TIP - Why do we need storage bins?

 

Storage bins are great tools! You can get them cheap at dollar stores. Many people find them useful for storing out-of-season clothing and décor items. Here are two other types of materials you should stash in storage bins.

 

Store bulk purchases of paper goods (napkins, paper towels, toilet paper) in a storage bin to protect the paper from dust, moisture, mold and pests that can ruin the paper.

 

Secure large bags of pet food in a storage bin. Leaving pet food in an open bag is an invitation for ants, mice and other pests to invade your home for a feast. Plus storing pet food airtight keeps it fresher longer. Remember to keep the storage bin in a cool, dry environment.

 

Millet and Teff are the November Grains of the Month

 

The Whole Grains Council has declared millet and teff to be the grains of the month of November. Although these ancient grains are not as well known as wheat, barley or corn, they are important gluten-free sources of nutrition.

 

Millet was the earliest dry-land crop in east Asia. It is very drought resistant and was cultivated in China as long as 10,000 years ago. Its spread can be traced to Korea around 5500 years ago and then to India.

 

Millet is a fast-maturing crop that grows well in the semiarid poor soils of Africa as well as southeast Asia. Fertilizing and irrigating the soil can double production or more, as can introduction of disease-resistant varieties. India is the world’s leading producer, followed by Niger, China, and eight other African nations.

 

Because it is gluten-free, millet is a good food for people with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or wheat allergy. In addition to use as human food, millet is sometimes used as a grazing or forage crop to feed animals.

 

Teff is an annual grass native to Ethiopia, where it is one of the most important crops, despite its low yield and susceptibility to pests and other issues. Teff is highly nutritious and gluten-free, a good source of protein, calcium and manganese and higher in fiber than most other cereal grains. In Ethiopia, it is the main ingredient in injera flatbread, which is served at most meals. Teff is also used as animal food and the straw is mixed with mud to plaster walls.

 

Teff has been involved in an intriguing international scandal! In 2003, a Dutch company worked with an Ethiopian organization to introduce teff to European markets. The CEO of the Dutch company took out patents on processing methods for teff. The government of Ethiopia, noting the domestic shortage of quinoa in South America after that grain became popular in the US and Europe, outlawed export of raw teff in 2006. The Dutch patents were declared invalid by a Dutch court in 2019, ending what was being called a biopiracy conspiracy.

 

Have you tried cooking and eating these two historic whole grains?

 

Erica Mones - 7:30 am Nov 6

Erica Mones is a writer and disability advocate who was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She earned her Bachelors in writing and classical civilizations from Loyola University Maryland and her Masters in disability studies from the City University of New York School of Professional Studies. Her work has been published in New Mobility, Rooted in Rights, Pop Sugar, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation blog among other online and print publications. When she is not writing or doing advocacy work, she is usually watching and overanalyzing Apple TV's latest series. She currently lives in Wyoming with her cat, Atticus. 

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for November 2025

NOTE: Many of this month's poster sets support the International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference, Nov. 6. The theme is "No Health Without Peace."  Find out about the conference presentations here:
https://virtualability.org/idrac-2025/

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.  If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Stress Reducers
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

What is ableism?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

Music and Mental Health
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

Health Benefits of Yoga
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

Why is Community Important to People with Disabilities?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

What Can They Be Thinking?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

Quotes on Peace
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

Quotes on Health
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32 

Arash Javanbakht - 9:00 am Nov 6

Arash Javanbakht, M.D., is an award-winning psychiatrist and neuroscientist, and the founding director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC) at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan. He treats civilians, refugees, and first responders with PTSD. He has written a book about fear. Dr Javanbakht holds patents on artificial intelligence and augmented reality and telemedicine technologies for treatment for anxiety disorders and PTSD. 

Tiago Horta Reis Da Silva - 9:45 am Nov 6 Panel

Mr. Horta Reis da Silva is a Lecturer in Nursing Education at King's University, assisting with the BSc programme and teaching other modules. He has experience in other HEIs and NHS and collaborates with international teaching organizations. Tiago teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses nationally and internationally, including Nursing Practice 2 and Fundamental Knowledge and Skills in Older Person's Care. He is a Senior Fellow in Higher Education, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and a Fellow for Faculty Nursing and Midwifery Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. 

