Monday, October 26, 2009
The issue of constitutionality is the one perhaps most overlooked in discussions of health care reform. However in academic circles, all is not lost. Consider Dr. Walter Williams, the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University near Washington, DC. Since Dr. Williams is black there should be no accusation that his stance is based on racism. I suppose somebody out there probably calls him an Uncle Tom, but that's to be expected in politics.
Most importantly, Dr. Williams wrote an editorial last week -- just saw it this afternoon -- related to this and called "American Idea." If you have trouble with this link, google "Walter Williams American Idea constitution."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Infectious disease specialists often look to the Southern Hemisphere to get a rough gauge on how bad the flu will be here in the Northern Hemisphere. That's because they, as you'd expect, have flu season in their winter and they are into their spring season.
So how did their flu season turn out? After all, they had to face the full impact of this novel H1N1/swine flu. They had a pretty average flu season. Influenza-like illness (ILI, the catch-all name for flu and everything like it) is: "At a national level, rates are below levels seen at the same time in 2007 and 2008."
That's good news for us by indicating that our flu season may not be bad.
Here's Report No. 22 from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mission America, a group that fights aggressive homosexuality and occultism, states what was already obvious months ago. Now after the President's Saturday speech before the nation's largest homosexual advocacy group, the group says, "Barack Obama is the most pro-homosexual president in our nation's history."
This is more than sad. People need to be aware of the deadly consequences of homosexuality and all the other perversions being promoted in our culture. In general, those who follow those paths pay a dear price both physically and psychologically. This is to say nothing of the ultimate spiritual price to be paid. As Mission America regularly points out, it should be unthinkable that we would promote anything but real marriage to our school children.
On another front, there are deadly possibilities lurking in the approaches being taken toward Iran's nuclear program, missile testing, and threats against Israel. The diplomatic dithering and lack of decisive action against Iran could spell the death of millions. Canada's Toronto Sun carried an editorial about the Iranian "slippery slope" with comparisons to how the world let Hitler go so far that it was too late to avoid the horrors of WWII.
While our health reporting at CBN News focuses narrowly on the nuts and bolts of health, we must never forget that threats to life extend far beyond the dangers of hydrogenated fats, microbes, insufficient exercise, and lack of health insurance portability. We owe that to our readers and viewers, to our children, and, yes, to God.
Water is the elixir of life, one of my favorite nutrients here on earth. But what if it's also out there in the universe? Curiosity demands that we at least look.
So, last week we bombed the moon looking for water. Actually, NASA crashed two spacecraft into a crater on the lunar surface in that effort.
Basically the point was to stir up the surface to see if there was ice of the H2O variety. We've found water ice on Mars, by golly, and so there might just be some frozen stuff closer to home.
Next time I suggest they stop by my house for some chunks of the real deal and send it to the moon along with the probes. Nothing better than priming the pump.
The story also encourages us to develop an appreciation for the resilient mental health of astronomers. When some Utah stargazers -- who thought they had the best chance of seeing the impact -- didn't see a thing, they held up emotionally.
Reportedly, "the mood was good." Yes, missing a man-made astronomical event is a common cause of depression -- at least for vulnerable non-astronomers.
Still, you do have to wonder about scientists. One science website reports, "Not too much is known about this crater, which is part of the reason it was selected."
I've used that principle myself to find things. When I lose my keys, I'm likely to find them at one of my neighbors' houses because I don't know too much about where they usually set down their own keys.
The scientifically curious among us are hoping NASA was looking to detect more than regular frozen water. They should be looking for Ice-nine in their forthcoming analysis of the experiment.
Ice-nine is the form of water, rather loosely based on reality, presented as a plot device in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle. NASA should remember the adage that you won't find what you don't look for.
If there is some, then we should go back some time and get it. If Vonnegut was right about this bizarre ice, a tiny bit could be put into one ocean and cause them all to freeze over. Poof, no more global warming.
Science marches on relentlessly. I bet you're glad you're investing tax dollars for the courageous effort to find dihydrogen oxide in the solar system. Besides, science needs a stimulus package, too.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
As we consider national healthcare proposals, we would do well to keep in mind the experiences of the Europeans. In the European Union there are all manner of nationalized programs to combat health inequality. They think that "society is killing us."
