Oak Tree PT Blog

Brad Paisley: "Then" @ CMT Music Awards 2009

2009-06-18T23:45:00.002-05:00

Brad Paisley More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

That's why I'll always have a job, IY"H

2008-12-24T19:58:00.006-05:00

I treated the boss's daughter today, who admitted to playing basketball in three-inch heels!

A better story though, is the Nigerian soccer goalie who went to sleep after watching soccer the first night he got ESPN, and injured himself falling out of bed while dreaming he was diving to block a goal!

MA Rollers Back On Sale

2008-12-21T21:16:00.008-05:00

MA Rollers priced to sell! On sale again at TheMARoller.com. No coupon code needed; the discount will be applied upon checkout. Enjoy in robust good health!

Health & the Economy

2008-12-21T21:01:00.002-05:00

You want fries with that?

2008-12-20T20:44:00.005-05:00

"In testimony before the the Senate Armed Services Committee in February 2003, General Eric Shinseki [Obama's excellent choice to head the V.A. Administration], the army chief of staff, expressed the view that occupying Iraq might pose a daunting challenge and could require several hundred thousand troops. This departed from the Bush administration's vague but rosy preictions about the war and its aftermath. Shiseki's candor elicited immediate rebukes from Rumsfeld and his deputy. The general's estimate was "wildly off the mark", an obviously annoyed Wolfowitz informed the press. Shinseki became persona non grata and was soon ushered into retirement.

Shinseki's fate offered an object lesson to his peers. In Rumsfeld's Pentagon, generals did not ask questions; they did not express independent views, even to Congress; they did as they were told. No one got the word quicker than General Tommy Franks, the officer who as commander of the U.S. Central Command planned and implemented the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. When it came to pleasing Rumsfeld, Franks was nothing if not eager. Asked by President Bush prior to the Iraq War to offer his own views, the general replied, "Sir, I think exactly what my secretary thinks, what he's ever thought, whatever he will think, or whatever he thought he might think.""

Andrew J. Becevich, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism (Holt and Co.; New York, 2008): pp. 98 - 99.

Andrew J. Bacevich is a professor of history and international relations at Boston University, retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel. He is the author of The New American Militarism, among other books. His writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He is the recipient of a Lannan award and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

(initial italics & bold mine)

The New Purina Diet: Lose Weight & Maintain Proper Nutrition

2006-11-04T21:02:00.000-05:00

This story was posted on a discussion board to which I belong:

A stupid question deserves an appropriate answer....

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for my Labrador Retriever and was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again . . . although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

Horrified, she asked if I'd been poisoned and was that why I was in the hospital. I said no . . .

I'd been sitting in the street scratching myself behind the ears and a car hit me.

I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.

MA Rollers on Sale: $10 off this month

2006-10-02T23:24:00.000-05:00

Copy this code: FallSavings06

Paste it into the appropriate discount box at checkout to receive a $10 discount on each MA Roller you order this month (October 2006) at:

THEMARoller.com

Beware: We're not kidding! (I think this says it all)

2006-10-02T23:21:00.000-05:00

You killed it!

2006-10-02T22:57:00.000-05:00

It's been a while . . . I hope to get back into the swing.

I have to say, though, you spammers killed the forum.

It was on its way out anyway: I had hoped to start some actual conversations among Therapists about Therapy-related topics. Nobody was interested, I guess, and so I was going to kill it anyway. The spam postings just hastened its demise.

I may try it some other time. I still think it would be exciting to see those conversations going, if anyone has the time or the interest. Massage Therapists have quite a lot of interchange on several sites, but I've never seen anything like it anywhere else for PTs & OTs.

We added a new site

2006-07-10T02:23:00.000-05:00

We added a new site that features the amazing MA Roller self-massage tool.

The MA Roller enables the user to obtain neck & back pain relief by relaxing the paraspinal muscles.

Made of solid Rock Maple, the MA Roller works on 3 important acupuncture energy meridians, promoting increased free-flowing chi throughout the body.

For more information, and to buy your MA Roller, see:

http://www.THEMARoller.com

Another excellent & inspiring quote

2006-07-10T02:21:00.000-05:00

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

- Henry Ford

The Practical Stock Exchange

2006-06-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

VoIP: What? Can you hear me?

2006-05-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

Again, this blog is not designed to be a subjective rant, but I do have to weigh in on VoIP, or, Voice over Internet Protocol.

It seems to be the next hot thing, but I have had two very bad experiences with it. Two calls I made to two different customer service centers turned out to be worse experiences than those bad cell phone calls we've all dealt with at one time or another.

Most recently, my call to Dell computers ended up in (where else?) India. We spent most of the call just trying to hear each other, and if two people spoke at the same time, the sound just cut out altogether.

It may be that it's a problem during high call-volume times only, I don't know. But it was extremely irritating.

For more info on VoIP, the FCC has a good informational site.

Quote

2006-05-01T10:26:00.000-05:00

Just to get the ball rolling again, here's a quote that I think pretty much sums it up:

“Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.”
--Ken Hakuta

Things you should know about research stories

2006-04-24T10:22:00.000-05:00

HealthNewsReview.org is an attempt to help improve the accuracy, balance and completeness of news stories that make claims about new ideas in health care.

The site includes this helpful information:

Each of the following themes comes up often in health news stories. When journalists explain these concepts so that consumers understand them, we’re all better off. Click each to learn more.

absolute vs. relative risk
number needed to treat
commercialism
single source stories
FDA approval not automatic
phases of drug trials
devices
animal studies...
more...

Chiropractic: In Their Own Words

2006-04-10T12:31:00.000-05:00

In the April edition of Dynamic Chiropractic, columnist Craig Liebenson, DC, says the chiropractic profession "continues to suffer from an overemphasis on philosophical and hypothetical beliefs while reliable, evidence-based approaches are ignored."

Liebenson says that chiropractic has a "number of shortcomings which render us vulnerable to such a broad-based, progressive approach as enumerated by physical therapists. Our academic isolation is a major hurdle for us to overcome, as is our undying support for practice management models that do not emphasize evidence-based care and may even be unethical."

