Type 2 diabetes will remain the number one health issue in the United States in 2009, and we are losing the fight. It is estimated that 24 million Americans have the disease presently with thousands more being added each day. Moreover, if this trend is left unchecked the many complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, strokes, amputations, blindness, kidney failure and dialysis could over run our health care system and bankrupt the economy. Ironically, type 2 diabetes is a disease that is almost completely preventable. A sensible diet, regular and vigorous physical activity and avoiding weight gain are almost always enough prevent the onset of the disease.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Generation D
Type 2 diabetes will remain the number one health issue in the United States in 2009, and we are losing the fight. It is estimated that 24 million Americans have the disease presently with thousands more being added each day. Moreover, if this trend is left unchecked the many complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, strokes, amputations, blindness, kidney failure and dialysis could over run our health care system and bankrupt the economy. Ironically, type 2 diabetes is a disease that is almost completely preventable. A sensible diet, regular and vigorous physical activity and avoiding weight gain are almost always enough prevent the onset of the disease.
Type 2 diabetes will remain the number one health issue in the United States in 2009, and we are losing the fight. It is estimated that 24 million Americans have the disease presently with thousands more being added each day. Moreover, if this trend is left unchecked the many complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, strokes, amputations, blindness, kidney failure and dialysis could over run our health care system and bankrupt the economy. Ironically, type 2 diabetes is a disease that is almost completely preventable. A sensible diet, regular and vigorous physical activity and avoiding weight gain are almost always enough prevent the onset of the disease.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Christ Child Missing From Manger
Actually, the manger is missing too. But alas, it was probably only a matter of time before our Nativity scene joined the long list of vandalized Christmas displays across the country this holiday season. Interestingly, these acts of intolerance are often perpetrated by those very same high priests of "political correctness" who continually lecture us on not only tolerating but sanctioning their depraved lifestyles. All the while lashing out at everything Christian, Catholic or otherwise life affirming.
This phenomenon is described by John Mallon at Catholic Exchange,
"A simple scene of a mother and child can set off monstrous rage, hatred and confusion. The mentality of Antinatalism is enraged by the Nativity. This hatred of creation, and life itself — much less its redemption — has been unleashed, and those who have allowed the principalities and powers of wickedness into their souls are getting bolder. "
Actually, the manger is missing too. But alas, it was probably only a matter of time before our Nativity scene joined the long list of vandalized Christmas displays across the country this holiday season. Interestingly, these acts of intolerance are often perpetrated by those very same high priests of "political correctness" who continually lecture us on not only tolerating but sanctioning their depraved lifestyles. All the while lashing out at everything Christian, Catholic or otherwise life affirming.
This phenomenon is described by John Mallon at Catholic Exchange,
"A simple scene of a mother and child can set off monstrous rage, hatred and confusion. The mentality of Antinatalism is enraged by the Nativity. This hatred of creation, and life itself — much less its redemption — has been unleashed, and those who have allowed the principalities and powers of wickedness into their souls are getting bolder. "
SL's Top 10 Posts for 2008!10. Our Excellent Strenuous Week-End
9. Culture Makes All the Difference
8. Even Semi-Strenuous has Benefits
7. Ranking the Issues
6. Walk to Reverse Metabolic Disease
5. Insulin from Skin Cells
4. Obesity and the Wussification of America
3. Cursor Letter to the Explorer
2. Mr. McCain's Outstanding VP Pick: Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin
1. Marriage Protected!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Long Live Snowzilla
A giant Anchorage snowman returns despite neighbor complaints and a city crackdown. Knowing many people from Alaska it is hard to imagine any who would protest a snowman. Then again, 20% of Alaskans do not approve of Sarah Palin's job as governor. One possibility is that the neighborhood is a bastion of wacky environmentalists bent on suppressing any evidence that contradicts the global warming mantra.
A giant Anchorage snowman returns despite neighbor complaints and a city crackdown. Knowing many people from Alaska it is hard to imagine any who would protest a snowman. Then again, 20% of Alaskans do not approve of Sarah Palin's job as governor. One possibility is that the neighborhood is a bastion of wacky environmentalists bent on suppressing any evidence that contradicts the global warming mantra.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Not All Stem Cells Alike
More good news regarding the use of non-embryonic or "adult" stem cells appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. However, like most of these reports it appears that the author and his editor are content to ignore the important fact that the creation and subsequent destruction of a human life was not necessary to achieve this success. It's as if those promoting embryonic stem cell research are perfectly happy to sit back and absorb the positive press for adult stem cell breakthroughs to garner support for human embryo experimentation, when in reality it is becoming clear that we can do the science without losing our ethical moorings.
