Exploding more Medical Myths

Article from Reuters

By Peter Griffiths

1. Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.

These well-worn theories are among seven "medical myths" exposed in a paper published Friday in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition. Two U.S. researchers took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.

Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.

The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.

2. Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

The majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it may make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.

3. Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser. It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.

4. Eating turkey makes you drowsy

It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control. But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.

5. We use only 10 percent of our brains

This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.

6. Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.

7. Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment. The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Tradition

It’s kinda cool to have a mixed marriage. No, I am not that cool, my wife is from Poland. Some of the best things are learning about her traditions. In the good old USA our traditions are literally stuffed into us in the form of mass marketing campaigns. I am not on my soapbox against the establishment or even “the man”. I am observing the traditions of Christmas from two perspectives. One of the best, in my opinion, is the setting up and decorating of the Christmas tree. My family was like many in that we would put ours up on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Normal, right?

She asked me why we didn’t call it a Thanksgiving tree and I had to laugh. She’s right of course and that is the foundation of all happy marriages. For the last three years on Christmas eve I would bring the tree inside (carefully selected cut tree that has been soaking in water for at least three days) and set it in the stand. Poof, I am done and sent in the other room. Not even the cats are allowed in there. As I leave I glance at the small boxes that litter the sofa, chair and most of the floor. One hand is on her hip and she is holding a handmade ornament in the other.

A few hours later she emerges and shuts the door behind her with a solid click. “Bedtime”, she announces matter of factly and that’s it. I will have to wait until tomorrow. Now I have been around for quite a few Christmases, but I can’t sleep. I am an eight year old kid again. In her family the Christmas tree was the gift to the family that was only revealed on Christmas day (the first day of Christmas).

As we drive around town I see all the Christmas lights and we have enjoyed taking lots of pictures of the yard decorations to send to her disbelieving friends back home. I catch her catching me looking at the trees inside the houses and she gets this small little smile on her face. It’s fantastic. Photographs cant’ capture the magical quality of Christmas lights much less the special magic of her Christmas trees. At this time of year my camera is pointed at the folks down the street with the 27mega watt display with coordinated music and animated reindeer. Our Christmas trees are to be enjoyed in person.

Seven essentials for better photography

These tips are equally important for digital and film photography. You remember film don’t you? Those thin strips of plastic (celluloid) impregnated with chemicals that you had to take to the drug store to have developed. Never mind, these tips are universal. The last tip is the best, easiest and most often underused. There is an old and very true saying in photography, “It’s not the subject, it’s the shooter.” Great photographs require technique and talent. Master the first and allow the second to emerge.

1. Tip one is a combination of Read first (the owner’s manual) so you won’t have to ask questions later and Know your camera and all of its controls. These two important steps are really the same and that it can’t be stressed enough. How can you get that one magical shot when it comes by if you are fiddling with the controls and poof, just like that its gone? This does not eliminate or reduce the importance of the photographer. But those who make a living at this know their cameras inside and out.

2. Master the use of the Flash. When and how to use the flash comes from practice and experimentation. (See tip seven below). When considering the flash take the shot both with and without. Film – sorry digital media – is cheap, so use it. Indoors the flash can be a life saver, but don’t forget to try it outdoors as well; it can fill a subject and add some punch to overcast or dark exterior shots.

3. Steady! You may think you have rock solid nerves of steel, and you may but when it comes to long shots with your camera use a mono-pod or a tripod. Most cameras have guideline in the view finder so take advantage of those as well. If you are caught without proper equipment improvise. Use what’s around you – a tree, the hood of your car or anything you can brace against to help stabilize.

4. Avoid the Sun – no I am not talking about skin cancer. Try and have the sun on your subject or at least not within your field of view. Of course if you are shooting beautiful sunsets off the coast of Capri you won’t need this tip, heck you won’t need this blog.

5. What you looking at? Seriously, this is important. It’s the key difference between ordinary snapshots and photographs. The point of view, field of view, perspective, organizing angles all come into play when you push past the basic point and shot and start to capture images. It even sounds "capturing images" ahhh better than taking pictures.

6. Don’t be afraid of the little Mouse. Learning to use graphic software for image correction and manipulation is as important as many of the tips above. You can’t make a great photograph from a below-average one, but you can take a good photograph and make it really pop. The simple packages have automated many of the most common tasks and the more you learn the better control you will have.

7. Your piano teacher was right. Practice. Practice. Prac… Oh heck if you don’t get it now, a third time won’t make any difference. Great equipment and good technique will prepare you to succeed when the opportunity present itself. Give yourself the chance. All of the pros I know will agree and there is not out there that doesn’t practice every chance they get. What does Tiger Woods do when if finishes a round of golf in a tournament? He goes right back to the range and practices. Tiger Woods. That’s probably the reason he could beat me with a rake and a baseball bat when I have the finest clubs money can buy.

