What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0055

2701.  Research has shown that people who believe that the power lies within their circle have higher academic achievement, greater career achievement, and are much happier at work;

2702.  An internal locus lowers job stress and turnover, and leads to higher motivation, organizational commitment, and task performance;

2703.  Because feeling in control over our jobs and our lives reduces stress, it even affects our physical health;

2704.  One sweeping study of 7,400 employees found that those who felt they had little control over deadlines imposed by other people had a 50 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease than their counterparts.  Researchers concluded that feeling a lack of control over pressure at work is as great a risk factor for heart disease as even high blood pressure;

2705.  Researchers found that when they gave a group of nursing home residents more control over simple tasks in their daily lives – like putting them in charge of their own house plants – not only did their levels of happiness improve, but their mortality rate actually dropped in half;

2706.  Researchers found that managers who felt the most swamped by job pressure ran teams with the worst performance and the lowest net profits;

2707.  A failing economy can be a powerful trigger for emotional hijacking.  Neuroscientists have found that financial losses are actually processed in the same areas of the brain that respond to mortal danger.  In other words, we react to withering profits and a sinking retirement account the same way our ancestors did to a saber-toothed tiger;

2708.  The prevailing belief was that humans are rational decision makers – that we make financial and economic decisions based on a rational assessment of potential profits and losses.  But Daniel Kahneman, the only psychologist to have ever won the Nobel Prize for Economics, and his colleague Amos Tversky proved just how wrong this is;

2709.  Experiments show that when people are primed to feel high levels of distress, the quickest to recover are those who can identify how they are feeling and put those feelings into words.  Brain scans show verbal information almost immediately diminishes the power of these negative emotions, improving well-being and enhancing decision-making skills.  So whether you do it by writing down feelings in a journal or talking to a trusted coworker or confidant, verbalizing the stress and helplessness you are feeling is the first step toward regaining control;

2710.  Apparently, lounges in New York City don’t like it when you put your feet up (specifically “1849”);

2711.  When someone pushes into you, for some reason, they get angry if you stand your ground (especially New Yorkers at “The Red Lion”);

2712.  George McPhee (the general manager of the Washington Capitals) walks around Manhattan when the Capitals play the (New York) Rangers;

2713.  A woman without any close female friends is bad news.  She’s trading on her sexuality to make friends, and other women don’t see anything valuable in her;

2714.  The biggest predictor of whether a woman is going to cheat is whether she’s cheated before;

2715.  The U.S. Sanitary Commission was a precursor to the American Red Cross;

2716.  Lincoln was the first (U.S.) president to issue paper money (i.e., “greenbacks”) and to enact a personal income tax (to pay for the Civil War);

2717.  Ford’s Theatre used to be a Baptist church;

2718.  A bulging can is a sign of botulism;

2719.  You know it’s cold (in D.C.) when the Potomac’s frozen over;

2720.  Take risks.  If you win, you will be happy.  If you lose, you will be wise;

2721.  Some people are so blinded by their beliefs that they won’t change their minds even if all the evidence points to the contrary;

2722.  The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible;

2723.  Associate (news) producers at NBC Nightly News like hockey;

2724.  Apparently, a newsroom is more like “30 Rock” than “The Newsroom,” at least according to one associate (news) producer;

2725.  News anchors write their own stories (specifically Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News);

2726.  It takes 20-30 years (of experience) to become a senior (news) producer;

2727.  Apparently, you should replace your car battery every four years or so;

2728.  Kristin loves “baked & wired” (bakedandwired.com);

2729.  No big deal, future Olympians (specifically Blake Wheeler) used to (go to) sleepover(s) at Kristin’s parents’ house;

2730.  Allegedly, Blake Wheeler’s wife is a “puck slut;”

2731.  Psychologists who specialize in goal-setting theory advocate setting goals of moderate difficulty – not so easy that we don’t have to try, but not so difficult that we get discouraged and give up;

2732.  When the challenges we face are particularly challenging and the payoff remains far away, setting smaller, more manageable goals helps us build our confidence and celebrate our forward progress, and keeps us committed to the task at hand;

2733.  (George) Gershwin wrote United Airlines’ theme song (i.e., “Rhapsody in Blue”);

2734.  In a 2007 study by James Cook University, researchers discovered cocaine-addicted mice actually preferred sugar-water as a reward over cocaine;

2735.  We once thought fat made us fat.  Turns out, sugar is the culprit.  An abundance of sugar puts the liver into overdrive – it works frantically to rebalance your system – quickly storing sugar as fat so your blood sugar and insulin rates can stabilize;

2736.  A recent study by the CDC discovered that an increased consumption of added sugars has been linked to a decrease in intake of essential micronutrients.  In other words, when you fill up on sugar, you’re less likely to eat the nutrients your body really needs, causing your body to shut down;

2737.  Scientists have long noted sugar molecules are present in high numbers near cancer cells.  A 2013 study by the University of Copenhagen shows that sugar actually aids the growth of malignant cells;

2738.  Sugar can actually suppress your immune system, causing your body to get common sicknesses more often;

2739.  A quick list of the many names sugar can hide under, via the Harvard School of Public Health: Agave nectar, cane crystals, cane sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, crystalline fructose, dextrose, evaporated cane juice, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, malt syrup, maple syrup, molasses, sucrose, and syrup;

2740.  4 grams of sugar is the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of sugar, and the USDA recommends a total of 6 grams of sugar per day as a healthy amount.  A 2009 American Heart Association study found most adults are consuming more than 22 teaspoons of sugar per day.  That’s 88 grams of sugar daily, 14 times more than the recommended intake;

2741.  Nearly 100 years ago, a dentist named Weston A. Price was shocked by the rise in childhood cavities, and the growing demand for orthodontic braces.  Wondering about the link between diet and tooth health, he quit his practice and traveled around the world with his wife, visiting tribes far removed from agricultural advancements and industrialized society and discovered nearly nonexistent levels of decay – even among groups of people not brushing their teeth.  Since then, multiple studies have linked tooth health to sugar consumption.  Bacteria in the mouth feed off of sugar, and increases the likelihood of cavities;

2742.  You don’t need sugar.  It contains no nutritional value, nutrients, or minerals.  It contains only calories;

2743.  Fruit and starchy vegetables easily provide more than enough calories for a healthy adult diet;

2744.  High blood sugar has been linked to memory loss and cognitive decline in a study released by the American Academy of Neurology;

2745.  Never ask two questions in a row . . . alternate (between) questions and statements;

2746.  Salmon is actually a white fish, but the diet of krill colors the meat orange;

2747.  Never treat anybody like a priority, when they’re treating you like an option;

2748.  Without a time limit, even small, incremental tasks can quickly escalate back into an overwhelming challenge with no end in sight;

2749.  Small successes can add up to major achievements;

2750.  Il Canale (IlCanale.com) is one of only four pizzerias certified by the “Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana” in the greater D.C. (metropolitan) area for meeting their strict requirements in respecting the tradition of Neapolitan pizza making;