I commented on a post in The Redhead Riter forum on Blog Frog. And then was alerted - thank you, Carol - that the comments weren't working anymore.

As you can imagine, I went insane trying to get things fixed. Unfortunately, I didn't have any idea why Disqus stopped working or what to do to fix it. So, I went social and to the source, more or less. That's when I got educated.

At the same time, or possibly because of my posts, a wonderful person (MHazell) showed up in comments on my second, never-used blog. He was offering a Disqus tip and, being a little over the edge, I unloaded on him. He cheerfully offered to help.

At the same time, Ryan at Disqus was digging into the problem from his end. Between the two of them, we got it fixed - mainly because Ryan pointed out that I had JavaScript on my pages that was breaking the Disqus code.

Given the fact that I hadn't added much new to the basic pages, it wasn't too difficult to diagnose the problem.

But, that wasn't my education.

What I learned is that some companies/software really care about their users. And some of their users really care about each other. And, what started the whole thing, some people make sure that, when they see a problem, they let someone know.

So, thank you Carol, and MHazell, and Ryan.

What is a Sneeze Page?

To answer that question, I went searching and landed on the site for a previous year's challenge.

Sneeze pages are simply collections of related posts from back in the archives of a blog. They can be themed: all Health-related posts, or Holiday, or Crafts, or Political News; whatever theme or themes are relative to a blog. 'Best of' a particular year or month is another choice - although how you determine which posts were best is up to you.

Another idea would be collecting and sharing links to your posts that get tons and tons of comments - the most popular / hottest posts on your blog. If they've been getting attention long after the initial publishing date, they're probably still interesting to readers. And it's a good way to keep people on your blog.

Lastly, if you write a series - like the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge - putting links to the entire series on one blog page would virtually guarantee reader attention. For me, I'm much more likely to read all of a series if I don't have to go chasing all over someone's blog to find the pieces. How about you?

My Topic Cloud

On my blog, because I like doing things the easy way, I use a topic cloud. It lists all of the topics about which I blog. The larger the type-face, the more posts on that subject. Once the cloud is set up, I don't have to do anything but post; the topics automatically update for me.

I also don't seriously limit the number of entries on any of the pages. The main index, as well as the topic and monthly pages, holds 100 posts - covering at least 3 months, depending upon how chatty I am in any given month.

If you find, while you're visiting here, that you'd like to be able to see more, let me know. I'd be happy to see what I can do about updating links to deeper archives.

Typical symptoms are the same as for women:

• A lump or swelling in the chest area
• Dimpled or puckered skin
• A nipple that is inverted (facing inward)
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Discharge from the nipple

Both men and women can develop lumps in the breast that are non-cancerous. But it is incredibly important for anyone with changes in the tissue in and around the breast to seek medical advice. Only a medical professional can determine whether those changes are benign or something that need further attention.

If you are female, I hope that you perform monthly exams. It is your first line of defense.

If you are male, please realize that you are not immune to breast cancer. If you notice changes in your body, tell your doctor.

Breast cancer is treatable - the earlier it's caught, the better the hope for a full recovery.

In my youth, you had to be pretty good to get chains on your tires. It, generally, involved laying them out - just right - in front of your tires and hooking one side on to the rim of each tire. Then you had to pull slowly and carefully forward, allowing the chains to evenly wrap around each tire.

At that point, you got out and hooked the other edge to the rim. If you hadn't driven straight forward, the chains wouldn't be wrapped around the tire and you got to start over again. (My grandfather made it look as easy as pulling on a pair of galoshes.)

These days, tire chains are designed to be much easier to put on. There's even something called a tire sock. It isn't sufficient (or approved) for chains-required areas of many states. But, in the city - during sudden ice or snow storms - it will get you safely where you need to travel. Without damaging city streets.

Almost makes me miss those old winters - snow, and ice, and freezing ... Nah, don't miss it at all.

I am a huge fan of learning and I'm not overly picky about how. Over the years, I have taught myself to macrame and crochet by buying books and fumbling my way through until I was reasonably proficient. By picking the online-brains of those who know, I've managed to figure out (more or less) how to build a website and create a blog.

It's not, necessarily, the method that's important - it's the learning that counts.

More than the knowledge, however, recruiters and employers look for that piece of paper. Something from an institution, such as Walden University, as proof of learning; as evidence of competency. No recruiter is going to come knocking at my door with a job offer, but they do contact, and work with, colleges and universities to place graduates.

So, there are serious advantages to formal education. (Not to mention, a correspondence course in orthopedic surgery is just too scary to contemplate.) And I do contemplate the benefits, and costs, of going back to school; of getting my degree - frequently.

Being out of the workforce for as long as I have puts me at a serious disadvantage when it comes to marketable skills. But, as a primary stay-at-home caregiver, my time, travel, and financial options are severely limited. Just thinking about tuition expenses at, for example: WaldenU.edu, makes my palms sweat and my heart race.

Nonetheless, it is highly probable that within the next couple of years I'll be forced to find employment and support myself. I can do it with a rusty, outdated skillset. Or I can start investing in my future and see what educational options actually exist.

I'm hoping that the surprises will be pleasant ones.

Wildlife Protection

Hunting is illegal in Kenya. Period. Intending to stop big game hunters, the government's blanket law has been applied at all levels - including traditional tribes. In addition, Ol Kinyei (where the tribe and three lion prides coexist) has recently been set aside by a Maasai community as a wildlife sanctuary.

The Ol Kinyei Conservancy, part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, "covers an area of 8,500 acres in the Koyaki Lemek area of the greater Mara ecosystem." A 4-hour trip from Nairobi, it is a pristine wilderness that is home to plains, forests, streams and rivers, and a wide variety of animal species. It deserves to be protected.

Allowing man to slaughter its animals, in this time of ever-decreasing animal populations in the wild, should be aggressively discouraged. And yet ...

Source: BBC Earth

Lifestyle Protection

"In a time when stories about endangered wildlife regularly hit the headlines, few people seem to notice that incredible human cultures are being lost; ‘like swatting a mosquito – no-one seems to notice’." This is the threat to the Dorobo.

This Kenyan tribe has hunted, gathered, and scavenged on these plains for generations. When they were unable to make a kill to feed their families, they bravely (or foolishly) took from the lions. If the hunt was good, they left the excess for the lions.

Living in harmony with the lions, almost symbiotically, they know the Ol Kinyei and they share it, peacefully. But because other humans cannot share, cannot live in peace and harmony with nature, the Dorobo way of life is as threatened as that of the lions.

Choices

Hopefully, there are choices.

Jackson Looseyia, who runs a safari lodge in the Masaai [sic] Mara, has started employing Dorobo men to be spotters and trackers for his tourists. Jackson says, 'If the Dorobo way of life disappears, so too does their knowledge. The Dorobo can spot and name any distant bird or animal, identify any nearby track or noise, and tell the story of hunt through reading the tracks in the sand.'

Only time will tell if an entire culture must be sacrificed to save the animals of the Masai Mara.

* Actually, from what I've been able to determine, there is no specific 'Dorobo' tribe. The term Dorobo "referred to the original forest-dwelling hunters in the Rift Valley of what is now Kenya and Tanzania." Various unrelated groups are called by that name, possibly originating from the Maasai word Torobo which sounds very much like Dorobo and means 'poor people (who do not have cattle)'.

A parental poll, cited in the article, was specifically asking about Fragile X Syndrome. An incurable genetic condition, FXS is caused by a change in the FMR1 gene which makes a protein that is required for proper growth of the brain. The mutation makes the gene produce little, or none, of this protein.

Symptoms include delayed motor skills (crawling and/or walking), hand clapping or biting, hyperactivity, mental retardation, speech and/or language delay, and avoidance of eye contact. Only about 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 6,000 girls develop Fragile X Syndrome.

Yes

There are those who want to know; who want to be prepared for possibilities. All possibilities.

As rare as the syndrome is, parents feel the need to know.

No

Some parents don't believe in testing infants unnecessarily. Others believe, as one mother put it, "Knowing can cause anxiety. The chances of it happening are very small; don't know how it will unfold. Not knowing will not make you treat your child a certain way."

Me (and You?)

Personally, I don't think I'd want to know. Being a chronic worrier, I'd drive myself and my child crazy looking for signs and symptoms that probably weren't there. And, heaven forbid, my child should develop FXS - would knowing sooner have any positive effect?

What about you? Would you want your child tested? Why or why not?

Compelling Findings

According to this study, published May 4th, "... low-salt diets actually increase the risk of death from heart attack and stroke -- and in fact don't prevent high blood pressure." And this isn't the first research to point out the disparity between dietary dogma and cold, hard facts.

Back in 2006, a report published in the American Journal of Medicine  found that "Lower sodium {emphasis mine} has been associated with stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, that, in turn, has been associated with adverse [cardiovascular disease] and mortality outcomes. Sodium restriction may also influence insulin resistance."

Going back further, a 1998 article in Science , The (Political) Science of Salt, discusses the controversy. It mentions a Perspective: Biomedicine article which states: "Salt has little effect on blood pressure, and the most effective diet-induced changes in blood pressure can be achieved with a menu low in fat but high in calcium, fruits, and vegetables."

Salt and Fluid Balance

The body needs sodium. As Grist author, Kristin Wartman, explains:

Sodium is important for maintaining blood volume, it works in concert with potassium ... and ... calcium. ... [It] exists in all of the fluids in our body and is essential to water balance regulation, nerve stimulation, and proper function of the adrenal glands. It is also crucial to maintaining mental acuity ... This is part of the reason sodium deficiency (sunstroke, heat exhaustion) leads to confusion and lethargy as the human brain is extremely sensitive to changing sodium levels in the body.

Truth About Table Salt

Not to say that refined salt, the form that hits our french fries, is good for you. The article in Grist points out how salt is manufactured for the table. It's a tad scary.

In a nutshell, all trace elements are removed and the salt is heated to 1200° F. This leaves 100% sodium chloride, plus industrial additives like anticaking agents, dextrose, and aluminum. The additives turn the salt purple, so it's bleached to make it pretty and white.

Wouldn't call this a good food. (Unrefined sea salt is the best option.)

Bottom Line

I find all of this incredibly interesting. Early research indicated that salt was bad for blood pressure. That research stuck and, despite years of more accurate studies, those in charge of dietary recommendations refuse to change.

The potential correlation between sodium restriction and serious health issues is worth noting. As a society, we are suffering an increase in diabetes diagnoses that is nearly epidemic. Is this societal increase in insulin resistance a direct result of the push to limit salt intake? The timing is certainly intriguing.

Also interesting timing: milk and fresh fruits and vegetables are being priced right out of the diet of most American households. Yet, we put the blame for obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease on sodium and fast food.

But that's a fight for another day.

Source: Merriam-Webster

With that said, I have a serious bone to pick with the ads for a new movie: Gnomeo & Juliet . In English, the G in gnome is silent. Therefore, were it an actual word, Gnomeo   would be pronounced: [nō · mē · ōh].

Wait! Hold that "Well, duh!?" for a second.

Each time the commercial voiceovers mention this movie's title character, his name is pronounced with a hard G-sound: [Guh · nō · mē · ōh]. Even the animated gnomes have more sense.

Why does the ad matter?

If you are a parent, you understand how much children 'learn' from television. The bright colors and loud music grab their attention. Sheer repetition pounds those messages into their malleable brains.