More good news regarding the use of non-embryonic or "adult" stem cells appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. However, like most of these reports it appears that the author and his editor are content to ignore the important fact that the creation and subsequent destruction of a human life was not necessary to achieve this success. It's as if those promoting embryonic stem cell research are perfectly happy to sit back and absorb the positive press for adult stem cell breakthroughs to garner support for human embryo experimentation, when in reality it is becoming clear that we can do the science without losing our ethical moorings.
Palin is "Conservative of the Year"
Human Events has declared Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin "Conservative of the Year." TSL could not agree more. In fact on the national scene she may have been the only bright spot in 2008.
Ann Coulter describes the impact Palin had this past year in her weekly Human Events column. The enormity of which is best appreciated by recalling the speed and ferocity that liberals and their MSM allies went into seek and destroy mode. Once they realized that she was capable of keeping the Anointed One out of the White House they went absolutely berserk. Coulter’s knack for exposing elitist contempt for those outside their clique is priceless, The Palin selection "…left the press completely discombobulated and upset. They didn't know whether to attack Sarah for not having an abortion or go after her husband for not being a sissy."
But how the conservative base loved her! I'm not talking about those masquerading as conservatives at New York and Washington cock tail parties, but the everyday traditional American families across this country. I suspect that Sarah Palin is not through discombobulating the MSM.
Human Events has declared Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin "Conservative of the Year." TSL could not agree more. In fact on the national scene she may have been the only bright spot in 2008.
Ann Coulter describes the impact Palin had this past year in her weekly Human Events column. The enormity of which is best appreciated by recalling the speed and ferocity that liberals and their MSM allies went into seek and destroy mode. Once they realized that she was capable of keeping the Anointed One out of the White House they went absolutely berserk. Coulter’s knack for exposing elitist contempt for those outside their clique is priceless, The Palin selection "…left the press completely discombobulated and upset. They didn't know whether to attack Sarah for not having an abortion or go after her husband for not being a sissy."
But how the conservative base loved her! I'm not talking about those masquerading as conservatives at New York and Washington cock tail parties, but the everyday traditional American families across this country. I suspect that Sarah Palin is not through discombobulating the MSM.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Mission: Destroy Christmas
Bill O'Reilly irritates me at times but he does understand the secular-progressive war on traditional values, and that Christmas is the primary target this time of year.
The left accuses conservatives of thrusting the Christmas wars upon us each year, but who actually pours the gasoline on the fire? Let's see, state houses across the country put up their Nativity displays as they have done for decades, and hate-motivated secular atheists demand to put up insulting signs right next to these displays? Businesses forbid employees from saying "Merry Christmas." The ACLU threatens city and town governments all over the country if they dare recognize Christmas, a national holiday since 1870. Now, we even have environmentalists stating that Christmas trees contribute to "global warming." Charles Dickens might need to apologize to Ebenezer Scrooge.
Bill O'Reilly irritates me at times but he does understand the secular-progressive war on traditional values, and that Christmas is the primary target this time of year.The left accuses conservatives of thrusting the Christmas wars upon us each year, but who actually pours the gasoline on the fire? Let's see, state houses across the country put up their Nativity displays as they have done for decades, and hate-motivated secular atheists demand to put up insulting signs right next to these displays? Businesses forbid employees from saying "Merry Christmas." The ACLU threatens city and town governments all over the country if they dare recognize Christmas, a national holiday since 1870. Now, we even have environmentalists stating that Christmas trees contribute to "global warming." Charles Dickens might need to apologize to Ebenezer Scrooge.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Market Freedom or Exploitation?
As a biomedical researcher I have conducted studies that involved reimbursing study volunteers monetarily for their time and inconvenience. This usually creates a tension between what we the investigators would like to pay to facilitate recruitment and what institutional review boards (IRBs) will allow before it is considered “coercement.” This is particularly worrisome for people of modest means who might be more susceptible to accepting the risk involved with a particular study which they might otherwise forego. Therefore, it is unusual that a volunteer is paid more than a couple hundred dollars.
