In my household we have a word : "BIG SKIN"--our term for sneaky corporate dermatology and sunscreen tycoons. Now the surgeon general (who is a suspicious dermatologist) has gotten up on the 'sun will kill you' soap box...This is of course the same sun, that has sustained ALL LIFE ON EARTH for billions of years--yet now is apparently out to kill you.
So they say melanoma has increased three fold since the 1970's --well, wait a minute--isn't this about the same time we STOPPED covering ourselves in greasy Coppertone oils?? And replaced the oily sheen with sunblock ?
And you tell me--are we spending more time outdoors, or less???
But nobody (most of all "big skin") wants to add a bit of accuracy to the dialogue. Namely why would increased sunblock use lead to skin cancer?
Well, the answer is pretty simple--melanin (a tan!?) protects you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Slow sun exposure prepares your body for UV, versus keeping yourself pale as a lab rat until you accidentally get stuck outside and burn like a piece of bacon. This is why skin cancer rates are actually higher in rainy Oregon , than in sunny Texas--because daily low level sun exposure is the best protection!! Secondly, studies show that sunblock wearers spend more time in the sun than they should. (because nature has this awesome way of protecting you--maybe you feel red, or uncomfortable and know you better get under the shade--how novel!) But when you are covered in globs of nasty toxic sunblock, all you are doing is blocking vitamin D!! Yet ironically allowing some harmful radiation in..
But no pimple popper MD wants to explain these obvious facts to the public.
I just can't believe the surgeon general refuses to articulate the true nature of the problem, nor cares about the health costs associated with vitamin D deficiency. Any evolutionary biologist can tell you, that white folks (once black) lost their pigment as they migrated North so they could absorb MORE sun, not less. But obviously dermatologists are (well meaning perhaps) but misguided creationists.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Try Something New
As I was reading a CityData forum the other day, I came upon an irritated comment by a poster stating: "why does everyone pick on box stores and chain restaurants? I happen to like box stores and will happily live in a community with lots of them."
This statement shocked me.
I looked away from the screen, as this required serious contemplation.
Shopping at Sam's club or Walmart because of financial need is completely understandable--but to actually "like" them??? I thought that the only sane reason people went to Applebees, Lowes, or PetCo, was because IT WAS THERE.
And so I came to realize, that many towns look exactly like "everywhere else in America", because certain people actually want it that way!!! And is it merrily a coincidence that these same areas happen to have more conservative residents??
Yet (no surprise here): independent book stores, sea-weed cupcake shops and Cambodian craft brew cafe's are fairly good indicators of a progressive community....
Some people can be classified as either "avoiders" or "seekers". Avoiders can't stand change, cling to familiarity, repetition and routine. Perhaps the kind of people who would appreciate the safety and familiarity of a box store or chain restaurant?
Avoiding new experiences might seem safe and all, BUT lucky for our human history--some had the gall to seek out novelty and actually leave the cave....!
This statement shocked me.
I looked away from the screen, as this required serious contemplation.
Shopping at Sam's club or Walmart because of financial need is completely understandable--but to actually "like" them??? I thought that the only sane reason people went to Applebees, Lowes, or PetCo, was because IT WAS THERE.
And so I came to realize, that many towns look exactly like "everywhere else in America", because certain people actually want it that way!!! And is it merrily a coincidence that these same areas happen to have more conservative residents??
Yet (no surprise here): independent book stores, sea-weed cupcake shops and Cambodian craft brew cafe's are fairly good indicators of a progressive community....
Some people can be classified as either "avoiders" or "seekers". Avoiders can't stand change, cling to familiarity, repetition and routine. Perhaps the kind of people who would appreciate the safety and familiarity of a box store or chain restaurant?
Avoiding new experiences might seem safe and all, BUT lucky for our human history--some had the gall to seek out novelty and actually leave the cave....!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Chasing Chickens
Thanks to all you folks in the Lower 48, (who so graciously have accepted the bad weather usually headed for Alaska) we Northerners have been engulfed in a beautiful (yet dusty) streak of blue skies, sunshine and 70 degrees for almost two weeks now...!
Gloating aside, the sun has played a productive part in acclimating my chickens to the great outdoors. They did start to stink a bit inside the house, so I was glad to start relocating them to the backyard. The ridiculous part of this whole process is the disruption caused by our 2 crazy dogs--who really, really want to eat said chickens....
The dogs bark like maniacs, dig under the fence, leap into the air--whatever they can do--just to get to those darn chickens! The only solution (thus far)-- has been hiding the chickens in our laundry room, while the dogs are exercising in the yard.