He continues, "Another issue is prioritizing our political goals to protectionist actions against physical therapy's scope of practice, rather than quality improvement of our own clinical approach to care."

"Physical therapists should be commended for their explicit work to improve their ability to care for patients," says Liebenson. "In summary, they have embraced evidence-based health care; movement disorders; the WHO framework for disabilities and impairments; peer-reviewed research; interdisciplinary dialogue; and MSc and PhD programs for their best and brightest."

Thanks to:
PT Bulletin Online

Let's hear it for truckers!

2006-03-17T15:42:00.000-05:00

As I've written in the past, I try not to make this a personal blog. However, this is just too good not to share:

I was making pretty good time along a busy two-lane (in one direction) route used by a lot of truckers. I was just about to pass two semis driving in tandem, when the second one back pulled into the left lane right in front of me, and pulled up even with the next truck up -- and then he did not pass! They just stayed side-by-side for about a mile.

I didn't get too impatient, but I did start to wonder what was up with these guys . . . and then I found out. We drove around a bend, and parked in a little glen on the right, hidden by the trees, was a state trooper!

The truckers knew he was there, and they intentionally blocked the road to keep anyone from exceeding the speed limit!

Boy, did I appreciate that!

We kept moving around the bend, and then the trucks fell back into line. As I passed them, I waved through the moon-roof and gave them the thumbs-up. I got a cheerful blast of the horn in return, and then I was gone.

I am still filled with appreciation and admiration for those truckers, and their concern for others sharing the road with them (or at least -- no disrespect what-so-ever intended toward law enforcement -- their healthy appetites for "sticking it to the man").

Excellent quote to keep in mind

2006-03-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience."

-Scott Adams

Putting 10 pounds of potatoes in a five-pound bag?

2006-02-27T23:48:00.000-05:00

I'm on the road, teaching my course, "Improving Balance and Decreasing Fall Risk Using T'ai Chi". Feb. 28 in Pittsburgh, March 1 in Harrisburg, PA, and March 2 in Philly.

I do have a whole bunch of interesting material to share with you when I get back to the office next week, but for now, I'll have to stay on the lite path.

You already know why there's so much stress in your life, but I think that this sums it up nicely:

Are there not healthier ways to express yourself?

2006-02-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

Please note the large area of inflammation around the bridge of the nose in the picture to the left.

I try not to get too personal in this blog, but I do have to say that this self-mutilation (in my view) makes me really ill.

Apparently, people are not too concerned about how they may be putting their health in jeopardy, as demonstrated by the following caveat from an online site dedicated to this practice (I can't justify providing the link --it was enough of a struggle to include the actual name of the site):

BME stands for Body Modification Ezine. BME contains the personal experiences of thousands of people all over the planet, in photo and text form. It serves to document the activities of the body modification community in as complete a fashion as possible. (Italics mine in order to separate their text from my comments.)

Warning: Dangerous Acts

BME contains documentation of dangerous and/or life-threatening activities of sometimes questionable legality -- BME accepts no responsibility or liability for the actions of others and urges anyone interested in this subjects (sic) to educate them completely (sic) and seek professional assistance.

Attempting to replicate any of the acts seen on these pages, including body piercing, can result in serious injury and/or death. We STRONGLY urge you to consult a professional before continuing.

I guess I'm preaching to the lynch-mob, but a friend of mine who is an acupuncturist related a very interesting clinical story about one of his patients (no names):

This woman was having trouble with insomnia and hyperactivity. He saw that her piercings had stimulated acupuncture points that affect the sympathetic nervous system, that are directly related to those problems. After she had removed the jewelery, the symptoms disappeared.

I am pessimistic that I can make a difference to anyone who wants to get pierced, but please consider this aspect carefully before you go ahead and do it. Perhaps you might consult an acupuncturist to find out whether there are any areas that might even be beneficial to pierce.

I don't know if such points exist, but watch for our in-depth story on this topic in our next newsletter (Look for the link to subscribe in the sidebar).

Side note: I once had a patient who came in complaining of neck pain. He had about five pounds of jewelry piercing his head, ears, face areas alone (also nipples, genitals -- so he told me -- etc.).

I asked him about his motivation for doing it, and he told me that he enjoyed the pain! Truly amazed, I asked him why he sought physical therapy for his neck pain if he enjoyed the pain so much. He responded that he was channeling his emotional pain into physical pain.

This type of self-mutilation (as I see it), and self-destructive behavior due to emotional conflict makes me very sad $-<

I believe that what we show on the outside reflects who we are on the inside, AND that we can begin to change what is happening on the inside by changing from the outside in. Of course, it is only a beginning on the road toward harmony and balance.

Lao Tzu says:

He who stands on tiptoe is not steady.
He who strides forward does not go.
He who shows himself is not harmonious.
He who justifies himself is not prominent.
He who boasts of himself is not given credit.
He who brags does not endure for long.

Sorry . . . I can't help myself . . . I'll bring it back again soon

2006-02-23T13:28:00.000-05:00

What a pal! (With friends like him . . .)

2006-02-23T13:06:00.000-05:00

Is that all there is to it?

2006-02-06T16:08:00.000-05:00

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

The pod people multiply

2006-02-06T15:14:00.000-05:00

I figure, if you're hip enough to find your way to a blog, you don't need me to explain podcasts to you. So I won't.

Podcasting is starting to become very popular among the big, name-brand acts now, which is an excellent thing, in my cautiously not-so-humble opinion.

The following is a partial list of links to some nice medical and science podcasts, provided by some of the more pre-eminent names in those fields:

Johns Hopkins Medicine
New England Journal of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Science Friday
NewScientist
Science
Nature

All of these podcasts can be downloaded to MP3 format for free -- allowing you to stream the audio; or listen at your leisure from your hard drive or mp3 player; or you can burn them to discs. I know: I really didn't have to tell you that last part (;-D=

No Key? No Problem!

