THE INSANE PRICE OF INSULIN

Insulin price spikes stick it to diabetics . The price of some medications these days is confusing. This summer, a report documenting a big spike in the price of insulin has sparked a lot of debate. In April, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an analysis co-written by Dr. William Herman, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (described by Stat at bit.ly/2caRuxW). The analysis showed that the price of insulin more than tripled between 2002 and 2013, from about $231 to $736 a year per patient. But the price of other diabetes medications reportedly fell about $100 per year during that time. So, while those with diabetes who must have insulin struggle, there is some relief for diabetics (like me) who can get by with oral medications.  Susan Pierce, a diabetes educator at Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill Hospital, said, "People who paid $200 or less are now getting bills of $400 to $500 for the same amount of insulin. Meanwhile, most insurance is paying less for medications and the required co-pays are higher, so it is a double whammy that prevents the patient from getting the insulin to stay alive. So what happens then? Often patients begin to ration their insulin. They take it only three or four times a week instead of every day to make it stretch. Then, what it really comes down to is survival. What does a person do when the choice is between food, rent and insulin? I'm glad to have the option of my oral medications Metformin and Glimeperide. During my hospital stay for a foot infection and surgery, the attending physician put me on insulin. He gave me a prescription for a box of 3-milliliter Levemir FlexPens. I went so far as to go to the pharmacy and price them, but after hearing how steep the cost would be, I decided to stick with the oral medications. A single FlexPen can last as long as several weeks, but some diabetics may need a box of five if the daily dosage is higher. According to the money-saving website GoodRx.com, pricing for one pen ranges from about $73 to $80 with a coupon, in central Arkansas. A box of five can cost $450 to $500, depending on where you go and whether you have a coupon. And those prices don't include the needles. It's a good idea to check with the company that markets your insulin product. Many offer savings programs and copay cards, but be sure to read the fine print. I know that so many of us develop Type 2 diabetes through our own bad habits and eating. I am the poster child for that. I point no fingers at anyone but myself for my diabetes. I have heard people vehemently insist that we just need to eat more healthfully and exercise. Believe it or not, we already know that. If only we all had the strength of will to be as perfect as the finger pointers. I have pretty much done it all when it comes to trying to lose weight and lower my blood-sugar levels. I've done low calorie, low fat, low carbohydrate, counting points, shakes and so on and so on and so on. There's no one-size-fits all program for weight loss or for trying to reverse diabetes. 

SO YOU'RE DIABETIC-HOW'S YOUR MEMORY

Diabetes linked to memory decline in older adults Published August 29, 2016.  

Older adults with poorly controlled diabetes may struggle with what's known as episodic memory, the ability to recall specific events experienced recently or long ago, a study suggests. Researchers examined results from a series of four memory tests done from 2006 to 2012 for 950 older adults with diabetes and 3,469 elderly people without the disease. The participants who had diabetes and elevated blood sugar performed worse on the first round of memory tests at the start of the study and also experienced a bigger decline in memory function by the end of the study. "We believe that the combination of diabetes and high blood sugar increases the chances of a number of health problems," said lead study author Colleen Pappas, an Aging researcher at the University of South Florida in Tampa. "Our study brings attention to the possibility that worsening memory may be one of them," Pappas added.  While the study doesn't explore why this might happen, it's possible that elevated blood sugar damages brain cells that transmit messages in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory, Pappas said. At the start of the study, when participants were about 73 years old on average, they all got blood tests that measure average blood sugar levels. This so-called hemoglobin A1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin - the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen - that is coated with sugar, with readings of 6.5 percent or above signaling diabetes. The people without diabetes had average A1c levels of 5.6, considered a normal or healthy range. But the diabetics had average A1c levels of 6.7, putting them at increased risk of complications from the disease. Researchers also did memory tests using immediate and delayed word recall to assess changes in brain function over time. Higher A1c levels were associated with lower scores on that first memory test and a steeper decline in scores over time, researchers report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Higher A1c levels in the people with diabetes, however, explained most of that association. One limitation of the study is that researchers only checked A1c once, at the start of the study, the authors note. That makes it hard to say how shifts in blood sugar over time might have influenced any changes in memory. Researchers also lacked data on medications people took to control blood sugar, which makes it difficult to assess whether memory lapses might be averted in patients who took medications designed to manage diabetes, the authors also point out. Even so, the findings suggest that keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range may help maintain memory performance over time, said Dr. Joe Verghese, director of the Montefiore-Einstein Center for the Aging Brain in New York. "Patients with diabetes can experience several brain changes that develop over time such as shrinkage of areas involved in memory and thinking as well as damage to blood vessels supplying the brain," Verghese, who wasn't involved in the study, said. "Higher blood sugar levels may be detrimental for brain health even in older adults who do not meet formal criteria for diabetes but are in the gray zone. People with diabetes also need to be aware that even if their blood sugar is well controlled, they're still at increased risk for memory problems and impairments in cognitive function, said Mark Espeland, a researcher at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The best defense is avoiding diabetes in the first place, Espeland, who wasn't involved in the study, said. "Taking steps to reduce one's risk for diabetes is important to maintaining a healthy brain," Espeland said. "These steps include an active lifestyle and avoiding obesity. 

DO YOU HAVE AN ANXIOUS OR NERVOUS DOG

7 ways to relieve your dog's anxiety By Jessica Migala Published August 27, 2016.  

