Wrong arm position can overstate blood pressure. Infographic.

This is about human health; so important in order to be a good cat caregiver! The infographic explains how to avoid an overstated blood pressure check. It is down to the proper arm position. See the infographic. I have also found that a brisk walk before talking one's blood pressure results in a lower blood pressure which is something we all want. It is rare for the blood pressure to be too low. Normally it is too high because of a prevalence of obesity in Western societies.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Image: Amazon (Omron). It shows the correct arm position.

Americans stunned after learning ingredients in US McDonald's compared to UK's. US men DIE YOUNGER.

American men have an average lifespan of  76.33 years. UK men have an average lifespan of 80.70 years. Although there are many reasons for this difference, one is diet including fast food differences. Take a look at this picture and a fuller written picture below.

Update October 3, 2024: The Times newspaper reports that "Middle-aged Britons slimmer and healthier than US peers". That said, UK residents are also pretty unhealthy with an obesity epidemic! However, a study found that middle-aged Britons are slimmer, healthier and less likely to suffer heart problems than their peers in the US. British adults are less likely to be obese and also have lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In the US, 40% were obese compared with 35% in the UK. 23% of Americans had high blood pressure and 11% had high cholesterol compared with rates of 19 and 8% respectively in the UK. There are many reasons for this, one of which is diet referred to on this page but there may also be an input from the health service available in the UK and in the USA. In my opinion, the problem is linked to obesity and overeating. That's the core of the problem because being obese carries with it numerous health problems. There is no doubt that it shortens life substantially on average.

Why do American men have a shorter lifespan than British men?

Note: below this section is one on diet which explores the facts in the image above.

The shorter lifespan of American men compared to British men can be attributed to several interrelated factors. Here are some of the key reasons:

1. Healthcare System

• Access to healthcare: The U.S. has a more privatized healthcare system, which can create barriers to accessing medical care, especially for lower-income individuals. In contrast, the U.K. has the National Health Service (NHS), which provides universal healthcare free at the point of delivery, allowing more consistent and early access to healthcare services for the entire population.
• Preventive care: Americans, particularly those without insurance, may delay or avoid seeking preventive care due to cost concerns. This can lead to the later detection of diseases and worse outcomes, which impacts life expectancy.

2. Obesity and Diet

• Obesity rates: The U.S. has higher rates of obesity than the U.K. Obesity is a significant risk factor for various health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, all of which can shorten lifespan. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are more prevalent in the U.S.
• Dietary differences: Processed and fast foods, which are often high in sugar, fat, and salt, are more widely consumed in the U.S., contributing to chronic health conditions.

3. Income Inequality and Poverty

• Economic disparities: The U.S. has higher levels of income inequality than the U.K., which translates to disparities in access to healthcare, housing, nutrition, and other essentials. Economic stress and poorer living conditions can exacerbate health problems, increasing mortality rates.
• Social safety nets: The U.K. has more robust social programs that reduce poverty and provide support, such as welfare and housing assistance. These programs can help mitigate the adverse health effects of poverty and provide stability, potentially extending life expectancy.

4. Gun Violence and Homicide Rates

• Gun-related deaths: The U.S. has much higher rates of gun violence, including homicides and suicides, which disproportionately affect men. This contributes directly to lower life expectancy in American men, especially young and middle-aged men.
• Homicide rates: The U.S. has a higher homicide rate than the U.K., and this violent crime disproportionately affects men.

5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health

• Opioid crisis: The U.S. has faced a severe opioid crisis, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, primarily affecting men. Overdose deaths have significantly reduced life expectancy in certain regions of the U.S.
• Mental health: Mental health care in the U.S. can be expensive and less accessible, leading to untreated conditions such as depression and anxiety. The combination of untreated mental health issues and easy access to firearms may explain higher suicide rates among American men compared to British men.

6. Work-life Balance and Stress

• Work culture: Americans tend to work longer hours and take fewer vacations than their British counterparts, leading to higher levels of stress. Chronic stress is linked to many health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and weakened immune function.
• Social determinants of health: Factors like job security, income, and social status all play a role in life expectancy. The American work culture may expose men to more work-related stress, which negatively affects overall health.

7. Environmental Factors

• Air pollution: While both the U.S. and U.K. experience pollution, certain areas of the U.S. have higher levels of pollution, particularly in urban centers. Poor air quality is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, which can shorten life expectancy.
• Climate and geography: Some regions of the U.S. are more prone to extreme weather, such as heatwaves, which can be fatal, especially for vulnerable populations.

8. Lifestyle and Cultural Differences

• Smoking and alcohol consumption: While smoking rates have declined in both countries, the U.S. has higher alcohol consumption and binge drinking rates, which can lead to liver disease, accidents, and other health issues.
• Physical activity: Americans generally engage in less physical activity compared to British men, contributing to higher rates of obesity and associated diseases.

9. Maternal Mortality and Infant Health

• Infant and maternal mortality: The U.S. has a higher infant and maternal mortality rate than the U.K., which is indicative of broader healthcare system issues and negatively impacts overall life expectancy figures.

In summary, while both American and British men face many similar health challenges, systemic factors like the healthcare system, higher rates of obesity and substance abuse, more violence, and greater economic inequality contribute to the shorter lifespan of American men compared to British men.

The American Big Mac burger contains more calories, more fat and more salt and additives than the British version. Is this an indication of the underlying differences in diet?

Yes, the differences in the composition of the American and British Big Mac are indicative of broader dietary trends and food culture between the two countries. The fact that the American Big Mac contains more calories, fat, salt, and additives compared to its British counterpart reflects key underlying differences in diet and food standards that could impact health and life expectancy.

