Welcome to the "Blog-zine to be named later". In short, this is the beginning of an online Blog/Magazine by regular guys, for regular guys. Why only guys, you ask? Well, we figured that since most of us here are guys, it was the obvious route to take.
So what exactly will this "Blog-zine" be about? The following is only a sample of the list of topics we plan to cover: Food Beer & Beer Brewing, Gadgets, Cars, Health, Dating. We will be writing articles, stories and giving our opinions each month.
We will also welcome contributions from the hundreds (hopefully thousands) of readers out there...women included.
In closing, we hope you get a lot of enjoyment, tips and advice from our little "pet project". Until next time, keep it real and keep reading...
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Cure for Your Hangover
A.B., contributing editor
Well guys, after a hard night of drinking you're bound to be hungover the next day. Have no fear... our resident medical professional in training has found a cure...
I was doing my random reseach on subjects that matter. One of these happens to be nutrition. I highly recommend and practice a diet based on Macrobiotics. The gist of this way of eating has to do with Mostly Whole Grains, Some Vegetables, Some Protein (fish), and a little bit of fruit. That's it. But how this epifiany came about has to do with talk of hypoglycemia.
It has to do with Hangovers. We've all had them, and for those of you who haven't... GOOD FOR YOU! Then you probably won't need this information, but I know a few friends of mine who would.
No one, and I mean NO ONE takes these issues on with hangovers. I am here to present my findings and cure for hangovers based on science.
There are two main causes for hangovers:
1) Dehydration (Yeah, I know you've heard this one before)
2) Hypoglycemia (Yup, you probably haven't heard too much about this) Low blood-sugar bro's and sista's.
Ever wonder why you go to white castle after drinking up a storm, go for the pizza, drink pop ect... That's why. It's documented that overindulgence in alcohol causes hypoglycemia. Your blood sugar is less than the amount of insulin going into your blood.
I will gather evidence to prove this point, but I was looking at the symptoms of hypoglycemia and figured out that in most cases they are highly similar IF NOT THE SAME as a hangover:
Hypoglycemia Progresses a variety of symptoms occur such as headaches, difficulty in concentration, disorientation, mental confusion, dizziness, faintness, double vision, coldness of the extremities, staggering or inability to walk, muscle twitching, depression, restlessness and mania (excessive excitement). Unless recognized and treated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to generalized convulsions followed by retrograde amnesia and unconsciousness. (Retrograde means moving backwards to a worse state.)
This would also indicate why people tend to wake up in the middle of the night sweating after a night of binge drinking. Same thing happens with folks who have hypoglycemia.
I made the connection after I recalled one of the better hangover cures that I heard of was drinking Orange Juice with sugar in it before going to bed. I didn't make the connection at that time, but whenever diabetics or folks who are hypogylcemic need a quick blood sugar fix, one of the things that they reach for is oj because it goes into your bloodstream so quick (has to do with fructose -- fruit sugar = easy to use right away).
So anyway I have made my case, and now I will make my case for the cure or prevention of hangovers:
Control your blood sugar if you are going to get yourself "faded". Try downing 20 oz of oj with a tablespoon or two of sugar in it. Follow that up with a gatorade, or powerade to replace your electrolytes and you should be good.
Granted this might not get rid of nausea and the like, it sounds like it should take care of 9/10ths of the symptoms associated with a hangover.
I only drop this info on everyone because I have mad love for y'all.
Well guys, after a hard night of drinking you're bound to be hungover the next day. Have no fear... our resident medical professional in training has found a cure...
I was doing my random reseach on subjects that matter. One of these happens to be nutrition. I highly recommend and practice a diet based on Macrobiotics. The gist of this way of eating has to do with Mostly Whole Grains, Some Vegetables, Some Protein (fish), and a little bit of fruit. That's it. But how this epifiany came about has to do with talk of hypoglycemia.
It has to do with Hangovers. We've all had them, and for those of you who haven't... GOOD FOR YOU! Then you probably won't need this information, but I know a few friends of mine who would.
No one, and I mean NO ONE takes these issues on with hangovers. I am here to present my findings and cure for hangovers based on science.
There are two main causes for hangovers:
1) Dehydration (Yeah, I know you've heard this one before)
2) Hypoglycemia (Yup, you probably haven't heard too much about this) Low blood-sugar bro's and sista's.
Ever wonder why you go to white castle after drinking up a storm, go for the pizza, drink pop ect... That's why. It's documented that overindulgence in alcohol causes hypoglycemia. Your blood sugar is less than the amount of insulin going into your blood.
