Stealth Health: Get Healthy Without Really Trying

Living healthier doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming, experts say
By Colette Bouchez
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Feature
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
How much do you know about what makes up a healthy lifestyle? Here's a pop quiz.
1. How do you define working out?
a. Going to the gym.
b. Turning the jump-rope for the neighbor's kid.
c. Playing Frisbee with your dog.
2. How do you define good nutrition?
a. Eating a vegetable at every meal.
b. Eating two vegetables at every meal.
c. Drinking a fruit smoothie for breakfast.
3. Which of these is a healthy activity?
a. Push-ups, sit-ups, or running the track.
b. Walking the dog after dinner.
c. Spending Saturday afternoon snoozing on the sofa.
Believe it or not, the correct answer to every question is A, B, and C -- even that Saturday afternoon snooze! According to the growing "Stealth Health" movement, sneaking healthy habits into our daily living is easier than we think.
"You can infuse your life with the power of prevention incrementally and fairly painlessly, and yes, doing something, no matter how small, is infinitely better for you than doing nothing," says David Katz, MD, MPH, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center and of the Yale Preventive Medicine Center. Katz is also co-author of the book Stealth Health: How to Sneak Age-Defying, Disease-Fighting Habits into Your Life without Really Trying.
From your morning shower to the evening news, from your work commute to your household chores, Katz says, there are at least 2,400 ways to sneak healthy activities into daily living.
"If you let yourself make small changes, they will add up to meaningful changes in the quality of your diet, your physical activity pattern, your capacity to deal with stress, and in your sleep quality -- and those four things comprise an enormously powerful health promotion that can change your life," says Katz.
And yes, he says, a nap on the couch can be a health-giving opportunity -- particularly if you aren't getting enough sleep at night.
Nutritionist and diabetes educator Fran Grossman, RD, CDE, agrees. "You don't have to belong to a gym or live on wheat grass just to be healthy," says Grossman, a nutrition counselor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "There are dozens of small things you can do every day that make a difference, and you don't always have to do a lot to gain a lot."
Do a Little, Get a Lot
The notion that good health can come in small tidbits is not really new. Research showing that making small changes can add up to a big difference has been quietly accumulating for a while.
For example, a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2004 found that adding just 30 minutes of walking per day was enough to prevent weight gain and encourage moderate weight loss.
And if 30 minutes is still too big a bite? Another study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that three brisk 10-minute walks per day were as effective as a daily 30-minute walk in decreasing risk factors for heart disease.
"Just the act of going from sedentary to moderately active gives you the greatest reduction in your risks," says Helene Glassberg, MD, director of the Preventive Cardiology and Lipid Center at the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
But it's not only in fitness where small changes can make a difference. The same principles apply at the kitchen table (and the office snack bar).
"Reducing fat intake, cutting down on sugar, eating a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar -- over time, these things can make a difference," says Grossman.
As long as the changes are moving you toward your goal -- be it weight loss, a reduction in cholesterol or blood pressure, or better blood sugar control -- you can get there by taking baby steps, she says.
Moreover, Grossman tells WebMD, making small changes can help give us the motivation to make bigger ones.
"A lot of bad eating habits are about not taking charge of your life, and that attitude is often reflected in other areas," says Grossman. On the other hand, she says, when you make small changes at the kitchen table, the rewards may show up in other areas of your life.
"It's the act of taking control that makes the difference in motivating you," says Grossman. "An inner confidence and power begins to develop that can be seen in other areas of life."
Tripping Over Baby Steps
Of course, not everyone is certain that baby steps can walk you all the way to good health. Marc Siegel, MD, a clinical associate professor at the NYU School of Medicine, says that while doing something is certainly better than doing nothing, making such small changes is like using a Band-aid to stop a hemorrhage.
"It's a small, gimmicky idea to target people with very unhealthy lifestyles, and for some it may be useful," says Siegel, author of False Alarm: the Truth about the Epidemic of Fear. But he fears that for most people, it's sending the wrong message.
"In some ways it's a resignation, an admission that things can't be changed -- and that's certainly not the long-term answer," Siegel tells WebMD.
Katz concedes that the Stealth Health approach may not be right for everybody.
"There is a trade-off because if you try to make the pursuit of health easier for people, you run the risk of leading them to believe they don't need to do very much -- and that would be the wrong message," he says.
At the same time, Katz believes that for those who find making health changes a daunting task, Stealth Health techniques can make a difference.
"If you want the really big gains, there has to be some pain," says Katz. "But there is a lot to be said for the idea that you can make some gains with little or no pain, and that's infinitely better than no gains."
Try the Stealth Health Approach
Tempted to give "Stealth Health" a try? Katz recommends picking any three of the following 12 changes and incorporating them into your life for four days. When you feel comfortable with those changes, pick three others. Once you've incorporate all dozen changes, you should start to feel a difference within a couple of weeks, he says.
To Improve Nutrition:
1. Buy whole foods -- whether canned, frozen, or fresh from the farm -- and use them in place of processed foods whenever possible.
2. Reject foods and drinks made with corn syrup, a calorie-dense, nutritionally empty sweetener that many believe is worse for the body than sugar, says Katz.
3. Start each dinner with a mixed green salad. Not only will it help reduce your appetite for more caloric foods, but it also will automatically add veggies to your meal.
To Improve Physical Fitness:
1. Do a squat every time you pick something up. Instead of bending over in the usual way, which stresses the lower back, bend your knees and squat. This forces you to use your leg muscles and will build strength.
2. Every time you stop at a traffic light (or the bus does), tighten your thighs and butt muscles and release as many times as you can. (Don't worry, no one will see it!) This will firm leg and buttock muscles, improve blood flow -- and keep you mildly amused!
3. Whenever you're standing on a line, lift one foot a half-inch off the ground. The extra stress on your opposite foot, ankle, calf and thigh, plus your buttocks, will help firm and tone muscles. Switch feet every few minutes.
To Improve Stress Control:
1. Give your partner a hug every day before work. Studies show this simple act can help you remain calm when chaos ensues during your day, Katz says.
2. Have a good cry. It can boost your immune system, reduce levels of stress hormones, eliminate depression, and help you think more clearly.
3. Twice a day, breathe deeply for three to five minutes
To Improve Sleep:
1. Sprinkle just-washed sheets and pillowcases with lavender water. The scent has been shown in studies to promote relaxation, which can lead to better sleep.
2. Buy a new pillow. Katz says that studies show that pillows with an indent in the center can enhance sleep quality and reduce neck pain. Also, try a "cool" pillow -- one containing either all-natural fibers or a combination of sodium sulfate and ceramic fibers that help keep your head cool.
3. Eat a handful of walnuts before bed. You'll be giving yourself a boost of fiber and essential fatty acids along with the amino acid tryptophan -- a natural sleep-inducer.