Here are some ways in which the difference between these two versions of the Big Mac highlights broader dietary contrasts:

1. Food Standards and Regulations

• Ingredient regulations: The U.K. and European Union (which governed U.K. food laws until Brexit) have stricter regulations on food additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. This can lead to lower levels of unhealthy additives in processed foods in the U.K. compared to the U.S., where food industry standards are more lenient.
• Trans fats: The U.S. historically allowed higher levels of trans fats, which contribute to heart disease, though these have been increasingly regulated in recent years. In the U.K., trans fats were banned earlier, reflecting a difference in public health priorities.

2. Portion Sizes

• Larger portions in the U.S.: In general, portion sizes tend to be larger in the U.S. than in the U.K., especially for fast food. The higher calorie content of the American Big Mac could be reflective of a cultural trend towards supersized portions, which contributes to higher caloric intake and obesity rates.
• Perception of value: U.S. fast food culture often equates larger portions with better value, which encourages overconsumption, while the U.K. typically favors smaller, more controlled portions.

3. Salt and Sugar Intake

• Higher salt and sugar levels: The American Big Mac contains more salt, which reflects broader dietary trends in the U.S. where high-sodium processed foods are more common. Excessive salt consumption is linked to hypertension and heart disease, which are more prevalent in the U.S.
• Hidden sugars: Processed foods in the U.S. often contain more added sugars, even in savory items. This has been linked to the rise in obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in the U.S.

4. Obesity Rates and Health Outcomes

• Higher obesity rates in the U.S.: The U.S. has a significantly higher obesity rate than the U.K., with almost 40% of American adults classified as obese compared to about 27% in the U.K. The nutritional composition of fast foods like the Big Mac plays a role in these differences. The higher fat, calorie, and sodium content in American fast food reflects a broader trend toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, contributing to obesity and related diseases.
• Chronic diseases: The high fat and calorie content of processed foods in the U.S. is a major factor in the higher prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, which are key contributors to the shorter lifespan of American men compared to British men.

5. Cultural Attitudes Toward Food

• Convenience and fast food culture: In the U.S., fast food is a staple of the diet for many, often consumed more frequently than in the U.K. Americans tend to have a more fast-paced lifestyle, which encourages the consumption of quick, convenient, and often unhealthy meals. In contrast, while fast food is popular in the U.K., there is a stronger cultural emphasis on home-cooked meals and a more traditional approach to meal times.
• Food marketing: The fast food industry in the U.S. is highly competitive and promotes value meals and larger portions aggressively. This is less of a focus in the U.K., where there has been more public pressure on the food industry to promote healthier options.

6. Public Health Campaigns

• Health awareness: In the U.K., there have been stronger public health campaigns aimed at reducing sugar and salt consumption, particularly through government regulation and media. Initiatives like the sugar tax on soft drinks and clearer food labeling are more prominent in the U.K. These measures encourage healthier consumer choices, which are less emphasized in the U.S. until more recently.

7. Culinary Traditions

• Traditional diets: In the U.K., while fast food is available, traditional British meals, particularly home-cooked meals, are typically lower in calories and fat compared to the average American diet. The Mediterranean influence on European diets also emphasizes healthier fats (like olive oil) and more fresh produce.
• Processed foods: In contrast, the American diet often incorporates more highly processed foods, including ready-made meals and snacks, which tend to be higher in calories, unhealthy fats, and preservatives.

8. Pricing and Accessibility

• Cheap, unhealthy food: In the U.S., highly processed, calorie-dense foods are often cheaper and more accessible than healthier, fresh options. Fast food is often seen as a cost-effective option for many families, contributing to poorer dietary habits overall.
• Healthier alternatives: In the U.K., while price disparities exist, there has been a push toward making healthier food more affordable and accessible through government initiatives and market changes.

Conclusion

The nutritional differences between the American and British versions of the Big Mac are a microcosm of broader dietary patterns in each country. The U.S. diet tends to be higher in calories, fat, salt, and additives, which contributes to obesity, heart disease, and other health issues that reduce life expectancy. In contrast, 

----------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Turkish family that walks on all fours affected by an inherited brain malfunction affecting balance

NEWS AND OPINION: The purpose of this article is to correct what I see as a very misleading headline on the Internet today on the Indy 100 website. The headline is: "Family that walk on all fours have 'undone the last three million years of evolution'". The article does discuss a medical issue but the headline is clickbait.

It's misleading as I said. I explain why below:

The family in Türkiye (Turkey) that walks on all fours suffers from a health issue known as non-progressive congenital cerebellar ataxia. This condition affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination. Due to this genetic mutation, the affected individuals have difficulty maintaining the balance required for bipedal walking, leading them to develop a quadrupedal gait.

Are they the only Turkish family affected? There have been reports primarily focused on a specific family in Turkey known for walking on all fours, but it's not common for multiple families to exhibit this behaviour. The most studied case involved a small group from a rural area who displayed this unique locomotion due to a neurological condition affecting balance and coordination. This phenomenon is quite rare, and while there may be isolated instances, the majority of individuals do not walk this way. 

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Kind people are seen as more physically attractive than unkind people

A study has come to the conclusion that kind people are seen as more physically attractive than people who are unkind. There are nonphysical factors which can influence the way people look to others in terms of their attractiveness or unattractiveness. It isn't just about physical features and what society deems to be attractive or unattractive which is another story because these will be conventional viewpoints.

Obviously character does have an impact upon whether others perceive a person as attractive or not. And money can have an influence as well! But that's another story. This research's objective was to "unpick some of the non-physical factors that lead an individual to be perceived as good-looking." The quote comes from The Times, the source of this article.

The researchers came to the conclusion that "being thought intelligent or funny can increase an individual's aesthetic appeal. But being perceived as generous and altruistic beat both of those traits in boosting attractiveness."

