Google's Street View cars collect locations of Wi-Fi devices

Google is back in the hot seat today following a CNET report that suggests the search giant's Street View cars collected the locations of countless Wi-Fi devices. Along with mapping Wi-Fi access points (the intended purpose), the vehicles also charted the street addresses and unique identifiers of wireless Internet devices such as laptops and smartphones -- a practice that has been confirmed by the CNIL (France's data privacy commission).

What's worse, the search giant reportedly releases that information online, and you can't opt out of it. Harvested MAC addresses and their last known coordinates are published on the company's public geolocation database for all to access. Although this isn't inherently dangerous (it's effectively just a snapshot of where your device last was, so it's not like someone can stalk you with the information), it still raises valid privacy concerns.

For instance, someone could use the data to show you were at a specific place during a specific time, and that's something you might not want to share with the world. The Internet exploded earlier this year when it was discovered that Apple's iOS devices recorded a year's worth of location data that could be mapped to show your previous whereabouts. The company later released a software update that minimized users' biggest complaints.

And of course, isn't the first time Google's Street View cars have been caught gathering more information than intended. The company faced worldwide investigations, raids and even a $143,000 fine from France after it was discovered that the company "accidentally" collected private information from Wi-Fi networks, including emails, fragments of visited websites and passwords. The US FTC dropped its Wi-Fi sniffing investigation last October.

Read More

Blood Pressure Chart

What is Normal Blood Pressure?

Buy and use an automatic blood pressure monitor. Compare your BP reading with the numbers on the chart above. Draw a line from your systolic pressure to your diastolic pressure. Is the slope of the line about the same as shown on the chart? Where do YOU fit in? What are your risk factors?

Are your blood pressure readings within the normal blood pressure range?
Should you take anti-hypertension medication to lower your blood pressure?

Normal human daily Blood Pressure Range can vary widely, so any single blood pressure monitor reading is not reliable. BP monitor readings must be taken at different times of day, to determine AVERAGE blood pressure levels over time.

What is important is your AVERAGE BP, or MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure) over time.
Or, where are those numbers sitting MOST of the time?
Normal MAP is about 93 mm of mercury.

Read More

Nutrition for Healthy Eyes

Research suggests that antioxidants and other important nutrients may reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Specific antioxidants can have additional benefits as well; for example, vitamin A protects against blindness, and vitamin C may play a role in preventing or alleviating glaucoma.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome to guarding against macular damage.
Eye Benefits of Vitamins and Micronutrients

The following vitamins, minerals and other nutrients have been shown to be essential for good vision and may protect your eyes from sight-robbing conditions and diseases.

Incorporating the following foods in your diet will help you get the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of these important eye nutrients. Established by the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), the RDA is the average daily dietary intake level of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in a specific life stage and gender group.

While the RDA is a useful reference, some eye care practitioners recommend higher daily intakes of certain nutrients for people at risk for eye problems. In the following list, mg = milligram; mcg = microgram (1/1000 of a mg) and IU = International Unit.

Beta-carotene

* Eye benefits of beta-carotene: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, butternut squash.

* RDA: None (Most supplements contain 5,000 to 25,000 IU).

Bioflavonoids (Flavonoids)

* Eye benefits of bioflavonoids: May protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Food sources: tea, red wine, citrus fruits, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, legumes, soy products.

* RDA: None.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

* Eye benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin: May prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Food sources: Spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, squash.

* RDA: None.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

* Eye benefits of omega-3 fatty acids: May help prevent macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring; flaxseed oil and fish oil; ground flaxseeds and walnuts.

* RDA: None. (For cardiovascular benefits, the American Heart Association recommends approximately 1,000 mg daily.)

Selenium

* Eye benefits of selenium: When combined with carotenoids and vitamins C and E, may reduce risk of advanced AMD.

* Food sources: Seafood (shrimp, crab, salmon, halibut); Brazil nuts; enriched noodles; brown rice.

* RDA: 55 mcg for teens and adults (60 mcg for women during pregnancy and 70 mcg when breast-feeding).

Vitamin A

* Eye benefits of vitamin A: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Beef or chicken liver, cod liver oil, eggs, butter, milk.

* RDA: 3,000 IU for men; 2,333 IU for women (2,567 IU during pregnancy and 4,333 IU when breast-feeding).

Read More

Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate (Beets and Carrots!)

Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate topping is a tradition in some Latin American countries. Considered a comfort food, locals can find it in almost all bakeries, and serve it throughout the year. Our version has a veggie twist: beets and carrots! Very delicious, healthy and decadent! Here is the recipe:

Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate Topping

Servings: Makes a 9x12 inches pan

- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole whet flour
- 1/2 cup beets, shredded finely
- 1/2 cup carrots, shredded finely
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tbs cocoa powder
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3 tbs butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Pour into a greased 9 x 12 inch (22 x 30 cm) baking pan and bake in a preheated 325F (160C) oven for about 20 minutes, or until done (test with a toothpick).
When cool, cut into 2 inch (5 cm) squares and cover with the chocolate.



70% Dark Chocolate Topping:


- 70% dark chocolate bars or chips for baking.

Place coarsely chopped 70% dark chocolate, or dark chocolate chips for baking, in a microwave-safe container and microwave at MEDIUM (50 percent power) for 1 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted.
Cover the bread with the chocolate paste while still warm.

Israeli Couscous with Olives and Roasted Tomatoes

Israeli couscous is also known as ptitim. It was invented during the austerity period in Israel, when rice was scarce. (I was surprised to read it's mainly a children's dish in Israel. Certainly not the case here, where it's considered a "gourmet" item.) It's made of semolina pellets about the size of peppercorns. The little balls are much chewier than the smallest (Moroccan) couscous and holds up better to sauces- even in a cold salad—there's no mush. I read a quote recently comparing Israeli couscous to Moroccan couscous: " It's akin to the difference between steel-cut oats and quick-cook oatmeal, but maybe even more extreme." 

I had seen this recipe using Israeli couscous in Gourmet magazine, cut it out and then it languished in my file. When I recently walked into Williams Sonoma and saw a display of all three kinds of couscous, I remembered the recipe, bought the Israeli couscous and gave it a try.
 
The tomato vinaigrette was marvelous. Roasting tomatoes always gives them such a wonderful depth of flavor. I've done it many times to make my caprese salad, but it never occurred to me to make a vinaigrette with them. As it happened, I took this dish to a pot luck lunch. Nobody had ever eaten anything like it, everyone loved it and asked where to buy the couscous. They'd only made dishes with the Moroccan type. This was such a success, I'm going to try the Lebanese couscous next. Any favorite recipes out there?

Israeli Couscous with Olives and Roasted Tomatoes
Gourmet, September 2002

Ingredients:

For roasted tomatoes and dressing:
2 pints red grape or cherry tomatoes (1 1/2 lb)
3 large garlic cloves, left unpeeled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For couscous:
2 and 3/4 cups chicken broth
2 and 1/4 cups Israeli couscous
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Method:

To roast tomatoes and make dressing: 
Preheat oven to 250°F. 
Halve tomatoes through stem ends and arrange, cut sides up, in 1 layer in a large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pan. Add garlic to pan and roast in middle of oven until tomatoes are slightly shriveled around edges, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 30 minutes. 
Peel garlic and puree with oil, water, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the roasted tomatoes (reserve the rest) in a blender until dressing is very smooth. 

Make the couscous: 
Bring broth to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan and stir in couscous, then simmer, uncovered, 6 minutes. Cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand 10 minutes. Spread couscous in 1 layer on a baking sheet and cool 15 minutes. 

Put it all together:
Transfer couscous to a bowl and stir in the olives, parsley,  mint and thyme, the dressing, the reserved roasted tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6.

Do ahead: Roasted tomatoes, dressing, and couscous can be made 1 day ahead and kept separately, covered and chilled. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.

Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression has a variety of symptoms, but the most common are a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Other symptoms include:

• Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting

• Insomnia or oversleeping

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue

• Restlessness or irritability

• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide

Depression is common. It affects nearly one in 10 adults each year—nearly twice as many women as men. It’s also important to note that depression can strike at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Depression is also common in older adults. Fortunately, depression is very treatable.

How Depression and Sadness Are Different

The death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such stressful situations. Those experiencing trying times often might describe themselves as being “depressed.” But sadness and depression are not the same. While feelings of sadness will lessen with time, the disorder of depression can continue for months, even years. Patients who have experienced depression note marked differences between normal sadness and the disabling weight of clinical depression.

