When it gets this hot -- a reminder that Seniors are especially at risk during summer heat waves, in part because their bodies lose the ability to regulate temperature. Medications can also have an impact on the body's ability to regulate heat.
Signs of heat exhaustion include: dizziness, weakness, drenching sweats and nausea. If untreated, it could accelerate into heat stroke which can be life-threatening.
For tips on beating the heat and more information click on the link to CDC.
www.cdc.gov/disasters/heattips.asp
The Vatican issued a ''Ten Commandments'' for motorists to keep them on the road to salvation, warning drivers against the sins of road rage, abuse of alcohol or even simple rudeness.
Pope Benedict the XVI asked for people the world over to pray for driving safety.
In his closing remarks during his audience Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI asked for people to pray for safe driving around the world.
This week is safety week, initiated by the United Nations. The pope said he would like to give "a word of encouragement to the public institutions that seek to maintain highways safe and to protect human life with appropriate means, and to the people who dedicate themselves to research into new technologies and strategies to reduce the many accidents on the road," all over the world.
He also urged young people to practice prudence and show respect for highway codes.
What does your addiction cost?
Most of us have some sort of addiction. Perhaps not the hard core addictions such as drinking, smoking, drug use, or gambling but little addictions such spending too much time on the Internet.
Here in Michigan new taxes have pushed the cost of a pack of cigarettes to $5.50 a pack. If a person smokes three packs a day that comes to $16.50 a day or $115.50 a week. Even at one pack a day the cost is $38.50 a week. I would consider smoking an expensive addiction.
I knew that smoking was #1 on the list but still I was interested in what the top addictions were and the costs of each. Searching the web I found these facts.
Smoking - $157 Billion a year
The tab for smoking includes $75 billion in direct medical expenses, with the rest in lost productivity from ill patients missing work.
Alcohol - $116 Billion a year
Binge drinking hits the unemployed harder on a per capita basis--10.4%, versus 8.4% of employed people.
Drugs - $110 Billion a year
Like alcohol, illicit drug use is more prevalent among the unemployed.
Overeating - $107 Billion a year
Overeating increases the risk of many health problems, including heart attacks--obesity causes 14% of attacks suffered by males and 20% of those suffered by females, the National Institute for Health says, and less than a third of adults get regular exercise.
Gambling - $40 Billiion a year
Addicted gamblers are often compelled to chase after bad bets with more money in the hope of winning back their losses.
A waterspout was spotted at 10:50 a.m.
We don't get many waterspouts and seldom does someone get a photo of them when they appear. The waterspout was spotted this morning just off the Holland Channel by a webcam.
Click On Image To View Full Screen
Study Finds Increase in Nicotine Content in Cigarettes
I was reading of a study that indicates that the average level of nicotine in cigarettes has risen 10 percent in the past six years, making it harder for smokers to quit.
The article pointed out that the health department for the state of Massachusetts released a study this week. It shows how much nicotine content has changed and how much nicotine smokers inhale when they smoke. The study said cigarettes in 2004 yielded the smoker nearly 10 percent more nicotine per cigarette than in 1998.
The increase in nicotine levels varied by brand, with some increasing as much as 30 percent. Fifty two out of 116 brands studied had nicotine increases of more than 10 percent.
Health experts say higher nicotine content makes cigarettes more addictive and smoking harder to quit. U.S. tobacco companies have not commented on the study.
Similar to the cell phone commerical where the lawyer says, "I object!" and the judge replies, "I'll bet you do!".
On Holiday
What a great place to visit. Having never been to Nigara Falls before this visit was breathtaking. I would recommend to everyone to visit Nigara Falls at least once in a lifetime.
The trip gave us an opportunity to visit a number of great sites. Some of them were Canadian Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, School of Horticulture, Bridal Veil Falls, Barge Marooned Since 1918, Table Rock House, Upper Canadian Rapids, Queen Victoria Park, Robert Moes Power Project, Sir Henry Oaks Gardens, Disaster Area of Power Plant, Lower Nigara River Rapids, Whirlpool Rapids, Skylon Tower, Rainbow Bridge, International Pylon, The Floral Clock, and Maid of the Mist Boat Ride.
My favorites were the Maid of the Mist Boat Ride that takes you right up to to the Falls and a trip to the top of the Skylon Tower.
I've added a few of my favorite photos for you to view!
Holiday
Like many Americans I take mostly 3 and 4 day holidays. I can't really call this time off a "vacation" because I have been brought up to view a vacation as a week or more.
For my parents vacations were not an issue. Working in a factory there was a yearly shut-down where for two weeks the plant would close. We would all load into the car and off we would go on a new adventure or to revisit a location of a past adventure.
In reading through the news today I found that Pope Benedict has come out and said in a recent speach, "We have to guard ourselves from the dangers of excessive activity, regardless of the office one holds, because too many concerns can often lead to hardness of heart. "The pope went on to add, "This warning is valid for every type of job, even those concerned with the government of the church."
Is this something new? No, the pope quoted from the writings of St Bernard of Chiaravalle, who lived in the 11th and 12th centuries. Pope Benedict noted that the saint had written to the pontiff of the times, Eugene III, warning him of the dangers of working too hard.
The bottom line is too much work can be bad for you! So, I'm taking St Bernard's advice, at least for four days, and heading off on a new adventure!
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