HENNIE'S BLOGS

Wildlife in the Scenic Rim

2009-11-04T10:58:00.002+10:00

Have a look at the Website of the new branch of Scenic Rim Wildlife Society we are trying to establish.

Following the merger of several Shires the Scenic Rim newly formed Regional Council covers a large area Southwest of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with interesting wildlife.

Doctors Raise My Blood Pressure

2009-06-10T15:17:00.001+10:00

This article is about my experience with Doctors about Blood Pressure measurement and my aversion to take medication unless patently necessary.

At my last birthday I was required to renew my medical certificate to allow me to continue to drive my car. Here in Australia when you reach 75 you have to prove that you are entitled to drive. When visiting my GP for this purpose he gives me an eye test, BP measurement and we have a brief discussion—he handed over the certificate and the visit was over within ten minutes.

As he was on holiday, I saw my wife Margaret's GP instead; not so with this visit. Half an hour later we came to the BP test which showed a somewhat higher number this visit. We had a brief discussion: no I did not prefer medication unless essential, I was in very good health, the figure was about what it had been for many years, but I understood that when getting older the rate usually would gradually increase.

She was having none of that, insisting to put me on a low dose of medication to start and would review me in a week’s time to assess the level of medication required she then completed the certificate which basically reveals that I am fit to drive my car and see a doctor on a regular basis.

A week later, no change in the BP level. She insisted she put me on a full dose.

Another week later the BP was not much different.

I was having difficulty understanding what she was saying with her Asian accent. In time, Margaret explained that the doctor said I had “the white coat syndrome”. I was pleased that she suggested we buy a BP machine. A week later, back with the doctor, my recorded information showed variable but very reasonable results and I suggested going without the medication but reluctantly accepted a reduction only.

As I join Margaret in her appointments with her doctor on other than routine visits, she knew me well enough, but her method of doctoring did not sit well with me. In time I gathered the courage to go back to my old GP, her partner in the next room, and discussed my wish to keep medication to a minimum or (preferably do without).

His approach was “fair enough”. Stay on the half medication, keep regular records, if it goes up too much double the medication, see me in a month’s time, earlier if I wanted to.

At the visit a month later reviewing the recorded data, he found the results excellent, suggesting I stay on the low half dose medication and if the downward trend continued I could go of the medication altogether. After a brief further discussion I was out of his office within 10 minutes.

I had investigated hypertension on the Internet and gained the impression that the current trend was if testing anyone above 120/80 put the patient on medication and better still reduce this rate, the lower the better.

More research by me on the Internet revealed comments by several Specialists:

• Don't automatically medicate and avoid to prescribe if possible.
• Treat each case on it's own.
• They view nothing wrong with 130/90 (I'm below that).

I am a very independent person preferring to be in personal control of myself and that includes my health and see my Dr (GP in particular) as a consultant. I need to decide. Back to my Doctor experience, I assured Margaret it was not a male versus female problem but that Doctors need to listen carefully to what their patients want.

My GP is a Belgian, long time resident with fluent English.

Margaret's GP is of Asian descent and you can only understand what she says by working hard at it.

I feel Doctors of any nationality are fine but effective communication when consulting is paramount, and this is where our Health System is letting us down. It can't be too hard to ensure appropriate training in speaking English. (Who is talking? A Dutchman who had to learn communicate in the English language.)

HAPPY EXPERIENCE

2008-05-31T17:06:00.001+10:00

Great positive experience by one of my friends.
_______________________________________________________________________
Today I parked at the supermarket; I squeezed in between a huge 4WD vehicle on one side and on the other was a dividing ,raised cement partition about 6 inches high or so.

When I came to leave and to reverse out, first my front tyre then my back kept hitting the cement. I went back and forth, cussing quietly.

Then I heard a voice, 'You seem to be having a bit of difficulty; let me guide you out.' He was a young man, maybe in this thirties. He stood in front and called me through the wheel turnings until I was out and clear.

I thanked him very sincerely for his kindness and consideration; typically Aussie he laughed and replied 'No worries, Mate,' and walked off.

He need not have bothered; he could have ignored me and walked straight into the Supermarket; or got in his car and driven off. Instead he saw my plight, changed direction completely and walked over to me to help. His thoughtfulness touched me.

Isn't it nice, in these days of violence and selfishness and inconsiderate behaviour, to suddenly come across this simple action of unsolicited kindness?

AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT

2008-04-21T08:20:00.002+10:00

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

I have been following the 2020 conference with interest, but have been amazed by the many adverse, negative comments about the conference in the Courier Mail Newspaper 'on-line' comments. Sure a proportion seem to be political based comments but what surprised me was the lack of acknowledgment of "here is a different new Idea and a Prime Minister willing to stick his neck out and offering to be accountable. Why not 'give the bloke a fair go', is that not the Australian's claim?".
My bias? - 76 year old, born in Holland, 20 years naturalized Australian, belonging to no political party. For what it is worth I offer my opinion as follows.
As one of the most Democratic Countries in the world, Kevin Rudd's party was elected by a significant majority. Clearly a change in direction was wanted by the majority of people and to actually engage the the population via the conference, to tell him what they want was a refreshing idea rather than to be told pull your head in and do as you are told.
The least is the exposure of the Prime Minister's views for Australia - 'these are my views of the future please add to them to make them better'.
Are some of the ideas proposed, not new, borrowed?, if so what, if you think they are OK how else do you get them, from a 2020 conference is as good an idea as any, have any better ideas? then use the Web site to add them.
There are 1000+ very positive people going back home promoting a positive outlook for the future and keen to be part of that outcome, that in itself is a good outcome.
That's just my view.

Hennie van Dyk

GLOBALIZATION

2007-11-08T17:35:00.000+10:00

At last I now understand globalization!!!

Finally, a definition of globalization

I can understand and to which

I can relate:

Question : What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer : Princess

Diana's death.

Question : How come?

Answer :

An English princess with

an Egyptian boyfriend

crashes in a French

tunnel, driving a

German car

with a Dutch engine,

driven by a Belgian

who was drunk

on Scottish whisky,

(check the bottle before you change the spelling),

followed closely by

Italian Paparazzi,

on Japanese motorcycles,

treated by an American doctor, using

Brazilian medicines.

This is sent to you by

a Canadian,

using Bill Gates' technology,

and you're probably reading this on your computer,

that uses Taiwanese

chips, and a

Korean monitor,

assembled by

Bangladeshi workers

in a Singapore plant,

transported by Indian

lorry-drivers,

hijacked by Indonesians,

unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,

and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....

That, my friends, is Globalization!

Immigration in Denmark

2007-11-07T08:59:00.000+10:00

I came across this interesting email, gives you reason to reflect.
Hennie

Salute the Danish Flag - it's a Symbol of Western Freedom

By Susan MacAllen

An interesting article on Islamic immigration and the problems created.

In 1978-9 I was living and studying in Denmark. But in 1978 - even in Copenhagen, one didn't see Muslim immigrants. The Danish population embraced visitors, celebrated the exotic, went out of its way to protect each of i ts citizens. It was proud of its new brand of socialist liberalism - one in development since the conservatives had lost power in 1929 - a system where no worker had to struggle to survive, where one ultimately could count upon the state as in, perhaps, no other western nation at the time. The rest of Europe saw the Scandinavians as free-thinking, progressive and infinitely generous in their welfare policies. Denmark boasted low crime rates, devotion to the environment, a superior educational system and a history of humanitarianism.

Denmark was also most generous in its immigration policies - it offered the best welcome in Europe to the new immigrant: generous welfare payments from first arrival plus additional perks in transportation, housing and education. It was determined to set a world example for inclusiveness and multiculturalism. How could it have predicted that one day in 2005 a series of political cartoons in a newspaper would spark violence that would leave dozens dead in the streets - all because its commitment to multiculturalism would come back to bite?

By the 1990's the growing urban Muslim population was obvious - and its unwillingness to integrate into Danish society was obvious. Years of immigrants had settled into Muslim-exclusive enclaves. As the Muslim leadership became more vocal about what they considered the decadence of Denmark's liberal way of life, the Danes - once so welcoming - began to feel slighted. Many Danes had begun to see Islam as incompatible with their long-standing values: belief in personal liberty and free speech, in equality for women, in tolerance for other ethnic groups, and a deep pride in Danish heritage and history.

The New York Post in 2002 ran an article by Daniel Pipes and Lars Hedegaard, in which they forecasted accurately that the growing immigrant problem in Denmark would explode. In the article they reported:

"Muslim immigrants constitute 5 percent of the population but consume upwards of 40 percent of the welfare spending."

"Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser, disproportions are found in other crimes."

"Over time, as Muslim immigrants increase in numbers, they wish less to mix with the indigenous population. A recent survey finds that only 5 percent of young Muslim immigrants would readily marry a Dane."

"Forced marriages - promising a newborn daughter in Denmark to a male cousin in the home country, then compelling her to marry him, sometimes on pain of death - are one problem."

"Muslim leaders openly declare their goal of introducing Islamic law once Denmark's Muslim population grows large enough - a not-that-remote prospect. If present trends persist, one sociologist estimates, every third inhabitant of Denmark in 40 years will be Muslim."

It is easy to understand why a growing number of Danes would feel that Muslim immigrants show little respect for Danish values and laws. An example is the phenomenon common to other European countries and the U.S.: some Muslims in Denmark who opted to leave the Muslim faith have been murdered in the name of I slam, while others hide in fear for their lives.

