Shopping cart script greatest way to build fast an online store



Author : Fajar.A
You have product, you know market, sell it online. it's easy if you build with shopping cart script. I will tell you how to make it, hope this can be help to make yours online store.


for example you can see at shoppaholicalt.com . an online store selling shoe product, it's have a nice design look and variable module to see, you can build like that one if you track this tutorial, be serious and focus on your business don't spin a wheel of online business, just pick one and focus on it. I believe it can make huge profit for you if you can focus and loyal. So lets get started and finish this thing on short time.



PHP Shopping cart script

First thing we must have to make a website is hosting. These is just practice so you can use free hosting to run it. Use linux free hosting panel this time for our learning ex : unmeteredspace, just sign up and login on cpanel for upload your PHP shopping cart script, those hosting provide great service for host a website and it's free.


Okay, next we must take a domain for the site. You can use sub domain for a while offered by the hosting,but if you ready for real you must have global domain for SEO thing. You can buy domain on several domain hosting site. I recommend use Godaddy So, you have hosting, domain or sub-domain now let's get party started here.. :) 


We use open source scipt because the module they offering very usefull for building and improve our site, I'm sorry i don't explain what plus what min of the open source PHP shopping cart script below, I'll explain it on my next lens but don't be sad I'll sort from the best on top ten list I have searched at google. choose the open source PHP script you want download for free on site below : 


* prestashop
* opencart
* magentocommerce
* cubecart
* agoracart
* zen-cart
* oscommerce
* storesprite
* tomatocart
* vistacart

my online store
shoppaholicalt.com build with opencart, because the module very suitable for running in my lovely country (Indonesia). So we'll use opencart script for sample. Download it, ( I use 1.4.9.1 version ) then unzip to your desktop and don't change anything before we begin.

Open Install.txt to find tutorial about Installing the script. if you can't find it just see the copy below :


-------

INSTALL
-------

1. Upload all the files and folders to your server from the "Upload" folder.

This can be to anywhere of your choice.

e.g. /public_html/store or /public_html


2. If you have a Linux/Unix make sure the following folders and files are writable.

chmod 0755 or 0777 image/
chmod 0755 or 0777 image/cache/
chmod 0755 or 0777 image/data/
chmod 0755 or 0777 system/cache/
chmod 0755 or 0777 system/logs/
chmod 0755 or 0777 download/
chmod 0755 or 0777 config.php
chmod 0755 or 0777 admin/config.php

3. Make sure you have installed a MySQL Database which has a user assigned to it

DO NOT USE YOUR ROOT USERNAME AND ROOT PASSWORD

4. Visit the store homepage


5. Follow the onscreen instructions.


6. Delete the install directory after install is complete.


Now I'll explain you step by step but simple.


On your hosting panel search "MYSQL" link and make the database, you can rename it whatever you want. finish? now click or search a "file manager" link to get through upload page, then see /public_html/ folder. In this folder you must upload all file which you had unzip it and modify the chmod mode as you can see the number at the right page. here is the list you must modify it :


chmod 0755 or 0777 for folder > image/

chmod 0755 or 0777 open folder > image/ then modify it for folder > cache/
chmod 0755 or 0777 same like above (image/data/)
chmod 0755 or 0777 same like above (system/cache/)
chmod 0755 or 0777 same like above (system/logs/)
chmod 0755 or 0777 for folder > download/
chmod 0755 or 0777 search this file > config.php then modify it
chmod 0755 or 0777 open folder > admin/ then modify it for file > config.php

Now open your homepage link, if you use sub-domain from the free hosting site just open that address. next, just following the instruction on your screen it's completely explained about the installation so you can follow up with those guide.


Last thing don't forget to delete your install.txt file on your /public_html folder because if you not remove it someone maybe can reinstall your store and hack it. I almost forgot, you can access your admin page on /admin. Tips for you : I recommend to rename admin folder on /public_html so the others can access your admin page but if you don't want it just make a very strong password to guard it. Hope this simple explanation can help you to provide a great online store.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart Hot couple

Fajar.A

What do you think if 24 years old dancer dating with Jennifer Lopez? 42 years old. This hot topic couple for this time. Casper the name, but his birth name was Beau. He has ton of muscle, shaved head, few tattoos.

The relationship itself make a hot public spotlight. Who does not know Lopez, impossible! begin from a meeting eight month ago as dancers, is it possible to be happy ending?


As for celeb tabloid In Touch's report that Smart could be headed to jail? Well, E! News has confirmed he was arrested and charged with taking part in a highway speed contest, aka a drag race. He is currently out on $26,000 bail. After pleading no contest to the charge in March, he was ordered to do 10 days of community service by his next court date, Jan. 5. He faces up to 90 days in the slammer and a $500 fine if he doesn't finish in time.




Be a smart boy. gotcha..

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and Out

By Adam Dachis

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutThe iPhone is a beautiful device on its own, but with hundreds of millions of iPhones sold it's not particularly unique. Whether you employ a few simply tricks or more complicated alterations, it's easy to put your own custom stamp on your ordinary device. Here's how you can design custom cases, themes, icons, and more to change your iPhone both inside and out.
Our phones have become our go-to devices for both work and play, but they don't always look and operate the way we like. Whether you want to change your iPhone's appearance, enhance its functionality, or both, you have plenty of options. In this post we'll be looking at customization methods for both your iPhone's software and hardware (hence, "inside and out"). As a result, we've broken it up into two sections. "The Inside" section contains information on how to change icons, create custom and specialized wallpapers, and theme your device. "The Outside" section will help you make custom cases, skins, and alter the actual materials that make up your iPhone. Read both or just skip to the one you want.

The Inside

The inside, or the software aspects of your iPhone, are highly customizable—probably more than you even realize. You don't even have to jailbreak your iPhone to perform many customizations (although the more complex changes do). In this section we're going to look at how you can change your home screen icons, get creative with your wallpapers, and completely change the interface as you know it.
How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutBefore we get started you're going to need to download the great and free application iExplorer (works on both Windows and Mac), which will allow you to access your iPhone's file system. You'll want to have this app whether or not you're jailbroken. It's the simplest way to copy and edit files on your device.

