Elijah

Elijah If you weeped for the missing sunset,you would miss all the shining stars

Astro Note for 2014: Venus is in Virgo from September 5th to 29th. Venus is love as a verb, and earths the unearthly, ...
05/07/2015

Astro Note for 2014: Venus is in Virgo from September 5th to 29th. Venus is love as a verb, and earths the unearthly, in its opposition to Neptune (Pisces) on Sept 10th. Venus forms an edifying trine to Pluto (Capricorn) on Sept 14th, for cultivating a timeless love with deep roots. Read more about September 2014's Big Picture Forecast.
Show, Don't Tell
Venus provides the mood lighting for love and the social scene. What we see with Virgo is a natural reserve, that's the instinct of the Virgin, wanting to stay whole-unto-his or herself.
A lot of scrutinizing goes on with Virgo, to be sure of what they're getting themselves into. Virgos crave order, everything in its place, and can take this to the extreme! And yet, Venus here promotes the upside of this trait, and that's to safeguard our goodies, and be sure of who is allowed in the intimate "virginal territory."
It's a great time to be a born-again Virgin, no matter how far you've succumbed to the demoralizing promiscuity of the times. Venus makes it attractive to purify yourself, to make your body a sacred temple, and to know the power of wholeness.
Noble Virtues
When Venus is in Virgo, we're reminded that a person's character can be attractive. This stretch of time finds us in a groove, where we settle in, and demonstrate on a consistent basis, that we're walking our talk.
The Venus Virgo lover or friend is very discriminating about who they invest in. A relationship has to make sense, as Virgo seeks what's sensible. Often that's cultivating deeper ties with those with shared values, and way of living day-to-day.
Out of this desire for clean-living, the Venus Virgo can seem wary at first, not one to go off the deep end in love, and friendships also take time to develop. What kind of love happens now? The kind that organically unfolds from life. An example is like a friendship at work that begins with a collegial mutual respect, and even some formality, and becomes something more.
DIY Love & Creativity
And yet, there can be a lot of good-natured, purposeful discussion, as Virgo is Mercury-ruled. (Virgo's modern ruler is Chiron, the "wounded healer"). At the Venus Virgo party, there's a din of mercurial exchanges. It's a pleasure to get granular in conversations, and trade useful tidbits or news.
This transit through Virgo makes it fun to gain real skills together, and love could develop during such a hands-on shared experience. Good vibes at work or while volunteering could lead to friendships that are based on being mutually supportive.
Being an earth sign, Virgo finds its wellness groove in the rhythm of a satisfying, productive day. Taking a small step gets you going, and helps you find traction with creative goals.
Virgo on a Bad Day
In contrast to the exhibitionism of Venus in Leo, this time with Venus can be more self-conscious, inhibited. Venus rules attractions, but also what repulses, but becomes a kind of fixation.
Virgo is a mutable sign that's hypersensitive to the confusion of having so many choices. There can be an intense desire to see more fruits of your labor. Venus here can bring on moods of discontent, self-flagellation or running critique of others.
Less is more, though and there's heightened sensory perception. The remedy for too much thinking, judging and stress, is to slow down to the rhythms of nature. To enjoy slow food, and "phat times" of nothing on the day book. To exchange massages or begin a cathartic exercise that's also artful or balancing in some way.
In his Complete Book of Spiritual Astrology, Per Henrick Gullfoss writes, "This Venus is in the horoscope to open up the eyes of the owner to the immense beauty of nature, the body, and all that the spirit can sense and experience through the body."

05/06/2015

Updated March 07, 2014.
Years ago we didn't have much to offer people with advanced stages of cancer; if a tumor couldn't be removed surgically there were few options. Thankfully we live in a time when treatments such as chemotherapy are available that can extend life or improve symptoms for some people with metastatic cancer. Yet with options comes another dilemma. When should you stop treatment? When have you reached a point at which your quality of life may be better without treatment?

Before going on it's important to note a common misconception about treatment results with stage 4 cancer. (This refers to solid tumors such as lung cancer and breast cancer, not blood related cancers such as leukemia and lymphomas.) When chemotherapy is given to people with stage 4 cancer the intent is usually palliative. The treatment may extend life by a few weeks or months, and may improve symptoms related to the growth of the cancer, but it's not given with an intent to cure cancer. A recent study found that 69% of people with stage 4 lung cancer and 81% of people with stage 4 colon cancer didn’t understand that chemotherapy was not at all likely to cure their cancer.