SOURCES: Archives of Internal Medicine. 2004; vol 164: pp 31-39. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, September 2002. David Katz, MD, MPH, director, Prevention Research Center, Yale University; co-author, Stealth Health: How to Sneak Age-Defying, Disease-Fighting Habits into Your Life without Really Trying. Fran Grossman, MS, RD, CDE, nutrition counselor, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York. Helene Glassberg, MD, director, Preventive Cardiology and Lipid Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia. Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, New York University School of Medicine; author, False Alarm, The Truth about the Epidemic of Fear.

Originally published September 9, 2005.
Medically updated September 2007.

---

©2007 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

Health

At the time of the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1948, Health was defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".^[1][2]
This definition invited nations to expand the conceptual framework of their health systems beyond issues related to the physical condition of individuals and their diseases, and it motivated us to focus our attention on what we now call social determinants of health. Consequently, WHO challenged political, academic, community, and professional organizations devoted to improving or preserving health to make the scope of their work explicit, including their rationale for allocating resources. This opened the door for public accountability [3].
Only a handful of publications have focused specifically on the definition of health and its evolution in the first 6 decades. Some of them highlight its lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete." Others declare the definition, which has not been modified since 1948, "simply a bad one." [4].
In 1986, the WHO, in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, said that health is "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities." Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), which is composed of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) also define health.
Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, which, together is commonly referred to as the Health Triangle.

Contents [hide] 1 Aspects of health 1.1 Physical health 1.2 Mental health 2 Determinants of health 3 Maintaining health 3.1 Social Activity 3.1.1 Sports nutrition 3.2 Hygiene 3.3 Stress management 3.4 Health care 3.4.1 Workplace wellness programs 4 Public health 5 Role of science in health 5.1 Software 5.2 Sources 5.3 Application 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Aspects of health

[edit] Physical health

Main article: Physical fitness

Physical fitness refers to body health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery.
This is also influenced by the standard of living and quality of life. Genetics also plays a major role in people's height. The study of human growth, its regulators, and implications is known as Auxology.

[edit] Mental health

Main article: Mental health

Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.^[3] However, despite official definitions, the term mental health, and the question of whether or not an individual is 'mentally well', remains a subjective assessment.

[edit] Determinants of health

Main article: Social determinants of health

The LaLonde report suggests that there are four general determinants of health including human biology, environment, lifestyle, and healthcare services.^[4] Thus, health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society.
A major environmental factor is water quality, especially for the health of infants and children in developing countries.^[5]
Studies show that in developed countries, the lack of neighborhood recreational space that includes the natural environment leads to lower levels of neighborhood satisfaction and higher levels of obesity; therefore, lower overall well being.^[6] Therefore, the positive psychological benefits of natural space in urban neighborhoods should be taken into account in public policy and land use.

[edit] Maintaining health

Main article: Self care

Achieving health and remaining healthy is an ongoing process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health include the following elements:

[edit] Social Activity

Main article: Social relation

Personal health depends partially on the social structure of one's life. The maintenance of strong social relationships is linked to good health conditions, longevity, productivity, and a positive attitude. This is due to the fact that positive social interaction as viewed by the participant increases many chemical levels in the brain which are linked to personality and intelligence traits.

[edit] Sports nutrition

Main article: Sports nutrition

Sports nutrition focuses the link between dietary supplements and athletic performance. One goal of sports nutrition is to maintain glycogen levels and prevent glycogen depletion. Another is to optimize energy levels and muscle tone. An athlete's strategy for winning an event may include a schedule for the entire season of what to eat, when to eat it, and in what precise quantities (before, during, after, and between workouts and events).

[edit] Hygiene

Main article: Hygiene

Hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean to prevent infection and illness, and the avoidance of contact with infectious agents. Hygiene practices include bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, washing hands especially before eating, washing food before it is eaten, cleaning food preparation utensils and surfaces before and after preparing meals, and many others. This may help prevent infection and illness. By cleaning the body, dead skin cells are washed away with the germs, reducing their chance of entering the body.

Health Precautions

General Cautions
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.
Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood, rare meat or dairy products. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors.
Swim only in well-maintained, chlorinated pools or ocean water known to be free from pollution; avoid freshwater lakes, streams and rivers. Wear clothing which reduces exposed skin and apply repellents containing DEET to remaining areas.
Sleep in well-screened accommodations. Carry anti-diarrhea medication. Reduce problems related to sun exposure by using sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen lotions and lip protection.

Specific Concerns

	AIDS occurs. Blood supply may not be adequately screened and/or single-use, disposable needles and syringes may be unavailable. When possible, travelers should defer medical treatment until reaching a facility where safety can be assured.
	The large number of tropical plants and pollution levels inurban areas may cause children and adults with asthma problems severe discomfort.

Immunizations
These recommendations are not absolute and should not be construed to apply to all travelers. A final decision regarding immunizations will be based on the traveler's medical history, proposed itinerary, duration of stay and purpose for traveling.

