Mississippi Valley Sells

Archive for the ‘Mississippi Health’ Category

Believe it or not, Ripley Mississippi is overflowing with thriving industries. Its streets are clean. Its people are smiling. Someday soon we need to send a team of great social scientists there to explore how Ripley has accomplished such great success so that our entire nation can benefit.

One attraction that obviously makes Ripley more successful is an event called FIRST MONDAY. It was launched way back in the last part of the 19th century in an effort to help farmers market their wares directly to consumers. Even after a hundred years of experimentation there is still a lot of produce being sold at First Monday.

For many consumers the primary reason for coming to First Monday is to stock up on fresh fruits, melons, potatoes, trees to plant, geese, ducks, chickens, pigeons, goats, donkeys, dogs and probably cats too, as well as rare birds, iguanas, parakeets, snakes and so forth. But far more sellers now focus on flea market merchandise to make most of the profits. Wrenches, garden tools, gloves, printed T-shirts, work shirts, work pants, caps, flags, bumper stickers, pharmaceuticals, boxed and canned groceries, rifles, guns, ammunition, bows, knives, toys of all descriptions, and of course, cooked delicacies.

First Monday starts on the first Saturday of each month that comes before a Monday in that month. Consequently, First Monday will occasionally be held on a weekend for the Second Monday of the month.

Vendor nationality fluctuates from Good Old Boys to Yankee, from Red Neck to Viet Namese. Customer nationality is even wider. I saw one family from Guatemala visiting and two college boys from Peru were there selling South American flutes and flute music. Illegal aliens ran about 10% of the throng and were buying groceries like they were going out of style.

There is a lot of ground to cover here. First Monday is so large an event that you’ll need at least five hours to see it all. If the place was empty you could walk it faster, but usually the place is packed solid. For the weak and weary there are golf carts being rented out. Because of the thronging crowds a golf cart won’t make your visit any faster, just more comfortable. The way is always crowded and the speed limit is always “slow.” There are four gateways off the main road and usually there is a line at all four of them. It costs $2 to get in and no help is offered in your search to find a place to park once you are in.

Vendors can set up any kind of booth they want, in any location they can find. However, hunting dogs and hunting weapons vendors tend to congregate over the bridge in a more distant part of the event. Farm and garden equipment is more predominant over the bridge too.

A large restaurant is found somewhere close to the center of the meeting ground. The last time I was able to wait in line long enough to get a table and sample the food, it was delicious. Nine or ten “stands” also vie to fill your hungry soul, but seating provisions are sparse at most of them. The one notable exception to this was a tent provided by a local church. The pews are hard but oh, the relief of getting off your feet is tremendous. I’ve never actually seen a service being held in the tent but I would gladly have donated to the plate just for the privilege of sitting down for those ten minutes.

Most of the fruit trees are about six feet tall and come five in a bundle for $25. Individual sockets of the tractor-sized, heavy duty, brand name kind are selling for $5 and up. Complete sets of half inch drive sockets are going for $20 to $40 depending on the number of sockets in the set. HUGE luggage bags are only $40 and pure leather billfolds are going for just $5.

There was a pellet gun I’ve been wanting for a long time now. Never bought it did I pursue because of the $119.95 price tag in view. At one of the booths here I saw it again, still in the box, big, long, powerful and true. The price tag on the box shouted “DOLLARS, ONLY TWENTY TWO.” Now I’m not suggesting every item there is priced like these, but I do know that just about everything there was a genuine bargain.

Ripley is found where Highways 4 and 15 intersect. First Monday is on Highway 15 on the south side of town. If you go through Ripley you will see numerous opportunities to buy other flea market type produce. You will also get a closer view of a marvelous people that should be studied by a team of great social scientists to see how they accomplish so much.

Lap band surgery can be the last resort for achieving weight loss for someone who is suffering from morbid obesity. It is indeed a tough decision to make due to the expensive surgery cost – $25000 for a successful surgery. Despite its cost, additional overheads associated with the post surgery treatment may increase the cost further.

In fact, there are some insurance companies that cover this particular weight loss surgery and thus, it has proven to be an advantage for those seeking such a surgery without having to bear this expensive cost of this surgery.

For individuals who neither have the means to finance their lap band surgery nor have a health insurance – are the ones often seek for various options from health insurance companies. There are portfolios for such individuals. As long as they meet the various criterion that are set by health insurance companies, they would be entitled to getting their surgery sponsored (or co sponsored).

There are many people who meet the eligibility criteria for Medicaid insurance schemes being operated by different health insurance companies. Such schemes usually cover most of the expenses related to their medical care. Sometimes, you would need to share the expenses, while at other times, the company might finance for all your expenses (with terms and conditions applied).

Applicant’s age (you need to be over 65 years in age), disabilities, income (needs to be below a certain limit) and citizenship are the parameters which are considered by health insurance companies during the evaluation of the claims of the applicants.

The number of overweight or obese children continues to grow in the United States. In some states it’s higher than others. Currently, Mississippi has the most overweight children. Nation-wide, the number is unbelievable. One out of every three children is overweight. This problem is blamed on less time doing active pastimes and more meals from fast-food restaurants. As families become busier, children’s health is clearly taking a back seat. The days of playing outdoors with friends and neighbors has been replaced with staying indoors and playing Xbox. Fast food meals have replaced home cooked meals. We are a nation whose children are literally eating themselves to death.

Children who are overweight are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all of which used to be adult diseases. Now doctors are scrambling to find medicines and solutions for kid bodies with big adult health problems. Most medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol were tested on and made for adults. Just giving them to kids does not work because of side effects and possible dangers. Growing bodies react differently to medication and therefore have to be handled differently.

There is good news though. All of these conditions are reversible. If a child’s diet is changed from fried food to fresh, whole foods, his cholesterol will go down. If sedentary activities are changed to include some activities such as walking and biking, blood pressure will go down. As sugary foods are replaced with healthy, fresh foods, type 2 diabetes will disappear.

There are other risks that aren’t discussed as often as health risks, but whose consequences are just as far reaching. The emotional and psychological effects of being obese as a child and teenager are especially important to recognize. At a time when kids really want to fit in with their peers, they are often singled out and even bullied. They also usually suffer from self-esteem problems and depression.

Obese children are teased mercilessly by their peers and they often turn to eating for comfort. This only puts on more pounds and continues a vicious cycle of weight gain and teasing. Constant teasing only adds to the low self-esteem. Unfortunately, school isn’t the only place this happens. Sometimes, if parents don’t understand their child’s weight problem, they may worsen it with cruel remarks of their own. Instead of making comments about their weight, parents should encourage their kids to get fit and active through a sport or other activity they enjoy.

An important thing for parents to do is be a good example to your obese child. Letting your eating and exercise habits lead the way will speak volumes to your kids. Making the effort to cut out fast food will go a long way. Also, making sure that candies and chips are left at the store will be helpful.