Who do you believe? How do you tell fact from fiction? Here's what I do, and why (also known as doing my research so I can make informed decisions based on facts, and definitely not on media reports):
1. I look for the motives in what the media reports. For example, because pharmaceutical companies advertise with TV, magazines, etc., which brings in millions (billions?) of dollars for these media, would it make sense for them to tell you in the news that the drugs might be bad for you? How about vitamins and supplements that compete with drugs? Most stories will be negative about those because they compete with drugs. The drug studies they report tell you how amazing the drugs are. The facts are that prescription drugs kill over 100,000 a year (possibly much higher), plus probably millions of adverse events, and many times these side effects are worse than what you're taking the drug for. Vitamins - no deaths reported in the past few years. There were thousands of studies showing the benefits and safety of vitamin C. There was one negative study which contradicted all the positive studies and guess what? That was the one that made the news. (Note: Vitamin C has been extremely beneficial for me.)
2. Research, research, research (aka due diligence). Eliminate the variables - money, flawed studies (unfortunately, that's about 90% of them), etc. When the person reporting has little or no monetary gain to be made, or is not selling the product they are studying, it will more likely be an honest study.
3. I go to certain websites to start my research - mercola.com, HSIonline.com, www.orthomolecular.org, Life Extension Foundation, and others. If they provide links to CDC, VAERS, etc., I check those. It was in these two links I found that measles killed either zero or 4 people in the last 10 years, but the measles vaccine killed 108.
4. Beware of scare tactics. For example, about vaccinations - things to think about - if 90% of people get vaccinated, why would anyone worry if you didn't, unless the vaccine didn't always work, and if that's the case.... Keep in mind, if you do get vaccinated for measles, for several days after vaccination, you can pass the measles on. So someone who can't get the vaccine for medical reasons should not be exposed to a person who just got vaccinated for a period of several days. Also ask why vaccine makers are not liable if something should happen to the person vaccinated. You take all the risk, the drug company takes all the money and no risk. They have no liability for vaccinations. They don't have to worry about what might happen to you if they mess up. Why? Please go to this site for more information and the truth about the measles vaccine: National Vaccine Information Center, Informative article with 34 references and several other links where you can verify what is written. When you read this and then hear what the media reports, you'll understand why you should NEVER believe the media without reading the actual facts.
5. After I started taking supplements that they say don't work, my health improved dramatically. Of course, they'll say it's the "Placebo effect." Even if that was the case, I wouldn't care, but I know it's only that on occasion. In the Feb-Mar 2015 of AARP, there is an article written about heart disease, which says, "Don't take dietary supplements," written by a doctor, of course. He tells you to take drugs instead. Further he says, "There's no way to know what's in them....and there's little scientific evidence of any benefits." If you do your research, you'll find these statements are false, with a few exceptions (for fly by night off brand brands). He said to avoid coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, and fish oil (all excellent supplements for heart support)! Must be because you might not need the drugs if you take those supplements. He mentioned a new drug called LCZ696 for heart disease (not yet approved). Before you decide on whether to take it, read this article about what it may do: LCZ696. About the coenzyme Q10 he said to avoid - read this article, also written by an M.D. - Co-enzyme Q10 (BTW, I've been taking it for over 10 years).
In the same magazine there are at least 6 full pages of drug ads. The doctor who wrote the article is on the AARP advisory board.
In my 20 years of working in and owning retail vitamins stores, I've talked with over 30,000 people. I can say without a doubt that vitamins and supplements work. They are not a replacement for a healthy diet, but a supplement to one, which I've talked about in other posts. One of the best sites you'll find about what a health diet consists of? Go to foodbabe.com. Or follow the diet of the Hunza (all natural, organic, fresh whole foods with no chemicals).
Is the Media Effective?
Unfortunately, too many believe what they see, read, or hear on TV, radio, magazines, etc. Since 1990, there have been 329 deaths, and 6,962 serious adverse events related to vaccines - go to link above for what some of those events have been.
