�� new old this that ��

03.06.02.12:18 pm

� Answers �



ask johnpowers After a short hiatus, here's the answer column.

Yes... every Wednesday I become the Answer person. If you need advice or need the answer to something, click on this � advice link and I will do my best to ex - press.



---------------
name: schmo
email:
url: http://desperada.diaryland.com/
question:
as a desperate and depressed freshman who has just recieved her first gpa of her high school career, what is the average gpa of high school seniors accepted into harvard? :(
answer:

---------------
Marlyn McGrath Lewis, dean of admissions at Harvard, said more than half of last year's 18,691 applicants scored 1400 or higher on the SAT and 16 percent ranked No. 1 in their class. Straight A's and superior test scores were standard among accepted candidates...

Harvard's admissions propaganda offers little explanation about the selection process. The pre-frosh viewbook states: "Women and men come from all 50 states and from around the world; from cities, suburbs, small towns, and farms; from public, private, and parochial schools; from every ethnic and religious background; and from across the economic spectrum." The viewbook also points out "There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and work experience." So, according to the official literature, you must be a man or a woman (no womyn allowed), you must be good at something, and you must be from somewhere. The actual selection is, I suppose, up to the alignment of the stars, unless you're an athlete.

Harvard, has 41 varsity programs and more than 1,500 varsity and junior varsity athletes in an undergraduate pool of less than 7,000 students. In a 1986 study, 27 percent of male Ivy League students were athletes whereas only 3 percent of male students of Division IA public universities were. Since the Ivy League does not offer athletic scholarships, and thus has no guarantee that those accepted will even play a sport, admission officers overcompensate by admitting more athletes than are needed to fill all the spots on their teams.


---------------
name: Melissa
email:
url: http://silentone.diaryland.com/
question:
What is the difference between a rest area and a weigh station?
answer:

---------------
One sometimes has scales in it, the other never does. Porta potties have been known to appear in both.


---------------
name: Trance
email: [email protected]
url: http://trancejen.diaryland.com/
question:
Dear johnpowers, I am in a horrendous mood. Really. I could just rip someone's head right off this week. I can't seem to get happy. Any suggestions for lightening my mood, or should I just go up on the roof and start taking people out? Thanks so much. Enjoying your site as always. Trance
answer:

---------------
Get some exercise.

A vigorous five mile walk will do more good for unhappy, but otherwise healthy adults than all the medicine and psychology in the world.

Depression ranks as the most popular health topic on the Web with about 20% of Health Web Visitors seeking information about depression. Over working, over-stressing, expectations of perfection, a critical and complaining cynical spirit, focusing on the negatives in life, feeding a sense of hopelessness through what you read and listen to; all this and more spins many of us out of control and into a depression.

We all have heard that Prozac and St. John's Wort medications treat depression. Yet exercise offers an excellent alternative or adjunct to such popular medications.

Exercise Enhances Your Mood In Many Ways. Although exercisers exercise for a wide variety of reasons, the most powerful reasons are psychological, not physical. Exercisers have found exercise makes them:

  • Feel Good
  • Feel More Optimistic
  • More Mentally Alert
  • Enhance Sense of Well Being
  • More Confidence
  • Better Cope With Stress
  • More Energetic



Moreover, some people report they overeat because they are depressed. For many, moderate depression tends to cause overeating while severe depression tends to cause under-eating. One large study of overweight individuals found depression was the number one reason for overeating, ahead of stress.

Exercise is an excellent way to alleviate mild to moderate depression. By exercising you can expect:

  • About a 50% drop in your depression
  • The depression drop to last between 2 to 5 hours
  • An immediate impact (unlike medication which takes many weeks to take effect)
  • No unpleasant side effects



Almost any exercise will do as long as you maintain it for at least 20 to 30 minutes and exercise at 60% or more of your Maximum Heart Rate Capacity (i.e. at least moderate intensity). Exercising outdoors seems to be even more effective.

Exercise seems to give you a better sense of control of yourself which in turn gives you more confidence to deal with other aspects of your life. It also seems to alter your brain neuro-transmitters (dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine) in some complex and yet not well understood way.

Of course, like Prozac and St John's Wort, exercise doesn't work for everybody. The only way to know is to try it. You'll probably feel better.

