All over the news!
Don't get a Swine Flu vaccination. It can kill you and will do little or nothing to help you. In fact there is researched opinion that all flu shots do more bad than good.
The powers that be won't confirm it but there is every indication that the vaccination shots that children get at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months, are largely responsible for an epidemic of autism. Look at the figures! Just 30 years ago the incidence of autism was one in thousands. Today it's one in one hundred and sixty children. Autism is brought on by the mercury in the innoculation. There are now cases of families winning big legal settlements where their children developed autism immediately after a vaccination.
If you are dealing with the heartbreak of autism in your family I would suggest that you read the definitive book on the subject by Donna Williams, entitled Nobody Nowhere. Donna is herself a high-functioning autistic.
Infant Sudden Death Syndrome has also been linked to innoculation and booster shots.
Clinical studies actually reveal that all flu shots are, in fact, worse for you than getting no shots at all. But that doesn't stop the system from pushing them on us. They push us to take shots when we travel overseas.They pressure us to allow them to give shots to our children in school, actually threatening to pull our kids from school should there be an influenza epidemic. In Barbados, in the West Indies, nurses go door-to-door making sure that you and your family didn't miss your shots at school or elsewhere.
Go online and do some research of your own.
My advice is to forget the shots and be well!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday July 30
Just reading about how many sick children there are in the modern western world. Little wonder with all of the chemical garbage we throw at them.
Take flourides for example. A bi-product of the production of aluminum it is absolutely poisonous. It's not good for your teeth or the teeth of your children. Yet toothpastes worldwide have a flouride component and we send our kids to the dentist for a flouride treatment. The whole issue behind flouride involves fraudulent science. Check it out on the Internet by browsing "The Flouride Deception."
Airborn flourides have caused more worldwide damage to domestic animals than any other air pollutant. Flourides cause attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity. Look at the magnitude of ADD and hyperactive children around today. It's an epidemic.
Children under 9 years of age, in ever increasing numbers, are also becoming sick with a variety of cancers and respiratory illnesses that were unheard of in bygone days. It's as simple as the chemicals we surround and bombard them with.
Just take inventory of the products in your home. The oven cleaners, countertop cleaners, air fresheners, wipes, sink un-cloggers, bleaches and other caustic products. We're placing our children on the front lines of an all out chemical attack. There are growing numbers of safe, organic products on the market - some by the very same companies that brought you the chemical soup in the first place. Find a healthy alternative. Our children deserve the best we can give them.
Speaking of children.
Bill, a Newfoundlander, was out fishing off of the Grand Banks, when his wife, back home in St. John's, gave birth to twins. As is the tradition in Newfoundland, when a man is not present for the birth of his children, his brother is asked to stand in and name them. Bill had a boy and a girl and his brother Reg named them.
When Bill returned home, he rushed to his wife's side, only to find her and the new arrivals healthy and happy. "So my brother Reg named the kids? he said to his wife. "Yes" she replied. "Oh no!" exclaimed Bill "everyone knows my brother's an idiot! What did he name the girl?"
"He named her 'Denise'" replied his wife. "Denise! Denise. Not bad! Not bad!
What did he name the boy then?"
Keeping her composure his wife replied "Da Nephew!"
Be well!
Take flourides for example. A bi-product of the production of aluminum it is absolutely poisonous. It's not good for your teeth or the teeth of your children. Yet toothpastes worldwide have a flouride component and we send our kids to the dentist for a flouride treatment. The whole issue behind flouride involves fraudulent science. Check it out on the Internet by browsing "The Flouride Deception."
Airborn flourides have caused more worldwide damage to domestic animals than any other air pollutant. Flourides cause attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity. Look at the magnitude of ADD and hyperactive children around today. It's an epidemic.
Children under 9 years of age, in ever increasing numbers, are also becoming sick with a variety of cancers and respiratory illnesses that were unheard of in bygone days. It's as simple as the chemicals we surround and bombard them with.
Just take inventory of the products in your home. The oven cleaners, countertop cleaners, air fresheners, wipes, sink un-cloggers, bleaches and other caustic products. We're placing our children on the front lines of an all out chemical attack. There are growing numbers of safe, organic products on the market - some by the very same companies that brought you the chemical soup in the first place. Find a healthy alternative. Our children deserve the best we can give them.
Speaking of children.
Bill, a Newfoundlander, was out fishing off of the Grand Banks, when his wife, back home in St. John's, gave birth to twins. As is the tradition in Newfoundland, when a man is not present for the birth of his children, his brother is asked to stand in and name them. Bill had a boy and a girl and his brother Reg named them.
When Bill returned home, he rushed to his wife's side, only to find her and the new arrivals healthy and happy. "So my brother Reg named the kids? he said to his wife. "Yes" she replied. "Oh no!" exclaimed Bill "everyone knows my brother's an idiot! What did he name the girl?"
"He named her 'Denise'" replied his wife. "Denise! Denise. Not bad! Not bad!
What did he name the boy then?"
Keeping her composure his wife replied "Da Nephew!"
Be well!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday July 27
Franken-corn approved!
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved a genetically modified corn named SmartStax. I call it Franken-corn!
SmartStax has eight different insect- and weed-fighting genetically engineered traits that will allow the corn to tolerate certain weed and insect-killing products.
The research agreement on this corn is between Monsanto and Dow Agro-Sciences. The irony is that the insecticides that the SmartStax corn is protected from - RoundUp, glufosinate, and insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis - are produced and sold by Monsanto and Dow Agro-Sciences. The CFIA has approved this Franken-corn with its 8-stack of genetically engineered traits without an environmental assessment.
The thing that rots my socks is that this Franken-corn will hit the shelves of supermarkets and grocery stores across the country (and the world?) with no tag or flag or notice to the public that it's a genetically engineered product. Lucy Charratt, co-ordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, said "You'd think that a combination of 8 GE traits would trigger an environmental assessment, but the CFIA has provided no public record of their evaluation."
What a surprise! The poet John Milton wrote the following words around 1650.
"The hungry sheep look up and are not fed.