Hepatitis A
Consider active immunization with hepatitis A vaccine or passive immunization with immune globulin (IG) for all susceptible travelers. Especially consider choosing active immunization for persons planning to reside for a long period or for persons who take frequent short-term trips to risk areas. The importance of protection against hepatitis A increases as length of stay increases. It is particularly important for persons who will be living in or visiting rural areas, eating or drinking in settings of poor or uncertain sanitation, or who will have close contact with local persons (especially young children) in settings with poor sanitary conditions.

Hepatitis B
Vaccination is advised for health care workers, persons anticipating direct contact with blood from or sexual contact with inhabitants, and persons planning extended stays of 6 months or greater (especially those who anticipate using local health care facilities, staying in rural areas, or having intimate contact with the local population).

Japanese encephalitis
Consider vaccination if staying a month or more on Bali, Irian Jaya, Java, Kalimantan, Lombok, Mollucas, Nusa Tenggara or Sulawesi, especially if travel includes rural areas. Also consider if staying less than 30 days and at high risk (in case of epidemic outbreak or extensive outdoor
exposure in rural areas). While transmission likely occurs all year and varies by island, peak risk is generally from November to March, although it is June to July in some years. Human cases have historically been reported only on Bali and Java.
one-time booster dose is recommended for travelers who have previously completed a standard course of polio immunization. Refer to CDC guidelines for vaccinating unimmunized or incompletely immunized persons. Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to vaccination; however, if protection is needed, either IPV or OPV may be used, depending on preference and time available.

Rabies
Preexposure vaccination should be considered for travel to Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra or Sulawesi for persons staying longer than 30 days who are expected to be at risk to bites from domestic and/or wild animals (particularly dogs), or for persons engaged in high risk activities such as spelunking or animal handling. Need for vaccination is more important if potential exposure is in rural areas and if adequate postexposure care is not readily available.

Typhoid
Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited.
Contraindications depend on vaccine type.
All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.

Disease Risk Summary
The general level of community sanitation and public health awareness is low throughout Indonesia.

	Insect-borne illness: considered an important cause of disease in this area.
	Encephalitis (Japanese type) - occurs (risk may extend to resort areas, including those on Bali)
	Filariasis - prevalent in rural areas
	Malaria - common
	Typhus (mite-borne) - occurs in deforested areas Food-borne and water-borne illness: these diseases are common.
	Cholera - occurs
	Dysentery (amoebic and bacillary) - occurs
	Fasciolopsiasis (giant intestinal fluke) - occurs
	Hepatitis - occurs
	Melioidosis - occurs
	Schistosomiasis - occurs on the island of Sulawesi

Other hazards:
Diseases such as measles and diphtheria are commonly reported, and cases of polio still occur regularly.

	Influenza risk extends throughout the year.
	Rabies - occurs on Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra and Sulawesi
	Trachoma - occurs

Yellow fever
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from
travelers coming from infected areas. A certificate is also required from
travelers arriving from countries in the endemic zones.

Malaria Information

Risk areas
Risk exists throughout the year in all areas of Irian Jaya and in rural areas of other islands (exceptions are metropolitan areas of Jakarta, Jogakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Denpasar plus contiguous tourist beach areas of Bali). Chloroquine-resistant falciparum is confirmed, and chloroquine-resistant .. vivax is reported. Fansidar resistance is reported in several areas and resistance to mefloquine may occur. WHO reports that P. falciparum is responsible for 49% of cases. Java and Bali report a total of 16,000 cases annually, with an added 59,000 reported from the Outer Islands.

Protective measures
advises that risk is limited to areas not usually visited by travelers and recommends that only travelers likely to have evening or nighttime exposure in risk areas undertake chemoprophylaxis with mefloquine in addition to personal protective measures. Persons with epilepsy, psychiatric disorders or known hypersensitivity to mefloquine should not use this drug and should consider alternate means of protection. Consult your physician regarding additional precautions and potential side effects.

Current Health Concerns
According to postings on ProMED, 8 people are dead and 46 others have been hospitalized in the eastern province of Nusa Tangara due to rabies. Initial investigation by health officials seemed to indicate that the disease was not rabies, but further tests proved that dogs carrying rabies were responsible for the deaths. An order has been issued to capture and destroy approximately 170,000 stray dogs in Nusa Tangara.

Posted 15 May 1998.
According to press reports, dengue hemorrhagic fever has claimed the lives of approximately 800 people in Indonesia since the beginning of the year.
Dengue fever is common during the monsoon season, which generally lasts from October to April, but government officials have stated that this year's outbreak is extraordinary. At least 32,000 people have been infected since January 1998.
Localized outbreaks have been recorded in several locations, notably the
district of Palembang in South Sumatra Province, the cities of Bandung and Jakarta in West Java Province, the town of Dili in East Timor Province and the town of Palu in Central Sulawesi Province. Jakarta alone has seen nearly 80 deaths among 10,000 cases. At least 12 of Indonesia's 27 provinces have recorded fatalities, and the number of deaths reported is believed to be a fraction of the actual totals.

Posted 15 May 1998.
According to press reports, an outbreak of hepatitis A has affected more than 600 people in the regency of Bondowoso in Eastern Java. Eight villages in the districts of Tapan, Wonsari and Sukosari have been affected, the largest in the region's history. Poor hygiene and contaminated river water have been cited as causes of the outbreak.

Posted 24 April 1998.
According to press reports, a choking smog from forest fires burning out of control in the province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo has compromised the health of thousands of people in the cities of Samarinda and Balikpapan, as well as in surrounding areas. At least 300 cases of pneumonia have been reported, and ailments such as eye infections, respiratory infectionsand asthma are on the rise. One newspaper has reported that at least 2 people have died due to the haze. After dissipating for a few months, the haze has returned to Southeast Asia as land has been deliberately burned and seasonal monsoon rains have been held off by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Posted 24 March 1998.
USDOS Advisory
The material below is reprinted verbatim from the U.S. Department of State (USDOS). Recommendations regarding preventive health measures (including immunizations), if given here, may differ from those of the CDC/ACIP presented elsewhere in this report. Health-related entry requirements, if included here, may not agree with the official version of requirements reported by WHO and presented in the Official Health Data section of this report.

