If you're a healthy older adult looking for ways to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, don't turn to that age-old standby: daily low-dose aspirin. It's no longer recommended as a preventative for older adults who don't have a high risk or existing heart disease, according to guidelines announced Sunday by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
"For the most part, we are now much better at treating risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and especially high cholesterol," said North Carolina cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell, who wasn't involved in the new guidelines. "This makes the biggest difference, probably negating any previously perceived aspirin benefit in primary prevention."
Doctors may consider aspirin for certain older high-risk patients, such as those who have trouble lowering their cholesterol or managing their blood sugars, as long as there is no increased risk for internal bleeding, the guidelines say. European guidelines recommend against the use of anti-clotting therapies such as aspirin at any age.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Medicare-covered preventive services
You may have heard something lately about “preventive health care.” What does that mean?
At its most basic, preventive health care means living a healthful lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. Maintain a healthful weight. And stop smoking.
Like anyone else, people with Medicare can benefit from healthful living habits. But Medicare covers a wide variety of shots to help you stay healthy. It also covers numerous tests to help detect diseases early, when they’re in their most treatable stages.
You pay nothing for most Medicare-covered preventive services if you get them from a doctor or other qualified health care provider who “accepts assignment,” meaning they accept Medicare as payment in full for their services.
For example, you pay nothing out of pocket when you get a “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam. This one-time exam is offered during the first 12 months after you’ve enrolled in Medicare Part B.
This visit includes a review of your medical and social history related to your health, and education and counseling about preventive services, including certain screenings, flu and pneumococcal shots, and referrals for other care if needed.
If you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly wellness exam. You pay nothing for this visit if your doctor accepts assignment. And the Part B deductible doesn’t apply.
The wellness exam is designed to help prevent disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. Your provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a Health Risk Assessment, as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit
At its most basic, preventive health care means living a healthful lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. Maintain a healthful weight. And stop smoking.
Like anyone else, people with Medicare can benefit from healthful living habits. But Medicare covers a wide variety of shots to help you stay healthy. It also covers numerous tests to help detect diseases early, when they’re in their most treatable stages.
You pay nothing for most Medicare-covered preventive services if you get them from a doctor or other qualified health care provider who “accepts assignment,” meaning they accept Medicare as payment in full for their services.
For example, you pay nothing out of pocket when you get a “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam. This one-time exam is offered during the first 12 months after you’ve enrolled in Medicare Part B.
This visit includes a review of your medical and social history related to your health, and education and counseling about preventive services, including certain screenings, flu and pneumococcal shots, and referrals for other care if needed.
If you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly wellness exam. You pay nothing for this visit if your doctor accepts assignment. And the Part B deductible doesn’t apply.
The wellness exam is designed to help prevent disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. Your provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a Health Risk Assessment, as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit
Friday, March 15, 2019
Hawaii Five-O (or Hawaii Five-0)
The idea for “Hawaii Five-O” came from Gov. John Burns, who wanted to
create a statewide police task force that reported directly to the
governor to deal with serious crimes.
He shared the idea with CBS producer Leonard Freeman when the Legislature rejected it. Freeman set the show in Hawaii because his mother-in-law, Amelia, lived here and wanted to see him more often.
Islanders were concerned that a crime show might portray Hawaii negatively. Somehow, however, the 300 million people who watched the show in 80 countries did not see Hawaii as crime-ridden. They saw beautiful beaches and mountains. With the opening shot of a perfectly formed wave at Pipeline, they were hooked.
When “Hawaii Five-O” went on the air in 1968, about 800,000 tourists visited the islands each year. Twelve years later when it wrapped for the last time, 4 million visited.
KHON2 News anchor Joe Moore, who guest-starred in 12 episodes, believes that the economic impact of the original “Five-O” was enormous.
“The huge growth in our tourism can be directly attributed to the exposure given the islands every week on ‘Hawaii Five-O.’ It was an hourlong commercial for Hawaii every week for 12 seasons.”
The names of the original show and the current show are slightly different. You have to look closely. The “O” in the original was the letter. The current show, which began airing in 2010, uses the number, “0.” Both names are a nod to our being the 50th state.
Gregory Peck and Richard Boone were considered for the role of Steve McGarrett before Jack Lord.
Lord was seriously considered for the role of Captain Kirk in “Star Trek.” Lord wanted to co-produce that series and own a percentage of it. The show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, wasn’t willing to meet his demands and cast William Shatner instead.
He shared the idea with CBS producer Leonard Freeman when the Legislature rejected it. Freeman set the show in Hawaii because his mother-in-law, Amelia, lived here and wanted to see him more often.
Islanders were concerned that a crime show might portray Hawaii negatively. Somehow, however, the 300 million people who watched the show in 80 countries did not see Hawaii as crime-ridden. They saw beautiful beaches and mountains. With the opening shot of a perfectly formed wave at Pipeline, they were hooked.
When “Hawaii Five-O” went on the air in 1968, about 800,000 tourists visited the islands each year. Twelve years later when it wrapped for the last time, 4 million visited.
KHON2 News anchor Joe Moore, who guest-starred in 12 episodes, believes that the economic impact of the original “Five-O” was enormous.
“The huge growth in our tourism can be directly attributed to the exposure given the islands every week on ‘Hawaii Five-O.’ It was an hourlong commercial for Hawaii every week for 12 seasons.”
The names of the original show and the current show are slightly different. You have to look closely. The “O” in the original was the letter. The current show, which began airing in 2010, uses the number, “0.” Both names are a nod to our being the 50th state.
Gregory Peck and Richard Boone were considered for the role of Steve McGarrett before Jack Lord.
Lord was seriously considered for the role of Captain Kirk in “Star Trek.” Lord wanted to co-produce that series and own a percentage of it. The show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, wasn’t willing to meet his demands and cast William Shatner instead.
Wednesday, March 06, 2019
Arrow to end
"Arrow" has only a few episodes left in its quiver.
The popular CW series, which helped launch a CW Arrow-verse of shows featuring DC Comics superheroes, will end its run with a shortened, 10-episode eighth season in the fall.
Stephen Amell, who plays Oliver Queen and his alter ego, Green Arrow, announced the impending conclusion on Twitter Wednesday.
"Playing Oliver Queen has been the greatest professional experience of my life... but you can’t be a vigilante forever. Arrow will return for a final run of 10 episodes this Fall," he wrote. "There’s so much to say... for now I just want to say thank you."
Arrow reached a milestone, its 150th episode, earlier this year.
The popular CW series, which helped launch a CW Arrow-verse of shows featuring DC Comics superheroes, will end its run with a shortened, 10-episode eighth season in the fall.
Stephen Amell, who plays Oliver Queen and his alter ego, Green Arrow, announced the impending conclusion on Twitter Wednesday.
"Playing Oliver Queen has been the greatest professional experience of my life... but you can’t be a vigilante forever. Arrow will return for a final run of 10 episodes this Fall," he wrote. "There’s so much to say... for now I just want to say thank you."
Arrow reached a milestone, its 150th episode, earlier this year.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
aikido: safe falling for seniors
In the summer of 2017, Bill Doi, a fifth-degree black belt in aikido,
taught a group of about 10 senior citizens how to fall. The class
emphasized balance and awareness to avoid falls, but since falling is an
ever-present threat as people age, and since falling can be so
devastating to seniors, the idea was to use aikido techniques to
mitigate the damage of falling should it happen.
“In aikido, 50 percent of the time is spent falling,” Doi said, and those falls are taught so they’re executed without injury. If the techniques are practiced enough, they become second nature if a fall should occur.
Word got out about the Safe Falling class, and the instructors were overwhelmed when a hundred new students showed up. There was clearly a desire for this training in the community.
“In aikido, 50 percent of the time is spent falling,” Doi said, and those falls are taught so they’re executed without injury. If the techniques are practiced enough, they become second nature if a fall should occur.
Word got out about the Safe Falling class, and the instructors were overwhelmed when a hundred new students showed up. There was clearly a desire for this training in the community.
Friday, February 01, 2019
mindful eating
We often talk about the power of mindful meditation to ease stress,
improve sleep and reduce emotional issues like depression, anxiety and
anger — and to help preserve cognitive function as you age. But an
amazing, untapped power of mindfulness is its ability to transform your eating habits.
You can use mindfulness to increase your sensory enjoyment of food’s smell, taste, texture and umami (that elusive quality that provides pleasure when eating).
When you do, you will automatically upgrade your nutrition by exploring the flavors of more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while dumping the artificial, toxin-laden ingredients that are shoved into fast and processed foods.
Like mindful meditation and using deep breathing to help you focus and relax, mindful eating calls for a calm, focused, respectful relationship to food. This focus lets the food talk to you and tell you about its qualities and benefits to body and mind.
As Dr. Mike Roizen and Dr. Michael Crupain say in their book, “What to Eat When,” eating has unfortunately become a vacuum-like process. The sensory experience that should accompany eating is generally lost on 99 percent of you in 99 percent of your meals. We can help you change that.
A lot of mindless eating happens because we eat on the run. No time to savor anything. And that doesn’t just mean you miss out on the sensory pleasures of food, but you also cause yourself health problems. One 2017 study found that those who eat quickly (and quickly pretty much equals mindlessness, not mindfulness) were two to five times as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a precursor to heart disease and diabetes, over a five-year span than folks who eat more slowly.
You can use mindfulness to increase your sensory enjoyment of food’s smell, taste, texture and umami (that elusive quality that provides pleasure when eating).
When you do, you will automatically upgrade your nutrition by exploring the flavors of more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while dumping the artificial, toxin-laden ingredients that are shoved into fast and processed foods.
Like mindful meditation and using deep breathing to help you focus and relax, mindful eating calls for a calm, focused, respectful relationship to food. This focus lets the food talk to you and tell you about its qualities and benefits to body and mind.
As Dr. Mike Roizen and Dr. Michael Crupain say in their book, “What to Eat When,” eating has unfortunately become a vacuum-like process. The sensory experience that should accompany eating is generally lost on 99 percent of you in 99 percent of your meals. We can help you change that.
A lot of mindless eating happens because we eat on the run. No time to savor anything. And that doesn’t just mean you miss out on the sensory pleasures of food, but you also cause yourself health problems. One 2017 study found that those who eat quickly (and quickly pretty much equals mindlessness, not mindfulness) were two to five times as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a precursor to heart disease and diabetes, over a five-year span than folks who eat more slowly.
Tuesday, January 08, 2019
New Year's resolutions for health
It’s time to consolidate New Year’s resolutions for 2019. What is
most important for the year ahead, amid escalating climate change,
political turmoil in Washington, D.C., economic uncertainty across the
globe and big questions about the future of health care?
Start with a checkup
Find a primary care provider. If you have one, go in for your annual visit. January is a good time to check in and check up for a year of optimal health. Manakai o Malama typically has an influx of new patients in January and expands staffing.
With joints and tendons, we can typically trust our bodies if pain-free and functioning well. In contrast, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, early cancers and heart, liver and kidney disease are detectable only with a good examination and proper screening. Make that appointment now.
Create a lifestyle plan
>> Tips for success: Set goals that are achievable. Does it fit in the schedule? How far away? Goals should be enjoyable, not humbug. Solid support, whether it is a weight-loss challenge among co-workers, a workout partner or a good coach, is key.
>> Watch the mouth: Remember, no amount of exercise will make up for a consistently unhealthy diet, especially without portion control. Green vegetables are key, but if unaccustomed to raw greens, steam them lightly. Consume lean protein regularly and limit the simple carbs. Go for local, organic and non-GMO. Enjoy the farmers market and make eye contact with the person who grew the food you will eat. Pick a vice and cut back. Give up some sodas, smokes or a scoop of rice.
Tune in to what comes out of the mouth as well. Negative chatter is so habitual. It affects mental health and human relationships and has no upside in business. People who practice not talking stink seem to live in a better place. Still, we need courage for straight talk and for sharing what we truly feel. Yup, suppression also breeds illness. And laugh.
Remember, the mouth and nose are also for breathing. When angry or fearful, we don’t exhale fully. When emotionally down, inhalation is shallow. Try to take five minutes daily to sit and reflect on the breath. Just notice the pattern.
>> Move the body: When Americans think exercise we think “cardio” and “resistance” training. For cardio it’s best to get the heart rate up with a good sweat six days per week. Twenty minutes three times per week is the minimum. If overweight or over 40 and out of shape, first get medical clearance to avoid a heart attack or stroke. For resistance training, weights work if the technique is solid. Swimming is terrific, especially if limited to low-impact activity.
