I save a lot of stuff I read and find interesting, in my computer.  A lot of it is truly  worth saving,  a lot is pretty silly stuff  (I save it anyway),  and then there’s a lot that’s worth sharing!

This is one of those “worth sharing.” I should note that I haven’t done all this stuff, and probably never will…but… it’s good to know.

From 2006:

A Harvard doctor outlines basic steps all men should take to stay healthy.

By Harvey B. Simon, M.D.

- Though few men understand it, and fewer still admit it, men are the weaker sex. It’s true, of course, that males have larger frames and bigger, stronger muscles. They can out-lift, out-hit and out-throw their female counterparts. But when it comes to health, the gals are stronger by far.

In the United States, and around the world, women live longer than men. The average American woman has a life expectancy of 80.4 years; men lag 5.2 years behind. At every age, from conception to seniority, males have a higher death rate than females. Men die younger than women, and they are also more burdened by disease during life. They have more chronic illnesses than women, and they fall ill at an earlier age. Why? It’s the $64,000 question. But there is no single answer. Instead, the gap depends on a complex mix of biological, social and behavioral factors. Possible contributors include: biological factors (men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, women two Xs; men have much more testosterone, women much more estrogen; women have higher HDL or “good” cholesterol levels, men more abdominal fat); social factors like work stress and social networks and support systems (men lag behind women); and behavioral factors (men tend to exhibit more risky behavior, aggression and violence, and unhealthy habits like smoking and alcohol abuse, yet they are less likely to see doctors).

Why do men make poor patients? Busy work schedules and competing responsibilities and interests may play a role, but the macho mentality appears to be the chief culprit. When it comes to health, many men put their heads in the sand and deny symptoms for as long as possible. And when they can no longer pretend there is no problem, many grit their teeth and “tough it out” instead of getting prompt medical care. Call it the John Wayne Syndrome or the Ostrich Mentality—by any name, it’s an important contributor to the health gap. Women think about health more than men, and they are more diligent about checkups and preventive care. But men can take simple steps to protect themselves from the heart disease and lung cancer that felled the quintessential American he-man.

Prevention First
Prevention is key to helping men become healthier and live longer. Here are 10 simple steps men can take:

• 1. Avoid tobacco and illicit drugs.
• 2. Exercise regularly.
• 3. Eat well.
• 4. Stay lean.
• 5. Limit alcoholic drinks to one or two a day (if any).
• 6. Avoid excess stress.
• 7. Wear a seat belt and behave prudently to avoid accidents.
• 8. Minimize exposure to ultraviolet rays, radiation, chemical pollutants or other environmental hazards.
• 9. Use protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
• 10. Listen to your body, report any problems to your doctor, and get preventive medical care.

The 40s
Medical care gets more complex in your 40s—but only a little. Most physicians schedule a baseline EKG to test your heart function at about age 40, and then repeat it periodically. And the American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting blood-sugar test at age 45, then every three years. It’s also a reasonable time to start skin-cancer screening, with periodic self-exams, a physician exam with each checkup, and exams by a dermatologist for men at high risk (like those with fair skin, a family history of skin cancer, or who’ve had severe sunburns).

The 50s
Now it starts to get interesting. Along with “all of the above,” turning 50 means adding four more items to your medical checklist:

• 1. Colon-cancer screening. Men at average risk can choose from four options: an annual fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) with colonoscopy for a positive test; a FOBT plus sigmoidoscopy every five years; a colonoscopy every 10 years; or a double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years. Individuals at higher-than-average risk (like those who have had previous colon polyps or colon cancer in a parent or sibling) should choose colonoscopy; it’s the most arduous test but also the best.
• 2. Prostate-cancer screening. Colon-cancer screening is a no-brainer; every man should have it, though each can decide which type to have. But prostate-cancer screening is controversial. It is surely the best way to detect prostate cancer in its earliest, most-treatable form. Still, it is far from certain that early treatment will prolong life, and for some men the side effects of treatment will be worse than the illness, which is often very indolent. Annual PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams should be offered to men starting at age 50 (or at 40 or 45 for African Americans, or men with fathers or brothers with prostate cancer). Doctors should discuss the pros and cons of screening with each patient, who then has the burden of deciding for himself. Testing is unlikely to be helpful beyond age 70 to 75.
• 3. Eye exams by a specialist every one to two years, starting at age 50.
• 4. An annual flu shot.

