coffee may reduce the risk of breast cancer

more coffee less cancer

According to a researcher of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, women who drink more than five cups of coffee a day may be reducing their risk of one type of breast cancer known as estrogen-receptor negative cancers. This type of breast cancer is less likely to respond to hormone therapy than estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer.

The study evaluated coffee drinking and breast cancer risk in 2,818 patients with breast cancer and 3,111 study participants who did not have breast cancer.  Participants were all Swedish, ages 50 to 74. The researchers collected information on coffee drinking habits. education, family history of breast cancer, menstrual history, reproductive history, and habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and exercising.

The researcher herself is not convinced about the results and is unclear whether this observation was a chance finding. However, a U.S. expert cautiously warns that the only thing this study suggests is: "Drinking coffee doesn’t seem to increase the overall risk of breast cancer."

So, I would suggest: ladies, enjoys your cup of coffee and keep it brewing.

===================

SOURCES

telegraph.co.uk

webmd

cars not allowed in walk friendly Christiania, Denmark

Christiania, Denmark

Christiania is a as self-proclaimed independent community of about 850 people in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Christiania was founded in 1971 when a group of hippies moved in abandoned military barracks in Copenhagen.

This neighborhood is accessible only through two main entrances which are blocked by road block robots to prevent visitors from driving into Christiania. Cars are not permitted. Only cargo transport is allowed through these gates. You have to walk in this community and you can walk as much as you want. Therefore, Christiania is a definitely a popular walk friendly community.

The people in Christiania follow some of their own rules independent of the Danish government. Such rules include no cars, no stealing, no guns, no bulletproof vests, and no hard drugs. Even Danish laws banning smoking in public places (workplaces, restaurants, bars and clubs) are not enforced in Christiania.

However, the cannabis trade is permitted in this town. Since its opening in 1974, Christiania has been famous for its centrally located 'Pusher Street' where cannabis is sold openly.

Christiania is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Copenhagen and a great place to enjoy a walk.

--------------

SOURCE:

http://www.christiania.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania

I went to Christiana - Viceland Today

smart car to keep track of your health

It was only a matter of time before smart phone were followed something else smart. According to USA Today, the automakers are working on car that will help you stay behind the wheel.

Ford Motor has developed a car seat that can monitor a driver’ heart and, can potentially, act as an early warning system. Ford has been working on several vehicle base monitoring systems that can be relevant to health and wellness issues such as glucose levels for diabetics or pollen levels for asthmatics.

There appear to be a lot of untapped potential market in such areas although some health professionals are doubtful about effectiveness of such devices for people who have health problems.

Vermont is the most green state in the U.S.

If you are interested in green living and care about this earth, check out Greenopia’s ranking of all 50 states. The rankings are based on recycling rate, air and water quality, number of green buildings, number of green businesses, and per capita waste generation, emissions, water use, and energy use. Vermont tops the list::

cheers to green living

1          Vermont

2          New York

3          Washington

4          Oregon

5          Minnesota

6          California

7          Nevada

8          New Hampshire

9          Massachusetts

10        Maine

11        Hawaii

12        Arizona

13        Colorado

14        South Dakota

15        Idaho

16        Florida

17        Connecticut

18        Iowa

19        Maryland

20        Rhode Island

21        Georgia

22        Wisconsin

23        Arkansas

24        Michigan

25        North Carolina

26        Virginia

27        Illinois

28        New Mexico

29        Missouri

30        Texas

31        Pennsylvania

32        Ohio

33        Oklahoma

34        South Carolina

35        Tennessee

36        Montana

37        Kansas

38        New Jersey

39        Utah

40        Nebraska

41        Mississippi

42        Alabama

43        Delaware

44        Alaska

45        North Dakota

46        Kentucky

47        Wyoming

48        Indiana

49        Louisiana

50        West Virginia

------------

SOURCE

greenopia        

Arnold Schwarzenegger could have been cured by a head slam

head slam cure

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, has been busy keeping him and his beloved family members in the news. This man lied to his wife, and even ‎lied to the voters of California for 10 years. He got into a public office for 7 years where he was in charge of making and implementing various laws, including crimes related to gender discrimination, protection of children, child care, and sexual improprieties. All this time he was covering up his misconducts while California sank into a debt of over $25 billion.

