There isn't much I can do about shipper damage, beyond avoiding companies that notoriously maul packages. However, the weather is - stay with me here - a little more within my control. By using freezer paper, specifically biodegradable freezer paper, I can minimize moisture damage and avoid using plastic bags to protect my products.

Why freezer paper? Because one side is coated to prevent moisture transfer. When you wrap food, you keep the coating on the inside to keep fluids in. For wrapping packages, keep the shiny side out - to keep fluids out. And, again, biodegradable.

Win - Win - Win

Shipping Companies

One item I hadn't thought about, except for the maulers referenced earlier, is the shipping company. The article on sustainable shipping I was reading today really made me think beyond box-bashing.

Just how 'green' are these companies? From what I've read, the USPS hasn't ever measure their carbon footprint. Or, if they have, they aren't sharing it with the rest of us.

FedEx and UPS, on the other hand, are committed - to different degrees - to sustainable shipping and environmental responsibility. (Click on a company name to read what they're doing.)

It's something to think about, when you (or I) get ready to ship to our customers. Or, with the holidays approaching, when we send packages to our friends and families.

Not everyone who needs a little help gets into trouble. But the potential for problems increases when you're adding debt to an already shaky situation.

It's one thing when you have a stable income and don't routinely live beyond your means. An occasional small bump in the road isn't going to send you into a financial tailspin. And that one time loan is just that: one time.

However, when you routinely spend more than you make and, just as routinely, borrow to make it to the end of the month, those payday loans become the shovel that digs a deeper financial hole.

I suppose that borrowing is an occasional necessary evil in this economy. But, to my way of thinking, learning to live within one's means is the smarter way.

Internal vs. External Links

Links are links are links - Right? Wrong!

If your links are sending visitors to another page on your site or blog, that's an Internal Link. If you're sending them out into the 'Net somewhere, that's an External Link. How you send them there is important.

I'll use my site as an example, since that's the one I know.

Internal

All of the product images on my site link to the order page for that item. I don't need special coding for these links. When the links open, they open in the same tab or window and overwrite the page that was already open. A simple click on the navigation menu, or the back button, takes visitors back to the page they came from.

It's all good.

External

There are links all over my site and blog that lead away from my pages. I have relationships with other merchants, support causes, and have great blogging friends that, obviously, live elsewhere on the 'Net. While I love to share those sites with my visitors, I don't want to lose my visitors because they clicked on one of those links.

Therefore, I code any links that will jump off my site with target="_blank" . What that does is important. It allows my visitors to visit those other sites -- in a new window or tab, keeping the window or tab with my site open.

They can surf the other pages to their heart's content and, when they're done, the page that they started from - on my site - is still there for them. All they have to do is close the other tab.

The Point

I adopted this method for coding links when I was applying for awards for my site. Internal links must open in same window; external links must open in new window. It's a requirement of every award program I've seen, and just good practice.

This is where I get frustrated with sites I visit. I was looking at a page, just the other day, with a list they had compiled of sites on macrame. I wanted to look at each site they had listed, meaning I would go back and forth between the directory page and the macrame pages.

Except for one problem: When I clicked on a link in the directory, it opened the macrame site on the same tab; obliterating the link to the directory. It took several back-steps to get back to the original page. That didn't work for my purposes and made it a far less useful source.

If each of those links had been coded to open in a new window, it would have been perfect.

Frankly, we all want to keep our visitors on our sites. We want them to love our words, buy our products, and have such a great time visiting with us that they send everyone they know our way.

We send them to pages on our sites and blogs that we hope they will love. We also share great sites and blogs that we have found in our travels. And this is where we can run into trouble.

Think about your links on your blog or site. Are they keeping your visitors linked to you? Or bouncing them away into the ether?

Which is the better way? For you? and for them?

Timeouts

For the week ending 06/18 (or 06/19, the reports differ), one service indicates no timeouts; the other shows 19, for 06/13 alone. In a way, that's rather easy to explain: If service #2 accesses my site more frequently than service #1, the odds that #2 will hit at a time when the connection times out - before the front page loads - are increased.

Uptime

All 3 reports show 0:00 time on error and/or 100% uptime. Which probably means that they could both reach the domain name servers or host, every time they tried. It's just that, for service #2, on several of those times (36 over the week) my site failed to load in a reasonable amount of time.

Connect Time

This is where it gets interesting. Service #2 doesn't provide daily connect times, only a weekly average. Service #1, however, sends me two separate reports - about an hour and a half apart - that do not have the same information.

Last Tuesday, the first report (sent to an email @jmarkafghans.com) showed:

The second report, 1 hour 33 minutes later, (sent to an email @yahoo.com) showed:

Interesting. Isn't it?

Asbestos Removal

I've written about asbestos before - major health issues, mesothelioma, lung cancer. It's incredibly bad stuff that, thus far, the government hasn't quite managed to out-and-out ban. They have, however, put in place some serious guidelines for dealing with it - especially in renovations and rehabs where removal is legally required before new construction can take place.

Notices must be posted; current occupants/tenants must be told of the findings.

And I quote:

The Clean Air Act requires that owners of public buildings that contain asbestos follow federally established work practice standards to ensure the safe removal of the asbestos. The required standards include providing notice to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before starting asbestos removal, adequately wetting the asbestos during the removal and before disposal, and properly disposing of the asbestos at an EPA-approved disposal site.

From what I've seen, rooms and buildings found to contain asbestos are, virtually, sealed up. Only experts, certified and approved by the government, are allowed to perform removal of this hazardous waste. And, believe me, if you've ever seen a team descend on a home to get the stuff out - it looks like a biohazard SWAT strike.

Violations

Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'll simply present the EPA charges:

[...] while Knapp was overseeing the project, material containing asbestos was removed from the building and disposed of in an uncovered dumpster. [...] demolition work was performed by workers who were not provided with personal protective equipment to reduce exposure to the asbestos. [...] building workers, one of whom was disabled ^[1], and tenants, were exposed to large amounts of dust that resulted from the demolition. A worker testified that the workers were not instructed to wet tiles containing asbestos before and during the demolition process, which increased their exposure to dust.

Mr. Knapp pleaded (pled? plead?) guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of failing to remove all material containing asbestos before beginning renovation of the building. The renovation took place between 2005 and 2008. Which says, to me, lots of violations and lots of exposure for workers and tenants.

Part of the plea agreement (you knew, after all this, that there had to be one, didn't you?), good ol' Bobby Joe admitted that he and Russell Coco, also charged, conspired to get the asbestos out of the building without adhering to government requirements.

Sentencing

In addition to 41 months in prison, the sentence provides for "two years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service. [Mr. Knapp] must also pay a $12,500 fine and $200 crime victim special assessment fee ^[2]."

Bottom Line

I don't mean to pooh-pooh 3 years and 5 months in prison; wouldn't want to do it, myself. But the release doesn't mention whether Bobby Joe will be required to do the full 41 months. And, heaven knows, he won't be doing it in Walla Walla or Corcoran.

Frankly, it's the financial slap on the wrist  that caught my attention. Given the cost of proper (and legal) asbestos removal, especially on a building with more than 10 floors, the fine is small potatoes. As a deterrent to future offenders, it simply doesn't work.

I've been slapping at the EPA for months over their inability or reluctance to P the E. This doesn't do much to improve my opinion of them.

What do you think? Did Mr. Knapp get what he deserved? Did the punishment fit the crime? Or was this a token action, meant to make it appear as though the government and the EPA are actually doing their jobs?

1. There was no clarification as to whether the worker was disabled before, or disabled by, the exposure.
2. "Since 1984, the federal government has collected a small monetary assessment from all convicted defendants for each federal crime committed. This "special assessment on convicted persons" ranges from five to two hundred dollars depending on the seriousness of the crime and the status of the criminal."

   Marie T. Farrelly, Special Assessments and the Origination Clause: A Tax on Crooks?, 58 Fordham L. Rev. 447 (1989), http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol58/iss3/5

To My Grocery Store:

We purchase your store-brand products because they are less expensive and perform virtually as well as some of the name-brands. It should come as no surprise that we expect those products to continue to be a good value.

Today, my dear store, you disappointed me.

I picked up a box of quart-size freezer bags - the same ones I've been buying for months - only to find that there were now 5 fewer bags in the box. What was $0.0796/per bag is now $0.0995/per bag. Or the equivalent of a 25% increase in price.

In other words, I now have to buy 5 boxes of bags to accomplish what I did with 4 boxes. What I used to get done for $8.00, will now take $10.00 and more trips to the store. This is just bad news, no matter which way you look at it.

Oh, in your defense, dear store, you did add a white field to these fewer bags; a place, theoretically, where I can mark what I bagged and when. Sadly, I was already doing that - with a permanent pen - on the bags that didn't cost me quite so much. So, in all honesty, I'd rather have the missing - plain - freezer bags.

They did the job. At a price that was a decent value. It wasn't broken; you shouldn't have fixed  it.

Signed,

A Not-So-Satisfied Shopper

Rethinking my current design, it occurs to me that starting a new blog might be fun, too. Taking a blank screen and devising a never-before-seen theme that says to me "So this is what I've been dying to do!"

And it's all because of this blog makeover contest from iStockphoto* and SheBlogs.

"Moon Meditation"

This image of meditation in the dim light of late evening or early morning speaks to me - of peace and deep thought. Just looking at it takes me to a calmer, quieter place; eases and opens my mind. My breathing and heart rate slow; I feel centered again.

