Random Ravings

Distressed Homeowner Expo

2011-09-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Foreclosure Should Not Be An Option

Come and Talk To The Panel Of Experts: We have a team of Lawyers, Former Bank Officers and many other top Experts that will fight for you. Come and get all your questions answered, we are here to help you!
What Your Bank/Lenders Do Not Want You To Know: Is it really time for you to leave your home? Only a small percent of loan modifications ever get approved. Learn the financial and tax consequences of foreclosure. Understand the consequences of foreclosure vs. bankruptcy.
Learn The Basics of Credit Laws And How They HELP You: There are 158 laws to protect your credit. Learn how to heal your bad credit & debt, fast. Learn how to put a team of lawyers working for you! Learn how to boost your credit score & qualify for a new home loan in 90 days. Simple ways to take back control of your life and help your family and loved ones, and so much more… !

Date: Saturday September 24, 2011

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: Sign Up For Details

Sponsored By :
" Denver's ACTS Food Bank"

Donation: Register at least 48 hours in advance for a $10 donation or bring 5 cans of food to the event OR bring $20 or 10 cans of food on day of the event. All proceeds support Denver ACTS Food Bank.

FREE LUNCH SERVED

RSVP: http://www.distressedhomeownerexpo.com/

2011 IDA Honor Awards Banquet With Guest Speaker Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan and Tuesday – New York Times Bestselling Author of “Until Tuesday – A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him

2011-09-17T04:42:00.001-07:00

Come join the Invisible Disabilities Association for our Annual Honor Awards Banquet and Auction on October 2, 2011.

Enjoy an evening of awareness and inspiration! IDA will be honoring 11 amazing individuals and organizations making a difference in the lives of those living with illness, pain and disability.

Inspiring stories, touching presentations and lighthearted fun bring awareness to invisible disabilities. Doctors, nurses, friends and family often walk away saying, “Wow! I didn’t get it until tonight!”

2011 Banquet Flyer

COST for Dinner and Program: $50 per person – includes seating for the program, a delicious dinner and dessert. Cash bar.

COST for Dinner, Program and VIP Reception: $75 per person – includes seating for the program, dinner and dessert as well as the VIP Reception with Luis and Tuesday 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Limited availability.

SPONSORSHIPS: Table and Event Sponsorships are encouraged.
Sponsorships Details Here

LOCATION: Denver Marriott South in Lone Tree, CO

TIME: 5:30 pm Registration and Silent Auction – 6:15 Dinner and Program

VIP RECEPTION: 4:00 pm – optional, limited seating.

ATTIRE: Dressy or Business (Example for men: Suit or slacks and dress shirt with or without tie or jacket. Example for women: Dress, suit or blouse with slacks or skirt). Attendees are welcome to wear cocktail, semi-formal or formal attire if they prefer.

NOTICE: This is a fragrance free event. Please be considerate of people attending with allergies, asthma and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) by not wearing perfume , cologne or fragranced lotion.

Unable to attend? Please consider a donation instead. Thank you!

Be sure to invite your friends, family, neighbors, doctors and co-workers!
Proceeds help the Invisible Disabilities Association continue to encourage, educate and connect people touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe! IDA is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit. 83-0390659
Contact event@invisibledisabilities.org for additional sponsorship information.

AUCTION: We are accepting auction item donations for 10/02/11.
Auction Letter – Auction Item Receipt

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL ROOM RATE: Single Room Event Rate at Marriott Denver South of $84 plus taxes. Reservations for the event made by individual attendees can be made directly with Marriott Reservations at 1-800-686-2767. Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Sunday, September 25, 2011.

Special Guest Speaker

Fmr Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan and Tuesday – New York Times Bestselling Author of “Until Tuesday – A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him”

Luis is a 17-year veteran and former Captain in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. Luis is the author of “Until Tuesday” which debuted 18 on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Non-fiction Books and remained on the list for 5 weeks.

Luis shares his amazing story of the “war after the war” with invisible disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how his service dog, Tuesday, has given him hope and healing. Until Tuesday came into Luis’ life, he was overwhelmed by his debilitating injuries, memories and could barely leave the house due to Agoraphobia. Tuesday assists Luis with his balance, retrieves things off of the floor, reminds him to take his medications, wakes him up when he is having flashbacks, gets Luis out of the house, gives him the unconditional love we all need to give us strength and much more.

Luis has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The International Herald Tribune. Luis and Tuesday’s story has been shared on NPR, CBS, CNN, BBC, C-SPAN, National Geographic and they appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in July (watch clip on YouTube). Luis is also a recipient of a 2011 VOICE Award presented at Paramount Studios.

Discovering they are not alone, people around the world are finding the courage to seek help and support for their invisible disabilities, after reading about Luis and Tuesday’s daily battle and triumph over hopelessness.

