~ Hecho En Turquia ~

2006-05-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Machines That'll Make You Scream!

I loved to ride roller coasters: the “Scream Machine”, “Shockwave” [before being banned], “Superman”, “Chiller”, and even the infamous “Cyclone.” On a trip to Six Flags last year, I went on the “Scream Machine” again. Before, during, and after the ride, I was thinking about all of the repercussions a person could have if the ride went wrong. As part of being an adult, I tend to overanalyze stuff.

Could roller coasters have an adverse affect on your brain? There have been reported cases of brain injury caused by roller coasters but they are rare [most of them resulting from ignoring safety precautions].

Some roller coasters can reach speeds of 100 mph, and our “Kingda Ka” tops it all, reaching a speed of 128 mph. WOW! In order to better understand the effects of a roller coaster ride on a person, you need to understand physics, namely the "G-forces" involved [this is the force produced by the ride onto your body].

One G-force [“g”] is equal to the normal pull of gravity on your body, which is 9.8 m/s². As the ride accelerates, it applies more “g’s” onto the rider; this is why you feel weighty on the ride. While undergoing the first terrifyingly deep drop in “Kingda Ka,” riders undergo a force of 3-4 g’s [which is a lot considering that an average astronaut undergoes 3 g’s when blasting off into space]. Holy crap!

My intention is not to scare you. Over 300 million people go to amusement parks every year and very few sustain injuries. If you follow the safety procedures, you should be fine. If up for a thrill, check out the new rides at Six Flags!

2006-05-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

H-I-I-I-I-CCUPS!

Today, while talking on the phone with my cousin, he all of a sudden started hiccupping. This obviously made me laugh, but he was getting increasingly irritated by the second.

Thank goodness his attack lasted for only a few minutes. As for Charles Osborne, he was not so lucky. His hiccups spanned for 68 years, earning him a place in the Guinness World Records.

Why do people get hiccups?

My mother used to tell me that it was because someone overate. Hiccups are caused by an unusual tightening of your diaphragm [this is the muscle that helps you breathe]. When you inhale, the diaphragm pulls down; when you exhale, the diaphragm pushes back up. You get the hiccup sound when the glottis [your voice box] suddenly closes when you begin to inhale.

Hiccups are usually short, although some people do have hiccups that last for longer periods of time [days or even weeks]. No need to worry, if you become like Mr. Osborne, there are drugs and a surgical procedure available at your disposal. Nonetheless, for minor cases you can try a few home remedies you: could take quick sips of water, breathe into a paper bag, hold your breath, etc. My favorite is to scare the person. This has always worked on my cousin – unfortunately, I was not able to do it over the phone!

2006-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Truth about Lymne Disease

What is Lyme disease [LD]? What happens to your body when infected? Many people associate LD with ticks and underestimate its consequences. If left untreated, this disease could become deadly.

LD was introduced in 1975 following an outbreak of arthritis in children living near Lyme, Connecticut. After careful study, scientists discovered that this disease was caused by bacteria [borrelia burgdorferi] transmitted to humans via tick bites.

When infected, LD attacks your skin, joints, nervous system, and in worst cases, organs. This is a deadly disease if left undiagnosed and untreated.

So, what are the signs of LD?

The “bull’s eye” rash is most commonly associated with LD. [white in the center, surrounded by red]. Nonetheless, many people tend to develop only a red rash or a bull’s eye pattern with redness in the center. If diagnosed in its early stages, LD can be treated with antibiotics.

Planning on a trip to the great outdoors?

Protect yourself against tick bites! Deer ticks are mostly found in dark shady places [moist ground near forests]. They cannot jump or fly; instead they crawl onto your skin and search for dark protected areas [back of your knee, armpit, neck, ears, etc]. Then they begin to pierce your skin until they find a blood supply.

Okay, you just noticed a tick on your body. Don’t panic! You can properly remove it!

Tweezers are best, but you could also use your fingers. Delicately snatch the tick by its mouthparts [that’s where it enters your skin] and slowly pull it out. Do not try to squeeze the tick's body! If you do, its head will remain inside your skin, in which case LD could still be transmitted!

2006-05-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Summer Heat + Car = DANGER!!!

I bet you have seen pets and even children waiting in cars while the caretaker goes about her business. If you decide to confront the detrimental actions of the parent, they take it personally – extremely personally.

As the weather grows warmer, dehydration presents a greater risk for the elderly and children [even our friendly pets]. Every year, we see headlines about children losing their lives because they are left in cars. As the temperature inside the car rises, your ability to regulate your own body temperature may become impaired. You may lose the ability to sweat and cool yourself. You are now suffering from heat stroke.