2006-02-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

Some people have an excess of energy, nerve/guts, coordination, and talent. For a sometimes heart-pounding and awe-inspiring (in terms of physical prowess) video, watch this Russian Urban Climber.

It's about 10 minutes long. There is less than a minute of unnecessary video effects in the middle -- bear with it -- it's worth it. I laughed out loud when he dives through the car window so cleanly. And the music's excellent (probably even better if you speak or understand French).

This picture doesn't do the video justice.

Two questions:

1. Is this what circus performers do in the off-season to stay in shape and keep themselves entertained?

2. What brand & model of sneakers is he wearing? Shouldn't he be sponsored? (Russia is pretty capitalist now, isn't it?)

For a much more boring (but still way beyond my capabilities) collection of videos, take a look at this French site.

Related to Netipots

2006-02-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Link To Article About Nasal Health

And GREAT picture of a nose!

Is that a pen in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? (Hint: I am happy to see you, but the answer is . . . neither.)

2006-02-01T11:47:00.000-05:00

Whaddya think these are?

look closely and guess what they could be...

PENS WITH HIDDEN CAMS?????

Any wild guesses now?
No clue?...

Ladies and gentlemen...

Congratulations!
You've just now looked into the future...

Yep that's right!
No booing now...
You've seen something that would replace your PC in the future....

NOW SEE THIS...

In the revolution of miniature computers,
the scientists are ahead with bluetooth technology...

See the forthcoming computers within your pockets.

This pen instrument produces both the monitor as well as the keyboard on flat surfaces from where you can just carry out the normal operations you do on your desktop.

Are you ready for this????

Editor's note: Brings new meaning to the word "Pen . . . tium"! (;-D=

The Year Of The Dog: Guidance For Chinese New Year

2006-01-30T12:18:00.000-05:00

Recently, I wrote about new research that suggests dogs can detect cancer in humans. It seems that this piece of information arrives right on schedule.

According to the Chinese calendar and zodiac, January 29, 2006 brings us the Year of the Dog. This means that we have the helpful energy of this loyal companion to accomplish much good in the world and in our lives this year.

When we think about dogs, we think of their steadfast love, loyalty, friendly companionship, and forgiving nature. Dogs are playful, but work hard and rest well.

Dog energy emphasizes the defense of our deepest loyalties with honesty and integrity. Dogs thrive in the security of a healthy, happy home.

To the Chinese, dogs symbolize justice and equality. We too can utilize this spirit to bark at injustice, right any wrongs, and restore order. Since dogs also enjoy helping people, this can be a good year for humanitarian efforts.

The Chinese calendar includes a five-year cycle of elements, and fire is the element for 2006. This means that this year's dog energy is lit by the fire to get things accomplished, so that we can look forward to a truly great year ahead.

Thanks to the Daily OM

Chain Saw Recall

2006-01-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

NEWS U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
Firm’s Hotline: (800) 610-6677
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC, Stihl Inc. Announce Recall of Chain Saws

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Stihl-brand MS 192 T Chain Saws
Units: About 23,500
Manufacturer: Stihl Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: These chain saws can leak fuel, posing a fire hazard. A connection in the ignition grounding system could loosen and create a spark, posing a fire hazard. Also the springs in the clutch assembly could come out of position allowing a spring of the clutch to be projected from the saw housing resulting in injury to the user.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled Stihl-brand chain saws have model number MS 192 T, located on the side of the chain saw’s starter housing. They include serial numbers 264371702 through 266087005, which is located on the top/front of the chain saw’s housing.

Sold at: Authorized Stihl dealers nationwide from January 2005 through July 2005 for about $280.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these chain saws immediately and return them to an authorized Stihl dealer for a free repair.

Consumer Contact:
Stihl Inc.: (800) 610-6677
Between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday
Stihl’s Web site: http://www.stihlusa.com/recalls/recall_MS192T.html

Excellent cold and flu prevention: Bolster that first line of defense!

2006-01-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

The cold and dry Winter air wreaks havoc on our nasal mucus membranes, making us more prone to cold and flu infections.

We highly recommend a very effective solution to this problem:

NETI POT^TM

Rinsing with saline solution is a time-honored practice in the Orient. Here in the West, the nasal wash has been used for decades as a means of treating sinus problems, colds, allergies, and post-nasal drip and to counteract the effect of environmental pollution.

Those practicing yoga and other meditative disciplines use the nasal wash to ensure free air flow through both nostrils.

A Healthy Nose

Breathing through the nose filters and conditions the incoming air. The nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus that traps dirt, dust, and pollen and moves steadily to the rear of the nasal cavity and settles in the throat, where it is swallowed.

Saline nasal rinses carry some of these impurities out of the body before they reach your stomach. They also keep this protective layer of mucus functioning properly.

If the mucus becomes too thick and dry or too thin and runny, it is easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate the nasal lining and cause the swelling and excess discharge of mucus we call a “cold.”

That’s why gargling or sniffing a little salt water at the first sign of a cold is a staple of folk medicine and why health-conscious people in India use a small pot of saline to rinse the nasal passages. The Neti Pot™ continues these time-tested traditions of hygiene.

Uses for the Nasal Wash

For some people, the nasal wash is as routine as brushing their teeth. Others use it for specific purposes. Suggestions:

• Do the nasal wash to wake up, clear your nostrils, and start the day breathing freely.

• Use it to remove excess mucus when you are experiencing nasal congestion.

• Do it several times a day during the allergy season to rid the nostrils of pollen and other allergens.

• Use the nasal wash when you’ve been exposed to soot, dust, smoke, or other airborne contaminants.

• Use it to dissolve mucus build-up in dry climates or in air-conditioned or heated rooms, or after air travel.

• Do the nasal wash before practicing systematic relaxation techniques or meditation to help you breathe freely and easily through your nose.

Remember, the nasal wash is not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with chronic inflammation of the nasal passages or other ear, nose, or throat disorders should seek medical attention.

Five reasons why the Neti Pot™ makes sense

• Soothes dry nasal passages

• Gently washes away dust, pollen, and environmental irritants

• Offsets the effects of breathing dry indoor air (especially in winter)

• Removes excess mucus…naturally

• Helps you breathe freer when practicing yoga or meditation

Of course, the Netipot can be used year-round.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

Himalayan International Institute

Available

2006-01-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Minister . . .