This results in a daily creature shuffle--where each morning we box up the chickens, hide them, put the dogs out, bring the dogs back in, take the chickens out and put them in their chicken play pen for the day.
That being said, the process does not always go smoothly. The dogs are easily controlled with dog biscuits, but not so the poultry. I'm not sure most people recognize how well chickens can fly and how fast those thin, freaky legs can run!
No matter what I tell the chickens, their reaction is always the same --panic!
So each time I try to place them in their 'transport box", the first one jumps out and goes running, while I attempt to put the second one in. So most mornings I get a good dose of cardio exercise by chasing a really fast, little chicken through the yard...Lucky for me, she usually turns around at some point and calls to chicken #2, as they truly only feel safe when they are together. When chicken #2 returns chirps, chicken #1 runs back to her and I finally have both in the box. I put them in their pen, feed them and retreat until evening, when the whole chicken chasing escapade will repeat itself.
I can certainly say, that this is not an efficient manner of poultry management. It is however, a great way to get in some human exercise...
Gloating aside, the sun has played a productive part in acclimating my chickens to the great outdoors. They did start to stink a bit inside the house, so I was glad to start relocating them to the backyard. The ridiculous part of this whole process is the disruption caused by our 2 crazy dogs--who really, really want to eat said chickens....
The dogs bark like maniacs, dig under the fence, leap into the air--whatever they can do--just to get to those darn chickens! The only solution (thus far)-- has been hiding the chickens in our laundry room, while the dogs are exercising in the yard.
This results in a daily creature shuffle--where each morning we box up the chickens, hide them, put the dogs out, bring the dogs back in, take the chickens out and put them in their chicken play pen for the day.
That being said, the process does not always go smoothly. The dogs are easily controlled with dog biscuits, but not so the poultry. I'm not sure most people recognize how well chickens can fly and how fast those thin, freaky legs can run!
No matter what I tell the chickens, their reaction is always the same --panic!
So each time I try to place them in their 'transport box", the first one jumps out and goes running, while I attempt to put the second one in. So most mornings I get a good dose of cardio exercise by chasing a really fast, little chicken through the yard...Lucky for me, she usually turns around at some point and calls to chicken #2, as they truly only feel safe when they are together. When chicken #2 returns chirps, chicken #1 runs back to her and I finally have both in the box. I put them in their pen, feed them and retreat until evening, when the whole chicken chasing escapade will repeat itself.
I can certainly say, that this is not an efficient manner of poultry management. It is however, a great way to get in some human exercise...
Friday, April 25, 2014
The Right Wing's Wildlife is Called Cheeseburger
I have been following the story of the crazed Nevada rancher, who along with a gang of armed militia buddies, pulled off a good-ole-fashioned standoff against the Federal Bureau of Land Management....
Apparently, it all began with this rancher feeling he had a so-called "right" to graze cattle for free on leased federal land. He felt the sage brush out there in Nevada wasn't worth much anyway, so why not squat your cattle there?? Wherein the second predicament appeared, as someone actually thought the land was worth more than cattle manure. The BLM wasn't only annoyed that this rancher wasn't paying his grazing fees, the area was also declared important habitat for the desert tortoise.
Now that's the kind of "important" i.e. endangered species act, that makes conservatives shit kittens. Over and over, I have heard politicians say (I live in red state Alaska after all) how there "should be no EPA, no Endangered species act," blah, blah, blah" it's all "government overreach".
Somehow, in their bizzaro bubble, the global population is not ballooning. Their brilliant plan is to pretend that "it's all the same as it was 200 years ago" and just graze over, plant over, build up and raze over every open space and wilderness area, all while assuming that the earth will magically EXPAND to produce more natural resources later on.
So either they believe that the endangered animals trampled to death, over-fished, or squeezed out of habitat...will return to earth via some magic ark, or the conservatives idea of American wildlife is the hamburger. Let's just replace the bald eagle with the Big Mac and call it a day.
Apparently, it all began with this rancher feeling he had a so-called "right" to graze cattle for free on leased federal land. He felt the sage brush out there in Nevada wasn't worth much anyway, so why not squat your cattle there?? Wherein the second predicament appeared, as someone actually thought the land was worth more than cattle manure. The BLM wasn't only annoyed that this rancher wasn't paying his grazing fees, the area was also declared important habitat for the desert tortoise.
Now that's the kind of "important" i.e. endangered species act, that makes conservatives shit kittens. Over and over, I have heard politicians say (I live in red state Alaska after all) how there "should be no EPA, no Endangered species act," blah, blah, blah" it's all "government overreach".
