Welcome to Saturday's Potluck

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 6:10am

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

The past 18 months has not been a shinning moment for American healthcare to highlight caring competence. Instead the holes in the safety net are more noticeable and seem to be growing larger. The engagement of the total population with the Covid pandemic has overwhelmed the practice of hiding medical system failures as patient choices and front line healthcare provider actions.

These problems are not limited to Covid. Most common chronic health conditions have similar problems within the American healthcare system. A major risk factors for Covid hospitalization and death is comorbidities. It is important chronic health conditions are being effectively managed. Chronic inflammation in an under appreciated component of obesity and poor health. Specific treatment goals can help identify under treatment and over treatment of medical conditions, both can endanger health and effect lifestyle.

This is not typical Open Thread conversation, but I think our health system is going to become even more fragile. Healthcare worker burnout is becoming a larger problem, education disruptions reduced new graduates entering the professions and vaccine mandates will cause others to leave their jobs.

My approach to self-care is being the team leader (even if the team is one person) for self or a close family member and balance medical with lifestyle choices. Physicians and other health professionals are utilized for diagnoses, prevention options, treatment options and monitoring effectiveness with labs or specialized skills.

________

The most vital component is knowing yourself and and communicating your uniqueness when necessary. A written medical history creates a starting point for research. When formatted in a common medical style it is a very effective document to communicate with health professionals. For someone with no medical problems will be short and a complicated medical history several pages.

Name,
Date of Birth,
Sex

List of current diagnosis with diagnosis with date or year

List of current medications, strength, directions and start dates
(include supplements and over-the-counter products)

Current Problems - if being used for a doctors visit

List of Drug-Food allergies and sensitivities with date and description of reaction

List of past major medical events, medical treatments and surgeries with date or year

My intent next week is to provide instruction to describe a medication review technique to identify medical problems.

________

Found the video Evolution of the Biscuit interesting look at changing expectations. The oldest method uses a non-sodium leveling agent (low salt diet), second method made them an American favorite and the third method is to match the flakiness of the commercial refrigerator biscuit in a tube.

(15 min) Also an example of chronic inflammation, not simple obesity.
[video:https://youtu.be/IVkfONU8FjY]

________

Quail eggs are hatching today. When watering today she was making a sound between a chicken clucking and dove cooing. She exited the nest for a few minutes and I could see a couple of babies. No pictures did not want to stress them further, calmly exited the area.

________

What is on your mind today?

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Comments

Submitted by jakkalbessie on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 10:45am

Thanks for the OT

Looking forward to seeing the quail chicks if possible. While still in lockdown for Covid last year, a mother wren made a nest in my sister-in-laws gardening bag in the center. We got to see them from egg stage through the young chicks. They were in the greenhouse and if you went into the greenhouse, the mother wren would appear and fuss if you got to near. Was a real treat to see.

Enjoyed the biscuit video and how the recipes varied over time. When first got married had an old cookbook that among its guides were where to place things in the ice box. It also told where the best place for the block of ice was. One of the things in the cookbook I noticed was how over boiled most vegetables were. Lots of starchy meals as well. DO did love that old Southern dish of biscuits and cream gravy with bits of bacon or sausage in the gravy. Not the most healthy breakfast option but was good on occasion.

Thanks for reminding me to work more on my medical history. Like to format you gave. How medicine for one illness can cause problems for a pre-existing condition or which medicines should be taken at the same time. These are some of the issues I am dealing with on my journey of trying to keep myself in a healthy state of being. Being a cancer survivor reminds why a complete medical history is so important and why questioning some suggested meds is important.

Have a good rest of the day for you and the quail family!

—

Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:09pm

The nest area has been vacated.

@jakkalbessie My point and click camera is not sufficient to capture photo of moving birds. It appears she laid 10 eggs and 6 hatched.

soe nest 2.jpg

The male has been hanging around hopefully they are running around with their brood.

Not sure where the boil vegetables until they are dead became popular. Watching Townsends and reading pre 1850 cookbooks vegetables were treated with better respect. Might be a reaction to germ theory. Perhaps the scientific method to destroy all germs before chemical options became available. Or to make all vegetables taste like the preserved product of modern canning methods in jars and tins.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 08/22/2021 - 12:24pm

enjoyed this quail operation on pasture...

