See the world from someone else's view

I get carried away.

2011-08-20T04:52:00.000-07:00

I don't take my whiskey to extremes
Don't believe is chasing crazy dreams
My feet are planted firmly on the ground
But darlin' when you come around

I get carried away by the look by the light in your eyes
Before I even realize the ride I'm on baby I'm long gone
I get carried away nothing matters but bein' with you
Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day, I get carried away

It might seem like an ordinary night
Same ol' stars, the same ol' moon up high
But when I see you standing at the door
Nothin's ordinary anymore
I get carried away.

I'll reach for you.

2011-08-20T04:48:00.000-07:00

I'll reach for your hand in the cold of winter, I'll reach for your hand in the heat of summer. But if my short life can't reach for the dawn of spring, I promise, in heaven, I'll reach you with my wings.

Love is like ...

2011-08-20T04:42:00.000-07:00

Love is like a butterfly, it settles upon you when you least expect it.

Don't be a frog.

2011-08-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

Your culture is your limit; if you can't go beyond it, you will remain as a frog of your little lake.

Winter Rose

2011-08-20T04:19:00.000-07:00

Love is like a rose in the winter, only the strong survive.

When you love someone, ...

2011-08-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

When you love someone, you see the world in their eyes.

Like a tree

2011-08-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Hurting someone is as easy as cutting the branch of a tree, but making someone happy is like growing the tree.

I'm All Yours

2011-08-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

I am your best friend, your hopes, your wants, you needs, your wishes, your dreams, your reality, your inspiration, your heart beat, your tears, your smiles, and your love. I am your everything.

Love Rain

2011-08-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Rain your love on me.

Opposites Attract

2011-08-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

We are like these two roses,

One different from the other,

But when put together,

It's perfect.

If I wished upon a star

2010-12-27T19:28:00.000-08:00

If I wished upon a star

I'd wish you would look me in the eyes

So you could see how much you mean to me

If I wished upon a star

I'd wish we would be in each others arms

So I could feel the warmth of our love

If I wished upon a star

I'd wish you would put your ear on my chest

So you could hear my heart beating

Cuz it only beats for you

If I wished upon a star

I'd wish for all my wishes to come true

But if I had just one wish

I'd wish that I could be with you

On the beach

2010-12-27T02:19:00.000-08:00

On the beach
Sitting in the sand
My hand in your hand
Your lips close to mine
There is no other place
I'd rather be
Looking into you eyes
And see them staring back at me
When the sun falls
The moon and stars light up the sky
We no more have something to hide
In the dark of the night
I see the glow of your face
I know I'm in the perfect place
I give to you my word of forever
Promise me you'll leave me never
In my heart is where you'll always be
You have found, locked and thrown away the key

~C

Treat Her Right

2010-09-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

All wounds hurt and all wounds heal. It's the wounds on our hearts that are the most painful and they become scars. Scars are the ones that require the most love and affection in order to heal. When you hurt or scar me, I'll still love you today and tomorrow just like I did yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zIzVErEiTk

Tax Poem

2010-06-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax the bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach his taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.

Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.

Tax his good and let him know,
That after taxes he has no dough.

If he hollers tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"

And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!

"Mezquita Catedral de Cordoba"

2010-04-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

Did anyone read this news?
Muslims try to pray in Spanish cathedral
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36146725/ns/world_news-europe/

I hate religious fights. I hope I am not the only one that is tired of hearing and seeing the fighting going on between different religions. Why can't anyone pray wherever they want? It doesn't matter if you're in a mosque, church or temple, there is only one God whom we all worship in different ways. I am not defending anyone or anyone's beliefs because who am I to say that you're wrong and I am right. I am not God and neither are you, so stop telling people who, what or where to pray for what they believe. When will we all just get along? It's very difficult to raise kids in todays world. Everyone always thinks they are right and they rest of the world is wrong. How do you really know who's right? With all the media, my family and friends talking bad about other peoples religion, or thoughts and beliefs, it is really hard to teach my daughter to respect what other people believe and how they feel about something. I really do understand why nobody will agree with me because that is how they were raised. People now a days are not raised to love and be loved, they are raised to love or hate with nothing in between. And that is the reason the worlds society is the way it is today. I could go on and on but I know none of you reading this will learn anything from it. I am not saying that I am right and you are wrong but what you have to do is educate yourself and listen to other peoples opinion or thoughts even if you disagree and who know's, you might learn something. I don't want to change anyone's views on life or religion, but keep an open mind, be nice, be good, be kind, be caring, be giving, be generous and most important of all is to be open hearted. You never know if the person you talk bad about or have hatred towards will one day be there for you when you need someone the most. It's a neverending arguement and nobody is ever going to win.

Giving candy at toll booths

2010-01-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice story to share with you all.

It's a common thing here in India at the toll booths to give you a piece of candy that costs 1 rupee instead of actually giving you that 1 rupee. Is this a good thing or a bad thing. Let's think about it. It's a good thing for them if by chance they don't have that 1 extra rupee to give you. It's a bad thing for us because it makes us want to eat that candy because it is sitting right there on the dashboard and keeps looking at us saying "Eat Me, Eat Me!" Not good for the people who are trying to watch their weight. Well here is an idea for you. Give it back! They will not only give you 1 or 2 but even 5. We got 5 of them from one toll booth. When we reached the next toll, they asked if I had 5 rupees and instead of giving them 5 rupees, I gave them the 5 candies I got from the previous booth. Luckily for me, the accepted it. First, they were like oh come on what's this. We told them you guys give it out as change so why can't we. After they accepted it, we told them to eat it and be happy. I'm pretty sure that won't work very often as their job is to collect the money not to collect candy. But it sure was funny.

Since I am on the topic of toll booths. Once we were in the line and in the lane next to us the guy didn't pay his toll and drove off. The security quickly moved the gate in front of the car but the car just crashed into it. Now I don't understand that why he would dent and scratch his car all us just for 45 rupees. Well anyway... :)

Why are you vegetarian?

2009-09-09T01:59:00.000-07:00

I often wonder why some people call themselves a vegetarian. Is it because they don't want to eat a live animal? Someone once told me that she doesn't eat egg because it has a chance to have a life as a chicken. Or, is it because it is healthier?

Plants actually do have sex. Everyone loves to pick flowers and when they do, they’re actually dismembering the reproductive organs of plants. The “male” portion of the flower is the pollen-loaded stamen, while the egg-holding pistil is the “female” part.

Most plants sprout bisexual flowers (which have both male and female parts), but plants like squash grow separate male and female flowers—still others have both bisexual and single-sex flowers. And, as evolutionary biologists have recently discovered, plants with male and bisexual flowers produce more seeds. Why this is true is a new scientific mystery, but it probably has something to do with male flowers hoarding less of a plant’s energy (making more of it available to crank out seeds).

Using nature as a matchmaker, wind, animals, or water carry pollen to a sticky female stigma. The grains then germinate and grow downward, creeping slowly towards the ovaries. Eventually, the pollen grains bump into some eggs: Ta-da, seeds are born (yes, eating an apple or other fruit means eating an unborn life form!).

