A good cause. Check it out:
http://www.covenanthouse.org/
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Shawn Marion and Duane Wade -- In the shadows of the great
Don't worry, Shawn, I and Mark Cuban know how much you've contributed toward winning the Western Conference Finals. Your awesome defense and rebounding and your ability to make key plays down the stretch did not go by unnoticed. Even though virtually every sports announcer failed to give you any mention for your efforts, I noticed that Mark Cuban came over and gave you a big bear hug after one of the games late in the series. That says a lot for him.
On the other side, there's Duane Wade. He must be getting pretty tired of hearing all about Lebron James, "Lebron this, and Lebron that", when you've been the catalyst for Miami's success all along. Don't worry, babe, Pat Riley knows what you've done.
Good luck to both of you as you get ready to rumble in the finals!
On the other side, there's Duane Wade. He must be getting pretty tired of hearing all about Lebron James, "Lebron this, and Lebron that", when you've been the catalyst for Miami's success all along. Don't worry, babe, Pat Riley knows what you've done.
Good luck to both of you as you get ready to rumble in the finals!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
"The Rapture" comes and goes in New Zealand
On this day, May 21st to be exact, the end of the world as we know it and "The Rapture" was supposed to start happening at 6:00 PM, with an earthquake in the area of New Zealand and then roll on across the globe from there.
Once again, Harold Camping's prediction has missed the mark.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110521/ap_on_re_us/us_apocalypse_saturday;_ylt=ArgslVxr9Eiznb9VUGqPb8guQE4F;_ylu=X3oDMTJwNG9lNmFqBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNTIxL3VzX2Fwb2NhbHlwc2Vfc2F0dXJkYXkEY3BvcwM5BHBvcwM5BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDY2hyaXN0aWFubW92
Once again, Harold Camping's prediction has missed the mark.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110521/ap_on_re_us/us_apocalypse_saturday;_ylt=ArgslVxr9Eiznb9VUGqPb8guQE4F;_ylu=X3oDMTJwNG9lNmFqBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNTIxL3VzX2Fwb2NhbHlwc2Vfc2F0dXJkYXkEY3BvcwM5BHBvcwM5BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDY2hyaXN0aWFubW92
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
NBA Western Conference finals -- Game 1 review
In a historic and near flawless basketball performance, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121 - 112 last night.
But in spite of scoring 48 points, half of them from the foul line, where Nowitzki broke an NBA record for consecutive foul shots made at 24 of 24, and contributions from his teammates J.J. Barea, whose slashing drives and near perfect shooting netted him 21 points, Jason Terry's 24 points, Jason Kid's 11 assists, and Shawn Marion's 11 points, with the aid of Kevin Durant's 40 points and Russel Westbrook's 20, the Thunder closed the lead repeatedly, falling a mere 9 points short at the end.
One would wonder if there might be a "storm" on the horizon for the Mavs before this classic series is over, and if the "unthinkable" might possibly happen -- the NBA's two youngest teams, The Oklahoma City Thunder and The Chicago Bulls winding up facing each other in the NBA Finals.
But in spite of scoring 48 points, half of them from the foul line, where Nowitzki broke an NBA record for consecutive foul shots made at 24 of 24, and contributions from his teammates J.J. Barea, whose slashing drives and near perfect shooting netted him 21 points, Jason Terry's 24 points, Jason Kid's 11 assists, and Shawn Marion's 11 points, with the aid of Kevin Durant's 40 points and Russel Westbrook's 20, the Thunder closed the lead repeatedly, falling a mere 9 points short at the end.
One would wonder if there might be a "storm" on the horizon for the Mavs before this classic series is over, and if the "unthinkable" might possibly happen -- the NBA's two youngest teams, The Oklahoma City Thunder and The Chicago Bulls winding up facing each other in the NBA Finals.
Two opposing quotes
-- Jerome K. Jerome
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
We lose a baseball legend
Harmon Killebrew, prolific home run hitter for the Minnesota Twins and Hall of Famer, passed away today of esophageal cancer at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Nita at his side.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Space Shuttle Endeavor lifts off
At 8:56 AM this morning the Space Shuttle Endeavor successfully lifted off while Navy Captain Mark Kelly's wife Gabrielle Giffords watched from a private location nearby.
Before the launch Kelly said, "It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop".
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Before the launch Kelly said, "It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop".