Recently, an interesting incident occurred in Indiana. The Governor Mitch Daniels required 16 stitches to his head. Apparently, after a workout at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, the governor was standing near a door when the door suddenly swung and slammed in his forehead. As a result, two interesting thing happened to Daniels:

Arnold on weed

Apparently, at the hospital, Daniels was concerned about the cost and wanted to make sure he will not be charged by the number of stitches. Basically this guy, Mitch Daniels, was worried that he will be ripped off by the health care industry. This is despite the facts that, when it comes to pain to average Americas, the republicans  always insist that, government is not required and, the heath care costs will be taken care by the free market economy. 

Second, on May 22, Mitch Daniels declined his republican presidential bid  for 2012 election citing concerns from his family.

One has to wonder whether Arnold Schwarzenegger could have been brought to his senses years ago if he would have gotten a treatment similar to what happened to Mitch Daniels in an Indiana gym. In such a scenario, Schwarzenegger would not have run for a public office and saved a lot of pain to his family and to people of California.

Arnold Schwarzenegger,  spent a lot time in the gyms mastering his improper conducts. It seems like he never got slammed in the head that would have brought him to his senses. I guess, in California, they don’t make gym doors as productive as they are in Indiana these days.

outdoor smoking banned in New York city

Effective Monday, May 24, 2011, outside smoking will be banned in most public places in New York city.  The law passed and signed in February, makes smoking illegal in New York City's 1,700 parks, on the city's 14 miles of public beaches and pedestrian plazas like Times Square. The law is intended to prevent second hand smoking and the violators could be fined $50.

With this law, New York city joins 105 municipalities (in states including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Jersey) to ban smoking on public beaches and 507 municipalities that ban smoking in public parks.

Wisconsin man swallows 25,000 big macs in 40 years

Here is an accomplishment for the Americans can be proud of.

This month, one of our fellow Americans, Don Gorske, from Wisconsin, 

Don Gorske

eat his 25,000^th Big Mac since he started eating burgers 39 years ago. That turns out to be 641a year and about 2 Big Macs a day if you ate it every day. You would think, one would get fed up eating this stuff everyday, but, no, you are wrong. Don says Big Mac is his favorite food and he looks forward to it every day. He has no intention of giving it up until the day he dies.

He started eating Big Mac on May 17, 1972 when he bought a new car and since than, in 39 years, he has missed big macs only on eight days. Don, 57, is a former prison guard and now has proudly retired.

Don entered into Guinness World Records three years ago after having consumed  23000 Big Macs. He also participated in the in the 2004 documentary ”Super Size Me”.

To honor Don’s loyalty, recently, McDonalds held a special ceremony in the town of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Apple to put fitness center app in iPhone, iPod

There is a great news for health and fitness enthusiasts. It appears Apple may be developing an iPhone App for fitness.

iPhone

It has been reported that Apple has filed a patent application for advanced fitness center App with social media components:

” On April 28, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various aspects of a newly advanced Fitness Center App that they've been working on for some time now. While Apple's app is uniquely their own, they appear to be consulting with or at least including Nike into their program as one illustration lists "The Nike Training Club Class." Apple's Fitness Center App is well designed to cover all aspects of a workout including stats gathered from next generation smart equipment right down to the inclusion of a unique social networking component that will work within a particular fitness center or within your city limits to help you find a workout buddy and/or to stir on competition to get you motivated. Apple's new fitness center app is designed to work with your iPhone or iPod touch to provide you with realtime stats to keep you informed and on track.”

Indiana Governor Daniel’s head is cracked open by a gym door

Things are not looking so healthy in Indian’s health clubs.

head slam

Indiana's Governor Mitch Daniels got slammed in his forhead by the door of a fitness center. Apparently, after a workout at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, the governor was simply standing near a door when the door suddenly swung and slammed in his forehead. He was taken to Methodist Hospital where he was treated with 16 stitches.