Change Your Icons

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutChanging your icons is very simple with iExplorer. You'll need to download existing icons in PNG format or create your own. When I'm looking for existing icons, my first stops are The Icon Factory (be sure to browse for and check out the "Flurry" sets) and deviantART. If you want to make your own, we have a guide that can help you. Once you've got your new icons it's just a matter of replacing the correct files.
To get started, open iExplorer and locate the app icon you want to change. To find the PNG serving as the app icon, you'll need to follow this path:
DEVICE_NAME -> Apps -> APP_NAME -> APP_NAME.app
For example, if I were looking on my iPhone (Dauphine) and for the icon for the app Greplin, this is the path I'd take:
Dauphine -> Apps -> Greplin -> Greplin.app
Once you're browsing the app's resources, you'll have a lot of files to look through. The one you want to find is generally called icon@2x.png. While the name may sometimes vary, in most cases that is the file you're seeking. Simply rename the new 512x512 pixel icon with the name icon@2x.png, delete (or backup and delete) the original icon from the app you're editing, and replace it with the new file. You'll need to repeat this process to edit all of the other icons. This will be tedious if you have a lot of apps, but it's pretty simple and doesn't require a jailbreak to work.

Get Creative With Your Wallpapers

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutYour wallpapers don't have to be a photo that sits behind your apps. You can make them feel like part of the interface as well. For example, you can create shelves, gridded paper (pictured to the right), and even a PacMan board. There are plenty of other options available if you want to make your home screen wallpaper serve a greater purpose.
Of course, you're not limited to what others have created. You can always create your own. All you need to do is take a screenshot of your home screen (by pressing the lock and home buttons at the same time) and email that image to yourself. You can then use that as a template to create a 960x540 pixel wallpaper that will integrate nicely with your icons. If you're not feeling that ambitious but still want something a little more personalized, check out an app called Pimp Your Screen ($1). In addition to providing numerous wallpapers that integrate with your icons, it has a home screen wallpaper building function that will let you add various types of shelves to an image. This way you can create a custom look without the need to dig into Photoshop.
One of the disadvantages to custom-designed wallpapers is that you cannot put spaces between apps or move them anywhere you want on the grid. Fortunately, for jailbreakers, there is a solution. Just purchase and install Gridlock ($2) from Cydia and you'll have the freedom to place icons anywhere you like.

Customize Your Lock Screen

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutThere are plenty of ways to customize your lock screen to make it look the way you want or offer additional functionality. Either way, you need to be jailbroken to do anything beyond changing your lock screen's wallpaper, so be sure to take care of that before proceeding with this section.
Interface customization can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. If you're looking to apply a theme, you can just search for and download Winterboard, along with any themes you want, from Cydia. You'll also find lots of lock screen (and full-on themes) on deviantART that you can download and transfer to your iPhone with iExplorer. If you don't get your themes from Cydia, just make sure you copy them here:
DEVICE_NAME -> Root -> Library -> Themes
Once they're installed, you can simply open Winterboard and apply them. If you want to make a custom theme, rather than use one that already exists, follow our complete guide on theming your iPhone's lock screen.
How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutIf changing the look and feel of your lock screen isn't your primary goal, and you'd like to be more practical, you should check out IntelliscreenX ($10). Although iOS 5 is capable of providing a lot of information on your lock screen, this jailbreak app can do a bunch more. You can toggle settings (e.g. Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.), check the time, see RSS feeds, check the weather, look at your messages, and more. It's a really great app, but is a bit pricey at $10. It does offer a free trial, however, so you can check it out and see if it's worth your money.

Completely Alter Your Interface

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutWhen you want to go all the way and completely change your iPhone's interface, you need to jailbreak and download DreamBoard (Free) from Cydia. It's customization abilities are nothing short of amazing. You can even make your iPhone look like it's running Mac OS X Lion or even Android. Although DreamBoard is a free app, some of the themes will cost money. Also, acquiring DreamBoard themes isn't always a simple process. While you can find some on Cydia, which are very easy to acquire and install, sometimes you'll need to use another application called Theme Outlet.
You can acquire Theme Outline for free on Cydia, just like you'd get any other app, but using it can be kind of a pain if you're looking for something specific. It's less of an app and more of a web site masquerading as an app. Theme Outlet can be slow to use and won't remember where you left off if you ever close it. Despite these annoyances, it has the largest collection of Dreamboard themes and is often the only place to find some of the best (such as the OS X Ultimatum theme mentioned above). If you're looking for interesting themes to try, this is the app you'll want to use. When you buy a theme you'll receive installation instructions over email, as some themes require more work than others. Just follow those instructions and you'll be able to select your new theme in DreamBoard by simply opening the DreamBoard app and choosing it.
One thing that's important to note with DreamBoard is that it makes some pretty hefty alterations. While you shouldn't run into issues, be sure to regularly back up your iPhone in case there's a problem. If something ever goes wrong and you end up with messed up system resources, you'll need to do a full restore to correct the problem and you'll want to have a backup ready.

The Outside

The iPhone is already one of the most beautiful gadgets you can buy. That said, its glass exterior is vulnerable to severe damage and, of course, is identical to millions of others. Here are a few unique ways to customize the exterior of your iPhone to personalize and protect it.

Design a Custom Case

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutYou can always go out and buy one of the countless pre-made iPhone cases, but if you want to get a little more creative you can design one of your own. I did this for my iPhone 4 using Uncommon. Chances are you've seen some of their (very nice) pre-made cases in an Apple Store. For $35, they'll print your design on a minimal case to offer a unique look.
I like Uncommon because I've had a good experience with their case—it's lasted me over a year so far, suffered a few drops, and my iPhone's in great condition. That said, you have some alternatives—many of which are less expensive. My favorite low-budget customized product printer is ArtsCow, who offers some of the weirdest custom-printed items you'd never consider. But they also print custom iPhone cases for only $17 and frequently offer discount and free shipping promotions. While I can't vouch for the quality of the cases, everything else I've gotten from them has held up over the years and the color accuracy of the printing wasn't too bad.
How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutAs for services I haven't tried, you've got a few options that off their own unique benefits. Case-Mate provides image generators created by professional designers so you can create a unique case in a pre-defined style. (You can create custom options as well.) Zazzle has a larger variety of case types to choose from, but some of them cost as much as $40. Like Zazzle, unYOUsual provides a variety of case choices but at a slightly lower price print. GelaSkins offer a product that's very similar to what you'd get with Uncommon, but the cases look like they may offer a slimmer fit. Finally, Infectious offers cases at a lower price of $29 but only prints an image on the back (as opposed to one that wraps around the entire body).
If you really want a highly-customized case, look no further than Etsy. Although their custom request forum (Alchemy) has been "resting" for almost a year, you can generally just search the site for custom iPhone cases and send a message to one of the sellers with your custom request. Many will be open to custom requests, seeing as it's pretty much a guaranteed paycheck.
Finally, you can save a bunch of money by going the DIY route. As we've previously noted, you can print and fold your own iPhone case for just pennies, or make something a bit more reliable out of wool.