Runner's High Is Euphoric. The popular notion of runner's high is a more intense mood altering experience. It is more than that. One runner describes his own experience with runners high:

"Then, sometime into the second hour, comes the spooky time. Colors are bright and beautiful, water sparkles, clouds breathe, and my body, swimming, detaches from the earth. A loving contentment invades the basement of my mind, and thoughts bubble up without trails. I find the place I need to live if I'm going to live. The running literature says that if you run six miles a day for two months, you are addicted forever. I understand. A cosmic view and peace are located between six and ten miles of running. I've found it so everywhere."


"After the run I can't use my mind. It's empty. Then a filling begins. By afternoon I'm back into life with long and sooth energy, a quiet feeling of strength, the kind of wisdom afforded those without fear, those detached yet full. The most delicious part is the night's sleep. Long and illusive, fickle, dealer with me.. Father Sandman now stands ready whenever I want."


Runner's high is typically experienced by well conditioned runners after 30 to 60 minutes.. Various reports show that 10% to 78% of runner's experience this high and it may occur either during or after the run. Those runners who have experienced runner's high only experience it about 29% of the time.

At present, there are no well proven explanations for runner's high. The popular notion that runner's high is caused by release of the body's own endorphins seems to be too simple an explanation and other more complex neuro-chemical processes are probably taking place.

Take This Test To Gauge Your Own Depression Level
Symptoms of depression can include:

  • Persistent sad or "empty" mood
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including "sex"
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
  • Sleep disturbances (insomnia, early-morning waking, or oversleeping)
  • Eating disturbances (loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain)
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
  • Irritability
  • Excessive crying
  • Chronic aches and pains that don't respond to treatment



If 5 or more of these symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks or are interfering your life, you should see your physician. There is about a 23% chance that someone will suffer some depressive symptoms in his or her lifetime and for those with such symptoms there is a good chance they will reoccur again. Fortunately, for most, these symptoms last for very short periods of time and usually clear up.

---------------
name: Mandy
email:
url: http://
question:
What does 'aroha' mean?
answer:

---------------
The politically incorrect answer would be: the greeting delivered to you by a Japanese person with a heavy accent as you step off the plane in Hawaii.

A less fun answer would be, "Do you mean Aloha?"


---------------
name: your fan
email:
url: http://
question:
What is the meaning of life?
answer:

---------------
42


---------------
name: MadScientist
email: [email protected]
url: http://madscientist.diaryland.com/
question:
Is there any one good excuse to tell your teacher that you really do not need to take the test she/he is passing out thet will count 25% of your final grade in that class? Is ther any place where you can find Cadbury chocolae year round, except for on the military base? What is it in chocolate that makes it so darn addictive? Why does gum lose its flavor so soon after you put it in your mouth? Is there any gum that has a long lasting flavor? Do you know where I can get a life? Do you know where I can get a brain?
answer:

---------------
You will probably have to show your teacher a death notice of a close relative to get out of the test. I suggest forging one instead of resorting to constructing a believable 'accident'.

You can buy Cadbury chocolate year round on it's web store.

A chemical named theobromine is what makes chocolate addictive.

Gum lose its flavor so soon after you put it in your mouth because it is designed that way. If it were not, you would only have to buy 1 stick a year.

The only gum that has a long lasting flavor that I know of is made with hot peppers and horse dung. It is not very popular due to it's 'alternative' taste.

You can buy a brain online at brain-mart.com

I have yet to see any sort of life for sale on the internet. I even checked Ebay.


---------------
name: schmo
email:
url: http://desperada.diaryland.com/
question:
is it true that drinking 40 cups of coffee can kill you?
answer:

---------------
If you could actually manage to quickly consume 40 cups of very strong coffee you would have about 5,000 milligrams of caffeine in your body and you would probably die.

Unfortunately if you're planning on self terminating via coffee, high doses of caffeine induce vomiting and incontinence, so gagging down those 40 cups would be next to impossible.


---------------
name: Piper
email: [email protected]
url: http://white-rook.diaryland.com/
question:
I've been seized with a sudden urge to go to Greece. What's a good way to make some quick money? (legal or otherwise... ;) )
answer:

---------------
I suggest looking through your junk email. There are bound to be a great number of get rich quick offers in there.

If those don't turn out to be that profitable, which would be rather shocking to me, I suggest you start selling drugs. After you sell the drugs for a period of time, you can then go to the police and earn some informant's compensation, clear your name, and then stay in Greece safe from the drug dealers who would then desperately want to whack you.



�� new old this that ��
            














Since Feb 2001





Long time no update. - 12.19.09

Clinton or Obama? - 2007-10-04

Two workshop Providence paid gig - looking for instructor - 2007-10-03

Big brother - 2007-09-26

Favorites - 2007-08-30