Painting on Paper: American Watercolors at Princeton on View June 27 - Aug. 30, 2015
Topic: ART NEWS

 

Tips for Parents on Keeping Children Drug Free
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

It may seem premature to talk about drugs with preschoolers, but the attitudes and habits that they form at this age have an important bearing on the decisions they will make when they are older. At this early age, they are eager to know and memorize rules, and they want your opinion on what's "bad" and what's "good." Although they are old enough to understand that smoking is bad for them, generally they are not ready to take in complex facts about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Nevertheless, this is a good time to practice the decision-making and problem-solving skills that they will need later on.

Here are some ways to help your preschool children make good decisions about what should and should not go into their bodies:

• Discuss why children need healthy food. Have your child name several favorite good foods and explain how these foods contribute to health and strength.

• Set aside regular times when you can give your son or daughter your full attention. Get on the floor and play with your child; learn about his or her likes and dislikes; let your child know that you love him; say that he or she is too wonderful and unique to take drugs. You'll build strong bonds of trust and affection that will make turning away from drugs easier in the years to come.

• Provide guidelines like playing fair, sharing toys and telling the truth so children know what kind of behavior you expect from them.

• Encourage your child to follow instructions and to ask questions if he does not understand the instructions.

• When your child becomes frustrated at play, use the opportunity to strengthen problem-solving skills. For example, if a tower of blocks keeps collapsing, work together to find possible solutions. Turning a bad situation into a success reinforces a child's self-confidence.

• Whenever possible, let your child choose what to wear. Even if the clothes don't quite match, you are reinforcing your child's ability to make decisions.

• Point out poisonous and harmful substances commonly found in homes, such as bleach, kitchen cleanser and furniture polish, and read the products' warning labels out loud. Explain to your children that not all "bad" drugs have warnings on them, so they should only eat or smell food or a prescribed medicine that you, a grandparent or a caregiver provides them.

• Explain that prescription medications are drugs that can help the person for whom they are meant but that can harm anyone else, especially children, who must stay away from them unless they are prescribed properly for them.

Source: http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/drugfree/tips_pg3.html#preschool

 

A Town of Disrespect
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

HIV/AIDS and Heroin: Where Is NJ's Leadership?
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 

There are 565 municipalities in the State of New Jersey.  The township of Hamilton, Mercer County, ranks 75th in the state of NJ for the highest number of new HIV/AIDS cases.

 

 

  

 

Source: 

http://www.state.nj.us/health/aids/repa/topcity/documents/topcity.pdf

 

  

This should come to no surprise for as reported in March 2015, it was presented by Duffy's Cultural Couture, 

(http://www.tammyduffy.com/ARTFASHION/index.blog?entry_id=2352388)

that Hamilton Township, Mercer county, ranks 26th in the state  for residents admitted to drug treatment during for heroin and other opiates.  (Source: NJ Dept of Human Services, 121 Hamilton residents were admitted in 2013). There is a correlation. What is the leadership of Hamilton doing about these two glaring public health issues? 

 

Let's look away from Hamilton and look at what is happening in Indiana. The leadership in Scott County, Indiana learned the hard way that there is a correlation between AIDS and heroin use.

 

So far, the Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed more than 150 people have been diagnosed with new cases of HIV. There are 125 cases in Hamilton township. NJ, not far behind. The vast majority of cases are in Scott County, Indiana – most linked to Austin – where the disease has spread rapidly among intravenous drug users who share dirty needles. This was happening and the town had no idea.

 

Through a series of interviews and public information requests, the local Indiana Channel 13 investigated and assembled a detailed timeline of the epidemic. It reveals a breakdown in communication between officials at the state and local level which, some healthcare experts say, prevented a more timely warning to residents and healthcare workers who were unaware of a developing crisis in their own backyard. This can happen in Hamilton, Mercer County. It is happening and the towns leadership has chosen to ignore it. 