I found this article about why plant iron is better than meat iron.

1kg of beef creates a whopping 34.6kg of CO2, and consumes 15,000 litres of water! On top of that our little Moo Moo friends are responsible for 37% of global methane emissions. That stinks! A recent UN report found that meat production was among the top 3 creators of greenhouse gases (including methane which is 23 times more harmful than CO2). It’s responsible for 18% of global emissions, more than the entire world transportation industry, and livestock agriculture is also a major cause of deforestation and soil erosion, as well as being a huge drain on our water supplies.

It's hard to argue with the health benefits of a diet rich in vegetables and fruits: Lower blood pressure; reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and probably some cancers; lower risk of eye and digestive problems; and a mellowing effect on blood sugar that can help keep appetite in check.

Most people should aim for at least nine servings (at least 4½ cups) of vegetables and fruits a day, and potatoes don't count. Go for a variety of kinds and colors of produce, to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs. Your best choices are dark leafy greens, cooked tomatoes, and anything that's a rich yellow, orange, or red color.

Is beef really good for your heart?
Beef provides 39 percent of your daily needs for zinc, important for a healthy immune system. Three ounces of cooked beef contains 25 grams of protein, about 50 percent of the needs of most women. Three ounces of broiled top sirloin steak contains almost three mg of iron, almost three times as much iron as a three-ounce chicken breast. We cant hide the fact that beef contains fat, including saturated fat, and cholesterol. On the other hand beef is also a good source of iron, protein, vitamins B3, B5, B6 and B12, and phosphorus and zinc. With that information you can say if its healthy or not. One thing for sure anything that is to much would not be good same goes here.

Is chicken good for you?
Chicken has lean protein. 4 ounces of chicken provide two thirds of your daily protein requirements, and adequate protein may prevent bone loss in older people. It is good for your immune system. That 4-ounce serving of chicken also provides nearly half of your RDA of the trace mineral selenium that is essential for manufacturing glutathione, a powerful immune boosting and cancer-fighting enzyme. Eating chicken can protect you against cancer and alzheimer's. A serving of chicken supplies 72% of the RDA for niacin, a B vitamin that can protect DNA from cell damage and has cancer-preventative properties. Chicken may be a good food for Alzheimer's prevention because elderly people who obtain niacin from food are less likely to develop the disease. And the Vitamin B6 in chicken helps process carbohydrates and helps regulate blood sugar. It all also depends on how you cook your chicken.

There are a ton of healthy vegetarians in the world that never have any problems and a ton that do. Is it really what we eat that makes our bodies the way they are?

Miraj Dangal

2009-09-08T01:05:00.000-07:00

I realized I have not posted anything in a long time. There has not been anything interesting to post until recently. Some riots have boke out in the city of Ichalkaranji, where I am currently staying. The whole town has been shut down and under curfew.

Miraj Dangal is the event that took place in Miraj, Maharashtra on 2nd September 2009. Riots broke out and things got out of control. Muslims threw stones at Ganesh ideals and broke them during the Ganesh festival last week. All of Miraj, Kolhapur, Sangli, Ichalkaranji and the surrounding villages are closed. Here in Ichalkarnji we can not go outside the house for anything. If we do go there is a change we will be shot by police. There are few people out there walking around like maids but they are all taking a chance. Only one of our maids came today. The police said if they suspect you are out there to riot, they will shoot you. There was a guy outside earlier down the street from my house selling milk. The day before yesterday some people put tires in the middle of the road and set them on fire which burned all night so that police could not get through. That was at the corner right behind my house. Muslims are going around in groups rioting and setting small shops on fire. Police are out there trying to stop this but it was out of control. All day yesterday I could hear them shouting in the distance and every now and then I would see a few of the people rioting running down the street past my house trying to outrun the police. Yesterday afternoon they set a car on fire a few streets away from here.

Don't know what else to say about it. It's all between the Hindus and Muslims. There are some videos of the riots on youtube. You will see in one of the videos that a guy got on top of a police jeep waving a Pakistani flag and the cop standing right there alloweed him to do so. Just seach Miraj Dangal in youtube and you'll find all kinds of videos show up. Looks like something out of a movie but these are real.

Thanks to all this crap I can not take my daughter outside to the parks and play. When will we all just have some respect for other ppls beliefs and get along. Now we are all (hindus and muslims) prisoners in our own homes. Look at what we are teaching our kids.

IPL Cricket

2009-05-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

It seems every one and their Uncle and Aunts are talking about IPL season in India.

Teams are doing good but the only team which is doing really really bad is Kolkata. They were ok last season but this year they are mess. Mr. SRK has made a big mess of his team by following Mr. Buchanan. Bukha Naan, according to the 'Fake IPL Player' !

If you follow Indian cricket, don't miss this for the love of... It's apparantly from aa IPL player who is posting insider stories of the Kolkata team. Very very funny!!!

http://fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com/

I thought I will post some links which show it live for free.

Official website www.iplt20.com/
http://www.cric7.com/
http://www.cricheats.net/

Willowtv and Direct TV also has good deals for the entire package.
Now that it is half way through it getting more interesting. Alas if it would have been in India not in South Africa.

Of course our team is Mumbai Indians ! Go Sachin go !

The Alchemyst - Free PDF Download

2009-05-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

For a limited time you can download the fantasy fiction book "The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1)." But hurry because this offer ends May 08, 2009.

To download from Barnes and Noble, click here.

To download from others like Andersons, Borders, ect... click here.

It opens in PDF and it is safe to download.

Happy Square Root Day

2009-03-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Well today is all over the news. This day only occurs nine times each century, falls on Tuesday — 3/3/09 (for the mathematically challenged, three is the square root of nine).

"These days are like calendar comets, you wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your day — and poof — they're gone," said Ron Gordon, a Redwood City teacher who started a contest meant to get people excited about the event.

The winner gets, of course, $339 for having the biggest Square Root Day event.
Gordon's daughter even set up a Facebook page — one of a half-dozen or so dedicated to the holiday — and hundreds of people had signed up with plans to celebrate in some way. Celebrations are as varied: Some cut root vegetables into squares, others make food in the shape of a square root symbol.

The last such day was five years ago, Feb. 2, 2004, which coincided with Groundhog Day. The next is seven years away, on April 4, 2016.

How will you celebrate you square root day?

Red moon

2009-02-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

What causes a red moon?

The orange and red tints that the Sun and Moon sometimes take on are caused by the particles in the Earth's atmosphere.

When light (or more specifically, packets of light called photons) from an astronomical object passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it scatters off of particles in the latter. It turns out that these particles like to scatter blue light more than they do red light; so "bluer" photons (those with shorter wavelengths) tend to get scattered, and "redder" photons (those with longer wavelengths) pass through. So, astronomical objects look redder from Earth than they would from space, because the redder wavelengths from the objects penetrate the atmosphere better than the bluer ones. Incidentally, this is why the sky is blue: blue light from the Sun is scattered in all directions on its way to the Earth.

