Monday Madness
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 10th, 2013
Good morning!
Oooh…It’s been quiet this weekend. What’s everybody been up to? I woke up to rain and I am not liking it. I just pulled out my summer dresses and had my car washed thinking the rainy season was over. I have very little to be ungrateful for in my life, so a little rain shouldn’t bother me, but today…well, I was just wishing for a little sunshine. I HOPE it is sunny wherever you are.
So…onto today’s topic. However, I am not sure what I am posting today. And I realize that I am way late in addressing my blog this morning. A lot has happened in the last three hours. I’ve been reading about the so-called NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Snowden who worked with the NSA and made public the details of an NSA program code-named PRISM, claims that “he acted out of conscience to protect our basic liberties. ” Snowden has left his home in Hawaii and is now residing in a hotel, mind you a 5-star hotel, in Hong Kong, from which he gave an interview.
The latest tweet that I read was from Glenn Beck – who tweeted, “I think I have just read about the man for which I have waited. Earmarks of a real hero.” Yeah right. This guy is no “hero.” Although I am not surprised Beck would define his hero based on the actions of someone like Snowden. I think anybody sane and logical would question how this guy, who didn’t graduate from high school, ended up with the NSA. I personally don’t buy his story. And it wouldn’t surprise me if he was BAPF by our republican friends. Yes, some may express concern over this matter, but you know many are delighted, and revel in trying to make Obama look as bad as they possibly can. Once again…Can I say this enough?…at the expense of the American people.
Anyway, I have said what I wanted. I do not want to give this lowlife Snowden any more time, as I have given him enough.
What’s new?
Here’s a write that came across my plate. As usual I cannot post the video so please click on the title below if you would like to watch it.
American Woman Gang-Raped In India
NEW DELHI — An American woman was gang-raped in the northern Indian resort town of Manali, police said.
Three men in a truck picked up the 30-year-old woman as she was hitchhiking to her guest house after visiting a friend, police officer Sher Singh said.
The men drove to a secluded spot and raped her, he said. She went to police and they filed a rape case.
Authorities issued an alert for the three men and set up roadblocks to check any trucks leaving the town, he said. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon, Singh said.
The rape came after a Swiss tourist was gang-raped in March while on a cycling trip through rural India. Six men were arrested in that attack. The same month, a British woman traveling elsewhere in northern India jumped from a third-floor window fearing a sexual attack after the hotel’s owner tried to force his way into her room.
Concern about sexual assaults in India has heightened since the fatal gang-rape of a woman in New Delhi in December sparked public protests demanding better protection for women.
In response, the government passed a law increasing prison terms for rape and providing for the death penalty in cases of rape that result in death or leave the victim in a coma. It also made voyeurism, stalking, acid attacks and the trafficking of women punishable under criminal law.
*******
Readers: As much as I think this girl was stupid to hitchhike and then get in a car filled with men, that is still no excuse for the men to rape her. And as much as I think this woman was not thinking, this is in no way saying that I blame her. As I have stated here before, albeit it has raised controversy among some of you, a woman should be able to walk in the streets completely naked and not a finger should be placed on her unless she desires it.
That is what we women should be able to do. However, with what we know about men, I would not suggest it. Rape is a horrific act, something one never wants to experience and you just don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position with men because men will take advantage of it. And the results are nothing that you want to experience.
It brings up the saying, “Trust in Allah but tie up your camel.” This girl obviously trusted, however, unfortunately she forgot to tie up her camel when she decided to hitchhike and accept a ride in that car full of men. It is really too bad and something that could have been avoided had she just thought about it and acted differently. In my opinion, she is a lucky girl, lucky to be alive.
Ladies, use your street smarts. After all that we know about men, please don’t put your life in the hands of them, by putting yourself in a vulnerable position and trusting that you will be okay.
Sorry for the late post – thanks for being here with me. Peace & Love. Spread some today. Okay?
