by Peter Boyles | Oct 21, 2022 | Blasting with Boyles
OPINION
By the time you read this I’m sure you’ve already voted or are about to head to the polls and vote in person. Have you gone through this listening to or reading how outfits like The Denver Post, Colorado Sun, or any hot air pro Republican talk show host in Denver putting on their editorial page or website who they think you should vote for.
Doesn’t it sound like they think you’re too stupid to do the work yourself? You’re too dumb to know who to vote for or, better yet, who the hell are these people to tell you how to vote. It’s really a free political ad for the group of people that have screwed this state up so badly in the last 30 years that they think you’ve become stupid enough that you want them to continue.
The late Alan Berg, a real political sage once said on his show, “I don’t vote. Because it only encourages them.”
I think there’s tremendous truth in what Alan said. I had a conversation about Soviet voting. If you read Soviet history, Khrushchev and others always bragged about how the Soviets could vote. And when you do some reading you discover they voted by not voting. Example, Ivan the Agricultural Commissar in the Ukraine is doing a lousy job so none of the factory workers or farmers would go vote and hence the Communist Party would know that people were unhappy or displeased with his performance and unless he was a really entrenched upper Russki they would get rid of him and you would get a new Commissar. Can you see where I’m going with this?
What’s the difference between any of these people? And why is the city of Denver and state of Colorado sliding downhill rapidly?
And so, I urge you not to vote. Stay away from these people. Don’t go near them. Back in the ’60s and ’70s on college campuses and anti-war demonstrations, guys held up their draft cards and burned them. Later we found out a lot of them were just burning their social security cards. They weren’t really doing it but thought of themselves as brave antiwar demonstrators. So, let’s all get together, have a big rally, and hold up your mail-in ballot and light them puppies on fire. That’ll show them. Seeing Michael Bennet’s name turned to ash. Because if he wins, and I certainly believe he will, he’ll continue to turn you into the same thing.
When we all watch the results coming in on election day, remember I wrote this here in the Chronicle. Why is it that every two- or four-years people show up on your television screens endorsed by radio hosts and newspaper columns, and then two or four years later, you’re so pissed off after these people promised you how things are going to change. In the words of Elton John in Honky Cat, “the change is gonna do you good.”
In all seriousness, why do you celebrate an election outcome only to be terribly angry two or four years later at the results of the last one? Stay home. Stay safe.
— Peter Boyles
by Valley Gadfly | Oct 21, 2022 | Valley Gadfly
November is known for Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and the last full month of the fall season. As the transition from fall to winter starts, we break out cozy sweaters and stylish scarves.
Family and friends get together for celebrations of all the small and big things that life has afforded us. And, of course, the food is to die for. There’s nothing like tasty pumpkin pie.
Here are our thoughtful choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to help you focus on the upbeat aspects of life despite the challenges, as we reunite with family and friends:
3 With new premieres, red carpets, filmmaker insights, and special guests, plan to see films at the 45th Denver Film Festival, Nov. 2-13. Events are at the Ellie, Denver Botanic Gardens, and AMC 9+CO 10. Information: 720-381-0813.
3 Called one of the world’s best saxophonists, Tod Dickow and the Charged Particles are at Dazzle Nov. 11-12, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
3 Catch Grammy-nominated soprano Lindsay Kesselman and the Status Chamber Orchestra at Historic Grant Avenue, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Information: 303-388-4962.
3 Take the kids to enjoy dance and puppetry at Tiny Tot’s Inside the Orchestra in Boettcher Concert Hall, Nov. 14, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. Information: 303-534-1937.
3 For a Thanksgiving feast to remember, reserve space at Monaco Inn Restaurant, noon to 8 p.m. Keep the holidays jolly by booking Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at this long-time holiday hot spot, 5 to 9 p.m. Information: 303-320-1104.
