Hair, Skin & Nails, Part 5

From last week's column: So, what does this all boil down to? Eat well, avoid smoking and alcohol. Eat your fruits and veggies, raw is the most beneficial. Keep your diet balanced. This will be a good starting point to achieving optimum health, which we all know is a good building block for health hair, skin and nails.

Now on to the next step which will enable you have to the kind of hair, skin and nails you desire. Exercise.

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Oh yeah, exercise is a critical part of every human beings life. Centuries ago when people had to farm their land to eat, scrub their clothing on a washboard, build their own homes . . . well, they really didn’t have weight problems. It’s the sedentary lives we live now, along with the fast foot diet, which has caused unprecedented weight gains for human beings across all first world nations.

Variations of exercise stretch to infinity. Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, weight lifting, biking, swimming, aerobics, basketball, jogging, running, walking – it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it regularly.

Walking, for instance, is a good way to start if you haven’t exercised in a long time. Start going around the block once and build on that until you’re walking a couple of miles a day. If you walk for forty-five minutes, up and down hills are best, you will then go into the phase where you’re burning fat and your metabolism rises and stays at the higher level for up to eight hours. Not a bad result from taking a brisk walk.

Jogging, while extremely hard on your knees, shins and ankles, certainly burns the calories and gets the body fit and ready to go. I would recommend, using excellent running shoes which provide the optimum amount of support. Those shoes with the funny looking heels with springs in them are probably the best you will find if you insist on running and jogging.

Swimming is equally challenging, if not more so, than jogging and running. Swimming uses every muscle in the body, increases your lung capacity and health all around without damaging portions of the body usually damaged by jogging and running.
Whatever form of exercise you choose, the benefits of exercise are many and varied:

• Exercise relieves tension and stress. Physical exercise is a proven method of relieving stress. Studies have found that exercise reduces electrical activity in tense muscles as soon as your workout ends.
• Exercise provides enjoyment and fun. Really, it’s true. Once you get into the exercise mode, your endorphins increase and you get an energetic all around feeling that life is suddenly going your way. It’s the getting there that’s a little difficult. Studies have shown that endorphins are released for up to 90 to a 120 minutes after exercise.
• Exercise helps maintain a stable weight. Let’s face facts, a healthy, stable weight is what we all want. According to the Surgeon General, “Exercise primarily in the form of walking, along with restricted energy intake, can be expected to produce a substantially greater weight and fat loss and maintenance than either exercise or dietary energy restrictions alone.”2 Put on some good walking shoes and get started.
• Exercise controls the appetite. That can’t be a bad thing.
• Exercise boosts self image. There really is a psychological benefit to exercise. It has something to do with the natural chemicals released in the brain and body when we exert ourselves. In a number of studies, physical activity was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as higher positive mood and general well-being.
• Exercise improves muscle tone and strength. Need I say more?
• Exercise improves flexibility. Muscular tightness and joint stiffness begin for some people in their early 30's. For me it was my late 30's, it differs for every person across every walk of life. Tight joints and muscles are generally a result of inactivity . . . without exercise you will lose that flexibility. Consistent exercise will help maintain flexibility which reduces the number of injuries which occur as human beings age.
• Exercise improves bone density. Bone mass is related, in part, to hormonal and nutritional factors. However, it is also related to the level of physical activity in an individual. After about age 25, the mass and structural integrity of bone begins to decline in the average man or woman. If a person has a mostly sedentary lifestyle, they may be on the road to osteoporosis.
• Exercise lowers blood pressure. According to the Surgeon General, studies have generally reported significant reductions in blood pressure following endurance training.3 With aerobic or cardiovascular training, studies have shown a general decrease in blood pressure.
• Exercise relieves insomnia. A Stanford study suggests that as little as 45 minutes a day of exercise twice a week helps people sleep up to 45 minutes longer and substantially. However, strenuous exercise should be avoided up to six hours before bedtime, and mild exercise should be discontinued four hours prior to bedtime.
• Exercise increases good HDL Cholesterol. Pick up a copy of my last booklet on Policosanol (Insert Name Here), also published by Woodland Publishing. You can learn why HDL Cholesterol is good for you and LDL Cholesterol is bad for you and what you can do about it.
• Exercise prevents diabetes. The largest and most consistent difference in risk of NIDDM (non- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) occurs between those individuals who report relatively no activity and those who report doing something. Physical activity is likely to be the most beneficial in preventing the progression of NIDDM when used during the disease process.
  

“The benefits of physical activity have been extolled throughout western history, but it was not until the second half of this century that scientific evidence supporting these beliefs began to accumulate. By the 1970s, enough information was available about the beneficial effects of vigorous exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness that the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Heart Association (AHA), and other national organizations began issuing physical activity recommendations to the public. These recommendations generally focused on cardiorespiratory endurance and specified sustained periods of vigorous physical activity involving large muscle groups and lasting at least 20 minutes on 3 or more days per week. As understanding of the benefits of less vigorous activity grew, recommendations followed suit. During the past few years, the ACSM, the CDC, the AHA, the PCPFS, and the NIH have all recommended regular, moderate-intensity physical activity as an option for those who get little or no exercise. The Healthy People 2000 goals for the nation's health have recognized the importance of physical activity and have included physical activity goals. The 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the basis of the federal government's nutrition-related programs, included physical activity guidance to maintain and improve weight - 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on all, or most, days of the week.” Physical Activity and Health, a Report from the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Audrey F. Manley, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Surgeon General

What it all boils down to is simply this. Exercise makes you healthier. So do it.

Diet and exercise work in concert to keep our bodies healthy at every level, including the hair, skin and nails we are discussing in this booklet. If you eat a healthy diet but don’t exercise at all – you’re losing out on the maximum benefits of both. I’m afraid we were not meant to sit in office chairs and then come home and crash on the couch for the evening. So, it’s time to get busy and find a way of eating that will work for you and a method of exercise you enjoy.

Check in next Monday for the next installment in healthy hair, skin and nails, thereby enjoying all over health.

Return to the Neighborhood.

A Chip for Identification?

The prophets from the beginning of time have seen the fate of our world from beginning to end. At some point, they began warning us about the “mark of the beast.” There have been many interpretations as to what the prophets meant by that. I don't know that anyone actually knows, although many suppose they do. For me, a chip in the human body for identification holds all the qualifications to be the "mark of the beast", but I'm not saying it is.

On an email list I belong to there is a vast discussion on using chips in human beings for identification. There are those of us horrified by the idea and others who think it would make things much easier. You can guess which side of the argument I came down on. But let me explain why:

After the Columbine High School tragedy occurred, the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution immediately came under attack with renewed vigor. Sharon Stone, in all her stupidity, turned all her guns over to her local police and begged every American to do the same. What an idiot! Let’s take a look at Australia who stripped all their citizens of their guns in an effort to have a more peaceful society. Crime rose by 80% or more because the only people who had guns were the criminals. Freely giving up our 2nd Amendment rights became the cry of the far left liberals in America, now that cry is creeping toward the middle and easing toward the right. It hasn’t worked elsewhere, it won’t work here.

Examples of all types of “good ideas” being abused by our federal government, and even more, the criminal element of American society, flood the news every day. The bright idea of using “eye scanning” for identification was great until the criminals figured out all they had to do was yank someone’s eye out and use that. Ditto with every other type of ID. Put the chip in your hand and guess what will become the favorite target of the underbelly of America then?

Doing something just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s smart. For me, I come from a father who suffered horribly during WWII as a young child in Amsterdam. I come from a long line of ancestors who fought hard, shedding blood and giving their lives so that America might remain a free nation. From the 1500's forward, my lineage has fought hard to keep this nation free of tyranny. And I can do no less.