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
June 10th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
I can’t believe we’re fighting about women’s rights in 2013.
Since I was sworn in as a U.S. senator in January, Senate Republicans have voted twice against the Violence Against Women Act. They’ve voted against a woman’s right to choose. And they’ve voted against access to birth control.
Each of these votes has been close, and I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to elect Democrats that women can count on — not some of the time, but all of the time.
That’s one of the reasons Democrats like First Lady Michelle Obama and I are working so hard for Ed Markey in the upcoming Massachusetts Senate special election. We need to win every race we can.
June 10th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Keratin Hair Treatments Still Are Not Safe
If you thought that the health risks associated with hair-smoothing keratin treatments were behind us, think again.
Though the formulas used in salons today typically are less dangerous than the notorious Brazilian Blowout, a product whose risks came to light back in 2010, the current formulas are far from safe.
Yet many woman are still ignorant of—or ignoring—the dangers. And even if you wouldn’t dream of using such a product yourself, you could still be at risk while someone else at your salon is getting her hair done. Here’s the straight talk…
Keratin is a protein that exists naturally in hair. The idea of a keratin salon treatment is to make hair smoother, sleeker, straighter and easier to style.
For the treatment, a stylist applies a mixture of keratin and formaldehyde (a strong preservative) to the hair, which fills in the gaps in each hair shaft…then the stylist “seals” the mixture into the hair, lock by lock, using a very hot flat iron.
At this high temperature, the liquid formaldehyde converts to gas vapors.
Yes, formaldehyde gas—swirling in a hot cloud all around your head. It sounds outrageous, like it ought to be illegal, doesn’t it?
Whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin, formaldehyde is linked to a host of health problems. “Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and lungs, as well as dizziness or lightheadedness.
Even short-term exposure can cause asthma-like symptoms, while long-term exposure can cause permanent central nervous system damage and ongoing pulmonary problems.
So far, the risk for cancer from long-term exposure is controversial, but there is good data to support a link between formaldehyde and the development of leukemia,” said Amy McMichael, MD, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Despite these risks, women who want to keep their hair sleek and straight tend to repeat the treatment every eight to 12 weeks or so, increasing their exposure.
The danger was first brought to public attention a few years ago when the FDA warned the Brazilian Blowout hair products company—the most well-known manufacturer, though far from the only one—to change its formulation and its product labels, which the agency described as “adulterated” and “misleading,” respectively.
A public back-and-forth followed, with the company first insisting that the government’s lab tests were flawed and that the products were safe, then ultimately agreeing to change its products and labeling.
A THREAT BY ANY OTHER NAME
As the battle heated up and public awareness grew, salons began offering “no-formaldehyde” and “low-formaldehyde” treatments. But these are still problematic—and here’s why…
• Many of the supposedly formaldehyde-free hair-smoothing products contain ingredients that turn into formaldehyde when they break down during the heat application portion of the salon treatment!
Ingredients that are synonyms for or that break down into formaldehyde include formalin, formic aldehyde, methanal, methylene glycol, methylene oxide, oxomethane and oxymethylene.
• Other products that claim to be formaldehyde-free were found, when tested by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to contain significant levels of formaldehyde.
• The truly formaldehyde-free products don’t do much to smooth out the hair shafts, leaving many consumers dissatisfied.
• The low-formaldehyde products, while not as toxic as the original formulations, still carry health risks.
• Some salons still use high-formaldehyde products.
A UBIQUITOUS TOXIN
In all honesty, it’s not easy to avoid formaldehyde today. It’s used in a vast array of products, from plywood to carpeting to household cleaners. Clothing and most other textiles (towels, sheets, curtains) often are treated with formaldehyde to keep them looking fresh during shipping and warehousing.
Formaldehyde also is used as an ingredient in many cosmetics, including soaps, lotions, even mascara and eye liner.
OSHA requires that employers take protective precautions for workers who are exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations of 0.1% or higher.
