YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    • Job market gains could lead Fed to taper QE3 early

      By Ann Saphir and Jonathan Spicer | Reuters – 10 hrs ago

      By Ann Saphir and Jonathan Spicer

      (Reuters) - The beginning of the end of the Federal Reserve's massive bond-buying program might come sooner than many investors think if recent gains in the U.S. labor market do not prove fleeting.

      Much will depend on how economic data, which has given mixed signals for growth prospects, develops over the next few months. Reports on job growth in particular will go a long way in helping Fed officials determine whether the time is right to trim the pace of their $85 billion in monthly purchases.

      The marked improvement in the labor market since the U.S. central bank began its third round of quantitative easing, or QE3, has added an edge to calls by some policy hawks to dial down the stimulus. The roughly 50 percent jump in monthly job creation since the program began has even won renewed support from centrists, raising at least some chance the Fed could ratchet back its buying as early as next month.

      Read More »

    • India's weakened Congress wondering if early elections will help

      By Satarupa Bhattacharjya and Ross Colvin | Reuters – 12 hrs ago

      By Satarupa Bhattacharjya and Ross Colvin

      NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Congress party is debating holding a general election in November, six months ahead of schedule, senior party leaders said, reflecting an internal discussion over whether to pull the plug on the shaky ruling coalition or have it serve a full term.

      Officially, the Congress party says the government - which has been battered by a series of corruption scandals and now governs as a minority after two allies withdrew from the ruling coalition - will limp on until elections are due in May 2014.

      But there is no consensus in the upper echelons of Congress on when to call elections, according to interviews with more than a dozen party leaders. There is a split between those who say the sluggish economy needs more time to recover and those who worry that waiting until 2014 could be a tactical mistake.

      If the Congress party gets the timing wrong, it could cost it a third

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    • App Turns Online Dating Into Mobile Matchmaking Game

      By Joann Pan | Mashable – Wed, Oct 31, 2012

      Online dating can be disheartening and feel shallow when users have to skim pages of profiles to find someone compatible at a glance. If you're over the massive catalog of faces, lengthy questionnaires at sign-up and mathematical algorithms, a change of pace is in order.

      [More from Mashable: Is Threadlife the Social Video App to Finally Rule Them All?]

      The Game is a new dating app that offers singles a very different experience.

      At sign-up, the virtual dating app pulls your profile picture, location and age from a simple Facebook integration. There are no questions to fill out. Mathematical percentages telling you how great a romantic partner someone could be, are also gone. Instead, users can decide quickly on their own, the Game's "Head Matchmaker" and founder David Semerad tells Mashable.

      [More from Mashable: New Livescribe Wi-Fi Smartpen Makes You Want to Be a Student Again]

      "In general, I think the chemistry between two people is much more complicated than a mathematical

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    • Katie's Take

      The importance of friendship has long been linked to our very survival. These days while we still cherish friends, we tend to undervalue their role in our lives. With the declining size of families and the tendency for adult children to move further away from home, we are increasingly dependent on our friends to fill traditional family roles. As people marry later, or often not at all, our friendships may be gaining more influence than the relationship with a spouse or partner. Carlin Flora, author of Friendfluence, evaluates the effect that our friends have on us and has found that the influence of our friends could even be affecting our health.

      Psychologists have long believed that friendships have a direct affect on our overall health and are closely linked to our life expectancy. Research has shown that having few friends is the mortality risk equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Being with good friends lowers your blood pressure and has shown to increase our

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    • What Your Feet Say About Your Health

      By Samara Mackereth | Katie's Take – Fri, Apr 26, 2013

      Katie's Take

      The average person takes 10,000 steps a day. That is 115,000 miles in a lifetime, enough to circle the globe four times. This puts a lot of pressure on our feet, one of the most overlooked parts of our body. But you would be surprised by how much you can learn about your health just by looking at your feet and why it is so important to take good care of them. Dr. Suzanne Levine, a Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon and the author of My Feet are Killing Me revealed some hidden health signs in our feet.

      Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience problems with their feet at some point in their lives, but they often leave them untreated. These issues should not be overlooked, especially if you know what you are looking for. If you have chipped or cracked nails, this indicates signs of vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Flat feet can be a sign of Raynaud's disease.  Bumps on our toes can be connected to Rheumatoid arthritis. Red ulcers and burning feet can be a symptom of

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    • Am I Having a Midlife Crisis?

      By Samara Mackereth | Katie's Take – Tue, Apr 23, 2013

      Katie's Take

      The midlife crisis has become a pop culture catchphrase, we have seen it depicted in books and movies: middle aged men buying flashy cars or women dating younger men. But does the concept of a midlife crisis actually exist? Psychologist Susan Kraus Whitbourne talked with Katie Couric to debunk the myth of the midlife crisis.

      Psychoanalyst Elliot Jacques coined the term “Midlife Crisis” in 1965 to identify a period of dramatic self doubt. But through research, Dr. Krauss Whitborne has found the concept to be “more of a fantasy than reality.” She found that people experience hormonal shifts throughout their life but are built to adjust to life’s changes and challenges. Ultimately, Dr. Krauss Whitborne believes that happiness and age are not related.

