Health and dis-ease

Before there were antioxidants, there were berries.  And, in my taste buds, they were (and are) a delight to the palate.  Yes, there is a quote from some olde English dude about strawberries doubtless being the zenith of God’s berry creations, but I will vote for all the berries.  I recently stumbled upon a recipe for a fruit tart using blueberries, raspberries (red), and blackberries.  The magazine in which this gem rested touted all the antioxidant properties of the three featured fruits.  But you and I know what is really important:  they taste fantastic!  Add a little lemon zest and you have a killer dessert which makes you supremely glad to be alive!

I am just drop-jawed in awe of Dustin Hoffman’s acting talent.  He can be anyone.    One of the roles he played was a new college graduate who receives advice to look for employment in “plastics.”

Plastics certainly have reduced the number of broken containers on the kitchen or dining room floor.  However, the concerns of the far left, all-natural tree-huggers seem to now be seconded by research institutions.

What are the health field’s uses and concerns about plastic?  I think that plastics have greatly increased sanitation levels.  Disposables may be wasteful, but in an infection-conscious environment, the waste is far outshadowed by the benefits in sterile equipment.

On the other hand, a doctor at Johns Hopkins University raises the concern that dioxins are bleeding from plastic wrap and plastic containers into food.  Dioxins are not good for people.  In fact, they are VERY bad – carcinogenic, to be precise.  This is not good news for all the microwave oven plastic accessories businesses.  Can the population make the switch back to (breakable) glass and ceramic dishes for cooking?

“God is on OUR side” is a sentiment probably felt by any and every country involved in armed conflict.  God intended us to have enough land for OUR people (Hitler and Austria, United States and western expansion).  God intended that OUR religion dominate and that others disappear (just about everywhere.)  God intended that OUR ethnic group or race dominate and all others get the bleep out or be extinguished from the face of the earth (just about everywhere).  When you read the plain words, don’t they sound about as immature as a two-year-old with the gimmes?  So, why did and do countries adopt the manifest destiny philosophy?

Jingoism is belligerent, aggressive, and selfish nationalism (please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingoism for a fine definition and discussion.)  What a bizarre name it is for the concept!  How about patrarrogance? (Patriotic arrogance) Or egoarroblindagance?  Or xenobigotrism?  The United States certainly was filled with it after 9/11, although it had always been lurking under the surface of the consciousness.  Soon after the attack, copious cars were displaying American flags, especially ones which could be inexpensively purchased and hooked over the window.  Although it truly only proved that people could afford the flag and could figure out how to attach it, it seemed to represent an ugly “me first” attitude about America, its sources for oil, and its willingness to use military force to get what it wants.

However, many years have passed.  I have learned from the experience.  I am not particularly proud of this, but I will be honest:  before the attack on the twin towers, I felt that we were magically protected on our own continental boundaries (sorry, Hawa’ai and Alaska.)   It was as if I believed that a Star Trek force field was up, protecting the mainland.  Therefore, the invasion of 9/11 destroyed a faith I had.  Citizens of other countries probably would laugh at my naiveté, but the events truly led to a loss of innocence for me.  Now I am sadder and hopefully wiser.  (For example, when the four –day ban on air traffic ended, the first time I heard jet engines above, I had these thoughts:  “What is that sound?  Oh, I know that sound: it is the noise of an airplane.  I wonder what it is doing.  I think it will probably crash into the side of my house and into the bathroom where I am standing.”  That sequence NEVER would have occurred to me before Sept 11^th.)

Many of us are wiser.  (Just a few still think that pouring money into the military complex solves all problems.  From them, I get the Internet anti-Democrat jibes and “Pray for the soldiers” emails.)  Most of us are now recognizing that the song “God Bless America” is passé and the new song needs to be “God Bless the World.”

If you are contemplating a move to a city or state with which you have no personal knowledge, there is a website which provides everything including the kitchen sink regarding information.   The site states that its information comes from many sources, but at the very least it has all the latest U.S. Census data.  My personal drive for consulting this resource is a health need to know weather conditions in any new residence I may make.  However, after that priority, I can learn about the area’s politics, age and ethnic composition, housing prices, occupations, and even radio stations.  Bonus: it is no-cost.  I urge you to visit  www.City-Data.com .

One of the very valuable features of City-Data.com is its coverage of cities and towns of all sizes.  It is not limited to just the large metropolitan areas which are easily researched.   Each state of the union (sorry no Canada yet) has three indexes: towns and cities with population over 6,000; towns with population between 1,000 and 6,000; and towns with population under 1,000.  What a joy it is to explore small villages which may be ideal bedroom communities for a future employer.  Being a cynic about trusting anyone, I like being able to verify what a realtor may be telling me.

There is a wealth of information for each locale.  One can count on learning almost all of the following for every city: population divided by age and gender (and compared to the statewide statistics), median yearly earnings, median cost of a condo or house, population racial breakdown in percentages, land elevation, area of city, population density, local time.  Also: breakdowns by percentage of education level, marital status, common occupations for males and females, number of registered sex offenders.  Further data includes: weather information, names of hospitals, schools, radio and television stations.  There is more, but I think you have gotten a flavor of the detail provided.

An additional plus is that this information is presented in text and graphics.  Therefore, depending on your learning style or comfort levels in taking in data, your needs will probably be met.  It is a well-designed and respectful site.

I highly encourage anyone with a need to learn about a far-off spot in the United States to give www.City-Data.com a try.