But swollen by the winds and the rank mist they draw,
rot inward, and foul contagion spread."
Most of us will just take what they give us. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The only safe course of action is to buy organic produce from a reputable dealer.
If you think I'm overreacting to this Franken-corn issue, read on!
In May The American Academy of Environmental Medicine said that genetically modified foods pose a serious health risk and called for an immediate moratorium on their production and consumption. You can read the AAEM report at: www.aaemonline.org
Be well!
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved a genetically modified corn named SmartStax. I call it Franken-corn!
SmartStax has eight different insect- and weed-fighting genetically engineered traits that will allow the corn to tolerate certain weed and insect-killing products.
The research agreement on this corn is between Monsanto and Dow Agro-Sciences. The irony is that the insecticides that the SmartStax corn is protected from - RoundUp, glufosinate, and insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis - are produced and sold by Monsanto and Dow Agro-Sciences. The CFIA has approved this Franken-corn with its 8-stack of genetically engineered traits without an environmental assessment.
The thing that rots my socks is that this Franken-corn will hit the shelves of supermarkets and grocery stores across the country (and the world?) with no tag or flag or notice to the public that it's a genetically engineered product. Lucy Charratt, co-ordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, said "You'd think that a combination of 8 GE traits would trigger an environmental assessment, but the CFIA has provided no public record of their evaluation."
What a surprise! The poet John Milton wrote the following words around 1650.
"The hungry sheep look up and are not fed.
But swollen by the winds and the rank mist they draw,
rot inward, and foul contagion spread."
Most of us will just take what they give us. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The only safe course of action is to buy organic produce from a reputable dealer.
If you think I'm overreacting to this Franken-corn issue, read on!
In May The American Academy of Environmental Medicine said that genetically modified foods pose a serious health risk and called for an immediate moratorium on their production and consumption. You can read the AAEM report at: www.aaemonline.org
Be well!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday July 23
It's a dog's life!
Just looked out the window and saw two neighbors walking their dogs, or maybe saw two dogs walking the neighbors. It's easy for an animal to turn the tables on an emotional level.
Comic Paula Poundstone said that she was "one failed relationship away from being one of those women with 15 dogs." Many people with emotional problems accumulate pets and dote on them like they were their children. It's easy to fall into that pattern.
Someone said "to err is human, to forgive Canine." There's a lot of truth in this. You can kick a dog in the slats and treat it poorly and it will come back for a rub, and give you a lick, and repay your cruelty with a show of love and affection. Better, of course, that you treat all animals with love and respect. Modern civilization owes much to the dog and the horse, and the dog continues to play a mighty role in today's society. If you are an emotionally balanced individual you will bond with your dog and he/she will be an integral part of your family. A wonderful example, in fact, of unquestioned love and loyalty.
Take things too far and you end up with dogs in swimwear and sun glasses at the beach, and fur coats and boots in the winter. Dogs that sleep in your bed and eat at your table. Having a dog in your life can make and keep you well. It can also amplfy your emotional neediness and promote antisocial behaviour. Don't bring a dog into your life if you are not ready for the responsibilities attached and if you lack the emotional stability to keep the role it will play in your life to a calm, sane, and loving relationship.
Be well!
Just looked out the window and saw two neighbors walking their dogs, or maybe saw two dogs walking the neighbors. It's easy for an animal to turn the tables on an emotional level.
Comic Paula Poundstone said that she was "one failed relationship away from being one of those women with 15 dogs." Many people with emotional problems accumulate pets and dote on them like they were their children. It's easy to fall into that pattern.
Someone said "to err is human, to forgive Canine." There's a lot of truth in this. You can kick a dog in the slats and treat it poorly and it will come back for a rub, and give you a lick, and repay your cruelty with a show of love and affection. Better, of course, that you treat all animals with love and respect. Modern civilization owes much to the dog and the horse, and the dog continues to play a mighty role in today's society. If you are an emotionally balanced individual you will bond with your dog and he/she will be an integral part of your family. A wonderful example, in fact, of unquestioned love and loyalty.
Take things too far and you end up with dogs in swimwear and sun glasses at the beach, and fur coats and boots in the winter. Dogs that sleep in your bed and eat at your table. Having a dog in your life can make and keep you well. It can also amplfy your emotional neediness and promote antisocial behaviour. Don't bring a dog into your life if you are not ready for the responsibilities attached and if you lack the emotional stability to keep the role it will play in your life to a calm, sane, and loving relationship.
Be well!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday July 21
Just thinking about what to make for dinner tonight and a dish by Edgar Cayce, the most well known of psychic healers, came to mind.
This dish, which I have known as Cantonese Chicken since the 60s, is very simple to make, is versatile, and it tastes great.
Take a small whole chicken and put it in a pot that has a lid.
Mix together:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soya sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup tomato sauce, or tomato paste, or tomato ketchup
Mix up these ingredients and pour the resulting dark, thick liquid over the chicken. Put the lid on the pot, turn the stove burner on very low and leave it alone for five or six hours.
Serve with rice and fresh vegetables. To make more just use multiples of the ingredients.
The mixture tenderizes the chicken to the point where it literally falls to pieces. It tastes great and is good for what ails you. I regard this dish as Cayce's response to Jewish penicillin (chicken soup).
Be well!
This dish, which I have known as Cantonese Chicken since the 60s, is very simple to make, is versatile, and it tastes great.
Take a small whole chicken and put it in a pot that has a lid.
Mix together:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soya sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup tomato sauce, or tomato paste, or tomato ketchup
Mix up these ingredients and pour the resulting dark, thick liquid over the chicken. Put the lid on the pot, turn the stove burner on very low and leave it alone for five or six hours.
Serve with rice and fresh vegetables. To make more just use multiples of the ingredients.
The mixture tenderizes the chicken to the point where it literally falls to pieces. It tastes great and is good for what ails you. I regard this dish as Cayce's response to Jewish penicillin (chicken soup).
