Social media sites like Facebook connect users with old friends, new acquaintances and everyone in between. However, studies are revealing an inverse link with online connections and deeper, face-to-face relationships.

Norwegian researchers recently developed a test for networking sites, called the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, which likens inordinate amounts of time spent on the networking site to drug and alcohol abuse. The test measures how often people use the site, if they do so to forget their problems and how using the site negatively affects their personal and working lives.

Researchers found the following groups of people most at risk for Facebook addiction:

• Women, who are more social than men,
• Young people, who are more tech savvy than older people
• Anxious or socially insecure people

"Social media, and the new emphasis on the importance of 'multitasking,' have helped drive a wedge between family members," says psychologist Gregory L. Jantz, author of #Hooked: The Pitfalls of Media, Technology and Social Networking (www.drgregoryjantz.com).

Ironically, people become less social the more time they spend on social sites, and they tend to get less done while multitasking because they do not focus on completing one task at a time, he says.

"When people abuse drugs and alcohol, they are trying to feel better, yet they are worsening their situation. We're finding this is also true for those who spend excessive amounts of time on social networking sites," he says. "Perhaps the hardest hit from social media addiction is the family unit."

Parents should monitor their own time online to ensure it's not further limiting the already shrinking amount of time available with their children, Jantz says. And they need to safeguard their children by monitoring their time, as well. Jantz suggests these questions for parents to ask themselves in gauging their kids' media usage:

• How much time do your kids spend with various forms of media? There are plenty of distractions from homework. Estimate how much time your child spends with the television, internet, social networking sites, cell phone, Blu-rays and game systems. The more time spent with media, the lower a child's academic performance, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study.

• How much time do your kids spend with you versus online media? Remember, simply being in the same room isn't necessarily interacting. The less the scales tip in favor of human-to-human interaction, the more likely there may be a problem.

• Do you know how each device works and how it can be used? Familiarity with your children's gadgets gives you a better perspective of what their habits may be like.

• What are the consequences of their tech habits, and what should be changed? Make a list of the good and the bad consequences of your family's technology use. After comparing the two lists, consider changes that can turn negatives into positives.

"Technology continues at its accelerating pace, and we are in unchartered territory," Jantz says. "Increasingly, social networking infiltrates our personal lives, but we need to remember that it is created to serve us, and not the other way around."

About Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D

Gregory Jantz has more than 25 years experience in mental health counseling and is the founder of The Center for Counseling and Health Resources, near Seattle, Wash. The Center, "a place for hope," provides comprehensive, coordinated care from a treatment team that addresses medical, physical, psychological, emotional, nutritional, fitness and spiritual factors involved in recovery. He is the best-selling author of more than 20 books on topics from depression to eating disorders.

The Executive MBA program through the University of Iowa helps health care professionals improve the quality and delivery of health care products and services to Iowans.

Nearly 20 percent of the 100 students taking EMBA classes in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines work in health care or health care related fields, including ten physicians, CEOs of healthcare facilities, and leaders in medical device and pharmaceutical industries. They learn how to better manage the business of today's increasingly complex health care practices and services so they can be delivered more affordably to Iowans.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

Alex Taylor, associate director of the Tippie EMBA Programs: "Health care makes up 17 percent of US Gross Domestic Product, so it's not a surprise that 20 percent of our students work in health care."

DID YOU KNOW?

The Tippie Executive MBA program is the only program of its type in Iowa.  To find out more go to http://tippie.uiowa.edu/execmba/.

Davenport, Iowa, May 31, 2012 - Beginning June 4, the store at Vander Veer Conservatory will close temporarily for the Enabling Garden construction project. The Conservatory will remain open for regular hours. The closing is necessary for work on a new
entrance as part of the Enabling Garden project.

The Enabling Garden is an accessible garden and features plantings that stimulate all the senses, and includes planting beds and containers raised for comfortable reach. This accessible garden can be used by persons of any age or ability and includes garden elements that appeal to all five senses. The gardens are designed to improve and maintain the physical mental and social health of everyone.

An artist's conception of the completed Enabling Garden can be found on the Parks and Recreation's website on the Vander Veer Botanical Park page. The web address is: www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks.

Construction is expected to be complete sometime in August. Patrons should check the

Parks and Recreation website for any notice on closure during the construction period.