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
NBA Eastern Conference finals -- Game 1 review
On a "Lazy day in May", Sunday the 15th to be exact, Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls invited the Maimi Heat to join him on his ark, but nobody showed up.
Chicago 103, Maimi 82
Chicago 103, Maimi 82
Life motto
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A quotation for the ages
"Sometimes God sends me moments in which I am utterly at peace.
In those moments I have constructed for myself a creed in which everything is clear and holy for me. Here it is: to believe that there is nothing more beautiful, more profound, more sympathetic, more reasonable, more courageous and more perfect than Christ; and not only is there nothing but I tell myself in jealous love that never could there be."
-Fyodor Dostoevsky
In those moments I have constructed for myself a creed in which everything is clear and holy for me. Here it is: to believe that there is nothing more beautiful, more profound, more sympathetic, more reasonable, more courageous and more perfect than Christ; and not only is there nothing but I tell myself in jealous love that never could there be."
-Fyodor Dostoevsky
Spring clean your body
A good article to read by the editors of Real Age:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/springcleaning/spring-clean-your-body-top-10-detox-foods-2479462/
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/springcleaning/spring-clean-your-body-top-10-detox-foods-2479462/
Saturday, May 14, 2011
About my masthead photo
The photo was taken on a Saturday in January 2005 while driving back to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff, Arizona over route 180, probably about 20 miles from Flagstaff at about 8,000 feet above sea level.
You can see the San Francisco Peaks in the background. If anyone thinks that the great state of Arizona is all desert, rocks, and cactus, they need to take a look at this picture. Northern Arizona is one absolute paradise on Earth.
It was late afternoon that day, and I remember as I passed this particular scene stopping my little red Toyota and turning around to go back so I could capture it with the Kodak DC 265 Zoom camera I always carry with me for moments like that.
I worked full time at the South Rim for 1 - 1/2 years and I was lucky to get many photos of the canyon during all seasons of the year and shots like this as I traveled around northern Arizona in my spare time during that wonderful period of my life.
You can see the San Francisco Peaks in the background. If anyone thinks that the great state of Arizona is all desert, rocks, and cactus, they need to take a look at this picture. Northern Arizona is one absolute paradise on Earth.
It was late afternoon that day, and I remember as I passed this particular scene stopping my little red Toyota and turning around to go back so I could capture it with the Kodak DC 265 Zoom camera I always carry with me for moments like that.
I worked full time at the South Rim for 1 - 1/2 years and I was lucky to get many photos of the canyon during all seasons of the year and shots like this as I traveled around northern Arizona in my spare time during that wonderful period of my life.
"Good things happen to good people" -- Cotton Fitzsimmons
Congratulations to Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics who was recently awarded a five year extension of his contract valued at about 34 million dollars.
Doc was recently quoted as saying, "I am a Celtic!"
Our response to that is, "You most certainly are, Sir, because you are one of the best."
Doc was recently quoted as saying, "I am a Celtic!"
Our response to that is, "You most certainly are, Sir, because you are one of the best."
On the killing of Osama bin Laden
Quote by "Tenth Man", on Yahoo!
"We haven't won till we can go through airport security with our shoes on."
"We haven't won till we can go through airport security with our shoes on."
Our prayers go out to Harmon Killebrew
Former baseball great who played for the Missesota Twins and resides in Phoenix. Harmon, 74, who has esophageal cancer, recently entered a hospice in Phoenix after doctors at the Mayo Clinic declared his cancer inoperable.
His wife Nita will be at his side.
His wife Nita will be at his side.
Friday, May 13, 2011
More about blood pressure
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is like water pressure in a pipe. Because you’re at an advanced age, or you’ve abused your body by an unhealthy lifestyle and/or diet, and your arteries are starting to accumulate debris called plaque, and the flow of blood from your heart to the rest of your body is restricted, your heart has to work harder to deliver blood to every part of your body and pressure builds up inside your arteries.
Blood pressure is expressed as the amount of pressure that causes mercury (chemical symbol Hg) to rise in a glass tube to a certain number of millimeters of height. When the heart forces blood out of the heart, this amount of pressure is referred to as "Systolic" and is the first number in a blood pressure reading. The second number called "Diastolic", is the amount of pressure that it takes to push the mercury up the glass tube when the heart contracts before the next push.
A normal blood pressure reading is then considered to be less than 120/80.
