Smart rabbits still do their homework...

Having managed to survive childhood and even high school, I am finally getting the ropes of adulthood, too.  The further I go along, the more I understand the value of thinking for myself.  Just because people around us think they know what's best does not excuse us from making our own, well-researched decisions.  

To share an important experience I recently had, which may help you in the future, as well, let me just start by saying that we should treasure the advice of older friends in their 40's and 50's. Mine have led me to believe that our two greatest assets are not houses nor cars - they are in fact our mental and physical health.

For me personally mental health is easier and more fun to look after than the physical. I'd much rather play an improv game or do a crossword, for example, than jog for an hour or floss my stubborn teeth. Both are equally important, though. So on my recent trip to the eye doctor I made sure to ask all the right questions, like whether or not my vision had improved, and if the Doc had any tips on proper eye health. To my delight my sight hadn't changed much, but it seemed the technology of the eye contact had. I took home a trial pair of contacts called Air Optix by the manufacturer CIBA, which the Doc said I could sleep in. How convenient, I thought to myself, and like the silly rabbit who thinks he really stole the kiddies' Trix this time, I hopped along my way. 

I wore my new contacts for a breezy month, occasionally sleeping in them, but not every night. They were comfortable, so I called in my order for a few boxes. But when I got there the staff tried to sell me a different brand. I questioned the switch, but they assured me that this brand was of equal quality, and that I could sleep in these, too. Never once was a warning issued of any kind. And so once again, I headed back down the trail. After all, you can trust a doctor and its staff. (Right?)

Back down the rabbit hole I popped in my new contacts. They felt fresh and clean. I dozed off to sleep, dreaming of freshly boiled carrots, lettuce fields, and.. Well, you get the point. But when I awoke, things were a little... fuzzy. 

I noticed clouds in my peepers that had never appeared before. And so, being the certified research nerd that I am, I jumped on the information superhighway. After just a few minutes of scanning through an academic journal and WebMD, still groggy and half-asleep, I stumbled upon an article edited by the FDA. It was discussing infections associated with contacts. And then came the BIG kahuna: overnight wear of soft contact lenses increased the risks of eye infection by 500%.  Suddenly I was bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

How could my doctor not have informed me of this? Being obviously competent, I'm sure she was aware of this risk. Did she assume I already knew? It turned out, she had assumed I knew a lot of things. And so I have come up with a list of 6 things that contact lens users need to be aware of, just in case their doctors are assumptive like mine. Of course more information exists that we lens wearers need to know, but I feel like these are the most commonly skipped items.

6 important things that contact lens users need to know

1. FDA Warning: Even if you are using lenses approved by the FDA as "extended wear," overnight use makes you much more susceptible to eye infection than if you pop them out beforehand. James Saviola, M.D., of the FDA, says this is because "contact lenses stress the cornea by reducing the amount of oxygen to the eye. They can also cause microscopic damage to the surface of the cornea, making it more susceptible to infection."  (See source below)

2. Consequences of infection: One of the worst infections caused by contact lens use is bacterial keratitis, which CAN, if not successfully treated, lead in the worst case to the loss of the eye.

3.  Smokers, males, wearers under 25, and recent beginners in contacts, all have increased risk.

4.  Beware of OTC. Over the counter eye drops have also been found to be risk factors. My doctor recommended Systane ultra, which I find are effective. Make sure you load up on samples while you are still at the clinic. Those little bottles are killer on the wallet.

5.  Watch the water you're exposed to. You shouldn't swim or shower with your contacts in (both of which I have done as I never received proper warnings.)

6. The safest option with least risk: use disposables. Being able to have a fresh pair of soft contact lenses means less chance of infection, less cleaning, and more comfort, especially for people whose eyes naturally produce more protein which leaves deposits on the contact lenses

It's our own responsibility to protect ourselves....

The greater question is that if Dr. Blindsight skipped out on this information, what else are doctors skipping out on? Are they trying to think for us? Maybe my optometrist thought I would choose convenience over risk. But it isn't her job to think for me. Her job is to advise me of my options and their risks, so that I can make my own informed decision. 

I for one have been motivated to rev up my reading engine when I receive health advice, even from someone who is qualified to dispense it. We all should. I also can't help but wish my parents had taught me to do extra homework instead of just trusting someone with a fancy title. One thing is for sure: this little bunny, no matter how silly, will never trade convenience for health. I hope you don't either. 

