Being The Osmonds (2003 UK Documentary Featuring The Osmond Brothers)

This is a very interesting documentary featuring the Osmond brothers.  Marie did not participate.  The brothers talk of growing up in a family with high pressure to not only perform, but to perform perfectly.  This includes some exploration of the progression of the family entertainment business, which left the older Osmond Brothers behind, being replaced as lead singer, and in fact preventing their pursuit of a rock band career.  This was a cathartic exercise for the brothers, and let them air things maybe they would not have otherwise.  It appeared to be a healing process.  There were not only jealousies over careers, but also over women.  It appears Donny Osmond married a woman who had previously dated Jay.  The oldest performed, Alan, now has M.S. and talked of his struggles with this.  I really enjoyed this look at inside the Osmonds as they were coming back together to perform in Branson.  This was produced for BBC television.
 

A New Day for the Book of Mormon

The BYUTV documentary has me very excited to read the Book of Mormon, in a different light.  It
contains interviews with many different scholars, and many different aspects of the Book of Mormon. these aspects includes as literature, as theology, and as proof of its authenticity.    It includes the testimony of scholars, apostles, authors, theologians and many more.  It talks about when many people came to know that the book is a true book of revealed scripture from God, which adds its testimony of Jesus Christ to the testimony by the Bible.  It is a companion to the Bible, not a replacement.  I would encourage all to view this presentation, as I think it will strengthen testimony of those who already believe, and encourage all to investigate this book with real intent one more time.  I know it is a true book.  I am looking forward to a year of intense study.

Documentary Review: The Incredible Human Machine

The Incredibla Human Machine, National Geographic, 2007.
This is an incredible look at the human body.  It looks at each of the major systems, and describes the importance of that system, usually i more than one way.
It starts with skin.  Skin not only keeps us together, it is also a cooking mechanism.  The individual cells expand when we are hot, which allows for increased cooling.  Also the secret sweat, which encourages evaporation and cools us.  If not for tyhe cooling properties of skin, we would all be sunk.
It then takes a look at each of our senses.  Eyes are the gateway.  The retina of the eye is so thin, yet it had thousands of individual cells receiving images.  In similar fashion, the ear receives myriads of waves, some traveling very fast, which are interpreted by three tiny bones.  The ear also plays an important role in balance and helping us know where we are at.
It is incredible how many taste buds are on the tongue, and if we accidentally burn them off new ones are formed in a couple of weeks.  Touch and smell also play important parts.  Pain is a mechanism to warn us, and is a good teacher.
The digestive system is so intricate as well.  Food gets to the stomach very quickly, and then is slowed down to allow for absorption of minerals and vitamins that we need.  The stomach first slows food down, and then the intestines.  Food slowly escapes through he intestine wall, where the liver is waiting to finish the absorption process. 
Oxygen also enters the body, and is distributed through the lungs to the blood stream.    Sound is made as air is passed over the voice box.  The voice box is two membranes that vibrate and knock against each other at an incredibly rapid rate.  They shows Steve Tyler's voice box, and studied this through a concert.  There were over a million such collisions in one concert.
Our bodies house over 70 miles of blood vessels which carry minerals and oxygen to every cell of the body.  This entire 70 mile system is controlled by one 10 ounce pump called the heart. 
The muscular system was presented in great detail.  Over 200 different muscles make it possible to walk; Back and stomach muscles so we don't fall over backwards or forwards, and then all the leg muscles.  We are an incredibly complex machine. 
Our system of bones can withstand great pressure.  They give us shape.  However bones would not work without joints, and joints would not work without ligaments.  It is all so complex.
Our nervous system and our brains are also a marvel.  We use such a little percent of our capacity.  But we are able to expand our minds.  Just now data is beginning to develop with regards to mapping the brain.  Each individual is distinct, and places in the brain for certain functions can vary  Some of these area, we are just touching the surface of understanding.
In many areas the give glimpses of new advances, sight, heart surgery, brain surgery, joint restorarion, are just a few of the advances we glimpse. 
This movie is truly amazing.  It is impossible to describe the entire system.  However, my conclusion after watching this is :There is a God."  How could such a complex system come together randomly.  We were created in God's image.

Documentary Review: Diabetes: Understanding Your Condition

These are a few ideas from Mayo Clinic.  Take control of your illness and keep it in check so you don't have any of the severe complications.  Complications of diabetes can be minimized by good diabetes care: exercise and look at health holistically.
Some of these long term effects are eye problems, retinopathy is when the blood vessels break, and nerve damage.  Neuropothy is when you feel numb.