A car ride. A clap of thunder. The dreaded vacuum cleaner. Any of these triggers might turn your pup into an anxious wreck. And it's not easy to see your pal so distressed: When a dog panics, "every single muscle in their body contracts simultaneously, like they're having a seizure while standing up," says veterinarian Marty Becker, founder of Fear Free, a program that trains veterinary professionals to create a more calming experience for their patients.  Noise phobias can be especially challenging, says Becker, because the anxiety may snowball. Maybe it starts with fireworks on the Fourth of July, for example; then the dog becomes afraid of loud bangs on TV, honking horns, the microwave. But there is hope for high-strung hounds: "There are simple, safe, and sure-fire solutions so pets don't have to suffer," Becker assures. Below are seven strategies to help nervous dogs relax. Because the anxiety response can be complex, it may take some time to figure out which therapy, or combination of therapies, offers your furry friend the most relief. Consult a trainer In some cases, you can "train the dog out of having the reaction in the first place," says San Diego-based veterinarian Jessica Vogelsang. The traditional approach, she says, is desensitization, which entails gradually introducing your dog to scary noises while offering him rewards. Rewiring your pooch's associations is a long-term solution. The catch? It's a lot of work, and your best bet is to hire a trainer who specializes in the technique, says Vogelsang.  Play music Vogelsang recommends a series of albums called Through a Dog's Ear. "[The music] is specifically composed to decrease a dog's stress response," she explains. If your pup is freaked out, put her in a dark room (ideally with no windows), and play one of these CDs. You can also do this in advance of a known trigger: Say you're planning a road trip, or a party at your house. Try this music therapy in the day or two leading up to the stressful event. (Regular classical music may help as well.) Get rid of static You may notice that your dog gets anxious prior to a storm. That's because he's triggered by the buildup of static electricity in the air, explains Becker; and in response, he may hide in the closet, bathroom, or basement. One possible remedy: "Take an unscented dryer sheet and wipe down the trunk of your dog's body," suggests Becker. "About half [of dogs] won't have a problem with the storm.  Try a Thundershirt The Thundershirt is a compression garment designed to reduce fear in dogs. "It's like swaddling a baby for comfort," says Becker, "like a comforting hug. The company says that the vest (also available for cats) can help with a range of phobias, and works for about 80 percent of pets. Use pheromones When a mama dog nurses her puppies, she releases a calming pheromone that encourages them to lay down quietly. You can buy a synthetic version of that pheromone to help your dog relax at any age, says Becker, who suggests asking your vet for a recommendation. He likes a company called Adaptil, which sells both a collar and a diffuser.  Give your dog a chill pill Becker often recommends a supplement called Zylkene, which packs a calming milk protein. Another option: chews that contain the green tea extract L-Theanine, available at many pet stories. Talk to your vet about medication If the strategies above don't relieve your dog's anxiety, it may be worth trying a prescription med like Xanex or the new non-sedating drug Sileo. According its manufacturer, Sileo works by blocking the fear chemical norephinephrine to dampen a dog's anxiety response. 

A FEW MORE THINGS TO LAUGH ABOUT

 OLDIE THOUGHTS …s  

 1. My goal for 2016

 was to lose just 10 pounds … only 15  to go.

 ...

  

 2. Ate salad for

 dinner …Mostly  croutons & tomatoes ... Really just 

 one big, round crouton covered with tomato sauce ... And 

 cheese.

FINE, it  was a pizza... I ate a pizza.

  

 3. How to  prepare

 Tofu:

a.  Throw

 it in the trash.

      b.  Grill

 some meat.

  

 4. I just did a

 week's worth of cardio after walking into a spider web

 ...

  

 5. I don't mean

 to brag but… I finished my 4-day diet food in 3 hours

 and  20 minutes. 

 6. A recent study

 has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer

 than men who mention it...

  

 7. Kids today

 don't know how easy they have it... when I was young, I

 had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV

 channel...

  

 8. Senility has

 been a smooth transition for me...

  

 9. Remember back

 when we were kids and every time it was below zero out they

 closed school?  Me neither.

  

 10. I may not be

 that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented

 … I forgot where I was going with this!

  

 11. I

 love being over 60 … I

 learn something new every day … and forget 5.

  12. A thief broke

 into my house last night…He started  searching for

 money…so I woke up  and searched with

 him!

13. I think

 I'll just put an "Out of Order" sticker on my

 forehead and call it a day...

  14. "Just 

 remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up

 speed."

LOVE THAT BACON

The trick to buying and storing bacon Published August 25, 2016 Americans' love affair with bacon isn't quite over yet. () 

Bacon has been proven time and again to make everything-sandwiches, salads, doughnuts, even butter crackers-better. And the rise of passionate bacon lovers, there has been a corresponding increase in consumers' access to many different types of bacon at supermarkets, butcher shops, and specialty stores. But if you've ever wondered what the difference is between slab bacon and back bacon, or between pancetta and guanciale, you're not alone. I called Joseph Cordray, an extension meat specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University, to talk about how this most popular of foodstuffs gets to market, what shelf-stable bacon is about, and how to store bacon at home (if for some bizarre reason you don't just eat it all up). What is bacon? Bacon is cured and smoked pork belly cut crosswise into strips. If it comes from anywhere on the pig other than the belly (shoutout to the late Sizzlean ), the label has to specify where. Canadian bacon is cut from the loin, above the belly, so it's leaner.  Canadian bacon is leaner than other varieties.  British back bacon is a happy medium between Canadian and American bacon-it's cut from the loin but with some of the fat from the belly attached. Pancetta , often called Italian bacon, is cured but not smoked and shaped into a roll. Grocery stores often sell pancetta in thin, round slices or already diced, but butcher and specialty shops usually slice it to order. Guanciale comes from the pig's cheek or jowl. Like pancetta, it's cured but not usually smoked. It can be hard to find outside of a good butcher shop or Italian or specialty market. Slab bacon --which you can usually find at butcher shops-- isn't sliced. It comes in a large slab so you can slice it however thickly or thinly you want. "Center-cut" bacon is from the center portion of the belly, which has the most consistent ratio of fat to lean, says Cordray. For this reason, you'll pay a little more for it. You'll also pay more for certified organic bacon. The "natural" label, however, is an unregulated term; you can ignore it. The other bacon Bacon made from another animal, such as turkey, can be labeled bacon (purists, bite your tongue), but the packaging has to clearly state exactly what the bacon is made of, according to USDA regulations.  Three ways to cure bacon Most supermarket bacon is conventionally cured. It's a quick process that involves injecting pork belly with a brine containing sodium nitrite, the crucial ingredient that gives bacon its pink hue and helps preserve it, Cordray says. The meat is then "tumbled" under a vacuum to distribute the brine. Uncured bacon goes through the same process. The difference is the brine, which instead of sodium nitrite contains ingredients that are natural sources of nitrates, such as celery powder. These nitrates convert to nitrite once they interact with bacteria in the meat. Uncured bacon must, by law, be labeled with the phrase, "No nitrates or nitrites added except those naturally occurring. Dry-curing, the third method, is old school. The pork is rubbed with a dry mix of salt, sugar, and sodium nitrite and left to cure for up to 10 days in a cooler. It's a lengthier, lower-yield process, which is why dry-cured bacon is pricier, Cordray says. You'll find it more at specialty markets and butcher shops. The best ways to store bacon An unopened package of bacon will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks after you buy it. But once you break the seal, cook it within seven days, keeping whatever bacon you don't use wrapped, sealed in a container or airtight bag, and refrigerated. Or freeze it. One good method: roll individual slices and pack them into freezer bags. Frozen bacon, which is how it's typically sold at farmers' markets, will keep indefinitely, but for the best results, the USDA recommends using it within two months. You can even freeze cooked bacon, something Cordray swears by. He'll cook an entire pound and store the slices in a freezer bag. "When we want some, we just zap it in the microwave," he says. 