Be well!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday July 20
Read in yesterday's paper that the world's oldest man had died. He was a Brit named Henry Allingham and he was 113 years old. Now that's old! But not as old as I was expecting the world's oldest man to be. No wonder the planet is so messed up in so many ways. We don't live long enough to get any real sense of the long term environmental, political and social consequences of our short term actions. But maybe we soon will!
In laboratories around the world, billions are being spent to unlock the secrets of living longer. Emerging research reveals we may be able to influence biological aging processes in positive ways, at the cellular level.
Many are talking about the miraculous ingredient in red grapes (and consequently red wine) called resveratrol. But apparently one would have to drink 100s of bottles of red wine a day to realize any noticeable benefits. But don't panic, scientists have already overcome this obstacle and have boosted the power of resveratrol a thousand fold and combined it with other anti-aging ingredients to impact the four key mechanisms of cellular aging.
I myself take such a tonic every day. It promises to fade my brown liver spots and make me feel 25 years younger and live 25 years longer. Some are saying that the oldest amongst us may, in the not so distant future, live to be 150. That's one band wagon I don't want to miss.
I'm not going to tout the product I take in this blog. I will say that it's clinically tested and that there is plenty of research to look over if you're interested. If you want to know what I take and where to get it give me a call at 514-624-5544.
Be well!
In laboratories around the world, billions are being spent to unlock the secrets of living longer. Emerging research reveals we may be able to influence biological aging processes in positive ways, at the cellular level.
Many are talking about the miraculous ingredient in red grapes (and consequently red wine) called resveratrol. But apparently one would have to drink 100s of bottles of red wine a day to realize any noticeable benefits. But don't panic, scientists have already overcome this obstacle and have boosted the power of resveratrol a thousand fold and combined it with other anti-aging ingredients to impact the four key mechanisms of cellular aging.
I myself take such a tonic every day. It promises to fade my brown liver spots and make me feel 25 years younger and live 25 years longer. Some are saying that the oldest amongst us may, in the not so distant future, live to be 150. That's one band wagon I don't want to miss.
I'm not going to tout the product I take in this blog. I will say that it's clinically tested and that there is plenty of research to look over if you're interested. If you want to know what I take and where to get it give me a call at 514-624-5544.
Be well!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday July 16
By now most people have heard that stress is very bad for them. There are countless anti-stress pills and potions from vitamin B-complex tablets, to zinc, biotin and folic acid on the market. And there is nothing wrong with any of these things especially where they are natural substances.
What I would like to get at today are some of the underlying reasons we have stress. Many of us are time-starved. We just don't have the time to do what is required of us in a relaxed easy going way. Add poor diet, inadequate sleep, demanding partners, and hyperactive children to the mix and you have the recipe for trouble. But there are still many people who manage all of the above and stay calm, cool and collected. What's the trick?
I believe the secret is not taking anything too seriously. If you do you'll invariably end up frustrated and frustration is a major stress builder. Frustrations appear when you lose your patience and your temper, ofter triggered when others don't see the obvious things that you do.
For example, for years I worked trying to rebuild the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay. Oysters filter water. I was part of a group of oyster farmers who grew oysters in the top waters of the Bay where the sunlight and algae is. Oysters can no longer survive on the bottom of Chesapeake Bay because there is 5 feet and more of partly decayed organic material on the bottom, where the oyster reefs should be by nature. The bottom sludge cannot decay any further because sunlight no longer penetrates the bottom habitat and there is no oxygen to promote decay.
50 years back the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay cleaned the entire water body every week or so. There were billions of them. Today there are fewer than 1% of the number needed to clean things up. The reason for the oyster's demise is largely overfishing by the Watermen. Overharvesting together with invasive practices like dragging and dredging.
The simple answer to this problem is to cultivate millions and billions of oysters in the top waters of the Bay until the top water gets clean enough for sunlight to penetrate the depths and finish the decay process needed to put things back like they were. The Japanese have cleaned up their waters with oysters. They made it a crime punishable with 20 years hard labour if a fishman is caught harvesting oysters from the natural reefs and they are now growing millions of bushels and billions of dollars worth of oysters and keeping their waters clean.
Did any of the "powers that be" around the Chesapeake Bay take a similar initiative? No! None! Other than the few small oyster farmers who comprise the Chesapeake Oyster Guild. The watermen have not been prohibited from harvesting oysters, and there are numerous government initiatives which continue to drop oysters to their death onto bottom reefs. Scientists, politicians, educators and watermen regularly meet to discuss how to fix a problem, the answer to which is staring them directly in the face. How frustrating is that to someone who knows the truth?
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said something that I have come to live by and know to be true:
"For that person who knows, no explanation is necessary,
and for that person who doesn't, none is possible."
This observation just may be the reason that Budhists believe that the greatest action is inaction.
Leave it alone and don't frustrate yourself trying to show people who refuse to see, the way. Better to relax and chill out and let them awaken to the light of understanding at their own speed....or not!
Be well!
What I would like to get at today are some of the underlying reasons we have stress. Many of us are time-starved. We just don't have the time to do what is required of us in a relaxed easy going way. Add poor diet, inadequate sleep, demanding partners, and hyperactive children to the mix and you have the recipe for trouble. But there are still many people who manage all of the above and stay calm, cool and collected. What's the trick?
I believe the secret is not taking anything too seriously. If you do you'll invariably end up frustrated and frustration is a major stress builder. Frustrations appear when you lose your patience and your temper, ofter triggered when others don't see the obvious things that you do.
For example, for years I worked trying to rebuild the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay. Oysters filter water. I was part of a group of oyster farmers who grew oysters in the top waters of the Bay where the sunlight and algae is. Oysters can no longer survive on the bottom of Chesapeake Bay because there is 5 feet and more of partly decayed organic material on the bottom, where the oyster reefs should be by nature. The bottom sludge cannot decay any further because sunlight no longer penetrates the bottom habitat and there is no oxygen to promote decay.
50 years back the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay cleaned the entire water body every week or so. There were billions of them. Today there are fewer than 1% of the number needed to clean things up. The reason for the oyster's demise is largely overfishing by the Watermen. Overharvesting together with invasive practices like dragging and dredging.
