Should You Become A Naturopathic Doctor? It Takes A Book.

In the last decade I have had enough conversations with confused students to want to make it a little clearer that we are talking about fundamentally different professions. Naturopathic doctors and medical doctors treat the same patients. They collaborate on care. So to patients the professions seem similar. But the framework of how the professions work, and how the people in those professions function, is like comparing the earth to the moon. Do you need this book? What are twenty-six hindsight clues that should have told me I absolutely had to become an N.D.? What percentage of medical students have been physically attacked? The rate of drug dependence of physicians is what percentage of the general population? Is it three times lower, three times higher? More? Less? What are the three assumptions about you that any skeptic will have if you are an N.D.? What percentage of his or her income does the average N.D. make on supplements? Learn these facts and the ten fundamental differences between being an M.D. and an N.D. https://www.createspace.com/3640348

No Child Left Waiting For Superman

As the states opt out of The No Child Left Behind Act, it is clear that we aren't getting where we need to go using a national model. Looking at a documentary like Waiting for Superman shows a very clear need for a ground-up model. We need to make changes at a local level to help our children learn. Our children are literally the only real health insurance. It doesn't matter how good your policy is if your nurse's aide can't read and can't do the math for your injections.

Mu: Do We Really Need Complexity to Be Happy?

I was reading Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, which rarely references itself, and came across an anecdote referencing the Gateless Gate's first koan. It goes something like this: Does a dog have Buddha nature? The answer given is Mu (no-thing). In the anecdote a man is given this one paradox and thinks about it for two years. In this way, he becomes enlightened. Really? He didn't need a doctoral thesis? He didn't need five hundred retreats with Tolle or whatever puckish German fellow replaces him? Just one single paradox, and a great deal of thought. Here in Maine we momentarily pause for rest. They are called snow days, or ice days, or "the weathermen panicked and we cancelled even though there isn't any snow" days. But the rest of the country just keeps building speed. We're hamsters on a wheel that's accelerating down a hill to nowhere.

Two Pennies at Amazon: Lithgow History Comes Alive!

Amazon now has Two Pennies!  Start your new year out right with a children's story that teaches you some very cool history and the money goes to a good cause!

My Two Cents: Two Pennies For Lithgow Library

It often seems in this crazy world we cannot make a dent in things.  But all you can do is throw in your two cents.  I just did in the local library debate by writing a book based on the history of our library (don't worry, it's full of Masonic intrigue-really).  Buy the book to support the library, because they get any profits.  Just my two cents.  I gave my granpa authorship credit for reaching his 100th birthday.

Go to the booksite here.

An Overview of James Randi, With Condolences.

It seems that James Randi's partner is not who he seems.  The expert on delusion and self-deception has evidently been living for two decades with someone who may have stolen the identity of another man to obtain a U.S. passport. 

My condolences to Mr. Randi and his partner.  It is a terrible thing to be separated from someone you love.  The U.S. immigration system is horrible and horribly slow, and I'm sure they are not alone in their desperation to be together at all costs.

We all wish them well, despite the criminal nature of their deception. 

There are several recent posts about Mr. Randi's unrelenting attacks on homeopathy, several of which are very well done. 

http://www.naturalnews.com/034208_homeopathy_James_Randi.html

And you've got to love a youtube video that adds sound effects to keep you interested in all the boring old data supporting homeopathy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jJpcpubwTeo#!

Is Organic Better? Yes, Mostly.

I've addressed the various issues with judging whether organic foods are better than conventional produce on my website.  http://www.maloneymedical.com/id156.html

The short answer continues to be that organic produce does, in fact, have more of some nutrients than its conventional cousin.  It varies from season to season and crop to crop.  Let's acknowledge that, and move on.  Unfortunately, places like the Mayo Clinic like to sound like authorities, and so cite one review (covering the last fifty years?  Don't get me started on soil depletion, changing farming methods, etc.) and say probably there's no difference.  I'd say some researcher needs to take the Twinkie out of his mouth and realize he's just set the debate back to the dark ages of the 1960's. 

Our current discussion needs to focus on the process of becoming locavores.  This term needs to enter the mainstream in the same way that vegetarian is now part of common knowledge.  If you are unfamiliar with this concept, here's a starting point.  Many people here in Maine have been locavores for decades, but have subsidized an otherwise exemplary diet full of fresh and flash frozen vegetables from their giant gardens with deep fried food.  All they need to do to get healthier is stop eating out.

For the crunchies among us, put down that Ecuadorian arugula.  It isn't in season, and you've just consumed a full tank of gasoline along with your "spring veggies."  Oh, I'm guilty as well, and everything in moderation.  But let's all keep humble and have a look at what our neighbors are doing right.  If we focus, necessity and intention meld together to make it more and more obvious that our only possible way out of our issues is to work together on every issue.