Appreciate the value of flexibility training. It deserves equal time. Yoga is hard to beat if taught by a good instructor, and can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Be cautious with the big yoga chains that have commoditized the ancient art. Yoga is especially important for those who do sports that use one arm or that require the body to twist in the same direction each time such as golf, tennis or baseball. Manakai o Malama continuously sees joint injuries and sprains among those who have omitted a routine of flexibility training.
The determined streak to keep breaking our personal fitness records is a rush, but there comes a point in the life when the priority shifts to staying healthy and pain-free for the long term.
Cultivate the mind
Perspective is everything. I like to fish. It struck me once after pulling a big bull mahi on board that for one person catching a fish is just a trophy, while the next person is harvesting a sacred life to feed the ohana. The point is that perspective is everything, but there is a tendency to be so habituated, so close to it that we fail to recognize what really drives our actions. Take a few minutes each day to reflect, observe and reaffirm those New Year’s resolutions.
--- Ira Zunin is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc.
Start with a checkup
Find a primary care provider. If you have one, go in for your annual visit. January is a good time to check in and check up for a year of optimal health. Manakai o Malama typically has an influx of new patients in January and expands staffing.
With joints and tendons, we can typically trust our bodies if pain-free and functioning well. In contrast, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, early cancers and heart, liver and kidney disease are detectable only with a good examination and proper screening. Make that appointment now.
Create a lifestyle plan
>> Tips for success: Set goals that are achievable. Does it fit in the schedule? How far away? Goals should be enjoyable, not humbug. Solid support, whether it is a weight-loss challenge among co-workers, a workout partner or a good coach, is key.
>> Watch the mouth: Remember, no amount of exercise will make up for a consistently unhealthy diet, especially without portion control. Green vegetables are key, but if unaccustomed to raw greens, steam them lightly. Consume lean protein regularly and limit the simple carbs. Go for local, organic and non-GMO. Enjoy the farmers market and make eye contact with the person who grew the food you will eat. Pick a vice and cut back. Give up some sodas, smokes or a scoop of rice.
Tune in to what comes out of the mouth as well. Negative chatter is so habitual. It affects mental health and human relationships and has no upside in business. People who practice not talking stink seem to live in a better place. Still, we need courage for straight talk and for sharing what we truly feel. Yup, suppression also breeds illness. And laugh.
Remember, the mouth and nose are also for breathing. When angry or fearful, we don’t exhale fully. When emotionally down, inhalation is shallow. Try to take five minutes daily to sit and reflect on the breath. Just notice the pattern.
>> Move the body: When Americans think exercise we think “cardio” and “resistance” training. For cardio it’s best to get the heart rate up with a good sweat six days per week. Twenty minutes three times per week is the minimum. If overweight or over 40 and out of shape, first get medical clearance to avoid a heart attack or stroke. For resistance training, weights work if the technique is solid. Swimming is terrific, especially if limited to low-impact activity.
Appreciate the value of flexibility training. It deserves equal time. Yoga is hard to beat if taught by a good instructor, and can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Be cautious with the big yoga chains that have commoditized the ancient art. Yoga is especially important for those who do sports that use one arm or that require the body to twist in the same direction each time such as golf, tennis or baseball. Manakai o Malama continuously sees joint injuries and sprains among those who have omitted a routine of flexibility training.
The determined streak to keep breaking our personal fitness records is a rush, but there comes a point in the life when the priority shifts to staying healthy and pain-free for the long term.
Cultivate the mind
Perspective is everything. I like to fish. It struck me once after pulling a big bull mahi on board that for one person catching a fish is just a trophy, while the next person is harvesting a sacred life to feed the ohana. The point is that perspective is everything, but there is a tendency to be so habituated, so close to it that we fail to recognize what really drives our actions. Take a few minutes each day to reflect, observe and reaffirm those New Year’s resolutions.
--- Ira Zunin is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc.
Sunday, January 06, 2019
DC's Legends of Tomorrow continue their battle
The holiday season is
shaping up to be a real treat for comic book lovers and superhero fans.
This month alone we will see "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "Once
Upon a Deadpool" and DC Comics' "Aquaman" hit the big screen. While
Spidey and others dominate the cineplexes, relax, catch up with your
favorite small screen heroes and enjoy some out-of-this-world action as
they continue their battle against the most dangerous criminals in the
universe in an episode of "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," airing Monday,
Dec. 17, on CW.
For
years entertainment pundits have predicted that the superhero bubble
would burst. It's just a matter of time, they'd say, as with all
entertainment trends, before people eventually tire of these types of
stories and move on to something else (see the western). It seems,
however, that the general public is quite content with the numerous
superhero tales found on the big and small screen these days, and is not
quite ready to move on.
We
are living in a golden age of television, and that extends to the
superhero genre as well. Taking full advantage of the medium's
potential, CW and DC have created a rich universe to showcase some of
their best and most interesting characters and storylines. Since the
debut of "Arrow" in 2012, the series has served as a launching pad for
numerous new characters who have gone on to star in their own series,
and in turn launch other characters such as The Flash. The Arrow verse
is made up of the aforementioned "Arrow" and "The Flash," as well as
"Supergirl," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" and two web series.
In
"DC's Legends of Tomorrow," we follow a rag-tag team of dysfunctional
time-traveling superheroes assembled by Rip Hunter, the Time Master
(Arthur Darvill, "Broadchurch") as they battle havoc-wreaking villains.
The
ever-growing Legends team is primarily comprised of Ray Palmer/Atom
(Brandon Routh, "Chuck"); Sara Lance/ White Canary (Caity Lotz, "Mad
Men"); Martin Stein (Victor Garber, "Alias") and Jefferson "Jax" Jackson
(Franz Drameh, "Edge of Tomorrow," 2014), who make up Firestorm; Kendra
Saunders/Hawkgirl (Ciara Renée, "Master of None"); Carter Hall/Hawkman
(Falk Hentschel, "The Alienist"); Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth
Miller, "Prison Break"); and Mick Rory/Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell,
"Prison Break").
Over
the course of three seasons, the Legends have fought many battles
against Vandal Savage (Casper Crump, "The Legend of Tarzan," 2016),
Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough, "Desperate Housewives") and other
dastardly foes, but it seems that they have finally met their match.
Last season ended on a
triumphant note as the team celebrated the defeat of the demon Mallus,
but unfortunately things aren't as easy as they'd hoped. By defeating
the season's big bad, the team created more problems. Bigger problems.
The barrier between worlds has softened and magical creatures are
penetrating our heroes' world like never before.
This
season, the team, along with John Constantine (Matt Ryan,
"Constantine"), must contend with magical creatures from myths, fairy
tales and legends. These "fugitives," as our heroes refer to them, are
extremely dangerous and have only death and destruction on their minds.
Will our heroes be able to fend off these monsters? And how will the
disintegrating barrier between worlds impact the rest of the Arrow
verse? Only time will tell, but what is certain is that it will be a
wild ride.
Due
in large part to the massive success of the Marvel films, we live in a
time of shared universes. Nowadays, everything from "JohnWick" (2014) to
"The Conjuring" (2013) is trying to get in on the action by creating
series destined to spawn spinoffs, sequels, prequels and even the rare
sidequel. Most of these cinematic universes have failed to take off (see
the Dark Universe) or have been underwhelming both critically and
commercially, but the Arrowverse and "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" have
succeeded where most have failed. This success can be attributed to
interesting characters, compelling plots and solid villains, among many
other factors.
Over
the years, DC has earned a reputation for its dark, grim and
ultra-serious films such as the recent blockbusters "Man of Steel"
(2013) and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016). Yet the company
has taken a completely different approach for its television properties.
Unlike Ben Affleck's brooding (and extremely violent) Batman, the
heroes seen in the Arrow verse, and especially in "DC's Legends of
Tomorrow," are fun, quippy, flashy and absolutely over the top.
Week
after week, the time traveling misfits visit new and fascinating places
like Victorian London and 17th-century feudal Japan where they take on
often ridiculous villains. The way Firestorm and the gang defeat these
villains is equally ridiculous. Case in point: last season ended with an
epic battle between a stuffed toy (think of a Tickle Me Elmo) and a
dragon demon. In short, the series is a unique breath of fresh air that
does not take itself too seriously.
On
Monday, Dec. 17, recover from the stunning events of the "Elseworlds"
crossover and reacquaint yourself with "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" as
they take on magical creatures from myths, fairy tales and legends on
CW.
-- Francis Babin 12/16/18
Sunday, December 30, 2018
deli meats
Q. Is eating deli meats really that bad? Does it make a difference if it’s organic, nitrate-free or uncured?
A. Meat and poultry are excellent sources of protein, B vitamins and certain minerals, but consuming even small amounts of processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
“We see a 4 percent increase in the risk of cancer even at 15 grams a day, which is a single slice of ham on a sandwich,” said Dr. Nigel Brockton, director of research for the American Institute for Cancer Research. Eating a more typical serving of 50 grams of processed meat a day would increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent, a 2011 review of studies found.
Unprocessed red meat, by comparison, increases cancer risk only at amounts greater than 100 grams a day, and the evidence for that link is limited, Dr. Brockton said, adding that the institute advises people to “limit” red meat but “avoid” processed meat.
There is some evidence suggesting an association between processed meat and stomach cancer. And a recent study found an increased risk of breast cancer among women who ate the most processed meats.
Processed meat refers to any meat, including pork, poultry, lamb, goat or others, that has been salted, smoked, cured, fermented or otherwise processed for preservation or to enhance the flavor. The category includes hot dogs, ham, bacon and turkey bacon, corned beef, pepperoni, salami, smoked turkey, bologna and other luncheon and deli meats, sausages, corned beef, biltong or beef jerky, canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces, among others.
Many of these meats tend to be high in salt and saturated fat, though lean and low-sodium options are available.
Processed meats are often cured by adding sodium nitrite, which gives them a pink color and a distinct taste, or by adding sodium nitrite and lactic acid, which provides a tangy taste, according to The American Meat Institute. In the past, nitrates, in the form of saltpeter, were traditionally used. Nitrates or nitrites inhibit the growth of botulism and scientists suspect they may be involved in the formation of cancer-causing compounds in the body. (Vegetables also contain nitrates and nitrites, but eating them is not associated with an increased risk of cancer.)
Some products that claim to be “natural” or “organic” may say they are processed without nitrites or nitrates, and the label may say the item has “no artificial preservatives” or is “uncured.” But nutritionists warn that food manufacturers may still add vegetable powders or juices such as celery juice or beetroot juice that contain naturally occurring nitrates, which are converted to nitrites either in the food itself or when they interact with bacteria in our bodies.
The food label will state that there are “no nitrates or nitrites added,” but an asterisk will often lead to a fine-print addendum with the clarification, “except those naturally occurring in celery juice powder,” sea salt or a vegetable juice.
As a result some “natural” or “organic” roast beef and turkey breast, or other products cured with sea salt, evaporated cane juice, potato starch, or natural flavorings or seasonings, may end up with just as high a nitrite content as meats with sodium nitrite added.
Adding to the confusion for consumers is that the U.S.D.A. requires these meats be labeled “uncured” because they are produced without added nitrites or nitrates.
“The average person goes to the store and sees claims like ‘organic, ‘natural,’ or ‘no added nitrates or nitrites,’ and they assume those meats are safer, and they’re not,” said Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group.
The bottom line: If you’re trying to avoid processed meats in order to reduce your risk of cancer, it may be hard to know whether products labeled “natural,” “organic,” “uncured,” or “nitrate and nitrite free” fall into this category or not.
The C.S.P.I. has been urging the Department of Agriculture to require labels on processed meats and poultry that identify the products and inform the public that frequent consumption may increase the risk of colon cancer. A spokeswoman for the U.S.D.A.’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Veronika Pfaeffle, said recently that the petition, filed in Dec. 2016, is still “under review.”
A. Meat and poultry are excellent sources of protein, B vitamins and certain minerals, but consuming even small amounts of processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
“We see a 4 percent increase in the risk of cancer even at 15 grams a day, which is a single slice of ham on a sandwich,” said Dr. Nigel Brockton, director of research for the American Institute for Cancer Research. Eating a more typical serving of 50 grams of processed meat a day would increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent, a 2011 review of studies found.
Unprocessed red meat, by comparison, increases cancer risk only at amounts greater than 100 grams a day, and the evidence for that link is limited, Dr. Brockton said, adding that the institute advises people to “limit” red meat but “avoid” processed meat.
There is some evidence suggesting an association between processed meat and stomach cancer. And a recent study found an increased risk of breast cancer among women who ate the most processed meats.