As a background, I imagine the lone figure poised at the center-left of the screen, with words flowing gently around her. The scenery is somewhat muted, transparent; so that the focus is on the person, the image of peace and calm. Centered on the centered mind and body. One can't help wondering what she's thinking, feeling ... imagining.

It inspires me to completely redo my creative-writing blog. But, it also makes me think about the health blog I've always wanted to start. Something that speaks to lifestyles, news on conditions, health trends, and research into healthier living and disease prevention.

One picture and so many ideas. What better image could I have possibly found? Honestly, I'm still picking and choosing; could take days. Each picture I see sparks my imagination and takes me in a new direction.

Maybe you'd like to flex your imagination? Thanks to iStockphoto and SheBlogs, you can. You can pick and choose and redesign and remodel - your blog or website or newsletter or ... whatever – just because you're reading this blog. And not one, but three amazing pictures can be yours - for free.

Simply visit http://www.istockphoto.com/sheblogs-offer, create your account, and pick your three free images. If, like me, you find more than three – or 20 or 50 – that just demand downloading, not a problem. Through June 30, 2011, all credit packs of 50 credits or more are 10% off with the discount code (5HEB10G511) just for SheBloggers and our readers.

What's your perfect design? Where does your mind take you? Let's find out.

Get comfy; turn off the TV. Now, breathe deep; in ... and out, in ... and out. Feel your body relax; your mind come alive. Think of what means the most to you, what you're passionate about. Now, imagine those thoughts and feelings on a screen, on a page; flowing with the energy of your spirit.

What do they look like? What pictures are you seeing? How do they 'feel'?

That's it! Hold that image in your mind; those feelings in your heart - and let iStockphoto help you make it happen: http://www.istockphoto.com/sheblogs-offer.

* iStockphoto is the world’s leading royalty-free stock multimedia destination, with millions of photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash files starting at $1. Find inspiration for your blog and dozens of other creative things including business cards, websites, flyers, invitations, newsletters, craft projects, advertisements, presentations, décor and more.

Take creatine supplements. (Actually, don't.)

Recently, I ran across a review on ConsumerLab.com that added some scientific weight to my worries. The summary information^[1] explained some of the quality problems they'd found with, what they call, muscle enhancers. (Note: While I love my readers, I chose to not pay out copious amounts of cash to read the full report.)

Not every brand was a problem - several actually passed the testing. A couple, however, didn't do as well. They were found to contain mostly creatinine ^[2] - not creatine.

And one of the two actually had more contaminant than creatine. Which is what scares the crap out of me. Supplements aren't regulated and, without testing like this, heaven only knows what's really in them.

Today, I got slapped in my crocheting ego. Rather than use and toss the pads that come with the Swiffer WetJet, zillions of people-who-hate-cleaning - just like I do - are greening up Swiffer with reusable {blush} crocheted pads. Hence, the ego-bruising.

I can't believe that I didn't think of this. Color me supremely embarrassed. But - ha, ha - recovering quickly.

There are bits and pieces of yarn in my scrap bag that I think would be perfect for these pads. Woo hoo - I'm off to do some creating.

Keep watching - you may well be buying your very own Swiffer-ish scrub pads right here, real soon.

How do you get the same sensation, the same joy from changing screens? And, as I'm not (currently) planning to buy an ereader, how do you curl up in bed with a laptop? Or drag it from room to room, when you just can't tear yourself away from the action on the page?

No, my preference will always (ooh, shouldn't say 'always') be a book in my hands. And yet … curiosity is such that I'll, undoubtedly, download software and creep, grudgingly, into the 21st century. Maybe I'd even manage to save a tree or two along the way.

In the meantime, can someone please explain to me why ebooks are more expensive than their print equivalents? Or even the same price? There are no physical materials, printing costs, packaging and shipping costs involved in an ebook.

It just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

The latest? Multi-state accord would reduce tobacco sales to minors. Just gotta shake my head and snort, derisively.

For decades, I've watched these big pushes to keep cigarettes out of the hands (and lungs) of minors. There are threats of random compliance checks, implementation of training programs, and 50-year-old customers getting carded. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Smoking isn't cool; it isn't glamorous. Trust me on that one. After puffing away for more than 40 years, I have lines and wrinkles and crinkles that, I know, I wouldn't have without the smokes. Not to mention, I also know that I don't want to see my lungs.

But, I don't know what the answer is.

Kids who want to smoke are going to find a way to get cigarettes. That's a fact. They believe they're invincible, so health risks are not going to scare them. Another fact. And rules and regulations only have a limited, short-term impact. Final fact.

Sure, for a while, cigarette sales to teens slump. Then, everyone gets over it. Stores relax, clerks forget to check IDs, or some friendly adult shrugs and buys for kids. (I've seen 'em do it.)

Bottom line? 1.) It is, and nearly always has been, illegal to sell tobacco or alcohol to minors; 2.) There are not, and never will be, enough bodies to monitor every gas station, grocery store, and corner shop; 3.) Taxing cigarettes to death (pardon the pun) will just turn legal smokers into third-class citizens.

(Just had to throw that little rant in there. Sorry.)

Life insurance, especially term-life, is a rather gruesome prospect. Based on age, personal health, family health, and risk factors like substance abuse or hazardous activities - someone has to 'guess' how long I'm going to live. If I'm young and healthy, chances are minimal that the insurance company will have to pay out on a thirty-year policy. But, the older I get, the greater the risk that I won't outlive the policy.

Let's play what if. Start with my basic stats: 54 year old female, 6 feet tall, 145 pounds; choose a $100,000 policy, for 30 years; factor in health: no cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or hazardous activities. That makes me Preferred  health class.

Factoring various periods of non-smoking, the costs run:

• Active smoker: $1,782 to $2,161 per year, no monthly payment options;
• Less than 1 year: no cost improvement;
• More than 1 year: $802 to $959 per year, most with monthly payment options;
• More than 2 years: $592 to $959 per year, most with monthly payment options;
• More than 3 years: same as 2+ years;
• More than 5 years: same as 2+ years;
• More than 10 years: same as 2+ years;
• Never smoked: same as 2+ years.

If we go with the same policy, but for 20 years:

• Active smoker: $816 to $1,566 per year, most with monthly payment options;
• Less than 1 year: no cost improvement;
• More than 1 year: $435 to $683 per year, most with monthly payment options;
• More than 2 years: $364 to $672 per year, most with monthly payment options;
• More than 3 years: same as 2+ years;
• More than 5 years: same as 2+ years;
• More than 10 years: same as 2+ years;
• Never smoked: same as 2+ years.

Those are some huge differences, just from walking away (and staying away) from cigarettes. Obviously, there's an age factor at work on the costs, as well. But at my age, quitting may be the single best thing I can do for my physical and financial health.

Primarily, the changes seem to be related to the required existence of a swimming pool lift, sloped entry, transfer walls, and/or steps. Very detailed instructions, to say the least. I felt like I'd just taken, and failed, a course in pool design.

Makes me wonder if our complex pool is going to be receiving a makeover before March, when the required accommodations need to be in place. Since it's not technically a public or commercial operation, the complex is probably not bound by the revisions to the law. Could explain why our management has been attending a lot of classes since last year, though.

Should be interesting to watch; see what does, or doesn't, happen.

Squirrels

ENN.com

On the same day, a federal judge reinstated endangered status for the West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had violated the Endangered Species Act by ignoring the species recovery plan that they had established in 1990.

I guess USFWS, with the backing of the timber industry, decided that making paper and boxes was more important.

Black Coral

Gallery: USGS.gov

Two days later, the U.S. Geological Service released a report on deep-sea black corals living in the Gulf of Mexico. Fascinating creatures, over 2,000 years old, living in the deep waters of the Gulf. It is hoped that, given their growth patterns, they will offer insight into the health of the region, over decades of change.

Despite their name, black corals come in a variety of colors.

Wolves

It is, however, the wolves of the Northern Rockies who have had the most 'exciting' few days. And that isn't necessarily a good thing, if you've been following the plight of these animals.

In 2009, the federal government delisted some of the wolves in the Northern Rockies. Conservation groups complained, and sued. A U.S. district judge ruled with conservationists and, in August 2010, ordered protections for all of the wolves in the area restored.

Wikimedia Commons

Not willing to stand on legalities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - the federal agency that is responsible for protecting endangered species in the United States - started negotiations to, once again, delist the Northern Rockies wolves. On April 9th, the same judge refused to approve the latest delisting plan. A 'settlement agreement' that would have allowed Idaho and Montana to, essentially, put 1,200 wolves on the 'most wanted list' for ranchers and hunters in their states.

It didn't last long. In fact, it never - technically - happened.

Late on the night of April 8th/9th, Congress reached an agreement on the budget. Buried in that budget bill was a "provision to strip federal protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana and portions of Oregon, Washington and Utah as part of [the] Continuing Budget Resolution". In passing the budget, Congress effectively took the potential settlement agreement off the table. Long before the Montana judge made his decision, Congress had rendered it moot.

While headlines joyously proclaimed Northern Rockies Wolves are safe for now, the government was painting a bulls-eye on virtually every Northern Rockies wolf. They opened hunting season and put these amazing animals at the top of every list.

I was under the impression that Congress had no say in listing or delisting endangered species in the United States. That job belongs (belonged?) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who, it must be said, isn't very good at it. Although at least they, periodically, pretend to care.