Don’t miss the VIP Reception with Luis and Tuesday from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm before the Banquet. VIP Tickets now available!

Master of Ceremonies

Rick Crandall – Host of the Breakfast Club – KEZW 1430 AM

Rick has been honored for his dedication to Denver’s adult community with the Volunteers of America Special Friend Award, The Colorado Broadcasters Association Citizen Of The Year Award twice and The Colorado Broadcasters Association Harry Hoth Award for Public Service. During Rick’s 15-years at KEZW the station has been a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Adult Standards station of the year seven times, and has won the award once. He celebrated his 5,000 show this past June. Rick was one of five finalists for the Marconi Award as Personality Of The Year. Rick is also the Colorado Freedom Memorial President.

2011 Honor Awards

Advocacy – Peter Saltonstall, President & CEO – National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)
Caregiver - Dave Dias, Chairman – Premiere Legacy Films – Dave’s Wife, Irene
Corporate - Kevin Custer, Founding Principal – Arc Capital Development – Autism Society – Austim Society of Colorado
Founders - David Sandusky – Your Brand Plan
Healthcare - Kent Thiry, Chairman and CEO – Davita
Impact - John C. Read, President and CEO – Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
Inspiration – Theresa Marchetta, Weekend Anchor, Investigative Reporter – 7NEWS
Medical - Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Perseverance - Margaret A. Ferrante MD
Research - David Martz, MD – International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)
Volunteer - Jane Brown JD LLM – Disabled people want to meetup too!

MORE FUN and EXCITING AWARENESS and ENCOURAGEMENT!
Past Evenings with IDA Amazing Past Award Recipients More Videos on Our YouTube Channel Our Radio Broadcasts Online


		ILADS

Homes For Our Troops: Help a local veteran!

2009-02-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

Homes For Our Troops: Help a local veteran!

Justice for Lilly Aramburo: Help Save the National Center for Missing Adults

2009-01-23T10:02:00.000-08:00

Who would you turn to if your loved one went missing?

Justice for Lilly Aramburo: Help Save the National Center for Missing Adults

Nebraska law allows abandonment of teens - Kids and parenting- msnbc.com

2008-08-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable...

Nebraska law allows abandonment of teens - Kids and parenting- msnbc.com

Give Me My Tooth

2008-06-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Do YOU know anyone who loves going to the dentist, lying flat on their helpless back, relinquishing all control over to "The Mad Dentist?"

What joy to spit blood, have needles jabbed in our swollen sore gums, pink goop crammed in our mouth for impressions, suction devices, hard plastic forced in our mouth for x-rays, & blinded by their stupid bright light. Not to mention the picture on the wall, of fake flowers painted by some dirt ball kindergartner, that is supposed to give us that nice relaxed feeling.

While treating myself to a double stick of delicious Double Mint chewing gum, I almost paid double the price. Out comes a cap (tooth cap, not a golf cap) Better in the wad than down the sink drain. The cap is worth more than it 's weight in gold. No exaggeration.

I phone the dentist, "Hi there, I'm one of your valued customers and one of my caps came off...how much to glue it back on?" "No charge, if we put it on," was the response. Seems fair. "Come on over, we'll take care of you!"

Thank God, I wasn't in any pain. The rates charged at the dentist office are in direct proportion to the amount of pain you are experiencing. Hurt just a little, $350. Hurt a fair amount, $550 (but not fair). Hurts a whole lot, special today $950. Hurts like hell, "How much equity do you have in your home?"

I ease into THE CHAIR and think about what happens to people who are flat on their backs . . . Would it happen to me? A perky dental assistant stops by and skips away with my tooth for some minor cleaning. So far, so good. She returns with a smile on her face! "The dentist will be right with you Mr. McLellan." Several years later the MAN shows up "Hi Mr. McLellan, it seems we didn't put your cap on after all." "Well, OK, I hear someone sheepishly mumble, as in me" No doubt about it...I'm in an extremely compromised position.

How much can a drop of glue cost? I certainly hope he will remember that our family did buy him his new Porche Carrera GT (a late-2003 model with an open cockpit and a six-liter V-10 engine that will produce 558 horsepower), the fastest street-legal Porsche on earth at around a cool $180,000.00.

"That will be $120, Sir!" I'm shocked, plus I hate it when anyone calls me Sir. I can feel my blood pressure starting to rocket out of control as I lie there looking up at the "masked man." No need to stick my hands up, I'm already screwed . . . OR am I? "$120? that 's an outrage, a rip-off," I yell, loud enough for everyone in the other dental chairs to hear....and those in the waiting room, and behind the counter, and in the bathrooms, and those walking by and across the street & truck drivers with loud mufflers driving by. "Well, Mr. McLellan that 's our policy."