BREAD RECIPE

. Villa Bread  

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 'cup' PLUS 2 tablespoons warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees), divided use 1 1/4 teaspoons fine salt 2 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 1/4 'cup' vegetable oil, plus more for coating pan 1 1/4 pounds all-purpose flour or about 41/2 'cup's, plus more for dusting (see note) In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast with 1/4 'cup' of the water, the salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Mix well. Add the flour and remaining water and mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl. Transfer dough to the oiled bowl and let rise until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. Punch down. On a lightly floured surface shape dough into a wide, flatish loaf or into traditional loaves. Place in a lightly oiled baking pan or loaf pan. Let rise again until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake until internal temperature of loaf reaches 190 degrees, 15 to 45 minutes depending on the shape of the loaf. A traditional loaf shape will require up to 45 minutes. Makes 1 large loaf. Note: I strongly recommend weighing the flour. But if you don't have a kitchen scale, thoroughly stir the flour to aerate it, then spoon it into a measuring 'cup'

MORE GUESSES ABOUT UPCOMING IPHONES

Apple could launch an iPhone with curved screen The company may be aiming to play Samsung's game by building a phone with a curved OLED display, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. by Lance Whitney @ / August 23, 2016.  

Will next year's iPhone lineup look like this or add a curved display? CNET Apple may adopt a key feature from smartphones manufactured by its biggest rival. Next year's lineup of iPhones could include three different and distinct variants : a "4.7-inch model, another that will be 5.5-inches and a premium handset that will be either 5.5-inches or larger equipped with a screen bent on the two sides,"  ,  A source familiar with Apple's plans said. The first two phones would sport the traditional flat screen, while the third handset would adopt a curved display similar to the one used by Samsung for its premium phones, such as the Galaxy S7 Edge and the Galaxy Note 7 . Samsung's goal behind its curved phones is to offer wraparound real estate devoted to icons, apps and other content. The S7 Edge has been a hot seller since its introduction in March. With iPhone sales hit by two quarterly declines, Apple needs to jazz up its lineup with more enticing features, which could include a curved display. The first two phones would come with LCD (liquid crystal display) screens, which Apple has been using for its smartphones. The third would reportedly be the first iPhone to use an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display, which manufacturers such as Samsung select for premium handsets. OLED displays offer several advantages over LCD screens. They are thinner, lighter and more flexible than LCDs. They're more power efficient, giving you more bang out of a single battery charge. Their colors are more vivid; especially noticeable are blacker blacks. . In a touch of irony, Samsung will be the only supplier of OLED screens to Apple in 2017, according to IHS DisplaySearch, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. . As always, reports such as these must be taken with a grain of salt. In May, though, tech blog site Mobipicker said Apple will unveil three variants of the iPhone , citing information from an anonymous source. However, the source pinned 2016 as the launch year. In July, leaked photos allegedly of new iPhone models pointed to three varieties set for this year: a regular version, a Plus edition and a new Pro option. . 

A FEW THINGS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Signs That You Attend a Small Church
You cancel church when the pastor goes on vacation because his family ishalf the congregation.You meet in the pastor's two-car garage while the sanctuary is being remodeled.The church bus is a minivan that carries seven passengers.The pastor comes to Wednesday night services in his uniform directly fromhis "other" job.The youth group ages goes to 30.The senior adult age starts at 31.Children's church is canceled when the family with the most kids goes onvacation.The pastor also serves as an usher, pianist and song leader.
It's Been Said...

"Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden."

Umm...

On my birthday I got a really funny card. It joked about how our bodies mightbe getting older, but our minds remain "tarp as shacks." I wanted to thankthe person who sent it, but I can't. They forgot to sign the card.

Church Signs
Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet Him today.Keep using My name in vain and I'll make rush hour longer.Why pay for GPS? Jesus gives directions for free.Be an organ donor. Give your heart to Jesus today.
Speaking In Tongues*

Seen on a blog:  "So, this morning, Sue and I get off the planein Newark, New Jersey, and I need to find a restroom. As I was walking outof the baggage claim, I stopped a United Airlines worker and said, "We ain'tnare been up here. We are frum Gas-TONY-a, Nirth Caroliner. Where is theclostest restroom?" The airlines worker flagged down another female worker,and as she approached, she stuck out her hand and said, "My name is Louisaand I'll be your interpretah while you is here at the airport."
*Supposedly a true story. Mostly. Well, kind of.  Nameshave been changed to protect the guilty.

HOW OLD DO YOU FEEL

Seniors who feel 'old' more likely to have memory problems Published August 22, 2016.  

The older that seniors feel relative to their actual age, the greater their odds of cognitive decline in the coming years, a recent study finds. Among nearly 6,000 U.S. seniors followed for two to four years, those who felt older than their years at the start were 18 percent more likely to develop cognitive impairment and 29 percent more likely to develop full-blown dementia, compared with peers who felt younger. Study participants who were depressed and didn't exercise were more likely to rate themselves as feeling older at the outset, the study authors note in Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. That's in line with past research suggesting a link between depression and dementia, Yannick Stephan of the University of Montpellier in France and colleagues wrote. "If you do things that make you feel young, like exercise, spend time with friends and family, or enjoy a hobby, it could protect you from memory decline," said Eric Vogelsang, a sociology researcher at California State University in San Bernardino who was not involved in the study. "Basically, it's about healthy living, including having a passion for life," he said. The study team analyzed data from 5,748 adults in the U.S., ages 65 to 98, who initially had no cognitive problems. About half the participants completed a survey in 2008 asking them to specify, in years, how old they felt, and the other half completed it in 2010. All participants were interviewed and researchers tested their memory and thinking skills to determine whether they had normal cognitive function, so-called cognitive impairment without dementia, or dementia. The same tests were performed at follow-up two to four years later. The study team also asked participants if they experienced depression symptoms, participated in sports or aerobic activities and whether they had diabetes or a history of smoking. Only participants with normal cognitive function at the start of the study were included in the analysis. At the follow-up, most still had normal cognitive function, but 979 people (17 percent of the group) were classified as cognitively impaired and 94 people, just under 2 percent, had dementia. Based on the study results, Vogelsang said, "if an 80-year old feels 85 instead 75, that would increase the odds of getting dementia by about 30 percent. The authors noted that negative stereotypes about aging may be another the reason why people felt older, suggesting that internalizing these stereotypes could affect cognitive function, thus increasing the risk of dementia. The researchers accounted for sex, race and age in their analyses, but the study did have some limitations. "They didn't account for most other health problems other than dementia," Vogelsang said. "For example, they didn't measure for stress or other physiological problems in the study," he added. "One reason that people may feel old is because of stress - and we think stress is related to dementia. Although feeling young is important, Vogelsang cautioned that it may not always help. "People may have a premonition for when their mind and body has begun to deteriorate," he said. "If so, then being optimistic can only take them so far. 

SOMETHING FUNNY FOR YOU LADIES

WHAT RELIGION IS YOUR BRA?

