A Dirty House is a good thing?

Has your house ever been too clean?  It has most likely been too dirty, though.  So, where is the fine line between livable dirty and unlivable dirty? 

Maybe your version of livable dirty means if you have to dust you will simply die.  Dust comes from everywhere.  Also, it is difficult to eliminate completely. Thick layers of dust could be a sign that it is time to change a dirty furnace or air conditioner filter.  Vacuum cleaners give off excess dust, too. There are GREEN alternatives to a dusty, loud vacuum cleaner.  Sanding in your living room produces dust, too. Dust can also be introduced into your home through air leaks in ducts, or air infiltration through leaky doors and windows.  A deep cough might not be distracting to everybody.

Well, recently in a study entitled, House dust exposure mediates gut microbiome Lactobacillus enrichment and airway immune defense against allergens and virus infection, Researchers Homer A. Bousheyd and Edward Zorattie, Gastroenterology Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, explained thoroughly that having a house that is a little bit dirty will help some allergies, especially during early development.

 Lactobacillus johnsonii is a species in the genus Lactobacillus with the type strain ATCC 33200.  This strain protects against allergies.

“Early-life exposure to dogs is protective against allergic disease development, and dog ownership is associated with a distinct milieu of house dust microbial exposures. Here, we show that mice exposed to dog-associated house dust are protected against airway allergen challenge. These animals exhibit reduced Th2 cytokine production, fewer activated T cells, and a distinct gut microbiome composition, highly enriched for Lactobacillus johnsonii, which itself can confer airway protection when orally supplemented as a single species. This study supports the possibility that host–environment interactions that govern allergic or infectious airway disease may be mediated, at least in part, by the impact of environmental exposures on the gastrointestinal microbiome composition and, by extension, its impact on the host immune response (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344318).”

Reduced Th2 cytokine production, or suppression, alleviates allergic inflammation.

“Exposure of animals to dust from homes with dogs attenuates the development of allergen-induced airways disease and serum IgE. (A) Whole-lung mRNA analysis by Q-PCR demonstrates a significant decrease in IL-4 and IL-13 in D dust-supplemented, but not in NP-supplemented animals compared with controls. (B) Accompanying the Th2 cytokine reduction was significantly reduced expression of the mucus-associated gene, gob5. (C) Reduced airway mucus secretion and goblet cell metaplasia is observed in the D dust-supplemented animals, as depicted by PAS staining in lung histology. (D) A reduction in draining lymph node numbers in D dust-supplemented animals was also observed. (E) Serum IgE levels reflected the reduction in the development of the Th2 environment in the D dust-supplemented animals. Data represent the mean ± SE from five mice per group; *P < 0.05 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344318).”

 

“Exposure to house dust alters cecal microbiome composition. UniFrac-based cluster analysis of cecal microbiota of control, D dust- and NP dust-supplemented animals reveals distinct microbiota compositions in each treatment group. (B) Phylogenetic tree displaying all taxa that exhibited significant (P < 0.05; q < 0.15) relative enrichment (red bars) or depletion (green bars) in airway-protected mice supplemented with D-associated house dust compared with unprotected control animals. Phyla are indicted by color: Acidobacteria (light blue), Actinobacteria (teal), Bacteriodetes (purple), Firmicutes (green), Proteobacteria (red), and other (orange). Family designation of highly enriched or depleted taxa are indicated (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344318).”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Compared with unsupplemented control animals, communities supplemented with L. johnsonii or L. johnsonii followed by CRA exposure exhibit the greatest phylogenetic distance (*P < 0.0005, **P < 0.0001, respectively)( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344318).”

 

“The change in the immune environment observed in these studies may be due directly to the specific supplemented bacterial species, the ancillary species that are enriched because of the presence of the supplemented species, or the depletion of organisms outcompeted in this remodeled assemblage, that differentially program host immune responses. Although the fundamental mechanisms that govern this phenomenon remain unclear, the studies reported here provide proof-of-principle that differential environmental exposures result in GI microbiome remodeling that impacts host immune responses associated with both allergic airway response and respiratory viral infection. Moreover, this study identifies a single GI bacterial species, L. johnsonii, that is pivotal to airway protection, and identifies functional gene pathways in protective microbiota that may be responsible for airway protection. These studies suggest that GI microbiome manipulation represents a promising and efficacious therapeutic strategy to protect individuals against both pulmonary infection and allergic airway disease (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344318).”

