Not what it seems: Desert Island

Not what it seems: Desert Island (click to enlarge the image). The obvious is sometimes hidden - this often applies to clinical evaluation of patients and research.

References:
http://xkcd.com/731

The Value of YouTube Videos for Cancer Patients - Mayo Clinic

Ruben Mesa, M.D., describes his experience using YouTube videos to provide in-depth information about blood cancers.

Summer of Feminista: Feminine or Feminist?

Written by Ana Lilian Flores, co-publisher of SpanglishBaby, a site for parents raising bilingual and bicultural children and can always be found @laflowers.

I don’t think I’ve ever considered myself a feminist. I’m not a provoker, an activist, nor a social conscious spear-header at large. Not that I’m much for labels, as it is.

I grew up in the midst of El Salvador’s deadly and grueling Civil War in an era when you did not question the status quo. Much less if you belonged to the close-knit social class I was born into. The words ¿por qué? were hardly ever uttered and much less encouraged. Not that I even minded back then. I didn´t know better.

The seed of political activism or of traditional feminist tendencies of any kind were never planted in me. The woman that shaped my life and formed my first tribe were indeed strong and luchadoras, but always within the safe confines of their vast and plentiful homes. They treasured their luxuries, their leisure, their freedom and their image. Life existed within a thin and, oh-so-very-fragile veil that separated them from the imminent and loud reality that surrounded us. The label we could apply here would be more of “femenina” than “feminista.” (Funny tidbit that the popular Top 40 FM radio station I grew up listening to was called “La Femenina.”) Yes, the women I knew were adored because they knew their place. Even my mother.

Divorced in her mid-twenties with two girls to fend for, she never failed to impress by her strength of character when faced with obstacles. I always attribute my independent, go-getter and strong-willed nature to her. Her years as a single mother of two, she worked hard and cunningly to sustain us by the highest standards--the best schools, the best clothes, the best surroundings, the best memberships. Then, she remarried to a man that would be able to take away all that burden from her and allow her to just be a women again--to run the house and the staff that kept it up; to play tennis and socialize; to travel; to care for her girls; to care for her man; and to run a fashion boutique of her own. Life became easy, manageable, fulfilled--or so it seemed behind that self-imposed veil.

As soon as I turned 18 I left the country that had cradled me in a sweet embrace of naiveness. I left behind my mask and started the true work of uncovering my realness. This is when I began to let out the authentic feminist voice in me. The one I didn’t even know I had. The voice of a woman who wants to have the chance to be unrestricted to express her soul. The diva who wants to shine wherever she chooses to. The Goddess who wants to explore her depths, her yearnings, her missteps and own up to them all. The dreamer who wants an equal share of the materialistic male-dominated world, without letting go of her feminine instincts and ethereal desires.

I still don’t consider myself a full blown-out feminist. It’s just a label, and labels are used to judge.

I am, however, a mother that lives with a constant mirror reflection of who I am and what I give. My daughter will always carry a part of her that reflects how I constantly continue to reconcile the feminine little girl in me with the more feminist and non-conformist luchadora that has claimed its place as well. I see in her the potential of full, unrestricted expression that is softly guided by the whispers of her ancestors to a place where its manifestation will belong only to her. That, I hope, is my gift to my daughter.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Evaluation of driving risk in dementia - practice parameter update

For patients with dementia, the following characteristics are useful for identifying
patients at increased risk for unsafe driving:

- Clinical Dementia Rating scale (Level A)
- caregiver’s rating of a patient’s driving ability as marginal or unsafe (Level B)
- history of crashes or traffic citations (Level C)
- reduced driving mileage or self-reported situational avoidance (Level C)
- Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 24 or less (Level C)
- aggressive or impulsive personality characteristics (Level C)


Evaluation of driving risk in dementia (click to enlarge the image).

The following characteristics are not useful for identifying patients at increased risk for unsafe driving:

- patient’s self-rating of safe driving ability (Level A)
- lack of situational avoidance (Level C)

References:
Practice Parameter update: Evaluation and management of driving risk in dementia. Neurology 2010;74:1316–1324 (PDF)

Wound Closure Adhesive Strips

Walgreens Wound Closure Adhesive Strips: adhesive strips used to secure, close and support small cuts and wounds.

Summer of Feminista: APB: Help! Is this you?

When you sign up for Summer of Feminista, please, please, please include your name AND email in the little Doodle text box.

I have Jacky A. and Marisa A. signed up and I have no idea how to reach you, mujeres!

Please send me an email at veronica-dot-arreola-at-gmail.com so we can connect. Or just send me your Summer of Feminista contribution.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled program...

Video: Awake Endotracheal Intubation

Video: Awake Endotracheal Intubation for "Fun and Knowledge" by an anesthesiologist from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Not sure about the "fun" part...

References:
Awake Endotracheal Intubation for Fun and Knowledge. Medgadget, 2010.

Raw Beet and Fennel Salad

This is one of the most amazing salads I have ever tasted. Maybe it's because I'm in love with beets at the moment. Or that fresh fennel and cucumber is a heavenly delight. Or maybe it's that all this raw food is going straight to my head. Regardless of the reasons, it is a delicious and very easy-to-make salad.

If you are lucky enough to have a mandoline, then it's time to pull it out. If not, then grab your sharpest knife and get to work. I do not have a mandoline so I did this by hand. The beauty of this salad is the thin slicing. Even if you do not think you will like the taste of raw beets, when they are paper-thin, they are very delicious. If you are nervous about trying the raw beets, I also recommend letting them soak overnight in the dressing to soften up a bit. I tried this with some leftover salad and it was even better the next day.

I've made several batches of this over the past week and have begun to use a vegetable peeler on the beets. A peeler will give you perfectly thin slices without a ton of work. Experiment for yourself and see what you like best. Be sure to report your findings!

These past two weekends have been so beautiful that even with my CSA produce, I have to make a trip to the farmer's market. You can find pretty much everything that you need for this salad at the market. If you don't want to use cabbage, then feel free to use fresh greens instead.


Serves 2.