High blood pressure would be a reading of 160/90 or higher.
Here’s a link to an excellent article with a long list of professional references obtained from the Walgreens website on the subject of blood pressure which would be a great place for you to start if you’re interested in learning more about this subject:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/contents.html?docid=000014&doctype=10&prn=t&langCd=0
How can you find out if you have high blood pressure?
A company of many very bright individuals in San Jose, California called A&D Medical has developed an advanced line of blood pressure monitors that sell for under $70.
Here’s a link to one of the best that they offer:
http://www.andonline.com/medical/products/purchase_options.php?catname=Blood_Pressure&product_num=UA-767PAC
It would be advisable for you to consider purchasing your own blood pressure monitor or, if you can’t afford it, places like CVS Pharmacy with stores all over the country have installed a late generation blood pressure machine near their prescriptions counter where you can sit down and get an accurate reading of your blood pressure for free.
If you decide to go there it’s advisable to wait a few minutes before you start the machine. Blood pressure varies with physical activity and state of mind, so relax for awhile before you start. Then, take three or four readings until you’re satisfied that you’ve gotten as accurate a reading as you can.
If you have high blood pressure, what are the dangers to your health?
High blood pressure can wreak havoc on the human body over time. Referred to as the "silent killer" high blood pressure doesn’t result in and of itself in any symptoms, except possibly severe headaches, but it could lead to a heart attack, stroke, or damage to the kidneys or liver.
So if you find out you have high blood pressure, your first step is to talk to your doctor. Depending upon your age and your health history, he’ll advise you as best he can. Hopefully he’ll recommend life style and dietary changes as a first step.
For many of the 65 million Americans with high blood pressure and 59 million who have blood pressure that’s above normal, referred to as "pre-hypertension", it’s been proven that it’s possible to lower your blood pressure without taking pills.
A study by the National Institute of Health called PREMIER which started in 1998 concluded that life style and dietary changes supplemented with the DASH diet resulted in significant lowering of weight and blood pressure.
What is the DASH diet?
The DASH diet, developed by scientists as a "Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension", simply consists of eating fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and low-fat dairy products, and very few red meats, sweets and other foods that are rich in fats.
Other things you can do to lower your blood pressure are:
First and foremost, avoid using salt. Also, avoid caffeine, or at least limit the amount of coffee you use to brew a pot. Stop smoking. Lose weight. Carrying extra weight around that you don’t need is a big load on your heart. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Excessive use of these substances can damage internal organs in the body, including the liver and kidneys. Lower the amount of stress in your life. Relax. Adjust your attitude. "Go with the flow". Go to church. Seek God’s will for your life.
Lastly, develop a regular habit of daily exercise. Many experts recommend 30 minutes to one hour of cardiovascular exertion daily. If you choose walking every day, for most people it takes about twenty minutes to walk one mile, so a two mile walk would take about forty minutes. A three mile walk would take about one hour.
But talk to your doctor before you start. Start out slowly and don’t overdo it at first. After a week or two, increase your exertion, either walking, jogging, playing basketball, swimming, or whatever "floats your boat".
But whatever exercise regimen you choose – get out and do it, and start right now!
High blood pressure is like water pressure in a pipe. Because you’re at an advanced age, or you’ve abused your body by an unhealthy lifestyle and/or diet, and your arteries are starting to accumulate debris called plaque, and the flow of blood from your heart to the rest of your body is restricted, your heart has to work harder to deliver blood to every part of your body and pressure builds up inside your arteries.
Blood pressure is expressed as the amount of pressure that causes mercury (chemical symbol Hg) to rise in a glass tube to a certain number of millimeters of height. When the heart forces blood out of the heart, this amount of pressure is referred to as "Systolic" and is the first number in a blood pressure reading. The second number called "Diastolic", is the amount of pressure that it takes to push the mercury up the glass tube when the heart contracts before the next push.
A normal blood pressure reading is then considered to be less than 120/80.
High blood pressure would be a reading of 160/90 or higher.
Here’s a link to an excellent article with a long list of professional references obtained from the Walgreens website on the subject of blood pressure which would be a great place for you to start if you’re interested in learning more about this subject:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/contents.html?docid=000014&doctype=10&prn=t&langCd=0
How can you find out if you have high blood pressure?
A company of many very bright individuals in San Jose, California called A&D Medical has developed an advanced line of blood pressure monitors that sell for under $70.