The simple answer to this problem is to cultivate millions and billions of oysters in the top waters of the Bay until the top water gets clean enough for sunlight to penetrate the depths and finish the decay process needed to put things back like they were. The Japanese have cleaned up their waters with oysters. They made it a crime punishable with 20 years hard labour if a fishman is caught harvesting oysters from the natural reefs and they are now growing millions of bushels and billions of dollars worth of oysters and keeping their waters clean.
Did any of the "powers that be" around the Chesapeake Bay take a similar initiative? No! None! Other than the few small oyster farmers who comprise the Chesapeake Oyster Guild. The watermen have not been prohibited from harvesting oysters, and there are numerous government initiatives which continue to drop oysters to their death onto bottom reefs. Scientists, politicians, educators and watermen regularly meet to discuss how to fix a problem, the answer to which is staring them directly in the face. How frustrating is that to someone who knows the truth?
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said something that I have come to live by and know to be true:
"For that person who knows, no explanation is necessary,
and for that person who doesn't, none is possible."
This observation just may be the reason that Budhists believe that the greatest action is inaction.
Leave it alone and don't frustrate yourself trying to show people who refuse to see, the way. Better to relax and chill out and let them awaken to the light of understanding at their own speed....or not!
Be well!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tuesday July 14
Woke up today thinking about how important our emotions are to our overall health.
After 30 years of being married to the same woman my relationship fell apart 7 years ago. I remember being shocked and disconsolate and thinking the world had come to an end.
What saved me from oblivion was an article I had read years earlier about loving relationships. The article said that there was no real formula for a successful marriage or common law union and that some relationships were like the sun, long term and warm, while others were like shooting stars, brilliant light, white hot, for a short flash. Someone wiser than I said " Everyone knows when to start an affair, but few of us know when to end one."
One thing is for sure is that there is nothing quite like being in love. The rich and famous regularly change partners because they have the means to avoid the financial pitfalls that most couples fall into. Granted there are many rich and famous couples who stay together for their entire lives, but the majority change partners when the thrill is gone.
Money obligations including mortgages, shared expenses, and children become the reasons we stay together rather than the original physical, spiritual, or chemical attractions that drew us together in the first place. It's a real tragedy how many people stay together for all of the wrong reasons and forfeit true love in the exchange. Shakespeare rightly said that it's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.
I eventually found someone new to love. I still regularly see and talk to my children and grandchildren, who I love dearly. But I also have someone who makes my life the passionate affair I believe it's supposed to be. Being in love makes you well.
Be well!
After 30 years of being married to the same woman my relationship fell apart 7 years ago. I remember being shocked and disconsolate and thinking the world had come to an end.
What saved me from oblivion was an article I had read years earlier about loving relationships. The article said that there was no real formula for a successful marriage or common law union and that some relationships were like the sun, long term and warm, while others were like shooting stars, brilliant light, white hot, for a short flash. Someone wiser than I said " Everyone knows when to start an affair, but few of us know when to end one."
One thing is for sure is that there is nothing quite like being in love. The rich and famous regularly change partners because they have the means to avoid the financial pitfalls that most couples fall into. Granted there are many rich and famous couples who stay together for their entire lives, but the majority change partners when the thrill is gone.
Money obligations including mortgages, shared expenses, and children become the reasons we stay together rather than the original physical, spiritual, or chemical attractions that drew us together in the first place. It's a real tragedy how many people stay together for all of the wrong reasons and forfeit true love in the exchange. Shakespeare rightly said that it's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.
I eventually found someone new to love. I still regularly see and talk to my children and grandchildren, who I love dearly. But I also have someone who makes my life the passionate affair I believe it's supposed to be. Being in love makes you well.
Be well!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday July 13
Hello! Took the weekend off.
Spent most of Sunday preparing and cooking for my daughter's graduation party. Large barbecue, with lots of meat - mostly chicken.
This raises the whole tangled question of whether or not to eat meat, especially in the context of a blog on health and well being. I've settled the questions in my own mind. After years of being a vegetarian I now eat meat in balanced and moderate amounts. I'm also very fussy as to what meats I eat and where it comes from. I believe that Chinese philosopherLao Tzu was right when he said that the highest honour you can give a dead animal is to let it live on through your consumption of it. If I had to kill an animal, however, I would definitely be a vegetarian. I couldn't kill any living thing. If meat wasn't available on a styrofoam tray covered in plastic wrap I would probably just do without.
I've been accused of hypocracy in this regard based on the logic that if I and others like me didn't buy meat, then the industries that slaughter and package meat products would collapse. Perhaps! There are a tangle of moral and ethical issues involved. I, for example, don't eat baby animals such as veal or lamb. You have to make your own decisions on these matters. The rest of what I have to say today is based on the decision to eat meat.
If you are going to eat meat it should be from a healthy animal. Animals confined to cages, pens and stalls, that are fed chemical concoctions, and executed by automatic machinery do not fit my definition of healthy. There are options. Buy from Kosher shops and Halal stores. Jewish kosher meat comes from an animal that was butchered in an humane way by an individual person, not a machine. Halal meat is the Muslim equivalent.
More and more traditional grocery stores offer a range of free-range fowl. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other game hens that have been allowed to run free in a natural environment. Those tagged as "organic" have also not been fed growth hormones or chemical supplements of any kind. If you have made the decision to eat meat, make the decision to eat the best quality meat available.
All this talk of meat has reminded me of a joke.
Harold was in Calgary, Alberta, for the stampede and ran into Andrew, a friend he hadn't see in many years. Andrew invites Harold out to his ranch for the weekend. When Harold arrives on Saturday morning Andrew gives him a tour of the place. Acres of corn, barley, and flax, pastures full of cows and sheep, stalls filled with race horses and goats. As they are leaving the last big barn Harold can't help but notice a pen with huge pig in it. And damned if the pig doesn't have a wooden leg! "What's with the pig with the wooden leg?" asked Harry. "Oh! That's my superpig!" exclaimed Andy. "Two years ago I was out on the back 200 when the tractor I was driving ran out of control, turned over, and pinned me in a small stand of trees. I couldn't move. I thought I was doomed when out of nowhere comes my superpig. He throws his weight at the tractor and sets me free. He saved my life!"