 

The residents have seen this exact behavior on more than one occasion by the leadership and health department in Hamilton NJ. Confusion, unclear direction and a blatant disregard for public safety and health. Several months ago in the township of Hamilton there was the first death from EV D68.  Several months prior to this death, there was a nation wide epidemic occurring. While this was occurring there was zero communication until the death of a resident. There was zero proactive measures taken (like seen in surrounding towns like Princeton) to safeguard the community and stop a tragedy like the death of a small boy, from happening.  In this same town there have been 12 narcon deployments, the last of which resulted in the death of a resident, and the leadership in Hamilton is quiet as a church mouse. Let's not forget to mention the rejection of the changes to the restaurant inspections fines.   Why is that?  Why did the leadership of Hamilton repeatedly say in the press conferences after the EVD68 death of the resident," When I went to the schools and said does anyone know what EV D 68 is?"  The mayor said," No one knew."  Who's fault is it that no one knew? I would say it is 100% her fault that no one knew. It is the fault of her leadership and the Health Department.  A child died. A parent should never have to bury their child. The leadership in towns need to be held accountable for these deaths and blatant disregard to the public health of the residents.

 

One of the greatest ironies of the Scott County HIV outbreak is the location of the county's health department. The health department shares a parking lot with the county hospital, where the outbreak's earliest HIV cases were diagnosed back in December. In fact, the front door of the Scott County Health Department is just 45 steps from the front door of the hospital. Why did it take two months for critical information to make its way across a parking? Probably the same reason that residents in Hamilton are not getting educated on HIV/AID and Heroin. The same reason no one was educated on EVD68 until there was a death, etc. There is no other explanation other than abysmal leadership.

 

The state of NJ ranks 5th in the nation as it pertains to newly diagnosed cases of HIV/AID. There were 54,557 new cases in 2014, (801 Diagnosed under the age of 13).  Even though New Jersey is one of the smaller states in the United States it has a higher HIV/AIDS rate. This makes Jersey’s ratio higher than any other state in the country. One can only question why any political leadership in NJ would continue to ignore these very important public health issues. 

 

What are the Numbers on HIV/AIDS in NJ

 

NEW JERSEY: 75,200 cumulative HIV/AIDS cases; 35,688 current cases living with HIV/AIDS

MERCER COUNTY: 2,519 cumulative HIV/AIDS cases; 1,356 current cases living with HIV/AIDS

  

• Minorities account for 76 percent of the cumulative adult/adolescent HIV/AIDS cases.

• Thirty-five percent of those living with HIV/ AIDS are females.

• Seventy-nine percent of those living with HIV or AIDS are 40 years of age or older.

• Recently reported cases of adult/adolescent HIV and AIDS are older at diagnosis than previously reported cases.

 

Statewide Summary: Prevalence of Persons Currently Living with HIV/AIDS in NJ
Persons Living with HIV/AIDS	38,075
Total Population, Estimate 7/1/2013	8,899,339
Prevalence Rate per 100,000 population	427.82

 

Prevalence Rate: Persons Living with HIV/AIDS per 100,000 population
	0.0 - 199.9
	200.0 - 399.9
	400.0 - 1299.9

 

Cases not on map	#
County Unknown	13
Incarcerated at Diagnosis	1,805

 

 

 

 

Mercer County Adult/Adolescent HIV/AIDS Cases

Age Group Data - Mercer County      Known Age at Diagnosis Males Females Totals   No. % No. % No. %               <13 20 # 20 # 40 # 13-24 120 7% 74 9% 194 8% 25-34 479 29% 277 35% 756 31% 35-44 611 37% 255 33% 866 36% 45-54 289 18% 104 13% 393 16% >=55 122 7% 51 7% 173 7%               Total 1,641   781   2,422               Race/Ethnicity - Mercer County   Adults/ Adolescents (2) Males Females Totals   No. % No. % No. %               Hispanic, All races 210 13% 70 9% 280 12% Not Hispanic, Black or African America 1,030 63% 604 77% 1,634 67% Not Hispanic, White 389 24% 103 13% 492 20% Other/Unknown 12 # # # 16 #               Total 1,641   781   2,422

 

 

In 2015, it's estimated that the reported cases of HIV could be 621.75% higher than the reported number of cases of syphilis in the greater Jersey City area.

 

More than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and almost 1 in 7 (14%) are unaware of their infection. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly young black/African American MSM, are most seriously affected by HIV.

 

By race, blacks/African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV.  The CDC estimates that 1,201,100 persons aged 13 years and older are living with HIV infection, including 168,300 (14%) who are unaware of their infection. Over the past decade, the number of people living with HIV has increased, while the annual number of new HIV infections has remained relatively stable. Still, the pace of new infections continues at far too high a level—particularly among certain groups.