These pictures were captured by a Daily Mail Reporter. They are absolutely beautiful.

The story of a monkey

2009-02-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

Last night after I finished telling my daughter, who is 22 months old, a story, I told her it was now her turn to tell me a story. This is how it went:

Me - Now it's your turn to tell me a story.

Her - Monkey

Me - Oh you're story is about a monkey?

Her - Yes, and big hat.

Me - The monkey is wearing a big hat. What color?

Her - Orange.

Me - The monkey is wearing a big orange hat. And what else?

Her - Dresses.

Me - The monkey wearing wearing a dress?

Her - Yes.

Me - What is the monkey doing with a dress on?

Her - Cooking.

Me - So the monkey is wearing a big orange hat and a dress and the
monkey is cooking. What is monkey cooking.

Her - Muffin and put salt and pepper.

Me - Wow that sounds like fun but I don't know if it will taste good with salt and pepper on muffins.

Her - Yes, it's good.

Me - That's a good story. Now what will the monkey do after eating the muffins.

Her - Go sleep.

So that is her story of a monkey. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Styx Pub

2009-02-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just beside Cauvery, near the Brigade road - MG Road crossing is a pub called Styx. Climb up a flight of stairs and you're there. Styx is a pub that is home to the heavy metal aficionados of the city. They have big aquariums full of exotic fish, muted lighting, cane furniture and blaring music. Don't go there if you like any kind of music that is slow, sweet or country. The music played there is heavy metal, which makes it a great place for the head bangers who can drink beer by the pitchers. If you have a special request, have no fear, just go tell the DJ what you want to hear and he will play it for you. I think Pink Floyd is pretty popular there. And if you have to see the video of your song, don't worry because there is a huge TV screen on the wall that plays the videos of songs.

As among every pub and restaurant in Bangalore, it is hard to get a seat. Styx does not have many tables as the place is a small square footaged area so if you don't get there early there is a good change you have to wait.

The real reason why I am blogging about Styx is because of the food. I was thinking of making chicken when I remembered their Drums of Heaven. Drums of Heaven is of course chicken legs but the taste is so amazing you can not stop eating them. I have tried the Drums of Heaven in other restaurants but nothing compares to the ones you get in Styx.

What a coincidence that I am posting this today about Styx. The last time I was there (years ago) was on my birthday. HA HA!

Happy birthday to me!!!

2009-02-08T06:16:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked up the word birthday? Well, I did and here is what it means.

The melody to the song “Happy Birthday to You” (also known as "The Birthday Song") was written in the early 1890’s by an American woman by the name of Mildred Hill. Her sister Patti, who was a teacher, put the lyric “Good morning dear teacher, good morning to you” to fit the melody. The song grew in popularity over the years and was eventually sung in schools across the US. Some forty years later, it is believed that Patti came up with the words "Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear , Happy Birthday to You," and fit those words to her sister’s melody. The entire song was then published in 1935. The song was popularized later in the 1930's when it was sung in the Broadway production of “As Thousands Cheer,” and has since become the mega-classic hit of all time. One final interesting tidbit: The "Happy Birthday to You" song (lyrics and melody together) are still under copyright protection, so every time you hear it sung on TV or radio, for example, royalties are being paid to the publisher (Warner Chapel, in the US).

Did you know:

More people celebrate their birthdays in August than in any other month (about 9% of all people). The two other months that rate high for birthdays are July and September.
Close to 2 billion birthday cards are sent each year in the U.S. alone, accounting for nearly 58 percent of all cards sent.
The world's largest birthday cake was created in 1989 for the 100th Birthday of the city of Fort Payne, Alabama. The cake weighed 128,238 pounds, 8 oz. and used 16,209 pounds of icing.

What is your favorite beer?

2009-02-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is nice to have a ice cold beer on a real hot day. There are a couple that I would choose. I have not had that many different kinds of beer so I am gonna have to say either a Corona or MGD (Miller Genuine Draft). I don't like lagars or anything like that.

Beer is one of the world's oldest beverages. It dates back to the 6th millenium BC. The earliest known chemical evidence of beer dates to circa 3500–3100 BC from the site of Godin Tepe in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran.

Beer was known to Germanic and Celtic tribes in Europe as far back as 3000 BC.

More than 35 billion gallons (133 billion liters) are sold per year.

There is a movie called 'Beerfest'. I don't want to tell the whole movie but it's about a few guys that have an old family beer recipe. The go to Germany to a beer competition to save their family secret and to gain a bruery.

There is actually a beer festival. I wonder if Chris is a regular there. LOL

There are so many drinking games and songs. If I knew any, I would tell you. If you know any good ones that you enjoy, feel free to leave mention it here.

Drink responsibly!!!

What is your favorite cocktail?

2009-02-07T13:22:00.001-08:00

Not to be such a girl but I love a really cold fuzzy navel. The peach flavor tastes sweet and refreshing. Fuzzy means peach and navel means orange.

Here is how to you make a fuzzy navel:

Mix together
1 part peach schnapps
1 part orange juice and
1 part lemonade

If you add 1 or 1 1/2 part vodka then it will be called a hairy navel.

It is unclear who came up with the fuzzy navel, but it was one of the first drinks to arise in the new popularity of cocktails and mixed drinks in the 1980s. God bless them!

What is your favorite color to wear?

2009-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

I like to wear white most of the time because it looks clean and fresh and it makes me feel that way too. I hear lots of people telling me that this color or that color looks good on me but we all know everyone has their own preferences.

I don't like to wear tan just because it looks dull and boring. I also don't like to wear black jeans. I don't think they look good on anyone.

So what is your favorite color and least favorite color clothes to wear?

Why is pink a girl's color?

2009-02-06T05:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed that most little girls favorite color is pink? Is that because girls really like pink or is it because they have been brainwashed by us dressing them in pink since the day they were born?

"The preferred color to dress young boys in was pink! Blue wasreserved for girls as it was considered the paler, more dainty of thetwo colors, and pink was thought to be the stronger (akin to red). Itwas not until WWII that the colors were reversed and pink was used forgirls and blue for boys..." - Quote from Dress Maker Magazine

You can read more here...

During World War II the Nazis used a color- & shape-coded system to keep track of their prisoners. Jews were given a yellow star of David to wear to identify them. Homosexuals were given a pink inverted triangle, which is also half a star of David.

When my daughter was a baby I dressed her in all the colors. I used to show her the clothes I would be putting on her that day and eventually started letting her pick out her own clothes. I would just hold up two different things and whichever one she grabbed, that is the one I would buy. She would always choose the yellow or lime green first. Orange was her second option. Now she is not too much into the color but more interested in the picture.

Are bananas monkeys favorite fruit?

2009-01-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

We all have a favorite food that makes our tummies smile with pleasure. Is a monkeys favorite a banana or are all the pictures of monkeys with bananas just an art? Monkeys eat bananas because there is a ton of them where they live in the wild. They do enjoy other fruits and bugs as well. Did you know a monkey peels a banana from the other end of the side that we do?

