| A Gift for You . . . The Christmas Envelope It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas -- oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it -- the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids -- all kids -- and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball, and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition -- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php What's New?
Emergency FYI - Recognizing a Stroke - thanks Norma! With families gathering together for the holidays and the excitement engendered by them, many older folks are at great risk of a stroke. Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: 1. Ask the individual to SMILE. 2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. 3. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (ie . It is sunny out today) If the individual fails (lopsided smile, being unable to raise arms evenly if they had been able to, having difficulty articulating or even using wrong words) even one of these questions, call 911 - immediate action can save lives or limit further damage. ....and to help prevent strokes in the first place, make sure everyone is on the basic Dynamite Program of Elixir, Plus or Regular, TriMins AND Hiscorbadyne - in fact, Hiscorbadyne, 8 per day,has been used to aid individuals recovering from strokes. Did You Know? from various sources
milk; removing those, eating a good alkaline diet rich in organic produce and building the immune system with the Dynamite program including Hiscorbadyne can help tremendously as can adding in SOD
near our bodes?
junk foods which can contribute greatly to these problems
spectrum ones
children
along with at least Elixir, Catalyst Water as your main fluid source with the addition of either Solace or Trace Minerals Concentrate Point to Ponder #1 - The CDC may ship killer virus to U.S. labs Associated Press Updated: 7:11 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2005 http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/9981047/ ATLANTA - Federal scientists say they will consider requests to ship the recently recreated 1918 killer flu virus to select U.S. research labs. There are 300 non-government research labs registered to work with deadly germs like the Spanish flu, which killed millions of people worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consider requests for samples from those labs “on a case-by-case basis,” CDC spokesman Von Roebuck said Wednesday. Dangerous biological agents are routinely shipped through commercial carriers like FedEx or DHL, following government packaging, safety and security guidelines. Last month, U.S. scientists announced they had created — from scratch — the 1918 virus. It was the first time an infectious agent behind a historic global epidemic had ever been reconstructed. Researchers said they believed it would help them develop defenses against the threat of a future pandemic evolving from bird flu, which was found to have similar characteristics as the 1918 virus. About 10 vials of virus were created, each containing about 10 million infectious virus particles. CDC officials said at the time the particles would be stored at a CDC facility in Atlanta, and that there were no plans to send samples off campus. But that statement did not mean there was a policy against sending samples elsewhere, Roebuck said. The agency’s decision to consider shipping the virus outside Atlanta was first reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature. Some critics of the recreation of the virus were not pleased to learn of plans to ship the germ. Obviously, that contradicts what most people were led to believe when the results of the 1918 experiments were published,” said Edward Hammond, director of the Sunshine Project, an Austin, Texas-based organization that advocates more control of biological weapons and biotechnology. In addition to creating the virus, the scientists said they would place the gene- sequencing information from the new research in GenBank, a public database operated by the National Institutes of Health. GenBank will allow some research groups to build their own virus, rather than seek samples of what the CDC had created. But that would be a lot of work. Wasted, duplicative work, if they (the CDC) have already made it,” said Dr. Diane Griffin, chair of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. ....and these scientists have no suspicion that such gene knowledge could be used for bio-terror? It is interesting to note that the CDC is now both the source of the pandemic flu story and the lethal disease itself. Point to Ponder #2 - Tamiflu in Japan http://www.mercola. com/2005/nov/22/tamiflu_implicated_in_childrens_deaths.htm The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating reports that the deaths of 12 Japanese children may be linked to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. The possibility has caused alarm, since millions of doses of the drug are currently being stockpiled for use in a potential flu pandemic.Tamiflu has also been linked to neuropsychiatric incidents in children, including seizures, loss of consciousness, and delirium leading to children jumping off roofs. Tamiflu is used 12 times more frequently in Japan than in the United States -- 11.6 million prescriptions for children in Japan between 2001 and 2005, compared to about 872,000 during that same period in the United States. USA Today November 17 & 19, 2005 Dr. Mercola's Comment: I swear this whole bird flu saga is something straight from some television mini- series or fiction novel. However, as you know, you couldn't make up a story like this