"Screw your policy! Give me my tooth!!!" I rip off my bib, sit straight up in the chair and flex my lats! "Well Sir, (there 's that word again),what are you going to do about it?" he inquires with an arrogant smirk on his face? "I'll show you," as I charge out the door leaving stares of disbelief in my wake.

My lovely wife is waiting for me in the car. "How'd it go Honey?" she asks." "Fine, here 's my tooth . . . the sumbitch wanted to charge me $120 for a drop of glue."

We stopped by Walgreen 's and bought some glue, the same kind that dentists use, for $4, that 's a $116 dollar savings, with glue left over! I told the cashier what had happened at the dentists office and she said the same thing happened to her. She said the glue works great, and it does. That was two years ago and the cap is doing just fine, thank you very much ladies and gentleman (as per Elvis accent).

So there you have it. Another example of self reliance for today 's sermon.. It would not be discreet for me to divulge the name of the dental facility or the dentist. Above all, my policy is to be discreet at every turn. Integrity and professionalism must be a creed I honor dispite any adversities.

P.S. Information available upon request.

At age 15 Jim 's students came from four surrounding states. Jim consistently broke par, owned 2 course records and could drive the ball 300+ yards.
Attended Arizona State University at Tempe on a golf scholarship,graduated from the PGA Golf School,Long Beach,CA in 1960. Find your best golf.Visit my web site

Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land near Jesus sign

2008-05-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land near Jesus sign
It seemed like an almost literal answer to their prayers. When two New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a microlight airplane they offered prayers and were able to make an emergency landing in a field - coming to rest right next to a sign reading, "Jesus is Lord."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24765324/from/ET/

Will Ferell Late On Rent?

2008-05-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Have You Read "The Shack?"

2008-05-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

By W. J. Howard

Last month I read "The Shack," by William P. Young with the South Denver Book Club, and I had a wonderful experience as a result. I highly suggest reading this book, and with a group if you can swing it.

Read my book review...

Interview with William P. Young

I Finally Found Another Stephen King Novel I Liked!

2008-04-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

By W. J. Howard

I read "Baze" by Stephen King a few months ago and finally got around to writing a review of the book. This is the first King book I've really enjoyed since "Pet Cemetary." You can read the review on my blog.

Retirement Planning

2008-04-18T07:19:00.001-07:00

By W. J. Howard

My finance sent this to me yesterday:

If you had purchased $1000.00 of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.00.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1000.00.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5.00 left.

If you had purchased $1000 of Delta Air Lines stock you would have $49.00 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer/wine one year ago, drank all the beer/wine, then turned in the cans/bottles for the aluminium recycling REFUND, you would have had $121.00.

Based on the above, my best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

World Population to Hit 6,666,666,666 in May

2008-04-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

by W.J. Howard

It's a boring article, but appropriate for this blog. Check out "World Population to Hit 6,666,666,666 in May" on LiveScience.com.

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

2008-02-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

Your Bird Flu Pandemic Survival Shopping Guide

2008-02-17T17:42:00.001-08:00

Why?

During a bird pandemic you should remain as isolated from everybody outside your family as possible. Therefore, you should shop only for necessities: food, water, fuel and medicine.

Where?

Therefore, you should go only to a supermarket, drug store, gas station, convenience store or discount store.

A bird flu pandemic is not the time to buy furniture, clothes, electronic toys or tools. It's not a good time to hang out at the mall.

When?

Go during the slowest periods possible, so you will be exposed to as few people as possible. Check out your area to learn what stores stay open 24 hours a day. Which ones are open until late at night? Or start early in the morning?

Go at the time you'll most likely be the only one in the store except for a few employees.

How?

Gasoline may be in limited supply or totally out of stock. So you should not drive far.

Of course, you must make trade offs. If there's a Wal-Mart open all night but it's 3 miles away, that's worth driving to at 4 AM so you'll be alone except for the cashiers and the floor cleaners. However, driving to a store twenty miles away would use up too much gasoline.

Also, if you're going to walk to the store to save gasoline, do so only during the day. Yes, you may be exposed to more people, but they're less likely to rob you or worse. During a bird flu pandemic you cannot depend on law and order, so don't go out after dark unless you are in your car.

What?

Bottled water

Canned vegetables

Canned fruit

Sauerkraut -- good for encouraging growth of favorable bacteria in you, to discourage growth of H5N1. If you're in Asia, substitute Kim Chi.

Hand operated can openers

Garlic

Onions

Pre-cooked meats

Raw meat only for as long as you have electricity and/or gas to cook it with.

