100Feed: Samsung Launches New iPhone, Facebook Plans To Make Their Own

The global smartphone business has become a two-horse race between Apple and Samsung. Apple (AAPL), obviously, makes the beloved iPhone, but Samsung recently surpassed it to become the largest smartphone maker in the world.

This week, Samsung is launching its latest, greatest phone, the Galaxy S3, in Europe. This phone has a huge screen, much bigger than the iPhone’s, and many early reviewers love it. The S3 will presumably be an even stronger competitor to the iPhone, and it will put more pressure on Apple to release a blockbuster new product when the iPhone 5 arrives later this year.

Meanwhile, Facebook (FB) is poaching ex-Apple engineers to build a smartphone, Nick Bilton of the New York Times reports.

This is the third iteration of Facebook’s smartphone plans–from hardware to software and back to hardware again.

If Facebook is serious about jumping into making smartphones with both feet this time, Facebook investors should be very afraid. Why? Several reasons:

The move would clearly be defensive, not offensive. According to a Facebook employee quoted by Bilton, “Mark [Zuckerberg] is worried that if he doesn’t create a mobile phone in the near future that Facebook will simply become an app on other mobile platforms.” Translation: Facebook is doing this because it thinks it has to, not because it wants to.

Hardware is an extraordinarily difficult, low-margin, commodity business. The only two companies that are doing well right now in hardware are Apple and Samsung. Both have been making and selling hardware for decades. Lots of other companies that have been making and selling hardware for decades are cratering, such as Research In Motion and Nokia. Palm already cratered.

The smartphone “platform” business is already dominated by Apple and Google (Android), and there are already a whole lot of also-rans. Amazon has entered the platform game. Samsung may “fork” Android and enter the platform game. Microsoft is desperate to make its new Windows mobile product matter. RIM still has a piece. And so on. If Facebook really wants to build a brand new mobile platform, it will be starting from miles behind the leaders.

Hardware distribution is critically important, and Facebook also faces vast, entrenched competition there. How is Facebook going to get shelf space at the carriers? By offering super-cheap phones? That won’t do wonders for its margins. Is Facebook going to build a network of stores? Is it going to try to circumvent carriers? Google already tried that. Didn’t work.

Although Facebook might want to be a mobile platform, there’s no obvious need for a Facebook phone. There are already a gazillion phones and Facebook is available on all of them as an app or via a browser. Why would anyone want a dedicated Facebook phone, especially if it didn’t run all the apps that run on Apple and Android phones?

A full-fledged hardware business would likely radically reduce Facebook’s profit margins. One of the advantages of Facebook’s current business is that it is extraordinarily profitable. The hardware business would likely make it a lot less profitable (per dollar of revenue).

Facebook knows absolutely nothing about making, selling, or supporting hardware. Really–nothing. Yes, Facebook could use its billions to buy RIM or Nokia, and then it would know something about hardware. But RIM and Nokia are deeply troubled companies that are already cratering. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to buy, integrate, and FIX RIM or Nokia? (Google’s about to give us a case study in how difficult it is with Motorola). That’s just a start.

Perhaps Facebook doesn’t really have any intention of building a full-fledged phone–perhaps it just wants to partner with someone like HTC or Samsung. But even then, all the same challenges apply.

Facebook already has an “operating system” for mobile–it’s called the social graph. So instead of building a phone, which seems like a desperate move, Facebook should partner with every operating system and carrier and hardware maker it can to try to embed this social platform within every mobile platform. And it should build great apps to float on top of these systems. (And if Apple keeps giving it the brush-off, it should probably start by cozying up to Samsung, which is the only company giving Apple a run for its money).

Yes, everyone wants to be Apple but there’s only one Apple right now. Facebook’s chance of becoming the next Apple seems even smaller than Apple’s chance to become Apple was.

The fact that Facebook is even thinking of going into the hardware business is a bad sign. If Facebook actually does go into the hardware business, it will be a really bad sign.

100Feed: How Smart is Your Cat?

But how smart are cats? Sure, they can groom themselves, have a natural inclination to use the litter box and are easily amused, but not too many have a repertoire of tricks or follow commands. Those who have more than one cat probably differentiate their kitties in terms of their smarts (being “the dumb one” doesn’t mean you’re loved any less!), so just like any other animal, we know there is an intelligence hierarchy.

There’s no scientific method to determine how brainy your cat actually is — but we can try to figure it out! CatChannel.com devised this clever IQ test, which could indicate you’re housing the feline Einstein. Find out if your cat is about to take over the world . . . or just that comfy sofa cushion.

1. When you open a can of cat food with an electric can opener, what does your cat do?

a) Runs and hides under the bed
b) Looks up briefly, then gets back to napping
c) Immediately races into the kitchen

2. When you get out the pet carrier, what does your cat do?

a) Gives it a quick glance
b) Runs away, but will come back if offered a treat
c) Hides and won’t come out

3. How often does your cat persuade you to get out of bed early to fix her breakfast?

a) Never
b) Once in a while
c) Every day

4. Has your cat ever learned to do something just by watching you do it, such as how to open a cupboard door or turn off a light switch?

a) No
b) Yes, one or two easy procedures like how to open the box of cat treats
c) Yes. There are many things my cat has learned to do just by observing me.