Consular Information Sheet - April 24, 1998
Country Description
Indonesia is an independent republic consisting of more than 13,500 islands spread over 3,000 miles. Its economy is developing, and tourist services are plentiful in the major tourist sites.
Entry Requirements: A passport valid for six months beyond the
intended date of departure is required. A visa is not required for tourist
stays up to two months. For additional information about entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 775-5200,
http://www.kbri.org/

Information on Crime
The crime rate in Jakarta is moderate but rising. Minor crimes, such as pickpocketing and thefts, occur in popular tourist sites throughout the country. Incidents of carjackings and robbery have been reported. Lost or stolen passports should be reported to the local police and the citizins. Embassy or nearest consulate.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in their countries and do not afford the same protections available to the individual under their. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in your countrie for similar offenses.
Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Criminal penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect severe jail sentences and fines.

Road Safety: All traffic operates on the left side of the road, and most vehicles use right-hand drive. Roads in major cities and toll roads are good. Roads are narrower and may be more poorly maintained in rural areas and remote regions. Driving at night outside major cities can be hazardous. Taxis are an affordable means of transportation. The safest option is to call the taxi company directly. Make sure the taxi driver agrees to take you to your destination, never get into a taxi already occupied by another passenger and always insist on using the taxi meter. A list of taxi safety tips, along with a list of more reputable taxi companies, is available from the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

Aviation Oversight
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Indonesia civil aviation authority as Category 1 - in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Indonesia's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at (800) 322-7873 or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/AVR/iasa.htm

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288.

Embassy Location and Registration
Americans are encouraged to register at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, where they may obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. The embassy is located in Jakarta at Medan Merdeka Selatan 5; telephone (62)(21) 344-2211, fax (62)(21)
386-2259, Internet: http://www.usembassyjakarta.org/

The U.S. Consulate General is in Surabaya at Jalan Raya Dr. Sutomo 33; telephone (62)(31) 567-2287/8, fax (62)(31) 567-4492. There is a consular agent in Bali at Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188, Denpasar, Bali; telephone (62)(361) 233-605.
The U.S. Consulate in Medan closed in May 1996.

* * Find more articles on save earth Spacecraft Could Save Earth from Asteroids

A collision with an asteroid is a rare event, but scientists believe it is inevitable that sooner or later an asteroid will come close enough to be a real threat. In fact in 2004 an asteroid called Apophis caused alarm when scientists predicted there was a 1:37 chance of it hitting Earth in 2029, which is the greatest threat in recorded history. They later revised their figures but it could still be on course to collide in 2036. The US space agency, NASA estimates there are at least 1000 "potentially hazardous asteroids."
NASA is so concerned about the threat it has set up a monitoring program to track every space object that could be an asteroid on a collision course. They are so far tracking over 6,000 asteroids whose orbits bring them close to Earth, but there are an estimated 100,000 asteroids large enough to wipe out a city.
A collision could be catastrophic, depending on how large the asteroid is and where it hits. A direct hit to a city by even a relatively small asteroid the size of a football field, for example, could completely destroy the city and kill millions of people. Many more could be killed by tsunamis triggered by the impact, and by dust and burning material thrown up into the atmosphere after the collision.
The engineers, led by Dr Ralph Cordey, head of exploration and business at EADS Astrium, a British space company, have designed what they call a "gravity tractor", a ten-tonne spacecraft around 100 feet long that could provide a practical way of averting a collision with Earth.
The device would be launched as soon as an asteroid was found to be on course to crash into the planet, and would fly alongside it at a distance of about 160 feet away. The craft could divert an asteroid up to 430 yards in diameter, and an impact with an asteroid this size would release around 100,000 times the energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The gravity tractor is designed to draw the asteroid towards itself by exerting a small gravitational force on it. The spacecraft would then steer the asteroid away into an orbit away from Earth.
The craft would use four ion thrusters, which are low energy and efficient, of the type commonly used on deep space probes. The ion thrusters enable the craft to adjust its position relative to the asteroid. The gravitational pull exerted by the asteroid would be enough to nudge the rock into a different, and less dangerous, trajectory.
The process of steering the asteroid away from a collision course would take several years, with the craft changing the angle of trajectory by only a fraction of an inch over 15 years, but that is enough change to divert an asteroid. The spacecraft would need to be launched at least 15 (preferably 20) years before the predicted collision to give it time to adjust the asteroid's trajectory away from Earth.
The design team say the gravity tractor could be built fairly quickly with existing technologies, although a prototype has not yet been built. They have planned the details of the mission, and expect the cost could be shared by a number of governments if an asteroid on track to hit Earth was discovered, and international agreements would need to be drawn up.
NASA published a paper earlier this year on the feasibility of using a gravity tractor for this purpose, and they concluded it could be extremely effective if there was enough warning. With scientists saying the asteroid Apophis could possibly be on a course to collide with Earth in 2036, perhaps we do have enough warning.
© 2009 PhysOrg.com

We've got to Save Our Planet Earth!

