Don’t miss the fun of Smoking !! …item 1 & 2.. Q&A with Ward Carroll — You know it’s a very insular community that has all kinds of resources. (December 15, 2011) …item 3.. Seven tips that can help you give up smoking (12:33 PM, Nov 15, 2012) …
A few nice dating tips from the doctor images I found:
Don’t miss the fun of Smoking !! …item 1 & 2.. Q&A with Ward Carroll — You know it’s a very insular community that has all kinds of resources. (December 15, 2011) …item 3.. Seven tips that can help you give up smoking (12:33 PM, Nov 15, 2012) …
Image by marsmet511
Ward Carroll also talks about the total costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last ten years as contrasted with the initial amount Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the wars would cost. Overall troop strength is reviewed and projections for cutting troop levels are discussed.
Carroll details some salary and benefit levels for U.S. Navy commissioned officers and enlisted men, as shown on his website, military.com. In addition, he looks at the top defense contractors paid by the U.S. government in 2011.
He tells stories about his time flying as the radar interceptor in the back seat of the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. He discusses his career in the United States Navy, and his decision to go into journalism after teaching at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
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…..item 1)…. C-SPAN Video Library …. www.c-spanvideo.org …. Q&A WITH WARD CARROLL …. DEC 15, 2011
www.c-spanvideo.org/program/303169-1
Ward Carroll talked about the Web site he edits, military.com. It provides news, information and support to current and former service members, their families, and non-militaryreaders. Topics included the workings of Defense Department procurement and the difficulty in canceling major weapons systems funding, citing the projected million cost of the F-22 fighter jet as an example. He also talked about the actual total costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in contrast to the amount former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld initially stated and the top defense contractors paid by the U.S. government in 2011. He shared stories about his time flying as the radar interceptor in the back seat of the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet.
Ward Carroll graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy after studying naval aviation, flying the back seat of the F-14 for 16 of his 20 years. He flew over Bosnia, Sarajevo, and the no-fly zone in Iraq.
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…..item 2)…. www.q-and-a.org/Transcript …. January 8, 2012
Ward Carroll
Editor, Military.com
www.q-and-a.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1373
Uncorrected transcript provided by Morningside Partners.
C-SPAN uses its best efforts to provide accurate transcripts of its programs, but it can not be held liable for mistakes such as omitted words, punctuation, spelling, mistakes that change meaning, etc.
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…..item 3)…. Florida Today … www.floridatoday.com …
Seven tips that can help you give up smoking
12:33 PM, Nov 15, 2012
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img code photo … Nov. 15 is the Great American Smokeout
bcdownload.gannett.edgesuite.net/brevard/38321750001/3832…
Dr. Stephanie: Now is time to quit smoking: Nov. 15 is the Great American Smokeout, a perfect time, says Dr. Stephanie, to kick the habit. By Tim Walters Posted Nov. 14, 2012
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Written by
Your
Health
FILED UNDER
Columnists
Your Health Dr Stephanie
www.floridatoday.com/article/20121115/COLUMNISTS0807/3111…|newswell|text|Home|s
The American Cancer Society continues its tradition today with the 37th annual Great American Smokeout — a day dedicated to encourage smokers to either quit or set a date to officially put down the pack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are still 46 million smokers in the United States, and 1 in 5 deaths can be attributed to tobacco use.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco reports that U.S. smokers continue to pay a high price for this habit:
• 1. Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 443,000 deaths a year.
• 2. There are 3 billion in medical costs and lost productivity from premature death each year.
• 3. Adults who smoke cigarettes die 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
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• 4. More than 8.5 million Americans have chronic illnesses related to smoking.
• 5. One in 4 high school students report current tobacco use. About 3,500 kids start smoking, and 850 kids become regular smokers every day.
Addiction to nicotine is hard to overcome, but it can be done. The following are seven tips for smokers looking to kick the habit:
A huge part of whether smokers successfully become ex-smokers depends on having a plan. A quit date is a start. Mondays are typically good days to use as quit dates because people are usually busy at work.
