( ) - - If Americans cut their salt intake by just half a teaspoon per day, it would produce public health benefits on par with reducing high cholesterol, smoking, or obesity, a new study has found. The number of heart attacks in the U. S. could decline by up to 13 percent if adults could just slash their daily salt intake by 3 grams, or about 1, 200 milligrams of sodium, according to the study, which was published Wednesday in the .

New cases of heart disease and the number of strokes could also be expected to decline, by up to 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. To achieve a similar reduction in heart attacks and other heart- related problems, the researchers estimate, nationwide tobacco use would need to be halved. Alternatively, obese adults would need to reduce their body mass index by 5 percent, or all adults at low- to- medium risk for heart disease would need to take cholesterol- lowering statins. Even a reduction in daily salt intake of just 1 gram ( or about 400 milligrams of sodium) would produce & quot; large declines& quot; in the rates of cardiovascular events, according to the study. & quot; Just targeting slightly lower salt [ intake] would have some benefit for everyone in the U.

S. , & quot; says the study' s lead author, Dr. Kirsten Bibbins- Domingo, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. & quot; This is the ideal type of intervention for those who are interested in public health to get behind, because the effects would be so dramatic. & quot; The study suggests that food manufacturers would need to be the primary target of the projected reduction in salt intake, since processed foods - - and not the salt in your salt shaker - - account for between 75 to 80 percent of American salt consumption. & quot; I got interested in this work because, once I started looking at the labels, I was shocked by how much salt I had no control over, & quot; Bibbins- Domingo says. Seemingly healthy staples such as breakfast cereal, pasta sauce, and sandwich bread likely contain more salt than one would think, she adds. & quot; It' s hard for me to tell my patients to make different choices, because it' s hard for me to make different choices. & quot; Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues at UCSF estimated the benefits of salt reduction using computer models.

The models, which took into account heart disease risk factors such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and smoking status, relied on data from government sources and previously conducted studies.

The models assumed that salt intake is directly linked to blood pressure, and that blood- pressure levels have predictable effects on cardiovascular risk. Research has shown that excessive salt intake is associated with high blood pressure ( or hypertension) , which can damage the arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

The U. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults limit their daily salt intake to 5. 8 grams, or about 2, 300 milligrams of sodium. ( Sodium is a component of table salt. ) People who are especially sensitive to salt - - such as blacks, hypertensives, and adults over 40 - - should limit their intake to 3.

7 grams a day, or about 1, 500 milligrams of sodium, the agency says. The average American far more than the recommended amount of salt in a day, however. American men and women consume about 4, 178 and 2, 933 milligrams of sodium per day, respectively, government data show. & quot; I think a public- health policy is in order, & quot; says Cheryl Anderson, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who co- wrote an editorial that accompanies the study. A & quot; more concerted and dramatic& quot; effort that includes educating individuals about the dangers of excessive salt as well as the participation of public agencies and health organizations is needed, she says. & quot; It' s time to take the responsibility fully off the individual, because it hasn' t worked, & quot; says Anderson. & quot; We' ve been trying that for a long time now, and the problem of elevated blood pressure is still here. & quot; The study comes at a time when cities and states in the U. S. are taking steps to reduce the salt intake of its inhabitants.

Most notably, the New York City Department of Health announced last week that it would spearhead a nationwide effort to cut the population' s sodium intake by 20 percent over five years, in large part by persuading the manufacturers of prepackaged foods to reduce the amount of sodium in their products.

The campaign, known as the National Salt Reduction Initiative, is modeled on a similar campaign in the United Kingdom and has been joined by a host of professional organizations ( including the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association) and departments of health in numerous major cities and states, such as Chicago and California. Bibbins- Domingo says that her study was prompted in part by the realization that the U.