Making the decision to stop active cancer treatment can be very painful emotionally. As such it is likely to be the time in your life when you need the support of your loved ones the most. That said, your family and friends are also experiencing grief which can lend itself to short tempers. In addition, your family and friends may have different opinions or beliefs than you do which can result in conflict both between you and your loved ones and between your family members and friends. What are some things to consider as you make this heartwrenching decision?

It is Your Decision

Your friends and family may offer their thoughts, but ultimately it is your decision on whether or not to continue treatment. Emotions can run deep if your desires are in conflict with those of your loved ones. You may need to gently remind your family members that you are aware that the decision you are making is not the one they would make -- and that's okay. If you are true to yourself, your loved ones will likely support you in time. Reviewing options and thinking about risks vs benefits (see below) may provide "evidence" that will not only make you more comfortable in your decision, but also help your loved ones understand more completely your decision.

Stopping Treatment Does Not Mean You are Giving up

Far too often people with advanced cancer -- and sometimes their family members -- view discontinuing treatment as "giving up." Just looking at a few obituaries drives this point home. People are praised for "fighting a courageous battle with cancer." Choosing to stop active treatment for your cancer does not mean that you are giving up. Rather, it means you are choosing to live your last days in the way you wish to live them.

Stopping Cancer Treatment Doesn’t Mean Stopping all Treatments

Deciding to stop active treatments for your cancer does not mean you will need to stop all treatments. In fact, switching the focus of treatment towards managing symptoms places a higher priority on making you as comfortable as possible.

Family: Stepping into Each Other’s Shoes

I often receive emails from family members who are upset that a loved one with cancer has chosen not to pursue any further treatments. It’s important for loved ones to understand that what they would do may be miles apart from what their loved one wants and desires. Just as we have opinions regarding our favorite colors or sports teams, everyone will have a different opinion on when it is time to stop active treatments. Assuming that you have enough information to make an educated decision (for example being aware of all possible options for your care) it's important that your loved ones respect your decision.

If your loved one is uncomfortable let her know that you respect her ideas. It may help to have her take a moment and try to step into your shoes. Yet this can be difficult. We often change our opinions on what we would do in a situation when we are actually the one experiencing it. Your loved ones may also be experiencing anticipatory grief, and subconsiously view anything that may keep you alive as a way to delay the grief of loss.




Understanding Anticipatory Grief


Coping with Anticipatory Grief

Reviewing Options

Taking the time to review all possible options for care may help you feel more comfortable in making your decision about further treatment. Even if you feel strongly that stopping treatment is the right choice for you, understanding options may help you explain your choice to loved ones who differ in their opinion. You may start by asking your oncologist to list all possible options for your care, including those that may only be offered at another cancer center or in a different state. You may also wish to research clinical trials that may be available for your situation. There are a few databases that list clinical trials around the world, as well as matching services in which a nurse navigator can help match any available trials with your particular situation.




Understanding Clinical Trials


How to Find Clinical Trials

Quality of Life: Weighing Benefits vs Side Effects of Treatment

An often neglected, but critically important step is to weigh the benefits you may receive from treatment vs the side effects. It's important that you have your oncologist carefully spell out what she believes the benefits of treatment would be for you, both in terms of lengthening survival and in controlling your symptoms. As noted above the majority of people with stage 4 lung and colon cancer were unaware that chemotherapy wasn't at all likely to cure their cancer. Interestingly, the physicians that patients said were the best at communicating were also the one who had not explained as well that chemotherapy was not being given in an attempt to cure the disease. It may help to sit down with your loved ones and your health care team and write out a list of pros and cons.




What to Ask Your Doctor About Palliative Chemotherapy


Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy


Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Examine and Nurture Your Spiritual Beliefs

It can be helpful to look at your spiritual beliefs as you make this decision. If you have a strong belief in an afterlife the decision to stop treatment may be easier. In contrast, if you are struggling with what happens after the body dies it may be helpful to talk to your pastor, your priest, your rabbi, or other spiritual leaders. In a few studies with lung cancer, people who felt they had greater spirituality (whether that meant attending religious services or communing with nature) found it easier to cope with their cancer and had a better quality of life.




Spirituality and Cancer

Holding on to Hope

Many people are afraid that stopping treatment is equivalent to giving up hope. Stopping treatment does not mean you are letting go of hope. Instead, it is honoring your hope to spend quality time with your family and be more comfortable in your last days.




Without Hope We Have Nothing

Next Steps

Stopping treatment is not the same thing as hospice, but hospice care is underutilized in the last days and months of life. When discussing stopping treatment with your oncologist it is also a good time to have a discusssion about advance directives, palliative care, and hospice care.




Making Difficult Decisions: Identifying Goals of Care


What is Hospice Care?