The 60s
In terms of medical tests and treatments, a 60-year-old is just a grayer 50-year-old, with two exceptions. Men who have ever smoked, even just 100 cigarettes, should get an abdominal ultrasound test to look for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) at age 65 (a family history of AAA is another reason to get the test). And all men should roll up a sleeve for a pneumococcal pneumonia shot at age 65.

The 70s and Beyond
In time, even the healthiest of us will experience diminished physical and mental abilities. With good health habits, good medical care, good genes and good luck, the decline will be gradual—but it will occur. While it’s important to keep working to stay healthy and active, it’s also important to understand, accept and adjust to new limitations. But that doesn’t mean dwelling on what’s been lost. Instead, focus on all the good things in your past and keep looking for good things in your present—and future.

One of the few entirely good things about becoming an octogenarian is that you’ll need fewer routine screening tests. Prostate-cancer screening is downright foolish, and many doctors believe the value of colon-cancer screening diminishes as the years roll on.

If you’ve made it to your 90s in good shape, your wisdom and experience are likely to include the value of good health habits and preventive medical care. Although it’s impossible to single out any one bit of advice, the American aphorist Mason Cooley did a pretty fair job in 1922: “The wisdom of age: Don’t stop walking.”

Harvey B. Simon, M.D., is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Health Sciences Technology Faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch, a monthly newsletter, and the author of six consumer health books, including “The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men’s Health” (Simon and Schuster, 2002) and “The No Sweat Exercise Plan. Lose Weight, Get Healthy and Live Longer” (McGraw-Hill, 2006).

OK, 2010 is here and for lots of us, that means kicking things up a notch in the exercise department. But you don’t have to run marathons or take  exercise classes — here’s why plain old walking is the best thing for your body:

• For your heart: Just 30 minutes of walking at least 3 times a week can lower your blood pressure. Plus, walking several times a week is just as effective as vigorous exercise when it comes to reducing risk of heart disease.

• For your brain: Walking boosts your brain’s production of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that help ward off stress and depression and fight tension and anger.

• For your skin: Like all cardio exercise, walking gets your heart pumping and improves circulation-and better blood flow means your skin looks (and IS!) healthier.

• For your immune system: Walking 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week can help you cut your chances of getting a cold in HALF. Walking supports healthy circulation, which helps immune cells reach and kill viruses and bacteria more quickly.

• For your bones: Weight-bearing exercise like walking helps build bone mass, which keeps bones stronger and fends off osteoporosis.

Source: Redbook.com

I’m a big fan of the Travel Channel (love to see those places I’ll never get to go to) and the History Channel; as far as history goes, I think you have a better understanding of where you’re going, if you have an idea of where you’ve been. Anyway, I was watching the History Channel the other night and caught “The Nostradamus Effect.” The program details various historical apocalyptic prophecies, especially the 2012 phenomenon.

In the program they mentioned Terrence McKenna, who I had never heard of, and the Web Bot Project, (same deal) which refers to an Internet bot software program that is claimed to be able to predict future events by tracking keywords entered on the Internet. It was created in 1997, originally to predict stock market trends.

Being a believer in Theatre of the Mind (it’s what radio used to be before the invention of TV and obviously what the Nostradamus Effect is, if you take away the visual) I set about checking them out on the Internet.

If you have an evening or two to kill, this is interesting reading!