@studentofearth

Didn't get by yesterday. Caught the clip this week, you might enjoy it too...(11 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdHfMTMNfmw]
https://www.thewildwayfarm.com/

Take care and have a good week!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Granma on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 11:49am

This is a great OT

It is a good plan to keep your own medical history. Over time, you are asked about all of this information and as time passes, it gets hard to remember when you had a given surgery. Keeping your own records solves the problem. It comes in handy if you ever land in the ER. I did some years ago, but since they had a very complete medical history for me in their computers, I showed them my driver's license to identify myself and that was it. Since my history included medical insurance information, I was treated without any questions asked.

Do you know how many eggs were in the quail's nest? It's great that the quail made peace with you and you've been able to observe the whole process. Did she leave the nest at all during the past weeks, even to eat?

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:22pm

Electronic medical records updates and

@Granma conversions to new software is another place medical history is lost. Our local hospital system has changed software 3 times since 2014. To maintain connectivity several local private practices found it necessary to change software. Holes appeared in patient information available to practitioners with each change and slight differences in diagnoses.

There were a couple times the nest was empty during the warmest part of the day. I started tossing some bird seed near the nest and did not see her off the nest until chicks had hatched. Hoping to see them again. She probably took them to an area with more natural food and cover.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 11:52am

Next stage in medical care? The Oregon National Guard

has been deployed around the state to the private hospitals.

At this point, no field hospitals have been set up to ease conditions at the medical centers in southern Oregon. However, representatives from Asante have asked the state for one, said Ryan Hutchinson, an incident commander and integrated operations facilitator for Providence Medford Medical Center. He said multiple regions are making similar requests to the state, which will then prioritize them as they ask for more assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
...
Ryan Hutchinson, who leads the COVID-19 response command center at Providence Medford, said National Guard assignments were devised to lessen the burden on frontline caregivers and offset some of the nurses’ duties “to allow them to work at the highest level of their license.”

National Guard soldiers wearing Army combat uniforms might diminish outbursts at emergency units and waiting rooms, said Chris Pizzi, chief executive of Providence Medford.

“People get upset waiting five to six hours and having a National Guard presence may provide some relief,” he said.

Pizzi said the National Guard will radio hospital security if a situation escalates, but will not step in.

“It’s all about keeping people safe,” he said. “We will find a good place for these helping hands to facilitate care.”

Hutchinson has seen the fear in people caused by limited beds, nurses and doctors. “The frustration is that everyone is going to the ER for everything,” he said. “If you have a non-emergent need, see your primary doctor or have a virtual visit. Get a Covid test at a drive-up. The ERs are full.”

Wonder if it is simply Covid or related to refugee arrivals?

Gov. Kate Brown, echoing sentiments of Democratic state lawmakers, issued a statement Wednesday offering to resettle Afghan refugees in Oregon and urging President Joe Biden to lift the refugee admission cap to allow more of them into the U.S.
...
The governor’s letter calls on the Biden administration to lift its annual cap on how many refugees from all nations can be admitted to the U.S., 62,500, up from 15,000 under Donald Trump.
...
Oregon has invested about $8.3 million into resettlement programs over the past two years, Jama said.

“So I think in many ways, you know, Oregon is ready to serve and receive refugees from Afghanistan,” he said.

Or the fame as the the start of Ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s political career as a foreign exchange student in Lake Oswego in the late 60's.

Ghani returned to Oregon in 2008 to promote his book, “Fixing Failed States: A Framework for Rebuilding a Fractured World.” Forty-one years after his time at Lake Oswego High School, he credited his experience serving on the student council with opening his eyes to the power of citizenship, Edutopia reported.

“It was the first time I ever saw students entrusted to make decisions, to decide how money should be spent,” he told the audience. “And we were held accountable for our decisions.”

Interesting times.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:04pm

Good morning soe. Still haven't had a chance to look at the

biscuit video, kind of looking forward to it. I've been "baking" my bread all morning, made the dough last night and let rise overnight. Today is various manipulations just short of kneading, another rise with interim preheating the baker/cloche (one of each) in the oven, then lid on bake at 500 and now 15 minutes at 450. Mucho dishes in between, starting with the mixer & bowls from last night, breakfast stuff, etc. It will be worth it however.

Medical history? Heh, mine would take at least a 3" binder. I have a segment, but not updated, on a thumb drive. (The division of my provider responsible for the updates has been closed since covid-19.) Dunno about you, but my medical records and history did not follow me around throughout my life and also did not, of course, include self-treated or untreated ailments, injuries and other traumas. Then there's the stuff one didn't know at the time, you know like "If you ever blah, blah, blah and then blah and blah, then that was a concussion." Oh, guess I've had some of those. My current provider sent me to an ent for something and he looks up my nose and asks "how many times have you had your nose broken?"
Me - "None that I know of".
Dr. - "I figure at least 8".

