Medical Myths

These were no surprise to me, and most of them should be well and truly disproven for most people, but it still surprises me that we have so little understanding of our own bodies and yet claim to have such great knowledge of things outside ourselves.

Some of the myths debunked in this article are:

Daily Fluid Intake

There is no evidence to support the need to drink eight glasses of water a day…

The myths’s origin may have been a recommendation in 1945 which said 2.5 litres was a suitable fluid intake for adults and that most of this comes in prepared food. If the last part of the recommendation is omitted, it could imply the fluid intake should be in addition to normal food, suggested the researchers.

Eating Turkey

…Many experts say that the effect of tryptophan in turkey is probably reduced by the fact it’s eaten with other foods. The more likely explanation is that turkey is often eaten as part of a large solid meal, for instance at Christmas with stuffing, sausages and various other foods, and followed by Christmas pudding and brandy butter. Add to this the probability that wine is often consumed at the same time and it is not surprising that the myth has caught on. Eating a large solid meal like this decreases oxygen to the brain which can lead to drowsiness said the authors.

And a favored bugbear of ludites the world ’round:

Mobile Phones in Hospitals

…[The researchers] found scant evidence to substantiate the myth that mobile phones cause substantial interference with hospital equipment. They tracked down one journal article that listed 100 reports of suspected electromagnetic interference in medical equipment from mobile phones before 1993, which the Wall Street Journal made into front page news, after which hospitals banned the use of mobile phones.

But there is little evidence to support this policy said the researchers. In the UK early studies showed mobile phones interfered with as few as 4 per cent of the equipment and only when within one metre, while less than 0.1 per cent showed serious effects. Rigourous testing at a number of other laboratories and medical centres have also come up with very small percentages and again only when within 1 metre of the equipment.

A more recent study carried out this year found no interference in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms, and in contrast the authors give an account of a survey of medical staff where use of mobile phones to stay in touch with each other was linked to reductions in risk of medical errors and injury resulting from delays in communication.

Technology has always been and will continue to be a favorite scapegoat and target for fear-mongers. What we don’t understand, we tend to fear.

In many ways, though we consider ourselves to be far beyond those dreary days we know as the Medieval times, the Dark Ages, we are still as profoundly ignorant and fearful as ever.

There really is nothing new under the sun, including mankind’s self-delusions of enlightened grandeur and his reality of befuddled fear.

The good news is that the mortality rate is still 100%. It has never wavered more or less. When we remember there is no promise of tomorrow and that to pin our hopes on that lustrous sunrise is to exercise maddening futility. We ought to appreciate each moment while living in such a way as to be prepared for tomorrow, should it come. Then we can live a life free of fear and deep with rich fulfillment.

Read the original article here.

Congratulations, It’s A God

Originally posted December 18th, 2006.

Pastor told a story of a Christmas play written and performed by K and 1st graders for a church. The play proceeded normally enough until Joseph and Mary arrived at the stable at which time there’s a knock at the “door” and Joseph welcomes a Doctor in a white coat and bearing a stethoscope. The doctor proceeds to Mary who is behind some hay bales and groaning and straining sounds occur normal to a birth scene. After the final cry and a baby wail the Doctor comes out to Joseph who has been pacing nervously across the stage during this time and says to him “Congratulations, it’s a God.”

What wonder must Joseph and Mary have felt in that time. They knew better than any other the amazing nature of the child Mary bore. Perhaps they didn’t grasp the all the implications pursuant to such an event, but the amazement factor itself must have been nearly overwhelming.

As good Jews they were well aware of the awesome nature of God and knew only a little of the Love He showed completely through His son. They knew Him as unapproachable and Holy. They couldn’t even say His name. And yet here He had given them a son, His Son, His ONLY Son. He’s entrusted them His heart. And in the same way He’s taken the ultimate risk with each of us, He’s given each of us His heart through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, whether we accept it or not. Think of the father, mother, lover, going out on a limb, as it were, setting themselves up for endless hurt and betrayal if their son, daughter, lover, ignores their love and spites them. God gave His life, laying it on the live for each one of us, individually. No greater love has no one than this, than that He lays down His life for another. Christmas is only the beginning, Easter is only the epic moment in time when timeless God Himself changed the course of His Story to our dim eyes. The end comes when each of us dies and is brought to reckoning. It won’t be a “were you good enough to shave off enough days of purgatory” as the Catholics believe. It won’t be a “am I in a good mood did you kill enough infidels or do other feats to further Islam” such as Muslims believe. It will be “did you accept my gift.”

When the good Doctor says “Congratulations, the baby is healthy, and it’s a God” He’s given to each of us a gift that we can accept or reject. All the rest are just bonus points, or filthy rags, as Paul calls them.