      Changes in society also lend themselves to ending the so-called plague of the midlife crisis. Our paths are continually more unique than our parents and grandparents. People are getting married later in life, going back to

      Read More »

    More Katie's Take Episodes

    • What Your Feet Say About Your Health Fri, Apr 26, 2013

      Katie's Take The average person takes 10,000 steps a day. That is 115,000 miles in a lifetime, enough to circle the globe four times. This puts a lot of pressure on our feet, one of the most overlooked parts of our body. But you would be surprised by how much you can learn about your [...]

    • Am I Having a Midlife Crisis? Tue, Apr 23, 2013

      Katie's Take The midlife crisis has become a pop culture catchphrase, we have seen it depicted in books and movies: middle aged men buying flashy cars or women dating younger men. But does the concept of a midlife crisis actually exist? Psychologist Susan Kraus Whitbourne talked with Katie Couric to debunk the myth of the …

    • Simple Steps for a Healthy Pregnancy Tue, Apr 16, 2013

      Katie's Take A positive pregnancy test will change the lives of expecting parents forever, and the journey can seem overwhelming. Pregnant women can be bombarded with advice and are given endless options for resources on maternity dos and don’ts. To help us navigate the prenatal voyage, Katie talked with Alison Bernstein, …

    • Secrets to Living Longer Tue, Apr 9, 2013

      Katie's Take We may have all sought the Fountain of Youth at one point or another. But it may be easier to find than you may think. Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, Dr. Richard Besser, met with Katie Couric to share some simple tips on living a long and full life. It [...]

    • Watch Your Mouth! Wed, Apr 3, 2013

      Katie's Take Taking a seat in the dentist chair goes far beyond maintaining a healthy smile. Our mouths are the gateways to our bodies and can tell us more about our health than we may think. A dentist can detect nearly 120 medical conditions in their early stages. Dr. Jonathan Levine, an oral health expert [...]

    • A Routine Screening That Could Save Your Life Wed, Feb 27, 2013

      Katie's Take March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Katie Couric wants you to get screened! After losing her husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer in 1998, Couric co-founded The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. …

    • Time-Saving Tips to Make the Most of Your Day Tue, Feb 26, 2013

      Katie's Take If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, you are not alone. But there may be time slipping through your fingers that you can get back each day. All you need is a little organization. On average, people waste around 40% of their workday due to poor organization. To help [...]

    • Stretches that Make you Look and Feel Taller Sat, Feb 23, 2013

      Katie's Take “Sit up straight!” A meme that is easier said than done! But the benefits of straightening up can have a lasting effect on our bodies and minds. Katie Couric sat down with Tara Stiles, named “Yoga Rebel” by the New York Times and owner of Strala Yoga, to talk about how simple stretches [...]

    • How to Talk to Your Teen Thu, Feb 21, 2013

      Katie's Take It’s a delicate time – if not every parent’s worst nightmare - when a child enters puberty. Not only are their bodies changing physically, but hormones are raging and bad moods are in full swing. Katie Couric spoke with Dr. Barbara Greenberg, parenting expert and clinical psychologist, all about how parents …

    • Bad Habits That are Good for You Tue, Feb 19, 2013

      Katie's Take You know the saying, "Everything in moderation." It turns out that may be true for our bad habits, as well. I spoke to Dr. Ryan Fuller, a clinical psychologist, about the positive impact some of our bad habits may have if we keep some control over them. For example, I'm a procrastinator. Always [...]

    • Tips to Improving Your Memory Wed, Feb 13, 2013

      Katie's Take It’s Monday morning, and the day begins with a moment of panic. “Where are my keys?” As the search begins, the clock is ticking and you're already late for work. After turning over pillows, opening drawers and even checking the trash can, you find them in your bag…where they've been all along. As [...]

    • Winter Skin Care Tue, Feb 5, 2013

      Katie's Take Remember those old commercials for Lubriderm, "See you later, alligator?" The wintertime has many of us feeling a bit reptilian, dry and flaky. All that cold, dry air is the culprit. I spoke to Dr. Lisa Airan, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist practicing in New York City, whose remedies provide a soft …

    • Health Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore Tue, Jan 29, 2013

      Katie's Take When the typical cough or cold strikes, the average person can recognize how to ease the pain, but what about when it comes to more serious health issues? Not everyone can think like a doctor, which is why a checkup is necessary every now and then. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Senior Medical Contributor at [...]

    • How to Ask for What You Want Tue, Jan 22, 2013

      Katie's Take It’s a new year and whether that means you’re in the middle of a career change, seeking a promotion at work or debating starting a new business, Laura Fredricks, author, speaker and the Expert on The Ask sits down with Katie as she talks about the top “New Year, New You” questions you [...]

