acta est fabula plaudite

The anti-saturated fat spin machine continues to roll along. Thursday morning, Good Morning America reported on a paper by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/americas-favorite-movie-snacks-thumbs/story?id=9119503). The paper (found here: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/nahpopcorn.pdf) focused on movie theater cuisine, primarily the theater staple of popcorn as well as snack foods.

in fine

The results are finally in and my official time from last weekend's 5K Run for Wellness was 26:04. Someone even managed to snap this photo of a staff member and me just before the finish line:

si vales bene est

This week's big medical news has been the change in recommendations for women getting mammograms (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1814506). I realize that being male means I am completely unqualified to discuss this subject. Therefore, I will do my best to refrain from opinion. Simply allow me to make two points:

quod me nutrit me destruit

Allow me to start with this premise: I have a problem with the fact that a person can buy a couple fast food cheeseburgers for under a dollar, but to get the same number of calories from vegetables costs several times more. I think that speak volumes of the problems in this country, and leads us to ask why is bad food so cheap and good food so expensive?

mala fide

Congratulations go to Bill Gates for placing himself squarely back on my hit list. Those who have known me at least for several years know that I used to think of Microsoft as the antichrist of technology. Then as I started trying to be healthier I realized that Microsoft was just small change compared to agribusiness. At that point I stopped caring about Microsoft. It was not that Microsoft got any better; rather I picked different battles.

non loqui sed facere

Last week I was riding home from work on the bus when I had the opportunity to overhear a conversation between a young man and young woman behind me. Amazingly, as dense as I am about such matters, it was obviously to me within the first couple of minutes that this young man was trying to pick up his seat mate. The reason for this post is the part of this exchange that made me cringe.

What I want to do is give my female readers a brief glimpse into the male mind, as scary as that might be.

virtus tentamine gaudet

For those of you who are in the area, there is still time to join me Sunday for the Run for Wellness at the Holton-Arms School (http://www.holton-arms.edu/page.cfm?p=1609). This will be my second attempt at a 5K. Wish me well.

sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas

Last week I wrote about the tainted beef episode. Here is what scares me: Over the last several years we have seen food safety as a whole crumbling before our eyes. Nearly everyone in this county has been affected by some food recall or has gotten sick because of poorly processed food. The FDA has for some time been pushing irradiation has a means to supposedly increase safety and has been expanding its use (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/health/policy/22spinach.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin).

vox clamantis in deserto

This weekend I was reminded of a George Carlin sketch that I think is appropriate for this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnmMNdiCz_s&feature=player_embedded. Thank you Mike for sharing this.

cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare

Late in October, the NY Daily News reported this article about the dangerous side effects of the flu vaccine: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2009/10/30/2009-10-30_sorry_bout_the_shot_public_school_nurses_give_swine_flu_vaccine_to_kids_without_.html. The point I want to make is the almost maniacal quest of public officials to vaccinate everyone. In this particular case the mistake seems innocent enough, as innocent as a medical accident can get. This is an example of too many people not paying attention while doing something that is arguably more dangerous than they would like to admit.

corpus vile

Anyone who was awake this past weekend knows that the U.S. House passed its version of the health care reform bill (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/07/AR2009110701504.html?referrer=emailarticle). The bill narrowly passed on a 220-215 vote, which included near unanimous opposition from Republican members. This is hardly what I would call bipartisan action. Only time will tell how this schism will play out in Congress.

nunc est bibendum

This morning's Washington Post included the article "Industry pushes chocolate milk in schools." The article describes the new "Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk" campaign, which is brought to us by the same people who asked us "Got milk?"

cui bono

Last week the Parent's Television Council requested CW Network affiliates to preempt the 9 November episode of Gossip Girl (http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2009/1104.asp). I find myself asking: "Why?" Never forget that the CW Network and it affiliates are businesses with a bottom line goal to make their stockholders money. If that includes showing programming that might not meet the standards of some, then so be it. I am not passing judgement on the decision one way or another, rather, I am simply stating the facts.

tu quoque

Can someone please explain to me when did Jay Leno contract Brett Favre syndrome? http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NTY3MzQyOQ==.

ubi dubium ibi libertas

The biggest lesson I want people to get out of this blog is this:

Think for yourself.
Question what you read and hear.
Decide for yourself whether or not what is going on is good for you, your family, and your community.
Be accountable for your actions.

alterum non laedere

Three days ago we were greeted with another example of the failings of the big agriculture industry, http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NTY0MTE2OQ==. My heart goes out to those who were sickened or killed by this event.