Dr. Natalia Kononov, of Tel Aviv University, Israel, who led the research, said: "We discovered that people who are kind to others are judged as more beautiful. So beauty really isn't just skin deep. Being a good person can make you look better too."

The research was based upon 10 experiments involving more than 4000 participants. The results were clear according to The Times report. People considered to have "prosocial" traits i.e. kind, helpful and generous, were consistently judged better looking.

The study worked like this. The participants were first given a verbal description of a person. Let's call them Person A. One group was told that Person A had volunteered at a soup kitchen or helped package food for the needy. A second group were told that Person A lacked prosocial elements.

The participants were then introduced to Person A physically and asked to judge their attractiveness on a scale of 1 meaning not beautiful at all to 7 meaning very beautiful. Those who had been described as prosocial were consistently ranked more highly in terms of looks. They scored about 10% higher than those who had been described as funny and about 7% higher than those that were described as being clever.

Sidebar: here is Cilla Black singing about being kind! I love this song as do millions of others:

Dr. Natalia said: "We did expect to see a connection between prosocial behaviour and attractiveness, but we were surprised by how consistently the effect held across both men and women, whether they were the ones being judged or doing the judging."

She added that, "Being helpful, generous and cooperative is beneficial in social and survival context. These traits signal that someone could be a reliable, long-term partner."

And on that basis, they become more attractive because they are a better partner and someone to live with and more likely to survive and live a better life.

The results were published in the British Journal of Social Psychology.

They decided that "This finding opens the door to a broader question about which traits people prioritise when evaluating others. While our study doesn't directly answer that question it does suggest that at least when it comes to beauty evaluations kindness carries more weight than we might have assumed."

---------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Laughter can speed up recovery from illness. Study of sick kids in an Israeli hospital.

Being an old man, I am always interested in ways to improve one's well-being and overall health. It's important in many respects. In fact it should be a vital objective of all people. We should all be concerned with it and that includes people who care for a domestic cat companion. If a cat owner is ill it's unlikely they'll be able to discharge their cat caring duties fully. It affects the cat negatively. We create the cat's environment in all senses. I am not saying that being happy is easy becomes sometimes it is not!

Clown entertains sick child at hospital which speeds up recovery

With this in mind, it's a known fact that laughter can speed up recovery from illness. A recent study supports the findings of other studies and real-life experiences. In this instance it concerned children patients at hospital. They were seriously ill with pneumonia.

The researchers used a team of specially trained medical clowns with painted faces and the skill to entertain. They found that when they entertained the patients they cut the time they needed to be on intravenous antibiotics.

The researchers followed 51 children aged between 2 and 18 who had been admitted to hospital with pneumonia at the Carmel Medical Centre in Israel.

One group received standard care while the other received the same care plus a 15 minute session with a medical clown twice a day in the first 48 hours after admission to hospital.

The researchers employed three medical clowns from The Dream Doctors Project who use various techniques to relax patients. They employed music, singing and 'guided imagination'. They encouraged the children to drink and eat by themselves again.

The researchers discovered that the group who were visited by a medical clown had an average stay in hospital of 43.5 hours compared with 70 hours for the children who were not visited by the clowns.

Also, the children visited by medical clowns needed only two days of intravenous biotics compared with the usual three days for the control group.

The lead author of the study is Dr. Karin Yaacoby-Bianu. The findings were presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna.

Looking wider, laughter is indeed a contributor to speeding up recovery from illness. It cannot be a cure on its own normally but other scientific studies have suggested that laughter because several positive effects on health and well-being.

For example:

• It boosts the immune system. It's been shown to increase the production of antibodies and activate T-cells which are essential for a healthy immune response.
• Laughter lowers the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. These can weaken the immune system and slowdown recovery.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins. These are the body's natural painkillers which make it easier to manage pain and discomfort.
• And further, laughter improves blood flow and cardiovascular function. These are essential for recovery and overall health.
• And finally, laughter can alleviate stress and depression thereby improving mental health which can be common during illness. A positive mental state can promote faster healing.

Laughter isn't a replacement for medical treatment but it can complemented and enhance recovery.

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Promotion of anorexia on TikTok harms women's body image. Don't watch them.

A few minutes of visiting TikTok and watching videos that promote anorexia (pro-anorexia) can lead to women being dissatisfied with their bodies. In short, they have a less optimistic viewpoint about their bodies when watching videos by people who make content about restricting food intake and sharing weight loss tips.

HELPFUL NOTE: PLEASE DON'T WATCH THESE VIDEOS. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. DON'T GET SUCKED INTO WATCHING THEM. BE YOURSELF AND DO YOUR BEST TO MAINTAIN AN OBJECTIVE MIND ABOUT YOUR BODY. COMPARE IT TO GOOD GUIDES PROVIDED BY MEDICAL EXPERTS.

A preliminary to anorexia nervosa might be and probably often is 'orthorexia nervosa': a proposed eating disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with eating healthy food.

Study finds pro-anexoria content on TikTok can quickly harm women’s body image by Michael Broad

These are pro-anorexia videos. The research on this comes from Madison Blackburn and Rachel Hogg at Charles Sturt University in Australia. Their project is reported in the online journal PLOS ONE. Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307597

The researchers concluded that their results underscore the need for new controls on content that glamorises starvation diets and very thin physiques.

"This research has implications for the mental health of young female TikTok users, with exposure to pro-anorexia content having immediate consequences for internalisation and body image dissatisfaction, potentially increasing one’s risk of developing disordered eating beliefs and behaviours."

The study involved 270 female participants aged between 18 and 28. They completed questionnaires and how satisfied they were with their bodies after watching TikTok videos.