I will gather evidence to prove this point, but I was looking at the symptoms of hypoglycemia and figured out that in most cases they are highly similar IF NOT THE SAME as a hangover:
Hypoglycemia Progresses a variety of symptoms occur such as headaches, difficulty in concentration, disorientation, mental confusion, dizziness, faintness, double vision, coldness of the extremities, staggering or inability to walk, muscle twitching, depression, restlessness and mania (excessive excitement). Unless recognized and treated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to generalized convulsions followed by retrograde amnesia and unconsciousness. (Retrograde means moving backwards to a worse state.)
This would also indicate why people tend to wake up in the middle of the night sweating after a night of binge drinking. Same thing happens with folks who have hypoglycemia.
I made the connection after I recalled one of the better hangover cures that I heard of was drinking Orange Juice with sugar in it before going to bed. I didn't make the connection at that time, but whenever diabetics or folks who are hypogylcemic need a quick blood sugar fix, one of the things that they reach for is oj because it goes into your bloodstream so quick (has to do with fructose -- fruit sugar = easy to use right away).
So anyway I have made my case, and now I will make my case for the cure or prevention of hangovers:
Control your blood sugar if you are going to get yourself "faded". Try downing 20 oz of oj with a tablespoon or two of sugar in it. Follow that up with a gatorade, or powerade to replace your electrolytes and you should be good.
Granted this might not get rid of nausea and the like, it sounds like it should take care of 9/10ths of the symptoms associated with a hangover.
I only drop this info on everyone because I have mad love for y'all.
Homebrewing Made Easy
You're out at your favorite bar, throwing a few cold ones back. You stop for a moment and wonder why you're giving all your money away. You ask yourself, why can't I just make my own beer? Well, you can, and it's pretty simple. With a little knowhow and some coin, you'll be brewing beer like the masters in no time.
But before you start telling everyone you're going to start the next MGD or Budweiser, you have to plan ahead. Homebrewing is fun and worthwhile, but it can also be time consuming and expensive.
Our experienced homebrewers came up with some guidelines to help you get started -
-Research the many types of beers that are out there. Decide what is right for you. Do you want an Ale, a Stout, or a Lager? You have about nine different styles to choose from.
-Visit your local brewing store and ask questions. Find out what's involved in the process and what you need to get started. Their employees know beer and beer brewing well. They'll give you good advice and start you on the right path.
-Find someone to brew with. It's a lot more fun and it's always good to have an extra set of hands, and brains, there with you. They can also provide some financial help.
-Figure out your budget. This can get expensive. The equipment alone can cost over $150. And each beer kit costs around $25.
-Decide on where you're going to make the mess. Be sure to have plenty of room and lots of windows nearby. Brewing can make your whole place smell for quite a while.
-Do it while you're sober! We can't stress this enough. If you are drinking, you're bound to screw something up.
We at Blog-zine TBNL speak from personal experience. Remember, if you follow these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to brewing like the pros. Just be sure to send samples of your work to Blog-zine TBNL.
But before you start telling everyone you're going to start the next MGD or Budweiser, you have to plan ahead. Homebrewing is fun and worthwhile, but it can also be time consuming and expensive.
Our experienced homebrewers came up with some guidelines to help you get started -
-Research the many types of beers that are out there. Decide what is right for you. Do you want an Ale, a Stout, or a Lager? You have about nine different styles to choose from.
-Visit your local brewing store and ask questions. Find out what's involved in the process and what you need to get started. Their employees know beer and beer brewing well. They'll give you good advice and start you on the right path.
-Find someone to brew with. It's a lot more fun and it's always good to have an extra set of hands, and brains, there with you. They can also provide some financial help.
-Figure out your budget. This can get expensive. The equipment alone can cost over $150. And each beer kit costs around $25.
-Decide on where you're going to make the mess. Be sure to have plenty of room and lots of windows nearby. Brewing can make your whole place smell for quite a while.
-Do it while you're sober! We can't stress this enough. If you are drinking, you're bound to screw something up.
We at Blog-zine TBNL speak from personal experience. Remember, if you follow these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to brewing like the pros. Just be sure to send samples of your work to Blog-zine TBNL.
Gun Control
S.B., contributing editor
Why is it that so many groups are against privately owned firearms? Is it because they fear something that Hollywood tells them to fear, or because they don't understand guns in general? It would seem that the latter is the case. I think that they are wrong, and that there should be an increased focus on education about guns, and a focus on stiffer penalties for crimes committed with guns. The way to decrease crime isn't to take the weapons from private, law abiding citizens. This kind of action only hurts the honest guy. Also, something else that really makes no sense is the requirement for a permit to carry a weapon. Criminals don't give a damn about permits. The only redeeming thing about permit requirements is the requirement for education in the safe handling of a weapon, which everyone should have.
Some people would say to increase police presence. I would partially agree with that statement. Increasing police presence is a start, but the police are a reactionary force, who only get called when a crime is in progress, or after it has been committed. If the victim had an Order for Protection, the police have a good idea of who to arrest. Oftentimes, I think that the victims rely too heavily on the police to protect them, when they should be taking the first step, and protecting themselves within the scope of the law. If you show criminals that you aren't going to roll over for them, and protect yourself, they'll find easier prey.