Click here to get instructions on how to peel a banana like a monkey.

The Grand Canyon

2009-01-23T17:36:00.001-08:00

The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world. It attracts nearly 4 million people each year. The Grand Canyon National Park encompassed 1,218,375 acres on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and 5000 feet deep.

In the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River has cut through the accumulated layers of the earth's surface to reach what Norman MacLean dubbed "the basement of time." A billion years of history can be seen from the bedrock at the distant river's edge to fossilized sand dunes only a million years old at the rim. Some of the earth's oldest rock lies at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The rock is made up of sediments thousands of feed deep. About 300 million years after it formed, monumental geologic forces lifted the rock back up into a great range of mountains that may have been six miles high, or about the height of the Himalayas. Over time, the mountains eroded into a plain. About one billion years ago, that plain was raised into a second mountain range. These mountains were also worn away by millions of years of rain, wind and frost.During later ages, the entire region sank beneath an inland sea, with primitive shellfish fossilizing in sea bottoms that eventually hardened to shale. Eons later, the region rose again as a high plateau; the former sea bottom was now on top and the ancient rocks below. This is when the Colorado River went to work, first cutting into the upper layers about six million years ago. Carving inch by inch over the millennia, the river finally reached the oldest rocks nearly a mile below the surface.

Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species are found in the park. Since the entire canyon has little soil there is very little vegetation is seen except on parts of the rims. The northern rim is partly forested with evergreens. In the depths of the valley very little grows except desert plants and Spanish bayonet.

If you have not yet visited the Grand Canyon, you need to add it to the top of your list of places to see. It is so beautiful with amazing views all around. It will leave you breathless.

There's a cow outside!

2009-01-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

I loved that movie Barnyard. It was so hilarious, expecially the part where the woman says to her husband, "There's a cow outside." and he replies, "This is a cow farm, you're gonna find cows outside." Everytime I hear that line I just crack up.

Well there is a story I read this morning about a woman in Boulder, Colorado was riding her bicycle on the South Boulder Creek Trail and stopped to let a cow cross. Well I guess the cow did not want to cross or did not want her there because instead of him crossing and going on with his business, he knocked the woman off her bike and stepped on her legs. That was not too friendly of him. Luckily, the woman was not seriously hurt and think of the story she can tell her grandkids. It is not funny really but it really is an odd thing to hear about.

Ski resorts in Connecticut

2009-01-20T05:08:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that is perfect for skiing. I think skiing is one of those things that you will either love or hate, there is no in between. We went once back in 2000 at some ski resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a lot of fun although we were just sliding on our skis all over the place instead of actually skiing. It is difficult to stay up on your skis. Because it was so cold outside, we rented the snow suits and we actually got hot in them.

There are so many ski resorts to go to. There are four here in Connecticut. Click on the name of the resort to go directly to their website.

1. Mohawk Mountain
Snow resort located in Cornwall, Connecticut. Features 2 dozen ski and snowboard trails.

2. Mount Southington
Ski and snowboarding near Hartford, Connecticut.

3. Ski Sundown
Located 2 miles northeast of New Hartford, Connecticut.

4. Woodbury Ski Area
Ski center in Woodbury, Connecticut.

I would recommend everyone at least trying it once. And if it is impossible for you to do, you will have fun trying.

Honeybees get a buzz from cocaine

2008-12-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

An Australian scientist is doping up honeybees with cocaine to study how their brain reacts to the drug, and possibly find a way to stop addiction in humans.

Read more here.

One day pigs really are gonna fly. :)

Eggs

2008-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Energy value of eggs

A medium egg has an energy value of 78 kilo calories (324 kilojoules) and the consumption of one egg daily would contribute only around 3% of the average energy requirement of an adult man; 4% for an adult woman.

With their significant protein, vitamin and mineral content and relatively low saturated fat content, eggs are a valuable component in a healthy diet.

Protein

Eggs are an excellent source of protein. Egg protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body. Eggs therefore complement other food proteins of lower biological value by providing the amino acids that are in short supply in those foods. 12.5% of the weight of the egg is protein and it is found in both the yolk and the albumen. Although protein is more concentrated around the yolk, there is in fact more protein in the albumen.

On the evaluation scale most commonly used for assessing protein, egg is at the highest point, 100, and is used as the reference standard against which all other foods are assessed.

Vitamins

Eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C. The egg is a good source of all the B vitamins, plus the fat-soluble vitamin A. It also provides useful amounts of vitamin D, as well as some vitamin E.

Minerals

Eggs contain most of the minerals that the human body requires for health. In particular eggs are an excellent source of iodine, required to make the thyroid hormone, and phosphorus, required for bone health. The egg provides significant amounts of zinc, important for wound healing, growth and fighting infection; selenium, an important antioxidant; and calcium, needed for bone and growth structure and nervous function. Eggs also contain significant amounts of iron, the vital ingredient of red blood cells, but the availability of this iron to the body is uncertain.

Carbohydrate and dietary fiber

Eggs contain only traces of carbohydrate and no dietary fiber.

Fat

11.2% of the egg content is fat. The fat of an egg is found almost entirely in the yolk; there is less than 0.05% in the albumen.

Approximately 17% of an egg’s fatty acids are polyunsaturated, 44% monounsaturated and only 32% saturated.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol and Lecithin are fat-like substances and are essential to the structure and function of all cells in the body. Cholesterol helps to maintain the flexibility and permeability of cell membranes and is also a raw material for the fatty lubricants that help to keep the skin supple. Cholesterol is essential for the production of sex hormones, cortisol, vitamin D and bile salts.

Lecithin is involved in general lipid transportation in the blood and in the metabolism of cholesterol.

Harvard Health has an article on the nutrition of eggs and heart disease. You can read it here.

I know some people believe that the little white stuff inside of an egg is sperm, but it's not. I used to believe that also and used to take out the white part with a fork before cooking the egg. It is called chalazae. It keeps the yolk from sloshing around inside the egg. Normally there are two chalazae, which connect the yolk to either end of the egg and keep it suspended in the middle. They're found in all types of eggs. Sometimes you only see one or none because they stick to the egg shell rather than the yolk. The chalaza are made of semisolid albumen, basically the same stuff that egg white is made of.

Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India

2008-12-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

Haridwar (or Hardwar) lies along the Ganges at the boundary between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayan foothills and is the site of the headworks of the Ganges Canal system. Haridwar is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus and a major pilgrimage centre. It has had many names; originally it was called Kapila, for the sage who once lived there. Its present name means "door to Hari," one of the names of Vishnu, a principal deity of Hinduism. Haridwar's chief object of pilgrimage is Har-ki-Pauri, the bathing ghat, or steps, along the river. It has what believers consider to be a footprint of Vishnu impressed into a stone.

The festivals which are celebrated in Haridwar are :

Kumbh Mela - India has been attracting the whole world with her rich cultural heritages and spirituality. The renowned Kumbh Mela is a unique blend of all these. Haridwar Kumbh has its importance as the last Kumbh of this century. The Kumbh mela is held in every 12 years to commorate this spiritual day .Millions of men, women, children, sagas, Rishi, Munies, baba's and tourists gather here to take a dip in the holy water of holy rivers.

