A Study Guide: Do It Right (1951) was written by P.A. Reed, a Jesuit priest, and was designed to tell high school students how to study. That's a subject dear to my heart, as I'm always amazed that schools spend many years teaching students about almost everything and anything, but not how to study. |
A nuclear Iran has the potential to be many times more catastrophic than the popular impression. The media has done a disgraceful job of informing the public on this issue. The Iranian scenario is so laden with disaster and calamity that virtually the entire world views the development with alarm. The only dissent comes from three nations, says R. Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Department of State under secretary of political affairs. Those three nations are Cuba, Syria, and Venezuela. |
Can you avoid counterfeit merchandise by buying from a major retailer?
Answer: Not according to a recent article in the Journal of the American Bar Association (February 2007). Here's the title of that article: "Knockoffs Landing on Retail Shelves: Lawsuits claim fake luxury groups are showing up at chain stores." |
Four Other Prescription-Only NSAIDS At A Glance:
Generic name Brand name Comment
diclofenac Cataflam, Voltaren They may have highest risk of cardiovascular side effects of the older NSAIDS.
indomethacin Indocin Headache and dizziness side effects have made it less popular.
piroxicam Feldene Very long acting (24 hours), which may be seen as a major drawback.
sulindac Clinoril Some findings suggest it's easier on the
kidneys, but others raise doubts.
Source: Harvard Health Letter (February 2007)
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The magazine, Men's Health (March 2007), surveyed the water of 100 cities for cleanliness. They said they were all safe, but that some were cleaner than others. They graded the cities from A to F. Philadelphia ranked No. 36 with a grade of B. |
One of the world's most renowned and respected scholars of the Middle East and Islam, Professor Bernard Lewis directly supports the conclusions of Mark Steyn in his book America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It (2006), which concludes Europe is already lost to Muslim domination. |
Television values form over substance. Management seems to think that electronic glitz trumps writing, research, clear thinking, or journalistic know-how. I was always amazed at how much was spent on electronic glitz for weather reports, when the average guy just wants to know if it is going to rain tomorrow.
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The media want to criticize everyone and everything without mercy - except the media. The media, as is often pointed out, have tissue-paper-thin skin when it comes to accepting criticism, and their sensitivities are such that they don't want to hear criticism of their own operations or report or comment on criticism of their competitors. There is a code of silence when it comes to reporting on media criticism - the word is out and it is omerta. |
Memory Warning Signs That May Call For A Doctor
* Forgetting things more frequently than you used to
* Having trouble learning new things
* Frequently misplacing objects
* Experiencing increasing difficulty coping with problems at home or work
* Having difficulty finding words or using inappropriate words
* Having trouble completing familiar tasks that require a series of actions, such as cooking
* Forgetting how to do things you've done many times before
* Experiencing difficulty with orientation or spatial relationships
* Becoming lost while driving
* Not being able to keep track of what happens each day.
SOURCE: Massachusetts General Hospital, Mind Mood & Memory (February 2007)
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20 year old, Reade Seligmann found the magic of poetry, it's power to transmit solace, wisdom, excitement, love, humor, knowledge, and every other kind of thought, emotion and truth. It does that in such a powerful and magical way that it connects beyond the range of ordinary words or expressions, and it connects now and forever. |
A Little Knowledge Can Be Dangerous Except When It Comes From, "The Advocate." |
Those who take drugs better be sure they understand when an allergic reaction is in process, and that they take the dose in accordance with instructions of the doctor and pharmacist. If in doubt on any aspect of these two issues, get clarification from the doctor or pharmacist.
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
(please review full commendation report) |
I think it is important to remind the public how the mainstream media continues its descent into a black hole that deserves no readers, no advertisers, and no support whatsoever. When the New York Times and Los Angeles Times displayed their treasonous propensities by revealing national security secrets, I thought that was a new milestone in journalistic malfeasance. Now, I find another revealing chapter involving the coverage of the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.
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Potentially dangerous fragrance ingredients may be in cosmetics, but the ingredient may not appear on the label's ingredient list. That's because a fragrance is considered a trade secret, so a breakdown of the fragrance ingredients need not appear on the label. You know how many questions are raised about foods and drugs; well, cosmetics are virtually unregulated by comparison.
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Each different color of fruits and veggies contain phytonutrients and other nutrients that together can mean a long and healthy life.
--Green
--Orange and Deep Yellow
--Purple and Blue
--Red
--White, Tan, Brown |
Most people know the banana is rich in potassium, but it is also a good source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese. Because of that nutritional array and for other reasons, the banana is used as a "home remedy" to treat fatigue, hangover, insomnia, warts, and water retention. |
| | | | | | | One observer has noted that Jimmy Carter (pictured) suffers from “misplaced sympathy syndrome” after showing allegedly showing support to Nazis and terrorists. Photo by Briana Brough/Associated Press. | |
When it comes to being evil, hateful, and dishonest, Jimmy Carter is the classic gift that keeps on giving and perhaps the preeminent example of these qualities. As I watch the flow of information on Carter precipitated by his recently published book of fiction entitled Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid (although published by some mistake as non-fiction), I am astounded as even to the informed eye Carter looks worse and worse.
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| | | | | | | New York Times Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Janet L. Robinson speaks to reporters after her keynote address to the Boston College Chief Executives' Club luncheon in Boston Thursday. Newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times actually reveal America’s vital secrets in the war against terrorism. Photo by Elise Amendola/Associated Press. | |
Take the question of advertiser influence. In my view, the flow of news to the public has been substantially corrupted by the influence of advertisers on news content. The media organizations protect advertisers from critical stories to protect their own economic interest. One savvy media lawyer described this as a form of extortion - the advertiser pays or its wrongdoing gets exposed in the news.
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See Herbs's opinion of Senators Barrack Obama and Barbara Boxer and much more. |
The 14 super foods are mainly a selection from the miracle foods I've been writing so much about: Fruits and vegetables. And if you want you can throw in a selection from nuts and whole grains. And if you want the diet to be extended to more conventional eaters you can throw in a lean poultry selection (e.g., turkey or chicken - skinless breast) and something from low-fat dairy (yogurt or skim milk).
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The epidemics caused by the epidemics of not handwashing were first given major attention by the great Hungarian physician Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis who discovered doctors were transmitting infections to pregnant women when they went from cutting up cadavers to delivering babies. The medical profession ignored Semmelweis's wisdom then, and for 160 years since, seems to be still doing just that.
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Survey after survey finds we don't eat a variety of fruits and vegetables necessary to good health. What do we eat? Marion Nestle, in her excellent book, What to Eat (2006), points out "one-third of all vegetables consumed in the United States come from just three sources: French fries, potato chips, and iceberg lettuce." |
The Advicate tackles important issues that make our lives easier. |
| | | | | | | Verizon Wireless laptop Broadband Access, the Novatel V640 WWAN?PCI ExpressCard/34 is shown at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday. Photo by Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press. | |
Verizon, a fiber-optic broadband provider, blows out and blows away one of its major competitors, Comcast. In fact, in almost every respect, Comcast comes out a loser according to a survey of 34,521 subscribers to the magazine Consumer Reports. Verizon comes out a winner in almost every respect. These findings appear in the February 2007 edition of Consumer Reports. |
Jimmy Carter's new book, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, should best be described as a work of fiction rather than one of non-fiction as claimed by its author and publisher. He has set an all-time low in fabrication, plagiarism, anti-historical and moronic nonsense. He now is setting another record, proving that he is a supreme hypocrite.