Fresh vegetables

Fresh fruit

Horseradish

Ginger root

Dried meat

Cheese -- low-fat preferred

Eggs

Fresh milk

Canned and dry milk

Canned fish

Canned meat

Quality vitamins and supplements, especially Vitamin C, selenium, zinc, Omega-3, lysine, beta glucan, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, Vitamin Bs, super green foods containing chlorophyl, ginseng, reservatrol, magnesium, DHEA, quercetin, bioflavanoids

Yogurt

Soap

Alcohol wipes

Antiseptic hand lotions

Propane

Kerosene

First aid supplies, including tea tree oil and NuSkin

Cold packs

Vaporizers

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos -- all personal care items

Toilet paper and diapers

Household soaps and detergents

Magazines and paperback books to read

Leave behind:

Gimmicks herbs that don't increase your immune system functioning

Sugar and all sweet snacks and candy

Bread

Rice

Spaghetti and all noodles and pastas

Cigarettes

Alcohol

Fruit juices

Soft drinks

Reduce your risk of catching bird flu and strengthen your immune system to survive in case you do catch it.

Anything that increases your risk of catching bird flu is bad, as is anything that weakens your immune system.

A bird flu pandemic is not the time to be undisciplined and self-indulgent.

The pandemic is out of your personal control -- but you increases your odds of surviving by the actions you take.

Richard Stooker Richard Stooker is the author of How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Bird Flu and Bird Flu Blog

How To Cope When You Are Surrounded By Idiots

2008-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Are the idiots in your life driving you crazy? Do you often feel like you are surrounded by idiots? Have you ever wondered if YOU are an idiot? Do the idiotic C.Y.A. instructions on the packaging of most products you buy these days make you feel like the world must think you are an idiot?

The following article contains lessons on stupidity. They cover things you should pretty much never do. There are many, many more lessons we could add, such as not floating face down in the septic tank or not applying your own tattoo with a wood burner and lead-based house paint, but these are normally material for a post-graduate stupidity course. You probably shouldn't attempt to comprehend these high-level concepts until you have mastered the more basic skills.

Experience has shown that the louder you yell the principle to the idiot pupil in question the better the procedure works. (OK, a little honesty here would probably be good. The truth is, shouting the lessons probably won't have much of an effect on the idiot, because as we all know, he/she is an idiot, but it will probably make you feel a little better).

Here are a few suggestions that could change your life if you are someone who is struggling with idiots in your life. If you are an idiot, try to find someone to read these principles to you and then apply them. If you are surrounded by idiots or if you have a loved one who has idiotic tendencies, you will probably want to teach these principles to the idiots in your life. You never know. It might just help.

1. You should never try to lick the bottom of the blender while the blades are still turning.
2. Never drink quarts of vinegar while eating boxes of baking soda.
3. Never clean up nitro-glycerin or unstable nuclear waste with a vacuum cleaner.
4. Never let friends hit you over the head with a baseball bat unless you are wearing a good helmet.
5. Never adjust your TV antenna during a lightening storm.
6. You shouldn't smoke while siphoning gasoline.
7. Don't microwave dynamite.
8. Never dry your hair with a blow torch.
9. Never pick your scabs while swimming with sharks.
10. Never hang glide during a hurricane.

Ben Goode is author of 25 books and has devoted his life to finding ways to successfully cope with the idiots who surround him, or at least getting some entertainment value from them, and to finding some way to make billions of dollars and take over the world without having to exert much energy using only items found lying around the house and to curing all unhappiness and disease, poverty and hunger. To read more of Ben Goode's writings go to: http://www.apricotpress.com

How to Make a Mojito

2008-02-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Pigeons Teach Art

2008-01-31T17:03:00.000-08:00

Scientists in Japan have shown that pigeons can outperform to students art in telling Picassos and Monets while in Britain pigeons have beaten university students in a race to work out where food is hidden. The Japanese researchers repeatedly showed to pigeons in individual cages 30 different paintings by Picasso and Monet. The pictures were flashed up in the bird’s cages on a screen, below which was a full container of seed.

The birds rapidly learned that if they pecked at a Picasso, they were rewarded with food while Monets brought no reward at all. When they began to enjoy near-perfect scores, the scientists thought this was because the birds had perfect memories. So, they showed them new, unseen Picassos and Monets and found the pigeons were able to identify the right artist again, showing they had a visual concept of style. They could tell the difference between Monet’s dappled light and vivid colours of Picasso’s surreal angular figures. But when works by artists were brought in, the birds became confused- just like some art students.

In the British study, town pigeons have beaten 200 university students in a contest to work out which of 60 colored bar charts showed where food was. Slides showing three red columns of varying heights on a white background were projected on to a wall. The pigeons, who had learned earlier they would get the right food if they pecked the right images, got it right all the time. Only two students in 200 worked out that the food were lying under the graphs with the smallest colored areas. The kindest explanation is that the students were searching for a more complicated answer. However, the pigeons no doubt felt that it was time their human rivals tried a little bit harder in future.

The pigeons’ amazing brainpower was revealed in a three-part TV documentary called Animal Minds. Producer Paul Reddish said: “When it comes to visual concepts, the brain of the art student and the pigeon may be very similar.” The programme also arrived at these rather startling conclusions: certain monkeys in the jungle suffer from the same levels of stress as office workers; bees teach each other not only where to find food but whether it is of a high quality as well; and most animals can show some emotion.