"That's amazing!" said Harry.
"And that's not all!" Andy continued. "Last year, intoxicated, I fell asleep in the front room, in front of a raging fire. A spark from the fireplace set my bearskin rug ablaze and the house and I would have gone up in flames if not for my superpig. He smelled the fire, broke down the front door, and woke me up with his grunts and squeals! Saved my life a second time!"
"That's truly amazing!" replied Harry, adding.."but what's the peg leg all about?"
"Are you nuts?" said Andy. "You don't eat a pig that super all in one sitting!"
Be well!
Spent most of Sunday preparing and cooking for my daughter's graduation party. Large barbecue, with lots of meat - mostly chicken.
This raises the whole tangled question of whether or not to eat meat, especially in the context of a blog on health and well being. I've settled the questions in my own mind. After years of being a vegetarian I now eat meat in balanced and moderate amounts. I'm also very fussy as to what meats I eat and where it comes from. I believe that Chinese philosopherLao Tzu was right when he said that the highest honour you can give a dead animal is to let it live on through your consumption of it. If I had to kill an animal, however, I would definitely be a vegetarian. I couldn't kill any living thing. If meat wasn't available on a styrofoam tray covered in plastic wrap I would probably just do without.
I've been accused of hypocracy in this regard based on the logic that if I and others like me didn't buy meat, then the industries that slaughter and package meat products would collapse. Perhaps! There are a tangle of moral and ethical issues involved. I, for example, don't eat baby animals such as veal or lamb. You have to make your own decisions on these matters. The rest of what I have to say today is based on the decision to eat meat.
If you are going to eat meat it should be from a healthy animal. Animals confined to cages, pens and stalls, that are fed chemical concoctions, and executed by automatic machinery do not fit my definition of healthy. There are options. Buy from Kosher shops and Halal stores. Jewish kosher meat comes from an animal that was butchered in an humane way by an individual person, not a machine. Halal meat is the Muslim equivalent.
More and more traditional grocery stores offer a range of free-range fowl. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other game hens that have been allowed to run free in a natural environment. Those tagged as "organic" have also not been fed growth hormones or chemical supplements of any kind. If you have made the decision to eat meat, make the decision to eat the best quality meat available.
All this talk of meat has reminded me of a joke.
Harold was in Calgary, Alberta, for the stampede and ran into Andrew, a friend he hadn't see in many years. Andrew invites Harold out to his ranch for the weekend. When Harold arrives on Saturday morning Andrew gives him a tour of the place. Acres of corn, barley, and flax, pastures full of cows and sheep, stalls filled with race horses and goats. As they are leaving the last big barn Harold can't help but notice a pen with huge pig in it. And damned if the pig doesn't have a wooden leg! "What's with the pig with the wooden leg?" asked Harry. "Oh! That's my superpig!" exclaimed Andy. "Two years ago I was out on the back 200 when the tractor I was driving ran out of control, turned over, and pinned me in a small stand of trees. I couldn't move. I thought I was doomed when out of nowhere comes my superpig. He throws his weight at the tractor and sets me free. He saved my life!"
"That's amazing!" said Harry.
"And that's not all!" Andy continued. "Last year, intoxicated, I fell asleep in the front room, in front of a raging fire. A spark from the fireplace set my bearskin rug ablaze and the house and I would have gone up in flames if not for my superpig. He smelled the fire, broke down the front door, and woke me up with his grunts and squeals! Saved my life a second time!"
"That's truly amazing!" replied Harry, adding.."but what's the peg leg all about?"
"Are you nuts?" said Andy. "You don't eat a pig that super all in one sitting!"
Be well!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday July 10
"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."
This is the lament of sailors from a time when they had no fresh water on board their ships and were surrounded by salty seas.
The dreadful reality is that we're fast approaching a time when we will have little water anywhere and not a drop to drink, because of pollution and wasteful practices. There are already fresh water shortages in many parts of the world. There are predictions that wars will be waged over water in the very near future, just as they are now waged over oil. While these issues are bigger than most of us, we can still do our part to conserve water and to drink the purest cleanest water we can and appreciate what we have, especially in the western world.
Surprising numbers of people just don't drink water. Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau said "We forget the water cycle and the life cycle are one." Of course he was right. When I ask people how much water they drink I'm often told that they get their water in tea, or coffee, or juice, or from the melted ice in their vodka tonic. In our house we have a pitcher in the fridge that filters tap water and a water cooler in the kitchen that dispenses ice cold water on demand. We encourage the children in our family to drink water regularly and we adults drink 6 or 7 large glasses a day.
Two weeks ago we hired a company to cut down a tree in our front yard whose roots were threatening the foundation of our house. One of the workmen asked for a glass of water. I brought him one from our new filter pitcher, bragging "This will be the best water you've ever tasted!"
"Why?" he answered. "Does it have beer in it?"
Enough said! Laugh and be well!
This is the lament of sailors from a time when they had no fresh water on board their ships and were surrounded by salty seas.
The dreadful reality is that we're fast approaching a time when we will have little water anywhere and not a drop to drink, because of pollution and wasteful practices. There are already fresh water shortages in many parts of the world. There are predictions that wars will be waged over water in the very near future, just as they are now waged over oil. While these issues are bigger than most of us, we can still do our part to conserve water and to drink the purest cleanest water we can and appreciate what we have, especially in the western world.
Surprising numbers of people just don't drink water. Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau said "We forget the water cycle and the life cycle are one." Of course he was right. When I ask people how much water they drink I'm often told that they get their water in tea, or coffee, or juice, or from the melted ice in their vodka tonic. In our house we have a pitcher in the fridge that filters tap water and a water cooler in the kitchen that dispenses ice cold water on demand. We encourage the children in our family to drink water regularly and we adults drink 6 or 7 large glasses a day.
Two weeks ago we hired a company to cut down a tree in our front yard whose roots were threatening the foundation of our house. One of the workmen asked for a glass of water. I brought him one from our new filter pitcher, bragging "This will be the best water you've ever tasted!"