S. was & quot; lagging just a little bit behind& quot; other countries in addressing the health effects of salt intake. ( In addition to the U. K. , countries such as Finland and Australia have begun salt- reduction campaigns. ) The study, she says, was intended to provide rough estimates that would help guide policymakers in making decisions. & quot; We' re taking data from other studies - - clinical trials of lowering salt [ intake] and the effect of blood pressure on heart disease, & quot; she says. & quot; We' re taking those data and saying, ' What if we did this thought experiment, and actually applied the effects of these types of interventions across the whole U. S. population? & quot; The salt reduction proposed in the study would reduce health- care costs by $ 10 billion to $ 24 billion, Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues estimate.

Salt- reduction campaigns have been controversial. Some experts maintain that the evidence linking salt intake and blood pressure isn' t strong enough to justify public policy and regulation of the food industry. Dr. David Mc.

Carron, an adjunct professor of nutrition at the University of California- - Davis and the president of Academic Network, a health- care communication company in Portland, Oregon, says that Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues were overly reliant on studies that are of questionable validity. & quot; This is not a study. This is nothing but a computer- generated number, & quot; says Mc.

Carron, who has consulted for the food industry and the Salt Institute, a trade association. & quot; Any time you model something, it' s only as good as the basic assumptions you put in it. & quot; Although she acknowledges the methodological limitations of the study, Bibbins- Domingo dismisses the argument that the evidence on the health effects of salt isn' t strong enough to support a public- health initiative. & quot; The existing evidence is overwhelming, & quot; she says. Copyright

When it comes to what makes us happy at work, job- satisfaction surveys have been showing for years that the size of our paycheck is losing ground to intangibles like autonomy, mobility, low stress, flexible hours, job security, health coverage, paid time off and other benefits. Does pay matter? Of course it does. But as China and other emerging markets have gained ground on the U.

S. economically, American workers have begun to come to grips with what that means: in many cases, finding a standard of living that is slipping relative to other nations, and saying zai jian ( bye- bye, for those not yet into basic Mandarin) to generous and automatic pay raises across industries. The recession has only deepened this trend.

Workers who are elated to simply have a job aren' t squawking about money, and according to a Randstad survey, they now name job security and benefits among the top factors in their happiness. Competitive pay is moving down the scale. Another expediter is demographics. The massive boomer generation is entering its retirement years undersaved and in need of continued employment.

Yet boomers are determined to scale back hours and stress, and some at least are happy to trade a big salary for work with meaning and which allows for a better work/ life balance, so long as the bills still get paid.

America remains a land of opportunity and will continue to reward go- getters chasing dreams of wealth.

But increasingly, our job market will also reward those who place a higher value on intangibles, and it will do so without relegating those people to a life of need. Certainly, jobs are scarce. Our economy has been shedding more than half a million positions a month. Yet even now there are pockets of employment, both for new grads and midlifers reinventing themselves, that offer decent pay with great benefits and security.

Where are these jobs? Think green technologies, which may be at the root of the next economic boom. Think government, which under President Obama is getting bigger. Think education, which is in more demand than ever thanks to the arrival of boomer grandchildren and millions of workers in need of retraining. Think infrastructure, where much of the President' s nearly $ 800 billion stimulus effort will be focused.

Think about risk assessment and controls in a chastened financial system.

Think health care, which is booming as boomers grow fitfully into old age. Many such fields present opportunity now, and because they pay well above the median annual U. S. salary of $ 32, 390, they are good to be a part of, even in a recovery. With that in mind, here are 10 jobs for the recession and beyond:

You could blame weeds, trees, and grasses if you start itching, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing this fall. But the usual suspects aren' t the only triggers. A host of household items - - candles, chemicals, stuffed animals, and spices - - may be the real culprits. & quot; Many homes are filled with irritants, and if there' s a high enough count of an irritant, you' ll react, & quot; says Christopher Randolph, M.

D. , an allergy expert and professor of pediatric immunology at Yale University. Here, a rundown of 11 sneaky suspects - - and how to stop them from bothering you. Candles You can' t be allergic to essential oils - - which make candles smell like autumn leaves or dune grass - - but their odors can inflame your nasal cavities, according to James Wedner, M.

D. , chief of allergy and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine. & quot; People with nasal allergies have a natural increased sensitivity, so they' re likely to get a runny nose or watery eyes around candles, & quot; he says. & quot; To the person with the sensitive nose, it' s no different than cigarette smoke. & quot; What to do: If you' re very sensitive, avoid candles altogether. But if you love the smell and want to use them at home, buy candles that have few ingredients and feature just one scent, such as pumpkin. By a process of elimination you may be able to pinpoint which scent or ingredient bothers you. ( Smoke from candles can also be an irritant, though that usually comes from snuffing it out; open a window or blow out the flame outside. ) If you have a bad reaction to a scented candle, getting some fresh air should make you feel better. Perfume Fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals that are mostly untested on humans, Wedner says.

When those chemicals bond with the essential oils in perfumes and are then sprayed into the air, sensitive people may take offense. Sneezing, congestion, and headaches can be the result. What to do: Kindly ask your colleagues to go easy on their favorite fragrances, and bring a portable fan to keep your area as scent- free as possible. If the thought of not wearing a fragrance leaves you blue, stick with body creams and moisturizers that have light scents. These are less likely to irritate you.

Soaps and detergents You think it' s the chemicals in cleaning products that make you itch?

Surprise: & quot; The majority of skin sensitivities are caused not by the cleaning agent but by a perfume additive, & quot; Wedner says. & quot; And nearly every soap now has some sort of plant in it to make it fancy - - roses, elderberries, etc.

The skin can respond with irritation, and give you a rash. & quot; What to do: Buy organic or specially marked soaps; look for & quot; no additives, & quot; & quot; nonscented, & quot; or & quot; phthalate- free& quot; on the label. Phthalates are chemicals that help improve texture, but they' ve been linked to allergic reactions; products that contain them may have & quot; diethylphthalate& quot; or something similar on the label. Dove, Tide, and Ivory all offer low- irritant products, as do many organic brands. If fabric softener seems to be giving your skin fits, try using a sheet of aluminum foil in your dryer instead; this trick will get rid of static cling. Or use a scent- free, no- additive version, like Seventh Generation Free & amp; Clear Natural Fabric Softener.

If you' re in a public laundromat, wash and dry towels first, which will soak up the residue left behind by previous users. Then be sure to use that same washer and dryer to clean and dry your clothes. Stuffed animals Dust mites living in mattresses and pillows are a huge trigger.

Roughly 15 percent of the population is allergic to these microscopic bugs. Encasing mattresses and pillows with impen­ etrable covers and cases is a useful step, but it' s not enough. The mites also love kids' favorite furry toys. What to do: Wash, dry, then repeat . . . and use very hot water. & quot; Toys should be washed at 140 degrees, which will ensure that the mites are killed, & quot; Randolph says.

After they' re clean store them on a shelf, not on the bed. What to do with the nonwashable toys?

Every two to three weeks put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for a couple of hours, which will also kill the mites. Carpeting You may love the feel of carpeting under your feet, but mites find it just as attractive. & quot; Even if you vacuum constantly, you' ve still got mites, & quot; Wedner warns. What to do: Remove wall- to- wall carpeting - - who doesn' t like a beautiful wood floor? - - and use small rugs that can be washed in hot water monthly. & quot; And keep the humidity below 50 percent& quot; with your central air system or a dehumidifier, Randolph says. & quot; Dust mites thrive in humidity. & quot; Spices They add nuance and zing to a variety of dishes, but there' s no getting around spices' origin: pungent plants.

For some people, eating the spices made from these plants leads to a just little sniffling.

For others, it may cause itching, swelling, and even burning of the lips. What to do: Avoid the spices more likely to cause trouble: coriander, poppy seeds, pepper, dill, paprika, cumin, and saffron - - which, in broad strokes, means Indian and Middle Eastern food. If you' re not sure which spices bother you, record what you' ve been exposed to each time you have symptoms and look for the common denominator. Christmas trees A word to the wise before the holidays: Mold grows fast on Christmas trees. & quot; When you put that tree in a bucket of water, invisible mold grows almost immediately, & quot; Wedner says. & quot; Most people are allergic to or irritated by mold spores. & quot; What to do: Try a fake tree. Can' t live without a real one?

