Life saving technique: NEW! No training necessary

Here's a life-saving video that simplifies what used to be called CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).  According to this video, this technique (Continuous Chest Compression CPR) is SUPERIOR to traditional CPR.  Save a life today:
http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr

End the war on drugs

California is leading the charge! While there are valid arguments concerning the use of any mind-altering substance, the public health point of view often gets obscured by various moralizers and peddlers of fear.  The public health point of view is harm reduction.  It acknowledges the fact that people will do ..... (you fill in the blank of whatever prohibition seems to be in vogue), what people will do--the question is how can we mitigate or eliminate the harm to self and others.  The following opinion piece -- whatever your stand on the issue -- that those most vigorously fighting against this are doing so in what can only be called "enlightened self interest."

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/reefer-gladness/?hp

School health support

Many lament the growing health problems faced by our youth: alcohol and drug use, teen pregnancy, mental health issues, obesity, sedentary behaviors as well as many others.  While providing reliable information is ONE PART of the solution, many fail to recognize that information is not enough.  Skills related to self-management, relationship management, stress management, decision making, goal setting, problem solving, and communication are broad-based criteria that need to taught with plenty of time for children to practice these skills in as real to life situations as possible.  One organization that is leading the charge is:

 http://www.informz.net/admin31/templates/Template_Html_Adv.asp?MFQID=9639028&test=t

Check it out and put pressure on your school and school district to support comprehensive health education for ALL children.

Is money the answer for baseball?

Here's a great graphic from the NY Times on the value of spending more money on baseball players:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/26/sports/20090926-score-graphic.html?ref=sports

The state of our union

Here's an interesting and provocative piece on the current state of our union. It's quite lengthy and some might claim it's laden with jargon or unintelligible but I think it's spot on.

http://www.truth-out.org/memories-hope-age-disposability63631

A little late to the party...

I had put up a blog in my professional life and found how difficult it is to generate interest. I did it as a part of trying to collaborate with a local institution. However, despite the energy at the meeting, it did not carry over to participation on the blog. Therefore, I have deleted it and am going to try my hand at a more personal blog.

I've been living in suburban Long Island now for the past seven years working and watching my children grow. I'm a refugee from NYC where I was born and raised and while I'm only 35 minutes away on the LIRR, sometimes it feels like I could be in Georgia (where I really did once live).

For example, today I'm at home with the kids and I sent the picture above to my wife who's touring Governor's Island with her sister. We have a running battle with the kids over the amount of media consumed by them on a daily basis. We have a bit of a visual joke going on here as my son has a carton of ice cream in his hands and my daughter is holding the remote while I am subdued with their jump ropes.