Sunscreen warnings are a smokescreen

Let's dispose of the theory that over exposure to sunlight as a child leads to skin cancer. That is simply implausible. Children have always spent as much of their time as possible outside in the sun. It's called "playing," as in baseball, football, fishing, swimming, etc. Serious skin cancer, such as melanoma, was rare before WWII. In recent years, however, kids began spending their recreation time sitting in front of a computer or television. Many of these "vidiots" are now approaching middle age and melanoma is increasing. If they are staying out of the sun, wearing "protective" sunglasses, and using sunscreen on their skin as recommended by their dermatologists, their druggist and the commercials, why is melanoma increasing rather than decreasing?

The most likely cause is the opposite of what you have been told. Ultraviolet deficiency, not UV excess, is responsible, not only for instances of melanoma skin cancer but also for increased rates of breast cancer. Another contributing factor is the excess exposure we get from incandescent light bulbs, which are heavy in infrared light. This exposure weakens the immune system and can cause cataracts.

When you read propaganda from the sunscreen manufacturers and the dermatologists, keep in mind that they have a personal stake in the sun/cancer paradigm. A lot of sunglasses and sunscreen are sold by scare tactics.

Also, keep in mind that talking about "skin cancer" as one entity makes as much sense as talking about "fat" as if all fats were the same. When the statement is made that "skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States," what does it mean? It means little, as most of the cancer being referred to is basal-cell-cancer, which is benign if treated when the area is small. Even if it is larger, it is still curable, but you will have a larger scar.

The other form of skin cancer is called squamous-cell carcinoma. It is serious, because it does metastasize, like malignant melanoma, but it is rare and not proven to be caused by the sun.

Remember that commercial interests, political interests, scientific bias and prejudice control what the American people think. Every television set should have on the screen a warning label with the following message: "This instrument has been proved to cause addiction and cancer of the intellect."  

A toast to your health

I've reported a great deal on the benefits of booze the last few years. There has been a steady stream of articles on the health benefits of wine, beer and even whiskey. Maybe all these researchers, worldwide, are "on the sauce" - and you know how sinners love company. (They sound awfully sober on the tapes, though.)

At the gathering of the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies in Honolulu, physicians were told that antioxidants in beer might protect the eyes against damage caused by diabetes as well as potentially guard against heart disease. Dark beers, such as ales and stouts, contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants.

Researcher Dr. John Trevithick said, "Antioxidants protect the mitochondria [found in cells] against this damage. We think that may be one of the factors that's contributing to the lower risk of cataracts in people who have one drink a day."

Professor Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania reported that giving beer to hamsters cut the rate of damage to the main arteries in half. The hamsters were given two servings of beer a day. He told the conference: "Beer has a far greater amount of antioxidants compared to other beverages. There is a definite benefit..."

I have no suggestions, as I do not want to be blamed for your debauchery. Nevertheless, I would hate to see you go blind...  And, if you're on the straight and narrow, I promise not to say anything else about the benefits of alcohol for a while unless it's really, really important, such as: "Bulletin:  A bottle of Mogen David wine, taken daily, has been found to cure baldness, impotence, obesity, aging and your mother-in-law's disposition."