Frankly, I have to believe that this unprecedented action means big trouble for the climate, as well as protection of the environment and all endangered species. Anything that gets in the way of big business and their lobbies is now seriously threatened.

There are a lot of pros and cons floating through the Webverse related to this potential merger. As a consumer, I can't say that I'm finding too many pros. Let me amend that - as an urban  consumer, there aren't many positives for me in this melding of companies.

So, I'll start with:

The Negatives

Increased Cost

Any time corporate mergers thin the options for consumers, there is little incentive for providers to be financially competitive. When you're the only game in town, people either pay what you charge or do without your products and services. Great for companies- and shareholders; crappy for consumers.

Currently, T-Mobile has the best rates (that we've been able to find) in the industry. Periodically, we check; just to make sure that we're not getting hosed. We're not. (I doubt that that will be true if the merger goes through.)

Decreased Innovation

Again, if you're the only game in town, why waste potential profits by creating/acquiring the latest and greatest products for your industry? It's simpler, and cheaper, to just barely stay ahead of the competition. And, if you're AT&T, you probably have a lock on most of the infrastructure. (Although, to be honest, my experience comes from the days of divestiture and landline service.)

Again, T-Mobile phones are some of the best out there - with the exception of those phones that are not made available to them.

Customer Service

If customers have nowhere else to go, do CSRs really have to be nice? Probably not. Will they, anyway? Probably not.

One of the reasons that we have stayed - for 7 years - with T-Mobile is customer service. When Deutsche Telekom came in, things got a little iffy; but it's still possible to find someone who knows what they're doing and - critically - cares about doing it. I have serious doubts that this will continue under the AT&T umbrella.

The Positives

Shareholders will make bundles; AT&T will make bundles; Deutsche Telekom will make bundles. (It's all goood.)

It is possible that T-Mobile USA and AT&T Merger Means Faster and More Widespread Broadband - or not. And I quote "AT&T is committing to build out to nearly every part of the U.S. within six years." I am so ... impressed ... by the organizations that are jumping on this bandwagon.

But, you know? I could be wrong. Still angry; but wrong.

We'll see what happens - if the merger goes through - and my service ... changes.

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to have an RV breakdown. That's a whole lot different than getting a tow for a little hatchback or finding a mechanic with parts for your mid-sized sedan. No, an RV is a whole 'nother situation.

Seems to me that it'd just be asking for trouble to head out without some kind of protection. Especially when there are companies that offer 24-hour service, all over North America, with no mileage restrictions.

But, hey. That's just me. I'm a worrier.

If You Drive

I'm talking about that four-letter-word: walk. One of the reasons that we continue to live here is convenience. Most of what we need on a regular basis, as well as a few emergency items, are within walking distance.

Dollar store, smoke shop, beauty salon, bakery, two convenience and one drug stores, auto parts store, a few fast food places - all within a quarter- to half-mile of our apartment. There's even a clock repair shop, lighting store, and a chiropractor in spitting distance.

Naturally, if you don't have a little shopping community at your back door, shop-walking (walk-shopping?) isn't an option. If you're in better shape than I am, your walk-to-shop range may be a little wider.

When You Drive

One of the biggest gasoline wastes is idling in traffic. Not to mention the toll that rush-hour traffic takes on mind and body. Getting from A to B, as quickly as possible, is the best solution for everyone.

Work

If you have the luxury of getting in a little earlier, leaving a little later - avoiding the peak drive times in your area - you can save gas and cut stress. Sometimes just leaving 5-10 minutes earlier or later can make all the difference in how long it takes to get there. A total win-win.

Play

It pretty much goes without saying, (but I'll say it anyway) scheduling trips to the supermarket, doctor's office, or post office during rush hour isn't the best idea. By waiting until all the worker-bees get to their hives, you can cut a ton of time from your trip. And, again, de-stress the process.

Where You Drive

Work

There's not much fudge room here. The boss, oddly enough, actually expects you to show up for work every day. But, as things change in the world, there are some possible options.

If your work (and personality) allows it, telecommuting is a great way to avoid traffic and high fuel costs. Even if it's only a couple of days each week. Or perhaps your company would consider 4-day weeks; 10 hour days, instead of 8.

Play

This one's a little easier - don't go, if you don't have to. If you have to, plan ahead. Start at point A, travelling logically from B to C to D to home in one big loop. Know where you need to go and, if necessary, map it out in advance.

Shop online: in many cases, shipping is less than the gas it takes to run all over town. Many grocery stores will shop for you and deliver right to your door. With Safeway, for example, if you schedule delivery in a 4-hour (rather than a 2-hour) window they cut the delivery charge.

How You Drive

Okay, lead-foot - this is for you.

Every 'expert' will tell you that driving the speed limit saves fuel. It also saves money - on speeding tickets. But, from my little corner of the speedway, there's something a little different to consider: consistent speed.

Revving up and slowing down, revving up and slowing down guzzles gas. That's why city driving, with all those stop signs and red lights, is a bear on mileage. If you can't avoid city streets, at least don't race from intersection to intersection. You're gonna have to stop at the corner, whether you get there in 30 seconds or in a minute.

Part of me is relieved that we don't have a working, gas-needing vehicle right now. But the realist in me knows that even though I'm not buying gasoline directly, I'm still paying for the rise in fuel costs indirectly. Anything shipped by truck is going to get more expensive.

And once the price goes up, it takes forever to come down. Actually, in my experience, what goes up, must come down doesn't apply to the cost of anything I need to buy.

What about you? How do you save on gasoline? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks.

Sibutramine

Brand names: Ectiva / Meridia / Raductil / Reductil / Sibutral

How It Works

Like SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft), SNRIs (Cymbalta, Effexor, Pristiq), and DRIs (Zyban, Ritalin, Cocaine), sibutramine keeps the brain from reabsorbing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This appears to help cells in the brain better send and receive signals.

Blocking serotonin and norephedrine reuptake seems to improve mood, reduce anxiety and compulsive behaviors (OCD). The increased dopamine has a stimulant effect which is believed to improve mood, reduce fatigue and anxiety, and suppress appetite.

What It Does

Although an SNRI like Cymbalta, Meridia was never proven to be an effective antidepressant. Its ability to inhibit reabsorption of dopamine (similar to the actions of amphetamines) does make it effective for some people as an appetite suppressant.

Several sources indicate that patients who lost weight immediately while taking sibutramine were most likely to continue losing weight. It was suggested, however, that those who failed to lose 4 pounds during the first 4 weeks of treatment may be advised to discontinue Meridia.

Why It's a Problem

Blood Pressure

According to the original documentation for sibutramine (see Pharmacycode link below), "Meridia substantially increases blood pressure and/or pulse rate" in some users. The WARNINGS section recommended: a.) frequent blood pressure monitoring and b.) careful prescription, possibly not at all for patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension. By August 2010, two months before Abbott voluntarily pulled it from the market, the drug was contraindicated for anyone with heart conditions or blood pressure issues.

Interactions

According to information on Drugs.com, 804 drugs interact with sibutramine. Of those 800+ medications, more than 200 have major interactions.

Naturally, other SSRIs, SNRIs, DRIs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, diet pills, and stimulants will increase the effects of Meridia. But many prescription and OTC allergy, cold, and migraine medications can also increase the risk of elevated pulse, blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.

If that weren't enough, sibutramine increases the bleeding risks associated with NSAIDs (aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Celebrex) and anticoagulants (Coumadin, Heparin). It may also add to the risk of emotional disturbances and suicidal thoughts associated with some central nervous system depressants.

Bottom Line

Now, this discontinued drug is showing up - illegally - in over-the-counter weight loss supplements. Sibutramine was risky enough, when patients knew what they were taking and were monitored by a physician. How much more dangerous will it be when people don't even realize they're taking it?

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin-norepinephrine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000097/
• http://pharmacycode.com/fda/Sibutramine
• http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/sibutramine.html

What It Is

Wikipedia says that Phenibut, commonly known as Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl, is a neuropsychotropic derivative of GABA with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits. Yeah, gave me a headache, too.

GABA Derivative

Basically, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural chemical that the body manufactures to help nerves communicate. It cannot, however, cross over into the brain or affect the central nervous system.

By altering GABA (I refuse to even attempt to learn how), scientists created Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl which can cross into and affect the brain and central nervous system. It was synthesized at the I. M. Herzen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute USSR and the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences USSR.

Because Russian scientists determined that it relieved stress and anxiety, without adversely affecting performance, they made Phenibut part of every cosmonaut's medical kit since Apollo-Soyuz.

What It Does

It's a neuropsychotropic, with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits! Weren't you listening? Okay, don't yell; I'm working on it.

Neuropsychotropic

For those of us who don't have a degree in psychiatric medicine, Phenibut changes brain chemistry. It crosses into the brain and, by definition, alters how we see, feel, understand, and react to life. So do Zoloft, marijuana, and LSD.

Nootropic

Nootropics are also called 'smart drugs' because they are reputed to improve, or enhance, concentration and memory. Initially, the definition from Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea included the very important qualification of 'very few side effects'. Unapproved drugs or supplements may not be able to make the same claims.

Anxiolytic

Okay, this is actually a word I know! Woohoo! It's a class of drugs that work on brain chemistry to relieve symptoms of anxiety. They include Valium, Xanax, and Librium.

