Jan 25, 2011
Speaking of Nutrition
Bottled water companies are notoriously loathe to provide any information on their labels, other than saying the bottle contains water. This site LINK shows what follow-up calls from the 'Environmental Working Group' to various makers of bottled water phone numbers as listed on the labels. I will sum it up for those who don't have time to read the details. No Information, Nothing, Zip, Nada, Zero, Bupkus - Seems like a whole bunch of deception to me.
Mass Murder
Decided to look this up after the Arizona incident a few weeks ago. Mass murders are usually described as four or more murders in a particular location during a relative short period of time. There were three mass murders in 2010. Eight people were killed in Appomattox, Virginia on January 20, 2010. Nine people, including the killer were killed on August 20, 2010 in Manchester, Connecticut. Four people were killed in Buffalo, New York on August 16, 2010. (Fort Hood murders took place in 2009)
The person credited with killing the most was Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao). From 32 to 45 million people were worked, starved, or beaten to death in China during four years from 1958 - 1962. For comparison, the worldwide death toll of the Second World War was 55 million, and Hitler's total was between 11 and 17 million, While Stalin's number ranged between 20 and 60 million, but has not been completely documented.
The person credited with killing the most was Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao). From 32 to 45 million people were worked, starved, or beaten to death in China during four years from 1958 - 1962. For comparison, the worldwide death toll of the Second World War was 55 million, and Hitler's total was between 11 and 17 million, While Stalin's number ranged between 20 and 60 million, but has not been completely documented.
High Tech Glasses
Virginia-based PixelOptics takes that notion quite literally. It produces emPower or what it says are the world's first "electronic corrective eyeglasses" capable of replacing conventional progressive lenses and bifocals.
Hidden in the frames of the otherwise normal-looking glasses, are a microchip, micro-accelerometer and miniature batteries. Each lens has a transparent LCD layer that can electronically change its molecular structure, changing the focus only as needed. If you tilt your head down say to read a book or peek at an object up close, the accelerometer automatically detects the motion, sending a signal to the LCD that alters how light is refracted, change the prescription quietly and in, well, a blink of the eye. You can also put the glasses in manual mode.
I briefly donned the glasses to sample the effect, which worked, but of course I was not wearing a pair that matched my actual prescription.
So why would you choose these glasses compared to conventional progressive lenses? One answer: With ordinary progressives, you might be lying on a couch or bed and tilting your head up to watch TV, which would otherwise be a challenge if you're peering out of that portion of the lens that isn't meant for distance viewing. With emPower, you'd only summon a lens optimized for reading or closeups when you needed to.
PixelOptics has been teaming up with Panasonic Healthcare in Japan for about three years. A pair of glasses based on its technology will be available in the southeastern U.S. in March, the company says, for about $1,200 at retail or about a 30% premium compared with regular glasses. The price includes the cradle that charges the glasses up.
Hidden in the frames of the otherwise normal-looking glasses, are a microchip, micro-accelerometer and miniature batteries. Each lens has a transparent LCD layer that can electronically change its molecular structure, changing the focus only as needed. If you tilt your head down say to read a book or peek at an object up close, the accelerometer automatically detects the motion, sending a signal to the LCD that alters how light is refracted, change the prescription quietly and in, well, a blink of the eye. You can also put the glasses in manual mode.
I briefly donned the glasses to sample the effect, which worked, but of course I was not wearing a pair that matched my actual prescription.
So why would you choose these glasses compared to conventional progressive lenses? One answer: With ordinary progressives, you might be lying on a couch or bed and tilting your head up to watch TV, which would otherwise be a challenge if you're peering out of that portion of the lens that isn't meant for distance viewing. With emPower, you'd only summon a lens optimized for reading or closeups when you needed to.
PixelOptics has been teaming up with Panasonic Healthcare in Japan for about three years. A pair of glasses based on its technology will be available in the southeastern U.S. in March, the company says, for about $1,200 at retail or about a 30% premium compared with regular glasses. The price includes the cradle that charges the glasses up.
Jan 21, 2011
Happy Friday
Man is in possession of his own life when he can control his thoughts, rule his passions, and govern his habits.
I can hardly control my thoughts about my passion for the habit of making a Happy Friday!
I can hardly control my thoughts about my passion for the habit of making a Happy Friday!
Modern Medicine
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that when nearly 1,700 patients were discharged for heart failure and had intensive telemonitoring (daily call-in to deliver weight and symptoms info), there was no benefit in mortality or hospital-readmission rates. Seems the government and insurance companies love new bureaucratic rules because it makes them feel good.
What's in a Name
Many of us have employer benefits that include some healthcare coverage. Since the healthcare bill, companies have looked at their coverage and have been making changes. Two words you will be seeing more and more are Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit.
A "defined contribution" is a payment toward your coverage. We will give you $1000 a month to go buy insurance. A "defined benefit," guarantees specific coverage regardless of cost. We will give you this kind of insurance, it has co-pays, deductibles, and covers these illnesses, etc.
A "defined contribution" is a payment toward your coverage. We will give you $1000 a month to go buy insurance. A "defined benefit," guarantees specific coverage regardless of cost. We will give you this kind of insurance, it has co-pays, deductibles, and covers these illnesses, etc.
I Feel Better Now
There will be no more narcissists or paranoids by 2013. The upcoming fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which has not been updated in 10 years, will exclude "narcissistic and paranoid personality disorder" from its list of designated psychiatric diagnoses. I knew they would eventually find out how great I am and stop coming after me.
This Book is Awesome
This is the first time I have mentioned a book, but there is something in this book for everyone. 'The Book of Awesome' has a thousand awesome everyday things, like #335 Catching someone you love admiring you from across the room. It adds detailed explanations to each item.
If you can't find something fuzzy here, you are hard as a rock. Read some of the entries here. LINK
If you can't find something fuzzy here, you are hard as a rock. Read some of the entries here. LINK
What Did You Say
There are 292 spoken languages in China. I thought the US had many at 175. That's not even counting local dialects, Y'all.
Work Out
Prostate cancer patients who routinely engage in modest amounts of vigorous physical exercise appear to lower their risk of dying from their disease, according to new research published in the Jan. 4 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Three hours a week or more of vigorous biking, tennis, jogging or swimming seems to improve the prognosis among such patients, the research team found, but they added that even moderate physical activity appears to lower the overall risk of dying from any cause.
"We observed benefits at very attainable levels of activity, and our results suggest that men with prostate cancer should do some physical activity for their overall health, even if it is a small amount, such as 15 minutes of activity per day of walking, jogging or biking. Vigorous activity may be especially beneficial for prostate cancer, as well as overall health, at levels of three or more hours per week."
Three hours a week or more of vigorous biking, tennis, jogging or swimming seems to improve the prognosis among such patients, the research team found, but they added that even moderate physical activity appears to lower the overall risk of dying from any cause.
"We observed benefits at very attainable levels of activity, and our results suggest that men with prostate cancer should do some physical activity for their overall health, even if it is a small amount, such as 15 minutes of activity per day of walking, jogging or biking. Vigorous activity may be especially beneficial for prostate cancer, as well as overall health, at levels of three or more hours per week."
Jan 18, 2011
Power Balance Wristbands
You have seen the advertisements on TV. One of those companies was caught and the result is: "In our advertising we stated that Power Balance wristbands improved your strength, balance and flexibility. We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims and therefore we engaged in misleading conduct in breach of s52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.If you feel you have been misled by our promotions, we wish to unreservedly apologize and offer a full refund." Nuff said.
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