Ardh Kumbh - The Ardh Kumbh mela (fair) is held in every 6 years which is followed by the Kumbh Mela after 6 years.
It is believed that a dip in the holy river Ganga during the Ardh Kumbh gives one Moksha or Nirvana. Ardha Kumbh also attracts a large number of people to take the holy dip during these holy days.

The most sacred place in Haridwar remains the Har-Ki-Puri where people take a dip in the holy River Ganges to cleanse them of their sins. I did this when we went there. The water is freezing cold. The water comes from the ice that has melted in the Himalaya's. Once you get out of the water you are immediately warm again. I almost was not going to do it but I don't know when I will ever get the chance to take a dip in the River Ganges. That might have been my only chance so I took it. I actually dipped in the water three times. I dipped my baby in the water also. She screamed and cried afterwards. But like I said as soon as you are out of the water you are immediately warm. Luckily the sun was shinning that day to help warm the body.

Are white people racist?

2008-07-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

There are African Americans,
Mexican Americans,
Asian Americans,
Arab Americans,
Native Americans, etc.
...And then there are just
Americans.
You pass me on the street
and sneer in my direction.
You Call me "White boy,"
"Cracker," "Honkey,"
"Whitey," "Caveman,"
...And that's OK.
But when I call you ******,
Kike, Towel head, wetback,
Sand-******, Camel Jockey,
Beaner, Gook, or Chink,
...You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot
of violence against you,
so why are the ghettos the most
dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Hispanic History Month.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Asian History Month.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Kawanza.
You have the NAACP.
And you have BET.
If we had WET
(White Entertainment Television)
...We'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day
...You would call us racists.
If we had White History Month
...We'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites
to "advance" OUR lives,
...We'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
a Black Chamber of Commerce,
and then we just have the plain
Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that?
If we had a college fund that only gave
white students scholarships
...You know we'd be racists.
There are over 60 openly-proclaimed
Black-only Colleges in the US,
yet if there were "White-only Colleges"
...THAT would be a racist college.
In the Million-Man March,
you believed that you were
marching for your race and rights.
If we marched for our race and rights,
...You would call us racists.
You are proud to be black,
brown, yellow and red,
and you're not afraid to announce it.
But when we announce our white pride
...You call us racists.!
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us.
But, when a white police officer
shoots a black gang member
or beats up a black drug-dealer
who is running from the LAW and
posing a threat to ALL of society
...You call him a racist.
I am proud.
...But, you call me a racist.
Why is it that only
whites can be racists?

Heaven and Hell

2008-07-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is chapter 5 from Deepak Chopra's book 'Life After Death.' This story originally came from Bhagavad.

Ramana Maharishi told the story of a monkey who was shut inside a small room in a castle tower to Savitri. To get the full story and background, you can read the book.

"Nothing was happening in the room and the monkey was restless."

"The monkey could only divert himself by going to the window and looking out at the world. This distracted him for a while, but then he started to think about his situation. How did he end up in this tower? Why had he been captured and put there? The monkey's mood began to darken. There was nothing to do, no one to talk to. His thoughts made him more and more depressed. The room seemed to close in; the monkey started to sweat anxiously. No, he suddenly realized, I'm not in a room, I'm in hell. Quickly his depression grew into anguish and anguish into torment. The monkey saw demons all around inflicting every imaginable pain."

"This is it, the monkey thought. I am in eternal hell. And so the torment continued, getting worse and worse, The monkey saw no way out. but gradually the monkey got used to his torment. How much time had elapsed? The monkey couldn't remember. but he began to feel better about his surroundings. It wasn't such a bad room, not really. In fact, it was rather pleasant to be by oneself looking out the window at all the fascination things going on outside."

"Bit by bit the demons stopped torturing the monkey and withdrew. He began to feel better, and soon the day came when he was feeling optimistic. The monkey grew more cheerful, and then..." Ramana broke off. "No doubt you know where this story is headed."

Savitri nodded. "The monkey is going to heaven."

"Exactly. He starts to feel bbetter and better, until he imagines himself in Paradise, and instead of being punished by demons he is being soothes by angles. Ah, the monkey thinks, I am in eternal bliss."

"Until he gets bored again," Savitri remarked.

Ramana nodded. "The monkey is the mind, sitting alone in the tower of the head. As the mind expands with pleasure and contracts with pain, it creates every possible world, constantly falling for its own creations. The monkey will believe in heaven for a while, but then boredom will set in, and being the seed of discontent, boredom will pull him out of heaven and back down to hell."

Savitri felt despondent. "So we're all trapped."

"Only if you agree to be trapped. I didn't say the tower was locked," said Ramana. 'There is an infinite domain outside the castle walls. You can take your mind beyond walls. There is freedom outside, and having achieved it, you will never have to go to heaven or hell again."

Lingering thought on existense

2008-07-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

Our universe, as far as we know, has billions of galaxies. Our galaxy is known to have millions of stars. Our sun is one of those. I wonder how big is the sun compared to the entire universe. If I imagine our universe as a city, will I be able to find our sun in the city of the universe? How small is earth compared to our sun? Earth, a tiny particle of dust, or perhaps even smaller than a tiny particle of dust, in the city of the universe. And me just one of the six billion individuals. So how big is my existence compared to this entire universe? I just wonder. In that existence, I somehow manage to have an ego.

If we are part of this great universe, everything around us must affect us. What are we? Matter, skin, bones, minerals, mind, brain, energy? How are we connected to this universe? It's like an atom which makes elements and objects. Are we just a tiny building block of the endless universe?

Why are we here? Like the atom has protons and electrons and they have some energy which keeps the electron rotating, and gives properties to the elements. Are we just a form of energy and matter like the protons and electrons of larger things? It's interesting that most of an atom is vacuum. The space that the particles occupy is very small. It's mostly energy. So is that true for us also? Are we mostly energy? If that is true then why are we so concerned about our bodies, our looks, our hair, cosmetics? Where is the energy? Is our creativity just a symptom of energy? Our emotions? What about the positive and negative emotions? What about anger, love, passion? Are these all symptoms of that energy? How do we measure this energy?

Perhaps, the great Buddha found the source of it. Did he? Is that what Nirvana is? What is the purpose of this energy? Make money, have fun? I am sure it's not. How do I find the purpose?

Where do we begin and how do we know that it is right?

Kapal Bhati Pranayam

2008-06-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

This is one of the pranayams recommended by Ramdevji Maharaj. I would think, this is the hardest of all the 7 pranayams recommended by him. Pranayam is proven to be very helpful for mental as well as body health.

Breathing exercises create balance of all doshas in the body. Especially the kapal bhati is known to balance the agni - ("FIRE ELEMENT" ) of Pancha Mahabhutas the basic elements - constituents of the human body.