Jews are also threatened and harassed openly by Muslim leaders in Denmark, a country where once Christian citizens worked to smuggle out nearly all of their 7,000 Jews by night to Sweden - before the Nazis could invade. I think of my Danish friend Elsa - who as a teenager had dreaded crossing the street to the bakery every morning under the eyes of occupying Nazi soldiers - and I wonder what she would say today.

In 2001, Denmark elected the most conservative government in some 70 years - one that had some decidedly non-generous ideas about liberal unfettered immigration. Today Denmark has the strictest immigration policies in Europe. ( Its effort to protect itself has been met with accusations of "racism" by liberal media across Europe - even as other governments struggle to right the social problems wrought by years of too-lax immigration.) If you wish to become Danish, you must attend three years of language classes. You must pass a test on Denmark's history, culture, and a Danish language test . You must live in Denmark for 7 years before applying for citizenship. You must demonstrate an intent to work, and have a job waiting. If you wish to bring a spouse into Denmark, you must both be over 24 years of age, and you won't find it so easy anymore to move your friends and family to Denmark with you. You will not be allowed to build a mosque in Copenhagen. Although your children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools in Denmark, they will be strongly encouraged to assimilate to Danish society in ways that past immigrants weren't.

In 2006, the Danish minister for employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, spoke publicly of the burden of Muslim immigrants on the Danish welfare system, and it was horrifying: the government's welfare committee had calculated that if immigration from Third World countries were blocked, 75 percent of the cuts needed to sustain the huge welfare system in coming decades would be unnecessary. In other words, the welfare system as it existed was being exploited by immigrants to the point of eventually bankrupting the government. "We are simply forced to adopt a new policy on immigration. The calculations of the welfare committee are terrifying and show how unsuccessful the integration of immigrants has been up to now," he said.

A large thorn in the side of Denmark's imams is the Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshoj. She makes no bones about the new policy toward immigration, "The number of foreigners coming to the country makes a difference," she says, "There is an inverse correlation between how many come here and how well we can receive the foreigners that come." And on Muslim immigrants needing to demonstrate a willingness to blend in, "In my view, Denmark should be a country with room for different cultures and religions. Some values, however, are more important than others. We refuse to question democracy, equal rights, and freedom of speech."

Hvilshoj has paid a price for her show of backbone. Perhaps to test her resolve, the leading radical imam in Denmark, Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, demanded that the government pay blood money to the family of a Muslim who was murdered in a suburb of Copenhagen, stating that the family's thirst for revenge could be thwarted for money. When Hvilshoj dismissed his demand, he argued that in Muslim culture the payment of retribution money was common, to which Hvilshoj replied that what is done in a Muslim country is not necessarily what is done in Denmark. The Muslim reply came soon after: her house was torched while she, her husband and children slept. All managed to escape unharmed, but she and her family were moved to a secret location and she and other ministers were assigned bodyguards for the first time - in a country where such murderous violence was once so scarce.

Her government has slid to the right, and her borders have tightened. Many believe that what happens in the next decade will determine whether Denmark survives as a bastion of good living, humane thinking and social responsibility, or whether it becomes a nation at civil war with supporters of Sharia law. And meanwhile, Americans clamor for stricter immigration policies, and demand an end to state welfare programs that allow many immigrants to live on the public dole. As we in America look at the enclaves of Muslims amongst us, and see those who enter our shores too easily, dare live on our taxes, yet refuse to embrace our culture, respect our traditions, participate in our legal system, obey our laws, speak our language, appreciate our history . . we would do well to look to Denmark, and say a prayer for her future and for our own.

QUEENSLAND COUNCIL AMALGAMATIONS

2007-08-17T20:40:00.001+10:00

Amazing comments from the Federal Government not the least the Prime Minister involving himself in the the State's decicion with the need for Council amalgamations, where was he when the other states did the same in a simular way? Mind you it was not election time then.
The frightening thing is the assumption that 'all Qeenslanders' lack the inteligence to understand his political ploy to attempt to take advantage of some 'very focal' Mayors, councillors and their followers' with opposition views, I'm sure it is a coincidence that the perceived beneficial effects are in National/Liberal country areas.
Several Members of parliament stated 'All Queenslanders where in uproar', clearly the most unfortunate statement ever made, I'm not in uproar and 'all the people I'm in contact with are neither'.
I do hope that any of the 'totally ineffective polls or whatever they are called', afterall the mergers are going ahead irrespectively, are conducted by polling all involved people in the new regional council area not the particular council who don't like the idea.
More-ever it would be a good idea to publicly declare who was funding the opposition to any relevant merger, developers and the like come to mind.
Expanding further on this idea why not adopt the Swiss practice to poll all people on any major project proposed by the Federal Government as well as the State. I'm sure I don't have to list all the major decisions you would like to vote on.
The Canberra ambiance must create a very remote understanding of any area away from them, then again I suppose the next elections, State or Federal will sort that problem out.
I understand that a politician's most urgent need is their preservation eg re-election or in the case of the various Mayors, Councillors and cosy jobs hangers on to not only keep their jobs but to ensure their future – that being rather tennuous for most of us. Mind you you can't blame them for trying.
Where I live here in the soon ex Beaudesert Shire we have seen the annexing of a large rural area including the Boonah Shire (with a debt of over $10 Mill) and losing a major rate base reducing the population by about a half, (will our rates go up?) but acceptance that life has to go on and we have to adapt with the changes around us seems to pervade around us.
Reflecting on other mergers – the impression is that in many a case a hard basket case has been added to a larger more effective region, hopefully the mix will produce a better result. As always working for possitive result will produce one, obstructing would of course either delay or negate any benefit.