Write down the reason you want to stop. Take that piece of paper, laminate it, keep it in a special place and pull it out every time you want to smoke.
Do you feel sick because of your habit? Have your kids urged you to put down the cigarettes? Want to save money? Has a family member been diagnosed with lung cancer or emphysema? Any reason will work if it’s important enough to you.
Telephone stop-smoking hot lines are an easy-to-use resource, and they are available in all 50 states. Call the American Cancer Society hot line at 1-800-227-2345 to find telephone counseling or other support in your area.
Websites including smokefree.gov and tobaccofreeflorida.com are additional tools to quit.
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Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos is a board-certified family physician practicing in Melbourne. “As a primary care physician, I have dedicated my life’s work to helping others stay healthy by empowering them with knowledge.”
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Support is out there, but the most recent information suggests that fewer than 1 in 3 smokers reports having tried any of the recommended therapies during the last quit attempt. Don’t try to quit several times on your own before deciding to seek help.
Nicotine replacement therapy comes in many forms. Using over-the-counter drugs, including nicotine gum, lozenges or patches, doubles the chances of a smoker quitting. Nicotine patches deliver a constant stream of medication, and a lozenge or gum helps combat intense cravings.
Also, talk to your doctor about a prescription for smoking cessation that is right for you, such as Chantix or Wellbutrin (Zyban).
Pairing medications with counseling is more useful than doing counseling alone.
Experts say that it usually takes smokers seven to 10 attempts to kick the habit before they actually give it up. It helps when you are conscious about modifying your behavior.
For instance, if a smoker who is trying to quit slips — say, by smoking a cigarette after dinner — they should learn from that experience and do something to change. Find something to do at times of temptation to take your mind off the craving until it passes. Take a walk, talk on the phone, anything. This is called behavioral modification.
There are several things nonsmokers can do to help their loved ones get through the day, including sitting down with them to set some ground rules.
Smokers are more successful in kicking the habit when they have support from their friends and families. They also may decide to quit together.
Smokers should go through their homes and get rid of any cues that may cause them to pick up a pack. Matches, lighters, even stressful work that has been sitting on the desk or anything that may cause a craving has to go.
Economics is driving a lot of people to think about quitting. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes in the U.S. is .50, and in some regions, packs can cost upward of .
People are spending an extra ,000 to ,000 a year on the habit alone, but must also account for extra health care costs, dental visits, dry cleaning, etc.
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Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos is a board-certified family physician practicing in Melbourne. “As a primary care physician, I have dedicated my life’s work to helping others stay healthy by empowering them with knowledge.”
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Beauty Parade Magazine (June 1946) …item 1.. ‘Tis the season for full-blown stress — Connect with nature. It’s absolutely necessary (November 16, 2011) …item 2.. FSU News – Make sure to celebrate the holidays the right way (12:29 AM, Dec. 13, 2012
Image by marsmet524
“Accept that everyone’s family is dysfunctional in some way, shape or form and that you’re not going to change it," Ferretti said. "So it’s not your job to get in there and fix the conflict between your brother and your sister, whoever it might be.”
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….item 1)…. Florida Today.com … www.floridatoday.com ….. ‘Tis the season for full-blown stress
Moderation, balance is key to your well-being
12:35 PM, Nov. 16, 2011
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Written by
Chris Kridler | For FLORIDA TODAY
FILED UNDER
Health
www.floridatoday.com/article/20111117/HEALTH/311170015/-T…|newswell|text|Home|p
A typical day during the holidays tends to be anything but typical: disrupted sleep, frantic shopping, stretched funds, extended time with dysfunctional families, and parties laden with fatty foods and alcohol.
The result: more stress.
A 2008 poll by the American Psychological Association showed that eight of 10 Americans expected to experience holiday stress, and a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll last year found that 44 percent expected more stress because of economic conditions, an increase over the year before.