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I came across a headline I couldn't resist: "Nine Secrets to Better Health: Who says self-improvement has to be all-consuming. Try these simple ways to feel your best in 15 minutes or less. |
The next essential piece of information involves the symptoms of a stroke. You have to know them and be able to translate that knowledge into an immediate call to 9-1-1. Here are the keys to recognition of a stroke according to the First Aid Manual (2002) of the American College of Emergency Physicians...(please review article) |
Never too late to learn a little. Here's more Herb The Advocate. |
Get to know the people where you do business. Managers and others have great discretion on returns, and if a customer person or manager knows you and deals with you on a regular basis, you may get liberal treatment on a return, perhaps far beyond what company policy calls for.
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Returns have become a huge part of consumer retailing, accounting for over $100 billion a year in returned goods (according to Stalk), and costing $3.5 billion in what is called return fraud (according to the National Retail Federation). That's a major problem for retailers, but it is also one for consumers - as returns are a significant cost factor that drives up the price of merchandise. |
Here's a guide to bring you up to speed on cardiac emergencies, but we'll start with the most fundamental methods of preparation for cardiac emergencies - taking steps to avoid them in the first place. |
No matter how harshly I criticize our prescription drug delivery system, I soon find it is worse than I thought it was. Case in point: I wrote a column awhile back on Coumadin (the blood thinner, warfarin, in generic form, but hereafter referred to by its better known brand name, Coumadin), noting it was considered by one expert as one of ten drugs that are the most common sources of severe injury and death. |
A company called Stratbridge has created software that now allows the Boston Celtics to sell unsold tickets at a discount. This suggests we've still barely tapped the potential of computers and the Internet to revolutionize commerce, education, and almost everything else.
And much, much, more. |
One study found, "students who believed they could change had significantly higher grades, more confidence even when they failed, more optimism about future performance, and more enjoyment of learning overall." The author of the study worked on students who were non-believers and believed their personalities were fixed: "To help them change, she taught them that their brains were plastic, always growing new connections, and that mere belief in the ability to change could make it easier to turn things around. After the sessions, the failing students became more optimistic and their grades rebounded."
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Before any excavation, the contractor (and the owner, if he is doing it himself) should call the Pennsylvania One Call line at 800-242-1776 (which will change to 811-Quick Dial in April of 2007) at least three days before any excavation. After that call, experts will come to the property and mark all underground utility lines, including electric, gas, water, cable, and phone. |
Beta-blocker eye drops are very effective in lowering elevated eye pressure, which causes glaucoma and will lead to loss of vision and blindness if not treated. But the study also found that beta-blocker eye drops cause all kinds of cardiovascular complications including low blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, fainting spells and heart attacks. |
Question: Is former Sec. of State, Jim Baker, a member of a law firm that represents the government of Saudi Arabia?
Answer: Baker Botts, the law firm of Jim Baker, represents three members of the royal family who are among 200 defendants named in a lawsuit by victims of the 9-11 attacks. Secretary Baker has had no involvement in this representation.
...And Much More From The Advocate |
Here are the 13 vehicles, which the IIHS determined to be the safest, with the award of its "Top Safety Pick for 2007." All current cars and minivans are eligible for the tests, as are small and midsize SUVs. Large SUVs and pickup trucks are not included. The safest vehicles include four cars, seven SUVs, and two minivans. No small cars or mini-cars made the list. |
As far as I know no one has announced the cure for this disease, but I found a study which suggests the cure is certain and simple, although it will not cure 100 percent of the cases: The cure is knowing the symptoms of heart attacks and other heart problems, and acting promptly when they appear by calling 9-1-1.
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Gov. Rendell is not interested in the kind of process that guarantees quality appointment. Instead, he apparently wants to turn Pennsylvania state government into a retirement refuge for retired legislators. The governor makes sounds like a populist, but acts like a petty ward politician intent on his own political advantage and ignoring the public interest.
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Gov. Rendell is not interested in the kind of process that guarantees quality appointment. Instead, he apparently wants to turn Pennsylvania state government into a retirement refuge for retired legislators. The governor makes sounds like a populist, but acts like a petty ward politician intent on his own political advantage and ignoring the public interest.
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A little bit of long-forgotten history is important as it shows Blue Cross can operate better than it now does without the aid of billion dollar surpluses. It indicates Blue Cross' surplus can quickly be controlled by emergency rate increases. It also shows Blue Cross and the hospitals can bring about important safety, and quality enhancements and cost reductions if they are pressured to do so - and they are not likely to do anything but raises prices and premiums if not prodded in the other direction. |
"The tricks you learned from your parents and grandparents, like sprinkling meat tenderizer on a bee sting or putting a soothing tea bag on tired eyes, aren't replacements for high-tech treatments of course. But you can count on them to [make you] feel better fast - and, in many cases to prevent small problems from turning into bigger ones."
Reader's Digest |
The health care delivery system almost ignores lifestyle changes and other preventive measures and focuses almost exclusively on treating disease rather than preventing it. Until the focus of the system changes, no reforms will adequately reduce the cost of health care. |
| | | | | | | Former President Jimmy Carter signs copies of his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid at the Carter Center as part of an Atlanta Press Club luncheon in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday. A longtime aide to Carter has resigned from the Carter Center think tank, calling the former president’s new book on Israel and the Arabs one-sided and filled with errors. Ric Feld/Associated Press. | |
This new book,Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, clearly reveals Carter to be a liar, a faker, a phony, a fabricator, a plagiarizer, a bigot, a hater, and worse. It reveals him to be someone who has no respect for facts or truth, and to be a danger to the U.S. and the rest of the free world. |
Don't be too embarrassed to tell him anything that might be relevant to understand your situation. As the folks at Cornell point out, "This helps your doctor better understand how an illness may impact your life, and how your lifestyle may affect your condition." |
The Advocate never ceases to amaze. Herb handles a dozen questions ranging from Jimmy Carter to handling diamonds to bird watching, |
John Stossel, author of the book, Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong (2006), also cites a University of Maryland study that found "that some children are literally born happy or unhappy. Scientists there used electrodes to monitor babies' brain activity when they smiled. Babies who smiled a lot had more measurable activity in their left frontal lobes." |
| | | | | | | Instructor Bettina Blank helps Karen Smith during Pilates class on Nov. 22 at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore. Experts say exercise lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke and improves your overall health. Photo by Rick Bowmer/Associated Press. | |
I came across an article by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who has been practicing sports medicine for 46 years, and has heard all the excuses and refuted them. Here are the most common excuses for not exercising and some of the rebuttals from Dr. Mirkin...:
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As the regular readers of this column may have guessed by now, the definitive answer to the problem of overweight and obesity can be found in the most comprehensive study of nutrition to date - The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II. It found that the diet that produces weight loss and good health is the whole foods, plant-based diet minimizing processed foods, fat and salt.