MY HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

2007-07-30T19:48:00.000+10:00

I have worn eye glasses since my late teens to assist my long distance view.
With minor corrections over the years my eyesight has remained stable until late last year when I noticed differences which caused me to have my eyesight re-tested again by my optician in respect of my long distance view and the new experience needing reading glasses for minor correction. The optician confirmed that my cataracts had grown since the last test twelve months ago although not causing alarm for an immidiate operation.
Tests revealed any further correction to my glasses did not help as the problem was lack of light in my eyes as a result of the cateracts.
I followed the recommendation to have an examination by a specialist which in my case it had to be thought the public health system (Brisbane, Queensland).
Placed on the waiting list, seven month later I had my appointment, basic eye test by a nursing sister and later with the consultant.
This was an experience, the no doubt able and experienced consultant asked what was my age (75), did I still drive, (yes), what was my problem, kept reading his notes, interupted shortly after I started to speak, told me to put my chin there, looked in the one eye then next and explained you don't need an operation on your cateracts, told me hold your chin here again looking at each eye with his magnifying piece and explained here is a note come back in three months time for an examination to find out what is going on (his words).
I was processed and spat out like a sausage all in about seven minutes leaving me wondering what it was all about.

30th July 2007

THE SILENT MAJORITY

2007-07-05T07:43:00.000+10:00

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do
nothing" quoted from Edmund Burke a British Philosopher.
FOLLOWING IS A "MUST READ."
A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War Two owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.
"Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come.My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."
We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.
Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the spectre of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.
It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honour kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" the "silent majority" is cowed and extraneous.
Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
China's huge population, it was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.
The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet.
And, who can forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"?
History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany , they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.
As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Memory

2007-03-31T17:52:00.000+10:00

At my age it's very important for me to continue to maximize my intelectual facilities hence a check up once in a while is a great help. Doing a Google I was shocked by the lack of understanding by scientists about this aspect.
Here is an article by the Washington Post and I'm pleased to find out out what they don't know rather than to bluff.