Talking with a Dying Loved One



Sources:

Harrington, S., and T. Smith. The Role of Chemotherapy at the End of Life. JAMA. 2008. 299(22):2667-2678.

Week, J. et al. Patients Expectations about Effects of Chemotherapy for Advanced Cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2012. 367:1616-25.

Apple's yearly iPhone announcement isn't just about the new smartphone. It also gives us a good idea of what might be co...
05/05/2015

Apple's yearly iPhone announcement isn't just about the new smartphone. It also gives us a good idea of what might be coming to the new iPad, which should be announced sometime in October. And while much of this year's event was taken up with the new Apple Pay payment method and the long-awaited Apple Watch announcement, we did learn a few things about the iPad.



New 64-bit A8 Processor and M8 Motion Co-Processor: Definitely. The one aspect of the next generation iPad that is always tipped off during the iPhone reveal is the processor. The only difference between the iPad and iPhone processor tends to be clock speed, with the iPad usually clocking in slightly faster than the iPhone. This should be true with the new A8 processor, which doubles the number of transistors from one billion to two billion while not increasing the drain on the battery. The new A8 is 20% faster than the A7, with graphics coming in at about 50% faster.


64 GB model only $599: Almost Definitely. While Apple didn't use the word "discount", they've cut the price on all but entry-level models of the iPhone. Instead of paying $100 more for a 32 GB version and $200 more for a 64 GB version, the 64 GB model is just $100. That's basically $100 in savings for anyone that feels cramped by the 16 GB that comes with the entry-level iPhone. And we can expect this same savings to carry over to the new iPad.


Touch ID: Almost Definitely. As I've become used to unlocking my phone with my thumb print, I get annoyed when I'm presented with the lock screen on the iPad. Tap in a passcode? That's so 2012. With Touch ID being opened up to third-party apps in iOS 8, this fingerprint technology should debut in the iPad Air 2.


NFC & Apple Pay: Possibly. Obviously, paying for a Subway sandwich with a wave of an iPad isn't quite as convenient as using your iPhone (or Apple Watch), but Near-Field Communications (NFC) could definitely be a handy new feature in the iPad. A number of Android-based devices use NFC and small magnetic stickers you can use to activate them to perform a task, such as automatically playing music when it sits beside the computer. And while it isn't as convenient to pay a bill with an iPad, Apple may not want to leave out iPad owners who have a (gasp!) Android smartphone.


New Camera: Probably Not. The iPad may get some added features embedded in the new A8 chip, but as for the camera itself, I would expect a repeat of the iPad Air's camera. Let's face it, we don't snap near as many photos with our tablets as with our smartphone, so skipping the camera upgrade makes sense.


Apple Watch Compatibility: Probably not. The Apple Watch requires an iPhone 6, or at least it does until the new iPad is announced. Of course, it makes sense for the smartwatch to pair with the smartphone. After all, we carry both of those devices around with us almost everywhere. And it's not like we go jogging with your iPad Mini strapped to our shoulder. I'm guessing that even if the technology exists in the iPad to connect with the Apple Watch, it won't be turned on.

Want to learn more about the new iPhone 6 and Apple Watch? Check out our full coverage of the event.

05/03/2015

eLI

July 14, 2014 August 28, 2014 update: I was right! Below, I hypothesize that Six Flags would be transforming its classi...
05/03/2015

