I would recommend

Two movies I have enjoyed on my trip to Boston so far. The trip is not over yet. On the airplane I saw ‘Pan's Labyrinth’. It is an award-winning 2006 Spanish language film written and directed by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro. The film takes place in pre WWII during the Spanish Civil War. It is both an accurate portrayal of the brutality of Fascist soldiers who are charged with guarding a mill in a mountainous region and neutralizing local insurgents. Juxtaposed in this story is a tale of fantasy that ultimately____________. It garnered several Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. It was both enjoyable and good for my Spanish language studies. Not a film for kids though even though it was partially a fairy tale.



I also watched ‘Déjà Vu’ at the hotel. It is a nice Denzel Washington movie. Déjà Vu is a science fiction crime thriller directed by Tony Scott and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. I recommend both films.

What's on tonight?

The Hospital for the Boston Celtics and me...

I am vacationing in Boston at the New England Baptist Hospital. It is one of the top 10 or 20 rated hospitals in the USA by AARP and US News and World Report. The Spine Center at NEBH has developed a nationally recognized program for helping people with chronic and acute back pain when everything else has failed. They have been written up in the New York Times, the LA Times and a one-hour program appeared on the Discovery Channel last year. A number of their patients and the media have dubbed this program, "Boot Camp for Backs". It is not mainstream medicine yet. Only about 10% of back doctors across the country are on board. Folks in my classes have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, even carrying a bag of groceries in from the car. 'Boot Campers' are encouraged to overcome their fear of activity and follow punishing exercise regimens using Nautilus like machines that help strengthen and stretch back muscles, making them stronger and more limber.

20,000 folks have come through the boot camp at NEBH in the past 10 years. Most have been helped. Researchers are not sure why this taxing regimen works. Dr. Rainville told me this exercise program and physical therapy in addition to strengthening muscles somehow desensitizes people to pain messages sent out by the brain. Those of us who fear further deterioration or degeneration in our backs tend to baby them; by doing so the back gets worse. The rule used to be from the physical therapists, 'if it hurts, don't do it.' Not so anymore. By taking it easy and becoming more of a couch potato the back pain increases and our lifestyle decreases. This is called deconditioning. It is a very positive option for many others and me. According to an LA Times article the statistics for back surgeries suggests as few as 3% of patients are benefited. Side effects of infections, limited mobility and persistent pain are not uncommon following invasive surgical treatment.

The link here gets you to the Spine Center for New England Baptist Hospital. I was able to get in relatively easy and get an appointment in less than a month. The people are very friendly and attentive. And yes, few people like Mitt Romney, their former governor. I have heard a few cracks about Utah and when did electricity arrive in our state, etc.

Haagen Dazs and Lumbar Degeneration

Just got back to my hotel from my appointment at the Spine Center of the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston MA. The news was so good I decided to have a treat before lunch. I bought an ice cream bar, chocolate and dark chocolate. It is an 'all natural ice cream bar'. I think that is important. I never had much of a passion for 'unnatural' ice cream. The printing on the box says, "chocolate ice cream dipped in, then drizzled with fine dark chocolate." It was every bit as good as advertised. Haagen Dazs uses Belgian Chocolate too. I like Belgian Chocolate whenever I can find it. I prefer it as well for political reasons to the Swiss varieties, as the Belgian people did fight against the Nazis in WWII rather than collaborating with Hitler and laundering their murderous Fascist larceny.

Lest I get too far a field, I should return to why I am celebrating. In addition to arthritis, degenerating discs between L-3, 4, and 5 there is some evidence of stenosis. I had MRI's done 8 years ago and then again early this month. The Spine Center at this hospital is doing world-class work with backs and the good news is I qualify for their program called 'Boot Camp for Backs'. With a disciplined exercise regimen and guidance I can expect to have the level of pain significantly reduced, enjoy more activity and maybe resume some things I used to do such as back packing and hiking. The doc told me it would be fine to hunt more too. It seems counterintuitive but the more sedentary life style, to protect one's remaining back resource, leads to escalation of pain. Exercise and therapy will strengthen the back muscles and reprogram the nerves in the area to send fewer pain messages to the brain. 20 to 25% of their patients report freedom from pain after their 'boot camp'. 40 to 50% report significantly reduced pain and 20 to 25% have some improvement but still in pain.

It is a beautiful day in Boston. It is 70 degrees here and I am going for a walk to celebrate the good news.

Mormons should oppose the Iraq War

In the ongoing debate over the Iraq war, and it reached a new high or low locally last evening in the debate between Rocky and Hannity, it is useful to look back to another day in another war from a statement made by the Brethren.

“We renew our declaration that international disputes can and should be settled by peaceful means. That is the way of the Lord. We call upon the statesman of the world to assume their rightful control of the affairs of nations and to bring this war to an end, honorable and just to all. Animated and led by the spirit of Christ, they can do it…Hate driven militarists and leaders, with murder in their hearts, will, if they go through to the end, bring merely another peace that will be but the beginning of another war.

We call upon the Saints the world over to pray to God constantly in faith, nothing doubting, that He will bring His purposes speedily to pass and restore peace again to the earth to bless His Children.”1

For Latter Day Saints, at least from a historical perspective Rocky’s statements reflect most closely those enunciated in this First Presidency Message. Truly, the values we once cherished have been betrayed by the war mongering Bush administration and the attendant evils of illegal incarceration of combatants, torture and the challenges to our civil rights here in America. Remember WWII was the so called “last good war” and yet we have this inspired statement from President George Albert Smith, and his counselors, J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay condemning it.

1 Message of the First Presidency, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 3, 1942