• If you throw away 2 aluminum cans, you waste more energy than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) of the world's poorest people use a day.
• Making a new can from scratch uses the uses the energy equal to half a can of gasoline.
• About one third of what an average American throws out is packaging.
• More than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) trees are used to make disposable diapers every year.
• In one minute, 50 acres of rainforest are destroyed.
• Some rain has a pH of 3 or 4. (which is pretty acidic, considering 7 is neutral, not acidic, and battery acid has a pH of 1). Some fish, such as lake trout and smallmouth bass, have trouble reproducing at a pH of 6, which is only slightly acidic. Some clams and snails can't survive at all. Most crayfish are dead at a pH of 5. You can see how bad this is for the environment.
• On average, a person in the US uses energy two times more than a person in Japan or West Germany does, and 50 times more than a person in India.
• About 90% of the energy used in lighting a standard (incandescent) light bulb is lost as heat.
• Air conditioning uses 10 times more energy than a fan, therefore, it creates 10 times the pollutants.
• It takes half the output of the Alaskan pipeline to heat the air that escapes from all the homes in the US during a year.
• Cars and pick-up trucks are responsible for about 20% of the carbon dioxide released into the air.
• There are about 500 million automobiles on the planet, burning an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day. Each gallon releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.
• About 80% of our trash goes to landfills, 10% is incinerated, and 10% is recycled.
• Since there is little oxygen underground, where we bury our garbage, to help bacteria eat the garbage, almost nothing happens to it. Scientists have dug into landfills and found ears of corn still intact after 20 years, and newspapers still readable after 30.
• The average American makes about 3.5 pounds of trash a day.
• In a year, the average American uses as much wood in the form of paper as the average resident of the developing world burns as fuel.

26 things we can do to help:

1. Turn off lights.
2. Turn off other electric things, like TVs, stereos, and radios when not in use.
3. Use rechargable batteries.
4. Do things manually instead of electrically, like open cans by hand.
5. Use fans instead of air conditioners.
6. In winter, wear a sweater instead of turning up your thermostat.
7. Insulate your home so you won't be cold in winter.
8. Use less hot water.
9. Whenever possible, use a bus or subway, or ride your bike or walk.
10. Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables if you're concerned about pesticides. (Organic food is grown without man-made fertilizers and/or pesticides).
11. Don't waste products made from forest materials.
12. Use recycled paper and/or recycle it. Reuse old papers.
13. Don't buy products that may have been made at the expense of the rainforest.
14. Support products that are harvested from the rainforest but have not cut down trees to get it.
15. Plant trees, espessially if you have cut one down.
16. Get other people to help you in your cause. Make and/or join an organization.
17. Avoid products that are used once, then thrown away.
18. Buy products with little or no packaging.
19. Encourage your grocery store sell environmentally friendly cloth bags for people to use when they shop, or bring your own.
20. REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE.
21. Compost.
22. Buy recycled products.
23. Don't buy pets taken from the wild.
24. If you have a good zoo nearby, (if the animals are healthy and the zoo takes care of them), support it! Espessially if they help breed endangered animals.
25. Don't buy products if animals were killed to make it.
26. Cut up your six-pack rings before throwing them out.

Save the Earth Save the Earth

SAVE THE EARTH FOUNDATION'S FUNDING HELPS GET THE DAVIDSON SEAMOUNT PROTECTED

The Davidson Seamount has recently been added to the boundaries of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. There will now be protection for ancient, spectacular corals as well as newly discovered rare species ( NOAA has identified 13 species new to science so far). The recent research that Save The Earth funded has identified a key regional role that the Davidson Seamount serves to the Central California ecosystem, and has provided for a strong site characterization that is the basis of a management plan NOAA is developing for Davidson Seamount. Save The Earth's sponsorship has helped generate sound science and national excitement to protect this area.

When President Bush announced that Davidson Seamount would be protected under the Sanctuaries Act, and again when the designation was final, the national media seized upon this topic that engenders excitement with the public. Save The Earth clearly recognizes the need for engaging national and international audiences in important environmental issues. There are more than 30,000 seamounts in the global oceans, a fraction of one percent have been explored, and some seamounts have already been obliterated of coral communities by destructive harvesting. As the only seamount in the National Marine Sanctuary program, Davidson will serve as a research and education focus on this unique habitat type. Only through exciting research that can be interpreted to the public can we effectively influence public policy and human behavior.

Stop Fat

Here's how to stop fat in it's tracks. If you're overweight and want to start peeling some of those fat pounds off your body without having to spend hours at the gym or hours in the kitchen, this article may be what you're looking for. I'm going to give you 2 simple, but totally effective, tips on how you can win your battle with losing weight. Take 2 minutes to read the rest of this.

Stop Fat

1. Whenever you eat, you must have some sort of protein with the food

During meals or snacks, you need protein. Why? Because protein helps to control your blood sugar levels. You need stable blood sugar levels or you're going to end up with massive amounts of hunger and cravings that you won't be able to control. Another thing, protein naturally boosts the metabolism. If you think about it, it's obvious since your body is in fact made up of protein.

For meals you can probably figure out things that have protein in them... chicken, lean meats, protein shakes, black beans, whatever. For snacks, it's a little bit harder, but here are a few... low calorie yogurts, string cheeses, protein bars (be careful on the amount of sugars in these), and beef jerky.

2. Jump rope during tv commercials

Boxers are known for having great bodies. They rely a lot on jumping rope. While I know you're not looking to become a boxer or even look anything like a boxer, this exercise is great for both men and women. Do some rope jumping for 4 different commercial breaks. That'll total just over 10 minutes of your time. Just sneak it into your TV time.

There are obviously a lot of things you can do to stop fat, but these are 2 very simple ones that you can do pretty much right away.

If you're SICK and TIRED of getting the same old boring weight loss advice... you know, like "Eat more fruits and vegetables, drink 8 glasses of water, jog, and Blah Blah Blah", then...

Click http://www.weightlossguide4women.com to get your FREE EBOOK "How SPINNING Around Like a Child TRIPLES your Weight Loss". A strange, but true, way to LOSE 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks. I'm giving away this ebook today and tomorrow ONLY to anyone who visits my website! So get it before tomorrow night.

If you're truly serious about losing weight, then go to the link below to get your free ebook now. If you don't Lose 10 Pounds... I'd be QUITE surprised! http://www.weightlossguide4women.com

Jennifer Jolan

Stop Smoking

Stop Smoking Tips provides all the information on how to quit smoking

According to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20% of male and female adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes, while more than 80% of them light up a cigarette every day. The reason why smoking has become such an issue is because the addictive effects of nicotine lead to various types of cancers, strokes, and heart attacks. As such, everyday is the RIGHT TIME to quit smoking.

