Sales Of Prescription Drugs Today

You know I wouldn’t hesitate to bet that half these prescription drugs that are being given to folks today, would be unnecessary if folks just ate healthier.  Hard to do though with food stores just brimming over with food full of pesticides and things. But in saying that, remember this, you are the one that puts these things into your body. You have a choice. You also have a choice on and if you should be taking all these prescription drugs.  My opinion only.   Take a look.

Booming sales of prescription drugs helped push profit at Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. up by 6.1 per cent in the first quarter, the company said Tuesday.

Prescription sales jumped 11.7 per cent to $1.09 billion, far more than the overall sales increase of 8.5 per cent. The increase was “driven by strong growth in the number of prescriptions filled,” even as the use of cheaper, generic drugs restricted the growth figure.

Times One Remembers

WHEN MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON OPENED THE BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER, HE DISCOVERED A WATER PISTOL.. HE SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT AND HEADED FOR THE NEAREST SINK.
I WAS NOT SO PLEASED.. I TURNED TO MOM AND SAID, “I’M SURPRISED AT YOU. DON’T YOU REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO DRIVE YOU CRAZY WITH WATER GUNS?”
MOM SMILED AND THEN REPLIED…. “I REMEMBER!!”

Vinyl Flooring, Maybe Not So Good To Have In Ones Home.

Kind of an interesting article here.  Kind of makes a fellow or gal think that maybe all these new items that we think are so nice these days might, and I say might, just be causing us all to get sick.  Joys of having to much money someone told me.  Hmm……….. Take a look.

In a study published on March 30, Swedish, Danish and U.S. scientists have discovered a link between vinyl flooring and autism in children. The purpose of the study — which involved nearly 5,000 children — was to investigate the connection between indoor air pollutants and allergies, however, the autism connection was accidentally found instead.

The findings, published in the journal Neurotoxicity, surprised even the scientists involved in the study, and are the first to find a connection between an environmental chemical and autism.

Cherries To The Rescue

A simple treatment for gout and the inflammation of arthritis is right at most folks doorsteps.  What is it?  Cherries.  Around six cherries a day is the amount. Not to hard to take huh?  I bet the big drug companies wish that they had invented them.  Now remember this, not all cherries are equal, as organic is the only way to go.   My opinion only.

How Old Are You Grandma?

LITTLE JOHNNY ASKED HIS GRANDMA! HOW OLD SHE WAS.
GRANDMA ANSWERED, “39 AND HOLDING.”
JOHNNY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SAID, “AND HOW OLD WOULD YOU BE IF YOU LET GO?”

Wednesday Humor For Your Coffee

“DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH?” THE BOSS ASKED ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES.
“YES, SIR,” THE NEW EMPLOYEE REPLIED.
“WELL, THEN, THAT MAKES EVERYTHING JUST FINE,” THE BOSS WENT ON. “AFTER YOU LEFT EARLY YESTERDAY TO GO TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S FUNERAL, SHE STOPPED IN TO SEE YOU!

Tuesday Humor For Your Coffee

SUPPORT A FAMILY :
THE PROSPECTIVE FATHER-IN-LAW ASKED, “YOUNG MAN, CAN YOU SUPPORT A FAMILY?”
THE SURPRISED GROOM-TO-BE REPLIED, “WELL, NO. I WAS JUST PLANNING TO SUPPORT YOUR DAUGHTER. THE REST OF YOU WILL HAVE TO FEND FOR YOURSELVES.”

The Original SUV My Answer To Global Warming!

Now here is a picture of what we all  will soon be driving.  Hmm……kind of think I was using one of them years ago. Oh well, what goes around comes around.  A good friend sent it to me and thought I would share.  Click On Picture For a Clearer View. m


Morning Humor

PALM SUNDAY :
IT WAS PALM SUNDAY AND, BECAUSE OF A SORE THROAT, FIVE-YEAR-OLD JOHNNY STAYED HOME FROM CHURCH WITH A SITTER.  WHEN THE FAMILY RETURNED HOME, THEY WERE CARRYING SEVERAL PALM BRANCHES .  THE BOY ASKED WHAT THEY WERE FOR. “PEOPLE HELD THEM OVER JESUS’ HEAD AS HE WALKED BY.”
“WOULDN’T YOU KNOW IT,” THE BOY FUMED, “THE ONE SUNDAY I DON’T GO, HE SHOWS UP!”