1 head of cabbage (I used green)
4 radishes, thinly sliced
1 large fennel bulb (or two medium), thinly sliced
2 small carrots, thinly sliced
1 red beet, thinly sliced
1 golden beet, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, thinly sliced

Dressing:
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbs agave (or to taste)
1 1/2 Tbs. Dijon mustard

Puree mint, lemon juice, oil, agave, and mustard in a blender until smooth. Prepare your vegetables. You can either arrange them on a plate and drizzle with the dressing or you can toss the dressing with the salad. (I told you it was easy!)

Horchatas and Plum Bistro

This weekend I discovered horchatas. This weekend changed my life. If you've never tried a horchata before, here's what you need to know:

• it's an amazing sweet, cinnamon-y, and creamy beverage
• the traditional version is made with rice milk (thus, dairy-free!)
• it originated in Spain, but is now popular all throughout Latin America

I tried it at Plum Bistro and loved it enough to come home and immediately make a batch of my own. I've been drinking it every day since. Other horchata recipes that I've found tell you to make the rice milk from scratch. This sounds like a great idea, but I went ahead and used pre-made rice milk. Other recipes also call for sugar, but my preference is agave. You be the judge. Here's how to make your own little cup of heaven:

Serves 2.

2 cups rice milk
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup almonds
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs agave (or to taste)

Blend the rice milk, almonds, and cinnamon together. Strain using a nut milk bag. Add the agave and vanilla extract. Serve over ice.

And, before we get too far off the subject, I highly recommend you check out Plum Bistro on Capitol Hill. We went for brunch and had a fabulous meal of Mexican Tacos, Biscuits in Chili Chorizo Gravy, and Sweet Potato Fries covered with fresh aioli. The restaurant itself is beautiful and no one can complain about a 100% vegan and mostly organic menu. Happy Summer!

Summer of Feminista: FUG (Feminist until graduation)

Written by Dior of The Personal is Bloggable

My mother suspected that all this crazy feminist talk was a result of my attending Smith. She thought this would be a phase like she thought other things. Unfortunately (for her) it wasn’t. It also didn’t help matters that I became a Study of Women and Gender major. My mother didn’t agree with this not only because it was not explicitly connected with a well to do, money making profession but also because of its association with feminism. Why the reluctance to embrace the term? As a single mother she always told my sister and I to be independent and to never depend on a man. Therefore getting an education has always been important to my family. Many of my family members were not given the opportunity to get a higher education so being knowledgeable and self sufficient was critical. I see feminism all over this.

At Smith, I was involved in the feminist organization, Feminists of Smith Unite! (FSU!). I was among young Caucasian women who were passionate about their cause and wanted to organize to make sure their interests were being acknowledged. I was one of the few Latinas involved in the organization and after awhile, their investment in the organization lessened dramatically and eventually, they were no longer involved. I became co-chair and there were members who suspected that I was the first Latina co-chair of FSU!. This was never confirmed but it shows that feminism was and probably is still not something that is prevalent in the lives of women of color at Smith. Even in my participation in Nosotras, the Latina organization, I felt that I needed to bring in my feminist beliefs because the subject of feminism was not discussed. As the social chair, I organized the panel, “Race and Feminism: Latina Perspectives.” I wanted to create a venue where there would be discussions about Latinas and feminism. I wanted Latinas who consider themselves feminists in one room discussing the implications of this and how they came to this conclusion about their identities. My mother may have never used the word but she indeed raised me to be a feminist. I know this sentiment is shared with other Latinas because a panelist on the “Race and Feminism” panel mentioned how her mother brought her up as a feminist yet her mother said: “pero no lo sabia.” Feminism has always been viewed as a "white woman's issue" - something that only privileged women would involve themselves with. Feminism is much more than that. Feminism encompasses people (yes, women and men) of all races, genders, sexualities, classes and more. I wish my mother and other Latinas would understand this of feminism.

My growing up in a female headed household has heavily affected my identity as a woman and as a feminist. All my role models were women – my great grandmother who was outspoken and always said what she thought, and my grandmother who insisted that I get an education – something that no one could take away from me. Feminism wasn’t and will never be a phase for me. I graduated in 2009 and I am still proud to say that I am a feminist. Even though my entire experience as a feminist has consisted of defending myself against my mother, it has strengthened my resolve to embrace this part of me.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken-heart syndrome) in differential diagnosis of chest pain

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also called stress induced cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning, or broken heart syndrome) was first described in Japan 20 years ago. It is typically precipitated by acute emotional stress, hence the names “stress cardiomyopathy” or “broken-heart syndrome.”



Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterised by acute, reversible left ventricular dysfunction in a distribution,which does not correlate with the coronary artery blood supply. The left ventricular dysfunction occurs without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and usually resolves spontaneously over a period of weeks.



The characteristic appearances on contrast angiography include:

- ballooned apical segment

- hypercontractile basal portion of the left ventricle

The appearances are reminiscent of the design of the traditional fishing pot used in Japan to trap octopus, hence the descriptive term "tako-tsubo" cardiomyopathy (octopus trap, tako tsubo). Such a trap, no more than simple ceramic jar, take advantage of the octopus’ preference for small, enclosed spaces and the security they seem to promise. They are simply left on the seabed and gathered later after octopi have had time to occupy them.



Although Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was initially considered rare, it could possibly be responsible for 1-2% of admissions for acute coronary syndrome in industrialised countries.

"Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Caught on Tape" - Jems.com YouTube channel.



References:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Banning et al. 340: c1272, BMJ.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or Broken-Heart Syndrome. SS Virani et al, Tex Heart Inst J. 2007; 34(1): 76–79.

Morikami museum.

Image source: Octopus trap, tako tsubo, Morikami museum.

Summer of Feminista: This Is What A Feminista Looks Like

Written by Natalia Knowlton of British Cherry. Reposted with permission.
 