tale of greed and political corruption. Earlier this year the United States placed an order for 20 million doses of this worthless drug at a price of $100 per dose. That comes to a staggering $2 billion. It was abundantly clear that this drug was not going to help anyone with the flu, and now we find out that this drug has a serious potential of killing children that take it. To add insult to injury, the drug companies have made a sweet arrangement with the U.S. government that they are not liable for any of the side effects from the drugs. President Bush's $7.1-billion pandemic flu plan seeks broad limits on lawsuits against producers of vaccines and antiviral drugs, but is silent on how those injured or killed by adverse reactions might be compensated. The liability shield is contained in the Pandemic Flu Countermeasure Liability Protection Act of 2005. It would protect producers and distributors of emergency vaccines from injury suits except in cases of "willful misconduct," a term to be defined later by the attorney general and the secretary of Health and Human Services. So, even if these drugs or vaccines wind up killing innocent children, these companies will not be held liable. But you don't have to worry as on Saturday the FDA aannounced that Tamiflu was safe. Of course, this is the same agency that gave Vioxx its safetly blessing before it killed 55,000 people..... ....As you probably understand by now, drugs are rarely the answer to your health problems. And vaccinations are a dangerous alternative to simply taking care of yourself. Vaccines, which often contain mercury, are linked to several chronic illnesses including: Autism Allergies Behavioral disorders Ear infections .....If you want to avoid catching the flu, drugs and vaccines are not the answer. Your body and health are better served by addressing the reasons why the immune system is impaired, which allows it to acquire the infection to begin with. Here are some much healthier and less expensive steps you can take: Avoid sugar Get enough rest Eat garlic regularly Don't let stress overwhelm you Exercise regularly Wash your hands ...and of course, build your immune system further by following the full Dynamite program, increase your Hiscorbadyne, and, if your system is already challenged, definitely add SOD to your regimin. You can also follow the simple, ancient method of sinus cleansing: add about 1 tsp NTM Salt to 1 pt warm water and pour it into your nostrils, one at a time, by using a Neti pot. If you do not have a neti pot then simply "snarfle" it out of your cupped hand. If something is already going on, add Solace to your irrigating water, or, for a real wake-up call, use a few drops of Trace Minerals Concentrate in there instead. Cleaning the sinuses daily goes a very long way to increasing the efficacy of your overall immune system. The warm salt water itself makes the sinus membranes more resistant to pathogens while stimulating the natural purification mechanism of the respiratory system and physically removing foreign particles and natural incrustations of matter. Recommended by numerous ENT specialists. See www.thenetipot.com for a large variety of nasal cleansers and detailed instructions. For yet another perspective, this time from a veterinarian, on the "Bird Flu," go to http://www.truthout. org/issues_05/110305HA.shtml Point to Ponder #3 - Warning issued about birth-control patch Thursday, November 10, 2005; Posted: 10:28 p.m. EST (03:28 GMT) (AP) -- The makers of a popular birth-control patch warned millions of women Thursday that the patch exposes them to significantly higher doses of hormones and may put them at greater risk for blood clots and other serious side effects than previously disclosed. The warning from Johnson and Johnson subsidiary Ortho McNeil, makers of Ortho Evra, says women using the patch will be exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those using typical birth- control pills because hormones from patches get into the bloodstream and are removed from the body differently than those from pills. Thursday's warning comes four months after reports that patch users die and suffer blood clots at a rate three times higher than women taking the pill. Citing federal death and injury reports, The Associated Press found that about a dozen women, most in their late teens and early 20s, died in 2004 from blood clots believed to be related to the birth-control patch, and dozens more survived strokes and other clot-related problems. Ortho McNeil spokeswoman Bonnie Jacobs said Thursday that the warning speaks for itself and that the company has been cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration, which distributed the new warning to health care providers. More than 4 million women have used the patch since it went on sale in 2002. Several lawsuits have been filed by families of women who died or suffered blood clots while using the patch, and lawyers said more are planned. Documents released to attorneys as a result of that litigation show Ortho McNeil has been analyzing the FDA's death and injury reports, creating its own charts that document a higher rate of blood clots and deaths in association with the patch than with the pill. In addition, an internal Ortho McNeil memo shows that the company refused, in 2003, to fund a study comparing its Ortho Evra patch to its Ortho-Cyclen pill because of concerns there was "too high a chance that study may not produce a positive result for Evra" and there was a "risk that Ortho Evra may be the same or worse than Ortho-Cyclen." Last week, in response to questions about the Ortho McNeil memo, company spokesman Michael Beckerich