Skin Your iPhone

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutLike the temporary tattoos of the iPhone world, skins are a nice way to add a custom design to your device without adding bulk or making an unchangeable commitment to any one look. An iPhone skin also offers some scratch protection, so it's not entirely cosmetic. While these skins won't protect your device in the event of a drop, preventing some scratches is still better than nothing.
Skins are easy enough to find and buy from various web sites, but SkinIt allows you to design your own for $20. You can use any of their existing images as a starting point in their skin designer, or you can upload some of your own. The skin designer tool they provide will also let you customize your design with text and other elements, so you don't have to know how to use software like Photoshop (although we can teach you).
SkinIt is just one of a few options available to you. You should also take a look at GelaSkins and Infectious for more options.

Swap in Custom Hardware

How to Customize Your iPhone, Inside and OutApple's most recent iPhones—the 4 and the 4S—are devices with a beautiful glass backs. Glass isn't exactly the most sturdy material, however, and you may also want a different look. Lucky for you, plenty of other options exist, from metal to wood to carbon fiber.
If you'd prefer a nice metal backing similar to the original iPhone, this Metal iPhone 4 Cover will do the trick. If you're looking for a real wooden backing that completely replaces the glass (and are willing to pay a lot for it), JackBacks can provide both the product and the installation. Material6 offers a similarly pricey option, but with several unique wooden designs. Both Carbon Fiber Gear and Element Case can provide carbon fiber backings.
Basically, you have plenty of options for changing up your iPhone's materials and its look. These are just a few examples, but chances are if you can think of another material you'd prefer to have on your device, you'll be able to find someone who's selling it after a quick web search.

Got any other great great iPhone customizations we missed? Share 'em in the comments

How to Use Your Smartphone to Remotely Send Downloads to Your Home Computer

By Adam Dachis

How to Use Your Smartphone to Remotely Send Downloads to Your Home ComputerSometimes you come across a file you want to download but all you've got is your smartphone. Perhaps it's a standard file, perhaps it's a torrent. Whatever the case may be, it's relatively simple to get your smartphone to tell your home computer to get started on that download from afar. Here's how.

Remotely Download Web-Hosted Files

How to Use Your Smartphone to Remotely Send Downloads to Your Home Computer If you want to download a file to your computer that's hosted somewhere on the web, this is the method you want to use. All you need is an account with Dropbox (our favorite file-syncing tool) and a web browser on your smartphone. To download that file to your home computer from the comfort of your phone, just follow these steps (or watch the video to the left):
  1. Grab the URL of the file you want to download on your smartphone.
  2. Open any web browser on your smartphone and head over to urldroplet.com.
  3. Enter the URL in URL Droplet's only text field and click the "Log In" button.
  4. Log into your Dropbox account and grant access to URL Droplet.
  5. When you're back on the main URL Droplet page, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and see if the file is listed as queued. If not, just add it again via URL Droplet's only text field and click the "Save" button.
  6. It'll take a few minutes for the file to show up in your Dropbox, but when it does it'll be in the root folder and you can use it when you get back to any computer that's syncing your Dropbox folder.
Pretty easy! If you want to see a walkthrough, watch the video above.
Alternatively, if you want to do this with a native iPhone app, download Drop It ($1). For another option, your could set If This Then That to add, for example, emailed file URLs to your Dropbox (learn how to use it with our guide).

Remotely Download Torrents

How to Use Your Smartphone to Remotely Send Downloads to Your Home ComputerThere are a few ways to remotely download torrents, and we have a bunch of guides to help you do it. If you want to stick with the same basic method outlined above, you can send .torrent files remotely to your Dropbox folder. For a little more control, though, you might prefer just using uTorrent's mobile interface to remotely schedule torrents instead:
  1. Grab a copy of uTorrent (if you don't have one already).
  2. Open up uTorrent and edit its Preferences/Settings.
  3. Go to the "Remote" tab and check the box next to "Enable uTorrent Remote".
  4. Enter a unique computer name and a password. If your computer name is accepted and isn't in use by anyone else, you'll be asked to answer a new security question. Fill in your answer and press okay.
  5. Go to remote.utorrent.com in your smartphone's web browser and log in with your computer's name and password.
  6. Press the + button to add a new torrent via URL.
That's all there is to it! For a more detailed walkthrough, see our recent guide to monitoring your BitTorrent downloads from any computer or mobile device.

Remotely Download Files from Usenet

How to Use Your Smartphone to Remotely Send Downloads to Your Home ComputerUsing your smartphone to tell your home computer to remotely download files from Usenet is really easy to do. You just need the right app, SABnzbd+ running on that home computer, and the port SABnzbd+ runs on (8080 by default) forwarded to that computer via your router's admin software. Then you can use the relevant app for your smartphone to remotely schedule downloads. That's the process in a nutshell. Here's the step by step:
  1. Presumably you've already got a Usenet account and set up SABnzbd+, but if not you need to do that.
  2. Forward port 8080 (or whatever port you're using) to the IP address of the computer running SABnzbd+. If you don't know how to do this, read our port forwarding guide.
  3. Now you need an app for your smartphone. If you're using an iPhone, download myNZB ($3). For Android, download, NZBAir ($5), sabdroidplus (Free), NZBDroid (Free, $1), or one of the many other options.
  4. Once you've downloaded your NZB-adding app of choice, go into SABnzbd+ on your computer, grab your API key. You can find it by choosing Config -> General, then scrolling down the page to find the "API Key", and copy it. You can either do this directly on your phone or do it on your computer and send the API key to your phone via email (or whatever method you prefer).
  5. Go into the settings on the app you chose and enter your SABnzbd+ credentials. This will generally include your username, password, and API key. On the iPhone, you'll find this in the myNZB settings in the Settings app—not in the myNZB app. On Android, the location will vary a little because we're not talking about a multiple apps, but you'll find the settings you're looking for by pressing the menu button on your device.
Now you're all set up! You can now use your SAB-compatible app to search for and schedule Usenet downloads with ease.

Got any other clever ways you start your home computer downloading files from afar? Let's hear about it in the comments.

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by Volunteering

By Thorin Klosowski

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringNo matter how good you are at rolling the dice on airplane tickets, vacations are an expensive undertaking. Sure, with careful planning, saving, and budgeting, you may eventually make your way to the beaches of Hawaii and smell the scent of 1,000 pounds of suntan lotion. Or, if you don't feel like spending every cent you can scrape together, you take a volunteer vacation now, and save a bucket of cash in the process.
Photo remixed with staminaplus100 and lovestoned786.
The idea—dubbed "volunteer vacation" by someone who likely watches too much Oprah—is that you work for a non-profit while you're on vacation. Yes, it sounds a bit like work when you're supposed to relax, but the benefits include a considerably lower price tag, tax write-offs, and the nice feeling of helping others out. (I know because I've done it.) Plus, you can still enjoy the relaxing elements of an actual vacation. Let's start with a quick overview of what a volunteer vacation entails, how much it saves, and then walk through how to plan and organize your own volunteer vacation.