How to Motivate Yourself to Be More Productive

Sometimes you just don’t feel like working on something. Maybe you can’t get up the oomph to finish, or perhaps you’re not feeling ready to start. Here are some simple strategies to get yourself moving.

 

If you are facing a big project that will require a lot of time and effort, or if what you need to do appears unconquerable, try chunking it. Create smaller, short-term goals or divide the work into smaller task segments. It’s easier to work on a short project than a long one.

 

A related strategy is to promise yourself “Just five more.” If you agree to yourself to straighten five more shelves, write five more thank-you notes, finish reading five more pages in your class textbook, or polish five more windows, you have set an achievable task for yourself. The end in sight makes it easier to have the motivation to finish.

 

For some people, setting a deadline is a useful motivation technique. A deadline provides a concrete boundary for your project. A deadline for a short period such as “five more pages read” can be set into a timer; a deadline for a multi-day short-term goal can be added to your daily planner. This strategy won’t work for everyone. It is probably not appropriate if what you are trying to accomplish requires creativity.

 

Have you considered making a public commitment? Telling a friend what you will have accomplished by a certain date, or posting your intentions on social media, can be very motivating. You don’t want to have others see you fail! But you must be specific in your commitment for this strategy to work.

 

Believe it or not, taking a break from work can help you be more productive when you return to the task. Make it a short break, but use the time to get some exercise, such as taking a walk outdoors. Don’t worry about what you need to do when you are done with your break. Try thinking of this short time away from unmotivated work using a different term. The French and Germans call it a “pause,” in Portugal it’s a “pausa.” So nothing is broken, only paused, and you’re intending to get back to It when you are done with your walk.

 

Perhaps these strategies will help you initiate or regain your motivation to finish whatever it was that you weren’t making progress toward.

Carol Miller - 9:45 am Nov 6 Panel

Carol Miller, whose work focuses on language development, is a professor of communication sciences and disorders at Penn State. She is a member of the AI Institute for Exceptional Education's subgroup on learning science for children with disabilities.

Rose Hill - 9:45 am Nov 6 Panel

Rose Hill, MLIS, CPC, SUDP-T, is a Certified Peer Counselor with a focus in trauma and crisis counseling. She is in her final year of a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program. She has extensive professional and lived experience with a wide range of therapy modalities with specialized training in relational therapy, somatic therapy, existential therapy, psychotherapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR, and crisis intervention. She is currently an OUD specialist at Crisis Connections in Seattle, WA

Charee Thompson - 11:00 am Nov 6 Panel

Charee M. Thompson is a Professor of Health Communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She teaches and researches health communication within families and between medical providers and persons living with chronic illness. She focuses on health issues that are associated with uncertainty, stigma, and contestation--namely pain, mental illness, and, recently, long COVID. She also creates communication skills trainings for social network members and healthcare professionals, with the goal of equipping individuals to be more empathic and supportive providers of care to people navigating health issues. 

Henry Germain-McCarthy - 11:00 am Nov 6 Panel

Dr. Henry Germain-McCarthy is Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (New Orleans). His research about and advocacy for disability rights is long-standing. He works to promote the legacies and leadership of disability activism movements and improve public awareness, professional education, and social policy regarding quality of life for all people. His work has brought him to more than 40 cities in the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, and the U.S. His most recent publication is titled “Self-Advocacy and Ally-Advocacy for Disability Justice: Organisational, Psychosocial, and Political Resources.” 

November 6 – “No Health Without Peace” conference

Virtual Ability’s annual fall International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference will be
held on Thursday, November 6, in the Sojourner Auditorium in Second Life.  

This professional conference is free and open to the public. Presenters and panelists
from a wide variety of backgrounds will discuss the various definitions and
interconnections of “health” and “peace.” This promises to be an informative and
thought-provoking day.

The full schedule of the conference, presenter biographies, and session information are
available here: https://virtualability.org/idrac-2025/

If you are not in Second Life, you can watch the livestream on Virtual Ability’s YouTube
page here: https://www.youtube.com/@VirtualAbilityInc

Come and share discussions of “No Health Without Peace” with our presenters,
panelists and other audience members on November 6.