Some other things I've read relating to vaccines - if you've been vaccinated for a particular disease, and then get the disease anyway, it may be worse than had you not been vaccinated. Getting a disease, such as measles, gives you life long immunity to that disease. Getting vaccinated does not. And some disease are worse (more dangerous) if you get them as an adult.
An example of Media Speak - Unvaccinated children put vaccinated children at great risk because vaccines work so well they make vaccinated children immune...unless there are unvaccinated children around in which case the unvaccinated children cause the vaccinated children to revert to unvaccinated status which is bad. And that's where measles comes from.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
Venice Beach Photos at the Paddle Tennis Courts
It's the weekend, so thought I would head out to the beach and shoot some photos. I ran into Paula, and knowing that I would only get good photos, because that's what happens with her, I shot a bunch. Normally I would be playing some sets, but injured my wrist, so shooting photos is the next best thing.
It's nice to be able to go out to the beach in February - certainly can't do that in the Northeast this Winter. It was in the low to mid 60's here and I was chilly, the cool breeze coming off the ocean. Can't imagine what it's like there, where I grew up. Of course, we have the drought out here in So Cal - just heard on the weather report that the land in So Cal has risen about 6mm (1/2 inch) because of all the loss of weight from being down trillions of gallons of water. Anyway, here are some of the photos:
It's nice to be able to go out to the beach in February - certainly can't do that in the Northeast this Winter. It was in the low to mid 60's here and I was chilly, the cool breeze coming off the ocean. Can't imagine what it's like there, where I grew up. Of course, we have the drought out here in So Cal - just heard on the weather report that the land in So Cal has risen about 6mm (1/2 inch) because of all the loss of weight from being down trillions of gallons of water. Anyway, here are some of the photos:
The Legend - Bill Brothers
This last photo is of Paula and me, taken by Denise
And this will be all for today. Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Valentine's Day, 2015
Hope everyone who visits here is having, or has had, a happy Valentine's Day. Just because this day comes only once a year, what do you think you should do on all those other days? Here's an idea, sort of like what I do with ice-cream....What????? I only eat ice-cream on holidays, plus my birthday. So my idea is to do the same and treat all holidays like Valentine's Day, because once a year just isn't enough. Maybe even on some obscure holidays.
Because this day is also a good day to take photos of those you love, here are a few tips, mostly for photographing women, although can apply to guys, too. Don't face elbows straight at the camera. Show the fingers relaxed, and hands from a side view rather than the back of the hand. If you show hands in a fist, they may look amputated. Same if you crop photos at the joints. Want longer legs? Point the toes, which also give the calves nicer shape. Focus on the eyes.
It's always a good idea to write ideas down when you think of them, otherwise when you need them, you'll have forgotten. This just happened to me on this blog. I had a bunch of ideas for today's blog when I woke up, and thankfully remembered a few things, but not some others.
About health and love - I think each is as important as the other. This is why I feel each should be practiced every day. If you've followed this blog, you know that I promote health through diet, exercise, and supplements. Why? Well, here's one reason: Two days ago, I started to feel like some virus was trying to get me. Started with a scratchy throat. I started taking Cyclone Cider and Oil of Oregano every few hours, upped my vitamin C, plus took a supplement with a mushroom complex, golden seal, etc., and the virus never progressed, and is now almost gone. Growing up I never knew about these things, and when I felt as I just had, I would be sick for 1 - 2 weeks. Now I didn't even miss playing several games of paddle tennis.
Because this day is also a good day to take photos of those you love, here are a few tips, mostly for photographing women, although can apply to guys, too. Don't face elbows straight at the camera. Show the fingers relaxed, and hands from a side view rather than the back of the hand. If you show hands in a fist, they may look amputated. Same if you crop photos at the joints. Want longer legs? Point the toes, which also give the calves nicer shape. Focus on the eyes.
It's always a good idea to write ideas down when you think of them, otherwise when you need them, you'll have forgotten. This just happened to me on this blog. I had a bunch of ideas for today's blog when I woke up, and thankfully remembered a few things, but not some others.