What It Means

Phenibut (by the above definitions) 1.) crosses into the brain; 2.) changes how we perceive and react to life, the universe, and everything; and 3.) makes us really, really relaxed about it. Doesn't sound all that bad, right? That's what Timothy Leary said, too.

Clinical Toxicology

Then, we have that scientific article about Phenibut withdrawal. Remember - The "Novel 'Nutritional Supplement'"?

The patient from this report used Phenibut for months, because he liked the way it made him feel. Three days before he came to the hospital, he stopped using (I can't think of a better term). His symptoms on arrival included agitation, psychosis (loss of touch with reality), and hallucinations.

According to the report, the patient required intubation^[1] and sedation with benzodiazepines^[2].

After 4 days, the breathing tube was removed; the sedatives were discontinued. He had "a normal mental status and his psychosis had resolved. He never developed seizures."

Why Should Anyone Care?

Okay. This patient used Phenibut. Some would say, he abused it. People intentionally use chemicals all the time - alcohol, marijuana, cocaine; even caffeine or tobacco.

Choice

If someone decides to indulge, it's a personal choice. They choose the chemical they're putting in their system. Right or wrong, they know what they're taking and do so intentionally.

It's an informed, if potentially foolish, decision.

No Choice

What if you just want to sleep through the night? Or lose a few pounds? Those Internet supplements claim to hold the solution to your problem. But what, exactly, are you taking? You can't always tell what - or how much of it - is in those magic little pills.

You aren't making an informed decision.

Knowledge

The more you know about ingredients, the more safe your decisions. We're all different; what works for me, might make Mark sick. That's why we let our doctors prescribe.

And read - a lot - about everything we take.

1. Intubation, inserting a plastic tube into a patient's airway, isn't only used when patients aren't breathing on their own. It is also used to protect the airway when the body is in, or might slip into, a coma.
2. Benzodiazepines are the opposite of anti-depressants. They are, chemically, designed to tranquilize.

From The Experts

Depression

According to MedicineNet.com:

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depressive disease cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.

Depression, simply put, is not 'the blues' or a down day. It is a definable mood disorder, with causes and triggers that vary from person to person, which digs in and hangs on - like that poor kitten in the poster - by it's sharp, pointy claws.

Anxiety

The DSM-IV has a good, overall definition of Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety Disorders categorize a large number of disorders where the primary feature is abnormal or inappropriate anxiety. Everybody has experienced anxiety. Think about the last time a loud noise frightened you and remember the feelings inside your body. Chances are you experienced an increased heart rate, tensed muscles, and perhaps an acute sense of focus as you tried to determine the source of the noise. These are all symptoms of anxiety. They are also part of a normal process in our bodies called the 'flight or flight' phenomenon. This means that your body is preparing itself to either fight or protect itself or to flee a dangerous situation.

These symptoms become a problem when they occur without any recognizable stimulus or when the stimulus does not warrant such a reaction. In other words, inappropriate anxiety is when a person's heart races, breathing increases, and muscles tense without any reason for them to do so. Once a medical cause is ruled out, an anxiety disorder may be the culprit.

An anxiety disorder is not sweaty palms and butterflies before a job interview or a first date. It is feeling like that little kitten in the poster - constantly poised on the edge of disaster, tense, frightened, shaking; crippled with fear, even when safely on the ground.

From The Layman

From where I sit, prescribing psychiatric medications without clinical evaluation is a bit like saying, "Oh, stubbed your toe? How about some Valium?" or "Hmmm? Broke a nail? Let's try a little morphine."

Rough Days

People can have a rough day; in fact, they frequently do. It's called life.

Yes, it's sad when the guy you're dating is also dating someone 20 years younger, and 20 pounds thinner. When you don't get an 'A' on that English paper you slaved over for three weeks. When the manufacturer discontinues your favorite moisturizer.

It's nerve-wracking, when the bill collectors keep calling. Or you've missed a work deadline and have to 'fess up. Or one of the kids gets into a fight at school. Or the cable goes out in the middle of the Super Bowl.

That's life and it frequently sucks. The only cure is to get up, get over it, and do what comes next. Eventually, the day ends and a new day starts, with the sincere hope that it won't be quite as crappy as the day before.

Really Bad Days

Some people also have really bad days. Days they wouldn't wish on their worst enemy; days that last for weeks, months, and years. Trust me, I know.

Bad days where the sadness and pain is so overwhelming that you hope and pray that your mind and heart will simply ... stop. Where you can find no reason to get up and go on. Where you know, through the chemical morass overwhelming your brain, that the entire world will be better off without you; that no one will miss you or notice your departure.

Days where the anxiety is so severe that you curl up in a corner and pray that your brain and heart don't simply explode. Where every noise triggers a fight-or-flight response that leaves you panicked and shaking from head to toe. Where there is no coherent thought; only fear.

That, too, may be your life; day after day after day. You can't get over it and do what comes next; you may not even be able to get out of bed. The knowledge that the day will end only fills you with the dreadful 'knowledge' that tomorrow will, somehow, be worse.

The Bottom Line

I'm no medical or mental health professional. Heck, some days I don't even feel like a mental health owner. But I know the difference between a crappy day and the crippling inability to function with no discernable cause.

Depression or Sadness

Sure, when your SO decides to move on, or you lose your job, it feels like the world has ended. You may even tell people, "I'm so depressed." Clinically? Not necessarily.

Sadness - serious, serious sadness - is a natural response in such situations. You react, mourn, and (eventually) get on with life. This is not the condition we define as depression, for one simple reason: it is an emotional reaction to a very specific problem. It runs a natural course and ends.

Of course, if both events hit within the same week, that could trigger a need for some counseling, endorphin-releasing exercise and/or chocolate therapy, or even a mild sleeping-aid. But, this is not run-for-the-Prozac depression. It's life being crappy, all over your hopes and dreams and plans for the future.

Anxiety or Nerves

I get nervous when I have to fly, speak to a crowd, or interview for a job. My palms sweat, my heart beats a little quicker, and my mouth gets dry. Anxiety? Absolutely, but not a clinical disorder.

For most of us, nerves in such situations are natural. We all have specific things we really, really hate to do or are naturally afraid of. If they aren't important, we ignore them and move along with our lives. If they can't be avoided, we suck it up and get it over with.

Concerns about driving in bad weather or anxiety over safety in a really bad neighborhood aren't over the top. Nerves are a normal and healthy response to new or potentially risky situations. They don't require medication; they require acknowledgment, analysis, and appropriate action.

This isn't the equivalent of taking an aspirin for a headache. It's more like chemotherapy, administered by a dentist, for a mosquito bite.

And boring.

So, with a ruthlessness borne of a migraine (what was I thinking with all of that clutter?), I decided it was time to make everything much more simple. And, hopefully, a bit more interesting.

I fell in love with the flowers and really like the softer font for the blog title and the menu tabs. What do you think? Easier on the eye? more attractive than that mish-mash of colors?

Sadly, after driving myself crazy to find the twitter/facebook widget on the left, I'm not certain that I like it after all. The buttons are too big and it seems to really clutter up the look of the pages. Maybe something smaller, up on the right by the search bar?

Any opinions? Good or bad. Feel free to share heavily. I'm at the point where nothing looks right.

Guess it's time to take a break, have a smoke, and find something mindless to do.

According to an article I was reading today, online shopping is green shopping. How's that for tremendous news? Of course, you probably already knew that; I certainly did.

Shopping at your local mall or favorite store means that a shopper, and dozens like him/her, are increasing energy consumption and pumping more emissions (that we really don't need) into the air. By staying home, comfy and cozy in that favorite chair, and ordering what we need online, we aren't putting cars on the roads and crap into the atmosphere.

Of course, you can't quite get everything online. But for every trip that you don't make, you're doing the planet a favor.

Since the bills have been about double what they should be, starting this month, we're getting paper bills again. At least until the bills stop yo-yoing maniacally.

Not-so-Prorated Charges

New Phone(s)

Part of our problem has been new phones. We had to replace a phone back around Thanksgiving. The charges were supposed to be spread out over several months. They weren't.

If this sounds like your situation, keep calling your customer service department. Keep asking to have the billing prorated, as promised. Customer service departments tend to keep pretty good records, so they (theoretically) know exactly what they said and didn't.

Don't be afraid to talk to supervisors and managers. Any service provider, worth your time and money, will be happy to correct promises not kept. They'd rather have your money over time than not at all.

Service Changes - Voice

Every time I turned around, Mark was changing our monthly minutes. What happened was simple to understand and difficult to straighten out. We'd have 500 whenever minutes for 14 days; 750 whenever minutes for 38 days; then 600 whenever minutes for 25 days. Then, in the middle of the mess, our carrier would offer a promotion for a zillion minutes at the half-zillion rate.

Since the changes always came in the middle of a cycle, it was even more confusing. Any given month could have 2 or 3 (or more) different rates. It took Billing, and us, forever to get it straightened out. Luckily, we stuck with the fewest minutes available and, eventually, fixed the mess.

Looking back, we should have had the changes made effective with the next bill and it would never have gotten so out of control.

Service Changes - Data

As cell phone technology improves, so do data service requirements. For about five minutes, I had a Blackberry that only plays nice on a specific data set up. I returned it and got a Nokia with much lower tech needs. The billing didn't keep up and, like the changing voice rates, it took a while to settle things down.

Mark's phones were worse. He had a Blackberry, with service; then a Nokia, with different service; then a couple of Samsungs, with service similar to the Blackberry - in a couple of months.