It is a universal fact that feminism is the belief of equality between genders. Although women can relate to each other about the injustices they face in their daily lives, there are some injustices that not all women share. That has also become a universal fact; middle-class white feminists are not fighting for the same rights as Middle-Eastern feminists or African American Feminists. As I began studying feminism, I looked at it from very broad lens; how it affects women from all over the world. Sure I noticed that women had it quite differently depending on where they live, but I suppose I just saw how it affected women in "general" in North America. Whatever that meant. Then I started thinking about Hispanic Feminists. Being half Chilean and having lived there for half of my life, of course I had thought of the state of feminism in Chile, but I had missed out a big part. Hispanic women in general are very strong and independent women. They are feminists in so many levels, however, they do not use the F word to describe themselves, they probably don't even know what it actually means. You ask them what feminism is and they'll most likely say "Hairy women who hate men?” I'm not kidding, they will most likely say that. I started looking at my mother's family, all Chilean, and how feminism has occurred (without the F-word being spoken of course).

My maternal grandmother in Chile dropped out of school in grade five, never got an education, got married, and had five children. Obviously, her only "job" was to raise the children and clean the house while my grandfather brought home the bacon. My grandfather took advantage of his power and cheated on my grandmother multiple times, abused her physically and mentally, and never gave her the love and respect she deserved. She never left him because she had no education to get a decent job where she could feed five children. She was forced to stay with him until all of her children got married. Even when that happened, she still stayed with him. They finally got a divorce because my grandfather left her for another woman. My mother grew up watching this horrible domestic abuse and the horrible life my grandmother had because of her lack of power. My mother tells me that she became determined at a young age to get an education and be independent so she would never have to depend on a man the way her mother did. My mother was the only one, out of five children, to obtain a post-secondary education, travel outside of Chile, and work her ass off without the help of a man. She got married at age 21, to the love of her life who was Canadian (my dad), and moved to Canada with him. Then they had me (yay!). As soon as things weren't working in my parents' marriage, my mother filed for divorce. She moved back to Chile with me, as a single mother, and fought her way up to give me the best. She never had a boyfriend for ten years after that. She never saw men as a necessity, so to speak. She always said that if the right one came along, great, but she was not looking. She was always focused on her career and me. My mother taught me that it was crucial for me to be ambitious and to get a valuable education that could help me get ahead in life independently. There's no doubt that my mother has always been one of the greatest feminist role models for me.

Even though I first learned the true essence of feminism from my mother, she does not consider herself a feminist. Sure she'll say "I'm a feminist about some things, but not all. Men and women are different! I don't agree with feminists when it comes to that". That is her typical answer. And she only considers herself a feminist "about some things" thanks to my influence. Before that, she never even mentioned the word. So why is this? Why do we, especially Latinas, fear this word?

I think it's because of the strong sexism (el machismo) that still exists in Latin America, which is quite more substantial than in North America. Hispanic women have come a long way, but they only cared about legal equality between genders, not so much social equality. Most Hispanic mothers still raise their daughters thinking that they have to learn to clean and cook for their children and husband while being independent and having their job all at the same time. We're still taught to do things to be "desirable" to a man who might want to marry us. My mother taught me to get an education and be independent, but she also nags me about not knowing how to cook, since it is such a problem because apparently, I won't be able to feed my children (she expects four from me, yeah not happening). I even told her today "If I had been a boy, you wouldn't care if I didn't cook". She got mad at me for saying that but I made my point. And why is it that we have to learn to do things so we can "feed our children someday". Our society makes us think that the worst thing a man could do is kill someone, and the worst thing for a woman to do is to be a bad mother. As I was saying, my mother is still stuck on gender roles. She lives with her boyfriend now, and although he helps more than most Hispanic men around the house, I still think he doesn't do enough. It's always me or my mom. My mom never nags him about not cooking.

So...where do Latinas stand in feminism? I believe we are feminists at heart and we need to know the real meaning of that word. We need to know that we're more than we think we are. We're more valuable. We need to show men that we're equal and we're not their sexual objects (even though a lot of Hispanic women love to be whistled at on the streets). We need to know that it won't kill a man if he starts cooking or doing dishes. We need to stand up for who we are. We need to start embracing the label. We are feminists and we care about each other. We care about the advancement of women and society as a whole.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Chocolates, Coconuts, and Self-Care

Chocolate. Thursday was my birthday. I'm not big on celebrations, but (as you may know) I am big on food. These long, summery days and beautiful sunsets call for something sweet. I don't know about you, but I am a huge chocolate fan. This in itself is not a problem. The problem is when you factor in being a vegan and the fact that I love milk chocolate. Well, The Chocolate Shoe Box on 7410 Greenwood Ave N has solved this problem.

I have yet to visit their store in person, but I can tell you that their chocolate is amazing- regardless of whether you are vegan. They have everything from gluten-free cookies to peppermint truffles. A big THANK YOU to a co-worker of mine who organized an entire vegan chocolate tasting for our office on my birthday. I could not have been more thrilled!


Coconuts. Coconut water, huh? Yep, coconut water. The first time I tried coconut water was about five years ago and I thought it was the most disgusting thing I'd ever tasted. Well, let me assure you that tastes evolve. It's taken me several years to learn to like it, but now I love it. In fact, instead of having late-night sugar cravings, I have late-night coconut water cravings. It's that good.

What's the big deal about coconut water? I've read many times that it is the closest thing there is to blood plasma. During WWII, coconut water was used in the Pacific to give emergency transfusions. It's also an amazing source of electrolytes and minerals and is great for hydrating your body.

You can find coconut water packaged at most health food stores and some Whole Foods locations even carry the young coconuts already cut open. It is important to use a young coconut because as the coconuts ripen, the water will turn to flesh. Last night on my late-night coconut water craving run, I was unable to find coconuts that were already cut open, so I embraced my fears and did it myself. In case you've never embarked on opening a young coconut, let me tell you 1.) once it is open, you will be glad and proud that you did it and 2.) it is #*You can find coconut water packaged at most health food stores and some Whole Foods locations even carry the young coconuts already cut open. It is important to use a young coconut because as the coconuts ripen, the water will turn to flesh. Last night on my late-night coconut water craving run, I was unable to find coconuts that were already cut open, so I embraced my fears and did it myself. In case you've never embarked on opening a young coconut, let me tell you 1.) once it is open, you will be glad and proud that you did it and 2.) it is f*$#7% hard to open without a cleaver.