5. If you come home at the same time every day, does your cat wait for your arrival, apparently aware that you have a regular return time?

a) No
b) Yes. He’s usually waiting for me by the door.
c) Yes. As soon as I walk in, he escorts me to the kitchen so I can get him dinner.

6. If a piece of food or a cat toy is out of your cat’s reach or trapped behind an object, what does your cat do?

a) Paws at it once or twice, but gives up if that doesn’t work
b) Tries to retrieve the item with her mouth and one of her paws and gives up after several failed attempts
c) Uses both of her paws and her mouth to grasp the item and won’t quit until she’s successful

7. Does your cat enjoy playing games with you?

a) Not at all
b) Occasionally
c) Very much so – especially challenging games like hide-and-go-seek

8. If your cat sees a bird outside the window, what does it do?

a) Bangs his head against the glass, trying to reach the bird
b) Paws madly at the window and yowls until I shut the blinds
c) Races to the door and meows until I let him outside

9. If you’ve ever moved your cat’s feeding dishes or litter box from one part of the house to another, how long did it take her to get used to the new location?

a) Several weeks
b) A few days
c) One day or less

10. When you call your cat’s name, what does he do?

a) Nothing
b) Looks my way for a second or turns his ears in my direction
c) Immediately runs toward me

11. Does your cat ever get bored with her toys and create her own amusements using your socks, the goldfish bowl, the tassels on your drapes, etc.?

a) My cat’s not very interested in toys.
b) Sometimes
c) Almost daily

12. If a guest teased or pestered your cat in the past, does your cat single out that person as trouble – for example, by avoiding that person but allowing other guests to handle him?

a) No. My cat acts the same toward everyone.
b) He does prefer some people over others, but there’s no clear reason for his preferences.
c) Most definitely! My cat remembers who gave him grief and does not forget.

13. How often do you come home from work to discover that your cat has gotten into mischief while you were away?

a) Never
b) Now and then
c) All the time

14. While petting your cat, does she let you know where she most wants to be stroked and for how long?

a) No. She becomes extremely relaxed and doesn’t care where or how long she’s being stroked.
b) She purrs if she likes what I’m doing and growls or hisses if I pet her where she doesn’t want to be touched.
c) She moves around to make it easier for me to pet certain parts of her body.

15. What happens when you try to teach your cat a trick?

a) My cat never figures out what I’m trying to teach him.
b) After several training sessions, my cat is pretty good at it.
c) My cat masters the trick after one short training session.

16. After you’ve taught your cat a trick, will she still remember how to do it a month from now if you haven’t done any refresher sessions?

a) Not likely
b) Probably
c) Definitely

17. When your cat wants something from you, what does he do?

a) Purrs
b) Meows a little more loudly than usual
c) Makes a variety of vocalizations, depending on what he wants

18. How often does your cat coax you into playtime?

a) Rarely
b) Sometimes
c) Frequently

19. How does your cat react when the litter box needs cleaning?

a) Goes in the same spot until I notice the mountain inside the litter box
b) Starts using the planters for a litter box or goes outside the litter pan
c) Goes outside the litter box and meows loudly to get the point across

20. When your cat’s food bowl is empty, what does he do to remedy the situation?

a) Sits quietly in the cat tree and waits for me to feed him
b) Leaps onto my lap and meows until I realize he’s hungry
c) Opens the cupboard where the bag of cat food is stored and rips it open

SCORING

Give your cat one point for every “c” answer. Deduct one point for every “a” answer. A “b” answer is a neutral response and doesn’t affect the score. Tally up the total number of points, and grade your cat according to the scale below.

Less than 5 points: Smarts aren’t your kitty’s strongest suit, but chances are that your cat is a wonderful companion, even if he doesn’t know how to open up the pantry to get out a treat!

6 – 15 points: When it comes to bell curves, your feline’s where most cats are: right in the middle. Your cat has average intelligence and can learn a few tricks, but has no desire to take apart the cat water fountain and reassemble it.

15 – 20 points: You may just be living with a feline Einstein! Your cat is extremely intelligent and continually amazes you with new tricks. Your cat also knows how to get you to do things her way. You’re going to need to be pretty crafty yourself if you want to outsmart your cat!

100Feed: Bennigan’s Way of Honoring America’s Veterans

A naval officer who died while serving in Afghanistan is being remembered for his bravery by those who never met him thanks to a note left at a bar. On March 28, Bennigan’s waitress Hannah Hobbs posted a photograph of a beer with a note that read, “In Memory of Lt. j.g. Francis Toner USN. Killed in action 27 March 2009, Baikh Province, Afghanistan. Non Sibi Sed Patriae. Not forgotten.”

Toner and another soldier were killed when an Afghan soldier opened fire on four officers who were jogging along the perimeter of Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e Sharif. According to reports, the unarmed Toner verbally challenged the shooter and was gunned down. Toner’s act of bravery distracted the shooter, which allowed another officer to seek help for the wounded. He was later posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor. He was 26-years-old at the time of his death.