McClain is among the increasing number of Americans who are performing mental calisthenics, taking Italian classes, deciphering crossword puzzles and hunting for other ways to try to keep their minds from fading.
A large body of evidence indicates that people who are mentally active throughout their lives are significantly less likely to suffer senility, and a handful of studies have found that mental exercises can boost brain function. Elderly people who go through training to sharpen their wits, for example, score much better on thinking tests for years afterward. The minds of younger people who drill their memories seem to work more efficiently.
But it remains far from clear exactly which of the myriad use-it-or-lose-it methods promoted by researchers, self-help books and health groups protect the brain in the long term, and actually reduce the risk for dementia. So scientists, increasingly employing high-tech brain scans, have launched an incipient wave of research to determine what works and why.
"We're right at the cusp of understanding this," said Sherry Willis of Pennsylvania State University. "Because brain imaging work has become so much more technologically sophisticated, we're now at the point where we literally look inside people's brains to try to understand what's going on."
With the population aging, and the number of cases of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia rising rapidly, experts say preventing mental deterioration from occurring in the first place will be crucial to minimizing the mounting suffering and costs.
"It's really critical that we find ways to prevent, or at least delay the onset of, cognitive decline," said Neil Buckholtz of the National Institute on Aging. "Once the pathology is established in the brain, it's very difficult to treat. We need better ways to prevent the disease in the first place, which could make a huge difference for the future."
Several large studies are examining antioxidants such as selenium, vitamins C and E and folate, as well as the popular herbal remedy ginkgo biloba. Researchers also remain hopeful that anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Celebrex and the hormone estrogen may prove useful, despite safety concerns. Other researchers are exploring whether cholesterol drugs might protect the brain as well as the heart. It has become increasingly clear that the same strategies that cut the risk for heart attacks and strokes -- eating well, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, avoiding obesity and diabetes, and exercising regularly -- protect the brain, too.
"We don't have to wait until tomorrow when we have some kind of wonder drug," said Arthur Kramer of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who has found that sedentary elderly people who start exercising regularly are sharper and experience growth in crucial brain areas. "Many things that we can do today can engender cognitive vitality and successful aging, and one of them is exercise."
Among the most tantalizing evidence are studies that have given rise to the use-it-or-lose-it theory. Several large projects have found that people who are more educated, have more intellectually challenging jobs and engage in more mentally stimulating activities, such as attending lectures and plays, reading, playing chess and other hobbies, are much less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Scientists suspect that a lifetime of thinking a lot may create a "cognitive reserve" -- a reservoir of brain power that people can draw upon even if they suffer damaging silent strokes or protein deposits that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's.
"Some people might have brain networks that are more efficient and so have a greater capacity to compensate for disease," said Yaakov Stern of Columbia University, who is using brain scans to try to zero in on the circuits that matter most. "So when they are challenged by disease, those networks continue to operate longer."
But it is also possible that such people are born with brains that lead them to pursue intellectually stimulating lives, and are inherently less prone to dementia. Educated, successful people also tend to have more money and get better medical care.
"There's a lot of things that highly educated people do to take care of themselves," said Jerome Yesavage of Stanford University, who is evaluating the benefits of combining cognitive training exercises with a drug already used to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. "You have to be cautious. We don't want to create false hopes that you can prevent Alzheimer's."
In one of the first major attempts to test whether mental training works, a federally funded study involving more than 2,800 elderly people found that those who received 10 brain-training lessons scored much better on thinking tests, and the effect lasted for at least three years. The training taught strategies aimed at improving reasoning skills, the processing of new information, and memory, such as mnemonic devices for remembering names.
Many researchers suspect, however, that people may benefit most from engaging in a rich diversity of stimulating activities. New experiences may be far more important than repeating the same task over and over. Moreover, it may be key to combine mental stimulation with social interaction, which studies have found also appears highly beneficial. Experts say the task should be enjoyable, because stress and other negative emotions appear harmful.
So scientists have launched a series of pilot studies examining more real-life approaches. In Indiana, one team of researchers is testing whether elderly people who take quilting classes fare better, while another is following groups of elderly people as they participate in an adult version of the Odyssey of the Mind competition originally developed for schoolchildren. Outside Chicago, a husband-and-wife team of researchers is experimenting with acting classes. In Baltimore, Johns Hopkins aging experts are studying whether volunteering as tutors and librarians helps. All report promising, though preliminary, findings.
"It was pretty amazing," said Michelle Carlson of Hopkins, whose team found that elderly volunteers scored much better on problem-solving tests and that their frontal lobes seem to have been reinvigorated. "We observed changes that appeared to show that their brains were functioning more like younger adults'."
But none of the researchers said the findings are strong enough to merit specific recommendations.
"I think we'll get there, but we're not there yet," Carlson said.
Other researchers say that although the evidence may remain inconclusive, it is promising enough for people to start doing the things that look as though they may help.
"It's hard to prove a lot of these things, but I'm convinced there's enough evidence that there is a cause-and-effect relationship," said Gary Small of the University of California at Los Angeles, who developed the "memory prescription" that McClain uses.
The prescription combines a healthful diet with daily exercise, relaxation techniques and memory exercises, such as making a mental note of one piece of a family member's wardrobe each morning. Small tested the approach in a pilot study that included McClain. Not only did those on the prescription score better on memory tests, but brain scans lit up in ways that indicated key areas of their gray matter appeared to be working more efficiently, he said.
"One of the most striking findings was how it affected function in the area of the brain that creates everyday working memory," Small said. "We may not have conclusive proof. But the evidence is strong. And these are all healthy choices for other reasons."
Even if such strategies work, getting large numbers of people to fundamentally alter their daily lives remains daunting, many experts acknowledge.
"We all know how difficult it is for all of us to exercise regularly even though we know we should. Now we're telling people they need to be more mentally active, too: 'Turn off "Wheel of Fortune" ' or 'Do your own taxes.' That's going to be a difficult public health message," said Michael Marsiske of the University of Florida.
Marsiske and other experts note, however, that it has been done before.
"The major way we've reduced the death rate from heart disease is through lifestyle changes: eating better, exercising more, smoking less," said David A. Bennett of Rush University in Chicago. "It would require a lot of people to change the way they live, but there's no reason to think we can't have the same impact on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia."

Climate Variation

2007-02-05T14:48:00.000+10:00

Just a thought - Could this be a reason for our weather extremes?