Here’s a link to one of the best that they offer:
http://www.andonline.com/medical/products/purchase_options.php?catname=Blood_Pressure&product_num=UA-767PAC
It would be advisable for you to consider purchasing your own blood pressure monitor or, if you can’t afford it, places like CVS Pharmacy with stores all over the country have installed a late generation blood pressure machine near their prescriptions counter where you can sit down and get an accurate reading of your blood pressure for free.
If you decide to go there it’s advisable to wait a few minutes before you start the machine. Blood pressure varies with physical activity and state of mind, so relax for awhile before you start. Then, take three or four readings until you’re satisfied that you’ve gotten as accurate a reading as you can.
If you have high blood pressure, what are the dangers to your health?
High blood pressure can wreak havoc on the human body over time. Referred to as the "silent killer" high blood pressure doesn’t result in and of itself in any symptoms, except possibly severe headaches, but it could lead to a heart attack, stroke, or damage to the kidneys or liver.
So if you find out you have high blood pressure, your first step is to talk to your doctor. Depending upon your age and your health history, he’ll advise you as best he can. Hopefully he’ll recommend life style and dietary changes as a first step.
For many of the 65 million Americans with high blood pressure and 59 million who have blood pressure that’s above normal, referred to as "pre-hypertension", it’s been proven that it’s possible to lower your blood pressure without taking pills.
A study by the National Institute of Health called PREMIER which started in 1998 concluded that life style and dietary changes supplemented with the DASH diet resulted in significant lowering of weight and blood pressure.
What is the DASH diet?
The DASH diet, developed by scientists as a "Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension", simply consists of eating fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and low-fat dairy products, and very few red meats, sweets and other foods that are rich in fats.
Other things you can do to lower your blood pressure are:
First and foremost, avoid using salt. Also, avoid caffeine, or at least limit the amount of coffee you use to brew a pot. Stop smoking. Lose weight. Carrying extra weight around that you don’t need is a big load on your heart. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Excessive use of these substances can damage internal organs in the body, including the liver and kidneys. Lower the amount of stress in your life. Relax. Adjust your attitude. "Go with the flow". Go to church. Seek God’s will for your life.
Lastly, develop a regular habit of daily exercise. Many experts recommend 30 minutes to one hour of cardiovascular exertion daily. If you choose walking every day, for most people it takes about twenty minutes to walk one mile, so a two mile walk would take about forty minutes. A three mile walk would take about one hour.
But talk to your doctor before you start. Start out slowly and don’t overdo it at first. After a week or two, increase your exertion, either walking, jogging, playing basketball, swimming, or whatever "floats your boat".
But whatever exercise regimen you choose – get out and do it, and start right now!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I'm learning about high blood pressure
"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance." -- Socrates
Up until recently, whenever I'd visit the doctor a nurse would routinely take my blood pressure before the doc came in the room. I'd always assume my blood pressure was going to be ok -- never even bothering to inquire as to what those two numbers meant.
Then one day recently at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix, a gorgeous young female doctor by the name of Regina Derringer took a look at my medical history on her computer, then asked, "And why are you here, John?"
I told her I had been experiencing severe headaches for several weeks.
A nurse had taken my blood pressure before seeing Dr. Derringer, but the doctor wanted to see for herself, so she wrapped the cuff around my upper left arm and started the machine. As she observed the machine, she placed her left hand on my shoulder. In a few minutes, she exclaimed, "That's too high. I'll have to start you on something."
I sat there thinking to myself . . . "Sure, you put your hand on my shoulder and get my hormones raging and my heart pounding, then you tell me I have high blood pressure!"
But as I was having those outrageous thoughts, I just sat there and smiled at her.
She told me she was going to prescribe what was known as a "water pill", a diuretic commonly used as the first defense against high blood pressure. The formal name for this drug is "Hydrochlorothiazide".
"In a few days I want you to come in for blood work to see how you're doing."
"Ok, doctor," I said.
I went home and dutifully took one half tablet of the water pill every morning, then checked in at the VA clinic for my blood work the following Friday.
On Friday afternoon I got a call on my cell phone.
"John, this is Doctor Derringer. The clinic just called me and told me your potassium level is dangerously low and that you need to go to the emergency room at the VA Hospital immediately!"
I found out during this experience that if your potassium level gets too low it could cause electrical problems that affect the heart and a heart attack could be the result.