Both are covered pretty well by Wikipedia, but Terrence McKenna, (1946-2000) was obviously an extremely brilliant guy (over my head) and has a website dedicated to him called TerrenceMcKennaLand. The guy was definitely out there, but pretty damn interesting.

It’s all a serious time-sink, but so is reading a book, another favorite thing of mine to do.

At any rate, getting back to my point, if you’re caught up in the whole doom and gloom thing about the 2012 predictions, read Wiki’s 2012 phenomenon, unlike the program I watched, which was entertaining, afterwords, you probably won’t give the 2012 prophecy too much more thought.

One less thing to worry about!

Life goes on, unless we as human beings, get in the way.

I’ve never been any good at keeping New Year’s resolutions so, I quit making them along time ago. Of course, if everyone kept their New Years resolutions, they’d be 10 lbs lighter, 10 times richer and most likely, done with cigarettes forever.

I ran across this article on CNN about “the mindset to positive changes” and thought it  worth sharing……

Happy New Year everyone…..

By Elizabeth Landau

(CNN) — A new decade is about to start, and you may be tempted to set a copious list of resolutions for yourself in order to broadly “make life better.”

You may be thinking that you’ll jump in on January 1 to reform everything from diet to relationships to personality.

That, experts say, is the wrong approach. It’s great to want to make changes, but in order to actually accomplish your goals, they say, it’s important to be realistic, specific, and accountable.

Here are 10 things you can do to help yourself stay in a mindset to make positive changes in the coming year:

1. Set smaller goals with smaller steps

Gradual small steps motivate people toward larger change, said Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, professor of psychology at Yale University.

If you want to lose weight, for example, change small aspects of your eating pattern. Resolve to have a salad tomorrow for lunch, and then do that for a week.

Write down the steps you want to take in a datebook to make it concrete, and reward yourself for making the individual changes, she said.

Let’s say you want to work on being more optimistic this year. Nolen-Hoeksema recommends imagining what you would be like if you were optimistic. Imagine yourself going through a day at work if you were optimistic and confident, then write that down in great detail.

Now, you have specific aspects of that ideal of optimism to work toward. Pick one thing that the optimistic you is doing that you’re not, and start working in that direction, she said.

2. Frame your goals positively

Despite the proven health risks of certain habits, such as smoking, thinking about a habit in the negative will not help you nix it. Studies have shown that it’s hard to get motivated about avoiding cancer, but easier to think about smelling better and saving money as reasons to quit smoking, Nolen-Hoeksema said.

So, if you want to quit doing something, think about the positive aspects of not doing it. And make sure you reward yourself for sticking to the plan along the way.

3. Look at the pros and cons

If you’re on the fence about whether you should make a change this year, make a list of the benefits and costs, said Dr. Nadine Kaslow, professor of psychiatry at Emory University.

Pay attention to what’s driving you, she said. Sometimes it’s pain that motivates people to change, or a new phase of life, or new information, or a possible promotion.

“It helps to get clear about what you want to change and why you want to change it,” she said.

4. Get a resolutions buddy

Knowing that someone else is working toward similar goals, or is supporting you in your endeavors, helps to keep motivation up. Having a new year’s resolution buddy who’s keeping track of your progress helps keep you accountable for what you’ve done.

At the end of every year, Kaslow and her friend review all of their goals from the prior year, examining what the obstacles were to change and then developing new goals for the next year.

Planning for goals with someone can guide you in the path towards change, even if you don’t don’t accomplish everything in a single year, she said.

5. Be specific

It’s easy to get discouraged by a broad goal like “I’m going to improve my marriage,” Nolen-Hoeksema said. Figure out exactly what it is that’s not working for you, and then formulate a strategy for solving individual problems.

In the marriage example, it’s important to get realistic about what it is about your marriage that needs improvement. Then, spend some time keeping a diary and tracking what’s going right and what’s not, and come up with one thing you can do per week that would help the situation.

