Don’t Forget To Read The Comments Too
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 17th, 2009
Wow. It is going to take me the weekend to sift through all of the comments. My blog is turning out to be a wealth of information….and definitely not always from me. I love what this blog is turning in to. I feel like, thanks to all of you commentators, people can tune in and get the most current of what is happening around the world. I love that this blog is not about one specific topic but any topic that is of interest, from the latest in politics, to great one-liners. Thanks ‘bachelor’ & ‘bachelorette’. Here’s one for you:
“All discarded lovers should be given a second chance, but with somebody else. ” – Mae West
Back to the subject at hand…I used to feel, and still somewhat do but not as much, that I needed to respond to every comment. But now the comments are not necessarily just to me – some are, which is fine, and I’m delighted to respond – but most of you are conversing to everyone and anyone reading. It take the pressure off of me a bit and more importantly, it gets news out that people feel is important.
I feel like my blog is a one-stop-shop for brain food. I hope that is okay to say that, ’cause I feel that way. I mean, the comments whet my appetite and encourage me to look for more so that I can sink my teeth into something that I really want to chew on. So thank you all so very much for contributing to making this blog a destination for so many.
To those of you that may only read my articles and not the comments, I encourage you to read the comments. If you are only reading my writes, you are getting only half the joy of being on my blog. You are so missing out. I say this because I have heard from a few friends that they enjoy my writes and when I mention the comments, they have expressed that they didn’t know where the comments were or how to leave one. That surprised me, but I guess if you are a ‘newbie’ to blog reading, you might not know that you need to click on ‘comments’ in order to see them, and to leave one.
So just to be clear to any blog ‘newbies’: At the very bottom of my write, directly below my photo you will see in ‘orange’: The category that the article is posted in, and the word ‘comments’. If any comments have been posted, the number of comments will precede the word ‘comments’. If you want to read or leave a comment click on the word ‘comment’. Simple. So don’t miss out; read the comments too. They are a vital part of this blog.
And with that, I will end it with: “Happy Friday! I look forward to reading your writes on whatever subject whets your appetite!”
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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April 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
MICROWAVE POPCORN ALERT
Microwave popcorn has seemed like a relatively harmless snack, but lately there have been some news reports that question whether that’s really so. The scariest one links microwave popcorn to an illness called bronchiolitis obliterans, a potentially fatal lung disease. Several workers in popcorn factories have died from it while others were in need of lung transplants. That’s bad enough, and in fact, there have been lawsuits filed for hundreds of factory workers — but last year, the problem reached consumers, too, when the condition (also called “popcorn lung”) was diagnosed in a 53-year-old consumer who’d eaten several bags of popcorn a day for years.
POISON VAPORS
Animal studies have shown that inhaling vapors produced in the manufacturing process for microwave popcorn, in particular those from the butter flavoring, is damaging to the airways, I learned from David Michaels, PhD, MPH, a research professor and associate chairman of the department of environmental and occupational health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. Dr. Michaels has been studying the issue for four years and has led the pack in bringing attention to the dangers. He explained that a harmful chemical called diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) is released when the artificial butter flavoring is heated. Interestingly, diacetyl also is released when heating real butter, but in far lower, nontoxic amounts. The same holds true for popcorn with artificial butter flavoring prepared other ways, too.
BAGS BAD, TOO
If you’re thinking the solution is to develop a taste for the unbuttered version of microwave popcorn, think again. The other news report I’d heard was about the bags in which the popcorn is cooked. The grease-resistant coating inside the bags is manufactured with fluorinated chemicals called telomers that, when heated, break down into C8, which is considered a possible carcinogen. (For more on the dangers of these chemicals, see Daily Health News, April 21, 2005.) This is the chemical used in nonstick cookware and a study done in part by an FDA researcher found that levels of chemical concentrations from popcorn bags were sometimes much higher than in the cookware. The Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Environmental Health also says these chemicals can be found in fast food containers such as French fry boxes.
WHAT TO EAT?
Some of the nation’s biggest producers of microwave popcorn (ConAgra Foods, General Mills, American Pop Corn Company and Weaver Popcorn Company) have already changed their recipes and removed diacetyl from their microwave popcorn formulas. Dr. Michaels urges caution nonetheless: “They are replacing diacetyl with other chemicals that have not been adequately tested,” he warned. Additionally, removing the diacetyl does not address the risks of the fumes from the bag’s grease-resistant coating. Dr. Michaels advises sticking with popcorn that has no artificial flavors.
“Air popped popcorn remains perfectly safe for consumers,” he told me. Miss the butter flavor? Try putting a little bit of real butter on the popcorn once it’s popped.
Source(s): ??David Michaels, PhD, MPH, a research professor and associate chairman of the department of environmental and occupational health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. He served as the Department of Energy’s Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health from 1998-2001. He is author of Doubt Is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health (Oxford University).