The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose is where I first learned how to cut open a young coconut. Here's how in case you ever want to try it yourself:

Choose a preshaved, young coconut with a white exterior. Set the coconut on a firm, steady surface. Place your non-cleaver hand behind your back and leave it there no matter what happens. Place the cleaver on the upper third of the coconut (about 4 inches from the peak of the coconut), and mark where you will strike it. Lift the cleaver to about shoulder height, and, keeping your eye on the mark, come down on it with force. Work your way around the peak of the coconut such that, once you've made four or five cleaver marks, the top of the coconut will lift off like a little hat. Inside, it should look crisp and white. Enjoy the water or set it aside for later use, and then use a spoon to enjoy the coconut "flesh."

*Please note that if you ever open a coconut and it is even slightly pink, it's gone bad and needs to be thrown out.

Self-care. On my birthday, someone asked me what was the most important lesson that I learned this year. I've spent a couple of days thinking about the answer and realized that this year I learned the importance of taking care of myself and putting my needs first. I am by no means a self-care expert, but I am getting better.

If you are interested in self-care, I highly recommend reading Cheryl Richardson's The Art of Extreme Self-Care. I believe that every person needs to read this book because it will transform your life. I also think it is particularly important for women because of the way that we are socialized to be caretakers for others and put ourselves last. Cheryl Richardson is a life coach and has written many different books on creating changes in your life.

I love all of the lessons that I have learned this past year and how many, many more I know are to come in my life. I love that as I have gotten older, I have learned how to create more meaningful relationships and friendships. I love that my makeup bag has gotten smaller and smaller. (True beauty is on the inside anyway, right?) And I love all of the amazing things I have learned to cook and getting to share them with you.

Viva la Feminista on Democracy Now!

This is a lesson in being fearless.

After my panel on Thursday I went wandering around Netroots Nation and spotted Amy Goodman in line to get Ed Schultz to sign his book. I thought, "OMG, it's Amy Goodman!" so I went up to her to say hi and be all silly fangirl. Well Amy and one of her friends/coworkers/partner in arms started asking me where I was from, what I did, etc. Amy got her book signed and I chatted with Dennis some more. Then Amy asked which way I was walking and I said, "I walk, where you walk." She chuckled. After a few minutes of chatting, she whips out for mini-digital camera and starts interviewing me. At first I just babbled like an idiot, but recovered well despite thinking the whole time, "OMFG, Amy Goodman is interviewing me!"

So for your youngsters out there, don't be afraid to walk up to people you admire, be ready with your 30-second "This is who I am" talk and be prepared for anything. Cause some days anything does happens.

Summer of Feminista: I know "OF" feminism

Written by Noemi Martinez of hermanaresist.com

Heaven forbid we ever called ourselves feminist, Chicana or acted “smart” growing up. My dad who came to the US during the latter part of the bracero movement said in his rancho, children didn't go past the education their parents received. This meant he only went up until the third grade. Then he tells me, his hermanos would find him reading books under a tree with the goats long gone. That little gem of desire to learn and read was passed along to me. The difference was I was a girl, of course.

My mom was 36 when she had my younger brother. She was a sociology student at a community college in Chicago, with five children and one of the way. Throw them in as a Pentecostal way of thinking couple and a father insisting his wife bear him a male, you get a 36 year old six month pregnant woman having a heart attack. She didn't' go back to school.

Fast forward to me being a teenager and dropping out of high school-because books turned us women evil (indirect quote-it was something like, te vas a volver loca como tu mama).

I know "OF" feminism.

I came to know of feminism through the back door, via the self-education route of zines and soaking up book reviews and top ten books from my favorite grrrl zinesters. I get a kick out of comments on blogs where folks complain that either there's too many women of color in their women studies classes or the same quotes of Audre and Gloria and hooks are rehashed over and over. Because that IS ALL I know. And I do not have a problem with that.

I had enough indoctrination of dead while males in the required literature courses at the local UT campus I went to eons ago. No one mentioned Gloria Anzaldua even though she walked the same campus and probably felt the same stifling oppressive valley heat that I did. The Lorde wasn't even on my radar, sacrilegious indeed.

And it's been good like this, a self-proclaimed mujerista, distinct and aparte from feminism like Chicana is to Latina. In some circles, a feminist sure, in other's don't even.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Increasing Diet Polyunsaturated Fat in Place of Saturated Fat Reduces Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Reduced saturated fat (SFA) consumption is recommended to decrease coronary heart disease (CHD), but there is an absence of strong supporting evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of clinical CHD events and few guidelines focus on any specific replacement nutrient. Additionally, some public health groups recommend lowering or limiting polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) consumption, a major potential replacement for SFA.

The overall pooled risk reduction was 19% (RR = 0.81), corresponding to 10% reduced CHD risk (RR = 0.90) for each 5% energy of increased PUFA.

These findings provide evidence that consuming PUFA in place of SFA reduces CHD events in RCTs. This suggests that rather than trying to lower PUFA consumption, a shift toward greater population PUFA consumption in place of SFA would significantly reduce rates of CHD.

References:

Mozaffarian D, Micha R, Wallace S (2010). Effects on Coronary Heart Disease of Increasing Polyunsaturated Fat in Place of Saturated Fat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS Med 7(3): e1000252. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000252
The long history of dieting fads: "soap should be eaten for its diuretic properties", wrote a prominent surgeon in 1810. Lancet, 2012.
How We Eat: Analyzing Half a Million Meals - 5 INFOGRAPHICS

Top diets of 2012 - from Cleveland Clinic health blog http://buff.ly/X2I4BJ

Image source: Varieties of meat, Wikipedia, public domain.

Summer of Feminista: Is it really good to be that strong?

Written by Dariela of Mami Talks

Since I can remember my parents have been divorced, they divorced when I was 4 y/o so I really have little memory of them together. And I’m really OK with this. I think they made a great decision cause I love my dad but I know that the harmony in our house was created with us 3 girls only, my mom, my sister and me.

I think that because of this, my mom started to tell us to always go for what we really want in life. “Hijas”, she said, you should be independent, go explore the world, be strong and fight for what you want. My mom herself is an Architect with a master’s degree in Library Studies, as a result she is the only expert in her field in her country, Venezuela, and almost in all Latin America, she is a designer and a consultant for Library Buildings. She definitely set the example for us. I admired how strong and independent she was.