A man walked into the ladies department and shyly walked up to

the woman behind the counter and said,

'I'd like to buy a bra for my wife. '

' What type of bra?' asked the clerk.

'Type?' inquires the man, 'There's more than one type?'

' Look around,' said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material imaginable.

'Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from.'

Relieved, the man asked about the types.

The saleslady replied:

'There are the Catholic, Salvation Army, Presbyterian, and the Baptist types.

Which one would you prefer?'

Now totally befuddled, the man asked about the differences between them.

The Saleslady responded, 'It is all really quite simple.'

The Catholic type supports the masses;

The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen;

The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright;

The Baptist type makes mountains out of  mole hills

GOOD NEWS FOR US-BAD NEWS FOR TELEMARKETERS

AT&T, Apple, Google and others join FCC to end robocalls The tech industry is joining forces with federal regulators to put an end to unwanted automated phone calls. by Marguerite Reardon @ / August 19, 2016. :     ,  :      @  

More than 30 companies participated in the first meeting of the FCC's "Robocall Strike Force" to help come up with ways to block the dreaded, unwanted calls. FCC . Major tech companies are joining forces with the Federal Communications Commission to come up with solutions to stop dreaded robocalls . . On Friday the first meeting of the FCC's "Robocall Strike Force" met in Washington, DC. More than 30 companies including Apple, AT&T, Google parent Alphabet, Verizon and Comcast joined the discussion to help the government crack down on unwanted, automated, prerecorded phone calls from scammers and marketers. . AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is heading up the group, which is expected to suggest concrete plans to develop and adopt new tools and solutions to protect consumers from these calls. Specifically, the group is expected to come up with Caller ID verification standards that will help block calls from spoofed numbers, which allows them to trick consumers into picking up calls because they think the calls are originating from legitimate numbers. . The group will report its findings to the FCC by October 19. . 

REMEMBER WHEN

How is this For Nostalgia?    

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms, 

It took 3 minutes for the TV to warm up,

Nobody owned a purebred dog,

When a quarter was a decent allowance,

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.

Your Mom wore nylons that came in 2 pieces.

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time. And you didn't pay for air. And, you got trading stamps to boot,

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box,

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents,

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed ... and they did it!

When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car . . . the only thing better was a 57 Ford ... to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady.

No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked,

Lying on your back in the grass with your friends and saying things like, 'That cloud looks like a... (fill in the blank)' 

Playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game,

Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger,

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace, and share it with the children of today,

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home,

Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.  Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat!  But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.

... as well as summers filled with bike rides, Hula  Hoops, and visits to the pool , and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar

.

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, 'Yeah, I remember  that'? 

I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a Double Dog Dare.  To .  remember ∂what a Double Dog Dare is, read on.  And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough

to know better and too young to care. 

Can you still remember Howdy  Doody and The Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and  Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk

How Many Of These Do You Remember?

Candy cigarettes 

Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside.

Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles. 

Coffee shops with Table Side Jukeboxes. 

Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum.

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers.

Newsreels before the movie

Telephone numbers with a word prefix ... ( Yukon 2-601).  Party lines.

Peashooters. 

&nab spa;

Hi-Fi's & 45 RPM records.

78 RPM records!

Green Stamps – Gold Bond Stamps – Gift House Stamps

Mimeograph paper.

The Fort Apache Play Set.

 

Do You Remember a Time When:  

Decisions were made by going 'eeny-meeny-miney-moe,' 

Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, 'Do Over!' 

'Race issue' meant arguing about who ran the fastest,

Catching The Fireflies Could Happily Occupy An Entire Evening,

It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best  Friends,

Having a Weapon in School meant being caught with a Slingshot,

Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for action figures,

'Oly-oly-oxen-free' made perfect sense,

Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles,

The Worst Embarrassment was being picked last for a team,

War was a card game,

Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a  motorcycle,

Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin,

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon,

If you can remember most or all of these, Then You Have Lived!!!

HAVE A LAUGH

Lunch Plans 
The teacher of the earth science class was lecturing on map reading. After explaining about latitude, longitude, degrees and minutes the teacher asked, "Suppose I asked you to meet me for lunch at 23 degrees, 4 minutes north latitude and 45 degrees, 15 minutes east longitude . . .?" After a confused silence, a voice volunteered, "I guess you'd be eating alone." 

Seems Fair 

A doctor calls his patient and says, "The check you gave me for my bill came back." The patient replied, "So did my arthritis!" 

The Price 

At a fabric store, a pretty girl spotted nice material for a dress and asks the male clerk, "How much does it cost?" "Only one kiss per yard," replied the clerk with a smirk. "That's fine," said the girl, "I'll take ten yards." In expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the clerk quickly measured out the cloth, wrapped it up and teasingly held it out. The girl took the bag and pointed to the old man standing beside her and said, "Grandpa will pay the bill!" 

Statistically Verifiable 

Research shows that 7/5th of all people do not understand fractions.

LOVE THAT COFFEE

Cup of coffee a day keeps the heart doctor away, study finds Published August 15, 2016.  

Heart-attack patients who drink one or two 'cup's of coffee a day are 20 percent less likely to die prematurely from heart damage compared to java teetotalers, a new study finds. The York University study tracked 3,721 heart-attack survivors in the UK, chronicling their coffee-drinking habits. It's not clear how coffee helps the human body. Previous studies have found that three to five 'cup's a day helped Parkinson's patients. Another found it helps fight liver cancer. 

APPLE ON THE MOVE

Apple could be planning 10.5-inch iPad Pro for 2017, flexy OLED iPad for 2018 The future is abundant with iPads, according to a new industry analyst report. by Katie Collins @ / August 15, 2016.  

iPads for one and all! CNET . At this point in the 21st century, it's safe to assume that the annual cycle of new Apple products is as regular as the progression of the lunar calendar. . A report released on Monday and spotted by MacRumors has given us a glimpse of what to expect from the tech giant in both 2017 and 2018. Three new iPads are slated for release next year, according to Ming-Chui Kuo, a KGI securities analyst with a strong track record of getting Apple predictions spot on. . Top of the bill will be a 10.5-inch iPad Pro , which should prove appealing to those who are keen to experience Apple's top tablet in a neat midsized package. It will be joined by a 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 and a more affordable 9. 7-inch iPad . . Kuo also predicts that Apple will adopt OLED technology for the iPad in 2018 -- something it is rumored to be implementing on the iPhone next year. The result will be the first iPad to feature a flexible screen, with the hardware upgrade accompanied by radical changes in the iPad's interface. . 