Hobbs said a man had come into the restaurant and asked to leave the beer and note at the bar for the rest of the day. However, Hobbs took the tribute to the fallen soldier to another level by taking a picture of the memorial and posting it to her Facebook account. She wrote, “I’m posting this pic so it can stay forever. So can I get some likes, people?” That is exactly what happened.

By Memorial Day, Hobbs’s photo had received more than 1.2 million “likes” and had been shared more than 117,000 times! The gesture seems to be a growing trend over the past few years, with other bar patrons toasting America’s soldiers in the same fashion.

Hobbs posted on her facebook that, when having to clean up, she almost cried when having to get rid of the note. She then decided to keep the memorial tribute alive by posting the above image to Facebook. Hobbs said, “Several family and friends have served in the military, and I feel we don’t do enough as a country to show our appreciation to those that put their lives on the line to keep us safe.”

In response, Hobbs’s employer started Bennigan’s Wall of Heroes for customers to buy a beer and write a note to any former or current member of the United States military. The company also encourages Facebook posts to honor these heroes.

Through Memorial Day, the restaurant pledged to donate $1 for every photo to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of U.S. service members.

Bennigan’s is taking the kind gesture toward America’s veterans one step further by offering a $10,000 discount to veterans who want to start their own Bennigan’s franchise.

100Feed: Plans to Begin Filming “The Coup” in October

Pierce Brosnan will star alongside Owen Wilson and Michelle Monaghan in John Erick Dowdle’s The Coup, the Crime Scene Pictures thriller that begins production in October. The film, written by Dowdle and his brother Drew, centers on an American family that moves to Southeast Asia and finds itself entangled in a violent coup where merciless rebels are attacking the city. Brosnan, repped by CAA and attorney Stuart Brookman, will play a mysterious government operative. Crime Scene’s Adam Ripp and Rob Paris are financing and producing with Steve Alexander and Drew Dowdle. Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales beginning next month at Cannes.

John Erick Dowdle (born December 1973) is a American director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, best known for horror films. He grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. After graduating from the St. Thomas Academy, an all-boys, military, Catholic high school, Dowdle moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa. There he would make the move from writing to film. Two years later, Dowdle moved to Manhattan, New York City to attend New York University’s film program. After graduating from NYU, Dowdle moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. Dowdle wrote and directed his first feature, the 1996 film Full Moon Rising, when he was just out of college. For his sophomore effort, The Dry Spell, Dowdle was joined by his younger brother Drew, who produced the film as John wrote, directed and edited. They now live in Los Angeles, working together as The Brothers Dowdle. Dowdle directed alongside his brother the horror-disaster films Quarantine and Devil, based on a storybook from M. Night Shyamalan. He will direct with his brother the movie adaption of Jack Kilburn’s novel “Afraid”.

100Feed: Dario Franchitti’s Legend Builds with Thrilling Third Indianapolis 500 Win

Randy Bernard has pleaded for the most accomplished driver in IndyCar to get more recognition for the big wins and championships he’s accumulated.

Sunday, Dario Franchitti did his part in the sport’s biggest race, taking the twin checkered flags in Sunday’s 96th Indianapolis 500, having overcome an early spin on pit road and a desperate takeover bid by Takuma Sato for the lead on the last lap – a move that sent Sato’s car piling into the Turn 1 wall.

Franchitti, driving a Honda-powered Dallara for Chip Ganassi Racing, is now one of 10 drivers in the race’s 101-year history to score three or more wins. Helio Castroneves is the only other current driver with three wins in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Franchitti’s wife and actress Ashley Judd made it abundantly clear what the win meant for the Scottish driver as she celebrated his third win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Did you see him go from 25th to third on a single green-flag run? I don’t think anyone has ever done that before,” Judd said, breathless from celebrating the win in the Ganassi pit stall. “He’s a legend.”

Biased or not, Judd is right about Franchitti’s newly cemented status as IndyCar’s greatest current driver – and potentially one of American open-wheel racing’s all-time greats. But before discussing Franchitti’s place in racing history – he said he won’t think about his trophies until he retires – Sunday’s race offered plenty to give it a memorable place in Indianapolis 500 lore.

In the first year of the newly designed Dallara DW12 IndyCar, drivers were closer than ever at Indianapolis. Thanks to the bigger wake created by the cars, the lead was hardly ever safe for the car in front. Franchitti’s final takeover of the lead – he passed teammate Scott Dixon with just two circuits of the 2.5-mile track remaining – was the 34th of the steamy hot day. The number broke the previous record for lead changes of 29 set 52 years ago.

The race also tied for the second hottest in Indianapolis history when the National Weather Service recorded a high of 91 degrees.
The restarts following caution flags were also some of the most gut-wrenching at Indianapolis in recent years. When the race restarted after a caution flag with just 17 laps left and Franchitti leading, veteran Tony Kanaan used a wave of momentum to catapult from sixth to first with a set of three- and four-wide moves along the narrow frontstretch. When the track public address system boomed that Kanaan was the new leader, Indianapolis’ massive crowd roared.

“The first thing I did when I passed the five cars on the restart [was look] at the grandstands because I wanted to see the people,” said Kanaan, who’s yet to break his streak of being an Indianapolis bridesmaid. “People were screaming. It’s awesome. I love this place.”