Why Would I Spend My Vacation Working?

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringThe idea of working on vacation isn't a popular one for obvious reasons, but take a second and think back to your last vacation. What did you do? How closely did you stick to your itinerary? Did the vacation feel like a vacation? How much more money did you spend then you planned? Often, we look back at a vacation and realize we didn't do anything but shuffle around from one tourist trap to another, and we spend a silly amount of money on (often overpriced) food and drinks because we're on vacation and that's what your do. A volunteer vacation can cut through those headaches while providing you with a more authentic view of the place you're visiting.
Photo by KOMUnews.

You Can Save a Ton of Money

I've never left the country on a volunteer vacation, but I have been on shorter trips in the continental United States. Since I grew up in a small mountain town, mountains themselves have never really appealed to me as a destination on their own, but I like the idea of protecting them. Volunteering with the National Park Service can cut a (admittedly already cheap) $400 vacation cost to zero if you plan it correctly. The last time I ventured into Utah I contacted Utah State Parks and picked up a campground host spot for the week. This saved me about $350 by getting me free camping, park entry, and the ability to write off transportation cost. Not exactly the most gripping tale, but I'm not known as an exciting vacation person. I have known several people who taught English overseas through Global Volunteers and assisted on scientific research through Earthwatch. They all reported back with positive experiences.

You Can Participate in Activities You Wouldn't Normally Consider

It might seem a bit altruistic (heaven forbid!). If you're picturing yourself taking two weeks off from work and travelling across the globe to build houses in third world countries, stop. While that's certainly an option, it's not the only one. You can take any number of volunteer vacations, and you can donate your time in a variety of ways. For instance:
  • You can take care of animals in Ecuador and get your room, in-country travel, food, and more covered.
  • Teach English in Russia for 15 hours a week and get all of your boarding and food costs covered.
  • Cruise in a riverboat down the Amazon surveying pink dolphins to get your food, boarding, and airport pickup covered.
  • Photo by ollie harridge.

    You Can Practice Your Skills or Learn New Ones

    If you have a specialized skill set, a volunteer vacation can be a good way to put your skills to use in another country. For instance, if you're a doctor you can volunteer your skills to a vaccination shelter. If you're a teacher, you can teach. You don't always need special skills though. If you've always wanted to learn more about carpentry, for example, you can build a house on your volunteer vacation. If you're a student, volunteering on a scientific exhibition can add flavor to your resume and experience in the field.

    You Can Write Off What You Do Spend

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringOf course, one of the biggest factors in choosing a vacation is cost. Some volunteer vacations will still require a hefty up-front charge to participate and don't include airfare. Others are totally free while you're participating. The price difference is directly related to the work your doing, the insurance required, and the materials needed. Teaching English to a farmer in Poland isn't all that dangerous, but diving into the sea to film turtles hatching is.
    That said, any money you do pay can be written off as a charitable contribution on your taxes. As a general rule, you can write off any expenses you pay to the organization as long as they're a non-profit. Any non-profit you enroll in will have a 501(c) designation somewhere on the website. You can also search the government's registry to make sure the organization qualifies as tax-deductible. Your airfare, Visa, and travel-related expenses are also tax-deductible if you volunteer an average of eight hours a day.
    If you've decided a volunteer vacation might be a good idea for your next trip, it's time to get to research. Let's look at a few of the sites you can use to find opportunities and verify you're volunteering for an organization you're comfortable at.
    Photo by KOMUnews.

    How to Find a Volunteer Job That's Right for You

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringPlanning volunteer vacations can require a bit more work than you may be used to, depending on how you normally plan your vacations. You won't find a bunch of deal aggregation sites that filter everything for you in a neat pattern. Instead, your best bet is to go directly through the non-profit. Here are a few places to get you started on your search:
    • American Hiking Society: As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to wander off into the American wilderness and go hiking, you might as well improve on the trails and area as you go along. From my own experience, volunteering with the American Hiking Society is a blast for a number of reasons. If you're a beginner camper, it sticks you with people who know what they're doing so you can learn the ropes. The work itself is as simple as constructing steps or transporting vegetation. You pay a $245 membership fee, but everything is free, including meals, boarding, and park fees.
    • World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: This one is simple: work on a farm and get free boarding and food for your stay. You can do this around the world and for the most part, you know exactly what to expect. It's not easy work, but it might be worth it for the savings.
    • Habitat for Humanity: Remember when we mentioned building houses earlier? Right, this is where you volunteer to do it. Experience isn't as necessary but you should be physically capable.
    • Global Volunteer: This site isn't exactly the cutting edge of travel booking, but it gets you the information you need. As the name suggests, Global Volunteer is best for global trips and is at its best at providing information about volunteering in Africa and Asia. The work ranges from teaching English to building homes.
    • Sierra Club: If you're the type of person to spend your vacations outdoors, the Sierra Club's offering might be appealing. They usually cover the rooms, food, and materials you need, but they can get pretty costly. The benefit? On top of volunteering you also get to surf in the oceans off New Zealand or service trails in Hawaii.
    • Idealist: Idealist is a massive database of volunteer opportunities from around the globe. It's not geared directly toward volunteer vacations, but as a search engine, it's a good place to start and find the non-profits working in the country you're interested in visiting. You can find temporary volunteer opportunities that offer housing and food.
    • VAOPS: The site is not pretty, but what it does, it does well. Instead of concentrating on the middleman (and adding cost), VAOPS gives you links directly to the charities so you can plan through them. This means you can find zero cost trips easily. Transitions Abroad is a similar service.
    • STA Travel: If you're a student or teacher, you can use the already cheap STA Travel to find and book a volunteer vacation. These are typically on the pricier side, but include more "adventure" style vacations where you're chasing down sharks for rescuing turtles for a week.
    If you're using one of the above search engines, keep in mind it's possible to use them as a suggestion as opposed to a booking agent. If you find a cause you're interested in and a location you'd like to go, try visiting the non-profit itself to see if you can schedule directly through them.
    If you are planning on leaving the country, don't forget that aside from a Visa, you also might need vaccinations. The CDC provides a list of what you need. You should also do a little research into the non-profit to make sure it's legit. Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and The Better Business Bureau are good places to research before making plans.
    Now that we have an outline of the resources available, let's go ahead and plan a sample trip and see how much money we can save in the process.