What's killed us is that the billing start-date for some of the services pre-dated the actual service start-date. We are constantly battling to get the bill to match the coverage. I don't think it'll ever be completely right.

We're trying to get close enough to live with it.

Mystery Charges

Our last bill (the first paper one in several years) had some interesting additions. Luckily, they were on Mark's line. We knew immediately that they weren't legitimate.

The '411'

The first two disputed charges were calls to 411 (information). No one on our account would dare spend $1.78 a pop looking up numbers. We all have laptops and search like maniacs.

If you use 411, stop; it'll bring down your phone bill real darn quick.

Downloads

The other thing that no one on our cell account does is download - anything. No games, no apps, no movies - no anything. So, when there was a charge on Mark's line for downloading a movie that neither of us had heard of ... ZAP! It's gone.

One Solution

For better or worse, sane or insane, I've learned that it's critical to not make too many service changes in the same billing period.

Need a new phone? Okay; but, don't change voice or message service in the same month. Carrier got a great deal on more minutes? Sweet! You can wait another month / billing cycle to get that new phone.

The oooh, shiny! habit of buying the latest and greatest just for the sake of having the latest and greatest is a terrific way to lose control of your bill. Give it 30 days. Who knows? The price may even drop enough to reward your patience.

Naturally, if you drop your phone or run it through the washing machine, all bets are off.

The United States Organic Deception

One line from this article says it all: "[O]f all the certified organic labels, most of them can still contain varying amounts of non-organic ingredients that will effectively negate any benefit of the organically-grown ingredients."

There are 3 labels, directly related to the food we buy and the quality/quantity of organic ingredients.

• Products labeled "100% Organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients
• Products labeled "Certified Organic" must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients
• The label "Made with Organic Ingredients" can contain anywhere between 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients

As you can see, there's a lot of wiggle room in the last 2 groups for not-so-organic (read: pesticide-treated) items. It's a bit like buying organic lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, green peppers, celery, and onion - then dressing them with motor oil. Sure, the veggies are pesticide-free, but I still wouldn't eat the salad.

Keep Monsanto Out of Your Garden this Spring

This is another "Crap! I didn't know that!" moment for me. It isn't enough that Monsanto has given us "Roundup, genetically-engineered beets, corn, and other crops, the fact that they sue farmers after their seeds (a monopoly of their own) contaminate the farmers' own fields, Agent Orange....we could go on and on."

They now own about 40% of the seed market for home vegetable gardens. And that just can't be good.

Think about it for a minute. You're trying to feed yourself and your family the right way, maybe save some money by growing your own food. Then along comes the king of GMOs, putting heaven-knows-what in those little seed packets.

If you're planning your garden, getting a little misty at the thought of all those incredible veggies you'll be enjoying in a few months, this is the article you need to read first.

Photo: National Geographic/Joel Sartore

National Geographic: Tundra Landscapes

And something that's just plain gorgeous.

View, enjoy, download, and save these amazing pictures. I can't imagine more beautiful images to add to my wallpaper. Of course, there is the very real risk that I'll spend hours taking virtual vacations ~ around the world.

Aw, heck. There are worse ways to kill a couple of days.

This free, downloadable book offers five (5) simple ideas for regaining and keeping control of your money - and your life.

Idea #1: Spend Less Than You Earn!

"In the end, this is the fundamental rule of personal finance."

It seems so obvious, doesn't it? No matter how much you make each year, that's all you have to spend. If I only have $500.00 in my pocket, I can't buy a $700.00 leather jacket - not without adding to my debt or depleting my savings account. Both bad ideas.

Idea #2: Earn More!

"There are some common things that anyone can do, regardless of their financial state, to earn more money."

Some of these seem so simple, you'll wonder why you didn't think of them. They start with the current workplace: show up alert and ready to work, do your job well, keep a positive attitude, and avoid toxic people. From there, the tips look at getting additional education, finding your passion, and starting a side business.

Idea #3: Live Frugal!

Living frugally doesn't mean living poorly.

These 100 tips (also found here) look at getting the most out of your money - break unhealthy spending habits; make, don't buy, gifts; learn to stop impulse shopping; save on food by buying and cooking in bulk - to name just a few. Maybe all 100 won't speak to you, but I'll bet many of them will.

Idea #4: Manage Your Money!

Use every spare dime to build a stable future.

There are a lot of ideas here, most of which we know; even if we don't remember to practice them. From the obvious - Pay off those credit cards and pay down that debt, to the ones we forget - Max out that retirement account and start investing in the future.

Idea #5: Control Your Own Destiny!

I love this one. "It's not about being rich; it's about freedom."

Isn't that, deep down, what we're all looking for - freedom? The freedom to do what we want, when we want. No debt hanging over our heads; no supervisors micro-managing our every minute.

I know that these ideas speak to me. And I'll definitely be doing a lot of thinking - and rethinking - thanks to the jumpstart this eBook has given me. How about you?

Hepatitis C

Basics

Hepatitis C is an infection, caused by a virus (HCV), that just loves liver cells. A member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses, HCV is related to those that cause yellow fever and dengue. It is not, however, related to other hepatitis viruses.

The virus settles into the cells of the liver and, when the immune system sends out white blood cells to attack the virus, the liver develops inflammation. Over time, usually many years, the inflammation leads to scarring of the liver tissue. This scarring, called cirrhosis , causes the liver to stop functioning and leads to a number of serious complications, even death.

Genotypes

Although they all share the same basic structure, there are a number of variations or genetic profiles (genotypes) in the hepatitis C virus. These variations are why it has been, and continues to be, extremely difficult to develop an effective vaccine.

Depending on the source, there are at least 6 or up to 11 HCV genetic variations. Within these 6 to 11 genotypes, there are further variations:

1a - mostly found in North & South America; also common in Australia
1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.
2a - is the most common genotype 2 in Japan and China.
2b - is the most common genotype 2 in the U.S. and Northern Europe.
2c - the most common genotype 2 in Western and Southern Europe.
3a - highly prevalent here in Australia (40% of cases) and South Asia.
4a - highly prevalent in Egypt
4c - highly prevalent in Central Africa
5a - highly prevalent only in South Africa
6a - restricted to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam
7a & 7b - common in Thailand
8a, 8b & 9a - prevalent in Vietnam
10a & 11a - found in Indonesia

Beyond genotypes 1, 2, and 3, there isn't much information published about treatment options. As far as the first three, genotype 1 is the most difficult. It requires a longer treatment period (48+ weeks, compared to 24 weeks), with a very low cure rate; 2 and 3 each average (depending on the source) a 75-80% cure rate.

Treatment News

Merck: Boceprevir

In a January 6 news release, Merck announced that both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted an accelerated review / assessment for boceprevir. An oral protease inhibitor^[1], boceprevir is designed for "the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 infection, in combination with standard therapy, in adult patients with compensated liver disease^[2] who are previously untreated or who have failed previous therapy."

What that means is the FDA and EMA both believe that boceprevir offers a potentially valuable treatment option, unlike anything currently available for genotype 1 Hep C patients. They have agreed to expedite the review and approval process to get this critically needed treatment onto the market. Great news.

Vertex: Telaprevir

Another protease inhibitor, telaprevir has been part of a number of studies involving more than 2,500 people with genotype 1 HCV. The studies included patients who had never received treatment, as well as those who failed to achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) with standard treatment.

Vertex has been accepted for acclerated assessment by the EMA and is awaiting a decision from the FDA on a Priority Review.

Pharmasset: PSI-7977 & PSI-938

These two drugs are types of nucleotide analogs^[3]. PSI-7977 has been combined with standard treatments (pegylated interferon and ribavirin) in patients with genotypes 1, 2, and 3. The primary focus appears to be treatment of individuals with genotypes 2 and 3.

There were no reports of serious adverse events and, in fact, all adverse events were consistent with those reported during treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone. Even better, all patients in the study experienced rapid suppression of the virus, with a viral load below detection limits through the 12 week treatment period. They will be followed for 24 weeks after treatment, to monitor SVR.

Additional studies, involving PSI-938 alone and in combination with PSI-7977, are either underway or enrolling patients.

Bottom Line?

Hepatitis C, first identified in 1979, is a slow-developing virus that can attack the liver for decades before any symptoms appear. It is the most common blood-borne infection, and the leading cause of liver transplantation, in the United States. However, the actual number of Americans infected with the virus is unknown.

At the beginning of this post, I quoted numbers from one source. Another, citing a corrected estimate from 2005, indicates 5 million Americans have been infected and 3.9 million currently have chronic HCV. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posted similar numbers in 2008: "3.2 million persons in the United States have chronic HCV infection. Infection is most prevalent among those born during 1945–1965, the majority of whom were likely infected during the 1970s and 1980s when rates were highest."

Looking at those dates, one would think that new cases would be few and far between. However, the facts tell a different story. Due to the lack of symptoms and little routine testing, it can take decades for 'new' cases to be reported.

For those of us dealing with Hepatitis C, it's exciting to see the flurry of activity and the focus on finding a cure; especially for those suffering with, the difficult to treat, genotype 1.

What isn't mentioned, in all of these news releases about potential cures, is the incredible cost of medical care. Estimates put the annual cost for Americans with chronic Hep C at $9 billion; with a lifetime cost in the $360 billion range. The cost of liver transplantation alone is believed to be nearly $300 million per year.