You also know that your youngsters will, in short order, be begging to see: [Guh · nō · mē · ōh]. That it will take weeks to correct their speech, because Mom and Dad simply are not as riveting as dancing gnomes and happy music.

You'd think a Disney production would show a little more responsibility. Or maybe I'm just being persnickety again.

Current Treatment Options

The best options, currently, for patients with HCV are pegylated interferon and ribavirin – a shot and a pill. But the side effects are horrendous - Alopecia, Anemia, Anorexia, Cough, Depression, Erythema, Fatigue, Myalgia, Nausea, and Pruritus; bad enough that many patients are forced to stop treatment before realizing full benefits.

Why? Because treatment is not quick – minimum 24 weeks, up to 48 weeks (or more) for resistant genotypes. Can you imagine a weekly shot that you know will hurt like the devil, make you sick to your stomach and achy (at least) all over? That will exhaust you and cause a level of over-all itching that would make a saint scream?

Add in the rarer, but more serious: "angina, arrhythmias, autoimmune conditions, blindness from optic neuritis or retinal ischemia or thrombosis, bronchiolitis obliterans, bronchoconstriction, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, gout, hepatic dysfunction, injection site necrosis, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis, pericardial effusion, pneumonia or pneumonitis, psychosis, relapse of drug addiction, renal failure, sarcoidosis, suicide attempt, thyroid dysfunction, and urticaria."^[1] It becomes obvious – quite quickly – that anything which shortens the treatment period would be a god-send.

New Treatment Options

The new medications – the first released in 10 years, I must mention – work by, basically, starving HCV. They block a protein, protease, that the virus needs in order to reproduce.

Neither Incivek nor Victrelis are designed to replace current treatments; they are taken in conjunction with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The addition of these new drugs, is expected to shorten treatment periods and dramatically improve outcomes.

Unlike current treatment options, these new medications will be made available, not only to patients who have never been treated, but to patients who failed earlier treatments. This is huge as with interferon and ribavirin, once a patient fails to reach a "sustained viralogic response" - little or no measurable virus in the bloodstream - the treatment is considered a failure.

Rarely is a second course of treatment considered.

Bottom Line

There are millions of people in need of an effective treatment option.

Statistics: "About 170 million people around the world are infected with hepatitis C, some 3.2 million of them in the United States. The blood-borne disease can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, liver transplants and death."

Although a slow-growing, asymptomatic virus – it is possible to have HepC for decades without symptoms – eventually, HCV will begin to seriously damage the liver. And, due to this liver damage, cause all manner of related health issues. It is irreversible (without treatment) and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Thousands of patients have been putting off treatment, waiting and hoping for the release of these new medications. Having gone through the current standard treatment regimen with Mark, I can certainly understand why.

Here's hoping that a cure just hit the market.

1. ©Am Fam Physician. 2005 Aug 15;72(4):655-662.

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.)

But, at the risk of sounding like a PR agent, ARKive is more than a bunch of pretty pictures.

ARKive is an incredible resource, and an awareness program dedicated to "promoting the conservation of the world's threatened species, through the power of wildlife imagery." Over the years, they have worked with leading wildlife filmmakers and photographers, as well as conservation groups to find, save, and share images of the world's species.

Helical Gears

Gearboxes in cars have what are called helical gears . They provide a smoother, quieter ride and better accommodate the increased turning force (torque) of high-speed engines. But they generate more energy (thrust) along the gear axis and, due to their design, more friction.

This increased friction is why thrust bearings are needed. These bearings reduce the friction, increase lubrication between the gear teeth. (I think that's about the simplest way I can say it; hope it makes sense.)

There are a lot of other bearings and thrust bearings in an engine. The 'throw-out bearing' in a standard transmission comes to mind. But, my brain hurts; I think I'm going to have a lie-down until the gears stop spinning.

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.

Historians and theologians have, historically, assumed that all of the timelines in the Gospels were based on the same calendar. However, if (as this article explains) there are 2 calendars at play - things get a little clearer.

It also indicates, if I'm understanding the information, that (like Christmas) Easter could now have a fixed date - the first Sunday in April.

On the other hand, the crucifixion took place on the eve of Passover (Yom Shishi, that year) and the resurrection on the following Sunday (Yom Rishon) - making it logical (okay, stay with me) that Easter would be the second full day of Passover. Given the nature of the Hebrew calendar, Easter would frequently fall on a day other than Sunday.

Then, we have the Christian Church calendar, based on a formula from the Nicaean Council of 325AD. "In this system, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox," which corresponds to the timing of the first Easter.

I'm beginning to get a serious headache and regret having read that first article. Just tell me when we're dying eggs and donning our bonnets. K?

In 18th Century Germany, communities were built, literally and spiritually, around their churches. It is, therefore, not surprising that Bach began his career as a church organist. Or that he was dedicated to creating music for his church.

Married twice and the father of twenty, with scores of musical relatives and students in and out of his home, it seems that Bach still managed to lead a quiet, uncomplicated life.

It is that life, of music and faith, that is the focus of this little volume. Thousands of pieces, from motets to full masses to Passions, evincing a musical talent not seen before or since. A faith that started every composition asking for Jesus' help and ended by offering the glory only unto his God.

Frankly, I put this book down more than once. While I understand the need for historical perspective, it took several attempts to get through the first few pages. And, although my German is a bit rusty, some of the translations seemed off.

It's been a long time since this lapsed-Lutheran thought about the liturgy, hymns, and Sunday services. To be reminded that, more than 200 years after his death, I stood in a small Colorado church and sang Bach's music is ...

Well, perhaps it's the reason I chose this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Backers of the bill insist that in Arizona - and around the country - women are routinely aborting fetuses that are the wrong sex or color. In fact, they make it sound as though there is a virtual epidemic of such abortions. Procedures being forced on non-white pregnant women.

Apparently, minorities are statistically more likely to have an abortion - not because of poor healthcare, and sex education services - but because of massive discrimination and coercion by groups like Planned Parenthood. The proposition is that abortion clinics and providers are hunting down pregnant black and Hispanic women, like rabid dogs, and putting a metaphorical gun to their heads until they have an abortion.

Legislation like Arizona's is not new. And it's not limited to individual states.

There's H.R. 7016: Susan B. Anthony Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which:

Imposes criminal penalties for knowingly: (1) performing an abortion knowing that the abortion is sought based on the sex, gender, color or race of the child, or the race of a parent; (2) using force or the threat of force to intentionally injure or intimidate any person for the purpose of coercing a sex-selection or race-selection abortion; or (3) soliciting or accepting funds to finance a sex-selection abortion or a race-selection abortion.

Then, there's H.R. 1822: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2009, offering virtually the same language as H.R. 7016. With the noticeable addition that it [d]eems a violation of this act to be prohibited discrimination under title VI (Federally Assisted Programs) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Violators of title VI lose federal funding.)

Last year, Georgia legislators presented The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act. Again, the language is very, very similar to H.R. 7016 and H.R. 1822 - and based on the same misconceptions and propaganda. And may, in fact, create the very discrimination it claims to be fighting.

Personally, I find myself seeing both sides of the argument. Discrimination, in any form, is wrong. As is using race as a weapon to severely curtail - or outright eliminate - women's reproductive rights.

Growing up in the time before Roe v. Wade, I remember what it was like for women to have limited or no choices. Birth control fails. Women are sexually assaulted - by strangers, family members, and dates. Unplanned pregnancies happen.

If they happen more often in inner cities and poor or minority communities, is that the fault of health centers and clinics? If there are more Planned Parenthood offices in financially-repressed areas is that because PP is targeting minorities, or because they are attempting to bring options to people who may have nowhere else to turn?

There are a lot of opinions about abortion and birth control services - especially when it comes to rumors of eugenics and Margaret Sanger's work.

There's only one bottom line, for me: While I believe in the sanctity of life, I believe that the right of the mother to choose is also sacred. This whole fight is about not forcing a woman - any woman - to end her pregnancy.

Why is forcing her to continue the pregnancy any more fair?

I had heard that putting apples in a brown paper bag with unripe fruit would accelerate ripening. Yeah. Sure. Right. Well, ummm, perhaps I was wrong.

We noticed the bananas getting riper, so we moved the apples. 'Nanners' getting more yellow; put the apples in a brown paper bag. Still getting dark - moved the bag of apples.

It was, within recent memory, one of the oddest situations I'd ever witnessed. The closer we placed the apples to the bananas, the more the bananas ripened. While it may not work for all fruit, it certainly appears to work - in spades - with bananas.

Kinda fun, all in all.

What I found is something called Lampwork, a method where artists heated their glass over oil lamps - hence, Lampworking. It dates back to ancient Syria, but became most popular in 14th Century Italy, specifically Murano. Those beautiful French paperweights, with colored decorations inside and out, are Lampwork.

The beads, since this is what grabbed my curiosity, start out as molten clear glass wound around a coated steel piece called a mandrel. (The coating allows the bead, once finished, to be easily removed.) A variety of shapers, molds, and picks are used to roll, smooth, add details, and bore holes.

Most of the tools, it seems, are made of graphite; although molds can be wood or brass, and shapers are often steel. Graphite is important because of its structure: it quickly grabs and holds heat, so it doesn't shock the glass and cause cracking.

I think I was most surprised by the fact that not all colors of glass are compatible. According to an article I've been reading, because of chemistry and something called Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (COE), mixing (in very simple terms) soft glass and hard glass leads to problems.

Adding metals - silver or gold - gives interesting colors, but takes extra steps. Building colors on top of colors, then 'lapping' the ends shows all of the colored layers. Absolutely fascinating stuff.

Here I was, just hours ago, thinking about getting into beading and now  ooh, shiny!   I'm wondering where I can learn how to make glass beads. Unlike glass blowing, bead-making wouldn't take a furnace and tons of room.

All I need is to hit the lottery - and I'm good to go.

One of the last things that the doctor and I talked about was the priority of a renal diet, over a diabetic diet. So, given the 5,000 other options, I decided to focus on food.

Electrolytes

Just as with the liver, electrolyte imbalances seem to be indicative of renal problems. In hepatic conditions, sodium and potassium balances are critical. Apparently, with kidneys, it's a phosphorus and calcium disconnect that triggers red flags.

Source: bettercancersolutions.com

Phosphorus and Calcium

The body needs phosphorus to build and maintain bones and teeth, as well as nerve and muscle function. However, too much phosphorus keeps the body from absorbing calcium. When that happens, the body starts stealing calcium from bones to make up for it.

This leads to weak bones, as well as itchy skin, and bone and joint pain. Eating less peanut butter, cheese, nuts, and ice cream - foods high in phosphorus - is recommended. Non-cola drinks, sherbet, zucchini, broccoli, and non-dairy substitutes for milk products are preferred.

Calcium supplements may be required, with the addition of vitamin D to help maintain proper balance. Cutting out foods that are high in phosphorus may negate the need for calcium pills - something that your doctor should decide, after careful review of lab results.

Sodium and Potassium

Sodium is required by the body to manage fluid levels, regulate blood pressure, and control muscle contractions. Potassium keeps nerves and muscles working properly, especially the heart. Excess of both electrolytes are cleared through the kidneys.

When the kidneys aren't functioning properly, sodium levels may rise; leading to fluid retention in the hands, feet, and face, and an elevation in blood pressure. Excess potassium, found in greens, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, broccoli, and chocolate, can cause irregular heart rhythms.

It's fairly easy to control salt intake. Simply take away the shaker and carefully read food labels. Obvious items to avoid include bouillon, canned soups and vegetables, salty snacks, bacon, cold cuts, and boxed dinner or side dish mixes. Colas tend to be rather high in sodium, as well.