The October Grain of the Month is Corn

  

The Whole Grains Council has chosen corn, including popcorn, as the grain of the month for October.

A corn plant doesn’t look much like grass, but that is the plant family it belongs to. Corn has been domesticated for over 9000 years and has changed drastically from its original shape and size. Native to the Americas, it originally produced no cobs nor did it form ears. Indigenous peoples selectively bred the plant to increase the amount of starch produced in the seeds. The corn plant we are familiar with has separated male parts (the tassels) and female parts (the ears). 

For more on the complex origin of the domesticated corn plant, see Chapter 1.1 “Corn, Strange and Marvelous: But Is a Definitive Origin Known?”.

 

North American tribes planted the Three Sisters—corn, beans and squash—together as companion plants. Together these three crops provided all nine amino acids, creating a full protein meal.

 

Corn has a history of world travel. It is thought that Christopher Columbus introduced corn to Europe, although it did not thrive because it wasn’t understood how to grow it. Native Americans showed corn cultivation techniques to the European colonists. It then became a major crop in Europe by the 17^th century. The Portuguese introduced it to East Africa and Asia, including India and China.

 

In the UK and most of the English-speaking world, the plant called corn in the US is known as maize. The British use the term “corn” to mean various other grains, including wheat, barley and oats. 

Corn is one of the most common grain crops worldwide. It supports about a fifth of human nutrition. Corn is grown for many purposes besides human consumption. In the US, about a third is used for animal feed and another third to create biofuel. In addition to corn on the cob, humans use this grain as a sweetener (corn syrup), and in making cosmetics, fabric, glue, ink, laundry starch and medicines, among other products.

 

There are many varieties of corn. Fresh corn, on the cob or off, is usually thought of as a vegetable rather than a grain. It is often called sweet corn because of its high sugar content.

Field corn has a higher starch content. When dried, field corn kernels become indented, so it is also called dent corn. Most field corn is used for animal feed, or to produce ethanol or sweeteners. Some is also turned into cornmeal or grits.

Flint corn, with its tough outer layer, holds on to its internal moisture when dried. As the kernels are heated, the water inside turns to steam, and the kernels explode from the pressure. This is the type of corn called popcorn!

However you choose to eat corn, it’s a nutritious whole grain, therefore a good source of fiber. It also has greater than 10% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium and thiamine. Corn is rich in Vitamin A, antioxidants and carotenoids. And it’s a gluten-free grain. So eat some corn today and enjoy the taste of a healthy whole grain food.

 

Biji Kuu - 11:00 am Nov 6 Panel

Biji Kuu (his avatar name) is a fifty year health industry executive on the business and administrative side. He has been volunteering with global programs, often with veteran or special needs population for twenty years. He has an MBA and executive education at Wharton, University of Chicago Booth School and Kellogg School, and is a military veteran. Biji is presently spending time in various civic pursuits and global engagement and betterment programs.

Kimberly Lopez - 1:45 pm Nov 6 Panel

Dr. Kimberly Lopez (she/her) works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She is interested in critically examining social structures and processes that reinforce difference and marginalisation. As a community-engaged qualitative researcher, she is interested in aging and long-term care (LTC), care labour, and well-being. In particular, Kim values working collaboratively and creatively to amplify BIPOC and other Othered identities (gender, ability, class, ability, and age) in the context of caring labour and leisure – practices inextricably linked to the social through labelled bodies. To learn about practices of labour engaged in LTC caring work and hear about the different ways identity is embodied, Kim looks to influencers of anti-racist feminisms, anti-colonial/restorative practices, and post-identity literature/art. 

Ronnie Kraegel - 1:45 pm Nov 6 Panel

Ronnie Kraegel is the Executive Director of the Brain Energy Support Team (BEST). BEST provides peer support, education, and skill development for persons with brain injuries and their families to help them live healthy lives and build on their strengths. On Second Life as Namaara MacMoragh, Kraegel is the Chief Grounds Keeper at Etopia Sustainable Communities, Etopia Island, where supportive and engaging activities are provided for neurodivergent individuals. 