A section of them watched videos featuring pro-anorexia content while another section, acting as a control group, were shown videos about nature, cooking, comedy and animals.

Both groups reported a decrease in body image satisfaction interestingly but those that were exposed to the pro-anorexia content experienced a significantly larger decline in body image satisfaction.

"Our study showed that less than 10 minutes of exposure to implicit and explicit pro-anorexia TikTok content had immediate negative consequences, suggesting psychological harm can occur for young female TikTok users even when explicit pro-anorexia content is not sort out."

Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at the British eating disorder charity Beat, said: "Unfortunately there is a great deal of harmful content shared on social media platforms, most often circulated by those who are unwell themselves."

He added that it is time for tech companies to act by "ensuring that pro-eating disorder content isn't promoted in their algorithms, preventing irresponsible content from being uploaded to begin with, and making it easier for users to report and block any videos they might come across."

In response, TikTok said that its community guidelines do not allow the showing or promotion of disordered eating and/or dangerous weight loss behaviours. They also ban the facilitation of the trade or marketing of weight loss or muscle gain products.

Comment: TikTok's response is typical of social media companies. They know the problem. It is that they simply can't enforce their policies because there's too much uploaded content on a daily basis. They don't have the manpower to administer their website properly to a rigorous standard. This allows pro-anorexia content to be uploaded and remain on their website for a long time. No doubt they delete some and no doubt they'd bar some individuals from uploading this kind of content but far too much gets through where it is viewed by vulnerable women further fostering and encouraging poor body image which can cause anorexia and mental health issues of other kinds such as depression and anxiety.

Pro-anexoria as per AI research

Let me explain about pro-anorexia (says AI) , but I must stress that its beliefs go against medical facts and can seriously endanger health:

Pro-anorexia, sometimes called ana pride, refers to communities and mindsets that promote anorexia as a lifestyle choice rather than a serious mental illness. They make light of harmful behaviors and even encourage weight loss competition or "thinspiration." While those affected may view it as empowering, scientifically it undermines recovery.

Certain online forums used to share tips for concealing/maintaining anorexia from others were labeled pro-ana. They touted disordered eating as glamorous or rebellious. Though some sites have since closed, remnants of this mentality still exist online and offline.

Pro-ana beliefs argue weight is purely cosmetic and willful starvation proves self-discipline. However, modern research conclusively shows eating disorders are biologically rooted illnesses. Severe calorie/nutrient deprivation harms the brain, heart, bones and every organ system. It seriously shortens life expectancy long term.

Internalizing pro-ana attitudes can increase social isolation for those struggling. Sufferers may avoid help due to feeling their illness is a lifestyle/identity rather than a medical problem. However, without a multidisciplinary treatment plan supervised by credentialed experts, full recovery is highly unlikely.

While some involved in pro-ana communities feel empowered choosing their own path, the ugly truth is that disordered eating habits rob autonomy through addictive food/body preoccupations over time. For whatever reason people develop eating disorders, promoting and glamorizing harmful behaviors around them can have tragic consequences.

I hope this breakdown provided clarity on why medical professionals fully denounce pro-ana beliefs/mindsets as unhealthy and unfounded. My role is to share science-based facts, not condone putting lives at serious risk through medically disproven ideologies. Let me know if any part needs further explanation!

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Cat and dog ownership can provoke consumers into shopping more and spending more money

Retail therapy can come from pet companionship wellbeing. 

Retail therapy can come from human wellbeing gained through cat and/or dog companionship. - MikeB interpretation of the study

The finding as stated in the title to this article, comes from a Japanese study. The basic process, as I understand it, is that when you live with a pet, a companion animal, it enhances your life and so you feel better and when you feel better it can induce the desire to spend money in the form of retail therapy which makes you feel better as well. 

It seems to me that this is a triggering process. When you feel better because of your companion animal's presence, you seek more pleasure. And you achieve that by buying something in a shop.

pet ownership—subjective well-being—impulsive purchases.

In the words of the study authors led by Yahui Liu, "Pet ownership evokes consumers to shop more, buy more products, and spend more money" and "The pet ownership effect is induced by individuals’ enhanced subjective well-being associated with owning a pet, further increasing pet owners’ impulsive hedonic purchases."

They concluded that the emotional support provided through pet ownership - and we mean cats and dogs - "positively affects consumers' subjective well-being, thus leading to more increased purchases".

I think it's a kind of mild addiction. Addiction to feeling good. We all want to feel good and we cuddle our cat or play with our dog and we feel good. In feeling good you want to find other ways to feel good so you decide to go and buy something in a shop which gives you instant gratification. 

That's my interpretation reading the highlights to the study is published on the Science Direct website; specifically the Journal of Business Research. This is the link to the study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114838

The objective of the study was to "estimate the effect of pet ownership on consumers' purchases". And, as mentioned, they found "that pet ownership increases purchases". The effect is "induced by enhanced subjective well-being". This boosts "impulsive hedonic purchases".

They say they are the first to "empirically examine how pet ownership affects consumer purchases". I can agree with that because I've never read a study or a report which connects pet ownership with retail therapy as I would call it.

Retail therapy is very common in the world. The desire to spend money to possess a new item to give a short term increase in pleasure. It's very similar to pleasure eating. Another potential form of addiction.

The study summary says that their findings "offer valuable implications for retailers are incorporating pets into marketing". That's a good point. I believe what they're saying there is that you can include companion animals into advertising of products to enhance the advert.

I also believe that the presence of shops' cats encourages purchases. And that's a very good point. There are some people who say that cats in shops and public houses are bad for health reasons. They argue they transmit disease to people. That's rubbish I'm afraid. Recently I wrote about a pub in England where the administrators decided to get rid of two cats who liked to stay in the pub all the time.