Also, the opposite side of the example was set by the neighbor who if her husband leaves –my mom said- How will she survive? She doesn’t work, she’s a home maker and she doesn’t have anything for herself. Us as women need to have many passions that drive us, that are there only for us. And I agree, during my childhood I went to music school and learned how to play the piano, I also went to dance classes, I was always busy and then I went to Design school while still going to the Music Conservatory and participating in a famous Choral, all those things I really loved doing, I picked them and they were mine, only mine.

I still have so many things I am passionate about and I have traveled and left my home country per my mom’s advice: Anda hija, tu puedes, go meet the World! (Go girl, you can do it!). But wait, is it good to be this strong? Are we going to be so strong that nobody can touch us? Are we going to be these women that end up alone? Is it good to have that many activities and passions? I say it’s good to be strong as long as you know how to balance that together with the rest of the world, if you can also have a happy life with your partner, with your friends and family, have fun and take life not so serious too, if you can share all this with everybody and if you’re able to feel strong too, it’s worth it! We are not isolated, we can be strong, smart, independent and have our very feminine side too, is just a matter of balance!

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

The Resume Done Right: True Targeted Marketing

I recently was asked by a friend to review a resume of someone who was readying herself to re-enter the job market in either real estate or customer service following a period unemployment due to some personal issues. It’s a common request when someone knows you are a “writer.”

I’ve learned, after talking to some experts and checking out outline resources, that there’s a lot to the craft of resume writing – from content to visual presentation. There also are different types of resumes – from chronological to functional to combination (which turns out to be the best way to position job hunters with gaps in their work history).
Tailoring your resume is key in this job market, Colleen Reyerson, CERW, CPRW, CEIP, told me. Reyerson, whose written resumes professionally for over a decade, runs Executive Resumes Atlanta, and prides herself on the time and in-depth consultative approach she takes with clients. “The generic resume is the worse thing you can do,” she says.

JobFox.com, a fast-growing job site that positions itself as the “smarter way to hires,” says a common mistake of non-professional resume writers is to be task-based and not results-based in their job descriptions; that is, telling what you did, instead of what you achieved.
“Employers want to know about your previous contributions and specifically how you’ve made a difference. More importantly, they want to know how you are going to make a significant difference at their company,” JobFox advises.
The resume is your "sales message" that must stand out from the competition, states the home page of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, the oldest and largest career association, which offers Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) certification.
“Job seekers need to have a really good marketing document, and that’s what a resume is,” says Frank Fox, the association’s executive director. Fox adds that resume writing demand remains strong both when it’s a buyer’s market such as a down economy, and when jobs are plentiful because that’s when people look for new opportunities.

In looking at various online tips, I was particularly impressed with the thoroughness of the five resume writing tips offered on Vertex42: The Guide to Excel in Everything:
#1 Be Convincing
#2 Be Concise
#3 Be Clear
#4 Be Consistent
#5 Be Clean

I would add one more for those of us in the writing profession: Be Cognizant, or mindful that this niche of writing improves with experience. To do it well, you need more than a way with words – you need to be naturally inquisitive, a problem solver, and a first-rate interviewer.

Start metformin early when diabetes type II is first diagnosed

Initiating metformin soon after diabetes diagnosis and while A1C is low might preserve β-cell function, prolong the effectiveness of metformin, reduce lifetime glycemic burden, and prevent diabetes complications.

These findings support the current treatment algorithm for hyperglycemia management that recommends metformin initiation when diabetes is first diagnosed.

References:

Secondary Failure of Metformin Monotherapy in Clinical Practice. Diabetes Care March 2010 vol. 33 no. 3 501-506.

I'm a 2010 Blogher Voices of the Year Finalist!

Back when I thought that I would be going to Blogher 2010, I submitted a bunch of posts for the Blogher Voice of the Year contest. Yes, it's a contest. People read the entries, people vote and only a few get to read their post to the conference. Anywho, I didn't win, but I am a finalist. And as such will be celebrated at the Blogher 2010 Gala and Art Auction. So yeah for not winning!

My not-quite-winning post was one that I wrote for Girl w/Pen on the balance between human life and scientific discoveries/guidelines in light of the new mammogram guidelines.

I'm happy that my writing was honored, giddy that it was something on Girl w/Pen and fucking off the wall that it was in the Geeky/Nerdy category. I'm disappointed that I won't be there for the Gala, but I couldn't do both Bloger and Netroots. A grrl on a budget has to make choices.

Mipomersen - antisense technology to lower LDL cholesterol

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia is a rare genetic disorder in which both LDL-receptor alleles are defective, resulting in very high concentrations of LDL cholesterol in plasma and premature coronary artery disease. This study investigated the use of an antisense inhibitor of apolipoprotein B synthesis, mipomersen, to lower LDL cholesterol.

Patients aged 12 years and older who were already receiving the maximum tolerated dose of a lipid-lowering drug, were randomly assigned to mipomersen 200 mg subcutaneously every week or placebo for 26 weeks.

34 patients were assigned to mipomersen and 17 to placebo. Mean concentrations of LDL cholesterol at baseline were 11·4 mmol/L in the mipomersen group and 10·4 mmol/L in the placebo group. The mean percentage change in LDL cholesterol concentration was significantly greater with mipomersen (−24·7%) than with placebo (−3·3%).

The most common adverse events were injection-site reactions in 76% of patients in mipomersen group vs 24% in placebo group. 12% of patients in the mipomersen group had increases in alanine aminotransferase of three times or more the upper limit of normal.

Inhibition of apolipoprotein B synthesis by mipomersen represents a novel, effective therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol concentrations in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia who are already receiving lipid-lowering drugs, including high-dose statins.

References:
Mipomersen, an apolipoprotein B synthesis inhibitor, for lowering of LDL cholesterol concentrations in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, Volume 375, Issue 9719, Pages 998 - 1006, 20 March 2010.

