A new study in the medical journal Pediatrics suggests that Nickelodeon favorite, “SpongeBob SquarePants” may be lowering the attention of young viewers.

However, there are a couple of issues with this claim. First, there’s the fact that the study examines the effects of the show on the attention spans of four-year-old children. However, a Nickelodeon spokesperson said that the show is intended for children ages 6 to 11. A four-year-old is not going to be able to follow the fast pace of the show the way an 11-year-old would. So that’s strike one against the anti-SpongeBob argument.

Strike two goes to the parents. If, as a parent, you are parking your child (who is outside of the target audience) in front of a SpongeBob marathon, the cartoon isn’t to blame – you are. It is your job to do the research about...

If you’re in the market for some new friends, socializing at the gym is a great idea. Health clubs are jam-packed with vibrant, positive people. If you play your cards right, you just may find a new workout buddy, a future BFF or a potential love relationship!

As adults with busy lives, many of us may have “forgotten” how to make friends! We get complacent in our daily routines, with the same people we’ve known for years. But maybe you just moved to a new town and you’re looking for companionship. Or, maybe you’re just looking to shake things up with some new faces.

Here are some tips for socializing at the gym:

• Look for members who work out at the same time you do. A lot of people work out at approximately the same time each day. You’ll probably start to see the same people if you...