Scary comparison: According to the FDA, the original Brazilian Blowout products contained nearly 12% formaldehyde.
But just because your salon uses a product called something other than Brazilian Blowout doesn’t make it safe.
Other products that expose you to formaldehyde during treatment include Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, Acai Therapy, Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Brasil Cacau, Cadiveu, Chocolate Extreme De-Frizzing Treatment, Copomon/Coppola, Express Blow Out, Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy, Marcia Teixeira Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Marcia Teixeira Extreme De-Frizzing Treatment, Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment, Professional Brazilian Blowout Solution, Soft Chocolate Gentle Smoothing Treatment and Soft Gentle Smoothing Treatment.
Bottom line:
At this point, there is no effective salon-performed, keratin-based hair-smoothing product that can be considered completely safe, according to Dr. McMichael.
If you have been receiving keratin treatments, it’s time to give serious consideration to stopping.
Even if you have not noticed any negative effects as yet, it doesn’t mean that you’re immune—cumulative exposure only increases your risk.
If you patronize a salon that offers keratin treatments: Ask to be booked for a time when the salon can guarantee that no such treatment will be taking place…or at least insist on having your hair styled in a separate room to limit your exposure to the fumes.
Source: Amy McMichael, MD, professor of dermatology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
June 10th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
I am still checking out the Zen Lill fashion line. I want more.
June 11th, 2013 at 5:17 am
ndia is not the only country known for disregarding rape cases. Violence against women, children and the elderly seems to be on the rise (heck, violence in general) but the disregard for women and children in the 3rd world and the Middle East world is appalling.
Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea and the uNited Nations need to not just hold these countries to a higher standard when these issues are in the news but continually, until it changes.
June 11th, 2013 at 5:18 am
India is not well known for handing-out penalties for sex crimes. Most criminals get a slap on the wrist for brutally raping women because its OK in their society for rapes to occurs as woman are thought of as barely being above that stature of farm animals. Boycott India just as Mexico has been boycotted by the savvy.
June 11th, 2013 at 5:19 am
We must start by cleaning our own house – US Military rapes of men and women are despicable!!!
As it stands now, it’s “Open Season” for sex crimes in the military. It must change now!
June 11th, 2013 at 5:27 am
Michelle I’m Pakistani.
India first was a Stooge of USSR (Now Russia) harboring animosity from those 60 years against us untill the fall of Soviet empire, while Pakistan was US ally and helped fight our war against soviet union finally leading to crushing of the RED Bear and after that Indian turncoats started harping our tunes .
Hindus over there are the most racist people with a well defined caste system of untouchables and frequent burning of their own women after their husbands die called Sati.. then their religon requires them to drink urine from sacred cow. why would they care about our values … and our women.
Their spies amongst us spread false hatred in our hearts and throw around enough dust , where instead of keeping our allies based on the historical Provence we turn against them so these Racist Hindus can keep exploiting us, while our attention is diverted.
So we have a duty to read history and be an informed nation rather be misled by the Hindus and Zionists and evangelists.
June 11th, 2013 at 5:30 am
Why was she hitchhiking in a foreign country? Stupidity is not a free ride from the consequences of decisions you make in life.
June 11th, 2013 at 7:01 am
I read that they just signed a law in Washington to let unlimited low life from India come to the U.S. and take jobs away from our own people.
I think it was the tech industry that lobbied our politicians who are ever so “faithful” to the American people for this law. I think it’s way past the time that we outsource our low life politicians jobs.
June 11th, 2013 at 7:03 am
No, not the woman’s fault she got raped. but seriously, who thinks; “Hey, India is having a lot of sex crime problems against women, I’m a woman, maybe I should go there!”?
I realize everyone can’t just “leave” bad places and situations but we can make smart choices and NOT put ourselves into bad situations. That said, I am sorry for what this woman went through and hope she will be ok, but would recommend a quick exit home.