Processed meat refers to any meat, including pork, poultry, lamb, goat or others, that has been salted, smoked, cured, fermented or otherwise processed for preservation or to enhance the flavor. The category includes hot dogs, ham, bacon and turkey bacon, corned beef, pepperoni, salami, smoked turkey, bologna and other luncheon and deli meats, sausages, corned beef, biltong or beef jerky, canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces, among others.
Many of these meats tend to be high in salt and saturated fat, though lean and low-sodium options are available.
Processed meats are often cured by adding sodium nitrite, which gives them a pink color and a distinct taste, or by adding sodium nitrite and lactic acid, which provides a tangy taste, according to The American Meat Institute. In the past, nitrates, in the form of saltpeter, were traditionally used. Nitrates or nitrites inhibit the growth of botulism and scientists suspect they may be involved in the formation of cancer-causing compounds in the body. (Vegetables also contain nitrates and nitrites, but eating them is not associated with an increased risk of cancer.)
Some products that claim to be “natural” or “organic” may say they are processed without nitrites or nitrates, and the label may say the item has “no artificial preservatives” or is “uncured.” But nutritionists warn that food manufacturers may still add vegetable powders or juices such as celery juice or beetroot juice that contain naturally occurring nitrates, which are converted to nitrites either in the food itself or when they interact with bacteria in our bodies.
The food label will state that there are “no nitrates or nitrites added,” but an asterisk will often lead to a fine-print addendum with the clarification, “except those naturally occurring in celery juice powder,” sea salt or a vegetable juice.
As a result some “natural” or “organic” roast beef and turkey breast, or other products cured with sea salt, evaporated cane juice, potato starch, or natural flavorings or seasonings, may end up with just as high a nitrite content as meats with sodium nitrite added.
Adding to the confusion for consumers is that the U.S.D.A. requires these meats be labeled “uncured” because they are produced without added nitrites or nitrates.
“The average person goes to the store and sees claims like ‘organic, ‘natural,’ or ‘no added nitrates or nitrites,’ and they assume those meats are safer, and they’re not,” said Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group.
The bottom line: If you’re trying to avoid processed meats in order to reduce your risk of cancer, it may be hard to know whether products labeled “natural,” “organic,” “uncured,” or “nitrate and nitrite free” fall into this category or not.
The C.S.P.I. has been urging the Department of Agriculture to require labels on processed meats and poultry that identify the products and inform the public that frequent consumption may increase the risk of colon cancer. A spokeswoman for the U.S.D.A.’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Veronika Pfaeffle, said recently that the petition, filed in Dec. 2016, is still “under review.”
Friday, December 28, 2018
aging well
Getting older is inevitable (and certainly better than the alternative).
While you can’t control your age, you can slow the decline of aging
with smart choices along the way. From the foods you eat and how you
exercise to your friendships and retirement goals — it all has an effect
on how fast or slow your body ages. Keep reading for simple ways to
keep your body tuned up and your mind tuned in. And the good news is
that it’s never too late to get started.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Stan Lee
Stan Lee, the legendary writer, editor and publisher of Marvel Comics
whose fantabulous but flawed creations made him a real-life superhero to
comic book lovers everywhere, has died. He was 95.
Lee, who began in the business in 1939 and created or co-created Black Panther, Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Mighty Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Daredevil and Ant-Man, among countless other characters, died early Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a family representative told The Hollywood Reporter.
On his own and through his work with frequent artist-writer collaborators Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko (who died in July) and others, Lee catapulted Marvel from a tiny venture into the world's No. 1 publisher of comic books and, later, a multimedia giant.
In 2009, The Walt Disney Co. bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, and most of the top-grossing superhero films of all time — led by Avengers: Infinity War's $2.05 billion worldwide take earlier this year — have featured Marvel characters.
"I used to think what I did was not very important," he told the Chicago Tribune in April 2014. "People are building bridges and engaging in medical research, and here I was doing stories about fictional people who do extraordinary, crazy things and wear costumes. But I suppose I have come to realize that entertainment is not easily dismissed."
Lee's fame and influence as the face and figurehead of Marvel, even in his nonagenarian years, remained considerable.
Beginning in the 1960s, the irrepressible and feisty Lee punched up his Marvel superheroes with personality, not just power. Until then, comic book headliners like those of DC Comics were square and well-adjusted, but his heroes had human foibles and hang-ups; Peter Parker/Spider-Man, for example, fretted about his dandruff and was confused about dating. The evildoers were a mess of psychological complexity.
"His stories taught me that even superheroes like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk have ego deficiencies and girl problems and do not live in their macho fantasies 24 hours a day," Gene Simmons of Kiss said in a 1979 interview. "Through the honesty of guys like Spider-Man, I learned about the shades of gray in human nature."
His way of doing things at Marvel was to brainstorm a story with an artist, then write a synopsis. After the artist drew the story panels, Lee filled in the word balloons and captions. The process became known as “The Marvel Method.”
Lee collaborated with artist-writer Kirby on the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Silver Surfer and X-Men. With artist-writer Ditko he created Spider-Man and the surgeon Doctor Strange, and with artist Bill Everett came up with the blind superhero Daredevil.
Lee, who began in the business in 1939 and created or co-created Black Panther, Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Mighty Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Daredevil and Ant-Man, among countless other characters, died early Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a family representative told The Hollywood Reporter.
On his own and through his work with frequent artist-writer collaborators Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko (who died in July) and others, Lee catapulted Marvel from a tiny venture into the world's No. 1 publisher of comic books and, later, a multimedia giant.
In 2009, The Walt Disney Co. bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, and most of the top-grossing superhero films of all time — led by Avengers: Infinity War's $2.05 billion worldwide take earlier this year — have featured Marvel characters.
"I used to think what I did was not very important," he told the Chicago Tribune in April 2014. "People are building bridges and engaging in medical research, and here I was doing stories about fictional people who do extraordinary, crazy things and wear costumes. But I suppose I have come to realize that entertainment is not easily dismissed."
Lee's fame and influence as the face and figurehead of Marvel, even in his nonagenarian years, remained considerable.
Beginning in the 1960s, the irrepressible and feisty Lee punched up his Marvel superheroes with personality, not just power. Until then, comic book headliners like those of DC Comics were square and well-adjusted, but his heroes had human foibles and hang-ups; Peter Parker/Spider-Man, for example, fretted about his dandruff and was confused about dating. The evildoers were a mess of psychological complexity.
"His stories taught me that even superheroes like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk have ego deficiencies and girl problems and do not live in their macho fantasies 24 hours a day," Gene Simmons of Kiss said in a 1979 interview. "Through the honesty of guys like Spider-Man, I learned about the shades of gray in human nature."
His way of doing things at Marvel was to brainstorm a story with an artist, then write a synopsis. After the artist drew the story panels, Lee filled in the word balloons and captions. The process became known as “The Marvel Method.”
Lee collaborated with artist-writer Kirby on the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Silver Surfer and X-Men. With artist-writer Ditko he created Spider-Man and the surgeon Doctor Strange, and with artist Bill Everett came up with the blind superhero Daredevil.
Monday, November 05, 2018
Daiso is coming to Hawaii
aiso, one of Japan’s most popular discount retailers, is opening its
first Hawaii store in mid- December at the Pearl City Shopping Center.
HouseMart, parent company of Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware, has an exclusive licensing agreement to open Daiso, which has more than 3,200 stores in Japan and over 5,200 stores worldwide.
The company sells everything from beauty products and household goods to Japanese snacks and stationery. While known as the “Japanese dollar store,” Daiso products are generally $1.50 to $3 on the mainland, where it has more than 70 stores. The store said it is able to keep prices down through high-volume sales that are in the millions for a single product.
HouseMart, parent company of Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware, has an exclusive licensing agreement to open Daiso, which has more than 3,200 stores in Japan and over 5,200 stores worldwide.
The company sells everything from beauty products and household goods to Japanese snacks and stationery. While known as the “Japanese dollar store,” Daiso products are generally $1.50 to $3 on the mainland, where it has more than 70 stores. The store said it is able to keep prices down through high-volume sales that are in the millions for a single product.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Lennon and McCartney double take
Fans of The Beatles did a double take on Monday when Sean Ono Lennon, the only son of the late John Lennon and Yoko Ono, posted a selfie with James McCartney, the son of Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, to Instagram.
The two famous offspring certainly have some striking similarities to their famous fathers, not least of which is their love of music.
In the shot, which is simply captioned, “Peekaboo,” James is holding his acoustic guitar, and giving a smile just like his dad.
The two famous offspring certainly have some striking similarities to their famous fathers, not least of which is their love of music.
In the shot, which is simply captioned, “Peekaboo,” James is holding his acoustic guitar, and giving a smile just like his dad.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Movies Anywhere
[8/6/18] Today we are excited to announce that the Microsoft Movies & TV app for Xbox and Windows 10 devices now supports Movies Anywhere, which brings your favorite film libraries together in one place.
In addition, eligible movies you previously purchased from other participating digital retailers will now be viewable through the Movies & TV app on Xbox and Windows 10.
As part of our launch, we have a limited time offer for anyone who connects his or her Microsoft account to Movies Anywhere for the first time. Once you connect, you will receive X-Men Days of Future Past in your digital collection on us. This offer begins today and only runs for a limited time, so head here to connect your accounts today or visit this page for complete details.
***
[3/12/18] Fandano joins Movies Anywhere
***
[10/12/17] Movies Anywhere is a new service that solves a major problem.
Using a single app, you can now access your Amazon, iTunes, Google
and Vudu movie libraries. For real. That not only eliminates the
hassles of jumping among four different services depending on what you
want to watch, but also dissolves some platform barriers. For example,
Roku owners can watch movies purchased from iTunes. Amazon Fire tablet owners can watch Google Play movies, and so on.
Ready to get started? Movies Anywhere is free, and when you connect at least two of the aforementioned services (which Movies Anywhere refers to as "retailers"), you'll score five free movies:
- "Big Hero 6"
- "Ghostbusters (2016)"
- "Ice Age"
- "Jason Bourne"
- "The Lego Movie"
[Actually I don't use the Movies Anywhere app. Your movies largely migrate to all the services, so I generally use Amazon Video, or Vudu, or iTunes.
Most, but not every movie is supported however. And no TV yet.]
Thursday, June 07, 2018
How We Learn
Book Review: 'How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where and Why It Happens' by Benedict Carey
Carey’s book has four sections. It begins with an introduction of the biological function of the brain and the cognitive science of learning, which are the theoretical foundation of later sections. The second part of the book deals with retention tools and the third part deals with comprehension techniques. The last part of the book explores how we can improve learning subconsciously, or “learning without thinking,” as Carey describes it.
Carey’s book has four sections. It begins with an introduction of the biological function of the brain and the cognitive science of learning, which are the theoretical foundation of later sections. The second part of the book deals with retention tools and the third part deals with comprehension techniques. The last part of the book explores how we can improve learning subconsciously, or “learning without thinking,” as Carey describes it.
To me, the most useful information of the book is about the common learnings strategies that are now proven less effective.
For instance, it’s widely accepted that
it’s better to find a quiet place to study and we should go to this
place all the time – making it a routine. Well, according to Carey,
“scientists have found that we work more effectively when we continually alter our study routines and abandon any ‘dedicated space’ in favor of varied locations. Sticking to one learning ritual slows us down."
Take another widely-accepted practice -
devoting a dedicated black of time to repetitively practicing a skill
(such as long division) is the best way to master a particular skill.
Carey points out that this is also wrong as
“studies find that the brain picks up patterns more efficiently when presented with a mixed bag of related tasks than when it’s forced-fed just one, no matter the age of the student or the subject matter area."
Another
example comes from digital distraction such as Facebook Twitter and
WeChat, which is blamed by many as the biggest hurdle to focus
(including myself). While these distractions do harm our ability to
focus, they may help (only a brief distraction) “when we’re stuck on a
math problem or tied up in a creative knot and need to shake free.
Carey also offers a very interesting
theory – the Forget to Learn theory. This theory suggests that
“forgetting is the best friend of learning, rather than its rival.”
First of all, forgetting acts as a “spam filter.” By filtering out
information that we might need, forgetting allows the brain to focus.
Another benefit of forgetting is that normal forgetting is helpful for
subsequent learning. Carey uses the muscle-building metaphor to
illustrate this point – some breakdown must occur for us to gain muscle.
Similarly, some breakdown must occur for us to strengthen learning.
It’s good to know that it’s not necessarily a bad thing to forget.