Hot Peppers, I Sure Enjoy Them

Hot peppers are great for spicing up food. They may be even better for keeping the human body feeling in the spice of life. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in hot peppers and the one that turns up the heat. It is a compound useful in nature for preventing pepper plants from being eaten by insects and animals. When capsaicin is consumed by humans in the form of hot sauce, chili peppers or cayenne pepper, it offers a wealth of health benefits. One that has received much recent attention is the ability of capsaicin to make prostate cancer cells commit suicide.

Chrysler Canada Saying It As It Is For Once

Take a look at this article that just came out.  First though my opinion is.  It’s about time. Simple as that.

Chrysler Canada, which has already borrowed $750 million from the federal and Ontario governments, is telling about 9,400 employees directly that it will close operations here unless they accept significant concessions soon.

I wouldn’t hesitate to say, that if wages were cut in half and others were asked to work for half the amount that is being given now, that there would be line ups for miles waiting to go to work.  My opinion only.

Book Signing For Marten River, April 19th/2009

For those that happens to be in the Marten River area tomorrow, drop by the community center and say hello, as I will be there signing books from around noon to three or so.  Have a great day.

A Few Annual Herbs

Aloe Vera – Excellent indoor or outdoor container plant.  Well-known and well-researched medicinal plant.

Arugula – Mustard-like green.  Grow in salad gardens and use in salads and stir-fries for a peppery, pungent taste reminiscent of horseradish.

Basil – Popular, attractive plant with many color variations.  No herb garden is complete without it.  Excellent in salads and as a garnish.  Medicinally used mainly for its stomach soothing qualities.

Borage – Attractive blue star-shaped flowers, but rather scraggly growth habit.  Cucumber-like taste.  Used medicinally internally in teas or topically for a variety of ailments.

Calendula – Cheerful yellow flowers that bloom almost constantly in warm weather. Excellent addition to flower or herb gardens.  Flowers often used as a garnish.  Limited medicinal qualities.

Cayenne – Attractive shrub-like plant with fruits that start green and then turn fiery red.  Very hot, but nutritional powerhouses.  Used medicinally for a variety of ailments.

Chamomile – Member of the daisy family with daisy-like flowers.  Bitter taste and not usually used in cooking.  Medicinal properties are well-known and include many common ailments.

Chervil – Close relative of Parsley, used mostly for flavoring other foods.  Some medicinal uses, most notably for high blood pressure.

Coriander – Another member of the Parsley family.  Entirely edible plant with a strong taste often used in Indian and Asian foods.  Medicinally used mostly as a flavoring agent.

Dill – Popular garden herb with feathery silver green leaves.  Nice addition to the herb garden.  Used as a flavoring for many dishes and in pickling.  Not a major medicinal herb, but often used for its stomach-soothing qualities.

Garlic – Onion-like plant with beautiful flowers.  Well-known in cooking.  Medicinally important herb that is completely safe.  Widely available in many forms.

Savory (Summer) – Attractive trailing plant. Nice in containers. Mostly a culinary herb used in a wide variety of dishes.  Tastes like peppery Thyme. Minor medicinal herb.

Solving The Worlds Health Problems

You know the old saying, “Give a man a loaf of bread, feed him for a day, teach him to farm, feed him for life.” Change the word “Bread” to “Farm” and you have  just solved he worlds hunger problem. Years ago this old saying had some punch to it, my old father even tried doing it.  It failed however as the Powers To Be don’t want us to be self efficient.  As long as folks are under their thumb they are in charge of things.  Good thing?  I don’t think so. Country agriculture is a great way in providing food, indoors or out, in-ground or in containers for people, thus ending food shortages on a family-by-family basis.  Just one more reason for folks to get out there this spring and get a garden growing. If not possible then try and get out and support your local farmers.  If done every one that does so will live a healthy life and isn’t that what we all are trying to achieve.  My opinion only as usual.

Flu Shots and Alzheimer’s Disease

One More reason for me not to get the flu shot.  Not that I ever did as I just don’t believe in them.  Actually this article could explain  why and how so many folks might be getting alzheimer’s these days.  My opinion only.

According to Hugh Fudenberg, MD, the world’s leading immunogeneticist and 13th most quoted biologist of our times (nearly 850 papers in peer review journals): If an individual has had 5 consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied) his/her chances of getting Alzheimer’s Disease is 10 times higher than if he/she had one, 2 or no shots. Dr. Fudenberg said it was so and that it was due to mercury and aluminum that is in every flu shot. The gradual mercury and aluminum buildup in the brain causes cognitive dysfunction.

Flu shots contain 25 micrograms of mercury. One microgram is considered toxic.

The study was done for ten years, imagine what might be happening today/ Kind of scary.