According to Governor’s office he was concerned about the cost and wanted to make sure he will not be charged by the number of stitches. It is funny, that suddenly a republican forgets about heathcare and free market economy and is worried by health industry ripping him off.

It is incredible how quickly people began to talk sense after a good slap to the head.

The governor was also considering a Republican bid for presidential election in 2012. However, on May 22, Mitch Daniels declined presidential bid  He stated that he would not become a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination because of concerns from his family.

One has to wonder whether it was good slam by the gym door that brought Governor back to his senses. We will have to wait and see if health club doors in rest of the country act as aggressively as those in Indiana.

tony the tiger wins freedom to walk and exercise

tig

Here is an interesting story and an accomplishment about animals.

Tony is a 10-year-old siberian bengal tiger who has been kept as an attraction at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, La. by the owner Michael Sandlin since 2003.

Tony lives in a horrible condition in a concrete cage where he is harassed by visitors and surrounded by lights, the smell of fuel and the sound of diesel engines 24 hours a day seven days a week with nowhere to escape and nothing to do. He's been there since 2003. 

Tony was discovered by chance by Sky Williamson at the truck stop in 2005 and since than activists have been fighting for years to no avail to have him freed and sent to a wildlife preserve. Organizations such as Big Cat Rescue has repeatedly offered to take Tony but did get approval.

Tony’s conditions have been brought to the attention of authorities by thousands of people. However, despite state laws preventing private ownership of exotic animals, officials did nothing to rescue the tiger. Instead, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) bent the rules in favor of Michael Sandlin.  LDWF recently renewed Sandlin's permit to keep Tony because he has owned Tony (tiger) before the laws were enacted in 2006. Which means Tony got stuck at the truck stop were he had been confined since 2003

In April of 2011, the Animal Legal Defense Fund's (ALDF) intervened on behalf of Tony and filed a lawsuit against the LDWF arguing that granting Sandlin a permit in the first place violated state law.

On Friday, May 6, District Judge R. Michael Caldwell of the East Baton Rouge District Court granted the Animal Legal Defense Fund's (ALDF) request for a permanent injunction against the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), preventing them from renewing the annual permit that allows Michael Sandlin to keep Tony as of this December 14. 

With newly granted freedom, Tony the truck stop tiger is free to walk. The ALDF plans to work with the LDWF to find the best sanctuary where Tony can live out the rest of his days in a suitable environment.

 ======

Sources:

ALDF Wins Freedom for Tony

Cat Fight Ensues Over Tony the Tiger

legislation to give tax benefits for bike, public transit commuters

bike, public transp

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.),who often rides a bike to work himself, is introducing a legislation to help people and businesses cope with bad economy and high fuel prices.  

According to Blumenauer ”the only way to meaningfully protect Americans from spikes in gas prices is to make alternatives to driving more convenient and affordable.”

His proposed “Commuter Relief Act”  offers commuters immediate relief and options with the intent of adding no additional cost to the federal deficit. The legislation will would expand tax credits "for individuals and employers to make it easier for commuters who wish to commute to work by bicycle, walking, carpooling, or using public transit."

Specifically, the bill would equalize the parking and transit benefits at $200 per month; let people claim benefits for more than one mode of transportation; and allow employees the option to take cash instead of an employer's parking benefit, "reducing the incentive to drive instead of take alternative transportation." It would also increase the current bike benefit (which Blumenauer got passed back in 2009) from $20 to $40 per month.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer  said "Our goal is to lay out a budget-neutral alternative that gives people some choices,.. One of my favorite options here is giving people the opportunity to cash in their employer-provided parking…giving a commuter the opportunity to say, I'd like to take that money and buy a bike and a bus pass and enrich my life and my health."

Rep. Earl Blumenauer has been joined in his efforts by Rep. Jim Moran and Mazie Hirono. I am glad to see we have sensible politicians who care about people and the community.

-----------

SOURCES

http://blumenauer.house.gov/

grist.org

Obese man dies, was found fused to the chair he sat in for 2 years

obesity prob

In March of this year, Bellaire, Ohio police received a call that a man was not responsive. 