    • How to Pick Your Doctor Tue, Jan 15, 2013

      Katie's Take These days, most Americans spend about an hour choosing a doctor, less time than we spend choosing a car or a refrigerator. Dr. Archelle Georgiou, Physician and Strategic advisor to HealthGrades.com, says that most times, people confuse convenience with quality. When looking for a doctor, many people just wonder …

    • The Point of Acupuncture Mon, Jan 7, 2013

      Katie's Take Acupuncture may be an ancient Chinese practice, but it's only been in the U.S. since the 1970s, and most of us probably don't fully understand what it is or how it works.  In other words, what's the point? (Get it?) While it's still considered an "alternative" form of medicine, it's gaining acceptance in [ …

    • How to Defuse an Argument Instantly Tue, Dec 18, 2012

      Katie's Take Somewhere between Edith and Archie Bunker and June and Ward Cleaver you'll find all the rest of American couples.  Not fighting constantly, but not on a permanent honeymoon, either. The average couple argues 312 times a year.  Sometimes it's about big things like money and child raising, but most of the time …

    • Staying Healthy During the Holidays Tue, Dec 11, 2012

      Katie's Take Between parties, family get-togethers and, for many of us, lots of travel, it's no wonder people are prone to gaining weight during the holiday season. In fact, Americans gain, on average, between one to two pounds from Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I spoke to fitness and Pilates expert Brooke Siler to get a …

    • Is Your Marriage in Trouble? Tue, Dec 4, 2012

      Katie's Take We've all heard the statistics.  Half of all marriages end in divorce, and that number rises to 67% for second marriages. But before you're singing that old country song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," what are the telltale signs that your love is on the rocks, and how can you fix the problem before it's too late? [...]

    • Tips to Finding Love Online Tue, Nov 27, 2012

      Katie's TakeIf you've ever been skittish about trying online dating, here's a statistic that might help you take the plunge: 17% of marriages this year began on the Internet. In fact, at least 40 million Americans have tried online dating. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're all doing it correctly, so we got a few …

    • Recognizing the Signs of Stress Tue, Nov 13, 2012

      Katie's Take Stress is an inevitable part of everyone's life and while many of us just grin and bear it, there is, in fact, a science behind stress …and, believe it or not, we actually need small doses of it to function. I spoke to Cindy Ackrill, who is from the American Institute of Stress [...]

    • The Truth About Celiac Disease and Gluten Thu, Nov 8, 2012

      Katie's Take It seems like every grocery store has a shelf (or several) of gluten free products these days.  It turns out roughly three million Americans suffer from Celiac disease, a disorder which makes it difficult to digest gluten…a protein component found in certain grains. To learn more about the symptoms and consequences …

    • Surviving a Friend Breakup Tue, Oct 30, 2012

      Katie's Take Some friendships last a lifetime, but the truth is most don't.  In fact, the average friendship only lasts seven years. I sat down with psychologist and friendship expert Dr. Irene Levine, author of "Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend," for some tips on how to make an "unfriending" …

    • How to Get Into College Tue, Oct 23, 2012

      Katie's Take As any parent of a high school senior knows, 'tis the season for college applications.  I went through the process once with Ellie and will again next year with Carrie.  Time flies! Turns out college admissions are more competitive than ever.  A million more students are applying compared to 20 years ago, and …

    • Teaching Your Kids About Money Tue, Oct 16, 2012

      Katie's Take At what age should you start to teach your kids about money and personal finance? The truth is, it's never too early.  These are critical skills that we all need, but they aren't a part of the curriculum at most schools which is why it is important for parents to instill good habits [...]

    • What Teachers Wish Parents Knew Tue, Oct 9, 2012

      Katie's Take What role can parents play in helping their child succeed in the classroom? I asked education expert Carol Davis, who says parental involvement is fundamental to a child's education and it's all about striking the right balance and establishing a partnership with teachers early on. Numerous studies have shown …

    • Dating for Single Parents Tue, Oct 2, 2012

      Katie's Take The dating world can be tough for anybody, but dating as a single parent presents some unique challenges. Martine Byer is a psychotherapist and author of "Sex and the Single Parent," and she sat down with me to talk through all the ins and outs of these potentially tricky waters.  First, she discusses [... …

    • Am I Depressed? Tue, Sep 25, 2012

      Katie's Take Remember that old song by the Carpenters, "Rainy Days and Mondays?"  Sometimes feeling down or experiencing a case of the blues can be chalked up to a bad day, but sometimes it's something more serious. Psychotherapist Dr. Ellen McGrath defines depression as a mood disorder that is biological, psychological …

    • Money in Your 20′s Tue, Sep 18, 2012

      Katie's Take When should you start planning for your retirement? The answer is…yesterday.  In short, it's never too early to save for the future. Unfortunately, a third of all Americans don't even have a savings account and just 23% of people under age 29 have a retirement plan. Alexa von Tobel, CEO of the personal [.. …

    • Parenting our Parents Tue, Sep 4, 2012

      Katie's Take If you are currently caring for an elderly relative, you are certainly not alone.  Recent surveys indicate as many as 42 million of us are in that situation, and from health care decisions to navigating the world of assisted living and nursing homes, it can all be a little overwhelming. In this episode [.. …

     

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    • Katie Couric

      Katie Couric is an American journalist and author. She serves as special correspondent …

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