Weekly Update - July 16, 2012

Domestic energy supplies save Americans money. A recent report finds that the economic benefits of domestic energy production could be as much as $1 billion per day in cost savings. The savings from domestic natural gas and finished petroleum products could be saving the U.S. from another recession.[5]

China beats GDP growth expectations. China reported 7.6% GDP growth, beating economists' expectations and bolstering hope that the Chinese economy is doing better than expected. Stocks rebounded on the news Friday.[6]

Wholesale prices rose slightly in June. After falling for two straight months due to lower energy costs, the Labor Department reported that the Producer Price Index had risen slightly in June by 0.1%. A major factor in the rise is increased food costs, which are offsetting the drop in energy prices.[7]

Prolonged Midwestern drought could increase food prices. Ongoing droughts in states like Ohio and Missouri have damaged corn and soybean yields, leading to higher grain prices for livestock. This may be felt by consumers in the form of higher food prices later this year.[8],[9]

- Arthur Rubinstein

Maple-Glazed Salmon with Pineapple 

Not only is this meal easy to prepare and delicious, but the salmon provides beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids. Recipe from RealSimple.com.

 

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

4 6-ounce salmon fillets

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 fresh pineapple, peeled

1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

Directions: 

2) Whisk together the maple syrup and mustard in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
3) Heat broiler. Place the salmon in a foil-lined 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Season with the salt and pepper.
4) Cut the pineapple lengthwise into quarters, then cut each quarter into ½-inch-thick triangles. Scatter the pineapple and jalapeño around the salmon.
5 )Brush the salmon with the syrup mixture and broil for 5 to 7 minutes or until it flakes easily and is the same color throughout.
6) Serve the salmon and pineapple with the rice and drizzle with the remaining glaze, if desired.

If you want to knock some strokes off your score fast, focus on your short game! Believe it or not, about half your shots are struck from within 60 yards of the flag stick. And yet, most golfers spend the majority of their time practicing with the driver.

To see a radical improvement in your game, you must make a radical change in the way you practice. Try this: For two weeks, devote 90% of your practice time to chipping and putting, and only 10% to driving. If you stick to this training regimen, you'll cut five strokes off your game in no time. 

Take Calcium in Doses

We all know that calcium is critical to building strong bones and warding off osteoporosis. However, our bodies can only absorb so much calcium in a single dose. Don't be tempted to take all your calcium supplements at once or wash down your pill with a tall glass of milk. Our bodies absorb calcium best in increments of 500 mg or less - so split up your supplements into smaller doses taken multiple times during the day.

Clean the Air with Plants

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, houseplants can actually improve your indoor air quality by filtering and removing pollutants. Here are some quick tips to turn your houseplants into your own clean air factory:

• Plan on having one houseplant for each 10 square yards
• By mixing night-active plants like orchids into your regular plants you can keep the cycle going all night
• Invest in a mix of plants to filter out as many pollutants as possible. Examples: Philodendrons and aloe plants for formaldehyde (often present in carpets and upholstery).Gerbera daisies, peace lily, and English ivy for benzene and trichloroethylene (common household chemicals).