By Cheryl Wade, MD, PC

We now have a rudimentary understanding of the continuum of consciousness that is the mind-body.  The limbic system of the brain, the seat of emotions and instinctual behavior, communicates with the other two regulators, the hormonal and immune systems via neuro-peptides and hormones to transform emotions into chemical and physical reactions and vice versa. 

In order to deepen our understanding of the mind-body connection we can group in a very general way certain personality traits into personality Types.  It is well accepted that some personalities have a propensity for very specific diseases and disorders. 

In his book, “Deadly Emotions, Understanding the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection that can Heal or Destroy You”,  Dr. Don Colbert cites a study done at Duke University in 1980 by Dr. Redfield and Associates. 

Dr. Redfield’s study titled  “Type A Personality, Hostility, and Atherosclerosis” showed that persons who scored high on personality tests for hostility had a correspondingly increased severity of coronary artery disease. 

The study grouped hostile responses into emotions, attitudes, and behaviors.  The main hostile emotion was anger, the attitude was a mistrust of the motives of others or cynicism, and the behavior was aggression.  Read more »

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Hurricane Earl moved past the Territory Monday leaving damaged power lines, blocked roads, flooding and some structural damage and we now await new information on Tropical Storm Fiona, the next disturbance looming in the Atlantic.
So far, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported as a result of the storm.
The islands avoided a direct hit from the powerful Category 4 storm, which was packing 135 MPH winds as it passed to our northeast.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Fiona was still classified as a tropical storm, with winds around 45 miles an hour, and was located about 440 miles east of the Virgin Islands, moving West/Northwest. Read more »

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If the forecasters are correct, the brunt of Hurricane Earl will stay north of the Virgin Islands, but high winds and heavy rains are expected to be with us through the day on Wednesday.

At 1:30 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service reported that the eye of the storm was located at  19.0°N 64.0°W, just northeast of the British Virgin Islands, moving WNW at 15 MPH and packing maximum sustained winds of 125 MPH.

The Category 3 storm is expected to intensify to a Category 4 as it moves away from the Territory and into the Gulf of Mexico.

High winds and frequent heavy rain is expected and at the time of this report, Puerto Rico was already starting to feel tropical storm force winds as the eye moved closer. Stay tuned to local media for the latest updates on the storm. Read more »

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There was a surprise guest at Thursday’s debates after all.

And Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg had the perfect welcome for him.

The empty chair next to candidate James “Jimmy” O’Bryan was a conspicuous reminder that one candidate, the incumbent John P. deJongh, Jr., didn’t bother to show for the public forum. (Nice touch, by the way, leaving the empty chair on stage.)

About halfway through the session, as Donastorg approached the mike to answer a question, a commotion came over the crowd when a huge rat took the stage with the debaters.

And just to show that he’s got wit as well as political savvy, Donastorg stepped into the fray.

You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. Read more »

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CIF would like to thank all of you for helping make our first “real time” foray into chatting a success!!

The chat room of course will stay open. We’re going to digest what we heard tonight, pull out the highlight quotes and audio clips, and will post an updated account for you to talk about over the weekend.

We know what the headline will be.

“Three Candidates, A Rat, And An Elephant!” Read more »

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Questions of jurisdiction were the focus of a district court hearing Thursday regarding a voter’s right action for a temporary restraining order filed by former Sen. Adelbert “Bert” Bryan.

CIF President Michael Springer attended the hearing and said that Bryan presented his case as outlined in his motion (link below), and cited the inability of the current electronic voting machines to provide a paper receipt and potential conflict of interest issues among members of the current Board of Elections as factors supporting his request for a restraining order.

Atty. Carol Thomas Jacobs, presenting the case for the Board, questioned whether Bryan had the legal standing to bring the motion; and whether the District Court, was the appropriate court to hear the case, arguing that the Superior Court should have jurisdiction. Jacobs stated further that issues concerning the paper receipt and potential conflicts on the board were not part of Bryan’s motion and that the case should be dismissed.

No other witnesses were called to testify, Springer reported. Read more »

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(Update: It has just been announced that the debate will be webcast this evening on www.wtjx.org from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and on radio station WDHP AM 1620)

Maybe he thinks he’s got it in the bag.

Maybe he thinks his chances of reelection are so solid that there’s no need for him to debate his challengers in an open, public forum. Maybe he’s only comfortable in the tightly controlled, anything but spontaneous environment that his Democratic Party leadership will provide in their debate next week.

Maybe he’s just chicken.

Whatever he is, Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., will be a no-show at the 2010 Primary Gubernatorial Ticket Debates Thursday at the St. Croix Educational Complex The event will be held from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Read more »

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Guest Commentary by Herb Schoenbohm
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense, George Santayana 1905, p. 28 

This item offers some needed stress relief from the day-to-day election mudslinging.  Mindful that many children observing this mind numbing wall-to-wall invective are going back to school next week. Since we are using their schools to vote how about the students using our election discourse as a means to learn classic literature and history?  Trying to teach iambic pentameter by itself won’t get much attention but coupling the learning experience and challenging students with the local political arena makes for fun and I bet they will love it.

This is how it could go……… Read more »

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