Ask when it was cut down before you buy it; trees that were cut weeks in advance are already ripe with mold. Then, starve it of water and keep it for as short a period as possible. Mold grows on houseplants, too, so keep them on the dry side.

Wall paint The solvents and synthetic resins used in paint often lead to itchy eyes and headaches. Oil- based paints are a particular problem because they can continue releasing chemicals even after they dry. What to do: Keep windows open as often as possible and allow fresh air to circulate for four weeks after painting, no matter what kind of paint you use. & quot; Once it has dried - - and I mean really dried, weeks later - - the odor goes away, and you won' t have a problem, & quot; Wedner says. If possible, use latex paint, which emits less gas than oil- based kinds due to its water base.

By the way, there isn' t any real latex in latex paint, so if you' re allergic to latex gloves the same won' t apply to the paint. What about paint with low levels of VOCs ( volatile organic compounds) ? They spew fewer chemicals into the air and are less smelly than regular paints. But that doesn' t mean they won' t bother you.

To find these paints, look for the & quot; Green Seal& quot; certification mark on the label. Alcohol An actual allergy to alcohol is quite rare, but being allergic to the grains and additives used in liquor is not: wheat or the preservative sulfur dioxide could cause a rash or a stuffy nose. New York City allergist Wellington Tichenor, MD, founder of the information site Sinuses. com, also blames grains like corn, bar­ ley, and rye, as well as fruit flavorings. Wine and beer may create problems, too. What to do: Stick with grain- free liquors like potato vodka, rum ( made from sugar) , and tequila ( the agave plant) .

Skip all flavored liquers. And if sulfite preservatives in wine bother you, red wine tends to have fewer preservatives than white. Also, look for wine labeled & quot; sulfite- free& quot; ( it won' t stay fresh for long) . And remember that anything with carbonation ( like a wine cooler) increases the likelihood of an allergic reaction, Tichenor adds. Blue jeans buttons The buttons on your jeans are probably made with the metal nickel - - a rash trigger for up to 20 percent of women.

A nickel rash near your waistline is usually itchy, red, and sometimes blistery. What to do: Take your pants to a tailor and have her replace the nickel buttons with plastic ones ( another metal might also cause irritation) . A second option: Coat the button with clear nail polish, a remedy found to be effective in a recent St.

Louis University study.

Just be aware that nail polish itself may lead to a rash if you' re sensitive to it. Lemons and limes Limonene, a zesty compound in lime and other citrus fruits, gives many people watery eyes and a burning sensation in the nose, Wedner says. It might even irritate your skin, whether you touch it or eat or drink products containing limonene. What to do: If you get a rash, treat it with topical hydrocortisone creams used for bug bites and poison ivy. Skip the lemon or lime wedge with your drink or salad, and look out for lime in salad dressings, desserts, and marinades ( it' s used in numerous dishes) . to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from My.

Home. Ideas. com Copyright All About

Piers Morgan blasts British MP' s ' lie' House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann?

Gay man turns himself ' straight' Could you hug your kids every day? Caption casts spell on Anderson Cooper Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Astronauts aboard Atlantis reflect UK vs.

US tabloid culture Talking to teens about health, obesity Welcome home to U. Womens soccer team Could eye exams detect Alzheimer' s? Legal analysis of phone hacking scandal Gay conservatives reach out to Bachmann Stage collapses at Cheap Trick concert Study: Bed sharing not good or bad Being maternal without having kids The Wienermobile turns 75!

Is it safe to share a bed with kids? Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i. Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Report: Murdoch to step down as CEO? Prioritizing federal spending Tea Party leader on default threat Could Rick Perry shake up GOP W.

H. race?

GOP pushes ' cut, cap, and balance' Anderson Cooper answers your questions Marcus Bachmann defends clinic Murdoch' s wife stands by her man James Murdoch discusses 9/ 11 victims Counting calories while eating out Murdoch: ' Transparent, open society' Hacking: ' Who signed the checks? ' Murdochs won' t disclose payout Program speeds up airport screenings Morgan Freeman: volunteer on Mandela day On camera: Taliban execution Mysterious deaths at CEO' s mansion Rock band manager: ' It was like Titanic' Debt ceiling: What does it mean? Dr. Drew Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash? Preview: Dr.

