The Saturday Evening Post articles from July 2004

The Saturday Evening Post archives from July 2004

Art for art's sake.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Over the years I have been the subject of many interviews, and I have just read the one you did with me in the April issue of The Saturday Evening Post, and I think this is among the best of them all. Your easy style and the selection of events...

The continuing mystery of Crohn's.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I recently discovered your article ["Unraveling the Mystery of Crohn's Disease"] in the March/April issue of The Saturday Evening Post. I want to thank you for taking the time to help those who are dealing with this debilitating disease. As an...

All in the packaging.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... The article written by Rose Madeline Mula, "Open, Sesame" [May/June '04], may have been written in jest, but everything is true for me. I'm 82 years old and I'm not as strong as I used to be. I even use a pair of pliers to open a screw...

The grass is always greener.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... This is a letter that I have wanted to write for decades, so I sincerely hope someone will give it their personal attention. And since I am aware of how busy you are, I will make this as short as possible. Was it The Saturday Evening Post...

Welcome back, Botts.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Botts is back! Better than anything else in any magazine. I left the Post some years ago because Botts wasn't there anymore, but eventually re-subscribed because I missed all the other good stuff in there. Now I even give it to my kids and...

We got it covered.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... My grandmother, who recently celebrated her ninety-seventh birthday, lived in the small town of Enderlin, North Dakota, for nearly 75 years. As a grandson, I recall many trips to visit Grandma, who is affectionately known to all as Bacco. Ever...

Aging wisdom from ancient Rome: seniors should take to heart this 2,000-year-old advice on coping with the inevitable changes that come with old age.
July 1, 2004... As the nation ages, but strives to stop the aging clock, we should look back to the wisdom of a philosopher who brilliantly defined the advantages and realities of growing old. It's advice that all seniors should take to heart. More than...

The wit wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: his enduring wisdom leads us to a higher appreciation of his genius.(Poor Richard Speaks)(Poem)(Illustration)
July 1, 2004... William, because his wife was something ill, Uncertain in her health, indifferent still, He turn'd her out of doors, without reply: I ask'd if he that act could justify. In sickness and in health,...

The pole position.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A phone company needed to hire one team of telephone pole installers, and the boss had to choose between a team of two rednecks and a team of two Irishmen. So the boss met with both teams and said, "Here's what we'll do. Each team will be...

Playing ketchup.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the jar. During her struggle, the phone rang, so she asked her four-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother. Then she told...

Not game for venison.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... I love the outdoors, and because of my passion for hunting and fishing, my family eats a considerable amount of wild game. So much, in fact, that one evening as I set a platter of broiled venison steaks on the dinner table, my ten-year-old...

It's fun to stay at the YWCA, too!(Post Scripts)(Young Women's Christian Association )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A little boy got lost at the YWCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked,...

Just thinking.(Post Scripts)
July 1, 2004... I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans. I was thinking about old age and decided that it is when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it. I was thinking...

That's oil, folks!(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in the USA. Well, it's very simple--nobody bothered to check the oil. We just didn't know we were getting low. The reason for this is purely geographical, however; all the...

How fast does your teenager drive? Ask the car! A new plug-in device tells all.(Speaking Out)
July 1, 2004... "Learn and live" is the motto of the American Heart Association (AHA). Their reversal of the traditional "live and learn" advice is worth pondering. Some forms of ignorance are fatal literally before you know it. Like not knowing the early...

The cats meow.
July 1, 2004... "I think we can describe Harvey in one word. CURIOUS." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Well, you're off to a good start." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We'll have to make sure that sneaky cat doesn't get this batch of fish." ...

Worm therapy: a new treatment for IBD? Worm therapy offers hope for patients suffering from painful and debilitating diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.(Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
July 1, 2004... Have efforts to cleanse and safeguard our environment and health inadvertently placed us at greater risk for certain diseases? Some researchers believe so. During the past 75 years, industrialized nations have increased hygiene and...