Proteins and Carbs

This is where diabetes and kidney disease crash - violently.

The body converts carbs, which are hiding everywhere, into sugars. Therefore, a diabetic diet counsels low carbs, more protein. Not too difficult, until you factor in kidney disease.

One of the waste products created when the liver processes proteins is urea, a substance that contains nitrogen and clears through urine. When kidneys don't function properly, excess urea and nitrogen build up in the system. This condition, called uremia, can cause itching, mental impairment, nausea, and fluid build-up in the lungs or around the heart.

(One source indicated a direct correlation between excess urea and muscle loss.)

Obviously, too much protein is detrimental for anyone with kidney disease; just as it is for those with liver disease. But the alternative - carbs - are a no-no for diabetics. As with everything else, a balance between proteins and carbs is critical.

Our Dilemma

With the exception of calcium and phosphorus, these dietary restrictions aren't all that new to us. When Mark was dying from end-stage liver disease, we doled out milligrams of sodium and grams of protein like a miser pinches pennies. It wasn't easy, but we learned and got pretty good at it.

These days, we've got to factor in diabetes. That means the foods he ate, in massive quantities, to make up for being denied proteins are now (pardon the pun) off the table.

Frankly, I'm not quite certain how we're going to put all of this information together (and it's only a small part of what we have to consider) to create a diet that will not aggravate Mark's liver and kidneys, or shoot his blood glucose through the roof.

But I'm working on it. Any and all advice is extremely welcome.

The story begins with the chaos surrounding the arrival of the Carpathia at Pier 54 in New York; the only ship to bring back survivors. What follows are the detailed histories of eight men who, had they lived, might never have been famous.

We learn about birthplaces and childhoods, homes and schools, families and fiancées; the choices that led each man to Southampton and an ill-fated cruise. The two brothers who booked the band, the villains of the piece (some would say), are included. As is what came after.

Amid memorials and monument-building, parents were dunned for unpaid alteration bills. One musician was labeled a deserter for failing to answer the call to fight in WWI - two years after his death.

Winding through all of their stories is the influence of the era in which they lived. A time much different from our own.

*****

I chose this book for the very simple reason that I knew little about the Titanic and nothing about her musicians. Filled with quotes, newspaper reports, and pictures, there is certainly no shortage of information. And being a nosy sort, I found the stories fascinating.

However, the errors were off-putting: August, instead of April in some dates; transposing names in a story about one musician's sisters. In an effort, I presume, to avoid sensationalizing a sensational situation, the presentation is often dry and choppy; cramming so much information into so few pages.

Still, I found the book enjoyable. I recommend finding a quiet spot with no distractions. It will require your full attention.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

How It Works

I'm not a transplant expert or a medical professional, but between what we've experienced and what's on the 'Net, here's a brief description of what happens. And where improvements could be made.

Getting Listed

When a patient has an illness affecting what they call a 'solid' organ, i.e., heart, liver, and/or kidneys, doctors monitor the progression of that illness. As symptoms worsen and treatments fail to resolve the condition, a determination is made that the only next step is organ transplantation. But, the patient isn't automatically put on a transplant list.

Tests are done to determine overall health, ability to survive the surgery, mental stability, stable support system, and lifestyle. The results of these examinations are reviewed by the transplant center's committees; people whose job it is to determine the best candidates for transplant. Patients meeting the strict criteria are then place on the region's transplant list.

Patients actively abusing alcohol and/or drugs, living on the street without support from family or friends, or whose cancer (as an example) has progressed to other organs are rarely considered good candidates. Their chances of long-term survival are generally poor.

Organ Allocation

There are 11 geographic regions in the OPTN system. Patients are listed and organs distributed within those regions. This is to guarantee the condition of the organs at the time of transplant^[1] and maximize patient survival.

It's a good plan. Unless the liver that will save your life is in Tennessee and you're in California. Then, it's a problem. (Steve Jobs resolved it by going from CA to TN to 'pick up' his new organ.)

As compatible livers become available in a region, they are offered to those who, based on strict objective criteria, are a) most in need of transplant, b) healthy enough to survive the surgery, and c) least likely to reject the organ.

Crossing Regions

There's no law, that I could find, stating a patient can't be on more than one waiting list. In fact, a patient in New York was recently advised to try getting listed in Ohio, where the wait isn't as long for a new liver. Nice, if you've got the time -- and the money.

When you are on a transplant list, you have to be able to get to wherever that organ becomes available. And get there really, really quick. If you've ever tried to book a last minute flight, you know that that ain't cheap and it ain't easy.

This is why most transplant centers require patients to move to their region and/or center for the weeks and months prior to transplant. Again, not cheap or easy.

Moving Organs

There has been some talk among transplant experts about offering organs to the sickest patients regionally, then nationally. Currently, if the patient at the top of a region's list isn't a good match, the available organ is offered to a less sick patient in the same region.

Naturally, given the limitations on storing organs^[1], if no regional match was found there would have to be a strict limit on how far away the next recipient could be. To this end, some experts have suggested creation of larger super regions, allowing more patients access to the limited number of available hearts, livers, and lungs.

Organ Donation

From 2000 through 2009, (if I'm reading the graphs correctly) 20,000-35,000 new kidney patients were put on organ waiting lists - each year; 10,000-12,000 liver patients were added yearly. For those same years, on average, 5% of kidney patients and 8% of liver patients on those lists died waiting.

As of this moment, there are more than 100,000 people in the United States waiting for a heart, lung, kidney, or other organ. Over 70,000 of them are well enough - right now, today - to have that surgery. All they need is a donor.

Next month, April, is National Donate Life Month, so I'm a little early. Nonetheless, one huge step that can be taken right now - it doesn't require a consensus, quorum, or majority vote - is for each of us to become an organ donor.

1. OPTN states that hearts and lungs need to be transplanted within 6 hours, while livers can be preserved for up to 24 hours.
   An article in eMedicine on Organ Preservation methods states that the liver and pancreas can be reliably stored for 12-18 hours, kidneys for 36-48 hours, heart transplant should occur within 4 hours of organ removal, and lung transplant, ideally, within 6 hours.

Perhaps we should begin with a few definitions. Just what drugs are antipsychotics and what are the problems?

Antipsychotics

There are, primarily, two 'generations' of antipsychotics: typical (older) and atypical (newer).

Typical or First-Generation

Typical antipsychotics, discovered in the 1950s, weren't considered or called typical until after the development and clinical use of the newer medications. They work by keeping dopamine from attaching to receptors; by keeping dopamine levels down. The problem with this first generation was the almost certainty of extrapyramidal symptoms^[1].

Part of this group, Compazine (prochlorperazine) is a potent antipsychotic, but is only used as a short-term treatment for nausea and vertigo.

Atypical or Second-Generation

These drugs were developed in the 1990s, with the hopes that they would cause fewer extrapyramidal side effects^[1]. They also work by blocking dopamine, but in different ways - not only from typical antipsychotics, but from each other.

Also atypical, but developed more recently: Abilify (aripiprazole) and Saphris (asenapine). Symbyax, a combination of Prozac and Zyprexa (fluoxetine and olanzapine), is also included in this group.

FDA Drug Label Changes

Evidence

Based on a review of adverse events reports, the FDA has concluded that when mothers were treated in the third trimester with any antipsychotic, there was a risk of extrapyramidal signs^[1] and/or withdrawal in their infants.

Symptoms included tremors, agitation, feeding disorders, drowsiness, abnormal changes in muscle tension, and respiratory distress. For many newborns, these effects subsided quickly; others required longer hospitalization.

Actions

Convinced that the risks apply to all antipsychotics, the FDA has modified the Pregnancy section of the labels for every drug in this class and notified healthcare professionals.

The new label offers more detailed information for psychiatrists, OB/GYNs, and their patients. It explains specific symptoms and that onset may be immediate or delayed. It reminds patients to not stop taking medications without consulting their physician and reminds physicians to closely monitor newborns.

1. Extrapyramidal signs/side effects include sustained muscle contractions, causing muscle twisting and repetitive movements (dystonias); inability to sit still (akathisia); muscle rigidity and tremor (pseudoparkinsonism); involuntary repetitive movements, primarily of the mouth and face (tardive dyskinesia).
2. About.com: Typical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications
3. About.com: Atypical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications

I was going to say that I don't understand these attacks, and I guess deep down I don't. The money invested now will only save billions in the future. Funding for NIH and CDC is not a frivolous use of taxpayers' dollars. The risk is great, if this funding is cut off.

If the proposed $1.6 billion in cuts to NIH and $1.75 billion in cuts to CDC are enacted:

- Research studies funded through the NIDDK, which are essential to move us closer to a cure and better treatments for diabetes, will be jeopardized.

- DDT's ability to help people avoid diabetes and its devastating complications would severely be reduced. This would lead to more hospitalizations and more emergency room visits, which will add to the already high cost of diabetes.

- The DDT's effort to prevent diabetes through the proven community-based National Diabetes Prevention Program will not move forward. Studies have shown this program could save $190 billion over ten years.

I guess if you're a member of the House, with all the benefits therein, you don't worry about healthcare for yourself. And, apparently, if you're a Republican you don't worry about healthcare for your constituents.

Just recently, I heard Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro speak before a congressional committee. I sat in my chair and applauded as she pointed out the disparity between healthcare coverage available to the public and healthcare coverage available to the members of Congress. Hand-in-glove with that disparity are the proposed cuts to medical research and disease prevention across so many areas.

Diabetes is just one condition that needs support, research, and a cure. Don't let the House take that away.

The site that started this didn't really have any original information. They'd copied, verbatim and without attribution, from several sources: WebMD and Amazon.com, for two. Plagarism notwithstanding, there don't seem to be many issues with acetyl L-carnitine (ALC), and some interesting potential benefits.

What It Is

ALC is an altered (acetylated) form of L-carnitine, a form of an amino acid (lysine) that helps the body make energy. It is naturally produced in the body and, although found in both plants and animals, more concentrated in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy - animal sources. In typical metabolic fashion, the body converts L-carnitine to acetyl L-carnitine, and ... wait for it ... acetyl L-carnitine to L-carnitine.

What It Does

This converted form of L-carnitine helps fatty acids enter skeletal and cardiac muscle cells to produce energy. It also helps move other compounds out of those cells to prevent accumulation. Crossing the blood-brain barrier, ALC has been shown to act as an antioxidant on brain tissue. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, acetyl L-carnitine has the ability to widen blood vessels (vasodilation) and improve blood flow.

What It Means

One study found that, because it acts on skeletal muscle cells, "the major tissue of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal^[1]," ALC may improve insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetics. Increased oxidant production and reduced L-carnitine levels are believed to contribute to negative symptoms of aging, making supplementation with ALC a potential treatment^[2].

Additionally, due to its vasodilation properties, acetyl L-carnitine may benefit patients with conditions or risk factors related to restricted blood flow^[2], such as:

• Angina
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Peripheral Artery Disease
• Diabetic Neuropathy

Caveats

Most of these studies and the information available are based on research with animals. Research on the effectiveness of acetyl L-carnitine supplementation in humans is limited and the results tend to be mixed. In addition, oral ALC supplements were often less effective than intra-venous injections^[2].

Lastly, due to the impact on blood vessels, ALC has known interactions with clotting medications, such as Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) and Warfarin (Coumadin). This could lead to excessive delays in clotting and an increased risk of bruising and bleeding^[3].