Your body temperature is controlled by an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, which can alter heat balance by affecting blood vessels in the skin that cause sweating. To cool the body, the hypothalamus sends messages to make blood vessels near the surface of the skin larger. This helps heat escape from the body via the evaporation of sweat.

How do you treat the victim?

First, call 911. In the meantime, bring them to a shady area. Remove clothing and pour cool water all over the body [a hose would be ideal]. Then, begin fanning the victim, this will promote sweating and evaporation. Finally, place ice packs under the armpits and groin area.

How do you prevent this?

Most importantly, please act smart!
YOU could keep an eye on your children when they are playing. To prevent them from climbing into unlocked cars, keep all car doors locked!
Do not leave your child or pet in the car. Is your convenience more important than the health and life of your child? There should also be parking lot patrollers checking in on cars and implementing heavy fines on violators.

How about technology? If a bell could keep ringing as a reminder to buckle up, it could do the same when it senses the presence of a child still in the car.

2006-05-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

Wanna bungeeeeee???

I, like many other people, would never bungee jump. I view these thrill seekers as people who are bored with their lives. Also, there is no absolute guarantee – something could always go wrong, the most obvious being a broken bungee cord.

The most common injury associated with this sport is blurred vision, especially immediately after jumping. Further medical examination has concluded that the blood vessels that bring blood to the retina have been broken. Want to risk your eyesight? Well, the blurred vision may eventually clear up, but it may take as long as several months for a complete recovery. You may also have some spinal cord injuries, either by compressing your spinal cord or snapping your head in reaction to the plunge. This could lead to paralyses. Finally, peripheral nerve damage could develop in a person who frequently bungee jumps. Nerves could became compressed or stretched, causing reduced motor function and loss of sensation in that area.

After considering all of these risks, it is up to you to make the final decision. If you decide to take that jump, make sure your weight is accurate.

Ladies, this is no time to be shy about your weight - overweighing yourself by a few pounds is beneficial. Also, make sure a “test jump” is done before you plunge; just to know that everything is in working order.

Now, you’re strapped, buckled, and ready to go … Bonne chance!

2006-05-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Whiplash!!!

If unlucky, you have probably been in a car accident or two. It seems so common these days.
Some people intentionally cause them, while others become injured and inconvenienced victims.

Unfortunately, yesterday, I was the passenger in a car collision. The driver intelligently reversed her car without checking the rear mirror. If she had, she would have seen us just a few feet behind her. The speed with which she reversed was complemented by the fact that she was busy telling her life story on her cell. After rear-ending, she finally put her phone down. Thank God!

What did I do? In proper sequence: curse out loud, close my eyes, and shield myself with both my arms.

Instead of delving into specifics, many people who are involved in accidents do not start feeling the aches and pains until the day after. That’s what happened to me. I guess I had whiplash. Also, the constant pain in the back of my neck made me realize that I am going to bruise up.

When seated in a car, you neck is upright before the collision. Upon impact, the car seat pushes your upper body forward while your head still remains upright. This maneuver compresses your cervical spine and causes an S-shaped curve, and then your neck reacts. Your head awkwardly snaps forward [following the push of your torso] and thanks to the law of physics, snaps backwards in a greater speed.

I felt like a crash-test dummy that is now suffering from headaches.

N.B. It really gets under my skin [and will now bruise my skin] when I see people talking on cell phones when driving. When calling my friends, I always ask whether they or someone else is behind the wheel. They know I will not talk to them unless they wear a head piece. When will there be enforcement?

2006-05-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

Pain-in-the …

Back pain is no longer exclusive to adults, many children are complaining as well. I remember the textbooks I had to lug back and forth since elementary school. My mother would look with such amazement: one textbook = one subject = five pounds! Thank goodness my mother would pick me up by car.

Now, I see children rolling around luggage back and forth. It seemed odd at first, but given the piles of textbooks, it is smart to pack, zip, and roll them away.

The most common type of back pain is lower back pain. Some causes include poor posture [remember your mother saying: “sit up straight, or you’ll develop a hunch!”], problems with spinal alignment, poor muscle strength, and heavy backpacks.

You probably noticed that as soon as you strap one on, you tend to lean forward in an effort to balance yourself. The constant weight then deforms the natural curvature of your spine and rounds out your shoulders. Sound attractive?

