The Saturday Evening Post articles from January 2004

The Saturday Evening Post archives from January 2004

300 years young.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Are you aware that in 2006, Ben Franklin is going to be 300 years old and there are many events planned in celebration beginning in late 2005 through 2006? A tercentenary Web site has been established at www. benfranklin300.com I thought...

Post hasn't changed much.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I look forward to every issue of the Post. I learn something every issue. It is informative and interesting. It hasn't changed much since 1958. The size then was 13 1/2" x 11" and the price was 15 cent. It featured the 1958 auto in color, the...

Post humor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... The thing I like best about your magazine is the generous serving of humor. Every time I get a new copy, I immediately check out all the humor--the cartoons, the limerick, the "Perfect Squelch," and the "Post Scripts." (I say keep those two...

In "toon" with the Post.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I just drove 95 miles (round trip) to our American air force base to purchase three copies of the Post Sept./Oct. issue in which my cartoon was published. How's that for dedication? When I was a kid, my parents subscribed to the Post. When...

Paul Harvey's simple procedure.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... In the Sept./Oct. issue of the Post, Paul Harvey said that a virus had damaged one of his vocal cords and a simple medical procedure fixed it (page 84). Please tell me about the simple medical procedure. I have the same problem. We look...

Defibrillators save lives.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... As an emergency medical technician with the Meeker Volunteer Fire & Rescue, I read with great interest your May/June 2003 article about heart attacks and the value of defibrillators. Over the past eight years, I have performed CPR on five...

Testosterone therapy.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I have just read your article in the Post and am interested in someone in my area that could do the testing and administering the medication. Is natural testosterone expensive? I am on Social Security and have not much money. Does Medicare...

Gregory Peck.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Thank you so much for the Nov./ Dec. 2003 issue of the Post. The article on Gregory Peck was priceless. I'd like a few reprints if possible, as I gave mine away. He has inspired me. What a great inspiration for this time in life! I'm going to...

Trans fatty acids.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... After reading "Taking on Trans Fats" in the Nov./ Dec. issue, I decided to check the ingredients in some of my food products. I was surprised to find that "Take Control," a butter substitute touted to significantly lower cholesterol,...

Don't make a monkey out of me!(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... In the Nov./Dec. 2003 Post, Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote in his article, "The Doctor Is In," that many of our skeletal problems arose when primitive apes went from their natural crouching positions to standing erect. Is he implying we were some...

More memories of Red.(Letters)(Red Skeleton)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I recently subscribed to the Post, which I sold door to door when I was in grade school in the '30s. It came out weekly then and sold for five cents a copy! I just received my first copy (Sept./Oct. issue), and the reason for this letter...

Copper for arthritis.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... My friend from Malaysia says, "All the grandmas in my country wear copper bracelets for their arthritis." Is there any good evidence that copper rings and bracelets help arthritis pain? Perhaps other readers might have had experience with...

Electronic heart monitor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... In the Nov./Dec. 2003 "Medical Mailbox," a reader mentioned wearing a King of Hearts monitor. Can you tell me more about this monitor? Janet Lewis Minneapolis, Minnesota Editor's note: Cardiologists prescribe the King of Hearts...

Arnold Schwarzenegger.(Post People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Arnold Schwarzenegger might tackle California's weight budget deficit by proposing that bus drivers walk their kids to school instead of driving them. This might help prevent obesity in the sedentary bus drivers, as well as build Arnold-type...

Barry Bostwick.(Post People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Veteran funnyman Barry Bostwick recently received honors for his work promoting the importance of early detection for prostate cancer. Bostwick, 58, was diagnosed with prostate cancer six years ago when a bladder infection led him to take the...

Denise Austin.(Post People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... For two decades, fitness expert Denise Austin has jumpstarted the fitness regimens of millions of Americans. The country's number-one fitness trainer received her start in 1981 as co-host of Jack La Lanne's fitness show. Soon after, she...

Soup up your winter meals: when cold weather comes, it's time to bring on the broth--and the "heartier" and healthier, the better.(Food)
January 1, 2004... Rich in fiber and flavor, Fresh Tomato and Vegetable Soup provides vitamins plus heart-healthy phytochemicals that only fresh vegetables have in abundance. Cream of Spinach Soup and Broccoli Swiss Soup help your heart in other ways. Rich in...

The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: his enduring wisdom leads us to a higher appreciation of his genius.(Poor Richard Speaks)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him. If you would have guests merry with cheer, be so yourself, or so at least appear. If you would keep your secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend. Hear no ill of a...

The new reality.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "Just when I come to terms with my eccentricity, pajama pants become fashionable." "That was our old policy, Ms. Atman. Our new one is, 'The computer is always right.'" "Hello, Jim? It's Carl. I just called to tell you how good it...