Causes

Depression can affect anyone—even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances. But several factors can play a role in the onset of depression:

Biochemistry

Abnormalities in two chemicals in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine, might contribute to symptoms of depression, including anxiety, irritability and fatigue. Other brain networks undoubtedly are involved as well; scientists are actively seeking new knowledge in this area.
Genetics

Depression can run in families.

Personality

People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be vulnerable to depression.
Environmental factors

Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make people who are already susceptible to depression all the more vulnerable to the illness. Also, a medical condition (e.g., a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can cause depression, so it is important to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or other physician to rule out general medical causes.


Treatment

For many people, depression cannot always be controlled for any length of time simply by exercise, changing diet, or taking a vacation. It is, however, among the most treatable of mental disorders; the majority of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a specific treatment is recommended, a psychiatrist should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, consisting of an interview and possibly a physical examination. The purpose of the evaluation is to reveal specific symptoms, medical and family history, cultural settings and environmental factors to arrive at a proper diagnosis and to determine the best treatment.

Medication

Antidepressants may be prescribed to correct imbalances in the levels of chemicals in the brain. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. Neither are they habit-forming. Generally antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on those not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of treatment. Full benefits may not be realized for two to three months. If a patient feels little or no improvement after several weeks, his or her psychiatrist will alter the dose of the medication or will add or substitute another antidepressant.

Psychiatrists usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or more months after symptoms have improved. After two or three episodes of major depression, long-term maintenance treatment may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, it is often used in combination with antidepressant medications. Psychotherapy may involve only the individual patient, but it can include others. For example, family or couples therapy can help address specific issues arising within these close relationships. Group therapy involves people with similar illnesses. Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or substantially longer. However, in many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15 sessions.

Read More

From Da Spin Doctor Direct

First, thank you so much for taking the time and trouble you endured to come to the Elks.  Wow!  Second, thank you for all the publicity on your Blog.  Third, thank you for taking the photos!  I simply can't thank you enough and to tell you how appreciative we are!

"Do you see difficulty in every opportunity, or

do you see an opportunity in every difficulty."

Candy and Husband

Yes, please do whatever you feel is appropriate for your blog.  I have to be a bit careful to not have more than thirty "guests" because the Elks is very sensitive to the room capacity being about fifty people - but that is without any dance floor.  We had about 30 folks total on Tuesday, and that seemed to work out just about right.  But, we also had 10 "no shows" who signed up but didn't come.

So, I think we can handle about 5 to ten more folks.  If you could mention again that anyone who wants to come should email me at spindoctordj@aol.com, not telephone.  I am pretty busy with our regular clients and I can't jam up our phone too much without losing business to my competitors.

Again, thank you for all the kind words on your blog.

"I Can Dream, Can' I?" by the Andrews Sisters

I am doing this strictly for fun. At most of our shows the playlist is dictated by the clients. I wanted to do a show where I could select my own music and also take requests and dedications from the dancers. What I have envisioned is something like the old Dick Clark "American Bandstand" show, or an old school sock hop.

There are at least 25 mobile DJs on Oahu, but none are specializing in oldies. Most DJs play hateful cop killer rap and hip hop with filthy lyrics, which I refuse to do. Call me "old school" but I like music that makes me feel good, not violent or mean.

And, sometimes I actually like to affectionately touch (not grind) my dance partner. So, we have a very unique and specific audience. Our music is from the 1940's to 1970's and ends around the disco era. Our audience is similar to those who love Tom Moffitt's Saturday morning shows.

"Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" by Perry Como

We are usually heavily booked most weekends, so I can only do this during the weekdays. If this is a "hit" then I intend to approach the St. Louis Alum club, and maybe a few other appropriate venues that have free parking and a good dance floor with lots of room. I am searching for venues that have a nice (not "industrial") atmosphere. A place like Honey's in Kailua would be ideal.

Of course I can't afford to continue to do this for free, but first things first - we must develop a large loyal following. While we have several repeat party customers, people don't get married too frequently, so it's difficult to develop a following from weddings, which is the bulk of our bookings.

"Music, Music, Music" by Theresa Brewer

Also, we just purchased a KILLER sound system from Bose professional, and I would like to host a few more free events where I can showcase this fabulous sound system and some of our new tech lighting to potential paying clients.

Mahalo, and Aloha!
Professor Bob, Da Spin Doctor
http://www.daspindoctor.vpweb.com/
808-271-4493

Pub's Note: And the first real Tea Dance on the Island of Oahu is closer and may be within striking distance soon. Yes, I can hear it. "Nevah gonna happen."