I happened to be scanning through the channels and I caught an attractive (well she caught my eye anyway) woman quoting "overcome evil with good". The women turned out to be Cheryl Cusella who was a Stevie Nicks impersonator at one time. And the quote is from Romans 12.
I like that philosophy, though the opposite seems to be the prevalent creed with many in this (and other) countries.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Alzheimer's information
Dear Savvy Senior: My overly dramatic mother is convinced my 72-year-old dad has early stage Alzheimer's disease.
He has gotten more scattered and forgetful in recent years and is a little more irritable, but I don’t think it’s anything serious.
My question is what are the signs of Alzheimer’s and what resources are available to help me learn more?
Prudent Daughter
Dear Prudent: Lots of seniors, like your mother, worry about memory lapses or confusion as they get older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia.
But the reality is few seniors (less than 14 percent of those over age 70) ever develop it.
Here are some warning signs that can help you spot a potential problem, and some resources to help if you do.
What’s not normal?
Forgetfulness, confusion and irritably is something everyone experiences from time-to-time but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Or does it?
Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between normal age-related memory loss and a more serious problem.
To help you evaluate your dad’s condition, here’s a checklist of questions to ask yourself:
• Does he often repeat himself or ask the same questions over and over?
• Is he more forgetful, or is he having trouble with short-term memory?
• Does he need reminders to do things like chores, shopping or taking medicine?
• Does he forget appointments, family occasions or holidays?
• Does he seem sad or down in the dumps more often than in the past?
• Has he started having trouble doing calculations, managing finances or balancing the checkbook?
• Has he lost interest in his activities such as hobbies, reading, attending church or other social activities?
• Has he become more irritable, agitated or suspicious than usual?
• Are you concerned about his driving, for example getting lost or driving unsafely?
• Does he have trouble finding the words he wants to say, finishing sentences or naming people or things?
Even if your dad is experiencing some problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has Alzheimer’s.
Many memory problems and mood changes are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, side effects of medications, vitamin deficiencies and more. And by treating these conditions he can reduce or eliminate the problem.
What to do
After going through the checklist, if you’re still concerned about your dad’s mental health, get him in to see his doctor for a thorough medical examination.
They may then refer him to a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or geriatrician who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.
Finding help
The single best resource to help you learn more and find help is the Alzheimer’s Association.
They offer lots of news and information on their Web site (www.alz.org), along with a 24 hour help-line (800-272-3900) that provides assistance and referrals to local resources that can help you locate medical professionals, caregiving resources, support groups and more.
Another great resource to tap is the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. Created by the National Institute on Aging, at www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers or 800-438-4380 you can ask specific questions about Alzheimer’s disease, locate clinical trials and order free publications including “What Happens Next?” — a new booklet by and for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
[starbulletin, 11/16/08]
He has gotten more scattered and forgetful in recent years and is a little more irritable, but I don’t think it’s anything serious.
My question is what are the signs of Alzheimer’s and what resources are available to help me learn more?
Prudent Daughter
Dear Prudent: Lots of seniors, like your mother, worry about memory lapses or confusion as they get older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia.
But the reality is few seniors (less than 14 percent of those over age 70) ever develop it.
Here are some warning signs that can help you spot a potential problem, and some resources to help if you do.
What’s not normal?
Forgetfulness, confusion and irritably is something everyone experiences from time-to-time but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Or does it?
Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between normal age-related memory loss and a more serious problem.
To help you evaluate your dad’s condition, here’s a checklist of questions to ask yourself:
• Does he often repeat himself or ask the same questions over and over?
• Is he more forgetful, or is he having trouble with short-term memory?
• Does he need reminders to do things like chores, shopping or taking medicine?
• Does he forget appointments, family occasions or holidays?
• Does he seem sad or down in the dumps more often than in the past?
• Has he started having trouble doing calculations, managing finances or balancing the checkbook?
• Has he lost interest in his activities such as hobbies, reading, attending church or other social activities?
• Has he become more irritable, agitated or suspicious than usual?
• Are you concerned about his driving, for example getting lost or driving unsafely?
• Does he have trouble finding the words he wants to say, finishing sentences or naming people or things?
Even if your dad is experiencing some problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has Alzheimer’s.
Many memory problems and mood changes are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, side effects of medications, vitamin deficiencies and more. And by treating these conditions he can reduce or eliminate the problem.
What to do
After going through the checklist, if you’re still concerned about your dad’s mental health, get him in to see his doctor for a thorough medical examination.
They may then refer him to a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or geriatrician who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.
Finding help
The single best resource to help you learn more and find help is the Alzheimer’s Association.
They offer lots of news and information on their Web site (www.alz.org), along with a 24 hour help-line (800-272-3900) that provides assistance and referrals to local resources that can help you locate medical professionals, caregiving resources, support groups and more.
Another great resource to tap is the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. Created by the National Institute on Aging, at www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers or 800-438-4380 you can ask specific questions about Alzheimer’s disease, locate clinical trials and order free publications including “What Happens Next?” — a new booklet by and for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
[starbulletin, 11/16/08]
Global Village
If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following.
There would be:
Sort of, but not quite.
There would be:
- 57 Asians
- 21 Europeans
- 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
- 8 Africans
- 52 would be female
- 48 would be male
- 70 would be non-white
- 30 would be white
- 70 would be non-Christian
- 30 would be Christian
- 89 would be heterosexual
- 11 would be homosexual
- 6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.