One might think they've solved their health problems so we should follow suit. Surely they've overcome what the World Health Organization bemoans, "Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale."
Remember that the Europeans don't believe so much in equal opportunity -- the so-called level playing field -- as in equal outcomes, or results. For health, that means the civil government is
supposed to make sure that, for instance, the doorman living in inner-city Glasgow lives as long as the executive who commutes home from the city to a rural area.
So have they achieved these outcomes with their brand of socialism? A great place to look for this is the Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway where they score well on good health and social cohesion.
As reported in an article in European Voice, the European Journal of Health states, “Despite high living standards and egalitarian policies, fundamental social inequalities continue to exist in the Nordic countries.” François Décaillet at WHO's European regional office is stunned, “I cannot explain it. I am shocked to see very large inequalities in health, despite all the efforts made.”
So what the Northern Europeans haven't been able to do with their homogenous societies and mandatory egalitarianism, we should be able to accomplish here?
From Gailon Totheroh, Senior Reporter...
New research out on Oct. 6th finds that the regular seasonal flu shot may offer some protection against the swine flu. The study among hospital patients in Mexico found those who got a 2008-2009 flu shot were 73% less likely to get H1N1 swine flu than those who didn't.
But as WebMD Health News points out -- that appears to give a false message:
"The Mexican data stand in stark contrast to U.S. data and Australian data, which show no hint that seasonal flu vaccination has any effect on the current H1N1 swine flu.
An unpublished study from Canada reportedly showed just the opposite of the Mexican study -- that seasonal flu vaccine might make people more vulnerable to H1N1 swine flu. U.S. and Australian data offer no support for this hypothesis, either."
So what gives? Conventional wisdom says that what you really need are the seasonal flu shot and the swine flu shot. However the conflicting data and interpretations should give a person pause. There is great uncertainty amidst the prevailing public certainty presented by public health officials.
Even after you research this and still decide for flu and swine shots, you would be well advised to consider the lilkes of vitamin D (2,000-10,000 IU daily, increases your body's own antibacterials and antivirals), vitamin C (2,000-10,000 mg daily, boosts white blood cell counts and acts as an antihistamine), and quercetin (750 mg. and up as needed, impedes viral entry into the cells and also an antihistamine).
While God has given us the ability to make many fine medicines, what He directly created is often better by increasing what we already get of the three above to therapeutic levels needed in a fallen world.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Actor Dennis Hopper went to a NY hospital yesterday with flu-like symptoms. No one knows if such symptoms mean swine flu or not -- unless he has a specific test for H1N1. In most cases, it's not a flu for which there are any vaccines. And the swine flu shots are not even out yet.
We've reached a point where Google this morning had over 400 stories on Hopper's situation. Why is this news? If any famous actor who goes into the hospital starts gathering that much attention, we will be flooded with entertainment health news.
The reality is we have an obsession with swine flu bred by the media and government health authorities. Combine that with the public's fixation on celebrity comings and goings and you have millions of people wasting their time on a plague that will likely be a bust.
We wish Dennis Hopper a speedy recovery. I hope he knows to take lots of vitamin D from here on out. Some doctors who recommend vitamin D are reporting that their patients are not getting ill -- while their colleagues' patients who don't take it are getting sick.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Nita Scoggan has put together a DVD on their experiences called "Recover from Memory Loss: A True Life Story Documentary." She has also written a manual about her research, "Boost Your Brain," and an overview version, "Boost Your Brain Digest."
You can find these resources, details about geting Mrs. Scoggan for speaking engagements, and an e-mail address through her Web site. However she asks the public not to call simply because she has no staff for that.
Mr. Scoggan was taking 300 milligrams per day in the beginning. In some studies double that or more was given. Be sure to check labels to see the amount of phosphatidylserine. Many labels say 500 mg of phosphatidylserine complex, but the actual phosphatidylserine is 100 mg.
Remember also that the Scoggans added other nutrients to their regimen such as carnitine, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, and fish oil.
Some reliable companies who sell phosphatidylserine (and related products):
- Now Foods, several different phosphatidylserine products and an extensive range of nutrients.
