Women, want better health? Have a baby…

I have always taken the view that we are put together — whether by a creator or as a result of millions of years of successful ancestors — to lead relatively happy lives if we follow certain basic principles.

Mom and two of her three girlsWithout becoming metaphysical or overly philosophical, it seems reasonable that our being was designed to perform certain basic functions and the more successful we become in meeting these inborn and environmental expectations… the better off and happier we will be.

So what set of principles would I put at the top of the list? My daughter Karen has a poster titled ‘ the secret of happiness’ and number one on the list is ‘Marry the RIGHT person.’

We do know that Men live longer when they are married and — whether they all want to admit it — happier… however, women live longer …. when they have children. You can see where the pressure is on every couple.

Science Daily quote a study that makes the following observation:

“Childless women run the risk of earlier death of poorer health in later life.”

To be fair, there was a slight disclaimer… if you read the above linked article, women who spaced their children less than 18 monthes or had more than 5 children were also at risk.

The only real message is that women were meant to have children… and to forgo the opportunity not only will affect your health … but also happiness —  you will miss out on some of the best experiences life has to offer.

Roger Freberg

Who will stand up for Kurdistan?

Kurdish woman and child in traditional Kurdish colorsMost Westerners have heard very little about the ancient people referred to as the Kurds. Probably , if you watched an old ‘Sinbad the Sailor” movie with Douglas Fairbanks you might remember the heroine referring to her homeland in the Kurdish Hills… but that — if anything — is all most people know.

The Kurds are faced with two greedy sophisticated armies that have historically lusted over their resources and strategic position as the gateway to Iraq. Will this be Ruwanda or Afghanistan?

Who will stand up for Kurdistan in their struggle for complete independence?

KurdistanThe Kurds in iraq have been an autonomus democracy for 10 years. Christianity has been around since the Byzantine era:

“An educated guess for the total number of Christian Kurds (excluding the Assyrians, whose claim to a separate ethnic identity must be honored) would place them in the range of tens of thousands, most of them living in Turkey.”

Recent developments indicate a more ominious future for the Kurds once again:

“Our military sources report 5,000 Kurdish rebels of the anti-Iran PJAK and anti-Turkish PKK are holed up in bases in the Quandil Mountains (picture). Iranian and Turkish troop concentrations are already 7-8 km inside Iraq. Washington suspects Ankara-Tehran military complicity and fears a general Iranian-Turkish-Armenian-Kurdish conflagration will ensue, which Iran will use to grab itself a strategic foothold in northern Iraq and Turkey to seize oil-rich Kirkuk”

Kurdistan... the other Iraq... the other Turkey... and the other Iran

 

Kurdistan is on the brink… who will listen and who will help?

Roger Freberg

 

Aaah, the Joy of the morning!

Sometimes morning guys can stay up past 9pmThere really are two kinds of people in this world: those who enjoy the night and folks who love the mornings…. I am one of those who love to wake up to the smell of early morning coffee and watch the sunrise bring new hope to the day.

Scientists have been looking at this subject for a long time:

“Being a morning lark or a night owl is something encoded in people’s genes and we here made substantial progress to uncover the molecular basis for that,” explains Dr. Kramer.

In our family we have a combination of ‘owls’ and ‘larks’…. something Mendelian about the diversity 0f our group as my bride tends to be more of a night person. Karla loves the night, Karen and Kristin have lived in both situations… but 5 am just seems like the right time to be up…. and smell the coffee.

So whatever time you get up…. just be happy in the knowledge that it was the way it was meant to be… for you.

 

Roger Freberg

 

Laugh through Animations

 

Follow the leader! 
Animations are fun and make us laugh and take serious subjects and make them fun!

Karla's Football Rivalry animation -- Florida Gators and Arkansas
My daughter Karla has always made me smile with her charming animations…. her simple understanding of the basic humor and the emotion we all find in everyday life is impressive.

Karen writes a web based newsletter that literally goes all over the world… and Karla has faithfully produced everything Karen has asked…. including this poor Arkansas Razorback getting kicked through the goal posts by a Florida Gator.

Famous Trojan Poodle with a fanKarla has drawn Arroyo Grande high School Eagles, San Luis Obispo High School Tigers, SMU Mustangs ( Paruna), Florida Gators and USC Trojans for Karen… Here’s a few of the ‘Mascot Battles of the SEC.’

 

Some of my favorite of Karla’s drawings are what she has done for my alma mater…USC.

Karen of Troy!

 Thanks Karla…. You always make us smile.

Love,

Dad

 

The DEVILS – Chavez & Ahmadinejad & Chomsky are ‘within the Walls’ this week

In a free country… the ‘devils can come inside the walls.’

Hugo Chavez the other 'devil' at the United Nations

Hugo Chavez at the United Nations this week… and here he is pushing the Spanish Language edition of Professor Noam Chomsky’s book on the alleged evils of America.

Unfortunately, neither Chavez nor the nut from Iran — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — were willing to take Chomsky with them. One wonders how long Chomsky’s opposite number would last in either Iran or the New and Improved Venezuala.

What a name … Ahmadinejad … I remember it by thinking “Almond Jihad’… it’s a nut, too.

Weeks like this remind us of how dangerous a world we find ourselves in… and how much we appreciate that folks like Hugo and Mahmoud are merely guests and not legal residents.

It is darkly amusing that an American citizen reaches such prominence in the eyes of an enemy. It is not surprising when you discover he is — after all — a ‘liberal’ college Professor.

 

Roger Freberg