Essential Oils for Cold and Flu

Here I put together a few oils one can make to help with colds and flu’s and advice on how to apply them.  Hope they help.

Oregano – One of the most popular essential oils for treating everything from cold and flu to warts, oregano is considered a “hot” oil (it will heat up and tingle) and should be used cautiously. Do not apply to the face or throat without diluting it first with pure olive oil or another fatty oil. If you do get some on your face, dilute with butter or oil, NOT water! Oregano is best applied on the back, shoulders, and the bottoms of the feet.

Lemon – Lemon is great for boosting the immune system from within. Take a drop or two in every glass of water throughout the day, or use in capsules. Lemon is photosensitive so it should not be applied to skin.

Cinnamon – Another hot oil, cinnamon is great for boosting the immune system and has been shown to support the pancreas and digestive system (in medicine, the pancreas/spleen relates to the immune system). Apply on the feet or inhale.

And remember this spring is in the air and my new gardening book is on the shelves, so no reason now for not getting yourself in shape. Have a great summer, I know I am.

Sweet Fresh Pineapples & Good For You Too

Kind of makes me want to run out and buy a couple pineapples.  They sure are tasty on them hot summer days.

Nothing brings up the images of summer breezes and relaxation like pineapple, the sweet juicy treat from the tropics. While thoughts of fun in the sun ease the mind, eating pineapple can greatly ease the body. Bromelain, the key enzyme in pineapple, banishes inflammation as effectively as drugs. It reduces swelling, helps against sore throat, treats arthritis and gout, and speeds digestion of proteins. New research is even showing pineapple to be highly effective at cancer prevention and treatment.

General Motors & Chrysler Financial Support

Now here is an article that I am inclined to agree with.  I have always said we shouldn’t be giving any bail outs to any companies, banks you name it.  First thing, it isn’t the Powers To Be’s money to begin with.  Second if these workers don’t want to take some pay cuts or help their company in anyway, well then why should we help them.  All this money that we are going to give them isn’t going to help them one bit, all it does is delay the agony.   Also there is a lot of folks out there needing help other than just the big companies and they will  never see one cent.   So……. take a look at this article.  My Opinion Only.
April 16/2009– The Canadian Auto Workers union must reach agreements with Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. to cut wages and benefits before the Canadian government will provide long-term loans to the automakers, the Globe and Mail reported.

Industry Minister Tony Clement told the newspaper that workers at the two companies must accept labor cost cuts of as much as C$19 ($15.74) an hour for their employers to avoid bankruptcy protection.  ” I Am Glad Tony Clement took some action.”

Cuts of that amount are “unreasonable” and aren’t going to be accepted, Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza told the Globe.   “Well if they are unreasonable, then the bail out is unreasonable too.  Simple as that.”

Pharmaceutical Drugs here in Canada

Pharmaceutical Drugs here in Canada has mushroomed in the past few years.  For the good?  Well….. through my eyes it isn’t.  I feel it has gotten way out of hand.  Folks are being given drugs for everything and through my eyes for most parts most folks would do well with out them..  Thing is folks have gotten their minds swayed into thinking that when ever the Powers That Be’s speak, they should take it as gospel.  Don’t get me wrong there is a place for some of these drugs just one has to make darn sure they know what they are putting into their body before they take it upon themselves to do it.  So there you go my vent fo the day.  Here is the article that just came out concering how much drugs are being used here in Canada today.  My Opinion Only. Take A Look.

A report released by a drug-tracking firm reveals that prescription drug use among Canadians was higher in 2008 than in any previous year. The report, released on March 26 by IMS Health, a worldwide pharmaceutical-tracking company, assesses pharmaceutical use by tracking the number of prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists annually.

IMS estimates that Canadians spent $21.4 billion on prescription medications in 2008, up from $20.2 billion in 2007. Pharmacists in 10 Canadian provinces filled 453 million prescriptions in 2008, up 7.1% over the previous year. For 33.2 million Canadians, that’s an average of nearly 14 prescriptions per citizen. Hmmmm makes one think huh?

Derek Weiler, Editor of Quill & Quire

The Canadian book world has lost a respected, thoughtful and knowledgeable observer.

Derek Weiler, editor of Quill and Quire,  died suddenly at home in Toronto on Sunday at the age of 40. Although no specific cause of death was given in the announcement on the periodical’s website, he was reported to have been in poor health for several years.

Weiler joined the staff of Quill and Quire, Canada’s leading publishing industry periodical, in 1999 as a writer, assuming the editor’s chair five years later. He will be missed.