Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Helium Balloon Ride




How many movies or cartoons have you seen where someone grabs too many helium balloons and takes off flying through the air?

Well, some guy has actually done just that, but he did it on purpose while sitting in a lawn chair. He said that it was incredibly peaceful and that he was able to hear things on the ground like cattle moos and people talking. All I would have been able to hear would have been my teeth chattering and my knees knocking.

Monday, July 2, 2007

Are you taking cholesterol medicine?

Are you taking cholesterol medicine? If you are, are you aware of a disorder called rhabdomyolysis? If not, I recommend that you become aware of it.
In brief, this disorder can occur if high levels of statin in your body prevent the production of crucial proteins utilized in muscle function. The result minimally can be muscle soreness and rapid fatigue associated with exertional activities, and at worst, can lead to kidney failure and death.
My brother, Larry, and a close friend, Shane, have both been taking cholesterol medications and have both had unexplained diffuse muscle and joint pains. After suffering with the symptoms for way too long, they both have come to find that the medications they were taken were the culprits.
If you would like to know more, here are some resources:
Mayo Clinic rhabdo info

American Family Physician rhabdo info

Space Doc rhabdo info
Please feel free to contact me with your insights, suggestions, concerns or questions regarding this matter.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Wrestling Tragedies

The story regarding the murder/suicide of Chris Benoit, professional wrestler re-raises a lot of questions about the risks of steroids and it also brings to mind how prevalent tragedy is in the wrestling world. I found an interesting article at FoxNews.com regarding this topic.
Past Deaths of Professional Wrestlers

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Killer Sand vs. Jaws


Despite my poor attempt at humor titling this blog article, I have chosen to reference this news article out of a serious desire to share interesting and potentially helpful info.

I had never heard of deaths occurring from people having holes dug in the sand cave in on them, but apparently this type thing happens more often than shark bite deaths.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Where Has All the Common Sense Gone?

This was taken from a newsletter at PineconeResearch.com
As George Carlin once said, "Some people need practical advice."
Here are some of the wackiest warning labels of the past few years according to the Michigan Law Suit Abuse Watch website (www.mlaw.org.):• A label on a baby stroller warns: "Remove child before folding."• A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: "Harmful if swallowed."• A popular scooter for children warns: "This product moves when used."• A 9x3-inch bag of air used as packing material cautions: "Do not use this product as a toy, pillow or flotation device."• A flushable toilet brush warns: "Do not use for personal hygiene."• The label on an electric hand blender promoted for use in "blending, whipping, chopping and dicing," warns: "Never remove food or other items from the blades while the product is operating."• A household iron warns users: "Never iron clothes while they are being worn."• A label on a hair dryer reads, "Never use hair dryer while sleeping."• A warning on an electric drill made for carpenters cautions: "This product not intended for use as a dental drill."• The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns: "If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product."• A smoke detector warns: "Do not use the Silence Feature in emergency situations. It will not extinguish a fire."• A massage chair warns: "DO NOT use massage chair without clothing ... and, NEVER force any body part into the backrest area while the rollers are moving."• A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, "Do not drive with sunshield in place."• An "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautions, "Do not use near fire, flame or sparks." • A 12-inch rack for storing compact disks warns: "Do not use as a ladder."• A cartridge for a laser printer warns, "Do not eat toner."• A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: "Not intended for highway use."• A warning on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists says: "Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover."• A snow blower warns: "Do not use snow thrower on roof."• A dishwasher carries this warning: "Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher."• A popular manufactured fireplace log warns: "Caution — Risk of Fire."• A box of birthday cake candles says: "DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity."

Gravity Shoppe

Wood working meets precision time instrument meets better mouse trap. Get ready to go "Whoa!" The Gravity Shoppe

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Kentucky Factoids

Here is a link that I am borrowing from Brian Green's blog:



I have been in Kentucky since 1993, and I have seen quite a bit of it since then, but I obviously have much more to see and learn about The Commonwealth.