Documentary Review: Native American Healing in the 21st Century

This movie presents Native American medicine as part of holistic health.  They also talk about other forms of alternative medicine.  Much of the medicine is bases on herbal medicines; but it is combined with prayer and spiritual preparation.  A combination of health treatments is most likely to be the most successful.  The Great Spirit and oneness with the earth and the spirit are important to treating people in a holistic way.  The presentation compares Native remedies with Eastern medicine.  The importance of keeping energies in balance. 
A basic philosophy behind their remedies is gratitude for the Creator.  This combined with and absence of bias and prejudice will lead to peace, which is perfect healing. 
This movie presents a lot of practical advise, which herb or plant treats which illness.  Common natural band-aids and cures harvested from plants. 

Mormon Movie Review: Tyler: A Real Hero (1994)

When Sheri and I were big into Amway, at one of the conference Tyler Wilkinson was one of the motivational speakers.  This film was shown and we purchased a copy.  This is a story about a young man who had everything going for him, Star football player, stake champion wrestler and baseball player.  However he fell asleep at the wheel, and rolled his vehicle, which resulted in spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. 
This movie is narrated by Steve Young.  The story really begins after the accident.  It is not easy to maintain your attitude in such circumstances.  However your attitude is necessary to regain as much capacity as possible.  This movie concludes with the announcement that Tyler married his high school sweet heart, Jennifer Orton.
This movie tells a great story.  I just don't know why they had to add Paul James as the announcer for the football games.  This spoils rather than adds to the story.

Documentary:The Bridge (Suicide) and my Thoughts (to health)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhARXu3wWDc
This is a documentary that was presented on HBO.  It was a bit difficult to watch. I had to do it in several parts.  If this subject is a problem for someone, it would be best they not watch.  The Bridge is a 2006 documentary film by Eric Steel that tells the stories of a handful of few individuals who committed suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004.  They had two cameras filming the bridge  during daylight hours.
This movie was introduced to me at a training I attended this week at work dealing with "Mental Health First Aid."  In the training the presented just one story, of the individual who jumped and survived.  They trainers were making the point that perhaps if someone how, there were times when, if a mental health first aid intervention had been offered, the individual may not have jumped. 
This movie is very impactful.  I don't know how many suicides were taped in the making of this film, but there were several, and many were shown.  The movie becomes more personal as they talk to survivors of suicide, and then show the suicide.  There is one case where someone is able to pull someone back over the railing.
The movie contends that more suicides have taken place here than any other place in the world. 
I was impressed with the showing, and telling of the stories of people in pain.  Some suffered from depression, or other mental illnesses.  Some were homeless, some with substance issues.  There abuse were 24 suicides in 2004 off the bridge.  There were those with relationship issues, and those with loss issues.  It helped me as a mental health worker to step back, and see people as individuals in pain, rather than just callers, or clients. 
Before leaving this some words of advice from someone who has manned the suicide and crisis line, and after-hours line for most of my professional career, 30 years now.  Do not be afraid to ask someone if they are contemplating suicide.  Don't no be afraid to ask, because the asking might save someone's life.  But also be prepared to give some assitance if the answer is "yes." You can refer to a crisis line:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-talk
Santa Clara County Suicide Line  1-855-278-4208
You can explore self-help resources: a friend, a parent, a church leader, a coach whoever.
However: always take it seriously.  Do not minimize how someone else feels.  People hurt, and need support sometimes to make it through a rough period.  Professional help is available: 911, nearest emergency room, county mental health Santa Clara County 1-800-704-0500.
If you would have trouble seeing someone jump to their death, do not watch this movie.  It shows several jumpers, and follows some as they fall.

Documentary Review: It's Incredible How Deep the Hooks Go: Methamphetamine Addiction

I watched a documentary on Netflix Instant, "National Geographic: World's Most Dangerous Drug."  It indicates methamphetamine is 3.5 x more addictive than cocaine.  It talks about the cost of this drug, which has really burst upon the scene in the past 25 years.  This corresponded with the use of ephedrine in cold medicines.  Now most states limit the access to this medications, and some require a prescription.  This had the desired effect of limiting manufacture in the United States, but has not reduced the supply, as Mexican drug cartels have filled this void.
This documentary showed what happened to one's health over time with the use of this drug.  I showed this by showing different mug shots of the same person over time.  The sores and the emaciated faces where undeniable.  They also interviewed addicts, who talked about the delusions and hallucinations that accompany the use of methamphetamine.
The told the story of a young couple that became disoriented with their first use.  They were driving in a storm, and because of illusions and paranoia, and poor thinking as a result of the drug, they did not survive the storm.  This was likely their first use.  The effects of methamphetamine last longer.  The high can last for twelve hours.  This makes the drug more desirable but also more dangerous, because the drug messes up you logical thinking.
It also tells the stories of a couple people with recent sobriety.  One woman destroyed her good looks and her teeth.  The other was putting his life back together, after being in a fog for twenty years, and basically twenty years behind his classmates from high school.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS DON'T USE DRUGS, AND ESPECIALLY METHAMPHETAMINE.

