Run Luau Run

Are You Quenching Your Thirst With Death?

February 4, 2014 by luau

After reading a recent blog post about the cancer that hides in our toothpastes, I was inspired by my friend Kimmerie to write about the one ingredient of death that the blogger left off of the list of death.

Dihydrogen Monoxide

That’s right, Dihydrogen Monoxide, better known as Hydroxyl Acid. This chemical compound can be found not only in our toothpastes, but is now found in just about everything we ingest. Is it any wonder that we are a more obese nation, a more cancer stricken nation? Statistically, 100% of all people who died in the last year had this chemical compound in their bodies. And here’s the scary part – more people died in 2013 than in 1760, commonly seen as the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Dihydrogen monoxide:

is called “hydroxyl acid“, the substance is the major component of acid rain.
contributes to the “greenhouse effect“.
may cause severe burns.
is fatal if inhaled.
contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

as an industrial solvent and coolant.
in nuclear power plants.
in the production of Styrofoam.
as a fire retardant.
in many forms of cruel animal research.
in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, product remains contaminated by this chemical.
as an additive in certain “junk-foods” and other food products. (SOURCE)
and can now be found in almost all inorganic and processed foods.

Overconsumption of hydroxyl acid can actually lead to much more serious complications including brain disease, brain herniation, cardiopulmonary arrest, cerebral edema (brain swelling), seizures, coma, and death. (SOURCE)

So I want you to run to your cupboard, medicine cabinet, refrigerator and laundry room. Check the list of ingredients. If you see Hydroxyl Acid or Dihydrogen Monoxide throw it out immediately! Go, NOW!!! I’ll wait.

***

What’s that?

You didn’t find anything with that chemical compound?

Hmmm…maybe it’s listed under it’s more commonly known name…

…water.

Lesson: don’t fall for the fear mongering crap people put out there…especially the ones who don’t do their research and get their “information” from the interwebs. Please note though that everything in this post is technically true – seriously! There is nothing false in this post. This is to remind you that even though these bloggers may technically be telling the truth (rarely), they are twisting the data and cherry picking what they are telling you.

Food for thought (just make sure their isn’t too much hydroxyl acid in it!).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer in toothpaste, chemical compound, death in a bottle, dihydrogen monoxide, fear mongering, hydroxyl acid | 1 Comment »

Weakness/Strength

February 3, 2014 by luau

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

Proverbs 10:17

Last Friday I wrote about the myth about human trafficking and the Super Bowl. It was my response after reading this by this “health” blogger. The blogger and I have had our philosophical differences in the past, but to me, this was pretty cut and dry. I left a few comments with links to groups that are in the trenches of human trafficking, pointing out that they, these advocacy groups for the victims of human trafficking, were saying that this myth was hurting, not helping, the victims of this horrible crime.

Her response? Nothing.

I pointed out that some of the very sources she linked to at the bottom of her post had altered their opinions on the matter, so shouldn’t she?

Nothing.

The very people she is claiming to care so much about are asking her to change her stance and her response is…silence. Now, I don’t doubt that this blogger’s heart is in the right place, but when you let pride overwhelm what is right, what does that say about you and everything else you supposedly stand for? What does that say about all of the “out of the box” remedies and life style choices (some of which are brilliant) she advocates for? If she can’t go back and admit she is wrong on something like human trafficking, how can we trust that the health choices she advocates for haven’t been debunked or even classified as unsafe?

Pride…it can make you do stupid things.

***

The other day fitness model and personal trainer Bella Falconi posted this on her Instagram Feed:

Inspiring, right? I used to feel the same way until someone pointed out to me years ago that although everyone does in fact have the same 24 hour every day, some must work 2 or 3 jobs, through no fault of their own other than life, just to put a roof over their children’s head and food in their children’s stomachs. After a 16 hour day, as a parent, would you choose to go work out or spend some quality time with your children? I said as much in the comments section, noting that perhaps until one is a parent, one cannot understand. I can’t actually tell you exactly what I said because Bella Falconi’s response was to delete and block. Now granted, this wasn’t the first time I had called her out on something. It was the second. The first was when she used the term “retard” in a derogatory manner. Then, just like the blogger above, the response was silence. At 27, this may simply be the immaturity of youth or that she has lived in the bubble of her success for too long. I don’t know her, so I can’t say. What I can say is that the response, much like the one above, seems to be rooted in pride.