1. Acetyl-l-carnitine inhibits TNF-a-induced insulin resistance via AMPK pathway in rat skeletal muscle cells
   FEBS Letters, Volume 583, Issue 2, Pages 470-474
   Zhaofeng. Zhang, Ming. Zhao, Qiong. Li, Haifeng. Zhao, Junbo. Wang, Yong. Li
2. Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: L-Carnitine
3. WebMD: Acetyl-L-Carnitine

I will let the petition, and an esteemed senator from Arizona, speak for themselves.

In brief:

Dear [Decision Maker],

I am horrified and disappointed in the recent GOP attempts to restrict access to abortion by redefining the definitions of rape and incest. I urge you to protect the definitions and the women who suffer from these horrible acts and vote NO on the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act."

And in ignorance:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the use of federal funds to finance abortions. I appreciate hearing your concerns on this important issue...

... Over the past several months, it has become increasingly evident that the healthcare reform legislation included the most expansive, pro-abortion agenda ever put forward in law. For this reason, I recently cosponsored S. 3723, the Excluding Abortion Coverage from Health Care Reform Act of 2010, which will clearly and effectively guarantee that taxpayer dollars cannot be used to fund elective abortions.

In response, to the response, I plan to express my opinion - again:

I recently signed a petition on Care2, which you received.

The petition expressed my disgust with the Republican party and their attempts to redefine rape and incest, in order to further restrict women's reproductive rights.

I am contacting you to express additional disgust with the response that I received from your office: I did not, do not, and will not support any political agenda that attempts to legislate what I can and cannot do with my body.

Frankly, I am appalled at your (and your party's) attempts to turn back the clock to the dark ages when a woman's life had less value than the land and livestock her husband (also) owned.

I will soon be taking up a collection - for bail money. Feel free to give heavily. {grins - for now}

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.

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.

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.

Chemistry

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)

Despite headlines calling MDPV 'synthetic cocaine,' it is an analog^[2] of pyrovalerone - a drug developed in the late 1960s to treat chronic fatigue and as an appetite suppressant. According to the DEA Office of Diversion Control, "MDPV is structurally related to cathinone, an active alkaloid found in the khat plant."

With a chemical structure more like MDMA (Ecstasy) than cocaine, it reportedly acts in a manner similar to Ritalin or Concerta (methylphenidate), and Wellbutrin (buproprion) - only much, much stronger. The high is more like that from cocaine - more 'selfish,' less 'social' - which may account for the comparison.

Mephedrone

From what I've read, mephedrone is also derived from (or chemically similar to)^[3] cathinone compounds found in Catha edulis (khat), a flowering plant of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. First synthesized in the late 1920s, mephedrone was virtually unknown until its rediscovery in 2003. By 2007, it was available on the Internet; in 2008, Israel was the first country to make it illegal. (The EU ruled it illegal across Europe in December, 2010.)

Belonging to the amphetamine and cathinone drug classes, mephedrone is reported to have a high more like MDMA (Ecstasy) (I love everyone!) than cocaine (Everyone should love me!). However, users also report a strong desire to take more before they completely come down, which seems more like the reports on cocaine.

Side Effects

Neither drug has been extensively studied, so the accounts of side effects are mostly from users.

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)

Once again, from the DEA Office of Diversion Control:

The acute side effects of MDPV include tachycardia, hypertension, vasoconstriction, and sweating.  The duration of the subjective effects is about 3 to 4 hours and the side effects continuing a total of 6 to 8 hours after administration.  Higher doses of MDPV have caused intense, prolonged panic attacks in stimulant-intolerant users.  Users have reported bouts of psychosis induced by sleep deprivation and becoming addicted after using higher doses or using at more frequent dosing intervals.

Mephedrone

Medical News Today reports:

According to a survey by Mixmag, a dancing and clubbing magazine:

• 67% of users experienced hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
• 51% of users experienced headaches
• 43% of users experienced heart palpitations
• 27% of users experienced nausea
• 15% of users had blue or cold fingers

Non-survey (anecdotal) reports indicate mephedrone may have the following effects on some users:

• Severe panic attacks
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia

The comments section of this article adds more rather frightening, first-hand stories of mephedrone side effects and withdrawal.

Given the similarities between these two drugs, one can only imagine the potential dangers of combining them.

United States

Neither MDPV nor mephedrone are approved for medical use in the United States. Official information on users of either drug in the United States is virtually non-existent.

Sources

Officials know, based on Internet company locations, that some of these 'bath salts' are entering the United States from Europe. In an article about mephedrone last year, Guardian News and Media, quoting Druglink magazine, noted that "[d]ealers in Britain are spending £2,500 to ship one kilogram from China, then sell it at £10 a gram for a profit of £7,500." (This was before EU laws changed.)

A quick search shows that mephedrone 'research chemicals' can be purchased online from sources in Latvia, Cameroon, the US, the UK, and Malaysia. MDPV can be ordered from the same companies, as well as ones in China, Hungary, Germany, and Spain.

Illicit Distribution

While not yet illegal in the United States, state and local law enforcement in several states report encounters with MDPV. There were 75 reports from January to September, 2010; 2 in 2009. Information from the DEA on mephedrone simply mentions Internet sales and promotions.

Twenty-five states report interaction with individuals who have used 'bath salts.' Louisiana leads the nation, with almost 50% of all encounters. As a result, they have outlawed these products, rapidly reducing calls and sending shoppers across state lines. A northern Mississippi county responded to 30 calls in only two months, possibly due to an increase in cross-state traffic.

More than one state is considering following Louisiana's lead and enacting bans.

Control Status

Because they aren't marketed for human consumption, neither mephedrone nor MDPV appear on a U.S. drug schedule. However, as they are considered analog(ue)s of Schedule I drugs, a provision of the Controlled Substance Act (Title 21 United States Code 813) would allow prosecution of cases involving one or both of the substances.

Outlook

People are dying from shooting, sniffing, and smoking this stuff. Manufacturers and sellers get around laws in the United States by labeling their products "not for human consumption," though there's little doubt in anyone's mind the precise intent of these items. It can take years for the federal government to review, regulate, and get these substances off the market.

And, honestly, pulling 'bath salts' will probably do nothing more than make room for the next designer drugs.

1. AZCentral.com: Officials Fear Bath Salts are Growing Drug Problem
2. ChemiCool.com: "An analog is a drug whose structure is related to that of another drug but whose chemical and biological properties may be quite different." (Ed. note: Frequently, the term is used to describe, right or wrong, an artificial derivative of a specific drug or chemical.)
3. a.) Wikipedia: "Mephedrone ... is chemically similar to the cathinone compounds found in the khat plant of eastern Africa."
   b.) Medical News Today: "Mephedrone is a synthetic (artificial) substance based on the (cathinone) compounds that exist in the Khat plant of East Africa."

I didn't start out that way, though; few of us do. In my teens, I threw a few choice words at my brother occasionally. When Mom heard one particularly creative rant, I learned cursing wasn't as cool as I thought.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Nevit Dilmen

Little Pitchers with Big Ears

When my children were young, their father and I agreed to "No swearing in front of the kids." We knew that no matter what you try to teach them, kids inevitably pick up the one word even you wouldn't say in front of grandma. And repeat it until your ears bleed.

Of course, in those days, television programs weren't filled with half-naked people spewing profanities. It was pretty easy to limit their exposure. Firm rules took care of any ... interesting phrases ... that wandered home with them.

To this day, my kids don't often swear in front of me. It's kind of sweet.

'Construct'ing a Potty Mouth

In the late 80s, I met (and later married) a loud, rowdy, journeyman carpenter. I was a paper-pushing, brutally-shy, bean-counter-in-training. We couldn't have been more different; in the beginning.

It was from this man that I learned swearing a proverbial blue streak is not a sign of ignorance or stupidity. He was extremely intelligent, but it had become habit to curse, rather than take the time and energy to find a different word. Before long, I'd 'caught' that lazy habit.

After almost 10 years, I'm still fighting it. But it gets easier and it helps when I hear Mark tell someone, proudly, "Oh, she almost never swears."

Changes

Granted it is easy, over time, to develop bad habits. (The good ones aren't so easy; darn it.) As an individual or, I guess, even as a society.

We see and hear things every day from television, movies, the neighbors, our kids that eventually sound or look 'normal'. The shock value is diminished with nearly constant exposure. Or so the experts claim.

I'm not saying (I don't have the right) that people should clean up their language. That all manner of media need to wash out their proverbial mouths with soap. That maybe it's time to look at what we tolerate and ask ourselves why.

Okay, I am suggesting that last one.

Even the so-called (Internet) experts don't always agree on the nuts-and-bolts of supplements for pregnant women. Since we're messing with (pardon the language) two lives here, my gut tells me to go with the obstetrician. S/He can (and should) look at medical history, current blood work, and determine the mother-to-be's unique requirements.

Recommended Ingredients

• 400 mcg of folic acid
• 400 IU of vitamin D (Note: look for D3; vitamin D2 can be toxic.)
• 200 to 300 mg of calcium
• 70 mg of vitamin C
• 3 mg of thiamine
• 2 mg of riboflavin
• 20 mg of niacine
• 6 mcg of vitamin B12
• 10 mg of vitamin E
• 15 mg of zinc
• 17 mg of iron

This is a short list, considering that it doesn't address vitamin A, omega-3s, and iodine. It also doesn't mention the myriad of additional ... stuff ... that the Internet-available prenatal vitamins like to throw in to the mix, e.g., probiotics, ginger root, or inositol. In and of themselves, these add-ins are probably benign; but pregnancy seems like an iffy time to test that theory.

Toxic Ingredients

Not to mention, lead levels. Yup, that's right - lead. In 2008 the FDA tested 324 women's and children's vitamins (purchased over the Internet) and only found four (4) with zero lead. For pregnant and lactating women, one brand with a three-step regimen offered the highest and lowest lead levels - from no detected lead to a whopping 8.97µg Pb/day estimated exposure.

Hopefully, in the 29 months since they posted the results, some of the manufacturers have corrected this problem. Or pulled their products. (The 3-step regimen is still out there, and carried by drugstore.com; I'm hoping they've modified their supplement.)

Common Sense

It can't be overstated that pregnancy is the wrong time to mess with the chemical balance of your body. Nature's already doing that for you.

Eating well is the best way to get your vitamins. Unfortunately, morning (and afternoon and evening) sickness, loss of appetite, inability to tolerate certain foods, and difficulty affording a diet full of fruits, veggies, and healthy proteins often get in the way.

A multiple vitamin, designed for this time in your life, may be just what the doctor ordered. But - please - let the doctor help you choose. Your body and your baby will thank you.

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?

The ingredient that caught my eye was Eurycoma longifolia , a flowering plant native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Its bark and roots are used as an antimalarial, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and aphrodisiac. Several published reports indicate that it also increases testosterone levels.

I found, after serious digging, some information about Eurycoma longifolia toxicity. None of it was based on human trials, but lemme tell ya - it wasn't good for the mice. Consistently, a dose of 0.43g/kg to 0.50g/kg caused increased weights of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and testes - and death. Depending on the source, 50%-90% of the mice died.

Frankly, I'd call that one doozy of a side effect. But, hey, what do I know?

Pantothenic Acid Basics

As with any vitamin or mineral treatment (for any condition), the assumption is that an underlying deficiency is to blame. Correct the deficiency; correct the condition. However, vitamin B₅ is found in so many foods that it's difficult to imagine deficiency is common.