I was not very fond of backpacks. As soon as the messenger bags came out, I started sporting them. Well, if you carry a heavy load over one shoulder, your muscles begin to strain in an effort to make up for the uneven weight. You then tend to lean towards the opposite side, making your spine and ribs lean in the same direction. This can cause uncomfortable muscle spasms and can pull on your neck muscles. Now, you’ve developed a headache!

So, if you plan on carrying around heavy books, invest in a backpack on wheels!

2006-05-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Sixth Sense …

On August 17 1999, dogs and cats started acting very strange in Turkey. All of a sudden, these animals could not stay in one place. They started making strange noises and exhibiting peculiar behavior. Then it happened – Turkey’s most devastating earthquake, reaching a death toll of approximately 17,000

Do animals have senses that we, humans, lack? Could these animals hear the high frequency noises emitted beneath the earth or feel the electrostatic charges that warn the coming of an earthquake?

My mother told me of an earthquake that hit the city of Eskisehir in 1954. She remembers the erratic behavior of their sheepdog. Upon seeing it pacing and howling for no reasons, her entire family poured into the backyard and waited. Then it happened. It was not nearly as devastating as the 1999 quake, but families camped outside for several days before returning to their homes.

Many scientists debate this issue. There are some that dismiss it as a mere myth, while others regard it as a scientific fact. They state that excessive biting or barking can be used as signs in predicting earthquakes, but it is important to remember that these indicators may not always turn out true.

If dogs are so handy in sniffing bags at airports, determining the location of missing persons, or sensing the smell of blood, could they not also have some sensitivity toward sensing earthquakes? After the 1999 quake, dogs were integral in detecting persons trapped under the piles of debris.

As long as there are natural catastrophes, there will continue to be anecdotes of animals behaving peculiarly.

Pay closer attention.

2006-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Lightning Strikes!!!!

The heavens decided to shower the city of Cambridge today. It always feels refreshing to stand under the rain, watch the rain and listen to its music, and to smell the freshness of the earth right after the rain.

During winter we experienced a couple of snowstorms accompanied with not so refreshing lightning. My cousin and I were literally a few feet from being hit by the fierce bolt – both of us went through a nanosecond of complete utter shock and then we took off like Speedy Gonzalez.

The rain today brought no lightning, but got me thinking about that winter afternoon and the dangers of lightning.

Okay, so you’re stranded outside when a storm develops and you hear the lightning.

Yes, you can calculate how close the storm is! Suppose you see the lightning, immediately count the seconds until you hear the roar of the thunder, that lapse in time divided by the number 5 will give you the total number of mile[s] the bolt is away from you.

Yes, it is smart not to stand under a tree! In fact, avoid being near all tall objects, since they are more likely to attract lightning. And don’t form a close group with persons next to you. Stand more than a foot away so that if one of you is struck, the rest will not be harmed by the bolt.

Yes, try to get home ASAP [that’s what we were doing]! It is better that you do not stand stranded outside with full contact to the earth. Try to get to some sort of enclosed space – a store or car is good since it would minimize your contact to the floor. If no shelter is at sight, stay away from areas of water and tall objects [buildings, trees, posts]. Finally, proceed to take cover by crouching down, putting the balls of your feet together, tucking in your head, and covering your ears.

Holy crap! Someone was struck by lightning! Call 911 and in the meantime start CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Yes, it is okay to touch the person now.

My cousin and I didn’t even have the chance to count the lapse in time; it seemed as if it all happened simultaneously, since the bolt was within our reach. We both felt as if the earth shook at that moment but were not electrocuted since we both were standing on higher ground.

Fascinated with Jupiter Lapis? Check this out

2006-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Our Children, Our Responsibility

I recently visited a kindergarten classroom in Massachusetts as part of my community activities.

After conversing with the kids, I realized that they are growing up in a different age than I did. Almost all the children knew about cigarettes and over half of them were able to name at least one alcoholic drink. Additionally, a quarter of the children identified one drug correctly. WOW! At that age I knew that cigarettes and alcohol existed, but drugs was not a part of my vocabulary. Should I be happy that some were able to identify a certain drug, perhaps indicating that they are better informed at a younger age, or scared as to how they became familiar with it?

I was happy to find out that most of the children were aware that drugs were harmful, but a handful thought that smoking had good health benefits. Perhaps seeing their parents and close relatives smoking frequently enables children to develop warm feeling towards cigarettes. Also, just because the children were familiar with drugs did not mean that their parents used drugs. I discovered that they became familiar with the substances through advertisements, television, and the cinema.