Holidays And New Year

From I, Pandora, here are wishes for a Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.

May this be an enjoyable time for all alike as we gather with friends and family to celebrate the giving of the greatest gift.

Over Christmas and the New Years and up until the 11th of January, I will not be blogging regularly.

However, I’ve schedule several new articles and several reposts of articles from when I, Pandora was young, over a year ago now. Regular posting will resume on the 14th of January.

I will be visiting in California the first two weeks of the New Year, seeing my hometown for the first time since I moved out to Chicago nearly a year ago now. Accompanying me will be my girlfriend who will be meeting my family for the first time (pray for her).

And so I pray that for each and every one of you, God will speak peace into your hearts as He did to us all so many years ago.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Grinch Award?

Last night, I turned the radio on to the Christian station I have listened to since childhood. I wanted some nice Christmas music and was looking forward to listening to a station I have always respected.

I was a bit surprised to hear “The Grinch” song being played and was about to change the station when the DJ started talking. Intrigued, I listened, for she mentioned it was time to give out “The Grinch Award”.

I couldn’t imagine a Grinch Award having anything but a negative connotation and puzzled over it. I was not left in suspense for long as she proceeded to explain the award and tell who had won it for the week.

She first apologized for the lateness of the award explaining that she did not watch the show, The View, and so had to read an article in the paper about the show later.

Apparently, Barbara Walters grumbled and complained over the Christmas card she received from President and Mrs. Bush because it contained a Bible verse. Barbara Walters was appalled that they sent out a “religious” card.

Because of Barbara’s complaint, this local Christian station gave her the “Grinch Award”.

I am not at all surprised by Barbara’s reaction to receiving such a Christmas card. What more can you expect from someone who does not know and believe the story of Jesus?

I am shocked and appalled at the action of the radio station. They should know better. Their action will only push more people away from Christians.

As believers we are called to reflect and share the love of Christ - and they did the exactly opposite of that.

If anyone here deserves to receive a “Grinch Award” it should be this radio station for their unkind, unloving, and unmerciful act.

News I’m Glad To Forward

Danielle from Missiles and Stillettos has posted an article regarding an American Muslim who came to the aid of American Jews who were being verbally and physically assaulted on a NY subway by several people who had wished them Merry Christmas, to which they had replied with Happy Hannukah.

While I’m saddened deeply by the aggressors involving Christmas and by inference the birth of Jesus, I know Jesus is capable of defending His name.

I am glad to see there is a least one Muslim who has not lost his head.

Shameless Plug: Singing Christmas Tree

If you’re in the Chicago area, here’s something you may enjoy:

24,000 Christmas lights
Months of work, love, and care, and practice
All come down to this…

The Singing Christmas Tree
December 7th and 8th, 15th and 16th
6:30pm

Brainard Avenue Baptist Church
6251 S Brainard Ave, Countryside, IL 60525 

Service lasts approximately 1 hour

Refreshments follow each showing

A Sad Yet True-To-Life Christmas Song

matthew: Please welcome the newest addition to the I Pandora family of authors: American Texan. American Texan is a student who sometimes just has to write things down, and is rather good at it too. But don’t take my word for it…

As I was getting ready this morning I found the song “Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer” running through my head. I stopped and focused on the words I had just sung:

And then one foggy Christmas eve,
Santa came to say,
‘Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’
Then all the reindeer loved him,
As they shouted out with glee,
‘Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
You’ll go down in history.’

The other reindeer didn’t see the value of Rudolph until someone pointed out that he was useful for something. Until that point his differences made him an outcast.

I think this relates very much to human behavior. Unless, or until, someone’s difference seems to contribute to the well-being or enjoyment of others they are often shunned.

Everyone is worthwhile regardless of their differences. I am worthwhile, not because of myself, but because I am a creation of God. My differences, my similarities, are absolutely nothing if it is just me; they have been given to me by God. Everyone is worthwhile because they are a creation of God. He made them who they are.

I remember the case of Terry Schiavo a few years back. Her husband, and numerous courts, didn’t see her life, her personhood, as worthwhile.

A potato is a potato even if someone, for example, says it is a flower. It will always be a potato no matter one’s viewpoint on it.

A person is a person and has worth no matter what anyone says. A person has worth even if you do not know what they will contribute to the world yet.

Everyone is worthwhile in God’s eyes regardless of how individuals or society as a whole views them. They are valued by God even if they seem to contribute little or nothing to others or to the world.

It’s Called Christmas

Much thanks to Tammi over in the Sunflower Desert for finding this gem:

This Blog Is Edited On Ubuntu

I say to Microsoft: “Your mother was a goose and your father smelled of my hen yard, fie on your dominating schemes.”