April 17th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Those of you who emailed me to ask if you could communicate with me via Michelle’s blog. Yeah! Michelle welcomes all comments. Be polite REPRESENT.
This is the beginning of Environmental week on Guam. Where ever you are make a commitment to saving that environment or as Pres O says “do no harm.”
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Guam’s Earth Week Kicks Off Tomorrow!
Written by Josh Tyquiengco, Pacific News Center – Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific
Friday, 17 April 2009 16:28
Guam
Guam- The Guam Environmental Protection Agency is ready to kick off its annual earth week celebration! Chairperson Glenn San Nicolas says they will be having a Catch-the-Wave event on April 22, which is also Earth Day. However, San Nicolas mentions the activities actually begins this weekend with a residential oil collection service at Paseo from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday. Then on Sunday, the agency will be hosting a “Movies in the Park” evening starting at 6 pm to 8pm at the Asan Memorial Park.
Earth Week officially kicks off on Monday with a proclamation signing and ends with the highly anticipated Island Pride Festival on Saturday, April 25. For a calendar of next week’s activities or if you would life to volunteer, call Guam EPA at (671) 475-1658.
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Hafa adai
Anna
April 17th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Pelosi Participates in Discussions in Chinatown, MLK Middle School
April 17, 2009
Health Care
On Wednesday, I participated in a free flowing discussion on H.R. 1, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act with the Chinese American Community in San Francisco. We discussed the economy’s impact on the community and the great investments made by the Recovery Act. Much of our discussion was focused on health care reform as it will impact the community, including health IT and the health center funding included in the Recovery Act.
During our discussion, we touched upon the COBRA health care subsidy in the Recovery Act. COBRA currently provides temporary health insurance coverage for workers between jobs, but it is expensive. A typical family premium on COBRA is more than $1,000 a month. To help people maintain their health coverage, the bill provides a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA premiums for up to nine months for people who were involuntarily separated from their jobs between September 2008 and December 2009. It is estimated this provision will assist 7 million people nationwide with the cost of their health insurance coverage.
The Recovery Act also provided a significant amount of additional funding for medical research. San Francisco has a long tradition of being a leader in all types of medical research. For example, UCSF Mission Bay serves as a model organization that effectively uses NIH funding for scientific research. In 2008 UCSF was the second largest recipient of NIH research funding in the nation. In the Recovery Act, NIH received $10 billion dollars for research grants, university research facilities, and NIH on-campus research facilities and equipment. The Recovery Act also included an additional $7.55 billion in funding for science research outside of the NIH funding.
The fiscal year (2009 omnibus funding resolution reiterated this Congress’ commitment to scientific research by providing NIH with a $937.5 million increase over FY 2008. The investments in the Recovery Act and the FY 2009 funding bill will allow NIH to fund approximately 16,000 new research grants.
Democrats in the House of Representatives are committed to expanding health care coverage to all Americans. The Energy and Commerce Committee is currently working on comprehensive health care legislation, which they expect to come before the full House of Representatives later this year.
Education
On Thursday, I participated in a panel discussion at Martin Luther King Middle School to talk about the $381,000 appropriation for San Francisco Promise and to highlight the funding increases for K-12 education in the Recovery Act and the fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget. Launched last year as part of the Partnership for Achievement, San Francisco Promise is a joint collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco State University, and the Mayor’s office. San Francisco Promise aims to provide every child with quality public education from pre-school through college. Starting in the 6th grade, students will receive support services and guidance to prepare for college. Students that stay committed to the program will be guaranteed a spot at San Francisco State University.
The 111th Congress has made education a priority. In the Recovery Act, we have invested more than $100 billion in education. The recovery package included $53.6 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39.5 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, and $8.8 billion to states for other high priority needs, which may include modernization, renovation, and repair of public school and college facilities. California will receive a total of $5.97 billion from the stabilization fund.
In the FY 2009 budget, Congress increased the maximum Pell Grant award by $600 to $4,850, and the Recovery Act further increased the maximum award to $5,359 for FY 2009. This will benefit 744,000 California students.
To learn more about the Recovery Act funds, please visit http://www.recovery.gov. The FY 2009 funding resolutions can be found at http://www.house.gov/appropriations.
Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
April 17th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
“Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good had.”
Woody Allen
April 17th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
“Women a reason to have sex. Men just need a place.”
—Billy Crystal
April 17th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hafa adai:
Power to the People. We showed’em. Thanks to all the write ins(also thanks to those of you who mentioned me in your protests emails) to the Guam Airport Authority and their bosses, the memorials will be restored.
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Concerned Veterans Force GIAA To Re-install Fallen Hero’s Banners
Written by Nick Delgado, Pacific News Center – Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific
Thursday, 16 April 2009 18:06
Guam
Guam – After overwhelming support of the display, the Guam international airport will be re-installing the banners of the island’s fallen hero’s until a permanent home is found. Airport general manager, Carlos Salas says the airport extends its sincerest regrets for any inconvenience or emotions stirred as a result of its earlier action.
Earlier today, the veteran’s of Guam were concerned over the removal of the photos. Veteran and member with the order of the purple heart, Tom Beblin expressed his frustration that there was no notice put out regarding the banners removal.
In a letter to airport management, Lt. Governor Mike Cruz expressed his utter shock and sincere outrage that the “hall of fallen heroes” was replaced by decoratively painted turtles. Cruz also stated that the the memorial was started two years ago, and that they should not be degraded, taken down, or pushed aside. However, airport spokesperson, Rolenda Faasuamalie says their intention is to present these keepsakes to the family members of the fallen brave who are enormously impacted by the loss of their loved ones. She adds that the airport still intends to create a permanent memorial piece similar to the memorial which honors those who fought during World War 2.
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Thank you also Michelle for allowing me to use your blog to get the word out. Guamanians from all over the world expressed their outrage.
Peter
April 17th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
“Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.”
—Rodney Dangerfield
April 17th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
“My girlfriend always laughs during sex– no mater what she’s reading.”
–Steve Jobs
April 18th, 2009 at 7:05 am
We are back in this tri-solar system sector. Each of us has been assigned a sector. We will rotate as we mind each for the needs of the unit.
My name is Wnobr. I have earth for my first assignment. Madaline said that it would be good to check in to “The” blog. I have traveled to many occupied solar systems in my 103,000 years of service to the Confederation. I have found that every one had something unique to offer. I must admit it took me the better part of 95,000 years to discover that.
The first 8,000 years or so were spent thinking of the life forms that I discovered on planets as inferior beings who existed solely for the exploitation of the particular Commander I was serving under during the excursion. In that time we had visited thousands of world like yours. Worlds that existed within their own solar systems without too much contemplation of what life forms existed without.
We often walked among them as one of them. I come from a planet that dines on solid minerals and inert gases. Hence, I have often been partnered with a shipmate who dines on the live specie. This enables us to make a scientific evaluation as to the merits of making the planet a “cattle” planet or one which has intergalactic promise.
I have been told much about your planet by Zmiv, Madaline, and Nikki. I have spent the required time in the Simulator to prepare me for this excursion. I look forward to hearing from its inhabitants before I actually make the trip down.
Wnobr
April 18th, 2009 at 7:13 am
B-VITAMIN COULD BE KEY TO MEMORY LOSS, DEMENTIA
Even those among us who’d like to slim down a little might be understandably upset at the thought of losing weight in our brains, but it seems our brains do shrink as we age. Decreases in brain volume are associated with cognitive impairments such as memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The good news is that British researchers recently found that some brain shrinkage may be associated with low levels of B-12 — which suggest that perhaps supplementing might be a preventive strategy.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Several studies have linked B-12 deficits with cognitive decline and dementia. A. David Smith, DPhil, FMedSci, and his colleagues at the University of Oxford, set out to learn more about the association by measuring the amount of bioavailable B-12 in older people. In a five-year longitudinal study, they followed 107 individuals of both genders (mean age 73) with no mental impairments at the start of the study. Participants were given yearly exams that included cognitive tests, MRI scans and blood tests to track the amount of bioavailable B-12.
The researchers found two things. First, those whose B-12 levels were lowest at the start of the study had the most — and fastest — brain shrinkage over the five-year period. In addition, brain shrinkage occurred even in those whose plasma B-12 levels were still considered to be within a normal range.
TO SUPPLEMENT OR NOT TO SUPPLEMENT?
The RDA for B-12 is 2.4 micrograms, which can generally be obtained from the effective digestion and uptake of foods like meat, milk, eggs, fish and vitamin-fortified cereals. However, poor diet and, unfortunately, the effects of aging itself lead to depleted B-12 levels.
Now, Dr. Smith and his colleagues are turning their attention to the obvious next question of whether B-12 supplements can reverse or halt the loss of brain volume once it has begun, with a study of elderly people they hope to conclude later this year. Though there is little consensus among the medical community about when B-12 supplements should be prescribed, Dr. Smith believes people over age 50 should have B-12 levels checked every five years or so, and take supplements if the levels are in the low-normal range. Have your B-12 levels checked right away if you notice symptoms of deficiency, which can include tingling and numbness in the extremities in addition to poor memory. Vegetarians and pregnant women and nursing mothers are also at higher risk for low B-12 status, so they too should discuss with their doctor whether supplementation might be advisable. Other people who might have low B-12 levels are those who take proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists for prolonged periods.
Source(s): ??A. David Smith, DPhil, FMedSci, is professor emeritus of pharmacology, founding director of Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) and honorary associate director, MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, at University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom.