WARNING: 7 dangerous Apps

that parents need to know about

A look into the some of the scariest Apps for your kids

I work in public relations at Cook Children's. It’s my job to be on social networking sites, peruse the internet and keep up with the latest Apps offered on smartphones. It’s a great job and I love what I do, but over the last couple years, I have learned so much about the dangers of Smart Phone Apps. It’s downright scary.

Technology, especially if you’re a little behind the times, can be very deceptive. Your kids may be downloading Apps that you think are innocent and just a simple way for them to keep in contact with their buddies, but unfortunately, this isn't always the case.

To keep your children safe, it’s best that you monitor their phone. Look through their apps, texts and pictures. They may feel that you’re invading their privacy, but let’s be honest… You’re paying the phone bill, so you can do whatever you want! So, as you monitor your kid’s phone, keep an eye out for these 7 apps you may not be aware of, that in my opinion are very dangerous: 

READ FULL ARTICLE here

. Yik Yak

. SnapChat

. KiK Messenger

. Poof 

. Omegle

. Whisper

. Down

About the author

Kristin Peaks is the Senior Digital & Social Media specialist at Cook Children’s. Kristin is a sports fanatic. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Kristin spends her extra time with friends and family, and loves volunteering. Her dream job is to be a Monday Night Football sideline reporter.

5 Neat Things About Tonight's 'Blood Moon'

Lunar Eclipse Facts: 

By Denise Chow, |   April 14, 2014

The first total lunar eclipse of 2014 will occur overnight tonight, marking the start of an eclipse tetrad — four back-to-back total lunar eclipses — that will happen over the next 18 months.

During the skywatching spectacle, Earth's shadow will block out the sun's light, casting an eerie veil over the moon. 

The eclipse is set to begin around 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT), and should last for about 3.5 hours. Here are five things to know about tonight's lunar eclipse. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Lunar Eclipse Myths

From Around the World
Many cultures view the disappearance of the moon as a time of danger and chaos.
Jane J. Lee
National Geographic APRIL 13, 2014

Marauding demons, murderous pets, and ravenous jaguars are just some of the culprits that cultures around the world have blamed for the moon's disappearance during lunar eclipses.

During the night of April 14 through April 15, the first total lunar eclipse in more than two years will be visible across North and South America, and from Hawaii. 

While such celestial events are celebrated today with viewing parties, road trips, and astronomy talks, eclipses haven't always been events that people looked forward to.

Many ancient cultures saw solar or lunar eclipses as a challenge to the normal order of things, says E. C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California. "Things that shouldn't be happening are happening." Read the Full Story here

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain

As anyone who has fibromyalgia knows, the widespread deep pain and fatigue can be very debilitating. There are indications that the source of pain and fatigue is due to hypersensitivity of nerve cells within the central nervous system (called central sensitization), but why this may be occurring is unknown. Otherwise, no specific pathology has been identified that could be the source of the problem, which in itself can fuel self doubts.

A research team headed by neurologists Charles Argoff, MD and James Wymer, MD, PhD and James Storey, MD (who performed the clinical assessments) and neuroscientists Phillip Albrecht, PhD, Auanzhi Hous, MD, PhD and Frank Rice, PhD (who analyzed the nerve endings in the skin in patients with fibromyalgia). The unique expertise of this team along with microscopic technology to examine small skin biopsies collected from the palms of fibromyalgia patients were used to analyze nerve endings. The FM patients in this study were limited to women and were diagnosed and treated by Drs. Argoff, Wymer and Storey. The skin biopsies were about one-half the size of a pencil eraser. Read Full Story here

Facts About Psychiatric Drugs

12 Shocking Facts

Dr. Edward Group Infowars.com April 9, 2014

Every day, doctors and psychiatrists dole out behavior-modifying medicines for a variety of psychiatric disorders. The disorders range from depression and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) to bipolar and anxiety disorders. The sordid story behind how these medications work, how they come to market, and how they interfere with the lives of users is a complicated web. However, the next 12 facts will highlight the devastating story behind psychiatric drugs and how they affect millions of people in the United States alone

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1. No Physical Test Can Prove the Existence of a “Mental Disorder”
2. The Psychiatric Industry is a $330 Billion Industry
3. Worldwide, Over 100 Million People Take Psychiatric Drugs
4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: 23 Soldiers and Vets Commit Suicide Every Day
5. Worldwide, 17 Million Children Take Psychiatric Drugs
6. 10 Million of These Kids are in the United States
7. FDA Warnings Have Been Issued for Ritalin and Concerta
8. Antidepressants Come With a Warning Label
9. Children Five and Under Are the Fastest Growing Group Being Prescribed Antidepressants
10. 10% of Teens Abuse Ritalin and Adderall
11. General Physicians Prescribe 70% of Psychotropic Drugs
12. Some Reports Show Antidepressants are No Better than Placebo

How to Observe the Moon

Tips to See 2014's First Lunar Eclipse

In just a few days, the first total eclipse of the moon to be visible across the whole of North America since December of 2010 will occur. But to make the most of your moon-watching experience, there are some tips to keep in mind.

The first total lunar eclipse of 2014 will occur in the overnight hours next Monday and Tuesday (April 14 and 15), peaking at about 3 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) on Tuesday. Weather permitting, the moon event could be a striking lunar sight. Read the full story here

Four Blood Moons

Total Lunar Eclipse Series Not a Sign of Apocalypse

Geoff Gaherty Starry Night Education   |   April 09, 2014

There has been a lot of interest recently in an upcoming series of lunar eclipses that begins April 15. These are usually described as "four blood moons" and taken by some to prophesy upcoming disasters.



The total lunar eclipse of April 15 will begin a so-called tetrad series of eclipses that is making the rounds online as a potential harbinger of doom, due in part to a recent book on the four blood moons that makes the dubious claim. Read more click here

How Do Black Boxes Work?

Missing Flight 370: 
By Tanya Lewis, Staff Writer   |   April 08, 2014

A possible break in the mystery of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 plane came when ships detected "pings" consistent with the aircraft's black box. But how does a black box actually work?

Black boxes, or flight recorders, are electronic devices that record information on an airplane to be used in the event of a severe incident such as a crash. Usually, an aircraft carries two types of recorders.

The first, a flight data recorder, makes a record of instructions sent to a plane's electronic systems; the second, a cockpit voice recorder, makes a record of conversations, radio communications and other sounds in the cockpit. Sometimes, the recorders are part of the same unit. Read Full Story Here

CROW KILLS

And its NOT Avian Flu

Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. 

A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu.  The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.

However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colours of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws.   By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car.

MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills.   The Ornithological Behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause:  when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow  in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger.   

They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one could shout "Truck."

Thanks to my Brother Bob NZ...

8-Legged Nightmares?

The World's 3 Deadliest Spiders

Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of more people than spiders. The eight-legged beasts boast a menacing appearance, and some pack a deadly, poisonous bite.

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2 of these 3 are found in Australia

Brazilian wandering spider

Funnel web spider

Black widow spider