“People get out of their routines over the holidays,” said Tony Ferretti, a Melbourne psychologist whose specialty is relationship counseling. “So they’re not exercising like they used to.
They’re eating everything in sight. They’re drinking too much. They’re not sleeping normal hours. So they’re vulnerable to being stressed out.”
Some people feel pressured to create a perfect holiday experience. Others are reminded of lost loved ones. And unresolved family issues tend to fray the edges of inevitable holiday gatherings.
“Accept that everyone’s family is dysfunctional in some way, shape or form and that you’re not going to change it," Ferretti said. "So it’s not your job to get in there and fix the conflict between your brother and your sister, whoever it might be.”
Set boundaries and allow yourself time to get away, whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, an outing with your spouse or a nap behind closed doors, he suggests. Holidays may not be the best time to work out family conflicts.
“Maybe sometime in January, you might want to have that conversation, or you might want to write that letter,” he says. “I think letters can be very powerful, even if you don’t send it.”
Forgive transgressors and move on, he said.
With a partner or spouse, share traditions and minimize conflict, Ferretti suggested.
“It’s a stressful time when you’re deciding how much money to spend and finances are tight,” he says. “It’s all about working together as a team and compromising.”
Physical effects
Ferretti and others advocate exercise to deal with stress, which manifests itself physically as well as mentally.
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Stress busters
Here are some of Melbourne psychologist Tony Ferretti’s tips for coping with holiday stress. “The past is history, the future a mystery, the present a gift,” he says.
Maintain your schedule.
Manage your time.
Get enough rest.
Avoid negative habits.
Live in the here and now.
Say no when you need to.
Seek the support of family and friends.
Have realistic expectations.
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Contact Chris Kridler via chriskridler.com at kridler@skydiary.com.
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“A lot of us tend to take our stress right in the chest,” says Viera Wellness’ Demetri Kitsopoulos, a massage therapist and wellness consultant. “So with tight chest muscles combined with work ergonomics — we’re slumped over in front of computers in offices — we’re already predisposed to being tight here.”
Stretching is important, he said. Deep breathing, along with meditation or prayer, can help calm the mind. And walking and other exercise can help, too.
“You can’t insult Grandmother by not indulging in whatever she made … we indulge a little bit,” Kitsopoulos said. “But the need to rush back to the gym is also a bit premature. Take it slow and steady, especially with all the drama of the holidays.”
The therapeutic massages he gives to Dr. Edward Mallory, an emergency-room physician at Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge, help the doctor deal with an intensely stressful job and resulting discomfort in his shoulders and back.
“I just feel that a lot of stress has been relieved, because I had an hour with him, and he’s very good,” Mallory said.
He exercises a lot, enjoys time with his kids in Tampa on days off, and spends a few minutes in contemplation after coming home to his beachfront condo after the night shift.
“I also will just sit out on the balcony and listen to the water,” Mallory said.
It’s important to get out of the fluorescent lights of the office and the shopping malls, Kitsopoulos said.
“Connect with nature. It’s absolutely necessary.”
To reduce anxiety, he also recommends clearing clutter and organizing your space before gift-giving time and arriving 30 minutes early for engagements.
Tasty temptations
Food is a holiday pleasure, but it can become a stress monster, whether people don’t eat well or eat too much.
The temptations of holiday treats can lead to overeating, said nutritionist Kristine Van Workum of Brevard Nutrition in Indialantic. Or people gorge themselves after not eating enough.
“People get so involved with everything that’s going on, or they tend to caretake for other people, or want to cook for everything … they end up going too long without eating,” said Van Workum, president of the Space Coast Dietetic Association.
Contact Chris Kridler via chriskridler.com at kridler@skydiary.com.
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Planning helps, as well as making it a priority to eat regular, balanced meals — every three to five hours for most people. Try drinking water if you want to snack; you may just be thirsty.
She works with clients to help them identify whether they are engaged in emotional eating — when the body isn’t hungry — from stress, boredom, fatigue, sadness or happiness.