Instilled deep within my heart is the knowledge of the sacrifices and more importantly, the responsibilities and privileges we have as Americans. That means I don’t allow a “chip” implanted in my body which violates the “right to privacy” in so many ways I don’t even know where to start. Our Constitution, which was divinely inspired, assures so many rights and privileges, why on God’s green earth would I give them up for easy access. If you thought stealing an identity was easy before, wait until the criminal element of America steals a scanner and goes to town. Holy cow, the nightmare image is mind boggling, and frightening.

And last but not least, can anyone look at our government and tell me they operate on a honest, upright, forthright scale loaded with integrity and ethics? And people want to place chips in their bodies so it’s easier? Really? What happens when our nation stumbles and falls and her Constitution hangs by a thread, the criminal element is in the upper echelons of our nation and right to privacy, along with our basic and critical rights, go by the wayside. Oh wait, we're already there. Do you really trust your government that much? I don’t and I love this country with everything in me. I support our government and know that our Republic style of Democracy is the only way to go. But I don’t trust them and I never will. You see, that’s my job as an American, to be ever vigilant and diligent in electing wise, righteous leaders and then keeping a close eye on them and remain a voice to be heard. Because this is my country, my government and my person . . . I hold the right to influence and remain complete control of my own body.

The DNC (Democratic National Committee) is holding their convention in Denver. Barack Obama will take the nomination and will represent Democrats and liberals all over the nation in the November election. On this blog I have repeatedly revealed this man's communist intentions toward our nation and I see that finally Americans are beginning to open their eyes. Yet, he still remains the darling of the Democrats.

While in the Illinois State Legislature Barack Obama voted three separate times to have babies who survive abortion immediately killed because "he doesn't want the mothers to suffer for their mistakes." Abortion is bad, even evil. What Senator Obama voted for here, three times, is beyond reason and humanity. Look at his charming smile and his beaming face and gaze into the eyes of a murderer. Oh yes, when some aids in carrying out a crime they are a charged as an accessory with full penalty. Can you tell me you don't believe babies who survive abortions, are living and breathing, aren't human beings? Do I want this man as my president? No.

Barack Obama has stated: "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said. "That's not leadership. That's not going to happen," he added."

Really people, you want to be told what to drive, how to much eat and whether you can be comfortable in your own home? Because Obama promised you he's going to invade your Constitutional rights, stop them into the ground and tell you how you can live. Again, do I want this man as my president? Absolutely not.

Obama's programs he wants to put in place will cost a trillion dollars in new taxes., at least .Have you got that kind of money? I don't. Oh wait, he wants to take the bulk of that from the oil companies and call it his "windfall taxes". Yeah, that's what Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Fidel Castro in Cuba and Stalin in Russia did. Really? That's who Barack Obama wants to be like? Because every single one of his economic and foreign olicies will drive this great nation into communism. You don't believe me?

In his own words:



Since when have Americans decided that those who work hard,and make it work for them so that they are actually making money, is a bad thing?

Since when is striving to be a millionaire a bad thing?

Since when is everything that is good and right about America a bad thing? Oh yeah, because Barack Obama says it is.

And putting a chip in your body where this guy, and those of his ilk, can get at the information sounds like a good idea? No. I don't think so. You must establish a Freedom Library and understand all that is at stake in a vote for Barack Obama. In the link I just provided for the library there is, below the books, a list of the goals the American Communist Party set down to accomplish. You will be astonished to find they have accomplished every one and Barack Obama is right in line to take their dream even further.

And you think having a chip in your body with this guy running around is a good idea? Here's the scary part folks, Barack Obama does not stand alone.

Will you stand up and be counted? Will you stand up and state irrevocably: "I am an American. I believe the Constitution of the United States of America was divinely inspired and worth defending with everything I have. I will not allow anyone to destroy this nation and will defend her at all cost. I will hold my elected officials accountable and demand they honorably serve their constituents and the Constitution. I will demand of the highest office in the land complete and unrelieving loyalty to the American people, her ideas and her Constitution. This is my country and I will not let you destroy her."

Will you step up to the polls in November and tell Barack Obama and his communist buddies, No?

Will you realize our Constitutional rights are being eroded right before our very eyes as state and federal legislatures pass hundreds of thousands of laws to justify their existence?

Will you study the teachings of the founding fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutuion of the United States and the Bill of Rights and internalize those principles within your very being?

Will you stand for truth? Will you stand for righteousness? Will you stand for America?

Trip Down Memory Lane

Hair, Skin & Nails, Part 4

From last week's post on Health, we left off with:

Diet and exercise work in concert to keep our bodies healthy at every level, including the hair, skin and nails we are discussing in this booklet. If you eat a healthy diet but don’t exercise at all – you’re losing out on the maximum benefits of both. I’m afraid we were not meant to sit in office chairs and then come home and crash on the couch for the evening. So, it’s time to get busy and find a way of eating that will work for you and a method of exercise you enjoy.

SUPPLEMENTATION


Supplementation, in and of itself, has been medically proven and approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) to improve the health of the average human being. There are a myriad of vitamin supplements on the market, the trick to finding the best one to use is to ask a few questions.

Question 1: What is the absorption rate of the vitamin?

Question 2: Does it contain adequate amounts of the necessary vitamins and minerals?

Question 3: What is the quality control reputation of the company producing the multi-vitamin?

These three questions, asked of the companies themselves, will help you to find the best multi-vitamin. Generally speaking, located on the label of the bottle you can find an 800 number to the company. Call them, you’ll be happier for it in the long run. Sad to say, the bulk of over the counter vitamins simply run right through your system, leaving little to no nutrients behind. I have found three or four companies in which I implicitly trust their products. Solid amounts of the following nutrients should be found in any multi-vitamin you are considering purchasing.

Vitamin A (beta carotene) 15,000 IU 300% RDA

Vitamin C 1 g 1667% RDA

Vitamin D 400 IU 100% RDA

Vitamin E 200 IU 667% RDA

Vitamin K 80 mcg 100% RDA

Thiamin 25 mg 1667 RDA

Riboflavin 25 mg 1471% RDA

Niacin 125 mg 625% RDA

Vitamin B6 50 mg 2500% RDA

Folic Acid 400 mcg 100% RDA

Vitamin B12 200 mcg 3333% RDA

Biotin 300 mcg 100% RDA

Pantothenic Acid 125 mg 1250% RDA

Calcium 250 mg 25% RDA

Iron (Ferrus fumerate) 18 mg 100% RDA

Iodine 150 mcg 100% RDA

Magnesium 125 mg 31% RDA

Zinc 15 mg 100% RDA

Selenium 70 mcg 100% RDA

Copper 2 mg 100% RDA

Manganese 4 mg 200% RDA

Chromium 120 mcg 100% RDA

Molybdenum 75 mcg 100% RDA

Sodium 15 mg 1% RDA

Potassium 50 mg 1% RDA

A nice little bit of extra which is nice to find in a mutli-vitamin is the following:

Green Food/Spirulina Blend 500 mg

Spirulina, Alfalfa, Barley Grass, Dandelion, Wheat Grass, Melissa, Lemon Grass, Nettle, Blessed Thistle, Chlorella, Plantain, Blue Green Algae and Cilantro.

Amino Acids 225 mg

From the following sources: Spirulina, Zinc AAC, Chlorella, Blue Green Algae, Boron AAC, Glutamine, Asparagine, leucine, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Threonine, Valine, Glycine, Isoleucine, Serine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Methionine, Tryptophan and Cysteine.