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| | | | | | | Former President Jimmy Carter appears on “The Early Show” on CBS to promote his new book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid in New York on Monday. Michael Simon/CBS News/Associated Press. | |
"Mr. Carter's book is so filled with simple mistakes of fact and deliberate omission that were it a brief filed in a court of law, it would be struck and its author sanctioned for misleading the court. Mr. Carter too is guilty of misleading the court of public opinion. A mere listing of all of Mr. Carter's mistakes and omissions would fill a volume the size of his book."
--Alan Dershowitz |
"It is certainly true that the occasional Islamic militant (for example, British shoe-bomber Richard Reid and the 'American Taliban,' John Walker Lindh) may not be obviously Muslim or of Middle Eastern or North African descent. But it is silly to conclude, therefore, that a helpful and fairly accurate profile cannot be developed."
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| | | | | | | Nancy Cherono Kalya, right, looks over the position of a dairy cow before attaching the milking machine on the Ole Johnson dairy farm southwest of Stanton, N.D. Mike McCleary/Bismarck Tribune/Associated Press. | |
Here's one of the reasons milk leads to hip fractures: Milk is heavy in animal protein. Animal proteins increase the body's acid load. That means blood and tissues become more acidic. To fight this acidic load, the body uses calcium which counteracts it, as it is an effective base. The calcium has to come from somewhere, and that somewhere happens to be the bones. If calcium is thus pulled from the bones, they become more susceptible to fractures.
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More from "The Advocate." Read more of Herb Denenberg's answers to the questions that bemuse us. |
Maybe it will take the nuking of a major American city with perhaps 100,000 or a million casualties or more to get our attention. Pundits and columnists have written columns about politicians who see the threat of World War III as if they were borderline irrationals. Yes, they are as irrational as Winston Churchill was during the rise of Hitler. We have to get serious about the nuclear threat in particular and the war against Islamic/fascist/Nazi terrorism and extremism in particular.
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The Tufts University Health and Nutrition Newsletter (November 2006) reports that this study found being overweight was associated with a 20 to 40 percent increase in the risk of death, and being obese doubled or tripled the risk of death. So among the catalog of things to do: Get your weight into the normal range if you want to stay healthy and alive. |
"Cross-bearing statute saves blizzard victims; Wyatt Earp haunts ghost hotel; and UFO aliens make Chicago their hometown!" Breaking News!! Nope. Just "The Advocate" giving us the dirt on supermarket tabs. Check out this and more exciting info from Herb Denenberg. |
Locally, the Pennsylvania Health Care Containment Council released a report yesterday that the number of reported infections grew 64 percent from 2004 to 2005. More than 19,000 patients contracted an infection while staying at a Pennsylvania hospital in 2005.
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| | | | | | | A dog waits for his owner to vote last Tuesday in Alameda, Calif. Dog bites cost insurance companies $317.2 million in 2005 as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Photo by Ben Margot/Associated Press. | |
Dog bites cost insurance companies $317.2 million in 2005. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year, and that causes 800,000 injuries that require medical attention.
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--My employer is offering Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Should I participate?
--How is a state like Florida dealing with its huge hurricane insurance losses?
--Are the Chinese going to extend their domination in manufacturing into other areas as well?
And much, much more from The Advocate. |
Who do you suppose paid for some of this research? It was the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, king of the gum companies. It is also establishing an Institute to fund studies into gum chewing as a way to lose weight, relieve stress and increase concentration. I'd applaud that move, as too much of research money is now directed to prescription drug and other riskier modalities.
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Use caution in dealing with generics rather than avoiding them altogether. Here are their rules for making sure the generics are delivering what they are supposed to:...
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The local independent stores had the top ratings for service and checkout speed, above average ratings for selection and product quality, but below average ratings for price. That often is the case across many industries, with independents excelling in service but being unable to match prices of the giants, but overall still coming out on top.
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I received this question from a reader, and thought it deserved a full column-length answer, as it affects so many people: "I can't swallow my pills. I've been told there are liquid medicines, which would suit my needs perfectly. But when I asked my pharmacist, he told me that my pills were not available in liquid form. So what should I do now?"
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U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, in his first two terms in the Senate, has accomplished more for his state and country than most politicians do in a lifetime, yet he is in danger of being defeated by a politician who, compared to Santorum, at best is third-rate, with no major achievements on his resume, a politician who even hides from the public, the press and his opponent.
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15 Questions Answered By Herb Denenberg, a former Pennsylvania insurance commissioner and professor at the Wharton School. He is a longtime Philadelphia journalist and consumer advocate. His column appears daily in The Evening Bulletin. You can reach him at advocate@theeveningbulletin.com. |
Kerry's views are not his alone but represent much of the leadership of the Democrats, who have long been anti-military and anti-defense spending, and all too willing to slander our servicemen and our American heroes. Remember Sen. Dick Durbin's comparison of American servicemen to Nazis. Remember not only the Democratic Party's anti-military/anti-defense views, but also its consistent opposition to the tools necessary to fight the war against terror. |
--Question: You've written often about Rick Santorum's leadership on the issue of the war against Islamic terrorism. Why don't you ever write about his other legislative achievements?
--Question: What am I supposed to do about establishing credit and getting a good credit history if I don't have a credit history?
--Question: I'm interested in nursing school. Are any of the top-rated schools in Pennsylvania?
And Much More |
You should tap into as much expertise as you can, and gather information from your state insurance department, your area agency on aging, any senior health insurance programs, and perhaps even seek the advice of an elder-law attorney. If everyone stops buying what they don't understand, the long-term-care insurance market will be in deep trouble. The insurance companies have a penchant for designing incredibly complicated products and then not explaining them very well to their customers or even to their agent.
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Don't expect too much precision from the quotes you're getting. All sites don't offer the same coverage limits. That means you may not even be able to get a quote on the limits you want, and that the quotes you do get may not be comparable. So the Internet is far from ideal for comparison-shopping. |
The choice is clear for everyone. If you want to vote for winning the war and the survival of our nation and Western values, vote the straight Republican ticket. If you want to vote for surrender, defeat and destruction of all we value, vote the Democratic ticket. It is painful to reach these conclusions. But as a lifelong Democrat, I had to switch parties when I realized that my old party now is in the forefront of those who want to turn the U.S., for the first time in its long and glorious history, into a loser, whose ideals and power would surely be smashed forever by terrorists unless we are prepared to fight and win.
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Here comes a book and its list which I couldn't refuse - The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: How Characters of Fiction, Myth, Legends, Television, and Movies Have Shaped Our Society, Changed Our Behavior, and Set the Course of History (2006) by Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan and Jeremy Salter.
The book shows the power of ideas, and does offer further proof that, at least at times, the pen is mightier than the sword. |
--I have a will, a durable power of attorney, and a living will. Do I need anything else to let my survivors know my wishes if I become impaired or if I die?
--Now that long-term care has been on the market for some time, is it well understood? Or is it, like most insurance offerings, lost in a sea of gobbledygook?
--Now that the Atkins diet people are in bankruptcy does that mean the diet is also officially bankrupt?
--My credit card company just sent me a new credit card? I thought that was illegal. Is it?
--I'm concerned about protecting my mother in a nursing home from bed sores. It seems to me massage would be an obvious preventive measure. Doesn't massage make sense in that situation?
