Our busy take-out lifestyle has helped childhood obesity become epidemic, and I was shocked to hear the recent American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that cholesterol-fighting drugs be given to some young children. Luckily, DooF (food spelled backwards) the new PBS program that is all about helping kids to make healthier food choices will begin airing in 2009.

DooF-a-Palooza 2008:
Help raise funds for DooF while having family fun - A DooF-a-Palooza admission ticket includes hands-on activities, games, food, music, free stuff, and a silent auction for the adults.

The place to be with the kids this Saturday: Purchase Tickets and Information

Google Headquarters
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View
Saturday, July 12, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women and The Best Places group did a study to find the most heart friendly cities for women. The Bay Area came in third in the study with Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area first and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC area second.

The study used the 200 most populous metropolitan areas. Some of the selection factors in the study included: cardiac mortality rates; physician diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol; smoking cigarettes; alcohol use; healthy eating; exercise; among other factors.

Go Red For Women conducted this study to help women better understand how personal health and environmental risk factors influence heart disease.

The Go Red For Women site points out these heart health statistics:

• One in three adult women has one or more forms of cardiovascular disease.
• Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 460,000 women per year, approximately one woman per minute.
• More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including cancer.

For more information about Go Red For Women, the study, metro area rankings, heart healthy tips, and more check here.

For those in the valley who do not have the luxury of air-conditioning, relief may be as simple as an afternoon at the movies or a mall.

For others it may be more relaxing or practical to spend the day at a local community cooling center.

Keeping cool is critical for the elderly, infants and young children. At risk are people who are physically or mentally ill; especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure.

Cooling Centers: Open until 9:00PM

Wednesday through Friday — May 14-16

Note: A bag lunch or dinner from home may be required.

Cooling Centers

Join thousands of Bay Area residents by leaving that smog inducing car at home. Strap that helmet on and get on your bike!

Why? Because May 15 is Bike to Work Day!

As part of this exciting event, there will be a over 190 Engergizer Stations strategically placed throughout the Bay Area where volunteers will be handing out treats, tote bags and bicycling commute-related information.

It’s healthy! It’s economical! It’s environmentally friendly!

I’m taking part! You should too!

 
Our local police, firefighters, and paramedics must be prepared for immediate response in the event of large-scale biological sabotage. The state Office of Homeland Security is asking the citizens of Santa Clara County to help professionals with an emergency training drill tomorrow.

Victims are needed to show signs of inhaling or ingesting a chemical agent. Just like being in a big Hollywood movie, cards will explain your character.

All ages are welcome, so bring the kids, toddlers, and the grandparents. Volunteers who are deaf, blind, or in wheelchairs will be valuable to the exercise. Non-English or bilingual speaking participants are encouraged.

Some good reasons to attend: The weather will be ideal. Breakfast and lunch are complementary. Movies and live bands will entertain. While helping with readiness, volunteers will take pride in preparing their community.

Wednesday, November 14th.
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
San Jose Municipal Stadium, 588 E. Alma Ave
Volunteer pre-register by calling (408) 247-1126
(Drop-in volunteers are welcome that day too)

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF SILICON VALLEY

 ”Words concocted by the lyrical locksmith, as deadly as 10 droplets of Ricin toxin.”
–”Master Thesis” by rap artist Canibus

<img src=”http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/74215680_ca55a2070a_o.jpg” width=”180″ height=”239″ alt=”Me! at Google!”align=”right” hspace=”5″ vspace=”5″ October of 2004 - I was very new to blogging, so you can imagine how excited I was to receive an invitation to visit Google. (I was then on blogspot) The people at Google must have confused my enthusiasm with thirst. In just over an hour - I lost count of the times I was offered a beverage. By the time I made it back to my cab my bag was heavy with beverage bottles and cans. It was probably for the best I didn’t get near their cafeteria.

October 2007 - Google will be hosting an event, DooF-a-Palooza, to help bolster a new PBS program. The DooF TV series will encourage children to eat healthful food.

Google DooF-a-Palooza @ 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
October 20, 2007
11am - 4pm
Adults - $20.
Ages 5 to 7 - $12.
Under 5 free.

To sign up click here
I have my ticket for a normal-sized DooFer - Google, I will be back!

As I walked into The Tech Museum of Innovation, for a special preview of the new Body Worlds 2 & The Three Pound Gem exhibit, I did so with an open mind.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the exhibit, even though in some cases staged with humor, tastefully done. This collection of human plastinates is an enlightening and informational look at our bodies.

The message that ’smoking is bad for you’ is an old one that is often ignored, but there is no ignoring the preserved black smoker’s lung. It will grab your full attention. Moving through the exhibit I was not put off. To the contrary, I was struck with the marvel that is life. I came away from the presentation with admiration for Dr. Gunther von Hagens scientific contribution.

The Exhibit opens September 27, 2007
For Tickets

I would like to thank The Tech and Body Worlds for a most enthralling tour and press conference. They have brought a not to be missed hit show to San José.
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When the temperature hits the upper 90s air-conditioned workplaces and homes will help us through the day and night. If your home does not have air-conditioning, electric fans may not do enough, something as simple as a trip to the shopping mall or the library would help. For some, one cool place to go is to a neighborhood Cooling Center.

This morning I stopped by the Willows Senior Center* to inquire about their ‘Cooling Center’. They were kind enough to let me check out Room 8. It has a good sized TV, computers, comfy looking seating, and coffee on the sideboard. When I asked the woman at the desk about meals, she let me know that they were not a cafeteria, so it looks as though a bag lunch, and dinner, from home would be required.

Phone ahead for information:  408-277-2741- check to see if the center in your area is open.

Some people are at greater risk than others to suffer from heat-related illness and may need to be closely watched for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Check regularly on:
People aged 65 or older
People who have a mental illness
Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
Infants and young children

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Vinay Chakravarthy, who spent a large part of his life in Bay Area, is fighting for his life. Of Indian origin, he has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML, cancer of the bone marrow) and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. The problem is that a bone marrow match is likely only in the same race. South Asians have a 1 in 20,000 chance of finding a match and currently, only very few are registered for donation. This drive has been gathering momentum over the past few weeks. But time is running out and hence, a mega drive is scheduled for this weekend in the Bay Area.

The Internet has come to the rescue yet again. Check out helpvinay.org, put up to help him and other similar people. There is loads of information to understand the problem.
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Last summer I heard of a deal where I could obtain a much wanted concert ticket by donating blood. Because I had mononucleosis in high school I didn’t think I was eligible, but the lady at the Stanford Bloodmobile told me that Mono wouldn’t necessarily preclude me from giving. After filling out a health questionnaire and answering some rather scandalous sounding questions about my personal sex life, I was ready to roll up my sleeve for a blood pressure test.

The next step was to relax on what looked like a lounge chair. The actual giving only took about 10 pain free minutes, after which I was given a choice of pick-me-up refreshments. I chose orange juice, cookies, and ice cream. Total time spent at the Bloodmobile was about an hour. I did get the concert ticket, but even better I got a good feeling knowing that I may have saved a life.

The Stanford Bloodmobile will be in an area near you. They do not always have concert tickets etc., but check out Promotions & Special Events.

Another option is the Gelato Classico - An American Red Cross event. “Pint for a Pint” Blood Drives around the Bay Area this month.

The American Red Cross has a valuable site full of Summer tips including blood donor information.