Movie Review:*The 11th of September; Moyers in Conversation

boring, and some of the guests are really stupid
 
This movie presents the Bill Moyers show, and conversations he has with his guests following the terrorist attack against the World Trade Center.  It presents several different guests, with different views.  The first episode, I think the evening of 9/11 has a conversation with regards to the bravery of the firemen and police officers.  Everyone was going down and the rescue staff were going up.  Everyone was running away, but the police and firemen were running  towards the disaster.

The next week presented an individual talking of taking everything slow, and turning rage into I don't know what. He had written about a Japanese terrorist attack in the subway.   He commented that the U.S. were also terrorists, nuclear terrorists.  I don't know what point he was trying to make; he must have been an American hating citizen.  Bill Moyers seemed to agree with him.

He presented his own minister, a humanist it would appear, as well as people of the Islamic faith.  The point being even though Islam has its groups of extremists, so does Christianity.

And then another week he w=has a guest talking about the Crusades, and being careful with regards t our own religious views.  We have to look of ourselves as "The Devil."  Why do other cal us the devil and are willing to die killing us.

This was boring.  It does let you know why Obama won't use the work terrorist, or Islamic.  They are just people from diverse groups who want to kill us.

Movie Review: *September 11

September 11 was produced by Empire Arts in 2002. That means it was produced within a year of the tragedy of 911 when nearly 4000 people were killed on American soil by Islamic terrorists.   It is a documentary presenting the stories of September 11 from several different angles.
I must admit I was unable to watch it very closely.  Not because it was showing graphic material, but because it seemed to me like a propaganda piece trying to put the reaction of different societies into a different light.  It had the Iranian School teacher trying to get her children to understand the tragic event, it showed an interaction between and Egyptian film maker and a U.S. soldier killed years earlier in the bombing in Lebanon.  To me it was an attempt by different cultures to explain how they would be effected by 911 and that it wasn't going to be good.  It did not show the dancing in the street in some Muslim countries which was recorded the day the tragedy.  You can't wash over the tragedy by telling the story in a different way than it happened. 
I would not recommend this movie to anyone.  I got it from the library.  If you see it there just let it stay on the shelf rather than waste your time.

Documentary Movie Review: *When the Bough Breaks

http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/about_the_series.php

When the Bough Breaks is a movie that is part of the series Unnatural Causes which was produced for PBS by California Newsreel.  I understand the series is going to be presented again on PBS.  It originally aired in 2008.  For better or worse this series is part of the policy discussion in health care.
I was at a training yesterday, in which the movie was shown and it has me thinking.  Perhaps my previous blog "Racket Sports Make You Smart" was a sarcastic reaction to this movie.
The movie presents data about low birth weight babies.  The statistics show that African American mothers have twice the chance of having a low-birth weight baby as a whit mother.  It indicates the researchers thought this must have been due to difference in socioeconomic class.  However when they ruled this out, the gap became wider rather than narrower.  The movie presented the story of an African American mother, lawyer and successful in terms of things of the world.  However her baby was born just over two pounds if I remember, and was another statistic in this debate.  It pointed out that upper economic classed African American women have babies with lower birth weight than the babies of White women.
They decided this must be something in their genetic code.  However when they looked at recent immigrants from Africa, their babies had the same weight on average as white babies.  However after being in the United States for a generation, then their statistics reflected the African American population at large.  Consequently they concluded it wasn't genetic factors.
They concluded that the reason for the low-birth weight among babies born to African American woman had to be racism.  That racism, over a life time effects the Black women in such away as to make affect the health of their babies.
The movie points out the infant mortality in the United States is not much to be happy about.  It seems the United States ranks 34 overall in the world.  Even taking away the African American babies we still rank around 23.  So the health and risk of low-weight babies is prevalent amongst our entire population, and more prevalent among the African American population.
In our own family, our little Tony was born with low-birth weight.  He was in the hospital for 10 days.  In his case his birth mother was very young.  I also find that drugs may have something to do with low-birth weight.  It seems doing foster care, most or all of our babies have been exposed to drugs.  I wonder if age of the mother and drugs could be factors? Another factor could be multiple births.
During the past year there have been four low-weight babies born among my extended family.  The wife of my nephew had triplets, all of low-birth weight.  They are all doing fine now.  My niece also had a baby who was born too soon.  Unfortunately she lost her baby when he got an infection in the hospital.
Low-birth weight is not confined to babies of African American women.  I wonder if this issues is more complex than just blaming it on racism.  Are their other factors at play with regards to the make up of the African American family that could play a factor as well?