Garden Veggies Blend 100 mg

Parsley Juice Powder, Kale Juice Powder, Spinach Juice Powder, Wheat Grass Juice Powder, Brussels Sprout Juice Powder, Cauliflower Juice Powder, Beet Juice Powder, Carrot Juice Powder, Cabbage Juice Powder and Garlic Juice Powder.

And last but not least:

Orchard Fruits Blend 100 mg

Plum Juice Powder, Cranberry Juice Powder, Blueberry Juice Powder, Strawberry Juice Powder, Blackberry Juice powder, Bilberry Juice Powder, Cherry Juice powder, Apricot Juice Powder, Papaya Juice Powder, Orange Juice Powder, Grape Juice Powder and Pineapple Juice Powder.

Any multi-vitamin which contains adequate amounts of the above listed vitamins, minerals and nutrients will stand you in good stead. If your body has what it needs it can send the necessary nutrients to your hair, skin and nails. After all, isn’t that what we’re shooting for here? Good health that shows.

Next week: Supplementation for the Hair.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Recipe: Boston Cream Cake -- To Bake or Not to Bake

I have a nephew, Vic, who's birthday was earlier this week. We promised him a turkey dinner with all the trimmings tomorrow, in celebration. Then I asked Sete to check with Vic on what his favorite kind of cake was. I was thinking: chocolate, brownie chocolate cream, banana, apple spice, yellow, German chocolate . . . you know, all the ones I can make. Yeah, you guessed it, that's a big fat no. He wants Boston Cream Cake, which I have recently learned can also called Boston Cream Pie, but is not necessarily the same thing. That would have been helpful to know a few days ago when I was hunting ALL over the internet for a good recipe. But I think found one . . . but, mine will be better looking. (There goes that competitive nature again!)

I don't know how good it is, but it sounds good and it is what I'm making Vic for his birthday tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, here's the recipe that all these young men will be guinea pigs for. Bronco, I swear . . . I won't give them food poisoning!

Boston Cream Cake
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
15 minutes

1. To make the cake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. Sift the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

2. In a deep bowl, cream 6 tablespoons of the butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the 2 eggs, one at a time, then beat in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture alternately with the 1/2 cup of the milk in 3 additions, Beating the batter smooth after each addition. Divide the batter between the 2 prepared pans.

6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add dry mixture in 3 increments alternating with:

1/2 cup milk

3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until the cakes begin to shrink away from the sides of the pans and centers spring back when lightly touched. Turn the cakes onto wire racks to cool.

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4. To make the custard: Combine the 1/2 cup light cream with 1/4 cup of the milk and cook over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan. Immediately add the sugar and the salt, stirring until dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.

1/2 cup light cream
1/4 cup milk

Immediately stir in and then remove from heat:

1/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt

5. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the milk with the cornstarch and whisk to remove lumps. Whisk in the 2 eggs. Add the hot cream mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Return to the mixture to the saucepan, bring to a boil, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and is smooth (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and allow to cool to room temperature.

1/4 cup milk
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

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6. To make the chocolate frosting: In a heavy saucepan over low heat, stir the chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons butter until they are completely melted. Remove from the heat and, stirring constantly, add the 1/4 cup light cream in a thin steady stream. When mixture is smooth, stir in the confectioners' sugar and beat vigorously. Stir in the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

(1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light cream
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

7. To Assemble Cake: Spread the cooled filling over one ofthe cooled cakes and place the second cake on top. Pour the chocolate frosting evenly over the top allowing it to spill down the sides.

Return to the Neighborhood.

New York Times . . . Liberal? Nah.

This was funny . . . not true as far as I know, but funny . . . and pretty accurate according to how the liberal media puts a negative slant on ANYTHING a conservative Republican does:

A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage.

Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket, and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, in front of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage, and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him profusely.

A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter, addressing the biker, says, 'Sir, that was the most gallant and brave thing I've seen a man do in my whole life.'

The biker replies, 'Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.'

The reporter says, 'Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist from the New York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?''

The biker replies, 'I'm a US Marine, and a Republican.'

The journalist leaves.

The following morning the biker buys The New York Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page:

U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH

I'm the Hall Monitor

Little Lin Hao of the Sichuan Province is an amazing young boy. Buried by the rubble of his school destroyed by the earthquake which struck the Sichuan Province, Lin freed himself and went back in to rescue people. For those he could not free, he sang songs to encouraging them to sing along until they were rescued.

Twenty of Lin's schoolmates died in that tragedy, leaving him only 1 of 10 to survive. When asked why he did such a brave thing he solemnly replied, "I'm the hall monitor. It's my job."

It is reported over 40,000 people died in that earthquake, and this boy has emerged as a shining example. The reports vary, meaning, in some reports he's 9 and in others he's 10. Some reports state he rescued the two schoolmates he was trapped with, another says he went back in brought others out, including a teacher. Some say 40,000 died, others say 70,000. Since I wasn't there, I can't say of a certainty how many people he rescued and how many he was unable to save. But this I know, this is a young man brave beyond his years.

The words, "I'm the hall monitor, Its my job" are powerful. Why, you may ask? They speak of strength, integrity, personal responsibility, courage and ethics. Some qualities many say are lacking in the world today. I agree, to a point. Little Lin proves they can exist in the very smallest of us.

How many people would have curled up into a fetal position, overwhelmed by the death and devastation around them. How many, after having been trapped themselves, would climb out of the rubble and then go right back into to save classmates? How many would simply say, "it's my job."?

Here's the thing, I believe it to be the job every human being on the face of the earth, to put our fellowman before ourselves. What kind of world would we live in if we too put our fellowman before our own needs? Hmmm, a world free of war? Free of hate? Free of crime? Free of greed? Free of avarice.

Lin Hao showed strength which is defined as a legal, logical or moral force. If we as Christians band together as a moral force, not only living by the precepts and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also teaching those same principles to all who will listen how great a moral force would we be? Do we have the moral fiber to stand for that which will save us all, or is it simply too much to ask of us? I happen to think there are millions upon billions of us who are strong enough to do this.

There is great strength in numbers. There are 13,000,000+ plus Latter-day Saints, often referred to as Mormons, worldwide; 51,000,000+ Catholics in the United States alone; 76.6 Anglicans worldwide, with many more Christian sects across the world . . . our numbers, as Christians, are massive. If we can have the strength to overlook our differences, band together with pure hearts and strength of purpose to show a better way to the world . . . how much better off would we be?

Lin Hao showed integrity which is "firm adherence to especially moral or artistic values" (Merriam-Webster). I believe Lin Hao exhibited integrity in his understanding of the duties of a hall monitor. Any human being would have understand with compassion and love had this young boy not gone back into that horror to save his classmates and teacher. But he didn't look at it as something he couldn't do, but something he must. How many of us can look at unpleasant or scary tasks, square our shoulders, put our heads up and walk back into the fray because it is our duty. How different would our world be if we adhered to Lin Hao's code?

For me, I see many ways in which I can personally improve in my dealings with my fellowman and, more importantly, my God. And they were highlighted with the actions of a small boy in communist China.

Return to the Neighborhood.

To My Daughter from a Mother

I received this in my email and was really touched my the thoughts. Whether an Oklahoma police officer really wrote it or not, I don't know because I don't know where it originated from. But I believe that be an aside, because the sentiments are tremendous and rather eyeopening. So enjoy.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers And fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms , and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day . . .