About health and love - I think each is as important as the other. This is why I feel each should be practiced every day. If you've followed this blog, you know that I promote health through diet, exercise, and supplements. Why? Well, here's one reason: Two days ago, I started to feel like some virus was trying to get me. Started with a scratchy throat. I started taking Cyclone Cider and Oil of Oregano every few hours, upped my vitamin C, plus took a supplement with a mushroom complex, golden seal, etc., and the virus never progressed, and is now almost gone. Growing up I never knew about these things, and when I felt as I just had, I would be sick for 1 - 2 weeks. Now I didn't even miss playing several games of paddle tennis.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Photography and Health - Part III
Health goes hand in hand with everything you do. For me, that's photography. To get the best images, I need to be at my best....and need need my subjects to be at their best, too. The benefit is that you'll not only get better photos, have more energy, and you'll be happier and enjoy life more.
In my last post, I talked about what has worked for me to get and stay healthy. And most likely something very similar will work for you. What I'm going to say in this post may shock you, but you can check any facts online if you think they are wrong.
FACT 1 - Properly prescribed prescription drugs kill over 100,000 people a year in the U.S. Because cause of death may be listed as something else (heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, cancer, etc.), even though a drug was actually responsible, that number may be much higher. Imagine if terrorists killed that many people in the U.S. every year. The U.S. allows these companies to advertise these drugs on TV - only one of two countries to allow it (the other is New Zealand).
FACT 2 - Every prescription drug has a list of 70 - 75 or more side effects.
FACT 3 - The last 60 years of cancer research has not diminished cancer, other than what has been accomplished through less people smoking. In fact, other than stopping smoking, rates may be increasing.
How many times have you gone to your doctor and had your doctor tell you what changes you could make in your diet and lifestyle to prevent some malady? Or do they just tell you what drug to take?
FACT 4 - Doctors and pharmaceutical companies only make money if you are sick. If you and everyone else gets well, they've lost their customers. What do you think they will do? Think very carefully about this - it could literally be the difference between life and death, or between being well and being sick.
And finally, for this post, please click on this link to understand why most of what you're told by doctors and pharmaceutical companies is wrong - it may help you feel healthier and it literally may save your life: Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science - from the Atlantic magazine.. It's a long article (2 very loooooong pages) - but a definite must read.
Wish you all the best of health and happiness, and if you are getting photos done, hope they are better than you ever expected.
In my last post, I talked about what has worked for me to get and stay healthy. And most likely something very similar will work for you. What I'm going to say in this post may shock you, but you can check any facts online if you think they are wrong.
FACT 1 - Properly prescribed prescription drugs kill over 100,000 people a year in the U.S. Because cause of death may be listed as something else (heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, cancer, etc.), even though a drug was actually responsible, that number may be much higher. Imagine if terrorists killed that many people in the U.S. every year. The U.S. allows these companies to advertise these drugs on TV - only one of two countries to allow it (the other is New Zealand).
FACT 2 - Every prescription drug has a list of 70 - 75 or more side effects.
FACT 3 - The last 60 years of cancer research has not diminished cancer, other than what has been accomplished through less people smoking. In fact, other than stopping smoking, rates may be increasing.
How many times have you gone to your doctor and had your doctor tell you what changes you could make in your diet and lifestyle to prevent some malady? Or do they just tell you what drug to take?
FACT 4 - Doctors and pharmaceutical companies only make money if you are sick. If you and everyone else gets well, they've lost their customers. What do you think they will do? Think very carefully about this - it could literally be the difference between life and death, or between being well and being sick.
And finally, for this post, please click on this link to understand why most of what you're told by doctors and pharmaceutical companies is wrong - it may help you feel healthier and it literally may save your life: Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science - from the Atlantic magazine.. It's a long article (2 very loooooong pages) - but a definite must read.
Wish you all the best of health and happiness, and if you are getting photos done, hope they are better than you ever expected.
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