Alternatively, a recent WSJ article reported that many young women are selling their eggs for upward of $3000-$8000! "Whenever the employment rate is down, we get more calls,’ says Robin von Halle, president of Alternative Reproductive Resources.” Where is the concern for coercement here? Certainly, the hormone stimulation and invasive procedures needed to obtain a woman’s eggs are much more risky than the vast majority of research projects I’ve reviewed. On the other hand, recent history has informed us that anything that promotes the reproductive freedom -industrial complex gets a free pass from the otherwise regulatory-happy government oversight agencies.
As a biomedical researcher I have conducted studies that involved reimbursing study volunteers monetarily for their time and inconvenience. This usually creates a tension between what we the investigators would like to pay to facilitate recruitment and what institutional review boards (IRBs) will allow before it is considered “coercement.” This is particularly worrisome for people of modest means who might be more susceptible to accepting the risk involved with a particular study which they might otherwise forego. Therefore, it is unusual that a volunteer is paid more than a couple hundred dollars.
Alternatively, a recent WSJ article reported that many young women are selling their eggs for upward of $3000-$8000! "Whenever the employment rate is down, we get more calls,’ says Robin von Halle, president of Alternative Reproductive Resources.” Where is the concern for coercement here? Certainly, the hormone stimulation and invasive procedures needed to obtain a woman’s eggs are much more risky than the vast majority of research projects I’ve reviewed. On the other hand, recent history has informed us that anything that promotes the reproductive freedom -industrial complex gets a free pass from the otherwise regulatory-happy government oversight agencies.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Heart Rate Predicts Cardiometabolic Disease?
This may be true, but it might also be a surrogate marker for a couple other well established conditions that predict diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease...couch potatoism and video game recluse syndrome.
This may be true, but it might also be a surrogate marker for a couple other well established conditions that predict diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease...couch potatoism and video game recluse syndrome.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Once again...
...I'm embarrassed of my Washington State roots. The Governor is leading another PC exercise in hand wringing and cowardice by allowing an atheist group to place a mocking sign next to a Nativity scene at the State capital (Oh, and also next to the "Holiday Tree"). Good Grief!
It is absolutely irrefutable that the United States of America arose from a Judeo-Christian ethic and heritage. The Nativity deserves an honored place in our public square. Atheists have a 1st Amendment right to squawk, but not to brazenly insult, ridicule and interfere with a legitimate display of faith during the Christmas season.
...I'm embarrassed of my Washington State roots. The Governor is leading another PC exercise in hand wringing and cowardice by allowing an atheist group to place a mocking sign next to a Nativity scene at the State capital (Oh, and also next to the "Holiday Tree"). Good Grief!
It is absolutely irrefutable that the United States of America arose from a Judeo-Christian ethic and heritage. The Nativity deserves an honored place in our public square. Atheists have a 1st Amendment right to squawk, but not to brazenly insult, ridicule and interfere with a legitimate display of faith during the Christmas season.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The American ADHD Experience
Inspired, energetic, innovative, impulsive, original…America
In today's WSJ Opinion Journal Daniel Henninger recalls Frederick Turner's thesis on the role of the American frontier experience on her 20th century world ascendancy.
"From the conditions of frontier life," Turner believed, "came [American] intellectual traits of profound importance . . . coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great ends; that restless, nervous energy, that dominant individualism, working for good and for evil." These, he said, are "the traits of the frontier."
Calculated risk and a headlong pursuit of grand possibilities made America great. It would be tragic if she went the way of "those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat."
In today's WSJ Opinion Journal Daniel Henninger recalls Frederick Turner's thesis on the role of the American frontier experience on her 20th century world ascendancy."From the conditions of frontier life," Turner believed, "came [American] intellectual traits of profound importance . . . coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great ends; that restless, nervous energy, that dominant individualism, working for good and for evil." These, he said, are "the traits of the frontier."
Calculated risk and a headlong pursuit of grand possibilities made America great. It would be tragic if she went the way of "those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat."
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Activity Preserves Aging Brains
Research from the University of North Carolina suggests that mental capacity in later years may be preserved by exercise induced improvements in blood flow to the brain.
Research from the University of North Carolina suggests that mental capacity in later years may be preserved by exercise induced improvements in blood flow to the brain.
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