With the current economy, it's not surprising that the State of Arizona (effective October 1, 2010) no longer covers liver transplants for patients with HCV. I don't know how many other states have followed suit. But, the bottom line is pretty obvious.

Patients with chronic Hepatitis C are rapidly running out of options. We need a cure.

1. Protease Inhibitor: " A compound that interferes with the ability of certain enzymes to break down proteins. Some protease inhibitors can keep a virus from making copies of itself (for example, AIDS virus protease inhibitors), and some can prevent cancer cells from spreading."
2. Compensated Liver Disease: A diseased "liver that can still perform many of its important functions. Individuals with compensated cirrhosis may be symptom-free and complication-free; however, this stage of illness can progress in severity very fast."
3. Nucleotide Analogs: "Compounds that look like the nucleotides in DNA; they are used as antiviral compounds because the nucleic acids assembled with these analogs fall apart. Therefore, the viral genome cannot be copied and the infection cycle is broken."

However, it is really easy to tell the difference in the two: just leave a receipt (one you don't need for warranty or return purposes - this is important), on the front seat of your car, in the Arizona summer sun. That little gray rectangle? Your thermal receipt.

Yes, you can do the same thing (very carefully) with a cigarette lighter. But that's not nearly as random (and budget-altering) as accidentally ensuring that those really (really) expensive jeans that really (really) didn't fit, are now yours for life.

But I digress.

What I didn't know, and wouldn't have believed, is that some of these little gems actually print in two colors. I figured that the machine applied heat to special, sensitive paper and characters appeared. More heat or less heat, makes darker or lighter letters and numbers.

All true. So, where does color, any color, fit into this equation? Seriously! Because, near as I can tell, these two-color printers don't use any different paper or supplies than the other thermals.

Color me ... confused.

I'm working from a reduce-the-stress starting point. There are a lot of travelers at the end of December. Being with family is something we're expected to do at this time of year. I say "Pffft!"

Stay with me here.

Being with family is great - any time of the year. Every time of the year, truth be told. So why not save a fortune and get together just a little after the holiday insanity?

Do yourself, your wallet, and your blood pressure a favor - plan a get-together for a time when the rest of the universe isn't trying to move everyone they know into the same zip code.

Back in my teens, my cousin developed multiple sclerosis. Over the years her condition worsened and improved, and worsened. One possible cause given, even back then, was her amalgam fillings.

Eventually, she went in and had her fillings replaced. Within a very short time, she was out of the wheelchair and walking unaided. Or so I heard through the family grapevine. I doubt that her story is unique.

There are plenty of sites screaming about the dangers of mercury fillings. The better ones link to studies on the subject. Although much of the information is rather old, it is compelling.

One study, published in 1998 in Alternative Medicine Review noted dramatic differences in cerebrospinal fluid, following removal of dental amalgam fillings. Most intriguing? "Mercury has been documented to accumulate in the very areas of the nervous system from which the most dramatic clinical symptoms of MS originate."

The researchers stated that this is not a cause-and-effect determination. Their results did not prove that metal fillings cause multiple sclerosis. However, they did suggest further research and the consideration that chronic low-grade mercury exposure may play a part in some patients' MS development.

I'm not certain what I think about this controversy. Although I did wonder about the makeup of the FDA's panel of outside experts. Are there members who depend, in any way, on the dental industry? Just how much of a personal stake do panelists have in the outcome of the amalgam decision?

I looked up the Dental Products Panel, but haven't checked employment histories for questionable relationships. It's entirely possible that dental product manufacturers contribute to the schools and departments where these panelists teach. Or that they have influences that aren't obvious to me.

Does that create a conflict of interest? Should we, as consumers, be concerned about the panel's rulings? Without a consumer representative (that I could see, anyway), who's looking out for us and our health?

Personally, I have a mouth full of fillings. There is little doubt that they are amalgam. I can't say that I suffer from any ill-effects; but I've also never had the mercury levels in my brain checked.

(How, exactly, does one do that - shy of an autopsy?)

After addressing meat, produce, dairy, and bakery items, we are left with the middle of the store. In so many ways, this is the risky part of the shopping trip. The items you'll find here tend to be the snacks, sodas, and pre-packaged processed stuff with a longer shelf-life than Styrofoam.

Frozen

Vegetables

Frozen vegetables are less processed than canned, meaning more nutrients and fewer preservatives. Like anything else, however, you need to read the labels carefully. We found several packages with added sugar and/or sodium.

Store brands are almost always the best deal. At our regular store, the 12 oz packages are almost always on sale for $0.88. We get two meals out of each package, putting the cost at about $0.22/serving.

Fries and Pizza

Non-name brand french fries are frequently half the cost of the big names, and potatoes are potatoes. The frozen pizza that costs $4.99 across the street is frequently $1.50-$2.00 cheaper at the grocery store. (If not, we don't get one.)

Ice Cream

Our store has a 'premium' ice cream that is about a third the cost and usually has better ingredients. Back before diabetes came to live with us, we bought the giant buckets of ice cream - about $4.00 for 3 gallons. And every bit as good as any other option.

Frankly, we don't buy much else in this section. But, what we do buy, we buy on sale.

Canned and Boxed

Side Dishes

These are convenience foods - open a box, add milk and fat, and poof! a side dish. Throw in a little protein and it's a complete meal. Store brands are affordable, but all of them are full of preservatives and sodium.

With a little time and effort, I promise - you can make your own equivalent for less. And you'll be cutting down on the sodium and chemicals in your diet. Leave these on the shelf.

Vegetables

We just don't buy canned veggies. They are heavily processed, have far less nutritional value, and just don't taste as good as the frozen version. Except for tomatoes and tomato products.

Instead of canned sauces and chili, we tend to buy the ingredients and make our own. It's more cost effective and we know what we're eating. Trust me, canned tomatoes or tomato paste aren't much different from brand to no-brand (with the exception of the really inexpensive generic, white labels). Don't pay more for the pretty label or big name.

Coffee and Tea

If you are into caffeine - as we are - this may be one area where compromise simply isn't possible. Cheaper no-name coffee and tea are rarely the same quality as name brands. They cost less because there is more filler (coffee) or poorer quality leaves (tea).

Our answer? Stock up when our favorites are on sale.

Paper, Plastic, and Cleaning Supplies

Paper

In a nutshell, we buy 4-packs of Kroger-brand toilet paper. It's similar to Scott-brand, but about 1/3 the price. And it lasts forever, compared to the cushy soft kinds. Generic paper napkins are usually good for daily use.

Plastic

The same with storage and trash bags. Most of the store brands are fine. Just don't necessarily buy the cheapest, and check the mils (thickness) on the trash bags.

Cleaning Supplies

For liquid dish soap (we don't have a dishwasher), this is a case where the store versions tend to not work as well. They seem to be watered down, so you end up using much more and erase any possible savings. It's easy to get a mid-range option - such as Ajax - on sale and stock up.

With laundry products, less is more. "Everyday Cheapskate" has a great recipe for laundry detergent that saves a fortune. And, instead of fabric softener, one-half to one cup of vinegar in the final rinse helps soften without perfumes. Hard water? Add one-half cup non-iodized salt to the wash water and get rid of the dinginess.

For other cleaning situations, I suggest "Pioneer Thinking" Cleaning Solutions section and - again - "Everyday Cheapskate" columns. There are recipes and tips, enabling anyone to avoid paying high prices by making their own supplies.

Bottom Line

No matter what you need, there is a cheaper way to get it. P&G eSaver Coupons are one of my favorites. They load right onto your store shopping card; no clipping or schlepping or forgetting. Most are good for about 90 days, so if you're waiting for a sale - the coupons will be there when you need them. And they come right to your email inbox.

Several columns and blogs are dedicated to helping you save time and money. One I just discovered is Deal Seeking Mom. If you weren't aware, a lot of people offer coupons on eBay. (Learned that one from DSM.)

Finally, don't buy what you won't use. A great deal isn't, if it's something that will just take up space and gather dust.

Why, when it was determined that the Fort Washington plant had quality control lapses, unsanitary conditions, and manufacturing 'insufficiencies' did they not immediately recall any and all products that had been made there? Seriously.

For months, J&J has been pulling products - a few here and a few there (sometimes a ton here and there) - from the market. Adult medications and children's medications; cold meds and antacids. The one constant - they all came from the same place.

Investigations continue and it is entirely possible (probable?) that new recalls will occur. "[I]t could discover lapses in its earlier processes that could warrant new product recalls, J&J cautioned." Wouldn't a complete if-it-came-from-Fort-Washington-yank-it have actually done less damage to their credibility?

Maybe. But now that we're getting contact lenses - not from Pennsylvania - that were improperly processed, I have to wonder if everything from Johnson & Johnson isn't a risk. (Especially if one lives in Asia or Europe.) After all, "[t]he company is already under criminal and congressional investigation in the United States..."

If that weren't bad enough, recent notices are not being posted publically. The justification being that consumers don't need to take action. It's sufficient that wholesalers and retailers stop shipping or pull products from their shelves.

Really? This fulfills your "claims to be striving for greater transparency?" For protecting consumers?

I have been reading (voraciously) a great column on creators.com that offers ideas for living below your means. Among other things, this is a lifestyle of paying off debt, using cash not credit, and getting the Best Buy possible - on everything.

This is not learning to live without, but learning to choose wisely. About giving up bad financial habits and, to borrow an overused phrase, thinking outside the box.