These cats were popular with customers and enhanced the business. It is just silly senior management who get it consistently wrong. 😊😎

Think of Bodega cats in New York. They are famous and very good for business.

--------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

JD Vance is a bad Christian as his actions do not follow his faith

JD Vance is one of the most overtly religious major politicians in America. He is described as a conservative Catholic in The Times. He is Donald Trump's running mate and therefore a potential vice president when Trump is elected president which seems likely at the moment. 

But his actions do not follow his declaration to the world that he is a Christian. He is a bad Christian.

Declared Christian JD Vance by Michael Broad

---------------

Being a Christian is good politics it seems in America. And Vance appears to be a strict Christian. He is a student of the Latin Mass, an opponent of abortion and gay marriage, and given to quoting St Augustine. 

An old-fashioned Christian with old-fashioned values which I think he promotes for political advantage. And I think Donald Trump does the same thing and indeed is one reason why he chose J.D. Vance as his running mate.

So what does Christianity say about helping the vulnerable; the needy, those in need? Well, the people of Ukraine are vulnerable and needy. They need all the help the rest of the world can give them. 

Helping those in need is a core principle in Christianity.  Here are some key points:

• Love thy neighbor: This teaching from Jesus (Matthew 22:39) emphasizes helping anyone in need, not just fellow Christians. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) reinforces this idea.
• Caring for the poor and oppressed: The Bible includes many verses urging followers to help the less fortunate. Proverbs 14:31 says, "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
• Following Jesus' example: Jesus himself ministered to the sick, poor, and marginalized. His teachings on compassion and generosity inspire Christians to do the same.
• Putting faith into action: James 2:14-17 emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Helping others demonstrates genuine faith.

But about Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent long-standing war employing trench warfare, JD Vance says the following: 

"I gotta be honest with you, I don't really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another," Vance said in February 2022."

He added: 

"I do not think that it is in America's interest to continue to fund an effectively never-ending war in Ukraine"

So he is against helping Ukrainians who are desperately in need of help. That, I would argue, is very anti-Christian. It is not the kind of statement that a genuine Christian would make.

Therefore, I have to conclude that he is not a genuine Christian. He is a Christian for political purposes. It looks good. It makes him more popular. Perhaps he had an eye on being Donald Trump's vice president years ago and he knew that Donald Trump would use Christianity to his political advantage.

This is exactly what he has done after Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to assassinate him with a rifle. Donald Trump has used God after that assassination attempt by saying that it was God that saved him. And it is God who is dictating that it is Donald Trump's time to be the president again. God is paving the way for him. God is on his side.

He knows that there are millions of Christians in America living in the Bible belt. Perhaps he is trying to capture them as followers, acolytes, voters.

But the point here is that JD Vance is, I would argue and allege, a fake Christian.

-------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Women must say NO within 20 seconds to claim rape

NEWS AND VIEWS - ITALY: In an interesting and perhaps extraordinary judgement by an Italian court, the judge ruled that because a woman did not react within 20-30 seconds in saying 'No' to a man who wanted sex she cannot claim that she was raped. 

The judge in effect put a time limit on a woman's rejection of sex at the moment that it is about to occur. It's an interesting thought and perhaps it's a situation that needs to be addressed in order to clarify when rape is or is not genuine.

The man was acquitted by the Italian court who had been accused of sexually assaulting an airline attendant because she waited 30 seconds before fighting him off.

Clearly, a woman can say no verbally or they can say no through their behaviour and/or body language. But it must be done within 20 seconds according to this Italian judgement.

The alleged assault took place in Milan. The judgement follows a similar one in a separate case last year. Both cases have prompted a demand for a change in the law.

The woman representing the alleged rape victim said that "It's like we've gone back 30 years".

The alleged assault took place in 2018. The flight attendant entered the office of a union official, Raffaele Meola, at Malpensa airport. She was there to discuss a discrimination case.

According to The Times report she "took a seat, and started to read out a document linked to the case and he shut the door. Meola then stood behind her chair, caressed her neck and breasts and reached down into her trousers to lift up her slip." The words come from the woman's lawyer.

The woman is now 40 years of age. She told the court that she froze during those precious 20-30 seconds. She said that she was afraid, taken by surprise and became paralysed.

She's been to court twice about this. On the first occasion she lost the case and then she appealed it but lost that as well.

The lawyer said that the problem was Italian law on sexual violence. It requires the use of violence and/or physical or psychological pressure or abuse of authority in order for a conviction to be successful.

"What the law does not clearly state is that if there is no consent given, it should count as sexual assault."

Comment: clearly this judgement has put the law into a state of flux in Italy and although in one way it clarifies some aspects of rape as a crime in Italy it also creates further problems and it seems that this lawyer is asking that the specifics of rape need to be specified in an amendment to the existing Italian law. This is the work of politicians. I doubt that there will be any changes.

Note: this is clearly nothing to do with cats! 😎😻 But it is interesting and needs to be discussed. There is a weak connection: women are more likely to adopt a pet cat.

-----------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Ozempic tells us humans are becoming lost

In generalising as I must, humans in developed or advanced countries are becoming lost by which I mean behaviourally and emotionally. Humankind is drifting in the wrong direction. They've lost their sense of self discipline. Humans have lost their ability to deal with difficulties, deal with pain and suffering, deal with the kind of things that humans have to deal with in order to be successful and live life to the full. And to be healthy.

Ozempic face!! And body! This is a fantasy image of a person who took Ozempic to lose weight.

Ozempic® is cited as a wonder drug which suppresses a person's appetite which means they lose weight. It's a last desperate measure to tackle the obesity crisis among humans. Perhaps we should be giving it to domestic cats as well because they have an obesity crisis as a spin-off from the human crisis.

