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$1 at a time, Americans wager nearly $1.5 billion on longest of shots to become a millionaire
The Washington Post: Across the country, Americans plunked down an estimated $1.5 billion on the longest of long shots: an infinitesimally small chance to win what could end up being the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen. But forget about how the $640 million Mega Millions jackpot could change the life of the winner. It’s a collective wager that could fund a presidential campaign several times over, make a dent in struggling state budgets or take away the gas worries and grocery bills for thousands of middle-class citizens. And it’s a cheap investment for the chance of a big reward, no matter how long the odds — 1 in 176 million.
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Rethinking the Value of Pets
The New York Times: Think an elderly family member is better off with a pet? You may want to think again. Sure, there have been hundreds of articles claiming dogs and cats can lower blood pressure, zap stress and combat depression and loneliness. But some experts say the evidence that pet companionship is healthy is not all that definitive. And for the elderly, having a dog and cat can be both stressful and dangerous. Falls involving pets and their paraphernalia are an underappreciated health hazard.
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Empathy Doesn’t Extend Across the Political Aisle
When we try to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we usually go all the way, assuming that they feel the same way we do. But a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that we have limits: we don’t extend this projection to people who have different political views, even under extreme circumstances. The researchers chose to examine political differences because of the big divide perceived between people on opposing sides, as shown by earlier research.
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No Bad Luck This Friday Unless You Think it Will Happen
Have you watched the movie Friday the 13th? Scary, isn’t it? Well, perhaps not quite as scary as the infamous Rebecca Black song, “Friday” - but close enough. If you are one of those who carries around a rabbit's foot and strokes it all day long for good luck or makes a wish after blowing away a fallen eyelash – then you are probably in the midst of bolting your doors, turning on all the lights and hiding under the comforting warmth of your comforter. Tomorrow just so happens to be Friday the 13th and if you have friggatriskaidekaphobia – it’s simply not a day to be trifled with. Frigga what you say? And yes, attempting to say it can just as well be as terrifying as its definition.
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Today Show Discusses Autism
Today Show: A new government report is highlighting a shocking surge in the number of childhood autism cases in the United States. According to the CDC, 1 in 88 children are now coping with autism and related disorders. Watch here: Today Show More on Geraldine Dawson, Chief Science Officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks and APS Fellow here
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Canadian group studies impact of social networks on mental health
Montreal Gazette: A couple of months ago, Marisa Murray stepped out to grab a bite to eat with a friend. The restaurant they chose was busy, and the table they sat at was shoehorned between two large families. They didn't mind, but as Murray settled in, she found herself paying more attention to the people at the tables beside her than the person at her own. What caught the clinical psychology student's eye was that the families were socializing, but not with each other: Everyone, from the children to the grandparents, was nose deep in an electronic device. "It was so strange. There was no conversation. Within the family, everyone had a cellphone.