Climate Science: Investigating Climatic and Environmental ProcessesBeyond 100,000 Years (+105 Years)In general, much more is known about the Earth's history in the past 500 million years than the prior four billion years. In examining past climate changes, including intervals of glaciation and changes in the atmospheric composition, scientists have considered how plate tectonics-- interactions caused by the movement of lithospheric plates- have impacted the climate system.
The lithosphere-- the rigid outer shell of the Earth-- is now broken into a dozen major tectonic plates that over the past hundreds of millions of years have migrated around the planet. Using paleomagnetic data, scientists have been able to reconstruct where the various plates and continents were located at different times in the past. The figure to the left shows estimates of sea level over the course of more than half a billion years of geologic history. The causes of such changes in sea level are complex and are not always directly correlated with changes in global temperature, but generally higher sea levels reflect warmer temperatures. For example, 100 million years ago, the Earth's temperature was 20° - 40° Celsius warmer (or 36 ° - 72 ° F) in the polar regions, although only a few degrees warmer around the equator. Evidence suggests that during warm Cretaceous periods, levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide were high. (Barron, et. al., 1985.) Models indicate that carbon dioxide may have been four to six times the pre-industrial levels. (Otto-Bliesner, et. Al., 2001.)

MEDITATION

2007-02-03T16:31:00.000+10:00

I have been meaning to take a closer look at meditation for some time and I mean for some years and at last got around doing so.
Starting my search (research) I thought to share what references I found and comments along the way of this exercise.
I used Google and entered 'Meditation' and the website what interested me was '-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation-' to give an overview.
It did make me realize that I have developed and used various meditation techniques over the years, many a one has becoming automatic.
However the delving continues – next I tried Google again but this time used the 'Scholarly papers' search engine, what a focus on health related matters, I suppose that's where the money is.
If I had to come up with with an opinion at this stage it would be that 'meditation' has taken of as a fashion, one could call it a fad and most of the mystique around it is not warranted.
In it's basic form it's dealing with yourself, understanding yourself and thinking processes. With that it's up to you what you want to do. Calm yourself down, remove anxieties, veg out (remove yourself from consciousness), alleviate pain, improve your health, the list goes on.
You can teach yourself any of the goals you want or use any of the plethora suggestions or means promoted.
If you do that be aware that as a result of the popularity of the 'meditation subject' many who are promoting a religion, a sect, a belief, a 'health' or whatever product use this as a tool.

FLUORIDE

2006-12-20T06:45:00.000+10:00

The strident support to fluoride drinking water has started up against and as usual only the supposed benefits are promoted.
If there has to be a debate lets be fully informed and look at both sides of the question.
Your best bet is to use GOOGLE, enter Fluoride and examine the many entries.
When I did the first entry was http://fluoridealert.org/
It seems a lot of recent research has taken place much of it negative to water fluodation.

Lawyers Advice

2006-12-07T08:53:00.000+10:00

A LAWYERS ADVICE - NO CHARGE (for a change)
A corporate lawyer sent the following out to the employees in his company.

1. The next time you order cheques have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your chequebook, they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your cheques.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

3. When you are writing cheques to pay on your credit card accounts,
DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your cheque as it passes through all the cheque processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone number on your cheques instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.
Never have your Centrelink Number printed on your cheques. You can add it if it is necessary, but if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each licence, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when travelling either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have first-hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly mobile phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Dell computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information on-line, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorise new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away. This weekend someone handed it in. It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact when your wallet etc has been stolen:

Visa Card Australia 1800 621 199

Visa Card International 1800 450 346

Lost Travellers' Cheques 1800 127 477

MasterCard Australia (02) 9466 3700

MasterCard International 1800 120 113

ANZ FREECALL 1800 033 844

BankWest 131 718

Citibank 132 484

Tamworth Coles/Myer Source 2340 1300 306 397

Commonwealth 132 221

CUSCAL- MyCard 1300 135 538

GE Capital 1300 369 904

Members Equity 1300 654 998

National 132 265

St George 1800 028 208

Sydney Virgin 2000 1800 080 000

Westpac 1800 230 144

Woolworths Ezy Banking 137 288 6.

Bankcard Australia (02)9281 6633

Medicare 132 011

Centrelink Fraud 137 230

Seniors Card 1300 364 758

Passport 131 232

PEROXIDE

2006-10-15T16:50:00.000+10:00

The 3% peroxide from the chemist.......

"I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old
bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My
husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors
don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars."

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and
hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I
bathe)

No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes.
Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right
on the bottle)

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of
germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a
fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it
on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill
salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of
peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes
several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with
any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

8. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep
it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like
bleach or most other disinfectants will.

9. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture
whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to
kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

10. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away,
put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes
several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

11. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50
solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not
have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more
natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde.
It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

12. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils,
fungus, or other skin infections.

13. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites
in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, Pour directly
on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold
water. Repeat if necessary.

14. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which
is why I love it so much for this.

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be
without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to
save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.