The huge popularity of Ozempic which will make billions of dollars for the manufacturers, is due to the simple fact that humankind nowadays has the inability to employ self-discipline to eat less. It's pretty much a simple as that.

Camilla Long, the Times journalist is very critical of humankind in her Sunday Times article. She criticises people for being unable to "countenance pain and suffering [which] has left us with Ozempic face and PTSD". Totally agree.

'Ozempic face' must refer to a gaunt face. Sharon Osbourne complained that she looked gaunt after taking Ozempic to lose weight. She regrets it.

It is called a game changing drug. A fantastic drug. Camilla Long is as disgusted as I am humankind. I must quote her.

"I can't think of a single product/medicine/panacea that defines our ephemeral world more - fill your life with disgusting junk food and then just wave a wand to make it go away."

There it is, nicely summarised by Camilla Long. Self-indulgent behaviour par excellence. Eat yourself into the grave but then take Ozempic to try and extend your lifespan. What about self-discipline? What about eating less? What about exercising a little bit? What about going for a walk in a wood or a forest to connect with nature?

There is a strong argument that eating less and exercising is far more effective than relying on Ozempic. And one day we will discover that Ozempic carries some horrible side effects. At the moment it is a wonder drug but every drug is a poison and I suspect that Ozempic is no different. Perhaps in 10 years time there'll be thousands of people with a chronic illness caused by Ozempic. Don't believe that any drug is a wonder drug.

Camilla Long complains that in every aspect of modern life people shy away from dealing with pain and suffering in order to achieve goals and live life successfully. It is a flabby, lost world.

And this discussion carries forward into the woke movement and snowflake teenagers and youngsters. The modern university student is a snowflake it seems to me. University has been dumbed down to make it much easier for students who been ill-prepared for university by their school classes. It's all dumbed down. Which means that young people are ill-prepared for the real world.

In the new world of modern parenting and schooling, nobody can fail. Failure is a word you can't use. This is the snowflake policy. Youngsters need to be toughened up. They need to face reality. They need to countenance pain and suffering in the words of Camilla Long. 

And the drug Ozempic is an example, a symptom, of the failure of humankind to face up to reality, get down and dirty, become self-disciplined, and organise their lives by taking the tough decisions.

Info about Ozempic which is not designed as weight loss drug

Ozempic® (semaglutide) is a prescription medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. Here are some key points about it:

1. Blood Sugar Control: Ozempic® helps lower blood sugar levels by mimicking the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It stimulates insulin release from the pancreas and reduces glucose production in the liver.

2. Once-Weekly Injection: Ozempic® is administered as a once-weekly injection. It’s convenient for patients who prefer less frequent dosing.

3. Cardiovascular Benefits: Ozempic® has been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.

4. Weight Loss: While not specifically a weight loss drug, Ozempic® may help patients lose some weight due to its effects on appetite regulation.

5. Safety Considerations:

   • Do not share your Ozempic® pen with others.
   • Possible side effects include thyroid tumors, so monitor for symptoms like neck swelling or hoarseness.
   • Avoid Ozempic® if you have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

-----------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Obvious. Kids' health benefits from green spaces.

NEWS AND OPINION: Kids benefit from nature. They benefit from being in green spaces, by connecting with nature. This is a vitally important statement. It is known to me and many others. A study recently confirmed that green spaces may help small children avoid black moods i.e. depression ultimately.

Young child enjoys woodland. Image: MikeB (Canva).

The lead author of the study, in America, is Nissa Towe-Goodman. She is a researcher from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University Of North Carolina. The finding is that children between the ages of 2-5 were less likely according to the study to show signs of loneliness, low mood and anxiety if they lived within 0.75 of a mile of somewhere with plenty of vegetation. A reference to woodland or parkland. And they found that children who were able to connect with nature like this were less likely to be withdrawn in social situations.

Green spaces are linked to mental well-being in humans.

Nissa said: "Our research suggests that the early childhood years are a crucial time for exposure to green spaces."

She added that, "In the future researchers could look into what kinds of  experiences in nature are connected to kids' early mental health. Also we should study how creating or preserving natural areas around homes and schools might make a difference in a child's mental health."

I'm surprised that it appears to be revealed as some sort of revelation and new knowledge. It isn't. Every day I go into a park to connect with nature because I know it is good for my personal well-being particularly my mental health. To deny children the opportunity to connect with nature in this way is really denying them something very fundamental in my view.

The research is very important because we read so much today about children having suicidal thoughts or self harming. I'm referring mainly to schoolchildren but the problem probably goes back to toddlers. They must be taken away from their phones and living a life internally which is what social media can achieve, to living life externally, going into nature, going into beautiful spaces where there are trees and where wildlife thrives. This is a connection with nature.

The study found that high levels of green spaces within about 20 minute walk of a child's home were linked with low anxiety and depression.

What's this got to do with cats? The same can apply to cats in my view. Humans are human-animals. We need to connect with our roots which is connecting with nature. Cats need to be able to express their natural desires which means being allowed outside to prey on animals. To hunt. That goes against the current trend of keeping cats indoors. It will upset some people but ultimately the domestic cat is a top predator and it needs the opportunity to exercise that fundamental skill and innate desire.

Keeping cats indoors full-time is laudable and it protects wildlife but almost no cat caregivers ensure that the inside of of their home is enriched in terms of a feline environment. A failure in this indoor-cat MO.

In the meantime, mothers and dads should ensure that their child takes a moment out every day, perhaps an hour, to walk in woodland. Enjoy nature. That may be difficult to achieve for many people but I feel that it is very important.