Retention and comprehension tools:
The first principle theory of memory is an
enormously important theory, which is “shepherded” by UCLA’s Robert
Bjork and his wife Elizabeth Ligon Bjork. The theory says that
“any memory has two strengths, a storage strength and a retrieval strength. Storage strength is a measure of how well learned something is. It builds up steadily with studying and more sharply with use. Storage strength can increases but it never decreases. Retrieval strength is a measure of how easily a nugget of information comes to mind. It,too, increases with studying, and with use. Without reinforcement, however, retrieval strength drops off quickly, and its capacity is relatively small. At any time, we can pull up only a limited number of items in connection with any given cue or reminder. Compared to storage, retrieval strength is fickle. It can build quickly but also weaken quickly.”
An-equally
important principle is called the principle of desirable difficulty. The
principle states that “the harder we have to work to retrieve a memory,
the greater the subsequent spike in retrieval and storage strength
(learning).”
Fortunately, Carey has offered us some great retention techniques that can help us learn better.
First of all, “having something going on
in the study environment, like music, is better than nothing.” Because
the experience of studying has more dimensions than we notice, some of
which can have an impact on retention. Subconscious contextual cues such
as music, light, and background color are valuable when it comes to
retention. It we can multiple the number of perceptions connected to a
given memory, we’ll do better. And it’s not that hard. We can switch
places – just go to another Starbucks. We can listen to classical music
today and jazz tomorrow.
The second technique Carey shares is the
distributed learning, or the spacing effect. The spacing effect
basically says we learn just as much but retain it much longer when we
space our study time than when we concentrate our study time. Studying a
new concept right after you learn it doesn’t’ deepen the memory much
but studying it an hour later or a day later, does. Scientists have
helped established both “minimum intervals” and “maximum intervals”
required to keep newly learned facts accessible.
Carey sheds some light on the spacing
effect with his own experiences. He used to study difficult materials
for an hour and return the next day practically remembering nothing. But
now he utilizes the spacing technique – he would treat the first
encounter as a casual walk through for about twenty minutes. Then he’ll
go through round two and round three with the same material later, each
twenty minutes. He hasn’t used more time but he remembers more.
I’ll pause here and share the rest of my notes in the upcoming articles.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Star Wars movie chronology
The “Star Wars” universe has been rapidly expanding in recent years,
with the new trilogy as well as standalone films like “Rogue One” and
Friday’s release of “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
But unlike many of its predecessors, deciphering just where “Solo” fits chronologically in the franchise has been a bit of a head scratcher (in part because it’s unclear how old Han Solo is in the prequel).
While die-hard fans may be able to accurately guess where the “Solo” film fits into the bigger timeline, more casual viewers will have a tougher time deciphering the proper order.
With that in mind, here’s a quick movie timeline, spanning from the introduction of a baby-faced Anakin Skywalker to the recent debuts of Rey and Finn, perfect for your next movie marathon.
***
And here's a timeline including the animated shows.
But unlike many of its predecessors, deciphering just where “Solo” fits chronologically in the franchise has been a bit of a head scratcher (in part because it’s unclear how old Han Solo is in the prequel).
While die-hard fans may be able to accurately guess where the “Solo” film fits into the bigger timeline, more casual viewers will have a tougher time deciphering the proper order.
With that in mind, here’s a quick movie timeline, spanning from the introduction of a baby-faced Anakin Skywalker to the recent debuts of Rey and Finn, perfect for your next movie marathon.
***
And here's a timeline including the animated shows.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
medicare
[4/26/18] 6 key Medicare questions
Learn about Medicare eligibility, choices, costs, and when and how to sign up.
[5/13/13] While some people may have access to employer‐provided retiree health care coverage, the government's Medicare health insurance program is still the primary source of health coverage for American retirees. Most automatically qualify for basic Medicare hospital insurance (known as Part A) as soon as they reach age 65. This coverage costs nothing if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes during your working years.
On the other hand, Medicare medical insurance (known as Part B), which covers doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services such as physical and occupational therapy and some home health care, is not free. You pay a monthly premium for Part B, and there's no annual limit on your out‐of‐pocket expenses as there is with many private insurance policies.
Medicare Advantage plans combine Medicare Parts A and B and supplemental coverage in a single policy. They are privately managed and can offer lower premiums or better benefits than a traditional Medicare setup where each part is treated separately. But these plans also can limit you to using only network providers.
Prescription drug costs have also gone up; although it is only 10% of total health expenditures, spending on prescription drugs has risen 114% from 2000 to 2010.4 To cover prescription drugs in retirement, you also can purchase Medicare Part D prescription coverage to add to Part A, Part B, and your Medigap coverage, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan.
***
Frequently asked questions.
Learn about Medicare eligibility, choices, costs, and when and how to sign up.
[5/13/13] While some people may have access to employer‐provided retiree health care coverage, the government's Medicare health insurance program is still the primary source of health coverage for American retirees. Most automatically qualify for basic Medicare hospital insurance (known as Part A) as soon as they reach age 65. This coverage costs nothing if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes during your working years.
On the other hand, Medicare medical insurance (known as Part B), which covers doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services such as physical and occupational therapy and some home health care, is not free. You pay a monthly premium for Part B, and there's no annual limit on your out‐of‐pocket expenses as there is with many private insurance policies.
Medicare Advantage plans combine Medicare Parts A and B and supplemental coverage in a single policy. They are privately managed and can offer lower premiums or better benefits than a traditional Medicare setup where each part is treated separately. But these plans also can limit you to using only network providers.
Prescription drug costs have also gone up; although it is only 10% of total health expenditures, spending on prescription drugs has risen 114% from 2000 to 2010.4 To cover prescription drugs in retirement, you also can purchase Medicare Part D prescription coverage to add to Part A, Part B, and your Medigap coverage, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan.
***
Frequently asked questions.
Bill Cosby
[4/26/18] NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of drugging and molesting a woman in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era, completing the spectacular late-life downfall of a comedian who broke racial barriers in Hollywood on his way to TV superstardom as America’s Dad.
Cosby, 80, could end up spending his final years in prison after a jury concluded he sexually violated Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He claimed the encounter was consensual.
Cosby’s retrial took place against the backdrop of #MeToo, the movement against sexual misconduct that has taken down powerful men in rapid succession, among them Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.
[10/7/15] Keshia Knight Pulliam, best known for playing Bill Cosby’s youngest child Rudy in the iconic sitcom The Cosby Show – which was pulled from syndication on a number of networks – does not feel the controversy surrounding her famous TV father should cloud the show’s undeniable legacy.
“You can’t take back the impact that it’s had on generations of kids, and it’s continuing to have such a positive impact on them,” Pulliam, 36, told The Grio. “So I feel like the place that it has in people’s hearts is such a nostalgic part of childhood and beyond, it’s going to be difficult to take back those memories.” She then went on to say that the man the public perceives Cosby to be today is not the person she grew up knowing: someone who is philanthropic and charitable.
“All I can speak to is the man that I know and I love,” she said. “The fact that he’s been such an example, you can’t take away from the great that he has done. You know, the amount, the millions and millions of dollars that he has given back to colleges and education, and just what he did with The Cosby Show and how groundbreaking that was …
[7/9/15] On Monday after documents surfaced in which Bill Cosby admitted to getting quaaludes to give to girls he wanted to have sex with, the comedian lost an adamant supporter who had defended him against brewing sexual assault allegations over the last year. On Tuesday, he lost some more support: His bust in the Hollywood Studios Hall of Fame Plaza will be removed, Disney confirmed to a WESH TV reporter in Florida.
The Associated Press reported Monday that court documents from a 2005 hearing involving one of the more than two dozen women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault indicated that he admitted under oath at the time to getting the drugs for women he wanted to sleep with. Upon hearing the news, singer-actress Jill Scott, who had publicly defended Cosby over the past months, recanted her position and said she was “completely disgusted” with the news.
The 2005 case in which Cosby testified about quaaludes involved a former Temple University employee, who accused the now-77-year-old of assault. At the time, Cosby said that he gave the woman three half pills of Benadryl, and Cosby’s lawyers have repeatedly denied the accuracy of sexual assault allegations.
Cosby has also fallen from grace from Temple University in Philadelphia, his alma mater. His standup special with Netflix has been shelved indefinitely. NBC, which had planned a new sitcom with the comedian, also has backed away from him.
[7/16/15] Former Cosby cast member Joseph C. Phillips speaks out
[7/19/15] He was not above seducing a young model by showing interest in her father’s cancer. He promised other women his mentorship and career advice before pushing them for sex acts. And he tried to use financial sleight of hand to keep his wife from finding out about his serial philandering.
Cosby, 80, could end up spending his final years in prison after a jury concluded he sexually violated Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He claimed the encounter was consensual.
Cosby’s retrial took place against the backdrop of #MeToo, the movement against sexual misconduct that has taken down powerful men in rapid succession, among them Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.
[10/7/15] Keshia Knight Pulliam, best known for playing Bill Cosby’s youngest child Rudy in the iconic sitcom The Cosby Show – which was pulled from syndication on a number of networks – does not feel the controversy surrounding her famous TV father should cloud the show’s undeniable legacy.
“You can’t take back the impact that it’s had on generations of kids, and it’s continuing to have such a positive impact on them,” Pulliam, 36, told The Grio. “So I feel like the place that it has in people’s hearts is such a nostalgic part of childhood and beyond, it’s going to be difficult to take back those memories.” She then went on to say that the man the public perceives Cosby to be today is not the person she grew up knowing: someone who is philanthropic and charitable.
“All I can speak to is the man that I know and I love,” she said. “The fact that he’s been such an example, you can’t take away from the great that he has done. You know, the amount, the millions and millions of dollars that he has given back to colleges and education, and just what he did with The Cosby Show and how groundbreaking that was …
[7/9/15] On Monday after documents surfaced in which Bill Cosby admitted to getting quaaludes to give to girls he wanted to have sex with, the comedian lost an adamant supporter who had defended him against brewing sexual assault allegations over the last year. On Tuesday, he lost some more support: His bust in the Hollywood Studios Hall of Fame Plaza will be removed, Disney confirmed to a WESH TV reporter in Florida.
The Associated Press reported Monday that court documents from a 2005 hearing involving one of the more than two dozen women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault indicated that he admitted under oath at the time to getting the drugs for women he wanted to sleep with. Upon hearing the news, singer-actress Jill Scott, who had publicly defended Cosby over the past months, recanted her position and said she was “completely disgusted” with the news.
The 2005 case in which Cosby testified about quaaludes involved a former Temple University employee, who accused the now-77-year-old of assault. At the time, Cosby said that he gave the woman three half pills of Benadryl, and Cosby’s lawyers have repeatedly denied the accuracy of sexual assault allegations.
Cosby has also fallen from grace from Temple University in Philadelphia, his alma mater. His standup special with Netflix has been shelved indefinitely. NBC, which had planned a new sitcom with the comedian, also has backed away from him.
[7/16/15] Former Cosby cast member Joseph C. Phillips speaks out
[7/19/15] He was not above seducing a young model by showing interest in her father’s cancer. He promised other women his mentorship and career advice before pushing them for sex acts. And he tried to use financial sleight of hand to keep his wife from finding out about his serial philandering.
Bill Cosby
admitted to all of this and more over four days of intense questioning
10 years ago at a Philadelphia hotel, where he defended himself in a
deposition for a lawsuit filed by a young woman who accused him of
drugging and molesting her.
Even
as Mr. Cosby denied he was a sexual predator who assaulted many women,
he presented himself in the deposition as an unapologetic, cavalier
playboy, someone who used a combination of fame, apparent concern and
powerful sedatives in a calculated pursuit of young women — a profile at odds with the popular image he so long enjoyed, that of father figure
and public moralist.
Friday, February 23, 2018
weight loss
Anyone who has ever been on a diet knows that the standard prescription
for weight loss is to reduce the amount of calories you consume.
But a new study, published Tuesday in JAMA, may turn that advice on its head. It found that people who cut back on added sugar, refined grains and highly processed foods while concentrating on eating plenty of vegetables and whole foods — without worrying about counting calories or limiting portion sizes — lost significant amounts of weight over the course of a year.
The research lends strong support to the notion that diet quality, not quantity, is what helps people lose and manage their weight most easily in the long run. It also suggests that health authorities should shift away from telling the public to obsess over calories and instead encourage Americans to avoid processed foods that are made with refined starches and added sugar, like bagels, white bread, refined flour and sugary snacks and beverages, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
“This is the road map to reducing the obesity epidemic in the United States,” said Dr. Mozaffarian, who was not involved in the new study. “It’s time for U.S. and other national policies to stop focusing on calories and calorie counting.”