The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com.Sharon White is a senior writer and writers’ consultant in College term paper writing. Get some useful tips for Creative dissertation and controversial research paper topics writing.

Everything That You Need to Know About Balloons

2008-01-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

A balloon is nothing but a flexible bag made from materials like rubber, polychloroprene, latex and nylon fabric, which is filled with gases like hydrogen, helium, nitrous oxide or air. Balloons are generally used for various decoration purposes for celebrations and parties. But some balloons are used for other purposes such as military, defense, medical treatment, meteorology and transportation. He word ‘balloon’ was derived from the French word ‘ballon’ which means large ball. In Latin ‘ballone’ means ball and from the Middle English both ‘bal’ and ‘beall’ means ball.

The first balloon was invented by a priest Bartolomeu de Gusmao and it was exhibited during an exhibition on 8th August, 1709 in Lisbon. Michael Faraday invented the rubber balloon in 1824 which was filled with hydrogen gas and was used in experimentation. J.G Ingram invented the first latex balloons in 1847 in London, England. The mass production of latex balloons was manufactured around 1930s. Today the party balloons are made up of natural latex from the trees which yield rubber. These balloons were filled up with ordinary air and helium gas, and even sometimes with water for fun and other suitable gases.

All balloons can be easily filled with air, by blowing air into it. Now air pumps are used to inflate balloons. When balloons are filled up with helium gas, the balloon float, i.e. they try to rise up as the helium’s weight is very light. When helium is filled up inside the latex balloons, the gas remains inside only for some time and eventually the helium gas moves out slowly through the walls of the latex balloon as the helium atoms are smaller than the pores of the latex walls so they easily pass through them! This process is called diffusion.

Later in the year 1970, more costly balloons were manufactured / invented which are long-lasting and they are called as foil balloons. These foil balloons are thin, less permeable, unstretchable and made from metalized plastic balloons. Foil balloons are very attractive and has shiny surface, often printed with messages and designs, which are used for various occasions, celebrations and parties. An interesting feature of foil balloons are they are light weight, hence increases the buoyancy and they are able to retain the helium gas for many weeks! Balloons are so much fun, and we could never think of any celebrations or parties without these cute balloons.

Mohamad Vijay is a seo copywriter having more than 3 years of experience in this field who is currently working for the site balloons and more . For further information on wholesale balloons, birthday balloons and wedding balloons please visit balloons or contact me through mail: mohamadvijay@gmail.com

Unusual Uses For Coffee Machines

2008-01-25T13:34:00.000-08:00

So most of us love coffee as a drink, and more often that not a means to stay awake during the day, but how often do we think to use coffee as an ingredient in the food we eat? You could be using that coffee maker to prepare your main course and not just at the end of the meal.

Immediately you will think of desserts or chocolate, which are the most common uses of coffee in food, and we will discuss these in more detail, but you shouldn’t limit your imagination to sweet product. Coffee can also give a real kick to barbeque glazes, marinades, chili and even some casseroles.

Before you start throwing instant granules into all your dishes, bear in mind that fresh coffee produces the best flavor. You want to use freshly ground beans, preferably ground yourself if you have the equipment. If you need to brew the coffee, make it with clean filtered water and don’t make it until you actually need it. Generally coffee to be used in food should be at least twice as strong as drinking coffee depending on your tastes.

One popular savory sauce to make use of coffee is meatloaf sauce, which is best served with Australian meatloaf. You need to mix a tablespoon of coffee with a small amount of water, some tomato ketchup, Worcester sauce and a little dry red wine. Vinegar, a squeeze of lemon, dark brown sugar and some vinegar are the rest of the ingredients to add to the zesty concoction.

You should cook the meat at three hundred and seventy five degrees Fahrenheit for thirty or so minutes, before adding the sauce and continuing cooking for an additional forty five minutes.

A popular use of coffee in sweet food is espresso brownies, which will make any social occasion a success. Mix together sugar, a pinch of salt, and some butter over a low heat. Add some vanilla to taste and broken up chocolate, preferably sweet milk chocolate to contrast with the bitter coffee. Add some finely ground dark roast coffee, such as an Italian or French roast.

Mix all the ingredients together and then allow slight cooling. Fold eggs and flour into the mixture whilst still a little warm. The resulting combination should be baked in a moderate oven for thirty minutes and allowed to become cold before sampling.

There are so many possibilities when using coffee in your food, cakes, gateaux, cookies and ice creams all taste fantastic with a coffee flavoring. Even a simple sponge can be livened up with coffee icing or coffee cream filling.

The popular Italian dessert tiramisu is becoming a global favorite with its rich combination of espresso, marsala, sponge and mascarpone cheese.

