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SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID SAYS NO HEALTH CARE VOTE UNTIL AFTER AUGUST RECESS

10 Things That Are Way More Awkward To Buy Than Condoms

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Seriously, buck up, friends, there are things that are way more awkward than buying condoms…

1. Monistat: Is the cashier knowing you have sex really more awkward than the cashier knowing you have the yeastie beasties?

2. A 16-roll pack of toilet paper: Congratulations, everyone in Walgreens now thinks you have a nasty case of diarrhea.

3. Upper lip bleach: Hey, I think it’s cool when women own their facial hair. But if you’re buying the Nair face cream, you can be sure the cashier is imagining what you look like with a ‘stache.

4. Metamucil fiber powder: You can’t poop. Now everyone knows. Hooray!

5. Lice shampoo: Nothing says dodgy personal hygiene quite like a critter infestation.

6. Man’s deodorant: You can act like your boyfriend really needs it—just remember to conceal those sopping wet pit stains of yours.

7. Wart-Off: Someone will be washing their hands immediately after handling your money.

8. Douche: We have no clue who actually still uses douche nowadays, since doctors say feminine washes upset the pH balance of our ladyparts. But somebody must be buying the stuff, because Summer’s Eve is still very much in business.

9. K-Y’s Warming Jelly Personal Lubricant: Regular lubricant = not so embarrassing. K-Y Jelly that heats up = your fussy vagina is awfully high maintenance.

10. The morning-after pill: Nothing says “I was too embarrassed to buy condoms from your pharmacy in the first place” quite like a Plan B prescription.

Danilo Quinonez ill person of the day: Tom Bucci, of Albany, NY, plays 1800 holes of golf in a week to raise money for diabetes research. raises over $14,000 and could have Guiness World Record.

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R.I. has highest rate of illicit drug use, survey finds

Rhode Island had the highest rate of illicit drug use in the nation among people 12 or older, according to national survey conducted in 2006 and 2007.

Rhode Island is also among six states that saw significant increases in illicit drug use since the previous survey, in 2005-06. And among those ages 12 to 25, this state had the highest percentage of people who needed drug-abuse treatment but were not receiving it, the survey estimated.

That’s according to a new state-by-state analysis of substance abuse and mental illness patterns released Thursday by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA.

The data, drawn from face-to-face interviews with 135,672 people from around the country, found wide variations among the states. For example, while 12.5 percent of Rhode Islanders reported illicit drug use, the rate was only 5.2 percent among Iowans. Respondents were asked whether they had used illegal drugs within the previous month, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and certain prescription medications if taken for nonmedical reasons.

“It’s a challenge we have been facing for some time now,” said Craig Stenning, director of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, which oversees substance-abuse treatment. Rhode Island was also ranked number one for illicit drug use in the previous survey, conducted in 2005 and 2006.

“The Northeast always comes out extremely high in illicit drug use,” said Stenning, who founded and directed a drug-treatment agency before he entered state government. For Rhode Island, the location between Boston and New York, the easy availability of drugs and the urban environment all contribute to drug abuse, he said.

“The accessibility of drugs and alcohol is certainly much higher [here] than in the Midwest where you have to travel 20 to 30 miles,” Stenning said. “Availability is always documented by law enforcement to be much higher in this state.”

AS FOR the issue of young people needing treatment and not getting it, Stenning said, “That portion of the survey has been suspect for some time.” It’s easy to say you need treatment, but quite another matter to actually go get it, he said. Stenning asserted that denial and stigma are bigger obstacles than the availability of treatment slots. The state’s substance-abuse treatment centers have weathered the budget crisis thanks to a federal grant, and last year some 14,000 people obtained drug-abuse treatment in state-licensed centers, he said.

Rhode Island didn’t fare much better on measures of alcohol use. The state had the highest rate of people 12 or older who said they’d had an alcoholic beverage within the past month: 63.1 percent, compared with 51 percent for the nation and 56 percent for the Northeast. Even among people aged 12 to 17, well below the legal drinking age, Rhode Island still had the highest rate: 21.6 percent of Rhode Island youngsters had had a drink within the previous month, compared with 16.2 percent for the nation and 18.2 percent for the Northeast.

Rhode Island ranked sixth, with a rate slightly higher than the nation, for binge drinking –– having five or more drinks on one occasion in the previous 30 days.

Rhode Island is also in the middle when it comes to those who’d had an episode of major depression within the previous month, ranking 20th with 7.9 percent.

“This report shows that while every state faces its own unique pattern of public health problems, these problems confront every state,” Eric Broderick, SAMHSA’s acting administrator, said in a statement. “By highlighting the exact nature and scope of the problems in each state, we can help state public health authorities better determine the most effective ways of addressing them.”

The full study can be found online at oas.samhsa.gov/2k7state/TOC.cfm or can be obtained for free by calling 1-877-726-4727

R.I. has highest rate of illicit drug use, survey finds | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

BROCCOLI VS. DIABETES DAMAGE

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Broccoli may be a diabetic’s best friend, protecting blood vessels from damage that quadruples their risk of heart disease. Diabetics’ high blood sugar can triple their levels of free radicals — unstable molecules which wreak havoc on healthy cells, including those that line the insides of our arteries and veins. Compromised vascular health contributes to a variety of diabetic woes, ranging from kidney failure to heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, encouraging new research suggests broccoli consumption can counter this dysfunction.

British researchers observing the linings of human blood vessels under laboratory conditions found that sulforaphane — an indirect antioxidant in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables — reduced production of free radicals by 73%. The sulforaphane triggers a biochemical chain reaction, activating detoxifying Phase II enzymes, which in turn protect the body’s circulatory system from oxidative stress.

Everyone, including diabetics, can enjoy broccoli’s myriad other health advantages. In addition to being an Antioxidant Superfood, broccoli is a Superfood for the Heart, Bones, and Prostate. Other benefits may surprise you: Broccoli could protect the brain in the event of a head injury.

Bonus: If you’re among the 24 million Americans affected by diabetes, educate yourself by downloading our Diabetes Brochure. Visit www.dolenutrition.com to learn what to eat (citrus, berries) and what to avoid (selenium supplements) to prevent or manage diabetes.

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Bush pardons 14 and commutes 2 prison sentences

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_Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo. She was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

_Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D. Cordes was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits importation into the country of wildlife taken in violation of conservation laws.

_Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill., who was convicted of making false statements to the federal government.

_Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas, for reporting or helping cover up a crime.

_Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va. Harley was convicted of wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine.

_Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga., whose offense was unauthorized acquisition of food stamps.

_Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C., who was convicted of income tax evasion.

_Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla., convicted of bank embezzlement.

_William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas, who was sentenced for making false entries, books, reports or statements to a bank.

_Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla., who was sentenced for misapplication of bank funds.

_Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

_Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, who was convicted for unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony.

_Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas, convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit.

_Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark., who was convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of government property.

Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit, Mich. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses.

My Way News - Bush pardons 14 and commutes 2 prison sentences

• 98% of historians surveyed view Bush presidency as a failure

Help Me! :-)

Please join the Rhode Island Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for a memorial walk to honor loved ones in the fight against pancreatic cancer..

Registration will be $25, and check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. The walk will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m.

Click here for a registration form.

Click here for a donation form.

For additional information, please contact Rhode Island Affiliate Coordinator Shena Hamel at shamel@pancanvolunteer.org or (401) 241-8495.