3 Enjoy retired life in the newly opened Acoya Cherry Creek at 301 S. Harrison St. Spacious residences have concierge service, rooftop lounge, and greenhouse garden. Independent and Assisted Living services. Information: 720-259-1369.
3 Don’t miss this year’s annual Blossoms of Light — a winter wonderland — at Denver Botanic Gardens Nov. 18 to Jan. 7, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
3 The Justice Ginsburg & O’Connor hit story is at the Newman Center Nov. 26 to Dec. 11, Fri.-Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sun. 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-399-2660.
3 Don’t miss this year’s Chili, Booze & Brews fundraiser supporting kids and young adults with cancer being held at Infinity Park Event Center Nov. 12, 6 to 10 p.m. The Morgan Adams Foundation food-beverage competition features Colorado craft breweries, small-batch distillers, and chefs from local eateries to “Bring the Heat and the Hope” in effort to end childhood cancer. Cherry Cricket, Big Daddy’s Burger Bar are among supporting eateries. Information: 303-758-2130.
Sadly, many neighbors don’t have a sense of security as Thanksgiving looms: By mid-2022, 32.8% were unsheltered, 33% had food insecurity, with 47.5 property crimes per 1,000!
Hunger abounds, yet everyone deserves to eat. More: We all deserve to feel safe and secure in our homes, communities, schools, and places of work, plus places of worship.
Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the needy with love, gratitude, and the importance of helping others. What sound does a turkey make in space? Hubble, Hubble!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Regan Bervar | Sep 30, 2022 | Uncategorized
by Luke Schmaltz
The cruel hand of time spares no one and is well known for putting the squeeze on the nether regions of older men. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) — aka an enlarged prostate — is a fact of life for many but does not have to be the case for all.
Symptoms include an abnormally frequent need to urinate, especially at night, as well as difficulty beginning the urination process, along with a weak stream and inability to fully empty the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, and as it enlarges it applies increasing pressure which can hinder urinary flow and control.
Modern medicine is vague when citing causes for BPH, but according to mountsi nai.org, “The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Factors linked to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may have a role in the growth of the gland, as well as testosterone levels.”
Western institutional medicine is quick to champion pills and surgery as the premier solutions to BPH. Yet, for those who distrust big pharma and scalpel-happy surgeons, there are a variety of ways to reduce an enlarged prostate and to possibly avoid the condition entirely.
Saw Palmetto Extract
Supplement containing extract from the saw palmetto plant can reduce an enlarged prostate.
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) recently studied the effects of two different preparations of this plant on BPH. The separate tests showed results which were more effective than a placebo. This isn’t entirely convincing, yet American Family Physician (aafp.org) reports, “Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of saw palmetto in reducing symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto appears to have efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but it is better tolerated and less expensive. There are no known drug interactions with saw palmetto and reported side effects are minor and rare.”
Stinging Nettle
The Mt. Sinai Health Library reports that stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years, primarily in Europe, to treat early symptoms of BPH as well as other urinary tract problems. The Stinging Nettle web page reports, “Studies in people suggest that stinging nettle, in combination with other herbs (especially saw palmetto), may be effective at relieving symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate.”
Hydrotherapy
Men over 50 can choose natural, non-invasive options for treating an enlarged prostate.
A hot-and-cold immersion practice known as a sitz bath, as reported by Prostate Cancer 911, is a time-tested method for shrinking an enlarged prostate. Men are instructed to prepare two baths side by side. The first bath is heated to 105-155 degrees F and treated with 1/2 cup of Epsom salt while the second is maintained at a chilly 55-85 degrees F and treated with several drops of lavender essential oil. You enjoy the hot bath for three minutes, then endure the cold one for one minute and repeat two more times.
The report also states, “This is a natural way to shrink the prostate and soothe it. Hydrotherapy is commonly used as a method of prostate enlargement treatment, especially for relieving symptoms. A sitz bath increases blood circulation in the pelvic area and eases the constriction of the urethra.”