    Book a Trip to Hawaii and Save $1,000

    While I've done smaller jaunts in North America, I've never gone for the full-force two-three week volunteer vacation across the globe. Personally, I've always had a desire to visit and work at the Chernobyl disaster site in Ukraine, but since I imagine most people don't share that desire, let's go with something a bit more exciting: Let's plan a volunteer vacation to Hawaii.

    Step 1: Find a Volunteer Opportunity in Hawaii

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringLet's start with some quick numbers. An average price for a hotel on one of the islands of Hawaii is around $100 a night (though you could easily find a more expensive hotel). A flight will cost about $850-$900 from the U.S. during most times of the year. So for a trip to Hawaii for one person and not included meal expenses we're looking at around $1,450.
    Searching the sites above, I came up with two appealing options:
    • Sierra Club's hiking and service in Kauai ($945 + airfare): This trip requires moderate work on trails in a national park across a seven-day period and includes meals, in country transportation, and boarding. The work takes about eight hours a day and involves picking up trash, moving rocks for trail posts, and removing exotic plants. Three of the days are devoted heavily to work, while the rest of your time can be spent however you see fit. It's more expensive than the cost of a hotel, but gets you to the outdoors with people who know what they're doing.
    • American Hiking's Iao Valley State Park vacation ($245 + airfare): This trip also requires some moderate work on trails in a state park. You will be doing the same type of work as the Sierra Club for about eight hours each day. The price includes meals, permits, and boarding. As the cheaper option, this is the most appealing. A shared cabin isn't a hotel, but if you're in Hawaii, you shouldn't be spending too much time indoors anyway.
    Deciding on the location and volunteer work is just the first step. Unlike a regular vacation, volunteer work requires you to apply to make sure you're capable of doing the work. This application process typically takes a week and can be submitted online. These aren't hard hitting questions. They typically cover your experience, physical condition, and volunteer history. Not having experience doesn't immediately bar you from participating, but the application process works to vet people who might be in over their head. Make no mistake about it, this will be work no matter what type of volunteering you do.
    Before you settle on your plan, request an information packet and itinerary for your visit. This will help you make your final decision and guarantee no surprises will ruin your trip.
    Once you hear back from the non-profit and are accepted, you can book your flight through any channel of your choosing. If you're getting picked up at the airport by the volunteer service they'll give you a time slot to shoot for. The same goes for the returning flight. Check out ultimate travel hacking guide for a few useful tricks to get cheap tickets.

    Step 2: Figure Out What You Need

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringWorking in a foreign place is difficult enough as it is, but doing it without the proper gear is going to make your life miserable. You will receive a packing list from the volunteer organization of everything you need. Follow this as closely as possible. In addition to normal vacation items like clothes and a toothbrush, we'll need: a sleeping bag, rain jacket, hiking boots, mosquito repellent, and a day pack for this trip.
    Photo by Nestor Lacle.

    Step 3: What To Do When You Arrive

    For many of these vacations, you get picked up at the airport with a group of other participants on the first day. They take you to the volunteer site and let you unwind before giving you an orientation on the program. Depending on where you are and what type of work you're doing, this will vary from a primer on cultural customs to a brief walk around the work site.
    In our American Hiking Society example, we're not getting picked up at the airport. According to Google Maps, no good bus system gets us from the airport to the volunteer site, so we'll take a cab. At $3 a mile, a cab will cost about $24.
    Once we arrive, we get checked in and go to the cabin to meet the rest of the volunteers. For the next week, we'll be cleaning up trails, taking hikes, and enjoying the wilderness of Hawaii. Meals are provided by our host, as is a plan for every day of the week. Sure, a big chunk of our day is work, but at least we're in a great location.

    The Final Cost Breakdown

    Before we break down the cost, we need to add a meals to the regular vacation. For three meals at an estimate of $10 a meal, we can add an additional $200 to the minimum cost. Every trip is going to net different results, but it's a fair starting point.
    But we're not done yet. We volunteered for the full duration of our stay in Hawaii so the entire trip is tax deductible.
    Donations to the American Hiking Society are completely tax deductible. This includes the plane fare, cab, and any additional fees incurred. For a full list of what you can deduct from your volunteer vacation, check out the IRS Publication 526 or get in touch with a tax professional. Your tax situation is different from mine, but for someone like me, a $1,100 tax deduction can add an estimated $400 to my rebate. This drops our basic cost to $700. Not bad for a week long trip to Hawaii.

    Volunteer Vacation: $700

    Regular Vacation: $1,650


    Volunteering on your vacation isn't for everyone. Nor is it for every trip you take. It is a good way to explore a part of the world you would not otherwise see or be able to afford. If you're a student, it's a great way to get experience in the field by volunteering on a science expedition. Even as a working adult, these experiences are worth your resume. Personally, I see it as a way means to go on a trip and interact directly with a culture or landscape without the need for rental cars, bus schedules, or complicated itineraries. Plus, if worked right, it's a heck of a lot cheaper.

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the Web

By Whitson Gordon

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebFace it: Google runs your life. The search giant turned web ecosystem owns your email, calendar, and even your voicemails. Your most important data lives on Google's servers. What you may not realize is that, despite the quality of Google's products, someone else is doing it better—and placing all your eggs in Google's basket isn't necessarily the best thing. Here's a look at alternative services you can use in place of Google's webapps.
Photo remixed from originals by Jan Kranendonk (Shutterstock) and Alfonso de Tomas (Shutterstock).
You might want to move away from Google entirely, whether you're tired of things like the Google Plus-ification of your search results or the fact that Google's mining ridiculous amounts of data and selling you to advertisers, or maybe you're just plain tired of Google creating services it doesn't actually improve over time. You may scoff at the idea of using Bing or other less popular competitors, but they're quite good—sometimes even better—than Google. We've just become too entrenched to notice.
If you want to take a serious look at the alternatives, we did some digging and a lot of experimentation to find the best alternatives to Google's most popular services (and we also asked you guys to share your favorites). Most of these services are still from big companies, like Microsoft or Yahoo!, but we've tried to include a few services off the beaten path as well. The fact of the matter is just that the highest quality services around are going to be from the companies with the most resources. Below, we've listed the best Google alternatives in each category, as well as a few runners-up we think are worth checking out.