What I wanted to say is that this is another reason I only trust my food when I can talk with the hard working people who raised it. In fact, I trust my local farmers enough that I would eat their products raw and I would not worry about catching any disease.

ex opere operantis

With all of this talk about government budgets and how to make ends meet, I had an epiphany: The government should not have jailed Bernie Madoff; it should have hired him to run Social Security. Think about it, that is all Social Security really is, a humongous ponzi scheme, one that is sanctioned by our federal government. First, it takes money from one group to pay another. Second, it is a house of cards ready to fall at any moment. And that is just one federal program that moves large sums of money around. What better manager could there be than an accomplished multi-billion dollar criminal? He would probably run the Treasury better than the current administration. At least Madoff paid taxes on his legitimate gains.

mens sana in corpore sano

I am glad to finally see some vindication for my pro-vitamin D stance: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE59S4JB20091029?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews. I have said before that vitamin D is far more important for our health than current medical wisdom would like to admit.

nolentem trahunt fata

As anyone reading the news knows, President Obama has declared the H1N1 (swine) influence a national emergency (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1793721; http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1emergency10242009.html). As reported, this is to allow "hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients," or "to set up an alternative screening location for patients away from the hospital’s main campus," among other uses.

veritas curat

I have one piece of advice to everyone about this H1N1 pandemic: Don't panic!

From my completely unscientific observation it would seem about 99% of people fall into two categories:

1. Those who are swept up in the hysteria and act as if the sky is falling.
2. Those who are ignoring the situation completely as if nothing is happening.

We need to maintain a little perspective. Yes, the situation serious. Keep in mind that people have died, so this is more than just a tummy ache. On the other hand this is not Ebola either. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

quot homines tot sententiae

Last week, the national news was hit with headlines about Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Louisiana's Tangipahoa Parish (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1786708).  The articles revolve around his refusal to marry an interracial couple. His action has stirred up a whirlwind around him, which include Louisiana's governor Bobby Jindal calling for an investigation.

Allow me to preface my comments by saying that I unequivocally disagree with Mr. Bardwell's opinion. In terms of interracial couples, I have dated interracially myself. In fact, all of my dates have been interracial (I can only assume black women are just not interested in me). As far as the children of interracial couples, I have many friends whose children seem quite well-adjusted. That includes my own nieces. Therefore, do I think Mr. Bardwell is wrong? Yes.

vincit qui se vincit

Yesterday I participated in my first 5K race. It was the Mike Tyler 5K at Watkins Mill High School (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/mike_tyler/mike_tyler09.pdf). Considering I am so new to this my only goal was to finish, and finish in a reasonable amount of time. Well, I did finish, and I managed to do it in 29:50. I think that was pretty good considering I was expecting something closer to 35 minutes.

Remember, this was a high school event. The part that amazed me was how many of the teenage athletes I beat. I guess I have conditioned myself much better than they did. I was surprised by how many were out of breath climbing the hills of the course. To any of those kids I say: "You're half my age. You should have done better." Actually, I cannot complain. I am sure any one of them wipe the floor with me in their chosen sport. At least I can also say I'm in the best shape of my life.

ubi non accusator ibi non iudex

Last night, all I could say was "I just want to get home." I realize that traffic in and around DC is nuts on a good day. Of course, yesterday had the added fun of rain. First observation: Washingtonians have no clue how to drive in weather.

primum non nocere

I only have one thing to say in response to the congressional bickering about health care reform:

It does not matter what Congress finally passes. If the legislation contains the influence of the pharmaceutical industry, it will be bad for us all. Of course the pharmaceutical industry is not the only one trying to get in on the action. The insurance industry wants its say (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=116&sid=1783734).

naturalia non sunt turpia

I was doing a little research on the IRS website and I discovered an interesting line of reasoning. In particular, I wanted to know what medical expenses are deductible (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf). I found an interesting paragraph, pretty much because it was the paragraph that answered my original question:

ophidia in herba

Yesterday, this headline caught my attention: "CDC official downplays risk from swine flu vaccine" (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1661303). I liked the use of the word downplays. This is certainly another use of media spin used to encourage people to take the pharmaceutical method of so-called prevention. For a transcript of that episode of CNN's "State of the Union" go here.

According to the news article Dr. Schuchat is trying to clear up misinformation about the H1N1 vaccine. I ask, "What about her disinformation?" She says that "everything we know right now suggests a very good safety profile for the vaccine." She insists that "the seasonal flu vaccine is made exactly the same way as this H1N1 vaccine," rather than mentioning any novelty of this year's vaccine.

cum hoc ergo propter hoc

My loyal readers (all two or three of you out there) have most likely noticed my unabashed bashing of the current vaccine situation over the past few posts. Allow me a moment to change directions and start bashing the statin mania. As you can see I still have the pharmaceutical industry squarely in my sights.

Wikipedia defines a statin as "a class of drugs that lower cholesterol levels in people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease." As you can guess, I take issue with that entire concept. The question I propose is "What effects does low cholesterol levels have on cardiovascular disease?"

ad pondus omnium

In my daily search for news I ran across this article describing a study considering the effect of diet on pilot performance:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1779702

At first glance I knew I needed to see the study for myself. So far I have managed to find this abstract:

https://cdmrpcures.org/ocs/index.php/mhrf/mhrf09/paper/view/1492

qui tacet consentire videtur

Has anyone been following what is going on in Massachusetts? And when I say "what is going on" I mean Senate Bill 2028 "An Act Relative to Pandemic and Disaster Preparation and Response in the Commonwealth." (http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02028.htm) I find myself unable to express my true opinion of this bill without turn this into an R rated blog. But don't take my word for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjVuBg4LpcQ

I find myself wondering who resurrected George Orwell and got him to write legislation? Only he could write such fascist drivel. I am flabbergasted. Do the citizens of Massachusetts really know what their elected officials are doing? Do those elected officials really know what they are doing? Did they actually read the bill before voting yea? Or did they think the Bill of Rights was recently repealed?

I sincerely hope the citizens of Massachusetts take this legislation to court as soon as it passes into law. This article has a good listing of the violations posed by this bill: http://www.naturalnews.com/026934_health_public_health_quarantine.html. We can all say we have no need for this to become precedent. Silence is the last thing we need. We must fight this encroachment upon our freedoms.

petitio principii

I spent yesterday and today thinking about one of the swine flu stories I caught while watching yesterday's broadcast of Good Morning America. This particular story talked of Jim Shrode who nearly died of the swine flue (http://a.abcnews.com/GMA/surving-swine-flu/story?id=8777207). Please, allow me to state unequivocally that I do not wish to minimize Mr. Shrode's ordeal. I firmly believe every life is precious. I am positive Mr. Shrode's family would agree. Also, since I am not a physician, this entire post is simply speculation.

compos mentis

Being the geek I am, I have all of my web browsers on whatever desktop or laptop I use set to my Google homepage. I positioned at the very top of the center column a listing of the top five headlines local to the DC metro area. This morning I was struck by the fact that of the top five headlines, four had something to do with the flu. I saw the following:

cessante ratione legis cessat ipsa lex

A side effect of what I've seen and read over the last two years has led me to the conclusion that our government has gotten to big for its own good. I started with the goal of simply getting myself healthier. While I think I have had radical success to that end, it feels like I've managed to do that in spite of the government.

a capite ad calcem

I find myself deeply bothered by the H1N1 hysteria over the past few months. I use the term hysteria quite purposefully as its definition includes panic, fear, and irrationality. The news agencies keep pushing the public to get not one but two vaccines this year, at least one of of which is being fast tracked with minimal testing. I refuse to be a guinea pig of the pharmaceutical industry.

vivat crescat floreat

Yesterday, while I was sick, I ran across a video that I think everyone who is concerned about his or her health needs to see. The only reason I was able to watch it (it is almost two hours long) was because I too ill to go to work.

The World According to Monsanto

Personally, after watching the video you will start to see why I believe Monsanto is the most evil company in the world. I know I am not alone in that opinion. In fact, I will go so far as to say they are the Antichrist of Agriculture. My apologies to my Christian friends who might have a problem with that statement. There is a good chance this video will never get broadcast on American television, so please spread this link to as many of your friends as you can.

stat sua cuique dies

So, today I ended up getting sick. I didn't start out sick; in fact I was fine first thing in the morning. The problems started when I was out for my early morning jog. I was already about 2.5 miles from home by the time I started to feel a twinge in my lower back. That ended the jogging. However, I was halfway through my course, meaning I still had 2.5 miles to get back home. By the time I was within a mile of home I was wincing with every step. The commuters probably thought I was schizophrenic. Needless to say, I did not go into work.