--Can I change my will? |
What would weigh more - the total weight of all the bacteria in the world, or that of all the elephants in the world? Answer that and then consider another question: What would weigh more - all the bacteria in the world or the weight of all other living organisms in the world combined? The answer to both questions is the same - all the bacteria in the world.
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Here are two important safety features to insist on if you're buying a new car - a side-curtain airbag and a regular side airbag. Such airbags are reducing driver deaths in cars struck on the driver's side by an estimated 37 percent. Airbags that only protect the torso (chest and abdomen) but not the head (i.e. side airbag, but no curtain airbag) reduce deaths by 26 percent. |
I think that Santorum's opponent, State Treasurer Bob Casey is a fine fellow and perhaps a competent politician as Harrisburg goes. But next to Senator Santorum, Casey is a bean-counting mediocrity who ought to be sent back to Harrisburg for further maturation and training. |
The American diet is responsible for our epidemic of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke and obesity. Yet, we spend the great bulk of our resources on measures that often do not cure and do not prevent these diseases instead of resorting to the lower-cost, more effective approach, which is a diet to prevent and often treat these diseases.
In this column, I'll take up cancer, more specifically three of our most common and devastating forms of cancer - that of the breast, prostate and large bowel.
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You can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars with a few open- heart surgeries and angioplasties. Drug companies can make billions with all kinds of medications to treat these chronic diseases. But there is no gold mine if you're in the business of telling people how to eat or how to otherwise change their lifestyles. We could prevent and treat most of these epidemic diseases with the low-tech approach of controlling the knife and fork instead of the incredibly costly array of surgeries, of medications, of testing and the like.
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For someone on a 2,000-calorie diet, you should eat 6 ounces of grains, and at least half should be whole grains. The Pyramid states, "One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, about 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice, cereal or pasta."
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Here are the names of those three drugs: Zyprexa, Risperdal and Seroquel. Those drugs, for on-label and off-label uses, ring up about $2 billion in sales a year. This new study passed no judgment on these drugs when used for approved purposes. According to one published report, the drugs are prescribed on this off-label basis because families are so desperate to try to help an Alzheimer's victim, because the drugs seem to help once in a while, because company-sponsored doctors are out pushing the off-label uses and perhaps because doctors often prescribe ineffective and/or unsafe drugs.
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The drug industry is so pervasive and powerful in marketing drugs, buying up researchers and doctors to support its products, however lacking in merit, and overselling drugs to the exclusion of other modalities, that many assume the damage stops there.
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The Mayo Clinic is undeniably one of the greatest medical institutions in the world. Yet, when it prepares a document, it falls into the same trap as the rest of the system. I recently had occasion to review its publication, "Getting the Most from Your Medications" (2005), a 31-page document. The good news is that it's better than most publications of this kind, but the bad news is that it falls into the same trap - failing to give the risks of medicines equal or fair treatment compared to the benefits, telling the patient what to inform the doctor about (without also telling the patient, for example, that if the doctor is too dumb or too busy to ask on his own what drugs you're taking, you better find another doctor) and assuming that the doctor rather than the patient should be making the decisions.
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This coming election may not only determine our future, but also whether we win or lose, survive or are destroyed. We have to choose between the Patrick Henrys and Paul Reveres of our time, or settle for the Neville Chamberlains, Howard Deans, John Kerrys, Michael Moores, Jimmy Carters and my nephews. What a choice, what a time, what an election. But the choice is simple - between those who believe in self-defense and fighting a war thrust upon us, and those who believe in suicide and surrender.
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The new slogan, created by the CDC and PBH is "Fruits and vegetables - more matters." Often more isn't better, but it is in this case, as formulated by Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter (October 2006): "The new message suggest that even if you aren't eating as much produce as the dietary guidelines advise - and can't seem to reach that target yet - more is still better. Whatever your current consumption, strive to fit more produce into your daily diet - an extra banana at morning snack, another handful of vegetable in your stew." There are all kinds of ways to add fruits and vegetables to your diet, including using them as desserts and using salads as a main course or side dish.
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Remedy: Simply excise the years put into higher education and make high schools deliver the educational basics, as they have often done in the past, and should do now. |
At age 65, there's a one in three chance of ending up in a nursing home for at least three months, a one in four chance of ending up in one for at least one year and a one in ten chance of ending up in one for at least five years.
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EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST. You'll recall one recommendation is to skip meals on occasion, as according to one expert, that "primes the cells to handle more severe kinds of stress." But in implementing that recommendation, take into account another of the authors' recommendations - rise and dine, i.e., eat a hearty breakfast. If you need some evidence, the authors offer this: "One study even found that skipping breakfast is as much of a risk factor for heart disease as smoking or not exercising."
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Meal Skipping. Did you know that skipping a meal could extend your life? I've always felt guilty about skipping meals, so I was glad to find authority for the proposition that meal skipping is healthy. As with so many nutrition issues, this one starts with the rats. A scientist, Mark Mattson, with the National Institute on Aging, tested meal skipping and food restriction on rats divided into three groups. |
Here is a 10-step plan to protect your memory, your brain and your health. This plan was developed by Dr. Majid Fotuhi, Neurology Constant at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which he presents in his book, The Memory Cure: How to Protect Your Brain Against Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease (2003). |
Here's some information on the brain and memory that may not well be understood but is useful in understanding the ways to protect your brain. Because of the widespread misconceptions, we'll start by discussing a series of misconceptions, which we'll call myths about the brain and memory.
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There are "an estimated 90 million vehicle trips per year involve alcohol-impaired drivers," but only about 1.5 million of those trips end in driver arrest. A major lesson of this fight against drunken driving is that eternal vigilance and new approaches is the price of getting more of these drunken drivers off the road. |
Questions About Buttons, Nuts, Potbellies And College Graduates In The Mailbag |
Another AARP-suggested question: "Ask your doctor if there are alternatives with lower costs." Should a follow-up question be, "Are there also alternatives that are also more effective?" Or perhaps the initial question should be. "Is this drug even safe and effective?" This column has frequently reported on drugs not considered safe or effective and yet still widely prescribed. So if your doctor is dumb enough to be letting you take drugs you don't need, chances are they may be prescribing drugs when there are alternatives that are safer and more effective. In fact, if your doctor is that dumb, can you imagine the other mistakes he's making? The fact that so many of us have survived the health care delivery system is dramatic proof of how ingeniously we've been designed by some higher power, who deserves more credit than usually sent up above.
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There is an abundance of reference material on drug interactions and other drug topics in public libraries, medical school libraries and on the Internet. There are some solid reference books such as Worst Pills, Best Pills, from the Health Research Group; The Medical Letter, widely used by doctors; and Rybacki, The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs, with a new edition every year. You can also ask your pharmacist for the package insert, which is the same as the entry in the Physicians' Desk Reference, a standard fixture in doctors' offices.