But a new study, published Tuesday in JAMA, may turn that advice on its head. It found that people who cut back on added sugar, refined grains and highly processed foods while concentrating on eating plenty of vegetables and whole foods — without worrying about counting calories or limiting portion sizes — lost significant amounts of weight over the course of a year.
The research lends strong support to the notion that diet quality, not quantity, is what helps people lose and manage their weight most easily in the long run. It also suggests that health authorities should shift away from telling the public to obsess over calories and instead encourage Americans to avoid processed foods that are made with refined starches and added sugar, like bagels, white bread, refined flour and sugary snacks and beverages, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
“This is the road map to reducing the obesity epidemic in the United States,” said Dr. Mozaffarian, who was not involved in the new study. “It’s time for U.S. and other national policies to stop focusing on calories and calorie counting.”
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Bill and Melinda Gates on Trump and philanthropy
In the tenth edition of the Gates Foundation’s annual letter,
Bill and Melinda Gates have chosen a different tact, tackling head-on
“The 10 Tough Questions” they’re often asked about their $40 billion
foundation.
Questions range from the political to the personal, including,”Are you imposing your values on other cultures?” and, “What do you have to show for the billions you’ve spent on U.S. education?”
However, the most frequently asked question on the Gates’ list is about the current U.S. president: “How are President Trump’s policies affecting your work?”
In the joint letter, Bill Gates, who recently revealed that his father is suffering from dementia, writes that over the past year, he’s been asked “about President Trump and his policies more often than all the other topics in this letter combined.”
The Microsoft founder and billionaire addressed President Trump’s U.S centric foreign policy, writing that “the America First worldview concerns me.”
“For decades the United States has been a leader in the fight against disease and poverty abroad,” he said. “These efforts save lives. They also create U.S. jobs. And they make Americans more secure by making poor countries more stable and stopping disease outbreaks before they become pandemics.”
“The world is not a safer place when more people are sick or hungry,” Gates added.
***
In the letter, the Gates acknowledge the extreme wealth inequality their fortune represents. "No, it's not fair that we have so much wealth when billions of others have so little," says Melinda. "And it's not fair that our wealth opens doors that are closed to most people."
So, "If we think it's unfair that we have so much wealth, why don't we give it all to the government?" asks Bill. "The answer is that we think there's always going to be a unique role for foundations."
Philanthropic foundations can "take a global view to find the greatest needs, take a long-term approach to solving problems, and manage high-risk projects that governments can't take on and corporations won't. If a government tries an idea that fails, someone wasn't doing their job. Whereas if we don't try some ideas that fail, we're not doing our jobs," says Bill.
"We both come from families that believed in leaving the world better than you found it," writes Melinda. "My parents made sure my siblings and I took the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church to heart. Bill's mom was known, and his dad still is known, for showing up to advocate for a dizzying number of important causes and support more local organizations than you can count.
"Our goal is to do what our parents taught us and do our part to make the world better," says Melinda.
Questions range from the political to the personal, including,”Are you imposing your values on other cultures?” and, “What do you have to show for the billions you’ve spent on U.S. education?”
However, the most frequently asked question on the Gates’ list is about the current U.S. president: “How are President Trump’s policies affecting your work?”
In the joint letter, Bill Gates, who recently revealed that his father is suffering from dementia, writes that over the past year, he’s been asked “about President Trump and his policies more often than all the other topics in this letter combined.”
The Microsoft founder and billionaire addressed President Trump’s U.S centric foreign policy, writing that “the America First worldview concerns me.”
“For decades the United States has been a leader in the fight against disease and poverty abroad,” he said. “These efforts save lives. They also create U.S. jobs. And they make Americans more secure by making poor countries more stable and stopping disease outbreaks before they become pandemics.”
“The world is not a safer place when more people are sick or hungry,” Gates added.
***
In the letter, the Gates acknowledge the extreme wealth inequality their fortune represents. "No, it's not fair that we have so much wealth when billions of others have so little," says Melinda. "And it's not fair that our wealth opens doors that are closed to most people."
So, "If we think it's unfair that we have so much wealth, why don't we give it all to the government?" asks Bill. "The answer is that we think there's always going to be a unique role for foundations."
Philanthropic foundations can "take a global view to find the greatest needs, take a long-term approach to solving problems, and manage high-risk projects that governments can't take on and corporations won't. If a government tries an idea that fails, someone wasn't doing their job. Whereas if we don't try some ideas that fail, we're not doing our jobs," says Bill.
"We both come from families that believed in leaving the world better than you found it," writes Melinda. "My parents made sure my siblings and I took the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church to heart. Bill's mom was known, and his dad still is known, for showing up to advocate for a dizzying number of important causes and support more local organizations than you can count.
"Our goal is to do what our parents taught us and do our part to make the world better," says Melinda.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
free TV shows
[11/29/17] Newest free TV episodes on iTunes: Fixer Upper (s5e01), Barnwood Builders (s6e01), Maine Cabin Masters (s2e01), Mythbusters: The Search (all of season 1). All also available free on Amazon Video.
[10/19/17] Free TV episodes on iTunes: The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman (episode 1), First Time Flippers (season 6, episode 1), Urban Oasis (season 8, episode 1).
Amazon Video also has them for free and also has episode 2 of the Story of Us for free.
Fandango: Texas Flip N Move, Rehab Addict, First Time Flippers
Vudu: The Story of Us, First Time Flippers, Rehab Addict, Texas Flip N Move
[10/8/17] More free TV shows added last night on itunes: Fresh off the Boat (s4e01), Wisdom of the Crowd (pilot), Ghosted (pilot), The Gifted (pilot), Texas Flip N Move (s7e01), Rehab Addict (v9e01), Hawaii Life (s10e01).
Checking Amazon, The Gifted was apparently available for free, but no longer. Also not available for free (yet?): Texas Flip N Move, Rehab Addict.
Checking Vudu: Hawaii Life, The Gifted, Ghosted, Wisdom of the Crowd
Fandango: Hawaii Life, Wisdom of the Crowd, The Gifted
Google Play: Hawaii Life, Wisdom of the Crowd, Ghosted, Rehab Addict, Fresh off the Boat, The Gifted
So iTunes actually had the most.
[9/30/17] You can download free TV shows (and once in a while movies) from a variety of places (legally). The sources I use are iTunes, Amazon.com, Vudu, Fandango, Google Play. These are usually pilot episodes (that they hope you get hooked on so you buy other episodes). They're usually only available for a limited time. But once you buy them, they go into your library and don't expire and you can watch them whenever you want after that. Usually I see first them on Vudu or iTunes, then I check if they're also available for free on Amazon.
Here's what I have "bought" recently. (I don't always buy the episodes on all platforms. But I have bought the below on at least one platform.)
SEAL Team (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango)
The Brave (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
The Good Doctor (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
Salvage Dawgs, s8e01 (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
The Mayor (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango)
The Orville (iTunes, Amazon, Fandango)
And some of what I have bought last year
Planet Earth II
Pure Genius
Man With A Plan
Timeless
[10/19/17] Free TV episodes on iTunes: The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman (episode 1), First Time Flippers (season 6, episode 1), Urban Oasis (season 8, episode 1).
Amazon Video also has them for free and also has episode 2 of the Story of Us for free.
Fandango: Texas Flip N Move, Rehab Addict, First Time Flippers
Vudu: The Story of Us, First Time Flippers, Rehab Addict, Texas Flip N Move
[10/8/17] More free TV shows added last night on itunes: Fresh off the Boat (s4e01), Wisdom of the Crowd (pilot), Ghosted (pilot), The Gifted (pilot), Texas Flip N Move (s7e01), Rehab Addict (v9e01), Hawaii Life (s10e01).
Checking Amazon, The Gifted was apparently available for free, but no longer. Also not available for free (yet?): Texas Flip N Move, Rehab Addict.
Checking Vudu: Hawaii Life, The Gifted, Ghosted, Wisdom of the Crowd
Fandango: Hawaii Life, Wisdom of the Crowd, The Gifted
Google Play: Hawaii Life, Wisdom of the Crowd, Ghosted, Rehab Addict, Fresh off the Boat, The Gifted
So iTunes actually had the most.
[9/30/17] You can download free TV shows (and once in a while movies) from a variety of places (legally). The sources I use are iTunes, Amazon.com, Vudu, Fandango, Google Play. These are usually pilot episodes (that they hope you get hooked on so you buy other episodes). They're usually only available for a limited time. But once you buy them, they go into your library and don't expire and you can watch them whenever you want after that. Usually I see first them on Vudu or iTunes, then I check if they're also available for free on Amazon.
Here's what I have "bought" recently. (I don't always buy the episodes on all platforms. But I have bought the below on at least one platform.)
SEAL Team (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango)
The Brave (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
The Good Doctor (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
Salvage Dawgs, s8e01 (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, Google)
The Mayor (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango)
The Orville (iTunes, Amazon, Fandango)
And some of what I have bought last year
Planet Earth II
Pure Genius
Man With A Plan
Timeless
MacGyver
Lethal Weapon
Pitch
Designated Survivor
Kevin Can Wait
The Good Place
And in 2015
Dr. Ken
The Player
Minority Report
Limitless
CSI: Cyber
And in 2014
Scorpion
Gotham
Then there'a bunch of shows from HGTV, DIY, and the like such as
Property Brothers: Buying and Selling
The Vanilla Ice Project
Caribbean Life
Tiny Paradise
Barnwood Builders
Nashville Flipped
Brother vs. Brother
Brother vs. Brother
Good Bones
Vintage Flip
Smart Home 2017
Tiny Luxury
Nate & Jeremiah by design
Stone House Revival
Home Town
First Time Flippers
Dream Home 2017
Love It or Li$t
Tiny House, Big Living
Fixer Upper
Texas Flip N Move
Holmes: Buy It Right
Hawaii Life
Flea Market Flip
Flip or Flop
Raise The Roof
Rehab Addict
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Monty Hall
Monty Hall, the original host and co-creator of “Let's Make a Deal,” the long-running game show that debuted in 1963, making kooky audience costumes and carnival-style bartering an institution on daytime television, has died, according to Associated Press. He was 96.
Hall, who was also a dedicated philanthropist, died of heart failure Saturday morning at his home in Los Angeles, according to his daughter Sharon Hall.
One of the most popular TV game shows of the 1960s and early 1970s, “Let's Make a Deal” featured Hall as a fast-talking auctioneer-trader who randomly pulled people from the audience to trade for prizes that could be valuable – or relatively worthless “zonks,” gag gifts such as a barnyard animal or a giant jar of peanut butter.
“People had gotten excited on game shows before, but never to the extent that they did on ‘Deal,’ ” according to the 2006 book “Rules of the Game,” which featured Hall on the cover.
“Let's Make a Deal” originally aired for 13 years, first on NBC and then ABC, and it has been revived in various daytime and prime-time incarnations since.
Over more than two decades, Hall hosted about 4,500 episodes and became wealthy co-producing it. When CBS revived the show in 2009, actor-comedian Wayne Brady stepped in as master of ceremonies. Hall served as a consultant and made the rare guest appearance.
Hall, who was also a dedicated philanthropist, died of heart failure Saturday morning at his home in Los Angeles, according to his daughter Sharon Hall.
One of the most popular TV game shows of the 1960s and early 1970s, “Let's Make a Deal” featured Hall as a fast-talking auctioneer-trader who randomly pulled people from the audience to trade for prizes that could be valuable – or relatively worthless “zonks,” gag gifts such as a barnyard animal or a giant jar of peanut butter.
“People had gotten excited on game shows before, but never to the extent that they did on ‘Deal,’ ” according to the 2006 book “Rules of the Game,” which featured Hall on the cover.
“Let's Make a Deal” originally aired for 13 years, first on NBC and then ABC, and it has been revived in various daytime and prime-time incarnations since.
Over more than two decades, Hall hosted about 4,500 episodes and became wealthy co-producing it. When CBS revived the show in 2009, actor-comedian Wayne Brady stepped in as master of ceremonies. Hall served as a consultant and made the rare guest appearance.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
cleaning grout
[9/23/17] The grout on the floor outside the bathtub looks pretty filthy. Well, I guess the grout in a lot of other places in my house look pretty filthy.
So added to my list: clean the grout.
My first attempt was to use vinegar.
I sprayed the area, let it sit for like an hour, and scrubbed with an old toothbrush.
Sure enough, some brown stuff came off on the toothbrush. But there was still a dark brown area on the grout that remained dirty.
Next I tried some old Tilex that I had tried earlier on the bathtub that didn't do all that great, but since it was sitting on my bathtub, I tried that.
