Monthly Archives: July 2010

From California to Nevada

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Our last night in San Francisco was a pretty quiet one with the big drive ahead in mind. We did manage to find a shop that would sell us a laptop charger and fitted in a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe though where we had the best nachos and cocktails evernever fails to dissppointThe next day we set off at 7.30am and managed to successfully navigate our way out of the city over the less well known O

I need to get my head in the game

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Thursday July 8 2010I need to clean out my Spanish ears. Yesterday I could have sworn that my professor said that our homeowrk wasn't due until Friday but that was only the compostion She was coming to class late after we watched a movie...so it was a race to get it finished before she walked in. Thankfully I did. After class I did a bit of homework and relaxing around house. It was ve

Wednesday July 7 2010 Captain for the Day

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Went out on the water REAL early. By the time we got to the marina the sky was a gorgeous mix of cotton candy colors purples blues and pinks. Daniele decided that I would be captain for the day. In the morning I woke up with Daniele and checked the weather and conditions with him. Then I hitched the truck up to the trailer and loaded everything into the truck. When we were ready to go I d

Tuesday July 6 2010

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Today was Alvarorsquos first day out on the water. He was like a little kid Jumping screaming yelling and pointing. I guess where he did his PhD the dolphins were very few and far between so for him this was a real treat. We saw plenty of dolphins throughout the day and the highlight was that Daniele got two samples We are trying to get at least 12 samples I think it is. He already ha

24hrs in Kyrgyzstan mile 7213

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We only have 24 hours in Kyrgyzstan but what a 24hoursTwo border crossings two high passes snow ice mud and Chinese trucks.We planned to spend 7 days in Kyrgyzstan travelling through Osh and Jalalabad then into China via the Torugart Pass. Do Osh and Jalalabad sound familiar Yes there are the stronghold of ousted President Bakiyev and the site of the recent violence between the local Uz

Robert Butler… a man ahead of his time – CNN (blog)

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msnbc.com
Robert Butler... a man ahead of his time
CNN (blog)
... National Institute on Aging and establishing a department of geriatrics and adult development at the Mount Sinai Medical School, the first of its kind. ...
Dr. Robert N. Butler dies at 83; Pulitzer Prize-winning pioneer in the study ...Los Angeles Times
Champion of ageing with graceThe Age
Blog this on:TIME (blog)
SecondAct (blog) -New York Times -Washington Post
all 362 news articles »

Acupuncture and Modern Bloodletting

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Last year Ben Kavoussi published an interesting article on SBM called Astrology with Needles in which he purported a historical connection between acupuncture and bloodletting. I had previously thought that bloodletting was a uniquely Western cultural invention – part of Galenic medicine involving the balancing of the four humors, one of which being blood. (In the West bloodletting faded away with the advent of science-based medicine in the 19th century.) I was intrigued by this connection and have since been doing my own reading on the topic. It turns out that bloodletting was common throughout ancient cultures and not unique to the west.

In fact acupuncture was originally a form of bloodletting – the “needles” were really lances and the acupuncture points locations over veins to be opened. Chi, or the Chinese concept of the life force, was believed to be partly in the blood, and blood letting could be used to free the flow of chi. This was closely related to the Galenic concept of using bloodletting to free the flow of static blood in the tissue.

For example, in the ancient medical text of Suwen, we find:

When heaven is warm and when the sun is bright,
then the blood in man is rich in liquid
and the protective qi is at the surface
Hence the blood can be drained easily, and the qi can be made to move on easily…

We also see in the text the connection of the functions of the body to celestial events. The concepts of blood, life force, and astrology all came together in acupuncture, but also in the ancient medical traditions of the West, just with different names and specific variations. The main concepts were balance and flow – lancing or needling were used to restore balance and flow to the natural rhythms dictated by the heavens.