The crowd was standing when the green flag waved after another late caution with just seven laps to go. Franchitti took the green and this time held off Kanaan for good, but not before his Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon took a turn at the front with three laps to go.

With two laps left, Franchitti made his move on Dixon to retake the lead as the field roared into Turn 1. Sato, strong all day in the race’s underdog role, boldly followed Franchitti under Dixon. The move by Sato set up the race’s pinnacle moment, when he flashed underneath Franchitti toward the end of the front straightaway with the white flag waving.

Franchitti held his position as Sato dove in the corner lower than the standard racing line. Sato drew alongside for a split second before his rear wheels broke traction and his car snapped sideways. Franchitti felt slight contact from Sato’s car but managed to keep control as Sato careened into the Turn 1 wall.

“The car was obviously too loose,” said Franchitti. “Last lap of the Indianapolis 500. I wouldn’t expect him to lift at that point.”
The caution flag out, Franchitti needed just pass the start/finish line for the final time. As his red-clad pit crew spewed onto pit lane in celebration, Franchitti was a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

“What a race, what a race. I think D-dub would be proud of that one,” Franchitti said, referring to his late friend and 2011 Indianapolis winner Dan Wheldon. Franchitti’s face will now be placed on the iconic Borg-Warner trophy next to Wheldon’s after a day in which the two-time winner was honored at almost every turn.

In fact, the top three finishers – Franchitti, Dixon and Kanaan – were all close friends of Wheldon and were quite cognizant of the peculiar finish.

“I don’t think it could have been a better result for Dan,” Kanaan said. “Wherever he is right now, he’s definitely making fun of Sato, I can tell you that, and he’s giving Dario a tap on the back for sure, and he was going to call me a wanker that I didn’t win this thing.

“I’m glad this is over. I’m glad that now I hope we can all move on and just remember Dan the way Dan was: a happy guy, a wonderful friend. ”
For Bernard, the IndyCar CEO tasked with raising the profile of American open-wheel racing after years of split and strife all but drop-kicked it to the lowest rungs of the mainstream sports ladder, he got yet another thrilling edition of the world’s most famous race.

Last week, when discussing the departure of Danica Patrick – IndyCar’s best female driver ever and most marketable icon – Bernard said he takes it personal that Franchitti doesn’t get the acclaim that other top drivers or athletes get.

“We have this great legend [in Franchitti] that doesn’t resonate with fans to the amount of his credibility,” Bernard said. “That’s a disappointment to me. I have to focus on that.”

Mike Hull, the team managing director at Chip Ganassi Racing, was confident Sunday’s race did what it should to boost the profile of the series.
“At 400 miles we saw a trophy dash,” Hull said, lamenting previous series finishes that had more to do with managing fuel consumption than driving all out. “That was really good.”

While there’s no immediate telling if Franchitti’s win jumps his profile among mainstream sports like Bernard would love, it certainly cements Franchitti as a legend in his field. Franchitti now has 30 wins in American open-wheel racing and is a four-time and defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion.

“In Dario’s case, we have a guy that hasn’t reached his midlife crisis yet, that drives with the experience of his age, but he comes to work every day with the enthusiasm and the intent of an 18-year-old,” said Hull. “That’s a pretty tough combination to beat.”
But don’t ask Franchitti to discuss his place in racing lore.

“I’m very proud – and I’ve said this before – of the achievements, whether its Indy wins, championships, every one of the race wins,” Franchitti said after walking from victory lane to the infield media center to a roar from the fans still around almost an hour after the race. “Sometimes I look back, but generally I’m trying to look forward. When I retire, that’s the time to look back and hang out with my friends here, hang over the fence, shout abuse at [Dixon], Will [Power], Tony [Kanaan], all the guys that are still racing.”

However, retirement doesn’t seem very close for Franchitti, who turned 39 one week before Sunday’s race. He now owns three Indianapolis wins in just nine starts and sits just one more triumph from joining Indianapolis’ most exclusive club held by just three men.
And after Sunday’s performance, that fourth doesn’t seem so far off.

100Feed: Cities with the Most Homes in Foreclosure

When it’s not a seller’s market, it could be a bright side for buyers. So where are the markets with the most bargains for home buyers on a budget?

To find out, the data team at the real estate Web site Zillow looked at several factors, including the percentage of listings with price cuts, the median amount of those price cuts, the sale-to-list price ratio (or how much lower the sale price was from the last list price), and at foreclosure resales in places where foreclosure data was available (all data was the most recent available, from March 2012).

All told, the team considered 137 metropolitan areas. What follows are the five areas that had the best numbers across those criteria. Of course, factors contributing to the buyers’ markets can include higher-than-average unemployment rates for the area and other economic woes. As with all real estate purchases, buyers in these metro areas will have many factors to consider.

5. Sarasota, Fla.
Median price cut: 6.8%
Listings with price cut: 34.2%

The metropolitan area of North Port Bradenton-Sarasota, midway down Florida’s Gulf Coast, is made up of the cities of North Port, Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice. The percentage of real estate listings with a price cut has increased by just over 5 percent from last year.