Once again, brown stuff came off on the brush. But a small brown spot remained. It looked even cleaner than the vinegar, so I guess it at least partially works. But still trying to get the stubbor brown spots out.
[9/24/17] Next on my cleaners to try was Awesome that my sister gave me years ago. I guess the full name is La's Totally Awesome. You can buy it on Amazon but you can get it cheaper if you can find it at your local dollar store (apparently not available around her anymore?)
Anyway, I sprayed a dirty section and sprayed that brown spot that withstood the vinegar and Tilex. After some scrubbing with the toothbrush, the brown disappeared! So I'd say Awesome is the winner!
So added to my list: clean the grout.
My first attempt was to use vinegar.
I sprayed the area, let it sit for like an hour, and scrubbed with an old toothbrush.
Sure enough, some brown stuff came off on the toothbrush. But there was still a dark brown area on the grout that remained dirty.
Next I tried some old Tilex that I had tried earlier on the bathtub that didn't do all that great, but since it was sitting on my bathtub, I tried that.
Once again, brown stuff came off on the brush. But a small brown spot remained. It looked even cleaner than the vinegar, so I guess it at least partially works. But still trying to get the stubbor brown spots out.
[9/24/17] Next on my cleaners to try was Awesome that my sister gave me years ago. I guess the full name is La's Totally Awesome. You can buy it on Amazon but you can get it cheaper if you can find it at your local dollar store (apparently not available around her anymore?)
Anyway, I sprayed a dirty section and sprayed that brown spot that withstood the vinegar and Tilex. After some scrubbing with the toothbrush, the brown disappeared! So I'd say Awesome is the winner!
cleaning the toilet
My sister says my toilet looks filthy. When I think about it, I guess she's right. If I saw my toilet at somebody else's house, I'd think the same thing.
So it's on my list of things to do: clean the toilet!
Tried an SOS pad. I guess a little better but still filthy.
Then next attempt was to use vinegar.
Didn't seem to do much. Maybe I have to soak it longer.
Next I tried efferdent since I had a couple of old boxes from my mom
Didn't do much. Below the waterline it looks pretty good though.
Like the vinegar maybe I have to leave it sitting longer and
The toilet seat is filthy too. Here are some links that I found (doesn't sound easy).
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-stains-on-a-toilet-seat/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/removing-spots-toilet-seat-20516.html
https://bowelology.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/how-to-clean-mesalamine-stains-off-your-toilet/
*** [5/31/18]
Baking soda: A proven virus-killer, it deodorizes and cuts through grime. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup vinegar to clean toilets and drains.
So it's on my list of things to do: clean the toilet!
Tried an SOS pad. I guess a little better but still filthy.
Then next attempt was to use vinegar.
Didn't seem to do much. Maybe I have to soak it longer.
Next I tried efferdent since I had a couple of old boxes from my mom
Didn't do much. Below the waterline it looks pretty good though.
Like the vinegar maybe I have to leave it sitting longer and
The toilet seat is filthy too. Here are some links that I found (doesn't sound easy).
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-stains-on-a-toilet-seat/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/removing-spots-toilet-seat-20516.html
https://bowelology.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/how-to-clean-mesalamine-stains-off-your-toilet/
*** [5/31/18]
Baking soda: A proven virus-killer, it deodorizes and cuts through grime. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup vinegar to clean toilets and drains.
Friday, September 22, 2017
how to get a billionaire to give away all his money
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has worked with countless billionaires and today, as the founder and chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, he travels the world urging the ultra-wealthy to give money to charitable causes.
On Thursday, Gates visited the Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about the importance of international aid and philanthropy.
"How do you get a billionaire to give you all of their money? You say Warren Buffett gave you his money and many other billionaires are just like 'ya take my money?'" asked host Trevor Noah jokingly. "Just say, hypothetically I wanted to get a billionaire to give me all of their money, how do I go about that? How do I start the conversation?"
In response, Gates clarified that he asks for money on behalf of his charity, not to fund his personal lifestyle: "They're not giving it to me."
The secret to fundraising from billionaires, Gates says, is to put money into perspective: "When you have that degree of success you're not really talking about personal deprivation."
Instead, billionaires are thinking about how their fortunes will be passed down to their heirs.
"You have to decide if you're trying to start an aristocratic dynasty so that all the money stays in your family," he says. "And hey, that's OK, you're free to do that. But I think when you're that successful, ideally, you pick a disease, pick a cause, and I think you'll get a lot of fulfillment."
It feels good to make a difference in the lives of others, and these positive feelings drive Americans to be particularly altruistic, says Gates. "Americans are very generous. We have more big philanthropists than any other country. And other countries like China and India are hopeful that the same tradition develops."
Reminding billionaires of their own mortality can be sensitive, but Gates says it's a worthwhile endeavor.
"Some people don't like to think about their death," says Gates. "When you say, 'OK, you're going to have to give it away because you can't take it with you,' it does force them to think about how much they are giving to their kids and that they won't live forever. So I won't say that it's an easy topic to bring up, but I think it's great for people to give it more thought."
On Thursday, Gates visited the Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about the importance of international aid and philanthropy.
"How do you get a billionaire to give you all of their money? You say Warren Buffett gave you his money and many other billionaires are just like 'ya take my money?'" asked host Trevor Noah jokingly. "Just say, hypothetically I wanted to get a billionaire to give me all of their money, how do I go about that? How do I start the conversation?"
In response, Gates clarified that he asks for money on behalf of his charity, not to fund his personal lifestyle: "They're not giving it to me."
The secret to fundraising from billionaires, Gates says, is to put money into perspective: "When you have that degree of success you're not really talking about personal deprivation."
Instead, billionaires are thinking about how their fortunes will be passed down to their heirs.
"You have to decide if you're trying to start an aristocratic dynasty so that all the money stays in your family," he says. "And hey, that's OK, you're free to do that. But I think when you're that successful, ideally, you pick a disease, pick a cause, and I think you'll get a lot of fulfillment."
It feels good to make a difference in the lives of others, and these positive feelings drive Americans to be particularly altruistic, says Gates. "Americans are very generous. We have more big philanthropists than any other country. And other countries like China and India are hopeful that the same tradition develops."
Reminding billionaires of their own mortality can be sensitive, but Gates says it's a worthwhile endeavor.
"Some people don't like to think about their death," says Gates. "When you say, 'OK, you're going to have to give it away because you can't take it with you,' it does force them to think about how much they are giving to their kids and that they won't live forever. So I won't say that it's an easy topic to bring up, but I think it's great for people to give it more thought."
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
rewatching Dramafever episodes
Evidently this is a problem on some Roku's (apparently not on the Fire TV).
If an episode of Dramafever has been watched (for example, you're watching and fall asleep and the next episode plays) you're no longer able to watch it.
The solution is to go on the computer, go to the dramafever website, go to the show history, and click on the green checkmark to uncheck it as explained in this article.
(Alternatively, I've been able to go to the episode and when it resumes playing the end, quickly rewind it to the beginning. Then exit playing. This seems to work on the computer and on the Roku.)
Since the above article was written, Dramafever has changed their interface. So here's how to do it on their re-designed webpage.
go to dramafever and log in
put the mouse cursor over the account name on the top right to get the drop down menu
select My Shows
select the History tab
click on "Show watched episodes" of the show you're watching
now you can uncheck/check the green checkmark of the shows that you watched
If an episode of Dramafever has been watched (for example, you're watching and fall asleep and the next episode plays) you're no longer able to watch it.
The solution is to go on the computer, go to the dramafever website, go to the show history, and click on the green checkmark to uncheck it as explained in this article.
(Alternatively, I've been able to go to the episode and when it resumes playing the end, quickly rewind it to the beginning. Then exit playing. This seems to work on the computer and on the Roku.)
Since the above article was written, Dramafever has changed their interface. So here's how to do it on their re-designed webpage.
go to dramafever and log in
put the mouse cursor over the account name on the top right to get the drop down menu
select My Shows
select the History tab
click on "Show watched episodes" of the show you're watching
now you can uncheck/check the green checkmark of the shows that you watched
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
controlling nutgrass (or is it nut grass?)
I guess I researched this before, but it's either on the different posts (see haole koa) or in my notes
Looking in my notes from 8/18/16
Amy tells me about the chemical from Brewer that kills nut grass (from C. Brewer)
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+kills+nut+grass
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+kills+nut+grass+hawaii
Looking in my notes from 8/18/16
Amy tells me about the chemical from Brewer that kills nut grass (from C. Brewer)
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+kills+nut+grass
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+kills+nut+grass+hawaii
This is the article I was looking for. It's from the College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources from the University of Hawaii
Apparently the nutgrass in Hawaii is purple nutsedge.
Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), commonly known as nutgrass in Hawaii, is one of the world’s most serious weeds. In addition to being unsightly in gardens, lawns, and landscapes, nutgrass can compete with garden crops or landscape plants and restrict their establishment and growth.
Because its growth is severely restricted by shade, most other weeds and many larger crop or landscape plants can eventually dominate nutgrass, but they seldom can completely suppress it, and it will almost always persist if not controlled. Nutgrass grows most rapidly in full sunlight when adequate water and nutrients are available. It becomes more serious when allowed to grow without competition from other plants for light, water, and nutrients. This can occur when annual weeds are removed, crops are harvested, or the soil is cultivated for new plantings.
Left undisturbed, nutgrass will spread by growing laterally underground, several yards each year.
[not good!]
Tuber dormancy is perhaps the most important of the adaptations that enable nutgrass to persist. Dormancy prevents tubers in the soil from sprouting all at once, so a potential reservoir for new plants is maintained. This is the reason you will find nutgrass emerging after you thought you controlled it with herbicide or by weeding.
When hand-weeding, the wiry connections between tubers make them easier to remove than if the connections have been severed by soil cultivation. The tuber or basal bulb of an emerged shoot must be removed to control nutgrass. Clipping the topgrowth is ineffective, and an inch or so of new growth will emerge the following day. Patient gardeners can dig up and remove tubers from the soil and greatly reduce the nutgrass population.
Herbicides
There are effective herbicides for nutgrass control. One of the most effective is glyphosate (Roundup®), because it will kill the underground tubers connected to the leaves. Timing of the Roundup application, however, is crucial for effective control. Spraying newly emerged nutgrass plants is not the most effective method. It is best to apply Roundup 2–3 months after the initial emergence of nutgrass.
One way to do this is to allow nutgrass to grow while raising a crop that takes 2–3 months to mature. During this time, weed once or twice to remove annual weeds that may outgrow nutgrass and the crop. After harvesting the crop, and while the nutgrass is still growing well, apply Roundup following the label directions, then wait 1 or 2 weeks (or longer) before preparing the soil for the next planting. Many crops can be planted into the treated area, but be sure to read and follow directions on the Roundup label.
This procedure kills nearly all new tubers connected to the emerged nutgrass shoots, as well as the original tubers that sprouted. The nutgrass population in the next crop will be greatly reduced, but it is unlikely that this procedure will kill all the nutgrass, because tubers that are dormant or are not connected to above-ground leaves are not affected by the herbicide application. When nutgrass again becomes a serious problem, this procedure can be repeated.
Roundup can also be used as a spot treatment or directed spray to nutgrass growing beneath trees, including many fruit trees and landscape plants that are listed on its label. Special care must be taken to avoid getting Roundup spray or drift on green bark or foliage of any desirable trees, shrubs, or groundcovers.
In turfgrass, Manage® and Image® or a combination of Image and MSMA can provide effective control of nutgrass. Do not apply MSMA to St. Augustinegrass or centipedegrass. A single application of Manage, Image, or Image and MSMA usually controls an existing stand of nutgrass growing in turf. However, a few weeks later, new nutgrass shoots will emerge, arising from dormant tubers that were not connected to nutgrass shoots when the herbicide application was made. The new stand of nutgrass must be treated to prevent new tubers from repopulating the soil. However, it is best to wait 21 /2–3 months between herbicide applications to allow more nutgrass shoots to emerge before reapplication.
In any herbicide control program for nutgrass, it is important not to allow the weed to grow untreated for longer than three months, because most nutgrass shoots die naturally after three months. Once the nutgrass shoot dies, there is no living connection to the tubers, and many of them escape the herbicide treatment to serve as a source of re-infestation. This reserve can last for two years or longer. Thus, in order to effectively reduce the nutgrass tuber population in the soil, herbicides must be reapplied about every three months for about two years.
***
[OK, weed and spray every three months for two years.]