Some people don't believe in guns, and I understand that, but education is the best way to understand something that you don't know anything about. The other method people commonly propose is taking away private ownership of guns, and making it so that the military and police are the only ones who have access to guns. That would be unconstitutional and impractical. If you look at the countries who have outlawed private ownership of guns, like Australia, the UK, and to some extent, Canada, you'll see that crimes committed with firearms have gone up after taking away privately owned guns. Doesn't sound like a solution to me.
The way to decrease crime is to make prison a VERY unpleasant place, and to make a criminal's stay an extended, unpleasant tour. Our society has put too much focus on coddling criminals and too little focus on making people accountable for their actions. Some people would say that this seems a little extreme, but I think that Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County Arizona has the right idea. He makes his prisoners stay in tents with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees during the day, and has meal costs down to forty cents per meal, per person. This is effective in decreasing the number of repeat visitors to his jail, and has kept crime in his county down. I believe that prisoners should have their basic needs attended to, but by no means should they live in luxury. A prisoner doing five years should not have a degree when he leaves prison, but should by all means have an opportunity to learn a skill or trade to get him away from a life of crime. Studies have shown that if an individual learns a skill or trade while in prison, they reduce their chances of coming back. Granted, this is not automatic, but is a generalization of prisoners as a whole.
In closing, I'd like to say, that gun control is not crime control. Just look at New York, LA, Detroit, Chicago, and DC. DC had the highest murder rate in the country, and those were usually committed with guns. Yet, they have some of the strictest gun laws. How can this be? Gun control doesn't work. Marion Barry was once quoted as saying, "Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." Doesn't that make you feel comfortable about our nation's capitol? If they take away guns, people will use something else to commit crimes. People have used cars and baseball bats to commit crimes, but you don't see anyone trying to stop you from driving to the game, do you?"
Why is it that so many groups are against privately owned firearms? Is it because they fear something that Hollywood tells them to fear, or because they don't understand guns in general? It would seem that the latter is the case. I think that they are wrong, and that there should be an increased focus on education about guns, and a focus on stiffer penalties for crimes committed with guns. The way to decrease crime isn't to take the weapons from private, law abiding citizens. This kind of action only hurts the honest guy. Also, something else that really makes no sense is the requirement for a permit to carry a weapon. Criminals don't give a damn about permits. The only redeeming thing about permit requirements is the requirement for education in the safe handling of a weapon, which everyone should have.
Some people would say to increase police presence. I would partially agree with that statement. Increasing police presence is a start, but the police are a reactionary force, who only get called when a crime is in progress, or after it has been committed. If the victim had an Order for Protection, the police have a good idea of who to arrest. Oftentimes, I think that the victims rely too heavily on the police to protect them, when they should be taking the first step, and protecting themselves within the scope of the law. If you show criminals that you aren't going to roll over for them, and protect yourself, they'll find easier prey.
Some people don't believe in guns, and I understand that, but education is the best way to understand something that you don't know anything about. The other method people commonly propose is taking away private ownership of guns, and making it so that the military and police are the only ones who have access to guns. That would be unconstitutional and impractical. If you look at the countries who have outlawed private ownership of guns, like Australia, the UK, and to some extent, Canada, you'll see that crimes committed with firearms have gone up after taking away privately owned guns. Doesn't sound like a solution to me.
The way to decrease crime is to make prison a VERY unpleasant place, and to make a criminal's stay an extended, unpleasant tour. Our society has put too much focus on coddling criminals and too little focus on making people accountable for their actions. Some people would say that this seems a little extreme, but I think that Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County Arizona has the right idea. He makes his prisoners stay in tents with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees during the day, and has meal costs down to forty cents per meal, per person. This is effective in decreasing the number of repeat visitors to his jail, and has kept crime in his county down. I believe that prisoners should have their basic needs attended to, but by no means should they live in luxury. A prisoner doing five years should not have a degree when he leaves prison, but should by all means have an opportunity to learn a skill or trade to get him away from a life of crime. Studies have shown that if an individual learns a skill or trade while in prison, they reduce their chances of coming back. Granted, this is not automatic, but is a generalization of prisoners as a whole.
In closing, I'd like to say, that gun control is not crime control. Just look at New York, LA, Detroit, Chicago, and DC. DC had the highest murder rate in the country, and those were usually committed with guns. Yet, they have some of the strictest gun laws. How can this be? Gun control doesn't work. Marion Barry was once quoted as saying, "Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." Doesn't that make you feel comfortable about our nation's capitol? If they take away guns, people will use something else to commit crimes. People have used cars and baseball bats to commit crimes, but you don't see anyone trying to stop you from driving to the game, do you?"
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