The process of assessing the small actions you can take in the immediate future, and savoring the positive effects, can take a lot of pressure off and help you achieve larger goals, she said.

6. Know thyself

The start of the year is as good a time as any to take inventory of yourself. What are your passions? What do you want to be doing better? Take the time think about who you are and how you want life to be, said Craig Levine, a clinical psychologist in San Francisco, California.

Real change happens because you yourself want it, not because others want it for you, experts say.

“If it’s something that doesn’t connect to you and truly relate to you, just because someone says you should do something, if it doesn’t resonate with you, it’s not going to be as helpful as something that truly fits you,” Levine said.

7. Examine deeper issues

Sometimes there are problems that need to be addressed before people can move forward with the change they want.

In some cases there are psychological impediments to making changes, Levine said. For example, some people fear failure so much that they unknowingly sabotage themselves. Self-esteem may also play a role — some people don’t feel they’re worthy of being taken care of, he said.

If you think that there are deeper issues preventing you from moving forward in your life in some way, consult a professional.

8. Don’t be overanxious

Having a long list of lofty resolutions can create anxiety, so Nolen-Hoeksema recommends choosing anywhere between three and five overarching things to change.

For Kaslow, the word “resolution” connotes a “pass-fail” ultimatum, so she prefers using the word “goal.”

Writing down your goals and how you plan to achieve them is a good way to beat anxiety, Levine said.

9. Be flexible

Although you should be specific about what you want to do, sometimes it helps to broaden your vision of what you’re trying to accomplish. For instance, if you’ve been laid off from your job in the financial sector, it may not be immediately possible to find a similar position.

But if you are on the job market, the broader goal might be to support yourself or your family, Nolen-Hoeksema said. Having a wider vision of what constitutes success can free you up to explore other options that do help with the central purpose.

“Step back and say, ‘Is there any way I can achieve that bigger goal without getting fixated on the goal I had before?’” she said.

10. Keep your eye on the ball

Changing behaviors is especially difficult when other people around you encourage habits you’re trying to kick, or if you are under stress. For instance, if you’re a recovering alcoholic and having a bad day, it might be hard to resist if someone says, “It looks like you need a drink,” Kaslow said.

Know that there’s going to be some anxiety, but be patient with yourself, Kaslow said. Take it one incident at a time, one day at a time.

“You have to deal with some negative consequences when you change, both internal and interpersonal, and environmental,” she said. “You have to sort of get help dealing with those, and weather those storms.”

I’m on vacation until January 4th (the magic of taking 6 vacation days and mixing them with the holidays to create 13 days off).

I want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful, Happy
New Year.
Enjoy your time with family and friends, and feel the Spirit of the Holidays!

Welcome to December, one of my favorite months of the year! Of course, it’s the month of my birth, and Iris’s and my Mom. I even have a great great grandfather who’s first name was December, they called him Dee. I have quite a few friends born in December,  December’s Children all of us!

And then there’s  “The Yule Log”, the Winter Solstice and Christmas, and all the wonderful things that go with them. Oh how I hate the cold, but I love the month.

This month also has a blue moon, a month with 2 full moons. According to the popular definition, it is the second full moon to occur in a single calendar month that is called a “Blue Moon”.

From what I’ve read, there are about 41 blue moons in a century, which works out to a month with a blue moon about every 2 and a half to 3 years.

The last month with a blue moon was May of 2007, the next won’t come around until August of 2012.

The rare phenomenon of two blue moons occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. 1999 was the last time a blue moon appeared twice, in January and March, and it will happen again in those same months in 2018.

A full moon on December 2^nd, the “Full Cold Moon”, and a blue moon on December 31^st…the “Blue Snow Moon”, New Years Eve. The last time that happened was December 31^st, 1990…  another  very Cool reason to celebrate or, another great reason to stay home…

Every year about this time, riders start thinking about stowing their motorcycles for the winter—whether it’s because there’s a foot of snow on the ground or because of holiday commitments. And every spring, the phones at motorcycle dealers ring off the wall with customers who did not store their bikes properly and wonder why they won’t run.