Livable dirty isn’t a synonym for nasty, but one piece of dust can contain pet dander, pieces of dead cockroaches, mold spores, dead skin and dust mites.  Both cockroaches and pet dander are common allergy triggers, too. Cockroach waste, saliva, and body parts are a problem in some homes, particularly in the southern U.S.

Keep the stuffed animals, soft toys, and other dust collectors because a little dirty can make you tough.  Let the dog use his natural dusting abilities, and vacuum mouth.  Dust containing the Lactobacillus johnsonii strain serves to protect against allergies.

Technology

     The year is almost 2015.  We aren’t as far into the future as we thought we would be.

     We are all relying on technology to constantly take us to the next level.

     Technology is defined as: the method of applying technical knowledge.

     Our technical knowledge has gone from the invention of the first tape recorder to cellular phones with instant communication capabilities.  

     So, how far into the future could we possibly be from the year 1950?

 

     64 years.

 

     Touchscreens are really functional and cool.  They aren’t as sensitive as scientists contemplated they would be, either.  Initially, inventors said people have dirty habits and the problem of the screen not reacting upon being touched with a dirty hand would simply render the technology to be stupid.  Interestingly enough, touch screens were invented around the year 1950.

     “Touchscreens can be traced to the 1960s. Afterwards, the invention of the light pen allowed for users to input data onto a computer using a stylus. This made it easier to create images on a computer, and as computers became more popular, light pens were increasingly used for graphics design. The first multi-touch interface which could respond to human input was the Flexible Machine Interface, created by the University of Toronto in 1982(http://www.ehow.com/about_6527065_information-touch-screen-technology.html#ixzz2tOkKQjRW).”

     “…smartphones and tablets are creating huge demand. Gyroscope sensors embedded in smartphones allow you to rotate your phone and have your screen turn with it; they pinpoint location, they compensate for tilts when you walk; they even power light and detect pressure movements from your fingers (http://money.msn.com/investment-advice/the-top-tech-investment-of-2014-1).”

     Sensors are a major advancement in technology because they are really simple.  The simplest form of a capacitor consists of two conductors.  Two metal plates are separated by an insulator. If there is a large area on the plate, there is a large capacitance. If there is a small distance on the plate, there is a high capacitance. The insulating material determines the dielectric constant.

     Sony utilized the high level sensor technology in the mobile phone developed by the giant tech company in 2012.  The tech was called Sensor-on-lens touch.  The meant that the number of physical layers in the touch panel were reduced.  The sensor layer is actually part of the lens itself. This gave better image quality.  There was no interference from the touch sensor component.  There was one less layer of glass and one less layer of glue, compared to conventional touch panels. Typically, one would get less haze and about 5% better display luminance without those extra layers.  The sensor-on-lens touch technology made the phone lighter and thinner because an extra glass layer was removed. The image plane was closer to you as a user, making it feel like you were actually touching the image itself. With this direct touch experience, there was less parallax issues compared to a conventional touch panel.  The image and the point of touch were closer together in the sensor-on-lens touch screen technology.

     From the touch screen, technology is advancing our world to another level by other means.

     For example, Metzu is interested in producing not only the smart phone, but also wearable electronics. The Meizu M Watch concept is more of a bracelet than a timepiece, and it comes with a fully flexible 2.4 inch 480 x 640 pixel display, a metal bracelet and a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus.

     Another tech idea is the watch that reports the time and gives odors, simultaneously.  During operation, you’ll experience the smells of paper during documentation. In the evening it will smell of whiskey and tobacco.  At night you will soothe by the smell of chamomile with the addition of melatonin.