2006-01-24T17:02:00.000-05:00

A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Minister walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and says, "What is this, a joke?"

WHAT A COUNTRY!!!

2006-01-24T16:32:00.000-05:00

The ultimate Star Trek collectible has been sold by the Captain himself. GoldenPalace.com, an online casino, paid $25,000 for William Shatner's kidney stone yesterday. (Note to self: There seems to be a lot of money in online casinos -- must start another website!)

GoldenPalace.com owns some other pretty weird stuff, including a partially eaten cheese sandwich thought to contain the image of the Virgin Mary.

Shatner apparently saved the stone since last fall, when he passed it. He admitted that he did not want to part with his kidney stone, noting that it was so big, "you'd want to wear it on your finger". That might be just the accessory to go with one of his Star Trek tunics, which have sold in the past for more than $100,000. Shatner said he would never sell the stone unless he had visitation rights.

The money will go to Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for the needy.

A spokesman for Shatner said he didn't know if the Emmy Award-winning actor would consider selling any other body parts.

Discovery of the Week: Dogs Can Smell Cancer

2006-01-17T13:37:00.000-05:00

Watch out. Your medical care may soon go to the dogs. That's because a new scientific study confirms what some anecdotal reports have suggested: dogs can smell cancer.

Medical researchers trained five ordinary dogs (three Labrador retrievers and two Portuguese water dogs) to sniff breath samples from both healthy folks and cancer patients. Out of 55 samples from patients with early-stage lung cancer, 31 from patients with early-stage breast cancer, and 83 healthy controls, the dogs identified the cancer patients between 88 and 97 percent of the time.

"We've seen anecdotal evidence before suggesting that dogs can smell the presence of certain types of cancer," says lead researcher Michael McCulloch, "but until now, nobody had conducted a thorough study."

Doctors know that cancer cells release different metabolic waste products than normal cells. Apparently, dogs can smell these biochemical markers. Says McCulloch, "The dog's brain and nose hardware is currently the most sophisticated odor detection device on the planet."

In fact, scientists estimate that dogs can identify smells as much as 10,000 times better than you can. Some of the difference lies in their supersensitive snouts. While you have enough scent-detecting cells to cover a postage stamp, dogs have enough to cover a sheet of paper. You've got about 5 million sniffer cells. A bloodhound has 300 million.

But it's not all in the nose. Fido's brain may be only one-tenth the size of yours, but the part of his that processes smells weighs four times more, on average, than that part of yours. In other words, his brain is 40 times more dedicated to analyzing smells than yours is. Where you smell nothing, he smells the dead cells that fell to the ground hours ago and picks up your trail. And, based on tiny changes in the intensity of their odor, his brain tells him you went thataway!

It might even tell him you need to see a doctor.

Michael McCulloch works at the Pine Street Foundation, a nonprofit group in San Anselmo, Calif., that focuses on cancer patients and their treatment decisions. The study will be published in the March issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies.

SOURCES: McCullough, M. Integrative Cancer Therapies, March 2006; vol 5: pp 1-10. Pine Street Foundation: “Diagnostic Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection of Lung and Breast Cancers in Exhaled Breath.” News release, Sage Publications.

Meet "Dogs and More Dogs" withthis doggy science special

"You think dogs will not be in heaven?I tell you, they will be there long before any of us."
--Robert Louis Stevenson

Thanks to Knowledge News

Global Health Info: Excellent Site

2006-01-16T13:58:00.000-05:00

Global Health Facts.org, a project of the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, provides free, up-to-date, and easily accessed data by country on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other key health and socioeconomic indicators.

The data are displayed in tables, charts, and color-coded maps and can be downloaded for custom analyses.

Data presented on the site are obtained from a variety of public and private sources, including original Kaiser Family Foundation reports. The site is updated as new data become available, and additional indicators will be added over time.

Users may sign up for free weekly e-mail alerts about new data on GlobalHealthFacts.org and its companion site, GlobalHealthReporting.org.

ANYBODY GOT ANY ROPE?

2006-01-12T14:52:00.000-05:00

COFFEE SHOP SIGN:

Work for Amazon: Digital Piecework

2006-01-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

People will do just about anything for money . . . and apparently, the size of the payoff is not much of a factor, in some cases.

Amazon has found a way to outsource many of their trivial tasks to the web-browsing community at large, paying negligible rates for this digital piecework on a site called Amazon Mechanical Turk (mturk.com).

The tasks, called HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks), involve doing things that humans can perform better than computers -- like listing your three most favorite Italian restaurants in Seattle (pay: $0.01 for completing the task). After someone on Amazon's corporate team of humans has verified your answers, the money gets transferred into an Amazon account for you. You can then transfer the cash into your personal bank account (I'm not sure if there is a transfer fee).

Some other jobs involve, for example, identifying the presence of certain features in photographs. Poking around on the website, I saw many tasks that paid nothing, and many that paid a penny apiece. The highest paid task I have read about (See infoworld.com 11/21/05; page 16) deposits a whopping three cents into your Amazon account, after the work gets approved.

This has to be one of the most creative beta tests offered on the Web. No news yet on its success. Two last thoughts on the subject:

Don't forget to pay your taxes on these earnings.
If anyone can resonably explain to me what "Artificial Artificial Intelligence" means, I will spend the price of a stamp to send you a penny for your efforts -- but only if you get it to me before the price of stamps goes up this Sunday!

Another good quote

2005-12-21T11:43:00.000-05:00

"It all started when my dog began getting free roll over minutes."

-- Comedian Jay London of "Last Comic Standing"

Quote

2005-12-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

“ I have given two cousins to war and I stand ready to sacrifice my wife's brother. ”

- Artemus Ward

Lack of Posts

2005-12-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

Secretary in hospital with cancer in three or four places -- I am buried! Will resume posts as I start digging out.