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Herb Denenberg, a former Pennsylvania insurance commissioner and professor at the Wharton School, is a longtime Philadelphia journalist and consumer advocate. His column appears daily in The Evening Bulletin. You can reach him at advocate@theeveningbulletin.com
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Here is how Dr. Lown explains the importance of the initial contact: "Much experience teaches me that a doctor's initial assessment is contoured not by the medical problem alone but by indefinable qualities of either annoyance or gratification in dealing with a particular individual. |
The reason for the 7 year rule is that adverse effects and other problems with a drug are often not discovered until it has been on the market for years. Clinical trials may include only a few thousands or less, so new problems emerge once the drug is used on a wider audience, often running into the millions.
There's a history of new drugs being recalled within a few years, often because of serious and even fatal side effects, more evidence supporting the seven-year rule.
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WARNING: The food industry, the drug industry, leading academics bought up by those two industries, and government are working together to perpetuate a diet that is the great killer of our time, leading to the accelerating epidemic of heart disease, stroke diabetes, and other chronic diseases. |
One of the most astounding media developments of recent years is the decline and fall of The New York Times. Once considered the greatest paper in the U.S. and perhaps even the world, it has now become a joke, having lost all credibility. What's more, it is not only viewed as a journalistic joke, but is also viewed as a treacherous and treasonous enemy of the U.S. for disclosing vital national security secrets to our enemy.
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A crusader for hand washing, Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York, reports that health care providers abroad are beginning to wake up to reality. She writes how Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands have brought under control a specific kind of deadly antibiotic germ "[t]hrough the rigorous enforcement of rules on hand washing, the meticulous cleaning of rooms and hospital equipment, the use of gowns and disposable aprons to prevent doctors and nurses from spreading germs on clothing and the testing of incoming patients to identify and isolate those carrying the germs."
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If in doubt, ask your doctor about your need for the flu vaccine. I'd add one other group that should take the vaccine - anyone who doesn't want the flu including those who don't want to miss work. I'd hope that pro teams, out of consideration for their fans, would see to it that every player gets the shot. How would you like Donovan McNabb to miss two games because he gets the flu - especially if those two games include the 2007 Super Bowl?
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The Advocate provides the usial wealth of knowledge designed to make your life rich. |
What is your best bet if you're looking for the lowest prices, or the best service, or the cleanest store, or the best overall company? Here are the answers from a recent Consumer Reports survey based on 38,000 reports from readers (October 2006).
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After 20 years of war, the few politicians who seem to know we're at war can be counted on one or two hands. There is the President and Vice-President, of course. Another one of them is Senator Rick Santorum, who recently said, "We are at war...Some people could say we're not at war, some people would say it's not really serious, that the enemy isn't really something we should be too concerned about, some have called for withdrawal of our troops and said that we're creating more terrorists...We're at war with Islamic fascism, and Afghanistan and Iraq and Southern Lebanon and every country around the world that is a front to Islamic fascism."
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This is only more weight beyond the wit and wisdom of the ages, which says avoid litigation, if at all possible. H.L. Mencken, the sage of Baltimore, got it right when he defined a courtroom: "A place where Jesus Christ and Judas Iscariot would be equals, with the betting odds in favor of Judas."
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Memory is influenced by a number of factors, including your physical and mental health, the environmental circumstances under which you encounter new information, your emotional state, your intellectual abilities and your desire to remember. Each of these elements is important in determining whether a memory will stick in your mind or fade away, and should be addressed if you want to improve your memory."
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When I read editorials in the mainstream media, I'm reminded of the important saying, "You're entitled to you're opinions, but you're not entitled to your facts." I get the strong impressions that much of their editorial output of the biased mainstream media is based on misinterpretation of the facts, or on myths rather than facts, and are not based simply on differences of opinion.
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The Advocate tackles 14 difficult questions from his readers. |
The advantages of a plant-based whole food diet are overwhelming and spectacular, with the advantages of virtually eliminating or dramatically reducing all of the major chronic diseases of our time including diabetes, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
If that's not enough, there are two other important advantages of a plant-based diet. It has the potential of greatly reducing pollution and improving the environment. What's more, a plant-based diet would also eliminate much of the cruelty to farm animals that is almost a standard practice in the food industry.
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The NLJ report quotes attorney James Fishman of New York, NY, who has handled about 100 credit lawsuits in the past five years: "It is becoming more and more prevalent that people are fighting back and suing credit bureaus and information furnishers [creditors and others reporting to credit bureaus] who can't get it right without filing a lawsuit." He adds, "When I go to court, the first thing I'm handed [from the defense] is a clear credit report. You don't get that unless you walk into the courtroom." |
The survey reports that after 20 years of advice from "health professionals warning of the health risks associated with consuming too much fat in our diet, about two-thirds of those surveyed say they are somewhat or very concerned about the amount and type of fat they are eating." Consumers are also getting the message from experts about consuming more fiber and whole grains. Seventy-three percent of consumers said they are trying to eat more fiber and whole grains.
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Consumer Reports On Health" (September 2006) notes that pork now is 16 percent leaner with 27 percent less saturated fat than it was 15 years ago. It also notes the Department of Agriculture study, cited above, was partially funded by the National Pork Board. Of course, I'm convinced that Colin Campbell's book, The China Study, proves that if you want to be healthy you should avoid all meat, including pork, and all poultry.
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'Islamic Fascism Is The Greatest Test Of Our Generation'
One of the few politicians who is in touch with the reality facing America and the world is U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa). He gave one of the most important speeches of our time to the National Press Club on July 26, 2006, but it was strangely ignored and underreported. The full text of the speech is on his Web site - www.santorum.senate.gov. It is a classic speech that explains the war and puts it into perspective, displaying insight and wisdom that seems almost totally lacking in our political class.
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| | | | | | | Certain vitamins might not be what they’re believed to be. Make sure you get what you are paying for and that the supplements you take are appropriate for your consumption. | |
To be sure you are getting what's on the label and aren't endangering your health, you can buy nutritional supplements that are tested and verified by an independent lab, such as USP and ConsumerLab.com. For example, products checked by USP carry a logo that reads, "Dietary Supplements. USP Verified."
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-- How are you supposed to keep track and know the meaning of all those labels for different products - dolphin friendly, bird friendly, certified organic, etc.?
--Are there any home remedies for paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, a kind of rapid heart beat that I get on occasion? It is a fast but regular heartbeat, and should not be confused with atrial fibrillation.
--Is there a study indicating folic acid may be useful in treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease?
-- What companies write homeowners insurance in Florida with its history of disastrous hurricanes and more predicted on the way?
--Where do you get off commenting on something you know little about [referring to my column on dental implants as presented in a publication of the American Dental Association (ADA)]? Signed, a dentist (D.M.D.) who is a periodontist.
--Question: Are there any treatments for children with depression other than the currently used drugs with side effects that make their use problematic?
-- When it comes to storing fruits and vegetables, am I correct in assuming that all you have to do is refrigerate them?
-- How do you feel about contributing to public radio and public television?
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You've probably read those little printouts that pharmacies give you when you pick up a prescription drug. You may even have read them and relied on them to give you the warnings and information you should get. Well, read them, but don't rely on them. |
The Mayo Clinic points out that three of four cyclists killed in cycling-related accidents die of head injuries, and the majority of cyclists' injuries involve the head and brain. Yet, only about 50 percent of bicyclists wear helmets.
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-- I'd like to reprint one of your columns for my dental group. Can you give me permission?
--Why do so many big insurance companies have so many different companies used for writing coverage?