Drew with Bristol Palin Is Casey Anthony mentally ill? Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance House vote ' one way of herding the cats' ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper? Who is winning debt ceiling debate?

Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Abrams: How far will hacking scandal go? Former editor cites Murdoch son, Brooks Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit?

Larry David: I want to do standup again My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Pilot cockpit rant caught on open mic Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign? Murdoch acting like himself? Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony? Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Piers Morgan believes Murdoch Murdoch done with newspapers?

Nancy Grace: Jury wasn' t listening to me Nancy Grace speaks about fiance' s murder Claustrophobic fighter pilot Brain injury patient back on the road Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J. Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers?

Casey Anthony in disguise? Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' Computer hackers attack ' Sun' Congressman battles home intruder Murdoch scandal: Who' s next? Herman Cain against proposed mosque? Warren: " I Really Don' t Get it" Bachmann backs ' cut, cap and balance' Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Candy' s post- show analysis Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now Rudy Giuliani on Murdoch, 9/ 11 and more Candy' s pre- show rundown

Piers Morgan blasts British MP' s ' lie' Geyser of water lifts car into air House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Cops: Son parties with parents' bodies in house Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? Gay man turns himself ' straight' Could you hug your kids every day? Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Chihuahua chases off robbers Fallout after Murdoch testimony Geyser of water lifts car into air Bolden: NASA is very busy Are fast food calorie counts accurate? Hacking groups' possible agendas Astronauts aboard Atlantis reflect UK vs.

US tabloid culture Talking to teens about health, obesity Welcome home to U. Womens soccer team Could eye exams detect Alzheimer' s?

Legal analysis of phone hacking scandal Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i. Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Report: Murdoch to step down as CEO? Prioritizing federal spending Tea Party leader on default threat Could Rick Perry shake up GOP W. H. race? GOP pushes ' cut, cap, and balance' Anderson Cooper answers your questions Marcus Bachmann defends clinic PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations Debt talks - what' s the solution?

Bachmann questions farmers' claims Mrs. Murdoch to the rescue Granderson: Debt talks need more women Murdoch' s wife stands by her man Counting calories while eating out James Murdoch discusses 9/ 11 victims Hacking: ' Who signed the checks? ' Murdoch: ' Transparent, open society' Murdochs won' t disclose payout Program speeds up airport screenings Dr. Drew Murray to blame for Jackson' s death?

Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash? Preview: Dr. Drew with Bristol Palin Is Casey Anthony mentally ill? Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper?

Who is winning debt ceiling debate? Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Abrams: How far will hacking scandal go?

Former editor cites Murdoch son, Brooks Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven?

Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit? Larry David: I want to do standup again My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign? Murdoch acting like himself? Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony?

Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan: CNN host, ' AGT' judge Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Piers Morgan believes Murdoch Murdoch done with newspapers? Nancy Grace: Jury wasn' t listening to me Nancy Grace speaks about fiance' s murder Claustrophobic fighter pilot Brain injury patient back on the road Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J.

Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers? Casey Anthony in disguise? Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' Computer hackers attack ' Sun' Congressman battles home intruder Murdoch scandal: Who' s next? Herman Cain against proposed mosque?

Warren: " I Really Don' t Get it" Bachmann backs ' cut, cap and balance' Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Candy' s post- show analysis Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now Rudy Giuliani on Murdoch, 9/ 11 and more Candy' s pre- show rundown

Atlanta, Georgia ( CNN) - - In Atlanta for , part of the voice cast for Matt Groening' s animated series & quot; & quot; sat down with CNN over coffee to answer our fan- oriented questions before heading off to sign autographs for the day. What happened next was a flurry of hilarious voices from some of the most distinguished voice actors working today. , John Di. Maggio and weighed in on everything from which guest stars made them really geek out to the finer points of being a nerd in the year 3000. CNN: Have you guys ever been tempted to enter a costume contest as the characters you play?