-------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Touch your cat and let them touch you for health benefits both ways

A study is out on the Internet at the moment which probably states the obvious but it's always useful to restate the obvious and it might not be so obvious to some people. 😉😎

The conclusion of the study is that people benefit from touch. Yes, a simple act. Touching is part and parcel of the way of life of animals and people. People are animals. The human animal. Let's not kid ourselves that we are any different at a fundamental level which includes experiencing the benefits of touch.

Touch on the face and head is more beneficial than touch on the arm. We can be touched by a professional medical person or a non-medical person but someone we know and the benefits are going to be similar both mental and physical.

People who are ill benefit more than those who are not. Hugging people is touching people. The same benefits. Cuddling your cat is like hugging a person. The same benefits. It cuts both ways by which I mean the cat benefits from your touching and you benefit from touching your cat. Note: hug cats respectfully.

To stress the point, the study states that, "It is widely known that many animal species benefit from touch interactions and that engaging in touch promotes their well-being as well."

You can't really touch your cat enough. You can't overdo it but caregivers should respect the feelings of their cat. Petting your cat is good for both person and cat but different cats have different wishes and people shouldn't overdo petting. Sometimes cats have a limit to the amount of petting they wish to receive.

Notwithstanding that observation, cats enjoy petting and of course people enjoy petting their cats. This is a form of touching obviously and therefore both benefit from it.

Touching can help reduce pain, depression and anxiety in adults and children. In terms of newborn babies, touching helps them gain weight. This is a reflection of the general well-being incurred by the baby when being touched.

The study is titled: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. It is published on the Nature Human Behaviour website and the citation at the base of the article provides a link to it.

Overall, touch interventions were beneficial for both physical and mental health, with a medium effect size. Our work illustrates that touch interventions are best suited for reducing pain, depression and anxiety in adults and children as well as for increasing weight gain in newborns. 

The lesson to be learned from the study (if we need to learn a lesson on this topic) is that we should enjoy touching our cat. And our cat will enjoy it. It just needs to be done in a respectful way which means gently and up to the limits allowed by our cat companions. 

You will learn those limits as your cat will complain if you overdo it. Gentleness is a key. Sometimes people can handle their cats too roughly and forgetting that we are bigger and generally stronger. It's a two-way process at all times and interacting with our cat.

And don't treat your cat as a human baby but as a feline, a fine domesticated predator.

RELATED: Picture of Taylor Swift cradling Benjamin Button, her new cat, like a baby.

Citation

Packheiser, J., Hartmann, H., Fredriksen, K. et al. A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. Nat Hum Behav (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01841-8

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Jilted senior councillor threatened to kill ex-lover's cats

NEWS AND VIEWS: Here is the summary of this news story in which unsurprisingly the woman's cats play a part. Cats are not infrequently used as tools by men to leverage desired human behaviour sometimes in an obnoxious way. The humble domestic cat is vulnerable to being used in this way as women (and men) normally have a close emotional bond with their cat. Threaten to harm the cat and you emotionally harm the owner and force them to behave in a way which is against their wishes.

Salisbury City Councillor Mark Mewse outside Salisbury Magistrates Court (Image: Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

In a rather bizarre and unsettling turn of events, Mark Mewse, a Tory councillor, embarked on a peculiar campaign to win back his ex-lover, Sarah Houchin. Let’s delve into the details:

1. Lovebombing with Presents:

   • Mark Mewse, besotted and determined, showered Sarah with gifts. Not just any gifts, mind you, but specifically for her feline companions. Yes, he bought presents for her cats in a desperate bid to rekindle their romance.
   • The court heard that he left flowers on her car bonnet, sent her cards, and even gifted her and her cats a bag of goodies for Christmas. It’s like a feline-themed love story gone awry.

2. Persistent Pursuit:

   • Undeterred by Sarah’s clear rejection, Mewse continued his relentless pursuit. He bombarded her with a constant barrage of messages, hoping to melt her heart.
   • CCTV footage revealed him waving and blowing kisses at her as she drove around Salisbury, Wiltshire. He even followed her into her workplace, leaving her feeling anxious and nervous.

3. Threats to the Furry Companions:

   • But here’s where it takes a dark turn. When Sarah firmly declined his advances, Mewse allegedly threatened to kill her cats. Yes, you read that right. The same cats he had gifted presents to earlier.
   • It’s a chilling twist that involves both love and feline lives hanging in the balance.

4. The Court Drama:

   • The case unfolded at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court, where Mewse faced charges of harassment.
   • Sarah, in her early 50s, stood her ground, making it unequivocally clear that she wanted no part in a relationship with the defendant.
   • Mewse, the Chair of the Personnel Committee at Salisbury City Council, denied the charges, but the evidence against him paints a vivid picture of obsession and misguided affection.

In summary, this tale combines romance, cat presents, and a dash of menace—a script that even Hollywood might find intriguing. 🐱❤️🌹

Source: Daily Mail Online

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Google's Gemini can't answer the question: "Is Putin a mass murderer?

I asked Google's Gemini the following question: Is Putin a mass murderer. Gemini's response was: "I'm still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search."

Image: Google which allows the image to be downloaded.

My response to my question: Putin is a mass murderer because he has invaded a neighbouring country to expand Russia as he thinks Ukraine should be part of Russia. His invasion is almost universally recognised as illegal. As the act of war was illegal shelling apartment blocks with old woman and pets inside in their many thousands is mass murder. Bombing and shelling non-military targets in Ukraine and killing more than 10,000 civilians must be considered mass murder under these circumstances.

Definition of murder: the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. The actions of Putin and the Kremlin cronies fits this definition I would strongly argue. It does not matter that Putin's orders have to go through several layers of commanders. The buck stops at the top.

I'm surprised that Gemini has no opinion on this. That the question is beyond its abilities. It could have at least presented some possible suggestions. 