Send on to others who might need to know the benefits of 3% peroxide

URBAN MYTH - DRINKING X GLASSES OF WATER

2006-09-03T14:48:00.000+10:00

It makes sense to drink ample liquids during the hot weather in order not to become hydrated but having said that the advice to drink at least x glasses of water (x litre @ day) is questionable advice. It's promotion is long standing with various health bodies recommending it for years without research based facts, just seemed a good idea 'to flush out the kidneys, clean out the system etc.
Latest research 'quote' points out that it has no particular benefit, it makes your kidneys work harder and you have to go to the toilet more often but on the other hand it does not do any harm. If you eat balanced meals, drink when you are thirsty will will obtain all the water your system needs.

STROKE

2006-08-24T16:30:00.000+10:00

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread theword. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, wecould save some folks. Seriously.. Please read:STROKE IDENTIFICATION:During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall she assuredeveryone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and justtripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleanedup and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shakenup, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had beentaken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She hadsuffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify thesigns of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don'tdie. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It onlytakes a minute to read this...A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. Hesaid the trick was getting a stroke recognised, diagnosed, and thengetting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which istough.RECOGNISING A STROKEThank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read andLearn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The strokevictim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail torecognise the symptoms of a stroke.Now doctors say a bystander can recognise a stroke by asking threesimple questions:S * Ask the individual to SMILE .T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)(i.e. . . It is sunny out today).R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .NOTE : Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick'out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one sideor the other that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she hastrouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 000 immediately!! anddescribe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

TRANSPLANT MEMORY

2006-07-28T11:36:00.000+10:00

Strange Places

Transplant Phenomena Suggests Cellular Memory

Ever since doctors in Boston successfully transplanted a living human kidney in 1954, and Dr. Christian Bernard replaced a human heart in South Africa in 1967, there has been a boom in the business of organ transplants.

While it is not the perfect solution to solving worn out body parts, the business of transplanting hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs, eyes and even fingers has become big business, with over 500,000 successful cases worldwide.

And as more and more patients recover from these surgical procedures, a strange thing has been happening. Some report having foreign memories, eerie new personal preferences and even unexplained emerging talents.

The Discovery Health Channel recently explored this occurrence in a program titled "Transplanting Memories." In the show various experts explained why they believe cellular memories are transplanted with organs.

Dr. Candace Pert, a professor at Georgetown University, said she believes the mind is not just in the brain, but also exists throughout the body. This school of thought could explain such strange transplant experiences.

"The mind and body communicate with each other through chemicals known as peptides," she said. "These peptides are found in the brain as well as in the stomach, muscles and all of our major organs. I believe that memory can be accessed anywhere in the peptide/receptor network. For instance, a memory associated with food may be linked to the pancreas or liver, and such associations can be transplanted from one person to another."

Indeed, a German neurologist, Leopold Auerbach, discovered over 100 years ago that a complex network of nerve cells, very like those of the human brain, exists in the intestine.

Professor Wolfgang Prinz, of the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research, Munich, recently wrote about this "second brain" in Geo, a German science magazine.

Prinz said the digestive track is made up of a knot of about 100 billion brain nerve cells, more than found in the spinal cord. The article suggested the cells may save information on physical reactions to mental processes and give out signals to influence later decisions. It may also be involved in emotional reactions to events.

Prinz joked that the discovery gives a new twist to the old phrase "gut reaction."

"People often follow their gut reactions without even knowing why, its only later that they come up with the logical reason for acting the way they did. But we now believe that there is a lot more to gut feelings than was previously believed," Prinz wrote. He said he thinks the stomach network may be the source for unconscious, or possibly even subconscious decisions.

The television show, Transplanting Memories, recorded a variety of stories in which cellular memory altered lives.

In one amazing story, an eight-year-old girl who received the heart of a murdered 10-year-old, began having nightmares in which she relived the crime. Her dreams helped police solve the murder.

In another story, a shy, reserved woman has vivid dreams about the donor, even though she never met this person. She also develops a more assertive personality. A third heart recipient strangely picks up his donor's musical taste.

Research with the human cell has taken science on molecular adventures and beyond into the DNA, which is, in effect, the Cabalistic Tree of Life. The discovery is that each individual holds within every cell a memory of ancestral history that reaches back to his or her origins.

From all indications, the cells communicate with one another, passing new memories on throughout the body when foreign cells are adhered to the body. This might explain why some humans have vivid memories of past lives, especially when under hypnosis, that were never lived. They are reacting to cellular memory, not reincarnation.

COPYRIGHT ABUSE

2006-04-27T18:03:00.000+10:00

I was deeply offended by the recent theft of several photo images from my personal website for the pursuance of a personal grievance.
My website clearly indicates it being Internationally copyrighted.
If you want to ignore that, at your cost, at least courtesy demands applying for approval to use any part of my website.
Clearly it is a widespread practice to use (copy) varied material displayed on the Internet and in many cases encouraged by website owners but obviously not for objectionably usage. I do not have an objection to benign use.
I'm not revealing the perpetrator's name or website address at this stage as I'm investigating what remedies I have available (legal and otherwise) to remedy the abuse and the least thing I intend to do is to give him the exposure he craves.
If any one has a grievance and wishes to publish this widely their case, if the facts are not correctly recorded and resort is taken to steal images it raises the obvious conclusion that alleged problem is a fallacy and a means to create self publicity.