Bender did win the costume contest this season on & quot; Futurama. & quot; Phil La. Marr: No. I' m much, much too lazy. And these people set the bar way, way too high. John Di.

Maggio: That' s true. The level of depth that they go to, it' s crazy. So I have to agree with Phil. Although it would be kind of funny to have somebody build something for you, and then go ahead and do it, and then just be inside the thing and just start talking like Bender and freak people out. Like, & quot; Where' d you get those recordings? & quot; Billy West: You don' t take the job home with you, I don' t think.

I don' t know anyone who. . . La. Marr: You don' t have a Stimpy costume?

West: [ In the voice of Stimpy from & quot; Ren & amp; Stimpy& quot; ] Well, that doesn' t make me crazy or anything. [ In his own voice] No, but I really don' t take it home. It' s like if you worked in a rock quarry and you brought home boulders with you every night.

Yeah, you don' t do that. CNN: John and Phil, you guys have done voice work for some anime, specifically & quot; Afro Samurai& quot; and & quot; Princess Mononoke. & quot; How is voicing anime different from voicing American animation? Di.

Maggio: I think that' s interesting that you bring that up, because normally you record before they animate to your voices. But & quot; Afro Samurai& quot; you guys recorded before, right? La. Marr: A little bit - - half before, half after. Di.

Maggio: OK, because & quot; Princess Mononoke& quot; I had to dub, I had to do the English overdub. And that was kind of hard because you have to match the mouth flaps, you have to do all that kind of stuff. So that' s a little difficult. La. Marr: Yeah, because the timing that you would normally make choices about, as an actor, is controlled by the timing choices that the Japanese actor already made.

Di. Maggio: Yeah, so you' ve got to match these certain moments, which is usually a tough day at the office. I enjoy it, I can do it, but it' s still a tough day. West: Everybody asks, & quot; Do you do the voices first or do you dub them in after the animation? & quot; And you tell them it' s always the other way around. But to do it backwards like these guys are talking about, that is a tough day.

Di.

Maggio: I don' t speak Japanese, but you' ve got to match ( unintelligible Japanese) and you' re like, OK. And what' s the translation? How do you shorten the translation, come up with another way to say the translation - - it' s a challenge. CNN: Who is nerdier, Professor Farnsworth, Professor Wernstrom or Bubblegum Tate?

West: Wow, I would say Tate. But he' s a cool, cool nerd.

The others don' t go around explaining stuff all day.

The professor does, but he' s old, and it' s with a wink to everybody. La. Marr: The professor' s not that nerdy. The stuff he' s into is very nerdy, but his attitude about it is not nerdy.

He' s got a very superior attitude. And so does Wernstrom. So Tate might be the nerdiest of that three. Di. Maggio: I would have to vote for Tate.

CNN: Who' s the nerdiest of the whole & quot; Futurama& quot; universe? West: Is it Qbert? La.

Marr: Qbert. Di. Maggio: Yeah, Qbert.

I would throw Qbert in there and then I would throw Lrrr. Simply because, & quot; Wha, wha, Joss Whedon' s here? ! & quot; Just that one line was just like, & quot; Aw, you led us on. We thought you were some tough leader! & quot; And he likes Joss Whedon. And Dwight' s pretty nerdy too.

La. Marr: That' s true. But he has dreadlocks.

That gives him a little cool. CNN: Can you give us any spoilers for next season?

La.

Marr: There is a strong likelihood that there will be an upcoming episode with some math in it. That' s all I can say! West: Oh, tell her the story about the guys that called you up with the body- switching problem that was a real equation. La. Marr: Yes.

A buddy of mine that I went to college with, after the episode aired with the body switching, called me up - - he' s a math professor in Pennsylvania - - and he said everyone in his department was really excited to solve the problem. CNN: And did they?

La. Marr: Of course.

West and Di.

Maggio: It' s solvable!

West: [ & quot; Futurama& quot; writers] are Harvard physicists and MIT grads, and they' re comedy writers! So it' s not the kind of comedy that' s like, & quot; Hey!