The main goal of Stop-Smoking-Tips.com is to assist smokers aspiring to quit smoking and prevent smokers from having the urge to start smoking again. Once you quit smoking, you can immediately feel the health benefits of your decision within 24 hours, which could lead you to be free from smoking cigarettes forever.

The information on this website is based on evidence from research on stop smoking programs, stop smoking aids and counseling, which are aimed at helping people to quit smoking for good.

For smokers, to Stop Smoking is really a tough action to take. Majority of smokers want to quit smoking, but find it difficult to do so as nicotine is very addictive and hard to get rid off. We will teach you the easiest, most effective and systematic methods to stop smoking, which are tested by various studies worldwide. We will also provide you with a clear understanding of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting smoking.

There are two factors that will determine your success in quitting smoking for good. They are;

* Will - You must have the desire to give up your habit of smoking and create a strong will to avoid a smoking relapse.
* Mindset – You must learn about the effects of smoking, understand its consequences and face the fact that you need to stop smoking and follow, finish and maintain a quit smoking plan.

The top recommended product by our readers is Smoke Deter
In Six straightforward and easy steps, you can stop smoking and live a normal and healthy life same as that of a non-smoker.

Step 1: Think About Quitting

According to a recent survey, around 15 million smokers try to quit smoking each day. However, less than 3% of these people stop smoking successfully for 3 to 12 months. If you’re thinking about quitting or have stopped smoking but failed to quit, don’t lose hope because smokers often try to quit more than once before they actually succeed.

In this section, you will learn about the history of cigarette smoking, facts about smoking, smoking cessation and benefits of quitting smoking. To give you a strong reason to quit smoking, this section will also tackle dangerous diseases – such as lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, etc – caused by smoking cigarettes. In addition, this section will explain the reasons why it is extremely hard to quit smoking, hurdles in quitting and possible nicotine withdrawal symptoms that you may encounter throughout this process.
Step 2: Effects of Smoking

Years of clinical studies have proven that using Tobacco causes people to become sick, disabled or die. Since the first Surgeon General’s Report in 1964, over 12 million smoking-related deaths have occurred. More than 500,000 deaths in the U.S are caused from smoking-related illnesses. Adult smokers reduce their lifespan by an average of 13 to 14 years.

In this section, you will learn about the dangerous effects and health risks of smoking. You will understand the facts about smoking addiction, the hazardous effects of smoking on a pregnant woman, on passive smokers, on your facial charm, on your teeth and on your general well being. You will also learn how stress could play a role in cigarette smoking. This section also deals with the effects on secondhand smoke, effects of smoking on vitamin A and C, dangerous effects of smoking on men and women, as well as the differences between cigar and pipe smoking.
Step 3: Preparing To Quit Smoking

The first key to quitting smoking successfully is planning and preparation. You need to prepare your body and mind before actually quitting. Determine your personal goals, discover your reasons for quitting and get rid of temptations that may become a hindrance to your stop smoking program. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a drug that is addictive and can make it very hard, but not impossible, to quit. Similar to other substances drug abuse needs professional help, such as Rehab Programs.

In this section, you will face the facts about nicotine addiction before your last stick of cigarette. You will learn the most effective steps to be followed when planning to quit smoking. You will also find out about the real reason why it is so hard to quit smoking. To help you plan your quit smoking program, you need to confront your personal reasons to start quitting and understand what you need to do stop smoking. This section also deals with the psychological recovery stages to stop smoking and provides helpful tips to quit smoking.
Step 4: Stop Smoking Tips

Even if you have no idea where to start and what to do, you can quit smoking as long as you have the mindset and commitment to do so. Stop smoking tips can help you create a good stop smoking plan and lifestyle changes that could lead to a healthier, smoke-free life.

In this section, you will learn some of the simplest ways and useful tips to quit smoking for good. You can choose from several psychological areas that can help you to stop smoking based on your lifestyle. This section also deals with stop smoking tips that will help your loved ones quit this deadly habit and tips on how to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms using an effective stop smoking plan, attending support groups and establishing a smoking cessation program.
Step 5: Stop Smoking Aids

When smoking cigarettes has played a large part in your life, quitting smoking may not be that simple. Fortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved seven over-the-counter stop smoking aids – five of these help in managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms, while the other two help in reducing cigarette cravings.

In this section, you will learn about different proven stop smoking methods like Water Therapy, Psychological Therapy and Nicotine Replacement Therapy. This section also deals with other useful stop smoking aids such as nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine lozenges, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches, nicotine gum and stop smoking pills.
Step 6: Stay a Quitter

After sometime, some quitters get back to their smoking habit due to temptation and persistent nicotine carving. Some may slip and puff “just one cigarette”, while others experience total relapse. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers who quit are at greater risk of relapsing in the first three months of becoming smoke-free.

In this section, you will learn effective methods in avoiding nicotine carvings, while training how to control urges through breathing exercises. To understand what you are going to experience through this process, you need to learn and manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This section also tackles steps to manage weight gain, discusses FAQ on common frustrations of a quitter, handle traumatic events without a cigarette and other possible solutions for ex-smokers.
Stop Smoking Products

Some people may find it difficult to quit smoking without any aids or nicotine replacements. If you’re one of them, you still have hope because there are numerous stop smoking products available in the market today to make quitting an easier journey.

In this section, you will discover the quit smoking products available in the market today, reviews of each product and ranking of the top quit smoking products. To understand what each product can do for your body, the frequently asked questions section about ‘Quit Smoking’ Products can help you understand and choose an appropriate stop smoking product for your program.
Recommended Quit Smoking Products

The following products are the best quit smoking products available in the market and have been proven to help you stop smoking forever. Do try them out and stay smoke free forever.

