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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

Loneliness has been linked to depression and other health problems. Now, a study says it can also spread. A friend of a lonely person was fifty-two percent more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. And a friend of that friend was twenty-five percent more likely to do the same.

Earlier findings showed that happiness, obesity and the ability to stop smoking can also spread like infections within social groups.

The findings all come from a major health study in the American town of Framingham, Massachusetts.

The study began in nineteen forty-eight to investigate the causes of heart disease.

Since then, more tests have been added, including measures of loneliness and depression.

The new findings involved more than five thousand people in the second generation of the Framingham Heart Study. The researchers examined friendship histories and reports of loneliness. The results established a pattern that spread as people reported fewer close friends.

For example, loneliness can affect relationships between next-door neighbors. The loneliness spreads as neighbors who were close friends now spend less time together. The study also found that loneliness spreads more easily among women than men.

Researchers from the University of Chicago, Harvard and the University of California, San Diego, did the study. The findings appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

The average person is said to experience feelings of loneliness about forty-eight days a year.

The study found that having a lonely friend can add about seventeen days. But every additional friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent, or two and a half days.

Lonely people become less and less trusting of others. This makes it more and more difficult for them to make friends — and more likely that society will reject them.

John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago led the study. He says it is important to recognize and deal with loneliness. He says people who have been pushed to the edges of society should receive help to repair their Social Networks.

The aim should be to aggressively create what he calls a “protective barrier” against loneliness.

This barrier, he says, can keep the whole network from coming apart.

And that’s the VOA Special English Health Report. You can find transcripts and MP3s of all of our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also post your comments and read what others are saying. And you can find us on YouTube and Twitter at VOA Learning English.

(Adapted from a radio program broadcast 06Jan2010)

Duration : 0:4:3

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Video commentary about the latest news including unemployment in July, Antoine Dodson’s defense of his sister, social security becoming a liability, a record amount people on food stamps, mass layoffs and more economic news.

Read my commentary

http://demcad.blogspot.com/

U6 unemployment

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm

Jobs Picture Worsens With 131,000 Losses; 9.5% Rate

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38590746

New claims for jobless benefits rise to 479K

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100805/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

Food stamp use hit record 40.8m in May

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/08/05/food_stamp_use_hit_record_408m_in_may/

BAE Systems to lay off more than 1K workers in Sealy

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/08/02/daily29.html

Cypress Bioscience lays off 86 percent of work force, cuts personalized medicine unit

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9HCP2L00

Siemens to Axe 2,000 IT Jobs in Germany

http://www.manufacturingdigital.com/sectors/telecoms-technology/siemens-axe-2000-it-jobs-germany

Boeing to Cut 800 Jobs from Long Beach Workforce

http://www.latimes.com/ktla-boeing-job-cuts,0,5940548.story

Expedia to expand Mo. facility, add up to 500 jobs

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HDERIO0.htm

Unhappy robber: Gunman calls restaurant to gripe

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/unhappy-robber-gunman-calls-582832.html

Social Security in the red this year

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/5/social-security-red-first-time-ever/

US Postal Service loses $3.5 bln in third quarter

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0517225620100805

Antoine Dodson who helped his sister after a suspected rapist attacked her http://www.nationalturk.com/en/antoine-dodson-attempted-rape-victims-brother-overnight-sensation-81243567

Duration : 0:5:19

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When it comes to food, I am no gourmet expert. I do however know what I like. Now there are many foods that I love and really like but when it comes down to it one of my Favorite foods has to be Hamburgers!

Now I have been all over and while I have been to some really great Burger Joints in Upstate NY and a few other states, I have spent allot of my life on Long Island in New York. There are many great places to eat here on Long Island but when it comes to Hamburgers I have two favorite places.

The first is “All American Hamburger Drive” in 4286 Merrick Rd Massapequa, NY 11758 http://allamericanhamburger.us

this place has been around as long as I can remember. As a kid growing up every trip home from Jones Beach always ended with a stop at this old fashion Burger Joint. Their is always a line outside of All American but the wait is worth it. They have two Burgers I love Their Quarter pounder with Cheese and their Double Double which is a double Burger with double cheese. I have been trying to figure out which one I like better for years. I have had fun trying but have not figured it out yet, If I ever Figure it out I will let you all know ! All American also has some of the best Fries, Onion Rings, Knishes and Milk Shakes I have ever had!

Now where All American Hamburger Drive In sells a fast food style Burger and I love them, There is also another Style Burger which I love too and that is the Bar Burger! Their are many really great places on Long Island that sell some really Great Bar Burgers but as the old saying goes when it comes to the best “their can be only one”!

My Favorite Long Island Bar Burger I have had so far has got to be from the “Triangle Pub” 381 Old Montauk Hwy Eastport, NY 11941 I have been to this place a bunch of times over the years and their Burgers are always Great! Now I can only speak about their large Burgers (Never got one of the small ones). The Triangle Pub is known by many across Long Island for its Giant Burgers and Giant Glasses of Ice Cold Beer! There is not much to say about the place as I have never had anything there beside the Beer and large Burger meal. The people are friendly, The service is good, The Location is Nice and the Giant Burger and Beer Combo with French fries or onion rings is incredible. I love stopping by either for dinner or lunch !