For example: wheat germ, whole-grain cereals and breads, brewer's yeast; legumes, lentils, peanuts, split peas, soybeans, sunflower seeds; avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kale, sweet potatoes, tomatoes; egg yolks, milk; organ meats (such as beef liver and kidney), chicken, duck, turkey; lobster, and salmon are all good sources of this vitamin.

Take out the sweet potatoes and (ewwww! ) organ meat, and I could easily see this as my regular diet.

Pantothenic Acid and Acne

From where I sit, I can actually see a couple of reasons why vitamin B₅ would/could be considered helpful with acne.

1. Stress: I've done a couple of posts (at least) about me, stress, and acne. In my system, if you combine the first two (me & stress), you get the third (acne). As B vitamins, especially B₅, are frequently touted for their (as yet, unproven) anti-stress properties, I can see the rationale for a benefit to acne sufferers.
   
   Doesn't mean it's true, just that I can see the logic behind the argument.
2. Hormones: This one is even more compelling. Acne begins in puberty, as hormones (generated by the adrenal glands) increase dramatically. Sebum production explodes, hair follicles clog up, and acne blooms. (A simplified and not exactly complete description, but sufficient for this discussion.)
   
   It could be presumed that Pantothenic acid's impact on adrenal hormones would translate to an ability to reduce breakouts. Only one small study, from the 1990s, proposes vitamin B₅ as an acne treatment/cure. (Search: Lit-Hung Leung)

Pantothenic Acid Safety

Safe doses and levels, not surprisingly, is where things get a little sticky and where opinions begin to diverge. Thankfully, recommended daily intakes (RDIs) of vitamin B₅ are fairly standard from source to source: Ages 14-18, 5mg; 19 and up, 5mg; pregnant women, 6mg; and nursing mothers, 7mg. (The EU RDA is 6mg; UK has no RDA for this vitamin, that I could find.)

Some experts add that pantothenic acid is safe at these RDIs, or moderately higher (a rather vague limit), but warn extremely high doses could, among other issues, increase the risk for bleeding. (The National Institutes of Health tell hemophiliacs to not take B₅, as it might increase clotting time.)

Other sources insist that no upper limit has been established and even mega doses (10g/day) may only cause minor intestinal issues or diarrhea. Physician-monitored treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (2,000mg/day) and cholesterol reduction (900mg/day), while exceeding the RDIs, do not approach mega amounts.

There does seem to be a consensus that higher doses of a single B vitamin (no matter which one) can, over time, create an imbalance in the other B vitamins. In a nutshell, the body will pull what it needs from where it can find it to attempt to create balance. If you must take a supplement, B-complex (containing all eight B vitamins) is best.

Bottom Line?

It is somewhat logical, given how pantothenic acid acts on that body, that it could (in theory) have a benefit to acne sufferers - depending on the cause of their acne. However, there is virtually no documented evidence. Not to mention, there are no active or planned studies into B₅ as an acne cure, or even treatment option.

There is also no consensus as to what doses of this vitamin are safe. Common sense would say that tons of anything - good or bad - isn't healthy. And when you start ingesting amounts that are 1,000-2,000 times greater than recommended, I have to believe that the risks are going to outweight any (unproven) benefits.

All of which takes us back to the standards: healthy diet, and keeping skin and hair clean is the best defense against breakouts. And, for pete's sake, keep your hands off your face! (That last one was for me. {wink})

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."

There are a ton of sites with pre-made forms; some even have downloadable spreadsheets.

Download a Spreadsheet

These will require appropriate software. But, not to worry. If you don't have Excel on your computer, OpenOffice.org will (for free) run anything created for use with Excel. Just a note: since there are free options available, paying for a spreadsheet or form doesn't (to my mind) make much sense.

FreeFinancialAdvice.net

This site offers a terrific Excel spreadsheet that allows you to finely tune your spending. I was quite impressed with all of the available categories, as well as how nicely it did the calculations, so you can see exactly what's going where. It doesn't, however, have a budget vs. actual setup.

You'll also find links to, as expected, free financial advice. Whether you want to learn how to spend less, or earn more - the information can be found here.

spreadsheet123.com

There are a ton of options here (I could play all day), designed for use with Excel or OpenOffice.org. Personally, I liked the Family Budget Planner Spreadsheet. This is a more family-friendly setup, with tabs for Income, each quarter, spending totals, and results.

It comes with some information already entered, so you can see just how it works. And, because it's your spreadsheet, you can change category names and contents to suit your needs. (Just a warning: deleting whole sections in the monthly/quarterly tabs will create a calculation error in the spending totals section.)

Print a Worksheet

If you aren't comfortable playing with spreadsheets, not a problem. It's simple to find printable forms on the Internet. You'll be doing a lot more manual calculating, but it's a great way to start learning about budgeting.

Smart About Money

From the National Endowment for Financial Education , this site offers a Resource Library that is just filled with forms and advice. The 'Managing Your Money' section has worksheets (in PDF format) for printing or download. The six-page file covers just about every way you can look at what you earn and where you spend it. It even includes a perpetual calendar for entering payment due dates.

Me? I'd use that calendar to record spending, as well. There's plenty of room to stick in that $134.98 from the grocery store or the $15.62 from a quick stop at the local fast food shop.

BetterBudgeting.com

This simple page gives you space to list income, home expenses, car expenses, debts, and a generous collection of miscellaneous items. As with any pre-populated form, it may have categories that you don't use and not have categories that you need. If nothing else, it's a great starting point toward creating your own forms.

These are only a couple of ideas to help jumpstart your budgeting system.

Whether you prefer to manipulate a spreadsheet or simply list your income and expenses on piece of paper each month - getting started is what matters. Well, that and keeping it going.

National Birth Defects Prevention Month

The theme for 2011 is "Medication Use Before, During, and After Pregnancy."

Most birth defects can't be prevented because the causes are unknown. However, it is possible for women to reduce the risk to their unborn child. Taking a supplement containing 400mcg of folic acid daily, starting before pregnancy, has been shown to prevent serious defects of the brain and spine.

Just as critical to the health of the fetus is the health of the future mother. Pre-pregnancy check-ups and a careful review of the safety of all current medications cannot be over-emphasized.

National Volunteer Blood Donor Month

This is the month when the Red Cross thanks its blood donors and urges everyone who can donate to help save lives by giving blood. From americasblood.org:

• It only takes about an hour - including registration, blood collection, and refreshments - to donate blood; two hours to donate platelets.
• Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, allowing time for regeneration between donations; platelets, up to 24 times a year.
• While red blood cells can be stored for 42 days (plasma, 5 days; platelets, frozen up to 12 months), most blood centers keep only a 3-day inventory.

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Most cervical cancers, seventy percent, are caused by two human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Any man or woman who is sexually active is at risk for exposure to HPVs. As with other STDs, condoms do offer some protection.

The greatest weapon in the fight against cervical cancer is the Pap test. This is because, unlike many other cancers, when caught early, cervical cancer is almost 100% curable. It helps that cervical cancer is rather slow progressing, so it's easier to catch at an early, treatable stage.

Glaucoma Awareness Month

A group of eye diseases that gradually destroy vision, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Although more common in middle-aged and older people, glaucoma can affect persons of any age. The most common forms have virtually no symptoms, until (beginning with peripheral vision) severe vision loss occurs.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans, with older Hispanics at nearly the same risk for this disease. Others at risk include people over 60, diabetics, the severely nearsighted, and relatives of those with glaucoma. Regular eye exams are critical.

The most common forms of glaucoma increase pressure in the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve. Although there is no cure, treatments are available to reduce intra-ocular pressure and, thereby, slow progression of the disease.

Dyslexia

What It Is

LD.org has a more elaborate explanation, but the basic problem is a neurological condition that interferes with the brain's ability to process and interpret information. One of the first signs seems to be difficulty identifying letters. The most commonly confused are b and d; p and q. This leads to a cascading series of problems.

By being unable to tell letters apart, kids develop problems reading, writing, and pronouncing words. Their communication skills are hampered. As these abilities become more critical to their education, they fall further and further behind their classmates.

What It Isn't

Dyslexia is not a sign of diminished intelligence. It is not laziness on the part of students. This condition is, also, not unique to or more prevalent in any particular socio-economic group.

The Latest Study

"The team used two different imaging techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures oxygen used by the brain during different activities, and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging or DTI, which reveals connections between brain areas." During testing, they found some identified dyslexics had more activity in a specific part of the brain, as well as stronger connections in certain fibers that connect the front and back of the brain.

These results later correlated to improved skills in the students with increased brain activity. Interesting information and researchers are hoping that it will lead to improved teaching methods for dyslexic students.

I must agree with the only comment posted on the article: What does this mean for kids whose brainscans don't have this increased activity? Are programs going to be developed for children who might not improve?

In the study, participants who played a computer game during lunch ate more cookies, when dessert was offered 30 minutes later. Those who paid attention to the meal, and only the meal, indulged in fewer sweets. Additionally, the game players were less able to recall the order and content of their lunch, and reported feeling less full.

For me, doing other things while I'm eating generally causes me to eat less. I start feeling full and quit eating sooner when I'm paying attention to more than my meal. Undistracted, I'll eat everything but the plate.

Even eating the same amount of food, I will agree that I don't end up feeling as full when I'm multitasking. Probably because I tend to eat more slowly; nibbling at the food, while typing or reading a little between bites. My possible response to sweets, offered a half-hour later, did make me stop and think.

Because I nibbled my way through the meal and don't feel over-fed or too full, it is entirely possible that I would be more likely to nibble my way through cookies afterward. But, I am just as likely to decline. I make jokes about cookies and pies and other goodies, but really am not big on desserts or sweets on a regular basis.

What about you? Have you ever noticed that you eat more (or less) if you're doing something else while you're having a meal? (Snacks, for me, don't count. I'd eat a 20lb bag of chips or 10lbs of jelly beans without even thinking, if distracted by work or games.)

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?)

To start, I am no health expert. When I find an article on a subject that interests me, I always need to do a lot more reading. For example, before I can even attempt to judge information on omega-3s and depression, I have to educate myself on omega-3s. And - once again - I'm taking all of you with me!

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Definition

Omega-3s are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that the body cannot make on its own. They have been called 'essential' fatty acids (EFAs) because of their importance in normal growth and brain function. The three most common (and most studied) omega-3s are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Sources

DHA and EPA are found in certain cold-water fatty fish, e.g., sardines, halibut, herring, lake trout, mackerel, salmon, striped sea bass, albacore tuna, and whitefish. ALA, on the other hand, is a plant-based Omega-3 found in soy beans, walnuts, flaxseed, and canola and olive oils. The body converts ALA to EPA, and further to DHA.

Benefits

This is where the waters get a little muddy. Depending on the source (see the Google search results below), omega-3s do everything but the dishes. Proven benefits are a little harder to find, outside cardiovascular research.

There is evidence that EPA and DHA can (especially, when taken together) reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol levels, lower triglycerides, prevent plaque build-up in arteries, and improve blood flow. ALA (the form frequently found in supplements), on the other hand, doesn't seem to offer the same benefits.

Concentrated in the brain, omega-3s are believed to play an important role in cognitive function and behavior. Studies in Great Britain, Australia, and Indonesia showed that children whose diets were higher in omega-3s performed better in school, with fewer behavior problems. Hence, the hope for benefit to people with depression and behavioral disorders.

