Maggie Gallagher Tries to Get Into Heaven

This is so hilarious!

 

Why I’m an Atheist

From this news story about the trapped miners in Chile:

 

Another man displays what psychiatrists have said is a key trait to keeping the men motivated and optimistic — a sense that they have a role in their own destinies.

I do have a role in my “destiny” by living for my own happiness, living a moral life and making my future what I want it to be. 

This Week’s Objectivist Roundup

It’s over at Ego Blog.  Check it out!

NomNom

I’m a little bit scared at how entertained I am by this song and video.  :-)

 

This Week’s Objectivist Roundup

It’s over at The Crucible.  Check it out!

Personal Stuff

I am dealing with some issues in my personal life that are consuming quite a bit of my spare time.  As such, posting over the next few weeks could be minimal, if any.  Thanks!

Objectivist Roundup

Sorry this is late, but it’s over at http://www.amymossoff.com/objectivism/3566/objectivist-round-up-161/  Check it out!

Cholesterol is GOOD!

As many of you know, I am on a variation of the paleo diet.  My friend Diana has outlined it well here:  http://www.modernpaleo.com/principles.html

 

Someone on a paleo diet email list I subscribe to forwarded this Huffington Post article, that is actually quite good!  Here’s a highlight:

 

Cholesterol and Inflammation - What's the Connection?

Inflammation has become a bit of a buzzword in the medical field because it has been linked to so many different diseases. And one of those diseases is heart disease ... the same heart disease that cholesterol is often blamed for.

What am I getting at?

Well, first consider the role of inflammation in your body. In many respects, it's a good thing as it's your body's natural response to invaders it perceives as threats. If you get a cut for instance, the process of inflammation is what allows you to heal.

Specifically during inflammation:

-- Your blood vessels constrict to keep you from bleeding to death

-- Your blood becomes thicker so it can clot

-- Your immune system sends cells and chemicals to fight viruses, bacteria and other "bad guys" that could infect the area

-- Cells multiply to repair the damage

Ultimately, the cut is healed and a protective scar may form over the area.

If your arteries are damaged, a very similar process occurs inside of your body, except that a "scar" in your artery is known as plaque.

This plaque, along with the thickening of your blood and constricting of your blood vessels that normally occur during the inflammatory process, can indeed increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Notice that cholesterol has yet to even enter the picture.

Cholesterol comes in because, in order to replace your damaged cells, it is necessary.

Remember that no cell can form without it.

So if you have damaged cells that need to be replaced, your liver will be notified to make more cholesterol and release it into your bloodstream. This is a deliberate process that takes place in order for your body to produce new, healthy cells.

It's also possible, and quite common, for damage to occur in your body on a regular basis. In this case, you will be in a dangerous state of chronic inflammation.

The test usually used to determine if you have chronic inflammation is a C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test. CRP level is used as a marker of inflammation in your arteries.

Generally speaking:

-- A CRP level under 1 milligrams per liter of blood means you have a low risk for cardiovascular disease

-- 1 to 3 milligrams means your risk is intermediate

-- More than 3 milligrams is high risk

Even conventional medicine is warming up to the idea that chronic inflammation can trigger heart attacks. But they stop short of seeing the big picture.

In the eyes of conventional medicine, when they see increased cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream, they conclude that it -- not the underlying damage to your arteries -- is the cause of heart attacks.

I highly recommend the entire article.  It’s very important for any human that wishes to live a long, happy life.  ;-)

Objectivist Roundup

It’s over at http://reepicheepscoracle.blogspot.com/2010/08/objectivist-round-up-august-5-2010.html  Check it out!

Westboro Church

Here’s a great blog entry about the God-awful Westboro Baptist Church.  Here’s a sample:

 

Now consider how this kind of situation could be completely avoided in a society where all property is privately owned—the fully capitalist society envisioned by Ayn Rand and most closely approximated in nineteenth century America. In such an ideal society, there would be no public streets or sidewalks. I know, it sounds impossible. But in fact, private property is practical, in streets and sidewalks no less than cars and houses, and it’s been proven so whenever it’s been tried.

Click on the link and read the rest of this great, short post!

Monkey Saves Dog From Explosion

I love this!

 

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-08-03/monkey-saves-dog-breaks-hearts/

New Immigration Blog – Mother of Exiles

My immigration blog, Mother of Exiles, is now up and running!  A few of the pages are still under construction, so please pardon the dust, but the logo is up and the main blog page is going strong.  I’d like to thank my friends Berenice and Diana for creating the logo and helping me with all the technical stuff.

 

If you have an immigration story to share or if you’d like to be a guest blogger for Mother of Exiles, please email me so we can make arrangements!

 

Soft Star Shoes

Well, I just received notification that my Soft Star Shoes are being shipped today!  Yea!

 

 

Not only are these shoes super comfortable and custom made for my long, skinny feet, but they’re so much better for my feet than much of the footwear on the market today.  I can’t wait for them to arrive! 

The FURminator

Our good friends, Scott and Emily, are in town from Dallas, Texas for a visit.  Last night, they bought us a gift to thank us for our hospitality.  It was…THE FURMINATOR!!!

 

 

If you don’t own pets, this probably seems like an odd gift, but if you have pets or if you’ve ever experienced the FURminator, you realize what a valuable treasure our friends bestowed upon us. 

 

We used it last night on Red Dog and oh.my.gawd!  It looked like we’d murdered a medium sized animal on our porch!  If you have pets, you need a FURminator!