Smile......

The Old Couple at McDonald's

The little old couple walked slowly into McDonald's that cold winter evening. They looked out of place amid the young families and young couples eating there that night. Some of the customers looked admiringly at them.

You could tell what the admirers were thinking: "Look, there is a couple who has been through a lot together, probably for 60 years or more!"

The little old man walked right up to the cash register, placed his order with no hesitation and then paid for their meal. The couple took a table near the back wall and started taking food off of the tray. There was one hamburger, one order of french fries and one drink.

The little old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half. He placed one half in front of his wife. Then he carefully counted out the french fries, divided them in two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife. He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip and then set the cup down between them.

As the man began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the crowd began to get restless. Again you could tell what they were thinking: "That poor old couple. All they can afford is one meal for the two of them." As the man began to eat his french fries one young man stood and came over to the old couple's table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple to eat. The old man replied that they were just fine. They were used to sharing everything.

Then the crowd noticed that the little old lady hadn't eaten a bite. She just sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink. Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy them something to eat. The man again explained that no, they were used to sharing everything together.

As the little old man finished eating and was wiping his face neatly with a napkin, the young man could stand it no longer. Again he came over to their table and offered to buy some food. After being politely refused again, he finally asked a question of the little old lady: "Ma'am, why aren't you eating? You said that you share everything. What is it that you are waiting for?"

She answered ...  "The teeth."

Sent from my iPad

Weekend humor......

Senior Citizen Discount

"$5.37." That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me.

I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the hardest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68," he said cheerfully.

I stood there stupefied. I am 56, not even 60 yet. A mere child! Senior citizen?

I took my burrito and walked out to the truck, wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me?

I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.

Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?

"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?"

I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"

I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing.

That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror.

Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.

Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.

Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?"

All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here"? At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.

Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake."

I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.

She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.

As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

Sent from my iPad

A little history of the peach.....

The amazing, delicious peach
By Chris Kilham

It comes from the far northwestern Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang, between the Kunlun mountains along the Tibetan plateau, and the Tarim Basin. There it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. It made its way to Persia along the fabled Silk Road on the backs of humpy camels, where it became widely cultivated and vastly popular. It became a favorite delicacy of emperors and kings, its praises were sung in the Arabian Nights, and it is found on every dignified platter of fruit in the Middle East. Its scientific name, Prunus persica suggests that it came from Persia, though it originated in China. Today it is canned by the thousands of tons in California. It is known as the "fruit of calmness" in Hungary, and its tree has been referred to as the tree of life. We all know it as the peach.

In a world of super fruits, exotic Amazonian berries, rare arctic edible treasures and furry pod fruits from the equator, the peach may seem like just another piece of fruit to munch on. And it is that too, having become a favored food in Europe and the US. We can thank Christopher Columbus for bringing peaches to the North American continent on his second and third voyages. In season during the summer months, the various varieties of peaches make their way to farm stands, grocery stores and markets all over the world, where for a brief period of time, the succulent peach reigns seasonally supreme. When a peach is truly ripe, it will run all over you when you eat it. That is part of the fun and sensory experience of this fruit.

Peaches get you involved. You don't eat fresh peaches in a stodgy way. Peaches invite you to bust loose a bit. Bite into one, and the juice runs down your face, and what juice it is! Imbued with more than 80 compounds that comprise its memorable and complex aroma, the peach hits you with a good dose of fruity perfume. And once the juicy flesh starts to break up in your mouth, all heaven breaks loose. Really good peaches, especially those grown organically, are stunningly sweet and flavorful. Heavenly is not too strong a word for the flavor experience. Super fruit? Sure, why not. Peaches are loaded with potent antioxidants, just like the highly touted berries and other stars of the fruit world. Chlorogenic acids, catechins, anthocyanins and other brawny, cell-saving antioxidants imbue this fruit with protective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy flavor. And the delicious and slippery fiber of the fruit makes a good contribution to a healthy digestive tract and thorough intestinal elimination. What's not super about that?

With over 700 varieties to choose from, you're not likely to run out of peach types to try. Even nectarines, which are often presumed to be unique fruits, are actually peaches, just with smooth skin and a different type of flesh. From flat peaches that are slightly sour to fat peaches that are stunningly sweet, peaches vary greatly. Peaches are rich in vitamin A and C, both of which are good for healthy skin. This may account for the widespread use of peach in cosmetic products. The average peach contains a measly 35 - 50 calories, and zero fat. Translation- you can fill yourself up with peaches and not put on pounds. Many people consider fruits to be the pinnacle of nature's edible bounty. Fruits delight us in countless ways, and most regions of the world have contributed their own special fruits to the global mix. Peaches, from far-off northwestern China, have become beloved for good reasons. They are delicious, fragrant, very good for you, nutritious, protective and health-imbuing in a variety of ways. You can eat them with impunity and only contribute to your health. And they are fun to eat. In short, there's a lot to love about peaches.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at MedicineHunter.com .