Knowledge that drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol exist and that they are bad is not an effective tool in combating addiction, abuse, and disease. Let’s not put up a stop sign. Children need to be educated about its effects and ways to stay above the influence. It is smart to form an early and continuous dialogue with your children and students in order to better discuss the dangers of substance abuse.

D.A.R.E. [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] has great tips for parents on how to approach this subject and fun educational activities for children.

2006-04-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

Woody Woodpecker

Today I was hammering away a special spot on my wall to hang an old movie poster. Being right next to my window, I began thinking about the tiny woodpeckers that speedily peck away new homes for themselves without getting dizzy or suffering brain injuries

It is important for us to protect and nourish our brains whether it be by wearing headgear, eating balanced meals, or getting the right amount of sleep. However, the survival of woodpeckers depends solely on their ability to peck. If they peck an average of 10,000 times a day, how is it that woodpeckers don’t have brain damage?

Well, obviously their brains are different than ours. Their special brain anatomy and the way they peck protects their brains. Instead of delving into their brain anatomy, let’s look at the method they use when pecking.

There is almost no head rotation - each peck is perfect! Head rotation would damage their brains and spinal cords. Also, their little eyes are kept closed. If their eyes remained open, they would come into contact with wood chips and their eyes would fly out of its sockets. Another interesting fact is that the woodpeckers have little fluid surrounding their brains, unlike our cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, their brains does not easily move around.

Studying the brain anatomy of woodpeckers in more depth can help us better manufacture helmets [its inner foam already mimics the bone structure of woodpeckers].

We can only watch in amazement as woodpeckers meticulously peck away, looking for food and building nests. As for us, it is best we stick to hammers.

2006-04-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

Goal!!!!!!!!!

I am finally waking up to the chirping music of birds! Winter is finally over, spring is in the air, and soccer season is just around the corner.

Soccer has been gaining popularity in the United States and many children are now in soccer little leagues. Sports are a great way to stay healthy while having fun. However, when soccer players begin "heading" the ball, I become very nervous [especially when little children try to mimic the older players]. I constantly have this dreadful feeling that this technique will cause severe brain damage.

Soccer is a relatively safe sport and usually most injuries affect the lower part of the body [knee injuries being the most common]. Nevertheless, head injuries do occur but they are rare.

A professional soccer player’s fierce kick can send the ball traveling well over 100 km/hour. Obviously this velocity is not reached on the average soccer field; many people believe that young players should still wear protective headgear.

It is highly unlikely that the occasional “heading” will injure the brain, but repeated heading may cause brain damage. Professional soccer players head the ball thousands of times during their careers and according to the Department of Radiology in Oslo, Norway the neurological problems reported in the players may have been caused by heading and other types of head injuries. Collisions between players and other common mishaps on the field could also prompt neurological problems.

Heading the ball does not conclusively lead to brain injuries, but sure makes one a great candidate in the future. So, it is best to keep your head protected and Kangaroo Soccer Headgear has taken one giant leap!

2006-04-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Magic Pill

I remember back in high school there was a craze over ginkgo biloba. It supposedly enhances your memory and many of my classmates turned to them in an effort to boost their academic performances. This seemed very odd because I relied on hard work and preparation for my grades.

Since ginkgo is made from the leaves of a ginkgo biloba tree, not much second thought plays into the decision of taking this herbal supplement. Manufacturers of ginkgo claim that it can improve memory abilities in normal, healthy subjects in as little as four weeks. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) thought otherwise in their August 21, 2002 issue.

Paul Solomon, Ph.D., conducted a study at Williams College in which the ginkgo pill and a placebo were given to two separate groups that did not observe any memory problems. His aim was to only measure the level of improvement in a healthy individual. The study lasted for 6 weeks and both groups were given exams evaluating their memory skills before, during, and after the trial. Oddly, there was no improvement in both groups!

I believe that if a person were to take a pill believing that it will boost their memory (just as some turn to a final “good luck” prayer) to top off their hard work thus far, they will see the fruits of their own labor. Psychologically, they will want and will try to do better. But if one were to rely on such a magic pill, that reliance will lead to failure. So, hard work actually pays off!

2006-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Cars and Safety

As I was driving home last night, I noticed the brake lights of the car in front of me. Something just did not look right. The car had only two rear brake lights; the third brake light in the center of rear window was missing!

The third brake light, also known as a "Center High Mounted Stop Lamp" (CHMSL), was implemented by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) on all cars manufactured since 1986 and on light trucks since 1994. Did CHMSLs actually improve safety on the roads?

