Search This Blog

20090422

One Laptop Per Child for Rural BC

Today, I plan to use the One Laptop per Child initiative and device as a way to bring creativity and innovation to children in rural school districts of BC which lack computers.

Currently I am asking the Ubuntu Linux mailing list members if they know about OLPC.

As well, Bruce Ralston of the Whalley BC NDP has been contact with the following suggestion about OLPC:

Have you researched the One Laptop per Child initiative and device as a way to bring creativity and innovation to children in rural school districts of BC which lack computers?

http://www.laptop.org/en/index.shtml

20090420

Using Celebrex to Control Pain

Today, after a day's rest from using Robaxacet, I switched to Celebrex at 200 mG.

That was at 3 PM. For about 90 minutes I rested, but the change in body feeling may be due in part to sleep disturbance this morning from 2 AM to 4:30 AM and the medication.

If this is an allergy to medication, then I don't like it.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"Allergy

Celecoxib contains a sulfonamide moiety and may cause allergic reactions in those allergic to other sulfonamide-containing drugs. This is in addition to the contraindication in patients with severe allergies to other NSAIDs."

This may explain the itchiness and only part of the body fatigue. In response to this, I aim to have a juice at Booster Juice today, on the way to work.

20090419

Using Robaxacet to Control Sore Shoulder

Due to a sore shoulder caused by a cumulative effect consisting of daily wear and tear over the past 20 years, my left shoulder sometimes gives me a lot of transient pain.

I even get transient aches and pains consistent with arthritis pain. It gets worse if I rest in bed.

However, a long day results in very little pain, including backache which is causal with aches in the arm - possibly due to a combination of poor posture and pinched nerves in the back.

Indeed, both wrists ache; both lower and upper arms on both sides ache; and so does the back.

However, I can sit or stand straight, and the pain is gone.

But, from time to time when I sleep on my left shoulder, it may sometimes ache; other times, no pain.

Lifting my left arm causes pain; but with the right arm, little pain.

As I said, physical activity relieves pain, possibly due to the effect of monamine oxidase on the breakdown of dopamine to adrenalin to noradrenalin to by-product of noradrenalin metabolism.

This same activity probably is why histamines break down.

At the same time, endorphin are produced to soothe any pains, and keep them at a dull ache.

Today I used a half dose of Robaxacet Extra Strength (400 mG metacarbamol, 500 mG acetaminophen) for a total dose of 200 mG methocarbamol and 250 mG acetaminophen.

My reasoning is that I don't need the sedative qualities of metacarbamol, but need the combination of acetaminophen and methocarbamol to deal with anticipated joint pain.

Given that both methocarbamol and acetaminophen have a 2 hours half-life, I know that by 4 PM, the pain may return.

At the same time I am taking a half-dose of Robaxacet, I am adding 400 mG of açai supplements for antioxidant effect, 500 mG of Eleutherococcus senticosus for adaptogenic optimization (helping to adapt to stress) and 2 G of wild salmon and fish oils, both to moderate brain function and keep my heart healthy.

As well, I've taken a dose of Vinpocetine (15 mG) to moderate cerebral function (memory and adaptation).

Hopefully this will keep my left shoulder to a dull ache, rather than the transient aches and pains outlined above.

This is still in keeping with my Less is More philosophy.

Update February 6, 2013 2351:
Roboxacet is OTC, which means it costs more than prescription for a welfare recipient using BC Pharmacare.

Since I'm on disability through the Income Assistance service, I greatly appreciate the help from all taxpayers in BC.

Currently I don't take anything mentioned above anymore. The only supplements I may take are for melatonin, calcium & magnesium and calcium, vitamins B6, D, & B-50 complex — regularly the Vitamin D and B-50 complex.

Of course, the medications I take are cyclobenzaprine (10 mg) and gabapentin (200 mg), which are the two safest medications for sleep (off-label but effective 90% of the time) and sleep architecture (promotion of deep sleep without benzodiazepine addiction risk).


YMMV

20090403

Less is More In Action / Cheap Drunk Revisited

April 3, 2009: Over the past three weeks I have followed my "Less is More" philosophy, which consists of having one drink and stopping there to enjoy being inebriated.

After the previous "Cheap Drunk Episode", my decision has been to follow that philosophy closely, mainly due to the fact that I hate being blitzed out of my mind after a couple beers.

This is all the result of the December 6 Christmas party, where bits and pieces of what went on then were related to me by my girlfriend. Because of my sensitivity to large amounts of alcohol, and not wishing to experience an alcoholic blackout and the resulting disassociative state of mind again, it's my endeavour to get blitzed on one and only one drink!

Tonight, I have again achieved a satori-like experience after sobering up from one drink. This time it consisted of feeling rather happy and cheerful, and it's reassuring to me that I can maintain my sobriety within 2-3 hours after one and only one drink.

For the goal throughout this "Less is More" campaign was to achieve a brief period of drunkenness without any drama and with the civility and politeness of a near teetotaler, so as to show what can be achieved in the name of social drinking even following my "Less is More" philosophy.

Do I want another drink after I am under the influence of one drink?

Heck no!

Why would I ruin the inebriation with another drink which might put me over the limit and ruin the campaign by getting drunk for the sheer pleasure of it?

Since the sobering up period resulted in a positive benefit (cheerfulness and joy), I doubt that more drinks would do anything but delay the good cheer after sobering up.

Indeed, the one drink that I drink is a symbol of the "Less is More" philosophy in that I drank much less than I did on December 6, 2008 and had much more fun in the process of experiencing drunkenness including acting appropriately and behaving maturely.

It was easy to perform simple tasks such as minding the girlfriend's grandchildren, including reading Dr. Seuss to the eldest and other mundane child-minding tasks. Had I been more inebriated, this would not have been possible. For the ensuing sobriety I now am experiencing does not have any disassociative memory losses.

Given that research has shown that 1-3 drinks a week is healthy and safe, this level of drinking will be maintained because less problems have occurred from it.

So I plan to carry on my one-drink, "Less is More" campaign and live this philosophy to the fullest.