I got one for ya! & quot; It' s like they' re so intimidatingly funny in their way that is beyond our level. Di. Maggio: They argue about math jokes for hours. CNN: Which & quot; Futurama& quot; guest star made each of you really geek out?

La. Marr: Katee Sackhoff. She was recording & quot; Lrreconcilable Nd.

Ndifferences, & quot; the Comic Con episode. They told me she was coming in, but they also told me I was done. I had also finished my recording. I sat around that recording studio finding phone calls to return and stuff to do for like half an hour before she came in.

And then I didn' t have the guts to ask for a picture. But I did sneak in and go, & quot; Oh! I think I left my . . . Oh, hi! I' m Phil. & quot; I at least met her.

Di. Maggio: That' s nerderific, dude. West: I was geeking out but in a different kind of way when Pam Anderson was going to come in to play her own head in a jar. So she comes in and it was like the guys with walkie- talkies were saying & quot; OK, Miss Anderson' s going into the recording studio now, & quot; the door opens and she comes in. She sits down next to me and I couldn' t deal with her like she was a human being.

She' s Pam Anderson! She' s a girl floating around in the water that' s unbelievably gorgeous. And I said, & quot; I don' t know if you know this, but there' s this tape going around. . . & quot; She laughed! She laughed hard! Di.

Maggio: I was fortunate enough to be in the studio with three people. Bea Arthur was really cool, because she came in and she was really nervous because she wasn' t used to doing voiceover stuff.

So they had me in there with her, reading with her when she' s the Femputer. And she was really nervous! And I was like, & quot; Miss Arthur, you' re really doing great. & quot; And she was like [ imitating Arthur] , & quot; Really? Am I OK? & quot; & quot; Yeah, it' s just fine, you' re doing just fine. & quot; And she immediately proceeded to - - her performance was just like tenfold.

And she settled in and she was brilliant.

Sigourney Weaver was awesome, as the Planet Express ship.

We were first of all making kissing noises, like with Bea Arthur. I said to Bea Arthur [ in the voice of Bender] , & quot; Oh yeah, baby, give me some of that! & quot; But Sigourney Weaver was great cause she just came in and nailed it. She was funnier than hell. She was goofy and aloof, she was all over the place.

And then when Beck came. They said, & quot; Action! & quot; And I said [ in the voice of Bender] , & quot; Oh my God, you' re Beck! & quot; And he just started laughing.

He couldn' t picture that voice coming out of my face so he blew his take. And he was like, & quot; Dude, I' m really sorry I blew the take but that just freaked me out. & quot; I said, & quot; Don' t worry about it, get into it.

Come on, let' s go. & quot; And we had fun and I got to sing a song with Beck.

I had a triple nerd freakout. CNN: What' s the difference between a nerd and a geek in the year 3000?

Di. Maggio: I would say they' re & quot; gerds. & quot; They' ve been intermarrying for years. Now they' re all gerds.

La. Marr: Nerd is an intellectual designation.

Geek is a social designation. You can be both and you can be one and not the other.

Bubblegum Tate is a nerd but not a geek.

Di. Maggio: Nice call. West: Yeah, he' s cool Di.

Maggio: He' s the coolest of the cool. La. Marr: But the stuff he is into is nerdy.

Like if you' re into math and you' re into comic books, detailed stuff, that' s nerdy. Geeky is not about your mental state, it' s how you relate to the world. If you can' t look a pretty girl in the face, that doesn' t mean you' re smart. Like, you could be that and dumb.

Then you' re not a nerd, you' re just a geek. And it holds true into the year 3000, except that people have nerd and geek implants. CNN: How much do those go for? La. Marr: Oh, it' s cheap.

Cause it' s a continuation of what' s happening now. Nerd culture overtook everything except Oprah- ism, so people who were geeks wanted to be nerds and people who were nerds needed to have their geek cred.

So you just get a little thing you can stick in the back of your neck. Di. Maggio: See, that' s nerd and very non- geek.

But actually, it' s very smooth. Very & quot; smooth nerd. & quot; La. Marr: Is that like smooth jazz? It' s a version that' s a little easier to take.