Perhaps Google is scared of criticising Putin! Perhaps the senior bods at Google are scared that Putin will order their assassination if Gemini calls Putin a mass murderer?!

A huge number of animals have been killed by Putin's bombardment of Ukraine's cities in the east and south-east. The devastation to wild animal life such as marine wildlife in the Black Sea to name one example is enormous and still being assessed.

"About 80 animal species are on the brink of extinction due to the invasion, and more than 10 million animals have been killed, environmentalists estimate."  -  central.asia-news.com

We must think of the animals. So many killed needlessly. Or so many starved to death. The cruelty is unimaginable. For what? To satisfy the psychopathic cravings of a dictator and megalomaniac.

Google's Gemini liked Elon Musk to Hitler and it was unsure if paedophilia was wrong. There is work to do! 🙄😎

--------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

74-year-old woman's cat attacked the 60-year-old man who was throttling her

NEWS AND COMMENT: A 60-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a 74-year-old women because she refused to permit him to drive her car which she had allowed in the past. The lady has a cat who dived into the fray and jumped on the man as he throttled the woman with one hand and covered her mouth and nose with his other hand. 

It appears that the man is scared of cats! Job done them. Fortunate outcome and brave of the cat. This is yet another example of a cat companion defending a human, this time an adult human, when under attack. In another post I reported on a female cat successfully defending her dog companion from an attack by a couple of coyotes in the backyard.

In other videos I have seen domestic cats protecting babies and kids from danger including falling down stairs and being attacked by stray dogs. It happens a lot, strongly indicating that cats see themselves as part of the family (and vice versa) and a protective mother to the family members with whom they are close. So much for the domestic cat being 'solitary' creatures. They are not. They've become very sociable.

Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Name of man: Nathaniel Charles Derouen

He is out on a bond of $35,000. A bond is posted on a defendant's behalf, usually by a bail bond company, to secure his or her release.

---------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Keeping a good news secret will improve your energy levels

A recent study has suggested that people would do better to keep positive secrets to themselves as it can help energise them and make them feel more invigorated. It's an interesting concept.

The study is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The researchers worked out of Columbia University in New York.

The report states that: "Prior research on secrecy has focused on the effects of negative secrets, secrets that involve information that people consider unpleasant, objectionable or embarrassing. Yet many secrets are positive in nature, from marriage proposals to gifts, to surprises to unexpected good news. Although negative secrets have been found to be fatiguing, we proposed that positive secrets can be energising. We define feelings of energy as feeling alive, alert, active and invigorated."

The moment a person discloses a good secret should be delayed so that the person can "spend more time savouring the information, reflecting on its meaning or considering possible joyful reactions to sharing the secret."

The experiments were conducted with 2,500 people. In all there were five experiments and they found that more than 75% of participants instinctively wanted to tell people good news immediately. Yes, I can understand that. It is common sense to tell others good news and counterintuitive to talk to others about it but it may be an opportunity missed.

They were shown 40 types of common good news such as winning on a bet, becoming pregnant, getting engaged or clearing a debt.

They were asked which type of good news they had experienced and which they had shared with others or those that kept secret for a while. And there were asked how they felt under these different circumstances.

They were also asked to imagine they had a piece of good news and to envisage two scenarios. In one they chose not to tell their partner until the end of the day. And in the other they try to call their partner but couldn't make contact and therefore had to wait until later.

In the first scenario they made a deliberate choice to keep the secret for a number of hours and this led to positive feelings while the second scenario did not.

Of course, secrets are very nuanced and very variable. Some so-called positive secrets don't make people happy when kept close to their chest. It might be a secret to avoid embarrassment because good news can make others feel worse about their situation. 

Or the good news might lead others to judge you negatively. A typical example would be if you bought a nice but expensive present for yourself, which might elicit negative reactions in others for reasons, perhaps, of envy.

-------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Financier threatened to kill his neighbour's cat over Knightsbridge property dispute

NEWS AND COMMENT: A financier threatened to kill his neighbour's cat because of a row over the space between their properties which is described as a "cupboard" and which had been inappropriately and illegally appropriated by one neighbour (a former owner) against the rightful owner, the financier, Mr Knight, and his wife.

Image by MikeB based on images from the Daily Mail.

Between two properties in Knightsbridge, there was a peculiar cupboard space which belonged to Anthony and Angela Knight's home.

The problem is that they didn't use that space as it had a separate door. In fact, they hadn't used it since 2010 when it was used a storage area. Over those intervening years of non-use, their immediate and adjacent neighbours Zyapkov and Grigore used this space as part of their flat apparently not knowing that their predecessors had illegally appropriated it by smashing through the party wall and thereby unlawfully incorporating it into their flat.

The Knights found out about this theft of part of their property when they visited their neighbour on an invitation. An argument ensued which went to litigation but the Knights and their new neighbours tried to settle the issue amicably. Emotion got in the way and the police were called several times.

In one argument, Mr Knight can be heard warning Zyapkov that taking the case to court would end in his ruin and the loss of his job at the Bank of America.

Also, it's alleged that Knight said: "Don't let the cat out here. If I see it, I will kill it."

Eventually they received a court order in which the cupboard will be returned to the Knights. His neighbours will foot Knight's lawyers' bills for the dispute. It's going to cost them over a hundred thousand pounds.

They were stupid to put it mildly. It was a total loss from the beginning and they must have been ill-advised or ripped off by their lawyers.

The flats are not far from Harrods where houses cost about £3 million upwards.

It is unsurprising to me that Mr Knight made a threat to kill his neighbours' cat because this happens so often as a domestic cat is a vulnerable sentient being. If they go outside as is not uncommon in the UK even in London, they are very vulnerable to angry people.

--------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.