Bogalusa's big heart: the Bogalusa Heart Study has yielded invaluable insight into cardiovascular risk factors and how we can prevent them.(Heart beat: healthy heart recipes)
January 1, 2004... We owe a lot to the residents of the small community of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and a dedicated physician whose work has greatly advanced our knowledge about the natural history of heart disease and hypertension. For over three decades, renowned...

Tips for vibrant health and beauty at every age.(Look Good, Feel Good)
January 1, 2004... Strategies for Maintaining a Healthy Weight Here is some practical advice from Harvard researchers to help Post readers maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. * If you need to lose weight, set a realistic goal. A good initial goal is...

Fun facts about feet.(Look Good, Feel Good)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The 52 bones in your feet account for one quarter of all the bones in the body. * Each foot is able to absorb pressures of more than one ton per square inch. Bones and ligaments of the feet spread this force and send it efficiently...

Warm up and stretch.(Look good, Feel Good)(before shoveling snow)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Before engaging in any strenuous winter activity--from snow shoveling to lifting packages--it's important to warm up and stretch. Be sure to perform several flexibility exercises that target the primary muscles used the most during the chosen...

Restarting hearts of all ages.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(defibrillators)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Two recent studies show that AEDs--originally designed to restore a normal heartbeat in adult victims of sudden cardiac arrest--are also safe for treating infants and children. "The broader the application of AEDs, the better," says...

Screening for a silent threat.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(abdominal aortic aneurysm)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Long-time Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster (and baseball's resident comedian) Bob Uecker is going to bat to raise awareness of the serious but often silent medical condition known as abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA. While pitching batting...

New-generation drug saves lives.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In a head-to-head study, heart-failure patients taking a new beta-blocker drug called carvedilol lived longer than those prescribed an older version. The Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) tested 3,029 patients from 15 European...

February is American Heart Month: what can you do?(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)
January 1, 2004... 1. Support community AED programs. Take action to ensure that portable defibrillators are as common as fire extinguishers in your community. To find out more, visit www.Neighborhood-Heart-Watch.org. 2. Learn to recognize the warning signs...

Watching out for hidden salt: high sodium in our foods may be endangering the cardiovascular health of millions of Americans. Here are some suggestions for getting the salt out.
January 1, 2004... Doctors long have prescribed sodium restriction for treating high blood pressure. Now there is more evidence that people with normal blood pressure as well should restrict sodium intake. The reason is "salt sensitivity." Studies show some...

The canine companion.
January 1, 2004... I ALWAYS RODE IN THE CAB BEFORE HE MET HER! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Ted REALLY needs a kid." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You give new meaning to the term 'housebroken.'" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MY BEST FRIEND. MY...

So I'm not good enough for you?(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)(Poem)
January 1, 2004... So I'm Not Good Enough for You? So many self-improvement books, The shelves are full--or so it looks. For me, I take it as a slam; I like me just the way I am.

Objectionable conscientiousness.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)(Poem)
January 1, 2004... Objectionable Conscientiousness Wrestling with my conscience Never gets me anywhere; It just keeps telling me What I don't want to hear.

Here's to you!(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)(Poem)
January 1, 2004... Here's to You! Cop to the facts, Get with the jive. Use a designated driver, Start next year alive!

Judgment call.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A very dignified judge was married to an estimable creature who, unfortunately, drank a bit too much. At a party one afternoon he reproved her. "My dear, that's the fifth time you've gone up to the bar and asked for another highball....

Promissory note.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)(Poem)
January 1, 2004... Promissory Note Each promise my wife may make Has absolute honesty in it, But the one I doubt very much Is her "I'll be ready in a minute!"

What level is your glass?(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... An optimist is in love with life; a pessimist is in love with strife.

In consequentialness.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My six-year-old grandson, Billy, was misbehaving, so his mother told him, "When you do bad things, you have to live with the consequences." Without pause, he asked eagerly, "Do they have a pool?"

Oh, the smell of it!(Post Scripts)(Poem)
January 1, 2004... Oh, the Smell of It! What would the sign say On the perfume counter In the department store, If the perfume shipment Did not arrive that week? It would read "Out of Odor."

Swing shift.(Post Scripts)(golf)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My golf instructor says I'm doing "just fine." He says I'm missing the ball much closer than I used to.

Retreating a beat.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My doctor is so egotistical that when he takes a woman's pulse, he subtracts ten beats for his personality.

Things never to say to your wife.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... "Are you really going to wear those shoes?" "I'm glad we're together, too. Otherwise, I would have to do my own laundry." "To be honest, you have gained a lot of weight." "I'm tired of having to make every important decision in...

Talk, talk, talk.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Why do we call it small talk when it comes in such large doses?

Pets: the perfect exercise: how to stay in shape without the inconvenience of rupturing ourselves by weightlifting, or suffering even more painful and embarrassing impairments on the parallel bars.
January 1, 2004... When you reach a certain age, as I now have, the question of exercise becomes just that--a question. Is hoisting yourself off the sofa and walking to the table three times a day sufficient for keeping the old circulatory system circulating, or...