LIVE LONGER-READ

Book reading, long life linked, study suggests . Reading books is tied to a longer life, a new report suggests. Researchers used data on 3,635 people over 50 participating in a larger health study, the nationally representative, long-term Health and Retirement Study ongoing since 1992. Subjects answer questions about their reading habits when they first join the study. The scientists divided the sample into three groups: those who read no books, those who read books up to 31/2 hours a week, and those who read books more than 31/2 hours. The study, "A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading With Longevity," is reported in the September issue of Social Science & Medicine. It found that book readers tended to be female, college-educated and in higher income groups. So researchers controlled for those factors as well as age, race, self-reported health, depression, employment and marital status. Compared with those who did not read books, those who read for up to 31/2 hours a week were 17 percent less likely to die over 12 years of follow-up, and those who read more than that were 23 percent less likely to die. Book readers lived an average of almost two years longer than those who did not read at all. They found a similar, but weaker, association among those who read newspapers and periodicals. "People who report as little as a half-hour a day of book reading had a significant survival advantage over those who did not read," said the senior author, Becca R. Levy, a professor of epidemiology at Yale. The Health and Retirement Study is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration. 

FREE SCREEN READER FOR MICROSOFT

AFB Announces Learn NVDA, Free Online Video Tutorials

The American Foundation for the Blind is pleased to announce the availability of Learn NVDA, a series of FREE online video tutorials designed to help people who are blind or visually impaired learn how to use the computer and/or improve their computer skills.

The Learn NVDA tutorials cover how to use NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access), a free screen reader. The Learn NVDA tutorials will teach a person who is blind or visually impaired and entirely new to NVDA how to independently install the program and learn how to use it. Learn NVDA tutorials cover:

• How to install NVDA on a computer
• How to navigate Microsoft Windows with NVDA
• How to use NVDA Hotkeys
• How to install and use the Firefox Internet browser
• How to use Microsoft Word and Excel with NVDA

Each tutorial contains step-by step instructions with audio of a presenter using NVDA and video of the computer screen. Additional tutorials from AFB will be available soon.

To learn more, or to share information about Learn NVDA with people who may be interested in using the tutorials, go to www.afb.org/learnnvda.

DQ'S COMING TO CENTRAL ARKANSAS SOON-YEAH

Restaurant Transitions: DQ Grill & Chill opening soon, TracyCakes closing in September . A DQ Grill & Chill is headed for the plot of land (formerly Brandon House Furniture) next to the soon-to-open first Little Rock CVS pharmacy, just north of where West 12th Street meets South University Avenue, according to central Arkansas franchisee Blake Lively. He says this location and one in Sherwood -- on Country Club Road near Wildwood Avenue, expected to open in late 2016 -- will be the first of about a dozen central Arkansas DQ Grill & Chills that he and partners Nelson Lively, his father, and Todd Denton have in the planning stages.  The Minneapolis-based Dairy Queen chain is also looking at adding a lot more franchise operations in Arkansas. That includes 20 in Northwest Arkansas during the next five years.

TAKE CARE OF THOSE FEET-ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DIABETIC

4 quick-fixes for common foot care complaints By Stephen J. Praetorius Published August 11, 2016.  

When guys free their feet from the shackles of socks and actual shoes, the results are rarely good. More often than not, it's gross. And when you compound some nasty toes with bad bro sandals, you wind up with a below-the-ankle mess that torpedoes any outfit. When it comes to feet, a little effort can go a long way in getting yours ready to be seen by other humans. And so, we've compiled simple solutions to a few of summer's common foot care complaints, so you can close out this summer season with your best feet forward: 1.) How to de-green your nasty nails So you've spent every minute since Memorial Day walking around sans socks, and now you've started to notice that your nails have taken on a nasty hue. Makes sense, really. You see, socks tend to absorb sweat, keeping your shoes fungus free; stop wearing them, and your kicks can turn into a swampy mess right quick. Luckily, it's not particularly hard to turn your toes back to their regular color. Your best foot care weapon: tea tree oil. Naturally antiseptic, fungicidal and antibacterial, it'll easily help clear up any infection when applied twice daily to the affected nail. Soaking the nail in apple cider vinegar can also help. Neither of those work? Then go full force with a targeted antifungal treatment. Or see a doctor. They tend to know what to do. 2.) How to soften cracked, callused heels You know that layer of thick, hardened underfoot skin that's developed over the course of the season? Well, it has a purpose and that's to protect your soles from things like rocks, dirt and broken glass that might slice a less sturdy pelt. The trouble is, though, that it's not at all pleasant to look at, and how often do you plan on walking on dangerous terrain, anyway? Plus, it's more prone to dryness and cracking, which can lead to a lot of pain down the road. To get your callused heels in the best shape possible, there are two things you need: a pumice stone and a heavy-duty moisturizer. Use the former regularly, rubbing the harder parts of your skin to keep calluses at bay. Make sure to always follow that up with the latter, to keep newly exposed skin healthy and moisture-rich going forward. Trust us, your heels will thank you. 3.) What to do about ingrown toe nails If you've never had an ingrown nail, be thankful because these can seriously hurt. They happen when the corner of your nail starts to grow down instead of out, either due to an improper toenail cutting job or wearing shoes that are simply a bit too small. The trouble then arises as the nail starts to cut into the cuticle- especially during the summer months when the wound is exposed to the elements, making it prone to infection. So, the first thing you need to do is stop the nail from cutting deeper into the skin. You can do this by pulling the nail away from the skin, using a file or other blunt object, and wedging a bit of cotton in between the two. Warning: This will hurt, a lot, and if there's swelling, it may not be possible. To reduce that swelling and soften the nail, soak the affected toe in a saltwater bath for 10 to 15 minutes beforehand (this will also help with pain and any potential infection). Once you've got the cotton in there, put a bandage on the toe to give it a little padding, and apply a touch of antibiotic ointment. If, after all that and you've then given the toe some time to heal, you still don't have relief, go see a professional. 4.) How to treat stinky feet Got some unholy odor wafting up from between your toes? Well, as we've mentioned, a number of things could be to blame, especially if you've been going sockless for a while. 

A FEW THINGS TO TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE

Oh, That Explains It 
Little Emily, the minister's daughter, ran into the house, crying as though her heart would break. "What's wrong, dear?" asked the pastor. "My doll! Billy broke it!" she sobbed. "How did he break it, Emily?" "I hit him over the head with it." 

Restless Natives 

An anthropologist was assigned to Borneo, where he found a guide with a canoe to take him up the river to the remote site he where he would make his collections. At noon on the second day of travel up the river they began to hear drums. "What are those drums?" asked the anthropologist, knowing he was in cannibal country. The guide turned to him and said "No worry. Drums OK, but very bad when they stop." They both went ghostly pale when the drums suddenly stopped. The guide crouched in the belly of the canoe and covered his ears. "Do as I do! Very important!" intoned the guide with great urgency. "Why? What does this mean?" asked the panicked anthropologist. "Drums stop! Next come guitar solo!" 

