Migraine Relief: Water

I discovered a migraine relief technique that did -- remarkably enough -- provide me with some relief.  I have used it several times and it has been successful, or patially successful, each time.  It involves water in two applications.

First, fill a basin with water as hot as you can stand without burning yourself.  You will dip your feet in this.

Second, fill and ice pack.  You will apply this to the back of your neck, focusing on the side you actually feel your migraine, if any.  (I used a quart-sized ziplock bag and then wrapped it in a hand towel.  A can of cold soda was also suggested.)

You want to apply these for about 20 minutes.  It is also suggested to use a dim, quiet room.

It was said to work best when one is just feeling the headache starting and each time I have done this, the migraine was stopped in its tracks.  No meds were taken.

On a day when I had a truly debilitating migraine -- the worst that I've had in some time -- I tried this at hour 14.  It did not do what medication also could not;  it did not end the headache.  However, it did reduce the pain by a considerable factor.  I was very pleasantly surprised.

It was said that this doesn't work for everyone.  However, it seems to help me.  I hope that it will help you as well.

19 August 2011

Cat-In-a-Tree Rescue

I was reading Natural Health Magazine today and found a small article on rescuing cats that have climbed too high into trees and are unable to climb back down.  The article mentioned this website by Dan Kraus, Cat in a Tree Rescue.  Apparently, there are folks all over the country that have both climbing and cat skills to help in this situation.  Sure, all cats should be indoor cats.  Still, this is cool should the emergency arise.

15 August 2011

Democracy In America

Yale professor Jim Sleeper has written an interesting piece on the state of democracy in America.

4 August 2011

Legistlative Battles To Come

TPM reports on what is in store for the Congress and the White House.  Second verse, same as the first.

4 August 2011

Debt Limit Deal: Serious(ly) Funny?

Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart have now weighed in.  Jon is funny.  Keith is not.

Well, Jon is funny within the context of this mess anyway.  Which still means pretty serious.  And, as usual, spot-on.







2 August 2011

Debt Limit Time Line

TPM has written an overview of the entire process of the debt limit fight.

2 August 2011

Funny Sleepy, Very Funny Sleepy

Baby falling asleep.



Bear cub falling asleep.



Baby chick falling asleep.



Bonus of panda cub sneezing, but not sleeping!




1 August 2011

Debt Plan Low Down

TPM has the poop on the proposed plan to raise the debt limit.

Addition:  This reader response is worth a look.

Addition 2:  Paul Krugman's take.  It isn't pretty.

1 August 2011

2 August Addition: The take of MSNBC's John Schoen.