4. Chicago
Median price cut: 7.2%
Listings with price cut: 38.1%

The metropolitan area of Chicago, the nation’s third-most populous city, had a median sale-to-list-price ratio of 0.947 percent.

3. Cleveland
Median price cut: 7.3%
Listings with price cut: 35.5%

Cleveland is situated in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie. The Greater Cleveland area, including the cities of Parma, Lorain, Elyria, Lakewood, Euclid, Mentor and Cleveland Heights, showed a 26 percent rate of foreclosure resales.

2. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Median price cut: 7.6%
Listings with price cut: 36.4%

The Punta Gorda metropolitan area marks Florida’s third Gulf Coast appearance in the top 10. The percentage of real estate listings with a price cut has increased by nearly 8 percent over last year.

1. Rockford, Ill.
Median price cut: 8%
Listings with price cut: 39.5%

The percentage of real estate listings with a price cut in northern Illinois’ Rockford metropolitan area has increased by 5.6 percent over last year. However, as with all of the cities on this list, there are drawbacks to living in areas where these real estate deals can be had: Rockford residents were coping with a higher-than-average 11.7 percent unemployment rate in March.

100Feed: Strange Remedies for Common Ailments

Strange but true — you’ve probably got an amazing assortment of stuff in the kitchen, the tool box or the medicine chest that can do double duty as remedies for all kinds of common ailments. What’s more, there’s actual scientific research to back up some of these do-it-yourself treatments. Here’s a rundown on the most intriguing nine:

Didgeridoo for Sleep Apnea

Okay, so this probably isn’t something you’ve got lying around the house. You may not have heard of it either, but if you’ve got sleep apnea, this strange-sounding Australian wind instrument may be just what you need.

According to a study from Switzerland, four months of learning to play the didgeridoo worked well for patients with moderate sleep apnea, made for a better night’s sleep, and reduced daytime sleepiness. Even more, their bed partners slept better, too. Playing the instrument addressed sleep apnea by strengthening the upper airway, which prevents it from narrowing as you inhale.

Biting on a Pencil for Headache Relief

This won’t work for migraines, but if you get common tension headaches, the pencil trick may help prevent them. We tend to automatically clench our jaws and teeth when we’re anxious or stressed, and this is a subconscious reaction that can lead to a tension headache.

When you feel your jaw clench, put a pencil between your teeth (don’t bite down) and hold it there. This simple strategy will cause your jaw to relax, easing tension, forestalling the headache, and easing the pain.

Listerine for Blisters

You know it as a breath freshener and an antiseptic, but Listerine can also dry out blisters. Dab some on a cotton ball and apply it to your blister three times a day until it dries and the pain vanishes. Integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends applying petroleum jelly on a blister for temporary pain relief.

Lemon Balm Tea for Cold Sores

Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and packs an anti-viral punch that can heal cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. A big study in Germany found that once treated with lemon balm, not a single cold sore recurrence occurred.

Duct Tape for Warts

This is not an old wives tale. Using duct tape to remove warts has been shown to work better than freezing them off. In one study, duct tape eliminated 85 percent of patients’ warts in two months (freezing eradicated only 60 percent).

Here’s how it works: make sure the wart and surrounding skin are clean, then cut a piece of duct tape a bit larger than the wart and press into place. Remove the tape every three days, rub the wart with an emery board or pumice stone, and repeat until the wart is gone.

Ginger for Motion Sickness

Crystalized ginger, ginger tea, ginger syrup, or capsules of ginger powder can combat motion sickness and nausea in general (ginger ale or even ginger snaps may help, too). One study found that ginger worked better for motion sickness than anti-nausea medication, and Danish researchers report that ginger helped quell seasickness in susceptible naval cadets better than a placebo.

Papaya for Smoother Skin

The active ingredient is papain, an enzyme that dissolves dead surface cells that give skin a dull, rough look. Try this fruity facial to soften and smooth your skin: wash and peel a ripe papaya and swirl about two tablespoons in a food processor. Add a tablespoon of dried oatmeal and apply to your freshly washed face for 10 minutes. Remove with warm water or a wet washcloth.

Banana Bonanza

You can do a lot more with a banana than slice it on your cereal. Among the fruit’s other uses: slap a banana peel (the inside part) on an itch caused by a bug bite or poison ivy; this will dial down the inflammation and relieve the itch. You can also use mashed banana as a facial–it’s great for moisturizing dry skin. Banana peel also has anti-acne properties: just rub the inside part of the peel over your clean face to get the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects.

Mustard for Minor Burns

Slather mustard on seared skin. After an initial sting, the mustard will relieve the pain and prevent scarring and blistering. No science here, but lots of enthusiastic testimonials.

100Feed: 10 Happiest Countries to Live In

For the second year in a row, 24/7 Wall St. examined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s report on life satisfaction in the developed world. Economic prosperity, health and a strong social support network continue to correspond highly with happiness. Once again, the United States fails to make the top 10 happiest nations in the world, while countries like Australia, Israel and all of the Scandinavian nations do.