Health: Hair, Skin & Nails, Part 3

From last week's post on Health, we left off with:

So, what does this all boil down to? Eat well, avoid smoking and alcohol. Eat your fruits and veggies, raw is the most beneficial. Keep your diet balanced. This will be a good starting point to achieving optimum health, which we all know is a good building block for health hair, skin and nails. Now on to the next step which will enable you have to the kind of hair, skin and nails you desire. Exercise.
And now:

Exercise:

Oh yeah, exercise is a critical part of every human beings life. Centuries ago when people had to farm their land to eat, scrub their clothing on a washboard, build their own homes . . . well, they really didn’t have weight problems. It’s the sedentary lives we live now, along with the fast foot diet, which has caused unprecedented weight gains for human beings across all first world nations.

Variations of exercise stretch to infinity. Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, weight lifting, biking, swimming, aerobics, basketball, jogging, running, walking – it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it regularly.

Walking, for instance, is a good way to start if you haven’t exercised in a long time. Start going around the block once and build on that until you’re walking a couple of miles a day. If you walk for forty-five minutes, up and down hills are best, you will then go into the phase where you’re burning fat and your metabolism rises and stays at the higher level for up to eight hours. Not a bad result from taking a brisk walk.

Jogging, while extremely hard on your knees, shins and ankles, certainly burns the calories and gets the body fit and ready to go. I would recommend, using excellent running shoes which provide the optimum amount of support. Those shoes with the funny looking heels with springs in them are probably the best you will find if you insist on running and jogging.

Swimming is equally challenging, if not more so, than jogging and running. Swimming uses every muscle in the body, increases your lung capacity and health all around without damaging portions of the body usually damaged by jogging and running.

Whatever form of exercise you choose, the benefits of exercise are many and varied:

• Exercise relieves tension and stress. Physical exercise is a proven method of relieving stress. Studies have found that exercise reduces electrical activity in tense muscles as soon as your workout ends.
• Exercise provides enjoyment and fun. Really, it’s true. Once you get into the exercise mode, your endorphins increase and you get an energetic all around feeling that life is suddenly going your way. It’s the getting there that’s a little difficult. Studies have shown that endorphins are released for up to 90 to a 120 minutes after exercise.
• Exercise helps maintain a stable weight. Let’s face facts, a healthy, stable weight is what we all want. According to the Surgeon General, “Exercise primarily in the form of walking, along with restricted energy intake, can be expected to produce a substantially greater weight and fat loss and maintenance than either exercise or dietary energy restrictions alone.”2 Put on some good walking shoes and get started.
• Exercise controls the appetite. That can’t be a bad thing.
• Exercise boosts self image. There really is a psychological benefit to exercise. It has something to do with the natural chemicals released in the brain and body when we exert ourselves. In a number of studies, physical activity was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as higher positive mood and general well-being.
• Exercise improves muscle tone and strength. Need I say more?
• Exercise improves flexibility. Muscular tightness and joint stiffness begin for some people in their early 30's. For me it was my late 30's, it differs for every person across every walk of life. Tight joints and muscles are generally a result of inactivity . . . without exercise you will lose that flexibility. Consistent exercise will help maintain flexibility which reduces the number of injuries which occur as human beings age.
• Exercise improves bone density. Bone mass is related, in part, to hormonal and nutritional factors. However, it is also related to the level of physical activity in an individual. After about age 25, the mass and structural integrity of bone begins to decline in the average man or woman. If a person has a mostly sedentary lifestyle, they may be on the road to osteoporosis.
• Exercise lowers blood pressure. According to the Surgeon General, studies have generally reported significant reductions in blood pressure following endurance training.3 With aerobic or cardiovascular training, studies have shown a general decrease in blood pressure.
• Exercise relieves insomnia. A Stanford study suggests that as little as 45 minutes a day of exercise twice a week helps people sleep up to 45 minutes longer and substantially. However, strenuous exercise should be avoided up to six hours before bedtime, and mild exercise should be discontinued four hours prior to bedtime.
• Exercise increases good HDL Cholesterol. Pick up a copy of my last booklet on Policosanol (Insert Name Here), also published by Woodland Publishing. You can learn why HDL Cholesterol is good for you and LDL Cholesterol is bad for you and what you can do about it.
• Exercise prevents diabetes. The largest and most consistent difference in risk of NIDDM (non- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) occurs between those individuals who report relatively no activity and those who report doing something. Physical activity is likely to be the most beneficial in preventing the progression of NIDDM when used during the disease process.4
  

“The benefits of physical activity have been extolled throughout western history, but it was not until the second half of this century that scientific evidence supporting these beliefs began to accumulate. By the 1970s, enough information was available about the beneficial effects of vigorous exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness that the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Heart Association (AHA), and other national organizations began issuing physical activity recommendations to the public. These recommendations generally focused on cardiorespiratory endurance and specified sustained periods of vigorous physical activity involving large muscle groups and lasting at least 20 minutes on 3 or more days per week. As understanding of the benefits of less vigorous activity grew, recommendations followed suit. During the past few years, the ACSM, the CDC, the AHA, the PCPFS, and the NIH have all recommended regular, moderate-intensity physical activity as an option for those who get little or no exercise. The Healthy People 2000 goals for the nation's health have recognized the importance of physical activity and have included physical activity goals. The 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the basis of the federal government's nutrition-related programs, included physical activity guidance to maintain and improve weight - 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on all, or most, days of the week.” (Physical Activity and Health, a Report from the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Audrey F. Manley, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Surgeon General)

What it all boils down to is simply this. Exercise makes you healthier. So do it.

Diet and exercise work in concert to keep our bodies healthy at every level, including the hair, skin and nails we are discussing in this booklet. If you eat a healthy diet but don’t exercise at all – you’re losing out on the maximum benefits of both. I’m afraid we were not meant to sit in office chairs and then come home and crash on the couch for the evening. So, it’s time to get busy and find a way of eating that will work for you and a method of exercise you enjoy.

Return to the Neighborhood.

The Divine Institution of Marriage

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issues "The Divine Institution of Marriage" today.

Marriage is sacred, ordained of God from before the foundation of the world. After creating Adam and Eve, the Lord God pronounced them husband and wife, of which Adam said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Jesus Christ cited Adam’s declaration when he affirmed the divine origins of the marriage covenant: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.”

In 1995, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” declared the following unchanging truths regarding marriage:

"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children . . . The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

The Proclamation also teaches, “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” The account in Genesis of Adam and Eve being created and placed on earth emphasizes the creation of two distinct genders: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Marriage between a man and a woman is central to the plan of salvation. The sacred nature of marriage is closely linked to the power of procreation. Only a man and a woman together have the natural biological capacity to conceive children. This power of procreation – to create life and bring God’s spirit children into the world – is sacred and precious. Misuse of this power undermines the institution of the family and thereby weakens the social fabric. Strong families serve as the fundamental institution for transmitting to future generations the moral strengths, traditions, and values that sustain civilization. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society.”

Marriage is not primarily a contract between individuals to ratify their affections and provide for mutual obligations. Rather, marriage and family are vital instruments for rearing children and teaching them to become responsible adults. While governments did not invent marriage, throughout the ages governments of all types have recognized and affirmed marriage as an essential institution in preserving social stability and perpetuating life itself. Hence, regardless of whether marriages were performed as a religious rite or a civil ceremony, married couples in almost every culture have been granted special privileges aimed primarily at sustaining their relationship and promoting the environment in which children are reared. A husband and a wife do not receive these privileges to elevate them above any other two people who may share a residence or social tie, but rather in order to preserve, protect, and defend the all-important institutions of marriage and family.