 

HIV Incidence (new infections): The estimated incidence of HIV has remained stable overall in recent years, at about 50,000 new HIV infections per year. Within the overall estimates, however, some groups are affected more than others. MSM continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infection, and among races/ethnicities, African Americans continue to be disproportionately affected.

 

HIV Diagnoses (new diagnoses, regardless of when infection occurred or stage of disease at diagnosis): In 2013, an estimated 47,352 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States. In that same year, an estimated 26,688 people were diagnosed with AIDS. Overall, an estimated 1,194,039 people in the United States have been diagnosed with AIDS.

 

Deaths: An estimated 13,712 people with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2012, and approximately 658,507 people in the United States with an AIDS diagnosis have died overall. The deaths of persons with an AIDS diagnosis can be due to any cause—that is, the death may or may not be related to AIDS.

 

Since the epidemic began, almost 92,613 persons with AIDS that were infected through heterosexual sex, have died, including an estimated 4,550 in 2012.

 

New HIV infections among women are primarily attributed to heterosexual contact (84% in 2010) or injection drug use (16% in 2010). Women accounted for 20% of estimated new HIV infections in 2010 and 23% of those living with HIV infection in 2011. The 9,500 new infections among women in 2010 reflect a significant 21% decrease from the 12,000 new infections that occurred among this group in 2008.

 

Injection drug users represented 8% of new HIV infections in 2010 and 15% of those living with HIV in 2011. Since the epidemic began, nearly 186,728 people with (AIDS) who inject drugs have died, including an estimated 3,514 in 2012.

 

In FY 2014, U.S. federal funding to combat HIV totaled $29.5 billion.  Of this, 55% was for care, 10% for cash and housing assistance, 9% for research, 3% for prevention, and 22% for the global epidemic.

 

Key programs that provide health insurance coverage, care, and support to people with HIV in the U.S. include Medicaid, Medicare, the Ryan White Program, and HOPWA, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program.  Social Security’s income programs for those who are disabled (SSI and SSDI) are also important sources of support.

 

A variety of federally and state-supported prevention services are provided by state and local health departments and community organizations.

 

The passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 provides new opportunities for expanding health care access, prevention, and treatment services for millions of people in the U.S., including many people with or at risk for HIV.

 

In July 2010, the U.S. government released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the first comprehensive plan for addressing the epidemic in the U.S. The strategy has three primary goals: reduce new HIV infections; increase access to care and improve health outcomes; and reduce HIV-related health disparities.  To further address these, President Obama issued an Executive Order to establish an HIV Care Continuum Initiative in July 2013, and the Administration has begun to outline recommendations, develop action steps, and mark progress toward the goals set forth in the Initiative.

 

The money and programs are there to help people.  The federal budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2015 included a total of $30.4 billion for domestic HIV and AIDS, a 2.3 percent increase from the FY 2014 funding, which totaled $29.7 billion. Of this, 57 percent is for care and treatment, 9 percent for research, 10 percent for cash and housing assistance, and 3 percent for prevention.

 

AIDS in the United States

 

New AIDS diagnoses: At the end of 2010, the South accounted for 45% of the estimated 33,015 new AIDS diagnoses in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, followed by the Northeast (24%), the West (19%), and the Midwest (13%).

 

Since 2010, the Northeast reported the highest rate of new AIDS diagnoses (14.2/100,000), followed by the South (13.0/100,000), the West (8.8/100,000), and the Midwest (6.3/100,000).

Living with an AIDS diagnosis: In 2009, the South accounted for 40% of the estimated 476,732 persons living with an AIDS diagnosis in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, followed by the Northeast (29%), the West (20%), and the Midwest (11%).

In 2009, the Northeast reported the highest rate of persons per 100,000 population living with an AIDS diagnosis (248.7/100,000), followed by the South (169.5/100,000), the West (133.6/100,000), and the Midwest (77.2/100,000).

 

AIDS deaths: In 2009, the South accounted for 48% of the 17,774 persons with a diagnosis of AIDS who died in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, followed by the Northeast (24%), the West (17%), and the Midwest (11%).

That same year, the Northeast reported the highest rate of deaths of persons with AIDS (7.7/100,000), followed by the South (7.6/100,000), the West (4.2/100,000), and the Midwest (2.8/100,000).