Hospital Emergency Preparedness

2005-12-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

Resources Available on Hospital Emergency Preparedness OSHA and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations sponsored a popular and highly successful conference in October to help prepare hospital employees to respond to victims of mass casualty incidents involving hazardous substances.

For those unable to attend the National Conference for Hospital-Based First Receivers, an audio CD set and resource book is available for purchase through Joint Commission Resources (JCR). The set is comprised of 11 CDs and features presentations of all plenary sessions. A conference resource book containing copies of all presentations delivered at the conference is included.

To purchase the set, contact the JCR customer service center at 877-223-6866.

When Push Comes to Shove

2005-11-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

Rudeness seems to pervade our culture, often taking on iconic status among some people. Most of us may get a little irritated, but we take it in stride. But people have been killed over perceived slights.

In her new book, Talk to the Hand: #?*! The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door (Gotham Books; New York. 2005), Lynn Truss offers insight into this variation of responses, that rings very true.

She writes (p. 7), " . . . what is so interesting about our . . . society is that perceived rudeness probably irritates rough, insolent people even more than it peeves polite, deferential ones. As the American writer Mark Caldwell points out in A Short History of Rudeness (1999), if you want to observe status-obsessed people who are exquisitely sensitive to slights, don't read an Edith Wharton novel, visit San Quentin."

Be careful (polite and considerate) in public places (that includes driving on the roads). It's a rough world out there, and you never know who you're dealing with.

Quote

2005-11-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

“To be feared is to fear: no one has been able to strike terror into others and at the same time enjoy peace of mind.”

- Seneca

More Hurricane Recovery Info

2005-11-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

Employers and workers helping with hurricane clean up and recovery efforts will benefit from a new group of quick cards and fact sheets produced by OSHA. Available in both English and Spanish, this informational material focuses on safety and health topics such as aerial lifts, atmospheric testing in confined spaces, asbestos hazards, black widow and brown recluse spiders, chain saws and construction personal protective equipment, to name a few. These resources can be downloaded from OSHA's hurricane recovery page, or can be ordered by calling OSHA's publications office at (202) 693-1888.

Quote

2005-11-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

-- Hannah Moore

You are getting sleeeeepy!

2005-11-02T10:25:00.000-05:00

If you want to get a good night's sleep, perhaps you should move to a new city:

Honolulu, HI would be a good choice, or St. Paul, MN. They're catching the zzz's in Fremont, CA, and you certainly can't go wrong in Atlanta, GA. You might even want to think about moving to Minneapolis, MN.

Those are the five best-rested cities in America, according to a recent study conducted by Men's Health Magazine.

The study looked at how many people average seven or fewer hours of sleep each night; the number of people who suffer from insomnia; the number of people who use sleeping pills; and the number of sleep disorder centers per capita.

Texans appear to be the most sleep-deprived of our country-men. Insomniacs rule in Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. Maybe it's all that spicy food?

For all of you who could use a better night's sleep, check out the great resources at the National Sleep Foundation.

Quote

2005-11-02T10:10:00.000-05:00

“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.”

- Barry LePatner

Quote

2005-10-27T10:12:00.000-05:00

“If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?”

- Scott Adams

Why new posts are on hold

2005-10-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

Posts have been sporadic this month because October is filled with Jewish holidays, during which I don't work.

Upcoming is Sukkos; which is known to many as the "Feast of Tabernacles". At the end of Sukkos is Simchas Torah, which literally means, "the great happiness of the Torah". We celebrate the finishing of our yearly cycle of reading the Torah aloud in synagogue, and we immediately begin a new cycle.

I normally try to keep this blog impersonal; however, there probably won't be any more posts until October 27th, or shortly thereafter. I felt I owed an explanation to those who like to check this blog on a regular basis--I do feel that is important to "keep the conversation going". It gets very old very quickly looking in on blogs that are not updated on a regular basis.

To those who are "M.O.T.": Chag Sameach!

Looking a Little Green Around the Gills!

2005-10-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

Edvard Munch, Self-portrait After the Spanish Influenza, 1919, Norwegian.

Quote

2005-10-11T09:44:00.000-05:00

"Start every day with a smile, and get it over with."
--W.C. Fields

LEAVING COMMENTS

2005-10-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

Just for the record, I do think it's a little cheesy leaving comments that are ONLY there to be self-promoting.

I mean, I really would like to see some meaningful, topical exchanges/dialogue happening. Perhaps the subject matter doesn't elicit it.

I don't want to limit comments right now, but I do have one request: If you are going to leave links to your sites, please leave the actual URL, rather than a simple word link. I hope we have all learned enough by now to know that we shouldn't just click on anonymous links indiscriminately.

I do not want my site aiding and abetting stinkin' malware purveyors (spyware, browser hijackers, phishers, etc.)! I think they ought to be shot, those people. How did the world end up with so many sociopaths, anyway?

Please leave actual URL's. I am still new at blogging, so I don't know if I can remove individual comments, or if I have to shut them down completely (all or nothing). I would rather not do that--so please help me out.

EAT THIS!

2005-10-07T11:33:00.000-05:00

An excellent website promoting nutritional guidelines for adults and children: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPyramid site.

Adults can download free, personalized nutritional recommendations; and downloadable color posters and interactive computer games help make learning about healthy eating fun for the kids.

OSHA Hurricane Recovery Informational Materials

2005-10-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

Please see OSHA's Hurricane Recovery page: It provides a variety of informational materials; focusing on safety and health hazards that may impact employers and workers involved in the continuing clean-up and recovery operations from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Quote

2005-10-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

“The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.”

-- Albert Einstein

Quote

2005-09-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

“The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.”
-- Voltaire

Let's Shake On That!

2005-09-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

The next time someone wants to shake your hand, you might want to think about whether or not that person has washed his hands after using the toilet.

If it's a guy, chances are that he has not washed his hands. You can feel more comfortable when shaking that woman's hand--she probably has washed it.

During an observational study published this month by the American Society of Microbiology, researchers lingered in public restrooms while ostensibly combing their hair or putting on makeup, etc. Secretly, they were counting how many people washed their hands after using the facilities.