"Why?" he answered. "Does it have beer in it?"
Enough said! Laugh and be well!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday July 09
Just walking the dog!
Many fitness experts can't say enough about walking. Most of us just don't engage in any serious amount of walking. One friend of mine says that he takes a long drive after a big meal. That about sums up the prevailing attitude towards walking. Why walk when you can ride?
The simple answer is that it's good for you. Walking is a low stress cardio-vascular workout that also works your muscles and joints from the hips down. My pal Tony recently began taking his dogs for a short walk every evening. The short walk has evolved into longer and longer walks, sometimes lasting hours and covering miles. He says he enjoys the sense of adventure as well as the feeling of well being. The walks are taking him far afield of home, often into rural wooded environments where he encounters raccoons, squirells, and a host of birds. He's also meeting some interesting people hiking the same trails that he is. At 62 he's as thin and strong and healthy as he was when he was in his twenties.
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones in a 2008 interview in Rolling Stone magazine said that one of the most influential people in his life was his grandfather Gus Duprey. He would take young Keith for a walk and not come home for three days. They would visit friends, go to a violin shop and watch violins being made, sleep in the park, and have spontaneous and fun adventures. Such a large part of most of our lives is a boring, carbon copy of the day before, routine. Get out, breath, walk and see what you find. You may be surprized!
If the wonderful world of walking is not an option for you due to joint pain in your ankles, knees, or hips, take a look at the remarkable organic products for joint pain relief on my website: http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
Until next time. Be well!
Many fitness experts can't say enough about walking. Most of us just don't engage in any serious amount of walking. One friend of mine says that he takes a long drive after a big meal. That about sums up the prevailing attitude towards walking. Why walk when you can ride?
The simple answer is that it's good for you. Walking is a low stress cardio-vascular workout that also works your muscles and joints from the hips down. My pal Tony recently began taking his dogs for a short walk every evening. The short walk has evolved into longer and longer walks, sometimes lasting hours and covering miles. He says he enjoys the sense of adventure as well as the feeling of well being. The walks are taking him far afield of home, often into rural wooded environments where he encounters raccoons, squirells, and a host of birds. He's also meeting some interesting people hiking the same trails that he is. At 62 he's as thin and strong and healthy as he was when he was in his twenties.
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones in a 2008 interview in Rolling Stone magazine said that one of the most influential people in his life was his grandfather Gus Duprey. He would take young Keith for a walk and not come home for three days. They would visit friends, go to a violin shop and watch violins being made, sleep in the park, and have spontaneous and fun adventures. Such a large part of most of our lives is a boring, carbon copy of the day before, routine. Get out, breath, walk and see what you find. You may be surprized!
If the wonderful world of walking is not an option for you due to joint pain in your ankles, knees, or hips, take a look at the remarkable organic products for joint pain relief on my website: http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
Until next time. Be well!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
July 08
"He was at death's door and the doctors were trying to pull him through". - W.C. Fields
Funny man W.C. Fields didn't like doctors any more than I do. I'm not sure why he despised them back in the 30s and 40s but he definitely did. I don't like doctors today because most of them have an unholy alliance with the pharmaceutical industry.
Certainly we need doctors for a general checkup or where surgery is required, but beyond that I don't use them. The multi-billion dollar parmaceutical industry now markets its drugs directly to the consumer. They now run full-page ads (with three pages of side effect disclaimers) in a host of major publications, and you - the end user - just go to your doctor, tell him what you want, and he gives you a prescription for it. Problem is, most ( if not all) of these drugs do not cure your illness. They mask your illness with a pain blocker and treat the symtoms rather than the cause of the problem. The potential side effects are many and often more extreme than the original ailment. I've seen disclaimers that include coma, death, liver failure, nausea, and dizziness all in the same sentence. Stay as far away from pharmaceutical products as you can. Find a natural alternative. There are amazing natural organic products that are readily available that will actually address the root problem of your illness and have no bad side effects.
I've got a whole bunch of fantastic organic products on my website. Take a peek at: http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
If you wake up in the morning feeling so bad you feel like calling your insurance company and telling them you're half dead and that you'd like half the money... look around! There are loads of options.
My brother Jeff was physically depleted a few years back. Feeling lower than a snail's trail in a wagon track he went to Montreal's China Town. There he asked people from the Chinese community who the best doctor was. The same name came up time and time again. He went to see that doctor, who made him a herbal tonic just for his use only. In very short order by brother was feeling like a new man. This shouldn't surprise anybody with reasonable intelligence. Chinese medical practitioners were studying and using natural remedies when the rest of us were running around with stone knives, wearing bear skins.
Be well!
Funny man W.C. Fields didn't like doctors any more than I do. I'm not sure why he despised them back in the 30s and 40s but he definitely did. I don't like doctors today because most of them have an unholy alliance with the pharmaceutical industry.
Certainly we need doctors for a general checkup or where surgery is required, but beyond that I don't use them. The multi-billion dollar parmaceutical industry now markets its drugs directly to the consumer. They now run full-page ads (with three pages of side effect disclaimers) in a host of major publications, and you - the end user - just go to your doctor, tell him what you want, and he gives you a prescription for it. Problem is, most ( if not all) of these drugs do not cure your illness. They mask your illness with a pain blocker and treat the symtoms rather than the cause of the problem. The potential side effects are many and often more extreme than the original ailment. I've seen disclaimers that include coma, death, liver failure, nausea, and dizziness all in the same sentence. Stay as far away from pharmaceutical products as you can. Find a natural alternative. There are amazing natural organic products that are readily available that will actually address the root problem of your illness and have no bad side effects.
I've got a whole bunch of fantastic organic products on my website. Take a peek at: http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
If you wake up in the morning feeling so bad you feel like calling your insurance company and telling them you're half dead and that you'd like half the money... look around! There are loads of options.