Omega-3s and Depression

The article that inspired this post is based on an analysis (as yet, unpublished and not peer-reviewed) of previous clinical trials. Paid for by the National Institutes of Health, researchers combined the results of other studies and looked for patterns of omega-3s' impact on depression. They found a lot of information, inspiring further research; but nothing actually provided definitive conclusions.

Part of the problem is that many of the studies involved DHA alone. Few note any benefit to this solo-therapy approach. (My digging into other sources, listed below, showed similar results.) As mentioned, combining DHA and EPA seems to be more effective - regardless of the condition being treated.

Another problem? Although there is an indication that DHA-deficiencies have been linked to depression, the clinical trials failed to note whether any of the participants actually suffered from deficiencies. I quote: "However, it's unknown if the depressed people in the study were DHA-deficient and therefore the supplements were simply returning their DHA levels to normal, or if an added boost of DHA/EPA was helpful even for those with sufficient levels, Davis said."

What bothers me - rereading that last sentence - is casually comparing DHA to DHA/EPA. Over and over, I have read that adding EPA (sometimes in large amounts) to DHA is much more effective than DHA alone. Lumping them together, in the same sentence as though they were interchangeable treatments, is a serious apples-and-oranges comparison that flies in the face of valid methodology.

(Without access to the actual paper being presented this week, it's impossible to tell whether the disconnect is a flaw in the science or in the reporting. In other words, I'm not certain whether the researchers are mixing a lovely fruit salad or if the reporter failed to properly set-up the quote. Common, but frustrating.)

Conclusions

Depression is a serious condition. Improperly managed (or ignored) the implications are literally life-and-death. From where I sit, as a sufferer, any nature-based treatment is exciting. Especially one that offers other health benefits.

Chemical anti-depressants, while immensely improved since the early days, are still chemicals. Often it's a crap-shoot whether any particular drug will be effective for any particular patient. And, even then, the side effects and/or interactions can be serious.

The most, from where I sit, that can be decided by this new information is that we need more information. Hopefully, quality research will follow.

As always, arbitrarily taking supplements - of any kind - is to be avoided. If you feel that adding omega-3s to your diet is a good idea, talk to your physician. Combining these supplements with cholesterol meds or blood thinners increases the effects and carries serious risks.

In addition, know the manufacturer. Just as fish can be contaminated with mercury and other pollutants, so can fish oil supplements.

References

Google Search: Define: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Mayo Clinic: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-linolenic Acid

Science Daily: Scientists Learn How Food Affects The Brain: Omega 3 Especially Important

University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Wikipedia: Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Hormone Levels

Human growth hormone deficiencies are real. They happen when children don't produce enough or after removal of the pituitary gland in young adults. At that point, injections - prescribed and administered by a physician - are a logical next step.

However, the natural decline in hormone production associated with aging is not a deficiency. It does not need to be reversed. And attempting to do so may actually be detrimental.

Studies have shown (in animals and humans) that individuals who naturally produce more hGH are more likely to die at a younger age. While animals with disorders that suppressed production of growth hormones experienced a longer lifespan. The body knows when it needs growth hormones and it knows when it doesn't.

Who am I to argue with Mother Nature?

Muscle Mass

The natural production of growth hormone in our youth is designed to build muscles to support our growing skeletal system. (One reason doctors don't like to see teens on fasting diets - it messes with muscle development at a critical time in their lives.) Which brings me to the other heavily touted 'benefit' of hGH supplementation - increased muscle mass.

A small, brief study involving several men over age 61 did show an increase in muscle mass in some of the men. But - and this is a big BUT - there was no corresponding increase in muscle strength. Just what we all need, big biceps and the inability to lift a coffee cup. Ooh yeah! Sign me up!

Supplements

Then, there's the safety and effectiveness of supplements. As an unregulated industry, manufacturers can say (almost) anything about their products without fear of reprisal. Unless, and until, they claim to treat or cure specific conditions or disorders, it's all legal.

This is the group telling you that their products are safe. These are the people who say "Lose 10 pounds in 7 days!" or "Look 10 years younger in just 2 weeks!" They don't care that growth hormone supplements are absorbed in the digestive tract and have absolutely no effect on hormone levels. As long as they make their money, it's not their problem.

Add to that - there is no way to know exactly what's in each happy little pill. Sure, the bottle has a list of ingredients. But - without regulation - manufacturers can (and do) throw anything they like in there, in any amounts. (How many supplements have been recalled lately because they contained illegal prescription drugs?)

Bottom Line?

Ponce de Leon spent his entire life searching for the fountain of youth. He never found it - because it doesn't exist.

If these products did what they claim - it would be all over the 6 o'clock news. Reputable retailers would be lining their shelves (and their pockets). And this miracle cure wouldn't have to sneak into the country in crates marked "Made in China."

And getting odder.

Usually, doing a search for random phrases will hit the source pages for a product. Not with this one. I used testimonials and ended up with a completely different product. The ingredients list, however, led me to another which-product-is-which dilemma.

From more than one 'review' site:
Product 'N' ingredients include 5% benzoyl peroxide, 2% salicylic acid, and 0.1% sulfur, water, shea butter, glycerin, Stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, PEG-100 stearate, jojoba oil, stearyl alcohol, walnuts shells, cocamidopropyl betaine, potassium cocoate, fragrance, allantoin, avocado oil, propylene glycol, hydrated magnesium, aluminum silicate, xanthan gum, citracidal, acai, soy protein, algae complex, flax seed oil, alfalfa powdered extract, azelaic acid, barley, buckwheat, malt, primrose extract, glycolic acid, hydrolyzed wheat protein, lavender oil, rosemary extract, sweet orange oil, tea tree oil, vitamin A palmitate, garlic, cayenne pepper, DMAE, and lactobacillus acidophilus.

Product 'M' ingredients include 5% benzoyl peroxide, 2% salicylic acid, and 0.1% sulfur, water, shea butter, glycerin, Stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, PEG-100 stearate, jojoba oil, stearyl alcohol, walnuts shells, cocamidopropyl betaine, potassium cocoate, fragrance, allantoin, avocado oil, propylene glycol, hydrated magnesium, aluminum silicate, xanthan gum, citracidal, acai, soy protein, algae complex, flax seed oil, alfalfa powdered extract, azelaic acid, barley, buckwheat, malt, primrose extract, glycolic acid, hydrolyzed wheat protein, lavender oil, rosemary extract, sweet orange oil, tea tree oil, vitamin A palmitate, garlic, cayenne pepper, DMAE, and lactobacillus acidophilus.

Again, none of the review sites had product images for either item. But - and this rather surprised me - I did manage to find the main site for Product 'M' . Little did I know, the surprises were just beginning.

All of the pages I looked at had no content. Even the home page is just one giant image file with a supposed video and formatted paragraphs still containing the filler Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, text. Looking closely under the 'video,' I noticed bottles of acne products - Proactiv acne products. See? Odd!

Certainly the order page would give more information about Product 'M' , right? Not so much. Clicking on 'Buy Now' took me to a shopping cart containing one bottle of Acnexia - the Product 'A'  from my post earlier this month.

I am officially, totally, completely, and utterly done with this mess. Except to strongly suggest that ordering acne treatment online epitomizes the term crap shoot. (Heavy emphasis on the crap.)

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.

Results of a recent study confirm that moms' mealtime tactics are tied to kids' eating habits. But, oddly enough, it may be in the reverse direction. It isn't necessarily what moms do that creates the problems. Just as likely, moms become pushy and controlling in response to what the kids are eating or not eating at the table and perceptions of the child's weight.

Mothers who think their child may be too thin, may start forcing more time at the table or larger portions that must be finished. When the child is believed to be overweight, moms may strictly limit calories or foods that are perceived as unhealthy. In both cases, children tend to rebel - refusing to eat or overeating at every opportunity.

All I know, from personal experience, is that the more I was forced, the more I didn't want to eat. Probably why I weighed 120lbs (or less) and was nearly 6 feet tall as a high school senior. And why, to this day, I am seriously resistant to "You have to eat."

It may be a control issue, where what and how much we eat is the only part of our lives where we have absolute control. Or we may simply be stubborn souls who hate being told what to do. Either way, conflict at meal time is seriously bad for everyone's digestion.

The review was for chromium, a mineral that we need in small amounts and get from foods like broccoli, potatoes, grape juice, garlic, and orange juice. It is believed to help combat insulin resistance, which is a contributing factor for development of type 2 diabetes. Although, according to the National Institutes of Health, research is inconclusive.

What caught my attention was in the conclusion: not recommending a diet pill whose main ingredient is chromium. It's a valid theory, since there is also no conclusive research that the effect on blood sugar also contributes to weight loss. So, good review, right? Yes and no.

You see, the number-two weight loss pill on the site was something that contained 500mcg of chromium as the main ingredient.

A little background: The study involved 4,000 adults, born to mothers who were enrolled between 1959 and 1966. Researchers collected data on the mothers' smoking habits during pregnancy. In 1999, when they were 33 through 40, a review was done of the offsprings' health and criminal records.

It was determined that when the mothers smoked at least a pack (20+ cigarettes) per day during pregnancy, their kids were 30% more likely to have a criminal record. Additionally, those same children were deemed more likely to repeat offend. Did I mention anti-smoking clap-trap?!

Well, maybe and maybe not. Even the researchers admit that they are unable to definitively prove causality - that smoking mothers give birth to future criminals more frequently than non-smoking mothers. At most, they suggest that heavy maternal smoking may present a risk factor. That I can accept.

On the other hand, which is what damaged my 'mad,' maternal smoking has been linked to smaller birth weights and other health issues in kids. Studies on animals suggest that nicotine has a negative effect on the developing brain, especially neurotransmitters. In turn, neurotransmitter malfunction is considered a factor in some disorders, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, and OCD.^[1]

So, if we want to extrapolate:

1. Maternal smoking exposes the fetus' developing brain to nicotine.
2. Nicotine exposure has been shown to negatively impact developing neurotransmitters in the brain.
3. Neurotransmitter problems may contribute to development of certain mental health conditions.
4. Persons with some mental health disorders are more likely to engage in criminal behaviors.
5. Therefore, ergo, and towit - maternal smoking contributes to criminal behaviors in their offspring.

It's a reasonable conclusion, given presumed truths. And, honestly, just one more reason to not smoke.

1. "Information About Mental Illness and the Brain." The Science of Mental Illness. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health. Web. 15 November 2010. <http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a.htm>

I can - vividly - remember the first time I had dinner with my soon-to-be in-laws. (Wow, have a hyphen!) It was, shall we say, an education? Luckily, my fiancé and his parents were amazing people who were happy to help me learn.

Before you get all - "They should have accepted you the way you were!" upset - I was 19, poorly socialized, and hungry to be taught what I saw as 'proper manners.' Gracious behavior, if you prefer.

It's entirely possible that I would have picked up some of this information, because (as I say) I was desperate to learn. I did a lot of reading and observing. But, spending time with people who lived the behaviors I wanted to emulate made it a lot easier.

I have to admire these universities who are starting to realize that students need skills beyond the core of their major to survive in the real world. Information they may not be exposed to at home. It is simply logical that the more tools we have, the more comfortable we (and those around us) will be with life's social challenges.

What to do you think? Valid studies or waste of time?

Calories

In a nutshell, the Twinkie-diet worked for the professor because he was cutting calories. With the exception of water and air, (and plain tea and coffee) everything we put into our bodies provides some type of 'calorie.' Good or bad isn't really the point of this discussion.

