News flashes

Friday, February 5 is National Wear Red Day

February is National Heart Health Month and Friday, February 5 is National Wear Red Day. Women are encouraged to wear read to raise awareness heart disease among women.

According to WomenHeart:

* More women than men die each year of heart disease.

* Women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82% just by leading a healthy lifestyle.

* By taking a few simple steps a day, like brushing with an antibacterial and fluoride toothpaste, women cannot only improve their oral health, but may also help maintain their heart health.

* Heart disease and severe gum disease have a number of common risk factors, which suggests there may be a relationship between the two.

* Female hormones can lead to a higher risk of gum disease.

* Gingivitis, an early form of periodontal disease, affects approximately 75% of adults in the US.

* Up to 30% of American adults suffer from severe forms of periodontal disease.

Read more at American Heart Association's Go Red for Women website.



France considers ban on the burqa


From CNN and NPR.

The veiling of women has been a point of contention between east and west for centuries mainly because westerners view the practice as oppressive.

Now France wants to ban the wearing of the burqa(or burka)in public. The burqa is an all-covering dress worn by some Muslim women, not to be confused with the head scarf, or hijab.

France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy told French lawmakers:

"The problem of the burka is not a religious problem. This is an issue of a woman's freedom and dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of subservience, it is a sign of lowering. I want to say solemnly, the burka is not welcome in France."

Watch CNN video here:


Listen to NPR report here:



A different point of view from feminist writer Naomi Wolfe



New Study on Women and Math Anxiety

From the Associated Press.

Female elementary school teachers who are concerned about their own math skills could be passing that concern along to the girls they teach, according to Sian Beilock, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.

Beilock studied 52 boys and 65 girls in classes taught by 17 teachers, all women.

Student math ability was not related to teacher math anxiety at the beginning of beginning of the school year, but by the end of the year, the more anxious teachers were about their own math skills, the more likely their female students were to agree that, "boys are good at math, and girls are good at reading."

Ninety percent of U.S. elementary school teachers are women.

The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.



Jackson & Perkins presents Disney Princess Rose Collection

Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Snow White are the inspiration for Jackson & Perkins' new Disney Princess Rose Collection.

Love's Kiss is a pink hybrid tea rose inspired by Sleeping Beauty's pink gown. According to J&P, it has a "Strong, damask fragrance."

Beauty Within is a yellow floribunda rose inspired by Belle's (Beauty and the Beast) golden gown. It has a "moderate, spicy fragrance."

Fairest One, inspired by Snow White is red with white undertones with a "light, sweet fragrance."

All roses are $19.95 each. A special collection with one of each is available for $54.95 at jacksonandperkins.com