You may be surprised to learn that these concepts have a continuous cultural connection to the present. In general the concept of bloodletting has fallen out of popularity because it seems barbaric and because the real physiological function of blood is now understood, and so are the dangers of bloodletting. But the techniques that were originally developed for bloodletting have been “rebranded” to be more acceptable to modern sensibilities (at least to a degree). And so acupuncture is now purely about chi and no longer about blood, and even more scientific explanations for how it might work are being sought. In my opinion, this is all a fool’s errand – chasing the bloodletter’s craft.

Cupping was also developed as a method of drawing out the blood. But now it is used to draw out imaginary toxins.

I had thought this “rebranding” was complete and all traces of bloodletting removed from the modern variants of these practices. But the cultural roots go deep, and even modern practitioners, relying on ancient texts, still adhere to some of the bloodletting concepts. They talk about treating blood “stasis”, which is a very Galenic concept.

The Japanese version of acupuncture, Shiraku, which survives today also closely ties together bloodletting and acupuncture (Shiraku means bloodletting). They combine cupping with lancing within an “acupuncture framework.”

The Institute for Tradition Medicine online has this gem, which extols the therapeutic benefits of “bleeding points.”

Peripheral blood-letting today is mainly carried out at the fingers and toes. At the tips of the toes, for example, are the qiduan points, located 0.1 cun behind the nails. These are said to be useful for emergency treatment for stroke or for numbness of the toes, also for redness, swelling, and pain of the instep of the foot.

I will have to remember that the next time a patient comes in with a stroke. It seems that the amount of blood drawn has been significantly reduced, which is good, but the ancient bloodletting concepts are all there unchanged.

Further, Acupuncture Today contains an article describing the use of bloodletting in modern acupuncture. The author, Skya Abbate, DOM, writes:

However, bleeding is a specialized technique for specific conditions that can produce effective and dramatic results when the patient’s condition is diagnosed properly and the bleeding method expertly executed.

As an example of the use of bloodletting, Abbate writes:

It can invigorate the smooth flow of qi and blood, thereby picking up and facilitating its flow when the qi and blood need invigoration. An example of this scenario occurs when a patient presents with a wiry pulse and mild feelings of stagnation that indicate qi stagnation.

The concepts of the flow of qi and blood are alive and well. I could have told you that was a quote from a medieval text and you probably would not have questioned it.

Conclusion:

When the actual history of acupuncture, bloodletting, cupping, and similar techniques are investigated we find that there are many modern myths about these practices. One myth is that there were completely different traditions in the various cultures, especially East and West. In reality, these were only cultural variations on the same themes – restoring balance and flow to blood and life energy in accordance to some astrological principles.

There is also evidence of direct cultural contact – not just reinventing the same concepts. For example, the iceman is the frozen remains of a 5200 year old man found in the Alps. He was covered with tattoos of points and lines over traditional acupuncture points. This was probably an example of therapeutic tattooing – the tattoos themselves were meant to be therapeutic. There are also needle punctures as some of these points. Think about the implications of a person living near the Alps (what is now Europe) 5200 years ago being tattooed over what later were known as acupuncture points.

It is further a myth that what we know today as acupuncture or cupping were developed in line with their modern incarnations. In reality, these techniques were just variations of bloodletting and were very deliberately and fairly recently distanced from their bloodletting roots to make them more acceptable.

And finally it is a myth that bloodletting itself has been eliminated from traditional practice. It survives in muted form in various traditions.


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Heavy Randian influence on a soon-to-be United States Senator

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And we're not talking Rand Paul

From Eric Dondero:

Mike Lee is poised to be the next US Senator from the State of Utah. His election is now virtually secured, having won the GOP primary run-off.

Lee is firmly affiliated with the Tea Party, and has often referred to himself as a Constitutionalist. Now, we have firm evidence that at least among his staffers, there's a heavy Ayn Rand influence, as well.