The Best Search Alternative: DuckDuckGo

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebGoogle Search, while great, isn't without some big annoyances. From the new Google+ results on your search page to the Instant Preview layout to its constant desire to change your search terms to what it thinks is better, you might just be ready to switch to something new. Our favorite alternative is DuckDuckGo, a search engine that focuses on your privacy, while also packing itself with great features for power users, like searching specific sites with a bang (e.g. !lifehacker jailbreak iphone), keyboard shortcuts that help you navigate your results, and even integration with other services like Wolfram Alpha for quick answers to certain things (like unit conversions, calculations, and other facts).
Of course, DuckDuckGo falls short in a few areas. For all the engine's cool features, it still doesn't have some of the basic features other popular search engines will give you, like the ability to narrow your search down by date. If you find that DuckDuckGo isn't giving you what you need, you can try one of the more traditional search engine alternatives below.
Other Alternatives: Bing, which offers related searches and your search history in the sidebar; Yahoo!, which offers links to the cached version of a page; and Ask, which can answer a lot of other questions without the need to sift through results (such as release dates for movies and video games). Of course, you could also try choosing your search engine based on what you're searching for.

The Best Gmail Alternative: Hotmail

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebGmail, frankly, is far and away our favorite web-based email. But if you're truly committed to ditching Google—even your precious Gmail account—you could do much worse than Hotmail.. We've compared the two before, and not much has changed since last year. Hotmail has some pretty cool features, like one-click filters, SkyDrive integration for attachments, and embedded content, not to mention some Gmail favorites like conversation view and a great spam filter. Even its Bing-powered email search is very good, offering suggestions for certain operators but offering a ton more (many of which are the same as Gmail's). It also has a great set of keyboard shortcuts, just like Gmail, that let you control the interface without touching your mouse. Also like Gmail, you can use it to manage your other, non-Hotmail mail accounts. If we weren't in love with Gmail, this is the first place we'd go to host our email.
Other Alternatives: Yahoo! Mail, which requires a paid account for things like POP access or email forwarding; iCloud for seamless syncing with your iPhone; or Zoho Mail, which is ad-free and has a more desktop client-like interface but doesn't support saved searches or advanced filters.

The Best Google Calendar Alternative: Zoho Calendar

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebZoho Calendar is the only calendar application that can really stack up to Google Calendar. It has everything we love about GCal, like a "smart add" feature that lets you add events with one line of text, the ability to search your calendars, an "agenda" view that shows you just your upcoming events without the grid, and more. The interface is very similar to Google, so migration is dead simple, and sharing your calendars with others is as easy as copying a given calendar's link.
That said, we want to give a shout out to our other favorite: simple pen and paper calendars. When we asked you guys what your favorite Google alternatives are, many of you noted that you'd use a paper planner over Google Calendar, and we don't blame you. Paper calendars are about as quick and simple as they come: it's easy to add events, and super quick to browse through your months (even easier than digital calendars, really). Alternatively, if you still want a digital calendar, you can always just use a calendar app on your phone and store it locally. There's no reason you have to sync it to the web if you always have your phone with you.
Other Alternatives: Hotmail Calendar, which has a beautiful interface and Hotmail integration but doesn't have a search feature (seriously); AOL Calendar, which surprisingly has a nice interface and a fair amount of features, and 1Calendar, which is light on advanced features like sharing but has a very nice interface, Facebook integration, and an upcoming mobile app. Yahoo! Calendar is not really worth your time due to its frustratingly bad interface.

The Best Google Maps Alternative: Bing Maps

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebAs much as I hate having three services from the same company in this list, I couldn't find anything I liked better than Bing Maps. Its interface is not only clean, but smooth as heck—even smoother than Google Maps—and its Streetside view is arguably even better than Google's Street View, too. It's super easy to use, and the images are all very high-res, meaning you can find what you're looking for quite nicely (though it also has a 360 view if you prefer something more akin to Google Street View). It also has live traffic views, satellite images, and great pages for businesses that you find via the Maps search. And, of course, you can save places you want to visit later, as well as find driving, public transit, or walking directions to just about anywhere. Zooming in with the mouse wheel is a bit overagressive, but if you can get past that, it's a fantastic alternative to Google Maps—in fact, I might even like it better.
Other Alternatives: Mapquest, which has a cool "MQ Vibe" feature that helps you find the best restaurants, shopping, and other activities in a specific area (but only works in the US); OpenStreetMap, which is community-driven and has lots of plugins for things like directions and 3D views; and Yahoo! Maps, which frankly isn't worth your time compared to other service, and lacks in a lot of basic features like public transit directions and saving your home location.

The Best Google Reader Alternative: NetVibes

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebEven if you aren't looking to ditch Google Reader, you should check out NetVibes. You can add and read feeds just like Google Reader, though it also has a really cool widget view that turns your RSS feeds into a more visual, newspaper-like layout in your browser. You can give higher preference to certain sites, see the top stories, and (as with the feed view) see how many articles you haven't read. It'll also link you up with the Twitter accounts of the sites you add, so you can see what they're saying there too. It's also got a bunch of different snazzy themes to choose from, and sharing features coming out of its nose, for sending articles by email, through Facebook and Twitter, and more.
Other Alternatives: NewsBlur is another great alternative to Reader, with a similar (but very desktop client-like) interface, though it could stand to be a bit cleaner. Other than that, there aren't a ton of good, browser-based online RSS services out there, but you can always store your RSS feeds locally on your desktop or phone instead. Feedly is a very popular service worth mentioning, but it does sync with Google, so you aren't truly escaping Google by using it.

The Best Picasa Web Alternative: Flickr

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebThis one's a no-brainer: Flickr is one of the most popular photo sharing sites on the net, and that's because it's very well put together. While Picasa has Google integration and 1GB of free space, Flickr lets you license the photos as you see fit, and has a bunch of really cool social features that get you in touch with like-minded photographers (and gives others the chance to see your work). It also has a built-in image editor for you to tweak your photos, which is pretty great.
Other Alternatives: SmugMug, which provides a beautiful, customizable interface for viewing your photo collection, though lacks the community that makes Flickr so strong; and Dropbox, which is not only a dead simple way to get your photos in the cloud, but also offers a barebones album view for showing them to your friends.

The Best Google Docs Alternative: Office Web Apps

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the WebThis is another area that Google wouldn't win even if it were in the picture. Microsoft's Office Web Apps let you edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations from its web interface, designed after the Office desktop programs. It has the ribbon, built-in support for Microsoft SkyDrive, and tons of collaboration features for working on documents with your friends and co-workers. Plus, since it's made by Microsoft, compatibility with Office documents is top-notch, which you won't get with Google Docs.
Other Alternatives: Zoho Docs, which has some neat formatting features, collaboration features, and a ribbon-less interface (if you aren't a Microsoft fan); and Evernote, which isn't an Office suite per se, but a webapp that you guys mentioned was your first go-to for online document editing.