They observed 6,336 individuals at six public attractions in four major cities: Atlanta (Turner Field); Chicago (Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium); New York City (Grand Central Station, Penn Station); And San Francisco (Ferry Terminal Farmers Market).

Although an August 2005 Harris Poll reported that 97% of women and 96% of men say they wash their hands after using a public restroom, direct observation showed a different story. The researchers found that, in fact, "Ninety percent of the women observed washed their hands, compared with 75 percent of men."

Atlanta's sports fans had the worst record:16% of the women and 37% of the men did not wash their hands before leaving the restroom. Women at the train station in New York seem to be a lot more careful than the men; with only 8% of them not washing their hands compared with 36% of the men not washing. The other two cities in the study seem to have cleaner people there, but they still did not even come close to what they reported in the Harris polls.

Children who develop bad hygiene habits usually carry those habits into adulthood. Studies show that children who wash their hand regularly miss less school due to illness than those who don't (and their parents miss less work).

Some good links that encourage children, in a fun way, to wash their hands; and for parents trying to train their children:

Washup.org

Free Downloadable Posters

Henry the Hand.com

KidsHealth.org

PARENTS' LINK at KidsHealth.org

And just remember: the next time you use that public restroom, someone really might be watching!

Why can't you tickle yourself?

2005-09-29T07:36:00.000-05:00

In the newsletter that just went out, I asked for responses to the question: "Why can't you tickle yourself?", and I asked people to respond in the Forum.

"Acrobat" (who chose not to sign her post, so I won't reveal her true identity) always cracks me up! She responded with three reasons:

A. Your sensory humory nerve is impaired.

B. You can't reach your funny bone.

Her third reason referred to the "Gate Theory" (usually associated with pain). I like the first two reasons a lot (although the question is still very much open for discussion). I disagreed with her third reason; please see the Forum for my reasoning.

September Newsletter

2005-09-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

Well, it got out while it's still September, but just barely!

The only way to get the newsletter is to sign up for it. We don't sell your e-mail address, or use it for any purpose other than sending out the newsletter. We don't even advertise, unless you call a plug for our seminars advertising.

The are excellent stories about therapy trends and fairly current issues in the research literature. The new issue (September 2005) has a fabulous piece of audio on it, that you really don't want to miss. You also find links to a lot of good health resources and organizations.

You will, of course, find the newsletter a bit less free-wheeling than this blog; as it should be.

WHAT IS IT?

2005-09-26T21:36:00.000-05:00

I do apologize for this post on two counts:

1. It's exceptionally immature (I just can't help myself!).
2. The quality of the drawing is definitely substandard. I did it on the "Diddle Bug" application on my Treo, and anyway; I'm no artist.

I think you'll get the idea, though, and I hope you will get at least a small chuckle out of it.

So, what is it? (Answer below):

Oak Tree PT Forums

2005-09-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

Join the new Oak Tree PT Forums discussions on topics related to:

1) Our seminar subjects
2) Therapy-related subjects in the research literature
3) Clinical anecdotal experiences

Our first topic focuses on the energy cost of walking according to an Eastern model versus the Western model of ambulation.

WESTERN MODEL:
A "controlled fall", as the center of mass moves forward of the base of support (while always moving onto a dynamic, unstable base of support).

EASTERN MODEL:
A "controlled weight-shift": ALWAYS keeping the center of mass within the base of support (while always moving onto a static, stable base of support).

I say that the Eastern model is inherently safer; that it is possible to perform consistently during everyday ambulation (without looking like a goofball); and that the energy cost is NOT higher than the energy expenditure of the Western model.

Oak Tree PT Toolbar

2005-09-22T16:36:00.000-05:00

NEW!!! Download the Oak Tree PT Toolbar . It contains links to search engines, our website and seminar page, this blog, and radio stations.

It's free, with no spyware or viruses, does not open pop-ups or hijack your searches, and no personal information is required. It installs to your web browser, and it you can customize it to your own needs and tastes.

HMO

2005-09-18T23:20:00.000-05:00

POLITICS

2005-09-18T00:38:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the lack of posts during the past few weeks:

I was traveling in the midwest teaching "Improving Balance and Decreasing Fall Risk Using T'ai Chi", then I was on vacation for a week, then I was traveling in Texas teaching the class. Updates and posts from these trips to follow (this week, I hope).

I am also working on getting a new e-mail newsletter out (after about a year going unpublished)--I am just putting the finishing touches on the last article, which I began on the plane to San Antonio, TX.

These definitions of the various "isms" seem to fit pretty well:

POLITICS

Socialism: You have two cows and you give one to your neighbor.

Communism: You have two cows, the government takes both and gives you some milk.

Fascism: You have two cows, the government takes both and sells you the milk.

Nazism: You have two cows, the government takes both and shoots you.

Bureaucratism: You have two cows, the government takes both, shoots one, milks the other and throws the milk away.

Capitalism: You have two cows, you sell one and buy a bull.

GET OUT!

2005-08-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

The American Hiking Society finds the top 10 hiking trails for fitness and exercise; families and kids; and low-impact trail activities.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or more days per week. A 150-pound person hiking at a comfortable 2-MPH rate burns 240 calories in one hour!

American Hiking's specialists picked trails that are in or near major metropolitan areas (easy to get to before & after work and during your lunch hour). All of the trails have portions that can be completed in 60-90 minutes, and in some cases they are multi-use.

Fitness trails provide great outdoor alternatives to gym treadmill workouts.

Their top-ten list, NOT a ranking (DRUMROLL PLEASE!):

10 Great Cities, 10 Heart-Pumping Trails

1. Red Trail - Albany, New York
2. Barton Creek Greenbelt - Austin, Texas
3. Rock Circuit Trail - Boston, Massachusetts
4. Sand Creek Greenway - Denver, CO
5. Burke Lake Trail - Greater Metro Washington, DC (Fairfax/Northern Virginia)
6. Indiana Central Canal Towpath - Indianapolis, Indiana
7. The Long Path - Greater Metro New York City (New Jersey)
8. Black Rock Loop - Phoenix, Arizona
9. Guy Fleming Trails - San Diego, California
10. Coastal Trail - San Francisco, California

So get up and get out(side)!

