Ted’s essays

clearing the air

For the last few days, the wildfire smoke around here has been rated “UNHEALTHY”. I use the site AirNow to verify. Click the link to see any city. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and relatives offer this advice: People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure: Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Keep outdoor activities short. Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them. Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure: Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard. Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors. Be active outdoors when air quality is better. […]

flesh and bone VS titanium

In my June 9th post Do-It-Yourself Knee Replacement, I discussed my aversion to turning a surgeon loose on my knees and how my use of naturally-produced dietary supplements had put my “need” for knee replacement off over a dozen years past the AMA wizard’s prediction. Recent events both reinforce and refute my stance. One of the guys about my age at our recent family reunion had both knees replaced with titanium contraptions and “loves them”… “No pain”… He plays LOTS of golf… “Gets around great”… Three of us older gents teamed up to remove from the shipping box and assemble a new barbecue/smoker. I watched the bionic man get down and up to assemble bits from the floor. I also […]