AARP and Intel join for cheap tablet

Tech-shy baby boomers get low-cost tablet from AARP, Intel
Agam Shah


Technology can be daunting for users of a certain age, but Intel and AARP are offering help with a simple-to-use tablet.

The RealPad tablet is aimed at users who are 50 and older, the age range for AARP membership, and shy of technology. Simplicity is key: The tablet provides quick access to email, Web sites, social networks, multimedia and ebooks through a user interface with large icons.

“Now there’s no excuse for not having a tablet. RealPad makes it easy to connect, share and learn,” the RealPad website proclaims.

The tablet, which has a 7.85-inch screen and is based on the Android OS, will sell for $189 starting in mid-October through Walmart’s website.

Popular tablets like Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab are being used by toddlers and older people alike. But the RealPad has some features that could make it attractive for technology neophytes.

The user interface has large icons for one-click access to email, social networks, weather, news, games, entertainment, camera and pictures, and Google’s search engine. A bar at the bottom of the screen has icons for AARP, the Web, apps and tablet-fixing tools. A specific icon connects users to technology support agents over the Internet who can access the tablet and fix problems. There are also icons to access Google Play and advanced tools.

The tablet weighs 396 grams—heavier than the 331-gram iPad Mini, which also has a 7.85-inch diagonal screen. The RealPad has a 2-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 16GB of storage and a micro-SD slot for expandable storage. It runs on Intel’s older dual-core Z2520 processor.

For now, the tablet, made by a contract manufacturer for Intel, will be sold only in the U.S.

Intel’s trying to expand its presence in the tablet market through devices aimed at specific groups of users such as students. Intel Labs have also been researching telemedicine technologies so it’s easier to monitor patients remotely.

Blind friendly app

For blind bus riders, a new app boosts independence
Published September 03, 2014

A new smartphone app helps blind people navigate public transit in the Seattle area. The app, called StopInfo, is integrated into a popular existing app called OneBusAway that gives real time information on the location of city buses. StopInfo adds details that help blind riders find the bus stop.

"When a user wants detailed information about a transit stop, he or she touches a button and the system displays details, such as where the stop is in relation to street intersections, whether there is a bench and trash can, what the shape of the sign pole is . . . This information can be read out loud for blind users of the phone, using VoiceOver mode," explained Alan Borning in email to Reuters Health. Borning is a professor at the University of Washington. His graduate students created the new application.

While StopInfo sources most of its information from the King County Metro database, it also relies on information from community users, blind and otherwise. To make sure the information added by users is correct, the app uses a voting system, where each submission counts as a vote. To be verified, a submission must have at least three votes and 75% of submissions must be in agreement. StopInfo is freely available and runs on iOS (iPhone), Android, and Windows Phone platforms, and also via SMS, interactive voice response, and the Web. It's been widely used, according to Caitlin Bonnar, one of the app's creators. She told Reuters Health by email that StopInfo "is accessed, on average, around a thousand times a day since we launched in late February, indicating that it is also used by the general population. We have received around 1,300 information submissions for 845 unique bus stops around Seattle since then.

With StopInfo gaining in popularity, its creators recruited six middle-aged users for a small study of how it affects the way blind people travel. Three participants were completely blind; the others had varying levels of usable vision. Four lived in Seattle suburbs, while two lived in urban centers. The results, which will be presented at the Association for Computing Machinery's annual conference in October and are reported in the Association's Assets '14 publication, show that StopInfo is generally helpful for blind riders and can promote spontaneous and unfamiliar travel. The study lasted about five weeks, during which participants were asked to fill out web forms with details of 10 to 20 trips they took during that period. The participants were already skilled at traveling independently and using smartphones, and so the researchers note that they may not reflect the general population. Borning says participants, "found the system usable and the information helpful . . . All participants said they would continue using StopInfo after the study.

He and his students were most interested in three elements: usability, independence and safety. Independence was particularly important, as this is a constant struggle for blind people and was rated as very important by participants. The results suggest that the app supports independence. Participants said on 29 (38%) of their web forms that they would not normally have attempted the trip they were taking and consulted StopInfo on 26 (89%) of these trips. StopInfo did not significantly affect feelings of safety, however - and the researchers fear users might feel vulnerable to mugging while using their smartphones in public. In on-foot audits, the researchers found that the app's information was 100% accurate in nearly all categories. Jeff Switzer, of the King County Department of Transportation, told Reuters Health by email that his department has worked with the creators "to put measures in place that can monitor the system and bring any data vandalism to their attention for follow-up and correction.