The Best Google Voice Alternative: Phonebooth

Going Google-Free: The Best Alternatives to Google Services on the Web There is no true Google Voice alternative on the market. When you look at the feature set and the price, Google Voice is really the only service of its type, and once you use it, it's hard to pull away. If you absolutely must, though, the most comparable is probably Phonebooth. They have a free service that gives you a local phone number for free, lets you forward calls to your different phones, and transcribe voicemails, just like Google Voice. The free version gets you 200 minutes of inbound calling per month, with extra minutes costing 3¢ each. You can't record any of your calls, nor can you make any outbound calls on the free service. You also can't send SMS messages from that number or from your browser (though you could always use a service like DeskSMS instead). You can also upgrade Phonebooth to the paid, $20/month plan which includes unlimited minutes, outgoing calls, and more business-oriented features.
Other Alternatives: Google Voice has no true alternatives. You can try some similar, but not equal, services like Line2, which adds a second line to your mobile device and can forward your calls for $10 a month; or RingCentral, which is pretty expensive and only available for iPhone (and also doesn't include an SMS service).

This is far from a comprehensive list of Google's services or the alternatives out there, but these were our favorites after lots of testing. We wish there had been a few more independent services worth featuring, but they're surprisingly hard to find (that is, if you care about a good feature set). Of course, if you want to see even more, check out our previous Ask the Readers on the subject, or share your own favorite alternatives in the comments below.

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by Science

By Adam Dachis

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceHair grows back thicker when you shave it! Reading in dim light turns you blind! Peeing on a jellyfish sting will soothe the pain! The way our bodies work is a bit of a mystery, and our desire to unlock its secrets has led to a vast amount of misinformation. Many of these false notions are more widely believed than the truth. We took our healthy skepticism and a bunch of research to find the truth behind some of the most common myths about our bodies. Here's what we learned.
Title image remixed from originals by Z-art (Shutterstock), Leremy (Shutterstock), and myVector (Shutterstock).
Note: Knowledge is power, so as we see it, misinformation makes us weak. Our myth-busting series aims to root out common myths so you can make better, more informed decisions.

Myth 1: Body Hair Grows Back Thicker When You Shave It

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceYou might remember that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry decides to shave his chest despite warnings that it will grow back twice as thick. Although the myth proves to be true on television, it's very much false in the real world. If shaving caused hair to grow in much thicker, balding men would be shaving their heads for hair loss prevention. Children's health researcher Rachel C. Vreeman and assistant professor of pediatrics Aaron E. Carrol put this myth to rest:
Strong scientific evidence disproves these claims. As early as 1928, a clinical trial showed that shaving had no effect on hair growth. More recent studies confirm that shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth. In addition, shaving removes the dead portion of hair, not the living section lying below the skin's surface, so it is unlikely to affect the rate or type of growth. Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the ends of unshaven hair, giving an impression of coarseness. Similarly, the new hair has not yet been lightened by the sun or other chemical exposures, resulting in an appearance that seems darker than existing hair.
Basically, shaved hair feels coarse and that leads you to believe it's thicker. In reality you're just fooling yourself and your hair remains the same.

Myth 2: Calories Counting Is All That Matters for Weight Management

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceWe might like to believe that calories-in-equals-calories-out is a sufficient weight loss theory, but that means we have to accept our bodies are pretty simple. While consuming fewer calories can certainly have an impact, not all foods have the same impact once we stuff them down our throats. If you want to think about it in a very simple way, consider the difference between a candy bar and a cucumber. They taste different, they consist of different nutritional elements, and are not the same thing. It doesn't make sense that they'd be used by your body in the same way.
The problem with the idea of calories being the only necessary metric is that we think of a calorie as a physical thing. Calories are just a means of measuring heat, and they weren't initially a term used in reference to food. A calorie, according to Wikipedia, "approximates the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius." Basically, calories are a measurement and not something your body uses for fuel. What your body does use is what it finds in the foods and liquids it digests. If you put crap in your body, you're not going to be better off just because of a low-calorie rating.
The way your body processes sugar is an excellent example of how different foods yield different results. While the idea that health can come from eating a magic number of calories each day, the reality is that foods and your body are more complex. Pay attention to the composition of the foods you eat and you'll wind up with much better results.
Photo by Victor Hertz.

Myth 3: You Need Eight Hours of Sleep Per Day

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceWe're told we need to sleep eight hours each night, and while that's true for some it isn't true for all. The Hindustan Times points to a European study that showed people who possessed a gene known as ABCC9 could sleep for significantly fewer hours than the average person. Finding the same gene in fruit flies, the scientists found that by manipulating it they could also manipulate the amount of time the fruit flies spent in a restful state. When we asked you how much sleep you require, the results varied quite a bit. For some, eight hours was necessary. For others, it was too much. Your experiences match this study.
Additionally, Wired Magazine profiled a chemical called Orexin A that is believed to work as a sleep replacement. It's already present in humans in limited amounts, and when depleted causes us to feel tired. Since its discovery, Orexin A has been fashioned into a nasal spray (for testing purposes) to find out if it can be used as a treatment for narcolepsy. In a study at UCLA, a few scientists decided to make some tired monkeys snort the chemical:
The monkeys were deprived of sleep for 30 to 36 hours and then given either orexin A or a saline placebo before taking standard cognitive tests. The monkeys given orexin A in a nasal spray scored about the same as alert monkeys, while the saline-control group was severely impaired.
While information about Orexin A is still rather new, it points to the possibility that sleep may not be as relevant as we think it is. Either way, while eight hours of sleep isn't a bad recommendation it is definitely not a necessity for everyone.
Photo by Joi Ito.

Myth 4: Reading in Dim Light Ruins Your Eyes

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceReading in dim light is supposed to be bad for you, which is somewhat evidenced by a surviving bedside lamp and book light industry. If not, you've certainly been told to turn on a light when reading in the near-dark. While reading without sufficient lighting can cause eye strain, according to children's health researcher Rachel C. Vreeman and assistant professor of pediatrics Aaron E. Carrol it won't cause any serious and permanent damage:
The majority consensus in ophthalmology, as outlined in a collection of educational material for patients, is that reading in dim light does not damage your eyes. Although it can cause eye strain with multiple temporary negative effects, it is unlikely to cause a permanent change on the function or structure of the eyes. Even in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease that features inflammation in certain glands of the body), decreased functional visual acuity associated with strained reading improves when they stop reading. One review article on myopia concludes that increased use of one's eyes, such as reading in dim light or holding books too close to the face, could result in impaired ocular growth and refractive error. The primary evidence cited was epidemiological evidence of the increased prevalence of myopia and the high incidence of myopia in people with more academic experience. The author notes that this hypothesis is just beginning to "gain scientific credence." In the past reading conditions involved even less light, relying on candles or lanterns, so increased rates of myopia over the past several centuries does not necessarily support that dim reading conditions are to blame. In contrast to that review, hundreds of online expert opinions conclude that reading in low light does not hurt your eyes.
For more information on the studies mentioned above, read this.
Photo by Giles Cook.