Credit: acobox.com

I have always believed you should never pay full price, never buy retail, when there are so many other options. Why do you think Black Friday is such a huge shopping day? Everyone loves a great deal.

Who wants to pay $400.00 for a desktop CPU when it's available for $190.00 - with free shipping? Not me. And, certainly, not you. Right?

What about 3 sets of iPhone earphones for, not $30.00, but less than $7.00? You've now got stocking stuffers for three iPhone users for just over $2.00 each. Brilliant!

Other holiday shopping tricks? Start picking things up as early as possible. You can take advantage of sales, spend a little here and a little there, and avoid paying full price in a panic to get something under (or on) the tree.

Set a budget and stick to it. Look at how much money you can afford to spend - realistically afford. Put aside for food, gifts, and decorations. When the money is gone, you're done. Period. No credit cards allowed.

I can't say it enough: Shop early -- and shop smart! Your bank account will thank you. And you might just find that your stress level is much, much lower this year.

Origins of Haiti Cholera

Before the recent outbreak, the CDC indicated cholera was unlikely to occur in Haiti because there was no cholera bacteria there. That bears repeating - No Cholera Bacteria in Haiti. In addition, most relief workers were from places where cholera was not a threat.

Over 3 days (October 9, 12, and 16), new troops deployed to a U.N. peacekeepers base, rumored to have an incredible stench and waste leaking into the nearby waterway. On October 20, Haiti radio announced that 19 people - living at the mouth of the Artibonite River - had died. Within 24 hours, cholera was confirmed as the cause of death.

That U.N. base? It's manned by troops from Nepal, where cholera outbreaks (yup, more than one) happened over the summer. And where 75% of the population, though contagious, show no symptoms of cholera.

That smell? The septic system:

"... when the AP visited on Oct. 27, a tank was clearly overflowing. The back of the base smelled like a toilet had exploded. Reeking, dark liquid flowed out of a broken pipe, toward the river, from next to what the soldiers said were latrines. U.N. military police were taking samples in clear jars with sky-blue U.N. lids, clearly horrified.

"At the shovel-dug waste pits across the street sat yellow-brown pools of feces where ducks and pigs swam in the overflow. The path to the river ran straight downhill."

The investigation continues.

Lead and Cadmium in Novelty Glasses

Once again, novelty glasses have been found to contain unsafe levels of lead and/or cadmium. Imported from China and sold at the Warner Brothers Studio store, one set of glasses were found to have a lead content of 16 to 30.2 percent. Designated as collectibles for adults (by the importer), therein lies the controversy.

Lead is not regulated in products for adults. The health risk is for children whose developing nervous systems are endangered by exposure to lead. However, these glasses are sold next to kids' t-shirts by Warner Brothers and touted as "a perfect way to serve cold drinks to your children or guests" by another online retailer.

Over at Coca-Cola, a set of novelty glasses that were designed to look like the manufacturer's soft drink cans have come under fire. The all-red Coke glasses leached cadmium from external decorations during testing by the Associated Press. Unlike lead, which is only regulated in products for children, cadmium exposure harms adults and children equally and is strictly limited in products, as well as the workplace.

Both companies have agreed to recall these new glasses.

Kids' ER Visits Down

It's been three years since the voluntary recall of cough and cold medications marketed to kids two and younger. Two years since withdrawal of the same medications for children aged four and under. Since then, the incidence of emergency room treatment for overdose and adverse reactions, in children under 2, has been cut in half; 2,790 before withdrawal compared to 1,248 after.

However, 75% of those treated were not given medication by parents. They 'got into it' while unsupervised; the same percentage of 'self-medication' seen pre-recall. Researchers say it is also possible that adverse events remained high because parents were giving their youngsters adult medications, as the versions for children are no longer available.

Please remember, mom and dad - 1.) Kids under 4 do not benefit from cough and cold medications; they do, however, suffer serious reactions. 2.) Don't give more than an age-appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever relief; and only for a high fever. 3.) Use a bulb syringe to remove mucus, saline nose drops to keep breathing passages open, and a vaporizer for congestion. 4.) Don't spare the fluids.

Never give adult medications - in any amount - to a child. Children do not process medications in the same way that adults process them; a sedative can make them 'hyper' and a stimulant, lethargic. Do not give aspirin or products containing aspirin to anyone under the age of 19, due to the risk of developing Reyes Syndrome.

Children of Divorce and Stroke Risk

These results were presented, today, at the 63rd Annual GSA Scientific Meeting.

Researchers reviewed information compiled in a 2005 survey performed by Statistics Canada. Data collected from 13,134 respondents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, looked at how many were children of divorce and how many had experienced a stroke. Just over 10% had divorced parents and almost 2.0% had experienced a stroke, at some point in their lives. This, according to reports, indicates a 2.2 times greater risk of stroke for children of divorce.

My concerns: 1.) Stroke statistics were not included (in any story I could find) for participants whose parents were not divorced. 2.) These 'children' experienced their parents' divorce more than 50 years ago, when divorces were more rare, the shame was much greater, and trauma (perhaps) more severe. 3.) The findings have not been peer-reviewed or published.

No, children do not want their parents to get divorced - ever. It is a stressful situation for everyone. But it is not the same. Society does not shun the divorced; children are not tormented because they come from a 'broken' home.

There is no reason to believe that children of divorce in 2010 will be forever scarred and permanently stressed by the change in their family dynamic. At least, for those children, I certainly hope they aren't.

Groceries

With all due respect to the SSDCoLA fairy, things are more expensive this year. And - are you listening, fairy? - food is a valid part of the cost of living. As in, no food - no living.

Crankiness aside, there are ways to live within one's means and not starve. My first suggestion - don't hate me - is a small, separate freezer. (Unless you have a huge freezer section in your fridge; and I mean huge.) That way, as sales and cash flow permit, you can stock up on specials.

Meats

We don't - under any circumstances - pay full asking price for anything down the meat aisle. Some months we eat a lot of chicken; some months pork. Occasionally, we get a deal on beef.

Our store, a local Kroger affiliate, has a lovely section with 'Manager's Special' bargains. As you might expect, these are (undoubtedly) a day or so past the sell-by date. They are also perfectly edible and cost one-third, or less, of the original price.

The only caveat being they need to be cooked right away or immediately frozen. (They will not last long in the fridge. Period.) Would I still buy them if my budget were a little more ... flexible? Absolutely. Wasting money is wasting money, no matter how much is sitting in the bank.

A guideline for whether the price is 'acceptable'? The closer you can get to $1.00 per serving (not per pound), the better. If I can buy 4 boneless, lean, center-cut loin chops for about $4.00, I'm happy. (See 'Manager's Special'.) In today's economy, 4 of the same for $8.00 is probably still a good deal; but I don't have to like it.

Produce

This is a little trickier, but still doable.

First, buy in season. Yes, you can get melons in the dead of winter and apples in February. But they were shipped in from outside your area and will cost you dearly.

Second, use that freezer. Most everything (lettuce, watermelon, citrus, and cucumbers excluded) will freeze beautifully, if you do it right. Personally, I am of the opinion that if you can buy it frozen at the store - you can freeze it yourself. (But then I've made my own preserves, baked my own bread, and dabbled in dill pickles. I could be biassed.) Another caveat : frozen carrot or celery sticks will probably not be snackable when thawed.

Lastly, you would not believe how long those (aforementioned) celery and carrot sticks will last in the refrigerator - with proper care. We immediately wash our carrots and celery, then cut into three-inch pieces. Those pieces are then put into inexpensive zippered bags and - this is really important - sealed airtight. Squeeze - all - the - air - out. We've had them last, beautifully, for weeks and weeks.

Oh, and the carrots? Another option is cleaning, cutting, and putting them (covered with water) into a small plastic container with a tight-sealing lid. If the kids get into the carrot sticks a lot (good for you and them, by the way) this eliminates the worry over resealing the bag.

Dairy

Nothing in this category is (to my understanding) freezable. However:

Low-fat milk is often cheaper than whole milk. It also has fewer calories and is lower in sodium, without giving up calcium. Where we shop, milk is milk. (In my youth, I drank milk straight from the cow - my uncle loved to 'shoot' calcium at us! So, I'm not fond of low-fat. And, since I rarely drink milk, I'm not worried about the calories and sodium.)

Cottage cheese and sour cream are - as far as I've noticed - the same quality, regardless of the name on the label. Although I did notice yesterday that the low-fat had more carbs than the regular. (Guess which one we took home.)

Yogurt, from our experience, is often better in generic or store-brands. The added sugar in so many name-brands is positively ridiculous. Our store carries a 'CarbMaster' version that has only 3gms of sugar/carbs. And - most importantly - tastes great, lower price, still has real fruit.

Eggs - ooh, fun stuff. (First, how is something that has nothing to do with milk considered dairy? {sigh}) You really can't freeze 'em. So, if there's a great deal (I just got 2 18-packs for $3.00), how do you make sure you're not poisoning your family by the time you eat all of them? Easy. Rumor has it they are good in the fridge for 4-5 weeks. If there's any doubt, get a bowl of cold water and gently drop in an egg. The more it floats, the older it is. (If it's doing the backstroke across the bowl - capture on video for YouTube, then RUN!)

Cheese is my favorite dairy product. So many varieties, so little time. (Never pay full price, by the way.) Like our carrot and celery sticks, air is the mortal enemy. Once you see a spec of mold on the outside, it's already taken over. Cost-wise? It's all trial and error. Some store brands are just as good as name brands; some are - supremely - worse. (Our store-brands are comparable at less than half the price and much less salty.)