said in a written statement that "decisions to fund studies are based upon scientific merit." Beckerich said Ortho McNeil is conducting its own epidemiological study "designed with input from the FDA and similar to those previously conducted with the Pill." Although the patch and most birth-control pills contain the same amounts of estrogen, new published studies show that women using the patch absorb about 50 percent more estrogen than with the pill, said Dr. Leslie Miller, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington. When women take the pill, the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. In the process, about half of the estrogen dose is lost. Hormone levels in women on the pill are highest one or two hours after taking it, Miller said. Twelve hours later, estrogen levels are quite low, meaning the body is not exposed to high levels of estrogen 24 hours a day. But the patch causes higher estrogen levels since delivery of medication continues all day. Those elevated levels may be high enough to increase some women's risk of blood clots, Miller said. "If the patch is delivering too much estrogen, then it may need to be redesigned," Miller said. "Women should not just take off their patch; they risk pregnancy. If they are worried and want to change off the patch, they can wait to get something else." Jennifer Cowperthwaite, 26, of Broad Brook, Connecticut, still suffers breathing problems after a blood clot reached her lungs two years ago while using the patch. She said the warnings were long overdue. "I wish I had known," she said. "It's quite likely I would never have used it." Erika Klein's sister Kathleen Thoren died a year ago from blood clots in her brain that the coroner said were brought on by Ortho Evra. She said women deserve to be informed when making birth-control decisions. "Women have a right to know the true risks and make their decisions based on that information," she said. "No one should have to go through what my sister went through." .... Don't you sort of wonder just why initial studies did not show the 50% more uptake - surely common sense alone would make one wonder that the amounts would be different for different delivery systems. And why wait 4 months after the reports were in to post the warning? Why is the American public being treated like guinea pigs with potentially deadly drugs while we are being hounded for wanting the ability to use natural herbals proven safe for centuries? Point to Ponder #4 - Meditation Changes Brains Physically www.LiveScience.com Fri Nov 11,12:00 PM ET Meditation alters brain patterns in ways that are likely permanent, scientists have known. But a new study shows key parts of the brain actually get thicker through the practice. Brain imaging of regular working folks who meditate regularly revealed increased thickness in cortical regions related to sensory, auditory and visual perception, as well as internal perception -- the automatic monitoring of heart rate or breathing, for example. The study also indicates that regular meditation may slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex. "What is most fascinating to me is the suggestion that meditation practice can change anyone's gray matter," said study team member Jeremy Gray, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale. "The study participants were people with jobs and families. They just meditated on average 40 minutes each day, you don't have to be a monk." The research was led by Sara Lazar, assistant in psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital. It is detailed in the November issue of the journal NeuroReport. The study involved a small number of people, just 20. All had extensive training in Buddhist Insight meditation. But the researchers say the results are significant. Most of the brain regions identified to be changed through meditation were found in the right hemisphere, which is essential for sustaining attention. And attention is the focus of the meditation. Other forms of yoga and meditation likely have a similar impact on brain structure, the researchers speculate, but each tradition probably has a slightly different pattern of cortical thickening based on the specific mental exercises involved. .... Making sure you eat sufficient quantities of healthful animal fats such as cod liver oil and the fats in free-range egg yolks is another way to improve brain function and yet a third way is supply your body with the rare earth elements that, according to Bristol-Meyers Squibb studies,increase neural and dendrite activity by drinking Elixir daily and maybe even adding in an Izmine capsule or two. Point to Ponder #5 - Charities thanks Nancy! As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind: Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross ... salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. Meetings *** Dynamite Corporate Spring Conference in Boise ID, March 2006!!!