Like I said before I am not a food expert I just know what I like. I have not eaten every where on Long Island so if you know of a place that you think serves better Burgers then the two I have just told you about then let me know what they are called and where they are located and I will be there!

I also really Like Chicken Wings!!! L.J. James www.americanbikerx.com

LJ James toils at a collection agency LJ James has takent many years working to become a Debt Collection specialist

One of the few restaurants in the country to be immortalized in a Sinatra song, the Pump Room in Chicago is now a hot spot once again. The Pump Room was one of the first quality restaurants to open in Chicago after the end of Prohibition, and soon became a Windy City icon. In addition to Sinatra (who sang the praises of the place in the classic song Chicago), the place was a favorite hangout of a lot of famous people including Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Ronald Reagan, Bette Davis and numerous others. The Pump Room, named after a spa in Bath, England, remained open long after the giants that once graced its premises had left. Unfortunately, time took its toll on the legendary establishment, and its culinary fare was soon surpassed by the fine dining scene exploding in Chicago and characterized by uber-chef Charlie Trotter.

The Pump Room opened in’38 under the ownership and management of Ernie Blyfield. He took the name from an’th century London pub favored by celebrities and nobility, including Queen Anne. The original pub got its name from the hot drinks pumped into the cocktails of its stylish clientele.

The Chicago Pump Room was a smashing success from the time it opened. It’s most desired table reserved for ‘A list’ celebrities was Booth #1, which for a time may have been the most sought after table at any dining establishment in the country. Booth #1 at various times hosted Frank Sinatra and his associates, Bogart and Bacall, Judy Garland and daughter Liza Minnelli, John Barrymore and countless others.

Blyfield died in’50, but the Pump Room continued to be the preferred Chicago destination for the biggest names in show biz. A new era of celebrities held court there including opera singer Beverly Sills, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, film producer Robert Evans, Eddie Murphy and others. A funny story involving the Pump Room began when the former drummer for a British progressive rock band was refused entry due to his lack of a jacket. The drummer would use this as inspiration for his next album–’No Jacket Required’ which has sold over– million copies worldwide and established Phil Collins as a solo superstar. After the album’s release, the Pump Room sent Collins an apology–and an appropriate jacket for him to wear on his next trip to town.

The Pump Room experienced a revitalization in the late’90′s when it was purchased by a large restaurant management group. They spent a lot of money to renovate the facility, overhaul the menu and hire a top flight staff. While the Pump Room’s golden era trade mark flaming food served on a sword was a tragedy of city fire codes, the menu is now on par with any in the city serving a sophisticated interpretation of classic American cuisine. In addition to the revamped cuisine, the Pump Room upgraded its wine offering and expanded the bar area.

Current Executive Chef Nick Sutton has continued the restaurant’s tradition of excellence. The big draw of the Pump Room, however, remains the amazing sense of history that the dining room offers. The realization that a who’s who of civilized American culture from Bogart and Clark Gable to Sinatra and Jackie Gleason broke bread in the room is a pretty amazing vibe. The good news is that the Pump Room again offers the quality of food and service worthy of such icons, and is a victory for culinary excellence amid the national infestation of mediocre chain restaurants.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Like I have said before, I am no Gourmet Chef or expert on fine Cruise. I do how ever know what I like. Recently Me and a Buddy of mine stopped at the Meson Ole Dinner in Southampton on Long Island in NY, A Mexican and Spanish Restaurant.

Some of you may know I am a Biker, As any Biker knows some times the greetings we get when we walk into a place can be a look of “Oh No” and a half hearted “can I help you?”, Is it right? Well of course not, but that’s a different article. The Greeting We got at Meson Ole was a very warm friendly one and we felt welcomed in.

The Decor of the place was great and you could almost believe you where some where down in Mexico. We where promptly brought over some Nachos and Salsa and some fresh hot Bread and Butter. We ordered a Pitcher of Sangria, A drink I do not believe I have ever had before but I enjoyed none the less!

We ordered a Bunch of food and the Service was pretty fast. Now even the best service means nothing if the food is not good, Well the food was incredible. We ordered a set up where you made your own Pepper Steak Burritos and also a plate of Ham and Cheese Burritos. It was all made to perfection, The Pepper Steak was served in a separate pan and it was still sizzling when it was placed safely on the table ! I could not have been happier with the taste and preparation of the food! While we where enjoying the meal the waiter made sure we where happy at all times. When the Bread was finished more was served to us. We ate so much ran out of Burrito wraps, That is not a complaint because as soon as it was notice more where quickly brought to the Table.

I eat at many places as I really love to eat, But some times I come across a place like the Meson Ole Dinner where I feel I must share the experience with others! I was happy to find out that the Meson Ole has 8 locations across Long Island NY and two in Naples Florida (That’s a bit of a big jump in the Chains Locations) Good food can sometimes be hard to find, Both Great Food and Great service at one place can be almost imposable to find these days! So If you are a fan of Mexican and Spanish Cuisine check out the Meson Ole Dinners in the Long Island NY area or when you are near Naples, Florida and let me know what you think of them.

Your Bro L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com

LJ toils at a collection agency LJ has spent lots of years working to be a Debt Collection Master