| The Shrink's Progress
ORINDA, Calif. -- Debbie, a 17-year-old now down to 86 pounds and ever closer to her secret goal of 81 pounds, slowly awoke in her bed on a hospital intensive care unit. She was so groggy from her drug overdose that the only thing she noticed was the painful burning sensation in her nose. She then discovered that she couldn't move her hands to rub the unpleasant sensation away. Debbie had survived her suicide attempt and finally figured out that padded leather restraints secured her wrists and ankles to the sides of the bed. The burning sensation came from a tube that had been inserted through her nose down into her stomach. The tube had been used initially to pump out whatever pill fragments in Debbie's stomach had not been absorbed before she reached the hospital. After monitoring her for awhile the medical doctor decided that because her nutritional condition was so precarious, the nasogastric tube would be used for feeding Debbie's malnourished body.
Capitalism and 'the Crunchie'
Fury in the town is palpable. A "Keep Cadbury in Keynsham" campaign has now become a "Don't Buy Cadbury" boycott. Emotions range from sadness to anger. "It is the heart of the town" Amoree Radford tells me. "The directors are just trying to make as much money as possible, and they care nothing for people." With anger so high, it is no surprise to find all the local politicians backing the campaign. When did you last see a politician with a placard reading "Close the Hospital" or "Shut the Factory"? Tough call But for one man, the Crunchie Campaign has been a tough call. Jacob Rees-Mogg is a City Investment Broker. He puts millions into "emerging markets" like China and, yes, Eastern Europe. He is a huge fan of globalisation, which he says has kept our weekly shopping bills down.
SCHOOLS: Chalk Talk:
In February, Dental Health month, they will be learning more about good dental health, especially in kindergarten and first grades. In first- through fifth-grades, they continue to do their part in caring for their teeth by weekly fluoride mouth rinse at school, and brushing their teeth at least twice a day (at home).They also want to remember some of the best medicine is "laughter"; not laughing at someone but having good clean fun together and having a good "belly laugh" with family and friends.Debbie Kurtz’s Carmichael Bears’ K-Kids Club is in its fourth year at Carmichael. It is a community service club open to any student at the school in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is sponsored by the San Pedro Kiwanis Club of S.V. Steve Kurtz is the San Pedro advisor for the students.The students identify a need, create a plan, and serve together to help their school and community.
Helping Berlin's Male Prostitutes One Night at a Time
In Berlin, as in most major cities, boys and young men from as young as 14-years old work the curbs, sex cinemas and gay bars of the German capital. The fact that the rent boys of Berlin barely register on most people's radars led to the creation of an association in 1992 to help those in prostitution. The employees of "Sub/Way" visit the districts of Berlin where the boys work and supply them with condoms and advice on how to be safe on the streets. Once a week, the Sub/Way team loads their van up with condoms, lubricants, sexual health pamphlets, instant soups and hot chocolate before entering the dark underbelly of the German capital. The first stop is usually a Berlin train station where rent boys, many of whom have drug problems, punt for clients.
How to Recycle Less and Do More
What's exciting to me is how many companies now seem to have finally figured this out. Some — like Wal-Mart, which has received a lot of attention recently for its ambitious plans to reduce its environmental footprint — are companies that I would have never expected to be a part of this conversation when we launched Stonyfield 25 years ago. The fact that they are is creating an extraordinary opportunity to green our economy. Incorporating reusable materials and equipment into a production operation like ours at Stonyfield is difficult but not impossible. An example of reuse is with the cardboard boxes that our plastic yogurt cups are shipped in. Over a decade ago we found a company that buys them from us — and re-sells them to clothing and auto parts manufacturers to ship their products.
Airport upgrade on the anvil
During top-level conferences, participants have repeatedly pointed out the need for better air connectivity. A number of top software companies have turned up for investment at Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park. The city is also working on a multimedia-cum-film city, an entertainment theme park and an education city, besides other projects. Its emergence as a regional commercial hub has led to huge traffic inflow to the city, resulting in the Administration�s move to upgrade the airport. At present, the city has a sketchy airline service. Even the Administration feels that a limited number of flights to the city is becoming a major bottleneck in connectivity. The city is directly connected only to Delhi and Jammu. Anyone travelling to major cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai, has to break the journey in Delhi.
Bridgend youngsters urged to share fears
People in Bridgend, where it is thought 20 young people have committed suicide in one year, are being reminded that help is close at hand for anyone suffering from stress, depression or anxiety. "Our message is simple: whatever the problem is, don't keep it to yourself. Sharing your concerns will help to put things in a different light, and is the first step towards finding a solution," says Jo Farrar, chair of Bridgend Local Services Board. The Youth Service is launching workshops at local comprehensive schools to make young people more aware about the services available to them and where they can get advice about their entitlements. Only 25% of people who take their own lives have prior contact with mental health services, so it is important that people realise such help is available, says the Local Services Board.
To keep your mind sharp, Exercise the ol' bod
Older Americans play with video games that promise to keep their minds sharp. Some do crossword puzzles, try to master foreign languages or learn to play musical instruments, all in the hope of staving off Alzheimer's. Now, a growing body of research is offering tantalizing evidence that a brisk walk in the morning or some laps in the pool might do the same thing. "There's an avalanche of neuroscience to support that exercise is good for the brain," said John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and co-author of an upcoming book on the subject. That's hopeful news for many who worry that growing old may mean losing their minds. A 2006 survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the MetLife Foundation found that Alzheimer's was a bigger source of anxiety for Americans 55 and older than heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
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