The unemployment rate today has skyrocketed to approximately 10% and is forecast to stay above 9.5 percent for the rest of 2011. For the first time in American history, more women are working than men because close to 80 percent of the people laid off in the recent recession were men.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology, unemployment is a major risk factor for depression, even in people without previous vulnerability. Because my husband is an architect the housing market is dead, remember whose work has slowed down substantially, I have an invested interest in this topic and wanted to know what I could do to help him stay physically and emotionally healthy, since, theoretically, one of us should be. Gold litter Atalanta

Whether you like it or not, you just been given a breather. And chances are that you desperately needed it. One exercise to make you feel better immediately is to think about everything you hated about your job. In fact, make a list! Doesn that feel good? You will rejoin the rat race soon enough, so allow yourself some rest right now a chance to actually eat a meal at home and not watch the minute hand of your watch so much. Try to appreciate the moment in present time, without constantly rushing. This hiatus from the pressure of corporate America will teach you more lessons and make you more resilient than you know.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects 6 million men each year. But most men depression goes undiagnosed. They are much less likely to seek help because of the macho thing (they feel like they are supposed to tough it out) and because their symptoms are different than those we typically associate with depression (women So it helpful to look out for these clues of male depression: irritability and anger, blaming others, alcohol and drug abuse, feeling ashamed, insomnia or sleeping too little, strong fear of failure, using TV, sports, and sex to self medicate.

Before you get too cozy in your robe and slippers and watch too many episodes of there this piece of advice: Get to work! Just because you don have a nice sum of money being deposited into your bank account every other week does not mean you don have a job. You have several, actually, and the sooner you start, the easier they will be: 1. Polish the resume. Like, for example, take out the part where you said you were class president of your freshman class in high school. 2. Network. That easy today with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You got tons of contacts right there at your finger tips. 3. Evaluate your career. Maybe it the wrong time to ask the question this really what I want to be doing? But it could also be the right time, if there ever was a right time. If you really hated your job, entertain the possibility of doing something totally different! And if it doesn work out, please don blame me.

Most of us get our self esteem from our jobs, because we subscribe to a Calvinistic work ethic, which dictates that hard work is central to a person calling. We Americans are a tad obsessed with work. Men self definition, especially, is wrapped up in their job, so any demotion or pink slip is a major blow to their ego and self esteem. David Burns describes three levels of self esteem in his book, Days to Self Esteem conditional, unconditional, and self esteem. The last is reserved for evolved souls like Mother Teresa and Gandhi. But if we can work toward a place where our self esteem isn as dependent on people, places, and things (and especially our work), we experience a kind of unmatched freedom.

5. Develop some hobbies (and get in shape)

This is a perfect time to find out what you like to do, aside from working and sleeping. Leisure isn a luxury for the rich and lazy. Active leisure you do more than control the remote many health benefits. There was a recent study by Salvatore Madde that showed how active leisure (for four to six hours a week) protected people from experiencing stress and developing depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and overeating problems. If you do nothing else with your time away from the cubicle, at least begin a health plan and start working out. You will benefit enormously from the antidepressant effects of exercise alone.

You are going to be much less stressed out if you look the monster in the face, than if you run from it. The monster, of course, being your budget. Cut out all expenses that aren absolutely necessary: Starbucks coffee, a landline phone number that you don use, a cleaning lady or gardening services, cable. Come up with some meals that are healthy but save money on expensive produce. Involve the whole family in these decisions. The more control you have over your financial situation, the less prone to depression you be.

It easy to isolate when you lose your job. But it about the worst thing you can do for your mood. In her PsychCentral blog post, My Sanity After Two Layoffs, Stacey Goldstein describes what she did wrong after the first layoff and what she did right the second time. The first time she made herself leave the house every day, to go to the gym or to see a friend, but she still spent way too much time by herself. The second time she got a part time job and volunteered on several committees of her community. Both required her to check in with other folks, and brought opportunities to network.