My brother Jeff was physically depleted a few years back. Feeling lower than a snail's trail in a wagon track he went to Montreal's China Town. There he asked people from the Chinese community who the best doctor was. The same name came up time and time again. He went to see that doctor, who made him a herbal tonic just for his use only. In very short order by brother was feeling like a new man. This shouldn't surprise anybody with reasonable intelligence. Chinese medical practitioners were studying and using natural remedies when the rest of us were running around with stone knives, wearing bear skins.
Be well!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Hi! My name is Tim Forsythe and in my 63 years I've learned a great deal about health and longevity. I hope to share what I've found out with anyone who cares to follow this blog.
The first thing you should know about me is that I am not an exercise or fitness nut, a vegetarian, or a follower of any particular diet or health food regimen. I don't drink alcohol or take any drugs whatsoever, including anything pharmaceutical, and today I eat all and everything - in moderation. This was not always the case. For most of my adult life I have eaten no fresh fruit or vegetables. In fact it's fair to say that for the past 45 years I have considered the four basic food groups to be fried chicken, cheeseburgers, french fries and soda. The only green things I ate during these years was pickles and pistachio ice cream. Terrible but true.
I believe that what got me this far along in life, in relatively good health, aside from good genes, is my mental state and my sense of humour. I believe that a major part of being well is believing that you are well. Just like the hypocondriac who is ill all of the time because they think they are, I'm well all of the time because I think I'm invincable. I'm not, of course, but believing that I am is more than half the battle.
Laughter is another part of the health puzzle. Laughter makes you well! A team of British scientists recently studied laughter patterns across a wide range of age groups. Groups of pre-schoolers laugh every 30 seconds at nothing in particular. 6 and 7 year olds laugh every couple of minutes, again, at nothing in particular. Teens laugh every few minutes about funny things that happened to them or their friends, often mocking the antics and behaviours of their school mates. 20 to 30 year olds laugh less often and then usually at parties or gatherings where stories or jokes are told. The older the age group the less laughter occurs until you get to the 60 and 70 year olds who rarely laugh at all. These groups take an average 15 pills or pharmaceutical medicines a day and are preoccupied with the self-imposed serious business of surviving the august years of their lives. Try to lighten up! Watch Sponge Bob Square Pants with your kids or grand children. Read Milton Berle's book "B.S I Love You". Watch "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. Go to UTube and catch performances by Richard Pryor or George Carlin. Look for the funny and absurd things that are all around you. Balance the wars and crimes and economic troubles that flood the newspapers, internet news sites, and 6 o'clock news, with something light and humourous. The British scientists who conducted the laughter study put forth the following joke as arguably the world's funniest joke. What do you think?
Two friends are out in the woods hunting when one of them starts to choke and gag. He turns red, falls down on the ground, eyes roll back in his head, and he stops breathing. His buddy freaks out and calls 911.
"I'm out in the woods and my buddy is dead" he screams into his cell phone.
"Relax! Take a deep breath! This is emergency services. This is what I do." says the 911 operator.
"OK! What do I do?" says the hunter.
"The first thing I want you to do is make sure that your friend is really dead" continues the operator.
"All right" says the hunter. Puts phone down. Loud gun shot goes off. Hunter comes back on the phone.
"OK! Now what?"
The British scientists said that this joke met all of the requirements of a killer joke because you couldn't see the ending coming and that the whole premise was absurd. If you find this joke morose or in bad taste or just plain 'not funny' I suggest you re-evaluate your sense of humour.
Talking about un-funny. A few years back I found myself living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This has to be the coldest, inhospitable place in the world. 50 degrees below zero for weeks at a time. Warnings of "Frostbite in 30 seconds" on the local media. Residents describe the four seasons as Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Roadwork. I applaud their sense of humour in the face of such adversity.
I also applaud the University of Manitoba and their department of Environmental Sciences. It's world class. I had the opportunity to read many of their White Papers on the environment and credit them with giving me a new perspective on healthy living. After reading their reports on organic farming I took a trip to the agricultural community of Onanol, Manitoba, where I saw first-hand, the real state of large-scale farming. The farms I visited and worked on were huge thousand acre enterprizes with millions of dollars invested in farm machinery, transport and storage equipment. None of the farms grew organic produce. As the University of Manitoba reported, it is virtually impossible to grow organic crops in an environment where all around you are using chemical fertilizers, chemical insecticides, and chemical herbacides. The chemical "drift" from neighbouring fields makes it virtually impossible to grow anything organic. Knowing this you have to appreciate just how difficult it is to operate an organic farm. Many are small and away from large industrial-scale agricultural operations. Despite the difficulties there are ever increasing volumes and varieties of organic products available at supermarkets and specialty markets across North America. I now have a small garden in my back yard on the West Island of Montreal. Just eating fresh fruit and vegetables in not good enough. Try and get and eat as much organic produce as possible. It's not just a fad.
Large-scale farming businesses are in a virtual stranglehold by the large chemical companies. One day in Onanol I was asked to help seed a Flax crop. Imagine my surprize when the farmer handed me a protective "suit" that included coveralls, rubber boots, rubber gloves, and a face mask. The bags had Skull and Crossbone warnings all over them. When the Flax seed bags were opened and dumped into the seeding hopper I was astonished to find large day-glow blue balls instead of the expected natural brown flax seeds. The seeds were RoundUp Ready the farmer explained. The U of M had already educated me on the horrors of RoundUp. RoundUp is a product of Monsanto Chemicals that is used extensively across Canada and the US. Large-scale farmers use it as do millions of home owners who want their lawns to look like perfect weedless astroturf. RoundUp kills everything except the targeted crop. It doesn't kill your lawn grass but it does kill dandylions, crabgrass weeds, and important pollenators like butterflies and bees. God knows what the long term effects are to us and our families.
Enough bad news!
The good news in my life came recently in the form of a distributorship for a wide range of all natural organic products. I have cleaning products, make-up products, and health care products that are totally organic and bio-degradeable. I have products that will remove the dark circles from under your eyes and the wrinkles from your face and brow. Products that will balance your blood sugar, boost and reinforce your immune system, ease your joint pain, and counter your bodys aging processes at the cellular level. That's all I have to say on the matter at this time.