The NHTSA website contains long technical reports about the effectiveness of CHMSLs. It affirms that CHMSLs were most effective soon after the lights were required. In 1987 and 1988 CHMSLs reduced the number of rear collisions by 8.5% and 7.2%, respectively. Soon after, its effectiveness decreased. Between 1989 and 1995 there was a 4.3% reduction of rear collisions. Perhaps the average driver was accustomed to seeing the third brake light, failing to provide the extra caution that it did once before.

Maybe Red CHMSLs are not the best color. Research from Taiwan has indicated that those tested in driving simulators responded fastest to blue lights. Perhaps changing the color will further reduce rear collisions?

2006-04-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Sacred Eye

My cousin had been experiencing trouble seeing for several years, therefore he had adjusted his lifestyle to squinting. It was now natural for him to automatically squint when driving, reading, or searching the internet.

His vision problems worsened and doctors recommended surgery on both eyes before he goes completely blind. The problem was that he had a detached retina. No one in our family has this ailment.

He finally consented to the surgery, which was to be performed one eye at a time. The problem was that his retina was "popping out of place." So, the procedure to mend his eye involved putting extra oxygen into his eye in an attempt to set the retina back into place. After this procedure was done, his eyesight in his right eye is still not back to normal. Rather than having stable vision, he says he sees the objects floating at times. Nevertheless, he again underwent the operation for his second time for his left eye. After a few days, his left eye responded better to the surgery. The doctor will have to perform another surgery to fix the problems he his in experiencing in his right eye.

Nonetheless, my cousin has not allowed his medical dilemma to affect his state of mind. As usual, he is the person that continually keeps the family laughing. He is also confident that the upcoming surgery will enhance his vision and he will no longer experience the visual problems in his right eye.

2006-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Natural Morphines

Since I am a dancer, I have grown quite accustomed to a few bruises here and there. I have never noticed I injured myself until after discovering the damage it has done.

This week, due to the beautiful weather, I decided to play some tennis with my friend outdoors. It was refreshing to feel the sun warming us all over. I could never wait for spring to arrive, and now that it finally has I had to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors.

We started hitting the ball back and forth and getting deep into concentration while at it. As my friend plunged for the ball, she tripped and fell to the ground. I yelled to make sure she was okay; as usual she got back on her feet and continued playing. After a few minutes, I noticed that her knee was bleeding. I immediately ran to her to see the damage.

Her knee was bleeding from a large cut that must have happened when she fell. The cut did not hurt her until after we had stopped the game. It is were not for me, we would have continued playing until she herself had noticed or the game had ended. She was so deeply concentrated that she was not even able to feel the cut until it was pointed out.

Our bodies release many different chemicals that help us cope with stressful situations. Endorphins are one of them. The word "endorphins" comes from combining two words meaning "endogenous" and "morphine." In other words, endorphins are our own natural morphine-like drugs that reduce pain. Pain during times of stress may distract an animal and prevent it from dealing with the situation by escaping or fighting. The endorphins act to reduce pain until the stressful situation is over. That's what happened to my friend: even though she was injured, she continued playing the game and did not even notice that she was injured.

The most extreme case is a gunshot victim. That’s why they search their clothing for bloodstains to confirm whether or not they have been shot.

2006-04-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

ha, Ha, HA, HAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is laughter the best medicine? When out with a group of my friends, time flies when we are laughing. Just take a look at the lives of Johnny Carson, Jack Lemmon, Walter Mattau, and Sammy Davis Jr. They seem to have led happier and healthier lives than the average person.

Medical research has shown that laughing can alter levels of neurochemicals, boost the immune system, reduce muscle tension, and improve respiration. In other words, laughter really does make you feel better.

Some hospitals are now experimenting with clowns to speed a patient's recovery and boost morale. These clowns usually use magic tricks, music, games, puppets and bubbles to entertain the children. Once in this atmosphere, the patients usually forget why they are there. Consequently, they occupy their minds with the performances of the clowns.

Although having clowns in the waiting or operating room could be some kind of a nuisance, many patients who have had this experience do exhibit less anxiety. It is common for older patients to listen to their favorite radio stations, read books, or watch television before and after surgery.

In the end, creating a comfortable familiar environment for each patient is important in boosting morale; this may in turn help speed recovery.

2006-04-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall

Famous Hollywood figures easily draw attention and provide a human face to diseases and we should be grateful for their courage. In a recent primetime interview, we have seen Katie Couric and Michael J. Fox dissect the effects Parkinson’s Disease [PD].