Humans thrive when they keep to a routine. Our circadian rhythm, the 24 hour clock system wired into our brain that governs fluctuations in body temperature and the secretion of several hormones, and even our metabolism, require a kind of regular pattern. So stick to one even when you don have to. Imagine that you are working from home (because you are). Then structure your day as such. For example, work out in the morning, make some calls after you get back, eat an inexpensive lunch, follow up on some leads during the afternoon, and watch Dr. Phil right before dinner. Or not.

It easy to catastrophize when something goes wrong in our life. One negative thought builds on another, and before we know it, we breathing into a paper bag in the middle of a bona fide panic attack. However, sometimes we can pluck the seeds of negativity right as they are planted, so that our recovery efforts don have to involve a paper bag. Just being aware of our thought process eliminates many of the trouble makers. In the video Forms of Distorted Thinking, I identify a few of the toxic thought patterns to watch out for. You may also check out David Burns Good for more and for some techniques on how to untwist them.

Everyone needs to feel useful. That why so much of our self esteem hinges on our job performance. But there are a myriad of ways to feel useful even if you unemployed. My husband Eric, for example, has taken on more of the responsibilities for the kids off on their homework, managing science projects, setting up playdates, and driving to all the sports practices and games. He also takes the dogs to the vet and gives them their ear drops every morning. Although he has less projects at work, he has more at home, where he is very much needed. Brainstorming for ways you can be useful outside of a job is definitely a mood booster.

Not to be an alarmist or anything, but you might want to also prepare yourself for a rocky re entry. Recent research says that some folks who have been unemployed for long periods of time experience anxiety and depression upon going back to work because the creditors are after them (hence there is more stress), and they are worried that they if they don perform perfectly, they will be fired again. However, merely being aware of this, just like the toxic thoughts, can eliminate much of the anxiety. I just wanted you to know, should you experience the same kind of thing, you are certainly not alone in feeling insecure. Red Leather Atalanta

I must end with hope because hope is the ultimate stress reducer. Hope, doctors say, is about the best thing you can do for your body. It better than a placebo. So remember, even though you might feel lost and disillusioned, with no path or direction visible to your eyes, it definitely true that one door shuts, another one opens. I have seen it happen so often in the lives of family members and friends, and I have experienced it in my own life. So keep on hoping. White Leather Atalanta

VALDOSTA, Ga. All seven judges in Georgia's Southern Judicial Circuit have recused themselves from presiding over a lawsuit against the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office filed by the parents of Kendrick Johnson, the teen found dead in January 2013 inside a rolled up gym mat in his high school gymnasium.

The judges also recused themselves from hearing a lawsuit against the Lowndes County School District filed by CNN. cheap oakleys

In a Jan.7 letter addressed to lawyers of all parties involved in the suits, Chief Judge Harry Jay Altman II wrote, "Given the fact that officials with whom the judges in the circuit deal with everyday are involved, it is not fair to the parties for any judge in this circuit to rule on contested matters of importance to the parties and the community."

Johnson's parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, sued Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine in June 2013 to obtain the department's unredacted case file on their son's death, including school surveillance video from around the time their son was last seen alive.

Judge Altman ruled in favor of the Johnsons in October 2013 and the case file and surveillance video were made public. Several issues remain unresolved, however. Johnson's family recently filed an amendment to their civil suit accusing two brothers who are the sons of a local FBI agent and who attended school with Kendrick of causing Johnson's death. The suit also suggests that Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine conspired with state and local agencies to cover up any wrongdoing.

In November 2013, CNN filed its own lawsuit against the Lowndes County School system in order to obtain clones of hard drives containing the original recordings of surveillance video given to sheriff's investigators. That suit has not been resolved.

The Johnson family also has two pending wrongful death suits against the Lowndes County School System, but according to the Valdosta Daily Times, Judge Altman's recusal does not effect those suits since they are currently being handled in federal court.

The recusals came just days before the two year anniversary of the discovery of Johnson's body. The 17 year old was found in a rolled up mat in the Lowndes High School gymnasium on January 11, 2013. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office ruled his death a freak accident, saying he fell head first into an upright mat while trying to retrieve a shoe, and became trapped. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation concurred, citing asphyxiation as the cause of death.