The OECD measured more than 30 sets of data in 11 different categories, including education, health and employment. The study also asked residents of each country to rank, on a scale of 1 to 10, their general satisfaction with their lives. 24/7 Wall St. examined the 10 countries with the highest life satisfaction scores to find the strongest factors related to happiness.

Economic prosperity appears to be one of the strongest factors that relates to overall life satisfaction. Of the 10 countries with the highest levels of happiness, nine have personal incomes that are higher than the OECD average. Eight of them have among the highest disposable incomes among developed nations.

In addition, the overall regional economies of these 10 nations appear to be doing exceptionally well. Government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product in these countries is either among the smallest in the developed world, or these nations are actually running a surplus. Norway, which has the second-highest satisfaction score, has a government surplus of 162.5% of its GDP.

Employment is one of the most obvious causes of satisfaction, according to Matthias Rumpf, OECD’s chief media officer, especially long-term employment and job stability. Of the 10 countries with the highest job satisfaction rates, nine are among the 15 with the lowest long-term unemployment rates — the percentage of the population that has been unemployed for more than a year. “Those who are unemployed are generally not very happy,” Rumpf says. And long-term unemployment is even worse, he explains. While being between jobs can affect a person, “the longer you are unemployed, the worse it gets.”

After economic stability, physical and social well-being are the largest determinants for happiness. When it comes to self-reported health, eight of the 10 countries have a higher rate of citizens reporting good health than the OECD average of 70%. All but one have a higher life expectancy than the OECD average of 79.8 years. When it comes to having a strong social support network, seven of the countries have among the largest percentage of residents reporting having a friend or relative they could rely on in a case of need.

Not surprisingly, having enough leisure time affects a person’s mental health and strongly impacts happiness. According to the report, while data is incomplete, the majority of the countries with a strong sense of well-being have more leisure time each day than the OECD average of 14.76 hours (this includes sleep). The citizens of Denmark, the happiest country, have the most leisure time available per day, at 16.06 hours.

The U.S. ranks 11th in life satisfaction, just missing the top 10. This suggests that while some of these categories may impact happiness, they do not guarantee it. Despite its above-average score, the U.S. has the highest rate of disposable income in the OECD and an extremely high rate of self-reported good health. Meanwhile, the U.S. has a particularly low life expectancy for developed nations, which at 78.7 years is worse than 26 other developed nations. The U.S. also has a low job security rate and a relatively high long-term unemployment rate.

Examining 34 separate member nations, a number of emerging economies, and two additional participating countries — Brazil and Russia — the OECD’s 2012 Better Life Index report measured more than 30 indices in 11 separate categories: housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 countries in which residents reported personal well-being at an average of 7.2 out of 10 or better.

These are the happiest countries in the world.

1. Denmark
> Life satisfaction score: 7.8
> Employment rate: 73% (6th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 71% (17th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 1.92% (4th lowest)
> Disposable income: $23,213 (15th lowest)
> Educational attainment: 76% (18th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 79.3 (11th lowest)

Denmark tops the OECD ranking as the country with the most satisfied citizens among the countries studied by the OECD. At first glance, the reason is not obvious. Denmark ranks no higher than fourth in any of the categories that appear to correlate strongly with overall satisfaction. Yet, in addition to the OECD, organizations such as the World Map of Happiness and the World Database of Happiness have consistently put Denmark at the top of their list of the world’s happiest countries. A high employment rate of 73% and a low percentage of 1.92% of employees working long hours contribute to high satisfaction levels. But overall, it is hard to pin down why those Danes are so darn happy.

2. Norway
> Life satisfaction score: 7.6
> Employment rate: 75% (4th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 80% (8th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 2.66% (5th lowest)
> Disposable income: $30,465 (3rd highest)
> Educational attainment: 81% (tied – 15th highest)
> Life expectancy:81.2 (10th highest)

Of all the nations examined in the OECD’s report, Norway is among the most financially secure. Of working-age adults, 75% are employed — the fourth-best rate. Also, the average household disposable income is $30,645, the third highest among OECD nations. Norway also significantly outspends almost all other surveyed nations on health care, allocating $5,003 per person per year. This is well above the average for OECD nations of $3,060 per person per year. Norway also has one of the healthiest populations, with a life expectancy of 81.2 years and 80% claiming to be in “good” or “very good” health. Showcasing its economic strength, Norway is able to provide quality public health and education services while maintaining a budget surplus of 162.5% of GDP and an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services.

3. Netherlands
> Life satisfaction score: 7.5
> Employment rate: 75% (tied – 3rd highest)
> Self-reported good health: 77% (11th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 0.68% (2nd lowest)
> Disposable income: $25,740 (13th highest)
> Educational attainment: 73% (15th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 80.8 (14th highest)

The Dutch government is heavily involved in internal economic affairs, playing a “significant role … pertaining to almost every aspect of economic activity,” according to the U.S. Department of State. Judging by Netherlands’ 75% employment rate — the third highest among those surveyed — this regulated, monitored economy has thrived in recent years. Of those employed, only 0.68% work longer than 50 hours a week — the second-lowest percentage among those surveyed. By contrast, 10.86% of U.S. workers eclipse the 50 hour mark. The Dutch also rank among the top 15 in self-reported good health, life expectancy and disposable income.

4. Switzerland
> Life satisfaction score: 7.5
> Employment rate: 79% (1st highest)
> Self-reported good health: 87% (4th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 5.87% (17th highest)
> Disposable income: $27,756 (5th most)
> Educational attainment: 87% (8th highest)
> Life expectancy: 82.6 (2nd highest)

The most salient statistic with respect to well-being for the fourth ranked country on the list is employment. Switzerland tops the list in terms of working age employment rate at a whopping 79%. Switzerland also cracks the top five in three other categories: disposable income ($27,756), self-reported good health (87%) and life expectancy (82.6 years). Given these stellar numbers, it is easy to see why, according to the U.S. Department of State, “Switzerland consistently ranks high on quality of life indices.” The Swiss also have very high rates of insurance coverage and computer and Internet usage.

5. Austria
> Life satisfaction score: 7.5
> Employment rate: 72% (8th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 69% (17th lowest)
> Employees working long hours: 9.02% (10th highest)
> Disposable income: $27,541 (7th highest)
> Educational attainment: 82% (tied – 12th highest)
> Life expectancy: 80.7 (22nd lowest)

Austria stands out in many economic categories. Ranking within the top 10 in both employment rate and disposable income, the Austrians have certainly had some measure of financial success. Disposable income, in particular, stands out as a strong factor in happiness for Austrians. The country’s average annual disposable income is $27,541, while OECD nations average $22,387. This disparity may be in part attributable to the number of citizens working in excess of 50 hours a week, which, at 9.02%, ranks 10th among OECD nations.

6. Israel
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4
> Employment rate: 60% (11th lowest)
> Self-reported good health: 81% (7th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 18.92% (3rd lowest)
> Disposable income: n/a
> Educational attainment: 82% (tied – 12th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.7 years (6th highest)

Israelis have a life expectancy of 81.7 years — sixth highest among OECD nations. The country also has a low obesity rate of 13.8%, while 81% of those surveyed report their health to be “good” or “very good.” By comparison, Americans’ life expectancy is 78.7 years, and they also have a higher obesity rate of 33.8% among adults. Despite the constant security concerns in the country, the homicide rate in Israel is in line with the OECD’s average of 2.1 murders per 100,000 people. In addition, 70% of Israelis surveyed feel safe walking home at night. Although Israelis work long hours, with 18.92% working at least 50 hours a week, life satisfaction remains high.

7. Finland
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4
> Employment rate: 68% (14th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 68% (15th lowest)
> Employees working long hours: 3.66% (8th lowest)
> Disposable income: $24,958 (14th highest)
> Educational attainment: 82% (tied – 12th highest)
> Life expectancy: 80.2 years (16th lowest)

According to OECD figures, the Finns value their free time. They devote 14.9 hours per day to leisure on average, the ninth highest among developed nations. Americans, on the other hand, rank 20th with only 14.27 hours of leisure time each day. Finland also has the eighth-lowest percentage of employees working more than 50 hours per week, at only 3.66%. When they are not working, many Finns like to indulge by taking a sauna — so many, in fact, that a country with a population of 5.3 million has 2 million saunas, much more than the number of cars in the country.

8. Australia
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4
> Employment rate: 72% (9th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 85% (5th highest)
> Employees working long hours:13.99% (4th highest)
> Disposable income: $26,927 (9th highest)
> Educational attainment: 71% (tied – 12th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 81.8 years (5th highest)

Of the countries with high life satisfaction, Australia’s citizens have comparatively little leisure time. They tend to work long hours, with nearly 14% of the population working 50 hours a week or more. Australians are healthier than most, with a life expectancy of 81.8 years — the fifth highest in the OECD. Additionally, 85% of Australians report their health to be either “good” or “very good.” The national economy has also fared well in recent years, with a post-financial crisis peak unemployment rate of only 5.7%. Presently, the Australian unemployment rate is 4.9%. Another sign of economic strength is the low government debt that stands only at 4.9% of GDP. Comparatively, the U.S. government debt represents 73.8% of GDP.

9. Canada
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4
> Employment rate: 72% (7th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 88% (3rd highest)
> Employees working long hours: 3.91% (11th lowest)
> Disposable income: $27,138 (8th highest)
> Educational attainment: 88% (5th highest)
> Life expectancy: 80.8 years (13th highest)

Canada’s score of 7.4 has much to do with the success of its health care system, a socialized plan that provides coverage to all of its citizens. As many as 88% of Canadians report their health to be “good” or “very good,” which ranks third among all nations surveyed. Canada also ranks among the top 15 nations in life expectancy. Other factors that may be contributing to Canadians’ high life satisfaction level are education and employment levels. Some 88% of Canadians have at least a high school diploma — the fifth-highest rate among the nations the OECD reviewed. Also, 72% of working-age citizens are employed — the seventh-highest rate. By comparison, Italy — one of the poorer-performing countries in these categories — has a working-age employment rate of 57%, and only 54% of its population has at least a high school diploma.

10. Sweden
> Life satisfaction score: 7.3
> Employment rate: 73% (5th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 79% (9th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 1.28% (3rd lowest)
> Disposable income: $26,633 (11th highest)
> Educational attainment: 86% (9th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.5 years (7th highest)

In the OECD’s latest Better Life Index report, Sweden scores 7.3, the 10th-best score. Sweden has a life expectancy of 81.5 years, which is the seventh highest in the OECD. The country has extremely low pollution levels as well. According to the Better Life Index data, 97% of Swedes are satisfied with the quality of their drinking water — the second most among developed countries. The country also has the lowest levels of air pollution in the OECD. In the country, leisure is a priority for the working population as just 1.28% of Swedish employees work in excess of 50 hours per week. By comparison, 10.86% of U.S. employees work that much each week.

100Feed: Unexplained Death of Fish and Birds in Peru

Peru’s government has declared a health alert along its northern coastline and urged residents and tourists to stay away from long stretches of beach as it investigates the unexplained deaths of hundreds of dolphins and pelicans.

At least 1,200 birds, mostly pelicans, have washed up dead along a stretch of Peru’s northern Pacific coastline in recent weeks, according to health officials, and an estimated 800 dolphins have died in the same area in recent months.

The health ministry recommended staying away from beaches, although it stopped short of a ban, and called on health officials to use gloves, masks and other protective gear when collecting dead birds.

The peak tourism season around Lima’s beaches is over but many surfers are still venturing into the waters near the capital.

The agriculture ministry said preliminary tests on some dead pelicans pointed to malnourishment. Oscar Dominguez, head of the ministry’s health department, said experts had ruled out bird flu.

“The health ministry … calls on the population to abstain from going to the beaches until the health alert is lifted,” said a statement accompanied by a photograph of a dead pelican.

The ministry said officials had so far checked 18 beaches in and around Lima for dead birds but gave no details of any findings.

“We’re starting from the hypothesis that it’s because the birds are young and unable to find enough food for themselves, and also because the sea temperature has risen and anchovies have moved elsewhere,” said Juan Rheineck, the deputy agriculture minister.

A mass pelican death along Peru’s northern coast in 1997 was blamed at the time on a shortage of their anchovy staple diet due to the El Niño weather pattern.

Some were undeterred by the mysterious deaths. “We eat fresh fish on the quay of Chorrillos every day and no fisherman has died yet, so don’t worry, it’s nothing,” said Gloria Rivera, a seafood restaurant owner.

100Feed: Nine Year Old Food Critic Tries to Improve School Lunches

Jamie Oliver and Michelle Obama may be commanders of a healthy school lunch revolution. But a 9-year-old girl is on the front lines. A Scottish grade school student named Martha Payne has launched her own revolution in school lunch reform. It all started with a simple idea. What if food critics reviewed school lunches? Cafeterias would probably do a lot more to satisfy their customers.

That’s what Martha discovered two weeks ago, when she started the blog NeverSeconds, a daily review of her flimsy cafeteria lunches. With help from her dad, Dave, the Argyle-based student, photographed her sparse lunch tray daily and offered a Zagat-style rating system based on the following criteria: food-o-meter (or overall taste), mouthfuls (or portions), health, courses and pieces of hair. So far there’s been one or two hairs on her lunch tray, but not much else.

One of the first lunches she reviewed included a dried-out rectangular piece of pizza, a fried mozzarella stick, some corn droppings and a mini muffin. Another tray featured a slim, grayish burger, two fried cheese sticks, an ice pop and three thin cucumber slices. Overall, Martha gives the soups at her school high marks, particularly the carrot and coriander recipe. “The soup was brilliant,” she raved. Then, on May 14, a day of sausages, vegetable soup (“it tasted mainly of carrot”) and roasted potatoes (“a bit small”) the inevitable happened. Nestled under three cucumber slices was a single strand of hair. Martha doesn’t speculate where it came from, but there’s a fair chance it wasn’t from her own head. Generously, she gave that meal a “food-o-meter” rating of 8, despite the small portion and the unappetizing surprise.

“The good thing about this blog is Dad understands why I am hungry when I get home,” writes Martha. Dave did more than sympathize with his daughter; he got the attention of Food Revolution general, Jamie Oliver, via Twitter. After Oliver tweeted the blog to his followers describing it as “shocking but inspirational,” Martha’s page views reached nearly half a million. (As of Monday, NeverSeconds is closing in on 700,000 page views and counting.)

In less than two weeks since launching the site, her school seems to be instituting healthy reforms, thanks to Martha, Dave, and some pressure from local media. By Thursday of last week, Martha blogged good news: “It’s official that we are allowed unlimited salads, fruit and bread! I’m really happy that all of my friends can help themselves to good stuff.”

Now Martha is asking students reading her blog to submit their own school lunch photos and ratings. As much impact as policy makers and advocates, like the first lady, have had on improving school lunches, student voices have been largely absent from the debate. They are, after all, the ones eating the food.

Martha’s blog makes a strong argument not only for improved nutrition, but tastier healthy options. Her most recent lunch, posted last Friday, got a 9 for taste and a 4 for health; “One of the peas was black” she writes.

But today on 100Feed, I am asking my readers to visit her site and help her reach one million page views 🙂