Bakery

We don't buy much in the bakery aisle. Mark just can't (as much as he wants them) have the carbs.

Nonetheless - Egads! I can buy a loaf of wheat bread at the corner store for $2.59, or I can buy a loaf of wheat bread at my grocery store for $0.88. The same with hot dog and hamburger buns. The carb and fiber numbers are pretty much the same. Often the sodium is lower in the generic/store brands. So, hmmm, let's see. One loaf for $2.59 or 3 loaves for (just a bit more than) the same price?

Ideally? I'll go back to baking my own bread, rolls, and (shhh, don't tell) doughnuts. It's cheaper and I know what I'm eating.

Everything Else

This is huge - literally the rest of the store - so, I think we should dedicate an entire post to the rest of the shopping trip. Agreed?

From where I sit, it all comes down to rights. And realistic expectations.

Authors

An author has every right to throw words on pages and pay to have them bound together in something resembling a book. That's what we like to call freedom of speech. Even if that speech is spurious and specious; claiming a value and honesty that doesn't stand up to closer inspection.

However, the expectation that anyone has the right to sell (or demand that others sell) those bound musings wherever and whenever they please is a different story. Especially, when one is musing about a subject that is, to put it mildly, polarizing. In other words, Christopher Hitchens or Edmund Cooper have every right to write what they choose; expecting a shelf at the local Christian book store is unrealistic.

Businesses

Amazon, or any business, has the legal right to choose what it will and will not offer for sale. "We reserve the right to refuse service ... " in action. That business also has a basic right to not support or give the appearance of supporting illegal activities. Or, they can throw up their hands and cry "We are not the morality police."

Businesses also know that they aren't going to please all of the people all of the time. If they take controversial positions or offer products that offend, they should expect people to complain or refuse to patronize their store. If they don't see that, they are deluding themselves.

Consumers

Then, there's the public. We, as consumers, have the right to purchase what we want, without prejudice or judgement. (I must add - within the limits of the law.) At the same time, we have the right to not be assaulted by personally objectionable material while trying to find a gift for our grandchild or spouse - from a mainstream business.

Therein lies the problem. What I consider objectionable may not coincide with my neighbor's opinion. And vice versa. To exaggerate, just a bit, that is how censorship begins - and, frequently, snowballs into out-of-control loss of basic rights. Expecting everyone to kowtow to my beliefs (or yours) is unrealistic.

Bottom Line

It is, to say the least, quite a balancing act.

Everyone has the right to live their life as they see fit, as long as they don't keep anyone else from exercising that exact same right. And as long as their lifestyle choices harm no one. No one has to eat broccoli, just because I like it; and you'll never get me to touch organ meat - never.

I can practice religious or atheistic beliefs; eat lots (and lots) of meat or nothing with a face; sing the praises of heavy metal or opera. I can be a technophile or a Luddite. Someone - I promise - will disagree with whatever position I take. Strongly and vocally, in all likelihood.

But, and this is where the balance tilts away from individual liberties, when a behavior or lifestyle or belief system (or personal choice) is, by its very nature, guaranteed to cause emotional or physical harm to another living being - it is not a protected freedom. No one has the right to rape another person or beat them or lock them in a basement for years on end. Or burn down their home or steal their car or intentionally cause them harm.

Nor, in my humble opinion, do they have the right to support or glorify such behavior. I would expect the same hue and cry over something titled "How to Beat Your Spouse, Discreetly" or "Arson For Fun and Profit: What To Do When the Neighbors Won't Move". But, hey that's just me: a non-religious, steak-loving, opera-neutral geek.

It couldn't be easier. Simply visit http://www.facebook.com/kmart or http://www.facebook.com/sears fan pages. Select the eGift Cards tab and follow the steps.

The beauty is this isn't just for Facebook friends. You can use this application to send a virtual gift card to anyone you know. All you need is their email address.

In denominations from $5.00 to $25.00, it sounds like a great idea to me. What about you?

From the news release and Dogwood Alliance:

Today, GP is stepping away from business-as-usual forestry practices, announcing boldly to the world its new policies to end purchasing wood from endangered forests and from any new plantations established at the expense of over 90 Million acres of natural hardwood forests. Going beyond words on a piece of paper, over the past 2 years, GP, working with Dogwood and NRDC has mapped 600,000 acres of endangered forests and special areas in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal eco-region.

“No other U.S. company has demonstrated this level of initiative in mapping unique forests across such a broad region,” said Debbie Hammel, NRDC Senior Resource Specialist. “Through this process, GP has proven that—by harnessing scientific advances and seeking conservation guidance—corporations can help protect unique places without sacrificing profitability.”

Personally, I find it ridiculous that any company (ahem ... International Paper? Are you listening?) would put whole eco-systems in danger when - as Georgia-Pacific is proving - environmental responsibility doesn't mean losing money. And the customers of IP are no better. If KFC and Yum! Brands (to name two) were to demand a change, maybe IP would man-up and do the right thing.

For me? I'm going to start voting with my wallet. Support Georgia-Pacific brands.

Whether they are all from the same manufacturer is anyone's guess. (They hide their registration information.) But the lists of ingredients, taken directly from each 'official' site, say a great deal:

Site Z

• 'Z' Ingredients:
  Purified Water, Organic Aloe Vera, (20%), Herbal Extract containing White Willow, Licorice Root, Calendula, Comfrey, Rosemary, Walnut Shell (exfoliant), MSM (Bio Available Sulfur), Redmond Clay, Vegetable Glycerin, Oat Flour, Jojoba Oil, Tea, Xanthan, Avocado Oil, Carbomer, Tea Tree Oil, GermAll Plus preservative, essential oils of Lavender and Bergamot, Hyaluronic Acid. Grapefruit seed extract, Idebenone, DMAE, Green Tea Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Silk Peptides, Glucosamine HCL, Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate), Camelia Oil, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Amaranth Oil, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Retinol Palmitate

Site P

• 'P' Ingredients:
  Purified Water, Organic Aloe Vera, (20%), Herbal Extract containing White Willow, Licorice Root, Calendula, Comfrey, Rosemary, Walnut Shell (exfoliant), MSM (Bio Available Sulfur), Redmond Clay, Vegetable Glycerin, Oat Flour, Jojoba Oil, Tea, Xanthan, Avocado Oil, Carbomer, Tea Tree Oil, GermAll Plus preservative, essential oils of Lavender and Bergamot, Hyaluronic Acid. Grapefruit seed extract, Idebenone, DMAE, Green Tea Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Silk Peptides, Glucosamine HCL, Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate), Camelia Oil, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Amaranth Oil, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Retinol Palmitate

Site A

• The full list of 'A' Ingredients:
  Purified Water, Organic Aloe Vera, (20%), Herbal Extract containing White Willow, Licorice Root, Calendula, Comfrey, Rosemary, Walnut Shell (exfoliant), MSM (Bio Available Sulfur), Redmond Clay, Vegetable Glycerin, Oat Flour, Jojoba Oil, Tea, Xanthan, Avocado Oil, Carbomer, Tea Tree Oil, GermAll Plus preservative, essential oils of Lavender and Bergamot, Hyaluronic Acid. Grapefruit seed extract, Idebenone, DMAE, Green Tea Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Silk Peptides, Glucosamine HCL, Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate), Camelia Oil, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Amaranth Oil, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Retinol Palmitate

The fact that these ingredient lists are - word for word, including odd punctuation - identical, leads one to believe that the products have to come from the same company. Which isn't necessarily illegal, just incredibly misleading. And, with no way to know exactly how much of what is in them, worthy of some skepticism.

Through a 'testimonial' site for Product 'P' (as well as a couple of complaint sites), I found company information: Experimental Nutrition Research (ENR), LLC 8345 Reseda Blvd Ste 204 Northridge, CA 91324-5951 818-885-8722. (Some sites place them, previously, in Los Angeles or North Carolina.) Product 'Z' shares this distributor / maker, according to comments on the complaint site. I cannot connect Product 'A' to ENR, but it's new and there don't seem to be any complaints. Yet.

Asbestos and the Navy

Not surprisingly, veterans (especially Navy vets) make up a large percentage of those with asbestos-related illnesses and cancers. A fire at sea is a frightening thing - death by fire or in the ocean. Therefore, due to its fire-resistant properties, virtually every part of a Navy vessel contained asbestos.

There literally was no safe place onboard. While some rooms were more heavily treated, asbestos was in the pipes and the pipes ran everywhere. Those who worked in shipyards and dry docks, repairing and refitting the ships, had the greatest exposure.

Asbestos Products

While lead in house paint was banned and is rarely an exposure risk in the 21st century, there is no way of knowing how many buildings still contain asbestos insulation. In addition, asbestos was frequently added to cement. That treated cement was used in thousands of public works projects and uncounted building structures.

For years, manufacturers added asbestos to thicken textured paints. Construction products, from wallboard to adhesives, benefitted from the improved strength and insulation. The variety of items to which this inexpensive mineral was added boggles the mind.

As does the fact that, to this day, there are consumer products that can - legally - contain traces of asbestos.

Prognosis

To my mind, as long as asbestos continues to be mined and allowed into even one product, consumers and workers will continue to develop asbestos-related illnesses. And lawsuits against irresponsible companies will keep lawyers in court.