Sources and Discussion Boards:

http://www.webmd.com/fda/focusing-on-contact-lens-safety?page=1

http://www.lens101.com/air-optix-aqua.html

Lifestyles of the single and not-so-famous

Tags: singles, monogamy, infidelity, exercise for weight control, studies concerning sex drive, fad diets, nutrition, physiological programming 

 

Raquel Welch: 1 Million Yrs. B.C.

Nowadays people think hunters and gatherers were of a society long ago... But I beg to differ. In fact, we're all still hunting. The only thing that's changed is what we're shooting the spears at. 

On warm nights the cavelady nestles next to her caveman as her war paint (lash-fattening mascara) and high-tech weaponry (hair straighteners and high heels) grow dust from a war fought long ago. Ah, yes, married folks enjoy a deep sense of companionship that only Tarzan and Jane truly understand. Outside the cave, though, conditions are not so safe for us "spinsters".... 

I'll be the first to admit that I, like other singletons, get excited when I make a new pal who is also flying solo. After all, no one likes to do battle alone. One-man armies don't exactly stack up the victories...

We need a back-up, a tennis buddy, a squirt of ketchup on our fries. Humans, like their animal counterparts, enjoy pairs, whether they be of things, people, or munchies. Dating is no different. We need that buddy to gab to when a date goes well (or goes down in flames :D).  

But single pals are worth their weight in gold for other reasons. Sometimes they give us little nuggets of wisdom that we didn't know, or that we had been forgetting to put into place. Take Lady Esther, for instance. On my way home tonight, as I pondered excuses to skip my work-out, I received her text. It just so happened that she was already in the gym. Except she added that she was "getting ready for bikini season."

I thought to myself, sounds more like open season, and I jokingly responded that I didn't know she was a hunter like myself.  She argued that she was not a hunter; rather, her goal is to look like the kind of fit man she wants to attract.

Clever, Lady E. Very clever. I still say you are hunting, but let's take a moment to analyze this.

Here's something all of us - men, women, single, married, divorced - should bear in mind. The qualities we are looking for in a mate should be qualities that we already exhibit, or at least that we are working hard toward achieving. Otherwise, why would we have any right to demand it from another?

Likewise, it's important for people already in relationships to take care of themselves. Ladies, I feel compelled to point out that this may be more important for us than for men. Recent research published in the Oxford University Press (see link below) says "even when both men and women make a heartfelt, sacred vow of chastity, the men find it much harder to keep than the woman."  The study also said that not only do men have a much stronger sex drive than women, they will take more risks and incur more costs for sex. (Remember President Clinton!) 

Truthfully we are all physiologically programmed to prowl: monogamy is only possible because humans make a concerted effort to stay faithful. I believe a majority of married people would agree (hitched folks, this is your cue to comment.) The point is that if we are looking our best, and feeling our best (both directly related to exercise), then we are making our mates' jobs (complete and loving fidelity) all the more easy.

It's equally important for us to take care of ourselves the right way. Last year my older sister, Alyssa, dropped over 60 lbs. People who saw her afterward were in a state of shock. The immediate reaction was, what was her "diet trick"? I would simply laugh and say, mathematics. 

It’s not new news that fad diets are unsuccessful over the long term. Time and again studies show that people who yo-yo diet are more likely to gain more weight after their diet is over than if they didn’t diet at all. Not to mention how unhealthy this is for the human body. 

“Most individuals want cutting-edge solutions for weight loss, and fad diets offer, at least on the surface, ‘new’ ways to beat the boring mathematical reality of long-term weight loss,” says Robin Steagall, nutrition communications manager for the Calorie Control Council.

Truth be told, the proper solution does take longer, but it produces healthier results and habits that one can live with forever. Which brings me back to Alyssa's success. One tool that aided her was livestrong.com, a daily calorie and exercise calculator that tracks your weight loss. Over the months I watched her send the pounds packing as she completely re-arranged her lifestyle habits. Imagine that.. the old fashioned "burn more than you consume actually" works.  Of course it took discipline on her part. But she had her eyes on the ball, so that when she swung, she was sure to hit. 

Some advice to others looking to develop that same discipline is, number one, listen to the motivational experts who say it takes 20 days to build a habit. Find a way to be active in some respect for 20 days, and after that, you will feel odd if you don't exercise. I am living proof of this. I am certainly not the slimmest chicken, but I enjoy a great energy level and I've maintained my weight for 7 years in part because I've committed myself to 20 minutes of activity per day, whether it be dancing like a maniac in my bedroom or trotting around my neighborhood.

Second, use your FREE resources: Google shows 488,000,000 results from a mere "health advice" search.