June 11th, 2013 at 7:03 am
Hitching a ride is dangerous in Kansas or Paris….men should be publicly castrated everywhere, upon conviction of rape…that alone would drop the rape rate in the USA by17.3%
June 11th, 2013 at 7:04 am
1) There is crime – - and rape – — in every nation
2) The incidence of rape is higher in the USA – - look it up
3) You can not judge an entire nation of 1.3 Billion by the actions of a few
4) I, as a woman, would not hitch a ride in ANY nation on earth with a
GROUP of men!!
( Once, as a young teenage girl, I did hitch a ride in India to get to a certain city. The driver was an educated, upper-middle class gentleman, and was a perfect gentleman.
You have to be able to judge people, and the quality of people – - in any nation. It is not socio-economic status. You can go to a village and see poor villagers, who are gentle, family-oriented folks.)
June 11th, 2013 at 7:08 am
What Causes Diabetes? Add Stress to the List
When you think about ways to prevent diabetes, you probably don’t think about stress. But as it turns out, a particular type of stress can increase the odds of developing type 2 diabetes quite significantly.
The news comes from a long-term study conducted in Sweden that began back in 1970. Participants included about 7,000 men who, at the time, were 47 to 56 years old and free of any history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
These men completed questionnaires that asked, among other things, about their stress levels. Stress was defined as “feeling tense, irritable or filled with anxiety, or having sleeping difficulties as a result of conditions at work or at home.”
Nearly 16% of the men reported that they had been feeling “permanent” stress, meaning that it had been ongoing for one to five years or more.
Fast-forward 35 years:
By searching through national death records and hospital discharge reports, the researchers determined that, over the following three-and-a-half decades, 899 of the study participants were diagnosed at some point with type 2 diabetes.
Next, the researchers analyzed the data, adjusting for other factors that influence diabetes risk, such as physical activity level, body mass index, high blood pressure and age.
Findings:
Men who had reported feeling ongoing stress at the start of the study had a 45% higher probability of developing diabetes, compared with men who had not had ongoing stress. Interestingly, there was hardly any difference in diabetes risk between the men who had reported periodic stress and those who had reported little or no stress.
THE STRESS CONNECTION
There are several reasons why stress could contribute to diabetes risk. One is that increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which the body produces in response to stress, may prevent insulin from efficiently removing glucose from the blood.
Another is that cortisol may promote the development of belly fat, which is a known risk factor for diabetes. Also, when we’re under stress, our bodies produce cytokines, which are proteins that promote inflammation—and evidence suggests that inflammation caused by cytokines is closely involved in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Does ongoing stress also increase diabetes risk in women? Further research is needed to answer that question, but the mechanisms described above are likely to apply to women as well.
Self-defense: Of course, it’s not easy to completely eliminate stress from your work or home life (in fact, it’s hard to imagine that there are people in the world who experience no stress at all). Still, there are many helpful steps you can take to keep stress from becoming the kind of permanent, endless presence that seems to have given those unfortunate Swedes diabetes.
Exercise is known to relieve stress…certain nutrients can reduce stress…and meditation helps, too, by limiting stress-induced inflammation and restoring cortisol levels to more normal levels.
For dozens of powerful, specific stress-busting strategies, check out our Bottom Line Guide to Stress Relief. What if you still feel stressed much of the time despite your best efforts to reduce stress?
Be especially sure to reduce your other risk factors for diabetes by eating a healthful diet, staying physically active and keeping your weight and blood pressure under control.
Source: Masuma Novak, PhD, researcher, department of molecular and clinical medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Her study was published in Diabetic Medicine.
June 11th, 2013 at 7:17 am
It just makes me sick hearing about all these cases of cowards trying do these things to women…and it’s high time we at least make an attempt to do something about it.
Spread awareness, protect your own families…we don’t need to get all sorts of politics involved in these situations. Start the road to recovery by being faithful and loving in your own community…and let that love spread.