We need calories to feed our cells; to make muscles work and organs function. But how hungry are those cells? Just how many calories do we need?

Calorie Needs - by Age & Activity

Based on 2005 USDA/HHS guidelines, Estimated Calorie Requirements:
For adult females (sedentary to very active): ages 19-30, 2,000 to 2,400 calories; ages 31-50, 1,800 to 2,200 calories; and ages 51+, 1,600 to 2,000-2,200 calories.
For adult males (sedentary to very active): ages 19-30, 2,400 to 3,000 calories; ages 31-50, 2,200 to 2,800-3,000 calories; and ages 51+, 2,000 to 2,400-2,800 calories.

Okay. I'm female, 51+, and fairly sedentary - so my requirements are estimated at about 1,600 calories/day. But does this make sense? Is this a good number?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW)

General guidelines are just that, general. In my opinion, to be of real use they need to be a bit more fine-tuned. Let's start by seeing what my ideal weight is. From there, we can look at what calories I need to maintain / achieve that weight.

Published by the American Diabetes Association in 1964, The Hamwi Formulas only look at height and body frame:
For men: 106 lb for the first 5 ft; 6 lb for each inch over 5 ft
For women: 100 lb for the first 5 ft; 5 lb for each inch over 5 ft
Small frames: subtract 10%
Large frames: add 10%

For me, 6-feet tall and 'small-boned', that's 100 + 60 - 16 (10%) = 144 IBW. Admittedly, I haven't been measured recently and, at my age, am probably a little shorter than that. But, it's a ballpark number that seems to be fairly consistent with when I feel my best.

Calorie Needs - by Weight & Activity

Based on my age, the USDA/HHS chart puts my calorie needs at 1,600/day. According to Dr. Hamwi, my 'ideal' weight is 144 pounds. Do those two numbers correspond? There are a few ways to find out.

• Standard calculations say:
  Sedentary or Obese = IBW x 10
  Low Activity or 55+ = IBW x 13
  Moderate Activity = IBW x 15
  Strenuous Activity = IBW x 18

  For me: 144 x 13 = 1,872 seems high; 144 x 10 = 1,440 seems low. Maybe split the difference at 1,656 calories/day?

• A two step process: calculating BMR and applying an activity-based formula is a little more involved.
  1. This BMR calculator shows for me (53yo, female, 6 ft, 144 lbs) a BMR of 1,370. This means that I, without getting out of bed or raising my heartrate, will (theoretically) burn 1,370 calories/day just being alive. (Here's the BMR formula, if you want to calculate manually.)
  2. Once you have your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), applying the Harris Benedict Equation tells you how many calories you can consume, per day, to maintain your IBW at your activity level:
     Sedentary (little or no exercise) = BMR x 1.2
     Lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) = BMR x 1.375
     Moderately active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) = BMR x 1.55
     Very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) = BMR x 1.725
     Extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) = BMR x 1.9
     

  Taking my BMR and the formula gives me 1,370 x 1.2 = 1,644 calories/day to achieve or maintain my Ideal Body Weight of 144 lbs.

---

Conclusion

General or specific, these guidelines, calculators, and formulae seem to pretty much agree. Given that they use different types of information to draw their conclusions, that's rather amazing. It appears, regardless of method, that I should be taking in about 1,630 calories per day ((1,600 + 1,656 + 1644) / 3 = 1,633.33) if I want to reach my ideal weight.

Unfortunately, it also looks as though I'm about six pounds away from that ideal. Could be much worse; in fact, I fully expected it to be. But we still have the holidays to survive and I love Christmas cookies and candies. {sigh}

What do I do now? One calorie, two calorie, three calorie, ... oh, my.

Looking at the search results shows that, for the information superhighway, weight is synonymous with weight loss. (Well, except for the site that calculates what you'd weigh on Venus or Mars.) The message is that everyone looking for weight information is interested in the latest greatest pills, potions, and plans to get skinny.

Frankly, as the artist intended, neither silhouette is a healthy ideal. But one shape is routinely reviled; while the other is draped in designer rags and celebrated as 'beauty.' Society tells the woman on the left that she won't be happy, loved, or beautiful until she looks like the woman on the right. Horse hockey!

Companies and websites prey on our innate desire to fit in, to be accepted, and to be considered attractive. But there is a huge difference between wanting the 'right' jeans or the 'cool' cell phone and trying to starve down to a BMI of 0. (A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.)

It's that balance that we've lost sight of. In my case, at almost 6 feet tall and (most days) about 150 pounds, I'm considered well within the healthy range. In fact, I could gain 25 pounds and still be 'technically' healthy. My small frame couldn't carry the extra weight, but it would still be considered a 'good' weight.

I don't think that anyone's goal should be to emulate a small percentage of the population that lives an unnatural existence, in the spotlight of popular culture. We need to learn how healthy looks and feels - it's different from person to person. And we need to revise what is, and isn't, beautiful.

When we can love ourselves and each other honestly, in all our shapes and sizes, perhaps we won't need to comfort ourselves with food. Or starve to death to find acceptance.

Of course, when you get right down to it - which is not an easy thing - the individual ingredients in Lipofuze are not, necessarily, that bad. It's that everyone and their brother are jumping on the bandwagon; hoping to make a fortune from people who believe that losing 5-10 pounds per week is healthy. With apologies to T.S. Eliot: "I tell you once, and once again ... veracity's not there!"

There are no quick fixes or overnight miracles. To truly and safely lose weight takes willpower and self-control, diet changes and exercise -- and time. The snake oil salesmen count on our impatience and our vehement denial that we're emulating Bustopher Jones.

Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Learn about this disease and the amazing caregivers who give so much. For 2010, The Shriver Report offers a look into the effect on women as caregivers, advocates, and sufferers of this disease. A recent poll revealed that two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's and 60% of unpaid caregivers are women. In simple numbers, 10,000,000 (ten million) women are dealing with this disease.

American Diabetes Month

"This November, the American Diabetes Association is asking: How will you Stop Diabetes®? The future is in your hands." Diabetes.org offers fact sheets, newsletter inserts, posters, and contests to help share information and inspire involvement in the battle to find a cure for this potentially deadly disease. Unless you're diabetic or living with one, you have no idea how difficult daily life can become. And how desperately a cure is needed.

Christmas Seals Month

If you're like me, this one was a little ... "Huh?" Christmas  Seals? in November? Well, it does make sense, when you look at the history. Begun in 1904 as an effort to raise funds for victims of tuberculosis, the American Lung Association adopted the use of Christmas Seals in 1927. They have been the main source of donations ever since. Donations that fund research into cures for respiratory diseases and offer financial assistance for patients.

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Back when my kids were toddlers, I had a friend whose middle child had - to put it mildly - health problems. The petit mal seizures that began about the same time that she started school were probably the worst. This year, the Epilepsy Foundation is asking everyone to "Get Seizure Smart" with information on types of seizures and, most importantly, first aid. Something my friend could have used 25+ years ago.

National Hospice Month

Since 1978, the United States has honored the work of the hospice and palliative care community; something that meant very little to me until 2004. Denied a transplant by the VA medical center in Portland, Mark was (basically) sent home to die in May of that year. I will never be able to adequately describe what Hospice of the Valley did for us in those dark days.

Hospice isn't just about supporting the terminally ill. Although 1.56 million people were helped by hospice and palliative care organizations in 2009. It's about supporting and helping the caregivers and loved ones, as well. An effort that deserves our help.

While you're admiring the fall colors, digging out that pumpkin pie recipe, and picking sides for the Turkey-Bowl games (Detroit used to be a great bet; Dallas was known to lose), won't you take a moment and lend a hand where it is so desperately needed? You don't have to give money (this is a difficult time for many of us), but you can share information and teach others, who can teach others, who can - if we're all blessed this year - help find a cure.

Vinegar and Skin Care

Acidity

Vinegar's main component is acetic acid. The amount in commercial distilled white and apple cider vinegars varies slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. But, by and large, they are slightly less acidic than lemon juice. This makes vinegar a perfect astringent; ideal for reducing surface oil, a common contributor to breakouts.

If you've ever priced 'cosmetic' astringents, you know that a bottle of vinegar is going to be much, much cheaper. Because it's a natural product, without chemicals and preservatives, it's bound to be safer for most all skin types. I know that I have trouble with astringents irritating my face.

Since most natural skin care recipes call for diluting vinegar, I have less concern with burning my skin. And even greater savings.

Bacteria Fighting

Sebum, the substance that moisturizes skin and hair, is a popular 'food' of some bacteria that lives on the skin. As more sebum is produced, primarily during adolescence, the bacteria feeds and multiplies. Increased bacteria means increased white blood cell activity in the follicles. In a nutshell ... breakouts.

The natural disinfecting/antibacterial properties of vinegar make it a perfect treatment for acne. By reducing bacteria on the skin, vinegar also reduces white blood cell activity. This stops the acne cycle. And helps clear existing pimples.

See? Grandma did know what she was talking about.

Budget Tweak

When I started budgeting, a single paycheck didn't cover the rent. (Hubby-to-be paid half, but I budgeted as though he wouldn't.) Each month, as I put down the bills for the first-half and second-half, I split everything in half. This is a tad tricky, as you have to set it up after  the mortgage/rent is paid - budgeting for the next month; if that makes sense.

Taking our worksheets from our first Thrifty Thursday, we want to look at our total expenses, regardless of due date:

Now, we're going to create a single budget that will be used for both paychecks. Remember, this will involve setting aside money from each check toward monthly expenses - money that can't be used for anything else. Just because there's $250.00 in the checking account, doesn't mean a new DVD player in your future.

As you can see, this is a little easier for budgeting purposes. You can see that, given bills and spending habits, each check is just a tad short of the total going out. Adjusting the budget doesn't involve as much moving-this-to-pay-that; you simply prune Groceries or Gasoline or Miscellaneous once for the whole month.

Now, you have two different, but effective, options. If having equal budgets for each paycheck is more to your liking, I have one very important suggestion: transfer any monies not needed during the first half into savings, to be moved back when bills are due. Do the same thing for the mid-month paycheck.

Money that isn't in checking, can't be spent frivolously. And, you can earn a little interest on those pending payments.

Trimming the Budget

The point of any budget is to ensure that critical bills get paid - in full and on time. With a finite amount available, something has to give. Fixed Essential Expenses (mortgage, car loan, insurance) are just not adjustable. Within reason, everything else is.

Cell Phones

We tend to look here, when the budget gets wildly out of balance. Partly, because this is one of our biggest issues - how many minutes and text messages do we really need? And what about Internet access? For us, with no other phone service and three users on the account, it became quite a balancing act.

Minutes

Over time we've gone up and down on the minutes - 500, then 900, then 750. Most months we don't use nearly all of them, but some months are crazy. On our current plan, each person gets about 4 hours/month for personal business. Unlimited nights and weekends, as well as free calls to/from anyone with our carrier, cover social calling.

Adjusting

• Pull together several cell phone bills. At least, six months worth; a full year would be better. Write down the whenever/daytime/paid minutes from each statement, total them, and divide by 6 (or 12). This is your average monthly minutes used.
  
  If this number is less than your monthly plan, there's room to reduce that plan - as your carrier allows. Ours, for example, has 3 levels and unlimited. We can move up or down, within those limits.
  
  Some newer companies, like Boost Mobile, have some great rates for unlimited everything. If you aren't in the middle of a contract, switching carriers may be an option. Be warned: not all phones are compatible with all services and changing companies may require purchasing a new phone. Not an inexpensive consideration.