Another important tip that many successful weight-droppers have reported is that you should write down your goals in specific detail, and write down why they are important to you. The slew of health problems linked to being overweight and improper nutrition should be enough to influence people to care for their temples. But everyone has their own reasons.. what are yours? To age gracefully? To influence your family to be healthy, too? Or just to feel great?

Or maybe, like Esther and I, you want the best possible armor, so that when Mr. or Mrs. Future Flinstone comes walking by, you'll be ready ;) 

Sources and Recommended Readings:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cultural-animal/201012/the-reality-the-male-sex-drive

Experienced Arc-builders Wanted

Does anyone recall the movie Evan Almighty? It was the comedic version of Noah's Arc. God calls a typical American businessman named Evan, played by ingenious Office star Steve Carrell,  to build an arc for a "great flood that cometh."  Naturally, his reaction is nooooooooo way, and he continues on his way to work.

But God has other, no-pressure plans. First, animals start following Evan around everywhere he goes. In pairs, of course. Ducks squawking and mooing cows soon create interoffice static. Then the Noah beard starts to grow. Big and furry, but shaving is to no avail. Within five minutes it's back, hairier than ever. And as much as he tries to run from his calling, he eventually realizes that he and he alone is the man for the job.

I am slowly but surely understanding that God may be calling me, too. Except, I don't particularly like what He is proposing, so I keep sending Him to voicemail.

Let me re-phrase: the thought excites me, yes. The task could have real impact on a lot of people. Someone needs to get up and do it. But not just anyone can. Clearly, God thinks that I am that someone. And yet, I like to act like I'm deaf sometimes. Cuz frankly, I'm spooked.

 

God: "Charisse, dear, it's time to get started."

Me: "What's that, God, I can't quite hear you? I'm busy with research...."

God, laughing, "No problem, dear. I'll be here when you're ready."

Then, something happens, that makes me even MORE angry, even MORE determined to get involved and... fulfill that pesky calling.

My calling, my calling, this nuissance! This total distraction from my brilliant enterprise - my financial security, all my other ideas! Am I supposed to just throw them all away??

So I tuck this important task neatly back into my pile, and go back to something I think is even more relevant. But between this and that, it's little monkey face is still poking out... Making those fun, monkey noises.. I start to mentally itch, much like a dirty monkey would. Ideas start to swirl. Eventually the midnight oil burns out, so I turn into bed.

Still, I can't help but wonder if I'll awake a Bearded Lady.

Excuse-making marriage-phobe sounds like a cop-out to me

When the welfare of a loved one is on the line, it is time to man up and send marriage fears packing. If Mr. Smith doesn't agree, maybe he should be the one to hit the road.

Tonight I had the pleasure of cooking some authentic cuisine from coastal Veracruz with two close friends. They graciously fielded all of my pesky questions - how many jalapeños for the perfect green chile sauce, why Canola oil, which maza is best for homemade tortillas, and on. What with all my photos and notes you'd have thought I was working undercover for Emeril.  I headed home later armed with a plateful of 5-star empanadas to share with the roomies, a happy belly, and still one unanswered question:  is it reasonable to expect your spouse to marry you?

As we shredded chicken, diced cilantro, and mashed tortillas, many topics flew in and out of the kitchen alley way. One of them proved most shocking: my friends' viewpoint on marriage. In their 15 years shared together they have built a home and created a beautiful family of three polite, outgoing youngsters. It would seem to any outsider that they are committed for the long run. 

Or are they?

I understand that some people don't think it's necessary to get the "legal piece of paper" in order to attest to the love and mutual respect upon which their relationship is found.  And that's how my friend, who we'll call Mr. Smith, feels about the situation. He says divorces are costly and they "change the relationship" (with no further elaboration.) Mrs. Smith observed our conversation with enough silence to give me reasonable room to believe they did not share the same philosophy. At first I supported the idea, thinking it was a novel concept in our age of high divorce rates. Later that night, though, my opinion changed dramatically upon finding out that by avoiding the knot for the past decade and a half, Mr. Smith has been denying a very vital benefit to the woman that he supposedly loves deeply. 

I'm referring to the Golden Ticket. The right to vote, the ability to find a rewarding career with salary and health insurance VS. a dead-end job, grants to study or open a business, and above all, the chance to build and use credit. These cornerstones of American life lie on one side of a very narrow bridge: the legal status side. 

But this isn't even about politics. This is about l.o.v.e. And to me it's an open and shut case. For Pete's sake: it's been 15 years. Here you have a dedicated, humble woman who is raising your children and will be doing so for the next 15 years regardless of all other circumstances. In just 24 months Mr. Smith could change all her opportunities. Bippety, boppety, boo, said the Fairy Godmother [i.e. good immigration attorney.]