Toll free:1-888-669-3663
- Swanson Vitamins, several different phosphatidylserine products and a wide range of supplements.
Toll free: 1-800-824-4491
- Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Memory Defense is a product with PS and other helpful ingredients. They also sell coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and acetyl-l-carnitine. See related story from CBN News on energy boosters, The Awesome Foursome
Toll Free: 1-888-887-7498
- Olympian Labs, specialty product with other brain-boosting ingredients: Phospholoba Q10 - also have many other nutrients including the Awesome Foursome mentioned above.
Toll Free: 1-800-473-5883
- Vitamin Research Products carries many products including PS.
Toll Free: 1-800-877-2447
There are many other good companies which provide phosphatidylserine and other brain-boosting nutrients. For instance, two good companies for fish oil are:
There are also online suppliers which carry many brands such as VitaCost.com, iHerb.com, and VitaminWorld.com. There are also many supplement chains such as GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I'm noting this blog is from Gailon Totheroh as other CBN News reporters will be adding entries to Health-e-news in the near future.
This morning (July 25th) on Google Health one of the lead items was "Conference to address black women and HIV/AIDS." The story starts, "Tony Wafford has taught his three daughters that when they go on date, they need to be prepared: They carry a credit card, cash for a cab, a cell phone and a condom."
Wafford is Director of Health and Wellness for the civil rights group National Action Network. One question observers might well ask is whether or not his condom advice will produce wellness for the women he's addressing. Wafford does have good reason to be worried because the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34 is HIV infection.
Certainly if a person insists on engaging in sexual acts that could give you a a range of harmful and even deadly diseases, using a condom could reduce that risk. Yet where is the advice suggesting this be a desperate measure of last resort? People may say that abstinence outside of marriage is unrealistic, but only so if the nation ignores or abandons sound Christian moral teaching and the willingness to speak the truth in love.
Tens of millions of Americans are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. They deserve the full truth about God's love for them and the consequences of seeking love outside His standards.
Many pastors, groups, and individuals are doing that. Just one example is The Medical Institute for Sexual Health. The nation's teens especially need this message so they don't die from HIV at age 30.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Today is the funeral for Walter Cronkite, a journalist due great respect in many ways. Cronkite was naturally not one to shy away from tackling issues. In that spirit and amidst all the glowing praise for Cronkite, the news media also ought to take a look at the other side -- where he may have failed to apply journalistic thoughtfulness.
That specific area is global warming. Despite much legitimate dissent to the global warming scenarios, Cronkite seemed quite unaware of other sides by participating in the Stop Global Warming Virtual March, "The governments of the world have tarried long enough, and the United States is scarcely without doubt the greatest culprit among them." This is a bold statement and one that would be hard to support on the facts.
For a journalist of the old school -- which often stipulated an extreme form of objectivity -- this advocacy would be taboo. It goes against the grain of the standards he seemed to uphold.
Some may justify his taking sides because he was out of journalism since he left the CBS anchor position in 1981. But few would really contest his status as a life-long Mr. Journalism who had a reputation to uphold.
Moreover, while the Stop Global Warming group claims to be non-partisan, most of the politicians among the virtual marchers are Democrats -- with the notable exceptions of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. John McCain. Yet that's another taboo of the old school -- being connected with groups that lean toward one political party or the other.
Another virtual marcher among the notables listed by Stop Global Warming is football player Reggie Bush. By virtue of his joining the Saints in New Orleans, he claims to "have witnessed global warming's impact from Hurrican Katrina first hand." Oh, really? Even most of the really speculative scientists don't find a legitimate connection between warming and bad hurricanes. Did Cronkite really want to associate himself with such marginal thinking?
Indeed, Cronkite was very willing to condemn the United States as actually abandoning reason by not joining "the great march to environmental victory." Quite a number of scientists question whether there even is global warming from greenhouse gases. Even if there is, it may well not be man-caused. Many of the suggested policies that would restrict carbon output would unduly harm the poor of the world -- and that would be no victory.
Of course, no person of legitimate stature such as Cronkite should be remembered solely for their faults -- nor would it be sound journalism in the old or new schools to overlook Cronkite's warts in the rush to praise a media pioneer and giant.