July 14, 2014

August 28, 2014 update: I was right! Below, I hypothesize that Six Flags would be transforming its classic wooden coasters. And that's exactly what it will be doing. See my previews of Twisted Colossus and Wicked Cyclone.
Roller coaster fans, especially ones who love the rough-and-tumble rides that traditional wooden coasters provide, got a double dose of bad news recently. Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced that its old-school woodie, Colossus, would be closing on August 16, 2014 so that construction on something new could begin for the 2015 season. Soon after, sister park Six Flags New England in Massachusetts revealed that it too would be shuttering one of its venerable wooden coasters. The Cyclone will give its final ride on July 20, 2014.
But here's the thing: Neither ride may actually be going away. It is possible, and even probable (but not a sure thing) that one or both of the rides will be coming back next year as new, improved coasters.
The precedent for taking older wooden coasters that are past their prime and rehabbing them has been established at two other Six Flags parks. The chain's original park, Six Flags Over Texas, shuttered the Texas Giant at the end of the 2009 season and reopened it as the New Texas Giant in 2011. Similarly, Six Flags Fiesta Texas closed Rattler in 2012 only to rechristen it Iron Rattler in 2013. In both cases, Rocky Mountain Construction, a ride manufacturer that has reenergized the wooden coaster genre with its innovative design, masterminded the makeovers and received wildly enthusiastic reviews for its work.
It would seem likely that Colossus and Cyclone could be getting the same kind of Rocky Mountain Construction love. The company has recently been rocking the park industry with two pioneering wooden coaster concepts. Both of them incorporate newfangled steel tracks. For woodies that Rocky Mountain has designed from scratch, such as Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City and Goliath at Six Flags Great America (which have also been getting rave reviews), Rocky Mountain uses its "topper track," a steel runner that covers the entire width of wooden track. For the Texas Giant and Rattler do-overs, however, the company ripped out the existing traditional wooden tracks and replaced them with its unique "iron horse" tracks. Made completely from steel, Rocky Mountain also calls them "IBox" tracks, because they are shaped like the letter, "I." The train's wheels nestle in the channels created by the track's unique shape.
The Holy Grail for Wooden Coasters
For both styles of Rocky Mountain's hybrid coasters, the trains use polyurethane wheels, the kind found on steel coasters. Because of the steel tracks and the polyurethane wheels, the wooden coasters are able to deliver remarkably smooth rides, while still retaining their essential identity as wooden coasters. They are also capable of delivering inversions, something of a Holy Grail for woodies. To get a sense of the magnificent work Rocky Mountain has been doing, read my review of Iron Rattler.
Of course, it is possible that Six Flags has other plans for its two aging coasters. Neither Colossus nor Cyclone fit the profile of the chain's other two woodies that got IBox makeovers. The SF New England and Magic Mountain rides are older than the Texas coasters and they aren't as tall or fast. Cyclone is a traditional twister coaster fashioned after the legendary Coney Island Cyclone, and Colossus is a dual-track racing coaster (which hasn't raced for years because of its poor condition). Perhaps it wouldn't make sense to overlay Rocky Mountain's steel tracks on these types of rides. Or maybe Six Flags and Rocky Mountain have something new planned to bring the coasters back to their glory.
Or, Six Flags may be planning to trash the rides altogether and build something completely new. My best guess, however, is that Rocky Mountain will play some role in preserving and improving the rides. Iron Colossus anyone? How about the New New England Cyclone? Whatever Six Flags has in store, it will be revealing its plans for the 2015 season on August 28, 2014.

YOLO, and its hashtag spelling, , are the new way to say 'carpe diem'! YOLO stands for 'you only live once'. This expr...
05/02/2015

YOLO, and its hashtag spelling, , are the new way to say 'carpe diem'! YOLO stands for 'you only live once'. This expression of bravery and courage has become a viral meme where people caption their photos and cajole their friends online to do courageous (and sometimes stupid) things. About.com explains more about YOLO here...

Mobile devices are more than just phones – they’re a part of everyday life. They’re even becoming “wearable” so there’s ...
04/30/2015

Mobile devices are more than just phones – they’re a part of everyday life. They’re even becoming “wearable” so there’s no need to dig into your pocket or purse to get something done. When it comes to mobile banking, some tasks are now actually easier with a mobile device than they are at your desktop. So, what exactly can you accomplish with a mobile device?
What is Mobile Banking?
Mobile banking is any banking task that you complete with a mobile device – everything from looking at information to moving money. Mobile banking includes:
Mobile apps: probably the first thing that comes to mind is an app specifically built for banking. Most banks and credit unions offer apps that allow you to view your balance, move money between accounts, and review transactions. The best apps offer more advanced features like the ability to pay bills and deposit checks with your device, and some banks let you use the app to work with customer service.
Apps don’t necessarily have to come directly from your bank. There are plenty of apps that simply “appify” your old-fashioned bank account – they add functionality and an easy-to-use interface that lets you do what you want to do. Examples of this include P2P payment apps; those apps aren’t bank accounts, but they help you use your bank account.
P2P payments: it used to be difficult to pay friends for your share of dinner. With P2P payment apps (like PayPal and Dwolla), there’s no need to write a check or break a $20 bill – you can simply zap money to other people with a few taps on the screen.
A complete relationship: the purest form of mobile banking might be an account that you open and use exclusively with your mobile device. Services catering to the high-tech crowd do away with traditional bank services and overhead in exchange for low fees. However, they might still rely on a brick-and-mortar bank to comply with regulations related to offering “banking” (if the account is to be FDIC insured, for example).
Personal financial management (PFM): want to know whether or not you can afford that purchase before you get to the checkout counter? Even if your card doesn’t get declined, it’s helpful to know if you’ve already spent through this month’s budget – and PFM apps help you quickly take stock of your finances. Like P2P payment apps, these apps might come from third-parties that simply use data from your bank. Examples of PFM apps include Mint.com and Yodlee.
Text alerts: text alerts are a passive form of online banking. They allow you to keep tabs on your accounts without having to login and look at your balances or transactions. If you rely on text alerts, you can simply specify the things you care most about, and live with the assumption that no news is good news (keeping in mind that thieves use this to their advantage: they often steal small amounts to fly under the radar).
Extra security: taking text alerts one step further, your mobile device can help keep thieves out of your account. Some banks will send a security code to your mobile phone anytime you try to log in from a new device (a brand new laptop, your friend’s tablet, or a public computer, for example). In order to log in, you’ll need to enter your password and the security code. Thieves won’t be able to get to your accounts unless they’ve somehow stolen both.
Mobile wallet: if you want to pay for purchases while shopping, you can use traditional methods like cash or plastic, or you can turn to mobile banking. Mobile wallets let you use a phone for payment (although they typically pull funds from a debit card, credit card, or linked bank account). The concept hasn’t really taken off yet, but someday you may be more likely to reach for your phone than your wallet.
Mobile websites: banking on your mobile device is different from banking on a desktop. Good designers know this, so they detect what type of device you’re using and optimize the experience accordingly. That said, apps are probably the most powerful way to bank with your mobile device – they make the best use of screen space and interface options – but there are times when you’ll just use your device’s browser.
GPS: if your device uses GPS, you can probably use it to find free ATMs and branch locations (usually as part of your bank’s app). If your card can be used in a network of ATMs for free, you’ll find that you can use numerous locations besides a bank branch.