***

A few month ago, Autism Speaks held a “March on Washington” event. Leading up to it, Suzanne Wright wrote her now famous op-ed about lost children, broken families and cities build for autistic people. As Autism Speaks patted itself on the back with a lavish party in DC complete with a Broadway review, thousands of autistic individuals and their families tried to make it clear to Suzanne and Autism Speaks that in order to truly speak for autistic people, the organization needed to let those people actually speak…but more importantly, Autism Speaks needed to listen.

The response? Nothing. Autism Speaks continues to believe that autistic individuals should not have a voice in how the world’s largest autism advocacy group operates. One doesn’t have to have a Ph.D. to see just how wrong this is.

***

This all led me to posting this the other day:

And maybe that is what it comes down to. Perhaps Sarah, Bella and Suzanne all feel that admitting that they are wrong on something will be perceived as a sign of weakness. Perhaps they are afraid that if they admit they are wrong on something that people will call into question everything that has come before. I believe the exact opposite to be true, because if you are willing to admit that you make mistakes, it shows me that you actually care about what you are putting forth; that at some point, you will go back and double-check and triple-check your work; that if someone says, “hmm. I don’t know about that…”, you’ll go back, see if there are new facts or new science either backing or refuting what you say, and you will act appropriately.

Admitting you are wrong, when you are wrong, is a sign of strength. As my friend Allissa said, “Knowledge + Humility = Power”.

***

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

Proverbs 10:17

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 24 hours, Autism Speaks, Bella Falconi, children, family, fitness, human trafficking, parents, Right, Sarah Stanley, strength, Super Bowl, suzanne wright, Time to workout, Weakness, Wrong | 1 Comment »

The Super Bowl Will Kill You!

January 31, 2014 by luau

I was “inspired” yesterday to do a little research. The Super Bowl is coming up this Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will rekindle their old AFC West rivalry. My hope is that the game will be a repeat of the last time these two teams met in the post-season (a 31 – 7 Seattle win!).

..but I digress…

Yes, I was “inspired” to do a little research. We’ve heard it every year in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. It is the day with the highest number of domestic violence incidents of the year. Thousands of women get beaten by their drunk spouses or boyfriends. It is also the “highest human trafficking incident in the United States”. Tens of thousands of women, as many as 100,000, get shipped to the Super Bowl host city to work the streets, limos and hotels.

Congressman are now sponsoring legislation. Websites like Upworthy are posting videos. Bloggers are taking to social media and swearing they will not watch the Super Bowl.

There’s even a new graphic going around:

There’s one problem…

None of it is true. That’s right; year after year after year, research and statistics have shown that neither one of these is true. If you don’t want to believe me, then read Rachel Lloyd’s most recent post over at Huff Po (Click —>HERE<—). Lloyd is the founder of GEMS – Girls Educational and Mentoring Services. You can also read a 75 page report from the Global Alliance Against the Trafficking of Women (Click —>HERE<—). Both groups will tell you that the Super Bowl myth is essentially an outright lie.

So why are so many organizations, church groups, politicians and people perpetuating this lie? Here are a few, in my opinion, depressing reasons (courtesy of the GAATW):

Its usefulness as a fundraising strategy – people give money to splashy sound bites;
Its effectiveness in grabbing the media and the public’s attention – which of course, comes back to increased fundraising;
Being a quick, easy way to be seen ‘doing something’ about trafficking – you get to beat your chest, put up a graphic, say “I’m not going to watch the Super Bowl!” and think you did something good;
Being a more socially acceptable guise for prostitution abolitionist agendas and anti-immigration agendas.

