Month: May 2010

…Was watching a taped episode of The Dr. Oz Show recently.  It amazes me how much useful information he gives to his audience daily. The episode included a segment on “10 Major-Agers”.  According to the Dr.,  there are products/ingredients most of us have in our household that really contribute to an accelerated aging process! I learn something new on each episode of the Dr. Oz Show – no kidding. I have to admit to writing down tips while I’m watching (I’ve noticed that some people in his studio audience do the very same thing).

Here’s what I learned on that episode:

Ten “major-agers” found in most households:

1.     Cleaning Products containing chlorine bleach

An alternative:  use white vinegar and/or baking soda for cleaning.

2.     Mosquito Repellent

An alternative: Use citronella candles  (a known insect repellent)

3.     Soaps (with fragrance, color and no moisturizer)

An alternative: soaps  that are Ph balanced

4.     High Fructose Corn Syrup

An alternative: do not use anything with this ingredient – especially for hyperglycemics/diabetics;  

5.     Decorating Icing (contains trans fats and hydrogenated oils)

6.     Nail Polish (containing “toluene” – can be toxic to the nervous system and is used to boost the octanes in gasoline! and we put it on our nails…hmmmm…. see http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/toluene.html )

An alternative:  use toluene FREE polishes

7.     Hard Liquor

An alternative:  a glass of wine (red, preferably)

8.     Cigarettes

An alternative: Don’t smoke! We know the drill ….causes cancers, very harmful to the heart/lungs/skin and body in general.  Get smoking cessation drugs/or get into program with M.D.’s direction

9.     Dish Detergent  (most contain NPE: “Nonylphenol Ethoxylate”…… I read this man made chemical has no know human health effects with normal use – BUT can be harmful to the environment since it’s not easily broken down in water and is toxic to fish…..  see:   http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/39187.aspx)

An alternative: Find detergent that is FREE of this additive.

1o.   Mothballs  (contains “Naphthalene” which if inhaled can be toxic )

An alternative: Use Cedar chips.

The above was obtained from watching the show…..go to Dr. Oz’s website for detailed info:  http://www.doctoroz.com/

As the old saying goes……: “you learn something new everyday!”

OK…… it’s been about 13 days or so since my laptop starting displaying errors and shutting down the Windows system.  I believe the problem started when the Kodak EasyShare software installed over 18 months ago decided to go  “corrupt.” I tried uploading photos from my Kodak digital camera a couple of weeks ago and the software wasn’t “recognized” by the system (this was “out of the blue” since I use the software several times a month).  Research online suggested an uninstall and re-install of the software -” been there done that” with not so desirable results.  Here’s the catch 22: after the uninstall of the Kodak software, the reinstall of the camera software doesn’t complete since the “uninstall” didn’t completely remove all of the software components and/or add-ons. A following issue was that once Windows would load, it crashed within minutes – every single time. Finally, a patch from Microsoft I accessed online solved the Kodak EasyShare application errors – days and days later. However, I hesitate to re-install the Kodak software now since it took hours and days (that I’ve never have back, unfortunately) to resolve the errors.  How do I know the new reinstall won’t eventually become “corrupt?”  “Once bitten….twice shy” – you know what I mean?

Today, while in normal Windows mode “explorer.exe” errors occur whenever Internet Explorer is run (BUT, no more Kodak software errors! 🙂 ).  I have about 2.5 minutes before the IE shuts down and restarts my computer – just enough time to check one or two emails – yippee!  At least two friends have suggested promising options that I plan to check out. I stumbled onto an online tech forum that indicated a system cleaner program would be needed or a re-install/copy of a new IE file – sounds promising, as well. One workaround I’ve found while troubleshooting on my own is to load Windows in “safe mode with networking.” Safe mode allows access to websites, emails and some applications. However “audio” files are disabled in safe mode and most of the frequently used applications on my laptop won’t load in  “safe mode.”  Being the “sound oriented” person I am, this is not really acceptable on a long term basis.  My normal routine when “surfing the net”, checking email or playing online games is to run iTunes or listen to music on jango.com.  Also, I can no longer listen to the Steve Harvey Morning Show online – my only option since the program is no longer broadcast on the radio in my area.  OK, enough.

Now that I’ve got my whining on the issue done for TODAY – I’m going to take a break and research what new camera I’ll need to consider. Those digital SLR’s are VERY appealing to me – but pricey. Hmmm……not sure if Kodak makes a digital SLR, but I’m not going there – ha!

Finally, I’m not giving up on my laptop yet since it’s only a couple of years old and has worked very well up until this point – software seems to be the only issue.

Seizing the day.

Disaster Recovery – a word I’ve personally heard used in organizations to describe the process by which companies “recover from a disaster” and resume normal activities.   I can only assume a major company like BP would have a detailed action plan in place in the event of an actual disaster. The oil spill in the Gulf  that occurred over a month ago appears now to be no easy task.  http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/oil.spill.investigation/index.html

News organizations have daily reports of the oil clean-up progress by counting in “days.”  As I’m writing this it’s now day 36 since the  BP oil spill in the Gulf. The counting of disasters in “days” reminds me of the hostage crisis in Iran back in 1979. At the time of the hostage crisis back then, every night a new episode of a news program detailed in “days” the progress of the hostages held by Iran. The hostages were released somewhere around day “444”. Over a year passed and the program was on every single night – if you weren’t around back then – it was something to witness. That news program is now named “Nightline” and is on ABC- but I digressed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightline_(U.S._news_program)

I feel it’s definitely necessary for BP to take full responsibility for the clean-up of the oil spill. However, I believe the U.S. government needs to take a larger role in being the “watchdog” over the oil spill clean-up.  Being totally clueless about oil spill cleanups and  government oversights in the oil industry, I can only give a fairly uneducated opinion on this matter. When I hear about oil and gas inspectors receiving gifts, the initial “measly” settlement agreements posed by BP to affected residents in the area to avoid lawsuits and the numerous failed attempts by BP to stop the leaks – I can only come to the conclusion that every entity involved has to try SOMETHING ELSE – because  what’s going on now isn’t working.  Tell you something you didn’t know you ask? 

 Only my two cents :-).

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20003978-503544.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/oil.spill.interior/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/oil.spill.investigation/index.html