Ah well

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:51pm

Medical first responders often check for a Medical Alert

@enhydra lutris bracelet or necklace on unresponsive or confused patients. Some people with multiple severe allergies or complicated medical conditions use the space to state where their critical medical info is located on their person - purse, wallet or thumb drive.

Bread dough - reminds me promised hotdogs for guests tomorrow. Need to get the hotdog bun dough started.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:54pm

Do you use a regular bread dough for

@studentofearth

hot dog buns, or something special?

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 2:26pm

Use a modified French Bread recipe for buns

@enhydra lutris using All Purpose flour. All Purpose is currently a mixture of wheat and malted barley flour. It provides the spongy texture similar to commercial products. Not my preferred bread for crumbs or toast. The buns will still toast better than commercial breads since they lacks corn syrup, gums and other conditioners. Most of my other baking uses 100% flours to control ratios.

Add to bread machine
1 cup + 6 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon honey (keeps bread from drying out when stored and softens crust)
4 cups All Purpose Flour (non bleached preferred)
2 1/2 teaspoon yeast (1 packet)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon gluten (optional)

Complete two risings and knead cycle (often labeled dough setting) in brad machine or by hand. Punch down dough and divide into 8 pieces. Shape into patty size circles for hamburger buns and hotdog length tubes for their buns. To create soft sides on buns keep dough close enough the rising cause the pieces to grow into each other. Place on baking sheet, let rise until double and bake 20 min at 400 degrees.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by Granma on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 1:21pm

Off Topic Question

I'm looking for suggestions for getting rid of fruit flies. I made the usual fruit fly traps with apple cider vinegar. The fruit flies ignored them. Then bought Terro fruit fly traps. They are ignoring those too. I'm taking precautions to make sure there is nothing for them to feed on. Actually got rid of a bunch vacuuming them up with vacuum hose, but that is a wacko solution.

Any ideas for getting rid of them will be appreciated.

Submitted by Nastarana on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 1:40pm

@Granma A youtuber who goes by

@Granma A youtuber who goes by the moniker The Frugal Minimalist preps vegetables with a bath in baking soda and water which, she claims, retards spoilage and deters insects. I have found that this bath does work. I soaked tomatoes, cabbage and zukes from the farmer's market in water plus about tsp. or so of baking soda. So far, so good. No spoilage and no fruit flies after two days, the vegetables sitting on my kitchen counter. She follows with a cider vinegar/water spray, which I have not done.

—

Mary Bennett

Submitted by Granma on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 2:51pm

I'll try that with the tomatoes I have on counter.

@Nastarana Everything else is in the refrigerator. I would really like to get rid of the ones I already have. They probably arrived with something I bought at grocery store and multiplied before I was aware of them.

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 2:17pm

Germany’s gov’t-run channel DW, beating the war-with-Russia drum

https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-merkels-fruitless-moscow-trip/a-58944698

The thesis is that dialog isn’t working (= the U.S. Blob isn’t getting its way), so “Germany needs a new approach to Russia policy” — uh huh, and what might that be? More open hostility, more sanctions, and more nuclear brinkmanship, no doubt.

DW and the rest of the German MSM are also back to pushing the Navalny story as a thing.

Silly me, the “D” in DW doesn’t stand for Deutsche, it stands for Dulles, as in the brothers John Foster and Allen.

https://www.wbur.org/npr/226578486/how-two-brothers-waged-a-secret-world...

The crazy thing is, in Germany the most vocal opposition to ramping up tension with Russia comes from right-wing populists. That’s right, the supposedly Nazi-adjacent righties are for peace and the putative antifascists in all the other major parties want to settle Putin’s hash through even more pugnacity. Drang nach Osten, whether via NATO or via a future E.U. with its own armed forces, its own Blob, and its own MIC.

(“The Blob” is an alternate shorthand expression for what is also sometimes called the “Deep State”)

Submitted by Granma on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 2:44pm

They are nutso, insane.

@lotlizard The world has more than enough problems from climate disaster and Covid. We need no wars.

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 2:48pm

USA expects its military occupied countries and territories to

@lotlizard have government leadership be compliant with USA foreign policies. Germany is no exception. It was convenient for Merkle to be a counter weight to Trump policies when he was in office. At the moment that type of roll is no longer necessary.

I would imagine in the possibility of military conflict the chain of command is defaulted to American military commanders. (coordinated activities) Treaties with Japan, South Korea and Philippines place their national armed forces US leadership automatically.