Am I wrong to think that when you truly care for someone then that person's well being should be just as important as your own? And in this country well being has everything to do with your legal status.

And yet, Smith does nothing.

I cannot help but be incensed by the situation. I'm not even sure who makes me more angry - Smith for not caring enough to do the right thing, or Mrs. Smith for allowing him to treat her thus. 

When the welfare of a loved one is on the line, it is time to man up and send marriage fears packing. If Mr. Smith doesn't agree, maybe he should be the one to hit the road. 

Americans & Illegal Immigrants: Sharing The Shadow

Despite the drastic impact that immigration makes on our nation's health many Americans choose to stay in the dark as though unaffected

It concerns me that a majority of people lack basic knowledge about the immigration legislation over which our Congressmen and women are debating this summer. This issue has far-reaching impacts on all Americans, not just the 11 million who reside here unlawfully.

Republicans have a valid point in saying that lawbreakers should be punished, yet to deny them a pathway to citizenship if they worked to earn it would put our country at an obvious disadvantage. Many people in general are not aware of the contribution that this minority group makes to our quality of life. Low labor prices translate to low operating costs for business owners, which means Americans pay less for services and essentials, like groceries and housing. Hispanics' growing buying power and tax contributions also play a key factor in our economy's health. 

In evaluating the statistics it seems to me that the benefits to keep unauthorized aliens here outweigh the reasons to send them home. I say this to opponents: until the government schedules a mass deportation we need a realistic solution, not more complaints.

To highlight one of the largest problems that can be fixed by lawmakers here's a situation in which a client of mine found himself. He was offered $11 per hour for a job. But when payday came, he was handed $8 per hour in cash. The difference, the employer explained, was to pay the employee's taxes. Yet when the end of the year came the employee never received a tax return or any record of his earnings, nor was he paid time and a half after 40 hours. All of this data "disappeared."

Let me explain why this is relevant. Instead of paying payroll taxes, the employer worked this person "under the table," and evaded its tax responsibilities. Unlike honest enterprises it pocketed a handful of tiny percentages which add up in the long run: state and federal unemployment taxes (about 3% of wages), matching Social Security tax (6.2% of wages), matching Medicare (another 1.45%), worker's compensation insurance (a violation of state law), and overtime (a violation of Federal law [Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)]). This doesn't include any benefits, sick days, or vacation that someone working 60 - 70 hours a week may accrue with a reputable company.

Although this is clearly illegal, it's happening all over the country. Even staffing agencies who pretend to help people find employment take advantage of employees who are afraid to stand up for themselves because of their legal status. Yet are the employers to blame? Who's to say they aren't doing this just to hide that they are hiring illegal aliens? Maybe they have no choice.

We should remember that there are three sides to every store - my version, your version, and the truth. No matter where you stand on this issue, one fact is universal: many American citizens have no idea that problems like the one I just described exist. They don't realize that both businesses and humans suffer because solutions are not being put into place. Since they don't know, they don't care. They are in the shadows right alongside this group of unauthorized workers.

I suggest that part of this issue is education and public awareness. Even if I am only one person, the least that I can do is make a commitment to educating those around me about both sides of this controversial issue. The old arguments - like the one that says illegals don't pay taxes - must be thrown out, and educated ones brought in. In fact, households headed by unauthorized immigrants paid $11.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2010, according to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy. That's quite an injection of resources into a turkey that's been growing thinner, I think any U.S. economist would agree. Here's another interesting statistic:

"According to the Perryman Group, if all unauthorized immigrants were removed from the United States, the country would lose $551.6 billion in economic activity, $245 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and approximately 2.8 million jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time." (See Source Below)

Our country cannot afford a loss this staggering. Not when our GDP is shrinking. Who is with me? When we take the time to educate ourselves we become more powerful and make better decisions. Join with me in writing to your Congressional representative about this issue. Get on your social networks and start talking. Form an opinion, any opinion! But don't stay in the shadows voluntarily. A solution to this issue is absolutely indispensable for the health of our nation, and you can be a part of it.

Remember that if we stand for nothing, we'll fall for anything.

Sincerely,

An Opinionated American

*Assumes a new business. Established businesses may pay less. In LA, as an employer builds his reserve of unused Unemployment contributions, the percentage that he must pay out to the state decreases. In most states the Unemployment tax is applied only to the first $7,000 of each employee's annual salary.