Nicocure - Quit Smoking in Less than 30 Days

Stop Smoking in a week 100% Guaranteed! - Stop Smoking for Life
Health Risks of Smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of serious health diseases, such as cancer, stroke and heart problems. If you have no plans of quitting today, having knowledge of the different types of illnesses that you may experience through years of smoking may change your perception and lead you to stop smoking.

In this section, you will discover how smoking affects various parts of the body including the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, heart, skin, blood, etc. Here are some possible health effects of smoking:

• Lung Cancer
• Heart Diseases
• High Blood Pressure
• Bad Breath
• Gum Disease
• Depression
• Snoring
• Diabetes
• Infertility on men and women
• Thyroid Disease
• Harmful effects on Bones and Joints

This section also includes tips for reducing the health risks of smoking like heart attacks and blood pressure as well as dangers involved in breastfeeding while smoking.

Google Web Elements

Looking for ways to spice up your website with dynamic content? You may know from our optimization tips that you can help increase your AdSense revenue by incorporating other Google products into your site. We're happy to introduce a new, easy way for you to do just that with Google Web Elements.

Web Elements let you easily add richness and interactivity to your site simply by copying and pasting a snippet of code. Inspired by the convenience of embeddable YouTube videos, each Web Element is built upon existing Google products. For example, the Google News element, introduced on this blog earlier this year, dynamically pulls in content from Google News based on news topics you select and displays within an embed on your site. With the official launch of Web Elements, you can choose to include Web Elements from products like Google Custom Search, Calendar, Docs, Friend Connect, and more.

Need more inspiration on how to integrate Web Elements into your site? Here are a few ideas:

* If you're using a Custom Search Engine on your site, the Custom Search element can help you integrate search results much more seamlessly with the look and feel of your pages. You can continue to earn revenues from searches while offering a better user experience to your users with better results styling.

Who's using it: The Mayo Clinic uses the Custom Search Element as their main search function. The look and feel of the search results blends in smoothly with the rest of the site.


* To enable your visitors to post comments and links on your site, use the Conversation element. The element also lets visitors participate in conversations via Friend Connect.

Who's using it: St. Simons Blog uses the Conversation element to let users in St. Simons Island and Georgia's Golden Isles connect with each other.


* The YouTube News element displays the latest YouTube videos from a number of news content partners including the Associated Press, CBS Online, Washington Post, Bloomberg, NY Times, Russia Today, Al-Jazeera English, and more.

Who's using it: CitizenTube is YouTube's official news and politics blog. They display the YouTube News element on the right-hand side of the homepage labeled as "Latest News Videos".


* The Spreadsheet element allows you to display a table of information to your users which pulls from any Google Spreadsheet you choose. Whenever you update the Spreadsheet, the element will also update automatically. This is an easy way to keep dynamic content on your site fresh.

Who's using it: Metal Italia is an Italian heavy metal fan site. The site uses the Spreadsheet element to display album information for heavy metal artists.


To get started, all you need to do is go to http://www.google.com/webelements, select the element you want on your site, and copy and paste the resulting code into your website source code. If you're interested in tinkering further with the Web Elements, you can further customize any of the elements as you please, since they're all powered by Google's developer APIs.

Using a Web Element on your site (or two, or seven)? We'd love to hear what you think and how they've been working for you. Just leave a comment on this blog post!

Posted by Christine Tsai - Google Web Elements Team
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:01:00 PM

5 comments Permalink Links to this post

Labels: Other Google products

Abuse and criticism

Abuse

Some webmasters create websites tailored to lure searchers from Google and other engines onto their AdSense website to make money from clicks. These "zombie" websites often contain nothing but a large amount of interconnected, automated content (e.g., a directory with content from the Open Directory Project, or scraper websites relying on RSS feeds for content). Possibly the most popular form of such "AdSense farms" are splogs (spam blogs), which are centered around known high-paying keywords. Many of these websites use content from other websites, such as Wikipedia, to attract visitors. These and related approaches are considered to be search engine spam and can be reported to Google.[citation needed]

A Made for AdSense (MFA) website or webpage has little or no content, but is filled with advertisements so that users have no choice but to click on advertisements. Such pages were tolerated in the past, but due to complaints, Google now disables such accounts.

There have also been reports of Trojan horses engineered to produce counterfeit Google advertisements that are formatted looking like legitimate ones. The Trojan downloads itself onto an unsuspecting computer through a webpage and then replaces the original advertisements with its own set of malicious advertisements.[13]

[edit] Criticism

Due to concerns about click fraud, 'Google AdSense' has been criticized by some search engine optimization firms as a large source of what Google calls "invalid clicks", in which one company clicks on a rival's search engine advertisements to drive up the other company's costs.[14]

To help prevent click fraud, AdSense publishers can choose from a number of click-tracking programs.[citation needed] These programs display detailed information about the visitors who click on the AdSense advertisements. Publishers can use this to determine whether or not they have been a victim of click fraud. There are a number of commercial tracking scripts available for purchase.

The payment terms for webmasters have also been criticized.[15] Google withholds payment until an account reaches US$100,[16] but many micro content providers[citation needed] require a long time—years in some cases—to build up this much AdSense revenue. However, Google will pay all earned revenue greater than US$10 when an AdSense account is closed.

Many website owners complain that their AdSense accounts have been disabled just before they were supposed to receive their first paycheck from Google. Google claims accounts have been disabled due to click fraud.[citation needed]

Google came under fire when the official Google AdSense Blog showcased the French video website Imineo.com. This website violated Google's AdSense Program Policies by displaying AdSense alongside sexually explicit material. Typically, websites displaying AdSense have been banned from showing such content.[17] Some sites have been banned for distributing copyright material even when they hold the copyright themselves or are authorized by the copyright holder to distribute the material.[18]

It has been reported that using both AdSense and AdWords may cause a website to pay Google a commission when the website advertises itself.[19]

In some cases, AdSense displays inappropriate or offensive ads. For example, in a news story about a terrorist attack in India, an advert was generated for a (presumably non-existent) educational qualification in terrorism.[20]

Type Adsense

AdSense for Feeds

In May 2005, Google announced a limited-participation beta version of AdSense for Feeds, a version of AdSense that runs on RSS and Atom feeds that have more than 100 active subscribers. According to the Official Google Blog, "advertisers have their ads placed in the most appropriate feed articles; publishers are paid for their original content; readers see relevant advertising—and in the long run, more quality feeds to choose from."[5]

AdSense for Feeds works by inserting images into a feed. When the image is displayed by a RSS reader or Web browser, Google writes the advertising content into the image that it returns. The advertisement content is chosen based on the content of the feed surrounding the image. When the user clicks the image, he or she is redirected to the advertiser's website in the same way as regular AdSense advertisements.