Cicero Kit - 1:45 pm Nov 6 Panel

Cicero Kit (her avatar name) is a woman with disabilities who has personal experience with complex trauma. She is a communication scholar who has taught numerous college level courses on the topic, worked as a journalist, as well as having worked in the non-profit sector.

 

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day

  

The purpose of World Osteoporosis Day is to raise awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of metabolic bone disease including osteoporosis. The hard structure of bones is made up of calcium and other minerals.

 

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak and fragile, increasing the risk of bone fracture. Bone is a living tissue; the osteoblast cells continuously replace bone that wears away or is broken down by osteoclast cells when it gets old. But if the bone cells don’t make enough bone, or can’t keep up with loss of bone, the bone structure becomes less dense. About half of women and a quarter of men above age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

 

Osteoporosis may be due to a wide range of other medical conditions, including:

•  Autoimmune disorders (e.g., lupus, multiple sclerosis)
•  Blood disorders (e.g., leukemia, sickle cell disease)
•  Cancer
•  Digestive disorders (e.g. celiac disease, malnutrition, excessive weight loss)
•  Eating disorders
•  Endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes, low testosterone)
•  Polio and post-polio
•  Pregnancy and lactation (this is normal and temporary)

Some medications, especially steroids, can also cause osteoporosis.

 

 

Osteoporosis is often diagnosed by a bone density test. This noninvasive exam measures the mineral content of bones. It is recommended that women over age 65 and men over age 70, as well as anyone over age 50 who has recently broken a bone should have a bone density test.

 

Here are some steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis:

•  Know your personal risk factors, including diseases, genetics, height loss, medications, menopause
•  Move your bones to strengthen them
•  Eat a balanced diet with adequate calcium, protein, and vitamins D and K
•  Avoid bone-damaging life habits- don’t drink excessive alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking
•  Use fall prevention practices, especially to prevent recurrent fractures.

 

What’s your osteoporosis risk? Check here: https://osteoporosis.ca/risk/

 

October 19 is World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day

  

Did you know that for many adults with musculoskeletal conditions, these health problems began in childhood? Children comprise one in ten persons with disabling musculoskeletal health conditions.

 

These facts are some of the educational points raised by World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day, sometimes called PB&J Day. The purpose of this special day is to raise awareness of the importance of musculoskeletal health in children and adolescents by educating parents and healthcare professionals about appropriate preventive measures and promoting early detection and treatment of childhood bone and joint problems. Healthy habits for youngsters include regular safe physical activity, appropriate calcium and vitamin D consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight.

 

Children’s and adolescents’ bones differ from the bones of adults because they are still growing. This is especially apparent in the long bones of the arms and legs. The ends of growing bones include growth plates or epiphyseal plates, which are structurally weaker than bone. These cartilaginous areas add length and width to the bones until about the mid-teen years, when the growth plates harden into solid bone.

 

If the growth plate on a child’s bone is injured, the bone may grow abnormally, perhaps shorter or longer than normal, or even crooked. Growth plate injuries can be fractures caused by trauma or overuse injuries. Trauma fractures from childhood activities are most often seen in the fingers, forearm or lower leg. Overuse injuries leading to irritation and inflammation are more common in children who participate in sports, such as Little League elbow in young pitchers.

Fractures can also occur in children’s hardened bones because they often fall during play, sports or recreational activities. The most common childhood fracture is of the wrist (distal radius fracture) because children often fall onto an outstretched hand. This is when one of the two lower arm bones (radius or ulna) break close to the wrist joint.

 

Bone and joint problems in children may also be developmental. Developmental hip dysplasia occurs in infants and young children when the hip joint fails to develop normally. Ranging from subluxation to complete dislocation, infant hip dysplasia may be treated with a harness or brace to keep the hip joint in place or surgery to reposition the ball of the femur and stabilize the hip joint.

 

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, usually diagnosed in late childhood or early teens. Although often mild and causing no health issues, if the curvature progresses and is severe, it can cause pain and impair breathing. Youths with severe scoliosis may need to wear a brace or have surgery.

 

Although arthritis is thought of as an adult condition, it can affect children as well. Juvenile arthritis or pediatric rheumatic disease is an autoimmune disease which can cause joint inflammation, pain, swelling and tenderness, or can attack the skin and internal organisms without causing joint symptoms.

 

Another musculoskeletal condition generally thought of as an adult problem is osteoporosis. The cause of juvenile osteoporosis is not always known, but it sometimes has a genetic origin or is due to a medical condition such as an eating disorder or hormonal imbalance. Symptoms include bone pain, easy fracturing, skeletal deformities or reduced height.

 

World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day highlights these potential musculoskeletal issues that children and adolescents may have. Advocacy, education and research are necessary to promote improved childhood health and reduce the burden of pediatric bone and joint problems.

October 16 is World Spine Day

World Spine Day is the largest annual public health initiative event to raise awareness about the global burden of spinal pain and disability. Spine problems often cause long-term health complications, decreased productivity and ability to work, and significant financial burdens.

 

The spine or backbone is not just bones. It is a complicated structure composed of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. The spinal bones are hollow; they enclose the spinal cord, nerves that pass from the brain to all parts of the body. The human spine is divided into sections named after the portion of the body they pass through: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccygeal.

 

Lower back pain is experienced by almost everyone at least once. It is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. Very little lower back pain is caused by serious health conditions such as cancer, fracture, infection or inflammatory arthritis. Rehabilitation for lower back pain would benefit most of the individuals who suffer from it.

 

The motto of World Spine Day 2025 is “Invest in Your Spine.” Individuals, healthcare providers, communities and policymakers can invest in spine health by learning about this important skeletal component, adjusting lifestyles and encouraging positive workplace ergonomics. 

 

Stopping smoking, using correct posture while sitting and standing, staying active, doing spine-specific exercises, and avoiding excess weight strain and long periods of inactivity will all increase spinal health.

 

Make spinal health a priority today. Invest in a healthier tomorrow.

 

TIP - Proper Storage of Treasured Photographs

Lots of us keep photos as mementos of special people or events in our lives. But photos that are improperly stored can curl, warp or stick together. This damage is irreversible.

 

How to avoid damage to photos? Proper storage.

 

Much of the damage to photographs comes from heat and/or moisture. This makes attics and basements particularly problematic places to store these sensitive items. Find a safe place such as in a closet or under a bed that is away from heat vents and space heaters.

 

Archival-safe boxes are great for storing snapshots. There are also special photo-storage sleeves that can delay the natural chemical degradation that causes yellowing of many older photographs.

 

And of course, digitizing is an excellent and relatively safe way to store your treasured pictorial memories.

 

 

October 12 is World Arthritis Day

 

 

Arthritis is not one single disease. It is a group of musculoskeletal conditions that damage joints. The word “arthritis” derives from two Greek words that mean “joint”  “inflammation.” The most frequent symptoms of arthritis are pain, stiffness, swelling, and redness around a joint. Arthritis typically increases with age.

 

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint and cushions movement breaks down. It is a degenerative disease, and is the fourth largest cause of disability world-wide.

 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease. The body attacks the linings of its own joint capsules. Diseases such as lupus and psoriasis can cause arthritis in addition to affecting other organs and tissues. Septic arthritis is caused by an infection that impacts joints. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis in which sharp uric acid crystals build up inside joints, especially the big toe.

 

Treatments for arthritis will depend on its cause. There is no cure for arthritis, so the goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms, especially pain, and thus to improve quality of life. Types of treatment include lifestyle changes (e.g., healthy weight, quitting smoking, staying active), physical therapy (e.g., specific exercises and stretching), and medications (e.g., corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). Sometimes surgery is used to fuse or replace arthritic joints.

 

World Arthritis Day is held every October 12. The aims of World Arthritis Day are to:

• Raise public awareness of arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

• Influence public policy makers to be aware of the health and economic burdens of arthritis and other joint diseases, and what can be done to ease this burden

• Offer support to persons with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and their caregivers

• Promote research related to arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

 

The theme of World Arthritis Day 2025 is “Power of Dreams.” This speaks to the hopes and vision of persons living with arthritis.