Daily Loaf

So what’s this about mammograms? The iconic breast screening exam has been called into question by a stellar panel from Harvard, Stanford and other such institutions who were tasked by the federal government to determine the efficacy and safety of the test.

So for decades now, the ladies have been lining up to have “the girls” squished, pinched, squeezed and radiated, in the hope that such treatment will result in early detection and improved survival. Instead, this new information is asserting that mammograms do not improve survival and are contributing to rising costs of healthcare by identifying many lumps that aren’t cancer or will never become cancer. So younger women, in the 40-49 year age group, are told they no longer need to have any mammos at all, and are even exhorted to not examine their own breasts for fear of finding something. Suddenly the fear and expense generated by “false positives” are outweighing the fear and expense of the real thing. Confusion reigns! Read the rest of this entry »

A new study reported by dailymail.co gives wine drinkers another reason to act superior to the rest of us cheap beer guzzlers, and also provides bartenders another selling point for pushing a bottle over a glass. Women who drink two glasses of wine daily report better sex than those who drink one or none. While they may not actually be having better sex, the two glasses of wine may help these women believe they are. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Living with the land: Florida’s first Earthship (video) – Eric Stewart gives a firsthand look at Florida’s first Earthship in Manatee County, and gets his hands dirty while helping out.

Not getting a million-dollar bonus this year? Think local stimulus- Scott Milinder shows us a real stimulus package that will work for us: we all commit to “Buying Local First.” According to recent economic studies, shifting your buying habits to locally owned businesses creates more circulation of money, more economic activity and more jobs in the local economy.

Eco-friendly summertime fashion accessories- Are you searching for a unique and beautiful purse to enhance your summer wardrobe? Then why not consider one of these recycled handbags that are made from recycled items that help to promote a cleaner and healthier world, reports Jen Meier.
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Reducing your beef (or all meat, for that matter) consumption could make quite an impact on not only your health, but also on the environment.

Beef contains high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, as well as chemicals and growth hormones. Many scientific studies have linked the consumption of red meat to heart disease, stroke, and breast and colon cancer.

According to the National Research Council, beef has the highest levels of herbicides of any food food sold in the US. This is obviously due to all of the pesticides used on the corn and soybeans that is then used for cattle feed. The NRC says that beef rates as second highest on the list of foods that pose the greatest risk of cancer due to pesticide contamination (tomatoes being the highest on the list). Their studies also show that over 95% of all cattle in the US are receiving growth hormones and other pharmaceuticals, many of those then showing up in the cuts of beef we buy at the grocery store.
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Gilgamesh Teaser from Sarah Wilson on Vimeo.

Gilgamesh. How do you stage a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian epic in a way that resonates for a 2009 audience? With dance, puppets, ingenious set design and a director who knows her way around ancient text, that’s how. Izumi Ashizawa, a visiting professor at USF’s School of Theatre and Dance, is internationally known for her innovative explorations of Persian and Greek myth, and for Gilgamesh she brings to life one of the earliest works of world literature, the story of “a hero king who spurned a goddess, battled monsters, and found the secret of immortality.” Fusing elements of  Japanese Noh theatre and Bunraku puppetry with the rigorous physicality of Suzuki actor training and “a primordial puzzle box of a set” (created in collaboration with USF theater and art professors), Ashizawa’s production sounds bold, ambitious — and definitely worth seeing. And it’s only got four more performances left. April 8-10: 8 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 3.p.m. Sat., USF-Tampa College of the Arts Theatre II, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $8-$15, 813-974-2323, theatreanddance.arts.usf.edu.

Pratima: Reflection. Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India stages this program of classical dance that brings the culture and history of India to the stage and incorporates elements of theater, music, mythology, sculpture and poetry. Wed., April 8, 8 p.m., Ferguson Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827.

Share the Hair. One event brings together two great causes today at the Mark Alan Salon in Citrus Park. The salon will provide a complimentary cut and style to those who wish to donate a 10-inch length of hair to Locks of Love, which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the US and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. At the same time, money is being raised for the Eager Beavers, a local group raising money in the fight against breast cancer, with complimentary haircuts and styles offered to anyone who donates to either charity. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. For more information, contact Dianna Gilley at 813-886-4446 or email Dianna@floridawestinsurance.com. Mark Alan Salon, 8627 Citrus Park Drive, Tampa,  813-792-5400.