, most vibrant arts scenes, and so on. Such reports are easy for readers to digest, and can often lead to some free publicity when local news outlets pick up the lists to highlight (or dispute) them.
But while such rankings may make for interesting headlines, they're often arbitrary, and a far cry from scientific research.
Consider a recent report by Forbes.com on "America's Drunkest Cities," part of a broader look at the business of nightlife. The financial magazine's Web site (a competitor to the Online Journal) determined that Milwaukee is the heaviest-drinking metropolitan area out of the 35 it ranked in the U.S. Second-place honors went to Minneapolis-St. Paul, with Columbus, Ohio, third.
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Bar of Soap Gives Caffeine Kick
Bar of soap gives caffeine kick in the shower
Inventors have created a soap infused with caffeine which helps users wake up in the morning.
The soap, called Shower Shock, supplies the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee per wash, with the stimulant absorbed naturally through the skin, manufacturers say.
"Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning (coffee) to brew?" ask the makers, thinkgeek.com.
Scented with peppermint oil, each bar is designed to provide a stimulant boost within five minutes.
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Inventors have created a soap infused with caffeine which helps users wake up in the morning.
The soap, called Shower Shock, supplies the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee per wash, with the stimulant absorbed naturally through the skin, manufacturers say.
"Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning (coffee) to brew?" ask the makers, thinkgeek.com.
Scented with peppermint oil, each bar is designed to provide a stimulant boost within five minutes.
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Friday, April 20, 2007
Does Hair Test for Alcoholism Work?
ESR Says No Proof That New Test For Alcoholism Works
A scientist says there is no research to support a new technique advertised by an Auckland company which tests hair to reveal a person's history of alcohol use or abuse. The New Zealand Drug Detection Agency is offering the new technology which it says detects permanent chemical markers in a person's hair which are triggered by alcohol consumption. A scientist from Environmental Science and Research says theoretically a test could detect heavy drinking from hair that grew during that period.However, Dr Allan Stowell says the research is preliminary and a test like this certainly can't predict if someone is a binge drinker or alcoholic.
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A scientist says there is no research to support a new technique advertised by an Auckland company which tests hair to reveal a person's history of alcohol use or abuse. The New Zealand Drug Detection Agency is offering the new technology which it says detects permanent chemical markers in a person's hair which are triggered by alcohol consumption. A scientist from Environmental Science and Research says theoretically a test could detect heavy drinking from hair that grew during that period.However, Dr Allan Stowell says the research is preliminary and a test like this certainly can't predict if someone is a binge drinker or alcoholic.
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Drinking Raises Sleep Apnea Risk
The more alcoholic drinks that men have at any time of day -- not just before bedtime -- the greater are the risks of breathing problems during sleep, a new study shows. However, this effect was not seen among women.
Sleep-disordered breathing has been associated with high blood pressure and blood vessel disease, and many studies have found that drinking alcohol before going to sleep increases the likelihood of abnormally shallow breathing or even episodes in which breathing stops, Dr. Paul E. Peppard and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison report.
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Sleep-disordered breathing has been associated with high blood pressure and blood vessel disease, and many studies have found that drinking alcohol before going to sleep increases the likelihood of abnormally shallow breathing or even episodes in which breathing stops, Dr. Paul E. Peppard and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison report.
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
How Drunken Bats Sober Up
Bats often risk getting drunk off cocktails of alcohol that stew inside ripened fruit. And just as driving is dangerous for intoxicated humans, so is flying for boozy bats.
Now scientists find bats are savvy enough to dine on certain types of fruit sugar to help them get over the ill effects of alcohol. These findings could shed light on how wildlife deals with alcohol.
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Now scientists find bats are savvy enough to dine on certain types of fruit sugar to help them get over the ill effects of alcohol. These findings could shed light on how wildlife deals with alcohol.
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How Fruit Flies Find Your Wine
Uncork a bottle of your favorite Cabernet outside in the summer and odds are good a pesky fruit fly will find your glass by the time the glass finds your lips. Turns out, the teensy party crasher navigates using mathematical rules that maximize the chances it will locate your full-bodied drink.
“Wine is extraordinarily attractive to them,” said the new study’s co-author Mark Frye of UCLA. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the animal came from half a kilometer away.”
“Wine is extraordinarily attractive to them,” said the new study’s co-author Mark Frye of UCLA. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the animal came from half a kilometer away.”
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Scots Ban Drinking Games
Scotland has issued new responsible drinking guidelines for pubs and bars, to ensure that alcoholic products are promoted sensibly.
Under the new rules, licensed venues need to consider the timing and duration of promotions, as well as avoid discounts that encourage excessive or rapid drinking.
The introduction of these social responsibility principles is the result of an agreement between the Scottish Executive and 16 trade associations, including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.
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Under the new rules, licensed venues need to consider the timing and duration of promotions, as well as avoid discounts that encourage excessive or rapid drinking.
The introduction of these social responsibility principles is the result of an agreement between the Scottish Executive and 16 trade associations, including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.
More...
Prostitutes & Public Drinking for 2010 World Cup
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was “A Time to Make Friends” and as the tournament showed there is no better way to make friends than to host it in a country where prostitution and public drinking are legal. Jackie Selebi, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner, thinks that legalizing prostitutes and public drinking might be just the ticket to make the 2010 World Cup a success too.
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Homelessness Narrowed to a Few Root Causes
Homelessness can be narrowed down to a few root causes.
Drugs and alcohol. Mental illness. Job loss. Abuse. Rising rent.
The reasons behind homelessness in Nanaimo seem as many and varied as there are faces of the homeless.
But what appear to be myriad causes can actually be narrowed to a few root issues.
The majority of the homeless have an addiction. For many, those addictions are the result of mental illness. And more often than not, those two issues lead to financial difficulties.
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Drugs and alcohol. Mental illness. Job loss. Abuse. Rising rent.
The reasons behind homelessness in Nanaimo seem as many and varied as there are faces of the homeless.
But what appear to be myriad causes can actually be narrowed to a few root issues.
The majority of the homeless have an addiction. For many, those addictions are the result of mental illness. And more often than not, those two issues lead to financial difficulties.
More...
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