Researchers make synthetic HDL cholesterol with a core of gold

Lipoprotein structure (chylomicron) (left). Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

Raw Zippy Summer Gazpacho

Today I went to my first PCC Cooks course: Summer Flavors with Fresh Juices taught by Cherie Calbom (aka "The Juice Lady"). It was absolutely delicious and inspiring! She's written a ton of different books on juicing to lose weight, prevent disease, and boost your immune system. I definitely encourage you to check out her work if you are interested in learning more about juicing or detoxing.

I bought a copy of Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life: Unleash the healing power of fresh juices and cleansing diets. It has a lot of information on detoxing and has an entire section on liver, gallbladder, and kidney cleansing. I can't wait to get started!

With my recent gallstone diagnosis, I've been thinking a lot about my gallbladder and working even harder to detox my body. Cherie has her own amazing story about how juicing and incorporating raw foods into her diet changed the state of her health. I've been working towards eating mostly raw food for the last couple of months and had my first 99% raw day today. So far, so good! She said it takes about 3 months for your body to begin to make significant changes. I firmly believe that food should be thy medicine and so my hope is to be able to heal my gallbladder and my body without surgery. We'll just have to see what happens from here.

I'm excited to share with you one of the recipes that Cherie made at today's class. It was so delicious that I had to come home and make it right away for myself. Summertime is the perfect time to incorporate more raw foods into your diet so I encourage you to think about your own body and try some raw food for yourself. Enjoy!

Serves 2.

2 tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 cup fresh carrot juice (about 5-7 carrots)
1 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro, rinsed and chopped
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 small jalapeno, chopped
3 radishes

Place the tomato chunks in a freezer bag and freeze until solid. Pour the carrot and lemon juices into a blender and add the frozen tomato chunks, cilantro, salt, cumin, jalapeno, and radishes. Blend on high until smooth, but slushy. Serve immediately.

Contact lenses change color when blood glucose increases in diabetics

In the future, diabetics may be able to wear contact lenses that continuously alert them to variations in their glucose levels by changing colors - potentially replacing the need to routinely draw blood throughout the day.

The non-invasive technology, developed by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Jin Zhang at The University of Western Ontario, uses extremely small nanoparticles embedded into the hydrogel lenses. These engineered nanoparticles react with glucose molecules found in tears, causing a chemical reaction that changes their color.

References:
Nanocomposites could change diabetes treatment. The University of Western Ontario, 2010.

Image source: OpenClipArt.org.

Preventing diabetes, biological passport for athletes and more from the Lancet

Low-dose combination therapy with rosiglitazone and metformin was highly effective in prevention of type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance, with little effect on the clinically relevant adverse events of these two drugs.

Preventing type 2 diabetes with low-dose combinations: Lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing bodyweight, and use of metformin, thiazolidinediones, acarbose, and orlistat, reduce the risk of diabetes by 25—60% over 3—6 years

The biological passport and doping in athletics: A biological passport monitors an athlete's blood and body chemistry values over time to assess whether there has been a deviation from an established baseline, thus indirectly detecting illegal manipulation.

A long look at obesity: Even with their primitive understanding of nutrition, our neolithic forebears somehow made the “right choices”, thriving on a wholesome diet of nuts, seeds, and fruits with the occasional piece of meat. And what is more, their rare intake of animal protein could only have been obtained through vigorous exercise, which they would, of course, indulge in every day.

Acupuncture can spread serious diseases: bacterial infections, hepatitis B and C, even HIV

To prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection procedures and aseptic techniques.

Acupuncture may be risky as needles are inserted up to several centimeters beneath the skin. In the 1970s and 1980s most infections associated with acupuncture were sporadic cases involving pyogenic bacteria.

There is a new syndrome - acupuncture mycobacteriosis - infection caused by mycobacteria that rapidly grow around the acupuncture insertion point as a result of contaminated cotton wool swabs, towels and hot-pack covers. There is a long incubation period and the infection usually leads to large abscesses and ulcers.

References:

Acupuncture transmitted infections. BMJ 2010;340:c1268.

Acupuncture can spread serious diseases: experts. Reuters.
Does traditional Chinese medicine have a place in the health system? http://goo.gl/RH04o

Image source: Needles being inserted into a patient's skin, Wikipedia, public domain.

Video: Cleveland Clinic Doctors

There is a doctor for every patient and there is a patient for every doctor: 2,000 physicians from 80 countries.

Disclaimer: I was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic from 2005 to 2008.

6 (reasonable) things to do in a doctor’s waiting room

1. Make a list of your top health concerns.

2. Write questions down.

3. Make a list of all your medications.

4. Ask the office to check on your test results.

5. Confirm that the office has the correct insurance information.

6. Read something besides the magazines.

References:
6 things to do in a doctor’s waiting room. ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

Image source: picturestation.net, free license.

Raw Carob Mousse

Can you believe it's mid-July? It's time to get serious about summer! What's on your summer list? Going on vacation anywhere? Spending some time with family and friends? How about special dinner plans?

I had a big epiphany the other day. Here it goes: I am a procrastinator. (For anyone that knows me I'm sure you're confused, but hold on just a sec.) I am a procrastinator of fun. I realized that I am great at getting all the boring, tedious, and stressful things done - homework, cleaning my apartment, dentist appointments, you name it. Yet, I never make fun a priority. I always tell myself that seeing that movie can wait or that it isn't the "right time" to go on vacation. I think it's time I work on my procrastination. :)

So, here are my NEW top priorities for the summer. Hopefully we can inspire each other to keep fun a priority in our lives!

• go on vacation
  
• visit a lavender farm
• go to the beach
• hiking!
• go to the spa
• visit with friends more often
• watch TV (yes, this is a top priority!)
• bike to work
  
• pick berries
• read in the sun
• meditate
  
• eat amazing food and share it with you on this blog

The amazing food part starts right now. And what better way to enjoy the delectable fruits of summer than paired with raw carob mousse. Have you ever tried a raw dessert? If yes, then I'm sure you'll love this one. If not, then you need to change that ASAP.

One of the things I love most about raw desserts is that they are super easy to make. A food processor. A few ingredients. And then pure dessert bliss. It's perfect on a hot day when you don't feel like turning on your oven or standing in your kitchen in the heat. Are you ready? Then grab some avocados and let's get to it!