June 17th, POLYRHYTHMS brings piano Great Willie Pickens; the same Willie Pickens who performed five years ago at the very first Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee event. A celebrated educator performer, Pickens returns to the Redstone Room, in the RME on the corner of 2nd & Main, Davenport, IA, to see where his jazz demystifying teachings have taken us 66 Third Sundays later. Third Sunday Jazz Events begin with a workshop at 3 pm and is followed by a matinee concert from 6 - 8 pm.

"As our inaugural performer, Mr. Pickens set the bar for artistry and teaching at the Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee series", said Nate Lawrence of Polyrhythms.  "Generous in sharing the benefit of his experience, his counsel imprinted upon us the importance of providing top quality content and to not insult the kids by dumbing it down.  How could we go wrong?"

A piano powerhouse, WILLIE PICKENS began his career on Eddie Harris' 1961 national hit record, Exodus, since then playing with James Moody, Roy Eldridge, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Quincy Jones, Bunky Green, Ira Sullivan, Wynton Marsalis, and so many more. But instead of joining the national and international jazz scene, Willie chose to make his home in Hyde Park, becoming a public school teacher, an active member of the Hyde Park Union Church, and a mentor to scores of upcoming musicians. Just passing his 81^st birthday, Pickens is more in demand and playing better than ever. The Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich writes that Willie's intense dramatic performances result from his "large and complex chords, his great splashes of color and dissonance in the right hand and his barrelhouse octaves in the left." Pickens is joined by Ron Wilson on bass and Manuel Lopez III on drums.

Pickens was born into a Milwaukee family that valued music. Willie's mother, herself an amateur pianist, saw to it that Willie's emerging talent was developed by encouraging his formal study of the instrument. His stepfather, an avid jazz fan and alto sax player, introduced him to the music of Art Tatum via the radio; as there were few jazz venues in Milwaukee.  Pickens also discovered the likes of Nat "King" Cole and Bud Powell?artists that would have a profound influence on his musical development.

In 1954, Pickens earned a teacher's certificate from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and went on to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, in 1958, to receive his B.S. in Music Education.  Ultimately, Willie's love of jazz would drive his musical career. Having "caught the bug" playing with saxophonist Bunky Green and pianist Billy Wallace, Pickens moved to Chicago as soon as he'd finished his degree. "Chicago was where the action was," he says, and started his baptism by fire in the city many regarded as the hub of the jazz piano world.

Although Pickens met with moderate success as a young musician, he married and started a family in 1959 and quickly realized that "if you've got kids, you've got to be sure how much money is coming in every week."  Since then, Willie has had distinguished dual careers as a performer and educator: he has served as band director for Lindblom and Wendell Phillips high schools and as Chair of the Department of Music at Phillips; he started Kenwood Academy's first jazz band; he has also directed the City of Chicago's All-City High School Band and taught at the American Conservatory of Music.  Today, he continues to teach piano part-time in the Northern Illinois University's jazz program and serves in the Ravinia/Chicago Public School Jazz Mentors Program.

At 81, Pickens continues to be one of Chicago's most in-demand pianists for visiting artists.  He has performed several times at the famed Chicago Jazz Festival, to rave reviews, and has been the featured pianist on impresario Joe Segal's Jazz Cruises.  He has also performed with fellow pianist Marian McPartland, both in concert and on her well-loved NPR show, "Piano Jazz".

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Matinee & Workshop Series at the RME's Redstone Room is scheduled for, June 17th, and features an all-ages workshop at 3 pm, followed by the matinee performance from 6-8 pm.   Admission to the workshop session is Free for Kids, $5 for adults.  General admission for the 6 - 8 pm concert is $10 or $15 for reserved seating.  For ticket information, call Polyrhythms: 309 373-0790.  For more information, visit our website: www.polyrhythms.org.

Sunday June 17th, Doors open at 5:30 pm.  Come and experience great jazz with the legendary Willie Pickens Trio "live" at the Redstone Room.

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series is made possible with major support of the Riverboat Development Authority, the Scott County Regional Authority, and the RME as well as the support of AT&T, the Doris & Victor Day Foundation, West Music, Davenport Clarion Hotel, KALA, IL Senator Mike Jacobs, Peeples Heating & Air Conditioning, the Austin Family Charitable Fund, Greatest Grains, Skylark Recording Studio and DJ Mixxin Mel.