Because It's Cute, That's Why

Now That It's 80+ Degrees Outside. . . .

Here's what happened on April 15th. . . Fun for all involved!

Hail, Hail, Chocolate is King!

So, I learned a Most Important Thing today. It made my day. My week. Heck, my month. I learned this:

Chocolate DOESN'T have caffeine in it!

First, before you say "So? Caffeine isn't bad for you!" I must stop you. Caffeine is an alkaloid that naturally occurs in coffee and tea (as in black, green, and white). Alkaloids have a low therapeutic margin, which means that the amount you can take that won't poison you between the amount you can take that will poison you is very small. Apparently, caffeine is very powerful, and can poison you if you take it excessively (caffeine headaches, anyone?), though I'm not sure what exactly the symptoms of poisoning from it are. I do know that it is basically legal speed, and is highly addictive. Coffee and tea themselves suck a lot of nutrients from your body. (If you want more details on that, let me know, I will find it in my notes and tell you.)

ANYWAY . . . .

I know a lot of people who think that there is caffeine in chocolate, because of how it makes you feel good. I know there are a few who don't eat it (or drink it, as in hot chocolate) because they think that caffeine is the reason we don't drink coffee and tea (it's never actually be specified why). So, for those out there that think this, here is The Totally Awesome Truth I learned today:

*That feel goodness comes from an alkaloid called theobromine. It is the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate. It is frequently confused with caffeine, but has very different effects on the body. It is a mild, lasting stimulant with a mood improving affect. In medicine, it is used as a diuretic, vasodilator, and a myocardial stimulant (theobromine, not chocolate. Too bad for that). It has antitussive effect superior to codeine by suppressing vagus nerve activity (I'm not sure what that means, except that it's a fantastic pain reliever).

SO . . . .

That means, if you are in pain
EAT CHOCOLATE!

If you are sad,
EAT CHOCOLATE!

If you are tired,
EAT CHOCOLATE!

If you are angry,
EAT CHOCOLATE!

If you are depressed,
EAT CHOCOLATE!

If you are happy,
EAT CHOCOLATE!!!!!

Yep, it's the answer to all our problems, just like we always knew, deep down inside.



* taken in entirety (except for those parentheses) from my notes from my lesson today.

The Evil Vaccines Will Get Our Babies!

Okay, before I read this article, I was leaning towards thinking that vaccines could have a link to autism. Now, even if I did believe they did, I still would (and will) vaccinate my kids, because I would rather have an autistic LIVING child, than one that dies from measles, polio, smallpox, or what have you. They aren't entirely eradicated people.

But I changed my mind when I read this article. Apparently the doctor who started the whole mess with his report faked the whole thing. Well, his results at least. And that makes me sad. Why would a man want to fake results to something like this? Not vaccinating can be deadly, autism, while sad, is not. Not vaccinating could cause epidemics of terrible diseases, autism isn't contagious. So why, WHY would people not want to vaccinate their children? You're not the only one not vaccinating (because you are preaching it to everyone else), so what do you think would happen if it all stopped? That those diseases would stay at the level they are at now? No, silly. They would explode. Everyone would get sick who hadn't been vaccinated, because they would have no immunity to it. A lot of people would die. And while your child may not be autistic, they might be dead, or severely deformed or in major, major pain for the rest of their life (Edit that. My great aunt was in pain from bad arthritis, not polio, though I do remember the braces on her legs. I must have equated the braces with the pain. They certainly looked painful).

I think I will vote for a healthy, happy child, myself.

Oh, here's the first article that led me to the second article that changed my mind.
(yes, I know it's a humor website, but I think this guy really did his research. Bear with me and read it. Besides, it makes fun of Jenny McCarthy, and who doesn't want to read that?)

Yes, I'm Pissed Off

Apparently there are people out there who can't STAND the fact that I might watch a video online, think they might enjoy it, and then send it to them. See, we can't have that, not at all. Why would I want to do something nice like that for them? Cause I sure don't know why. If you don't want to watch it, then don't. You don't need to tell me that.