Exercise
Kegels are simple muscle contractions used by men and women to strengthen musculature in the pelvic region. For men, the practice can help strengthen the prostate and surrounding tissues, and thus increase bladder control. To perform a Kegel, simply squeeze your bladder as though you are attempting to stop the flow of urine mid-stream. Hold for five seconds and repeat 10 to 20 times per day.
Men are encouraged to begin a moderate daily regimen and slowly increase the amount of reps per day rather than overdoing it at the onset — just as with any other type of new exercise. In a report titled Kegel Exercises for Men, UCLA Health states, “Building up the strength in your pelvic floor muscles can help you gain better control of your bladder and urine flow.”
As for comprehensive exercise which engages the entire body, Harvard Health reports, “Based on questionnaires completed by more than 30,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers found an inverse relationship between physical activity and BPH symptoms. Simply put, men who were more physically active were less likely to suffer from BPH. Even low- to moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking regularly at a moderate pace, yielded benefits.”
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
According to a May 2019 Endocrine Extracts report published by Bio Scientifica, “Recent evidence shows that low, rather than high T [testosterone] is associated with BPH/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).” The report discusses results of a TRT trial in 120 men awaiting BPH surgery.
The subjects who received daily applications of T gel for six months showed improvement; “TRT arm was characterized by a significant decrease in ultrasound markers of prostate inflammation, including arterial velocity and acceleration.” The study concluded, “Testosterone replacement therapy is able to reduce prostate inflammation in men with BPH, metabolic syndrome, and hypogonadism: preliminary results from a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.”
Diet
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) recommends a diet of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, cauliflower, etc.), berries, fish, plant-based protein (soy), beans, nuts, green tea, coffee (two cups per day), and cooked tomatoes. The PCF also cautions men over 50 against sugar in any form and processed carbohydrates while opting for moderate consumption of animal-based protein.
Essentially, this is known as the Mediterranean diet. The report also states, “PCF-funded epidemiologist Lorelei Mucci, M.P.H., Sc.D., at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health notes that people in Mediterranean countries not only eat more vegetables and fruits… they also eat less fatty foods, processed food, and red meat – categories that can ‘increase insulin resistance, increase inflammation, raise cardiovascular risk, and be a part of a dietary pattern that may increase obesity, as well.’”
by Regan Bervar | Sep 30, 2022 | Uncategorized
Distressed, Depressed? Ask For Help! “One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.”
by Luke Schmaltz
According to Science.org., the human brain has changed very little over the last 35,000 to 100,000 years. Yet, the degree and variation of stimulation and stress it is currently being subjected to has increased exponentially — especially over the last century.
In effect, the human brain is being bombarded by the wholesale results of its own sophistication run amok.
Our brains get overloaded, the veritable bandwidth therein gets saturated, and some people’s minds become sick. The circumstances can be equated to overeating and getting a stomach ache, but the consequences of a “mind ache” are far more devastating.
Crisis Created
Seek Safe Space: Achea Redd warns constant rumination on the same thought can cause you to go into hyper focus, heart racing, and lack of focus.
Brain Game: Our brains get overloaded, the veritable bandwidth therein gets saturated, and some people’s minds become sick.
The human race, particularly Western society, is in a mental health crisis. More and more people are finding themselves unable to cope with the pressure, responsibility, confusion, misinformation, and a myriad of other stimuli which are rampant in everyday life.
Yet, the mess can’t be unmade by dumping prescription pills into the void. We have to dig ourselves out of this hole with the same tool that got us here in the first place — our humanity.
People from any walk of life, at any time, can become saddened, distressed, depressed, and yes — suicidal. When the walls close in and you’re all alone, when life doesn’t seem worth living but a tiny part of you wants to turn the ship around and find a way out of the darkness, the best course of action is to ask for help.