Post artists go to Bat: The American Illustrators Hall of Fame.
July 1, 2004... "A hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz," Humphrey Bogart said. And a baseball cover on the Post is better than a spot in the Louvre, as far as Post illustrators are concerned. Early in the century, baseball offered...

Betty Crocker Tackles Diabetes: Carbohydrates are down for the count with new diabetic recipes the whole family can enjoy.(Food In The News)(Book Review)
July 1, 2004... Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3 by Betty Crocker Editors, 256 pages, Wiley Publishing, Inc., $24.95 Diabetic cooking is not what it used to be. Out are the bland diet dishes of previous years and in are a...

Nature's diet pill.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Grapefruit puckers your lips, but it also shrinks your waistline. In a new study, researchers have shown that the long-talked-about grapefruit diet actually works. In the study conducted by the Scripps Clinic, overweight subjects who ate...

Flavor tips.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * Add peeled garlic to the popping oil to make garlic popcorn. * Add Gruyere cheese and horseradish to pep up the flavor of mashed potatoes.

Health bites.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * To remove fat from soup or stew without waiting for it to chill, run a slice of bread across the surface to soak up the grease. * To preserve fresh tomatoes and peppers at peak flavor, freeze them washed and whole while in season. Peel...

Avoiding trans fats.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A small natural-foods maker in Massachusetts is producing the first trans fat-free snack crackers to be marketed nationwide. The crackers are available in saltine, cheddar cheese, and classic rich flavors. For more information, call...

Don't hold the onions.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An onion a day may keep the doctor away for men trying to avoid prostate cancer. A recent study shows that men who consume 10 grams or more of allium-containing vegetables daily, including onions, scallions or garlic, have half the risk for...

Tea and LDL.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A spot of tea daily con reduce dangerous LDL cholesterol levels, a new USDA study has shown. Drinking five cups of black tea daily for three weeks lowered LDL by as much as 11.1 percent in people with mildly elevated cholesterol levels. In...

Drano for the arteries? Do 40 residents in a rural Italian village hold the key to reversing plaque buildup in coronary arteries?(The Healthy Heart Report)
July 1, 2004... Three decades ago, researchers discovered that despite having very low levels of the so-called good HDL cholesterol, residents in the tiny village of Limone sul Garda in northern Italy experienced a low incidence of cardiovascular disease....

The perfect squelch.(humor)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Harry operated one of those tiny but perfect restaurants that have everything except space. He started the place on credit and barely scraped up the rent at first. Soon he prospered by being a gracious host who served fine food at reasonable...

Tips for vibrant health and beauty at every age.(Look Good, Feel Good)
July 1, 2004... Use a Stethoscope to Gauge Exercise Intensity Keeping a stethoscope on hand makes it easy to check your pulse rate while exercising at home or in the gym. Counting your pulse at the wrist or neck is sometimes difficult. A stethoscope placed...

Women at risk.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Unusual fatigue may signal an impending heart attack in some cases, particularly in women. In a study of 515 women who survived heart attacks, nearly 95 percent reported new or different symptoms more than a month before their attacks. In...

Smile--for the heart.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Poor oral health might serve as a red flag for heart disease risk. In a recent study, researchers created a general rating of dental health based on oral diseases such as gingivitis that produce inflammation. They then examined whether the...

CD teaches how to save a life.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new interactive computer program is designed to educate adults and teens about sudden cardiac arrest and the critical need for immediate treatment. The CD-ROM can also be used to promote improved access to defibrillators in your community and...

Clots in lungs may be life-threatening.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain frequently trigger fears of a possible heart attack. The symptoms, however, might be due to blood clots lodged in chest arteries and cutting off blood flow to lung tissue. As is true of a...

More goods on garlic.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Yet another clinical trial suggests that Americans being treated for heart disease should add garlic supplements to their diet. In the yearlong study, UCLA researchers followed 19 cardiac patients taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Nine...

Improving limited vision: a multitude of optical and high-tech devices offer a new outlook to patients with degenerative eye diseases.(eye care)
July 1, 2004... When a stronger eyeglass prescription may no longer improve vision, there is still a place to turn for help with age-related eye disorders. Low-vision ophthalmologists and optometrists specialize in making the most of whatever sight a person...