“Think of meals as at least three different food groups,” she said.
Cookies, by the way, are not a food group. But if you want to snack, balance the cookie with a glass of low-fat milk or a piece of fruit, she said.
While cooking holiday meals or baking, look for low-fat ingredients, such as applesauce or Greek yogurt, as alternatives, she suggested. She regularly shares such recipes on Brevard Nutrition’s Facebook page.
“Don’t deprive yourself,” Van Workum said. “If your goal is to lose weight, you might want to adapt your goal and just work on maintaining your weight during the holidays.”
Giving thanks
Remember the things that are important, Kitsopoulos recommends.
He knows something about stress. Before he became a massage therapist, he left a high-pressure job in movie visual effects after a health scare.
He’s learned to live in the present, let the past go and be thankful.
“In a time when we are labeled as consumers, we should actually be grateful for what we’ve got,” he said. “Especially in this economy, people are freaking out about job loss and what they don’t have. What you do have is your health, and if you’re sharing that with friends and family, whether you like them or not,” he chuckled, “you’re still sharing an experience that a lot of people don’t have, so it’s something to be
grateful for that.”
Contact Chris Kridler via chriskridler.com at kridler@skydiary.com.
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…..item 2)…. Make sure to celebrate the holidays the right way … FSU News …
There is more to the season than giving presents and excessive eating
12:29 AM, Dec. 13, 2012 |
Written by
Carolina Gonzalez
Staff Writer
FILED UNDER
FSU News
FSU News Views
www.fsunews.com/article/20121213/FSVIEW03/121213002/Make-…|newswell|text|frontpage|p
According to any shopping store, the holidays begin as early as November. Thanksgiving decorations are already going on sale before the turkey is out of the oven. Thursday should be thrown in the Black Friday mix since apparently the event begins the night before the actual day. By the first week of December, Santa is already getting suited up for his photoshoot with thousands of children.
Each year this whole situation tends to be getting more extreme—then comes the moment when the youngest family member comes to the realization that Mr. Claus is not real. Mom and dad no longer have to hide the presents, take a bite of the cookies or leave out food for Santa’s reindeers. When things couldn’t get worse, your mom hands you the list of family members you have to get gifts for because she is running out of time. This is what we come home to after a grueling week of finals and papers.
This is the moment when I think to myself, “What happened to the joys of the holidays?” At this point, the only thing that could lift my spirits is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat.
So how does one avoid the holiday blues under these circumstances? My first thought is to throw a dramatic tantrum and boycott anything holiday-oriented. That changed when I remembered all the food I will be missing out on. So, I figured the best way to go about this is to go back to the basics.
The holidays are about enjoying the company of our friends and family and celebrating the end to another wonderful year. Even though some artists, who will remain nameless, butcher the classic holiday songs, everyone always enjoys listening to holiday music. Making a CD of your favorite holiday music is always a good item to have and give to friends. That list of gifts your mom gave you can be easily taken care of without the stress of entering the mall.
Instead of buying someone another pair of slippers or a beach bag, opt for something more personal like photographs. Grandparents especially love photographs of their grandchildren so they can show off to all of their friends. For the young family members, hiding elves around the house is entertaining and time consuming. Once your mom’s to-do list is taken care of, it is time to get into the real reason for the season—the holidays are a perfect opportunity to give back to the community.
There are endless charities and organizations that distribute toys and meals to families who are struggling to afford one gift for their child. Seeing those kid’s faces when they see Santa with a gift in his hands erases your memory of the trips to the mall, the rolled eyes and the frustration of the holidays.
The holidays should not be about the amount of inflatables we can stick on our lawns or the height of our trees. At the end of the day, after all of the perfectly wrapped gifts are ripped apart, the love in the room is the best gift of all.