Somehow, in their bizzaro bubble, the global population is not ballooning. Their brilliant plan is to pretend that "it's all the same as it was 200 years ago" and just graze over, plant over, build up and raze over every open space and wilderness area, all while assuming that the earth will magically EXPAND to produce more natural resources later on.
So either they believe that the endangered animals trampled to death, over-fished, or squeezed out of habitat...will return to earth via some magic ark, or the conservatives idea of American wildlife is the hamburger. Let's just replace the bald eagle with the Big Mac and call it a day.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
51 and Alaskan
I am totally not making fun of 51 year olds, nor do I have a list of funny Alaskans. What I care to vent about is the temperature 51 (Fahrenheit)--and what it does in Alaska...(!)
Truthfully-- it is a glorious thing, if it's 51 outside in April--it must be sunny and warm. BUT 'Alaska' warm that is. In Hawaii they call 51 "frigid".
Which brings me to the annoying part, because you see--I am currently thinking like the Islanders. 51 is nice enough and all, but with a breeze out--I didn't find it patio pleasant. So from the safety of my vehicle, I watched all those darn acclimated Northerners. (which hasn't happened to me after all these years--instead, I have developed some sort of snow allergy--which is real--you can google it.)
How many people did I see outside today in flippin shorts?? There were all those kids getting off the school bus, and joggers, and at least three ladies walking their dogs. Not to mention all the people in flip-flops. Flip flops and shorts, at the grocery store--and it is 51 out. That's why when it reaches 70 degrees here, people fall over in a tizzy, buy out the ice cream and dive into the river.
Truthfully-- it is a glorious thing, if it's 51 outside in April--it must be sunny and warm. BUT 'Alaska' warm that is. In Hawaii they call 51 "frigid".
Which brings me to the annoying part, because you see--I am currently thinking like the Islanders. 51 is nice enough and all, but with a breeze out--I didn't find it patio pleasant. So from the safety of my vehicle, I watched all those darn acclimated Northerners. (which hasn't happened to me after all these years--instead, I have developed some sort of snow allergy--which is real--you can google it.)
How many people did I see outside today in flippin shorts?? There were all those kids getting off the school bus, and joggers, and at least three ladies walking their dogs. Not to mention all the people in flip-flops. Flip flops and shorts, at the grocery store--and it is 51 out. That's why when it reaches 70 degrees here, people fall over in a tizzy, buy out the ice cream and dive into the river.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Fake Problems Fix the Economy
The United States economy is a drama queen. Digging up problems where none should exist, and creating craziness for an economic fix.
I'm sure most folks won't agree with me.. so I'll throw out some (exasperating!) examples.
Obviously "lifestyle illness" is a biggie. The pimple popper MD's and sunscreen peddlers have really done a number on making sure folks are lacking in their Vitamin D. Thousands of years of common sense and evolutionary reduced pigmentation, just thrown to the wind. I mean why are white people white? (duh)!! Because we would die in Northern latitudes if we couldn't absorb more sun!! But wait--that's free! Can't have that in this economy....(and yes Alaskan natives are darker--but they got their D and Omega 3 from salmon, salmon, salmon... which they currently don't get enough of....another rant of mine altogether)..
Second free thing that was discouraged for 30 years--breast milk. Now we need to spend ooodles of money to "teach" women not to use expensive formula and go back to the free stuff..good grief.
Stress. We spend tons of time telling ourselves we "have to fight that traffic", have to get to our stressful job, blah, blah. Because it makes us feel needed and important. Better than the neighbors, sometimes richer.. (and the economy loves this one, even poking at the women to "get out there and work your butt off" --Break that glass ceiling--it's good for economic growth, after all!! Yet, all this rushing around does nothing but create westernized illness due to stress hormones. But could we ever follow the lead of some nations--reduce the work week, take August off, live in a smallish apartment?? I don't think so, we choose heart failure...
Sugar. Now sugar is a wonderful way to get a quick caloric fix, and quite palatable. But oh my goodness--pay attention to how people use it. Drinking sweetened coffees and cokes all day long to stay awake at their "stressful jobs", topped off with a muffin or bagel. Followed by the sugar crashes, and confused folks being like "why am I so tired?" Too tired to take the flipping stairs or exercise. Then they are up all night with insomnia and run to the doctor for prescription this and prescription that. Do doctors ever give "free tips" anymore (like put down your soda dorko, and take a hike?) No, that would be free. Much better to just prescribe an expensive med. The diabetes industry keeps lots of people employed for crying out loud!!! Good for them~! I mean healthy and fit people would just devastate the health care sector. What would our economy do without Paula Dean? Bless her, what a great American..
