3/25 - The Male Brain, Pain Management, H&R Block, Seth Stevenson

 Dr. Louann Brizendine  " The Male Brain"
Why is that men and women are so different? Well it turns out their brains are actually to blame! From the New York Times bestselling author of The Female Brain, the eagerly awaited follow-up book that demystifies the male brain! An article about Dr. Louann Brizendine and her research in her first book The Female Brain in a July 2006 issue of Newsweek started a media frenzy. Now, Brizendine, founder of the country's first clinic to study gender differences in brain, behavior, and hormones, turns her attention to the male brain, showing how the "male reality" is fundamentally different from the female's in every phase of life, from babyhood to old age. In THE MALE BRAIN: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think  - The male brain is a lean, mean, problem-solving machine. Faced with a personal problem, a man will use his analytical brain structures, not his emotional ones, to find a solution. o The male brain thrives under competition, instinctively plays rough, and is obsessed with rank and hierarchy. o The male brain has an area for sexual pursuit 2.5 times larger than the female brains, consuming him with sexual fantasies about female body parts.

Dr. Robert Bonakdar, MD - American Academy of Pain Management
What Do Yoga, Acupuncture, and Massage Have in Common? They Can All Help Relieve Chronic Pain
Robert Bonakdar, MD, of the American Academy of Pain Management Explains How to Use an Integrative Approach to Manage Chronic Pain. Many people who take medications for chronic pain sometimes wonder, ‘Is there more that I could be doing to better manage my condition?’ Increasingly, research is showing that the answer is yes. While medication is a common and useful way to treat chronic pain, it can often be enhanced by using an integrative approach to care that combines traditional Western medicine with complementary and alternative therapies.  Integrative care can include a variety of methods such as yoga, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, biofeedback, tai chi and meditation. Many experts agree that integrative care must be individualized – not every treatment will be effective for everyone. Each patient requires a plan tailored to his or her needs.

Amy McAnarney -  Executive Director, The Tax Institute at H&R Block
Amy McAnarney is the executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, a national leader in providing unbiased research, analysis and interpretation of federal and state tax laws impacting taxpayers. As head of The Tax Institute, McAnarney collaborates with enrolled agents, CPAs, attorneys and industry organizations to provide industry expertise and a leading voice for matters related to taxes and the professional tax preparation industry. McAnarney began her career with H&R Block in 1997. Since then she has held several
accounting/finance and leadership positions with the company and remains engaged in a wide range of company initiatives related to tax information dissemination. She spends a significant amount of time speaking to national consumer and finance media on behalf of The Tax Institute and H&R Block related to tax matters and their implications to taxpayers. A former City Councilwoman and Treasurer, McAnarney’s previous work experience  includes Deloitte & Touche, as well as various industry controllerships and a regional tax firm. Active in the community, she serves on numerous professional, academic and civic boards.

Seth Stevenson  "Grounded" 
I’m a contributing writer for Slate. My work has also appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and other publications. I’ve received multiple Lowell Thomas awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, been excerpted three times in the Best American Travel Writing series, and won the 2005 Online Journalism Award for commentary. I graduated from Brown University and live in Washington, D.C. My first book, Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World, is about my attempt to circle the planet without using any aircraft. I rode on cargo freighters, trains, buses, bicycles, ferries, cruise ships, and rickshaws, with adventures at every turn. From the American Library Association's Booklist review: "This entertaining account manages to combine a hip modern approach with a charming nostalgic feel. A must for armchair travelers."