Author Archives: health

Living for Work

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I was told that Europeans do not “live to work,” they “work to live.” And I once read that European women prefer rather unambitious husbands — Europeans cherish time and European women feel that overachievers spend way too much psychological and physical time away from their wives and families.

What has ambition brought us? Early death and taxes and global warming.

Spinal Stenosis and Surgery

One of my friends will soon find out if she needs surgery for spinal stenosis, a narrowing of her spine. Back surgery can be dangerous and often only partially alleviates the pain and immobility associated with spinal problems. I made an online search. The reputable sites recommend that patients obtain second opinions before proceeding with surgery. Here are links to valuable information:

Mayo Clinic’s spinal stenosis information: Mayo Clinic

Mayo’s section on spinal surgery: Back surgery: When is it a good idea? read more

Weight Loss and Wu-Yi Tea

Most of us prefer green tea, not Wu-Yi.

I think we hear about obesity daily, how it contributes to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and shorter lifespans. And we are bombarded by news and advertisements of diet plans and exercises and even surgical techniques. Not only are a vast number of adults fighting weight gain, our children are overweight too.

But what if you could achieve weight loss without embarking on a major diet or an extensive exercise routine? (Personally I think the Zone diet coupled with exercise will take the pounds off.) What if you could simply add one food/drink to a low calorie diet supplemented with light exercise? I am sure you have heard of green tea diets, but how about Wu-Yi tea? read more

The American Presidency: Selfish Candidates or Candidates for Selfishness?

The headlines today are “Mitt Romney quits after pouring $35 million of his own money into failed campaign.” Of course, we all know that Mitt Romney was running in the Republican primary, the race in which Republican voters choose which Republican leader will run against the Democrats for the U.S. presidency. But I do not hear anyone in the press pointing out that Romney’s $35 million would have been better spent helping the poor right here in the United States.

Romney’s courage (and extra money) would best serve the hopeless (the lost, and especially the lost at sea . . .). read more

Fitness and the Superbowl?

The Super Bowl was boring, as usual (you know . . . football) and had way too many TV commercials, as usual. And Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ half-time show was like brown snow — tired winter, dead flowers, bronchitis brought on by lifestyle — which brings me to my point: The half-time show’s producer (the company that put it on) asked for 600 volunteers (and got them), but I don’t know why anyone in their right mind would give their time for free to millionaires like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or to an event that makes millions of dollars (never mind the Super Bowl’s sponsors’ earnings, the ones who bought the commercials — they paid 2.7 million dollars for 20 seconds of air time). read more

Truth is Ugly

A quote from John Updike’s book Seek My Face, page 48:

Truth is ugly. We possess art lest we perish of the truth. The only virtue left in this day and age is courage before the hopeless.

He means your courage best serves the hopeless.

War and Immortality

I sent this to CTV News:

Comment re. your 27 April 2007 piece about cancer rates

During the 20th and 21st centuries, we spent a lot of money on war — World Wars I and II, to name just the big ones. If we had spent all that time, energy, money, and life on life-extension, we would have discovered the key to immortality by now.

Maybe someday our enemies will see the light.

Emu Oil

I have noticed that some stores offer to refill your small bottles of emu oil for a discount. They usually dispense the “new” oil from a large bottle they keep at room temperature under the counter. But the emu-oil manufacturers say, “For extended storage refrigerate unused portion.”

Emu oil is a fat, and fats go rancid at room temperature. If you use emu oil to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as minor burns or psoriasis, you will find that your non-refrigerated oil quits helping. read more