Now don’t get me wrong. As the father of two girls, one of whom is more vulnerable than most, sex trafficking is one of my greatest fears. But what pisses me off even more than the scumbags who take advantage of someone’s baby girl are the people who will prey on my fears with false statistics and outright lies in an attempt to scare me into donating money. That way of spreading awareness may work in the short-term, but in the long run you simply end up with folks who will not believe anything you say, because your platform is built on a lie…and what does that do for future victims of the sex trade? Nothing. In fact, probably worse than nothing because those of us who cared will have stopped listening.

I am left to believe that those inspired bloggers and organizations that push the above graphic are ultimately in it just for the attention and the dollars that will flow their way from those of us who get caught up in the hyperbole – it’s that or they are too lazy to actually do some research. In either case, do you really want to trust your donations to groups like that? If you truly want to help, contact GEMS or the GAATW to see what you can do.

And the next time you see a “statistic” like the above graphic, take the time to do a little research before passing it on.

And if you don’t want to watch the Super Bowl, then don’t watch it, but stop trying so hard to come up with a reason. If you don’t like football, then it is totally socially acceptable not to watch the Super Bowl.

Oh, and no, the Super Bowl won’t kill you…it was just a headline to get your attention.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Denver Broncos, domestic violence, fund raising, GAATW, GEMS, human trafficking, inspired, National Football League, NFL, Rachel Lloyd, Seattle Seahawks, Sex, Sex trafficking, Super Bowl, The Super Bowl, women's rights | 9 Comments »

Dear Jeremy Bieber…

January 24, 2014 by luau

Dear Jeremy,

Thank you. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for doing what you did. Partying, drinking and taking drugs with your son is one thing, but this took it to a whole new level. Blocking off a residential street so your drunk son could drag race in a high performance car? Brilliant! So soon after we lost Paul Walker in a fiery car accident? Genius! Thank you, thank you, thank you! And what’s the harm, right? No one got hurt. No one died…yet.

Because of you, the rest of us dads, those of us who struggle every day, wondering if we are doing a decent job by our kids, can look at each other and nod. We can take heart, knowing that we are trying to be parents, not friends, to our kids. We can find comfort in knowing, “at least we’re not that guy.”

So thank you, Jeremy. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Luau

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Dad, Drag Racing, Drunk Driving, father, Jeremy Bieber, Justin Bieber, parenting, Paul Walker, Thank you | 11 Comments »

Before You Judge…

January 20, 2014 by luau

So by now anybody who watched the NFC Championship game, or didn’t for that matter, has heard of or seen the post-game interview of Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman by Erin Andrews and has decided that he is now the reason they are rooting for the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl in two weeks.

Here it is:

Now, before you judge, I want you to look at this picture:

Qualifying for Boston by the skin of my teeth…

That’s me, a few years ago, barely qualifying for the Boston Marathon. It came at the end of a long journey, littered with many failed attempts. As fuzzy as the picture is, you can see the emotion on my face, in my body…I’m sure you can almost hear the primal scream I gave as I crossed the finish line. I had just punched my ticket to the big dance, to what is, for many recreational runners like me, the Super Bowl.

My recap of the race, was, if I may say so myself, not so badly written. If you want to relive history, you can find it —>HERE<—. But my skills as a writer are not my point. If someone had put a mic in my face right after crossing the line, I would have been hooting and hollering and would have been as non-“Crash Davis”-like as you can imagine. If, for whatever reason, someone had challenged my ability as a runner before the race, called me out if you will, and then, had the fates been so kind as to let me beat that someone by mere seconds as I crossed the finish to qualify for Boston and they crossed the line just missing their own qualifying time, I might have been moved to say something along the lines of what Richard Sherman said. Emotion is a powerful thing.

I know the analogy stinks. I know it barely works. But Richard Sherman had just finished a game where players throw themselves at each other at incredible velocities over and over and over again. If you watched the first video, then you need to watch this one too – it is all about TEAM.

Click on the image – Hmmm…I wonder why no one is playing this interview over and over again?