Muhammad Ali, the world's most legendary boxer and my absolute favorite athlete, lent his support to daughter Rasheda Ali in the publication of her children's book, "I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall: A Child's Guide to Parkinson's Disease." The title reveals its poignancy.

Neurological diseases affect the patient, family, and friends. Children that are thrown into such an unfamiliar and cold atmosphere have difficulty in coping with the disease, as do many adults.

Rasheda Ali explains PD to children by writing through a child’s perspective. The large warm colorful drawings provide a comfortable atmosphere when reading the book to children, making them more receptive and at ease to ask questions. The book also provides questions to ask children and facts about symptoms, such as sleep disorders and the inability to display facial expressions.

In the forward, The Great Muhammad Ali states that he has had PD for over two decades. Since he has found it difficult to talk to his grandchildren about his condition, he is proud to lend his own voice in Rasheda’s book.

“I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall” is a comforting and child friendly book to read and help open the discussion of PD with your own children and grandchildren.

2006-04-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

What's on your Mind?

Have you ever walked into a room but forgot why you came there? Or temporarily misplaced your keys, spending a few minutes on this witch-hunt? Have you then had this worrisome feeling that you may be developing Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is one of the most unforgiving diseases. A person whom you were once very close to is suddenly out of reach. Memories that have once held loved ones together start teetering away.

If you have not been personally affected by Alzheimer’s, you sure have seen it on the big screen. Tony Soprano’s mother and uncle serve as staunch reminders of what this disease is capable of doing.

The cause and treatment of Alzheimer’s is still a mystery. Through clinical trials and research studies, scientists familiarize themselves more with the disease but are still unable to combat it. This hereditary illness lingers over the active minds of many people, fearing one day that they will feel completely lost and alone in their own home.

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s? Age, genes, and family history play a role. These elements increase the likelihood of developing the disease; they do not serve as a guarantee or exclusion. Nevertheless, we can take precautions such as protecting ourselves against brain injury, keeping our heart healthy, and maintaining the ever-so-famous “mens sana, corpora sana” [sound mind, sound body].

The occasional forgetfulness and the frequent use of post-its as reminders are a part of the normal age related memory changes; they do not necessarily indicate the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Nevertheless, it may be beneficial to continuously exercise your mind through crossword puzzles, sudukos, memorization games, and running down the laundry list of errands you completed at the end of they day.

Exercising your mind is just as important as eating right.

2006-04-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

Environmental Diagnosis

Similar to a human body undergoing substance abuse, our environment has been trying to maintain its declining ecological balance.

Native Americans notoriously respect and value their environment. We are merely visitors that come and go. Unfortunately, we have overstayed our welcome …

Global warming is a dire consequent of our selfish actions and global dimming as another byproduct of our recklessness. Global dimming has caused sunlight to decrease about 10% in North America, while close to 30% in Russia. Our carbon dioxide emissions have formed a manmade cloud of soot and ash that now blocks the rays of sunlight to earth, while reflecting it beams into space. Global dimming has also decreased the ever-increasing global warming, as if the environment is trying to regulate its worsening condition.

What if we decrease the emission of harmful gases? Unfortunately, there will be an increase of global warming, since clouds of soot will be decreased.

Does this scare anybody? We are entering the point of no return. The global temperature range has already increased 1 degree Celsius and probably will continue to increase due to our behavior. At this rate, coastlines will be well below sea-level, the Amazon rain forest will most likely undergo chains of forest fires, and we will be unable to reverse these effects. Is this a gift to our descendents?

2006-04-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Indentured Freedom

“What is freedom?” Is it the freedom of the market, the freedom to vote and run for office, the freedom of religion, the freedom to live a secular or religious lifestyle, the freedom to rebuild a unified Iraq, or the freedom to break away and start your own country?

In Iraq the definitions are in conflict and the policy objectives confused. “What is the price of freedom?” On the average, every day five people die in and around Baghdad alone. Independent count of Iraqi civilians could be found at www.iraqbodycount.org. Since the invasion, at least 38,000 Iraqi civilians killed and over 50,000 Iraqi civilians injured and/or disabled. In response, the Iraqi resistance force is skyrocketing to more than 50,000 persons who are fighting day and night to break the occupation. Unfortunately, there is systematic and widespread torture and mistreatment of innocent civilians in the hope of finding insurgents.

What is the financial price of freedom? The Iraqi on the street earns less than $100 per month and runs the high risk of being killed while doing common daily things, such as going to the grocery store, visiting relatives, and praying at the Mosque. Electricity and running water is virtually non-existent but the probability of being killed is much more likely. At the expense of Iraqis, a private security officer, usually a mercenary from Asia or Central America, earns about $800 per month while the U.S. soldier brings in $3500 per month. A low-level American private security officer earns up to $7500 per month, while a security specialist earns up to $20000 per month. This war benefits everybody except the one people it was meant to benefit – the Iraqis.

