I saw Dana Fuchs last night at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie New York. She opened for Dickey Betts and Great Southern. Great concert. She reminded me of a pretty hippie chick from the 70's and sounded like Janis Goplin. It's great to see that this type of scene still exists. Very mellow crowd.
The urge to binge mindlessly, though it can strike at any time, seems to stir in the collective unconscious during the last weeks of winter. Maybe it’s the television images from places like Fort Lauderdale and Cabo San Lucas, of communications majors’ face planting outside bars or on beaches.
Or perhaps it’s a simple a case of seasonal affective disorder in reverse. Not SAD at all, but anticipation of warmth and eagerness for a little disorder.
Either way, researchers have had a hard time understanding binge behavior. Until recently, their definition of binge drinking — five drinks or more in 24 hours — was so loose that it invited debate and ridicule from some scholars. And investigators who ventured into the field, into the spray of warm backwash and press of wet T-shirts, often returned with findings like this one from a 2006 study: “Spring break trips are a risk factor for escalated alcohol use.”
I recently took care of a 50-year-old man who had been admitted to the hospital short of breath. During his monthlong stay he was seen by a hematologist, an endocrinologist, a kidney specialist, a podiatrist, two cardiologists, a cardiac electrophysiologist, an infectious-diseases specialist, a pulmonologist, an ear-nose-throat specialist, a urologist, a gastroenterologist, a neurologist, a nutritionist, a general surgeon, a thoracic surgeon and a pain specialist.
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"We need major reform of the entire system, legal controls with real penalties for abuse, and somebody like Teddy Roosevelt to make it happen."
Despite this wearying schedule, he maintained an upbeat manner, walking the corridors daily with assistance to chat with nurses and physician assistants. When he was discharged, follow-up visits were scheduled for him with seven specialists.
This man’s case, in which expert consultations sprouted with little rhyme, reason or coordination, reinforced a lesson I have learned many times since entering practice: In our health care system, where doctors are paid piecework for their services, if you have a slew of physicians and a willing patient, almost any sort of terrible excess can occur.
Though accurate data is lacking, the overuse of services in health care probably cost hundreds of billions of dollars last year, out of the more than $2 trillion that Americans spent on health.
Notable Athletic Accomplishments: * 1988/1989 co-ed and women handcar world champion and two new world records (still unbeaten) * 1989 unofficial world record bench press: at body wt. 163 lbs benched 315 lbs. * 1990 USA
Bodybuilding Champion * 1991 Ms. International: 3rd place * 1991 Ms. Olympia: 6th place * 1992 Ms. Olympia: 3rd place * 1994-95 Grinder on America3 America's Cup team. Placed 2nd in World Championships Occupation: *
American Gladiator (Siren) * 1992-1997 athelete contract with Twin Labratories, the largest sport supplement company in the world * Contributing Editor of Muscular Development magazine * Public speaker on motivation, nutrition and overcoming adversity * Athletic model Favorite activities: Rock climbing (5.11), Olympic Kayaking, Modern, Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop dancing, Weightlifting/bodybuilding, rollerblading, gymnastics, biking, equestrian, football, swimming, track & field, national level heptathalete, riding her Harlely Davison, acting/dance theater, in-line skating, and jogging in deep sand
Hearing Loss: Started at age 3. By sixth grade, her right ear was so far gone she needed a hearing aid. The left ear followed shortly afterwards. College:Western Oregon State -- although receiving many scholarship offers due to her proficiency in track, she realized that she would need to quit track and concentrate on learning in order to make up for the education she missed due to her hearing loss Favorite quotes:
* Never doubt your abilities * Don't let others define who you are * God only gives us what we can take and what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger * Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech
Shelley Beattie is pretty much a complete embodyment of what I admire about female bodybulders. Shelley has managed to turn her life around from a suicidal teenager who couldn't come to grips with her hearing loss and found no support from her family to a very successful and popular athlete. She feels now that she has come to the point in her life where people see past her hearing loss. Although Shelley learned to sign in American Sign Language (ASL) she enjoys speaking. She has now learned to accept her hearing loss and states that she wants specifically to adopt a deaf child someday. Although her relationship with her real parents is improving now, her hearing loss (and her denial) caused many severe problems during her childhood and she was eventually placed into a foster home -- 3 foster homes.
Being stripped from her family took it's emotional toll on young Shelley and she began lifting weights about age 14 mostly out of frustration and loneliness. Although, the America Gladiators were relectant to hire Shelley because of her hearing loss, she has now become one of the most popular stars of the show. She also shares a column in Muscular Development magazine with husband John Romano. After a successful career as one of the top female bodybuilders, Shelley decided to leave bodybuilding to persue other interests.
Bob used to have these greatprivate parties each year for the top bodybuilders and people in the industry. It was called Champion Day. Bob's gym is named Strong & Shapely and is one of the last hard core bodybuilding gyms around still. Maybe I can talk him into having another one of these great parties where all the athletes train together for the day. I was talking to Rob Wilkins in this photo.
Rob is married to Amy Yanagisawa Wilkins and they have the most beautiful baby boy whose name is also Robert. I met him at the Arnold Classic last week for the first time.
Backstage at the Arnold Classic 2008 women's pre-judging
Flew into Columbus on Friday morning on a small plane whose engine would not start for 35 minutes. Hailed a taxi and talked about the Democratic primary with the taxi driver (for Obama). Hurried over and got my press and shoved my way through thousands of people at the Expo to get backstage for the Women's Prejudging.
Lori Victoria Braun
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