¹Although we have scientific evidence that women should not smoke when they are pregnant, many future mothers ignore this danger. ²Not only are these mothers endangering the physical health of their babies, but they also could be contributing to even more problems in the future. ³In addition to the known problems, recent studies have linked mothers' smoking during pregnancy with sons who go on to become criminals. ⁴Researchers in Finland followed over 5,000 males and their mothers from the time the mothers were six months pregnant until the young men were 28 years old. ⁵Compared to sons whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy, those young men whose birth mothers did smoke were more than twice as likely to commit criminal acts. ⁶The researchers theorized that smoking during pregnancy may alter the chemical balance in the baby's brain. ⁷This recent information, added to the body of evidence available for years, should be a warning to pregnant women to give up smoking.

¹In our right-handed society, why are some people left-handed? ²Although the reasons for hand preference are not fully explained, studies have provided us with some general information regarding left-handedness. ³For instance, more males than females have this characteristic, although the difference is only slight. ⁴In addition, it seems to appear within families where a father and son will share this preference. ⁵Another connection shows some left-handed people also have dyslexia, a type of reading disability. ⁶Although being left-handed does not cause dyslexia, it could somehow be connected with difficulty in awareness between right and left. ⁷Child development specialists found hand preference usually develops at about age seven, but may switch back and forth up until the age of nine or ten. ⁸It should be noted that despite left-handed people experiencing some inconvenience in our right-handed world, there is no evidence to support retraining children to use their right hand.

¹We escaped from the bitter cold of the Northeast to visit the balmy island resort and enjoy the sun and crystal blue water. ²It was a perfect time to watch the far-off sails of the fishing boats, run our fingers through the fine, powdery sand on our private beach, listen to soothing music, or simply read a favorite novel for hours on end. ³It was paradise! ⁴We were determined to recapture this unforgettable experience every year. ⁵And we did, until the spring of 2001 when the balmy island resort came under attack by visiting hoards of wild spring-break revelers. ⁶No longer did we have our beach to ourselves; we now could easily hit the volleyball from our beach chairs, share in the joys of blaring rock music, and fight for a glimpse of the water through the throngs of frolicking folks. ⁷It is amazing how a paradise can change.

¹Sometimes it is a money issue: too many credit cards to pay off, lack of scholarships or other college aid. ²Sometimes it is a child care problem: the cost of care, the lack of reliable centers, or transportation to get the children there. ³Sometimes it is the demands of the hours spent at work which leave little time for class. ⁴All of these reasons and more often stand in the way of women returning to college, yet many women are finding ways to achieve their goal of a higher education. ⁵Some of the monetary concerns are being addressed by financial aid counselors who help these women uncover funding sources. ⁶In addition, many of the women are enrolling in community colleges where the tuition is generally more affordable. ⁷Colleges are also helping by recognizing the need for on-site daycare centers and by using students within their education departments to help at the centers. ⁸Finally, employers are investing in having working women return to the classroom by providing time to attend class during the work day or by supplementing the cost of taking courses. ⁹With these resources, perhaps even more women will be able to return to school.

¹For many individuals suffering from a reading disability, the use of colored plastic overlays on books can produce dramatic improvement. ²Studies conducted at the University of New Orleans found about 80 percent of individuals with specific visual defects responded positively to this simple procedure. ³The use of colored overlays, particularly blue and gray, seem to reduce the contrast between the print and background, thus reducing distortions of the written material. ⁴The study cautioned, however, that there are individual differences in the effects of using different colors, so each reader should be carefully tested.