A number of cocktails are now incorporating coffee. As well as the well known Kahula, various coffee liqueurs such as Tia Maria make versatile cocktail ingredients.

A final possibility is coffee syrup, a perfect topping to almost any desert or ice cream. You just combine sugar with good quality double strength brewed coffee and boil to dissolve the sugar. Simmer over a lower heat until the mixture thickens and then allow to become cool.

So get a little creative with your coffee machines and see what innovative dishes you can come up with using coffee as the special ingredient.

Robert Carlton routinely edits papers on themes relating to coffee roasting and coffee types. You can see his comments on coffee maker over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com .

What is Hoarding?

2008-01-24T13:57:00.000-08:00

Hoarding is a psychological disorder characterized by an inability to throw away any items. In some cases it may be characterized by an individual who continually purchases or acquires new possessions even when they are not needed. There are also individuals who are obsessed with one particular type of item, and become obsessed with compiling as many things as possible. For example an individual may feel the need to find as many toasters as possible. This is not someone who collects different styles of toasters, but someone who constantly feels the need to find as many toasters as possible regardless of whether or not they actually work.

Hoarding can lead to a number of problems that affect all areas of the individual’s life. The biggest impact may be on their personal life. Most people have seen one of these individuals appear on television on one of the more popular talk shows such as Oprah. These individuals are usually experiencing a number of problems in their lives, including their personal lives.

Imagine for a moment sharing a home with someone who has a hoarding problem. The situation may be so extreme that the person refuses to throw away old newspapers, broken dishes, and even empty soda bottles. This can put an enormous strain on a relationship as well as leading to some serious arguments and fights. In some situations this has led to divorces, or the spouse moving out of the home.

There are also medical problems associated with hoarding especially if the individual holds onto to things for a long period of time. Poor ventilation combined with a water problem can cause serious problems that lead to medical problems. The combination of factors can lead to mold troubles and because of the sheer volume of items, the individual may not see the mold. That may lead to different types of illnesses.

Hoarding is generally related to people who have an unhealthy emotional attachment to things that cross their path on a daily basis. Another type of hoarding relates to people who have problems with information processing in their brain. With this type of hoarding the person does not feel an attachment, but their brain simply cannot process the difference between trash and treasure. Rather than making the mistake of throwing away something they need, the person holds onto everything. They may want to throw away some of their belongings, but they simply cannot decide what can be thrown away and what needs to be saved.

Hoarding is a serious complex that may require psychological attention. There are a number of books available on the market that claim to cure hoarding, but most experts agree that individuals need to have counseling to solve their problem. Even with professional treatment, not all types of hoarding can be cured. There are certain situations where an individual simply does not respond to treatment. Each case is different, and depends on the situation as well as the willingness of the individual.

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.hoarding-advisor.com Hoarding

What’s In My Diaper Bag? A Humorous Look At A Working Mom’s Life In A Bag…

2008-01-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

As a business owner and mom, I regularly commute between my home office and a rented office space. Sometimes I begin to feel like a baggage handler by the time I make it to the office. Believe me, toting a laptop computer, diaper bag, stack of files, lunch for the day and my infant son is no easy task. I am hoping it counts as exercise though!

The diaper bag I carry seems to have taken on a life of its own as it has grown to its capacity. It definitely holds more than baby items. It is my lifeline!

I recently went through my bag hoping to scale down a bit. Here are some of the items I found:

•Diapers and Wipes and other baby things (it IS a diaper bag after all)
•Cell Phone (doubles as a teether, but don’t forget to lock your keypad so baby can’t call Tokyo)
•Tylenol For Baby
•Tylenol For Me (or something stronger)
•Business Cards
•Energy Bars (sometimes lunch is a luxury)
•Telephone Headset (device that allows you to breastfeed, talk on the phone and work on the computer at the same time).
•Loose Change (usually left over from a McDonalds drive-thru trip)
•Crayons and a Coloring Book (to keep my 4 year old occupied while I’m on the phone with clients)
•Dollar Bills (to bribe my 4 year old while I’m on the phone with clients)
•Duct Tape (for emergencies only….again with the 4 year old and being on the phone with clients)
•Sandwich Bag full of Cheerios (for baby and sometimes the energy bars aren’t enough)
•To Do List (in case you actually find time to work)

In my attempt to scale down, I realized I just needed a bigger diaper bag. I see no reason to fight it. My needs will only increase as my son gets older and more mobile. Diaper bag designs will just have to evolve to work for me!

Right now I am thinking one with wheels would be good. I can picture it now: a huge diaper bag on wheels that will hold all of the above items, plus my files, my laptop and my lunch with an infant seat mounted on top for my son.