Some preparation now will ensure that you are out riding in the spring instead of waiting in the dealer’s lineup. And a key question is where you will store your bike.

One solution may be to ask your dealer if he offers a storage program. This is ideal because he will often prep, store and have the bike ready to ride when you are ready again.

However, if you prefer to store it yourself, you will need to find a place that is dry and out of harm’s way.

Choose a location away from windows. The ultraviolet light can fade your bike’s paint and plastic parts. Direct sunlight can raise the ambient temperature of the storage area, which will promote condensation when the sun goes down, so cover plain glass with some sort of opaque material.

Also, cover your bike with a specially designed bike cover—not a sheet or a tarp. Why? Because a sheet absorbs moisture and holds it against metal surfaces and then rust forms. Also, damp fabric will breed mildew and this may attack the seat material.

A tarp prevents moisture from getting in but it also prevents it from getting out. Trapped moisture will condense on the bike and then the rust monster is back.

Instead, choose a specially designed motorcycle cover made of a mildew resistant material. The material is slightly porous, so it can breathe. The right storage location will help ensure your bike is good to go in the spring, but it’s also important to check all your fluids and protect your bikes body from the harmful effects of disuse and storage.

Source: Courtesy of TotalMotorcycle.com

From RealSimple.com

There’s a reason for each and every sniffle, sneeze, ache, and pain. Learn why your body behaves the way it does, and discover the quickest ways to feel better.

The symptom: Sneezing

What it means: Your body is expelling bacteria and other particles with a sudden, involuntary burst of air. Don’t suppress a sneeze, as your body is trying to evict the irritants.

When to worry: Almost never, but if sneezing interferes with your life or persists after other symptoms are gone, talk to your doctor to find out if an allergy might be the cause.

Home remedies: Using Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues helps prevent the spread of viruses. No tissue? Sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. You’ll be less likely to pass germs along.

Over-the-counter remedies: Some antihistamines (the sedating varieties) can help cut down on the sneeze reflex. But most experts advise you to leave this fairly innocuous symptom untreated.

RealSimple.com: The best drugstore cold and flu remedies

The symptom: Chills and fever

What it means: Chills are the way the body generates heat when it feels cold. They usually precede a fever, the body’s method for defending itself by raising its temperature to fight a virus.

RealSimple.com: What causes the cold or flu?

When to worry: Call your doctor if your temperature rises above 102 degrees, if a fever persists for 72 hours without breaking, or if you also have shortness of breath or dizziness.

Home remedies: To stay hydrated, sip your favorite liquids. Sponging off with warm water may also give you relief.

Over-the-counter remedies: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) can lower a fever that’s making you uncomfortable.

The symptom: Sore throat

What it means: Mucus is dripping into the back of your throat, causing irritation and inflammation.

RealSimple.com: 8 sore-throat soothers

When to worry: If you have severe difficulty swallowing or breathing, call your doctor to rule out a more serious illness, such as a bacterial infection.

Home remedies: Gargle with warm salt water. Soothe a scratchy throat with liquids, such as caffeine-free tea and broth, or cool down a fiery one with an ice pop.

Over-the-counter remedies: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help decrease inflammation.

The symptom: Runny nose

What it means: Your body has stepped up mucus production to remove the cold or flu viruses from your nasal passages.

When to worry: If your health doesn’t improve after one week, you could have a bacterial sinus infection, which may require treatment with an antibiotic.

Home remedies: Drink fluids to thin mucus. Chicken soup may help reduce inflammation. Sniff gently into a tissue, as blowing hard can lead to sinus problems.

Over-the-counter remedies: Use a saline spray to help irrigate your nasal passages, or use an oral decongestant or an antihistamine Drixoral or Benadryl for example).