***
Here's another article (now that I know it's purple nutsedge)
Hand Weeding
Pull on a pair of garden gloves, and remove the purple nutsedge by hand, a method of control that works best with limited nutsedge invasions. Grasp each weed shoot at its base, and pull gently upward, being careful to also remove the bulb at the base of each shoot. If you find the uprooting process difficult, lightly water the area, as moist soil makes weed removal easier. For the best results, pull up purple nutsedge before it has five leaves -- plants that are this young don't have a fully developed root and tuber system and are easier to eliminate.
Spray With Chemicals
One of the quickest and least labor-intensive options for eradicating purple nutsedge is the application of a nonselective, glyphosate-based herbicide, such as any of the Roundup ready-to-use herbicide sprays. Wait eight to 12 weeks after the purple nutsedge has started growing; this ensures adequate foliage surface area to absorb the herbicide. Then, mist all exposed surfaces of the nutsedge with the glyphosate spray. This nonselective herbicide chemical will kill all parts of the weed, including its underground tubers.
***
Tubers are key to nutsedge survival. If you can limit production of tubers, you’ll eventually control the nutsedge itself.
To limit tuber production, remove small nutsedge plants before they have 5 to 6 leaves; in summer this is about every 2 to 3 weeks. Up to this stage, the plant hasn’t formed new tubers yet. Removing as much of the plant as possible will force the tuber to produce a new plant, drawing its energy reserves from tuber production to the production of new leaves.
Continually removing shoots eventually depletes the energy reserves in the tuber, because the nutsedge will have to use 60% of its reserves to develop the first plant and 20% for the second. However, mature tubers can resprout more than 3 times. Even though these newer sprouts start out weaker than the previous ones, plants can develop from them and produce new tubers unless you remove them.
The best way to remove small plants is to pull them up by hand or to hand hoe. If you hoe, be sure to dig down at least 8 to 14 inches to remove the entire plant. Using a tiller to destroy mature plants only will spread the infestation, because it will move the tubers around in the soil. However, repeated tillings of small areas before the plants have 6 leaves will reduce populations. If you find nutsedge in small patches in your turf, dig out the patch down to at least 8 inches deep, refill, and then seed or sod the patch.
[8 to 14 inches!]
Chemical Control
Few herbicides are effective at controlling nutsedge, either because of a lack of selectivity to other plants or a lack of uptake. For herbicides that are suitable, apply them when they’ll be most effective (Table 1). Most herbicides aren’t effective against tubers.
This is an interesting table.
Roundup is glyphosate and should be applied to young plant and is available to home gardener
Certainty (what Amy uses) is sulfosulfuron and also should be applied to young plant but not available to home gardener
[What about the Ortho Nutsedge Killer? It's sulfentrazone which is not listed in the table.
According to this study, sulfentrazone provided 60% for sulfosulfuron. Trifloxysulfuron was equally effective as sulfosulfuron. Trifloxysulfuron-sodium is Monument, also not available to home gardener.]
The only nonselective postemergent herbicide currently available to help control nutsedge in the home landscape is glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) or glyphosate with nonaoic acid (Roundup Plus). This herbicide requires repeated applications, and its use will result only in limited suppression of these weeds.
Many people mistakenly use glyphosate on fully grown plants to try to kill the tubers. Unfortunately, when tubers are mature the herbicide usually doesn’t move from the leaves to the tubers, leaving them unaffected. Instead, apply glyphosate when the plants are young, actively growing, and haven’t recently been mowed or cut.
Selective Postemergent Herbicides
Postemergent herbicides that have some selectivity, particularly in turf, are halosulfuron (Sedgehammer) and MSMA. These herbicides move through the plant rapidly, but to be effective, you must apply them to nutsedges before the fifth-leaf stage, when the plant is still building energy reserves by drawing energy from its leaves to the newly forming tubers. After this stage, this translocation to the tubers slows down or ceases, and the herbicide will kill only the above-ground portion of the plant, leaving the tubers unaffected.
[maybe I should try Sedgehammer, but check out this video]
Halosulfuron is used in such minute amounts the manufacturer markets it in premeasured, water-soluble bags. Follow all label directions for optimal control of nutsedge, and be sure to add a nonionic surfactant to the spray solution. MSMA is more effective on yellow than on purple nutsedge. Other herbicides available to professionals for use on turf include trifloxysulfuron-sodium (Monument) and sulfosulfuron (Certainty). Be sure to read the label carefully, as these products will injure some turf species.
***
Here's Mike's answer. Not sure who this Mike is, but he's from You Bet Your Garden
My good buddy Howard Garrett, a long-time organic advocate in Texas, had a great bit about this weed on his "Dirt Doctor" website recently. "There is only one guaranteed, foolproof method to completely kill nutgrass," he recounts: "First, dig out every tiny piece of the plant including the seeds and nutlets. Make sure you sift the soil through a mesh screen. Dump the collected material on the driveway and burn it. Sweep up all the ashes and seal in a concrete box. Drive to the coast and dump the sealed box 20 miles off shore."
Now, because it does grow so much faster than grass, this nutty weed gives its location away easily. So yes, burning the top growth repeatedly with a flame weeder (or smothering it with an herbicidal soap spray or attacking it with a vinegar based herbicide) will force the underground tubers to resprout and use up a great deal of their energy; one soil scientist says up to 60%. Thus, repeated attacks on the top will eventually starve the underground tubers. But while some sources say that four attacks on the above ground growth (wait until at least six new leaves are showing) will do it, others say it takes a dozen.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
the language of long-term care
Further complicating matters is that long-term and end-of-life care have languages of their own: To figure out what you're doing, you need understand the difference between rehab and a nursing home, and how palliative care is different from hospice.
Any long-term care journey, whether it's your own or that of someone you love, is arduous in its own way. To aid a tiny bit in the process, I've compiled a list of some of the key terminology related to long-term care.
Types of Care
"Rehab": A generic name for rehabilitation therapy to help patients recover from a serious illness, injury, or surgery. Medicare covers, in full, the first 20 days of rehab care in a qualified facility following a qualifying hospital stay (defined as three days in a row in the hospital as an inpatient). For days 21-100 (again, following release from a qualifying hospital stay), you must pay a copayment (often covered by a supplemental health-insurance policy) while Medicare covers the remainder of the cost. For days 101 and beyond, Medicare does not cover the costs of rehab care. Patients receive rehab therapy in two main settings: acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities or skilled nursing facilities.
Activities of Daily Living: Basic activities that are used to measure a disabled or elderly individual's level of functioning. The key ADLs are bathing, dressing, eating, ambulating/transferring (moving from place to place, or from standing position to chair), grooming, and toileting. Activities of daily living are metrics used within the healthcare system, but families can also think about them when calibrating how much care their loved ones need.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: More complex self-care tasks, including shopping and meal prep, navigating transportation systems, and personal financial management. Slips in IADLs are usually the first signals that an elderly parent or loved one needs more help.
Skilled Nursing Facility (sometimes called a SNF or "Sniff"): A type of facility that provides skilled nursing care, usually medical care and/or rehabilitation services. Such rehab care is covered, in whole or in part, by Medicare for up to 100 days. Some skilled nursing facilities do double-duty, providing short-term rehab for patients who have had a qualifying hospital stay while also serving as long-term residential facilities.
Nursing Home: A facility that helps individuals with the activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, and getting dressed. Nursing homes are also likely to coordinate and/or provide medical care for individuals who need it, but their central focus is to help residents with their daily lives. In contrast to care provided in a skilled nursing facility to people who have had a qualifying hospital stay, nursing-home care (sometimes called "custodial care") is not covered by Medicare. Instead, costs are covered out of pocket, by long-term care insurance (for those who have such policies), or Medicaid for individuals with limited assets.
Assisted Living Facility: A type of facility geared toward people who need assistance with ADLs and IADLs but who do not need the type of extensive care provided in a nursing home. Most assisted living facilities, like nursing homes, help patients coordinate medical care, but providing medical care to sick individuals is not the central focus. Many ALFs now have locked "memory care" units geared toward people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. As with nursing homes, stays in ALFs are not covered by Medicare; instead, such care is covered out of pocket, by long-term care insurance (for those who have it), or Medicaid.
Independent Living Facility: A type of facility geared toward individuals who can live independently and do not need assistance with activities of daily living, but want access to assistance to certain services such as meals and transportation. As with assisted living facilities, stays in independent living facilities are not covered by Medicare.
Adult Day Services: Services, including social activities and assistance with activities of daily living, provided during the day to individuals who otherwise reside at home. Approximately half of the individuals who take part in adult day services have some form of dementia, according to the National Adult Day Services Association; thus, adult day services frequently focus on cognitive stimulation and memory training. Medicare may cover adult day services in certain limited instances, but generally does not.
Hospice Care: Care provided to individuals at the end of their lives; the focus is on keeping the patient comfortable rather than extending life. Such care may be provided at home, in the hospital, or in a skilled nursing facility. Hospice care is covered by Medicare if your doctor and the hospice director certify that you're terminally ill and have less than six months to live. To be covered by Medicare, hospice care cannot be delivered in conjunction with any curative treatment. This document provides more details on the interaction between hospice and Medicare.
Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance Covers long-term care, including custodial/personal care not covered by Medicare. Depending on the policy, the type of care covered may be delivered in a facility, at home, or through adult day-care services. Owing to insurers' negative claims experiences (people who have purchased the policies tend to use them and don't let them lapse), many insured individuals have confronted huge premium spikes in recent years; other insurers have gotten out of the long-term care business altogether.
Elimination Period: Similar to a deductible for other types of insurance, this is the amount of time during which one must pay long-term care costs out of pocket before insurance kicks in. The longer the elimination period, the lower the premiums will be.
Medicaid Eligibility
Exempt (or Noncountable) Assets: Assets that can be owned by the institutionalized person without affecting Medicaid eligibility. Specific parameters depend on the state where you live, but exempt assets typically include $2,000 in cash, a vehicle, personal belongings, and household goods. In most states, a primary residence is also considered an exempt asset, even if an individual ends up moving into a nursing home, so long as a spouse or child lives there. The individual's equity in the home cannot exceed certain limits; for 2017, it's $560,000 in most states.
Lookback Period: The five-year period prior to an individual's application for Medicaid benefits. If assets were transferred to children or any other individuals during this five-year period, it will trigger a period of ineligibility for Medicaid benefits. The length of the penalty period is calculated by dividing the amount of the transfer by the average monthly nursing-home costs in the region or state where the individual resides. The goal of this provision is to keep otherwise-wealthy individuals from transferring assets to qualify for long-term care coverage under Medicaid.
*** [9/1/17] ***
75 statistics about long-term care
Types of Care
"Rehab": A generic name for rehabilitation therapy to help patients recover from a serious illness, injury, or surgery. Medicare covers, in full, the first 20 days of rehab care in a qualified facility following a qualifying hospital stay (defined as three days in a row in the hospital as an inpatient). For days 21-100 (again, following release from a qualifying hospital stay), you must pay a copayment (often covered by a supplemental health-insurance policy) while Medicare covers the remainder of the cost. For days 101 and beyond, Medicare does not cover the costs of rehab care. Patients receive rehab therapy in two main settings: acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities or skilled nursing facilities.
Activities of Daily Living: Basic activities that are used to measure a disabled or elderly individual's level of functioning. The key ADLs are bathing, dressing, eating, ambulating/transferring (moving from place to place, or from standing position to chair), grooming, and toileting. Activities of daily living are metrics used within the healthcare system, but families can also think about them when calibrating how much care their loved ones need.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: More complex self-care tasks, including shopping and meal prep, navigating transportation systems, and personal financial management. Slips in IADLs are usually the first signals that an elderly parent or loved one needs more help.
Skilled Nursing Facility (sometimes called a SNF or "Sniff"): A type of facility that provides skilled nursing care, usually medical care and/or rehabilitation services. Such rehab care is covered, in whole or in part, by Medicare for up to 100 days. Some skilled nursing facilities do double-duty, providing short-term rehab for patients who have had a qualifying hospital stay while also serving as long-term residential facilities.
Nursing Home: A facility that helps individuals with the activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, and getting dressed. Nursing homes are also likely to coordinate and/or provide medical care for individuals who need it, but their central focus is to help residents with their daily lives. In contrast to care provided in a skilled nursing facility to people who have had a qualifying hospital stay, nursing-home care (sometimes called "custodial care") is not covered by Medicare. Instead, costs are covered out of pocket, by long-term care insurance (for those who have such policies), or Medicaid for individuals with limited assets.
Assisted Living Facility: A type of facility geared toward people who need assistance with ADLs and IADLs but who do not need the type of extensive care provided in a nursing home. Most assisted living facilities, like nursing homes, help patients coordinate medical care, but providing medical care to sick individuals is not the central focus. Many ALFs now have locked "memory care" units geared toward people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. As with nursing homes, stays in ALFs are not covered by Medicare; instead, such care is covered out of pocket, by long-term care insurance (for those who have it), or Medicaid.