I'm sure most folks won't agree with me.. so I'll throw out some (exasperating!) examples.
Obviously "lifestyle illness" is a biggie. The pimple popper MD's and sunscreen peddlers have really done a number on making sure folks are lacking in their Vitamin D. Thousands of years of common sense and evolutionary reduced pigmentation, just thrown to the wind. I mean why are white people white? (duh)!! Because we would die in Northern latitudes if we couldn't absorb more sun!! But wait--that's free! Can't have that in this economy....(and yes Alaskan natives are darker--but they got their D and Omega 3 from salmon, salmon, salmon... which they currently don't get enough of....another rant of mine altogether)..
Second free thing that was discouraged for 30 years--breast milk. Now we need to spend ooodles of money to "teach" women not to use expensive formula and go back to the free stuff..good grief.
Stress. We spend tons of time telling ourselves we "have to fight that traffic", have to get to our stressful job, blah, blah. Because it makes us feel needed and important. Better than the neighbors, sometimes richer.. (and the economy loves this one, even poking at the women to "get out there and work your butt off" --Break that glass ceiling--it's good for economic growth, after all!! Yet, all this rushing around does nothing but create westernized illness due to stress hormones. But could we ever follow the lead of some nations--reduce the work week, take August off, live in a smallish apartment?? I don't think so, we choose heart failure...
Sugar. Now sugar is a wonderful way to get a quick caloric fix, and quite palatable. But oh my goodness--pay attention to how people use it. Drinking sweetened coffees and cokes all day long to stay awake at their "stressful jobs", topped off with a muffin or bagel. Followed by the sugar crashes, and confused folks being like "why am I so tired?" Too tired to take the flipping stairs or exercise. Then they are up all night with insomnia and run to the doctor for prescription this and prescription that. Do doctors ever give "free tips" anymore (like put down your soda dorko, and take a hike?) No, that would be free. Much better to just prescribe an expensive med. The diabetes industry keeps lots of people employed for crying out loud!!! Good for them~! I mean healthy and fit people would just devastate the health care sector. What would our economy do without Paula Dean? Bless her, what a great American..
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Cruel Eggs
Call me naive, but apparently I am the last to know about the nasty egg industry.
It all started innocently enough--with my impulsive urge to take home a few fluffy baby chicks the other day. As they were being packed into their little chicken box, I nonchalantly asked the feed store lady if they were boys or girls. "All girls", she replied.
Curious, but I didn't give it much further thought.
That is, until I started leafing through my assortment of raising hippie chicken books;- where I read I wouldn't know the genders of my chicks until they reached three or four weeks of age...so what gives?
Enter the Google search -- and a whole new meaning of "sexting chicks". Apparently any modern chicken farm, (especially the big commercial ones) sexes their chicks. (All without the help of an iphone, ha)--but done by some poor clod that squeezes their "vent" (ahem).
But then comes the cruel part--the cute fuzzy boy chicks are immediately destroyed (and I will spare the gruesome, gruesome details)-- as they are not considered as economically "viable" as the chick chicks! They aren't even raised for meat, because meat birds are top heavy mutants with large chests!....yuck.
So I just swore off eggs. Even organic, cage free eggs--they all "sex chicks". And unfortunately I will be waiting twenty weeks for my little fluff balls to start laying their own....
It all started innocently enough--with my impulsive urge to take home a few fluffy baby chicks the other day. As they were being packed into their little chicken box, I nonchalantly asked the feed store lady if they were boys or girls. "All girls", she replied.
Curious, but I didn't give it much further thought.
That is, until I started leafing through my assortment of raising hippie chicken books;- where I read I wouldn't know the genders of my chicks until they reached three or four weeks of age...so what gives?
Enter the Google search -- and a whole new meaning of "sexting chicks". Apparently any modern chicken farm, (especially the big commercial ones) sexes their chicks. (All without the help of an iphone, ha)--but done by some poor clod that squeezes their "vent" (ahem).
But then comes the cruel part--the cute fuzzy boy chicks are immediately destroyed (and I will spare the gruesome, gruesome details)-- as they are not considered as economically "viable" as the chick chicks! They aren't even raised for meat, because meat birds are top heavy mutants with large chests!....yuck.
So I just swore off eggs. Even organic, cage free eggs--they all "sex chicks". And unfortunately I will be waiting twenty weeks for my little fluff balls to start laying their own....
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