RealSimple.com: A glossary of medicine-cabinet must-haves

The symptom: Sinus pressure

What it means: Mucus has congested the nasal passages and may be trapped in the sinuses because they are not draining properly.

When to worry: If you have a fever of more than 102 degrees, you may have a bacterial infection, which can be treated with antibiotics.

Home remedies: Keep your sinuses moist by using a humidifier, or stand over a sink filled with hot water.

Over-the-counter remedies: A decongestant spray (such as Dristan or Afrin) can help ease congestion and swelling.

The symptom: Cough

What it means: A reflex that keeps the throat clear, a cough is triggered when excessive mucus (or some other irritant) has irritated the nerve endings in the respiratory tract.

When to worry: If you’re short of breath and coughing up blood or discolored mucus, you may have bronchitis, sinusitis, or pneumonia.

Home remedies: Skip the medicated cough drops; they have been proven ineffective. Instead, soothe an irritated throat with your favorite hard candy, or drink warm fluids.

Over-the-counter remedies: Products with pseudoephedrine work but can make you sleepy. Nondrowsy versions with phenylephrine aren’t as effective. Naproxen may reduce throat inflammation.

RealSimple.com: 12 health mysteries explained

The symptom: Swollen glands

What it means: Your lymph nodes are producing an army of infection-fighting cells to battle the invading virus.

When to worry: If your glands remain enlarged for several weeks after a cold or the flu is gone, that could be, in rare cases, a sign of a more serious illness, such as lymphoma.

Home remedies: There’s not much you can do to reduce swollen glands. They should return to normal within a few weeks.

Over-the-counter remedies: Other cold or flu symptoms will probably bother you more, but acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease any discomfort caused by the engorged glands.

RealSimple.com: 10 things you should be doing to boost your immunity

The symptom: Body aches

What it means: More common with the flu, allover aches are a sign your body is releasing chemicals that help your white blood cells fight off infection.

When to worry: Only if the aches are incapacitating, which is rarely the case with a cold or the flu.

Home remedies: Get plenty of rest, and take warm baths to soothe your muscles –or try using a heating pad or a heated water bottle.

Over-the-counter remedies: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will relieve the pain.

I’m always running around on the web, looking  for new things. Curiosity plays a big part but sometimes, it’s just for lack of something to do around the house.   It’s that time of year and the “World Wide Web” is a big place! 

Couple of things I ran across lately might interest you:  One is  Ziggy TV….it’s billed as “the Fastest Music, Movies and Digital TV”  and it’s pretty cool if you don’t mind watching  TV on you computer or you need to  catch up on episodes missed, or just watch stuff you’ve never seen on TV, but would like to check out.  The list of titles is pretty impressive. It’s sort of like Hulu, but more extensive. I don’t download anything to save, but catching up on shows I’ve missed is a big plus seeing I don’t have Tivo.

The other is The Daily Beast, a commentary on  news and entertainment.  First thing I do when I get up in the morning is go to  CNN.com to check on what’s going on in the world, then check the beast. The beast is a little bit “tabloid” but then again, what isn’t.

Just passing on what I found……and, thank you Al Gore, once again, for inventing the internet!

H1N1 flu is upon us and we need to be on top of information regarding it..a doctor friend of mine, who is a member of my graduating class, sent this to all of us…thought I’d just pass it on to you. Here is a comparison to the normal cold symptoms and the seasonal flu.

Symptom:

Fever

Fever is rare with a cold.

Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.

Coughing

A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.

A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches

Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.

Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.

Stuffy Nose

Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.

Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

Chills

Chills are uncommon with a cold.

60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

Tiredness

Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.

Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

Sneezing

Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.

Sneezing is not common with the flu..

Sudden Symptoms

Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.

The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache

A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.

A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat

Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.

Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.

Chest Discomfort

Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

The only way to stop the spread of the Flu  is to spread the awareness.

55 employees in our building received the flu shot yesterday, don’t forget to get yours! I wish you well.