Johnson's family insisted there was foul play was involved and had their son's body exhumed for a second autopsy. It was then that a private pathologist concluded the teen died of blunt force trauma to the neck and said his organs were missing and the teen's body had been stuffed with newspaper.

Since then, Johnson's family and their attorneys have zeroed in on the two brothers who the family contends were on campus when Johnson was last seen alive, and who they say may have had a motive to harm their son.

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office maintains that at least one of the brothers was not at the school at the time Johnson was last seen alive.

In response to the Johnson family's new amendment to the suit, Jim Elliot, an attorney for the sheriff's office, told the Valdosta Daily Time, "We are reviewing the allegations which appear to us to have no merit, and we will be considering an appropriate response."

The sheriff's department has stood by their finding that Johnson's death was accidental. The brothers whom the Johnson family has zeroed in on have not been charged and have maintained through their lawyer that they had nothing to do with Johnson's death.

Moore said in a statement Friday his investigation has "proven more complicated" than he originally anticipated. He said federal investigators "remain committed to following the facts wherever they may lead." fake oakleys outlet

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) John F. Kennedy International Airport baggage handlers were arrested Wednesday, on allegations that they stole out of travelers' luggage.

As Dick Brennan reported, CBS2 got an exclusive look at the loot that baggage handlers were allegedly taking for themselves. The items included cellphones, iPads, laptops, jewelry and other items worth a grand total of more than $20,000.

defendants who were hired to handle the baggage of those traveling in and out of Kennedy Airport are alleged to have stolen computers, cell phones and other items from checked luggage with many of them selling the pilfered items to a pawn shop or to a who was actually an undercover police officer, Brown said. at Terminal 7.

Each of the suspects face grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property charges, Brown said.

For many travelers, the news was a wake up call.

probably wouldn put my jewelry in my checked bag," said traveler Kristie Cummings. "I hope it's still there. baggage handlers who were arrested were all working for subcontractors for airlines at JFK. fake oakleys

The items were allegedly taken from the suitcases of passengers traveling through Terminals 4 and 7 going to or coming from Japan, Hawaii, Johannesburg, London, Bangkok, Dubai, Milan as well as cities within the United States.

"It makes me concerned," said traveler George Cummings. "I mean, certainly, if you have jewelry, something like that, I'd want to put it somewhere I can keep a closer eye on it. said the alleged thieves even fenced or sold the items on airport grounds, telling buyers there was plenty more where that came from. cheap oakleys outlet

The only trouble for them was that the buyers were undercover police officers.

Some travelers said they keep things close. fake oakleys outlet

iPod, my phone, my charger everything, always in my bag," one woman said.

If convicted, Theodore, Phillips, Miller, Hendricks and Esdaile face up to 4 years in prison.

Maynard and Austin face up to 7 years in prison. Dunne.

You may also be interested in these stories:

Seen At 11: Yale University Studying The Brain Of Man Best FriendCBS2 Exclusive: Staten Island Woman Recalls Horror Of Being Tied Up, Beaten In Own HomeJury Watches Video Confession In Etan Patz CaseBrian Williams Suspended For 6 Months Without Pay Following Skepticism Of His Credibility

Yes. There are currently no federal laws governing or restricting the ownership of flame throwing devices. Some states have laws restricting possession of flamethrowers, with violations only considered to be misdemeanors, but 40 states have absolutely no laws whatsoever concerning flamethrowers. Only in America would a device capable of launching rivers of fire at people be less regulated than marijuana.

Careful with that pot, it looks dangerous.

