che·la·tion: 1. Chemistry. the process of chelating. 2. Medicine/Medical. a. a method of removing certain heavy metals from the bloodstream, used esp. in treating lead or mercury poisoning. b. a controversial treatment for arteriosclerosis that attempts to remove calcium deposits from the inner walls of the coronary arteries.

Chelation was first used in World War I to remove arsenic poison gas from the bloodstream. After World War II, it was used to treat lead poisoning in sailors that had been painting their ships with lead-based paint. The idea of oral chelation is that different chemicals are administered that bind with the molecules of the "bad stuff" to reduce their effects and pass from the system.

There is some controversy associated with chelation. In addition to mainstream use, it is used in alternative medicine to treat heart disease and autism. Studies have not yet shown it to be effective, but current treatments have few side effects when administered properly.

Chelation therapy works in the treatment of heart disease by binding to the calcium in the plaque on arterial walls. It is not a one-time treatment; instead it is administered over time. Obviously, this isn’t something to just try on a whim. You really ought to have tests done to see if there are heavy metals in the system. Chelation therapy works based on chemistry, so if you don’t have heavy metals in your system, there isn’t a reason to try it.

I thought this was quite hilarious and quite weird. Check out this really weird poodle exercise video for humans. This is a mesmerizing and frightening video. It's a word-for-word parody of Susan Powter's first workout video, featuring poodles and a crazy poodle-woman. Absolutely surreal. It was made by Nagi Noda for Panasonic. It was part of 10 films they made for the 2004 Athens Olympics

The title of this movie is awfully familiar: Run Fatboy Run

I'm just saying...

Well, I'm back on my diet, 3 days in and feeling better. I had some issues with my meds that had me in a bad way last week, but I figured it out and lost 14 lbs of water weight.

That's right, 14 lbs.

I'm walking each night as well. I haven't been eating enough, supposedly, so I'm trying to work more fiber and protein in keep it all good.

Over the years, I have held several jobs in marketing that required extensive business travel. Those who have met me know I have a full head of luxurious curls, much nicer hair than any middle-aged man deserves.

Ahem.

One of the problems I had when I was traveling all the time was hotel shampoo. It is always the cheapest stuff they can get and is usually very harsh, which can dry out curly hair and make guys like me look like Bozo the Clown. Additionally, I frequently found myself traveling home on the first plane out in the morning, requiring an early wake-up and dash to the airport with minimal morning cleansing.

I wish this dry shampoo product was available to me back then. This stuff brushes off easily and doesn't leave an oily residue or white powder. It also comes with color matching, so shading isn't a problem. I could have avoided some of those skin-of-my-teeth dashes through customs and security in Toronto, or actually had time to go back to the hotel to get the plane ticket I forgot on the desk out in Anaheim.

I'm heading out on a trip next week, the first of what I hope will be many over the next few months, so I'm definitely going to check this out and see if I can make my life a little easier out there on the road.

Well, we've taken another step to getting one of our kids' diet under control.

The little one started kindergarten this year and has been packing the weight on around the middle despite an active sports schedule. She would also pick at dinner, rarely eating much of a meal.

We suspected that school lunches were a factor, and our district allows us to view statements of our children's purchases (we "bank" money with the school, and the cafeteria deducts from the bank as the children buy), so my wife checked what she'd purchased.

You already know the answer - cookies, juice, etc.

We've now blocked her from purchasing anything beyond the standard meal, with one treat permitted on Friday.

And I continue to hammer it home that she ought to be bringing her lunch every day, but that is being resisted by the person that would have to make the lunch. ;-)

This one is for my wife, who spends a bunch on vision care every year.

Great Discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com

Checking out the offering for prescription eyeglasses, I can see some as low as $8.00. I thought, "Ok, I've seen this before, there will be one pair of glasses for $8, and they'll be a style from 5 years ago."

Nope.

I counted over 30 different styles of eyeglasses at the $8 price, and many more at different, affordable, prices. Lots of different shapes, styles, and colors.