Schedules

If you are mildly afflicted with a geocaching bug, this time of year may afford you a chance to slip out, unnoticed scratch that itch. If you have a more advanced form of the disease this time of year poses real challenges to your continued membership in your respective families. With the weather crisp, not cold, the wind mild not strong, the leaves turning and falling, not obscuring those cute little million dollar satellites, late fall is the best time of year to spend time in the forest, woods, parks, abandoned farms, cemeteries etc. No friend, the pull of the outdoors is directly opposite the tug of Aunt Dolly and her sweet potato pie. You are faced with a minefield of choices.

Geocaching around the holidays requires all your wiles and creativity. Simple things like adjusting the time you leave allowing for some quick grabs along the chosen route can get you through another day. And as we all know its always one day at a time.

More advanced and some would argue riskier tactics would be generous volunteer approach. "I'll run out for some more ice" or other such item that has been depleted can work in a pinch but this will fail when the host calls next door for reinforcements.

Lat minute illness can work but, again the risk can be too great. A knock at the door followed by a pot of steaming chicken soup can be hard to explain to a spouse who would be surprised that the party really wasn't canceled at the last minute. Never mind the person bringing the soup is confused that you are not in fact on the way to the hospital for treatment.

Office parties can offer some cover if carefully scheduled and planned. With the early sunset of the fall, an office party at 2:30PM will require some advanced planning and setup. Also bribes and payoff are not uncommon for those who would betray your actual motives and location.

Nope, caching at the holidays can really only be achieved through mutual infection or spousal approval. I am fortunate, I got help. For those who are still struggling hang in there, there is always a meeting to go to or a web site to visit to get you through the tough times. Just because you can get out into the world doesn't mean you can't spend some quality time with a puzzle or two.

The collection

Cache Noir Scene 1

I found this manuscript page in the back seat of a moss green 1973 Dodge Monaco station wagon. Hopefully this is the only attempt at crime novel writing. There was no clue as to it's author and thankfully this was the only page. I read the page over and over thinking there must be something there. Then I spotted it.

Click GC17DWW

Stop the Maddness!!!

Why, for the love of peanut butter? There is really only one answer.
Frodo's Magic Arc GC173ZH

All Hallows Eve

Whats Halloween without a black cat?

Here is Aleksandra with Gremlin. Our first shelter cat. We only had him a short time but he still makes us smile. We discovered he had feline AIDs after we adopted him from a local shelter. We couldn't do anything but make his time more comfortable as he made our time fantastic.

Return to Sender

With no apologies to the King. We present...

Return to Sender
GC172RD
Click on the Airmail stamp to verify.

Its never too early

The Iron Bowl and income taxes are both constants in all our lives. I am not sure which holds more dread and fear. Lately the Bammers of the world have more to worry about in the Fall than on tax day. To provide a bit of relief for that constant pressure we prepared and sent into the caching world a puzzle cache last year that needs some attention.

Circles of Frustration is dripping with references to The Game. I don't care what other school you may support there is only one Game, The Game, the "emasculator" of half the male population each year in our beloved Heart of Dixie. With our recent fistful of victories we have claimed the mountain but there may be a pinkish challenge brewing.

Take a look at this and see if you are worthy, or simply frustrated.

For a hint click HERE.

Too much time

Well, it seems the folks to our West are investing a bit too much time looking at red and blue lines. A few of the visually damaged residents of the Magnolia state have committed themselves to solving our humble puzzle. One intrepid clan caravaned over state lines with minors no less to walk through the fall foliage to write their names on a scrap of paper hidden in the woods where no one else would think to look.

Congratulations to the solvers and keep at it for the rest.

Smile!
A few have asked so here you go...

The Dark Side of SpiderFish

Well it has been some time since I/ we have posted here but a recent email gave me a reason. We are always happy to have comments about SpiderFish but we were completely blown away by a forum thread on the Mississippi Geocachers website. We read the posts and got such a kick I had to share this with the very very few who may stumble across this blog.

We have given a single hint for SpiderFish so for those who haven't heard the clue its pretty simple (26 L in the A)

The diligent cachers in MS are getting close, some of their ideas are very close others border on the absurd. Regardless they are entertaining.

Be well and if you think you may have solved this puppy, drop me an email and I will be happy to confirm. Or you can click the big red button... (code provided by the smart folks at cr@sissy-n-cr.com )

If you are right, and sign the log, look at the fabulous prize.