What, exactly, is the difference between knocking out a grown woman with a punch to the face and whipping a child until ...
04/29/2015

What, exactly, is the difference between knocking out a grown woman with a punch to the face and whipping a child until he bleeds?
Both are acts of brutality against relatively defenseless victims (even a grown woman is no match for a professional athlete in peak physical shape).
As we continue to digest the stories about two NFL running backs -- the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice, who beat his fiancee in an elevator, and the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who beat his pre-schooler with a switch--it’s been distressing to hear people roundly condemning Rice, yet trying to rationalize what Peterson did to his son.
After Peterson was charged with child abuse for using a switch to lacerate the thighs of his 4-year-old son, many people who should know better tried to trivialize the abuse.
“Whipping,” said former NBA star Charles Barkley, “we do that all the time. Every black parent in the South is going to be in jail under those circumstances.”
Others, like Mark Ingram of the New Orleans Saints and Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals, were quick to offer variations on the theme: “My parents did it to me, and look how great I turned out.”
If you can utter those words with a straight face, then I would submit that you did not turn out entirely OK. And chances are, your children aren’t going to be entirely OK either.
As Tulane University psychiatrist Stacy Drury told the New Republic’s Danny Vinik, “There’s actually solid evidence that if you were physically disciplined as a child, you’re much more likely to use physical discipline as a parent.”
Peterson seemed to be genuinely confused about his predicament. “I always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I enjoyed as a man,” he said.
I see it another way. I think the way his parents disciplined him has a great deal to do with why he is in legal peril and facing the greatest crisis of his career. They hit him. He hits his kids. And so on. Corporal punishment is often a multi-generational scourge.
[Updated 5:52 p.m. PDT Sept. 17: It also seems to be a growing problem for the NFL. On Wednesday, according to a Phoenix news report, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was charged with aggravated assault for hitting his wife and throwing a shoe at his 18-month-old son. Also Wednesday, Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush had to walk back comments he made a day earlier on a New York sports radio show about how he would discipline his year-old daughter “harshly” if necessary. “Obviously I'm not going to be s***king a 1-year-old girl," Bush told ESPN. Obviously.]
If you are among the vast majority of American parents who s***k their children-- I have seen estimates that range between 60% and 80%--you should know you are teaching your kids the very opposite of what you intend.
Listen to the experts: “Extensive research demonstrates that although corporal punishment may have a high rate of immediate behavior modification, it is ineffective over time, and is associated with increased aggression and decreased moral internalization of appropriate behavior,” said the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2012.
Instead of talking about how great they turned out, people whose parents hit them should talk about -- or at least try to remember-- how it felt to be hurt by the people who were charged with loving and protecting them, about the sense of betrayal and the humiliation.
No doubt Peterson was sincere when he said, “I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury.”
Whether he is a child abuser is a question that will be answered by the Texas courts. But how do you whip a child until he bleeds, then say you didn't mean to hurt him? That is a circle that simply cannot be squared.

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