I didn't know that this health search engine existed until I opened my email from Media Post.

Meredith Gets Well with Healia, Latest Digital Asset

by Tameka Kee, Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007 6:00 AM ET

MEREDITH CORP.'S NEWEST FORAY INTO the digital space comes with the acquisition of Healia, a consumer health search engine. Although the financial details of the deal were undisclosed, analysts said the company stands to gain significantly from the contextual targeting and marketing opportunities that come with owning a health care search portal. Healia's value in the space is that its proprietary technology allows users to create a highly relevant set of results by personalizing their health search based on factors such as gender, age, and ethnic group, as well as by focusing on categories such as prevention or drug side effects. As with Microsoft's acquisition of search software developer Medstory in February, the move was seen as a way to capitalize on the reported 8 million Americans who search online for health info daily. While Healia will continue to exist as a stand-alone Web site, look for Meredith to incorporate elements of the search technology onto the health sections of existing sites like BetterHomesandGardens.com. In addition, Healia will roll out features like the ability for customers to search PubMed--a government database of abstracts published from medical journals dating back to the 1950s. "We're looking at how to expand the notion of search for health info, and building the tools that allow people to find health info in a new way," said Dr. Tom Eng, CEO and founder, Healia. "Working with Meredith's scale, consumer reach and marketing expertise gives us a straight shot to the kind of growth we need to achieve our goals." This is Meredith's fourth acquisition in the last year, following its purchase of online marketing firms O'Grady Meyers, Genex and New Media Strategies. Tameka Kee can be reached at tameka@mediapost.com I found this article last week and thought it would be useful for those wanting a health specific search engine.They have the option to place it on your website so I think I am going to put it on my main site and my message board.

Sherry Backman working hard for Loose Lips

I decided to do some shameful product promotion for a fellow Mom Packer her name is Sherry Backman. I say shameful because her products are shamefully exotic and wonderful.

First I have to share with you what happened with the first samples she sent me. I was upset at first but then I hoped and prayed I could get more. My son the wonderful child he is, yeah right, >insert wink here< Now let me tell you about her products. The chamomile mask was cool, refreshing and easy to apply and wash off. It was light as well. Great for a quick refreshing facial.

She sent me two different colors of shimmer; tan and buff, I used both together and they looked amazing. One thing I can't stress enough ladies get rid of those nasty sponge tip applicators. Get you a good quality shadow brush why not email Sherry and tell her you want one. Her email address is sherry@looselipsny.com. A brush tipped applicator certainly applies shadow more evenly with a lot less effort and gets into the creases and fold of your lid better.

Sherry and Loose Lips New York are a first class act. You can't go wrong with Sherry for quick,effortless, reliable service.

She has a returning customer with me and I hope that you email her and let her show you what she can do for you.

June 7th's Blog Carnival Edition

The Danger of Scale Obsession posted at The Fit Shack

Drink water for better weight loss posted at Med Journal Watch

I Can?t Sleep! - 4 Common Causes of Insomnia posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog

How to Literally Turn Back Time - The REAL Fountain of Youth posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog

So Sioux Me: Self-Loathing Sin Bank posted at So Sioux Me

30 Days of the Slow Carb Diet: Results and Conclusions posted at Pick the Brain

Consumer Reports Diet Ratings posted at Weight Master

Chicken recall

New York Firm Recalls Chicken Products For Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL FSIS-RC-026-2007 HEALTH RISK: HIGH Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Amanda Eamich WASHINGTON, June 5, 2007 - The Really Cool Food Company, a Syosset, N.Y., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 140 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels, PDF Only] Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills. Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods. Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot. Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening. Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them. Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad. Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk. Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator. 12-ounce trays of "STOP & SHOP All Natural Grilled Balsamic Flavored Chicken Breast, ALL-NATURAL CHEF PREPARED READY-TO-HEAT MEALS." Each label bears the establishment number "P-33912" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a "Sell-by" date of "6/12/07." The chicken products were produced on May 24, 2007 and were distributed to retail establishments in New Jersey and New York. The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company representative Cortney McCraw with Freud Communications at (212) 582-0375. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

The latest on the FTC,junk food Ad's and childhood obesity.

Less Bloat: FTC Says Kids See Fewer TV Food Ads Than 30 Years Ago

by Wayne Friedman, Monday, Jun 4, 2007 7:45 AM ET

CONTRADICTING EARLIER STUDIES, A NEW government report suggests that we may not be able to blame TV for kids' obesity. That's because there are fewer TV food ads now than 30 years ago. According to the Federal Trade Commission, children ages 2-11 were exposed to fewer paid TV food advertising minutes, at about 9% fewer ads--5,538 commercials in 2004 versus 6,100 food ads in 1977. "Our data does not support the view that children are exposed to more TV food ads today," the FTC said in its report, which was released Friday. Of the food TV spots airing currently, almost 95% are pitching fast foods and restaurants, high-sugared cereal, desserts, sweets, snacks and sweetened drinks. But the FTC says this data doesn't say much--especially as it relates to the growing obesity issue. "While the foods advertised on children's programming in 2004 do not constitute a balanced diet, this was the case as well in 1977, before the rise in obesity," the FTC notes in its report. The FTC also said children viewed 7% fewer non-food paid commercials in 2004 than in 1977--12,786 versus 13,629. As for kid-targeted promos and public service announcements, the FTC says that number more than doubled to 7,305 from 2,190. The report didn't break down which of these messages were food- and non-food-related. Concerning messaging overall, the FTC said that in 2004 there were 25,600 messages--of all types--directed at kids, versus 21,900 in 1977. The FTC 2004 study is at odds with others that put recent food ad figures at a much higher level. The Kaiser Family Foundation, for example, concluded in its 2005 study, which was released in March, that kids are seeing more junk food ads today than ever before--some 12,000 advertisements for kids 2-12, or more than double the FTC's figure. The FTC reports adds that, not surprisingly, a large majority of kids' TV viewing of commercials comes from cable networks such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Sixty-one percent percent of children's total ad exposure and 72% of their food ad exposure was from cable programming. Other kids' TV viewing data said commercials viewed by kids average 25 seconds in length; that kids view two-and-a-quarter hours of ad-supported television a day, or 16 hours per week; and that over 50% of the ads were seen between 4 p.m. and midnight. Less than 5% of the ads were watched on Saturday morning between 8 a.m. and noon.