Is anyone else a fan of The Presets? They are coming to Triple Rock and I hate going to concert alone.

Also, if you haven't seen this music video of theirs, you should, because it's gorgeous. Unfortunately it's really dark in the youtube version.

Whole Grains and Fish Highly Protective against Childhood Asthma

According to the American Lung Association, almost 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, which is reported to be responsible for over 14 million lost school days in children, and an annual economic cost of more than $16.1 billion.

Increasing consumption of whole grains and fish could reduce the risk of childhood asthma by about 50%, suggests the International Study on Allergy and Asthma in Childhood (Tabak C, Wijga AH, Thorax).

The researchers, from the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Groningen, used food frequency questionnaires completed by the parents of 598 Dutch children aged 8-13 years. They assessed the children's consumption of a range of foods including fish, fruits, vegetables, dairy and whole grain products. Data on asthma and wheezing were also assessed using medical tests as well as questionnaires.

While no association between asthma and intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was found (a result at odds with other studies that have supported a link between antioxidant intake, particularly vitamins C and E, and asthma), the children's intake of both whole grains and fish was significantly linked to incidence of wheezing and current asthma.

In children with a low intake of fish and whole grains, the prevalence of wheezing was almost 20%, but was only 4.2% in children with a high intake of both foods. Low intake of fish and whole grains also correlated with a much higher incidence of current asthma (16.7%). compared to only a 2.8% incidence of current asthma among children with a high intake of both foods.

After adjusting results for possible confounding factors, such as the educational level of the mother, and total energy intake, high intakes of whole grains and fish were found to be associated with a 54 and 66% reduction in the probability of being asthmatic, respectively.

The probability of having asthma with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), defined as having an increased sensitivity to factors that cause narrowing of the airways, was reduced by 72 and 88% when children had a high-intake of whole grains and fish, respectively. Lead researcher, CoraTabak commented, "The rise in the prevalence of asthma in western societies may be related to changed dietary habits." We agree. The Standard American Diet is sorely deficient in the numerous anti-inflammatory compounds found in fish and whole grains, notably, the omega-3 fats supplied by cold water fish and the magnesium and vitamin E provided by whole grains. One caution: wheat may need to be avoided as it is a common food allergen associated with asthma.

How do you motivate yourself to do something that is difficult for you?

90% Chris Dodd
90% John Edwards
90% Barack Obama
88% Joe Biden
85% Hillary Clinton
83% Mike Gravel
81% Dennis Kucinich
75% Bill Richardson
42% Rudy Giuliani
30% John McCain
27% Tom Tancredo
23% Mitt Romney
22% Mike Huckabee
16% Ron Paul
13% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

E-Harmony rejected me!

" eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive research with married couples. One of the requirements for successful matching is that participants fall within certain defined profiles. If we find that we will not be able to match a user using these profiles, we feel it is only fair to inform them early in the process.

We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish happy, lasting relationships that we sometimes choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.

Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching model could not accurately predict with whom you would be best matched. This occurs for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply will not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand, and we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time. "

With my xmas monies I got myself a 19" HDTV. Then I got a digital TV tuner. I never bothered watching TV much before but now I can watch nature shows in HDTV! Oh my beautiful penguins and volcanoes. I also got to see the very frightening show, Boobah, which is made by the Teletubby people if you've never heard of it. Initially I had tried to talk myself out of buying a TV because I already have one but I am now pleased with my purchase. The only thing better would have been to buy myself something useful, like socks, or be a good person and give it to the poor. My DVDs are still kind of blurry with the built in DVD player and I wonder if one of those "up-convert" DVD players would make any improvement. The TV didn't mention it anywhere so I'm guessing it's just a normal DVD player inside.

Does anyone have their PS2 hooked up to an HDTV? I'm wondering if buying better cables would be worth it since there seems to be only a slight improvement according to the internet. Although I suppose buying them wouldn't hurt since I'm getting a PS3 one of these years anyway.

Actually, I did buy socks.

Comic may contain vampires, pirates, violence, foul language, Canadians, Canadians using foul language, boy-touching and traces of nuts. I feel so dirty. >_<.

It's my birthday. You all must come. It's on the 30st of Nov starting at 7pm and being held at Will and EV's place. "There will be snacks" and alcohol and possibly dinner if my sister can make it. How much depends on what my bday budget will be. If you need to drink a lot I do ask that you bring your own. Or better yet not drink so much. I request no fisticuffs at my party. Silly hats optional.

I can't believe I'm going to be a 30 something, I haven't even adjusted to being a "young adult" yet.

My new MMORPG obsession is Sword of the New World. ( Read more... )

I need help moving this Saturday. It seems like so many are busy! If anyone can spare some time it would be great.

I finally went to the Dr. today and yay! I can breathe again. He had me breathe into this thing to test the er strength of my breath or something then I was hooked up to some machine and had to breathe in this smoky stuff it made. Then they tested me again and there was a noticible improvement in the strength of my breathing.

Unfortunately the Dr wants me to breathe this stuff in everyday and the insurance won't cover it. It's about $110 for a months supply. So I dunno but at least I could afford the inhaler.

There's nothing like being able to lay down and still be able to fucking breathe.

I found some sort of electronic piano device and connected it to the speakers. Then I created a "song" on the spot...and it was awesome. The interesting thing about this was how it was played. Think of a keyboard but instead of keys you have strips of colored paper layered on top of each other as well as across and to make sounds you take these strips and lift them and/or rub them.

I have these sorts of dreams every once in awhile. I'm not sure the meaning since in waking life I have absolutely no interest in creating music but I always feel super awesome and talented when I wake up.

I love stompy. I look forward to it all week. Too bad I'll be 30 soon will have to put away all my childhood things.

Fuck that. If I'm old and wrinkly I still want to stompy.

( New haircut + new stompy top )

I have developed a recent compulsion with cutting my own hair. I'll be looking at myself in the mirror, thinking to myself, "my bangs are too long" so out come the scissors and chop chop. Now my bangs are pretty short. I have no hair cutting experience and it's very difficult for me to cut the right side. I do not have hair scissors, only some cheap Ikea ones. I think I did ok, considering. I don't have a camera anymore so pics will have to wait.

This is really so unlike me. I'm usually pretty inhibited but in the past week or so I've been feeling a sense of freedom to do whatever the fuck I want.

Free CoH? *drool*

( I'm dancin'! )

Dear Dr. Who (David Tennant),

I want to have your love child.

Thank you,
dethbuni

I've just had an awesome week. There was the VNV nation concert on Thursday which was a blast and then on Friday I hung out with thaadd and her EVE friend. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays where he gave me 100 dollars to entertain him. 100 dollars! I don't even know anyone that carries that kind of cash around much less is willing to part with it like that on a whim. So we had dessert, went stompy (it was soooo dead, there were maybe 10 people there tops) and hung out at his hotel talking and listening to music. Very interesting conversationalist. I had left my wallet at home when I changed out of stompy clothes so I wasn't able to return the monies we didn't use for entertaining but he said it was ok, I drove everyone around. I suspect he wouldn't have let me return it even if I had it on me at the time. So I bought a Yann Tiersen CD that I've been wanting for years. Then yesterday I went to Thai with my beloved king_kobbe! and hung out with Jordan. We watched Deep Space Nine which I am growing to appreciate more. Today is grilling with Mr. Will, and I even have monies to buy contributional steaks! yay meats

Now if only I can get my insurance sorted out so that I can visit the doctors.

Is there anyone that would be interested in making a regular thing of racket-ball with me? I'd really like to do more physical activity and it's more fun with people.