2006-04-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

It Feels Like Spring!!!

Nawruz is a spring celebration widely observed by Persians, Kurds, and Turks living in the Middle East and throughout Asia. It is predominantly celebrated in Iran by marking the beginning of the Iranian New Year. In the pre-Islamic Turkish calendar, the Twelve Animal Calendar, the New Year began in March. Nawruz generally falls around March 21, corresponding to the vernal equinox, when the day and night are of equal length. Hence, Nawruz symbolically continues to represent the New Year.

Preparations for the Nawruz celebration involve the cleaning of houses, dressing in holiday clothing, cooking special meals, and preparing delicious sweets. On this day families gather around families, neighbors, and fiends for a festive meal and celebration. They also visit cemeteries to honor their deceased relatives.

Afterwards, holiday activities commence. They include horseracing and related games on horseback, singing, folk dancing, storytelling, and reading of poetry and epic stories. Nawruz is also a great holiday for children, who travel around neighborhood singing traditional rhymes and collecting small gifts [similar to “trick or treat”].

Nawruz is an occasion for friendship, renewal, joy, and unity. It is a festive holiday that has been observed by peoples throughout Asia for centuries.

2006-04-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Forget about the Facts - Just Air it!

The program “The Armenian Genocide,” which aired on PBS on April 17, provides a blatantly one-sided perspective of a tragic and unresolved period of world history. Its premise is rejected not only by the Turkish Government, but also by many eminent scholars who have studied the period in question. Instead of acknowledging that this issue remains unresolved, the program reflected a self-serving political agenda by Armenian American activists who seek to silence legitimate debate on this issue and establish their spurious orthodoxy as the absolute truth.

Contrary to the program’s claims, Armenian allegations of genocide have never been historically or legally substantiated. Unlike the Holocaust, the numbers, dates, facts and the context associated with this period are all contested, and objective scholars remain deeply divided. The legitimacy of this debate – and the continuing lack of consensus – was recently validated by the respected scholar Guenter Lewy, whose latest book The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey: A Disputed Genocide documents the incomplete historic record and excessive politicization associated with the issue.

Regrettably, the producer of “The Armenian Genocide” does not let facts get in the way of his effort to identify a scapegoat for tragedies that befell many thousands of innocents during a period of World War I when the circumstances of war, inter-communal strife, disease, famine and instability took countless lives regardless of ethnicity or religion. As a result, the program is rife with errors, misrepresentations, exaggerations and unsubstantiated conclusions, with other widely accepted facts and interpretations conveniently omitted. The lack of objectivity, however, is common practice for the film’s producer, who in the past has worked with funding from Armenian Americans on similar projects and who has done little to hide his antagonism for Turkey or his bias on the sensitive matter in question. Such predilections are to be expected from this program as well, underwritten by those who subscribe to the genocide thesis and who seek to ignore or suppress evidence that would in any way contradict their view. For this reason, PBS’ own Ombudsman has expressed reservations regarding the almost exclusive participation of Armenian Americans in the funding of the program.

To its credit – and in recognition of the strong bias inherent in “The Armenian Genocide” – PBS also produced a panel discussion to accompany the program consisting of experts with a range of views on this matter. Unfortunately, as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have reported, many PBS viewers were unable to watch the televised debate, due to the concerted efforts of Armenian American partisans who embarked on a nationwide campaign to prevent its airing by PBS affiliates. By succumbing to overt pressure by these activists and their political allies, PBS affiliates became instruments of self-censorship that should have no place in American society.

Turkey itself has pursued the facts via numerous collaborative efforts. Last year, Prime Minister Erdogan issued an unprecedented proposal to Armenian President Kocharian for an impartial study of the matter through the establishment of a joint historical commission, a landmark opening that has yet to receive a favorable response. And unlike U.S.C.’s recent forum cancellation, conferences on this subject are taking place in Turkey with the full support of Government leaders.

Today, Turkey and its expatriates are willing to address these sensitive unresolved matters. Yet each time an effort is made – even here in America, the world’s exemplar of open and free expression – our Armenian interlocutors either run from the debate or do anything possible to quash it. Through their efforts, freedom of speech on this issue has been virtually eliminated, from the policy community to university campuses to the televisions of millions of Americans.