-- I'm doing some long-range planning for my property, and I want trees that will eventually become very tall. What kind of trees should I plant?
-- Are flu shots safe for people with asthma?
--I'm a cancer survivor, but a few years ago I was rejected for life insurance by some companies and offered coverage that was too expensive by others. Should I try again, or am I wasting time?
--I've been hearing about probiotics, over-the-counter drugs that contain good bacteria, and that help people prevent or minimize antibiotic associated diarrhea: Are there any downsides to taking these or are they perfectly safe?
-- Are the claims for green tea all phony?
--I had new batteries that started leaking right away. Does that indicate they were bad when I bought them?
-- I have $150,000 in assets that I want to pass on to my children. I don't want to lose it paying for a nursing home or other facility. Should I take out long-term care insurance?
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Also:
--Question: I have a group of rhododendrons, but one has droopy leaves and they are turning brown. What should I do to help it and save it?
--Question: Remember that pair claiming to find a severed thumb or something in food. Was that a rare exception or is that a common kind of fraud?
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I think any grandma appropriated by a food company should be avoided based on my experience. Grandma Marie proves in some way the wisdom of the great T. Colin Campbell and his China Study, the most comprehensive study of the connection between diet and health in history. He recommends a whole food-, plant-based diet, minimizing reformed foods, added fat, fish and added salt. It is close to a vegetarian diet and does avoid meat, poultry, dairy and eggs. The high-tech grandmas of the food companies seem to specialize in the opposite of that healthful diet. |
1. Commerce Bank
2.National City
3.Wachovia
4.Citizens Bank
5.Bank of America
6.PNC Bank
7.Fifth Third Bank
8.Sun Trust
9.M&T; Bank |
"Cow's Milk the Likely Cause of Lethal Type 1 Diabetes."
That's the conclusion of Dr T. Colin Campbell, considered the leading authority on the diet/health connection, and author of the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted, which is reported in his book, The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health (2004).
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The ferocity, velocity and frequency of the reports made it clear that the New York Times and much of the mainstream media were more interested in condemning America and its military than in reporting the realities of the war against terrorism.
The priority was hitting the military effort and the Bush administration regardless of the facts or the national interest.
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There is good news, too, for those with aging brains. I hope these gains that also come with aging can minimize the impact of that formidable array explained above. MMM describes the gains as follows: "Learning continues, and our vocabulary improves with age. We have greater developmental intelligence - we are more apt to think broadly, incorporating the experience and knowledge gained from years of living. We have more factual knowledge at our disposal. |
COUNT TWO. The pamphlet also omits any reference to the importance of the dentist's experience and qualifications and some of the methods to determine that. These are key issues anyone should explore before an implant. You should find out how many implants the dentist has done in each of the preceding years, and what his success rate has been. Dr. Friedman says the 5-and 10-year success rate is the key, not the short-term returns. |
The American Dental Association (ADA) had this provision in their Code of Professional Ethics: "The dentist has the obligation of not referring disparagingly, orally or in writing, to the services of another dentist, to a member of the public." (Section 8). This not only calls for cover-up, but also is an ethical code that calls for the unethical.
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There's a new authoritative statement on vitamins from a panel of the National Institute of Health's preliminary "State of the Science" report. It finds that there isn't enough evidence to recommend the use of most vitamin and mineral supplements.
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"The vast majority of the so-called research turned out in the modern university is essentially worthless. It does not result in any measurable benefit to anything or anybody. It does not push back those omnipresent 'frontiers of knowledge' so confidently evoked...It is busywork on a vast, almost incomprehensible scale. It is dispiriting, it depresses the whole scholarly enterprise and, most important of all, it deprives the student of what he or she deserves - the thoughtful and considerate attention of a teacher deeply and unequivocally committed to teaching."
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Question: Can you give me a formula for having a satisfied and happy old age?
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I've come across a poll with further evidence that the Democrats follow the French approach - negotiate, appease, pacify, cut-and-run, retreat and surrender. It comes from a poll taken for CNN last month by the Opinion Research Corporation. The poll asked whether Israel should continue to take military action or enter into a cease-fire with the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is committed to destroying Israel and America. |
In Philadelphia, 26 percent of all drivers are uninsured. Across Pennsylvania, 10 percent of all drivers are uninsured. That's actually better than average. In Mississippi, the most underinsured state in the country, the figure is 26 percent. Other leaders in the uninsured parade are Alabama and California at 25 percent, New Mexico at 24 percent, Arizona at 22 percent, Tennessee at 21 percent, and the District of Columbia at 21 percent.
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The great national leaders of the Democratic party, with Howard Dean sitting at the top of its brain trust, can only see one approach to the war in Iraq - get out. |
Upon carefully reviewing the work of The New York Times, I'm starting to think that its conduct could not be criminal. In view of recent statements and reporting from the Times I can only conclude the Times also suffers from the incurable disease called stupidity. |
Go to this Web site and it will tell you how fast you're getting through to the Internet: www.infospeed.verizon.net.
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE FROM HERB
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Let me introduce you to the new "shoot first" laws enacted in 13 states and being considered by two others -- Michigan and Ohio. These new laws change the rules of self-defense.
Let's say an attacker is threatening violence and approaches you. Should you be able to use deadly force, or should you retreat if you can do so safely? Should it make any difference where the attack occurs, i.e., should you have to retreat even in your own home rather than use deadly force on the attacker?
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Do some research; the survey found the more time spent researching the product, the more consumer satisfaction with the product. Check Web sites for rebates and other information even if you want to buy in a store; Web sites often have information about rebates, specials and other information that might not be available in stores. |
The New York Times knows what all terrorists the world over know? The recent arrests in Atlanta and Canada of terrorists who can't shoot straight demonstrates that terrorists come in all varieties of sophistication, and it is absurd beyond all reason to assume that all of them know of the intricacies of international financial transactions. |
What is the worst full-service restaurant in the United States? Friendly's. Next to the worst is Denny's. And two positions out of the bottom is Shoney's. They are the worst at least according to this survey. In defense of Friendly's, although their restaurants are usually below average, I've been in at least one that was top-of-the-line. So take such variations into account in judging specific restaurants that are part of a chain.
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The Most Incredibly Effective Anti-Disease Medicine, Which Doctors Don't
Seem To Know About Or Don't Seem To Want To Use, And What You Can Do About It |
Do Long-Term Care Policies Have Incontestable Clauses? What's The Best Family Restaurant? Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Answers Your Questions |
When Is A Child Old Enough To Ride A Bike In The Street? Should Prisoners At Gitmo Be Tried or Released? Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Fills You In |
In my view, those are two tough calls, and I'm not sure I would have made the right decision in either case. I'm indebted to Dennis G. Carlson, Counsel for Discipline in Nebraska, for his discussion of these two cases in an article "Zealous Advocacy or Dirty Tricks?" that appeared in The Nebraska Lawyer (Official Publication of the Nebraska State Bar Association)(June 2006). |
How Come My Tomatoes Taste Lousy? What Is The Smallest Casino In Atlantic City?
Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Fills You In On All Of This - And More |
The advantage of nitrogen for tires is not a new discovery. Its superiority for tires has been long recognized and that's why it is used in aviation, NASCAR, Formula 1 racing, military vehicles, off-road trucks, the NASA space shuttle, heavy construction equipment, and other applications where safety, performance, and maintenance are especially important. The use of nitrogen in tires is supported by Michelin, a leading tire manufacturer, due to its ability to retain air pressure over time.
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A Recent Issue Of 'Time' Shows Herb Denenberg Just How Deep It Delves Into Yellow Journalism |
Here's what The New Handbook of Prescription Drugs (1976), by Richard M. Burack and Fred J. Fox said 30 years ago: "Despite their devotees, both among physicians who prescribe them and patients who ingest them, Darvon products are of dubious efficacy and should be avoided because of their expense." You have already guessed what has happened since that pronouncement. Yes, the drug is still on the market and it is still one of the best-selling prescription drugs - 23 million prescriptions dispensed in 2004 for $291 million. |
Other remedies not recommended include glucosamine and chondroitin, milk thistle, morinda citrifolia, saw palmetto, St. John's wort, and coenzyme Q-10.Green tea is included on this "do not use" list. It is a great food along with garlic, but its drug claims are not proven. |
The need for urgent action was brought home when the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine produced a study of our competitiveness. That study found that our future competitiveness and standard of living depend on the quality of jobs that Americans hold. Without quality jobs, there will be insufficient tax revenue to provide healthcare, national defense and other essentials. |
How is this epidemic explained? Two factors account for most hearing loss - age and noise. But there are things you can do to make sure noise doesn't cause hearing loss and all the disruptions and costs that follow.
The first thing you have to understand is that many of the usual and accepted activities of life involve noise levels that cause hearing damage.
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Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Discovers That Animals Are Smarter Than People |
Prevention (June 2006), the magazine, recently tested salsas and came up with the "best" in nine different categories. Here are some of the "best" in some of those categories: best mild salsa, Green Mountain Gringo Mild Salsa; best medium salsa, Herdez Medium Salsa Casera; best hot salsa, Desert Paper Trading Company Hot Salsa Diablo; and best fruit salsa, Stonewall Kitchen Mango Lime Salsa. |
As you would expect, in these matters the analysis of the problem is lengthier and more detailed than the proposed remedies. Daniel Johnson argues we have to do more to reach those infected with pragmatic anti-Americanism. |
Herb Sets Us Straight |
More Herb. |
Shouldn't Colleges Be Run For The Benefit
Of Students And Not The Administration? |
Herb Denenberg Answers The Questions You Never Knew To Ask |
When I went into the business of consumer reporting in 1975, my first great discovery was the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, which I found was the gift that kept giving. Any reporter could work full-time covering the FDA's endless foul-ups and screw-ups. |
... Get started now. Doing so means you will maintain strength ad muscle mass, improve your balance, lessen your chances of falling, maintain bone density, and get all the other virtually endless and miraculous benefits of exercise. |
Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left is a book with proof that, if the "Left" and its political arm, the Democratic party, gain political control in upcoming national elections, they will assure that America will lose the war against terror (a war against radical Islam) and much more.
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Bad sanitation practices are not peculiar to food establishments, but are a problem of the larger society. Our educational system along with parents have failed to teach children over the years about handwashing and the other basics of good personal hygiene. |
Despite that confusing array on the shelves of pharmacies, there are only four active ingredients you have to worry about: acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), aspirin (e.g., Bayer aspirin, St. Joseph aspirin), ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin), and naproxen sodium (e.g., Aleve). |
The disclosure may be made by written notice, by telephonic notice, or by e-mail if a prior business relationship exists. If people are in the databases that are not customers, they are still entitled to notice. |
All this advice should be taken seriously, as skin cancer is usually easily cured if caught early, but can be fatal if not taken care of promptly. The longer you wait, the more extensive the treatment that may be necessary, and the greater chance of a more serious outcome. The most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, is now the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. for reasons that are not yet well understood.
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In fact, much of the history of medicine in our times could be written by showing the gradual progression from invasive and often dangerous conventional treatment of disease to the use of lifestyle changes as the most important modality. This progression, however, is tragically, too little and too late. |
If health care providers ignore the key technique of preventing hospital infections (hand washing), what makes you think they're doing any better in the dozens of other areas that are more complicated? |
AM Radio / Peanuts / Jaguars / |
"This mistake, which finds its way into headlines, after every significant disaster - hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes - is totally inexcusable because it is not just the mistake of the homeowner or renter. It is also the mistake of the insurance agent who should be monitoring the policyholder's insurance coverage at all times and should be giving it an annual checkup (at the same time the commission on the coverage is being collected)." |
Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Tackles 12 Questions From 'Bulletin' Readers. Regarding Ex-President Jimmy Carter, Herb Says, "The harm he does far outweighs any of the good things he does, in my opinion. He seems to spend most of his time undermining the foreign policy of the U.S. and supporting terrorists, among others. In fact, I think I've been too kind to him. Someone e-mailed me an article from a Web site called americanthinker.com that concludes Carter a disgrace to the human race. The author refers to Carter's recent op-ed piece in the International Herald-Tribune in which he criticizes the U.S. government for not sending aid to the government controlled by the terrorist organization Hamas. I think the author is right on target, and Carter is going off the deep end, in the tradition of the looney left." |
You should also understand that dementia is not a part of normal aging, and most people can function perfectly well as they get older. You can pursue new endeavors and function effectively in any environment. Mayo writes, "Studies show that older adults learn new skills as well as younger adults do. While younger adults may be able to mentally process faster, older adults can apply more wisdom and experience." Employers have discovered that older employees are just as sharp as younger ones and more reliable. |
The mainstream mass media, such as the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, have lost their credibility due to their biased reporting, and have consequently been hardest hit by circulation dropping. People don't believe them, and don't want to spend money reading what they have to say. |
Batteries / Gas / Exercise / Poison Ivy |
April 15 May Have Passed, But Tax Preparation Is A Year-Round Affair |
Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Takes Issue With Many Of 'Time' Magazine's 100 Influential People. This attempt by Time to sell magazines might be understood as a promotional trick to highlight enough people of different types to attract a wide variety of potential buyers. This is the old idea of throwing as much as you can against the wall, in the hope that something will stick. |
The relationship between food and health. In this one short sentence, you will learn a key method of treating and preventing the major chronic diseases of our time and other diseases as well. |
DDT / Books / Allergies / Indoor Air / Colleges / Flood Insurance / Organic Grocers / AIDS |
Consumer Advocate Herb Denenberg Answers Your Questions On Exercise, Dishwashing And Spelling |
| | | | | | | One Liberty Place stands in the background, a not-so-stunning sight next to the stunning, rising gas prices seen above at a local station. With gas prices soaring, everyone has an opinion on how to solve the nation’s energy crisis. Consumer advocate Herb Denenberg, however, isn’t as interested in the energy crisis as he is in the political leadership crisis that led to it. Photo by Matt Rourke/AP. | |
Looking At Soaring Gas Prices, Herb Denenberg Sees A Political Leadership Crisis |
Stress Is A Killer -
Here Are Several Ways To Control It |
Think of what a wonderful world it would be,
If everyone, especially children, read instead of watching TV.