I practiced this pranayam and still am learning to do it right. Best is to do it under the guidance of teacher personally. But in the Land of Free - its not easy to find a yoga pranayama teacher who doesn't cost arm and a leg. So, I thought I will post some of my experiences with kapal bhati.

In the beginning I used to watch video of Ramdevji Maharaj doing pranayama and do along with it. But eventually I started doing it on my own. One thing I used to do wrong about Kapal Bhati pranayam is I used to put force near my nose areas.. and I realized that's not the right way to do it.. First of all there should be no force at all in doing any of yoga's or pranayams - know that if
you are using force, you must be doing it wrong. And try to look for sources to correct it. and discontinue it until you correctly learn it.

So pressure if any, should be applied in abdomen area and diaphram - the diaphram that separates abdomen from lungs/chest. And Air should come out of both nostrils with gasps - making hiss noise. breathing in should be automatic - with zero effort - and should be medium force.

Here are some technicalities of this special pranayam -

Kapal in Sanskrit means FOREHEAD, and Bhati in Sanskrit means SHINING. Practicing Kapalbhati on regular basis leads to shining face with inner radiance. Kapalbhati is highly energizing abdominal breathing exercise.

In Kapalabhati we do quick exhalation and natural inhalation. Normally exhalation takes one fourth of the time of inhalation. Quick exhalation and natural inhalation follow each other.

How to do Kapalbhati Pranayama

Step 1) Sit in comfortable crossed leg position with Back straight. Hands resting on knees in either chin or gyana mudra. Face to be relaxed.

Step 2) Inhale deeply through both nostril, expanding abdomen and exhale with the forceful contraction of abdominal muscles. (Pull the abdomen in by quickly contracting the abdominal muscles and exhale through the nose). The air is pushed out of lungs by contraction of
the diaphragm.

Step 3) After exhalation again inhalation but inhalation should not involve any effort. To inhale just relax and the lungs will automatically expand and filled with air.
One can begin with 15 respiration. After completing 15 quick exhalation and natural inhalation , inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round.One can start the practice of Kapalbhati pranayama with 3 such rounds for practice.

Benefits of Kapalabhati

1) Kapalabhati cleanses the lungs and entire respiratory system.

2) The blood is purified and body gets an increased supply of oxygen to all cells.

3) Digestion is improved.

4) Abdominal muscles are strengthened.

5) Prepare the mind for meditation.

6) Energize the mind for mental work.

Precautions:
Kapalbhati should not be practice by those
a) Suffering from heart disease
b) High blood pressure
c) Hernia
d) Should never be practiced when an asthmatic attack is in progress.
e) If pain or dizziness is experienced ,it is preferable to stop the practice till the sensation has passed. Practiced can be restarted with less force.
f) Quick exhalation should be comfortable to oneself. i.e. quick exhalation should not be too forceful.

Common Mistake:
1) Abdomen is contracted while inhaling.
2) Shoulders are contracted to push the air out when exhaling.
3) Back and shoulders move during exercise.

Point to Note:
a) Exercise should not be done if you are feeling uncomfortable at any time during the exercise.
b) Rapid breathing used in this technique should be from the abdomen and not from the chest.
c) Kapalbhati should be practice on an empty stomach only.
d) Kapalbhati should be practiced after the asanas and Relaxation (at least 10 minutes) and before meditation
e) Chest should not move very much.

(f) It is always good and advisable that this exercise should be learned under supervision of yoga teacher after discussion with him about your health.

Kapal Bhati pranayama is one of the seven pranayamas recommended by Shri Ramdevji Maharaj. If you don't know (very unlikely) about Ramdevji Maharaj, click here.

Here is the entire video of the seven recommended pranayamas including Kapal Bhati.

History of the Samurai Sword

2008-06-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

The samurai sword, made from the heat and pounding of the skilled artisans, these weapons of single destruction bring homage and honor to the warrior that carries them. The samurai sword is priceless as it is one and the same with the warrior class that has defined the ultimate Zen Master of Feudal Japan.

Japan has a history that dates back thousands of years. Scientists believe the Japanese people descended from many groups that migrated to the islands from other parts of Asia, including China and Korea. As early as 4500 B.C., the Japanese islands were inhabited by fishermen, hunters and farmers. The early culture was known as "Jomon," which meant "cord pattern." That's because the people made pottery decorated with rope-like designs. Scientists believe a Caucasian race called the "Ainu" were the first inhabitants of what is now Japan. The Ainu still exist today, mostly in the northernmost islands of Japan called "Hokkaido." The next major Japanese cultural changed occurred about 200 B.C. The people were known as "Yayoi." The Yayoi were mostly farmers. Scientists believe the present-day Japanese closely resemble the Yayoi in appearance and language.

War played a central part in the history of Japan. Warring clans controlled much of the country. A chief headed each clan; made up of related families. The chiefs were the ancestors of Japan's imperial family. The wars were usually about "land." Only 20% of the land was fit for farming. The struggle for control of that land eventually gave rise to the Samurai.

One of the important dates in the history of the Japanese warring class is 660 B.C. That's when, according to legend, Jimmu Tenno became head of a confederation of warlike clans. Tenno was known as "The Divine Warrior." He led his people from Kyushu to the Kinki region and conquered the people there. Tenno settled in the area of Yamato. This eventually gave rise to the Yamato dynasty and state. The leaders of Yamato believed themselves to be of divine origin.

The Yamato clans conducted many military campaigns on the Asian mainland. The targets included Korea and China. These campaigns led to the importation of Korean and Chinese culture, technology and martial arts.

Legend says that Emperor Keiko was the first person with the title of "Shogun." The word meant "Barbarian-subduing General." Legend continues that Keiko had a son named "Prince Yamato." He was cunning, fearless, strong and a great martial artist. Many believe that Yamato was a role model for future Samurai.

Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armour and a code during the ensuing centuries that became the centerpiece for the Japanese Samurai. Early weapons included bows, arrows and swords. Armour included a helmet that protected head and neck, a breastplate that protected the chest, arm and shoulder protectors, and a belly wrap. Later armour included protection for the legs and thighs. Armour changed as the type of battles changed. A big change occurred in the 5th century when horses were introduced to Japan. Another change occurred in the 15th century because of the constancy of war and the introduction of guns into battle. The code developed from the Chinese concept of the virtues of warriors doing battle to the Samurai code of chivalry known as Kyuba no michi ("The Way of Horse and Bow") to the Bushido ("Way of the Warrior") code.

"Bushido" means "Way of the Warrior." It was at the heart of the beliefs and conduct of the Samurai. The philosophy of Bushido is "freedom from fear." It meant that the Samurai transcended his fear of death. That gave him the peace and power to serve his master faithfully and loyally and die well if necessary. "Duty" is a primary philosophy of the Samurai.

The Samurai rose out of the continuing battles for land among three main clans: the Minamoto, the Fujiwara and the Taira. The Samurai eventually became a class unto themselves between the 9th and 12th centuries A.D. They were called by two names: Samurai (knights-retainers) and Bushi (warriors). Some of them were related to the ruling class. Others were hired men. They gave complete loyalty to their Daimyo (feudal landowners) and received land and position in return. Each Daimyo used his Samurai to protect his land and to expand his power and rights to more land.

The Samurai became expert in fighting from horseback and on the ground. They practiced armed and un-armed combat. The early Samurai emphasized fighting with the bow and arrow. They used swords for close-in fighting and beheading their enemies. Battles with the Mongols in the late 13th century led to a change in the Samurai's fighting style. They began to use their sword more and also made more use of spears and naginata. The Samurai slowly changed from fighting on horseback to fighting on foot.

The Samurai wore two swords (daisho). One was long; the other short. The long sword (daito - katana) was more than 24 inches. The short sword (shoto - wakizashi) was between 12 and 24 inches. The Samurai often gave names to their swords and believed it was the "soul" of their warrior ship. The oldest swords were straight and had their early design in Korea and China. The Samurai's desire for tougher, sharper swords for battle gave rise to the curved blade we still have today. The sword had its beginning as iron combined with carbon. The sword smith used fire, water, anvil and hammer to shape the world's best swords. After forging the blade, the sword polisher did his work to prepare the blade for the "furniture" that surrounded it. Next, the sword tester took the new blade and cut through the bodies of corpses or condemned criminals. They started by cutting through the small bones of the body and moved up to the large bones. Test results were often recorded on the nakago (the metal piece attaching the sword blade to the handle).

Japanese samurai warriors were ranked at the top of the Japanese social hierarchy for hundreds of years until 19th century. Shogun were the most powerful samurai who ruled Japan at the time.

The medieval swords of Japan was typically a long, straight or slightly curved blade having 2 two cutting edges set into a hilt or tang. There are many tang types. There is the full tang, the encapsulated tang, the rat tail tang, the half push tang, the half tang and the full push tang. The full tang is best because it will give your sword the most stability when making full contact. The sword was the samurai warrior's most treasured weapon. It was a part of him. Swords were awarded as medals and some Samurai's even died to retrieve a treasured sword for their Shogun.

The Samurai

2008-06-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

The other day on NOVA, they were talking about "The Secrets of the Samurai."

The samurai (or bushi) were the members of the military class, the Japanese warriors.

Heian Period (794-1185)

The samurai's importance and influence grew during the Heian Period, when powerful landowners hired private warriors for the protection of their properties. Towards the end of the Heian Period, two military clans, the Minamoto and Taira, had grown so powerful that they seized control over the country and fought wars for supremacy against each other.

Kamakura Period (1192-1333)

In 1185, the Minamoto defeated the Taira, and Minamoto Yoritomo established a new military government in Kamakura in 1192. As shogun, the highest military officer, he became the ruler of Japan.

Muromachi Period (1333 - 1573)

During the chaotic Era of Warring States (sengoku jidai, 1467-1573), Japan consisted of dozens of independent states which were constantly fighting each other. Consequently, the demand for samurai was very high. Between the wars, many samurai were working on farms. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa take place during this era.

Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603)

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi reunited Japan, he started to introduce a rigid social caste system which was later completed by Tokugawa Ieyasu and his successors. Hideyoshi forced all samurai to decide between a life on the farm and a warrior life in castle towns. Furthermore, he forbade anyone but the samurai to arm themselves with a sword.

Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

According to the Edo Period's official hierarchy of social castes, the samurai stood at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants. Furthermore, there were hierarchies within each caste. All samurai were forced to live in castle towns and received income from their lords in form of rice. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the early Edo Period.

With the fall of Osaka Castle in 1615, the Tokugawa's last potential rival was eliminated, and relative peace prevailed in Japan for about 250 years. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and most samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists.

In 1868, Japan's feudal era came to an end, and the samurai class was abolished.

Life in outer space?

2008-06-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

Japan's biggest astronomical observatories are teaming up for an unprecedented quest to find out whether there is life in outer space.

The project, led by Japanese astronomers, will bring together a dozen or more observatories from all over the country to study one star that researchers see as a potential home to an extraterrestrial civilization.

"Everyone wonders at least once in their lifetime whether space is infinite and whether aliens really do exist," said Shinya Narusawa, chief researcher at Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory in western Japan.

Healthy lifestyle triggers genetic changes

2008-06-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

Comprehensive lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can lead not only to a better physique, but also to swift and dramatic changes at the genetic level, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

In a small study, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy.

The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements. But the researchers found more profound changes when they compared prostate biopsies taken before and after the lifestyle changes.

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze

2008-06-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

While shopping at the whole foods store today, I bought Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. It is a non-dairy beverage made from real whole almonds. It comes in original, vanilla and chocolate flavor. I have read that it tastes good, let's see.

Snack on Almonds

2008-06-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Almonds posses a very high nutritional profile and are revered for their ability to strengthen the body and soothe mucus membranes. They are a healthy snack and that they have been proven beneficial for weight loss.

Studies indicate that almonds may provide important nutritional support to combat diabetes, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, inflammation and obesity.

Almonds are a source of nutrients that can facilitate weight loss and can help your heart. When overweight Americans used about a 2/3 cup of almonds per day as part of a weight-loss diet, they increased weight loss by 62 percent more than when following a standard weight loss diet and had a 50 percent greater reduction in waist circumference.

Exciting research that shows almonds may help to fight The Insulin Resistance Syndrome, also called the Metabolic Syndrome, which affects 40 percent of U.S. adults.

There are many recipes that you can add almonds to. Also tastes good in salads.

Read more...

If possible almonds should be purchased in their shell. This helps to ensure that your almonds are fresh and not rancid. Almonds should be soaked to improve their digestibility and nutrition profile.

Soaking also removes harmful tannic acid and enzyme inhibitors. Soak in cool water and if possible drain the soaked water after 20-40 minutes. Add fresh water and continue the soaking for another 8-12 hours.

Being that the almond skin is potentially irritating to the lining of the stomach and intestines the almonds should be blanched (following soaking).

Tulsi Green Tea

2008-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

For over 5000 years, Tulsi (Holy Basil) has been one of the most cherished of India's sacred healing plants. Known to maintain general well-being and restore imbalances of the body and mind to a natural healthy state, the legendary Tulsi is honored and used daily by millions.

It is believed to open the heart, bring peace of mind, and bestow love and devotion. Modern scientific research confirms that Tulsi reduces stress, enhances stamina, strengthens immunity, improves metabolism, slows aging, reduces inflammation, protects against radiation, prevents gastric ulcers, lowers fevers, improves digestion and provides a rich supply of antioxidants and other nutrients. Tulsi is especially effective in supporting the heart, blood vessels, liver and lungs. Tulsi promots calmness and clarity and is rich in natural antioxidants.

Mythical Unicorn

2008-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

A deer with a single horn in the center of its head — much like the fabled, mythical unicorn — has been spotted in a nature preserve in Italy, park officials said Wednesday.

"This is fantasy becoming reality," Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Center of Natural Sciences in Prato, told The Associated Press. "The unicorn has always been a mythological animal."