You can sometimes find professionally made flamethrowers being sold by private buyers online, some for as little as $300. Also, if you're unsure on how to use your new device, but you want the source of your advice to be batshit insane, you could pick up Ragnar Benson's delightful read, Breath Of The Dragon: Homebuilt Flamethrowers, which we can only hope comes with a cellphone with the numbers 9 and 1 already dialed. fake oakleys

Actually using your flamethrower is somewhat more difficult than acquiring it. It seems that lawmen these days have rules about when and where you're allowed to shoot gallons of flaming fuel. We recommend making friends with someone who owns a few acres of land out in the country and then going hog wild. If you accidentally start a wildfire, don't fret: Flamethrowers are just as good at stopping fires as they are at starting them. Just burn everything around the fire to cinders, and it won't have anywhere to spread! cheap oakleys

Cracked cannot overstate the importance of destroying the horrifying bee menace. As a potent combination of "deadly" and "too small to shoot," the Africanized Honey Bee is quite possibly mankind's most dangerous enemy. Enter the flamethrower: your first, last, and only line of defense against the black and yellow hordes. In 1968, Brazilian firefighters armed with flamethrowers defended a group of children from the onslaught of buzzing death. This is apparently not an uncommon happening in nations fighting off the advancing bee legions.

Salvia divinorum is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which makes it a cousin of the mint plant. When properly prepared, salvia can be smoked in order to bring on incredibly intense, at times paralyzing, hallucinations. Most salvia trips are short in duration, but very powerful and jarring. All side effects of salvia are gone within an hour, and it doesn't show up on standard drug tests.

Depending on the amount of smoke inhaled, users of salvia may experience hallucinations on par in intensity with those caused by drugs like LSD or DMT. Since most users lose consciousness and drift off into a world of fractal shapes and green women as soon as they hit the pipe, it has not gained much popularity as a 'party' drug.

It kind of makes the world look like this for about six minutes.

Salvia is still legal in most US states. You can pick it up at most well stocked 'head' shops, but the cheapest and highest quality salvia is usually found online. Make sure to check your local laws to see if you can legally purchase and possess it in your state. If not, at least you still have your flamethrower.

Here at Cracked, the only "high" we're interested in is the natural high we get from bringing comedy to the world (and sometimes crystal meth), so we have no advice here. However there are a number of educational videos that recommend gardening, writing letters to congressmen, and driving while on salvia.

Also, we do not recommend teaching while on salvia.

Salvia is actually pretty harmless, as intoxicants go. There have been a few accusations of its involvement in causing a suicidal mindset, but evidence is spurious at best. In fact a number of scientists believe that salvia may act as an anti depressant, and its effective use in ending cocaine addiction has been noticed as well. believes the drug has the potential to help those suffering from schizophrenia and Alzheimer's and has urged the government not to ban salvia. With the potential to cure depression, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and cocaine addictions, it's a wonder salvia isn't a mandatory side dish in high school cafeterias across America. We're going to go ahead and say that last one is a bad idea.

5. Tannerite (An Explosive Compound)

Tannerite is sold legally as a binary compound, meaning you mix two harmless powders and get something that goes boom. Just apply the mixture to the object you wish to blow up and then hit it with extreme force or heat.

You can buy tannerite straight from the distributor. Premade shaped charges can be bought, or you can just get huge containers of the powders. We recommend only purchasing small amounts, as the temptation to blow it all up at once rises exponentially the more you have.

This man purchased 100 pounds of the stuff and was unable to resist the temptation. The blast was heard for miles, and sent scraps of shrapnel flying almost a quarter of a mile.

Find an old car at a junkyard or ex girlfriend's house. Drive it out to the same remote place where you use your flamethrower. Now, coat the car with tannerite, stand very far back and shoot it with a rifle.

Congratulations! You are now having the most fun a citizen of the United States is legally allowed to have. Now lock the guns and explosives up and smoke some salvia to celebrate.

Holy Balls, Why is This Legal?

Like flamethrowers, tannerite actually has quite a few legal uses, including avalanche control. Despite being both legally available and explosive, no deaths have ever been linked to the compound. Due to its binary nature, tannerite is perfectly safe to store and transport. Statistically, a suburban swimming pool is much more likely to end human lives.

