Only $5 a Pack

This story on NBC News today tells us that ever since the 1960s, cigarette makers have tried to seduce smokers worried about their health with products labeled “light,” “mild” or “low-tar.” They’ve been basing such claims on so called US Government tests that measure tar and nicotine levels.
I still have a vision of my father lying in a hospital bed, dying of lung cancer while smoking hospital provided low nicotine and tar cigarretts. That was almost 30 years ago and he was only 62 years old.
Today, 42 years after the US Government endorsed those tests, the federal government essentially called the test bogus.
Now the Federal Trade Commission wants tobacco companies to remove its stamp of approval for those tests from their ads and packaging.

Uh Oh!
Here come the lawyers!

Pathology Report
I am touched by those of you that expressed interest, concern or sympathy for my recent eye sugery. The good news is that the pathology report is in, and the growth on my eyelid WAS NOT cancerouus. It is also good that whatever it was (I cannot remember or pronouce it anyway) is gone. The plastic surgeon said that he approached it as if it were skin cancer so that if it was, I would not need to repeat the procedure. I guess that I am appreciative of that, as it is still sore, and still healing. The injection of a “pain killer” and removal of the stitches were among the most painful experiences of my life. If anyone ever tries to talk you into any sort of cosmetic eye surgery, say, “NO WAY”. It is not an area where you want needles and stitches.

Natural Aging
If some bags and wrinkles are okay with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, they are okay with me.

Temptation
As I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and saw the great surf, my first thoughts were my wonderfull memories of being in Waikiki, surfing the day away.

Blue and Beautifull
It doesn’t get much better than this. The warm sun, clean waves and blue water are inviting to say the least. I wanted to paddle out there and catch a few waves.

#@!~
Then I looked in the mirror to get a close-up of the damage to my eyelid from yesterday’s skin cancer sugery by plastic surgeon “Dr. PenKnife”. I share these less than flattering photos of myself to remind those who might underestimate the effects of the sun on their skin. 20 Years ago we didn’t have the protection available today, and I am paying the price. My dermitologist told me that sun damage is like the odometer on your car; “cummulative and irreversible”. Keep that in mind. He also said, “If you have had so few as two major sunburns in your life, your chances of skin cancer after 50 are doubled”.
Wear sunscreen, rash guards, and a hat. Had I done that I would reaching for my surfboard this morning instead of the Vicodin.

“Where’s The Beef?”

That’s the question that Chef Gordon Ramsay was asking his chefs this week on Hell’s Kitchen. As a 44 year vegetarian I found it quite interesting to see these professional chefs all stumped by Chef Ramsay’s use of soy product rather than dead flesh; Chicken, Beef and Sausage. If you missed it, click HERE.
 
Over the years I have witnessed an enormous change in the reactions I get when saying that I don’t eat meat. They have gone from, “Oh my God, what do you eat?” to “I wish that I could do that.” I cannot begin to tell you how many times I hear, “I tried that once.” When I hear that I say, “Just do it; trying doesn’t cut it.”
 
The benefits of a meat free diet are many. Besides never getting sick and having clog free arteries, I wake up every day with a boundless degee of energy that lasts well into the night.

And, adopting a vegetarian diet is the single most important thing you can do to reduce your personal impact on the environment. It is the fastest path to reducing global warming with no negative impacts. Raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. Most of these gases come from animal manure! Now that Stinks!

Oh No; Not Again

Self Portrait
I had to return to Dr. Lyndon Fong’s “House of Pain” for some added gum surgery today. After getting “shot up” and while waiting to be numb, I got on my iPhone and began handling e-mail. I couldn’t help but play with the camera and take this photo of myself.

Dr. Lyndon Fong
I then took a shot of Dr. Fong upon the completion of his work on me. This iPhone is bringing multi-tasking to a whole new level.

Later That Evening
Bring on the Drugs!

June 12, 2007 

Gum surgery is not a pretty sight, but if you ever need it, and are in Honolulu call Dr. Lyndon Fong.
Better yet, FLOSS, FLOSS and then FLOSS again, every day! I was told this at a very young age, but took my youth for granted, and am paying now.
Tomorrow morning I will be addressing 50 merchants at Waikele Shopping Center. They will NOT know how I feel. Dr. Fong’s great work (and some drugs) will be the reason.

To see this larger, (WHY?) just click on the picture and then click your back button to return to the blog.

Time Flies When Busy

16 minutes under the Blu Light on my face and right arm seemed like forever, but when they did my left arm it seemed like only a few seconds.

Being right handed I sensed the opportunity and convinced the technician to rearrange her room to allow me to work on my lap top as the blu light did its skin cancer killing thing.

I barely had time to get the Morning Report Stars Page set-up before it was over.

Click on the photo for full view and then click on your back button to return to the blog.

25 Years of Smiling
It was 25 years ago that University professor Scott E. Fahlman got people adding to their e-mail messages.

I have been saying, “Keep Smiling” longer than that. A smile goes a long way. It can change how you feel as well as how you make others feel when they see you.

Click here to read 10 good reasons to smile. And then… KEEP SMILING; no matter what is happening around you.

Fighting Skin Cancer

As reported in an earlier blog post, years of unprotected surfing has left me with sun damaged skin.

REMINDER:

1. Sun damage to the skin is like the odometer on your car; accumulative and irreversible.
2. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

Last month I put my ego in my back pocket and posted daily progress photos of my face following this Blu Light with Levulan treatment. I did this to encourage everyone to be careful in the sun. This procedure burns more than your worst sun burn.

This week I will do the same with my right arm. Oddly, my right arm is in worse shape than my left. It is normally the other way around, because of driving.

This week long procedure burns away layers of skin, while identifying and destroying keratoses (pre skin cancer lesions) that lie beneath the skin waiting to erupt into skin cancer.

TIP: Wear sun screen daily, AND avoid direct sunlight as much as possible while still enjoying Hawaii.

Click on the photo to enlarge it, and then on your back button to return to the blog.

No, this is not me.

*Scroll down to see some more recent posts.

I moved to Hawaii in 1981 to enjoy the sun and surf. Several years of unprotected surfing has left me with sun damaged skin. Here are two things to remember about sun exposure.

1. Sun damage to the skin is like the odometer on your car; accumulative and irreversible.
2. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

Jay Grekin, dermatologist extraordinaire, and my good friend of many years suggested that I undergo this Blu Light with Levulan treatment. It is a week long procedure that burns away layers of skin, while identifying and destroying keratoses (pre skin cancer lesions) that lie beneath the skin waiting to erupt into skin cancer.
Dr. Grekin said that besides the skin cancer removal that the treatment will make me look 10 years younger, and I am going to hold him to that.

I plan to stay indoors for the next few days. I can’t shave and I don’t look good.
I will post the progress in the photo bar to the left as a reminder to those of you still surfing to be careful. Also for those of you that already have the sun damage to see how this works on me.

Most people would like to live a longer, healthier life, but too many times the motivation to do something about it comes too late.

Please post any good ideas or references you have on this subject.