So the emergency room personnel gave me a good drink of an orange colored fluid heavy with potassium, then took me in a room to give me an electro cardiogram.
Surviving that emergency, I received a call from the clinic the next day.
They told me they were going to switch my high blood pressure medication to a drug called "Lisinopril", a "potassium sparing" drug known as an "Ace inhibitor" and that I'd still have to take a couple of potassuim pills every morning, and that I'd have to check my blood pressure every day, preferably at the same time each day, and keep a daily log of the results. They'd have a blood pressure monitor sent to me so that I could do that.
In future posts I'll pass on more information about high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, here's an excellent article about high blood pressure I'd like to recommend which came from the Walgreens website and cites an extensive list of references:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/contents.html?docid=000014&doctype=10&prn=t&langCd=0
Up until recently, whenever I'd visit the doctor a nurse would routinely take my blood pressure before the doc came in the room. I'd always assume my blood pressure was going to be ok -- never even bothering to inquire as to what those two numbers meant.
Then one day recently at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix, a gorgeous young female doctor by the name of Regina Derringer took a look at my medical history on her computer, then asked, "And why are you here, John?"
I told her I had been experiencing severe headaches for several weeks.
A nurse had taken my blood pressure before seeing Dr. Derringer, but the doctor wanted to see for herself, so she wrapped the cuff around my upper left arm and started the machine. As she observed the machine, she placed her left hand on my shoulder. In a few minutes, she exclaimed, "That's too high. I'll have to start you on something."
I sat there thinking to myself . . . "Sure, you put your hand on my shoulder and get my hormones raging and my heart pounding, then you tell me I have high blood pressure!"
But as I was having those outrageous thoughts, I just sat there and smiled at her.
She told me she was going to prescribe what was known as a "water pill", a diuretic commonly used as the first defense against high blood pressure. The formal name for this drug is "Hydrochlorothiazide".
"In a few days I want you to come in for blood work to see how you're doing."
"Ok, doctor," I said.
I went home and dutifully took one half tablet of the water pill every morning, then checked in at the VA clinic for my blood work the following Friday.
On Friday afternoon I got a call on my cell phone.
"John, this is Doctor Derringer. The clinic just called me and told me your potassium level is dangerously low and that you need to go to the emergency room at the VA Hospital immediately!"
I found out during this experience that if your potassium level gets too low it could cause electrical problems that affect the heart and a heart attack could be the result.
So the emergency room personnel gave me a good drink of an orange colored fluid heavy with potassium, then took me in a room to give me an electro cardiogram.
Surviving that emergency, I received a call from the clinic the next day.
They told me they were going to switch my high blood pressure medication to a drug called "Lisinopril", a "potassium sparing" drug known as an "Ace inhibitor" and that I'd still have to take a couple of potassuim pills every morning, and that I'd have to check my blood pressure every day, preferably at the same time each day, and keep a daily log of the results. They'd have a blood pressure monitor sent to me so that I could do that.
In future posts I'll pass on more information about high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, here's an excellent article about high blood pressure I'd like to recommend which came from the Walgreens website and cites an extensive list of references:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/contents.html?docid=000014&doctype=10&prn=t&langCd=0
Greetings everyone!
Learn a little about me at http://www.helium.com/users/351546
I'm a retired telecommunications technician/engineer who has
written for a hobby for about 45 years.
I've enjoyed developing and improving my writing on helium.com
since 2007 and have recently become interested and fascinated by
the explosion of blogging on the world wide web, so I've decided
to take my writing hobby to another level.
I selected my title so that I'd have unlimited flexibility for my thoughts.
I hope you'll enjoy my contributions to this fascinating area of web
publishing and, please bear with me as I learn my way around.
John (Pat) Patterson
"Sunny Phoenix"
Arizona U.S.A.
I'm a retired telecommunications technician/engineer who has
written for a hobby for about 45 years.
I've enjoyed developing and improving my writing on helium.com
since 2007 and have recently become interested and fascinated by
the explosion of blogging on the world wide web, so I've decided
to take my writing hobby to another level.
I selected my title so that I'd have unlimited flexibility for my thoughts.
I hope you'll enjoy my contributions to this fascinating area of web
publishing and, please bear with me as I learn my way around.
John (Pat) Patterson
"Sunny Phoenix"
Arizona U.S.A.
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