 

Deaths of persons with an AIDS diagnosis may be due to any cause.  The HIV epidemic in Indiana is real. But the real epidemic is the opiate addiction among the citizens of Scott County. The HIV outbreak is a direct result of the addiction epidemic.  You can make available all the new needles with needle program but unless you do something about the main issue of the addiction epidemic, this is only a temporary solution. Treat the addict, make adequate addiction help affordable and available, make suboxone treatment available, get addiction counselors into the area, set up mental health programs and outreach programs to the addict and their families. Towns need to quit treating opiate addiction as if it is a big fat secret that no one wants to admit is happening. The idea that a junkie is some homeless uneducated worthless person is the farthest from the truth. The political leadership in towns need to wake up. The towns leadership had an employee ( http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/09/hamilton_township_employee_arrested_on_drug_charges.html)  under their own noses who was charged with intent to distribute drugs.  Do you think taxpayers of Hamilton are still paying this employees salary?

 

The addicts are every day people, your neighbor, your soccer mom, your teenager, your professionals, it's non discriminatory. Leaders and people need to stop the judgments and start the treatments. Get to the source of the epidemic and treat the cause. Way too many lives are lost or forever changed due to the effects of opiate addiction and this needs to change. I believe most addicts want help but have no resources readily available to them or are afraid of being judged or socially scorned. The residents are afraid that their confidentiality will be ignored. During a recent hepatitis clinic, Hamilton township officials allowed camera crews to enter, ignoring the confidentiality of all those who attended. The patients who attended the clinic found themselves on the national news that evening. A massive HIPAA violation.

This being said, we as a society need to quit looking the other way and address this issue head on. The leaderships in towns that chose to ignore these issues should be charged with crimes. They are in a position of power to make a difference. When they choose not to and ignore it, they represent a very stupid part of society.  

 

 

Sources

CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas—2012. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2014;19(No.3). Published November 2014.
2CDC. Estimated HIV incidence in the United States, 2007–2010. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2012;17(No. 4). Published December 2012.
3CDC. HIV Surveillance Report,2013; vol. 25. Published February 2015.
4Purcell D, Johnson CH, Lansky A, et al. Estimating the population size of men who have sex with men in the United States to obtain HIV and syphilis rates. Open AIDS Journal 2012;6 (Suppl 1: M6): 98-107.
5CDC. Estimated lifetime risk for diagnosis of HIV infection among Hispanics/Latinos— 37 states and Puerto Rico, 2007. MMWR 2010:59 (40);1297-1301.

Additional Resources

Parents Learn About Heroin, Save Your Kids Lives
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 

Heroin is a highly addictive narcotic.  This year alone, it has been reported that there are 810,000 Americans addicted to heroin.

What is the cost of that figure to society?  The price is in the billions.

Let’s divide where this money goes.  Heroin abuse gives an individual health problem like heart infections, miscarriages and overdoses, just to name a few.  The main way of getting heroin into the body is by injection, and this act alone increases susceptibility to infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Heroin suppliers make the drug from opium.  Its chemical name is diacetylmorphine.  Users will smoke it, snort it or inject it.  It causes euphoria and acts on the central nervous system.  When the euphoria is gone the user gets dry mouth, skin flushing, and heaviness.  Along with these withdrawal symptoms, he or she experiences nausea, vomiting and itching.  Then he or she may sleep for a long period of time.  He can’t reason very well.  His heartbeat and breathing slow down.

At this point, most people are hooked.  Within hours after heroin abuse, withdrawal symptoms start.  The heroin user experiences pain in the bones and muscles, restlessness, diarrhea, insomnia, chills, convulsions and vomiting.  These withdrawal symptoms may last for months.

First time heroin users inevitably become long-time heroin addicts.  Heroin abusers suffer artery damage and develop problems with their lungs, liver, kidneys and veins.

Heroin Use

Just one decade ago, the average heroin user consumed more drug than he does today.  That is because the purity of the drug is higher.

Studies have shown that there were 149,000 new heroin users in 1998.  80% of them were under the age of 26.  They looked at those who had used heroin in the past month and found that in 1993, 68,000 people used heroin, and in 1999, 208,000 people used heroin.  That is a big increase.  It is being snorted and smoked more because of the fear of injecting it and being susceptible to HIV/AIDS.  It was also found in this study that heroin use was increasing among the teenagers in 8^th, 10^th and 12^th grades during the 1990s.

With its use being on the increase it is a good idea we all get more educated and pass this information on to your families.