AdSense for Feeds remained in its beta state until August 15, 2008, when it became available to all AdSense users.

[edit] AdSense for search

A companion to the regular AdSense program, AdSense for search, allows website owners to place Google search boxes on their websites. When a user searches the Internet or the website with the search box, Google shares any advertising revenue it makes from those searches with the website owner. However the publisher is paid only if the advertisements on the page are clicked: AdSense does not pay publishers for mere searches.

[edit] AdSense for mobile content

AdSense for mobile content allows publishers to generate earnings from their mobile websites using targeted Google advertisements. Just like AdSense for content, Google matches advertisements to the content of a website — in this case, a mobile website.

[edit] AdSense for domains

Adsense for domains allows advertisements to be placed on domain names that have not been developed. This offers domain name owners a way to monetize domain names that are otherwise dormant. Adsense for domains is currently being offered to some users, with plans to make it available to all in stages.

On December 12, 2008, TechCrunch reported that AdSense for Domains is available for all US publishers.[6]

[edit] AdSense for video

AdSense for video allows publishers with video content to generate revenue using ad placements from Google's extensive Advertising network. AdSense for video display both InVideo overlay and text overlay ads.

[edit] XHTML compatibility

As of September 2007, the HTML code for the AdSense search box does not validate as XHTML, and does not follow modern principles of website design because of its use of

* non-standard end tags, such as and ,
* the attribute checked rather than checked="checked",
* presentational attributes other than id, class, or style — for example, bgcolor and align,
* a table structure for purely presentational (i.e., non-tabular) purposes,1 and
* the font tag.2

1: using a table structure for unintended purposes is strongly recommended against by the W3C[citation needed], but nevertheless does not cause a document to fail validation — there is currently no algorithmic method of determining whether a table is used "correctly" (for displaying tabular data or for displaying elements, that get proportionally wider or narrower when browser window resizes in width without active client side scripting).
2: the font tag is deprecated but does not fail validation in any XHTML standard.

Additionally, the AdSense advertisement units use the JavaScript method document.write(), which does not work correctly when rendered with the application/xhtml+xml MIME type. The units also use the iframe HTML tag, which is not validated correctly with the XHTML 1.0 Strict or XHTML 1.0 Transitional DOCTYPEs.

The terms of the AdSense program forbid its affiliates from modifying the code, thus preventing these participants from having valid XHTML websites.

However, a workaround has been found by creating a separate HTML webpage containing only the AdSense advertisement units, and then importing this page into an XHTML webpage with an object tag.[7] This workaround appears to be accepted by Google.[8]

Adsense

AdSense is an ad serving application run by Google Inc. Website owners can enroll in this program to enable text, image, and more recently, video advertisements on their websites. These advertisements are administered by Google and generate revenue on either a per-click or per-impression basis. Google beta tested a cost-per-action service, but discontinued it in October 2008 in favor of a DoubleClick offering (also owned by Google).[1]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Overview
* 2 History
* 3 Types
o 3.1 AdSense for Feeds
o 3.2 AdSense for search
o 3.3 AdSense for mobile content
o 3.4 AdSense for domains
o 3.5 AdSense for video
* 4 XHTML compatibility
* 5 How AdSense works
* 6 Abuse
* 7 Criticism
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

[edit] Overview

Google uses its Internet search technology to serve advertisements based on website content, the user's geographical location, and other factors. Those wanting to advertise with Google's targeted advertisement system may enroll through AdWords. AdSense has become a popular method of placing advertising on a website because the advertisements are less intrusive than most banners, and the content of the advertisements is often relevant to the website.

Many websites use AdSense to monetize their content. AdSense has been particularly important for delivering advertising revenue to small websites that do not have the resources for developing advertising sales programs and sales people. To fill a website with advertisements that are relevant to the topics discussed, webmasters implement a brief script on the websites' pages. Websites that are content-rich have been very successful with this advertising program, as noted in a number of publisher case studies on the AdSense website.

Some webmasters invest significant effort into maximizing their own AdSense income. They do this in three ways:[citation needed]

1. They use a wide range of traffic-generating techniques, including but not limited to online advertising.
2. They build valuable content on their websites that attracts AdSense advertisements, which pay out the most when they are clicked.
3. They use text content on their websites that encourages visitors to click on advertisements. Note that Google prohibits webmasters from using phrases like "Click on my AdSense ads" to increase click rates. The phrases accepted are "Sponsored Links" and "Advertisements".

The source of all AdSense income is the AdWords program, which in turn has a complex pricing model based on a Vickrey second price auction. AdSense commands an advertiser to submit a sealed bid (i.e., a bid not observable by competitors). Additionally, for any given click received, advertisers only pay one bid increment above the second-highest bid.

[edit] History

Oingo, Inc., a privately held company located in Los Angeles, was started in 1998 by Gilad Elbaz and Adam Weissman. Oingo developed a proprietary search algorithm that was based on word meanings and built upon an underlying lexicon called WordNet, which was developed over the previous 15 years by researchers at Princeton University, led by George Miller.[2]

Oingo changed its name to Applied Semantics in 2001,[3] which was later acquired by Google in April 2003 for US$102 million.[4]

In 2009, Google AdSense announced that it would now be offering new features, including the ability to "enable multiple networks to display ads".