You can make one. Improvised firearms are legal under federal law, as long as the weapon does not violate any existing gun laws. You can even make silencers and sawed off homemade shotguns if you get the proper tax stamps. There are a variety of guides for building home made guns available for free online. Chechnyan rebels are the most prolific creators (and users) of these guides.

The same things you would do with any other gun: load it with tracer rounds and blow up cars covered in tannerite. Of course, since you'll be shooting a DIY contraption made of scrap metal and prayers, both accuracy and safety will be far below acceptable standards. We recommend getting a gullible friend (perhaps the same person whose land you're using) to fire the first few shots. If it explodes, you might need to go back to the drawing board.

Holy Balls, Why is this Legal?

First of all, because a gun with an unrifled barrel is only accurate to a few inches. Since most professionally manufactured firearms are legal in the USA, banning homemade ones doesn't make much sense. Neither China, the gun control capital of the world, nor Russia have been able to stop their dissident populations from building their own firearms. Since you can literally build a gun out of the contents of a trash bin, any laws made to stop self made firearms would be almost unenforceable.

Sure, you know how to recycle newspapers and soda bottles. But what about that old stuff that's cluttering up your closets and your basement is there an eco friendly way to get rid of some of that? Yes, say Chip Giller and Katharine Wroth from environmental magazine "Grist." They've got tips and resources for green ways to get rid of everyday items you no longer need.

1. Athletic shoes

Got a pair (or a pile) of old sneakers that are too worn out to give to charity? Nike will recycle any brand of athletic shoe through its Reuse a Shoe program. You can drop shoes off at any Niketown store or Nike Factory store; the company also has other drop off spots, and if there's not one near you, you can mail shoes in. (Get details on the

.) The company processes and recycles the footwear to make sports surfaces for basketball courts, tennis courts, running tracks and playgrounds. Right now they're collecting shoes to make athletic surfaces for New Orleans, to help bring youth sports back to the city as it rebuilds. Fortunately, there's a company that will take it all from you and reprocess it in an eco friendly way: GreenDisk. Mail your "techno trash" to the company and they'll take care of the disposal. The cost starts at $6.95 for 20 pounds of equipment a small price to pay to relieve your conscience (and your closet!).

3. Computers fake oakleys outlet

Computers contain a number of harmful chemicals, so it's important to make sure they're properly recycled. Most major computer manufacturers now offer some type of recycling program. Dell will , and if you buy a new Dell, they'll recycle any other brand of computer for free. Hewlett Packard, Gateway, Apple and Toshiba also have recycling programs check their Web sites for details.

You can also find independent recyclers who meet high standards for eco friendliness and safe labor conditions through the Computer TakeBack Campaign. But remember that "recycle" has another R word counterpart: "reuse." If your mattress is in usable condition, you can probably find it a good home through the Freecycle Network. It's an Internet community with chapters all over the country, in which people offer up items they no longer want and other people happily take them. The online bulletin board Craigslist also has a section where you can offer things for free to people in your area. In fact, you can get rid of just about any usable item (and some items you didn't even think were usable) via Freecycle and Craigslist, and you can find some great free stuff for yourself, too.

5. Handheld devices cheap oakleys outlet

If you feel the need to get a new gizmo (and remember, an upgrade isn't always necessary), don't just chuck the old one. Small electronics are full of big toxics. Instead, drop off your old cell phones, pagers and PDAs at Staples stores around the country. The company has partnered with nonprofit CollectiveGood, which collects and recycles the phones. When possible, CollectiveGood refurbishes them and puts them to use in developing countries. Otherwise, the phones and other items are broken down in an eco friendly process and the metals are separated out for reuse or proper disposal. If there's not a Staples store near you, you can mail your phone to the CollectiveGood and even get a tax credit for the donation.

6. Dry cleaning hangers and plastic

Wondering how to get rid of all those wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Some dry cleaners will take them back and reuse them, and some tailors and alteration shops will take them as well so just ask. And what about all that plastic that comes back from the dry cleaner? In some cities, you can recycle it right along with other plastic bags. And some dry cleaners will take the plastic back and make sure it's recycled. So yes, there are solutions, but here's a note of caution to all you dry cleaning fans: The process uses a harmful chemical known as "perc" that is a suspected carcinogen and has been outlawed in some areas. What to do? Look for cleaners who offer "wet cleaning," consider hand washing some garments, or better yet, avoid buying clothes labeled "dry clean only."