 

If your public officials are ignoring this epidemic, you need to train yourself to save your community. We hope these weekly posts are a source of education for you.

 

Those public officials who ignore this should be voted out of office. In Mercer County, NJ we have an election coming up, we can only hope someone who cares about this matter is elected. The current mayor in one of the towns demonstrates zero interest in addressing the community on this matter. Do you want a mayor who could care less about this issue?  Who cares less about the residents and their own personal gain?

 

When this issue was ignored in Indiana....they now have a new AIDS epidemic on their hands due to the addicts sharing needles. Will towns become the new epicenters for AIDS epidemics due to public officials ignorance to these critical issues? It already has happened in Indiana. It can happen in Mercer County as well. The officials who allow this to go on are murdering their own residents by ignoring these types of epidemics. Should these public officials be charged with a crime when this happens? 

 

 

 

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day – June 6

Six Flags Great Adventure will host Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day June 6. All guests are invited to learn about hearing loss and celebrate sign language at this annual event. A portion of the proceeds for this event supports a variety of NJ organizations for the deaf.

 

Walk with Ronald McDonald® featuring special guest Nick Tangorra Band – June 7

Six Flags Great Adventure hosts the 16th annual Walk with Ronald McDonald® at Six Flags Great Adventure June 7. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The event kicks off at 9:15 a.m. with a ceremony featuring special guest and internet sensation Nick Tangorra Band. Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. and proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald® Houses of Central and Northern New Jersey. Walk registration includes theme park ticket to enjoy the day. Nick Tangorra Band will perform a special charity concert in the Showcase Theater that afternoon. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance online at www.sixflags.com

 

Magician Collins Key – June 7

Six Flags presents reality talent show star Collins Key in Showcase Theater June 7 at 4 p.m. with a second show at 7 p.m. This magical performance is included with theme park admission or Season Pass. Fifty meet-and-greet tickets will be sold for each performance for $49.99+tax each at Sweet Treats on Main Street the day of the concert. After a day full of coasters and fun, guests can settle down for a magic performance beyond their wildest dreams.

 

Jersey Championship Pro-Wrestling – June 13

Six Flags Great Adventure will host pro-wrestling at the park’s Movietown Arena. Bell time for the show will be 7:45 p.m., with a pre-show starting at 4 p.m. Featured names include: Mick Foley, Ted DiBiase, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, Tommy Dreamer and more. Pre-show will include a meet-and-greet autograph session with the stars. Tickets will range from $99.99 to $49.99 and will be available at a discounted rate for Season Pass holders. Event ticket and theme park admission, Season Pass or Membership is required.

 

Israel & New Breed Concert – June 20

Six Flags presents Israel & New Breed in concert with opener Karen Clarke Sheard beginning at 5 p.m. in the Plymouth Rock Assurance® Arena. This concert is free with admission, Season Pass or Membership.

 

Komen Kolor 5K – June 20

This unique event offered at Six Flags Great Adventure will feature a 3.1 mile walk/run or 2 mile walking course throughout the theme park, exciting musical entertainment at each of the kolor staging areas and a pre-party with music, dancing, warm-up stretching, giveaways and more. Participants can register as an individual or as a team, or sign up to be a volunteer. After the run, guests enjoy a day with filled with Six Flags thrills. The event benefits Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey.

 

Jack & Jack Concert – June 27

Join internet sensations Jack and Jack live in concert at 6 p.m. at the park’s Movietown Arena. Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson are known for their combined 14 million social media followers as Jack & Jack from their viral Vines. Tickets start, with additional VIP space, at $49.99 and range to $149.99. Discounted ticket rates will be available for Season Pass holders. Event ticket and theme park admission, Season Pass or Membership is required.

DIAMONDS FADING OVER TIME
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

The approximately 500 diamonds passed through the GIA’s laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel in the past several months and now are circulating in the trade. The GIA sent out notifications about the still-unidentified temporary treatment Tuesday and is asking anyone in the trade with these 424 potentially treated stones to turn them back into the GIA for reexamination. (Approximately 76 of the 500 already have been reexamined by the GIA.) 

The vast majority of the stones are 1 carat or larger, with a number of 3-, 4- and even 5-carat stones in the mix. A three color-grade jump for stones of this size would amount to a big difference in price or, as one industry player observed, “big bucks” for the sellers. 