Sources:

http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/UI/wts/2012ratetable.pdf

http://www.accountingcoach.com/online-accounting-course/20Xpg04.html

http://www.laworks.net/faqs/faq_workcomp_employerdisputedclaims.asp

Looks like Double Jeopardy, wouldn't you agree?

Tonight a Permanent U.S. Resident is sitting in a D.C. immigration prison awaiting deportation. He has been in jail for almost 3 years. In South Carolina, another Permanent Resident, a female who has lived in the U.S. since 1979, is also in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Some 12 years ago she stole a t-shirt, was judged, convicted, and completed her probation. So why has she been arrested for the same crime - again?

ICE authorities have broadly misinterpreted immigration legislation in order to detain and deport legal residents all over the U.S., according to the CAIR coalition in D.C. (www.caircoalition.org/), which provides free legal consultation to immigrants without attorneys. CAIR says this legislation is poorly-written, and that it is causing many immigrants to be deported for minor criminal convictions for which they have long-since paid their dues.

Does this remind anyone else of the Double Jeopardy clause in the Constitution? The clause was created to protect people from injustice just like this. It holds that no one may be accused and convicted of the same crime twice. How is it possible that the Supreme and District courts has not intervened? 

Imagine you find a rat on the street. You bring it home, bathe it, and dress up in a pretty blue Sunday bonnet. He cleans up well. So well that he might even fool some of your friends who have had one too many cocktails. But at the end of the day, he's still a rat. A fat and smelly one. And that's what this law application is: something dirty disguised as something good for society. The law being used to detain former convicts was intended for felons and those who committed violent crimes. But even in such a case, can we still justify punishing an individual for the same crime twice?

The time has come for us to stop tolerating federal abuse of laws. The heat must be turned up under Congressional rabbit tails if we expect a solution to start cooking. Immigration overhaul had better find its way to the top list of priorities in the Obama administration, otherwise we'll be staring at the same problems in twenty years. Am I mistaken to believe we are a country of progression? Twelve million illegal immigrants aren't going away overnight, and neither are the devastating costs that their illegality creates for our economy.

Slowly the American people lose their voices because they don't use them. Many of us know that we have to act, and know HOW to act, yet we do nothing. Have we forgotten that to know and not do, is tantamount to not knowing?

Thomas Jefferson is turning over in his grave.

Cheers to GIN (using your alcohol of choice :)

Kevin Trudeau, one of the founders of the Global Information Network, may have a controversial past, but one thing is for sure: he has very powerful ideas about personal development. When a friend first introduced me to GIN I was not convinced that I could benefit from it. But in the course of a very rough personal patch that included the loss of some close friendships and the need to start over, I realized I needed to change what I was doing, which meant also changing what I was listening to.

Luckily for me, my friend was gently persistent and continued to e-mail me links that he thought might interest me. Eventually I started poking around the GIN web site as an affiliate, and I'm truly glad that I did. 

It turns out that the founders' high levels of wealth and business experience give them the credibility that a skeptic like me needed. After a lot of research, listening to the site's featured audios, and reading others' experiences, I feel confident in saying that GIN is a professional organization created by some of the most brilliant business minds in the world. They dedicate their time to providing resources and knowledge that enable people to improve their professional lives and achieve their dreams. Many of the speakers' messages are very powerful. Some might even hurt to listen to the first few times, or even get you angry, because they are real. They are designed to wake you up from "auto pilot," and pull you out of the "rat race," where a lot of us Americans are stuck.   

One of the most inspiring messages that I've gotten from GIN so far is that the successful are no smarter than the average person, nor did they start with more money or some other type of advantage.  

They simply chose to think a different way. They dared to dream, and dream specifically. They found the burning desire that motivated them to do things that they hadn't dared do before, even if that meant moving out of their comfort zone. After all, we can't expect things in our lives to change, if we are not willing to change things in our lives.

I don't know about you, but I desire a purpose-driven life in which I develop all of my skills and talents not just for my own benefit, but for the greater good. GIN has reminded me that this is more than obtainable. It also made me feel at peace with the right, although very difficult, choice in leaving certain friendships behind. If someone is not contributing to your growth, then they are holding it back. It is better, I now believe, to have only 5 real friends who care about your happiness, than to have 20 who care only for how you can contribute to theirs.

It is a beautiful feeling to be uniquely blessed with friends to love. I am so excited to attend my first GIN event in Las Vegas this Spring. From what other members have said, the events are truly life-changing. I would love to have you as a guest (as long as you're someone I like :P)

Good night everyone. Thanks for all your support last year and for coming back to the New Year's blog. All comments are encourage!