7. Soiled glass and plastic

It seems like a silly question, but it's one people wonder about: Can you recycle a beer bottle even if a lime wedge is stuck in the bottom? What about those last bits of peanut butter in the jar? The answer to both is a qualified yes: Put the items in with your regular recycling, and the recycling plant should be able to remove most contaminants. Paper recycling, however, is a more delicate process (which is why pizza boxes are a no no). And in general, the cleaner your recyclables are, the less energy it'll take to process them. We'll drink to that.

"College" and "easy" aren't words that are often seen in the same sentence. But one easy thing about college is that you have the option of getting dressed in the morning. class attire.

But now it's summer and you're doing an internship.

The trend of late seems to be, if you have a question, check a blog. There's a great selection of style blogs out there written by anyone from the girl in the dorm next door to TLC's latest fashionista. However, one of my very favorite blogs is Cupcakes and Cashmere, based in California and run by Emily Schuman.

Emily, who was bored with her job at AOL, decided in 2008 to begin blogging about two of her favorite things food and fashion. A Business Insider feature highlights her continued success: "'Cupcakes and Cashmere' exploded when Coach asked Schuman to design a bag for their line in June 2010. She then went on to win Best Fashion Blog in 2010 from Bloggie her brand partnerships with Coach and Juicy Couture, Schuman been approached by Abram Publishing to write a book."

I had the privilege of asking Emily Schuman some questions about her best tips and style advice for summer interns:

How would you define the difference between casual, business casual and professional?

There a fine line between casual (think: weekends, hanging out with friends after work) and business casual (what you wear in an office), but I think the differences are all in the details. Take jeans, for example: they typically acceptable in a business casual environment, but they should still be tailored (no rips, tears, or stains and make sure they not too tight).

Business casual should still feel polished so that you never look like you just come from the beach. If you feel like wearing a sun dress, make sure to add a cute little cardigan on top with a belt.

I a bit old fashioned, but I always think that everyone should be dressed in attire the saying that you should dress for the job you want and not the one you have is a good one to remember.

Professional doesn have to mean stuffy or serious though a great blouse tucked into a pencil skirt with pointy toe pumps looks great when you add some key accessories (like a bib necklace, a skinny patent belt and a structured bag).

What's the best piece of style/fashion advice someone has given you? fake oakleys outlet

To pay attention to what works best for you. Instead of focusing on trends or colors of the moment, know your strengths (and weaknesses) and play to those accordingly.

What's one piece of clothing that should definitely be left at home when packing up for your internship?

Flip flops. people seem to think they appropriate in the office. cheap oakleys outlet

What are three signature pieces every male intern should have?

A great pair of jeans (dark wash, good fit, no embellishments whatsoever), a pair of nice shoes in black or brown (Aldo has some affordable options) and a cool belt (it something you can use every day and helps pull together an entire outfit).

What is one way that you think style is important to success as an intern and beyond? cheap oakleys

First impressions are everything, so if you look put together, professional and stylish (and have the work ethic to back it up), people will remember you. It important to set yourself apart so that when a full time job opens up, you on their mind as someone who right for the position.

What are some male specific fashion tips that you think are often overlooked?

For guys, it all about having great basics a couple pairs of jeans, nice button downs, a tailored blazer. I think sometimes men tend to try to get flashy with their fashion choices (for example: embellished jeans, loud printed shirts, etc.), but instead they should focus on the accessories sunglasses, a watch, nice wallet, shoes and even a key chain those are the little details that people notice.

For more information, visit Emily's blog, read her book (available August 1) or follow her on Twitter for more great tips on fashion, the home and food!

Anika Kempe is a senior at the University of Richmond double majoring in journalism and political science and is an intern for USA TODAY College during the summer of 2012.