     Engineers and designers often draw inspiration from nature.   This vehicle is an example.  It is a sub, the Honda USS-299.  It is not a drug runner.  The source of inspiration to the designer was the stingray. Not everyone feel like that fish is attractive.  As a model for the submarine, though,  it fits very well.  Nature knows exactly what should be the form of a machine designed to travel at great depths.  The inventors are out to impress Honda not the consumer.  Not yet, at least.

Honda USS 299, civilian submarine

     Other future tech ranges from biotic games, to new drones, and glass marketing.  The really exotic ideas are underneath reinforced barriers unseen by any abnormally curious eyeballs.
    
     It is almost 2015.  We aren’t as far into the future as we thought we would be.

     Perhaps relying on technology, to take us to the next level, is “new” technology.

     How much would you pay for a car that drives on its own?  

 

     That would be 2015-ish.

     

  

  

  

Marijuana the Alcohol Alternative

     Smoking weed is... 
    

     Smoking weed is a task that is frowned upon by our society.  It is illegal.  Unfortunately, lots of people still partake of the greenery. 
 

     Weed, or marijuana, is derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa.  Out of all of the drugs utilized in America, Weed is the most frequently used.

 

     4% of American adults smoke pot, marijuana, at least once a year. "1% of adults abuse pot, and one in 300 have a pot addiction".

 

     People smoke the plant's dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. Marijuana also can be mixed into food or brewed as a tea. Marijuana goes by many street names, including pot, weed, and herb. Hash, a concentrated form of the drug, is short for hashish.The rates of marijuana smoking in adults have remained stable since the 1990s. However, the rates of addiction to pot have risen significantly over that same period. According to recent government stuudies, as many as 30% of today's teenagers are smoking marijuana.  Occasional marijuana use is rarely seriously harmful, but smoking pot has important medical effects.

Physiological Effects of Marijuana

    
     The active ingredient in marijuana is THC. That means delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.THC is rapidly absorbed after smoking pot. Within minutes, THC and the other substances in marijuana smoke cause short-term medical effects. 

Signs of using marijuana include:

Rapid heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Increased rate of breathing
Red eyes
Dry mouth
Increased appetite, or "the munchies"
Slowed reaction time

 

THC molecule

     These effects are reduced after three or four hours. However, marijuana hangs around in your system for as long as a month after smoking. The lingering effects mean you're impaired for several days to weeks after the high wears off.

 

Psychological Effects of Marijuana
 

     According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Getting high or "stoned" is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.


Other short-term psychological effects of pot include:

Distorted sense of time
Paranoia
Magical or "random" thinking
Short-term memory loss
Anxiety and depression

 

     These psychological signs of using pot also generally ease after a few hours. Residual effects can last for days.

 

Risks of Marijuana Use:
 

     The risks of smoking marijuana increase with heavy use. The link has never been proven, many experts believe heavy pot smokers are at increased risk for lung cancer.

Risks of Marijuana Use

Heavy marijuana use lowers men's testosterone levels, sperm count and quality. Pot could decrease libido and fertility in some heavy-smoking men.

 

    Contrary to what many pot smokers may tell you, marijuana is addictive, at least psychologically. Even among occasional users, 1 in 12 can feel withdrawal symptoms if they can't get high when they want to. Among heavy pot smokers, the rates of dependence are higher.Many experts also believe that marijuana is physically addictive.

 

Symptoms of withdrawal from pot might include:

Aggression
Anxiety
Depressed mood
Decreased appetite

 

     Pot is a "gateway" drug? In other words, does smoking marijuana make someone more likely to try cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and other "hard" drugs? The jury is still out on this one. It's true that pot smokers are more likely to use other drugs after trying marijuana. What's not clear is whether smoking pot causes further drug use or if people who start smoking pot are just more likely to try drugs in general.If you're wondering how long marijuana stays in your system after smoking, it depends on how often you smoke.

 

     Light users -- those who smoke pot once in a while -- will have a negative drug screen after a marijuana-free week.

 

     Heavy users -- sometimes called "stoners" -- may continue testing positive for a month after last smoking pot(http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/marijuana-use-and-its-effects)."

 

Effects on Life
 

     Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. In fact, heavy marijuana users generally report lower life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, relationship problems, and less academic and career success compared to their peers who came from similar backgrounds.
    