Myth 5: Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting will Sooth the Pain

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceThe popular TV show Friends once had an episode where Monica was stung by a jellyfish and Joey remembered that urinating on the sting would soothe the pain. This was a situation for comedy—as the show was a sitcom, after all—but it still helped to propagate the myth that peeing on your friends is a good idea during the right situation. It's not. Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg, authors of Why Do Men Have Nipples?, explain:
The following guideline can be applied to most jellyfish stings: The patient should remove any visible tentacles, using gloves if possible. The area of the sting should be rinsed with household vinegar. The acetic acid of the vinegar can block discharge of the remaining nematocysts (stinging cells) on the skin and should be applied liberally. If vinegar is not available, salt water can be used to wash off the nematocysts. In laboratory tests, urine, ammonia, and alcohol can cause active stinging cells to fire, which means applying them has the potential to make a minor sting worse, so urinating on a jellyfish sting is both gross and painful.
So if you're going to pee on anyone, make sure it's for your mutual enjoyment. Jellyfish are not a good excuse.
Photo by Sam Howzit.

Myth 6: Your Slow Metabolism Makes You Fat

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceWhen you have a fast metabolism, your body is burning more calories. That means that fit and healthy people have faster metabolisms, right? Not necessarily. ABC News interviewed Dr. Jim Levine, an obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic, who studied the human metabolism in both thin and heavy people. What he found was the opposite of the myth we believe. Referring to lean patient Kathy Strickland and heavier patient Dawn Campion, he said:
Dawn's numbers are actually higher because we find continuously is that people with weight problems who have obesity have a higher basal metabolism compared to people who are lean. Your basal metabolism is the calories you burn to keep your body going, so if your body is bigger of course your basal metabolism is greater. If your body is smaller your basal metabolism is less.
Dr. Levin inferred that the weight problems in his patients was due less to the speed of their metabolism and more due to their sedentary lifestyles. That is, of course, only one part of the equation. Gaining unwanted weight can stem from an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and a number of other problems as well. It's a complicated problem, and your metabolism isn't necessarily to blame.
Photo by Tony Alter.

Myth 7: You'll Catch a Cold from Cold (and Wet) Weather Conditions

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceDid your mother ever tell you to put on a jacket or you'll catch a cold? Did you ever feel like you were coming down with something nasty after taking a dip in cold water only to be exposed to freezing air? While your comfort levels may have been reduced, you can't actually catch a cold from feeling cold. It's a virus—rhinovirus, to be exact—and you need to catch it through transmission. Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg, authors of the book Why Do Men Have Nipples?, explain:
Cold or wet weather does not cause a cold, but nobody seems to want to accept this. The is common cold is caused by a virus. These viruses are everywhere and it is difficult to avoid them. When you are exposed to someone who has a cold, you are more likely to get ill yourself, so be careful about close contact and definitely wash your hands. Not getting enough sleep or eating poorly can also reduce your resistance to infection. Remember that antibiotics won't fight your everyday cold. Antibiotics work only against bacteria. To take care of a cold, rest, eat well, and a little chicken soup couldn't hurt.
But if that's true, why do people contract a cold more often in the Winter? Doctors don't have a certain answer, but according to the New York Times there are a few working theories. Because colds are spread by transferring the virus from one person to another, you need to be in contact with other people. People spend more time indoors during the Winter, and so you often find yourselves 1) around them, and 2) in an enclosed space. If one person gets sick in a household, office, or wherever, there's a good chance that virus will spread. As you should any time of year, keep your distance from the contagious.
Photo by Faith Goble.

Myth 8: More Heat Escapes Through Your Head

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceHeat rises, and your head is generally warm, so it would stand to reason that walking around outside with your head uncovered isn't the best plan if you want to stay nice and toasty. While that idea seems to make sense, you're not going to lose more heat through your head than you will from pretty much any other part of your body. According to Children's health researcher Rachel C. Vreeman and assistant professor of pediatrics Aaron E. Carrol, wearing a hat will just keep your head warmer:
This myth probably originated with an old military study in which scientists put subjects in arctic survival suits (but no hats) and measured their heat loss in extremely cold temperatures. Because it was the only part of the subjects' bodies that was exposed to the cold, they lost the most heat through their heads. Experts say, however, that had this experiment been performed with subjects wearing only swimsuits, they would not have lost more than 10% of their body heat through their heads. A more recent study confirms that there is nothing special about the head and heat loss. Any uncovered part of the body loses heat and will reduce the core body temperature proportionally. So, if it is cold outside, you should protect your body. But whether you want to keep your head covered or not is up to you.
For more information on the studies mentioned, read this.
Photo by Jenny Downing.

Myth 9: High Cholesterol Causes Heart Disease

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by Science Until writing this article, I believed high cholesterol was the primary contributing factor towards heart disease. It's been a myth I've been told my entire life because I'm prone to cholesterol problems and have watched my levels very carefully since I was a child. According to Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, and many others, the data doesn't consistently link high cholesterol with heart problems. It seems the real culprit is more commonly high blood pressure, and cholesterol problems may have found themselves grouped in because the two issues often appeared together. This doesn't mean you want higher levels of cholesterol (with the exception of your HDLs), but that if you're worrying about a heart attack it's not the first sign of trouble.
Photo by Healthy Living.

Myth 10: It's Dangerous to Wake a Sleepwalker

10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by ScienceIt's actually dangerous to not wake a sleepwalker, but many have believed this myth for ages because, perhaps, a few of them have gotten smacked when they woke up their startled somnambulatory friends. Sleepwalkers are certainly prone to feeling that surprise when they don't wake up in their beds but, rather, at the outer limits of their camping grounds. (Oh wait, that was me when I was 10.) Because this is so disorienting, many woken sleepwalkers won't know who you are and become frightened. That said, letting them just walk wherever they want is far less safe than a little fear. The New York Times interviewed Dr. Ana C. Krieger, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at New York University, who suggested that the best thing to do is guide a sleepwalker back to bed. Wake them if you have to, but better to just help them get to where they should be in the first place.
Photo by Peter Hess.
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