Archive for March, 2005
Today we have a munge of items plucked from the del.icio.us "Popular" RSS feed.
Item the first:
Dr. Andrew Weil has posted “Stress and Relaxation: Ten Ways to Relax and Reduce Stress”
RTFA for specifics, but here are his bullet points:
1) Breathing [Ed: I highly recommend this also.]
2) Progressive relaxation
3) Exercise
4) Massage and body work
5) Visualization and guided imagery
6) Biofeedback
7) Meditation
Mantram [Ed: Isn't that the name of an Al Jolson song?]
9) Hypnotherapy
10) Drugs [Ed: No, it is not what you think.]
Item the second:
The S.E.B. or Sleepbot Environmental Broadcast is a series of streaming audiocasts that purport to aid sleep. The music they have chosen is interesting, but I would not say that it promotes sleep. Much of what I sampled was “edgy” or “nervous” sounding, and though it did suck me in due to the eclectic nature of the content, I did end up feeling a bit “unsettled” rather than sleepy.
On the feed I sampled last night, for example, there was music by my favorite film composer Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann has certainly written some beautiful music, but has also scored creepy films like “Psycho“. The music used here was from “The Day The Earth Stood Still“. It was ponderous and forboding.
More relaxing, I found…
Item the third:
Radio David Byrne is the new web-based radio station that is run by former Talking Head, David Byrne. This will probably prove over time to be “all over the map”, but I have so far found it to be quite restful listening, if– at times– a bit too toe-tapping to actually send me to Slumberland.
March 31st, 2005
Many on the internet have claimed that a forthcoming adjustment to the Atkins diet is proof that it was no good all along…
Continue Reading March 30th, 2005
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Continue Reading March 30th, 2005
Japan, Australia and Malaysia are all grappling with issues of Ergonomics and work-related injury in the 21st century.
Continue Reading March 29th, 2005
Allkeys is a small mouse replacement software suite for Windows 2000 and XP that does three things:
Extends normal keyboard navigation
Allows simple Macro building
Reminds users when it is time to take a break
The keyboard navigation enhancements allow things such as drag and drop, normally only possible with a pointing device.
Macro builing can be done through the Allkeys internal macro recorder.
The break reminder is is user- configurable, and can be based on a simple key-tap counter or a timer.
Allkeys also supports and enables key-remapping. It is developed by SeventhDigit Software, and is downloadable in a free sixty-day trial edition as well as the full version which sells for US$25.00.
March 28th, 2005
The Khalsa News Network Is running a good article on Repetative Strain Injuries (which they refer to as Repetative Stress Injuries) and Ergonomics. There is some good practical advice, although much is information we’ve already covered here. It is sometimes useful to see information grouped in different ways and with a fresh perspective.
I notice that there are many articles on RSI and practical Ergonomics that run in Newspapers in India. This is not surprising, owing to the amount of outsourcing being done by US software developers and others to this country.
March 25th, 2005
The Ptolley is a potentially worthwhile Ergonomic mouse-like tool. It is an adaptive pointing device, that is to say:
A) it is a pointing device, similar to a trackball. It remains largely stationary as opposed to a mouse which moves around freely, and
B) it is adaptive, meaning it can be used in multiple ways to compensate for different types of RSI (Repetative Strain Injury).
In regards to the Ptolley’s adaptability, the manufacturer’s website says:
To reduce repetition, the Ptolley can be operated using a stylus like a pen, or just using the tips of two fingers on two little pads on its moving plate or even a single finger in a thimble.
The Ptolley was designed by John Osborn, MD, president of the manufacturer, Westing Software.
The negatives are that the Ptolley is pricey at US $98.00 plus tax and shipping. Also, the device seems not to be available other than by ordering from the manufacturer, so try-before-you-buy is not an option (muy bad). The manufacturer is a software company who seems to offer no other pointing devices, so their track record is a blank slate. Further, the only way to purchase is through PayPal, which seems like a bit of a red flag ( a serious business should probably have its own merchant account).
Also, there’s the name. The prototype was apparently called the Ablemouse. I’d much rather explain to my co-workers that I’m using an Ablemouse than have to say, “Hey, come check out my Ptolley!”
All this said, it may be just the ticket for certain users. If you try it and it does (or doesn’t) work for you, drop us a line and let us know, or post a comment below!
March 24th, 2005
We are proud to announce that Health-Hack.com is the only website that will be providing no coverage of the Schiavo case.
Or the Michael Jackson case.
Thought you’d like to know.
-Tut
March 23rd, 2005
My doctor believes that I most likely have Sleep Apnea. I have been scheduled for a consultation with a doctor specializing in this area, who can help confirm the diagnosis and develop an action plan.
Since sleep issues are a part of HHDC, I have decided that I will blog the whole process of diagnosis and treatment (if needed). These blogging posts will simply appear here periodically under the Sleep category.
What are my feelings on this development? Well, apprehension is definitely in the mix. I am not looking forward to the possibility of surgical intervention, as I am something of a yellow-bellied coward. It will give me incentive to resume my weight-loss plan, and will certainly give me a lot to discuss here.
Speaking of Weight loss, it is Spring in New England now, in the most definite of terms. One half of our front yard is in flowering bloom, and the other is buried in snow. Temperatures are in the low 50’s (that’s fahrenheit for our international readers), and that means the beginning of Bicycle season! Woo-hoo! I will make every effort this year to ensure that biking becomes a frequent activity for me and my son.
Hopefully more exercise, coupled with a renewed fervor for diet management will be enough to improve my sleep quality. That said, I don’t know if it will really be sufficient to prevent surgery. Wish me well.
-Tut
PS: My previous Apnea article can serve as a brief introduction to the topic.
March 22nd, 2005
The technology to inject medicine into the human body without the use of a needle has been around for a while, but typically relies upon the inelegant use of brute force to blast fluid through basically inpermeable human flesh.
The SonoPrep is a more elegant solution. Robert Langer of MIT discovered that a blast of low-frequency ultrasound, narrowly targeted, can temporarily liquefy the fat cells that bind dead skin cells together. The effect is to briefly allow molecule-sized particles to easily be passed through the stratum corneum, or outer skin layer. There is a fizzing sound, followed by a brief sensation of tingling, but no pain.
The device is currently in use, and a version that could act as a blood glucose monitor is in development.
Sources:
MedGadget
Popular Science
March 21st, 2005
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