The Prerequisite 

I asked the children in the Sunday School class I taught, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?" "NO!" the children all answered. "If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?" Again, the answer was, "NO!" "Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my wife, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again. Again, they all answered, "NO!" I was feeling pretty good about their level of spiritual understanding. "Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?" A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!" 

Quick Thoughts 

• A cop just knocked on my door and told me my dogs were chasing people on bikes. Ridiculous. My dogs don't even own bikes!
• A good pun is its own reword.
• A little boy was overheard praying, "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
• All the toilets in New York's police stations have been stolen. The police have nothing to go on.
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away. An onion a day keeps everyone away.
• As I was carrying a heavy piece of sound equipment from our praise band's rehearsal studio to the sanctuary of our church, my wife suggested I use a dolly. How Raggedy Ann could help, I don't know.

FAINTING-DO YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED

9 reasons why you feel lightheaded- and when to be concerned By Sarah Klein Published August 08, 2016. 

Ever fainted? It's terrifying, but 90 percent of people who have passed out are absolutely fine, said Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, MBBS, clinical epidemiologist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. As for the other 10 percent, an underlying health condition, like an abnormal heart rhythm, is to blame, and that could mean potentially serious health concerns down the road.  Fainting, no matter why it happens, is the result of a short period of time when the brain's blood supply is decreased, explained Dr. Lawrence Phillips, an assistant professor of medicine in the cardiology division at New York University's Langone Medical Center. "The cause can stem from many different parts of the body, including a person's blood pressure going down, heart rate going down, and from neurologic reasons independent of the heart," he said. "We try to find out why the blood pressure or heart rate would go down. Some of these reasons are common and not worrisome, but others need more evaluation. Even if you don't faint from it, that drop in blood pressure or heart rate can cause lightheadedness, that very specific yet hard to describe feeling that you might pass out. (Dizziness, on the other hand, can include lightheadedness, but it also comes with the feeling that the room is spinning around you.) It's tricky to know when fainting or lightheadedness is a cause for concern-even doctors often feel stumped, which is why Thiruganasambandamoorthy has developed a screening tool that could help predict whether or not a person who has fainted is likely to have an underlying health problem.  And no matter what, play it safe by seeking medical attention for any new symptoms, or ones that don't resolve themselves.  You're dehydrated. Some people are simply predisposed to feeling lightheaded or even fainting when they get hot and sweaty and lose too much fluid. "It's common in a hot room, like standing in church in the summer," Thiruganasambandamoorthy said. "Heat triggers a pathway in the nervous system that causes blood pressure to drop. When you feel lightheaded because of dehydration and heat, lying down resupplies the heart and the brain with blood and you can feel better pretty quickly, he said. (Here's how to tell if you're dangerously dehydrated .) You're bowled over by a surprise. A similar reaction can be triggered when your college roommate jumps out from behind the couch at your surprise 50th birthday party. Your nervous system essentially goes into overdrive in these scenarios, Thiruganasambandamoorthy said, and your blood pressure drops suddenly, leading to lightheadedness. Usually, you do get a little bit of a warning if you're really going to faint: You might turn a little green and feel nauseated, he said.  You stood up too quickly. Feeling lightheaded or even seeing black spots in your vision when you hop up quickly from a seated position actually has a name: orthostatic hypotension, which describes a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing. It's usually no biggie, but if it happens a lot or if it gets worse instead of better after a few minutes have passed, it's worth bringing up with your doctor. You might have an abnormal heart rhythm. Compared to the relatively slow onset of symptoms caused by "Surprise! -related fainting, heart-related fainting comes on fast, so you might not even notice any lightheadedness. An irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia, means your heart beats either too slow or too fast, which can in turn affect the blood supply that reaches your brain, Phillips said. This kind of sudden fainting, often without any warning, is most concerning, said Melissa S. Burroughs Peña, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco. "Someone might be in the middle of talking and all of a sudden pass out and wake up on the floor without remembering feeling anything beforehand. That kind of experience immediately makes emergency docs think of abnormal heart rhythms, she said, which are the most common cause of sudden cardiac death. Or a problem with a heart valve. These are typically congenital issues, Burroughs Peña said, and are more likely to occur in younger people, whereas people 60 and up are at a higher risk of an arrhythmia. Valve problems can restrict blood flow and may cause lightheadedness or dizziness, especially during exercise, she said.  Your medication's to blame. Certain meds, like painkillers and some anti-anxiety pills, can produce dizziness or lightheadedness, Burroughs Peña said, either because they affect your brain directly or they slow your heart rate or lower your blood pressure in a way that can provoke those symptoms, Phillips said. "Sometimes when a patient has recurrent lightheadedness and I can't explain why, I'll be surprised to find it listed among less common side effects in pharmacy reports," Burroughs Peña said, so your doctor may need to double-check your medication list. There's also a small chance you could be allergic to a med you're taking, she adds. In rare instances when people have an anaphylactic reaction to a med, they might become lightheaded or even pass out. "It's a very dramatic immune system reaction," she said, which results in the blood vessels dilating and blood pressure dropping. "It's still a blood pressure change that causes the lightheadedness, but it's an immune reaction that causes it," she explained. You could be having a stroke. If you feel lightheaded (or dizzy) in conjunction with muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, or numbness and tingling, a stroke may be behind the symptoms, Phillips said, and you should seek emergency medical attention immediately. The decrease in blood flow to the brain that leads to feeling lightheaded could be caused by a blood clot in the brain, Burroughs Peña said, which can cause what's called an ischemic stroke. You skipped lunch. And now you're hangry. Low blood sugar can lead to lightheadedness if your brain isn't getting the fuel-aka glucose-that it needs. Rather than an issue of heart rate or blood pressure, this is more of a metabolic concern, Burroughs Peña said. Most of the time, grabbing a bite to eat will resolve your symptoms. But if you have diabetes and take medication to lower blood sugar, lightheadedness might be a sign your blood sugar is dipping dangerously, she adds, which can lead to seizures and unconsciousness. You have the flu. Blame dehydration and low blood sugar: You probably don't feel much like eating or drinking, but both can keep lightheadedness and other awful flu symptoms at bay, Burroughs Peña said. 

THERE'S MORE THAN YOU THINK TO THAT WONDERFUL KETCHUP

The truth about ketchup By Janet Rausa Fuller Published August 08, 2016. 