Texting

This is our compromise area. Since we are carved-in-stone about the minutes, we have unlimited text messages for all three phones. I don't use them much, but the guys do; so it works.

These days, most carriers offer unlimited texting as part of every package. Why would anyone choose a plan that forces you to track texts each month, or risk additional charges? They wouldn't and you shouldn't, either.

Internet

With our carrier, there isn't much wiggle room on Internet/web access. Each phone has its own minimum required  service plan. The more the phone can do, the more the service costs. Basically, all or nothing.

Since Mark and I are web-junkies - we surf and play games through our phones - cutting this access isn't an option. It's a known evil that we choose to live with. However, not all plans are created equal - our $30.00 smartphone service is $39.99 (or more) with some other companies. It pays to check.

Equipment

With phones doing everything but the dishes, it's easy to get caught up in wanting the latest and greatest. (I live with one of those but-I-neeeed-this-phone types.) Touch-screens, GPS, full-web browsing - every week brings something newer and better. In our case, each line is eligible for a phone upgrade at the end of the current 2-year contract.

Adjusting

• If the latest and greatest phone is tempting you, there are options. First, breathe - and think about it! You don't have to be the first on your block to have {fill in phone name}. Not if you're having trouble covering the bills.
  
  Consider allowing your current plan to expire and use the time left to search for a better deal. That phone you can't resist may be free with new service from another carrier. Or the new plan may be so much cheaper that the cost of the phone is less of a burden. Either way, you'll have a pretty good idea what the phone is going to cost, and may be able to salt away a few dollars toward the one-time expense.

Cell Phone Summary

If the cell phone bill is a rather large chunk of your budget, this may be a good place to start trimming. Look at what you use, compared to what you're charged. A plan with 1,000 minutes isn't a good investment when you barely use 500 every month. Paying for a fixed number of text messages per month is virtually unnecessary. And $50.00/month for smartphone Internet service may be the final sign to move along.

Before you renew your contract, explore your options. It isn't too difficult to find great deals, as long as you understand what you need and what you can do without.

Keeping clean, whether with special products like body wash for acne or simply a good, mild soap is one important part of the equation. But it isn't the whole story. And it isn't the complete solution.

One of Mark's sons is hydrophobic - he dips two fingers in the water to do dishes and has to be bribed to take a shower. His skin is hideous. Another son showers more frequently, but still gets acne on his back.

Near the end of my second marriage, I was sleeping more in the recliner than in the bed. When I moved to Arizona, I was suffering severe breakouts across my upper back and shoulders. Certainly, stress played a pretty large part in my acne.

But Mark's son and I share, in my opinion, the same acne trigger. He rarely changed the sheets on his bed, spending long hours sitting there during the day. And, at night, sleeping on that same bedding.

In my case, I didn't think of the chair as a bed. And, like my stepson, was sleeping on whatever accumulated there during the day. Regular showers didn't help as much, because, in each case, we both went back to a dirty bed every night.

Of course, I could be totally off base. I'm no dermatologist. What do you think?

First, there are a lot of research articles. Not a bad thing, but not really where I wanted to start. I need - immediate - practical, day-to-day information and ideas; if not an actual collection of menus and recipes.

As a sidebar, the few articles I did pull up were complete. Unlike so many publication sites where you get an abstract and then have to pay for the full report. So, great news; but I'm saving the research for another day.

Off to try the Low Carb Articles. Happiness! and Joy! With titles like "Low-carb foods that every house should have as a staple?" - more news-you-can-use-now and less medical-speak.

This page also lead me to Contradictions about Carbs and Diabetes Continue, an article on About.com (not usually one of my favorite resources). The author is a prediabetic who maintains the "Low Carb Diets" section as well as the "Low Carb Diets Blog." I think I'll be spending some time with her, as well.

It feels good to have options and ideas at my fingertips. Like this may actually be a doable deal, after all. If -- big IF -- I can manage to get Mark to try spaghetti from squash (8g carbs), instead of semolina (40g carbs).

Any tips, tricks, or sneaky suggestions? He has the palate of a gourmand and the soul of a Irishman - meat and potatoes, all the way. This could be ... interesting.

Most recently, it was high insulin production and reduced estrogen. Not together, mind you; but two different articles. The question is: is there any good news in all of this information?

From previous research, I know that stress increases production of cortisol which shoots fat to the belly like an arrow to a target. Alcohol and smoking kick up cortisol, as well. Looks like there's a lot of meditation and nicotine substitutes in my future.

Then, we have the blood sugar factor. I was looking at low-GI diets to help control Mark's glucose levels. What I found was that they also help people (like me) who over-produce insulin - another contributor to production of belly fat.

Now, none of these issues are gender-specific. In fact, they more frequently affect men. That is - until menopause. At this point, women lose any advantage they had because of reduced estrogen and a more 'manly' biology.

Then, there's the extra layer of fat that women have. Actually, that's a bit of a myth. Women don't have an extra layer, just a thicker layer, of fat under our skin. And it isn't isolated to any one spot. Nonetheless, it sure feels like it's all living just below my belly button.

With all of that good news, I haven't even gotten to the best part. Although all of the above contribute to development of belly fat, there isn't much you can do to remove it - specifically. It requires all over fat loss, though reducing cortisol, toning abs, etc. might just keep more fat from piling on.

Marginally easier is looking at the safety and benefits of cosmetics ingredients. These things go in cycles. An ingredient hits the market, makes claims of god-like powers, and everyone jumps on the bandwagon. Or a researcher suggests that a particular substance is unhealthy, manufacturers rush to remove it, and sellers scream, "We don't use that! Buy from us!"

To that end, I'm reading about the risks associated with cosmetics containing parabens, alkyl hydroxy benzoate  preservatives. Look for methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, or butylparaben. It has been determined that these chemicals are estrogenic, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body. Estrogenic activity is associated with certain forms of breast cancer.

We know that chemicals can be absorbed through the skin. Parabens have been found in some breast tumors. The thought process is that where estrogen is contraindicated, smearing something with parabens on the skin is a danger. Well, this is the broad-stroke concept.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has been assessing the safety of these preservatives since 1984; revisiting their findings in 2003 and 2005. They determined parabens were safe at 25% of the containing product. As levels generally range from 1/100th- to 3/10ths- of one-percent, the risk would seem to be non-existent.

Additionally, it has not been proven that parabens cause cancer. Levels of parabens in non-cancerous tissue have never been measured. A 2005 study, published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology , calculated maximum daily exposure and determined it was highly unlikely that parabens could increase the risk of breast cancer.

With that said, I guess it comes down to this: Just how many chemicals do we need to put into and onto our bodies? And would it hurt anything to avoid one or two?

Worksheets

Last week, we created several lists: Income, Expenses, and Non-Essentials, recorded in date order. These are going to be the basis of our budget. For now, we only need the first two - and a nice new page to start our budget.

Trial Budget

Since this is the first attempt to manage income and expenses, we're going to call it a Trial Budget. Chances are pretty good that (unless your guardian angel is a former CPA) this first pass will show some problems that need correcting. So, we're going to try  to create a budget.

For the sake of simplicity, we're going to assume that you get paid twice a month. (If you get weekly checks, sort your information by week.) Note: Always record bills with a due date by the due date. That way every month has all expenses listed.

First-Half

On the front of your new page, write Trial Budget, First-Half, and make 2 columns: Income and Expenses. Copy the items from last week's worksheets - in order by date and amount due (Rent, Insurance, Gas, Electric, Phone, Credit Cards) or date and amount paid (Groceries, Gasoline, Movies, Miscellaneous). Remember - only the items that were due or spent at the beginning of the month.

Our example:

In the words of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Don't Panic!

It is entirely possible, and probable, that some of the bigger bills (Mortgage) are routinely paid with money carried over from the end of the month. Until we set up the Second Half budget, we won't know. So, at this moment in time, we're still good.

Second-Half

On the back of your Trial Budget page, write Second-Half and make the same 2 columns: Income and Expenses. Again, transfer the items from last week's worksheets. This time - only what was due or spent during the second half of the month.

Okay, now we need to panic -- just a little bit.

In our examples, more money went out at the beginning of the month. The paycheck from the second half picked up some of the slack. Nonetheless, out-go exceeded income by $55.00.

Over the course of a year, that's $660.00. It has to get covered somehow. Let's see if we can't figure it out.

Budget vs. Actual

Since we're working with historical information, we know what was due (statements), what was paid (checkbook), and can calculate the differences. At the bottom of the First-Half page, make 4 columns: Expense, Due, Paid, and Difference. Fill in the information from the top of the page and your checkbook for any bill with a due date. Such as:

Now, flip the page over and let's do the same for the Second-Half:

Like it or not, we now can see where the money is (and isn't) being spent. And, just as importantly, what - exactly - is (and isn't) getting neglected. Over time, this can create problems that range from never-ending debt to potential loss of basic utilities.

Homework

Yup, this week there's homework. Our new worksheets / Trial Budget showed that Essential Expenses aren't getting paid completely each month. Therefore, it's time to get a clean sheet of paper and start making adjustments.

Our Trial Budget: First-Half showed that the Visa was short-paid. Therefore, we need to create a Budget: First-Half that pays every bill with a due date in full. Any shortage must be adjusted out of the other expenses.

In my example, that means reducing (most probably) Movies and Miscellaneous by $10.00 each, to cover the Visa payment. For your budget, it may mean cutting the Groceries or Gasoline. Only you know where you can (and will) give up a little.

So - until next Thursday - grab your worksheets and turn that Trial into a Real Budget.

Whole grain breads and pastas aren't supposed to be as detrimental as white bread and highly processed starches. But, how much is bad? How little is healthy? And how do you keep it all straight?

I've been looking at low-GI (Glycemic Index) diets as a way to keep Mark from feeling starved and keep his blood sugar levels from shooting through the roof. This may be more difficult than it sounds. Unlike counting sodium or protein grams, the GI index isn't exactly carved in stone.

Some foods are considered high-GI, because they cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. But adding a fat, or a low-GI food to the meal can slow the increase. Conversely, some low-GI foods may be bad dietary choices because they are high in sodium, saturated fat, or cholesterol.

Not confused yet. Well, I can fix that. The riper a banana becomes, the higher it is on the GI index. Which does make sense, when you understand that the sugar content increases as fruit ripens. It just makes the calculations a little more ... complex.

And, unless you can afford to buy everything fresh, working with what's on the market is daunting. You're at the mercy of the manufacturers and packagers. We learned that one when Mark noticed sugar was an ingredient in our package of frozen green beans.

Like it or not, I've got some learning to do. And, apparently, more labels to read. Sugar? in green beans? Ridiculous!

The gist of the report was that 9 percent of women with incurable cancer were still getting mammograms; 5.8 percent, pap tests. Of men diagnosed with advanced cancer, 15 percent were still being screened for prostate cancer. Naturally, my first thought was, "Why?"

Some of the answers made sense. People who routinely get these exams, just keep having them done. I can, I suppose, understand that. And, yet ... If you knew you were dying, why would you bother?

One possible reason made me stop cold. Doctors may not be telling their patients that "they are not likely to benefit from having a mammogram for breast cancer because their lymphoma is so advanced." That is upsetting on so many levels.

Isn't it a doctor's responsibility to ensure that patients understand their condition, their options, and their rights? Is the desire to avoid an emotional scene or confrontation making cowards out of the medical profession? Or do they really think that ignorance is bliss?