October 2008 Featured Story- SOULS OF WIZARDS

Q & A

Ibuprofen with paracetamol beats kids’ fever

Children’s fevers can be kept at bay by a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol, a UK study has shown.

Researchers are calling on national guidance stating the drugs should not be used in conjunction to be updated.

The call comes after children aged between six months and six years with temperatures between 37.8 and 41 degrees C had their fevers reduced by a dual prescription of ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England found that in the first four hours, children given both medicines spent an extra 55 minutes less time with fever compared to those given paracetamol alone.

But giving two medicines was not markedly better than just giving ibuprofen.

However, over a 24 hour period, children given both medicines experienced 4.4 hours less time with fever than those given just paracetamol, and 2.5 hours less time with fever than those just given ibuprofen.

‘Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and parents wanting to use medicines to treat young, unwell children with fever should be advised to use ibuprofen first and to consider the relative benefits and risks of using both medicines over a 24 hour period,’ the authors write in the British Medical Journal.

But an accompanying editorial warns of the dangers of parents overdosing their children on ibuprofen – just as 31 did in the study – and states that using both medicines might complicate matters further.

Source: NetDoctors.co.uk
Ibuprofen with paracetamol beats kids' fever - 03 September 2008

Mental skills decline with age, study shows

A new study has found that older people’s mental skills decline with age, even if they do not have dementia.

In a report published in the journal Neurology today, scientists claim that people’s mental skills start declining years before death.

‘These changes are different and separate from the changes in thinking skills that occur as people get older,’ the report’s author Valgeir Thorvaldsson, of Göteberg University in Sweden, said.

‘We found accelerated changes in people’s mental skills that indicated a terminal decline phase years before death.’

The study examined 288 people who did not suffer from dementia, from the age of 70 to death.

The participants’ mental skills were measured up to 12 times over a period of 30 years and evaluated to make sure they were not suffering from dementia.

The decline of an individual’s mental skills was shown to differ for various cognitive abilities.

Perceptual speed, which measures how quickly people can compare figures, begins declining nearly 15 years before death, spatial ability begins declining eight years before, and verbal ability starts declining six-and-a-half years before death.

A number of factors may explain the decline in mental skills with age, Mr Thorvaldsson said.

‘Cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease or dementia that is too early to be detected could be factors,’ he said.

‘Increased health problems and frailty in old age often lead to inactivity, and this lack of exercise and mental stimulation could accelerate mental decline.’

Also, verbal abilities appear to only decline sharply as an individual approaches death.

‘This indicates that people remain stable in their verbal abilities unless they are experiencing disease processes that also increase their mortality risk,’ Mr Thorvaldsson added.

‘A change in verbal ability might therefore be considered a critical marker for degeneration in health in older people.’

Source: NetDoctor.co.uk
Mental skills decline with age, study shows - 28 August 2008

Maya Angelou

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was “exciting.” Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day…like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

“I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.”
“I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as “making a life.”
“I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.”

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”

“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”

“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.”

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you sai d, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”


Please send this to five phenomenal women today.
If you do, something good will happen: You will boost another woman’s self-esteem.

If you don’t…the elastic will break and your underpants will fall down around your ankles! Believe me, I didn’t take any chances on MY el astic breaking….I sent it to a lot of special women I care for.

** from my mailbox

God allows pain and suffering

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen…

A man went to a barbershop to have
his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.

They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

‘I don’t believe that God exists.’

Why do you say that?’ asked the customer. ‘Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist.

Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?

Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither
suffering nor pain.

I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.’

The customer thought for a moment,
but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop….

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.

He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

‘You know what? Barbers do not exist.’

‘How can you say that?’ asked the surprised barber. ‘I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!’

‘No!’ the customer exclaimed. ‘Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.’

Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.’

‘Exactly!’ affirmed the customer. ‘That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist!

That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help.

That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.’

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS !!!!

**from my mailbox

Cholesterol drug reassurance after study reports cancer risk

Patients who are taking the cholesterol-lowering drug Inegy are being urged to continue with their treatment despite a new study suggesting it may increase the risk of cancer.

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found higher rates of cancer among people taking the anti-cholesterol drug, which contains a combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe.

However, Dr Mike Knapton, director of prevention and care at the British Heart Foundation, said that previous research at Oxford University had combined three studies of the drug and found no increased risk of cancer.

Dr Knapton said that it is ‘not clear’ whether there is any increased risk at this stage.

‘It would be a disaster if, on one hand, a drug which benefits patients gets shelved. On the other hand, we don’t want to give large numbers of patients a drug which has got an increased risk of cancer associated with it,’ he said.

The expert said that data from large trials is encouraging but called for close monitoring ‘to definitively confirm or refute any link’.

In the meantime, he insisted that drug regulators would act quickly if robust evidence of a link were to emerge in the future.

Source: NetDoctors.co.uk
Cholesterol drug reassurance after study reports cancer risk - 03 September 2008

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Author’s Comment:
——————————————————————————————————-
I would like to thank the following people for their undying and relentless effort in encouraging me to write these stories.

Master Canaris : Being my Editor in Chief (This guy really helped me a lot with the grammars and everything).

Master Tarrent : I read her article which inspires me to make my own MU story.

Master Solstice (kumakalabukab) : Her enduring follow ups to finish my story. Kapwa spammer kasi eh

Master Chickoy : One of the best story writers along with Master Canaris, Tarrent & Solstice. I really envied this people

Last but not the least, the readers of my articles who have been patiently waiting to read my non-sense stories but I owe you guys/gals a lot. You never gave me any negative feedback (Kasi naawa kayo sa akin di ba… hehehe).

Sa lahat ng aspiring writers, subukan nyo pong magsulat. Wala naman pong mawawala at sisiguraduhin ko sa inyo na maraming magbabasa kahit gaano pa kalungkot at kasaya ang kasaysayan ng inyong MU Stories.

To All

Maraming Salamat Po Sa Inyong Pagbabasa

Feng Shui Lotus Touts

Feng Shui Lotus Touts:

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE.
Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it.
FIVE. When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly. yle=’font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: ‘Tahoma’,’sans-serif’;'>
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, ‘Why do you want to know?’

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say ‘Bless You’ when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great
friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in
your voice
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

**from my mailbox

got this one from my mailbox

This will give you a chill…

This will give you the chills……..GOOD chills.

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study.

The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord’s voice.

The young man couldn’t help but wonder, “Does God still speak to people?”

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.

Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o’clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, “God…If you still speak to

people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey.”

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, “God is that you?” He didn’t get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn’t recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

“Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk.” It didn’t seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed

This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Stree t.

At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.

Half jokingly, he said out loud, “Okay, God, I will”.

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi commercial area of town. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, “Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street.” The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

“Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid.” Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, “Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don’t answer right away, I am out of here.”

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man’s voice yelled out, “Who is it? What do you want?” Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he

just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn’t seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. “What is it?”

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, “Here, I brought this to you.” The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.

Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying, “We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn’t have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk.”

+++ The story is not mine. I got it from my mailbox+++