*** Local meetings open to any and all DYNAMITE Distributors and guests! Fort Collins 2nd Tuesday each month - November 8 Gretchen Topel gesmith77@ yahoo.com OR David Whiting davidwhiting@comcast.net Pine/Evergreen 3rd Wednesday each month - November 16 Dawn Swinehart dswinehart@peakpeak.net Parker last Thursday each month - no meeting as that is Thanksgiving day! Mollie Carter mollycarter01@aol.com Menu of the Month - a WINTER FEAST Orange & Greens Salad Mushroom Soup Roast Prime Rib of Beef au Jus Roast Onions, Potatoes, Carrots & Brussels Sprouts Red Cabbage Sauerkraut Sweet Potato Mousse & Almond Stuffed Dates ORANGE & GREENS SALAD - Toss with 12 oz dark greens: juice from 1 blood or Clementine orange, 1.5 T extra virgin olive or walnut oil, pinch (or more) dried/crushed red pepper, 3T chopped fresh parsley and 2 chopped green onions; divide dressed greens among individual plates laying 3-4 orange sections criss-crossed with one trimmed green onion (to be really fancy, with a very sharp small knife, slice the green ends very slender and have them steeped in ice water before placing on orange sections) on each mound of greens. For special zest, add a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds. MUSHROOM SOUP - Sauté in 1/4 cup butter: 1 large thin-sliced onion and 3 garlic cloves until onion is translucent. Add 1.5 cups sliced mushrooms (any kind but a mixture of wild and button tastes best), 1 tsp whole peppercorns and sauté until mushrooms have softened. Add 10 oz wine/sherry cooking until the wine has evaporated; then add 5 cups broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable), bring to boil, reduce heat, then simmer on very low for 45 minutes with 1/2 tsp @ ground paprika, oregano & thyme and 1 bay leaf. Remove from heat, remove bay leaf and blend with stick blender until smooth with salt/pepper to taste; just before serving, stir in 10 oz cream/buttermilk/sour cream. If making ahead, avoid adding cream until reheated. If desired, add a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce or fermented soy sauce. ROAST PRIME RIB OF BEEF - Purchase a good cut of free-range prime rib allowing at least 1/2# per person, or more, for "planned overs." Preheat oven to 425°. Rub beef all over with mixture of 1 tsp dry mustard, 1 T flour, & 1T black pepper and place in roaster; sear for 20 min in hot oven before turning down to 375° and roast according to weight allowing, after searing, 20 minutes per pound for medium rare (subtract 20 minutes for rare and add 20 minutes for well). Baste with pan juices every 30 minutes; when halfway through, pour off fat, and pour 6oz red wine over roast. When beef is done, remove and let rest for 30 minutes before serving. For au jus, deglaze roasting pan with 6oz red wine simmering until a bit reduced; serve in gravy boat. ROAST ONIONS, POTATOES, CARROTS & BRUSSELS SPROUTS -Toss with about 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil: 1# each pearl onions, very small whole red potatoes (if larger, cut in half or quarters), & baby carrots, salt/pepper to taste and 1 tsp thyme - spread out in 1 layer in baking pan and roast at 375° for 30 minutes or so stirring every 10 minutes or so. Add 1# washed/trimmed/halved Brussels sprouts tossed with oil and seasonings as above, stir together and replace in oven continuing to stir every 10 minutes or so for another 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender, crisp and caramelized. CULTURED RED CABBAGE - Chop/shred 4 cups clean red cabbage, 1 grated Granny Smith apple, 1 full sprig marjoram & 1 bay leaf, 1T NTM salt, and 1 cup purified water. Pack into wide mouth quart jar adding water if necessary to bring water to just at 1” from top of jar; cover tightly, keep at room temp (72º) for 2-4 days then put into cool (40º) storage to improve with age. COCONUT SWEET POTATO MOUSSE - Roast 2# whole sweet potatoes. When thoroughly cooked, scoop out interior into a bowl and smash with 1/4 cup @ agave syrup, soft butter, & whipping cream and 1/4 tsp @ pure coconut & vanilla extracts & ground cinnamon; whip with immersion blender until light and fluffy; fold in 1/4 cup each grated fresh/dried coconut & broken pecans; to serve, place into glass goblets and garnish with a bit of toasted coconut. ALMOND STUFFED DATES - Pit large Medjool/Black Sphinx dates and stuff each with a whole soaked/dried almond. PREPARATION HINTS:
PLANNED-OVER SKILLET SHEPHERD’S PIE In an oven-proof deep skillet, saute in 1-2T butter, the following finely diced vegetables: 1/2 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 cup @ celery, carrots & mushrooms (or leftover roast veggies); when softened, add 4 cups ground or finely diced cooked prime rib (or lamb roast or fresh ground meat of some sort),1 small can tomato puree, salt/pepper to taste, pinch @ nutmeg & basil & 4 oz red wine simmering until fluid is reduced and mixture is getting crusty on the bottom; top with garlic mashed potatoes (below), sprinkle with paprika and broil just until potatoes are golden brown. MASHED POTATO TOPPING: mash 6 large peeled/steamed potatoes with potato masher; then, with fork, beat in 1 whole egg, 1T butter, 2T garlic mayonnaise & salt/pepper to taste VEGETARIAN PIE - use 4 cups of chopped mushrooms (any kind but a variety of wild is really special!) instead of the beef - in fact, this along with the salad, sauerkraut and dessert, could make a great vegetarian feast! Words of Wisdom ... A Vegetative State (thanks to both Nancy & Pat!) A man and his wife are sitting in the living room and he says to her: "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state dependent on some machine. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." His wife gets up and unplugs the TV. Until next year! Rowan & John |
Tarryall.net
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
NEWSLETTER
December 2005
Winter Solstice - 20th
Christmas - 25th
Hanukkah - 26th
December 2005
Winter Solstice - 20th
Christmas - 25th
Hanukkah - 26th
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| Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. Henry Ford If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking. George Patton |
| The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information in not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided is for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program. |