Independent Living Facility: A type of facility geared toward individuals who can live independently and do not need assistance with activities of daily living, but want access to assistance to certain services such as meals and transportation. As with assisted living facilities, stays in independent living facilities are not covered by Medicare.
Adult Day Services: Services, including social activities and assistance with activities of daily living, provided during the day to individuals who otherwise reside at home. Approximately half of the individuals who take part in adult day services have some form of dementia, according to the National Adult Day Services Association; thus, adult day services frequently focus on cognitive stimulation and memory training. Medicare may cover adult day services in certain limited instances, but generally does not.
Hospice Care: Care provided to individuals at the end of their lives; the focus is on keeping the patient comfortable rather than extending life. Such care may be provided at home, in the hospital, or in a skilled nursing facility. Hospice care is covered by Medicare if your doctor and the hospice director certify that you're terminally ill and have less than six months to live. To be covered by Medicare, hospice care cannot be delivered in conjunction with any curative treatment. This document provides more details on the interaction between hospice and Medicare.
Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance Covers long-term care, including custodial/personal care not covered by Medicare. Depending on the policy, the type of care covered may be delivered in a facility, at home, or through adult day-care services. Owing to insurers' negative claims experiences (people who have purchased the policies tend to use them and don't let them lapse), many insured individuals have confronted huge premium spikes in recent years; other insurers have gotten out of the long-term care business altogether.
Elimination Period: Similar to a deductible for other types of insurance, this is the amount of time during which one must pay long-term care costs out of pocket before insurance kicks in. The longer the elimination period, the lower the premiums will be.
Medicaid Eligibility
Exempt (or Noncountable) Assets: Assets that can be owned by the institutionalized person without affecting Medicaid eligibility. Specific parameters depend on the state where you live, but exempt assets typically include $2,000 in cash, a vehicle, personal belongings, and household goods. In most states, a primary residence is also considered an exempt asset, even if an individual ends up moving into a nursing home, so long as a spouse or child lives there. The individual's equity in the home cannot exceed certain limits; for 2017, it's $560,000 in most states.
Lookback Period: The five-year period prior to an individual's application for Medicaid benefits. If assets were transferred to children or any other individuals during this five-year period, it will trigger a period of ineligibility for Medicaid benefits. The length of the penalty period is calculated by dividing the amount of the transfer by the average monthly nursing-home costs in the region or state where the individual resides. The goal of this provision is to keep otherwise-wealthy individuals from transferring assets to qualify for long-term care coverage under Medicaid.
*** [9/1/17] ***
75 statistics about long-term care
Monday, August 21, 2017
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Jerry Lewis
LAS VEGAS >> Jerry Lewis, the manic, rubber-faced
showman who jumped and hollered to fame in a lucrative partnership with
Dean Martin, settled down to become a self-conscious screen auteur and
found an even greater following as the tireless, teary host of the
annual muscular dystrophy telethons, has died. He was 91.
Publicist Candi Cazau says Lewis died this morning of natural causes at age 91 in Las Vegas with his family by his side.
Lewis’ career spanned the history of show business in the 20th century, beginning in his parents’ vaudeville act at the age of 5. He was just 20 when his pairing with Martin made them international stars. He went on to make such favorites as “The Bellboy” and “The Nutty Professor,” was featured in Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy” and appeared as himself in Billy Crystal’s “Mr. Saturday Night.”
In the 1990s, he scored a stage comeback as the devil in the Broadway revival of “Damn Yankees.” And after a 20-year break from making movies, Lewis returned as the star of the independent drama “Max Rose,” released in 2016.
In his 80s, he was still traveling the world, working on a stage version of “The Nutty Professor.” He was so active he would sometimes forget the basics, like eating, his associates would recall. In 2012, Lewis missed an awards ceremony thrown by his beloved Friars Club because his blood sugar dropped from lack of food and he had to spend the night in the hospital.
In his 90s, he was still performing standup shows.
A major influence on Jim Carrey and other slapstick performers, Lewis also was known as the ringmaster of the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Association, joking and reminiscing and introducing guests, sharing stories about ailing kids and concluding with his personal anthem, the ballad “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” From the 1960s onward, the telethons raised some $1.5 billion, including more than $60 million in 2009. He announced in 2011 that he would step down as host, but would remain chairman of the association he joined some 60 years ago.
Lewis had teamed up with Martin after World War II, and their radio and stage antics delighted audiences, although not immediately. Their debut, in 1946 at Atlantic City’s 500 Club, was a bust. Warned by owner “Skinny” D’Amato that they might be fired, Martin and Lewis tossed the script and improvised their way into history. New York columnists Walter Winchell and Ed Sullivan came to the club and raved over the sexy singer and the berserk clown.
Lewis described their fledgling act in his 1982 autobiography, “Jerry Lewis in Person”: “We juggle and drop a few dishes and try a few handstands. I conduct the three-piece band with one of my shoes, burn their music, jump offstage, run around the tables, sit down with the customers and spill things while Dean keeps singing.”
Hollywood producer Hal Wallis saw them at New York’s Copacabana and signed them to a film contract. Martin and Lewis first appeared in supporting roles in “My Friend Irma” and “My Friend Irma Goes West.” Then they began a hit series of starring vehicles, including “At War With the Army,” ”That’s My Boy” and “Artists and Models.”
But in the mid-1950s, their partnership began to wear. Lewis longed for more than laughs. Martin had tired of playing straight man and of Lewis’ attempts to add Chaplinesque pathos. He also wearied of the pace of films, television, nightclub and theater appearances, benefits and publicity junkets on which Lewis thrived. The rift became increasingly public as the two camps sparred verbally.
“I knew we were in trouble the day someone gave Jerry a book about Charlie Chaplin,” Martin cracked.
On July 24, 1956, Martin and Lewis closed shop, at the Copa, and remained estranged for years. Martin, who died in 1995, did make a dramatic, surprise appearance on Lewis’ telethon in 1976 (a reunion brokered by mutual pal Frank Sinatra), and director Peter Bogdonavich nearly persuaded them to appear in a film together as former colleagues who no longer speak to each other. After Martin’s death, Lewis said the two had again become friendly during his former partner’s final years and he would repeatedly express his admiration for Martin above all others.
Publicist Candi Cazau says Lewis died this morning of natural causes at age 91 in Las Vegas with his family by his side.
Lewis’ career spanned the history of show business in the 20th century, beginning in his parents’ vaudeville act at the age of 5. He was just 20 when his pairing with Martin made them international stars. He went on to make such favorites as “The Bellboy” and “The Nutty Professor,” was featured in Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy” and appeared as himself in Billy Crystal’s “Mr. Saturday Night.”
In the 1990s, he scored a stage comeback as the devil in the Broadway revival of “Damn Yankees.” And after a 20-year break from making movies, Lewis returned as the star of the independent drama “Max Rose,” released in 2016.
In his 80s, he was still traveling the world, working on a stage version of “The Nutty Professor.” He was so active he would sometimes forget the basics, like eating, his associates would recall. In 2012, Lewis missed an awards ceremony thrown by his beloved Friars Club because his blood sugar dropped from lack of food and he had to spend the night in the hospital.
In his 90s, he was still performing standup shows.
A major influence on Jim Carrey and other slapstick performers, Lewis also was known as the ringmaster of the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Association, joking and reminiscing and introducing guests, sharing stories about ailing kids and concluding with his personal anthem, the ballad “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” From the 1960s onward, the telethons raised some $1.5 billion, including more than $60 million in 2009. He announced in 2011 that he would step down as host, but would remain chairman of the association he joined some 60 years ago.
Lewis had teamed up with Martin after World War II, and their radio and stage antics delighted audiences, although not immediately. Their debut, in 1946 at Atlantic City’s 500 Club, was a bust. Warned by owner “Skinny” D’Amato that they might be fired, Martin and Lewis tossed the script and improvised their way into history. New York columnists Walter Winchell and Ed Sullivan came to the club and raved over the sexy singer and the berserk clown.
Lewis described their fledgling act in his 1982 autobiography, “Jerry Lewis in Person”: “We juggle and drop a few dishes and try a few handstands. I conduct the three-piece band with one of my shoes, burn their music, jump offstage, run around the tables, sit down with the customers and spill things while Dean keeps singing.”
Hollywood producer Hal Wallis saw them at New York’s Copacabana and signed them to a film contract. Martin and Lewis first appeared in supporting roles in “My Friend Irma” and “My Friend Irma Goes West.” Then they began a hit series of starring vehicles, including “At War With the Army,” ”That’s My Boy” and “Artists and Models.”
But in the mid-1950s, their partnership began to wear. Lewis longed for more than laughs. Martin had tired of playing straight man and of Lewis’ attempts to add Chaplinesque pathos. He also wearied of the pace of films, television, nightclub and theater appearances, benefits and publicity junkets on which Lewis thrived. The rift became increasingly public as the two camps sparred verbally.
“I knew we were in trouble the day someone gave Jerry a book about Charlie Chaplin,” Martin cracked.
On July 24, 1956, Martin and Lewis closed shop, at the Copa, and remained estranged for years. Martin, who died in 1995, did make a dramatic, surprise appearance on Lewis’ telethon in 1976 (a reunion brokered by mutual pal Frank Sinatra), and director Peter Bogdonavich nearly persuaded them to appear in a film together as former colleagues who no longer speak to each other. After Martin’s death, Lewis said the two had again become friendly during his former partner’s final years and he would repeatedly express his admiration for Martin above all others.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
toss that sponge
Stop. Drop the sponge and step away from the microwave.
That squishy cleaning apparatus is a microscopic universe, teeming with countless bacteria. Some people may think that microwaving
a sponge kills its tiny residents, but they are only partly right. It
may nuke the weak ones, but the strongest, smelliest and potentially
pathogenic bacteria will survive.
Then,
they will reproduce and occupy the vacant real estate of the dead. And
your sponge will just be stinkier and nastier and you may come to regret
having not just tossed it, suggests a study published last month in Scientific Reports.
The
thrifty among us may try to clean a sponge that starts to stink, but
it’s probably time to let it go. Disinfecting it, as many have tried,
does not necessarily work. You can microwave a sponge, throw it in the
laundry or dishwasher, douse it in vinegar or other cleansing solutions
or even cook it in a pot. But the researchers discovered more of the
potentially pathogenic bacteria, like Moraxella osloensis, on the sponges collected from people who said they routinely disinfected them.
“When
people at home try to clean their sponges, they make it worse,” Dr.
Egert said — similar to how people can encourage antibiotic resistant
bacteria if they don’t follow the doctor’s orders. He says if you can’t
clean it perfectly, it may be best to replace it with a new one every
week or so — especially “if it starts to move.”
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
-- legendary country music singer best known for his 1975 hit,
"Rhinestone Cowboy" -- has died after a long battle with Alzheimer's ...
TMZ has learned.
Campbell died Tuesday around 10 AM in a Nashville facility for Alzheimer's patients ... according to a source close to his family.
The musician released more than 70 albums over a 50-year career, and had a series of hits in the '60s and '70s including "Gentle on My Mind," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," "Country Boy" and his best-selling single, "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Glen made history in 1967 by winning 4 Grammys in the country and pop categories, and took home CMA's Entertainer of the Year award in 1968.
Campbell was also an actor and TV host who starred in the variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS from 1969-1972. The 2014 documentary "I'll Be Me" documented Glen's farewell tour and struggle with his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
He's survived by his wife, Kim Campbell, and 8 children. Kim's scheduled to speak at The Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County luncheon in Tyler, Texas in November about the challenges faced by people living with the disease and their families.
Glen was 81.
RIP
Campbell died Tuesday around 10 AM in a Nashville facility for Alzheimer's patients ... according to a source close to his family.
The musician released more than 70 albums over a 50-year career, and had a series of hits in the '60s and '70s including "Gentle on My Mind," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," "Country Boy" and his best-selling single, "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Glen made history in 1967 by winning 4 Grammys in the country and pop categories, and took home CMA's Entertainer of the Year award in 1968.
Campbell was also an actor and TV host who starred in the variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS from 1969-1972. The 2014 documentary "I'll Be Me" documented Glen's farewell tour and struggle with his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
He's survived by his wife, Kim Campbell, and 8 children. Kim's scheduled to speak at The Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County luncheon in Tyler, Texas in November about the challenges faced by people living with the disease and their families.
Glen was 81.
RIP
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