     For example, marijuana use is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out from school. Several studies also associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover(http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana)."

Weed is legal, and it's being compared to alcohol.  Alcohol is our old legal option to sobriety.  Well, how does alcohol compare to weed?

 

Alcohol
 

     Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. 

 

Here’s how alcohol can affect your body:

Brain:

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.

  

Heart

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:
Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle

Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat

Stroke

High blood pressure.

Research also shows that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may protect healthy adults from developing coronary heart disease.

Liver: 
Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including:

Steatosis, or fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis
Pancreas:
Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion.

 

Cancer:  Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:
Mouth
Esophagus
Throat
Liver
Breast

Immune System:
     Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease.  Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much.  Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.(http://niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body)

     Smoking weed is a task that is frowned upon by our society. Ask somebody, that you don't know that well, to smoke a joint with you.  You don't want to hear all of the answers. It is illegal.  Unfortunately, lots of people still partake of the greenery.  Make your choice.

     How far are we away from being able to buy "pre-rolled" Swisher Sweet Blunts from the corner store?

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS)

     In 2007, Roi Cohen Kadosh, at the University of Oxford and his colleagues, was researching the brain in ebb attempt to uncover cognitive learning.  They found that  the area of the brain responsible for mathematics is the right parietal lobe.  It is located just above the right ear.

     There are two separate parietal lobes. One involves sensation and perception.   The other lobe is responsible for integrating sensory input, primarily with the visual system. The first function integrates sensory information to form a single perception which is simply called cognition. The second function constructs a spatial coordinate system to represent the world around us.

 

 

     "Individuals with damage to the parietal lobes often show striking deficits, such as abnormalities in body image and spatial relations (Kandel, Schwartz & Jessel, 1991)."

     Also in 2007, Roi Cohen Kadosh, at the University of Oxford, and his team "short-circuited" this area using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).   TMS is  a stream of magnetic pulses which temporarily disables a targeted area of the brain. The result is that some of the subjects' ability to perform numerical tasks fell.

     "In fact, their performance resembled people with dyscalculia, who have difficulty comprehending mathematics" (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729085.400-zapping-brain-to-improve-learning-comes-at-a-cost.html).

   Noninvasive transcranial stimulation techniques like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been used to induce neuroplastic-like effects in the human cortex, leading to the activity-dependent modification of synaptic transmission. They introduced a novel method of electrical stimulation: transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), whereby a random electrical oscillation spectrum is applied over the motor cortex. tRNS induces consistent excitability increases lasting 60 min after stimulation. These effects have been observed in 80 subjects through both physiological measures and behavioral tasks. Higher frequencies (100–640 Hz), sounds at the range of a vibrating tuning fork, appear to be responsible for generating this excitability increase.  This effect may be attributed to the repeated opening of Na+ channels. In terms of efficacy tRNS appears to possess at least the same therapeutic potential as rTMS/tDCS in diseases such as depression, while furthermore avoiding the constraint of current flow direction sensitivity characteristic of tDCS(http://m.jneurosci.org/content/28/52/14147.short).

 

     Sodium, Na+, channels channels are made up of a single polypeptide with four homologous domains. Each domain contains 6 membrane spanning alpha helices. One of these helices, S4, is the voltage sensing helix.  It has many positive charges. A high positive charge outside the cell repels the helix.  This keeps the channel closed. Depolarization of the cell interior causes the helix to move, inducing a conformational change.  The ions will then flow through the channel while it is open (http://pharmaxchange.info/press/2011/02/voltage-sensor-in-the-voltage-gated-sodium-and-potassium-channels/).

     Recently, researchers found out that students performed better at math after using this same brain stimulation.  The students could crunch numbers involving the basic fact that an equation in one variable in a statement in which two expressions, at least one containing the variable, are equal.

 

     Math is a highly complex cognitive faculty that is based on a myriad of different abilities," Cohen Kadosh said. "If we can enhance mathematics . . . there is a good chance that we will be able to enhance simpler cognitive functions."

     First, second, and third degree polynomial equations are widely used at parent companies, like Microsoft, to model manufacturing processes and product design features based on measurements made on factories and testing labs.  This small brain shock could lead to huge intelligence increases in a wide variety of fields.