It is true that some couples who marry will not have children, either by choice or because of infertility, but the special status of marriage is nonetheless closely linked to the inherent powers and responsibilities of procreation, and to the inherent differences between the genders. Co-habitation under any guise or title is not a sufficient reason for defining new forms of marriage.

High rates of divorce and out-of-wedlock births have resulted in an exceptionally large number of single parents in American society. Many of these single parents have raised exemplary children; nevertheless, extensive studies have shown that in general a husband and wife united in a loving, committed marriage provide the optimal environment for children to be protected, nurtured, and raised. This is not only because of the substantial personal resources that two parents can bring to bear on raising a child, but because of the differing strengths that a father and a mother, by virtue of their gender, bring to the task. As the prominent sociologist David Popenoe has said:

"The burden of social science evidence supports the idea that gender differentiated parenting is important for human development and that the contribution of fathers to childrearing is unique and irreplaceable.

. . . The complementarity of male and female parenting styles is striking and of enormous importance to a child’s overall development. It is sometimes said that fathers express more concern for the child’s longer-term development, while mothers focus on the child’s immediate well-being (which, of course, in its own way has everything to do with a child’s long-term well-being). What is clear is that children have dual needs that must be met: one for independence and the other for relatedness, one for challenge and the other for support."

Social historian David Blankenhorn makes a similar argument in his book Fatherless America.

"In an ideal society, every child would be raised by both a father and a mother."

The article goes on and I think it worthy of reading the entire thing. But I stand with the Church on this: Marriage is between a man and woman and same-gender marriages I will not approve or support. As the Church clearly states in the article, I do not condone hostile or hateful actions toward anyone, be their heterosexual or homosexual. But I will stand strong with my values and no amount of peer pressure will I succumb to.

Read the entire Church's article here.

Vast Mormon Conspiracy

Go Michael! Thanks you for not buying into the nonsense former Mormons like to peddle. A conspiracy? Really. Do you believe in aliens too? The guy who called, not Michael Medved.

100 Facts About Candace . . . Not

On my journey through Blogland I found a blog which had listed 100 things about its owner. I clicked on the site and typed in my own name and spent most of the time laughing. The "facts" are based on Chuck Norris quotes, but I was giggling pretty hard. Some of them were inappropriate, so I won't include those. But it was funny:

Top 100 Facts About Candace Salima

1. Candace Salima beat a wall at tennis. Yes. A WALL.

2. Whenever Candace Salima plays Chutes and Ladders, she treats the chutes as ladders, because she's not some sissy who can't climb up a plastic slide.

5. Candace Salima can delete the Recycling Bin.

6. Candace Salima can speak braille.

7. Superman owns a pair of Candace Salima pajamas.

9. When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Candace Salima.

10. Candace Salima and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing their underwear on the outside of their pants.

11. Candace Salima is allergic to doorknobs. Thats why she can only kick through doors.

13. Candace Salima was originally cast as the main character in 24, but was replaced by the producers when she managed to kill every terrorist and save the day in 12 minutes and 37 seconds.

14. When Candace Salima deletes files from her computer, she doesn't send them to the Recycle Bin. She sends them to hell.

17. If it looks like chicken, tastes like chicken, and feels like chicken but Candace Salima says its beef, then it's beef.

18. Candace Salima doesn't have a computer. Just a basement full of Asian kids that memorize numbers.

20. Leading hand sanitizers claim they can kill 99.9 percent of germs. Candace Salima can kill 100 percent of whatever the heck she wants.

21. Candace Salima died ten years ago, but the Grim Reaper can't get up the courage to tell her.

22. Candace Salima is the only one who can "try this at home."

23. Candace Salima is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

24. The word "gay" derives from an old Latin phrase that roughly translates as "He who has not yet been introduced to Candace Salima."

25. On a high school math test, Candace Salima put down "Violence" as every one of the answers. She got an A+ on the test because Candace Salima solves all her problems with Violence. (My critique group will get a kick out of this one, no pun intended.)

26. The United States Federal Reserve Bank decided that Candace Salima's basement was a much safer place for their gold than Fort Knox.

27. Candace Salima sleeps with a night light. Not because Candace Salima is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Candace Salima

28. Candace Salima was once on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and was the first to spin. The next 29 minutes of the show consisted of everyone standing around awkwardly, waiting for the wheel to stop.

31. Candace Salima's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Candace Salima.

32. Candace Salima can predict the shuffle on her iPod.

33. Candace Salima destroyed the periodic table, saying Candace Salima only recognizes the element of surprise.

34. The eternal conundrum "what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object" was finally solved when Candace Salima punched herself in the face.

37. Candace Salima owns the greatest Poker Face of all-time. It helped her win the 1983 World Series of Poker despite her holding just a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.

38. Candace Salima counted to infinity - twice.

39. Santa Claus actually *did* exist until he accidentally skipped Candace Salima's house one Christmas.

50. Candace Salima is able to rip a phone book in half with just one hand.

51. Candace Salima is the only person in the world who can actually give 110%.

52. Candace Salima was fired from the Psychic Friends Network for always predicting pain.

53. The popular videogame "Doom" is based loosely around the time Satan borrowed two bucks from Candace Salima and forgot to pay her back.

54. Candace Salima was born with the right to party. Unlike the rest of us, who have to fight for it.

55. If you haven't seen Alien vs. Predator yet, don't bother, Candace Salima wins.

56. The end result of the game "Clue" is always the same: Candace Salima was the murderer, it was in the orphanage, and the weapon was a hamster.

57. When Candace Salima goes to donate blood, she declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.

58. If at first you don't succeed, you must not be Candace Salima.

60. Candace Salima is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for her left and right legs.

64. When Candace Salima enters a room, she doesn't turn the lights on, she turns the dark off.

65. There are only four horsemen of the apocalypse, because Candace Salima is going to walk.

66. Candace Salima doesn't have to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Tall buildings duck under Candace Salima.

67. The only time Candace Salima was wrong was when she thought she had made a mistake.

68. Candace Salima does not hunt because the word hunting implies the possibility of failure. Candace Salima goes killing.

69. Once a cobra bit Candace Salima's leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

70. Crop circles are Candace Salima's way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the hell down.

71. Candace Salima invented black. In fact, she invented the entire spectrum of visible light. Except pink. Tom Cruise invented pink.

72. A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Candace Salima and that you will be handicapped if you park there.

73. Giraffes were created when Candace Salima uppercutted a horse.

74. Candace Salima can slam revolving doors.

76. Candace Salima's dog is trained to pick up her own poop because Candace Salima will not take crap from anyone.

79. When Candace Salima gets pulled over she lets the cop off with a warning.

80. Getting murdered by Candace Salima counts as a natural cause of death.

81. If Candace Salima wants some shade, she stares the sun down until it eclipses.

84. In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Candace Salima could use to kill you, including the room itself.

86. Candace Salima always asks for the same Christmas gift: A box of Smurfs and a sledgehammer.

87. Candace Salima can watch a season of "24" in just three hours.

88. Candace Salima does not sleep. She waits.

89. Candace Salima knows the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow (African *AND* European).

91. Candace Salima once got caught doing 100 in a 50 zone. The cop did give her a speeding ticket, however Candace Salima still pleads her innocence to this day, stating that she was simply out for a morning jog.

94. Candace Salima doesn't play "hide-and-seek." She plays "hide-and-pray-I-don't-find-you."

97. There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Candace Salima allows to live.

98. Candace Salima can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.

99. Candace Salima used to beat the crap out of her shadow because it was following to close. It now stands a safe 30 feet behind her.