How many on-field post-game interviews have you watched? How many do you remember? Take it for what it is – an interview on the field after a bunch of guys just played a game. This is not international politics; it’s not a meeting of the Board of Education; it’s a Post. Game. Interview. And it was entertaining.

If you’re going to root for Denver because you are a Broncos fan? Fine. If you are going to root for Denver because you are an Indy or Peyton fan? Fine. If you are going to root for Denver because, well, you really don’t care and you flipped a coin? Fine. But if you are going to root for Denver because you think this Stanford grad with a degree in Communications is a thug? Hmmm. Maybe walk in his shoes for a couple of days and ask yourself how you might react (especially you dramatic types…you know who you are!). Someone online even suggested, based on the complete lack of profanity on Sherman’s part, that perhaps he was simply playing to the camera a la Professional Wrestling. Who knows?

The bottom line is there are 31 other teams that would love to have Sherman and his Legion of Boom in their defensive backfield, including yours.

GO SEAHAWKS!

***Disclaimer: this is not an unbiased post. As much of a New England Patriots fan as I have been for the last 10 years since moving here, I am, at heart, a Seattle sports fan and have rooted for the Seahawks, Sonics, Mariners and Sounders since 1977.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Denver, Denver Broncos, Erin Andrews, Judging, Michael Crabtree, NFC Championship game, Richard Sherman, Sam Wyche, Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl, testosterone | 3 Comments »

Out of Focus

January 17, 2014 by luau

Parenting can be tough…any kind of parenting. We worry about their safety, their development, their…well, everything. When I look at Katie I worry, but I know that it’s the same worry that every loving mom or dad feels for their kiddo.

But for those of us with special needs kids, sometimes some moments can be especially hard. The other day while walking Brooke to school, we fell in behind a couple of girls in her grade. They were chatting away about this and that. One turned to ask why I was wearing shorts while it was snowing and so cold. I laughed. Meanwhile Brooke was running through a few of her morning scripts. The girls went back to their conversation and Brooke continued with he scripts.

That’s when it really hit me (for like the millionth time) just how big the gap between Brooke and her classmates is and, even harder to take, the fact that there was no exchange whatsoever between these two girls and my daughter…not a “hey”, not a “hi”, not even a nod of acknowledgement. One of the girls had had a few play dates with Brooke over the years, and is one of the nicer, sweeter kids in her grade, but on that day there was nothing. It wasn’t intentional or mean-spirited; it wasn’t an active blindness, but it was a blindness nonetheless. It was as if she and her friend didn’t see Brooke at all.

Brooke herself didn’t seem to notice or care; she simply pushed on with her morning scripts. I, on the other hand, was devastated.

With Middle School looming not so far away, and then High School and beyond, I am having a harder and harder time imagining what Brooke’s adult life will be like. I used to be able to see it. It was as clear as HD TV in my mind; but with each passing year, month, week, day…the picture loses a little focus and what I see in my mind becomes a little more foggy, a little more murky, a little more unclear.

I did find some hope this past weekend. I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner of young autistic adults. Some were more talkative than others. I chatted with several people on varying topics. Most importantly though, Brooke seemed comfortable with the people there. They all acknowledged her presence – they all saw her (and she saw them).

So as cloudy and as murky as my images of the future may be, it is comforting to know that out there in the real world are autistic people who support each other, cheer for each other, but most importantly, see each other. As long as I know that Brooke will have that when she grows up, I can live with the picture in my head being a bit out of focus.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adult, autism, autism parent, autistic community, friends, parenting, parents | 9 Comments »

New Year’s Eve

December 30, 2013 by luau

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. For many it is a night filled with dancing, partying, eating and drinking…all to some level of excess. Typically this is followed up the next day with some sort of self-flagellation, a swearing off of certain foods and drinks, and a trip to the gym that is more an act of repentance than of self-improvement.

STOP!

Yeah, I know we all set goals on January 1st. Yes, many of us may indulge in a bit of debauchery the night before.

It’s. All. Good!

Getting fit, eating better and becoming better human beings does NOT mean that you can’t have a little fun during the holidays. No, you shouldn’t live a healthy lifestyle so you can occasionally partake in unhealthy behavior.