It is clear that until and unless the Turkish and Armenian peoples can begin an open, honest and introspective dialogue on this matter, genuine reconciliation will not commence. The circumstances surrounding the PBS program and its airing unfortunately demonstrate that we are nowhere close to reaching a mutual understanding about our common history. Stifling debate and perpetuating a unilaterally established narrative may be expedient for some, but it will not bring about the closure that is needed to lay this difficult issue to rest.

2006-04-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

A Touch of PINK ... ...

I am happy to see all the attention that Pink is getting - Matt Lauer and Oprah even took notice. Her controversial single, "Stupid Girls", continues the dialogue that was once explored by TLC's "Unpretty" single and video.

"What happened to the dream of a girl president? She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent," she cleverly sings. In her hit single, Pink delves into issues of materialism, the unhealthy obsession with beauty, self-inflicted female underachievement, sexploitation, the dumb = cute state of mind, etc.

She states - "The female body is the sexiest creation on Earth and you just don’t have to be dumb in order to be cute. And these girls that I’m making fun of are not stupid. But for some reason they’re making money off acting that way. It’s nauseating. I was using examples to attack a mentality that I find nauseating.

It's about time we reenter this debate. There is a shortage of accessible positive female role models. Teens are not likely to view Hilary Swank, Norah Jones, Julia Stiles, or JK Rowling as role models because perhaps they are older, not profiled on a daily basis, are not exposed with their eye-popping antics, or are simply boring compared to the attention hungry fulltime heiress, Paris Hilton.

It’s just not lucrative for the entertainment industry to cover these “boring” movers and shakers. Don't we have an obligation to raise a generation of healthy, empowered women?

2006-04-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Dying with Dignity?

Dr. Kevorkian stunned the world by helping people “die with dignity”. An important U.S. Supreme Court decision was made that would make “Dr. Death” proud. On January 17, 2006 in Oregon v. Ashcroft, the Court upheld an Oregon law that allows doctor-assisted suicide, also known as Death with Dignity Act.

This ruling immediately sparked a flood of questions. Will financial discrimination play a role? Could a patient become coerced? Will depression play a role in their decision? Or, is this a way to preserve one’s dignity while dying? Most importantly, will the ruling in Oregon affect the views of other states?

The measure remained popular with Oregonians, voting to approve the law twice. The controversial law pertains to patients who have six months to live, cannot be used by clinically depressed patients, and requires that two physicians approve the procedure, giving doctors the right to refuse participation.

Supporters believe that the law provides much needed comfort by giving patients an opportunity to die a peaceful death, thereby ensuring that their autonomy is preserved in the process. On the other hand, many fear that those vulnerable may be pressured due to the financial weight of providing continued medical care. Finally, religious advocates maintain the position that a person’s time of death solely remains in the hands of God.

There is no doubt that this ruling has heightened fiery debates regarding this matter, and will continue to be a hot topic. In the end, I believe that monitoring this practice and ensuring that it is carried out as humanely as possible will be a great challenge. Unfortunately, it will most probably hinder better doctor-patient care, as well as advancement in research. There seems to be much room for potential abuse.

2006-04-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

~ Building Fences ~

There are about eleven million illegal aliens in the U.S. Politicians have recently turned their attention to the issue of illegal immigration, namely those crossing the U.S. – Mexican border.

Many politicians and U.S. citizens are uneasy with the fact that many southwestern states are exhibiting an increase in immigration. Politicians and U.S. citizens use the excuse these illegal immigrants “are weighing down our economy” and that they reap our benefits. What benefits? Out of fear of deportation, many illegals do not benefit from social welfare. Furthermore, if they are treated unjustly, they do not have the opportunity to remedy the situation, again out of fear of deportation. Some have even gone as far to say that most illegals are convicted criminals. On the contrary, they are hard workers with strong family values, working long hours under undesirable conditions for low pay.

In my view, our Mexican brothers and sisters are returning to their homeland. These states were once a part of Mexico and they still vividly carry ethnic city names. Their entrance into the U.S., whether legal or illegal, adds to the fabric and identity of what is American. They help keep our economy going by providing services in industries that our own high school drop-outs will not take. To suggest that their existence weighs down our job market is ludicrous. Illegal immigrants work for substandard wages, pay sales tax, and most honor their financial obligation of taking care of their families back home. Generalizing that some of these illegal immigrants are criminals is degrading. They are struggling for a better life, like our forefathers. Finally, suggesting that the southern border is susceptible to terrorism is nothing but another scare tactic.

When all else fails, use the word “terrorism.”