September 21, 2013

Something to watch tomorrow: elections in Germany

Angela Merkel's party is under criticism for failing to pass laws guaranteeing rights to same sex couples. Angela Merkel is also a significant force pushing austerity on the EU. It would be nice to see her replaced with someone who has heard of Keynes!

September 20, 2013

Rabble, rabble, rabble! I have finally reached the final mortgage payment -

which I expected to be auto-deducted from my account Monday. Nothing has been taken out, so after two phone calls I finally find out that since it's the last payment, I have to send the check. Since I'm a week late, it's an extra 72 cents. Talk about scraping the barrel to make that last penny!

September 20, 2013

So, let me get this straight - right now, the entire world economy hangs on the

US raising its debt limit on time, but that won't happen because the Republican Party is dominated by 30 Congressman from the Tea Party, which is largely financed by the two Koch Brothers, who happen to be tied for fourth place as the richest men in America.

Edit:
I forgot to mention - the Kock Brothers are holding the world hostage lest some more people be able to buy Health Insurance.

September 20, 2013

Adjunct teachers and college students: what does your university pay per three credit hour course?

What does your university charge per three credit hour course?

I think if the two numbers are compared, it will turn out that offering a course is pure profit for a university once the 2nd or 3rd student signs up!

September 17, 2013

What do you make of this study of glucosmine?

http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/gait/qa.htm

I see this study cited as proof that glucosamine is worthless, but the conclusions in the study itself don't make sense.

People with mild pain didn't see any difference bt glucosamine and a placebo, but people with moderate to severe pain did.

To me this suggests that people who couldn't ignore pain saw definite improvements.


but this paragraph is very confusing:

The original GAIT study included an additional, or ancillary, study to investigate whether these dietary supplements could diminish structural damage from osteoarthritis of the knee. In the ancillary study, interested GAIT patients were offered the opportunity to continue their original study treatment for an additional 18 months, for a total of 2 years. At the end of the ancillary study, the team had gathered data on 581 knees. After assessing the x-ray data, the researchers concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, together or alone, appeared to fare no better than placebo in slowing loss of cartilage in osteoarthritis of the knee. Interpreting the study results was complicated, however, because participants taking placebo had a smaller loss of cartilage, or joint space width, than predicted. The results were reported in the October 2008 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

If anything, I would say the study indicates that something is going on, and suggests more research is needed using higher doses. I'm thinking back to research on Vitamin D. It was only when the dose was raised significantly above the old RDA that researchers saw changes in results.


on edit : the Mayo clinic seems to give a cautious thumbs up on glucosamine:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/glucosamine/NS_patient-glucosamine

September 16, 2013

Frost advisory tonight - a full month ahead from out normal frost date!

:scared

Lake Ontario shore into the Adirondacks -

Looks like this is going to be a bad, bad winter!

Everyone here is complaining that their vegetable gardens did poorly this summer. Last week it was in the 90's!


It's now called Global Climate Change!

September 16, 2013

Has anyone here tried a cloth mask with your CPap machine?

September 15, 2013

So - I'm in a Christmas choir that starts practice next week

I just joined last year, and instructions were to wear something Chistmasy - I think i wore a dark green blouse.

Well - every other woman had on a shirt or sweater that was ---- and ---- with ----.

I know this, because I carefully wrote myself a note to remind myself to buy a blouse or sweater that is ---- with ---- and with --- for this year .

Do you think I can find that note?

SO, was it black with red and green designs? White with sequins? Who knows - I certainly don't!

They're a nice group - i'll be sure to ask someone.

September 13, 2013

Maybe this is what chess is all about -

David Ignatius on Morning Edition Friday 9/13 suggests that Obama has been working for two years to get Putin to step up and put some controls on his client Assad. Ignatius said something to the effect of "it's OK to let Putin take credit for doing something in the interest of the United States"

I won't go so far as to say that Obama planned all of this two years ago; only that he uses certain techniques which push events to where he wants them.

"The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long But It Bends Toward Justice"

September 11, 2013

A while back I asked for advice for someone interviewing for a job in the

computer field - how does an introverted computer engineer get through an interview. I just wanted to let people know the advice worked - my son has a job!

Thank you!