Okay, before we start, I guess I better explain the avocado part. I don't want you to embark on this raw mousse journey thinking you're about to make brown guacamole. Avocados give this dessert its creamy texture and provide a healthy dose of fat. However, I promise that you won't taste them!

I love eating this dessert alone, but I love it even more with fresh fruit. You can dip strawberries in it or layer it as a parfait with a variety of fruits. It always looks elegant when served in a martini glass.


Serves 4.

2 avocados
1-2 Tbs vanilla extract (use it according to your taste)
1/4 cup raw agave nectar
1/4 cup raw carob powder
1 Tb coconut oil (optional - this makes it really creamy with a slight coconut flavor, but you can also leave it out)

Add the avocados, vanilla extract, and agave to your blender or food processor. A food processor works better, but I used my blender. As it mixes, slowly add the carob powder. Then add the coconut oil if using. It will probably take awhile to blend so be patient. You will need a spatula to scrape down the sides and make sure that it mixes completely - you don't want any green avocado chunks! Serve and enjoy!

Glaucoma eye drops drug Latisse used OTC to make long eyelashes but some now face side effects

From the NYTimes:

Latisse is the same formula as Lumigan, Allergan’s eyedrops for glaucoma, which reduces eye pressure but also happens to grow lashes. Both are also known as bimatoprost ophthalmic solution. In early 2009, Allergan introduced the drug as a lash enhancer.

A former primary care doctor runs www.latisse.bz, which boasts that it is the “largest Latisse retailer.” All it takes to get Latisse mailed out — without ever seeing him — is filling out a medical history, which he reviews, and typing in a valid credit card number.

But if people use Latisse without seeing a doctor, the side effects may come as a big surprise.

Eyelid discoloration “may be reversible” according to the manufacturer. A rare side effect that has captured the most attention is the chance that one’s hazel or blue eyes could turn brown — forever.

References:
Long Lashes Without Prescription, but With Risks. NYTimes, 2010.

Image source: Eyelashes, Wikipedia, Steve Jurvetson, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Good and Bad Health Habits in the U.S.: Drinkers Outnumber Exercisers

Participation in sport is associated with a with a 20—40% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with non-participation. Exercise might also be considered as a fifth vital sign, according to the Lancet: http://goo.gl/gyxYf

A CDC study showed that six in 10 American adults were regular drinkers in 2005-2007, but only about three in 10 regularly exercised.

Since 1997, rates of cigarette smoking have declined by several percentage points, rates of obesity have climbed, and rates of alcohol use, exercise, and sleep have remained relatively unchanged.

Men were more likely than women to be drinkers (68% vs. 55%).

The more educated people were, the more likely they were to drink. 74% of people who have a graduate degree were drinkers, compared with 44% of people with a high school diploma.

Adults with higher levels of education were less likely to be smokers, be physically inactive, and be obese and to sleep six hours or less per night.

Twitter comments:

@kcb704: "The more educated people were, the more likely they were to drink." http://goo.gl/JDv1 // work hard, play hard..

@BrettLinda: Hold on... good or bad? RT @DrVes Good and Bad Health Habits in U.S.: drinkers outnumber exercisers http://goo.gl/JDv1

References:

Good and Bad Health Habits in U.S. WebMD.

Images source: Wikipedia, Free Documentation License.

Happy Anniversary to Viva la Feminista!

It's been a quick three years since I set up shop here. Blogger tells me I have 848 posts in three years. WOW.

It is quite fitting that the post on my anniversary was the first installment of Summer of Feminista.

To make this occasion, I headed over to Wordle to make a new word cloud:

I like it!

Thanks to everyone who comes here to read my thoughts and much love to everyone who takes the time to comment and pass along my blog to friends. Here's to Year Four!

Summer of Feminista: Third grade feminista

Written by Elizabeth of International Dreams

A grammar school friend that I had not seen in decades tells me that I taught her about feminism in third grade. This made me think back to the eight year old me. Was I a feminist that young? How did I know what that even meant? I remember being very self-aware, especially about being Latina, because I always seemed to stand out among my schoolmates. How did I teach anyone about feminism back then when now in my mid-thirties and a parent, I struggle daily at defining my beliefs?

I believe it comes down to my mami and mija. Mija is my grandmother who emigrated to New Jersey from Colombia to help my mami raise me. She is a head strong, willful, temperamental woman. My mother’s expectations were high but not impossible. She expected me to be educated, and was not satisfied with a college degree. I have an advanced degree, she is waiting for me to get a doctoral degree. She taught me to be my own person, and to do everything that I feared. Feminism meant that “girls could do anything”. Feminism meant that “I did not need a man”. Feminism meant that “women are not insecure”. Feminism meant that “I was everyone’s equal”.

I disappoint now. My mother scoffs when I say I am the person I am, a feminist, because of how she raised me. I married a man. I consult with him before I make important decisions. He and I are co-parents. He spends more time with our children than I can. I do not fix things like my mother. I am insecure sometimes. I worry.

This is not my mother’s feminism. This is my version of feminism, one that embraces all women - trans women, cis women – all women; and believes that each of us has the right to live and make choices that suits our personal needs and desires. It was much easier though, to define myself at 8 years old, than now.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Best and Worst BBQ Food - Cleveland Clinic Video

When it comes to hot dogs vs. hamburgers, go with the hamburger. Choose mustard over ketchup.

"Microscopic cancers are forming in human body all the time"

From TEDtalksDirector — May 17, 2010 - William Li presents a new way to think about cancer treatment: angiogenesis, targeting the blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that beat cancer at its own game.

"We're probably forming microscopic cancers all the time in our body. Autopsy studies from people who died in car accidents have shown that about 40 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 50 actually have microscopic cancers in their breasts. About 50 percent of men in their 50s and 60s have microscopic prostate cancers. And virtually 100 percent of us, by the time we reach our 70s, will have microscopic cancers growing in our thyroid. Yet, without a blood supply, most of these cancers will never become dangerous. Dr. Judah Folkman, who was my mentor, and who was the pioneer of the angiogenesis field, once called this "cancer without disease."