From the SLC Tribune, Utah News, July 5 "Rolly: Mike Lee and the big tent theory":

When Curtis Mortensen, of Kaysville, tried to contact Lee to get a better idea of how he plans to represent Utah in the Senate, he had a good discussion with a campaign staffer who said Lee followed the personal-responsibility philosophy of author Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged, a legend among conservative, small-government advocates, whose followers also include former Fed chief Alan Greenspan.

Lee’s campaign manager, McKay Christensen, has listed Rand’s books as among his favorites.

So this shows flexibility in the campaign.

Edward Gonzalez for Congress – California, on "Libertarian Politics Live"

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by Jim Lagnese, "Right Guy" blog

Edward Gonzalez is running for congress in the 16th congressional district in California. He is running as a libertarian in a race with no republicans.

We interviewed him on Libertarian Politics Live last night. Listen to it here. It was a good interview and those who are libertarian and libertarian leaning will find his positions refreshing.

Excerpts:

"I believe in the free market economics of Henry Hazlitt, Frederich Hayek, and Ludvig von Mises..."

"Our economy is a disaster. Let's put all the social issues aside, and concentrate on bringing our economy back."

"The social entitlements have failed California"

Gonzalez is a teacher at a private school in northern California and talks about his experience. He added:

"Completely, I would advocate the abolishment of the Dept. of Education..."

Note - It is yet to be determined if there will be a Republican write-in candidate on the ballot in this race. But Gonzalez sought the GOP nomination, as well.

edwardgonzalez.com

When ya ain’t got nothin’ else, resort to sliming your opponents

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Remember George Allen and Macaca?

From Eric Dondero:

Democrats in absolute panic mode, reading the poll numbers, and seeing a massive Hurricane coming their way, are now going back to the only weapon they've got left in their arsenal; attacking Republicans personally.

From WaPo "Democrats digging harder than ever for dirt on Republicans" July 7:

Democratic officials are advising campaigns to hire trackers to follow their Republican opponents to public events with video cameras, ready to catch any gaffe or misstatement. And the Democratic National Committee last week issued a call to the public to submit any embarrassing audio or video of Republicans, as well as copies of their direct-mail advertisements.

Republicans don't need dirty tricks, "we just need C-SPAN"

Joe Sciarrino, Spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) told Libertarian Republican:

“After a failed $787 billion stimulus, record high unemployment, and a healthcare takeover that grows more unpopular by the day, this is clearly a Hail Mary as Democrats attempt to cling to power. It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that national Democrats are dredging the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to discredit Republican candidates campaigning to fix the problems Speaker Pelosi and her minions have perpetuated.”

Republican Party of Texas (RPT) spokesman Bryan Preston told Libertarian Republican:

"Once you get past the branding and hoopla, the Democrats' 'macaca campaign' shows how desperate they are. They're cornered on the issues and know that they're about to lose big, not just here in Texas but everywhere. They're scared to come home in August to face voter wrath before facing defeat in November. Their astroturf Obama activist army has been an unending source of embarrassment for them here in Texas, as we keep catching them pushing out outrageous messaging and fundraiser emails. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden contribute their own gaffes nearly every day, like Pelosi saying that unemployment checks create jobs. Republicans didn't need trackers to get that one, we just needed CSPAN."

(H/t Memeo)

Republicans poised to Sweep the Board on Governors races

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From Eric Dondero:

Could it be a clean sweep? It's starting to look so, with maybe one or two exceptions. Just about all the hot Governor's races where Democrats currently control the seats, are now trending GOP.

Ohio - the latest polls have John Kasich (photo with running mate) comfortably ahead by 7 points.

Pennsylvania - GOPer Tom Corbett has been consistently ahead of Democrat Onorato by 8 to 12 points. The seat is currently held by Democrat incumbent Ed Rendell.

Maine - Democrat Baldachi cannot seek a 3rd term. Republican Paul LePage - a working class libertarian-leaning GOPer - has a 7-point lead over his Democrat challenger.

Michigan - Easy Republican pick-up here. Congressman Pete Hoekstra (photo - above) has been leading the Republican pack. But every Republican in the race, including Mike Cox, scores well ahead of two likely Democrat nominees.

Tennessee - There's a nasty GOP primary race for Governor. But all Republicans are polling way ahead of a likely Democrat nominee.

Wyoming - A Democrat currently holds the Governship in this very Republican state. But that's about to change, with both Republicans vying for the position 15 to 20 points ahead of potential Dem opponents.

Colorado - Former Republican Congressman Scott McInnis (photo - above) from the Western Slope, appears well-poised to gain the Governorship.

Kansas - Another pick-up here, from the Democrat column. Held by Kathleen Sebelius, her Lt. Governor couldn't catch on. Republican Sam Brownbeck is comfortably ahead 15 to 20 points.

New Mexico - The Bill Richardson Governorship may be handed over to Republican Susana Martinez, who is 1% ahead of her Democrat challenger in the very latest poll.

Two more expected easy GOP pick-ups - Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

And now for some absolute Shockers...

We reported recently on Bob Ehrlich taking over the lead in Maryland over incumbent Democrat Martin O'Malley, by 3%. This is a huge development. Of all the Governors races, this one has the potential to symbolically emphasize the huge turn-around for the GOP. Maryland is the bluest of blue states.

And just this morning, news breaking out of another deeply blue state. In Oregon, Hedgehog is reporting that former NBA Star, Republican Chris Dudley (photo) has pulled ahead of Governor John Kitzhaber 41% to 40%.

There are only two states where the Democrats have a decent shot of picking up a Republican seat - California. The very latest poll has Jerry Brown above Meg Whitman by 1%. But other polls have had Whitman slightly ahead. The Dems have a better shot of picking up the Hawaii Governorship.

If the GOP keeps the California seat, (note there are a large number of undecideds in Ca), and all others hold, that could mean the Republican Party controlling as many as 38 Governorships after November.

Lastly, two wildcards: Massachusetts where Charlie Baker, currently behind incumbent Dem DeVal Partick by 5 to 7, is gaining steam, and Illinois where downstate conservative Bill Brady has a decent shot of picking off incumbent Dem Pat Quinn over Blagojevich scandals. If the GOP prevails with these two seats, that would bring the number up to 40.

Obama deeper Under-water: Worst poll ratings ever on RCP

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From Eric Dondero:

Fantastic poll number this morning for those of us on the Right (conservatives and libertarians): Obama is now under-water at Real Clear Politics. And not just barely. He's .3% under.

Real Clear Politics takes the culmulative average of all the major polls: Pew, Gallup, Fox News, CNN, Rasmussen, McClatchy, Bloomberg, ect...

Obama is currently at 46% approvals, with 46.3% disapprovals. This is the very lowest approval rating he's ever received. He came close to this only one other time, with 46.1% on April 11.

The LA Times has taken a look at the numbers and concluded that Obama's tanked with Independents, and mostly over Jobs. From the LA Times "Crucial independent voters abandoning Obama, now under 40%, lowest ever":

The worst -- from Gallup -- finds that for the first time since Obama took the oath, his support among independents, a key voter segment in his decisive 2008 coalition election win, has fallen below 40%. The new tracking finds that Obama's support among all voter segments has declined in the past year, but nowhere more than among independents.

Only 38% now support him, an 18-point drop from 52 weeks ago, when polls first began showing the nation's rapidly-growing population of independent voters peeling off, as Obama relentlessly pushed his healthcare plan and ignored polls saying jobs and the economy were uppermost on voters' minds.

Another interesting factoid: For the first time ever, every single poll cited by RCP is in the 40s, not 50s for Obama approval. Even Obama-loving Newsweek, CBS and Pew can only muster 47 and 48% approvals in their polls. All others are in the 44 and 45% range.