Rain, rain rain..

It's been raining all night and all morning so far. We have a storm coming our way again. The ocean is raging, but I'm happy to hear the sound of the crashing waves. It's been rather cold so I've been lazy to go out for a swim. The surfer kids I usually swim with aren't around either, so it's kinda sad to go out swimming.

Now's not the time to get sick, that's for sure. There's H1N1 almost everywhere, including here. I found it rather amusing that almost everyone at the airport wears masks now, whereas before when my friends would fly wearing masks, everyone would snicker at them or give them really dirty looks.

I'm just watching the Ninjai Chapters while I'm waiting for Karma Kula's 3rd chapter. One more day! :)

Been a while

So... I've been out of commission for a while. Been busy. But I'm glad I'm finally sitting here in front of the computer.

Thought this was an interesting little article:

Scientists have long puzzled over the reasons sleep is so important. Brian Preston from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and an international team of researchers just published research that backs up their theory sleep improves the function of the immune system --and it may specifically protect animals from being overrun by parasite infections.

According to a study just published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, species of animals that get substantial sleep not only have a greater concentration of immune cells in their blood, they also are able to stave off more parasite infections than other creatures. "We suggest that sleep fuels the immune system. While awake, animals must be ready to meet multiple demands on a limited energy supply, including the need to search for food, acquire mates, and provide parental care. When asleep, animals largely avoid these costly activities, and can thus allocate resources to the body`s natural defenses," Dr. Preston said in a media statement.

The scientists studied sleep in mammals, analyzed the animals` immune system measurements, and looked at numbers of infections with parasites. They found mammals that have evolved to have longer sleep cycles have more circulating immune cells and fewer infections with parasites like intestinal worms.

So what do these findings have to do with human health? Possibly, a lot. The researchers conclude: "Given the declines in human sleep durations that have occurred over the past few decades, there is a clear need for studies that further clarify the immunological significance of sleep."

Bottom line: add getting enough sleep to a healthy lifestyle in order to keep your immune system strong and able to fight parasites, which are now throughout the world -- not only in developing countries. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 14 percent of the U.S. population is infected with Toxocara, or internal roundworms, and some 60million people in the United States are likely infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite associated with raw meat and contact with cat feces. In addition, a report on food borne parasites prepared for the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin in 2003 found about two and a half million cases of food and waterborne Giardia lamblia and three million cases of Cryptosporidium parvum in the U.S. annually. Both these parasites are transmitted through drinking water contaminated with the fecal material of infected persons. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks parasites as among the six most dangerous diseases that infect humans.

Parasites in humans can cause intestinal discomfort, bloating gas and chronic constipation or diarrhea. Although drugs can be prescribed to kill parasites, many herbs and foods have traditionally been used to treat parasite infections . According to the University of Maryland Medical School web site, these include: raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets, and carrots, all of which have antiworm properties.

CDC

Of course, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai Chapter

Time... flying by

Sometimes I just sit around watching movies all day. I'm bored! I can't help it! Sometimes I want to do something more than just that.. but.. what to do? Where to go?


more animals


more animals


more animals


more animals


Anyhow.. so this is where my mom grew up..





It's beautiful. I really don't get her. Why did she leave Japan? So many questions, not a second to answer.

AGGhhh

Where I'd rather be right now...

I'm feeling much like a failure right now I just want to sleep and wake up a different person.

Don't forget to watch your daily ninjai chapter!

A rainy day

Boohoo. I don't feel too good. I've been drinking ginseng, gargling hot salt water and tea. I hate getting sick, and I'm not about to allow myself to get sick. I'm exhausted and I can hardly tell why!


more animals

more animals

more animals

more animals

And as always, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai Chapter.

Good luck, presidentials

And may the best one win.


more animals

more animals

more animals

And of course, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai Chapter

Election day

So.. who are you voting for? I voted McCain.

WOohoo! Check this video out: Grandma Shoots Intruder in Crotch

And of course.. don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai Chapter