The police found the man was fused to a chair he had not moved from in two years because he was so obese. The police were forced to cut a hole in the wall of his house just to get him out. He was taken to the hospital in morbid condition where he eventually died.

Apparently, the man had not moved in two years and his girlfriend served him food while he stayed on that chair. Man’s skin was fused to the fabric of chair and he was sitting in his own feces and urine with maggots visible, The condition was horrible that the officer had to throw away his uniform after helping remove the man from the chair.

The landlord told that the man used to be an active person and said she had no idea how bad his condition was since he covered himself with a blanket every time she came to visit.

 

What was surprising is that two other people, a man and the obese man’s girlfriend, also lived in the same filthy house. They were ordered to clean up or get out.

----------------

SOURCES

Obese Ohio Man found fused

Bellaire Man Found Stuck in Chair Dies at 43

can coffee and sex increase the risk of stroke?

According to a new study quoted by BBC, the risk of stroke is increased by coffee, sex and blowing your nose. The study evaluated 250 patients for three years at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands.

coffee and sex

The risk factors in decreasing order are:

Coffee

Vigorous exercise

Nose blowing

Sex

Straining to defecate

Drinking cola

Being startled

Being angry 1

A good advice will be not to do these things at the same time.

-------------------------

Sources:

BBC

the journal Stroke.

A new blood test – find out how long you will live

test how long you will live

Life Length, a Spanish company has developed a new commercial blood test that measures telomeres. The test will be possible to tell whether a person's "biological age", as measured by the length of their telomeres, is older or younger than their actual chronological age. 

The test will not predict the exact number of months and years a person has yet to live, The scientist behind the company is Maria Blasco of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid, Spain.

The test measures telomeres. Telomeres are the tips of a person's chromosomes, which are believed to be one of the most important and accurate indicators of the speed at which a person is ageing. Scientific evidence suggests that people who are born with shorter telomeres than normal also have a shorter lifespan. It is known that shorter telomeres can cause a shorter lifespan although it is not know whether longer telomeres are going to give you a longer lifespan. That's not really known in humans.

Telomere research is considered to be one of the most exciting areas in biomedical science and 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine was given to three scientists who are pioneers in the field

Life Length is in the process of making distribution deals with medical diagnostic companies across Europe and expects it to become widespread within the next five or 10 years, The test will cost approximately $700 (500 Euro).

=============

SOURCES

http://www.lifelength.com/

independent.co.uk

bike friendly cities of the world

Here is some news for bike enthusiasts.
A recent article in CNN named 15 most bike friendly cites of the world:

Happy bikers

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Europe
      The " bicycling capital of Europe" where 40 percent of the city's traffic is on bikes.

Barcelona, Spain, Europe

Berlin, Germany, Europe  
  400,000 people bike to work each day

Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe

About a third of the workforce gets to the office by bike and an estimated more than a million kilometers are pedaled every day.

Christiania, Denmark, Europe

A neighborhood of 850 where cars are banned

Paris, France, Europe

One of the world's largest public bicycle rental programs that distributes 20,000 bikes through1,450 rental stations throughout the city and offers free rides under 30 minutes.

Boulder, Colorado

Devotes 15% of its transportation budget to improving and promoting bicycle travel. They have even launched a pilot program to get kids biking to school.

Chicago, Illinois

Calls itself  "the most bicycle-friendly city in the United States."  

Davis, California 

A city of 65,000 people that has more bikes than cars.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Has 170 km of bike paths and the highest percentage of bike commuters in the country.

Portland, Oregon

Considered  the bike capital of the U.S., has a 260-mile bike path network and the highest percentage, 10%, bike commuters in the country.

San Francisco, California

Has taken initiatives to remove car parking to make room for bike parking,

Beijing, China  

Probably the city with most bicycles in the world

Cape Town, South Africa

Offers public commuter showers for bikers

Bogotá, Colombia, South America

Hosts special Sunday Ciclovía events where main thoroughfares are closed to cars

Perth, Australia

Has more than 700 km of bike routes

tony the tiger wins freedom to walk and exercise

Tiger

Tony is a 10-year-old siberian bengal tiger who has been kept as an attraction at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, LA. by the owner Michael Sandlin since 2003.