Meanwhile, the GIA has terminated the client agreements of the companies linked to the stones, as the lab “reasonably suspects” that the companies knew the diamonds were treated and did not disclose it, GIA spokesman Stephen Morisseau said.  

The companies are listed online as: E.G.S.D Diamonds Ltd., L.Y.E Diamonds Ltd., Abramov Romok and Yair Matatov.

None of the four companies could be reached at the phone numbers listed online for them, all 972-54-397 numbers, mobile phones on the Israel Diamond Exchange’s cell phone system.

Only one of the four, Romok Abramov, replied to request for comment on the case via email. 

In his email, he claims that “the amount of stones (that) can be submitted to GIA by one account is limited,” and so “Gabi” at E.G.S.D Diamonds, who presumably had hit his limit, asked him to submit stones on his behalf.  “(I) never saw any of those stones and don’t have any idea if they were treated,” Abramov stated.   

The GIA confirmed that there are indeed stone submission limits at its lab in Ramat Gan. And Morisseau said the lab does have a procedure whereby clients can ask for another client to submit stones on their behalf, but he doesn’t know if that procedure was followed in this case. 

The GIA said it has notified the diamond bourses about what happened. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Israel Diamond Exchange said it called an emergency meeting of its board of directors upon hearing the news and has “resolved to identify the suspects” and act immediately to “take the needed measures.” 

Morisseau said the GIA has not yet identified the treatment but are “actively researching it.” 

The lab became aware of this potentially new color treatment when a client (not one of the four listed above) purchased one of these diamonds and the treatment began to wear off, leaving him with a diamond that had a much lower color grade than what he had paid for. 

He returned the stone to GIA for reexamination. It was then that the GIA discovered the treatment and connected this stone with hundreds of others that had been submitted by the four companies. 

While the GIA hasn’t drawn any solid conclusions yet, Morisseau said they “reasonably believe” that all of the approximately 500 stones have been treated but won’t be able to say definitively until the lab reexamines them. 

He added that they are monitoring other GIA labs worldwide for similar submissions. 

The report numbers of the potentially treated stones are posted on GIA.edu. Anyone who has purchased or has access to any of these diamond is asked to submit them to any GIA lab for free, expedited review.

The Margarine Project
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 

Three weeks ago my Mom started a science project in her backyard. She placed a container of margarine outside in the elements, in the shade, to see what would happen to it. I have no idea what possessed her to do this but the results have been quite interesting.

 

 

 

 

After three weeks, in the heat (there were days that were 90 degrees) not one bug entered the container. Not one. The margarine did not lose its shape or consistency. There has been some pollen and petals that have blown into the container, but other than that, nothing has happened to it.  This particular brand (seen below in the photo) is supposed to be the "healthier" type of margarine because its made with olive oil.  There is not one fruit fly, no mold or other type of growing organism from not being refrigerated. It has not rotted and does not smell any differently. That cannot be a good thing.

 

 

 

 

I have moved my Mom's container to my home and have added another brand of margarine to the experiment. We will see what happens over the next several weeks.  I must say after witnessing what happened with my Mom's experiment, I will never eat margarine again. I will proudly only buy butter and be better off for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Way back yonder margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. Well, this did not work out so well, it actually killed the turkeys. The companies that put all their to research of course wanted an return on their investment.  So, they repackaged it and added yellow coloring and began selling it to the human race to replace butter.  

 

So, let's compare and contrast....butter vs. margarine.  Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine. If you eat margarine you actually can increase your chance for heart disease, especially in women in women by 53% .  By eating butter this actually increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added and they are synthetic.

 

Let's not forget the most important part of all of this.  Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Margarine has a plastic taste to it.

And now for Margarine…..

 

It is very high in Trans Fatty Acids and triples your risk of Coronary Heart Disease. It also increases your Total Cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL Cholesterol, (the good cholesterol). It also increases the risk of cancers up to five times.  Lowers quality of breast milk and decreases immune response.

 

 

If one evaluates the molecular structure of margarine is one molecule away from being plastic. It also shares 27 ingredients with paint. My Mom's experiment and these facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life.

 

If a fly won't go near the food on your plate, its probably not healthy to eat.  We will report back in a few weeks with an update on the other brand we are not testing along side Mom's original container. Off to the butter aisle in the grocery store!

 

 

Top Ten Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Heroin
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: Keeping Your Kids Safe
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST