Alicia Van Fleteren

Alicia’s source of inspiration is limitless. She finds inspiration from within herself and from the environment—where she is always finding new color combinations and shapes. Her collections are characterized by creativity and elegance, and also from her eye for putting together gemstones and metals in a creative, elegant way.

Alicia has always had a strong interest and talent for jewelry design. In 2002, she left her position in financial services to pursue her life’s passion. Alicia stopped commuting to her corporate job in San Francisco and instead set-up a jewelry design studio in her home.

Being both artistic and practical, the career change was natural for Alicia. As a result, her business has flourished. Alicia Van Fleteren jewelry began with a small group of loyal clients, but demand for her personally designed pieces quickly increased.

I wanted to talk to Alicia because she is an artist, but also a wonderful member of our community. She said she is always “trying to lead by example,” and she truly does. In addition to buying Alicia’s jewelry in the traditional way (online or at local boutiques) Alicia partners with a host to hold a “party with a purpose.” Many of these parties have been held over the years in Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, and Portola Valley.

AVF Jewelry

The concept of a home party isn’t new, but Alicia’s take on it is. She donates proceeds to the charity of choice for the event holder. Some of the organizations that have been supported through her jewelry events here locally are: Art in Action, San Mateo Family Services, Maine Coon Adoptions, Susan G. Komen, Toys for Tots of San Mateo County, Foothill Auxiliary, and the San Mateo County schools.

If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party for charity, contact Alicia on her website: www.aliciavf.com.

There are more than two categories for most things in life. But when it comes to men, there are basically two: the Bad Boys and the Good Guys. Sure, there are the rare gems that have the best of both; they are wildly hot and exciting but also financially responsible and willing to settle down in a monogamous relationship before the age of 60. Those men are the exceptions, however, so not worth discussing as a realistic option. So let’s explore the differences between the basic two categories of men out there–and what we women should do about them.

Bad Boys

Who are the Bad Boys? They drive motorcycles and don’t have 401(K)s. They never have pets, or even plants. Even worse they admit that they can’t take care of anything but somehow we always ignore this huge red flag and think that maybe this whole “not being able to take care of anything” only applies to small things, but it won’t apply to us when we need them. They are also arrogant, which we like to delude ourselves by calling them “confident” instead.  Being arrogant, they are also inclined to put themselves first, which means putting us second.

Good Guys

Good Guys are notorious for being the ones that you tell yourself you should date but despite your best effort, you just can’t force the attraction. These responsible men go to their desk job and pick up their dry cleaning on the way home, right after they’ve called you to see if they can bring anything home for dinner. They have real, not fake, plants in their houses that they own, not rent.  And they tend to ask questions like, “what do you want to do?”

The Conflict

As a self-proclaimed feminist, I struggle with the fact that I should want to be treated as an equal or even a queen at times, but definitely not second to a man. I have plenty of smart, successful girlfriends that also fall into this category but inevitably end up in a conflicted relationship. Many of us choose the Bad Boys regardless of how hard we try. And sometimes those who choose the Good Guy are also unhappy. Some of my girlfriends (the ones that have a wedding ring on their finger and 2.5 kids) have opted for the “safe” choice. Yet they are also often conflicted and upset when they find themselves bored or attracted to other men. I don’t like to make broad gender labels (again, the feminist in me), but the anthropologist in me looks to human biology for the answers.

Steven Pinker, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Harvard, specializes in human nature–what is at the root of many of our actions, before we add social and cultural influences. According to Dr. Pinker, “Toughness can be attractive for several reasons. One is that it can reflect overall genetic quality – health, smarts, strength (this would be especially true in ancestral contexts where the land and money and power went to the best warrior, not to the smartest lawyer). Another is that it can protect the woman and her children against rapists, abductors, and so on. Probably most relevant is that he promises to give her tough sons. A woman’s son has to compete against other women’s sons, and if he is beaten up or publicly humiliated or cuckolded or killed, he will have less of a chance to reproduce.”