Reversing kidney disease in diabetes: tight control of blood sugar and cholesterol can help prevent--and possibly reverse--the ravages of diabetes.(Interview)
January 1, 2004... An interview with Bruce Perkins, M.D., M.P.H., F.R.C.P.C. For the thousands of Americans living with type 1 diabetes, new research helps shatter a commonly held notion that elevated protein levels in the urine signal the first step in the...

Saluting American medical innovation: the United States leads the world in pharmaceutical and scientific research and development, playing a central role in medical breakthroughs that transform the world.
January 1, 2004... With each passing minute, scientific discovery is revolutionizing the treatment of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and every other illness plaguing mankind. Fifty years ago, American researcher Jonas Salk, M.D., developed a...

Winter thrills and spills: toboggan or not toboggan? That is the question as Post illustrators take us on an action-filled outing through the snow-filled covers of yesteryear.(American Illustrators Hall of Fame)
January 1, 2004... "The problem with winter sports," says Dave Barry "is that they generally take place in winter." No sweat for our Post illustrators--who braved snow, sleet, flying pucks, slippery slopes, and even burned hot dogs to capture the fun side of...

Katie Couric confronts colon cancer: March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Katie Couric urges all Americans to "get tested!" to safeguard your health against the deadly disease.
January 1, 2004... Threeyears ago, veteran coanchor Katie Couric bravely tackled a topic many considered too personal and embarrassing to discuss--colon cancer. In her Today show series "Confronting Colon Cancer," Couric underwent an on-air colonoscopy, hoping to...

Broccoli sprouts a new weapon against cancer: scientists are "sprouting" new ways to guard against cancer and other chronic diseases.(Interview)
January 1, 2004... In 1992, Johns Hopkins researcher Paul Talalay, M.D., and colleagues found that an antioxidant called sulforaphane, produced in the body from a compound in broccoli, triggered the production of enzymes that helped detoxify cancer-causing...

Stars' memoirs: center stage: reminiscences by Carol Burnett, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., and Roy Rogers' daughter elicit nostalgia, tears, and laughter.(Book Review)
January 1, 2004... Cowboy Princess Life with My Parents Roy Rogers and Dale Evans by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett & Frank Thompson, 224 pages, Taylor Trade Publishing, $24.95 Cheryl Rogers-Barnett learned at an early age how important first impressions can be. She...

Where do you think you are?
January 1, 2004... East, West, North, or South, each of the areas above appears on the map of a single city, state, or province. In terms of routes, state parks, mountains, and memorials, there is, as the saying goes, "no place like it." Can you identify these...

You be the judge.(medical care for drunk drivers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... After leaving the office, Bert had one small drink. Then he got into his car and started home. On the way, he was injured in an accident. Passers-by took him to the office of Doctor Brown. Unhappily, the doctor, a strict teetotaler, smelled...

The perfect squelch.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The head of the geology department at a Western engineering college was a brisk, business-like scientist who felt he was there to teach, not to fraternize with the students. Several pranksters in one of his classes were irritated by his...

Help for RLS sufferers.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: In your Sept./Oct. issue, I saw a very interesting article about restless legs. I had trouble with that a long time. Then I read about taking 250 mg of magnesium every day. I started it right away and noticed results...

Dr. Lemole's protocol for RLS.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Diet: Sugar-free, high-protein diet that includes fava beans. Complete avoidance of caffeine. Green drink such as Green Magma or Kyo Greens, one tablespoon in juice. Supplements: Unless specified, all supplements should be taken just...

New hope for bipolar disorder.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Please tell me more about lamotrtgine and bipolar disorder. Marian Walden Inkster, North Dakota Dear Dr. SerVaas: In high school, I was told I had a nervous breakdown. Later I was told I was...

Caffeine and salt trigger tinnitus.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: In the Sept./Oct. 2003 issue of the Post, a lady wrote about the tingling in her ears. I also have the problem, and my doctor suggested I may be allergic to caffeine. I have very little problem if I do not drink coffee,...

Dry hands.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I had suffered from hyperhidrosis my whole life and had the "sweat surgery" about a year ago. This has improved my life tremendously. However, I now have "dry hands" and thought perhaps your readers might have some...

Uncovering the cause of heartbeat disorder.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I recently had a pacemaker implanted due to a slow heart rate that also paused too long now and then. My cardiologist was not able to explain why there was little concern for identifying the underlying cause. Do you have...

Seeks opinion on popular weight-loss plan.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: What is your opinion of the Atkins diet? C. L. Suderno Redmond, Oregon You ask a good question. The long-term impact of highprotein, low-carbohydrate diets on health is still unknown. But kidney experts...

About pulse pressure.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Some time ago I read that it is not healthy to have a great difference between the upper (systolic) and lower (diastolic) blood pressure readings. Mine is often 120/ 45 or 129/50. Would you tell me why this is not good?...