It's o.k.: Stop reading blogs and shut off your computer now ;-D

Just Do It (Do or Die!)

2005-08-18T13:02:00.000-05:00

Many of us who go to the gym and run on a treadmill ignore the electronic readouts that tell us how many MET units we achieve during our workouts. New research published in the August 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that we should be paying much closer attention to those numbers.

Dr. Martha Gulati, et al., studied the results of 5,721 exercise stress tests performed on women aged 35 and older. All of the tests used the Bruce Treadmill Protocol.

Those researchers found that women who score less than 85 percent of their age-predicted exercise capacity during an exercise stress test were twice as likely to die within 8 years as those who score 85% or higher.

They determine fitness level using units of metabolic equivalents (MET). One MET is the the amount of oxygen used when sitting quietly for one minute. Moderate walking burns 3 - 6 METs per minute, while running can consume more than 6 METs/minute. A 50-year-old woman performing vigorous exercise should be able to reach 8.2 METs, while the predicted exercise capacity for a man of the same age comes out to 9.2 METs.

The study finds that women lose about 1% of their exercise capacity per year, so the researchers devised a simple table, which they call a nomogram, that helps women find their prescribed exercise level. The next time you are on that treadmill, pay attention to the METs. Then draw a straight line on the table between your age and the METs your burned. The point where that line intersects with the table's slope shows your percentage of predicted exercise capacity for age. If that percentage falls below 85%, you better ramp it up the next time!

Cute

2005-08-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

Sign at a veterinarian's office:

"We will be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

Quote

2005-08-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

A girl phoned me the other day and said "Come on over, there's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home.”

- Rodney Dangerfield

Noise on the Job & Hearing Loss

2005-08-15T17:31:00.000-05:00

Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most common health problems in American workplaces. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 30 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous noise.

Exposure to high levels of noise may cause hearing loss, create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication, and contribute to accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals.

OSHA requires employers to determine if workers are exposed to excessive noise in the workplace. If so, the employers must implement feasible engineering or administrative controls to eliminate or reduce hazardous levels of noise. Where controls are not sufficient, employers must implement an effective hearing conservation program.

Section I: What is considered "noise" and what are the potential health effects?
Section II: What standards limit and control noise exposure?
Section III: How do I evaluate noise exposure?
Section IV: What constitutes an effective hearing conservation program?

Quote

2005-08-11T12:44:00.000-05:00

"The nice thing about meditation is that it makes doing nothing quite respectable."

— Paul Dean

Financial Health

2005-08-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

Source: Money Magazine

A small sampling of good links for personal financial health:

An amazing WEALTH of information (No pun intended, but quite appropriate):

U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

A fabulous site with lots of good advice, games, and tools for TEACHING CHILDREN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

CHOOSE TO SAVE.ORG

Some good tools and calculators:

You're Not Getting Better, You're Getting Older (Watch Out!)

2005-08-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

We always knew that as populations age, physical functions such as strength and aerobic capacity decline. Scientists assume from data collected through cross-sectional studies that regular strenuous exercise slows the rate of decline. However, a new study published in the July 25 edition of the American Heart Association online journal Circulation debunks those assumptions as "overly optimistic", at least concerning aerobic capacity.

Dr. Jerome L. Fleg, et al., followed "375 women and 435 men ages 21 to 87 years from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, a community-dwelling cohort free of clinical heart disease, over a median follow-up period of 7.9 years."

The disappointing findings that emerge after performing repeated measurements of peak treadmill oxygen consumption (peak VO2) indicate that "the rate of decline [of VO2 Max] accelerated from 3% to 6% per 10 years in the 20s and 30s to more than 20% per 10 years in the 70s and beyond", regardless of activity level.

Fleg points out, however, that although everybody in the same age cohort declines in function at the same rate, starting out at a higher level of function does put those fit individuals at a distinct advantage.

Dr. Nieca Golberg, cardiologist and chief of Women's Cardiac Care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City notes that, "People who have low aerobic capacity may not even be able to make it to their bed." Conversely, people who exercise regularly do pretty well with their daily activities of life as they age.

Goldberg stresses the importance of high-level activity so that elders remain independent as long as possible. She says, "What I really don't want people to take away from this study is 'don't bother'."

Palmeiro vs.Historical Perspective: BATTLE OF THE QUOTES

2005-08-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steroid use after testifying emphatically before Congress, under oath, that he had never used them. He apparently agrees with President Lyndon Johnson, who said, "There are plenty of recommendations on how to get out of trouble cheaply and fast. Most of them come down to this: Deny your responsibility."

THE OPPOSING VIEWS:

George W. Bush: "America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected."

Andrew Jackson: "Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."

Woodrow Wilson: "Character is a by-product; it is produced in the great manufacture of daily duty."

Thomas Jefferson: "He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, til at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions."

QUOTE

2005-08-02T12:33:00.000-05:00

"Duty is ours; results are G-d's.

-- John Quincy Adams

Technology Innovation Awards 2005

2005-08-02T11:33:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the overall winners and the winners in the "Biotech-Medical" categories of the Wall Street Journal's "Technology Innovation Awards 2005":

OVERALL WINNERS

GOLD WINNER: Sun Microsystems Laboratories (U.S.) - New method for chips to transmit data inside a computer up to 100 times faster than today's top speed.
SILVER WINNER: Given Imaging Ltd. (Israel) - Pill-shaped video camera screens the esophagus for disorders.
BRONZE WINNER: InSightec Image Guided Treatment Ltd. (Israel) - Device destroys tumors using ultrasound waves together with magnetic resonance imaging.
HONORABLE MENTION: Flarion Technologies Inc. (U.S.) - New approach to mobile broadband networks, based on Internet protocol.
HONORABLE MENTION: Witten Technologies Inc. (U.S.) - Technology that creates detailed images of conditions underground.

BIOTECH-MEDICAL

WINNER: Given Imaging Ltd. (Israel) - Pill-shaped video camera screens the esophagus for disorders.

RUNNERS-UP:

InSightec Image Guided Treatment Ltd. (Israel) - Device destroys tumors using ultrasound waves together with magnetic resonance imaging.
Menssana Research Inc. (U.S.) - A breath test for detection of disease.
Advanced Imaging Technologies Inc. (U.S.) - Applies acoustical holography to soft-tissue imaging for early detection of breast cancer.
Restore Medical Inc. (U.S.) - Procedure to treat obstructive sleep apnea.
Ogenix Corp. (U.S.) - Small portable device that delivers pure oxygen to treat chronic wounds.

The Journal awards companies for innovations in the following categories:

Overall
Biotech-Medical
E-Commerce
Environment
Materials and Other Base Technologies
Multimedia
Network and Internet Technologies
Security (Facilities)
Security (Network)
Semiconductor and Electronics
Software
Transportation
Wireless

For more information on winners in all of the categories, visit the Dow Jones website.

OSHA Posters & Publications: Free for the Asking

2005-08-01T12:11:00.000-05:00

Advertisements suggesting that OSHA workplace posters must be purchased from private companies may be misleading employers.

OSHA reminds employers that official posters such as the OSHA Workplace Poster are available free for the asking. Posters, and most publications, are available at no cost to anyone who asks simply by visiting the publications page on the agency's Web site, or by calling the Publications Office at (202) 693-1888.

LINK: NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL

2005-07-30T23:22:00.000-05:00

National Health Insurance Bill (HR 676)

TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF TRAVEL

2005-07-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

Many of my students have heard some of my more stressful airport stories. My wife, of course, has heard them all! Some of them were just unavoidable.

However, we can eliminate a lot of the stress that seems to go with us when we travel. Darrin Zeer offers some wonderful tips for letting go and creating a sense of calm in his book, Travel Yoga (Chronicle Books; San Francisco; 2005).

He offers an excellent tip for finding serenity while standing in line during a long wait (p. 42; a slightly different pose than the one pictured on the cover).

He calls it the PATIENCE POSE:

Standing on your left foot only, cross right foot over left. Right toes should not touch the ground. (BLOG Editor's note: Make sure that you unlock your left knee slightly for better balance control.
Put your hands on your waist and focus your gaze on a spot a few feet in front of you.
Feel the sole of your left foot rooted into the floor, balance on your left leg, and feel your posture rise upward.
Take five deep breaths while focusing on being patient, and then switch legs.

I must share the quote he writes on the bottom of that page. It goes so well with my next entry, a quote from JFK:

"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

-- St. Francis of Assisi

This quote provides one of the simplest ways to relieve stress: PRIORITIZE! Doing what is necessary first lifts a lot of worry off of the head, neck, and shoulders (masseters, hips, and anyplace else you carry your stress).

Please also check out Darrin's excellent and quite funny BLOG.

QUOTE

2005-07-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say, Why not?"

-- John F. Kennedy

IS EHINACHEA AN EFFECTIVE COLD REMEDY?

2005-07-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

Placebo effect or actual remedy? Many people swear by Echinacea for reducing the effects and shortening the duration of their cold symptoms. The multitude of research studies on Echinachea reveal conflicting results.

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (July 28, 2005; number 4; Volume 353:341-348) reports, "no statistically significant effects . . .

on rates of infection or severity of symptoms. Similarly, there were no significant effects of treatment on the volume of nasal secretions, on polymorphonuclear leukocyte or interleukin-8 concentrations in nasal lavage specimens, or on quantitative-virus titer."

The authors' conclusions: save your money.

QUOTE

2005-07-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

"The trouble with the rat-race is that even when you win you're still a rat"

--Lily Tomlin

BICYCLE-POWERED VOIP

2005-07-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

More than one billion of the world's population lives without electricity and phone service, according to Ephraim Schwartz (InfoWorld; July 25, 2005; p. 8). He reports that the nonprofit group, Inveneo, brings VoIP, e-mail, and Web browsing to remote African villages through decidedly low-tech means: bicycle-powered Wi-Fi networking.

The bicycle supplements a solar-powered system, and the arrangement affords riders one hour of telephone talk-time for every 15 minutes spent pedaling the bike. Schwartz also sees an economic structure developing around this technology, providing potential jobs to villagers who might earn money pedaling for those who want to use the phone but don't "want to work so hard."

The system provides obvious health benefits to those willing bikers, while the village fat cats just keep getting fatter. Apparently, some things don't change no matter where one travels in the world.

High-tech companies such as Cisco provide the hardware, banking on the idea that they can create more than a billion new consumers as more people connect to the Web. Schwartz quotes estimates "that in 10 years, the combined populations of what we call developing nations will make up 70 percent of the consumers in the world."

And so goes the simple life, for better or for worse, as remote villagers trade in their time and energy for exposure to products they never knew they needed (as well as some things they certainly need desperately), as they now also enter the 21st century.

Thanks to Inveneo and InfoWorld for the images borrowed from their websites for this article.

REQUESTING COMMENTS, INPUT, FEEDBACK ON OUR SLOGAN

2005-07-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

Oak Tree PT provides Physical Therapy treatment and services. We also provide cutting-edge seminars for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, MDs, Nurses, etc.

Those practitioners take our courses because they want fresh approaches, new tools, and effective treatments (hence, our slogan). While "breaking out of the box" that contains the same old stuff they've been doing for years (some of it still very effective, I should add), therapists earn Continuing Education credits by participating in our classes.

View our course calendar and descriptions of all of our current seminars (and enroll in a class).

I would like to invite comments, input, and feedback on our slogan. I think that it represents us well, but I am wondering if it should be more concise in order to be an effective slogan. I welcome all suggestions.

Our slogan: "Fresh approches, new tools, effective treatments"

Oak Tree PT B & W Logos

2005-07-26T13:16:00.000-05:00

OAK TREE PT B & W LOGO (SM)

2005-07-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

OAK TREE PT COLOR LOGO (SM)