James Fishman | Sunstone Online

The Naked Cowboy Sports New Undies Today

Certainly, there isn’t much bigger news than this to report at the moment. The Naked Cowboy, one of Time Squares most well known figures, will soon have a new uniform. But don’t worry – it won’t involve putting on extra clothes.

Keeping on his cowboy hat and boots, he’ll now be wearing Fruit of the Loom boxer briefs with a tapered leg when he strums and amuses around Times Square. The Fruit of the Loom’s marketing team explains that Robert Burck (aka The Naked Cowboy) was simply the obvious choice to sport their new line.

As Melissa Burgess-Taylor, vice-president of marketing , told the AP, “His primary wardrobe is so important to his daily job, we thought why not showcase him in our new boxer briefs.”

While the Naked Cowboy performs in his new briefs today, Fruit of the Looms will be on hand to hand out free samples. He’ll also appear high above Times Square in a marketing campaign with the slogan “Even the Naked Cowboy has changed his underwear.”

While you might not look as good in yours as the Naked Cowboy will, you can buy these briefs at Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target for $13.99 for a five pack soon.

Sleep Apnea Device Could Make a Difference

Sleep apnea causes the breathing passage to collapse or become blocked during sleep. This causes the person with the sleep apnea to wake up many times a night, causing exhaustion during the day and placing stress on the heart with each time they awaken. Complications with this issue can include heart disease and increased risk for accidents and death.

Now, those with sleep apnea have a new avenue for help. US regulators have approved a first-of-its-kind implant that can help to keep moderate to severe sleep apnea at bay. Called The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy, it is designed for patients for whom other therapies have not worked.

The device works with a small neurostimulation generator that is surgically put into the chest. It has a lead that stimulates a nerve that goes from the ear to the jaw and another one that goes to the chest. Once its implanted, it can be activated before bedtime with a remote control. It gives a mild shock to a neck nerve that will then keep the air passages open at night.

The device is not yet available but should be available to consumers later this year. Research that was published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that it resulted in a 68 percent reduction in apnea events and significant improvements in daytime function.

“This therapy represents a major advance in sleep apnea treatment for some patients,” said Meir Kryger, professor at the Yale School of Medicine.

5 Inexpensive Ways to Liven Up Any Kitchen

For anyone who is desperate for a kitchen renovation but can’t afford the price tag that would entail, here is a great solution. These are quick, easy and cost-effective ways to brighten up any kitchen and to transform the space with ease.

* Display your kitchen gadgets. Take your spatulas and serving spoons out of the drawer and put them in cute cans or baskets on the counter. This adds a look of country to the kitchen. You could also add an overhead rack to hold pans for a bit more money.

* Brighten up the kitchen with a colorful backsplash. This doesn’t cost much, but can really make a difference in the look of the space.

* Pain your cabinets. You may not have the money to buy new cabinets, but you can make them look like new, and get away from that ugly yellow color, by painting them a color you love.

* Bring in flowers to your space. This couldn’t be an easier or more inexpensive option. Buy beautiful flowers and place them in a vase in the kitchen.

* Buy a few new chairs for the kitchen table, either creating a nice traditional look or buying mismatched and colorful chairs for an eclectic feel.

In Vitro Fertilization: Rabbi Kenneth Brander

Rabbi Kenneth Brander, Vice President for University and Community Life and the Dean of the Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future discussed the Jewish view on in vitro fertilization at a lecture he delivered to fellow rabbis. One of the issues that arose during the lecture was the question of whether parents can decide which fertilized egg to have implanted in the woman, a fertilized egg that will develop to become a boy or one that will become a girl. During in vitro fertilization doctors examine the fertilized egg for genetic defects, and while they do that they can also discover the gender of the future child. Is it therefore proper to use that information to choose the gender of the ensuing baby?

Another issue which Rabbi Kenny Brander discussed in more depth is how to define parenthood; who are the father and the mother under the different scenarios of in vitro fertilization? For example:

• If the woman who wants the child does not have viable eggs and eggs are donated by another woman, who then is the mother? Is it the genetic mother, or the host mother? Or perhaps both?
• If the sperm are donated because the man that wants the baby does not have viable sperm, then who is the father: the genetic supplier of the sperm, or the man who is married to the woman that will carry the baby who will be given the task of the raising the child? Or once again, perhaps both?

Rabbi Brander explains clearly that in vitro fertilization and other technologies that aid and improve mankind’s life and health are looked on quite favorably by Judaism. Just because difficulties might arise as a result of these technologies does not mean in any way that Judaism does not fully embrace them as a means to become partners with G-d in the Jewish mission to “repair the world.”

Exercise for Summer Success

As the summer approaches, most people start to think about their looks. It’s human nature to want to look appealing. Of course, even more important is your health and to make sure that you’re within a normal weight range and that you’re exercising.

How can you kickstart an exercise program now that it’s about to be May? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Make plans with a friend. It doesn’t matter if you join the gym, go for walks or take up swimming. It’s all easier with a friend and will keep you committed to your plan more consistently.

2. Find some type of exercise that you love. Look into joining Curves or doing kickboxing or enjoying Zumba. Any and all of these activities can make you happy.

3. Set a goal. Some people do better when they are working towards a goal. One idea is to do a couch to 5k. This is a program where you can learn to run a 5k in somewhere between 4 and 6 weeks. Look at a plan such as the one here.

The bottom line is that it’s time to get up and go. You just have to figure out how you want to do so.

Top 10 Least Healthy Cities in America

Gallup-Healthways surveyed hundreds of thousands of Americans in 189 metropolitan areas in the US in 2012 and 2013. The survey looked at both the physical and emotional health of residents. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index is certainly an interesting report to look at and to use as a barometer of healthy living.

As Dan Witters, the research director for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index said, “When you’re talking about obesity, the big three are healthy eating, exercise, and smoking.”

Certainly, the researchers also found a strong connection between emotional wellbeing and physical health. As Witters explained, “Survey participants who were ‘clinically diagnosed with depression had a significantly elevated probability of carrying around obesity.’”

Here is their list of America’s least healthy cities.

10. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Ark.

> Physical Health Index: 72.2

> Obesity rate: 35.1% (5th highest)

9. Spartanburg, S.C.

> Physical Health Index: 71.9

> Obesity rate: 30.0% (34th highest)

8. Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.

> Physical Health Index: 71.7

> Obesity rate: 29.7% (40th highest)

7. Clarksville, Tenn.-Ky.

> Physical Health Index: 71.6

> Obesity rate: 33.8% (8th highest)

6. Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.

> Physical Health Index: 71.4

> Obesity rate: 29.8% (38th highest)

5. Redding, Calif.

> Physical Health Index: 71.4

> Obesity rate: 27.6% (82nd highest)

4. Columbus, Ga.-Ala.

> Physical Health Index: 70.7

> Obesity rate: 32.5% (13th highest)

3. Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

> Physical Health Index: 70.5

> Obesity rate: 30.9% (25th highest)

2. Charleston, W.Va.

> Physical Health Index: 69.0

> Obesity rate: 34.6% (6th highest)

1. Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio

> Physical Health Index: 66.2

> Obesity rate: 39.5% (the highest)