How To Begin
Dr. Arin N. Reeves, author of “In Charge,” a guide for women tired of being tired, offers a guide to exhaustion as it relates to mental health. She says the problem is it’s hard to tell when exhaustion is not just exhaustion. While more open about mental health, “we still aren’t forgiving or patient with people who are in that gray zone. People are pressured to be okay instead of being okay with not being okay long enough to figure out the problem.”
The top roadblocks stopping people in crisis are stigma and shame, suggests Dr. Bill Howatt. The three types of shame, the psychological expert says are, “Self, peer, and organizational.” When a person doesn’t feel “good enough” they get caught in shame. Thus, they don’t have empathy for self and others.
Motivated to get away from pain, they focus on symptom relief such as drinking. The CEO of Howatt HR says we need to educate people that mental health is no differ than the flu. “We can have a physical flu, and with support it will pass. An emotional flu can pass as well with rest and support,” he enlightens.
When To Act
Warning signs of a looming mental health crisis are many and vary in individuals. Achea Redd, author of the recently published book titled, “Be
coming Your Own Safe Space,” suggests what to watch for based on personal experience.
She says to watch for these indicators: Sudden sleep pattern changes (either too tired or not able to sleep), change in appetite, not enjoying the things you used to, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or stomach pain.
“Constant rumination on the same thought can cause you to go into hyper focus, heart racing, and lack of focus,” Redd warns.
Where To Turn
Licensed Social Worker Tina Rushing says, “I always say professionals are vital in a crisis. Loved ones can help [and] be there for you but mental health professionals have the proper tools to make the difference.” The PRSL website posts an extensive list of international resources available at any time, anywhere for those in crisis.
For example, the Crisis Text Line can be accessed in the U.S. by simply texting “HOME” to 741741, and the person will be connected (for free) to a mental health support network. “I have personally used it when I was spiraling into a panic attack after a fight with a loved one,” Rushing says. “They helped me navigate my thoughts and emotions and worked with me to sort out why I was spiraling afterwards.”
Resources on the PRSL website also include help lines for veterans (1-800-273-8255 press#1), domestic violence (text START to 88788), rape abuse and incest (1-800-656-4673), eating disorders (1-800-931-2237), suicide prevention (text TALK to 741741); LGBTQ+ (text START to 678678); plus many more options.
What To Say
Mental Tune-Up: The music community is noted for taking care of one another. Punk Rock Saves Lives focuses on health and wellness, with emphasis on mental health.
Dr. Howatt offers sound advice for those ready to voice their need for help. Begin with the understanding that a mental health crisis is an intrapersonal impairment of emotions and thoughts that drive behavior. The person does not need to know what is wrong or why they feel the way they do. “All they need to do is say ‘I am struggling w
See A Doc: Mental illness is no different than the flu, says Dr. Bill Howatt. Getting help is a good choice, so go see a doctor. Copyrighted Kayla Hannaford
ith my emotions and thoughts, and I am not sure what to do. I need some help [in order] to figure out what I can do.’”
Dr. Arin N. Reeves adds: “It’s helpful to have one person you really trust who you can share your plan with and ask them if they can do some of the communicating for you. If not, and you are trying to explain the crisis, focus on concrete things that can help you describe what you are going through.”
It’s tough for professionals to grasp your feelings in crisis. They need to hear facts they can wrap their arms around. Examples: “I haven’t been able to eat in two days, or I have not been able to sleep for more than two hours at a time, or I cannot make myself get out of the bed.”
Solving The Stigma
Western society’s obsession with perfection and the pursuit of an unattainable status quo, by default, places judgment, shame, and condemnation on those suffering from mental health conditions.
“Mental health has been looked at as a moral weakness for many years. To change the culture requires education and senior leaders to make mental health prevention and mental illness a priority,” explains Dr. Howatt. His point: There is nothing wrong with getting help. It is a good choice and no different than going to the ER, if you have a broken arm.
So, get to a doctor. Assess yourself. Pay attention to how you are feeling and take pain seriously. You are not a hero for hanging on when you should be letting go and getting help.