How did ketchup become America's favorite condiment?  What you know-- or think you know-- about ketchup, you've known all along. It is made with tomatoes. It is not a vegetable. You put it on burgers, fries, meatloaf, hash browns, and hot dogs (except if you're from Chicago, in which case NEVER). And it's as American as apple pie. Or is it? Actually, ketchup's surprising origins, as told by Stanford University professor Dan Jurafsky, go all the way back to 17th-century China. In short, ketchup started out as fish sauce, and it didn't have tomatoes. It has evolved since then, and its current popularity is undisputed. There is ketchup right this minute in 92 percent of U.S. households, according to the NPD Group, a research firm. Maybe (probably) it's store-bought; maybe it's homemade. Either way, we rarely go without it. Here's the rest of story on this sweet and tangy staple and how to get the most out of it. A fishy start Jurafsky says it was Vietnamese fishermen who introduced fermented fish sauce to Chinese traders traveling from their base in the southern Chinese province of Fujian. The Chinese called it ke-tchup. (They also called it ge-tchup or kue-chiap; there was no one tidy English translation. Still, today, "tchup" means "sauce" in some dialects, according to Jurafsky.) And they brought the savory sauce further into Southeast Asia, where the seafaring British took a fancy to it, fiddled around with it, and eventually turned Americans on to it. Ketchup went 18th-century viral, basically. Enter the tomato Anchovies, mushrooms, walnuts, and oysters were common base ingredients for ketchup until the early 1800s, when tomatoes started showing up in recipes, Jurafsky says. Ketchup turned sweeter in the mid-19th century with the addition of sugar to suit the American palate, according to Andrew F. Smith, author of Pure Ketchup.  In 1871, Heinz sold its first tomato ketchup. The brand, and flavor, remain synonymous with ketchup. What's in store-bought ketchup? Ketchup, as the FDA now defines it, is tomato concentrate mixed with some combination of vinegar, sweeteners, and "spices, flavorings, onions, or garlic. Those flavorings can run the gamut; Heinz's line-up includes bacon, jalapeño, and Sriracha. High-fructose corn syrup is the common sweetener, so check labels if you want to avoid it. Ketchup from small producers and "natural" and certified organic versions of commercial brands typically use cane sugar instead of corn syrup. Reduced-sugar ketchup gets its sweetness from a sugar substitute, while no-salt ketchup contains a salt substitute. A fruity option Banana ketchup, a.k.a. banana sauce, is a popular Filipino condiment and yes, it's made with bananas, not tomatoes, plus vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices. It's thicker and fruitier than regular ketchup. Food coloring gives it its bright red hue. Find banana ketchup in Asian grocery stores and some well-stocked supermarkets. Jufran is the most popular brand. To refrigerate or not to refrigerate? "Refrigerate after opening. It says it on pretty much every bottle of ketchup, and so you do it. But you don't have to-not if you use ketchup regularly. An opened bottle will stay fresh in your pantry for one month, and an unopened bottle for at least a year, according to USDA guidelines. That's because ketchup's acidity, thanks to vinegar, makes it shelf-stable, says Jessica Ryan, director of brand building at Heinz. But if you want your ketchup to last longer and taste its best, the consensus among experts is to keep it in the fridge. An opened bottle will last six months refrigerated. This goes for both classic ketchup and any flavored varieties. If you lose track of how long that bottle's been sitting around, trust your instincts. Check for mold or an off flavor or smell. Ketchup shouldn't taste fishy-not any more. 

MORE INFO LEAKS OUT ABOUT THE IPHONE 7

iPhone 7 may sport pressure-sensitive home button, Space Black paint job And circling back.  The new phones will ditch the headphone jack in favor of stereo speakers. by Lance Whitney @ / August 8, 2016.  

The iPhone 7 may not be a major upgrade, but it could offer several new features.  The iPhone 7 is likely to debut in another month, and rumors about its features continue to pour in. Apple is planning to revamp the home button to use pressure-sensitive technology.  Instead of offering a physical button that you press down to trigger an action, the new iPhone 7 will feature a non-physical button that vibrates to let you know you've touched it. This rumor was also tipped off by Japanese blog site Makotakara in late July. The latest report reaffirms the long-running rumors that Apple's next iPhone will offer only modest changes. With the iPhone sales on a downslide over the past few quarters, Apple needs something big to draw in buyers. Another much-rumored feature also served up by Bloomberg's sources is a dual-camera system for the iPhone 7 Plus. The dual cameras on the larger-screened iPhone would create brighter, more detailed photos, according to someone who snapped some shots with a prototype of the new phone. The dual sensors would each take their own photos, which then merge into a single image. This would allow your zoomed-in photos to retain better clarity and produce sharper images under low-light conditions, the source said. . The new iPhones, according to Bloomberg, will also ditch the traditional 3.5mm audio jack, another rumor that's been making the rounds. In its place would be a second speaker, giving the iPhone stereo speakers for the first time. Instead of using audio cables that plug into the traditional jack, people would use wireless headphones and speakers or ones that plug into the Lightning port. Adapters would likely be available that would let you continue to use your existing audio accessories. . Finally, the iPhone 7 will come in a new Space Black color.  If true, Space Black would mimic the same color available for the Apple Watch . . 

TO THE MOON ALLICE!

Moon Express approved for private lunar landing in 2017, a space first By Mike Wall, Published August 04, 2016.  

For the first time ever, a private company has permission to land on the moon. The U.S. government has officially approved the planned 2017 robotic lunar landing of Florida-based Moon Express, which aims to fly commercial missions to Earth's nearest neighbor and help exploit its resources, company representatives announced Wednesday. "This is not only a milestone, but really a threshold for the entire commercial space industry," Moon Express co-founder and CEO Bob Richards said.  Previously, companies had been able to operate only on or around Earth. The new approval, while exclusive to Moon Express, could therefore serve as an important regulatory guide for deep-space commercial activity in general, Richards said. "Nobody's had a deep-sea voyage yet. We're still charting those waters," he said. "Somebody had to be first. Moon Express submitted an application to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 8. The document then made its way through the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission, Richards said. The interagency approval process "took some time, not because anybody was against or averse to this," he said. "It's just that we asked questions that had never been asked before, and that had to be addressed and worked out. Moon Express can now focus exclusively on the financial and technical challenges of the 2017 moon mission, which will begin with the launch of the company's MX-1 lander atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster. (Moon Express signed a multilaunch deal with Rocket Lab last year.) The main goal of the maiden launch is to test out the MX-1's performance and capability on the lunar surface. Moon Express representatives also hope to win the Google Lunar X-Prize, a $30 million competition to land a privately funded robotic vehicle on the moon by the end of 2017. The first team to pull off this landing - and get the vehicle to move at least 1,640 feet (500 meters) on the lunar surface, and beam high-definition video and photos back to Earth - will win the $20 million grand prize. (The second team to achieve all of this gets $5 million, and another $5 million is available for meeting other milestones. At the moment, 16 teams remain in the running.) "We're still shooting for the end of 2017," Richards said of the maiden MX-1 moon mission. "A lot has to go right, but at least we have a shot at our moon shot, given this regulatory approval. If all goes according to plan, future Moon Express missions will help assess, extract and exploit lunar resources such as water ice, helping to launch a new era in space exploration, company representatives have said. "Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children," Moon Express co-founder and Chairman Naveen Jain said in a statement today. "In the immediate future, we envision bringing precious resources, metals and moon rocks back to Earth. In 15 years, the moon will be an important part of Earth's economy, and potentially our second home. 