I'm not making a sales pitch. If you are seriously interested in organic products call me at 514-624-5544 or check out my products at http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
I plan on updating this blog at least once a week. There are plenty of other things that I've learned about living a long and healthy life that I wish to share with all of you who are interested.
Be well!
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The first thing you should know about me is that I am not an exercise or fitness nut, a vegetarian, or a follower of any particular diet or health food regimen. I don't drink alcohol or take any drugs whatsoever, including anything pharmaceutical, and today I eat all and everything - in moderation. This was not always the case. For most of my adult life I have eaten no fresh fruit or vegetables. In fact it's fair to say that for the past 45 years I have considered the four basic food groups to be fried chicken, cheeseburgers, french fries and soda. The only green things I ate during these years was pickles and pistachio ice cream. Terrible but true.
I believe that what got me this far along in life, in relatively good health, aside from good genes, is my mental state and my sense of humour. I believe that a major part of being well is believing that you are well. Just like the hypocondriac who is ill all of the time because they think they are, I'm well all of the time because I think I'm invincable. I'm not, of course, but believing that I am is more than half the battle.
Laughter is another part of the health puzzle. Laughter makes you well! A team of British scientists recently studied laughter patterns across a wide range of age groups. Groups of pre-schoolers laugh every 30 seconds at nothing in particular. 6 and 7 year olds laugh every couple of minutes, again, at nothing in particular. Teens laugh every few minutes about funny things that happened to them or their friends, often mocking the antics and behaviours of their school mates. 20 to 30 year olds laugh less often and then usually at parties or gatherings where stories or jokes are told. The older the age group the less laughter occurs until you get to the 60 and 70 year olds who rarely laugh at all. These groups take an average 15 pills or pharmaceutical medicines a day and are preoccupied with the self-imposed serious business of surviving the august years of their lives. Try to lighten up! Watch Sponge Bob Square Pants with your kids or grand children. Read Milton Berle's book "B.S I Love You". Watch "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. Go to UTube and catch performances by Richard Pryor or George Carlin. Look for the funny and absurd things that are all around you. Balance the wars and crimes and economic troubles that flood the newspapers, internet news sites, and 6 o'clock news, with something light and humourous. The British scientists who conducted the laughter study put forth the following joke as arguably the world's funniest joke. What do you think?
Two friends are out in the woods hunting when one of them starts to choke and gag. He turns red, falls down on the ground, eyes roll back in his head, and he stops breathing. His buddy freaks out and calls 911.
"I'm out in the woods and my buddy is dead" he screams into his cell phone.
"Relax! Take a deep breath! This is emergency services. This is what I do." says the 911 operator.
"OK! What do I do?" says the hunter.
"The first thing I want you to do is make sure that your friend is really dead" continues the operator.
"All right" says the hunter. Puts phone down. Loud gun shot goes off. Hunter comes back on the phone.
"OK! Now what?"
The British scientists said that this joke met all of the requirements of a killer joke because you couldn't see the ending coming and that the whole premise was absurd. If you find this joke morose or in bad taste or just plain 'not funny' I suggest you re-evaluate your sense of humour.
Talking about un-funny. A few years back I found myself living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This has to be the coldest, inhospitable place in the world. 50 degrees below zero for weeks at a time. Warnings of "Frostbite in 30 seconds" on the local media. Residents describe the four seasons as Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Roadwork. I applaud their sense of humour in the face of such adversity.
I also applaud the University of Manitoba and their department of Environmental Sciences. It's world class. I had the opportunity to read many of their White Papers on the environment and credit them with giving me a new perspective on healthy living. After reading their reports on organic farming I took a trip to the agricultural community of Onanol, Manitoba, where I saw first-hand, the real state of large-scale farming. The farms I visited and worked on were huge thousand acre enterprizes with millions of dollars invested in farm machinery, transport and storage equipment. None of the farms grew organic produce. As the University of Manitoba reported, it is virtually impossible to grow organic crops in an environment where all around you are using chemical fertilizers, chemical insecticides, and chemical herbacides. The chemical "drift" from neighbouring fields makes it virtually impossible to grow anything organic. Knowing this you have to appreciate just how difficult it is to operate an organic farm. Many are small and away from large industrial-scale agricultural operations. Despite the difficulties there are ever increasing volumes and varieties of organic products available at supermarkets and specialty markets across North America. I now have a small garden in my back yard on the West Island of Montreal. Just eating fresh fruit and vegetables in not good enough. Try and get and eat as much organic produce as possible. It's not just a fad.
Large-scale farming businesses are in a virtual stranglehold by the large chemical companies. One day in Onanol I was asked to help seed a Flax crop. Imagine my surprize when the farmer handed me a protective "suit" that included coveralls, rubber boots, rubber gloves, and a face mask. The bags had Skull and Crossbone warnings all over them. When the Flax seed bags were opened and dumped into the seeding hopper I was astonished to find large day-glow blue balls instead of the expected natural brown flax seeds. The seeds were RoundUp Ready the farmer explained. The U of M had already educated me on the horrors of RoundUp. RoundUp is a product of Monsanto Chemicals that is used extensively across Canada and the US. Large-scale farmers use it as do millions of home owners who want their lawns to look like perfect weedless astroturf. RoundUp kills everything except the targeted crop. It doesn't kill your lawn grass but it does kill dandylions, crabgrass weeds, and important pollenators like butterflies and bees. God knows what the long term effects are to us and our families.
Enough bad news!
The good news in my life came recently in the form of a distributorship for a wide range of all natural organic products. I have cleaning products, make-up products, and health care products that are totally organic and bio-degradeable. I have products that will remove the dark circles from under your eyes and the wrinkles from your face and brow. Products that will balance your blood sugar, boost and reinforce your immune system, ease your joint pain, and counter your bodys aging processes at the cellular level. That's all I have to say on the matter at this time.
I'm not making a sales pitch. If you are seriously interested in organic products call me at 514-624-5544 or check out my products at http://www.shaklee.net/freedomshack
I plan on updating this blog at least once a week. There are plenty of other things that I've learned about living a long and healthy life that I wish to share with all of you who are interested.
Be well!
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