Although its companion app, OneBusAway, operates in several cities across the country, StopInfo is currently limited to the Seattle area. Borning, who was also involved in creating OneBusAway, feels that for now, StopInfo is best kept as a pilot program. It needs to be evaluated over a longer period, he said, "to see how useful it is for a larger number of people, to see whether we can sustain participation in entering and verifying information, and to see how well it fits with transit agency operations. Marion Hersh of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, who studies assistive technology and disability but was not involved in the new research, agrees. She emphasizes the importance of standardizing the app across the transit systems of different cities so that blind people can move between them easily. Ideally, the system would "work at all bus stops preferably worldwide," Hersh told Reuters Health by email. Borning is optimistic about these kinds of tools. "We are in an exciting time for supporting the independence of blind and low vision people -- and people with disabilities more generally - using off-the-shelf technology like smart phones," he said.

Low carb study

Low-carb diets may beat low-fat options for weight loss, heart health
Published September 02, 2014

A low-carbohydrate diet is better for losing weight and may also be better for lowering the risk of heart disease than a low-fat diet, according to a new study. While low-carb diets have outperformed other diets when it comes to weight loss, some researchers feared they might be worse for heart health because they tend to be high in fat.

The new study shows that with proper nutritional counseling, people can lose more weight and lower their risk factors for heart disease on a low-carbohydrate diet, said the lead author, Dr. Lydia Bazzano of Tulane University in New Orleans. "This study shows if you are overweight and have cardiovascular disease risk factors and haven't had success on other diets, certainly a low-carbohydrate diet is worth a try," said Bazzano. Carbohydrates are found in food and include sugar, fiber and starches that give the body energy. Some carbs - like those in whole grains and fruits - are healthier than others - like those in white bread and other processed foods. Bazzano and her colleagues write in Annals of Internal Medicine that low-carb diets have become popular weight loss strategies in recent years. Studies on their effects on cardiovascular risk factors have produced mixed results, however.

For the new study, she and her colleagues recruited 148 obese men and women between the ages of 22 and 75. None of the participants had heart disease or diabetes. Half were randomly assigned to follow a low-carbohydrate diet for a year, and the other half were assigned to a low-fat diet for a year. They were told to not change their physical activity throughout the trial. All participants attended regular meetings where they learned about portion control, healthy eating and overall nutrition. They were also offered one meal-replacement bar or shake per day. The only difference between the groups was the proportions of carbohydrate and fat in their diets. Those in the low-carbohydrate group were told to eat at no more than 40 grams of digestible carbohydrates per day. ("Digestible carbs" equals total carbs minus total fiber.) Those in the low-fat group were told not to get more than 30 percent of their daily energy from fat and no more than 55 percent of their daily energy from carbohydrates. Overall, about four of every five participants were still following the diets 12 months later. During that time, the researchers found, people on the low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight and more body fat than those on the low-fat diet. The difference in lost weight between the two groups would represent about eight additional pounds. Additionally, the researchers saw no increases in total cholesterol or "bad" LDL cholesterol between the two groups. Bazzano said that's good news since some thought a low-carbohydrate diet would increase cholesterol levels. Those in the low-carbohydrate group had lower levels of fat circulating in their blood and had lower scores on a measure often used to predict the risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. "I thought that was a very striking finding," Bazzano said. She added that the score that predicts risk of future heart attacks and strokes was computed after the study was finished and is less reliable than the other risk factors they measured.

 Dr. David Jenkins, who wasn't involved in the study, told Reuters Health, "This doesn't look to me to say 'eat all the meats you want to lower your carbohydrates. That's just one way to do it. Instead, Jenkins said, people in this study appeared to improve their overall diets. For example, they were eating foods with healthier fats, such as nuts and beans. He also said they seemed to eat more fiber and cut down on processed foods with more carbohydrates. "I think it's another testament to what one can do with a more plant-based diet using the right macronutrient profile," said Jenkins of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and the Keenan Research Centre at St. Michael's Hospital.

Bazzano agreed that the overall diets improved among the participants and they were encouraged to eat healthier forms of protein like chicken, fish, nuts and beans. She also said her team is not sure why people on the low-carbohydrate diets lost more weight and had lower risk factors for heart disease after one year. It's not clear, she added,if there would still be a difference after a longer period.

Diabetes update

Everyone,
If you have diabetes and do not have an endocrinologist, please give me a call. We have a partnership which will be very beneficial for you.
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet