Getting It Right With Dr. Boles

Social Justice: Finding Solutions

Thu, 26 May 2016 21:30:00 GMT

America is at great risk for falling from its pedestal in the eyes of the world. The 2016 presidential campaign has been derailed. The ugly underbelly of American politics has been flashed to the world and it will become progressively more difficult to maintain the “Wizard of Oz” mightiness. President Obama is speaking to Cuba and Viet Nam about “human rights” while president candidate front-runner, Donald Trump spews contempt for African leaders and say that the continent “should be colonized because all Africans are slaves”; a wall should be built between the US and Mexico to stop “illegal Mexican immigration into America” and every American should have “open gun carry” rights. Presidential campaign sites have become hot-spots for expressing racial bigotries and non-politicallycorrect personal prejudices. Men cannot be made good by the laws of a state or nation, but man can easily be made bad when empowered to create laws for a nation. Hitler was perceived as a hero by many and a very intelligent man until his cruelty outweighed his intelligence. The acts required power can incite animal “survival of the fittest” mentality that if nobody addresses the aggressive behavior, proceed to aggressive acts. Leaders must be reigned-in to maintain the consciousness of human beings. The responsibility of citizens is to hold candidates to moral standards and make requests that reflect meaningful civil existence, such as: family issues which include stopping “mass incarceration of young men” who do not regain citizenship after release; minimum wage increase to protect standard-of-living for families; challenge language of institutional racism that segregate: “affordable housing”, “disadvantaged”, "at-risk-youth" and “minority”.

Is American Food Safe For Consumers?

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 21:30:00 GMT

Foodborne illnesses kill roughly 5,000 people every year and sicken another 300,000 severely enough to require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of the laws that shape the government's powers to respond to food threats date back to the early 1900s, spurring some to ask whether new regulations or a new agency focused exclusively on food safety is needed. Many people are surprised to learn that FDA cannot force product recalls or shut down facilities with violations. Graphic reports of unsanitary conditions at two egg production facilities involved in a nationwide salmonella outbreak were frightening. Salmonella enteritidis, can originate inside of an egg since the ovariesofa hencanbecontaminated by the bacteria, passing the contaminant along to the whites and yoke of an egg as well as outside the shell. The birds themselves aren't sick and produce eggs that look clean. Rodents in food packaging and distribution facilities are the most common source of salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration proposed early in April, 2016 to limit inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal, saying that this common starter food is a leading source of exposure to the toxin. Infants are particularly vulnerable to arsenic in rice because, relative to body weight, they eat about three times more rice than adults. It is known that arsenic exposure is related not only to diminished intellectual function early in life, but also to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth. A bill to update the nation's antiquated food safety regulatory powers has been passed by the House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate consideration. There is a “disconnect” between the different “watch-dog agencies” as illustrated by the lack of communication among officials who visited the egg facilities.

SOCIAL INJUSTICE: UNITED STATES MIGRANT CHILDREN

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 21:30:00 GMT

More than 2.7 million children in the U.S. have an incarcerated parent. One in 9 black American children (11.4%), 1 in 28 Hispanic children (3.5%), and 1 in 57 white children (1.8%) in the United States have an incarcerated parent and half of the children with incarcerated parents are under ten years old. Incarcerated parents lose their parental rights at a disproportionate rate due to the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) which set strict timelines for initiating Termination of Parental Rights.More than 60% of the people in prison are now racial and ethnic minorities and roughly two-thirds of women in prison are women of color. Most prisons are not accessible by any form of public transportation, restricting child-parent visits. In some cases this means children will never visit their parents In 2010 1.5 million people were in State or Federal prison in the U.S and 92% of people in prison are male, 8% female. . 43% of parents in federal prisons are held over 500 miles away from their last residence. In 2010, 93% of Federal Prisoners were convicted of non-violent crimes, including 48% for drug offenses, and 11% for immigration offenses. If trends continue, one in every three Black males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime. Lawyer and activist,Michele Alexandria speaks about the immorality, cruelty, racism and insanity of our nation’s latest caste system: mass ncarceration. There is a thriving system of racial and social control in the United States. Dr. King saw the connections between the wars we wage abroad and the utter indifference we have for poor people and people of color at home.

Social Justice: American Wealthy and Political Corruption

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 22:30:00 GMT

The struggle with understanding the needs of individual's rights versus the rights of the power of government must never be compromised or silenced or it will lead to political destruction within the state.A public figure should not let his actions be determined by particular interests and if he does, it is the same ethical problem as that of a judge or law enforcement agent who accepts a bribe. Public figures are poised to consider what is right not what is advantageous to a party or class. Corruption is directly proportionate to the greed for power. The object of civil society is justice, not truth, virtue, wealth, knowledge, glory or power. Liberty is defined by morals more than of politics. Men cannot be made good by the laws of a state or nation, but man can easily be made bad when empowered to create laws of a nation. When someone possesses control and authority over others, they can become infected with evil and wicked behaviors which begin to dominate and destroy their minds. Hitler was perceived as a hero by many and a very intelligent man until his cruelty outweighed his intelligence. His callous actions were provoked by his malicious ambition for power. The applied rules for obtaining power necessitate that regardless of whether or not one begins down a path toward power with innocence, by repeating these acts to truly succeed unleash an aggressive spirit. The acts required for obtaining power are the type of acts many would categorize as corrupt. For those who find success and power, their animal “survival of the fittest” mentality become so dominant over time that it becomes the only way of thinking. And in such positions of power, with nobody to resist them, they are now in a position of doing whatever without fear of consequence. Leaders cannot exist on their own; they must be reigned in to be part of the greater consciousness of human beings.

Social Justice: Reality verses Virtual Remedies

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:30:00 GMT

It is time that the people in the United States of America stop “playing” and become true citizens of a great nation. Too many have been lulled asleep for too long listening to foolishness on television and tolerating foolishness from politicians and not thinking for themselves. “Right” and “wrong” are the tenets of reality and now “virtual“ has replaced “actual” to the extent that everything is debatable and in question. I attended a conference this morning where statistics of infant mortality, sexually-transmitted diseases and lifestyle disease (obesity and diabetes) disparity were presented. In each area black Americans lead the way. Information provided about sexually transmitted diseases included:1,462 cases of Chlamydia were newly diagnosed in 2015, 66% were in black Americans, 346 new case of gonorrhea, 80% was in black Americans; 85% of all syphilis diagnosis and 57% of new HIV diagnoses were in black Americans. There are nine hundred thousand black men aged 18-45 are incarcerated in the United States. The number of black Americans incarcerated is greater than the summed total of all people incarcerated in India, Argentina, Canada, Lebanon, Japan, German, Finland, Israel and England ....combined. No effort was made to correlate the numbers of incarcerated and the infected. “Capitalism” is booming with the prison industry. It is clear that the disease states of black America provides employment and constitutive income to the healthcare, pharmaceutical and dialysis industries. Statistics are collected but the outcome does not change. “Health” is an outcome, not a dependent variable. The variables contributing to health disparities are manipulated by those who benefit from the suffering of others.

Social Justice: Media and Medicine

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:30:00 GMT

How does the public feel safe from potential environmental hazards when the media are the source of medical information? The "scare" of of Zika and the threat of microcephaly has been headline news without scientific proof or attempts to show cause and affect. A report implicates a larvicide called ipyriproxyfen, not the Zika virus, is behind the recent surge in the cases of microcephaly in Brazil. Officials in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has suspended the use of the insecticide to allay concerns. There is data that in the area where most microcephalic babies were born , a chemical larvicide producing malformations in mosquitoes has been applied for 18 months and that this poison is applied by the State on drinking water used by the affected population. The affected population is poor and reside in rural areas. An Argentine group of physicians who examined pregnancy reports and birth records asserted that microcephaly occurred in areas where thousands of pregnant women were exposed to pyriproxyfen, the insecticide used in the area to control mosquitos. This group points out that in other countries affected by Zika, such as Colombia, which have higher rates of the virus than Brazil and French Polynesia who had a Zika outbreak in 2014, an increase in microcephalic babies were not observed. Prior to the past year, Brazil reported about 150 cases of microcephaly annually. But since October, the country has reported 5,079 suspected cases. Last week, the ministry said 41 of the confirmed microcephaly cases were linked to Zika. More research needs to be done to prove cause and effect and better understand the role the virus plays. The defense for the Japanese manufactured insecticide is that the World Health Organization says that it is safe to use. No laboratory data have been produced to support this acclamation.

Social Justice : Healthcare Disparities and “Obamacare”

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 22:30:00 GMT

There was so much controversy about passing “Obama-care”, officially known as The Affordable Care Act, but after all the dust has settled, there is no improvement in the health disparities between people of color in America and white Americans. Healthcare policies were written by those who were ill-equipped to address the issues that poor un-insured people face. Disparities occur in the quality of care received (Care by Provider) even when income, health insurance and access to care are taken into account. Patients from racial and ethnic minorities often fare far worse than their white counterparts on a range of health indicators: life expectancy, infant mortality, prevalence of chronic diseases and insurance coverage, among others. We also know our health is influenced by more than what happens in a health care setting. Our health is influenced by the conditions in which we live, where we work, where our children play (Care Needed due to Circumstances). Those social determinants of health play a significant role in contributing to health disparities. A year ago I attend a Pri-Med conference in New York City which is a primary care (internal medicine) conference. There were all of the Northeast medical institutions represented with professors paid to teach the latest and greatest American Medical Association decision about “ standard of care” in the land. There were holographic presentations from prestigious university medical school. The case study was of a 62 year old black American woman with diabetes, obesity, hypertension and early signs of cardiac and renal pathology. The panel's general attitude was that the patient “did not want to change her health status”.

Social Justice: Traveling Back to Dark Ages

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 22:30:00 GMT

Reading is fundamental to function in today's society, but now, too many adults in America and especially in Louisiana cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle. Complete job or rental applications without help. Louisiana is 44th in the ranking of United States of America education achievement. Louisiana hasn’t made much progress in the past seven years in a national assessment of educational achievement. The most damning are Fs in academic achievement and academic achievement for low-income and minority students in its 2014 report. Superintendent of Education John White said Louisiana has always had an “F “in academic performance in the Chamber’s assessment. Louisiana also received failing grades in return on investment, postsecondary and workforce readiness and international competitiveness. “What’s damning is we got a D in truth in advertising,” White said. “It says that when we call kids basic, it doesn’t mean our kids score as high as those in other states. It points out that we have low expectations. One of the problems is schools have not expected outstanding achievements from high school students for decades.”

Social Injustice: Institutionalized Racism In America

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 22:30:00 GMT

Months after the city of Flint, Mich., switched from a Detroit water supply complaints were ignored about water. Late in 2015 state officials declared a public health emergency of lead poisoning which cause lasting health and developmental problems in children, the pregnant and the weak.Michigan state officials knew of health risks: a state legislator warned the governor in a letter that his constituents were “on the verge of civil unrest.” A hospital in Flint saw that the water was damaging its instruments . The hospital and a local university started filtering its water. Such disregard of the health of black people is not new nor is it only domestic. Dr. William Thompson dmitted to falsifying data published in the journal Pediatrics in 2004. CDC scientists deliberately altered data. The real data showed that giving children vaccine before the age of 36 months increased the risk of autism by 69% and Black children risk of autism triples to 240%. In 2015, Dr. Wahome Ngare found an antigen in the vaccines administered to 2.3 million girls from the World Health Organization and UNICEF which causes miscarriages .In America, there has been an erosion of the “pretense” of the American “Melting Pot”. Mainstream practices of abject offensiveness are “apologized away” and quickly removed from public discussion. . Everyday slights, indignities, and insults that people of color endure are now tolerated by good white people. It is the sum total of multiple microaggressions by whites to blacks that has pervasive effect to the stability and peace of this world.

Social Justice: The Arousing of Warriors

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:30:00 GMT

In the United States of America, an international activist movement, Black Lives Matter, that campaigns against violence toward black Americans has arrived. Founder Alicia Garza summed up the philosophy saying: "When we say Black Lives Matter, we are talking about the ways in which Black people are deprived of basic human rights and dignity. It is an acknowledgement of black American institutionalized poverty and genocide by organized state violence. It is an acknowledgment that 1 million Black people are locked in cages in this country which is an act of state violence.The movement uses of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media bringing mass attention to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of teen Trayvon Martin. #BlackLivesMatter was voted as one of the twelve hashtags that changed the world in 2014. Black Lives Matter became nationally recognized during street demonstrations for 2014 killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Eric Harris, Walter Scott, Jonathan Ferrell, Sandra Bland, Samuel DuBose,Dontre Hamilton, John Crawford III, Renisha McBride, and Freddie Gray. Black Lives Matter has publicly challenge 2016 United States presidential candidates to comment on Black Lives Matter issues. Black Lives Matter stopped a Bay Area Rapid Transit train on one of the biggest shopping days of the year, in order to "stop business as usual" .In December 2015, three thousand people gathered at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota to protest the killings of unarmed black men by police. Does Black Americas collectively suffer from "Stockholm Syndrome" where a hostage bonds with, identify with, and sympathize with the captor?

SOCIAL INJUSTICE : BLACK AMERICAN INCARCERATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 22:30:00 GMT

The census from 2012 reported that there are 18.5 million black American males of all ages in the United States. The number of black males aged 16 to 40 is four million which is a socially catastrophic number of black men behind bars in the United States. There are nine hundred thousand black men aged 18-45 are incarcerated in the United States. The number of black Americans incarcerated is greater than the summed total of all people incarcerated in India, Argentina, Canada, Lebanon, Japan, German, Finland, Israel and England ....combined. American prison population increased by 700% from 1970 to 2005 up to a total of 2.3 million incarcerated people. More than 58% of black American youth are sent to adult prisons and 1.2 million black American children had an incarcerated parent in 2013. Capitalism is booming with the prison industry. Companies utilizing “prison labor” is inhumane exploitation of black and Hispanic prisoners who work for $0.25/hr. The companies know that there will be no strikes, no unemployment insurance to pay, no vacation time to allot, no compensation benefits to pay. If prisoners refuse to work, they are locked in isolated cells as punishment. With this great investment enterprise, jail populations grew by 2,000,000 persons in the year 2000. United States went from having 15 private prisons to 100 private prisons.

Social Injustice: Refugees Coming to America

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 22:30:00 GMT

Every year, the president and Congress meet to set refugee quotas for specific countries. "By its very nature, it’s not a legal process; it is a political process,” says Bill Frelick, the director of the refugee program at Human Rights Watch. A vulnerable group of refugees who do not have a big profile and do not have a “special” connection to the United States, are left out. Acceptance of refugees is a popularity contest that is politically driven. When Saigon fell in 1975, the U.S. had no comprehensive refugee policy. When refugees from the South China Sea started arriving, the government passed the 1980 Refugee Act, giving way to a universal definition for what it meant to be a refugee, and founded the resettlement program that exists to this day. The Vietnamese exodus continued through the '90s until the U.S. formally closed its resettlement program in 1994. By 2007, the U.N.’s refugee agency called the Iraq exodus the "largest long-term population movement in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians" in 1948. But at that point, the U.S. had admitted fewer than 1,000 Iraqi refugees. There are currently 2.6 million Afghan refugees. But in the last 20 years, the U.S. has taken in less than 20,000.By 1994, 2.3 million Rwandan people had fled the country. The U.S. has taken in less than 1,500. The 1999-2001 civil war in Liberia resulted in 640,000 refugees. The U.S., has accepted about 33,000. Out of the more than two million Syrian refugees, the United States has taken in a total of 90 since that country’s civil war began. Soviet Jews have been steadily streaming into the U.S. for decades surpassing their relocation to Israel. The Lautenberg Amendment, a special 1989 law, even granted refugee status to Jews from the former Soviet Union without having to prove specific persecution.

Social Justice: Women Active in Military Combat

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 22:30:00 GMT

Announce today, December 3, 2015, women in the military can be assigned to combat roles. The announcement comes more than 20 years after women were officially excluded from serving in small ground combat units in 1994 and three years after a group of servicewomen sued the Pentagon and then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in 2012. Since the 1970s, women have been able to attend U.S. service academies, and that in the early 1990s women's military roles were expanded, however, each branch was allowed to make exceptions that kept women out of combat. Women can now vie for spots on Navy SEALS teams and other elite units. Starting today, December 3, 2015,there will be no exceptions with respect where a female solider can serve. The way implementation is handled is the key to the new policy's success.The formal announcement comes as more female service members have been training for roles on the front lines. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Joe Dunford, have said there is concern about the ability of Marine infantry units being effective with both male and female troops. Currently, women make up less than 10 percent of Marine Corps personnel. In the First World War Russia used an all-female combat unit In the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of British and German women served in combat roles in anti-aircraft units, where they shot down thousands of enemy aircraft; there was large-scale use of women near the front as medical staff and political officers and the Soviets also set up all-female sniper units and combat fighter planes. After 1945 all female combat roles were ended in all armies. In Canada, in 1989, a tribunal appointed under the Canadian Human Rights Act ordered full integration of women in the Canadian Armed Forces. Submarines remained closed to women, until 2000

Social Justice: Value of Education

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 22:30:00 GMT

College, professional, and graduate schools currently cost more than ever. The cost of higher education has surged more than 538% since 1985 while the consumer price index has increased by 121%. Higher education is 4.5 times as expensive today as it was 30 years ago. There are people today who went into debt for higher education who are having their social security retirement checks garnished for student loan repayment. Among 22-year-old degree holders who found jobs in the past three years, more than half were in roles not requiring a college diploma, The young and educated are settling for jobs they wouldn’t have accepted a decade ago, Going to a four year school is supposed to be the foundation from which you create a future, not the transaction that crushes hopes and places you in debt that few can pay off in 10 years. What has been missing in the past was a way to get feedback or collaborate on ideas while studying on-line. Successful students of today are people who explore many things, tinkerers and fixers who see solutions to problems that other people do not see. Among the leaders in “free education “ is Khan Academy which has a unique teaching style with quality content and a wide breadth of topics; providing bite-sized, easily-understood lessons, and providing the positive feedback that keeps the student coming back . Students are turning to “self-study” programs blossoming on-line. Some are taking the bare minimum number of classes required by a “big name” university, at the cheapest price, then take educational and enrichment courses through free non-degree online courses . Such students are choosing to build their own educational curricula.

Social Injustice or Just Racism

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 22:30:00 GMT

Prejudice, discrimination, and antagonism directed against someone of a darker skin color based on the belief that one's own race is superior has dominated the behavior of many Americans in the United States. Despite discrediting most of scientific efforts to elevate one race over another by people of European descent, small numbers of social scientists continue throughout the 21th century to argue the inborn shortcomings of certain races, especially Black people. Recent news headliners have uncovered smothering hatred that “everyday” White Americans have for non-White Americans living in the United States. While talking to her family on November 4th at an Applebee’s restaurant, a Black American (immigrant from Africa) woman was attacked by a White American woman who smashed a beer mug into her face cutting her lip and nose badly. The White American objected to the Black woman speaking a language which was not English. Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, advocates building a wall along the United States borders to block Mexicans from crossing into America. There is a breakdown in trust between prominent Black community leaders such as ministers, athletic coaches and some parents and young Black Americans. The "twenty-somethings" are showing an awakening and a desire to confront the established racial practices in the United States of America. Recently,students at Yale University demanded recognition of disparities within that “austere” institution and "on-mass" addressed the newly appointed Black American Dean. Black American football players at Missouri University threat of a game boycott because of administration inertia about on-campus incidents of racial slurs hurled at black students and feces smeared into the shape of a swastika on a wall in a residence hall resulted in an official's resignation.

SOCIAL INJUSTICE: DESTROYING FAMILY STRUCTURE

Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:30:00 GMT

Imprisonment is a major contributing factor in establishing social inequality. Since the mid-1970s the U.S. imprisonment rate has increased ten-fold and the effects have been concentrated among Black Americans. Imprisonment diminishes the earnings of adult men, compromises their health, reduces familial resources, and contributes to family breakup. Many Black American men incarceration has involved drug use and distribution, not violent crime. Such mass imprisonment increases racial and class inequality—and may lead to more crime in the long term. Finally, there has been several policy reforms which limit prison time for drug offenders and for parolees who violate the technical conditions of their parole. But criminal justice reforms alone will not solve the problems that decades of “arbitrary” lengthy incarceration has caused. A rise in incarceration rates parallel unemployment rates. Men with only a high school education, working for the steel industry and the auto industry, once could earn wages that could support a family. Their jobs promoted conformity, which supports stability, through daily routines and attachments to mainstream social institutions. Widespread joblessness in poor urban neighborhoods coupled with a booming drug trade that fostered addiction and income streams left young men in inner cities vulnerable to arrest and incarceration. Social policies of "drug intolerances' and "third strike sentencing" maximized the creation of fragile families and their consequences. Women and children were left to deal with diminished household earnings, federal support and interventions, increased aggression towards children, child behavioral problems, and social marginalization - a vicious cycle of criminal justice system involvement increased.

Disguised Social Injustice and Malice in USA

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Senior epidemiologist at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Dr. William Thompson, released thousands of pages of CDC documents of research data to Congress this past summer of 2014. admitting to falsifying data from a 2004 CDC report that was published in the journal Pediatrics.Dr. Thompson disclosed that he along with other CDC cientists deliberately excluded Black children from the study, and altered data in order to negate any links between vaccines and autism. He declares, the initial report found that giving children the vaccine before the age of 36 months increased the risk of autism by 69%; but in Black children the risk of autism triples to a scary 240%. The Obama administration has granted Dr. Thompson whistleblower status; granting him immunity. . In 2014, there was a massive wave of reports in the media claiming that women of childbearing age had been given tetanus vaccines containing the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), rendering them infertile. When introduced into the body with a tetanus toxoid carrier, antibodies will be formed not only against tetanus but, also against hCG. The body will produce anti-hCG antibodies. The antibodies will attack hCG, which naturally sustains a pregnancy so that a woman is incapable of maintaining a pregnancy.The vaccines were administered to 2.3 million girls and women by the (WHO) World Health Organization and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund). A polio immunizations scheduled April 2015 contained estradiol, an estrogen compound, which, when exposed to males, damages the sperm. It is clear that estrogen hormone plays a significant role in sexual orientation.

Traumatic Stress and Black America

Thu, 22 Oct 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Every therapist agrees that the impact of a traumatic event goes beyond physical damage. The emotional toll can result in a wide range of intense emotions and it takes time to recover emotional equilibrium. Being Black in America can be extraordinarily stressful. Being treated as “second class” citizen, called names, and being excluded shatter all sense of security, causing feelings of helpless and vulnerability in a dangerous world where feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty. These unsettling thoughts and feelings can only fade if life circumstances change. How to cope with feelings of injustice, racism and covert discrimination is a topic of debate in many Black American communities. People react in different ways to traumatic events. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel or respond. The American public is intolerant of the reactions and feelings of Black Americans in Baltimore when they rioted protesting the murder of an unarmed Black American man. The city was put under curfew and the street activists were called “thugs”. There was no effort to send in counselors to help the “traumatized” people with the emotional event. Persons who ignore feelings will slow the healing process; however, in the Black community, “forgive and forget” is the tenet. Following the killing of nine Black people in Charleston, South Carolina in a church during a prayer meeting by a young White American, statements of “we forgive him” were made before the dead was buried. That is not benevolence; that is denial. The symptoms of traumatic stress include physical manifestations as well as emotional, such as, pounding heart, feelings of choked up, stomach churning, racing thoughts, raised blood pressure, headaches and difficulty sleeping.

Expectation of Justice: Getting Your Just Deserves

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Does “expectations” direct the implementation of justice? Definitions offered for “expectation” include: a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future; to do or be someone or something in another ones point of view;a belief about what might happen in the future; and something that is supposed to happen. The word expectation comes from Latin with a translation of "an awaiting." Motivators inspire great expectations,having you think that something good will come your way."Fear" can cause a responsible individual to teach a dependent child to “never expect, never assume, never ask, never demand. Just let it be. If it’s meant to be, it will happen." Always advising the child to keep expectations low so the risk of disappointed is low. In the United States of America, I have interacted with Black American groups who allocate " fear” as a means of survival in this country and teach “submissiveness”, "passivity", "apathy" and "blindness" to social injustices. Such advisors tell young Black men to be careful in “white” neighborhoods with much attention paid to what is appropriate dress, hair style and demeanor. Such precautions certainly saved the lives of some young Black people in the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s, however, since the 1990s, young Black people resist the “meekness” teachings and this rebellion has done at least two things: 1. Caused breakdown in communications and trust between prominent Black community leaders such as ministers, athletic coaches and some parents; and 2. Enraged some factions of white America who are willing to administer extreme force to “put the Black American back in his place”.

United States Incarceration Industry Exposed/ Public Exploitation

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Between October 30 and November 2,2015, the United States will release 6,000 federal prisoners in accordance to new guidelines that went into effect November 2014 when an independent federal commission proposed shorter sentences for drug offenders. The result of the commission's decision that -just because someone was sentenced to a long prison term during the peak of the tough-on-crime era, he shouldn't automatically have to serve more time than he'd get if he were sentenced today. Of the 6000 to be released, only 4,000 are US citizens; about 2,000 of the prisoners scheduled for release are unauthorized immigrants, who will be detained and deported immediately after they're released from federal prison and legal immigrants In January 2014, the Commission indicated it would reduce the drug sentencing guidelines and in March 2014, the Attorney General supported new guidelines being applied to on-going drug cases. As many as 46,000 prisoners are eligible to apply for shorter sentences under the change. In 2011, Congress reduced the sentencing disparity between "crack" and powder cocaine and the Sentencing Commission decided to allow current prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine to apply for shorter sentences. The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Ten thousand people are released from prison every week, most of them from state prisoners. Typically, the federal government releases 55,000 prisoners a year. It will be interesting to see how the federal criminal justice system will help ex-inmates reenter society.

Black America- Decaying From Within

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Today too many Black American communities have transformed “hand-out/hand-up programs” into a pathologic syndrome intertwined with an Entitlement Mentality, often coupled with ignorance, laziness, and arrogance. “Entitlement” in today’s context is a government program guaranteeing access to benefits by members of a specific group and based on established legislation. A "right" or entitlement associated with a moral or social principle provisioned in accordance with a legal framework of society based in concepts of social equality. In the United States, an entitlement program is a type of "government program that provides individuals with personal financial benefits, goods and services to which an indefinite number of potential beneficiaries meet eligibility conditions that are specified by the standing law that authorizes the program. These programs include Social Security and Medicare and most Veterans’ Administration programs, federal employee and military retirement plans, unemployment compensation, food stamps and agricultural price support programs. A major debated difference is that the “food stamps and agricultural subsidy” programs are not programs in which the recipient contributed anything to receive. In recent years, benefits, like those of the food stamps program which people become eligible to receive without paying into a system are under “fire” and appear to be a contributing factor to Black American inertia. I am aware of those who choose a low socio-economic existence as a lifestyle choice where the government takes care of them and tell them what to do and thereby submit willingly to an “enslaved” existence. To maintain a belief that you are owed something and entitled to things when you are doing nothing to help yourself is absurd.

Social Justice in United States of America: Part 4

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 21:30:00 GMT

The concept of social justice involves finding the optimum balance between responsibilities as a society and responsibilities as individuals to contribute to a just society. Some scholars have documented that oppression is often allowed to occur in group settings because group members’ privilege is left unchecked and unchallenged. A number of people believe attention to social justice concerns is not within their roles so they do not address issues of member oppression and marginalization . The lack of attention to group members’ diversity is often re-traumatizing to those who have survived socio-cultural oppression.“Oppression”, in this text refers to‘a state of domination where the oppressed suffer the consequences of deprivation, exclusion, discrimination, exploitation, control of culture, and violence. The United Nations has addressed “human rights” on an international scale and acknowledges that in a number of nations, ”indigenous people” who are entitled to the full protection of the individual human rights system, have their rights violated and often experience poverty and disadvantage to a greater extent than the rest of the population. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People recognize the difficulty in realizing human rights for Indigenous people who have been disadvantaged on a systemic level by historical discrimination and dispossession over past centuries; however, there has never been such an assessment of the condition of the Black American in the United States of America.

Social Justice in United States: Part 3

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Social justice is also a concept that is used to describe movement towards a socially just world where social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality, and can be defined as "the way in which human rights are manifested in the everyday lives of people at every level of society. Some people question if affordable access to health care is part of social justice, especially for low income households and families. Such a discussion raises questions as to whether society should bear healthcare costs for low income families, and whether the global marketplace is the best way to distribute healthcare. Social work is a practical profession aimed at helping people address their problems and matching them with the resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives. Beneath this practicality lies a strong value system that can be summarized as social justice. Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Social workers aim to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need. During the past 50 years, the color of the faces of United States of America have dramatically shifted and a balance of social treatment has been legislatured : Title VII and Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, multiethnic and diversified groups remain worse off than white peers.Family values, cultural heritage and economic issues, histories of discrimination and unusual work opportunities have never been incorporated into the thinking of persons in powerful positions.

Social Justice in United States of America: Part 2

Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Social justice imposes on each of us a personal responsibility to work with others to design and continually perfect personal and social development. The term "social justice" was seen by the U.N. "as a substitute for the protection of human rights [and] first appeared in United Nations texts during the second half of the 1960s. At the initiative of the Soviet Union, and with the support of developing countries, the term was used in the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, adopted in 1969. The Quran contains numerous references to elements of social justice. Charity and assistance to the poor – concepts central to social justice – are and have historically been important parts of the Islamic faith. The notion of social justice first surfaced in Western thought and political language in the wake of the industrial revolution and the parallel development of the socialist doctrine. It emerged as an expression of protest against what was perceived as the capitalist exploitation of labor and as a focal point for the development of measures to improve the human condition. Many authors criticize the idea that there exists an objective standard of social justice.Some people accept some of the basic principles of social justice, such as the idea that all human beings have a basic level of value, but disagree with the tenet that all people are equally entitled to the respect of their fellowmen.Some scholars reject the very idea of social justice as meaningless, religious, self-contradictory, and ideological, believing that to realize any degree of social justice is unfeasible, and that the attempt to do so must destroy all liberty.

What is Social Justice in United States of America?

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Social justice can be defined as promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity where all people have a right to equitable treatment and support for their human rights. In conditions of social justice, people are not discriminated against, on the basis of gender, sexuality, religion, political affiliations, age, race, belief, disability, location, social class, socioeconomic circumstances, or other characteristic of background or group membership. Social justice assures the protection of equal access to liberties, rights, and opportunities.Human rights include general freedom; dignity; life; liberty; security; equality before the law; presumption of innocence until proven guilty; freedom of movement and residence; right to seek and gain asylum from persecution; right to a nationality; the right to marry and have a family; right to own property; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; the right to participate in government; the right to work by free choice and to have protection against unemployment; the right to equal pay for equal work; the right to rest and leisure; the right to an adequate standard of living with food, clothing, housing and medical care inthe event of sickness, disability and old age; the right to education; the right to participate in the community and "to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits"; the right to the "protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which [one] is the author. Additionally, people enjoy freedom from slavery or servitude; torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; discrimination; arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile; arbitrary interference with privacy; among many others.

Black American Woman Entrepreneur- Cassandra Bell-Gash

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:00:00 GMT

Black Americans have struggled to make a way out of no way for centuries. Faced with rampant racism and discrimination, industrious Black Americans do for self, launching their own businesses. The number of businesses owned by Black American women grew 322% since 1997, making black females the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. Women now own 30% of all businesses in the U.S., accounting for some 9.4 million firms. And Black American women control 14% of these companies, or an estimated 1.3 million businesses. The growth in women-owned firms may be due to the lack of fair pay, fair promotion, and family-friendly policies found in corporate America. Women of color are impacted more significantly by all of the negative factors that women face. The highest concentrations of black woman-owned businesses are in Georgia, Maryland, and Illinois, but Black American women are launching companies in growing numbers across the country. Cassandra Bell-Gash launched a Medicaid waiver care in North Carolina in 2003 and grew the business into a million-dollar venture only to get sabotaged by bureaucratic mumbo-gumbo thatdelayed payments and interfered with client services forcing her to close in 2008. No untoward findings were made, but the interference caused Ms. Bell-Gash to close her business and regroup. Bell-Gash is unusual among entrepreneurs of any race or gender in that she employed more than just herself. Black American Women have an incredibly steep incline trying to do two things: one is just to be successful, and the other is to create wealth. Cassandra Bell-Gash relaunched her company, Life Provisions,Inc. (LPI) this Spring 2015 saying she was "delayed, but not detered".

Re-Awakening of Racial Hatred in the USA

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 21:00:00 GMT

Dylann Storm Roof, 21,was arrested Thursday morning in Shelby,North Carolina for killing nine people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The gunman walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church,one of the nation’s oldest Black American congregations dating back to1891, after 8 p.m., and the first call to police came shortly after 9 p.m. The gunman, from the Columbia, S.C., traveled to Charleston, S.C., sat down with parishioners in a prayer meeting for nearly an hour, and then opened fire. Dylann Storm Roof is white and the nine slain people are black; among the dead was South Carolina State Senator (Rev.) Clementa C. Pinckney, pastor of the church. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the F.B.I., and the United States Attorney’s Office for South Carolina opened a hate crime investigation into the shooting. The gunman was quoted as saying, “I have to do it; you rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.” .A survivor of the shooting reported that the gunman asked for the pastor,sat next to Senator Pinckney during the Bible study,During the shooting, Dylann Storm Roof reloaded his gun five times. J. Todd Rutherford, the minority leader of the State House of Representatives, confirmed that Senator Pinckney’s sister was also among those killed.

Achieving Healthy Living in Modern Times

Thu, 14 May 2015 21:00:00 GMT

Healthy living starts with our mindset. The environment in which we work, eat, sleep and relax affect our health. When the work environment is stressful, the body excretes hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in response to being angry, shamed and disrespected. These hormones adversely affect our heart (angina), stomach (ulcers) and nervous system (depression). To maintain good health, we need to learn how to cope with stressful situations. Meditation, exercise, self-rewarding systems, supportive friends and family are the infrastructure for a balanced and healthy life. Meditation is simply quiet time with yourself; in a "hot bath", fishing on a lake , on a Yoga mat in a quiet place, on your knees in prayer or jogging along a quite road. Anytime "worries" are dropped and a feeling of calm is dominant without alcohol, you are in meditation. Once you have mastered your environment, you must examine your diet and nutritional status. Most fast food is nutrient poor and all "sweet" drinks contribute to undesirable body mass. Water should be the "go to drink" and fresh or frozen food should be your staple. Processed foods means that most of nature's best has been removed and artificial ingredients have been added. Avoid unnecessary eating such as snacking and make eating a more social activity. Eating alone may encourage over eating (to finish a serving) and may become a "habit" to cope with an unpleasant emotion.

Racism- Got To Treat The Cancer

Thu, 30 Apr 2015 21:00:00 GMT

In the definition of “racism”, the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, to distinguish it as superior to another race is primary. Prejudice, discrimination, and antagonism directed against someone of a darker hue based on the belief that one's own race is superior has dominated the behavior of many Americans in the United States. Racism has existed throughout human history- hatred of one person by another because of skin color, language and customs influenced wars, promotion of slavery and the formation of nations. When Portuguese sailors first explored Africa in the 15th century, they came upon empires and cities as advanced as their own and they considered Africans to be serious rivals. Over time, as European powers began to plunder the continent and forcibly remove its inhabitants to work as slave laborers in new colonies across the Atlantic, Africans came to be seen as a deficient "species," as "savages." This view was necessary to justify the slave trade at a time when Western culture had begun to promote individual rights and human equality. Black people are seen by racists as merely subhuman, more like beasts than men. American scientists and philosophers devised a false racial "science" to "prove" the supremacy of non-Jewish whites. While the Nazi annihilation of Jews discredited most of these supposedly scientific efforts to elevate one race over another, small numbers of scientists and social scientists have continued throughout the 20th century to argue the inborn shortcomings of certain races, especially Black people. What may seem to be significant "racial" differences to some people - skin color, hair, facial shape - are not of scientific significance.

Children of Joshua- New American Revolution

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:00:00 GMT

According to Bibical citation, Joshua was a major figure in the events of the Exodus and was charged by Moses with selecting and commanding a militia group for their first battle after exiting Egypt. Joshua was one of twelve Israeli men sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1-16), then after the death of Moses, he led the Israelite tribes in the conquest of Canaan and allocated the land to the tribes. God appointed Joshua to succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites along with giving him a blessing of invincibility during his lifetime (Joshua 1:5). Young people born in the 1990’s and beyond have been dubbed: “The X generation”, The Millenniums”, The Lost Generation” by the media. But, in Black American communities, young people, aged 16 to 30, who are attentive to current event, seeing marked aggression toward Black males coupled with judicial indifference, are calling themselves the “Joshua Generation”. When I first heard this, I did not understand this reference. Out of curiosity, I started to talk to scholarly people, listen to wise men and women in lecture settings and talked directly to young adults aged 16 to 30. I had my eyes opened to “thinking” that I had not come upon on my own. Young people are satiated with false promises and overt lies about justice, “leveled playing fields” and false promises about "getting an education” and finding a good job. There is a “disbelief” in American public education citing how staying in school no longer means getting a high school diploma. And going to college means being enslaved by long-term debt without prospects of a career or vocation. Distrust, unrest and “brain-washing” of their late ancestors, have given rise to Black American youth who are ready to exact change. “Respect is earned”, they told me, and “power is taken”.

Self-renewal: Tapping into Your Own Creativity

Thu, 09 Apr 2015 21:00:00 GMT

A fresh new approach to tapping into our own creativity is to use images and artifacts from your dreams. Explore the images conjured during sleeping and waking dream states, discover a wealth of ideas and inspiration that are more authentic and powerful because they reveal underlying spiritual self. Recognize the importance of allowing the spiritual side to infuse into everyday life. There are four types of creative expression: 1.Finding, 2.Arranging, 3.Altering, and 4.Making First, learn to access the dream world to heighten creativity; for most, this requires meditation and a quiet time for self. Secondly, write down the revelation, thought or concept so as not to lose the creativeness of the activity which exemplifies the temporary home for the spirit/ inspiration. Musing and daydreaming help create a path that energize us and increase the intuitive capacity. When the process of “making” is guided by the inner vision of our sleeping and waking dream states, a connection to that which is larger than ourselves is possible and is n important life tool. Self-renewal begins with the marriage of intention and attention. Intention is asking a question while attention is listening for the answer. To be successful, you must learn to control the power of intention learning to focus and identify specifically what is desired. The more focused, the more likely you will be successful of obtaining attributes and resources that address your needs.

7 Easy Ways to Renew Yourself

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 21:00:00 GMT

It’s springtime and the earth is renewing herself and so should we. How do we bring some of the joy back into our adult lives? The answer is a matter of getting serious about bringing happiness and energy into our activities. · 1.Give yourself permission to step out of your routine. · 2.Live in the now. Take notice of what's around you and be fascinated by things you haven't noticed before. · 3.Be an explorer. · 4.Do something creative and try something new. . The point is to analyze less and create more. · 5.Play around with something fun. . Do something that puts a smile on your face · 6.Be less critical, more open minded. · . · 7.Write about your dreams. Start a journal as a way to capture what's great about your day and what hopes you have for the future. Use your imagination and explore your wildest dreams. true. It takes time to change our habits and patterns, so be patient, persistent and consistent.

The Major Reason Behavior Modification Social Models Fail

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 21:00:00 GMT

To date, United States clings to the concept of rugged individualism- predicated upon the understanding that most people are capable of taking care of themselves and people should be left to succeed or fail on their own and the government should be limited to protection of civil liberties without a social safety net for people who are the poor, unemployed, and those who cannot work due to youth, old age, and disability. The emergence of the progressive movement held that the government should have a greater role in promoting a better life for all of its citizens. The US has not followed other developed democracies in the establishment of a comprehensive model for assuring its citizens' well being because the United States has enjoyed a period of unprecedented economic growth due to its being the sole industrialized country on the planet whose productive capacity has never been destroyed by enemy nations; however, with the rise of growing income inequality and mounting public debt, there is renewed debate over the role of government in modern society. Social models in place have failed when addressing problems localized in low socioeconomic and ethnically dense populated areas and it is time that those experiencing domestic and family violence must develop social models and paradigns that are effective in modifying behavior,cultural beliefs and overcoming fears that inadvertently support aggressive aberrant behaviors.Non-profit organizations who are having amazing success in changing the behavior and mindset of persons living in low socioeconomic areas utilize the concept of family-style approach model, but create a “family” for the victims by involving the community in spiritual and socially engaging activities.

Microaggression Same as Prejudice Behavior

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Microaggressions are more than just insults and insensitive comments that show people's biases against marginalized groups leaving their victims feeling uncomfortable or insulted Remarks, questions, and actions are painful because they have to do with a person's membership in a group that's discriminated against; they happen casually and often without any harm intended. These racial assaults to black dignity are incessant and cumulative.The major vehicle for racism in this country is offenses done to blacks by whites in this sort of gratuitous never ending way. These offenses are microaggressions. Almost all black: white racial interactions are characterized by white put-downs, done in automatic, fashion. These mini disasters accumulate. Statements appear to be a compliment or a joke, but contain a hidden insult about a group of people. Since our thoughts often determine our actions, implicit bias can lead to discriminatory behaviors; it's no surprise race is a prime area for implicit bias, and if you live in America,There's a widespread preference for light skinned over dark skinned and white over black. The implicit associations we hold often don't align with our declared beliefs. Racial minorities can hold implicit biases against themselves, too. These results are rarely reflective of conscious attitudes. The most popular of these tests is the Implicit Association Test, or IAT. Anthony Greenwald and his colleagues invented it in the mid-1990s. mplicit racial bias can shape our beliefs and assumptions, color the way we treat other people, and even help decide what "feels true" for us when it comes to larger social and political issues.The sum total of multiple microaggressions by whites to blacks that has pervasive effect to the stability and peace of this world.

Vaccination: Who Has the Right to Choose

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:00:00 GMT

In the news, the consequence of not getting children vaccinated against measles virus is headline. Do parents have the right to choose whether their children receive available childhood diseases vaccines? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting 28 doses of 10 vaccines for kids aged newborn to six years old. All 50 states require vaccinations for children entering public schools but all issue medical exemptions, 48 states, excluding Mississippi and West Virginia, permit religious exemptions, and 19 states allow an exemption for philosophical reasons. .Proponents say that vaccination is safe and one of the greatest health developments of the 20th century. They point out that illnesses, including rubella, diphtheria, smallpox, polio, and whooping cough, are now prevented by vaccination and millions of children’s lives are saved. Opponents say that children’s immune systems can deal with most infections naturally, and that injecting questionable vaccine ingredients into a child may cause side effects, including seizures, paralysis, and death. They contend that numerous studies prove that vaccines may trigger problems like autism, ADHD, and diabetes From 1989 to July 1, 2014, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) made 3,645 compensation payments of over $2.7 billion in awards and $113.2 million to cover legal costs. About 30,000 cases of adverse reactions to vaccines have been reported annually to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) since 1990Thimerosal, formaldehyde, and aluminum, are added to vaccines to improve stability. After public outcry, thimerosal was reduced to trace amounts in vaccines for children under 6 years old. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination.

Has Public Schools Failed in United States of America

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Public education in poorer urban and rural areas is in crisis. Too many of the students are dropping out well before high school graduation. Too many are receiving high school “certificates of attendance” that do not certify academic confidence in basic subjects. Too many are being left unprepared for the world of work. Too many are being left unprepared to go on to higher education and advanced technical training. We are condemning the American society to the perpetuation of inequalities across lines of race, ethnicity, and class that we've been struggling to overcome in recent generations. The disparities in education concord with racial inequalities and socioeconomic class in America. The present system leaves a substantial portion of America behind. School problems are reflected in student apathy, student absenteeism, student disrespect for teachers, and student tardiness. Behaviors and attitudes of students are problematic particularly in the “senior high school level”. Restoring safety and discipline and backing up teachers who are determined to maintain discipline in their classrooms are imperatives to recruit and retain high quality teachers. Everyone I know see “No Child Left Behind” as a detriment to the public education environment. There is lip-service to reforming “No Child Left Behind” policies, but the focus in education continues to be in the testing process. The conversation about education is really about who will be part of the intellectual capital of this nation. Who will have access to the resources that that intellectual capital commands? Who will have access to the marketplace? And how will they access that marketplace? All of this is predicated on who has computers and uses technology now. Who is becoming technologically literate?

Scientific Proof that "You Make Me Sick"

Thu, 29 Jan 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Research in brain biochemistry contributes to a new understanding of mind and body,psychoneuroimmunology, where the core idea is that cells in the brain are lined with many specific "receptors" which constantly share information. There exists “molecules of emotions, known as neuropeptides associated with mood changes:endorphins (happy hormones), insulin (blood sugar control), vasopressin (blood pressure control), sex hormone, and serotonin . Immune cells, bone marrow and gut cells also have receptors. A variety of peptides act as "information substances" - and each of them affects our mind, our emotions, our immune system, our digestion and other bodily functions. These changes are strongly linked to changes in the immune system. The Phrase, “You make me sick”, take on new meaning when there is scientific evidence to support it. Emotions can suppress or enhance immune function. Depending on the thoughts and emotions, specific neuropeptides are made in the brain and nervous system, white blood cells, reproductive system, digestive system and heart. A two-way network is formed between mind and body. Emotions - bitterness, unresolved anger, resentment, fear and worry- constantly trigger your stress response and are stored in the cell memory. Stress and depression can suppress the activity the white blood cells that are the body’s first line of defense against cancer and invading organisms. Cells in the immune system are responsive to all 90 neuropeptides, that are triggered by our thoughts and emotions. Constantly thinking of resentful, angry thoughts and feelings that grow allows the thoughts to become emotions, then neuropeptides influence cell function. Diseases of the immune system-, cancer, allergies, arthritis, infections, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis result from this.

Sincerity: 3 Steps to Re-capture it in Your Life

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:00:00 GMT

“Social networking” has replaced conventional methods of forming friendship. The computer and internet is more important than pen and paper. Polishing responses by e-mail removes the sincerity and replaces it with caution. Discussions of true feelings and the demand for respect is viewed as old-fashioned and “boring”. Videos of disrespectful children go “viral” and “twerking” is discussed as a “fashionable dance”. People who show sincerity are serious and truthful. Sincerity is necessary to unite communities and embrace humanity. Oprah Winfrey proved how hungry Americans are for the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. The world cried when Oprah cried, they talked about her vicissitudes and adopted her choices as her choices. Many say the “cult-like” influence of Oprah Winfrey came about because what she talked about appeared to come from the heart. Too often, what usually passes for sincerity is only an artful pretense designed to win the confidence of others. Oh how easy it is to fake sincerity and how hard it is to be sincere. Steps to becoming more sincere: 1. Act the same way alone as you do when in the presence of others. This is the real you and this is the person that people will trust; 2. Do things out of the goodness of your heart.; don't seek a reward or do things to acquire things from people; 3. Don't do it or say it, unless you believe it from your heart. Avoid situations that require you to offer compliments or to express your opinions.Opening up to others about your feelings, motives and aspirations can cause some people to react in insincere ways and attempt to drag you down.

5 Best Health Practices for 2015

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Getting the year started off right is on everyone’s mind. January offers a “new beginning”. The place to start is with yourself; let’s make ourselves better people. Evaluate yourself and your circumstances. There are many things that we can not change, but changing our body is one that we can change. Everyone can control what passes through his/her lips. If food is your passion, then learn what foods to eat that do no harm and choose them to heal your body and improve your life. 1. Eat more fiber (target 25 to 40 grams a day: A high fiber diet will make you feel full and stop the snacking. It also helps lower cholesterol, control blood sugars and aid in weight loss. 2. Eat fruits and vegetables more than meats. They contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (disease fighting compounds). 3. Get adequate sleep. Studies show that individuals who are sleep deprived are at increased risk for weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. 4. Eat something within 2 hours of waking to set your metabolism; ideally something high in protein and fiber. 5. Lose some weight. Take in fewer calories than your body needs. Remember that 3,500 calories equals one pound of body fat. Consuming 500 fewer calories than your body needs each day could result in a weight loss of 1 pound a week. Join forces with friends and work towards a healthier weight and lifestyle together A weight loss program led by professionals can you.

Understanding the "Big Picture"

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Why do bad things happen to good people? A number of philosophers say: “Suffering has potential good. It’s up to an individual free choice to actualize the potential”. Consider the Biblical story of Joseph who went through terrible suffering, sold into slavery by his brothers, unfairly accused of a crime and falsely imprisoned. But location made it possible for him to be put in a role of great authority where he could save the lives of his family and others. Life is a series of events, and until we’ve reached the end of the series, it’s hard to know exactly why things are happening. Consider this farmer who owned a horse. And one day the horse ran away. All the people in the town came to console him because of the loss. “Oh, I don’t know,” said the farmer, “maybe it’s a bad thing and maybe it’s not.”A few days later, the horse returned to the farm accompanied by 20 other horses. All the townspeople came to congratulate him: “Now you have a stable full of horses!” “Oh, I don’t know,” said the farmer, “maybe it’s a good thing and maybe it’s not.”A few days later, the farmer’s son was out riding one of the new horses. The horse got wild and threw him off, breaking the son’s leg; so all the people in town came to console the farmer because of the accident. “Oh, I don’t know,” said the farmer, “maybe it’s a bad thing and maybe it’s not.”A few days later, the government declared war and instituted a draft of all able-bodied young men. They came to the town and carted off hundreds of young men, except for the farmer’s son who had a broken leg. “Now I know,” said the farmer, “that it was a good thing my horse ran away.”

5 Ways To Make Desired Life Changes

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:00:00 GMT

There is no better time than now to change into Who you desire to be. Make the best of your life and do not just “settle”. When you believe that you can not have what you desire, you lack faith in yourself and in the goodness of life; you settle for less. Better than nothing is not good enough. When you constantly tell yourself that things are fine, you soon forget that things could be better. “Settling” is accepting that you are undeserving of happiness. The way that you explain setbacks to yourself is important; learn to value the experience even if the outcome is less than that planned. So, how do you get started creating the new and improved you? Declutter your home. Living in an untidy home can block positive energies from flowing through the house and create negative feelings and bad luck. This simple action can give you renewed energy and empower you to change your luck from bad to good. Remove any unwanted or disused items and give them away; throw them away,then give your house a thorough cleaning- clearing cobwebs and removing dust.Review your failures and mistakes over the last five years as lessons that give you opportunities for growth. Don't view challenges as negative reflections on your abilities or self-worth. Challenges in your life should not become paralyzing events. Commit to new goals and make them compelling reasons to get out of bed in the morning. Evaluate your commitments in relationships, friendships and religious/ spiritual beliefs.Practice imagining. If you could do or be anything, what would it be? What would your life look like if you could do or be what you’d LOVE? What step will you take today to move you closer to what you most desire? Don’t spend time worrying about events which make you feel powerless. Create a space filled with joy for yourself.

Ways To Awakening Your Genius

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Did you ever daydream? I guess I should explain “daydreaming” to some of you if you have never heard the term. "Daydreaming" is like pretending, not in action but through thinking. It is thinking of something desired and making it as real as possible, feeling joy and a sense of accomplishment. Long before electronic gadgetry and “virtual” imaging games, the brain created virtual tours for imaginative individuals: children could fly and become fast running horses. There is research evidence that imaginative people are more intelligent than those who are not. I recently read a story where Albert Einstein was asked “how can I become as smart as you?” and his answer was “read fairy tales”. When asked “how can I become smarter than you; he answered “read more fairy tales”. Well the inquirer was frustrated by such answers and thought disparaging thoughts. But I understand! Fairy tales invite the reader to enter a make-believe world and entertain unusual thoughts. Such thinking stimulates different parts of the brain than routine activities. When the brain is stimulated, like a body-builder “working” his muscles, so does fantasy exercise the brain to expande it.To develop genius, the brain must be exercised. There are a number of companies that are cashing in on this concept and selling subscriptions to “thinking” activities. It is good to know that everyone can improve his/her brain by setting aside time to daydream and ponders abstract concepts. It is important to engage children in “What if” games to get them thinking about less concrete things. Childhood should have wonderment and make-believe and their brains should be stimulated to grow. Imagination is the incubator for genius.

How To Turn Bad Luck into Good Luck

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 22:00:00 GMT

"If it were not for bad luck, I would have no luck at all."Resilience is the ability to bounce back when things don't go as desired. Choosing to look for importance in everything helps us weather adversity. All experiences should be a catalyst for growth. “Bad luck” can help a person find strength.Living happily does not require the absence of suffering. We have the freedom to focus on the meaningful parts of our misfortunes not wallow in failures.Aknowledge the situation, learn and move forward. Resilient people view a difficulty as a challenge; looking at their mistakes as teaching opportunities for growth. They commit to their goals and find compelling reasons to get out of bed in the morning:their relationships and their spiritual beliefs. Resilient people spend their time and energy focusing on situations and events over which they have control putting their efforts where they can have the greatest impact. The way that we explain setbacks to ourselves matter: People who are optimistic see the effects of bad events as temporary rather than permanent; Resilient people don't let setbacks affect other unrelated areas of their lives. They don't just blame themselves when bad events occur but look at the complete situation being aware of everything that contributed to the mishap. Resilient people have a positive image of the future; they develop goals and commit to achieving those goals. Resilient people are empathetic and compassionate, however, but they don't waste time worrying about what others think of them. They maintain healthy relationships, but don't bow to peer pressure. Resilient people never think of themselves as victims – they focus their time and energy on changing the things that they have control over. How we view adversity and stress strongly affects how we succeed and it can change bad luck into good.

The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America on November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God". In modern times the President of the United States, issues a proclamation, “pardoning” a turkey to ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland. American public school romanticizes Thanksgiving Day telling stories of pilgrims and “Indians” celebrating together, sharing harvested crops and cooked wild game. T In Canada, second Monday of October in Canada is Thanksgiving Day. The history of Thanksgiving Day for the Canadian is a celebration and gratefulness for explorers surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs to reach safety in Canada In the West Indian island of Grenada, there is a national holiday known as Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated on October 25 marking the anniversary of the deposition and execution of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. Thanksgiving is celebrated in Liberia on the first Thursday of November. In 1820, with the return of released enslaved Africans to the western banks on the continent of Africa from the post-civil war country of the United States, the repatriated African, freed black American slaves, inculcated into the nation of Liberia as ( Americo-Liberian). The Netherlands celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the morning of the American Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday of November, since many of the Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts came from the Netherlands.

Paying Forward with Gratitude

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:00:00 GMT

We need to reflect on what “gift-giving” is meant to be. When someone gives a gift to another, the gift is a symbol of the presenter’s giving of himself to you, so giving a gift should never be forced. Without the love of the giver in the gift, the gift has no meaning. Whenever a gift is received, there should be gratitude. When someone gives a gift to another, the gift is a symbol of the presenter’s giving of himself to you, so giving a gift should never be forced. Without the love of the giver in the gift, the gift has no meaning. Whenever a gift is received, there should be gratitude. Gratitude is the moment when the gift and the giver are CELEBRATED. Grateful people are happier, less depressed and less stressed. Grateful people have more positive ways of coping with difficulties they experience in life. They are more likely to seek support from other people, reinterpret circumstances and grow from the experience. Gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. Grateful people sleep better, and this seems to be because they think less negative and more positive thoughts just before going to sleep.Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. Gratitude encourages us to appreciate gifts ands to pay them forward. Gratitude is not the same as indebtedness which occurs when a person perceives that they are under an obligation to make repayment of the gift. Indebtedness can motivate the recipient of the gift to avoid the person who gave it. The quality of being thankful can be developed: Start a gratitude journal, recording three to five things for which you are grateful everyday.Write a “gratitude letter” to an important person in your life whom you have never properly thanked.Teach gratitude to children.

Five Tips For Overcoming Holiday Depression

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 22:00:00 GMT

For many, depression creeps in.as the Yuletide season draws near, Nearly 17 million American adults and 2 million teens live with major depression independent of the pressure of the Holiday season. Commercialization of Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas,romanticizing of the “Happy Family” and the bombardment by the media of images of smiling families and friends can push some people over the edge. Stress and anxiety of the holiday season—especially during the months of November and December-cause some to experience loneliness and a lack of fulfillment which evolves into depression. So what is to be done to prevent"Holiday-induced depression"? Consider that “depression” is the spiritual equivalent to cancer that grows from within and it changes thinking and sense of well-being slowly and nearly imperceptibly, metastasizing to all parts of our being. Therefore careful planning is necessary to build your immunityagainst "Depression". Start now designing what makes you happy during the holiday season; don’t just go with the flow and don’t privatize your pain. If you hate office parties; Don’t go to office parties: schedule a movie date with yourself or with a friend instead. Schedule a visit to a senior citizen residence facility or an orphanage or a local school and provide light refreshments and come with your camera and take pictures of the residents to be presented as gifts to the residents. Make yourself a “gift” to someone… spend some time doing something you seldom take time to do.Do something that is pleasant and memorable for you; start a tradition and reflect on what “gift-giving” is meant to be.

Ebola Pandemic- Weapons of Mass Destruction:Part 2

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Ebola is a disease of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. Signs and symptoms typically start within 21 days after contracting the virus; early symptoms include: a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches; later symptoms that show up include: vomiting, diarrhea and rash. The later symptoms come about because of malfunction of the liver and kidneys and some victims begin to bleed internally. Death, due to low blood pressure and fluid loss can occur as early as one week after symptoms appear. The virus is acquired by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person, animal or direct contact with a recently contaminated item. Spread through the air has not been documented in the natural environment. Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier of ebolaviruses in nature. Humans and other animals can become infected by contact with living or dead bats or dead animal that has been infected by bats. Once a human is infected, the virus can be spread between people. Male survivors may be able to transmit the disease via semen for two months. Blood samples are tested for viral antibodies, viral RNA, or the virus itself to confirm the diagnosis. Prevention includes handling potentially infected items while wearing protective clothing and washing hands when around a person with the disease. Medical personnel who handle samples of body fluids and tissues from people with the disease should take special caution. No specific treatment for the disease has been presented to the health community. The disease has a high risk of death with the virus killing, on average, 50% of those infected. The World Health Organization first discussed Ebola as a disease in 1976. The largest outbreak to date is the current 2014 outbreak affecting the countries, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in Africa. As of October 22nd 2014, 9,964 cases with 4,881 deaths have been reported.

Ebola Pandemic: Weapon of Mass Destruction

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 21:00:00 GMT

How Distrust and Mistrust Stops Intimacy

Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Intimacy conjures ideas of a private cozy atmosphere and is defined as an affinity for; a rapport,affection and confidence in an interaction. Empathy, understanding, and compassion are at the heart of intimacy. Researchers are beginning of understand the relationship of depression among people due to the absence of intimacy in their lives. The need to feel part of a bonded community is universal; a desire for “ being at home” emotionally. This is reflected in a common Southern congenial expression, “Make yourself at home”. Current expectations in relationships are conditioned by previous experiences. Often we are expecting something in a relationship and not realizing this until we are not getting it. Relationships can be sabotaged by hidden expectations and lingering disappointments. Emotional memory exists outside of time. We must be aware of our own expectations (and how they are affected by our history) for there to be hope of developing intimate relationships Distrust is a feeling that someone or something is not honest and cannot be trusted and is regarded with suspicion thereby eliminating confidence in the success of new circumstances. Mistrust is a general sense of unease toward someone or something not necessarily based on experience but on instinctive. Mistrust can evoke “Mind Reading” which is often related to a past disappointing relationship experience. We tend to expect what we previously had the opportunity to learn; we make assumptions based on our history. Then an action in the present, that is similar to a previous experience, triggers an intense negative explosive emotional reaction. It is imperative to learn how to change the hidden expectations that work to distort a relationship, because we transfer hidden expectations from our history to present day.

7 Tips on How to Make Great Friends

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:00:00 GMT

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Arabian Proverb Being friends is about sharing our lives with others. I have had enough bumps in the road in my life that “fair weather friends” have come and gone; people who I thought were my friends disappeared when I had no money, my house was taken and my identity stolen. What I learned from that difficult time is that you can miss out on real friendships if you just focus on success. It’s not what we do that attracts friends, it’s how we think. 1. Focus on the good in people. 2. Smile often no matter how you connect with others, face-to-face, Skype, or phone, remember to smile. 3. Let go of grudges which are negative thoughts that corrode and harden your heart. 4. Be motivational to others, listen actively and encourage. 5. Be helpful- akey to creating lasting friendships is to think about what you can do for friends,what do they need? 6. Be kind.; 7. Be grateful- Everyone loves being valued. “ How may I help you ?” is one of my most practiced questions. It is effective when speaking to a patient in a clinical setting. It can diffuse a heated situation when there is no apparent resolution and it opens doors to shy adolescents and children.

Fives Ways to Get What You Want

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Your brain is like a massive computer that holds 100 billion bits of information from every moment of your life. It creates shortcuts to remember more and retrieve it faster. The more you experience something, the stronger the pathway. Every time you see a hard surface attached to four legs, your brain identifies that object as “a table” . The brain creates new neural pathways so that we can learn new things and commit them to memory. The more you focus on something, the stronger the pathways. So when you imagine something that you desire; having an image of you with it --- thinking of it over and over again, a strong neural pathway is created. So the brain more easily spots circumstances and objects that you desire as if the area becomes filled with things that your desire. With seeing so much of what you desire, you believe that you will get it so that there is confirmation bias, a term that means your brain is looking for or interpreting information to confirm its beliefs. This is another way of saying, you expect and allow yourself to receive what you desire. Negative manifestations of this are seen every day in everyday language. “I knew it was too good to last”, “ I was waiting for the other shoe to fall”, “ No good deed goes unpunished”. The expectation of “bad” prepares us for bad and very likely “causes” the bad to happen through the process just described. When your brain focuses on something, it thinks you want more of it and moves to action in that direction. So keep your dreams front and present in my mind: Post Notes with positive messages in places that you will see them often like Inside of kitchen cabinets doors; Schedule one-minute visioning where you take one minute every day day to envision something you want; Verbalize Your Desires so other people will help you get it.

7 Steps to Surviving a Really Bad Day

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:00:00 GMT

When things go wrong, it doesn’t mean it needs to continue that way. When having a bad day it’s easy to get caught up in judging the day and ourselves; but don’t focus on everything that is going bad or not working. It’s ok to acknowledge the problem, but focus on what is working Try doing things that will take your mind off of how bad you are feeling about the way your day is going. Remember, positivity attracts positivity.. 1. If it is possible at the start of the “troubles”, talk to someone about it. Call up a friend or family member for advice, or sympathy. 2. Listen to a favorite song and sing along. studies have shown that listening to music you like can alter your mood and even alleviate depression. In your iPod, make a “Feel Better” playlist; try to choose positive, uplifting songs that you can sing along to. 3. Watch a funny YouTube video. 4. Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing has a naturally therapeutic, stress-reducing quality that can help you stop the rush of stress hormones that a bad day can bring about. Take a few moments to close your eyes. Practice inhaling deeply through your nose for a two- second count, pausing for two seconds, and then exhaling for another two seconds. Thiswill help stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system that quiets down your stress response. 5. Count Your Blessings: Gratitude has some wonderful benefits for stress management. It's hard to focus on how bad things are when you're focusing on how good things are. 6. Exercise causes a burst of endorphins and the ability to blow off steam can take the negative energy out of your day. 7. Chocolate: one small piece of very good chocolate, savored provides a quiet break from stress.

How to Benefit from the Law of Receiving

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:00:00 GMT

The law of receiving states that for you to be able to receive your desires, you should be open to get them. For example, if you want to be in a relationship and you think you are ready for it but all you do is sit at home, it means you are not ready to receive it.You can only prove that you are ready to receive a relationship by going out and being ready to meet someone. Open up to all the possibilities of getting your desires manifested. You should truly show to the universe that you are ready. Examine yourself to uncover any limiting beliefs that may prevent you from getting your desires. To manifest money ? be ready and expecting all kinds of income sources, people giving you money and finding money on the street. You should say to the universe: ‘I am completely ready to receive plenty of money into my life’ and be happy and truly ready to receive it. If deep down you feel that money is bad, or that it makes people evil, many problems will prevent the free flow of abundance. Revelation comes when you realize that beliefs can be overcome. You must "reprogram" yourself by repeating an expected GREAT outcome: Say that "money makes people good"; or ‘I feel so much better by having plenty of money!’ . This reprogramming inhibits the old program of limiting beliefs and will allow you to be able to use the law of receiving to your benefit. Whenever stating your desires , you should be as specific as you can. When you know exactly what you want, the universe can create definite plans as to how the thing that you want will manifest in your life. If you want to manifest a house, then you should know where the house will be located, how many rooms it has to have. You should see it as clearly as you can in your mind.

Laws of Attraction At Work

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 21:00:00 GMT

The Law of Attraction is manifested first in your mind and then in your life. The task for someone just getting to know about the Law of Attraction is understanding opportunities presented. Recently I had a delightful interaction with a stranger that I am convinced was the manifestation of an idea that I have been pondering. I never learned about the correct way to manage money and I have been imagining what is necessary to reach my financial goals. I believe that if I could spend time with someone who is well-versed in finances who is interested in me as a person and we could talk without reservations, I could relax and follow suggestions that would help me financially Well I ran into someone, literally, in a an unlikely place, SAM's - a warehouse subsidary of WaltMart, where one can get a very reasonable quick marginally nutrious lunch for pennies on a dollar. I was coming from a local college campus and was anticipating the next thing after lunch when I "clipped off" a gentleman walking beside me and he grabbed my arm and demanded to know what was my hurry. I was truly sorry to have almost made him fall and was also immediately aware of my "hurriedness". I tried to explain why I was in such a hurry and frankly I had no reason. Because he slowed me down, I sat and shared conversation and lunch with him. And yes, you guessed it, he is a person who knows a lot about insurance and finances; has served on ethics boards pertaining to insurance and bonds. There I had "run over" the very type of person who I had been imagining and wanting to sit and talk with in a non-threatening environment.Equally nice is despite being of retirement age, 75, he still has his license and he keeps abreast of current polices. I am delighted to see the manifestation of my daydream musing and I am looking forward to maturing a friendship with my SAM's warehouse lunch date. Be open to receive what you attracting.

One Approach to New Beginnings

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:00:00 GMT

There are dates that indicate new beginnings: first day of January, the first day of a newborn and the first day of school. Well there is also "new beginnings" in our thinking. I have begun a new way of thinking and I am happy to report that it is working. I have always been interested in the power of the mind and the creativity of thoughts, but I had not before now embraced the potential of getting what you want by focusing on the attainment of your desires. I have talked to you about the "Law of Attraction" and I have been listening to "life coaches" for ten months or more. Now I can report that I am starting to get it. Recommedations of "pay attention to what you are paying attention to" does not make much sense when everything is going well. However, when things start to go bad and worry creeps in and you do not understand the Law of Attraction, the problems can be bigger and more complicated. I was fortunate to read a short story that had a phrase in it that said: " an angel stepped between me and fear and I could breathe again." I was encumbered by the consequences of being a victim of identity theft. I had I felt anger with nowhere to vent it. I pondered how I would feel if I did not have adverse circumstances due to identity theft. I began to think about what I always enjoyed doing and began investigating what I would have to do to get back to teaching. I looked up information on teachers in secondary schools, trade schools, colleges and universities. I read the requirements for on-line teaching. Armed with fresh data, I set out to get a teaching position for the new school year. My new beginning began earlier this month with my teaching at a university again.

Embracing Personal Responsibility

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Self reliance begins with accepting responsible for is what is your purpose. Ask and answer this question: What do I want out of life? You do not have to know where you are going to set a personal goal for your life. Take a moment and set your life’s agenda by asking: Where am I placing my attention during the day? What am I paying attention to in my life and to what should I be paying attention? Are your thoughts your own - are you being purposeful in your thinking? What is your attitude towards life and others - Do you expect good things and therefore generate enthusiasm? Knowing your core values and being true to them help establish the path that you need to travel to enjoy a fullfilling life. It is worth the effort to meditate daily on what is important to you to feel that your life matters and determine what actions to take to ensure that everything needed is being done. Emanate joy and joy will come to you. Refuse to allow circumstance to dictate your well-being. Be open to good things. Generate your own happiness. Decide that your attitude will be good and the experiences of the day will support that. Don't be afraid to enjoy affection and show empathy for others. Open up to feelings of love for mankind. Do a quiet act of kindness for a neighbor, family member or a stranger. Small gestures expand the greatness of the universe. The universe celebrates rain with a rainbow. Create a rainbow for someone drenched by the rain of disappointment or poverty. Radiate a vibrancy that infects others. You are responsible for your actions and only you control your actions. Guide your actions toward healthy outcomes. When you are confident of who you are you have an aim to your life, you control the focus of your attentions, you feel love and empathy for others, you radiate joy and vibrancy and you create happiness for yourself and those around you.

Four Secrets of Becoming More Productive

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Build stronger inner confidence by mastering your mental and physical self. When you wakeup, take time to address your needs: shower, eat, exercise and any other activity that gets you Revved-up. Then examine what must be done by you this day so that you meet high expectations for yourself. Addressing your needs first, opens your body up and allows you to engage in the tasks that you are obligated to get done. Create an excitement for the activities of the day- addressing your needs sets the scene for your enthusiasm. Reflect upon what you are grateful for at this moment. Whatever it is that is a “blessing” to you for being there, take time to be grateful. If you can not readily identify things for which to be grateful, then practice being grateful: It’s a great day, the sun is shining, I have no pain, I slept well, I have someone who loves me. Once your mind and body are” engaged” with the present,(1) Look at what you should do to advance goals of your life (like things on your “bucket list”). Thinking about the “dreams of your life”, you set in motion vibrations necessary to bring your desires to fruition.(2) Reflect on your present life: your job, your home, your school, then identify if you are waiting for anything from anybody. (a)Make a list of “who am I waiting for” to be able to advance a project : make a phone call, stop by an office, visit a school and talk to a counselor or advisor or email a colleague or classmate. (b)Then make a second list of "who you should be contacting": speak to your boss about a raise or a desired job assignment; meet with a teacher to request more time for an assignment or a change in your schedule; call a sick friend and any other task that defines your success and core values.

Five Steps to Building Confidence

Thu, 19 Jun 2014 21:00:00 GMT

To have confidence, first decide to have it. You don’t need an appointment. Show it in your posture and how you walk. Practice being confident when you are alone. You don’t need to achieve anything more, you simply need to decide to feel and generate confidence on a more consistent and conscious basis. Examine yourself and define your values- stand for something and be true to it. When you are being fully alive and authentic and true to yourself, you feel confident. Be more aware of your surroundings and get interested in things that is not in your surroundings: read journals and books about places and avail yourself to different experiences. Gather knowledge and skills in areas that you are passionate about. Activity leads you to the path right for your success in life. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. If you don’t have a supportive community, go create one. Confidence begins with the “intention” of being confidence. Within everyone is the power to be - To be happy, to be confident, to be excited, to be successful. Adults too often lose the power of imagination. To imagine is to believe that an idea is possible. An idea is only an idea until a plan and action make it of substance. The first step to making an idea substance is having the confidence to try and fail and try and fail until you try and succeed. Defeat only comes when you stop trying. Failure is just one of the steps in the process of succeeding. Toddlers cannot run a 440 meter race; they fall a lot, but they don’t stop trying to walk because they cannot run. The “intentions" that you set do not have to be lofty; set your intention to be a loving person, an ambitious person, a fun person, a flirty person, a sexy person or whatever kind of person that you want to be in order to be happy and confidence will come. Confidence is simply having the ability to express who we are.

How to FIND HAPPINESS

Thu, 29 May 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Happiness comes from your specific perspective on the world - how you see the past, the present, and the future. To live in the present, you must accept the past; make peace with it. Find whatever you can to be grateful for the experience and then free yourself to enjoy life in the present. Allow yourself to be amazed and awed by the mystery of the world and the universe happening around you. Have a "happiness checkup". Be bold enough to ask yourself, “Am I happy? If you are not happy, confront yourself on how you feel about your past experiences; are you living in the present, and do you dream about the future? Are you taking care of yourself? Do you eat right? Are you sleeping enough? Do you exercise? Are you in need of a healthy relationship or good networking acquaintances? Dig deeply to access your feelings; stop just be going along for the ride. Look for challenges each day and very aware of what is going on around you; get mentally engaged in your life. You must have something to feel passionate about; something that peaks your interest. If your lack of happiness is due to dynamics of your relationships, ask yourself, “What am I bringing into the relationship?” Am I contributing to the relationship in a manner that nurtures it and helps it stay alive and grow? Be prepared to do something about what is lacking. Anticipate the future with excitement. Death is the only thing that will stop Tomorrow from coming so participate in making it wonderful. Set yourself up for success by planning good things that are doable: "Tomorrow I’m going to do something nice for somebody. Tomorrow I’m going to get focused on a project I’ve been waiting to do. Tomorrow I will register for a class." Happiness will find you if you are at peace with the past; be engaged in the present and excited about the future.

Conversation with Cassidy McMillan- "Bullies and Friends"

Thu, 22 May 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Cassidy McMillan is the award-winning Director/Producer/ Writer of the acclaimed upcoming Documentary Film on bullying " Bullies And Friends" and President of McMillan FilmWorks. Through her advocacy work, she has become a recognized Expert, Speaker and Media Contributor on the topics of bullying, girl bullying, bullycide and relational aggression.She self-funded the initial production of the film using the proceeds from the sale of her home. Cassidy recently spoke at Miami's Florida International University College of Law "Not On My Watch" Anti-Bullying Summit. Ms. McMillan has received the Women In Film Foundation Award; Walt Disney Company's Partners In Excellence Award; United Nations UNA USA Global Impact Film Award; Inanna Filmmaker Humanitarian Award; and Cine's Social Awareness Award. " Bullies And Friends" focuses on the true story of a 14 year-old girl who, after being bullied and threatened with death by 3 girls at her high school, hung herself in her bedroom with her dog's leash. In her suicide note, she named the 3 girls. The incident fueled a groundbreaking investigation that led to the landmark, precedent setting court case, where for the first time in North America, teens were made to stand trial for bullying. The Film not only recounts this emotional story, but also offers solutions to bullying, to teens, parents, schools and communities. " Bullies And Friends" has been requested by elementary, middle, high schools, universities, law schools, youth organizations in 12 countries. To view Film's trailer: www.BulliesAndFriends.com. Suicide is the sixth major cause of death in the United States.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS

Thu, 08 May 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Review how you see yourself and maximize your potential: eat right, sleep enough and drink enough water ( 1 ounce for every two pounds of body weight). Look for things to be pleased about; a beautiful day, a remembered happy moment, an anticipated event that brings a smile to your face. Activate your body to receive good things. se your mind to keep propelling you forward. Be aware of your information “loop”. Your identity is shaped by outside information and your environment. How much are you in control of what you are doing and want to do? Protect your mind by limiting how outside influences shape what you do and think. Determine what is necessary for you to live YOUR core life. Perspective is a silent drive for everything that you do. The adage of “a glass half full or half empty” is a way of telling you to examine the perspective that you approach a task. To find success, you must be success ready. Are you setting your goals high and performing at your peak. If you are doing only mediocre then your successes will be small and lukewarm. When your expectations of yourself are high, then your rewards will be high. Plan beyond what is common; consider all possibilities and plan for the apex for achieving your dreams. With the thought, with the expectation comes opportunity. You only see what you look for so you must be open to see what you may now not be able to recognize. Dream big dreams. Find those to share, endorse and advance your dreams. Become good and confident in imagining the best for yourself, then bridge that with an increased competence. If you are dreaming of writing- activate your learning, take a course, join a reading club and form a book club. If you love interior design, subscribe to design magazines, visit furniture showrooms, watch DIY television shows. Make yourself a “better” student of design. Maintain a learning challenge log and check off things as they are fulfilled.

GETTING MORE OUT OF LIFE

Thu, 01 May 2014 21:00:00 GMT

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Get charged up from within to be effective in impacting someone else's life. Look at where you are in life and ask yourself if you are satisfied. Get connected with the life you are living; know what you are doing and look for what you need to be doing. Are you enjoying each day? Are you loving someone the way that they want to be loved? Are you making a difference in someone else’s life? If your answers to these questions are a weak “yes” or a strong “no”, then do something--- choose some clothes to donate to a worthy cause, visit a nursing home to brighten someone’s day, visit a school and become a “school mom”. Doing good deeds for other attracks good things to you. You can start your journey to becoming most engaged by taking baby steps. Start your day with the questions:(1)What is my mission today? The answer can be as simple as phone someone that you have not spoken with in a while.(2)What must I accomplish today to move forward with my life? Maybe you need to advance your vocabulary and by learning one new word a day is a step in the right direction. Maybe you are struggling with weight loss/gain. Identify one thing that you will do differently to achieve your ideal weight. Set a goal for completing this resolution and be sincere in evaluating yourself at the end of the scheduled time period. Schedule time to be good to yourself and regularly ask,” Am I rested and fully hydrated; Am I sleeping, eating, exercising, and drinking enough water to have the energy necessary for me to be my best me? You must care for yourself to be an effective sustained high performer in life.

Who Owns Federally Funded Research Products?

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Many important medications available today have been developed with public dollars and yet are costly to patients. The government, especially through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded many seminal research directly contributing to the discovery of transformative medicines. Congress enacted the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980 which allowed universities to patent the results of federally funded research and then license these patents to commercial entities. In 2013, Senator Patrick Leahy asked the NIH to expand the availability of Myriad’s genetic tests to identify BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 which predict high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The essential discoveries that made the test possible were developed with government funding and that the cost of the test ($3000) is unaffordable for millions of women; the request was denied. Undifferentiated stem cell separation technology used in bone marrow transplants was heavily supported by NIH funding, however, the procedure is extremely costly to the patient and unaffordable for patients without insurance. The retroviral drug, ritonavir- a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor was developed with government funding to Abbott Laboratories and Columbia University. This is a major medicine for the treatment of HIV, but its pharmaceutical cost in America is 4 to 5 times higher than the same drug in other countries. Recently, patients with Fabry disease requested an open license for an enzyme replacement therapy developed with government funding at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and licensed to Genzyme. The NIH rejected the petition.

DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENTS

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Everything that happened today is as it should be. Some people will tell you that you need to set lower expectations to avoid disappointment. Never give in to that kind of thinking. Everything that has made humanity great started with setting high standards and having high visions. Have big dreams for yourself. Go for the gold. Anticipate hardships. Anticipate learning. Allow yourself to detach from negative emotions associated with “disappointment”. Disappointment has nothing to do with your progress in life. You have to allow the universe to be what it is. You have to allow yourself to feel satisfaction.Look at your emotions and ask if they are negative and if they are recurring, if the answer is "yes" banish them. Stop pouring energy into things that are disappointing and focus on what has been learned by the experience. Be excited about the learning. Develop a learning mindset and never be disappointed again. There is a story about a king who traveled with a trusted servant who believed that everything happened for the good of all. As they passed through a foreign land, the inhabitants demanded a fee. The king sent his servant to negoitiate and the decision was that the king must chop off his little finger as payment. So the king's finger was cut off. Upon arriving home, the king threw the servant into prison. Soon after, the king was captured as he slept and the capturers prepared him as a sacrifice to their god; they discovered that he had a finger missing making him unsuitable as a sacrifice so he was set free. When the king returned home, he released his servant. The king asked the servant if you believe that everything happens for good, why was it good that you have been in prison. The servant answered, If I had been free, I would have been with you and I would have been the sacrifice since I have no fingers missing.

Consequence of a Rebellious Teen- A Discussion

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:00:00 GMT

I recently spoke with Crystal Victoria who wrote From the Streets to the Skies No Limits - Diary of a Boss Lady to tell her story of straying from the straight and narrow at tender age of 14 and finding herself incarcerated several times totaling 19 months behind bars.Crystal was driving at age 14, had access to her mother's car after she dropped her off at work and other young people were attracted to Crystal for this independence and she enjoyed the popularity. Crystal's mother worked from 4pm to midnight during the week so Crystal had much freedom. Because her grades were good, her mother did not question her activities often. Having so much freedom resulting in Crystal regarding her mother as an equal who could not correct her. With this attitude, a confrontation resulted in the police being called and Crystal being transferred to juvenile detention. She was charged with Marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, and tobacco as a minor at age 14. In the state of Texas, a teen can get a driving license at age 15, but the drug charge that Crystal caused her license to be automatically suspended. But this did not stop Crystal from driving the family car. She drove her car with a suspended license; at 17, she charged as an adult for driving with a suspended license. Crystal describes herself as angry and mean during her teen years and this attitude resulted in her being incarcerated. She states that she was attracted to the wild side. She had several probations that compounded resulting in her spending 19 months in prison; her last incarceration was in 2009. Crystal states that she learned her manipulative ways from watching “I Love Lucy”. Lucille Ball was always “getting away” with things and that behavior influenced Crystal to emulate it. There is a need for discipline early in a child's life to ensure good communication in teens.

Discussion of Law of Attraction with Beverly Jones

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 21:00:00 GMT

C H R I S T I A N I T Y, Law of Attraction and the One Command. written by Beverly Jones, is a treatise of Bible principles revealed and applied to everyday living. Biblical passages like that from Matthew 7: 7-12 : “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyonewho asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him whoknocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his sonasks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for afish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you areevil, know how to give good gifts to your children, howmuch more will your Father in heaven give good gifts tothose who ask him!” builds the scaffold for the teachings of Ms Jones in her book. She challenges the reader to imagine a better world and then realize it. In her words: “When you believe enough to dream big dreams; when you expand your ability to imagine; when you grow your visualization capabilities, you increase your capacity to think, create from the unknown and, with practice and rock solid belief, do it easily and effortlessly.”

Fat, Sassy and Sick- Your Food Is Killing You

Thu, 27 Mar 2014 21:00:00 GMT

The food you are eating is killing you. It is that simple. I can not name a health problem that poses a greater threat to the American people than obesity and its related ailments. In 2010, more than 78 million US adults and 12.5 million children and adolescents were obese. According to recent analysis by Gallup Healthways, the adult obesity rate in 2013 was 27.2%; the highest ever measured. Projections from research supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes, conronary heart diseas and stroke, hypertension and arthritis could increase 10-fold between 2010 and 2020. There are numerous scholars who have tried to educate the public about HOW to stop getting sick, but the dazzling lights of TV commercials and coupons that entice the public to "buy two for the price of one" and "biggie size" things drown out the cries of wisdom and good counsel. Dr. Joel Wallach presented a great number of YouTube videos and even developed a line of nutrious supplements in the proper proportions to get ideal health results, but few listened. Rather, the Food and Drug Agency told people to NOT eat eggs and substitute margarine for butter and eat from "food groups" to ensure good health. Meanwhile no one looked at the data that DID NOT support the idea of eating less eggs and not eating butter lowered cholesterol nor decrease the incidence of atherosclerosis and heart disease. "Fast food" became the same as "American food" and women liberation from the kitchen when in reality, it was the beginning of American downfall. Dr. Joel Wallach proclaims that he can CURE a number of diseases with nutrient replacement. In his book, DeadDoctorsDon'tLie he lists cures for diabetes, hypertension and many other scrouges on America's healthcare system today.

Who Rules America?

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 21:00:00 GMT

In civic classes that I took long ago, I was taught that the United States was predicated on the principle that promised, "freedom" and "justice" to all. Today,there are folks who were never oppressed by American slavery laws or "run off their land" by American settlers who are questioning the soventry of the American promise. “What we need is a political revolution in which grassroots America come together to make everybody understand that we are the majority of the American people and not the Koch brothers and not Sheldon Adelson, and not the other billionaires today who have huge influence over the economic and political life of the nation" says Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.He continues, " I happen to believe that we are living in a moment in history where the problems facing this country are more severe than at any time since the Great Depression. These are times in which the middle class in this country is disappearing and we have more people living in poverty than any time in the history of this country, when despite the huge increases in technology and productivity, the median family income is down by $5,000 since 1999 when 95% of the new income generated goes to the top 1% of the population. In terms of wealth, we have the obscenity of the top 1% owning 38% of the wealth, while the bottom 60% owns all of 2.3%." I only heard of Senator Sanders recently, but I am very much in agreement with his beliefs. Somehow the "uncle Sam" image of the United States is tarnished. Nothing is fashioned for "the people" anymore. So the gap between the very, very, very rich and everybody else is growing much wider and millions of children face the prospect of having a significantly lower standard of living than their parents. Billionaires now exert a type of political power that has never been seen in the history of this country. We need to wage a political revolution.

Your Body Can Heal Itself

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 21:00:00 GMT

An article by Tyler Grahan in the Men's Jounal magazine wrote a most interesting story about the work of a physician in Dusseldorf, Germany name Peter Wehling where he energized blood to become a major anti-inflammatory agent. The beauty of his work is that he takes the patient's blood, energizes it and returns the blood to the body to fight. The article describes how Kobe Bryant, the basketball legend, got fantastic results on his right knee which had undergone three surgeries and he continued to have pain and weakness in this knee. By all accounts, Kobe Bryant's treatment was a success. Others who have benefited form this procedure are Alex Rodriguez, olympic volleyball player Lindsey Berg, Pope John Paul II and former Viacom CEO Tom Freston. The procedure,called Regenokine, was developed and patented in 1998. It involves drawing blood from a patient and then separationg and treating it with heat eo concentrate its healing properties. It uses the body's own anti-inflammatory proteins and human-growth factors to reverse pain and chronic injuries. The incubation process takes up to 24 hours. The "refreshed blood" stimulates the growth of immune-regulating substances like tumor necrosis factor and interleukins-1. The "refreshed blood" is injected directly into the joint or area of pain. No one knows how long the relief will last, but there many testimonies to confirm that it works. Dr. Wehling states that the body's worst enemy is time and that pain stems from bad habits, like poor sitting posture or over use. He states that people turn to surgery that too often does not work. In some cases the side effects and the rehibilitation cause pain that is worse than the pre-surgical pain. Dr. Wehling believes that most people who experience pain suffer from inflammation and as we age, the body is less capable of delivering anti-inflammatory properties to the sources of pain.

12-years a Slave- American Literature

Thu, 06 Mar 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Sharon MetoyerJones is a retired educator who taught Literature in the California school system for 30 years. She has the superb ability to look at the events described in Solomon Northrup’s Twelve Years a Slave and draw parallels of the events in Northrup's book and the events described in The Odyssey, one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer written around 800 B.C.E. It is, in part, a sequel to the Illiad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (known as Ulysses in Roman myths) and his 10-year journey home. In his absence, it is assumed he has died. 12 Years a Slave is the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free Black man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in 1841 and sold into slavery.. He was enslaved on plantations in the state of Louisiana for twelve years before he was able to get assistance and subsequent release and returned to his life as a free man. Extensive scholarly evaluation has proven that the accounts written by Solomon Northrup to be accurate.The tragedy and triumph described in these two books can be paralleled and exploited to teach the fundamentals of literature, stimulate ethical behavior discussions and explore a dark time in American history with respect to laws allowing the enslavement of Black people. Ms. MetoyerJones was born in Central Louisiana and grew with a passion for Social Studies. She earned he bachelor’s degree with a major in Social Studies and minor in English. At the time that she sought teaching assignments, only male coaches taught social studies in secondary schools so she began teaching English and Literature.. Ms. MetoyerJones insight in social studies provide a unique perspective for her in evaluation historically relevant works.

Conquering Fear and Embracing Change

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:00:00 GMT

People don’t take action because fear is holding them back. No one is being chased by animals trying to kill him, no, the fear is born from negative thoughts. Most fear is just bad management of our mental faculties. The fearful mind is asks ”what if…?” It follows that phrase with a negative statement. Neuroscience has shown that we have powerful capabilities that contemplative processes that, overcome fear. Once you understand things more they aren’t so terrifying. The more you understand something the more confidence you have in that area. Fear consists of three types of pain. Understanding this concept you can re-orient your mindset and no longer be frustrated or stopped by fear. The first thing that is feared is “loss pain”. When I change my life or do this new thing I’ll experience loss and I might lose something that I care for or adore. If I make that big change in my life I might lose my job. I might lose my relationship with my spouse, lose my connection with my kids or lose a passion or a benefit. Thinking about all the things you’re going to lose stops you from making the decision to change. To re-orient your life you do not focus on the things you are going to lose, but on the things you are going to gain. The second thing we fear so much is process pain The process of change itself is hard, but mastering life is learning to see change as a game, learning to see challenges as something that can be joyously entered.. The third thing most people fear is outcome pain. What if after going through difficult work, the outcome is no better than what things were at the beginning. Don’t focus on negative outcomes; think, dreaming, visualize on the wonderfulness of the new circumstance. Give your attention to satisfying outcomes.

Hemodialysis Scam: Discussion with Arlene Mullin

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Meet and talk with Arlene Mullin-Tinker, an advocate for hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis is the blood cleansing method for people who have lost the function of their kidneys. It removes waste products such as creatinine and urea and free water from the blood when the kidneys are in a state of renal failure. Hemodialysis industry is a "cash cow" for the few people who OWN hemodialysis centers.Routine hemodialysis is conducted in a dialysis outpatient facility, either a purpose built room in a hospital or a dedicated, stand alone clinic.Fluid removal is achieved by altering the hydrostatic pressure of the dialysate compartment, causing free water and some dissolved solutes to move across the membrane along a created pressure gradient.The dialysis solution that is a sterilized solution of mineral ions.Concentrations of sodium and chloride are similar to those of normal plasma to prevent loss. Sodium bicarbonate is added in a higher concentration than plasma to correct blood acidity. A small amount of glucose is also commonly used. Developing dialysis as a practical treatment for renal failurestarted with Thomas Graham in 1854. The artificial kidney was first developed by Abel, Rountree, and Turner in 1913; the first hemodialysis in a human being was by Haas, February 28, 1924) and the "artificial kidney" - hemodialysis machine was developed by Kolff in 1943 - The larger the body size of an individual, the more dialysis he/she will need, , 3-4 hour treatments (sometimes up to 5 hours for larger patients) given 3 times a week are typical. Primary method used to gain access to the blood is an arteriovenous fistula (AV) or a synthetic graft. The patient's blood is drawn out through a tube at a rate of 200-400 mL/min. The blood is then pumped through the dialyzer, and the processed blood is pumped back into the patient's bloodstream through another tube.

Establishing Health and Well Being

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 22:00:00 GMT

I have been listening to motivational speakers lately who are encouraging the listener to “create the reality that he/she wants”. At first, I was unclear what exactly was being advocated, but the more that I listened, the more I agreed with the philosophies that were being set forth. Essentially they were saying the same thing that coaches around the world tell their merging athletes—first imagine your success then make it just like you imagined it. I was never a member of a high performing sports team and I never had a “hands-on” mentor so I did not have the benefit of coaching. As a mature person, confident in her profession, I find that I still long for the mentoring and comradery inherent in working with a group toward a common goal. It is important to interact with others on multilevels. There is a need for personal intimacy, professional dynamics and a “family unit” interactions. The personal intimacy is the one that too many neglect. The personal intimacy must start with self-evaluation--- Are you who you want to be? Do you look like you mean to look and do you treat others the way that you mean to? Answering these questions can be the motivation to lose weight, wear makeup or less makeup, change your hairstyle or hair color. It should prompt you to drink more water and less every other liquid. It should prompt you to exercise more and often. It should encourage you to laugh out loud and spend more time with those who love your laugh.If you have not laughed out loud this week, take some time to remember what makes you laugh and if it is legal, go do it. I like swinging on park swings. I like the feeling of flying as the swing goes higher. (Gotta do that soon). To many, going to church fills their social needs; they are welcomed, expected and loved. Everyone needs that type of “group” approval like the TV show "Cheers".

Genetically Modified Foods- Part II

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Commercial sale of genetically modified foods began in 1994; to date, most genetic modification of foods primarily focus on cash crops such as soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil. Genetically modified livestock have also been experimentally developed. The dairy industry increases milk production with the biweekly injection of a rBGH. Once injected into the cow, rBGH stimulates the production of another hormone, called Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) affects cell growth and is responsible for the quick growth of infants and calves. While the IGF-1 hormone already exists in humans, it is usually bound to protein.Persons against the use of genetically modified foods fear that residues of added hormones in milk and meat disrupt normal hormone function in humans, especially developing children. IGF-1 in cow's milk is biologically active in humans and the "cow-source" IGF has been associated with breast, prostate and colon cancers; IGF-1 promotes cell division, so it may behave as a cancer-accelerator. The FDA maintains that toxicity studies show IGF-1 is inactive when ingested by rats and is rendered obsolete under conditions used to process milk into infant formula. There are no clinical trial studies to support this. There are over 40 plant varieties that have been genetically modified and now being sold including tomatoes and cantalopes (modified ripening characteristics), soybeans and sugarbeets that are resistant to herbicides, corn and cotton plants resistance to insect pests. Most vegetable oils and breakfast cereals come from genetically-modified ingredients since raw ingredients are pooled into one processing stream from many different sources. Shouldn't genetically modified foods be labeled ?

Genetically Modified Foods- Slow Down

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 22:00:00 GMT

In the early 1980s, four chemical/pharmaceutical companies, Monsanto, Upjohn, Eli Lilly and American Cyanamid began researching a new technology they believed would revolutionize the dairy industry. Through genetic engineering, researchers created recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to increase milk production in dairy cows by 10 to 25 percent. The FDA approved Monsanto's rBGH product, Posilac, for commercial use on November 5, 1993. Monsanto leads the production of genetically modified seeds and commercial animal stock. Genetically modified food involves the introduction of foreign DNA into plants and animal using the methods of genetic engineering. Genetic modification techniques often involves incorporating bacterial DNA into plants and animals, thus changing their “blueprint” of existence. These changes are much different from selective breeding and mutation breeding. Genetically-modified foods (plants and animals) raise safety issues, environmental concerns, and economic concerns because: genetically modified seeds & animals are subject to ownership by corporations,original seeds and animals can be “contaminated” by genetically modified plants and animal andno one knows the impact of genetically modified plants and animals on the future of the earth or the biology of those who consume them. Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) which is a genetically engineered hormone that is injected into dairy cows every other week to force the cows to produce more milk causes problems that is adverse to milk consumers: Cows get mastitis(infections) in the udder causing pus / white blood cells to be expressed into the milk so that antibiotics used to treat mastitis and pus remain in the milk and drank by the consumer -YUM.

Vaccinations - Weapons of Mass Destruction

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 22:00:00 GMT

USAID was fully aware that informed consent was not provided to women prior to Depo Provera injections (the Rebecca Project provided details to the DHHS, DOJ, and USAID) and that violates US ethical research IRB procedures and international law. U.S. drug companies and U.S. researchers have conducted nonconsensual and unethical research in Africa and the developing world. Pfizer v. Abdullahi directly confronted the issue. In a July 2009 ruling, a U.S. Court of Appeals found that the prohibition of non-consensual medical experimentation on humans is binding under customary international law, thereby allowing Trovan victims in Nigeria the right to seek relief against Pfizer in U.S. courts.In June 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Pfizer's appeal after the U.S. Acting Solicitor General, Neal Katyal, submitted his brief urging the court to deny Pfizer's petition. Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation, UNFPA and USAID have taken advantage of political disorganization in Pakistan to administer Depo Provera to Muslim women; and are collaborating to expand a “self-inject” Depo Provera system in Pakistan. The In Israel, Netanyahu administration moved to act ethically and banned its doctors from renewing all Depo Provera prescriptions without full disclosure and consent to protect African Jews in Israel after the story of mandated Depo Provera injections was exposed in the spring of 2013. European countries have provided full information about risks for women to consent to use Depo Provera for decades and use of Depo Provera is negligible. All U.S. allies in the Middle-East: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia restrict the use of Depo Provera on their nationals.. India, a permanent target of US population control policy, banned Depo Provera from its social welfare programs in 2012

Vaccinations - Chemical Warfare

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Recently I was asked to comment on the use of vaccines in America and around the world. I am familiar with the activities of medical centers "developing" vaccines on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona when I was in medical school and I questioned the ethicalness of giving very young babies the meningitis vaccine. I was scolded for questioning how well the young Navajo women understood the potential risk of injecting infants with the vaccine. I was just learning about blood/brain barrier and it seemed that babies were the most vulnerable. Since medical school, I have become aware of numerous instances where pharmaceutical companies and federal agencies approach vaccination as a "business" activity rather than a "health promoting" activities. 1967-1978: The largest test on humans of Depo-Provera begins and is conducted for eleven years through the Grady Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia on 14,000 low income women. These “trials” were conducted on women human subjects without being aware of the fact that they were part of an experiment; and, the researchers deliberately did not inform the women participants that Depo Provera had grave side effects. Many women developed cancer and/or died during the trials, but these cases were not reported to the FDA. The director of the study, Robert Hatcher, further violated the law refusing to submit an annual report during the entire study. Record keeping on the clients was sloppy and more than 13,000 women had no follow-up.The African continent has been a theater for unregulated experimentation. Dr. Phillips’ fraudulent Navrongo research is routinely referenced in UN and US documents as valid family-planning policy. On January 28, 2013, Israel put an end to the unethical use of Depo Provera after admitting that they coerced African women to use Depo Provera without consent and full understanding of harm.

Vaccinations- Bad Medicine

Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:00:00 GMT

Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co, also known as Silgard was approved in the America on June 8, 2006 by FDA. In 2008, Gardasil vaccine was approved in 41 of U.S. states and 120 other countries. The FDA recommends vaccination before adolescence and potential sexual activity. The British Medical Journal published a new study revealing that Merck & Co. did not test Gardasil for human paillomarvirus HPV vaccine on women’s reproductive systems. One young woman in Australia found her ovaries were completely unable to recover from the damage done by the vaccine. Her ovaries shut down and early menopause set in. Components of the vaccine, poylsorbate 80 and an amino acid L-histadine are the agents which lead to serious side effects when injected into muscle tissue. The information about the vaccine, obtained by Australian Therpeutic Goods Adminstration (TGA), the equivalent to American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealed that Merck never tested it for safety for woman’s ovaries to reproduce DEPO-PROVERA: DEADLY REPRODUCTIVE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, Rebecca Project for Human Rights (June 2013) Sweden first had Depo Provera testing in Africa in 1982. Over the last thirty years, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and private foundations have failed to respect US law and FDA statutes and regulations by enforcing mandatory information on Depo Provera’s Black Box warnings. Regrettably, Israel used draconian policies to radically reduce the number of Black births using Depo Provera, while willfully disregarding Depo Provera’s dangerous health impacts and this has become foundation of ongoing U.S. domestic and global family-planning strategy for women of color.

Medical Racism Part II

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 22:00:00 GMT

The United States of America has many institutions that lead the way in medical research, but unfortunately, advances in medicine have come at the expense of Black Americans and feeble citizens of America. In 1932, U.S. Public Health Service enrolled 600 impoverished, Black American sharecroppers from Macon County, Alabama in a study of the ravages of untreated syphilis. This clinical study was funded by the United States government and maintained for 40 years ( between 1932 and 1972) in Tuskegee, Alabama to study the natural progression of untreated syphilis in rural black men who thought they were receiving free health care from the U.S. Public Health Service and the Center for Disease Control. The study continued under numerous US Public Health Service supervisors during the 40-year period even after it had been demonstrated that penicillin cured syphilis. US Public Health Service paid local doctors not to treat black men enrolled in the Syphilis Experiment. It took public outcry to initiate the closure of the study after reading about the “experiment” in the New York Times. The Syphlis Experiment at Tuskegee terminated on November 16, 1972. Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman who went to Johns Hopskins University Medical Center for gynecologic treatment. Tissue was taken from Ms. Lacks without her consent, was grown in the laboratory and now serves as the control for cell culture research systems around the world. Henrietta Lacks died in 1951 from cervical cancer, a very poor woman, and was buried in a grave without a tombstone. Johns Hopkins Medical Center has made billions of dollars from the propagation and sale of the human tissue cell line, "HeLa cells" grown from Henrietta Lacks. In 1970 Henrietta Lacks died and was buried in an unmarked grave and has never been recognized for her contribution to the advancement of science worldwide.

Medical Racism Alive and Well

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 22:00:00 GMT

I was in New York City recently attending a medical conference at the Jacob Jarvits Convention Center. There were"big" name academicians in the star roles of presenting the latest guidelines for the practice of medicine in the United States. Some of the speakers had accents thick with the intonations of their native tongue which was not English. Some talked about themselves and their "house officers" within the hallowed halls of century-old institutions. Some showed graphs that were impossible to read despite being displayed on six screens simultaneously. There were even several "virtual" presentations, yes, holographic lectures and cross interviews. Only one professor earned that title as he presented an eloguent lecture on auscultations illustrating sounds that he verbally described. He was entertaining and thorough. On the last day of the conference, all presentations were centered around patient cases. The scholars from the IVY towers were out of their elements and their antithesis for ethnic patients manifested. The patient that was the subject of discussion was a Black American 61 year old female who had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides. The "expert" panel began by stating that so many pathologies were present that "could be corrected by lifestyle changes". One panelist continued to say that "those people" are unlikely to make necessary life changes so a variety of pills were suggested. The case scenerio continued describing how the patient's kidneys were in early stage of insufficiency and diabetes (HbA1c) was not being well controlled and over 5 years of follow, the patient had a heart attack. The outspoken expert stated, " now maybe the patient will be motivated to listen since she has had a heart attack". This "expert" revealed his contempt for the patient and not her condition. WOW.

Memories and Pain

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:00:00 GMT

October and November were difficult months for me. My god-daughter and niece age 23 died in an emergency room, October 18,2013, of a ruptured appendix. I was devastated. Ten days before her death, my dearest friend's mother died after a decade's battle with multiple myeloma. Nov 3, 2013 my dearest friend died, three weeks after his mother's death. A part of me died with him. He was very special to me and his death was the third and final time that he left me. He first left me when he went back into the Army for Operation Freedom, June 2004; his back was broken during a battle and after six back operations, he became wheelchair bound. He left me a second time when he decided that I should "move on" because his wheelchair was his "handicap" and not mine. The battle with his war-time injuries won out over my sincere desire to remain as part of his life and the combination of "post-traumatic stress syndrome" and pain-relieving drugs injured his kidneys, tired his heart and ultimately took his life prematurely. I keep his number on my cell phone and his email IDs in my contacts. I go to his Facebook page and read what so many are still posting on his wall. A part of me is waiting to receive that call that says "hey, I was wrong, I do want you to be part of my life". He asked me to store things for him when he first left in 2004. He asked me to store more things when he was sent "home" to Fort Hood (2006) prior to his first back surgery. Now looking through the boxes and duffle bags I have stored, I find that I have so much of him that, like me, he has left behind forever. I have nicely starched and pressed cargo pants and folded muscle shirts and camoflaged patterned military uniforms and desert sand-colored boots that I can't seem to force myself to get rid of... What am I supposed to do now? Memories flood my mind releasing dammed up water from my eyes and silent screams.

Law of Attraction

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:00:00 GMT

I have heard about the Laws of Attraction for about a decade, but I never really thought about what it really meant or how to "harness" it. Well recently, I have been paying attention to things around me and I am now a believer. When I was "grateful" and expecting something good to happen, something good did happen. When I was neutral or pessimistic, I reaped the consequences. So, what will I do with my new found "power"? I am going to use it. I believe that I can make "things happen". So I am setting about identifying what all I want to happen. I am "daydreaming" more about the "wouldn't it be nice if" and marveling at the goodness of things. If you have not heard of the power of attraction, let me give you the brief explanation. The universe is governed by vibrations-- it's like when you say, "I have a feeling"; the feeling is a premonition or a warning of something to come. Well the law of attraction is about being aware of your feelings all of the time so that your state of mind is always ready to receive good vibes. Another way of thinking about the Law of Attraction is when you enter a building and feel uncomfortable or meet someone who gives you a "funny" feeling. Well that is you tuning in on what is the ability to read your surroundings. When you can read your surroundings, you can began to shape your surroundings. As you understand the vibrations around you, you can choose which vibrations you want around you. If you are around "sad" or morose people, you will have a pessimistic outlook on life and your life WILL be as bad as you feel that it is. If you expect good things to happen and marvel at "little" good things that happen, bigger and better things will happen. It does work. I am beginning to apply this principle to my life and I am amazed at how often I smile and laugh out loud.

10 Things To Do For You to Be At Your Best

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 22:00:00 GMT

1. Search for new pleasures and new activities to stimulate the mind : Be more physically active. Make the world your gym. Do errands on foot, push mower, and run up stairs 2. Worry only about the things that are in your control: anxiety is as deadly as the heart attack it can cause. 3. Treasure Friendship, nuture and cultivate it: anticipation of conversation and shared activities initiate positive hormonal releases. 4. Avoid shallow and transient pleasures and seek calming environments that contribute to peace of mind: partying all night can cost you several days of recuperation. 5. Master Yourself- limit negative thinking and seek out affirming environments. 6.. Avoid Excess- Live life in harmony and balance: too much alcohol, to much food..etc 7.Be a Responsible Human Being. Approach yourself with honesty and thoroughness; 8. Money is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the good life 9.Don’t Do Evil to Others - there is no humor in another's misery. 10. Get More Sleep: The secret to finding more time in your day is spending more time in bed at night. According to James Maas, PhD, a sleep researcher at Cornell University, 'being sleep-deprived makes you do everything more slowly and with less focus. Most people don't realize what it's like to be fully awake and how much they can accomplish when they are."

What's Going On?

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The story that caught my attention this week is the tragedy of a high school student, Kendrick Johnson in Lowndes High School in Valdosto, Georgia being found dead wrapped up in a wrestling mat and the authorities deemed his death an accident and did not process the gym as an accident scene. Now almost one year later, the family is being heard and are calling for FBI involvement and reopening the investigation. The family has had the young man's body exumed and evaluated by a pathologist who said the death was secondary to a "blow to the neck" the results of foul play.... possibly murder. During a recent TV discussion, a commentator stated that "it has been a year since the incident and many students have been in and out of the gym so there is nothing to investigate." I am at lost as to how the school moved on so quietly and without much concern. If I were a parent at this school, I would want answers to reassure me that my child was not in danger. How could the gym be used as usual when a teen had lost his life in unexplained circumstances? The current outcry comes on the heels of Florida having a terrible track record for not seeming to value the life of Black Americans and now it seems that another southernn state, Georgia, is equally callous. Photographs of the gym taken just after the teen's body was removed showed blood on the wall and a tennis shoe left behind so there once was a CRIME scene that was not preserved or treated as such. The family's trauma continued when they learned that their son's body was stuffed with newspaper and his internal organs were missing. Most states require permission and standard protocol for organ harvesting. Why was the teen's organs not returned to the body after the autopsy? Why was newspaper used to fill the body cavity? Is this common practice in Georgia? Many are waiting for the FBI conclusions on this.

Virtues of Herbal Foods

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Herbal / Natural remedies work with the body to repair it, without interfering with its natural processes.Nuts, grasses, fruits and vegetables are naturally occurring gifts of nature. They have the capacity to absorb inorganic substances from the earth, water, fire, and air and convert them into life-giving vital nutrients to living things that consume them. Herbal supplements are best consumed fresh. That means that you or someone you trust should be growing and preparing what you consume. The best start is a simple start. Lemon Grass is the food/herb that I started with and now advocate for my family and friends. Lemon Grass is known by many names, in Louisiana, it is called mosquito grass as well as lemon grass. In the Carribean, it is known as fever grass. Lemon Grass has numerous health benefiting essential oils, minerals and vitamins that are known to have anti-oxidant and disease preventing properties. The primary chemical component in lemongrass is citral or lemonal, an aldehyde responsible for its unique lemon odor which has strong anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.Lemon Grass leaves and stems contain Folic acid, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and thiamin (vitamin B-1), vitamin-C and vitamin-A..Lemon grass, whether fresh or dried, is a rich sources of minerals: potassium, zinc, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, and magnesium. I serve and consume lemon grass as a tea. I use the tops of the plant for my tea by cuting health green tops, cleaning them, then cutting them into a size that fits into a coffee filter. I put the coffee filter into a drip coffee pot and brew the same as ground coffee. The tea is a bright green from a spring harvest and brown from a fall harvest. Ahh-- refreshing!!

You Are What You Eat

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

A full-time diet of fried beef patties, fried starchy potatoes, syrupy drinks with caffine, citric and lactic acids added, fried chicken which never touched their feet on the ground breeds sickness. Once sickness strikes, it is treated with a pill, the pill has a side effect, the side effect is treated with another pill and the body moves farther and farther away from natural balance. Healthcare in America does not go for the cure, but rather the "treatment of disease and illness. This approach makes taking a pill the way to "ensure" better health and neglects the tenet of good lifestyles. There are a myriad of "epidemics" in America that is making the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries wealthy. There is the Diabetes Epidemic, the Breast Cancer Epidemic, the Autisim Epidemic, the Obesity Epidemic and these epidemics give governmental agencies reasons to convene conferences around the country and publish pamphlets and webinars and recommendations. While Americans continue running on the gerbil wheel. Lifestyle changes are where the cures are. American are eating too much of the wrong foods and neglecting their bodies by not giving it what it needs to fight cancer, brain cell death and endocrine over-rides. Nature provided the cure for every ailment. Birds know this; consider the rain forest parrot who eats berries that are "poisonous" and neutralizes his diet with the eating of a clay that contains an antedote to the poison. Consider the house cat who will seek out a grass to chew to relieve problems with "hairball" formation in the stomach. Americans have lost the intelligence of the aboriginal man.

Back To Basics

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

It is so important to look closely at what surrounds you. I like to do my own lawn service. It gives me exercise and I feel close to nature. I have found myself looking more closely at what I had identified as "weeds" in my lawn and this inspection drove me to go to YouTube to see what herbist would say about some of the weeds that I had systematically sprayed or pulled out of my yard. What I thought would be a short visit to the computer became a webinar-like session. As a physician, I was taught that there is no antedote to the brown recluse spider bite and the victim must endure much pain and a necrotizing ulcerative site until the "damage" ran its course. Well there is a weed call the ribwort or plantain grass that releases the pain of insect bites and heals ulcer lesions on lthe skin.This weed is very prevalent in Louisiana where brown recluse spiders are often a nuisance. It was the "ancient people" , "old wive's remedies" that treated what pharmaceutical companies can not so young clinicians perpetuate the myth that there is no treatment. I am now energized at the idea of recovering what my Grandmother practiced and what my Mother referred to as Mother wit. The old-fashioned remedies have been discarded and needs to be revisited. I started brewing a lemon grass tea that has replaced coffee in my diet and my blood pressure is superb. My age peers, including my sisters, ask me what medicines that I take for hypertension and I say none. In fact, I do not take any prescribed pharmaceuticals. I believe that food is a medicine. I do believe that we are what we eat. I do not avocate becoming a fanatic, but I think that we need to stop and look at what nature has provided and some trying to make a "new and improved" version of everything. We need to get back to the basics. Maybe an astronaut needs to "eat" pills instead of food; I don't.

Vaccine Conversation with a Caller

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Are vaccines good for American children? Has the relationship between adding "mercury" to vaccines as a preservative and the cause of the increased incidence of Autism in America been conclusively made? Was the Navajo people used experimentally to develop the meningitis vaccine in the late 1980's? What safeguards protect Americans from the pharmaceutical companies who lobby congress? What is the real story about Gardisil as a vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus causing cancer? How does a parent protect children from harmful vaccines

Can't Get There From Here

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

"Who am I?" was a popular essay question set upon philosophy students. Those three words were a gateway to a myriad of entry points. How is one to define oneself? Is a person a part of a larger faction, the way that an ant is part of the whole ant colony or a bee in a beehive. How much individuality allowed? The sum of us is greater than the significance of any one of us. American society, at least how I experience it, has become very selfish. Business schools teach students to ask "what is in it for me" before starting a venture. Medical students are told to "see" patients every 15 minutes to make the targeted salary as a physician. Businesses use electronic voices and artificial intelligent machines to interact with customers. When did the humanity stop? Television has turned eating into a competitive sport and "back stabbing" behavior entertainment. Even scientific-based dramas feature the gore of murder with computer enhancement and animation Why is all of that necessary? I spoke to a 15 year old young woman who was trying to recover her mother's trust after acting out extremely enough to get into legal trouble. She was telling those who inquired that she wanted to go to college to become a "forensic pathologist". Her aunt knows that I am trained in that field so she asked me to "mentor" the teen. When the teen and I sat to talk, she began saying that she hated science, did poorly in math, but like to write poetry. I asked why she was telling everyone that she wanted to be a "scientist"; she corrected me and said " I don't ; I want to be like the women on CSI". The teen had latched on the "glamor" of these actresses and missed the content of the show. I was disarmed. The teen appeared to really want to be an actress. How do we get back to a solid foundation? How can we get there from here?

American Mandated Vaccines Are They Safe?

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Recently I was asked to comment on the use of vaccines in America and around the world. I am familiar with the activities of medical centers "developing" vaccines on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona when I was in medical school and I questioned the ethicalness of giving very young babies the meningitis vaccine. I was scolded for questioning how well the young Navajo women understood the potential risk of injecting infants with the vaccine. I was just learning about blood/brain barrier and it seemed that babies were the most vulnerable. Since medical school, I have become aware of numerous instances where pharmaceutical companies and federal agencies approach vaccination as a "business" activity rather than a "health promoting" activities. There seems to be a myriad of motives when vaccination programs are instituted. For this presentation, I wil limit my comments to the use of Depo Provera, a pregnancy prevention injection given every 3 months. Contraception is not bad.Trying to limit the number of children was originally looked upon as "empowering" women because being "barefoot and pregnant" was once an avenue of male control/domination. Women who decided when to have children and how many children she would have could plan an education for herself and improve the circumstances of her offspring. Therefore introducing "birth control" to "underprivileged" and impoverished women may have been started with good intentions. On the continents of Africa, in India and in Indonesia, in the early 1990's, women died from post-delivery bleeding and infectious complications at alarming rates. USAID was involved in trying to reduce the rates of morbidity and mortality of women giving birth.

Alternative Medicine Use In America

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 21:00:00 GMT

American medical training is referred to as "Western Medical Practices". In this training, academic proof and scientific methods are emphasized. Unfortunately, there is a concominant "demonizing" of traditional or folk medicine practices. Folk medicine practicianers have been arrested for "fraud" (impersonating a licensed professional) and methods that are accepted by the masses are called antedotal and not allowed into serious discussions. Folk medicine is taboo. Pharmaceutical companies who have exploited traditional cures are revered and "obeyed" without question. Lobbists for pharmaceutical companies go to Washington and spend money, run televisiion commercials, go to doctor offices and give out gifts with the net effect of American people not getting a balanced view of healthcare choices. There are cures with historical roots outside of conventional western medicine practiced by naturopaths, homeopaths chiropractors, yoga, tai chi and accupuncturists. Western medicine guardians are beginning to accept that acupuncture is helpful for osteoarthritis pain, tai chi for fibromyalgia pain, spinal manippulation and yoga decreases chronic back pain. Because the western medical establishment has be so penalizing to traditional methods for curing ailments, the American public has taken matters in their own hands. There is widespread use of herbals today. St John's Wort is used for major depression, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis, silymarin for chronic liver disease, saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia, ginkgo for early cognitive decline, and vitamin E and selenium to prevent prostate cancer. Herbal and alternative medicine focus on a cure and not the treatment of symptoms. Traditional medical practices require lifestyle changes that are incorporated into the treatment modality.

Why Are You Always Tired?

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Do you find yourself asking yourself, "Why am I so tired?" Well you are not alone. Too many Americans do not follow their body's natural rhythm and once it is interrupted, it is difficult to fix it. I remember discussions about "jet lag" when people who traveled through multiple time zones were tired for days after returning to their "usual" time zone and routine. Then in medical school, there was discussions of "shift worker" syndrome; where people who worked industry shifts of 3pm to 11pm and 11pm to 7am. These workers had more depression, more trouble losing weight and were more stressed. There was so much interest in this that shift workers schedules were altered to "seven day on" then three days off. Well now it seems that Americans are "too tired" because they substitute "caffeine" and stimulates in the family of caffeine for adequate sleep. These drugs are not harmless. If you rely on caffeine to get through the day, you can develop a dependence -- so without it you can go through withdrawl. Caffeine addiction is as potent as nicotine addiction. It does not just "rev you up" during the day, It can interfer with restful sleep (REM) at night and leave you more tired because of the shallow sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition experienced by obese people (waist circumference greater than 30 inches) who snore. A C-pap device is necessary to keep soft tissue in the throat from closing the airway while sleeping. There are four stages of severity in sleep apnea. Another reason for "fatigue" is skipping breakfast. The brain needs glucose in the morning to function properly so eating a complex carbohydrate and protein provides the fuel for clear thought and judgment. Exercise, social engagement and charitable activities are also very important to put the mind and body in balance.

Bankruptcy in Detroit, Michigan

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Detroit, Michigan... Motor City... Motown is being considered for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy. This is a major slap in the face of all Americans when we look at the United States of America giving away $1.6 billion dollars to Egypt annually; $1.0 billion to Israel annually and so many other "prosperous" countries and there is city in the United States that must declare bankruptcy. What nonesense is this?!!! I was taught that you take care of home first. How is Detroit not worthy of American rescue without world embarrassment. America bailed out Banks, and Wall Street but ignores Detroit. Such action appears as Deja Vu... remember New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Could it be that if there is a majority of Black Americans in a city that city's adverse plights can be ignored? This looks like throwing the baby out with the bath water. How can American appear GREAT in the eyes of the world when it can not protect its own. Recently the governor of Michigan stated that Detroit has a debt of $18 billion. How does a city have such a debt when the car industry got "bailed out"? What happened to that money? Did the city not get any? If it were not so tragic, it would be funny. The governor stated that the "city" is insolvent because it has been borrowing money to pay its bills for nearly a decade....that is 20 years!!! So why was there no intervention over these 20 years to prevent such a catastrophe? A bankruptcy could cancel retirees pensions so the old and hardworking will shoulder the debt. Detroit will be following in the footsteps of Stockton, California where pensioneers were not spared in its bankruptcy. The law protect bond holders who must get 100% paid, but not regular citizens. How can this happen in the United States of America? WHERE IS THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN ALL OF THIS?

Understanding Schizophrenia

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that shows up in 1%-3% of American population. This disorder is clinically manifested by psychosis (hearing voice, seeing what is not there, delusive thinking) and cognitive malfunction (antisocial behavior, illogical actions and confusion). Symptoms typically emerge in adolescence and early adulthood (peak age for males is 20 and 25 for females). The symptoms show a pattern of worsening then remissions finally manifesting as a chronic state of residual symptoms and functional impairment. The annual cost of schizophrenia in the United States is approximately 60 billion dollars, including direct medical cost, non-health care costs and lost productivity. Numerous studies have shown that longer the duration of the initial episode of illness peior to treatment intervention is associated with poorer treatment response and outcome.There is a progression in brain abnormality and reduction of "gray " matter. Subgroups of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience only limited disability or have positive outcomes in spite of substantial symptoms. Coping skills, peer and family support contribute to the stablization of the symptoms expressed. Pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia targets reducing symptoms and preventing relapse. However, in the United States, psychosocial and recovery-oriented services have not been available to patients with first-episode psychosis. Comprehensive services for patients with early-stage psychosis are being implemented in Australia, Europe, Canada and Asia at a more rapid pace than in the United States. An important reason for the slow US adoption of this treatment model is a lack of adequate financing. Health insurance does not pay for psychosocial and rehabilitative services recommended for individuals in the earliest stages of psychosis. Current public health facilities favor assisting individual with chronic disabilities.

Marijuana and Schizophrenia

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

A number of studies have found a significant relationship between marijuana use and the development and worsening of schizophrenia symptoms. Studies have not yet established a causal relationship, however, strong correlations have been found between THC (marijuana's primary psychoactive ingredient) and brain abnormalities that lead to symptoms seen in schizophrenia. It is believed that marijuana triggers schizophrenia in people who already have a genetic vulnerability to the disease. Unfortunately it is impossible to accurately identify this predisposition before the damage of marijuana is done (a family history of mental illness is one indicator) Young people who regularly use marijuana increase their risks for schizophrenia - the younger the person at the start of smoking cannabis / marijuana, the greater the risk and severity of tschizophrenic symptoms that will develop. Cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis by up to 700% for heavy users, and that the risk increases in proportion to the amount of cannabis smoked and more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia up to 15 years following consumption when compared to their peers who never smoked cannabis. Using cannabis while the brain is still developing boosts levels of the chemical “dopamine” in the brain, that regulates how arousal and stress are managed and thereby increases the risk of “schizophrenia” and “depression” being triggered. Without the effects of cannabis, such a person might live their whole life without ever experiencing mental health problems. It has been estimated that between 8% and 13% of people that have schizophrenia today would never have developed the illness without exposure to cannabis.

Is Trayvon Martin Case Dead?

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Hurricane Katrina August 29, 2005, ripped the scab off of the festering racism in America as the world watched the neglect of Black Americans in New Orleans.... It seemed that the atrocities blew over; even when the truth came out about six indictments and prison terms for law official in the New Orleans area found guilty of shooting and killing unarmed Hurricane survivors when they tried to cross a bridge. The fatal shooting of 17 year old unarmed Black American high school student, Trayvon Martin, by George Zimmerman 28 year old White American, occurred February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States. The murder of Trayvon Martin should be the decisive turning point for Black Americans... even the "Bouggie" must admit that the defense in Zimmerman's trial did not try to prove that Zimmerman did not kill an unarmed 17 year old Black American maleand the prosecution did not put forth the effort to establish that a crime had been committed. "Killing an unarmed 17 year old Black male IS NOT a crime in the United States of America. For the scholars following the "happenings" in America, look at outrageous disproportionate Black American persecution by the Florida judicial system. Florida has worked hard to attract tourism. For the Florida Black resident, there is open contempt, overt punishment and death. American Black celebrities have called for a boycott of Florida tourism attractions and destinations for "National Conventions" . I wonder if Black organizations are listening. I am a member of The Links, Inc and the last national conference was in Florida (Jacksonville) and the last southern area conference was in Florida (Miami). So I know that Florida benefits from Black American money. Its time that Black Ameicans let their money do the talking. See Pres Obama YouTube comments: http://youtu.be/MHBdZWbncXI?t=49s

American Public School Failures Part II

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

During the pre-Civil War era, a number of states in America had laws on the books to prevent Black Americans from learning to read and write. Both White and Black people risked "flogging" (public beatings), fines and other penalties for "teaching a slave to read". During the American Apartheid era (1864-1964), Black American schools received "used books" discarded by White schools, had teachers who received "practical teaching certificates" to teach in Black schools and education facilities for Black Americans offered training only up to the 7th grade level. The Department of Education decided to STOP teaching "cursive writing" in public schools SEVEN YEARS ago however, the Florida court "poked fun" at Trayvon Martin's girl-friend (during the Zimmerman trial) who stated during her testimony that she could not read "cursive writing". The young woman who was mocked is a product of Amercan public school education and is like thousands of young Americans who have never been exposed to the art of writing in cursive form. Following the Trayvon Martin-Zimmerman trial, many Black Americans are steeped in emotions similar to that demonstrated in 1963 which fueled the march on Washington, DC. That was 50 years ago. What has improved for the Black American since then- it is clear that American justice is not the same for all Americans. Black Americans have been marching for centuries and have barely moved an inch. There has to be more effective ways to command change. Insanity is defined as "doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different outcome". It is past due that Black Americans change strategy in their quest for justice and equality. American public education does not offer the ticket to success that Black forefathers dreamed of.

American Public School Failures

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Often as Black Americans progress from kindergarten to elementary levels of school, too many believe that "learning" is "acting white". While this sounds strange to some, consider what the Black child is being taught: "George Washington is the father of our country"; "Columbus discovered American in 1492", etc. George Washington OWNED slaves--- Native Americans were living in North America before Columbus showed up. Many alert, intelligent Black children are over the myth. "White is right". The information presented and graded upon has little relevance to a Black child. The "exclusion" of the Black child's history (pre-slavery, slavery and now) in America public educational system causes a disconnect in the Black child and a lack of interest in "American public school selective teachings". By almost any measure, there are gaps between Black American students and White or Asian students with respect to standard test scores, English diction and written communications. Perhaps the tools employed in teaching the fundamentals are ineffective. Stimulating discussions of slavery in American is scant in public schools. There is no avenue by which a child learns of the "TransAtlantic Slave Trade" despite it extending over 500 years. There is no discussion of the "Segregrated Years in America after slavery (1864- 1964)" , as bad if not worse than South African Apartheid. Well documented information offered in books: The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, The Isis Papers, The Fall of America, Message to the Blackman, Race Matters, Miseducation of the Black Man, Invisible Man, are never on student reading lists nor is the information deemed important historical issues to be explored in the American public school classroom.

Black American "Just Us"

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:00:00 GMT

What is "justice" for Trayvon Martin and all of the Black American male youth? There has been all kinds of comments about what a "not guilty" verdict means in the Zimmerman/Martin case. Problems for Black American radiates far beyond the verdict in a "rigged" trial in Florida, USA. Consider - Black and Brown people account for less than 5% of ALL judicial judges in Florida despite Black and Brown people account for over 45% of Florida's population; Florida's Black and Brown account for over 67% of all prisoners in Florida and account for over 80% of all deaths under the STAND YOUR GROUND law. Black Americans who are not killed are disproportionately incarcerated: The Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) is a $1.7billion dollar business that is traded on the stock market and the "commodity" is imprisoned people. IT HAS OPERATED FOR 30 YEARS NOW. Just like slavery, the "owner" of the privatized prisons, make money on the exploitation of men and women confined and are "the property" of the prison system as stated in the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Corrections Corporation of America generates corporate profits through an increase in incarceration. CCA manages more than 65 correctional and detention facilities with a capacity of more than 90,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In 2011 CEO Damon Huninger was paid a salary of $3.7million and Chairman of Board was paid $1.7million Black defendants are 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences than White defendants. And how is the incarcerated treated? Four prisoners in CCA's Citrus County Jail in Florida alleged that urine and feces were repeatedly mixed into their food. CCA ADMITTED that urine had be mixed into juice and served to incarcerated people at the jail; two guards and a supervisor were fired following this.

What's Wrong With Telling the Truth?

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Truth is most often used to mean in accord with fact or reality. “Can it can be proven to correspond to experience?". Fact is sometimes used synonymously with truth. Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. Be careful when reality is defined in a way that links it to world views and dominate perspectives. In America, there is a penalty for telling the truth. Young Mr. Snowden is “on the run” because he told the truth about an incident that America would rather that the world and American citizens not know. The "powers that be" minimize discussions about the information that was “leaked” and sensationalize the “offense” committed by the act of revealing the information. Does this trouble you? Over the last few months, there has been courtroom coverage of a young woman’s trial where she killed her lover. No one questions that she killed him, but the gory details of the murder and the sexual interactions between the murderess and the victim was sensationalized. There were “spin-off” shows that discussed the daily courtroom “drama”. How is this entertainment? How is “wrong” made “fair seeming”? Why is debauchery sought after. Truth is so often buried or made less significant than anything else. Why is that? Has truth been molested and cowed down to reflect only a “created” reality? The American people are fed a constant diet of “un-reality”: A lizard sells insurance, a camel walks freely through an office place bragging about “hump day”; a stuffed animal sells fabric softener; pigs fly on airplanes, drive convertibles; dishwashing sponges walk around and give orders to diswahing detergents, babies sell stocks and bonds, dogs demand certain types of flea collars

Spiritual Power of Attraction

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Whatever you are giving your attention to causes you to emit a vibration. To achieve your goals, you must imagine having it, pretend that it is already your experience and flow your thoughts toward the enjoyment of the experience. If you are giving your attention to the lack, or absence, of your goals, you will block the energy that can make obtaining the goals possible. You get what you think about. If you spend much time thinking about what you do not want, your life experience will reflect those things. Nothing occurs in your life exeperience without your invitation of it through your thoughts. There is absolutely nothing that you desire that you cannot achieve; the attention that you give it is the invitation into your life. One who is a visionary thrives at all times. Your thoughts equal your point of attraction and the way that you fell indicates your level of allowing the occurence of your desire. Something that you have been wanting for a long time and you are imagining that it is happening then your emotion will be one of anticipation and eagerness. Reaching for the way you would like to feel is an easier way to hold your thoughts in alignment with that produces your desire. With enough attention to anything, the essence of what you have been giving thought to will eventually become a physical manifestation. If your thoughts are not taking you in the direction that you desire to go, then do something about that: Replenish your connection to forward movement by choosing better-feeling thoughts. Choose thoughts that feel good to you when you think them.

Are there Any Good Men Available?

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Friendship is that ingredient which adds the magic to the relationship. If two people can be lovers and friends at the same time, they have a complete relationship. Friendship allows the two to laugh together at their silliness, yell at each other for the mistakes and cry with each other for the losses. 10 steps for a healthy relationship: 1. Every morning eliminate blame, criticism, and invalidation from your side of the relationship; acknowledge error apologize to your partner. 2. Express appreciation for positive things your partner says or does--no matter how small! 3. Do one loving/caring behavior for your partner each day. 4. If you want something different, you need to do something different with respect to self. 5. Develop compassion for your partner; ask yourself, What can I do differently at this point to ensure that I don't do damage to my partner?" 6. Tell your partner what you need to feel valued. 7. Learn good commuication skills that make talking safe and effective for both of you. 8. Know that both romantic love and the power struggle should never be "pitted against one another". 9. Talk about your relationship and repair damage. 10. Getting rid of the partner does not get rid of the 'problem'! You can create the relationship you want. Understanding and acceptance go hand in hand. In a relationship. If you cannot accept the person for what they truly are, then the relationship will be a farce. A balanced relationship is made by two people who understand each other and accept each other with the flaws. It is empathy that helps a couple do small things that make the other person happy.

Failing Schools Crippling Students

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Louisiana public school system is failing. In central Louisiana where I reside;there is a policy now to rate schools and assign grades- there are more than a dozen "failing" F-schools where students have a poor record for passing standarized tests called "iLEAP" and "LEAP' - acronym for "Louisiana Educational Assessment Program" given to students in grades 4 and 8 testing math, english language arts, science and social studies.The Lousiana LEAP exam is based on Louisiana state standards which define what students should be learning each year. May 20, 2013, I attended a middle school ceremony where 78 eighth grade students were being recognized for "achievements" during the academic year. I learned that only seven (7) students had passed the LEAP test and that 71 students would have to attend summer school and retest to determine IF they would move on to the 9th grade. I listened and watched students coming forward to receive medallions and awards for most "improved" and GPA above 3.5 and I was baffled. How could a student maintain a grade point average in the B+ range and not be able to pass a state standarized test designed for that grade level? No one has been able to explain that to me. I was further confused about why 71 students who had not met the criteria for "graduating" from the 8th grade were being "recognized". Has America slumped so low that we reward students for just showing up? There seemed to be no requirement for students to walk across a stage and receive a piece of paper and hear parents and loved ones yell out approval. I asked openly, "how many times can a Non-graduating 8th grader participate in a recognition ceremony at the end of an academic year. No one knew the answer, but one person volunteered a response saying, "You have to leave public school when you turn 21".

What's In It For You?

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

When is the last time that you did something nice just because it was a nice thing to do? For those of you who have never lived in poverty—I mean in a household where you eat the same thing every day and getting new clothes mean hand-me-downs from older siblings—it must be difficult to understand the true meaning of volunteering. To truly volunteer, there can be no expectation of reward or recognition. There should be a sense of gratitude toward the persons that you serve. If you have never experienced, this then I invite you to slow down and engage in a volunteer activity that helps the elderly and the very poor right here in America. I went on a mission to Honduras at the beginning of this year. The services performed were most needed. I saw altruism at its best. I also saw an unfamiliar spirit among some of the volunteers: I overheard a person say, “ I hope God was looking, because I did my good deed for the year.” The comment saddened me. It was clear that that the purpose for this person was to get brownie points from God. Americans do not have to leave America to look for impoverished people to help. From the comment that I overheard, I surmise that the trip to another country is more dramatic and gets the volunteer more brownie points. The number of non-elderly American households with children living on less than $2 per day has more than doubled in the last 15 years. Extreme poverty — defined as areas where at least 40 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line, which in 2010 was $22,300 for a family of four. The number of neighborhoods of extreme poverty grew in roughly three-quarters of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

Are Your Friends Making You Sick?

Thu, 30 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Beware there are persons who pose as a friend with the intentions of sabotaging your course. With that in mind, I asked the question, “Are your friends making you sick?” If you have an idea and everything about it feels right, but after you share this idea with a friend you are filled with doubt, the person you shared with IS NOT your friend. Understand that well-meaning family members,BFF and spouses are capable of harboring jealousies that emerge as discouraging comments and criticism. I was taught that kindness was a form of politeness and that social behavior is defined by the kindness content. In America today rudeness,selfishness and contrariness predominate. Recently I observed a conversation on a bus, where a person was asking a kindly-looking lady directions. I got off the bus at the same stop that the “kindly” lady who had given directions and she and I walked essentially together to a hosted presentation at a community center. After the refreshments and welcome, I saw the same young man who had been on the bus. It was obvious that he had walked a long distance and was harried. When we interacted, he stated that a lady on the bus advised him to get off at a stop 10 blocks up and he had to really “hustle” to get to the assembly. I could not help myself from seeking out the lady, starting a conversation and eventually asking about the young man. She answered, “He looked like he can really eat, so I sent him somewhere else while we had refreshments”. I was shocked to learn that this lady could be so calmly evil. It has taken a large part of my adulthood to believe that there are those who will misdirect another for no other reason than they can. There are those who will feign friendship to exhaust your resources and maximize their gain. Don't keep friends that make you sick; literally.

Death By Fat

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

In the USA, obesity is set to overtake smoking as the most preventable cause of premature death. Research shows that witout accesss to regular physicial activities, children gain weight twice as fast compared to those who regularly exercise. Sixty-one percent of overweight 5- to10-year-olds already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, and 26% have two or more risk factors. Obesity is the biggest medical epidemic that America faces today and, shamefully, one that is self-inflicted. “Obesity” is defined as “weighing at least 20 percent more than your "ideal weight" or “having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more”. Obesity is a floorboard to diseases associated with the heart, kidneys,lungs and kidneys. Obesity’s complications include diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Skyrocketing obesity epidemic in Black American communities is associated with the poor food environment in predominantly Black American and low-income neighborhoods; there is an abundance of fast-food restaurants serving low-cost high-calorie meals of low nutritional value.

Global Healthcare

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Global health is a research field at the intersection of medical and social science disciplines. Global health transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. In global health, problems that transcend national borders or have a global political and economic impact, are often emphasized. It has been defined as 'the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people reducing disparities. One of the greatest accomplishments of the international and global health communities since then was the eradication of smallpox. The last naturally occurring case of the infection was recorded in 1977. The global agenda abruptly changed in 1979 to an alternative strategy deemed “Selective Primary Health Care”. Major reductions in the burden of malaria have been achieved by improved prevention and treatment. Tuberculosis, which has social and environmental determinants now show emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains. hundreds of millions of people are developing drug-resistant TB, most of them poor. An economic perspective emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit approaches for both individual and population health allocation. There are many perspectives and approaches to take when it comes to issues of global health. A political approach emphasizes economic considerations applied to global health (cost/benefit analysis). The journalist, Laurie Garrett suggests that conflicts in approach to solutions hinder funding and philanthropic efforts to properly control disease. There are dangers to having divergent perspectives as exemplified by Andrew Natsios of USAID, when he proclaimed that antiretrovirals should not be distributed to HIV-stricken Africa due to the occupants lacking a concept of time and clocks to properly facilitate the proper sequence of drug consumption.

American Healthcare Disparity

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a division called “Office of Minority Health”. The office was established in 2010 by the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama. This agency is supposed to address “the needs of Americans who may be more vulnerable because of their race, ethnicity or other factors. Persons with private insurance or continuity of care can not appreciate what a “poor” person with limited resources are subjected to. They are made to feel inferior and their care too often is inferior. There was a term used in the emergency room where in Pennsylvania where I trained as a medical student – “GOMER” which meant “Get out of my emergency room”. This term was used among nurses and doctors to describe someone that they did not want to treat or that they felt was a nuisance. As a medical student, I worked on the Navajo Nation, and as an anxious student physician, I was quick to adopt acronyms thinking that it made me seem more profession. Well, while working with the dispatcher and ambulance receiver, I heard the ambulance drive state: “ETA 5min, AFID”. I proceeded to inform the trauma team that an ambulance was on the way. “ETA” means expected time of arrival, but I did not know what “AFID” meant, but I repeated it anyway. Later in the shift one of the Navajo nurses took me aside and asked me why did I say “AFID” and I told her my source. She glared at me and said “AFID” means “Another F—king Indian Down”. I was shocked and ashamed. Neither the dispatcher nor the ambulance driver thought anything of it; they were Anglo, not Indian. Black people in America are studied as if they are a separate species. There is “wonderment” as to the causes of extreme health disparities documented repeatedly in study after study.

Vaccine Against Sexually transmitted Disease

Thu, 02 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Gardasil is a prophylactic human papiloma virus (HPV) vaccine that it is designed to prevent HPV infections. It is recommended that girls receive the vaccine prior to becoming sexually active. The vaccine which contain virus-like particles, believed to be unable to reproduce in the human body, was tested in thousands of females (ages 9 to 26, only. Since the Gardasil vaccine has been administered for only a few years, it is unknown if it provides lifelong immunity to recipients. Since Gardasil will not block infection with all of the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, the vaccine should not be considered a substitute for routine. Gardasil has been shown to be only partially effective (approximately 38%) in preventing cervical cancer caused by ten other high-risk HPV types not formulated in the vaccine. Gardasil is effective in males providing protection against genital warts, anal cancer and possibly penile cancer. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are particularly at risk for conditions associated with HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18; diseases and cancers that have a higher incidence among MSM include anal intraepithelial neoplasias, anal cancers, and genital warts. Type 16 is also associated with oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma, a form of throat cancer. A 2005 study in San Francisco found that 95% of HIV-infected gay men also had anal HPV infection, of which 50% had precancerous HPV-caused penile and anal cancers. .HPV vaccination of young men is much less cost-effective than for young women. Objections from doctors and parents groups on vaccine protecting against a sexually transmitted disease halted the placement of Gardisil on the mandatory childhood vaccines in the US.

Vaccination and Autism

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Thiomersal also thimerosal is an mercury compound established as a n antiseptic and antifungal agent. The pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly gave thiomersal the trade name merthiolate. It has been used as a preservative in vaccines, immunoglobulin preparation, skin test antigens, ophthalmic, and nasal products, and tattoo inks. Its use as a vaccine preservative is controversial, and it is being phased out from routine childhood vaccines in the United States, the Europe and Canada. Pharmaceutical company claim that the reason thimerosal was added to vaccine was to prevent introducing bacteria like Staphyloccus from being introduced with the vaccine. In 1928, 21 children died from “infected” diphtheria vaccine that lacked the preservative thiomersal. Thiomersal was chosen as an additive because it does not reduce the potency of the vaccines that it protects. Thiomersal is not needed and not used in more-expensive single-dose injectables. In the United States and other affluent countries, thiomersal is no longer used as a preservative in routine childhood vaccines. Several vaccines that are not routinely recommended for young children do contain thiomersal, including DT (diphtheria and tetanus), Td (tetanus and diphtheria), and TT (tetanus toxoid). Eliminating the preservative, thiomersal, in multi-dose vaccines, primarily used in developing countries, will lead to high cost and requirement of refrigeration which the developing countries can ill afford, the UN’s final decision is to continue adding thimerosal in “developing countries” vaccines. Thiomersal is very toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and in contact with skin with a cumulative effects. Parents see thiomersal as a cause for increasing rate of autism as more vaccines in the childhood were required.

Risk of Vaccinations

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Recently I was asked to comment on the use of vaccines in America and around the world. I am familiar with the activities of medical centers "developing" vaccines on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona when I was in medical school and I questioned the ethicalness of giving very young babies the meningitis vaccine. I was scolded for questioning how well the young Navajo women understood the potential risk of injecting infants with the vaccine. I was just learning about blood/brain barrier and it seemed that babies were the most vulnerable. Since medical school, I have become aware of numerous instances where pharmaceutical companies and federal agencies approach vaccination as a "business" activity rather than a "health promoting" activities. There seems to be a myriad of motives when vaccination programs are instituted. For this presentation, I wil limit my comments to the use of Depo Provera, a pregnancy prevention injection given every 3 months. Contraception is not bad.Trying to limit the number of children was originally looked upon as "empowering" women because being "barefoot and pregnant" was once an avenue of male control/domination. Women who decided when to have children and how many children she would have could plan an education for herself and improve the circumstances of her offspring. Therefore introducing "birth control" to "underprivileged" and impoverished women may have been started with good intentions. On the continents of Africa, in India and in Indonesia, in the early 1990's, women died from post-delivery bleeding and infectious complications at alarming rates. USAID was involved in trying to reduce the rates of morbidity and mortality of women giving birth.

Relationship

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:00:00 GMT

An interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring. This association may be based on love and solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the context of social, cultural and other influences, such as family, friendship, marriage, work, clubs, neighborhoods and places of worship. They may be regulated by law, custom, or mutual agreement, and are the basis of social groups and society. From a philosophical point of view a personal relationship is predicated on you knowing who he/she is, what he/she expects from you, and what you can expect from him/her. Interpersonal relationships usually involve some level of interdependence. People in a relationship tend to influence each other, share their thoughts and feelings, and engage in activities together. Because of this interdependence, most things that change or impact one member of the relationship will have some level of impact on the other member. Interpersonal relationships are dynamic systems change continuously during their existence. Like living organisms, relationships have a beginning, a lifespan, and an end. They tend to grow and improve gradually, as people get to know each other and become closer emotionally, or they gradually deteriorate as people drift apart, move on with their lives and form new relationships with others. Flourishing relationships also allow a dynamic balance between focus on the intimate relationships and focus on other social relationships. Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of secure attachment and are maintained with love and purposeful positive relationship behaviors. Behaviors include Seeking to understand the partner; Giving the benefit of the doubt; Accepting and respecting; Empathy and social skills.

Racism In America

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Racism in America: A Political and Moral issue? Racial prejudice is an insidious moral and social disease. Historically, a race of people is defined as a population with distinguishable biological features. When we see an individual with different outward appearance, we characterize him/her by what we are told by family, friends and the media. Racism is difficult to characterize; however in its immoral victimization, social concerns are raised which must be dealt with by political means to preserve the society. Too often, the government’s response to social issues is inadequate and problems compound and grow worse. This is the situation with racism in America. Thoughts of men cannot be legislated; secret hates and prejudices within an individual are not mitigated enacting laws, but behavior can be modified. When there is a law that dictates that no one will be denied employment due to race or ethnicity, the employer must abide by the law, however, all over America, applicants are carefully scrutinized and incorrigible employers will filter out prospective employees who are consider “less desirable” without explanation. Can America, a nation of diverse peoples ever be able to unite without prejudice and fear, the twin roots of racism?

Resurgence of Racism in America

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:00:00 GMT

February 26, 2013 marked one year since 17 year old Trayvon Martin was killed by self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman in Florida. Nationally, 45% of all children killed by hand guns in America is Black despite there being only 14.1% of the population being Black. Black boys 15 to 19 years old are 28 times more likely that white boys the same age to be killed in a gun homicide. In 2013, when a Black American family are residing in the White house for another four years, America is coming to a boil with respect to the purchase of assault rifles and ammunition. The turbulent climate is not new. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in 1963, stated: " (There) is a climate filled with heavy torrents of false accusation, jostling winds of hatred, and raging storms of violence. (There) is a climate where men cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and where they express dissent through violence and murder." Jim Crow laws in America through the 1910-1960's caused Black people much hardship in the form of loss of property that was "confisticated" by Southern states that decided that "people of color" could not own land and that "people of color" could not testify against a white person in court and that "people of color" could be put to death by hanging without benefit of a trial ("lynched") for offenses such as "trying to act white". Black Americans were "barred" from voting by the necessity that "literacy tests" had to be passed. The literacy test consisted of questions arbitrarily set such as: " How many bubbles are there in a bar of soap?" And when such questions were answered "wrongly", the "person of color forfeited his/her chance to vote. Now there are challenges to the Voter's Act put in place in 1965.

Who's Entitled?

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The term "entitlement" refers to a notion or belief that one is deserving of some particular reward or benefit. Narcissistic personality is where an individual is excessively preoccupied with issues of personal power, prestige and vanity. Narcissism was named after a mythological Greek youth named Narcissus who became infatuated with his own reflection in a lake and died there because he couldn't tear himself away from the admiration of his own image. Signs of “entitlement”: are easily recognized: reacting to criticism with anger; taking advantage of others to reach own goals; exaggerating own importance, achievements, and talents; requiring constant attention; becoming jealous easily; lacking empathy and disregarding the feelings of others; becoming easily hurt and rejected. The narcissist often displays dominance, arrogance, superiority, and power seeking behavior The cause of narcissism is unknown, but various researchers identify these possibilities: an oversensitive temperament at birth; excessive admiration that is never balanced with realistic feedback; excessive praise for good behaviors and overindulgence by parents. Narcissistic individuals use various strategies to protect the self at the expense of others. They tend to devalue, derogate and blame others, and they respond to threatening feedback with anger and hostility.

Love is an Action Word

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:00:00 GMT

February 14th is recognized as Valentine's Day in America and is often treated as the day to "show" love. The commercial world benefits the most with the selling of chocolates and flowers. It is good to be remembered and shown that you are valued. It is ashamed that the inspiration has been dominated by the materialist, capitalist regime. Love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection —"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". Love describes compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans and to one's self. Self-love or selfishness appears to have dominated America over the last decade. Some speak of the "me" generation, others are quick to ask, "what's in it for me". Love in the context of "long suffering" and sacrifice are stories in cheap novels. The thread that should bind families is frayed and taut. Boundaries are blurred and too often crossed. Sex and love are very often confused. The term "love" is used to get sex and some who have never experienced the securities of genuine love do not distinguish sex (making love) and the emotion that defines love. In abuse cases, the perpetrator of sex crimes against children exonerate themselves stating the the juvenile victim loves them. Incestual dynamics, of which I have been aware, the parent or family member violator justifies the initiation of the dynamics by saying "my daughter/ son looked so innocent and reminded me of my wife when I married her or myself at that age and I know how much I wanted someone to love me." The emotion of love is usually a part of humanness. Today, however, there is more talk about sociopaths who feel no empathy for others and have poor "attachment:" abilities. Profilers of serial killers often identify the killer as a sociopath. It makes me wonder.

HIV/AIDS BLACK AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is transmitted by anal, vaginal and oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid that contains the AIDS virus in it. Body fluids are identified as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid, , and breast milk. First case of AIDS in America was June 1981. From 1981 to 2001 -- 1.4 MILLION persons in United States were infected with HIV. A Feburary 13, 2013 report states that Baton Rouge, La has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in America. The number of people newly diagnosed with HIV in Louisiana increased by 12 percent from 2010 to 2011.Seventy-one percent of the newly diagnosed HIV patients were men. Seventy-four percent were black. As of December 31, 2010, a cumulative total of 30,876 HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in Louisiana, including 316 pediatric cases; cumulative number of deaths reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Health through December 31, 2010,was 12,755 including 103 deaths among pediatric cases. Currently,a total of 18,308 persons are living with the HIV/AIDS diagnosis in Louisiana. Treatment is expensive and too many are deemed ineligible for assistance because of incarceration, income of $23000/yr and having third-party insurance.

Understanding Respect

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:00:00 GMT

"Respect" is a term which has become obselete or "modified" in recent usage. On the street, at least by what I see on television, "Dissing" is a fighting offense. And "Dissing" is the way of saying "disrespecting" someone. I volunteer with an organization which visits a local middle school at least once a month. I am often left speechless by the behavior of some of the 12 to 14 year old girls. There seems to be a conspiracy among them to casade "disobedience" one from another causing delays in teaching and mentoring. I see similar behaviors in telephone receptionists. I called a teaching hospital recently in an attempt to speak to a colleague and the male phone answerer answered the phone in such a "snarly" manner, I had to confirm that I was calling the facility. When I tried to confirm this, I was asked, "Lady, don't you know where you are trying to call?" I am totally frustrated with having to answer a dozen questions asked by a mechanical inquisitor, only to be asked the same question minutes later by a human info collector. The phrase "I'm sorry" has become a mantra of drones who do not want to be interrupted while they say memorized lines. Customer service no longer has the tenet that "the customer is always right". I have been told by "customer service" person, "Will you let me finish!" In Problem Resolution 101, we are taught to LISTEN to the complaint, ACKNOWLEDGE the conplaint and ask HOW CAN THIS BE RESOLVED. I am sure that this is not what is being taught in business schools these days. Recently, I heard the discussion of Harvard Business School having to discharge 250 students for "cheating". There were some who were trying to figure out how to allow these young unscruplous people back into Harvard BECAUSE they have promise.

The New Bullet is Obesity Killing Black Americans

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 GMT

In the USA, obesity is set to overtake smoking as the main preventable cause of illness and premature death. By 2030 costs associated with treating preventable obesity-related diseases are estimated to increase to $66 billion a year. Black Americans are disproportionately affected by obesity associated diseases: diabetes and lower limb amputations, hypertension, strokes, high cholesterol, gout, degenerative joint disease, heart attacks and kidney failure. In 2011 US Census Bureau estimated that there were almost 44 million (43,884,130) Black Americans, 14.1%, of the total population in the United States. The United States has the highest obesity rates in the developed world and it has been increasing for 50 years. In 1962, 45% of adult Americans were overweight and 13% of the adults were obese. From 1980 to 2002, obesity rates doubled within ethnic minority groups and low-income citizens. Studying the “Obesity Epidemic” is profitable to many governmental agencies. Take notice that after 50 years, none of these activities have been successful in “slimming down” America and there is good evidence that “personal profit” is more the motivation for discussing obesity than getting America to a healthier state. Despite an understanding the weight-gain principle, changes in the food industry moved in the opposite direction of reason. There are now more mass-produced, processed foods with added salt, fats and sugars and an increase in marketing of these products, especially targeting young children. Official dietary guidelines are not based on rigorous science. They may be contributing to the problem and doing far more harm than good. New “thinking” nutritionists are declaring that food additives and preservatives are the culprit in the obesity epidemic. In 2012, the US Army discharged service men and women for being obese and not being able to pass fitness tests.

Clinical Mission to Honduras, Central America

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Americans Caring, Teaching and Sharing is a non-profit group that promotes sustainable programs for health, education and development in collaboration with rural Honduran communities.The mission of ACTS is to promote sustainable programs for health, education and development in collaboration with rural Honduran communities. ACTS was established in 1986 in response to concerns for peace and justice in Central America. Our mission is community development in partnership with farming villages in the remote mountains of Honduras. Honduras is a republic in Central America. The country is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua. The climate in Honduras varies from tropical in the lowlands to temperate in the mountains. Honduras, is about 40 square miles and the population exceeds 8 million. Honduras is most notable for production of minerals, coffee, tropical fruit, sugar cane and clothing exported into the international market. Natural resources include timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish and shrimp. Honduran cuisine makes extensive use of coconut, in both sweet and savory foods, and even in soups.The Honduran territory consists mainly of mountains, but there are narrow plains along the coasts, a large undeveloped lowland jungle, La Mosquitia region in the northeast, and the heavily populated lowland Sula valley in the northwest. Porfirio Lobo Sosa was sworn into office as President of Honduras in 2010.Honduras has bilingual trilingual (Spanish, English, German/Turkish) schools. and numerous universities; however, Honduras is the sixth poorest country in Latin America.

Theories of Frances Cress Welsing

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Frances Cress Welsing is a Black American psychiatrist practicing in Washington, D.C.. who is noted for her book,: Cress Theory of Color Confrontation, which explores the practice of white supremacy and her treatise: The Isis Papers, She proposes that, because it is so easy for pure whiteness to be genetically lost during interracial breeding, light-skinned peoples developed an aggressive colonial urge and their societies dominated others militarily in order to preserve this light-skinned purity. See this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/LP_ZKU-37UQ

Black American Male: Endangered Species

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:00:00 GMT

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is facing a high risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. Studies have shown that African-American males have the shortest lifespan of any group of people in the United States. Consider that racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care persist even when income, health insurance and access to care are accounted for. Low performance on a range of health indicators—such as infant mortality, life expectancy, prevalence of chronic disease, and insurance coverage—reveal differences between racial and ethnic minority populations and their white counterparts. Infants born to black women are 1.5 to 3 times more likely to die than those born to women of other races/ethnicities Cancer is the second leading cause of death for most racial and ethnic minorities. Black American men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than Whites Americans . Health care disparities in the United States are creating endangered “species” when observing the healthcare consequences for Black and Brown Americans. Health care disparity is defined as population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, quality of health care and access to health care services that exist across racial and ethnic groups. African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives are twice as likely to have diabetes as white individuals; diabetes rates among Hispanics are 1.5 times higher than those for whites, are least likely to have access to the newest technological and pharmaceutical advancements for the treatment of diabetes. I recently published a book "Disparity of Healthcare for Black Senior Citizens" available on Amazon in which I suggested an immediate solution for better Healthcare for Black Senior Citizens

Understanding Longevity

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Newspapers wrote of the oldest person in America, a white woman in Iowa, who turned 115 on December 6, 2012. "Longevity" is a term that refers to the average number of years that a single person lives whereas, life expectancy" refers to the number of years that the average population lives. Various factors contribute to an individual's longevity. Significant factors in life expectancy include gender, genetics, , access to health care, diet and nutrition, and exercise. Social dynamics that affect longevity include hygiene, lifestyle and crime rates. Industrialized countries’ citizens have greater longevity than agricultural/ less industrialized countries: Canada: 81.29 years, 2010 estimate and Mozambique 41.37 years, 2010 estimate. 20-30% of an individual’s lifespan is related to genetics, the rest is due to individual behaviors and environmental factors. Studies have shown that African-American males have the shortest lifespan of any group of people in the US. People who live active lives past 100 years of age have healthy social and family lives, do not smoke, eat a plant-based diet ( consuming legumes and nuts), engage in regular physical activity, limit alcohol consumption and sleep 7 to 8 hours per night. Recent studies find that even modest amounts of leisure time physical exercise can extend life expectancy by as much as 4.5 years.

Makings of a Lifestyle

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:00:00 GMT

A lifestyle typically reflects an individual's attitudes, values and world view. Lifestyle is a means of forging a sense of self and personal identity. Not all aspects of a lifestyle are voluntary. Surrounding social and technical systems can constrain the lifestyle choices available to the individual and the symbols she//he is able to project to others and the self. The lines between personal identity and the everyday doings that signal a particular lifestyle become blurred in modern society. Lifestyle may include views on politics, religion, health, intimacy, and more. All of these aspects play a role in shaping someone's lifestyle. An individual’s health depends a lot on their lifestyle. Maintaining physical and mental health are crucial to an individual’s lifespan. The more time spent on hygiene, physical fitness, and diet regulation, the healthier lifestyle they have. Drastic changes in lifestyle can result in depression; such changes include: job loss, widowed, divorced, poor performance in college and dating breakups. Technology has allowed the comingling of diverse lifestyles and has greatly changed the lives of people in society. Technological advancements introduced factors such as mobile phones, television and telecommunication systems that change our values and views on the world and with the conveniences come a more sedentary lifestyle which can lead to unhealthy consequences.

HIV/AIDS BLACK AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:00:00 GMT

HIV is transmitted by anal, vaginal and oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid that contains the AIDS virus in it. Body fluids are identified as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid, , and breast mild. First case os AIDS in America was June 1981. From 1981 to 2001 -- 1.4 MILLION persons in United States were infected with HIV. It is an increasingly acknowledged reality today that through out the world those most deeply affected by the HIV epidemic are also the most severely disadvantaged. Fundamental structural inequalities and social prejudices explain why people of color are disproportionately impacted by AIDS and the accompanying stigma and discrimination. The nearly two decades old global history of the HIV epidemic reinforces yet again the well documented interaction of disease, stigma and `spoiled’ social identities based on race, ethnicity, sexuality and so on. The stigmatization of the African American identity in relation to diseases in the early twentieth century shows a remarkable continuity today in the context of HIV/AIDS at the turn of the century. An illustration of this is the stigmatization and harassment of the Haitian people in the early 1980s, who were accused of having brought AIDS into the USA. Although direct evidence of racial discrimination due to HIV/AIDS is not so readily available, there is research findings reporting ealth disparities among racial minorities that are related to racism and other forms of discrimination in society Today HIV/AIDS is largely recognized as a human rights issue (UNAIDS, 2002.

Examining Racial Bias in America

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Racism can be defined as views, practices and actions reflecting the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups called races and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group less desirable, more desirable, inferior or superior. The exact definition of racism is controversial both because there is little scholarly agreement about the meaning of the concept "race", and because there is also little agreement about what does and doesn't constitute discrimination. Some definitions would have it that any assumption that a person's behavior would be influenced by their racial categorization is racist, regardless of whether the action is intentionally harmful or pejorative. Other definitions only include consciously malignant forms of discrimination. Racism include discriminatory behaviors and beliefs based on cultural, national, ethnic, caste, or religious stereotypes. The practice of treating certain groups preferentially, or denying rights or benefits to certain groups, based on racial characteristics is termed “institutional racism”. Stokely Carmichael of the “Black Panthers Movement” is credited for coining the phrase institutional racism in the late 1960s. He defined the term as “the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their color, culture or ethnic origin”. Watch this video: .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qMOw37jcEA&feature=relmfu

Finding Peace in a Stressful World

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Sometimes the only way to escape stress is to venture within oneself. Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind to promote relaxation; an inward escape. It consists of self-regulation practices that focus to bring mental processes under greater voluntary control. Meditation has been shown to improve psychological balance, help cope with illnesses and enhance overall health and well-being. Meditation has been practiced since antiquity. Religions of the world have a tradition of using prayer beads as tools in devotional meditation. Christian rosaries consist of pearls or beads linked together by a thread. The beads provide a counting method for the person who recites a prayer or mantra to focus. In the Sikh religion, singing is used to become focused. Chinese Qigong uses visualization to concentrate flows of energy (Qi) in the body. Over the past 20 years, mindfulness-based programs have become important to the medical community as a means of helping people. Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance, change emotions and behavior. Achieving focused attention is aided by electronic equipment. Biofeedback is effective for the treatment of headaches, anxiety and chronic pain. Everyone should know their medical IQ and once your get an idea of it being low, do something positive about it. I would like to help you raise your medical IQ. You can get some of the basics listening to my RadioTalkBlog at 4pm on Thursday . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRnNelU1zyU&feature=player_detailpage

Good Nutrition

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Studies have shown that regularly skipping breakfast increases your risk of obesity by 450 percent. In an ideal world, an average American would eat between 400 and 600 calories every morning. But it's not just the number of calories that matters. You want to usher in only "the right kind" of calories, meaning those that come from protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates.. All food has its origin in plants; meat comes from animals raised by feeding them plants. Cereal grain is a staple food that provides more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop. Rice, Corn/Maize and Wheat account for 87% of all grain production worldwide. Non- animal or plant sources of nutrition include various edible fungi, especially mushrooms and blue-green algae. Root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onion and leaf vegetables (spinach and lettuce), stem vegetables (bamboo shoots and asparagus) have been neglected in recent years. Root vegetables are generally storage organs, enlarged to store energy in the form of carbohydrates. They are the source of much needed minerals and trace nutrients for good human health.

Living a Better Life

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:00:00 GMT

When it comes to your health, awareness is everything. The more information you have, the more you're able to prevent disease and foster total health. Physical exercise enhances and maintains physical fitness. It strengthens muscles and the cardiovascular system, hones athletic skills, and facilitates weight loss and decreases mental fatigue. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immunine system, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It also improves mental health, helps prevent depression, helps to promote positive self-esteem, and can even augment an individual's sex appeal or body image. Endurance exercise before meals lowers blood glucose. According to the World Health Organization, lack of physical activity contributes to approximately 17% of heart disease and diabetes, 12% of falls in the elderly, and 10% of breast cancer and colon cancer. Childhood obesity is a growing global concern and regular aerobic physical exercise will decrease the occurrence of childhood and adult obesity. Health care providers often call exercise the "miracle" or "wonder" drug—alluding to the wide variety of proven benefits that it provides. The beneficial effect of exercise on the cardiovascular system is well documented. There is a direct relation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular mortality. And physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. A 2010 review of published scientific research suggested that exercise generally improves sleep for most people, and helps allieviate sleep disorders such as insomnia. Everyone should know his/her medical IQ (itelligence quota). Ways to improve it, if it is low, are read more, seek information on the computer and listen to "Getting it Right With Dr. Boles" at 4pm on Thursdays.

Mental Illness

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Mental illness is a psychological pattern of behavior that is not considered part of normal development within a person's culture. Mental disorders are generally defined by a combination of how a person feels, acts or thinks.. The recognition and understanding of mental health conditions have changed over time and across cultures, however, there are still variations in definition, assessment and classification. Stigma and discrimination can add to the suffering and disability associated with mental disorders. Commonly recognized categories include specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mood disorder involving unusually intense and sustained sadness, melancholia, or despair is known as major depression (also known as clinical depression). Milder but still prolonged depression can be diagnosed as dysthymia and Bipolar disorder. Psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, and delusional disorder and Schizoaffective. Personality disorders include paranoid antisocial, borderline and histrionic. Personality disorders emerge by adolescence or early adulthood. Social influences have been found to be important as a cause of mental illness - abuse, neglect, bullying and social stress, and other negative or overwhelming life experiences including employment problems, and socioeconomic inequality. Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitter systems has been implicated in several mental disorders.

Adolescent Obesity Crisis

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:00:00 GMT

The causes of obesity are multiple, interactional, and complex with many causal contributors: cheap calorie-dense food, the glitzy marketing of super-sized portions, few sidewalks in urban environment making residents car dependent, students being bused to school rather than walking; dependence on computers for recreation and television entertainment are contributing barriers to a child’s healthy lifestyle, all fueling the obesity crisis. Bureaucrats have followed the tenet that poor food choice interventions must involve an increase in an individual’s personal valuation of health and that by understanding adolescents’ perceptions towards food and nutrition along with factors that influence their food behavior, nutrition intervention models can be designed and adolescents can be convinced to follow them. Federally sponsored nutrition literacy training and exercise incentive programs intended to motivate a change in adolescent eating behavior are proving ineffective. Adolescent obesity is approaching 25% in the United States. Being overweight during childhood and adolescence increases the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and Type 2 Diabetes as a youth. The hospital costs alone associated with childhood obesity were estimated at $127 million during 1997–1999 up from $35 million during 1979–1981. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that an increased fat mass accelerates puberty in girls; girls with higher BMI reach puberty earlier than normal-weight counterparts.

Living a Better Life

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:00:00 GMT

When it comes to your health, awareness is everything. The more information you have, the more you're able to prevent disease and foster total health. What do you know about diabetes: Gestational, Juvenile, Type I, Type II and LADA? Did you even know that there were that many? Well there is still another Diabetes that few talk about called Diabetes insipidus; most people get this disorder because of a head injury or a stroke. Everyone should know his/her medical IQ and if you find that it is low, do something positive about it. I would like to help you raise your medical IQ. You can get some of the basics listening to my RadioTalkBlog at 4pm on Thursdays and use resources like the YouTube videos connected through the URL's below. http://youtu.be/sF5XtmWHrdk http://youtu.be/xnyfElxkBlI http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0">

HIV/AIDS BLACK AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Baton Rouge, Louisiana has more HIV positive people than anywhere else in the United States. AIDS,Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The illness makes it more likely to get infections and tumor. HIV is transmitted by anal, vaginal and oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid that contains the AIDS virus in it. Body fluids are identified as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid, , and breast mild. In 2009, the World Health Organizaton (WHO) estimated that there are33.4 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.7 million new HIV infections per year and 2.0 million annual deaths due to AIDS. First case os AIDS in America was June 1981. From 1981 to 2001 -- 1.4 MILLION persons in United States were infected with HIV. There is NO PREVENTIVE medication available for HIV infection. There is a new promising risk-lowering medication being released this year, 2012. See this information on these YouTube videos http://youtu.be/EYXHov3dCNI http://youtu.be/Us6VqfPsXjE

Senior Citizens Healthcare

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Age is a major factor in health disparities because many older Americans exist on fixed incomes which often make paying for health care expenses difficult. Additionally, they may face impaired mobility or lack of transportation which make accessing health care services challenging for them physically. Too often, they may not have the opportunity to access health information via the internet, as less than 15% of Americans over the age of 65 have access to the internet, putting older individuals at a distinct disadvantage in accessing valuable information about their health and how to protect it. According to the American Medical Association, poor health literacy is "a stronger predictor of a person's health than age, income, employment status, education level and race. Groups with the highest prevalence of chronic disease and the greatest need for health care had the least ability to read and comprehend information needed to function as patients". Health literacy as “the ability to read, understand and use health information to make appropriate health care decisions and follow instructions for treatment.”Many Americans face serious challenges interpreting basic information required to choose a health plan and understand their health benefits. Patients with low health literacy have great difficulty managing chronic conditions

Public Education in America

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Public schools are administered at the federal level by the Department of Education. America spends $9,800 per public primary and secondary education student. The wealthy are being trained at private schools at more than triple the expenditures ($35,000). Beneath the numbers is the resegregation of children on the basis of class, race and immigration status. Johnson once said you cannot “take a person who for years has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, ‘You are free to compete with all the others.’ The investment in public school teachers is paltry for the wealthiest country in the world according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the United States ranks in some measures behind England, Italy, Japan, Scotland and way behind Germany in starting teacher pay. An alternative teaching, Montessori Education, is an educational approach developed by an Italian physician and educator, Maria Montessori which is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological development. Essential elements include: Mixed age classrooms with children aged 2½ or 3 to 6 years old for elementary; Student choice of activity; Uninterrupted blocks of work time; Students learn concepts from working with materials rather than by direct instructionMontessori's education method called for free activity within a "prepared environment", meaning an educational environment tailored to basic human characteristics and to the specific characteristics of children at different ages. Click: http://www.youtube.com/embed/GcgN0lEh5IA" .

Child Abuse

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child. Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse. Neglect is a passive form of abuse; may include the failure to provide sufficient supervision, nourishment, or medical care. Children experiencing neglect may have difficulty in understanding directions, poor understanding of social relationships, or the inability to complete academic tasks without assistance. Neglected children or adults can have physical injuries like fractures or severe burns that go untreated or infections of lice. Neglect has an effect on a person mentality, ranging from poor peer relationships to violent behavior. Parental detachment can harm the child's development of bonding. Studies of neglected children show heighten levels of depression and higher incidents of suicide attempts. Psychological abuse refer is characterized by a person subjecting another to behavior that may causes anxiety and chronic depression. Emotional abuse is characterized by a climate or pattern of behavior(s) occurring over time including: insults, putdowns, arbitrary and unpredictable behaviors causing fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm. See this video as an example of child abuse. .http://youtu.be/sZDEbVRUta4

Suicide

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:00:00 GMT

. Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death; often committed out of despair; attributable to a mental disorder, stress factors and/or Interpersonal relationships. Over one million people die by suicide every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that it is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and the National Safety Council rates it sixth in the United States It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35. Other factors correlated with suicide risk, include drug addiction, availability of a means to commit the act, family history of suicide, or previous head injury. Socio-economic factors such as unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and discrimination may trigger suicidal thoughts. A history of childhood physical or sexual abuse or time spent in foster care is also a risk factor. Hopelessness ---the feeling that there is no prospect of improvement in one's situation---is a strong indicator of suicide. Feelings of loneliness; a lack of social support, a deficit in feelings of belongingness and living alone were crucial predictors of a suicide attempt. National suicide rates differ significantly between countries and amongst ethnic groups within countries.In the U.S., non-Hispanic Caucasians are nearly 2.5 times more likely to kill themselves than African Americans or Hispanics. Suicidal behavior can be characterized as a spectrum that ranges from fleeting suicidal thoughts to completed suicide. http://www.youtube.com/embed/rlXRavVgxJY

Black America's Plight

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

What is an African American? In the United States, the group has been condensed to a color: black. But now being Black no longer describes the group who are descendents of African slaves (chattle slaves) brought to America for 250 years and owned as property. The American dream for slave descendents were dimmed through KLU KLUX KLAN and Jim Crow antics and political declarations. There was much resistance to giving up on "free" labor. American Black / African-American had a stand-alone meaning when it referred to African descendents of men and women shipped to America in chains during the trans-Atlantic slave trade (1682-1862). Now however, one million Africans have come to these shores by choice since 1965, and more than this number of recent immigrants have come from the Caribbean to become part of the United States of America population. Immigrants don’t look for (or see) the walls imposed by “jim crowism”, but rather they see windows and open portals. America is different through their eyes. Black American slave descendent have unseen psychologic burdens. Click and see this video to better understand http://www.youtube.com/embed/S-y7PvBGYRE

AUTISM

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

He was diagnosed as autistic when he was three. His father rejected the diagnosis and the mother and son who received it. Pat suffered two losses that day: the support of a man she loved dearly and the hope of watching her second child become a prosperous adult. Pat talked to me about her son through a strained smile; she paused often and looked hard at me gauging my listening reactions. A courageous mother loved her son despite his pulling away from hugs and looking away from her face – often down at the floor – when she talked to him, she studied all that was written about autism. She noted that he sat quietly when ole Negro Spirituals / Gospels were played. He tapped his drinking straws in rhythm with the beat of songs by the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Mississippi Blind Boys. He had to have his meals on time, 8am, 12noon and 6pm ,and he wouldn’t eat unless the table was blessed. And if I wasn’s eating with him, he would offer me the first bite from his fork .” Pat stopped talking for a few minutes. The silence hung heavy in the room. She cleared her throat and swallowed before she spoke again. “He only said one word. When I asked him if he was ready to eat, or go out with me inthe car or go to bed, he answered,”Ba”. I knew that it meant “yes”. And if I scolded him for getting too excited when he watched television, he would bow his head and touch the top of it and say, “Ba”– he wanted me to kiss the top of his head to let him know that I was not mad at him.” I nodded my head, and we both sat quietly for a while. A mother and a son communicated through a single word.

Health Consequences of American Racism

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

It is August 2012 and in America, race still matters. Tears of joy were shed by those who were part of the combative struggles of the 60’s and early 70’s when a true African-American took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. My heart and soul celebrated the election of Barack Obama and I smile perpetually when I think of Michelle and her daughters. It is wonderful to identify with educated and successful leaders who look a lot like me. This visual identification is predicated on a tacit understanding of what Michelle and Barack overcame to become who they are now. Skin color matters in America and a person of color must remain sober in these times despite the heady jubilation spurred by the election of the new president I was vividly reminded of this recently when I answered the phone at a friend’s office and the speaker asked for a colleague who was not there; the caller did not want to leave a message. When my colleague returned, I told her of the call and her first question to me was, “Was the caller black or white?” I answered the question , then thought about how our thinking is programmed to a racial classification even when the person is not seen - we are expected to identify race by a voice tone or quality. How is that possible? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT3q_aGqob0

Raising Children - How to Discipline?

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

I know a little girl, at least according to her birth certificate, she is still a little girl born May 6, 2004, but nothing about her behavior would validate that. Liza is seven years old in the second grade and can give her mother a migraine headache without breaking a sweat. Let me just tell you a few of her most recent antics. Mom made arrangements to have Liza’s hair braided, to maintain a well-groomed appearance at the start of school. Braiding is an African American staple for grooming little girl’s hair and a good “cornrowing” session can take hours. The process was set up to begin at 11:30 and every 30 minutes, Mom texted the hairdresser to learn of the progress. After three hours of getting a return text of “not yet”, she walked up to the home where her daughter was to be groomed, but no one answered the door. As Mom turned to leave, her daughter, Liza, and the young stylist ran to meet her from down the street. After a brief greeting, Mom and Liza walked home, during which time, Liza showed Mom her new bracelet that she had gotten at the mall while accompanying the stylist and the stylist Mom to the mall. Further questioning revealed that not only had the seven year old visited the mall (without permission) for several hours, she had been “dropped off” at a house where a group of teens (her stylist peers) were “hanging out” before returning to yet another place to get her hair braided. Liza spoke proudly and boldly of her adventures despite her mom’s increasing anger and my utter disbelief. I was visiting at Mom’s house during all of this and I witnessed Mom’s due dilligence in calling the stylist often to check on the hair braiding progress. What is a Mother to do to ensure the safety of a precocious child?

HIV/AIDS BLACK AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The illness makes it more likely to get infections and tumor. This susceptibility gets worse as the disease progresses. HIV is transmitted by anal, vaginal and oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid that contains the AIDS virus in it. Body fluids are identified as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid, , and breast mild. In 2009, the World Health Organizaton (WHO) estimated that there are 33.4 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.7 million new HIV infections per year and 2.0 million annual deaths due to AIDS. First case os AIDS in America was June 1981. From 1981 to 2001 -- 1.4 MILLION persons in United States were infected with HIV. Unprotected sex with ANYONE is risking getting a sexually transmitted disease. Only barrier protection such as condoms provide protection from HIV infection and there is NO PREVENTIVE medication available for HIV infection. There is a new promising risk-lowering medication being released this year, 2012. Know your partner well enough to discuss sex history and get tested for HIV.

Domestic Abuse- What's The Story?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Recent survey showed 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are assaulted by a partner annually in the United States;33% of all female and 4% of male murder victims die at the hands of an intimate partner. Of 3.5 million violent crimes committed (in 2011), 49% were crimes against spouses (84% were females); 86% of dating partner abuse were female;13% of adult women (18-34) are victims of completed rape by husbands or ex-husbands; fathers or stepfathers; boyfriends or ex-boyfriends; relatives; friends and neighbors. Native Americans are victims of rape or sexual assault at more than double the rate of other racial groups.Black females experience intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and 22 times the rate of women of other races. The number one killer of African-American women, ages 15 to 34, is homicide at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.Black males experience intimate partner violence at a rate 62% higher than that of white males. Twenty percent of female students (ages of 12 -18 ) report physical abuse by a dating partner; forty percent of adolescent mothers report being physically assaulted by their partner;11% of lesbians and 15% gay men reported violence at the hands of their partners. Battered women have anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; 29% of all women who attempt suicide have been battered. Children exposed to domestic violence show PTSD; headaches and behavioral disorders. . .

Dealing With the Bully

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:00:00 GMT

The word "bully" is derived from a 14th century Dutch word "boel" that meant "sweetheart or lover", By the 17th century, there was a transition between "lover" and the "protector of a lover/ prostitute"; the connotation of "bully" further mutated into meaning "harasser of the weak". Today, bullying is defined as an act of repeated aggressive behavior intended to hurt another person involving force or coercion. Bullying consists of three basic types of abuses: emotional, verbal and physical . Verbal harassment takes the form of embarrassing, belittling and demeaning. Physical assault involves fighting with and/or sabbotaging a situation. Coercion is a form of extortion with threat of harm.. Bullying can be an one-on-one interaction or more complex behaviors such as peer abuse or hazing. Bullying can occur at school, church, among family members, within the workplace and neighborhoods. As of January 2012, 48 U.S had anti bullying laws. The link between bullying and school violence has attracted increasing attention since 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Cyber bullying has proven to also be fatal. Cyberspace is to vast to be policed.had anti-bullying laws states had anti-bullying laws

What is Healthy Living?

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Healthy living starts with our mindset. The environment in which we work, eat, sleep and relax affect our health. When the work environment is stressful, the body excretes hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in response to being angry, shamed and disrespected. These hormones adversely affect our heart (angina), stomach (ulcers) and nervous system (depression). To maintain good health, we need to learn how to cope with stressful situations. Biofeedback training and Eastern philosophies teach how to lower blood pressure and heart rate on demand. Their principles rely on body function awareness. Meditation, exercise, self-rewarding systems, supportive friends and family are the infrastructure for a balanced and healthy life. Meditation is simply quiet time with yourself; in a "hot bath", fishing on a lake , on a Yoga mat in a quiet place, on your knees in prayer or jogging along a quite road. Anytime "worries" are dropped and a feeling of calm is dominant without alcohol, you are in meditation. Exercise should not require designer clothes, expensive shoes and a gym membership. Exercise can consist of walking through your neighborhood, accompanying children/ grandchildren to the park and pushing a little-one on a swing. It can be tossing a child a ball or frizbee, mowing the grass, and sweeping the sidewalk. Self-reward systems are important for a balanced lifestyle. This does not mean a hunk of chocolate cake or a cold beer at the end of the day. But, rather a Matinee movie when the hall closet is cleaned or a professional massage when all the sheets in the house are washed and folded. Positive anticipation stimulates endorphins secretion which are feel good hormones that ensure longer life.