Tony lives in a horrible condition in a concrete cage where he is harassed by visitors and surrounded by lights, the smell of fuel and the sound of diesel engines 24 hours a day seven days a week with nowhere to escape and nothing to do. He's been there since 2003. 

Tony was discovered by chance by Sky Williamson at the truck stop in 2005 and since than activists have been fighting for years to no avail to have him freed and sent to a wildlife preserve. Organizations such as Big Cat Rescue has repeatedly offered to take Tony but did get approval.

Tony’s conditions have been brought to the attention of authorities by thousands of people. However, despite state laws preventing private ownership of exotic animals, officials did nothing to rescue the tiger. Instead, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) bent the rules in favor of Michael Sandlin.  LDWF recently renewed Sandlin's permit to keep Tony because he has owned Tony (tiger) before the laws were enacted in 2006. Which means Tony got stuck at the truck stop were he had been confined since 2003

In April of 2011, the Animal Legal Defense Fund's (ALDF) intervened on behalf of Tony and filed a lawsuit against the LDWF arguing that granting Sandlin a permit in the first place violated state law.

On Friday, May 6, District Judge R. Michael Caldwell of the East Baton Rouge District Court granted the Animal Legal Defense Fund's (ALDF) request for a permanent injunction against the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), preventing them from renewing the annual permit that allows Michael Sandlin to keep Tony as of this December 14. 

With newly granted freedom, Tony the truck stop tiger is free to walk. The ALDF plans to work with the LDWF to find the best sanctuary where Tony can live out the rest of his days in a suitable environment.

 ======

Sources:

ALDF Wins Freedom for Tony

Cat Fight Ensues Over Tony the Tiger

Obese man dies, was found fused to the chair he sat in for 2 years

obesity prob

In March of this year, Bellaire, Ohio police received a call that a man was not responsive. 

The police found the man was fused to a chair he had not moved from in two years because he was so obese. The police were forced to cut a hole in the wall of his house just to get him out. He was taken to the hospital in morbid condition where he eventually died.

Apparently, the man had not moved in two years and his girlfriend served him food while he stayed on that chair. Man’s skin was fused to the fabric of chair and he was sitting in his own feces and urine with maggots visible, The condition was horrible that the officer had to throw away his uniform after helping remove the man from the chair.

The landlord told that the man used to be an active person and said she had no idea how bad his condition was since he covered himself with a blanket every time she came to visit.

 

What was surprising is that two other people, a man and the obese man’s girlfriend, also lived in the same filthy house. They were ordered to clean up or get out.

----------------

SOURCES

Obese Ohio Man found fused

Bellaire Man Found Stuck in Chair Dies at 43

higher rate of cancer reported among gay men

According to a BBC report, a study of 122,345 people in California suggests that the gay men are twice as likely to have had cancer. It is not clear from this study why this might be.

The survey was based on interviews of "survivors" so is not a true representation of the number of cancer cases. It was not possible to conclude that the gay men have a higher risk of cancer. Further research would be needed to determine if homosexual men were actually getting more cancer or had greater survival rates than heterosexuals.

There was no such link in women. However, lesbians and bisexual women were reported to have poorer health after cancer than heterosexuals.

-------------

SOURCE

BBC Health News

Seattle named the most walk friendly city in the U.S.

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), established in 1999 with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, is located at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. PBIC’s mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity.

PBIC recently announced the first round of Walk Friendly Communities! After evaluating applicant communities in several categories related to walking, including safety, mobility, access and comfort, PBIC has recognized 11 communities for their commitment to improving walkability and pedestrian safety.

walk friendly communities

Seattle got the highest "platinum" ranking.

Here is the list of walk friendly cities:

Platinum Level

Seattle, Washington

Gold Level

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Arlington, Virginia

Hoboken, New Jersey

Santa Barbara, California

Silver Level

Charlottesville, Virginia

Decatur, Georgia

Bronze

Austin, Texas

Charlotte, North Carolina

Flagstaff, Arizona

Wilsonville, Oregon

-------

Sources:

http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/

www.walkfriendly.org