TB: good news, bad news, good news: if you think tuberculosis is a disease of the dim past, think again.(health)
July 1, 2004... More people will die of TB this year--two million-plus--than ever in history. And it's getting worse. The World Health Organization estimates another 90 million people will develop the disease in the next decade; 30 million will die. In...

"Amazing details of Washington's dining habits".(Old Cookbook Reveals)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Canton OH, Special -- With hundreds of servants at her command... a person would think our first First Lady was a woman of leisure. Not so... according to a new historical discovery. A long out-of-print volume entitled, "The Martha...

Senior moments.
July 1, 2004... "How can you remember all those good old days and forget our anniversary?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "For more pictures, you can visit my Web site: www.ednasgrandchildren.com." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Now that we're old and...

The splendid outcast: everyone at the auction knew that the stallion was a killer. Yet two men came forward to bid against each other.
July 1, 2004... The stallion was named after a star, and when he fell from his particular heaven, it was easy enough for people to say that he had been named too well. People like to see stars fall, but in the case of Rigel, it was of greater importance to me....

You be the Judge.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... When Miss Widgeon's firm reduced its staff and let her go, she went on state unemployment compensation. Weeks later, the compensation bureau informed her that it had found her an appropriate job and was stopping its payments. Miss Widgeon...

Blue light linked to eye problems.(Medical Mailbox)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: My daughter uses a computer many hours a day and I noticed there is a blue light on the power button. There is also a blue light on her monitor. Could you tell me if this is dangerous? We have macular degeneration...

Special mattress may aid recovery after eye surgery.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: My mother was recently diagnosed with a macular hole. The ophthalmologist told her there is surgery to correct this condition. However, the down side is that you have to keep your head down for at least two weeks after...

Atrial fibrillation often recurs.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation early in 2001. My doctor then performed a successful cardioversion. I was no longer in AF. Approximately one year later I purchased a magnetic therapy mattress in hopes of...

On antidepressants and bipolar illness.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: A few years ago, a psychologist told me that if people who had the least tendency for bipolar depression took antidepressants, it could kick them into being bipolar. My medical doctor agreed. Now, a relative is telling me...

Reader seeks advice on support stockings.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: For the past year I've suffered with DVT and am told it is due to an inherited genetic defect. Doctors tell me to wear support hose. However, at 5'3" and weighing 159 pounds, I have had a terrible time finding hosiery...

People with sleep apnea need a research-minded ophthalmologist.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Genetic researchers like Dr. Craig Venter are our best hope to identify and in some way alter defective genes that lead to eye diseases. Armed with this information, young adults could know early on that they are at high risk for glaucoma or...

Radiation therapy and chronic diarrhea.(Medical Mailbox)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am wondering how many people suffer from diarrhea after having radiation therapy and what if anything can be done. I had a complete hysterectomy in 1982 due to endometrial cancer stage 1, followed by radiation. I...

Find body scan clinic with board-certified radiologist.(Medical Mailbox)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Thank you for any help you may be able to give. Your article on Dr. Kenneth Cooper's use of body scans led me to feel that I should arrange to go to the Cooper Clinic or one that is just as thorough but closer to home. I...

IBS tips.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Why did I suffer severe bouts of IBS sporadically? Why in some eating places more than others? After two years of trial and elimination, I found the culprit--black pepper (especially coarsely ground). I also have a slight...

Relief from nightly leg cramps.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Your mailbox often contains letters concerning nightly leg cramps. I suffered with this amazing recurrence, until I began evaluating my bedtime habits. After eliminating all sweet foods and beverages for a couple of hours...

Post medical articles to be indexed.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I read with great interest, since I am half-Norwegian, the article about Dr. Sohan Hayreh. I was raised in Iowa. Now at 75, I am developing glaucoma (in very early stages). The article index you plan to have in your...

Sight-saving advice.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * Taking extra amounts of the antioxidant lutein can help improve vision and overall eye health, according to published studies. Available in supplements, lutein is also found in dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, and red or yellow...