Sunscreen with high SPF needed at high altitudes: 8-10% increase in sun exposure for every thousand feet of elevation

Golfers playing in Vail, Colorado, at 2500 meters (roughly 8200 feet) above sea level, got significantly more burn protection from sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 70+ compared to one with an SPF of 15.

There is 8-10 percent increase in sun exposure for every thousand feet of elevation. In the summertime, you can get anywhere from 40 percent to 50 percent greater sun intensity than at sea level.

References:
Sunscreen with high SPF needed at high altitudes, Reuters.

What sunscreen to use for children?

Study confirms sunscreen prevents melanoma http://goo.gl/16Vqd

Can You Get Sunburned Through a Car Window? http://goo.gl/M7Fwv - No, but penetrating UVA rays may be related to left-sided skin cancers.

Related:

Melanoma - JAMA Patient Page illustrates the ABCDE of diagnosis, 2011.

Image source: Amazon, for illustration only, not a suggestion to buy any products.
Only 25% of Children Wear Sunscreen Regularly. WebMD, 2012.

Chocolate Hemp Soft Serve

I got your attention with the soft serve, didn't I? Yeah, I knew that would intrigue you. Especially on hot days like this! Should you be in need of some vegan soft serve too, head on over to Healeo on Capitol Hill. (Sorry non-Seattlelites, you're outta luck on this one!) Their chocolate hemp soft serve is amazing and it comes with your choice of toppings. They also have a wide selection of fresh juices, raw foods, and supplements. I think I know where I'll be this summer...

I got some interesting news that I wanted to share. I've written on this blog about how I became vegan due to my digestive issues. After 11 years of suffering from stomach pain, it has been getting worse in the last few months. I began seeing a naturopath recently and we did an ultrasound. It turns out that I have gallstones.

If your reaction is anything like mine, it might go something like this... Gallstones? What the heck is that? Ok, gall-stones- stones in the gallbladder. And where is the gallbladder? What does it do again? Oh, it stores bile, right? Bile helps digestion... ohh, that explains a lot.

I have to admit I was pretty clueless about gallstones before this. I find it fascinating how many things our bodies deal with on a daily basis: processing nutrients, removing waste and toxins, fighting disease... our bodies are pretty amazing. Yet, we tend to forget about our bodies until something goes wrong. Today I am very grateful to my body and I know that, in sickness and in health, we are in this together.

At this point, there's a lot of waiting around for more tests and getting more information to determine if I should get my gallbladder removed. Until we have the next steps figured out, I am working on my own healing plan: good nutrition, physical activity, self-care (i.e. more trips to the spa and the beach), and meditation/visualization exercises.

I have a couple of hopes in sharing this story with you. The first is to remind you of the importance of your body and that, regardless of your current state of health, I hope that you are taking care of yourself. Self-care means different things to different people, but my wish is that you make time - in whatever way is best for you - to nourish your body, mind, and soul. It makes a difference.

My second hope is that my experience inspires you to trust your instincts and listen to your body. I've known for a long time that something was wrong and I knew that my diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) wasn't it. I know the frustration of years of doctor's visits with no tangible results. However, the one thing that you can do is listen to your body. Your body will tell you exactly what it wants and needs.

My body told me that I needed to stop eating meat and dairy. It turns out that a vegan diet like mine that involves lots of raw foods and limited soy and gluten is the perfect diet for the treatment of gallstones. Had I ignored my body's wishes and continued to eat fatty & processed foods, meat, and dairy, there is a good chance that I would have stressed my gallbladder and caused one of the stones to block the duct - resulting in emergency surgery.

Finally, I simply want to share my gratitude. I am so grateful for the people in my life that have stood by me and supported me through all of this-- years of ER visits, daily stomach pain, going out to eat at "special" restaurants because of my dietary needs... Thank you. This is a healing time for you all as well.

And, thank you to my gallbladder. It has worked so hard all these years - and without proper recognition. I know that I am a healthier person today than I would have been if I had not had this pain.

Ok, I'll stop with the sappy stuff now. Go eat your soft serve. :)

A licensed "doctor"

Erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of death in men with cardiovascular disease

From CNN:

Men with cardiovascular disease and ED were twice as likely to die from all causes than men who did not have erectile dysfunction. And those with ED were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a serious cardiovascular problem such as a heart attack or stroke.

Erectile dysfunction is something that regularly should be addressed in the medical history of patients; it might be a symptom of early atherosclerosis.

Men with ED who are going to a general practitioner or a urologist need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment. ED is an early predictor of cardiovascular disease.

References:
Study: Erectile dysfunction may indicate heart disease, death risk - CNN.com.

ED, Depression, Heart Disease: Does the Existence of One Component of This Triad Necessitate Inquiring the Other Two? http://goo.gl/EKvKl

Image source: Viagra (sildenafil), Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

Peace and Love

Ringo Starr's Peace and Love Birthday Wish 2010: Ringo Starr asks everyone to join him in a Peace & Love moment on his birthday July 7 2010 at noon where ever you are. "Perhaps one day everyone will have a moment of Peace & Love all over the world".

Pediatrician retires at 89, enjoys seeing 40-50 patients a day, will become an artist

From Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group:

"How are you? Have you retired?"

"No," said Dr. Segal, "I need to keep practicing until I get it right."

"You took care of my baby for me."

"Wonderful. How old is your baby now?"

"He's 58."

Dr. Segal laughed when he recounted this story. But, then, Segal laughs a lot. Maybe that's how he practiced medicine for more than six decades. Because he found pleasure in his work. So many people are in a hurry to retire so they can start having fun. Segal never understood the reason to wait.

He had fun going to the office every day, had fun saying hello to children and making them well.

Segal got an art degree from Memphis State. When World War II broke out, there wasn't much demand for artists. So Segal went to medical school.

Six decades later, he's not one of those doctors who will tell you how much better things used to be. Sitting in his office during his last week of work, Segal mostly wanted to talk about how good we have it now."

References:
Geoff Calkins: Retiring Dr. Segal didn't wait to have fun — he worked at it. Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group, 2010.

Pediatrics and Medicine

Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.