In all seriousness, diaper bags have come a long way since my daughter was born. I did end up scaling down a bit and began shopping for something a little more sophisticated. Something without a bunny design would be a great start! I was really pleased to find a great selection of fashion forward bags for moms. They are functional yet hip! The available fabrics are out of this world and you can find every style and size imaginable. I finally settled on a bag that fits both my mom and business owner lifestyles. I feel like a million bucks now.

Well actually, a million bucks is a bit of an exaggeration. The diaper bag was a tremendous improvement to my “look” but I will still need to do something about my ponytail and sweatpants. That will have to be a different article.

Melanie Bocock is a web developer, wife and mother of two. She recently found a great new designer diaper bag at Lil Diva Bags http://www.lildivahandbags.com.

The O’hare International Airport Ufo Sighting

2008-01-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

By: Bill Knell

On November 7, 2006, several United Airlines employees reported seeing a UFO hovering above Gate C17 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Based on eyewitness reports, the sighting occurred sometime between four and four thirty in the afternoon (central time). The witnesses may have included a ramp worker, an aircraft mechanic, one or more pilots and some passengers waiting to board planes.

The UFO was described as a dull grey disc-shaped object which might have been twenty to thirty feet in diameter. That is a classic description and size for most daylight disc sightings. According to the witnesses that saw it depart, the disc moved upward at an incredible speed leaving a 'hole' in the cloud cover which was at about 19,000 feet on that day.

To understand what happened at O'Hare on that day, I contacted a friend. To assure his anonymity, I'll call him Bob. I have known Bob since 1988. In the spring of that year there were a number of UFO sightings above and near both LaGuardia and JFK Airports in New York City. I first became aware of these when NYC Fire Fighters contacted me. Working out of a Fire House near LaGuardia, they had a habit of sitting in lawn chairs on the roof when things were slow and the weather was nice.

The Fire Fighters began to notice strange objects that seemed to come in from the west and travel through the LaGuardia airspace. These objects were cigar-shaped and had a dull gray color. This went on for several days. One of the Fire Fighters called the airport, but they blew him off and said nothing like that had been reported. Frustrated, they called me after seeing my UFOS Over Long Island cable TV show.

After mentioning the sightings during a guest spot on WABC Talk Radio, I received a call from two excellent sources. One was an Air Traffic Controller and the other was Bob. I later met the Controller in person. After I was satisfied that he was an Air Traffic Controller working in the NYC area, we talked. He told me that the objects hadn't been tracked by him, but that calls came into his work area about the unidentified objects on several occasions. These were passed on to the FAA since no immediate threat to aircraft in the area could be discerned.

Bob spoke with me on the phone a few times before we met for lunch in suburban New Jersey. He was an experienced military and civilian pilot. More importantly, Bob worked as an Aviation Security Consultant. He made it clear that it would be impossible for him to say anything about what he did or didn't learn about the UFO phenomenon while in the Military. However, he agreed to brief me on procedures and practices that the FAA and Airlines had in place for dealing with UFO sightings. His descriptions were cautious and carefully worded.

"Nothing ever happens with known aircraft in the sky that the FAA doesn't know or find out about," he began. "If an experimental aircraft was scheduled to enter and pass through New York City airspace, they would be told as far in advance as regulations and procedures might allow. A log entry would be created." Bob indicated that he would have access to that information and that no such entry existed for the dates in question.

Bob explained that the best way to approach the Fire House sightings was to eliminate what the guys didn't see before thinking about what they did see. After working with me for almost three weeks, he eliminated most every logical explanation including weather phenomenon. Bob had a knack for attention to detail and loved throwing charts, graphs, weather reports and statistics at me to prove his point. Based on all that and my own investigation, we concluded that the objects were unidentified and probably under some sort of intelligent control.

I speak with Bob on the phone a few times a year. When I decided to take a look at the O'Hare sighting, I gave him a call. Although he has no personal knowledge about this matter beyond what has been reported online, Bob is always more than helpful when it comes to understanding UFO sightings involving pilots, airports and aircraft. He agreed to allow me to record our phone conversation and use a few quotes:

"People believe when something strange is spotted over an airport, all kinds of alarms go off. That's not the case, "he began. "There are federal, state and local agencies that have jurisdiction over airports in the United States. They make sure those facilities are safe and operate efficiently. Contingency plans are in place to handle emergencies based on the big picture. That picture doesn't include anything out of the ordinary. A UFO hovering over the airport would be an example of something not included in those plans."

"Nothing flies without Federal Government permission. Nothing happens at the Airport unless federal, state and local governments, airlines, employees and unions can agree on what should happen, when and how. Nothing works at an Airport without the cooperation of the Airlines. They can't get a single aircraft off the ground without the cooperation of their employees. That's the pecking order. It's not a process designed to immediately cope with unexpected situations."

Evidence of the truth in Bob's statements to me can easily be seen by the reactions to the eyewitnesses that called to report their UFO sightings at O'Hare. Those reactions ranged from laughter to a complete a disregard for the witnesses and the situation they were reporting. This one wasn't in the playbook, so it was going to be ignored until it could be ignored.