But how easy is it to install and run Ubuntu?

For me it was an exercise in ease and speed: I inserted the disk, booted my laptop, clicked the icon, followed the ease and brief wizard, rebooted again, and voila… Ubuntu! The best bit, it takes about 15 minutes and I’m never without a usable operating system except for the two reboots. Read this article by the Clueless Newbie on her experiences with the latest version of Ubuntu.

For those who do not know what Ubuntu is, it is a version (flavor or distro in common terms) of Linux that is particularly well configured and easy to install and use. I’m almost ready to build my dad a new computer and put Ubuntu on it for Christmas. No more viruses, and it just works.

Video Games And Children

I am a geek, I enjoy computers and nearly all things related to computers. I enjoy playing computer games. I own a Nintendo Gamecube and I intend to purchase a Wii before too much longer (after I pay off Italy, save a little, and purchase the projector). I find games stimulating, social, and relaxing. I prefer to play multi-player games with decent people. I try to spend a little time each week on a Day Of Defeat server for the clan DeathByToons, consisting of matured ex-professional gamers and people who have lives besides gaming but enjoy a good skirmish every once in a while without dealing with the losers, posers, hackers, and other assorted foul-mouthed idiots who populate so many game servers these days. The people I meet on the DbT server are friendly and good at their game. Several of them are parents and a few have children old enough to play alongside them, and they do, with aplomb. But the game, Day Of Defeat is a relatively realistic WWII first-person shooter game. There’s no blood unless the server is running some mod, and no gore, but there are bodies laying around for a period before disappearing and the whole purpose of the game is to work as a team to achieve objectives and killing the other teams players. I’ve often wondered what kind of controls I’ll put on my childrens’ computer and gaming use.

Growing up, my family purchased our first computer in 1992 when I was 10 years old. It did not have any real games to begin with, but having uncles involved in technology and gaming and friends with Nintendo systems, we were cognizent of video games, and it was only a question of time before we started playing video games on our computer. Mostly we played flight simulator games, military flight simulators (it’s no fun to just fly the things, you gotta shoot and bomb and chase and dodge to have real fun), graduating up to military helicopter sims (Comanche 3 was and is an awesome game, especially when you have a 386DX and Windows 3.1 and need to run a seperate memory space to even load the game). And then the rules came. We had to finish our weekly chores on Saturday before we could play, and we could only play for half an hour per week. We were active boys and were used to entertaining ourselves outdoors most seasons of the year (in northern California, the weather is rarely nasty enough to keep the kid indoors). Now that I’m grown, I play games as I like and as I can, and I’ve found a balance that works: I don’t ever have time to play, but when I do, I’ll play until I feel like stopping.

I want my children to be able to enjoy the active and healthy lifestyle I experienced growing up. I don’t want them to be video game vegetables. I don’t intend to own every game console out there. This is one reason I’m very attracted to the Wii, it’s an active platform that requires exagerated movement of the whole body or significant portions to control most games, and the games are easy to learn, hard to master, and endlessly creative. But despite the creativity and activity and learning that the Wii offers, it does not compare to being able to imaging an entire universe all your own in a tree in your backyard (watch Bridge to Teribithia), or to dig dungeons and fortresses out the garden, or to contruct castles out of Christmas trees in mid-January.

I want my children to grow up strong and independent of techology. Not unaware or ignorant. I don’t want them to need technology to have a good time. Three weeks in Italy with a pen and paper were sheer bliss for me, even my iPod was out of juice. And at the same time I won’t mind of my children become geeks like me. In fact I’d love each of my children to be able to ‘geek out’ over something, to find something they love and to find a way to live by doing it. Geeks don’t just use computers.

I don’t have the answers yet, but there are others who are a little further along the family road than myself who are facing the same issues. In a Wired magazine article, Clive Thompson faces the issues and comes up with some interesting and practical guidlines which I may incorporate with variation into my own ruleset. GeekDad Chris Anderson was interviewed for the article as well and in reading his blog I’ve found a gem. My dad brought home discarded electronics and equipment that we boys would proceed to dissemble and deconstruct, usually ending by dropping the -con- in that last word. We even tried taking apart an old motorcycle once, though the nuts and bolts were a little too stiff for our pre-teen age muscles and we only really succeeded in removing the seat and the dials. Now I know who to thank for planting the seed of geek in me. A geek is one who seeks to know. A geek is hands on and endlessly curious. A geek learns by doing, usually finding solutions by trial and error, mostly error.

I want my children to enjoy games, both computer and board and card and made up and random. I want my children to enjoy life, not just video games. I want my children to grow up like I did. After all, I turned out ok, right?