MEDICAL ALERT

2006-03-16T09:22:00.000+10:00

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled in the USA.
STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linkedto increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 inthe three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternativeMedicine.
Although the US authorities have already acted, nothing has yet been forthcoming from our own (dear) Ministry of Health in Australia!!!!

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:
Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold PowderComtrex Flu Therapy & Fever ReliefDay & Night
Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour CapletsCoricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp ElixirDimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & NasalCongestion
Triaminic DM Cough Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup Co ld & Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/qa.htm
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS01051.html

A USURER TO BEAT THEM ALL

2006-03-12T09:23:00.000+10:00

I had an unpleasant experience with another usurer to beat them all.
I signed up for a Coles Myer Master card a few months ago principally for the petrol discount vouchers paying the monthly due amount each month except last month when the monthly payment was credited to another company, the result of an Internet banking error.
When I discovered this I immediately paid the total amount due on the day following the due date.
I subsequently discovered that I was charged $9.17 interest, an interest rate charge of 1.8229% for one day eg 667.6455% per annum.
This contrasts with the obligatory statement what their interest charge is which they stated at 18.5% per annum.
Obviously they use a different calculator.
To make matters worse instead of the banks who take a day to process their payments (overnight processing) several days later I'm still waiting to see the payment credited to my account. Not only that, the poorly designed web account is not secure either. Perhaps problems like this have caused their consumer loss of confidence.

BEING AN AUSSIE – PETER COSTELLO

2006-02-24T20:33:00.000+10:00

BEING AN AUSSIE – PETER COSTELLO
The comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Peter Costello about obligations becoming an Australian or for that matter being an Australian resonated with me.
I emigrated from Holland to New Zealand adopting that Country and naturalizing as a New Zealand citizen and years later emigrating to Australia and subsequently naturalizing as an Australian citizen.
As far as I can remember, an old? bloke at 74, I have always firmly believed my wish and need to integrate in the country, area, city and community of my choice and this seems to be a trait of most Dutchmen over the many years in distant history to today. Have you ever heard of cultural or religious clashes about Dutch people in any country?
It's difficult to relocate yourself to another country, the younger you are the easier that is and likewise the the older you are more difficult it is and the subtle pressure by the elders of the family who either or both don't understand or don't want to adopt (or change) makes it difficult for the younger people to find their feet.
This brings me to my belief that in order to be part of a community, country, you have to compromise, adapt without need to compromise your individual values, morals, standards, religion and what ever is important to you. If that is not possible there may be another country more suitable for for you.

OZONE HOLE

2006-02-03T18:33:00.000+10:00

GLOBAL WARMING – OZONE HOLE
I just watched another chapter of the TV program 'Dinosaurs' which showed us the lush rain forests on the South Pole reminding us that Earth has undergone numerous major global temperature changes during the millions years past (ice ages) hence the ozone hole in the sky has shrunk or become larger for as yet no understood reason. Apparently (according to eminent scientists) all man made causes having an effect on the ozone hole getting larger is in the order between 1 to 2 percent.
An interesting radio program had the senior reporter commenting on a discussion years ago with a senior retired DSIR scientist here in Australia who commented at the time that he was the one responsible for floating the idea of pollution casing the 'enlarging ozone hole' as he was desperate at the time to obtain more research funds and needed to find a attention grabbing reason for that. He said once the cat was out of the bag with the mischievous statement that man made pollution caused the ozone hole getting larger he was unable to retract it.
Be sure to focus not on the side issues but on the overall picture.
If you don't believe me do your own research searching the Internet using say Google. Start by looking at this website: http://www.nationalcenter.org/EarthDay98Myths.html

Buy Australian?

2006-01-25T17:33:00.000+10:00

AUSTRALIAN OWNED
This will put the cat amongst the pidgeons.
I find this argument strange that we should 'buy Australian' and boycot foreign goods.
In any case the majority of people clearly vote to buy which is the better article at the best price. We are in a truly global community and if you are a producer you need to think global by being able to produce a better article at a better price, the reward? Export your product as well as being successful in your home country Australia. But hold on in whatever foreign country should they boycot 'Australian made' to support their local producers who can't quite make it in the global sphere?
Some do well out of the 'buy Australian' slogan. Look at did Dick Smith, an astute business man trading on the sentiment 'buy Australian' setting up his factories to produce just that, a bit pricy but good promotion largely fixed that. But guess what, he sold out at a handsome profit. As I said if you produce the right article in the right quality at the right price I would buy it Australian or where ever made and support an emerging nation perhaps.