100. Weeping Willows are a result of Candace Salima yelling at trees for not being tough enough.

I know, pretty violent. And I'm really not that bad, but I was laughing so hard when I was reading this I woke Alvin up. Type in your own name at 100 Facts About and see what they have you doing.

Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake

One of my all time favorite desserts is Texas Sheet Cake. Love 'em! I used to make them all the time, having a killer recipe and all, but then the weight started packing on and I had to stop. That's when I started making 'em for other people, or inviting people over for dinner so Alvin and I could have one or two pieces before it was devoured by our guests. Hey, when you love Texas Sheet Cake as much as I do you've got figure out a way.

So this great to service with Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge topping (yum!) or all by itself. It's a wonderful dessert for almost any American dish.

So get ready and start baking. It's easy to do and delicious to devour!

Texas Sheet Cake

Preheat oven to 400°

For one 17 ½ by 11 inch baking pan, 48 brownies, you will need:

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

2 C. Flour
2 C. Sugar
¼ t. Salt

In a heavy sauce pan, stir and bring to a boil:

½ C. Butter (1 Cube)
½ C. Shortening (Butter Flavored)
1 C. Water
¼ C. Dark, Unsweetened Baking Coca

Pour the boiling mixture over flour, sugar and salt mixture. Mix well, using a wooden spoon or
high speed mixer.

Add:

½ C. Buttermilk
2 Eggs
1 t. Baking Soda
1 t. Vanilla

Mix well and pour into a well buttered 17 ½ by 11 inch sheet cake or jelly roll pan. Bake at
400° for 20 Minutes or until brownies test done in the center.

While brownies bake, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan combine:

½ C. Butter (1 Cube)
2 T. Dark Cocoa
¼ C. Milk

Heat to boiling. Add in ½ C. increments, using a whisk:

3 ½ C. Unsifted Powered Sugar

Once this is completely smooth, add:

1 t. Vanilla

Pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven. Cool and cut into 48 bars.

Happy Eating.

Return to the Neighborhood.

On a journey through Blogland . . .

I've been cruising around looking for Mormon bloggers. What an eye-opening and equally fantastic experience. Many of you have been blogging before Elder Ballard sent the call out, and many of you have answered that call and begun blogs and websites of your own. I couldn't be prouder of you! Anyway, I happened upon a blog called Richelle's Reflections and reading through her posts when I found this:

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

Isn't that hysterical. Alvin and I were chuckling pretty hard . . . yes, I know that equates to laughing.

I'm having a blast cruising blogland, finding blogs I've never visited before. Yes, I'm doing it for a project which I will be announcing in the next month or so. I'm very excited about playing a part in it. But mum's the word until everything is in place.

Alonzo Gaskill's latest . . .

Press Release

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New Groundbreaking Book Compares Mormons and Catholics
Orem, Utah-----August 12, 2008 for immediate release

Angels and demons, prophets and popes, do Mormons and Catholics really have anything in common? Author and Mormonism/Catholicism expert Alonzo L. Gaskill released his much-anticipated book, Know Your Religions: A Comparative Look at Mormonism and Catholicism, last week at the LDS Booksellers Convention in Sandy.

Gaskill’s book was well received at the LDS Booksellers Convention, becoming Millennial Press’s best-selling new release in ten years. Bookstore owners from Calgary to Concord commented on the critical need for his book and gave it high praise as reflected in their abundant orders.

Published by Orem-based Millennial Press, this book is the first in a series of ten books formatted to help readers understand the differences and similarities between the major world religions and Mormonism, the predominate faith in Utah.

Because of the growing population of more than 200,000 Catholics in the state of Utah, and considering the LDS missionaries spanning the globe to convert Catholics to Mormonism, this book is timely and useful to Latter-day Saints often known for being ignorant of religions outside of Mormonism. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church has challenged Latter-day Saints, “Get to know your neighbors. Learn about...their views... If our history teaches us nothing else, it should teach us to respect the rights and beliefs of all people..."

Amazingly, praise for this book has also come from the other side of the aisle. Roman Catholic Father Patrick L. LaBelle, director of The Catholic Community at Stanford University, has recently said, “Dr. Gaskill has shown us in this work...how to understand the faith of another tradition with precision and accuracy, and at the same time, he allows his readers to learn more about their own faith in the process. I believe that it would be a good idea to make this a regular text for Catholics who want to learn more about their own church and LDS neighbors.”

Gaskill is a professor of Religion at Brigham Young University where he has taught a variety of religious subjects including World Religions for the past five years. He has treasured his opportunity to write this important volume and sees it as a culmination of his research and personal experiences with Catholicism, including the work he did at the University of Notre Dame.

Gaskill will be teaching classes each day this week at Brigham Young University’s campus Education Week. His paperback book, of more than 200 pages, retails for $14.95 and is available at Deseret Book, Seagull Book, BYU Bookstore, Sam Wellers, and wherever books are sold.

I'll be doing a review of Know Your Religions: A Comparative Look at Mormonism and Catholicism by Alonzo Gaskill, and hopefully an interview with the author as well, soon. So check back . . . believe me when I say, it will be worth your time. Alonzo is one of my favorite religious writers, I use his Lost Language of Symbolism all the time!

Other books by Alonzo Gaskill:

Lost Language of Symbolism
Odds Are, You're Going to be Exalted
The Savior and the Serpent
The Nativity

Aurora . . . Really.

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Aurora, really? Hmmm. Wouldn't have pegged that one, AT ALL! Rarely, if ever, does anyone take care of me. I'm always taking care of others. And if I want to know how the outside world works I'll go find out for myself, oh wait . . . I already did that!

Which Disney princess are you? Guess I need to warn you that I don't find it accurate. However, Sleeping Beauty was my favorite movie when I was a kid.

When I was 9-years-old I had appendicitis which turned into peratinitus because the doctors couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong with me, a portent for the remainder of my medical life. Anyway, I ended up in the hospital for 15 days. Yeah, it pretty much stunk. Anyway, my mother went out and bought me Sleeping Beauty nightgown and panties, record player (look it up) and record (again, look it up). You know, the kind with the story attached to the record cover? Anyway, my mother really went out of her way to make a miserable and scary situation as comfortable as possible. So Sleeping Beauty will always have a soft spot in my heart. Love that Prince Philip.

What is a Windfall Profit According to Barack Obama?

Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal, - yes, color me astonished! - wrote an incredible article on Barack Obama's proposed "windfall taxes." It was forwarded to me in an email and I had to do a little digging to find the original source and properly credit it, but it was definitely the Wall Street Journal.

---

"What is a Windfall"
August 4, 2008; Page A12
Daily Political Newsletter from WSJ.com's Opinion Editors

The "windfall profits" tax is back, with Barack Obama stumping again to apply it to a handful of big oil companies. Which raises a few questions: What is a "windfall" profit anyway? How does it differ from your everyday, run of the mill profit? Is it some absolute number, a matter of return on equity or sales -- or does it merely depend on who earns it?

Inquiring entrepreneurs want to know. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama's "emergency" plan, announced on Friday, doesn't offer any clarity. To pay for "stimulus" checks of $1,000 for families and $500 for individuals, the Senator says government would take "a reasonable share" of oil company profits.

Mr. Obama didn't bother to define "reasonable," and neither did Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, when he recently declared that "The oil companies need to know that there is a limit on how much profit they can take in this economy." Really? This extraordinary redefinition of free-market success could use some parsing.