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Joe the Plumber – To Flush The System … More scams aim to ensnare Brevard seniors – Their ingenuity is boundless, Archer said. (Jul 2, 2012) …
Image by marsmet524
Not a day goes by that Assistant State Attorney Phil Archer’s office doesn’t hear about some type of fraud targeting Brevard residents.
It’s so pervasive on the Space Coast that the office has added an attorney, Laura Moody, to pick up cases related to elder fraud and coordinate with local law enforcement for successful prosecution. Archer hopes to expand the elder services unit to help anyone who’s a victim.
But punishing or even finding con artists can be difficult, as many are based out of state or country, using phony names and addresses. Their ingenuity is boundless, Archer said.
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…..item 1)…. Florida Today … www.floridatoday.com …
More scams aim to ensnare Brevard seniors
Amount lost to con artists rises 12% since 2008 to .9 billion a year
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Air Force veteran Donald Sammis, 83, of Titusville got a call from from his ‘granddaughter,’ claiming to be in trouble and in need of money. It was a scam, and he didn’t fall for it. / CRAIG RUBADOUX/FLORIDA TODAY
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8:18 AM, Jul 2, 2012
Written by
Britt Kennerly
FLORIDA TODAY
FILED UNDER
News
Local News
www.floridatoday.com/article/20120702/NEWS01/307020016/Mo…
Alarm bells rang along with the phone when Donald Sammis got a call from a woman who claimed to be his granddaughter and said she needed 0,000 to get out of trouble in Las Vegas.
Something was wrong, all right: The person on the other end of the line wasn’t his granddaughter, a college student in Jacksonville. Not long into the conversation, enough red flags flew that the retired Air Force veteran, 83, guessed he was a scam target.
By the time the con artist’s supposed attorney, in a follow-up call, told Sammis he had two hours to wire the money to make the charges against his “granddaughter” go away, there was no doubt. Still, Sammis was concerned and angry enough that he reported the call to Titusville police.
“Whenever I hear of any person pulling a fast one on old folks, whether it’s a grandson stealing jewels or cars or kids having a party at grandma’s house, violence comes to mind,” the Titusville man said.
“Nobody got scammed this time around, but I’m close with my money.”
Sadly, many seniors aren’t that savvy. The fast-growing grandparent ruse is one of countless scams targeting older Americans, who lose an estimated .9 billion a year to financial abuse — an increase of 12 percent from 2008 — according to a recent study by MetLife.
Not a day goes by that Assistant State Attorney Phil Archer’s office doesn’t hear about some type of fraud targeting Brevard residents. It’s so pervasive on the Space Coast that the office has added an attorney, Laura Moody, to pick up cases related to elder fraud and coordinate with local law enforcement for successful prosecution. Archer hopes to expand the elder services unit to help anyone who’s a victim.
But punishing or even finding con artists can be difficult, as many are based out of state or country, using phony names and addresses. Their ingenuity is boundless, Archer said.
And for victimized seniors, fear kicks in.
“For every one person willing to come forward and report their experience to law enforcement, there are probably 10 or 15 who won’t,” Archer said.
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—– Report suspected scams
Several local agencies can assist consumers who think they are victims of fraudulent activity, said Assistant State Attorney Phil Archer.
• Elder Helpline: 800-963-5337
• Aging Matters in Brevard (formerly Community Services Council): 321-639-8770
• State attorney’s office: 321-617-7510
• Florida Attorney General: 866-966-7226 (in Florida)
• Medicare: 866-357-6677
• SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders): 800-963-5337
—– Ongoing scams
• Letters from the International Lotto Commission or other agency, advising the recipient has won millions of dollars but must pay a fee to get it.
• Email from someone who wants to buy something you have placed for sale on Craigslist, but can’t come by to pick it up and will have someone else come later. They send a cashier’s check and “accidentally” send too much. They then email and ask the seller to wire them the excess. The cashier’s check proves to be worthless.
• A “grandchild” or other young relative claims they’re in a jam and needs money wired to them. Variations: Email from a friend or relative who has lost their money and needs cash wired to them immediately. Scammer steals real email addresses and sends the note to everyone on the victims’ contact lists.