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Batteries / Magazines / Cars / Languages |
The Advocate Tackles 6 More Issues |
By way of introduction, we hear about new technology on the horizon to help solve our energy shortage and pollution problem. But the compact fluorescent represents technology that is here and now, and could save us billions of dollars in energy costs and dramatically cut energy consumption, if we'd start using it on a grand scale. In the process, it would also dramatically cut pollution. According to the U.S. government, if every household added one efficient compact fluorescent light, that along would be the equivalent of removing one million cars from the road. |
Herb Denenberg Advises On The Best Mulch And Alcohol Limits |
This all leads to the fountain of youth and the best anti-aging medicine there is: exercise, exercise, and exercise. A Harvard study found that you extend your life by two hours for each hour of moderate exercise. |
I've got advice for the drug companies on how to save billions of dollars: Stop putting out the "me-too" drugs - new drugs which do pretty much the same thing as old drugs with no new advantages over them. New drugs are risky enough, but they make absolutely no sense when there are equivalent ones already on the market that are just as effective and probably much safer due to their longer track record.
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Followi the seven-year rule: Don't take a drug until it has been on the market for at least seven years unless there is some compelling reason to do otherwise. |
The ability to communicate, especially to communicate in writing, is perhaps the clearest proof of an ability to think clearly. Because of that, I'm always amazed that employers don't ask job applicants on the spot to write a short paper on a specified subject. |
o now, every weekday, when I find my daily issue of the The Evening Bulletin in my mailbox, a lot of history flashes through my mind, and I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Philadelphia now has another much needed voice, and that I can read a Philadelphia daily newspaper that will give me and its readers a fair and balanced picture of the world that I have not been getting from the two Knight-Ridder Philadelphia dailies for the last three decades. |
Brakes. Tires. Windshield Wipers. These are only three examples of maintenance that is crucial to safety and economy. Make sure your car gets a good checkup at every gasoline fill-up that includes checking all engine fluids. If you don't want to do it yourself, go to a full-service station. Fill-ups at self-service stations are false economies if they mean neglecting routine checkups. Also be sure you car gets the periodic maintenance and checkups, in accordance with its owner's manual. The lives and money you save may be your own.
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Cruises / Nestle's/ Law School Prep / IRAs and more |
Unfortunately, the "secrets" of most of those who struck it rich probably won't work for most people. The one secret that will work for many was inadequately described and developed.
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So here are answers, prepared by The National Academies, advisers to the nation on science, engineering and medicine, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. You might call this column "A Citizen's Guide to the Dirty Bomb."
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline recommends a minimum of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for safety, and it says confirm that with a meat thermometer. You can't tell whether a steak has been cooked to a safe temperature by looking at its color. |
The quality of a high school education has been allowed to deteriorate so dramatically that graduates can hardly read, write, compute and think. |
Right off the presses is the latest edition of The New England Journal of Medicine (March 30, 2006) with the latest drug fiasco.
In an editorial by Dr. Jerry H. Gurwitz of the University of Massachusetts Medical School can be found the story of gatifloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which came onto the market in 1999. After being widely used for six years comes the pronouncement from this leading medical journal that the drug makes no sense, that there are safer drugs that cost less and are equally effective. The drug causes life-threatening glucose abnormalities in some patients that in some cases have been fatal. |
Here's another count, the fourth, in my continuing indictment of "professors" and higher education. But first a recap of the first three:
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But when you think about it, there are many good examples of this phenomenon including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, and vitamins. All you have to do is observe the drug, cosmetic and vitamin aisles, and see for yourself how customers struggle to make rational choices facing an industry that profits by confusion through insignificant and even irrational variations.
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Many view the major media outlets are biased, if not dishonest and fraudulent in much of their coverage. There is a major segment of the population that is conservative and wants alternatives to the major media outlets, which are predominantly liberal. |
Spyware is growing in seriousness and complexity, as miscreants use the embedded code to pilfer funds and steal data that can be sold."
There are many kinds of fuses for different uses, but household fuses should carry the indication on that label.
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There are 325 million people who speak Spanish, in third place only behind Mandarin Chinese, 915 million, and English, 354 million. In terms of numbers it is more important than German, French, or Russian, and that would be especially true of those living in the U.S. due to the importance of our neighbors in Central and South America. |
To explain bedside manners, Mr. Baird gives the example of his father, "who was an old-fashioned, bag-toting general practitioner M.D. in rural Idaho." He gained the esteem of his patients not because he was the best doctor in the world and not because he cured them all. He wasn't and he didn't. He was esteemed because "he cared constantly and authentically for his patients, and they knew it, felt it, and appreciated it. |
Tragically, our enemies understand history better than we do. They understand that if they can turn public opinion against the war with the help of our anti-American, anti-war, pro-terrorist mainstream media, they can win. |
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That's why a famed Swedish racing driver, Bertil Roos, once told me that the vast majority of Pennsylvania drivers don't know how to drive. And perhaps that's why we have so many preventable auto accidents in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. So I thought I'd come up with a little exercise in this column and find out what can be discovered by reading the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual. |
You're going to be healthier if you eat food that is not raised with the use of conventional pesticides, antibiotics used to encourage growth, synthetic fertilizers and fertilizers with sewages sludge from waste treatment plants, genetic modifications, radiation treatments for killing bacteria, and feeding of hormones for weight gain. That seems obvious to me, but it has not yet been subject to rigorous proof by scientific studies. |
You can get lawyers to argue the issue of the legality of these wiretaps, as they are so doing. But it is absurd to use censure to resolve such a disputed legal issue. Even the Democrats aren't going for Senator Feingold's censure resolution, although it is being embraced by much of the wacky left, which some politicians view as the base of the Democratic Party. If Congress is in the mood for censure, it ought to consider censuring Senator Feingold for his preposterous proposal. |
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| | | | | | | The Mercedez-Benz R-500 is shown, during the press day of the 76th Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland. Once one of the best cars on the market, Mercedes-Benz has sagged in recent years. | |
American Cars And Imports Do Battle - What's Best? |
I read Trial, the magazine of the American Trial Lawyers Association, and came across an article entitled "Love Boats on Troubled Waters" (March 2006) about cruise ships and what happens when a passenger is injured or killed due to negligence or crime. |
A well cared for car is worth about $1,500 extra on the market. I'd modify all that to say it depends on your car's exposure and how it looks. I certainly don't see the need to wash a car every seven to ten days under ordinary circumstances. |
I hate to say it, but the nationally renowned comic genius and columnist, Art Buchwald, has just come up with the worst excuse in the history of end-of-life decisions. He is, in effect, committing suicide (in the acceptable way) by going off kidney dialysis.
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Date: 3/7/2006 The Advocate |
If you want more proof of George Santayana's great dictum that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat the same mistakes, just look at every major natural catastrophe in our history.
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The book, Worst Pills, Best Pills (2005) has advice too often ignored by doctors and patients: "If you need to get more of the mineral potassium, the safest and least expensive way is to eat more potassium-rich foods daily...When researchers compared people eating a potassium-rich diet, people taking drugs designed to keep potassium in the body, the found the following: (1) diet is the safest way to replace potassium and (2) potassium supplements and potassium-sparing drugs return potassium levels to normal in only half the people who use them."
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