DON'T WORRY-BE HAPPY

Elders with negative attitude about aging may be less resilient to stress Published August 04, 2016.  

Older adults with a positive attitude about aging may be more resilient to stress, according to a new study. "Previous research has generally found the same thing, a more positive attitude is beneficial," said coauthor Jennifer Bellingtier, of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "People with positive attitudes are less likely to be hospitalized and tend to live longer," she said. The researchers had 43 adults, ages 60 to 96, answer questions about their experience with aging in general, like feeling more or less useful now than when they were younger, or more or less happy. Then, on a daily basis for eight days, participants completed questionnaires that asked about stressful events and negative emotions like fear, irritability or distress. As reported in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, people with more positive attitudes about aging generally tended to report consistent emotional states across the eight-day period, regardless of stressors. But among those with more negative attitudes, emotions fluctuated depending on their stressors. For older adults, stress often centers on relations with family or friends, while for younger people it may more often be related to work, Bellingtier said. Almost all cardiovascular functions tend to be worse in people with more negative reactions to stress, she said. "The media presents a distorted view of aging, making jokes about mental and physical incompetence," Bellingtier said. "The more you're exposed to it the more you're picking up those stereotypes. In fact, she said, older adults are often happier with their lives than people in their 20s or 30s, given their real world life experience and time to develop meaningful relationships. She and her coauthors tried to account for personality in general as well, since people who are generally positive may have more positive attitudes about aging. Becca Levy of the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut, has also studied this question, although she wasn't part of this new study. She said that negative age stereotypes can exacerbate older individuals' stress experience, while positive age stereotypes can buffer their experience of stress. "In a recent intervention study with older individuals, we found that it is possible to bolster positive age stereotypes and reduce negative age stereotypes," Levy said. 

OIB van

Folks,
I believe some of you were meeting next week at WSB. We need to reschedule as the van is being repaired and won't be back until about the 20th. No, Earl or I did not wreck it!!! Apparently it developed a serious lift malfunction which requires sending it away for repair.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Helen will let you know when it is back, operational and we can meet again!

Stay cool!
Dr. Janet

THOSE AMAZING DOGS

? Smart Dog! It's hard to conceive of a more brilliant tool than a canine's nose for sniffing out danger in public places BY JOSHUA LEVINE.  

When I first meet a young Labrador named Merry, she is clearing her nostrils with nine or ten sharp snorts before she snuffles along a row of luggage pieces, all different makes and models. They're lined up against the wall of a large hangar on a country road outside Hartford, Connecticut. This is where MSA Security trains what are known in the security trade as explosive detection canines, or EDCs. Most people call them bomb dogs. The luggage pieces joined shrink-wrapped pallets, car-shaped cutouts, and concrete blocks on the campus of MSA's "Bomb Dog U. Dogs don't need to be taught how to smell, of course, but they do need to be taught where to smell-along the seams of a suitcase, say, or underneath a pallet, where the vapors that are heavier than air settle. In the shrouded world of bomb-dog education, MSA is an elite ­academy. Its teams deploy mostly to the country's big cities, and each dog works with one specific handler, ­usually for eight or nine years. MSA also furnishes dogs for what it ­describes only as "a government agency referred to by three initials for use in Middle East conflict zones. Strictly speaking, the dog doesn't smell the bomb. It deconstructs an odor into its components, picking out the culprit chemicals it has been trained to detect. Zane Roberts, MSA's former lead canine trainer and current program manager, uses a cooking analogy: "When you walk into a kitchen where someone is making spaghetti sauce, your nose says, Aha, spaghetti sauce. A dog's nose doesn't say that. Instinctively, it says tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, onion, oregano. It's the handler who says spaghetti sauce or, in this case, bomb. MSA's dogs arrive at headquarters when they are between a year and a year and a half old. They begin building their vocabulary of suspicious odors by working with rows of more than 100 identical cans laid out in a grid. Ingredients from the basic chemical families of explosives are placed in random cans. Merry works eagerly down the row, wagging her tail briskly and pulling slightly on the leash. This is a bomb dog's idea of a good time. Snort, snort, sniff, snort, snort, sniff, snort, snort, sniff. Suddenly, Merry sits down. All bomb dogs are schooled to respond this way when they've found what they're looking for. No one wants a dog pawing and scratching at something that could explode. "Good dog," says Roberts. He reaches into a pouch on his belt for the kibble that is the working dog's wage. It would be tough to conceive of a better smelling machine than a dog. Thirty-five percent of a dog's brain is assigned to smell-related operations, whereas a human brain lends only 5 percent of its cellular resources to the task. In her book Inside of a Dog , Alexandra Horowitz, a psychologist at Barnard College, notes that while a human might smell a teaspoon of sugar in a 'cup' of coffee, a dog could detect a teaspoon in a million gallons of water-nearly enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools. Where bomb dogs have really proved their mettle is on the battlefield. Before joining MSA as vice president of operations, Joe Atherall commanded Company C of the Marines 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The unit had three dog teams attached to it. "One day, intel directed us to a school, but we didn't find a lot. Then we brought in the dogs," recalls Atherall. "There were French drains around the outside of the school, and the dogs started hitting on them. When we opened them up, we found an extensive IED cache, small arms weapons, and mortar rounds, along with det cord and other explosive material. Detonation cord is the dog whistle of odors, with nearly unsmellable vapor pressure. "I loved those dogs," says Atherall. "They were lifesavers. It is hard to imagine a more high-hearted warrior than a dog. The canines work for love, they work for praise, they work for food, but mostly they work for the fun of it. "It's all just a big game to them," says Mike Wynn, MSA's director of canine training. "The best bomb dogs are the dogs that really like to play. This doesn't mean that war is a lark for dogs. In 2007, Army veterinarians started seeing dogs that showed signs of canine post-traumatic stress disorder. "We're seeing dogs that are over-responsive to sights and sounds or that become hypervigilant-like ­humans that are shaken up after a car accident," says Walter Burghardt, of the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Caught early enough, says Burghardt, half the affected dogs can be treated and returned to active duty. "The other half just have to find something else to do for a living. Because of the emotional wear on the dogs, scientists have been trying to build a machine that can out-smell the animals. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, scientists are working on ionization technology to "see" vapors the way a dog does-the same basic technology used by security officers at an airport but far more sensitive. On the other hand, says Robert Ewing, a senior research scientist, dogs have been doing this job for years. "I don't know that you could ever replace them.