• Contractors who take deposits but never return to do work.
• Offers to be a “mystery shopper,” where victims are “hired” to deposit checks in their banks that turn out to be worthless after the “shopper” has wired money to an address supplied by the “employer.”
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Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692, bkennerly@floridatoday.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/bybrittkennerly.
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“They’re afraid it makes them look stupid, like they can’t survive on their own. It’s a huge impediment for law enforcement. Seniors’ biggest fear is that a family member will decide they can’t manage their own affairs, take over their finances, make them move in with them or move them into a retirement home.”
In Brevard County, one-fifth of the population is older than 65. Potential exploitation comes in myriad forms.
The state attorney’s office receives complaints about everything from sham sweepstakes and lotteries and bogus home repairs to fraudulent financial products and services.
While Archer’s not sure there are more scams than ever, there are definitely more ways to perpetrate them. Between smartphones, computers and regular mail, “there’s so many ways to reach out and touch you,” he said.
“It just changes with technology,” he said. “It used to be the Nigerian scam by mail. Now it’s email or text. We get it at our office every day, too, someone who wants to put million in my bank account because I’m trustworthy and loyal and all that good stuff.”
Archer and other experts say it’s crucial to remain vigilant about one’s finances and personal information and skeptical of anything or anyone that requires giving out that information.
The grandparent scam, for one, is growing in popularity. Members of a support group for former NASA employees and Rotary Club members have recently reported getting such calls, Archer said.
For Sammis, tip-offs were plentiful, including the 0,000 payoff: “Nothing in the world involves that kind of money right away unless it’s illegal,” he said.
Offers to help seniors with Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security problems for a fee are increasing and are bogus, too: There is no charge for these services and no one from those agencies will call to ask for personal information.
Another ongoing scam: demand for payment of a past-due loan.
Maria and Jose Montufar of Palm Bay recently got a call from someone who informed Maria that her husband had never repaid a payday loan. The company needed 0 to keep the matter out of court, she said.
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“They were very aggressive and pushy; gave me a case number they said we’d need to settle it,” she said.
“They said, ‘Your husband is in plenty of trouble, lady.’ I told them that my husband is retired and that we don’t do those kinds of things.”
She reported it to Palm Bay police, but, wanting to let the con artists know she hadn’t been fooled, called back the next day. She was told they’d settle for 0. She didn’t pay it and let them know she was onto them.
Montufar, 66, said she never thought such things could happen in Brevard County.
“I could imagine it in South Florida; Broward or Dade counties,” she said. “But it could happen anywhere, and I don’t want it to happen to anybody around here. You’d be surprised what people our age would do to stay out of trouble.”
That kind of trusting nature, Archer said, is what traps seniors from all backgrounds.
“But what I’ve found over 28 years of doing this is that lawyers, accountants and doctors get taken advantage of, too,” he said.
Mary Pat Brennan, 83, is now so wary of scammers that “it’s like I don’t trust anybody anymore,” she said.
It started earlier this year with a call from a man who told her she’d won 0 million. He wanted her to meet him at Walmart to claim her prize.
“He told me as soon as I gave him a 0 money order, I could go into Walmart and collect my money,” said Brennan, a resident of Indian River Colony Club in Viera.
“What a dumb story. I played along with it at first. Then at the end, when he said, ‘Can you meet me there at 3 p.m. today?’ I said, ‘You’re a scam artist. Don’t ever call me again,’ ” and hung up.
But the next day, and every day since, she’s received between two and 17 calls from Jamaican-based numbers. Police told Brennan they can’t pursue action and her cable company says they can’t block the calls.
“They told me the only thing I can do is change my number,” she said. “That makes me mad. Why should I have to inconvenience myself, just to get rid of them?”
It makes her sad, too.
“I’m from a generation that thinks everyone could be nice,” said Brennan.
“We meet people and still like to believe they’re good and that the world is sunshiny.”
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