ROUND-UP: ELIMINATION OF STEROIDS IN SPORTS (continued)
**. LOUIS WEISSMAN, president of LEARNING BREAKTHROUGH, a program designed to help those with reading, handwriting and academic difficulties, can discuss the alternatives athletes have besides steroids to improve their performance: "When you better organize brain processing by strengthening foundational structures, a variety of physical and mental functions improves. If the user performs various movements that stimulate visual processing, motor skills, sense of touch and auditory processing, their overall athletic ability improves. The most obvious benefit to an athlete will be improved balance, dexterity and eye/hand coordination. This will translate into improved sports ability in tennis and golf. Good balance and eye/hand coordination can significantly impact one's ability to hit a moving or stationary ball."
_____ LEADS
**1. ENTERTAINMENT: "CAROL OF THE BELLS" HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS. ANTHONY POTOCZNIAK, graduate student of anthropology at RICE UNIVERSITY, is studying the genealogy of the holiday tune "Carol of the Bells" : "Although 'Carol of the Bells' has become a popular tune during the holidays, the original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas. The song, with a haunting four-note melody, was originally a Ukrainian folk song written as a 'winter well-wishing song.'"
**2. BEHAVIOR: LET'S GET RID OF NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. ROBERT R BUTTERWORTH, psychologist at INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA ASSOCIATES: "New Year's resolutions unnecessarily raise our expectations, put many under extreme pressure and turn the new year sour when they go bust. Most people make the same New Year's resolutions with no discernable results. New Year's resolutions are a traditional event, yet 80 percent of those who make New Year resolutions have failed by the Jan. 20. People have a need to 'wipe the slate clean' at the end of the year. This is linked to ancient year-end rituals in which the past was forgotten and one was allowed to begin one's life's history again -- mistakes and bad habits erased! Unfortunately, it does not work."
**3. BEHAVIOR: USE YOUR INTUITION FOR A BETTER LIFE. LAUREN THIBODEAU, Ph.D., NCC, MBA, author of "Natural-Born Intuition": "In personal relationships and self-development, intuition can help you uncover and refine your true self. Issues of right relationship and right livelihood can be considered by using intuition as a guiding force in decision-making. Using intuition to assess potential relationships at the outset, whether friendships or romantic interactions, is one of the most practical and powerful applications of this natural gift. In health and wellness, intuition can help you gain insight into the causes of physical disease and awareness of emotional, mental and spiritual contributors of disease."
**4. LIVING: IS TEA THE NEW COFFEE? DAVID MASSEY, president of the SERENGETI TEA COMPANY: "America has suddenly revived its relationship with tea. This renewed passion reflects Americans' growing appetite for healthier foods. Tea markets are expanding, and tea sales have more than doubled in the last 15 years. It has gotten the same cultural makeover that coffee did a decade ago, and soon there will be as many different teas as tea drinkers. A round-up of the latest trends include tea concoctions like Bubble Tea, tearooms like Tea Drops, which does for tea what Starbucks did for coffee and tea bag alternatives like Ticolino, which are disposable, perforated wands filled with premium teas to eliminate the mess of loose leaves or tea bags."
**5. LIVING: HOLIDAY COMMERCIALISM AND SAVING MONEY. LEIGH ANN HUBBARD, managing editor of Family Doctor: The Magazine That Makes Housecalls, whose winter issue features products for which some of the proceeds go to medical charities: "One way to combat holiday commercialism and stretch your dollar is to give twice the gift." For television, Hubbard can help put together a fun show-and-tell with product samples. She has a background in acting and is at home in front of a camera. For print, she can provide product ideas and Web sites. For business stories, she can discuss how business can get free PR by donating some of their proceeds to charity.
**6. LIVING: PROFESSIONAL HELP IS KEY WHEN CLEANING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. JON LINDY, chief operating officer of APPEARANCE PLUS CLEANERS: "During the busy holiday season, shopping and cleaning is on everyone's 'to do' list. In an effort to get everything accomplished and looking great, many people turn to professionals for assistance. Everyone is busy from Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve, and passing your mother-in-law's white glove test is essential. This is the time of year when everything needs freshened up. Carpets, coats, party garments and shoes all need to look their best, and it's easier to make everything sparkle by working with professionals who know what they're doing and can lift the burden of time off your shoulders."
**7. LIVING: NEW FLOORING WITH NO WORRIES TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR. DEAN WRIGHT, store manager for MCSWAIN CARPETS AND FLOORING: "With the holiday party season in full swing, many homeowners don't realize that one of the biggest areas for making a good impression is right under their feet. Flooring is one of the most used "- and abused -" areas, and most homeowners don't realize the toll that traffic, children, pets and stains can take. There are many brand new styles, lines and colors to explore for 2005 that will match any budget and lifestyle. And homeowners won't have to worry about their new flooring with warranties that provide for enhanced stain and soil resistance, texture retention and wear."
**8. SHOPPING: CONSUMERS DESERVE GIFT CARDS THEY CAN USE. JASON WOLFE, CEO of GIFTCARDS.COM, says consumers deserve gift cards that they can use anywhere: "For last-minute shoppers, gift cards bought online are the ultimate in convenience, but unfortunately, 12 percent of recipients never use their gift cards. By giving widely accepted gift cards, like the Visa Gift Card, recipients can get almost anything they want. Yes, some cards carry restrictions, and consumers should read the fine print to avoid controversy and get the full value of their gift."
**9. SHOPPING: DON'T LET GUILT GET YOU IN OVER YOUR HEAD. KAY SHIRLEY, Ph.D., CFP, president of the FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP./MUTUAL SERVICE CORPORATION: "Too often, people fall into the trap of overcompensating during the holidays. Common mistakes include buying multiple gifts per person, putting too many people on your gift list and trying to keep up with wealthier relatives and friends. Handmade gifts are fine -- you don't need to buy something from the store to go with them."
**10. SPORTS: WHY SUPER BOWL FEVER SWEEPS THE NATION. DR. BRENNA CHIRBY, assistant professor of clinical psychology at ARGOSY UNIVERSITY/WASHINGTON D.C., can comment on psychological motivations behind Super Bowl fever: "People like to identify themselves with things, people and teams that bring about positive feelings. The Super Bowl provides an opportunity for bonding and a chance to bask in the glory of the accomplishments of others, particularly others with whom fans can identify. Super Bowl parties and festivities can also provide a sense of community and belonging in a fast- paced society where these ideas are often lacking."
**11. TRAVEL: AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. KENT KRAUSE, attorney at the Dallas office of SPEISER KRAUSE: "The key to enduring unexpected delays in holiday air travel is to be assertive. Airlines usually cater to passengers who specifically request information or assistance, so ask for the Conditions of Carriage, which is basically a contract between the airline and the passenger. It spells out what the airline will do for a passenger stymied by a cancelled or delayed flight, including monetary compensation and re-booking options. However, while the conditions of carriage may be negotiable, security requirements are not. With holiday crowds and increased scrutiny of checked luggage, plan for the extra time it will take to clear security."
**12. TRAVEL: THE ABCS OF AIRLINE BUMPING. JEFFREY MILLER, travel industry attorney with THE MILLER TRAVEL GROUP, is available to discuss tips on how to "- and not to -" get bumped off your flight during this busy air travel season: "The number of passengers traveling by air this holiday season will be the largest since Sept. 11. This high-traffic volume, coupled with the reduction in available seats on planes, will likely lead to bumping on numerous flights. For some travelers, getting bumped is like getting an extra holiday bonus while for others, it's a lump of coal." Miller can also provide insight into the D.O.T. regulations, which control the rights of passengers in regard to bumping.
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