Per Dr. Pinker, it seems that there are biological reasons for men behaving badly, and why we may be attracted to them. However, it doesn’t explain how the Good Guy has evolved. I think that we can all agree that the Good Guy is faithful. Perhaps it also means that he is more intelligent than the Bay Boy. Recent research by Satoshi Kanazawa indicates that there is a link between intelligence and monogamous men. The basis of Kanazawa’s thesis is that men may have needed polygamous societies in the past to survive, but in modern society, the intelligent man has the more highly developed brain to leave biology behind in exchange for fostering secure, intimate, trusting relationships.

Another field of study, evolutionary psychology, argues that women in today’s society are just as likely to choose the Good Guy. Glenn Geher, Ph.D. and Director of the Evolutionary Studies Program at SUNY New Platz, believes that as humans have evolved, intelligence (rather than simply biology) is now a critical factor in choosing a mate. Geher defines mating intelligence “as the set of cognitive mechanisms and abilities that underlie human mating psychology,” and proclaims that “Human intelligence is sexually attractive, and strongly predicts the success of sexual relationships.” In his opinion, psychologists rely too much on biological reasons for choosing a mate, and therefore suggests that with time we are choosing mates better equipped for us in today’s society, i.e. that Good Guy.

Recent research by another evolutionary psychologist, Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa, supports the same theory. His research has revealed a link between intelligence and monogamous men. The basis of Kanazawa’s thesis is that men may have needed polygamous societies in the past to survive, but in modern society, the intelligent man has the more highly developed brain to leave biology behind in exchange for fostering secure, intimate, trusting relationships.

What’s a woman to do?

In my opinion, either choice comes with the same ups and downs, and the same amount of pleasure and pain.

Even though choosing Good Guy seems like the obvious choice of what you should do, down the road you might be just as unhappy as you would had you chosen Bad Boy. You may avoid some of the pain initially, but without pleasure, the incentive to be in a relationship may not be there. With time you might want to get out of the relationship that you forced yourslef into. 

What if you choose Bad Boy? Sure, you assume that you will end up unhappy and miserable because he’ll never make you dinner, and may even cheat on you. At the same time, however, you are passionate about him and being with him brings a lot of pleasure. But, predictably, he will probably do something horribly hurtful (or many things–depending on how long you hang in) that might lead to the end of the relationship. Based on physics, the higher up you go, the longer you have to fall. Therefore, the end of this relationship could hurt more than the end of the relationship with Good Guy. But you have to remember that there was more pleasure.

That is the cynical ending. On the other hand, there is always the chance that time will change things for the better. Perhaps you will become enamored and your love for Good Guy will grow over the years, just as it is possible that Bay Boy will settle down and keep his intrigue and passion inside of the relationship.

Rob Ashe, Founder and Publisher of The Paper

We are a different newspaper. In a positive way. Not a fluffy positive way, but a meaningful, real way. There are a lot of great people and things happening in Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley, and Atherton that we think deserve attention. We want to be a voice that highlights the good, significant, and meaningful parts of our community.

We don’t want to print yesterday’s news. Our articles and photos are timeless; meaningful stories that will be relevant for a long time.

Our stories are inspiring, but sometimes they might be challenging. We will highlight the role models in our community–the people that we want to be more like. We don’t want to fill your heads with gossip or depressing news; there is enough of that. Much of the current news features the worst events that happen in our community. Of course it gets our attention, but through fear.

We’ve found that what’s most meaningful in our lives is when we stop thinking of ourselves. Focusing on others and what’s right with the world feels more significant and purposeful. We forget this easily though, and need a constant reminder. The Paper is that reminder–that righteous kick in the ass, or if you prefer the less vulgar; the angel on your shoulder.

Maybe you’re happy with where you are, and how things are going. That’s wonderful. But we know a lot of people that want more. We believe in our community, but think that we can be even better. We have the privilege of being one of the most innovative, trendy, and wealthy communities in the world. At The Paper, we want to encourage the use of our influence for the betterment of our own community, and those that look up to us.

We don’t have the answers, but know we can come up with them together, as a community. Let’s talk about critical issues and ask the questions that need to be asked. Let’s inspire the world, starting with ourselves.

I’ve been in a cultural, language, and rain immersion “program” in Oaxaca, Mexico since June. Unfortunately, the program doesn’t come with reliable internet.

The next few posts will be of the medical anthropology sort. In addition to learning Spanish and how to hang-dry laundry during the rainy season, I have also had the opportunity to compare and contrast medical practices between the United States and Mexico. The first post is about the widespread use of syringes for medication administration in Mexico.

Luckily, I have not had the experience of using my airlift insurance yet, however. In my recently published article,“Will Health Insurance Cover You Overseas?” I have some health insurance recommendations for travelers–such as purchasing airlift insurance.

I asked a rheumatologist in Oaxaca why he often used intramuscular NSAIDs for his patients with autoimmune diseases–his response: to protect the stomach. This is very important for patients with autoimmune diseases who are typically taking many other medications, such as prednisone, that wreak havoc on the intestines. Adding oral NSAIDs that are also processed via the stomach, only adds to the damage (both short-term discomfort and long-term complications).

Therefore, the idea of taking IM NSAIDs for pain and inflammation in autoimmune diseases seems novel, yet obvious.

So I wondered; Why haven’t doctors in the U.S. prescribe IMs more often? And particularly; why not NSAIDs for autoimmune patients?

Instead, rheumatologists in the U.S. prescribe large doses of oral NSAIDs, then have to prescribe other medications (like proton pump inhibitors) to treat stomach symptoms. Why not just avoid the stomach irritation in the first place by replacing oral NSAIDs with intramuscular NSAIDs?

The problem: SYRINGES

IM medications require syringes, and with a little digging I uncovered an alarming amount of problems associated with the widespread use of syringes.

–Expense
–Inconvenience (need to have someone else–preferably a trained professional–administer medication)
–Complications at the injection site (pain, bruising, infection, hematoma, etc…)
–Increased risk of disease transmission (sharing unsterilized needles)
–Environmental contamination

Despite the potential advantage for some individuals, overall it seems that injectable medications are being dangerously overused in Mexico. That being said, I think this is just another example of the importance of anthropology in the medical world. Perhaps Mexican doctors and patients should curtail the use IM medications when unjustifiable, whereas U.S. doctors and patients can learn to use such a treatment in select cases, like NSAIDs for autoimmune patients, with proper administration.

Syringes in Mexico…

After a doctor’s appointment, patients are given a slip of paper with the name and dosage of the injectable medication.

That’s it.

No instructions on where to get the syringes, who should inject it, how to inject it, side effects, warnings, or how to properly dispose of the syringes. Nor do the pharmacies give the obligatory information sheets required in the U.S. Just provide a box of liquid medication. It is then your job to figure out how to get it into a syringe, then into your body.

Luckily the supermarkets have isles full of syringes, usually just next to the shampoo. You have your choice of a variety of sizes and brands. Once you purchase a box, again, you will not find any detailed instructions included. Just a simple 5-step process on the box–from washing your hands to putting pressure on the site afterward. And that’s it. About the same amount of instruction you will find for how to apply conditioner to your hair after shampooing. Scary.

The MRF is working with another Bay Area non-profit, the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, CA (IFTF), to develop this virtual forum (or game). The game will use “crowd sourcing” technology to discuss solutions to problems that currently limit the development of patient treatments. The goal is to generate solutions to accelerate drug discovery and development in all areas of medical research, for all diseases, and all patients.

There three reasons why I think this will work:

First, playing a game unleashes creativity and other qualities not typically utilized in other problem setting situations. Secondly, an open-source environment promotes input from a broad group of people and perspectives.

And finally, the computing age was “hatched” in a similar way. In the May 2010 edition of Wired magazine author Steven Levy writes “I thought of hackers as little more than an interesting sub-culture. But as I researched them, I found that their playfulness, as well as their blithe disregard for what others said was impossible, led to the breakthroughs that would define the computing age.”  Furthermore, he states, “most of them did it simply for the job of pulling off an awesome trick.”

Doesn’t this sound a lot like playing a game? Twenty-five years ago Bill Gates and Steve Wozniak were not working for companies that told them what they had to achieve. Nor were their goals financial or market-driven. Clearly, Hackers shared many gamer qualities like “blissful productivity, “desire for epic meaning,” and the “urgent optimism” that Dr. Jane McGonigal of the ITFT observes in the gaming culture today.

I believe that creating a gaming environment is a potential way to facilitate breakthroughs on par with those of the computer hackers 25 years ago.

What do you think about gaming? Do you play yourself? Or if you have children, do you allow them to play?

I wrote a longer piece posted on MRF’s blog. You can read the entire blog entry here. Check back for details later this summer on how to participate.

For years, fish continued to win the gold for healthiest food. But now we have to be weary of fish—and only eat certain types that are raised in certain places and are not contaminated with certain chemicals like mercury.

Smoking, since I was born, has always been considered one of the most detrimental habits. Almost everything you read about “being healthy” includes something about managing your weight and not smoking. It would be outrageous for a doctor to prescribe nicotine, or tell a patient to keep smoking.

Or would it?

I just returned from the ABDA (American Behcet’s Disease Association) Medical Conference in Orlando with a new perspective about smoking. My first clue that smoking might be pushing its way back into society should have been the extremely large number of the participants smoked. During breaks, instead of sitting inside checking email like most medical conference attendees, I found many of the patients outside in the hot Florida sun inhaling cigarettes.

Talking to patients outside I heard comments like, “I tried to stop smoking but my symptoms got worse.” Or, “My doctor doesn’t believe me, but I am so much healthier when I smoke.”

Then some of the non-smokers would chime in, “I know. I quit smoking and I’m trying to manage my symptoms with prescribed medications, but I still don’t feel as good.”

This was surprising to me, but not as shocking as the news that Dr. Yusuf Yazici, rheumatologist and researcher at NYU, presented during his lecture; “The Latest Treatments for Behcet’s Disease.”

Behcet’s disease is an autoimmune disease that results from damage to blood vessels throughout the body, particularly veins, and according to Dr. Yazici, “Nicotine patch therapy should be used more as a treatment.” He went on to discuss other new treatments for Behcet’s such as cytokine therapy and biologics as if there was nothing controversial about his earlier comment.

Can smoking really be good for your health?

There are many contradictions but few seem so paradoxical. Apparently the good side of this bad drug has been known for quite some time. Autoimmune disorders, like Behcet’s, are treated with immunosuppressants, of which nicotine is one. Logically, then, it would follow that nicotine would help. I wonder why this is “new” news then.

A 2004 study published in the Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology concluded that “Tobacco smoking suppresses the immune system…Interestingly, smokers have a lower incidence of some diseases, including ulcerative colitis, sarcoidosis, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, farmers’ lung, pigeon breeders’ disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Many of these diseases are inflammatory in nature or have an inflammatory component.” (1)

Even though there is new, compelling evidence that nicotine therapy reduces symptoms of autoimmune diseases, like Behcet’s, we should know by now that nothing is that simple when it comes to your health (especially treating an autoimmune disease).

Do your research, and of course “talk to your doctor,” before running to the corner store for a pack of smokes if you think nicotine might benefit your condition, because limited knowledge is dangerous. Understanding all of the previous dietary and medicinal suggestions for your illness, for instance, can provide a framework and healthy skepticism for the newest health advice. Just like knowledge of history reveals that mistakes are often made, proving the benefit of discernment today and tomorrow.

History can also remind us that:

Many of the ingredients in a cigarette are still undeniably bad for the body. Thus, nicotine patches—not cigarettes themselves—are being suggested. See the 2004 paper published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, entitled, “Nicotine and Biochanin A, but Not Cigarette Smoke, Induce Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Keratinocytes and Endothelial Cells in Patients with Behçet’s Disease” for more information. (2)

We cannot assume that nicotine helps with all symptoms because “the efficacy in the treatment and prevention of other systemic manifestations of BD is not proven,” according to a recent study published in March 2010 in the Oxford Journal of Rheumatology. This study does conclude, though, that “Both smoking and nicotine-replacement therapy may be efficacious not only on oral aphthae, but also on other mucocutaneous manifestations”—major Behcet’s symptoms.

The research is still contradictory. For instance, Behcet’s is a type of vasculitis. Vasculitis simply means inflammation of the blood vessels. And therefore there is a logical argument stated on the website of Arthritis Research UK which says “Avoid smoking. It makes the blood vessels constrict (become narrower inside) and can therefore make vasculitis symptoms worse.”

I mentioned that this idea, the hygiene hypothesis, has become a plausible explanation for the high incidence of autoimmune and allergic diseases in the developed countries — as opposed to countries where lack of healthcare and sterile environments is typically seen as a problem. A study at Northwestern University led by Thom McDade, Ph.D. and an associate professor of anthropology, added proof to this theory. his results showed that too much hygiene can also result in cardiovascular problems as an adult. McDade’s evidence is based on levels of C-reactive proteins, which is a protein in the blood that increases as a result of inflammation. As I mentioned previously, inflammation and C-reactive protein levels are critical in autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as cardiovascular diseases.

In the March 24, 2010 Chicago Tribune article, “NU Study: Dirt’s Good for Kids,” Dade is quoted as saying “there is such a thing as being too clean. The contrarian theory, known as the hygiene hypothesis, is gaining traction in some medical circles.”

Please read my first three blog entries and let me know your opinion on this topic!

There has. Perhaps the most sited study was lead by Dr. Alan Kristal, DPH, MPH at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The 2005 study, which included 15,500 people age 45-55, reported that yoga can help prevent weight gain.

But exactly how is still somewhat of a mystery. One theory suggests that the strong mind-body connection yoga develops, helps you become aware of what it feels like to be full — and therefore when to stop eating. Dr. Kristal’s slightly different opinion suggests that “regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating…which helps change the relationship of mind to body, and eventually to food and eating.”

I find the most interesting and scientifically viable explanation that of Rebecca Brenner. She holds a Ph.D. in nutrition and is the owner of Park City Holistic Health in Utah. In a recent article published in Yoga Journal, which also cites Dr. Kristal’s study, Rebecca explains that yoga strengthens the digestive system — in addition to the muscles we typically think of when we hear the word strength.  “Digestive health is essential to all health,” states Rebecca. “It will affect the way you break down and assimilate food, vitamins and minerals. If you are not digesting properly, your body will trick you into cravings that can affect your weight loss.”

I also find it extremely interesting that when I was searching for research regarding the weight-loss benefits of yoga, I found an article quoting my cousin, Rebecca Brenner!

In my yoga class last Saturday lead by Nanci Conniff (who teaches yoga to students and sports teams at Stanford), she mentioned a recent study at Ohio State University which proves the positive effects yoga has on inflammatory conditions. Nanci spends her career teaching Stanford athletes how to incorporate yoga into their training regimens — for both physical and mental benefits. I often laugh picturing 300lb football players doing the cat pose.

I’m always on the lookout for cutting-edge research which will help us lead healthier lives, so I looked up the study and want to spread the news. If we ever doubted yoga’s health benefits and used it as an excuse not to partake in the activity, we can’t run any longer!

Last month, Dr. Janice Kiecott-Glaser and her team at Ohio State University published a study which showed that regular yoga practice strongly reduces the amount of Interleukin-6 in our bodies (by 41% in their particular study). Cytokine Interleukin-6 plays a large role in our bodies inflammatory system. Too much, though, can lead to diseases such as stroke, type-2 diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and heart disease – to name a few.  This study proves that yoga allows us to regulate and reduce the production of Interleukin-6 in our bodies, thereby reducing chronic inflammation — and improving the quality of our lives! View the study published on PubMed.

The Mayo Clinic website published an article shortly after entitled: Yoga, Tap Into the Many Health Benefits

According to the article, yoga has the ability to reduce stress and increase fitness (not very surprising). Managment of chronic health conditions is also mentioned, perhaps as a result of the Ohio State study. I was surprised to read, though, that yoga can contribute to weight loss. It does not say how, exactly, just that “If you’re overweight or have binge-eating disorder, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to gain control of your eating and drop those extra pound.” Maybe this should be the next study…

Okay, no excuses for me this morning, I have twenty minutes to get to Yoga!