That’s silly.

BUT, it is one of the nice side benefits. Too many people measure every calorie, every gram of fat/carbohydrate/protein, every ounce of water they put into their bodies and when they fall off of that wagon, they plead for forgiveness and become even stricter with their self-control.

What kind of life is that?

Eat a healthful, colorful diet and participate in vigorous physical activity because you want to…because it feels good…because ultimately, it’s fun.

If you choose not to dance or eat or drink, that’s okay too. I’m sure your body will thank you for it on the 1st…but will your heart? Obviously I am not advocating abusing the various foods or substances people may use on New Year’s Eve (or any other celebratory occasion I suppose). What I am saying is that you should be able to have a little fun, eat a bunch of fatty food and imbibe in some champagne tomorrow night…without feeling bad about it the next day.

Just make sure you call a cab if you decide to drink.

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe, have fun.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged champagne, debauchery, drink, Food, Happy New Year, indulge, New Year's Eve | 3 Comments »

Chicken or Egg

December 21, 2013 by luau

Find your motivation…

Matt Wilson Personal Training

No, sorry, I don’t have the answer to that eternal question. Nor is this a post to help you decide which you should eat from a nutritional point of view (they’re both good for you!)

I do want to use it as an analogy for fitness. As someone who has been passionate about running over the last several years, I have often wondered whether I trained to run races or perhaps maybe I was signing up for races so I would have an excuse to train.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter because I truly enjoyed both. The truth is that this circular logic can be used to your advantage, particularly if you are one of those people who resolve every December 31st to “get into shape” and “lose those 10 pounds”. In this case, signing up for a race to have an excuse to train can be a great motivator. Knowing…

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Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Time & Money

December 7, 2013 by luau

There are a lot of empty excuses out there for not taking care of yourself.

I’m not good at taking responsibility…

I don’t know what’s in the food I eat…

I don’t like the taste of water…

Then there’s the excuse about Time and Money.

It takes too much time…

It costs too much…

A lot of people will frown upon those last two excuses. I used to be one of those people. My response was, “you can make the time” and “can you put a price on your health and well-being?” I was taken aback when several people, including my father, pointed out that saying things like “make the time” and “it’s cheaper than being unhealthy” were narrow-minded, insensitive and, to put it not so nicely, ignorant.

No matter how the economy is doing, there are people who struggle simply to put food on the dinner table and clothes on the backs of their families; this while working 12, 14, 16 hour days.

Yes, your health is important. True, if being fit is an overwhelming priority, you will make time for it. No doubt that being healthy is less expensive over the long haul than being sick – but here’s the question, at what cost? I love how many of the “experts” out there will whip people they see on the street over and over again about their unhealthy life-style, how they’re killing themselves and their kids, how cancer is a choice and blah, blah, blah, and as it ultimately turns out, they, the “experts”, have never had to take care of anyone other than themselves – they have no family; they have no real responsibility other than to themselves and their business.

Yes, family health matters, but you want to know what matters more? Children spending quality time with mom and dad; children going to bed with a belly full of food; children having clothes and shoes that fit to wear to school; children having an environment where they feel safe – these things take both Time AND Money.

So though I agree that people will often use Time and Money as empty excuses to avoid the perceived hard work of becoming fit and healthy, I believe we in the health & fitness profession need to think a little more sensitively about those who are struggling simply to get by – offer real solutions (like family walks) as opposed to generalized judgements (like “if you care, you will make the time and spend more wisely.”).

Not everyone is as fortunate or as well off as many seem to assume they are.

My one piece of advice to those struggling to feel better overall? Start small – whether that’s a promise to yourself to drink more water or take the stairs instead of the elevator (don’t start with 20 flights!!!) or eat out one meal less per week or play tag with your kids…whatever it is, start small. Give yourself a true opportunity to succeed and then, after a few weeks of that, fold something else in and then another and then another and then another…before you know it, a year or two will have gone by and you won’t recognize yourself or your family from a year before.