- 80 would live in substandard housing
- 70 would be unable to read
- 50 would suffer from malnutrition
- 1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth
- 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
- 1 would own a computer
Sort of, but not quite.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Bodhisattva
"Bodhisattva" is a Sanskrit word that means a person who is pursuing Buddha's enlightenment not only for himself or herself, but also for others. The concept is important for Mahayana Buddhism. In any Mahayana sutra, bodhisattvas are described. In the Lotus Sutra it says that we are all bodhisattvas who have been given a mission to spread the Buddha's wisdom in this world.
The two most important attributes of the bodhisattva are respect and compassion.
The image of "Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds" has been popular in China, Korea and Japan since a long time ago. He can change himself into different forms to help and lead people to the Buddha's enlightenment through his compassionate and respectful heart. For example, when you are in the darkness and don't know where you are, he will give you a candle light. When you are hungry, he gives you a loaf of bread or a bowl of rice. When you are in danger, he will come to you and save your life. What a wonderful bodhisattva he is!
When you are driving your car and speeding, suppose there's a slow car in front of yours. You might be angry at the car. But think about it. That car's driver could be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds. He might be preventing you from an accident or from receiving a speeding ticket. If you think this way, rather than getting angry at the driver, wouldn't you feel much better?
When you are warned by someone like your boss at work, you might get angry or hate your boss. But think about it; they could be right. No one takes the time to warn you unless they like you as their co-worker. They could be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds and are preventing you from doing something wrong.
Given advice by your friend, you might not want to listen. But think about it. They could be right. Because they like you and care about you, they do that. They might be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds and preventing you from being ignorant.
If you think this way, rather than being angry or hating them, isn't that feeling much better for yourself?
We, as bodhisattvas, endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us and to develop constant and mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
The two most important attributes of the bodhisattva are respect and compassion.
The image of "Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds" has been popular in China, Korea and Japan since a long time ago. He can change himself into different forms to help and lead people to the Buddha's enlightenment through his compassionate and respectful heart. For example, when you are in the darkness and don't know where you are, he will give you a candle light. When you are hungry, he gives you a loaf of bread or a bowl of rice. When you are in danger, he will come to you and save your life. What a wonderful bodhisattva he is!
When you are driving your car and speeding, suppose there's a slow car in front of yours. You might be angry at the car. But think about it. That car's driver could be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds. He might be preventing you from an accident or from receiving a speeding ticket. If you think this way, rather than getting angry at the driver, wouldn't you feel much better?
When you are warned by someone like your boss at work, you might get angry or hate your boss. But think about it; they could be right. No one takes the time to warn you unless they like you as their co-worker. They could be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds and are preventing you from doing something wrong.
Given advice by your friend, you might not want to listen. But think about it. They could be right. Because they like you and care about you, they do that. They might be Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds and preventing you from being ignorant.
If you think this way, rather than being angry or hating them, isn't that feeling much better for yourself?
We, as bodhisattvas, endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us and to develop constant and mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Deciphering Women’s Code Words
My friend Sarah sent me an e-mail recently about words women use, which got me thinking about the kind of language we ladies choose to express our feelings and why these phrases need deciphering for most men.
Included on the list were the following:
Fine
Five minutes
Nothing
Go Ahead
(Loud Sigh)
Whatever
-- Katie Young, MidWeek, 12/03/08
Included on the list were the following:
Fine
Five minutes
Nothing
Go Ahead
(Loud Sigh)
Whatever
-- Katie Young, MidWeek, 12/03/08
Saturday, January 03, 2009
happiness is contagious
When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A paper being published Friday in a British medical journal concludes that happiness is contagious — and that people pass on their good cheer even to total strangers. American researchers who tracked more than 4,700 people in Framingham, Mass., as part of a 20-year heart study also found the transferred happiness is good for up to a year.
"Happiness is like a stampede," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor in Harvard University's sociology department and co-author of the study. "Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviors and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
Happy people tended to be at the center of social networks and had many friends who were also happy. Having friends or siblings nearby increased people's chances of being upbeat. Happiness spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends of friends.
Christakis and Fowler estimate that each happy friend boosts your own chances of being happy by 9 percent. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7 percent.
But it also turns out misery don't love company: Happiness seemed to spread more consistently than unhappiness. But that doesn't mean you should drop your gloomy friends.
"Every friend increases the probability that you're at the center of a network, which means you are more eligible to get a wave of happiness," Fowler said.
Being happy also brings other benefits, including a protective effect on your immune system so you produce fewer stress hormones, said Andrew Steptoe, a psychology professor at University College London who was not involved with the study.
According to the research, an extra chunk of money increases your odds of being happy only marginally — notably less than the odds of being happier if you have a happy friend.
"You can save your money," Christakis said. "Being around happy people is better."
"Happiness is like a stampede," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor in Harvard University's sociology department and co-author of the study. "Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviors and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
Happy people tended to be at the center of social networks and had many friends who were also happy. Having friends or siblings nearby increased people's chances of being upbeat. Happiness spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends of friends.
Christakis and Fowler estimate that each happy friend boosts your own chances of being happy by 9 percent. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7 percent.
But it also turns out misery don't love company: Happiness seemed to spread more consistently than unhappiness. But that doesn't mean you should drop your gloomy friends.
"Every friend increases the probability that you're at the center of a network, which means you are more eligible to get a wave of happiness," Fowler said.
Being happy also brings other benefits, including a protective effect on your immune system so you produce fewer stress hormones, said Andrew Steptoe, a psychology professor at University College London who was not involved with the study.
According to the research, an extra chunk of money increases your odds of being happy only marginally — notably less than the odds of being happier if you have a happy friend.
"You can save your money," Christakis said. "Being around happy people is better."
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