     "The researcher said that if future experiments with TRNS continue to show positive results, the technique could be used in clinics, classrooms and even at home to help people who struggle with particular cognitive tasks."

     "This could include anyone from a child falling behind in . . . math class to an elderly patient suffering from neurodegenerative disease," he said.

BITCOINS

After all the hard work, we have to get paid with real money. Would you take BITCOINS?

BITCOINS isn't real money, though. It has been called crypto-currency, digital currency, simply just cash for the internet.

"World currency, international finance, a world currency,supranational currency, or global currency refers to a currency that is transacted internationally, with no set borders (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_currency)."

BITCOINS is the result of peer-to-peer technology. The coin operates with no central authority or banks as insurance of liability. Bitcoins business is carried out collectively by and via the network.

"What's wrong with the dollar bill?", you might ask.

Have you seen one of the latest video viral trends based on the greed of the season? WAL-MART FIGHTS, such as this one, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rPleC29A8w&feature=youtube_gdata_player), found on YouTube, are the result of consumers trying to save money and splurge simultaneously on Christmas.

Consumers have morphed the holiday shopping season into the season for quitting your diet to order a number 13, and showcasing some WALMART-wing-chun for a 90" tv at "the store".

Shopping during the holiday season is getting dangerous. Cash here; cash there. Card transactions are better. Online shopping is a safer alternative to imbibe on all of the pretty-sales. Safer is a loose term, when speaking of web transactions, because of identity theft and other illegal surveillance tactics. Physically, though, online shopping is protected. Inflation is huge. The USD vs an international currency wouldn't be an even comparison.

BITCOINS are one type of money with one stash. It has been around for awhile, now. The first Bitcoin specification and proof of concept was published in 2009 in a cryptography mailing list by Satoshi Nakamoto.

"Bitcoins can be transferred from Africa to Canada in 10 minutes. There is no bank to slow down the process, level outrageous fees, or freeze the transfer. You can pay your neighbors the same way as you can pay a member of your family in another country(http://bitcoin.com/)."

According to http://preev.com/ BITCOINS, 1 BTC, equals 1,059 USD. This site shows the live exchange rate for BTC.

An authority on the issue of global money is John Maynard Keynes. He argues that such a currency would not suffer from inflation. Others debate that a single global currency would make conducting international business more efficient and would encourage foreign direct investment.

Alternatively, the main reason why one wouldn't accept BITCOINS on their next paycheck is that it isn't accepted everywhere. Cards are only recently reaching that status. Most people never see the cash value of their paycheck. Another reason why BITCOINS are bad is that everybody doesn't find keeping up with digital transactions to be easy. For example, you set up a Bitcoin wallet on your phone. Passwords are like keys on a key chain. With electronic keys the wallet app can regularly change for you. That means you need to keep an accurate track of those changes on backup. If you lose your phone and your keys, you’ve lost the money. The setup is an open source similar to Wikimedia. The concept is based on a "world agreement" that the rules of BITCOINS can't be changed.

So, the hours are done, and your salary expectations are complete. After all the hard work, we have to get paid with real money, right? Would you take BITCOINS?

Fresh Air from House plants

    

 

Have you ever felt like you could suffocate from the lack of fresh air in your home?  There isn’t biological weapon of mass destruction on the news.  You had a technician check the air quality in your home; no unscented gas leaks.  What’s the problem?

Your home needs some house plants.

Provide the environment with some natural greenery.  Beautify homes and apartments by decorating with succulents, cacti, ferns, lilies, runners, ficuses, etc. 

Healthy plants are extraordinary additions to your style.  Old plants, though, send a negative message.  Are your plants displaying yellowed leaves, dropped leaves or bears no new growth?  The plant is not receiving proper care.

          “All house plants have different watering, fertilizer and light needs, and understanding the needs of each plant is the key to house plant growth (http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookPLANTHORM.html)”

First of all, locate sufficient light. If your house plant is failing to thrive, it may not be receiving adequate light to stimulate new growth. Add extra light with an incandescent or fluorescent plant light if you don't have enough natural light.

Make sure the environment is temperature efficient, from 58° to 86° F, because too high or too low can cause stunted plant growth.

Keep the plant watered regularly.  Cactus and succulents obviously don’t need much water. Upon the touch, the soil should feel cold, moist or wet.  Soil particles should stick to your finger.  The soil will be crumbly and dusty when it is time to water it.  A rule of thumb is to add water until liquid flows out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the plant container.

 

Miracle gro will provide minor miracles to your plants when utilized correctly.  You should fertilize house plants during their growing season using 20-20-20 fertilizer. Do not fertilize them during the winter since this is their dormant season. Apply the fertilizer following the manufacturer's recommendations based upon the size and type of plant.  Plant fertilizers include hormone.   Plants have five classes of hormones, auxins, bibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene.  Auxins promote stem elongation, inhibit growth of lateral buds, and promote cell elongation.

 

Auxins are produced after plant nutrition.  Auxin increases the activity of proton pumps.  The cell wall becomes more acidic.  Wedge-shaped expansins, activated by low pH, separate cellulose micorofibrils from cross-linking polysaccharides.  The exposed cross-linking polysaccharides are now more accessible to cell wall enzymes.  The enzymatic cleaving of the cross-linking polysaccharides allows the microfibrils to slide.  The extensibility of the cell wall is increased.  Turgor causes the cell to expand.  With the cellulose loosened, the cell can elongate.

 

When the summer months approach, move plants outside during the summer in order to expose them to natural sunlight and air.

 

Do not keep plants outside if temperatures fall below 40 F.

          “How pure is the air you breathe? Plants are the lungs of the earth: they produce the oxygen that makes life possible, add precious moisture, and filter toxins. Houseplants can perform these essential functions in your home or office with the same efficiency as a rainforest in our biosphere (http://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Fresh-Air-Plants/dp/0140262431).”

Don’t suffocate in your own home.  Get some nice house plants.

Holiday travelling

     Tis the season to be jolly...

     Summer is just beginning to leave us, and the season is pushing its way in, already.

     The year has flown by. It is family planning time, again.

     Summer vacationers are on their way home.  Now, the deals begin to show up.  You can get your best ticket prices from the familiar orbitz.com or the semi-unfamiliar groupon.com. 

     You have to love this time of the year.  Evenings filled with scented candles to Christmas lights to shopping to cooking, are unforgettable. 

     Unplanned spending can trigger cluster headaches, stress-related pain, and days of agony, though.

     The holiday season is several weeks away, but now is a perfect time to book that flight and hotel for your Thanksgiving or New Year's celebrations. 

     "According to Kayak.com, you'll find the best deals on holiday flights when you book in mid-October. Fares will start to increase by as much as 25 percent the closer you get to the end of the year. (http://money.msn.com)"

     You've heard about last minute deals.  This time of the year, though, that won't suffice. Procrastination can be the bomb detonation.  Don't  wait until the last minute to book your flight, hotel or travel package.  You are at risk of paying a premium for all travel expenses.  The extra money you save could be another gift for your special somebody.

     Compare and contrast actual airline prices to the well known third party site prices.

     One of the best ways to acquire a  great deal on a flight is to fly inconveniently. If you can coordinate your holiday visits so that you fly on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or even New Year's Day, you may be able to save a bag of money on your inbound flight.

     "FareCompare.com reports that the best money-saving days for travel are before Dec. 17 and after Jan. 3. Fares are also low on Christmas Day. Kayak.com reports that travelers returning on Thanksgiving Day could save as much as 20 percent on fares. (http://money.msn.com)"

     Maybe one of your headaches of the season is the airplane itself.  Remember that road trips are awesome, too.

     "Plan alternative trips if traffic makes your way home too overwhelming. Is there a scenic drive that might be longer but have less traffic? (http://www.travelchannel.com)"

     You're pockets don't have to be sore after the holidays.  You don't have to dread your bills for the first couple of months in the new year.  Get your head start.

     Take off your swim gear and break out your sweaters.

     Happy Holidays!

     Tis the season to be jolly...