The 1-year-old Roe Deer — nicknamed "Unicorn" — was born in captivity in the research center's park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence, Tozzi said.

He is believed to have been born with a genetic flaw; his twin has two horns.

Calling it the first time he has seen such a case, Tozzi said such anomalies among deer may have inspired the myth of the unicorn.

The unicorn, a horse-like creature with magical healing powers, has appeared in legends and stories throughout history, from ancient and medieval texts to the adventures of Harry Potter.

"This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly," he said by telephone. "It's not like they dreamed it up."

Single-horned deer are rare but not unheard of — but even more unusual is the central positioning of the horn, experts said.

"Generally, the horn is on one side (of the head) rather than being at the center. This looks like a complex case," said Fulvio Fraticelli, scientific director of Rome's zoo. He said the position of the horn could also be the result of a trauma early in the animal's life.

Other mammals are believed to contribute to the myth of the unicorn, including the narwhal, a whale with a long, spiraling tusk.

Salmonella Tomato Cases Jump

2008-06-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

The number of people known to have fallen ill after eating salmonella-tainted tomatoes has now jumped to 383 in 30 states plus the District of Columbia, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

"The marked increase is not due to new infections but mainly because some states improved surveillance in response to this outbreak and laboratory identification of many other previously submitted strains has now been completed," said Casey Barton Behravesh, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a teleconference. "We now have reports of at least 48 persons being hospitalized due to this illness."

The ages of the patients ranges from under 1 to 88 years old, and 47 percent of them are female. The most recent onset of illness was June 5; the outbreak was first discovered in April.

"We are continuing to receive reports of ill people," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the CDC's division of foodborne, bacterial and mycotic diseases. "We do not think the outbreak is over."

Tauxe also could not say if the outbreak had peaked yet, given that some states are still catching up on necessary laboratory work. "I would say that the majority of new cases had onset around three to four weeks ago, but some new cases onset in the last two to three weeks that might suggest that there are still some cases continuing to occur," he said. "It's too early to call the peak, and we certainly cannot say that it's over."

Officials have still not zeroed in on the exact source of the contamination, although tomatoes from Mexico and Florida are the likely culprits, said Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for food protection at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Still, Acheson seemed less certain than he has in the past that the exact source would ever be identified. "I have to acknowledge that we may not ultimately know the farm where these came from," he said. "But we're continuing to go flat-out, assuming we are going to get to that point."

A cluster of nine cases still holds promise for helping to break the deadlock. But a second patient has retracted the original information he or she gave the FDA on where contaminated tomatoes were eaten, basically rendering that particular "trace-back" effort worthless, officials acknowledged.

Acheson would not confirm that this cluster of nine cases was the same as a cluster being investigated in Chicago that originated at the Adobo Grill restaurant.

Meanwhile, restaurants and supermarkets across the country are starting to sell and serve tomatoes again. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that McDonald's restaurants are bringing back some tomatoes, as is Wendy's and Burger King. Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, is also bringing back tomatoes from "safe" areas, the newspaper said.

"I can't speak to why one chain is going back and one isn't," Acheson said. "From a food-safety perspective, I'd like retailers to put tomatoes on the menu but make sure they come from a safe place. They do need to know their suppliers."

Acheson also said that the FDA has asked for authority to take action to prevent future outbreaks. "We have put the word out that we need authority to require preventative control," he said. "Exactly what that would look like would depend exactly on what the legislation looked like. But at a high level, we feel we need preventative control for high-risk foods, and tomatoes and other types of fresh produce would be part of that."

Currently, the U.S. agriculture industry relies on a set of voluntary "good practices" to ensure food safety.

"We have asked for authorities, and we don't yet have them. What we're looking for here is mandatory. There would be no voluntary about it," Acheson said.

In other developments, New York City has linked seven cases of illness to salmonella-contaminated raw tomatoes, according to Bloomberg.

And the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported on its Web site that more than 8,000 people may have actually been sickened in this salmonella outbreak. The explanation: "Based on earlier extensive studies and extrapolations, the CDC has estimated that for every one case of salmonellosis reported, there are 38 additional cases that are not reported," according to the newspaper site.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea in humans. Some 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States each year, although the CDC estimates that because milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections may be 30 or more times greater. Approximately 600 people die each year after being infected.

The Benefits of Yogurt

2008-06-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that the yogurt section of most grocery stores has practically taken over the dairy aisle? It’s getting harder to find more traditional dairy foods, such as cottage cheese and sour cream, amid the sea of yogurt options. But it only makes sense that a food with as many health benefits as yogurt be given prime real estate in the supermarket.

And just what are the health benefits of yogurt? Read more...

Watermelon Packs A Mean Punch

2008-06-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

It's hard to beat a slice of watermelon at a holiday picnic. One can almost taste the sweet red flesh and feel the fruit's succulent juices dripping down your chin.

Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say you shouldn't fret if your seed doesn't arc its way into the watermelon seed-spitting record books. The fleshy fruit is a nutritional award-winner on its own.

One 2-cup serving of diced watermelon contains loads of vitamins A and C, no fat and only 80 calories. It's also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant which may aid in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

"Watermelon is a great fruit to help you hydrate and cool down in the summer heat," said Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Also, since it's mostly made up of water, pureed watermelon makes a refreshing drink."

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9060
United States
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu

Sun Protection for Children

2008-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sun damage in childhood is one of the most important causes of skin cancer in adults. Not only is children's skin more vulnerable to damage by the sun's rays, but people on average get 80% of our lifetime sun exposure by age 18. Bad sunburns in childhood risk the later development of malignant melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer). The less dangerous forms of skin cancer are due to long term, regular sun exposure. People who work or play outdoors and overexpose themselves to the sun will develop wrinkled, freckled dry skin and eventually skin cancers. People who vacation at the shore, or lay out on weekends will risk melanoma. Read more...

Picnics, baseball games, pools, and beaches -- parents and kids are gearing up to head out for fun in the sun. But too many parents still aren't adequately protecting either themselves or their children from the sun's harmful rays.

A new study shows that although parents are aware that sun exposure is dangerous, kids wearing sunscreen spend much more time in the sun than kids who don't, even though sunscreen provides only partial protection. What's more, many parents still emphasize the importance of that tanned look. Read more...

Protect Yourself From The Sun

2008-06-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Summer is a great time to have fun outdoors. It's also a time to take precautions to avoid sunburns, which can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays appears to be the most important environmental factor involved with developing skin cancer. During the summer months, UV radiation tends to be greater.

To help prevent skin cancer while still having fun outdoors, regularly use sun protective practices such as

Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage.
Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.
Get a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
Grab shades that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

It's always wise to choose more than one way to cover up when you're in the sun. Use sunscreen, and put on a T-shirt... Seek shade, and grab your sunglasses... Wear a hat, but rub on sunscreen too. Combining these sun protective actions helps protect your skin from the sun's damaging UV rays.

UV rays reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays will also reflect off any surface like water, cement, sand, and snow. Additionally, UV rays from artificial sources of light, like tanning beds, cause skin cancer and should be avoided.