HeartBeat

DUI, DWI, OUI, call it whatever you want, mixing drinking with driving is never a good idea. Motor vehicle accidents are still one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and regardless of all the warnings, public awareness programs, and penalties people will still get behind the wheel while intoxicated. The legal limit is 0.08% BAC. To calculate BAC, take the grams of alcohol consumed and divide by the person's weight then multiply by 100.  Be aware that this formula does not consider personal factors that affect BAC: medication, weight, gender, body type, and food and water intake. A 160-pound man who drank two 12-ounce beers in an hour would have an approximate BAC of 0.02. While he is well below the legal limits of driving under the influence, he is 1.4 times more likely to have a crash than someone who is sober. A person with a BAC of 0.10 is 7 times more likely to have a crash. A person with a BAC of 0.15 is 25 times more likely to crash. Even though the le...

Let's face it, if we're honest, we all lie. The other day I was at a gathering where a controversial book was being discussed. When asked my opinion, I gave a regurgitated viewpoint of a review I had read. No, I did not read the book. They assumed I read it; I did not correct them. Instead, I continued to mislead them. Feeling heavy guilt, and enormous regret, I eventually did read the book. My opinion did not change, but my reasons were much different than the author of the review. I misrepresented myself. Whether it is a harmless "white lie" or an outright lie, a lie is a lie. Dishonesty is a passive-aggressive behavior used as a coping mechanism for confrontational situations, especially where we may be judged. Even offering a compliment or trying to shield the person from the truth can create problems later. This creates a vicious cycle of anxiety-ridden energy spent on keeping things hidden, remembering the details of the untruths, and fearing the discovery of ...

Tonight is the Hunter's Moon. According to the Farmers Almanac, full moon names are mostly derived from Native American and early American folklore to mark the seasons. The Hunters moon signals the time to go hunting and prepare for winter. It comes in the wake of the Harvest Moon, when crops were dug, leaving an open field for wild game to gorge, and thus making them an easy, baited target for hunters. There are many superstitions about full moons. My grandmother had so many. Much of the lore speaks to bringing good luck. However, one belief is that a full moon on a Sunday brings bad luck.  By the same token, many religious calendars follow in step with the moon. It's how we determine Easter as well as the end of Ramadan for example. On top of that, there are many full moon rituals that involve magic. When a full moon is approaching we can get a little crazy, sad or angry. The power of the moon exacerbates. Ask any teacher or nurse, and they will tell you ... If you ha...

We're in the midst of the fall season, and it is evident by the pumpkin theme found just about everywhere. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, Limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, Pumpkin Pie M & Ms, pumpkin pie gelato, pumpkin martinis, pumpkin soup, pumpkin candles, Pumpkin Spice Deodorant -- no thank you! Paint a pumpkin! Carve a pumpkin. Pumpkin is a sure sign of fall and it signals the last of the harvest. Pumpkins can last forever, about 12 weeks.  Jack-o-lanterns last about 8 days. If you put both in a tub of water, What do you think would happen? The pumpkin would float and the Jack would sink.  The scientific concept is called buoyancy. Pumpkin is hollow on the inside. The Jack-o-lantern is solid throughout. Positive buoyancy is when something is less dense than the water around it. This will make the object float. So here's the thing, some say that holding on is a sign of great strength. However, more it takes great fortitude to let g...