Take Exxon Mobil, which on Thursday reported the highest quarterly profit ever and is the main target of any "windfall" tax surcharge. Yet if its profits are at record highs, its tax bills are already at record highs too. Between 2003 and 2007, Exxon paid $64.7 billion in U.S. taxes, exceeding its after-tax U.S. earnings by more than $19 billion. That sounds like a government windfall to us, but perhaps we're missing some Obama-Durbin business subtlety.

Maybe they have in mind profit margins as a percentage of sales. Yet by that standard Exxon's profits don't seem so large. Exxon's profit margin stood at 10% for 2007, which is hardly out of line with the oil and gas industry average of 8.3%, or the 8.9% for U.S. manufacturing (excluding the sputtering auto makers).

If that's what constitutes windfall profits, most of corporate America would qualify. Take aerospace or machinery -- both 8.2% in 2007. Chemicals had an average margin of 12.7%. Computers: 13.7%. Electronics and appliances: 14.5%. Pharmaceuticals (18.4%) and beverages and tobacco (19.1%) round out the Census Bureau's industry rankings. The latter two double the returns of Big Oil, though of course government has already became a tacit shareholder in Big Tobacco through the various legal settlements that guarantee a revenue stream for years to come.

In a tax bill on oil earlier this summer, no fewer than 51 Senators voted to impose a 25% windfall tax on a U.S.-based oil company whose profits grew by more than 10% in a single year and wasn't investing enough in "renewable" energy. This suggests that a windfall is defined by profits growing too fast. No one knows where that 10% came from, besides political convenience. But if 10% is the new standard, the tech industry is going to have to rethink its growth arc. So will LG, the electronics company, which saw its profits grow by 505% in 2007. Abbott Laboratories hit 110%.

If Senator Obama is as exercised about "outrageous" profits as he says he is, he might also have to turn on a few liberal darlings. Oh, say, Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett's outfit pulled in $11 billion last year, up 29% from 2006. Its profit margin -- if that's the relevant figure -- was 11.47%, which beats out the American oil majors.

Or consider Google, which earned a mere $4.2 billion but at a whopping 25.3% margin. Google earns far more from each of its sales dollars than does Exxon, but why doesn't Mr. Obama consider its advertising-search windfall worthy of special taxation?

The fun part about this game is anyone can play. Jim Johnson, formerly of Fannie Mae and formerly a political fixer for Mr. Obama, reaped a windfall before Fannie's multibillion-dollar accounting scandal. Bill Clinton took down as much as $15 million working as a rainmaker for billionaire financier Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Companies. This may be the very definition of "windfall."

General Electric profits by investing in the alternative energy technology that Mr. Obama says Congress should subsidize even more heavily than it already does. GE's profit margin in 2007 was 10.3%, about the same as profiteering Exxon's. Private-equity shops like Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, which recently hired Al Gore, also invest in alternative energy start-ups, though they keep their margins to themselves. We can safely assume their profits are lofty, much like those of George Soros's investment funds.

The point isn't that these folks (other than Mr. Clinton) have something to apologize for, or that these firms are somehow more "deserving" of windfall tax extortion than Big Oil. The point is that what constitutes an abnormal profit is entirely arbitrary. It is in the eye of the political beholder, who is usually looking to soak some unpopular business.

In other words, a windfall is nothing more than a profit earned by a business that some politician dislikes. And a tax on that profit is merely a form of politically motivated expropriation

It's what politicians do in Venezuela, not in a free country.

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I couldn't agree more with every single blessed word.

So the French Relay Mens relay swim team was gunning for the Americans. Bye bye France. The American boys shattered the world record and took the French down at the same time. It was a good night. Thanks guys!

Health: Hair, Skin & Nails, Part 2

From our last health post we closed with: While my taste buds may love a big, juicy, well-stacked cheeseburger . . . my body doesn’t. Of course, how can I pass up those delicious chocolate covered cherries that come with the holidays? I’d better pass them up if I want to maintain any kind of health. Pizza, burgers, fried chicken, french fries . . . oh yeah, I crave them, I want them . . . but there are better, tastier alternatives. Foods that are low in saturated fats and completely devoid of trans fats. What are saturated fats? What are trans fats? Why are they bad for you?

And now:

Saturated Fats • For centuries, saturated fats, such as coconut oil, have been a healthy part of the traditional diet. Unfortunately, in the last century, the evolution of the expeller-pressed seed-based vegetables has come to fruition. These saturated fats, which must be heavily refined and then hydrogenated in order to become a solid fat, are a major contributor to the multiple diseases of the heart. In turn, when the heart is affected, there is a chain reaction which manifests itself outwardly.

Healthy saturated fats constitute at least 50% of the cell membrane. They play a vital role in bone health. They enhance the immune system. According to Mary G. Enigh, PhD “Many people recognize that saturated fats are needed for energy, hormone production, cellular membranes and for organ padding. You may be surprised to learn that certain saturated fatty acids are also needed for important signaling and stabilization processes in the body . . . When these important saturated fatty acids are not readily available, certain growth factors in the cells and organs will not be properly aligned. This is because the various receptors, such as G-protein receptors, need to be coupled with lipids in order to provide localization of function . . . Most Westerners consume very little myristic acid because it is provided by coconut oil and dairy fats, both of which we are told to avoid. But myristic acid is a very important fatty acid, which the body uses to stabilize many different proteins, including proteins [needed by] the immune system and to fight tumors.”1

Twenty-five percent of our diet should consist of healthy saturated fats. Contrary to what we have been told in the last twenty years, healthy saturated fats can be found in: coconut oil, palm oil, and butter.

The key to the proper consumption of saturated fats is to maintain their balance as twenty-five percent of your diet rather than indulging in foods such as hamburgers, french fries, onion rings, and the plethora of fast food items which cross our paths every day. If you indulge in a diet rich in saturated fats, you are courting serious heart disease.

Trans Fats • Trans fats were added to foods by manufacturers about twenty years ago when it was found trans fats prolong the shelf life of food products. Foods such as cookies, crackers, icing, potato chips, margarine and microwave popcorn all have trans fats. Trans fats are artificial fats made when hydrogen gas reacts with oil.

Trans fats increase the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower the levels of HDL (good cholesterol). In 2003, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), announced that all manufacturers must list the amount of trans fats in each of their products. Trans fats must be avoided at all costs, for there are no health benefits associated with them. For more information on this, check out the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov.

Trans fats can be identified by checking the labels of your foods, if trans fats are individually specified look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated soy bean, canola, cottonseed or other oil.

Fruits, Seeds, Nuts & Vegetables • What can I say about fruits and vegetables that you don’t know? They are critical to our diet. You already knew that. They provide fiber in our diet. Anyone suffering some digestive issues, which is as delicately as I can put it, already knows that fiber is critical to the diet. Five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day are recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This is for good reason. Books could be, and have been, written about the benefits of fruits, seeds, nuts and vegetables in our diet. They are rich in Vitamins A, C, folate and fiber . . . just to name a few. So I will say little more than if you wish to have healthy hair, skin, nails and every other aspect of your body, eat your fruits and vegetables.

Proteins • Without a substantial amount of protein in your diet, your heart will die. Do I need to mention the obvious? If your heart isn’t pumping, you can count on the fact that your hair, skin and nails are not going to be looking their best. I do believe that would be the least of your worries at that point.

But really, what does protein do for human the body? Protein helps to increase lean muscle mass, aids in weight loss, enhances immune function, decreases wasting tissues in numerous diseases and is, as was mentioned before, critical to the function of the heart.

A good balance of protein and carbohydrates is critical to a healthy body. Dr. Barry Sears, PhD, developed The Zone Diet originally. Although many companies have jumped on the band wagon, Dr. Sears philosophy of balancing proteins and carbohydrates has proven highly successful in weight loss and overall body health worldwide.

Carbohydrates • According to the Harvard School of Public Health “Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet because they provide fuel for the body. Many foods rich in whole-grain carbohydrates are good sources of essential vitamins and minerals.” Carbohydrates are not all good and they are not all bad. They are an important part of the diet because they provide fuel for the body. Carbohydrates can be divided into two categories. High-glycemic Index and Low-glycemic Index. Some examples to help you understand how they are classified are as follows:

HIGH-GLYCEMIC INDEX LOW-GLYCEMIC INDEX
Potatoes, bananas, white bread, white rice, french fries, refined breakfast cereals, white spaghetti, soft drinks, and sugar. Most legumes, whole fruits, whole wheat, oats, bran, brown rice, bulgar, barley, whole grain breakfast cereals, and couscous.

These foods are classified accordingly by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In other words, as you are balancing your proteins with your carbohydrates, lean toward the ones classified in the low-glycemic index.

The Zone Diet • Of all the diets out there, and there are many, the one which makes the most sense is the one with balance. The Zone Diet, developed by Dr. Barry Sears, PhD, as mentioned briefly earlier, is a diet of balance. A perfect balance of protein and carbohydrates. Healthy protein and healthy carbohydrates. You can find more about this diet on Dr. Sear’s website, www.drsears.com, or in the bookstores where you can purchase numerous books on The Zone Diet.

So, what does this all boil down to? Eat well, avoid smoking and alcohol. Eat your fruits and veggies, raw is the most beneficial. Keep your diet balanced. This will be a good starting point to achieving optimum health, which we all know is a good building block for health hair, skin and nails.

Now on to the next step which will enable you have to the kind of hair, skin and nails you desire. Exercise.

Check in next Monday for the next installment in healthy hair, skin and nails, thereby enjoying all over health.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Republicans vs. Democrats . . . Who Will Win

It better be the Republicans, and Republicans that listen a little better than they have in the past. Barack Obama is riding the wave of "for the people, by the people" borrowing a phrase from our Declaration of Independence to drive his Marxist agenda. (That would be communist.) Yes, our "world citizen" (that's what he told the world he was, not an American citizen, but a world citizen) and his cronies really played fair the other day:

Drill, Drill, Drill Is Working

Thursday, August 7, 2008 5:45 PM
By: Larry Kudlow Article Font Size

As Sen. John McCain and the GOP leadership nationalize the drill, drill, drill message, the Republican Party might conceivably be riding a summer political rally. The question of offshore drilling, along with expanded domestic energy production, has suddenly become the biggest political and economic wedge issue of this election. Is there a Republican tsunami in the making?

According to the major polls, McCain has overcome a big deficit to pull even with Barack Obama. Meanwhile, according to a Rasmussen survey, Democratic Party identification has slumped.

While Republicans on the House floor shouted "vote, vote, vote" and "lower gas prices," the Democratic majority turned off the lights, cameras and microphones. Determined Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell offered unanimous-consent requests to vote on lifting the ban on deep-water exploration, and the Democrats objected. When McConnell asked Democrats if they'd overturn the ban at $4.50 a gallon, they replied, "No." When he raised the price to $5, $7 and $10, they cried, "No," "no" and "no."

On the Stephanopoulos Sunday news show, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi underscored her refusal to allow a drilling vote. Asked about the Republican rebellion in the House, she said, "What you saw in the Congress this week was the war dance of the handmaidens of the oil companies." She went on to say, "We are spending all of this time on a parliamentary tactic, when nothing less is at stake than the planet, the air we breathe, our children breathe."

Oh, really? Voters have a much different view. Polls suggest that two-thirds to three-quarters of the nation wants to drill. To wit, while a just-released Obama campaign ad attacks McCain as a tool of big oil, McCain has taken his first-ever lead in a Rasmussen tracking poll.

There is a voter revolt going on, and it reminds me of the anti-tax rebellion that lifted Ronald Reagan into office 28 years ago. Is the conventional wisdom about to be swept away? As Republicans press home the drill, drill, drill message, might they pick up seats in Congress this year? And might the national clamor for a more realistic and balanced energy policy — one that includes more oil, natural gas, clean coal, nuclear, and the alternatives of wind, solar and cellulosic — carry John McCain to a convincing victory over Obama?

Without even realizing it, the GOP drilling offensive has become a new contract with America. And it appears to be working. The public is putting aside global warming and choosing instead new-energy production, a stronger economy and more job creation. Voters want growth, not austerity. They want Ronald Reagan, not Thomas Malthus. And by resisting this grassroots call, the Democratic Party is digging itself into one of the biggest political dry holes in history.

New economic statistics highlight the damage done by the unprecedented oil-price shock. Only a year ago, real gross domestic product was growing at 4 percent to 5 percent. Then came the dramatic rise of energy prices and down came the economy.

GDP contracted slightly late last year and rose a miniscule 0.9 percent in this year's first quarter. And although real growth picked up to nearly 2 percent in the second quarter, that number is suspect, since the government does not count surging import prices from food and energy.

Wall Street blames everything on the housing slump and the subprime credit crisis. Of course, these are significant. But the drop in housing starts, sales and prices has been going on for nearly two years, without crunching down the economy.

It's the oil shock that has brought us perilously close to recession. In fact, despite a slight rise in GDP, non-farm corporate payrolls have declined for seven consecutive months, while private payrolls have fallen for eight straight months. A year ago, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent. Today, it's 5.7 percent. Topping it off, the inflation rate has climbed from 2 percent to 4 percent over the past year.

Right now, the recession call is still an open question. But the economic damage caused by skyrocketing energy prices is a no-brainer.

When President George W. Bush eliminated the executive moratorium on offshore drilling a month ago, effectively launching the drill, drill, drill offensive, oil was close to $150 a barrel. Since then, the barrel price has dropped to nearly $120, as futures-market traders anticipate a major shift in federal drilling policy.

Over at the Intrade pay-to-play prediction market, the probability of an offshore drilling bill passing in 2008 is now handicapped at 50 percent, up from 25 percent only a few days ago. Clearly, investors know market prices will move well before we see actual new energy supplies from offshore drilling. The likelihood of greater energy supply will incentivize those much-vilified traders to slash barrel prices much more, bringing relief at the pump and earning the gratitude of a whole nation.

At the same time, those wrongheaded Democratic leaders, from Obama to Harry Reid to Pelosi, will see their political fortunes plummet deep into bear-market territory.

© 2008 Creator's Syndicate Inc.

So Mexican troops are coming over our border and Nancy Pelosi is too busy making sure Americans continue to suffer and turning out the lights to notice. Apparently, no one in the federal government gives a damn about foreign troops crossing our borders and accosting a Border Patrol agent, which, by the way, is an act of war. My guess is they are too busy trying to figure out how to raise taxes, tell us what temperature our homes can be at, figuring out how to legislate what we can drive, encouraging the skyrocketing prices at the gas pumps by refusing to let us utilize our own resources . . . I could go on, but I'm too sick to remember the rest. Just read back over my blog, you'll find a myriad of things the Democrats with their "mighty" leader are trying to drive through.

Barack Obama wants to instigate a "windfall" tax. In other words, if you've worked your butt off and become wildly successful, too bad, Obama wants to take your profits from you. Oh, he just wants a percentage so that he can pay for all his communist programs, while Hillary wants to nationalize the oil companies (like Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela) and she's the conservative one of the two!

Really America? Is that the "change" you want. Democracy to a communism? The founding fathers are turning in their graves!