The National UFO Reporting Center was the first (as far as I know) to report this situation and they did so based on an eyewitness report filed with that organization. The report appeared on their website about a week after the sighting. That may seem like an unreasonable amount of time for the release of such important information, but I'm sure they just wanted to be certain this wasn't some hoax or silly prank. And from a practical investigative standpoint, it just takes time to verify something like that. I'm sure almost everyone they called from the Government Agencies to the Airlines had no interest in seeing this go public.

Agencies like the FAA and the TSA still adhere to the time-proven practice of pleading ignorance, denial or just stalling when it comes to any inquiries. Even Freedom of Information requests have limited value. There isn't a federal employee out there that doesn't know whatever they put down on paper may come back to haunt them. That's why many UFO Researchers depend on eyewitnesses and whistleblowers to get the most valuable and reliable information about any sighting or encounter.

Pilots, people that work at Airports and those who live nearby tend to be the best UFO witnesses. That's because they are used to seeing things fly around the sky all day and night. When something really different comes along, they can spot it right away. That is a simple and logical conclusion to draw and one being ignored by the news media. I guess it's just easier for them to pretend that the O'Hare UFO Sighting never happened, then to investigate the situation or try and explain it.

My own paranormal investigations have taught me something that might explain their apathy. No matter how credible the source may be, a piece of information is only as good as people's ability to believe it. After years of government denial and belittling of credible UFO witnesses, many reporters think that there just isn't any proof that we're being visited by beings from other worlds. They probably lack the confidence in their own abilities to try and convince the public otherwise. Even if a UFO landed on their front lawn, an Alien came out and asked for directions to O'Hare, I doubt most news people would believe their own eyes.

You can read more Articles about Paranormal Subjects at http://www.ufoguy.com

How Our Subconscious Works in a Nutshell

2008-01-17T15:45:00.000-08:00

The human mind can be separated into the conscious and the subconscious mind. Only a small minority has ever managed to tap into the subconscious mind, understand and utilize its power fully. Because the subconscious mind never needs to rest, it is boundless and unlimited in its ability to bring you success. However, if you do not utilize it, it will be left to atrophy. Everyone has tremendous mental capacity; it is up to you to make the most of it.

If you leave it, your subconscious mind will be like a garden that is unattended - the weeds will take over. Use affirmations to your advantage at the optimum times when your subconscious mind is listening.

Be the person you admire

Make a list of the attributes you most admire in others and incorporate these into your own life—one by one. When you surround yourself with positive images or sounds, your subconscious mind will imprint those images or record those sounds in your head. I’m not talking about your conscious mind, but rather the subconscious. Your subconscious mind is lying there dormant within you, just waiting for you to tap into its power.

The Conscious Mind

The conscious mind is the one that you are perhaps more aware of. It is the one you use to make decisions, choices and conclusions, or to put forward logical arguments and sound deductions. In order to succeed in life and get ahead of the competition, you would be well aided by the ability to use your mind more fully. This involves engaging the subconscious mind.

The Subconscious Mind

The subconscious mind takes instructions from the conscious mind without questioning, and takes action to achieve the directions through constant repetition and affirmations. It has one main purpose: to achieve the goals that you set with your conscious mind. Without such goals, it will not be called into function, and will simply be a dormant power left untouched.

This is an important thing to take note of, because the subconscious never acts on its own without direction. It is unable to reason, and simply accepts all the information that you feed it because it is unable to distinguish between what is reality and what is not. One of the best ways to affect it is by surrounding yourself with positive affirmations and convictions that will move you towards your goals. Negative information and environments do the opposite, and it is best to eliminate them.

Be the Person you Want to Be

Your subconscious mind never rests, even when you are sleeping. You can be the person you want to be by tapping into this power. Make a list of the characteristics and attributes you wish to achieve, and slowly integrate it into your life. There are many techniques for engaging the power of the subconscious mind, by making the conscious direction to keep it clear and without negative affirmations. A negative affirmation will result in your own self-destruction, as the subconscious acts on achieving the affirmations that you set it out to.

When you learn how to utilize and control the power of your mind, greatness is attainable. In order to be a winner, you must first think like a winner, and leave the rest to your subconscious mind to achieve.

Greg Frost is an authority figure in the subconscious mind field and director of ChargedAudio, a company that provides a variety of subliminal cds for self improvement. Grab your free "Ultimate Success Unleashed" Subliminal Cd today at http://www.chargedaudio.com/freesubliminal.html

Reality Shows We'll (Hopefully) Never See

2008-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

Just when it seems reality TV has hit rock bottom, a new and ever-more demeaning show emerges to set the bar even lower. Here are a few of the offerings that don't exist yet -- but just wait until the suits at FOX and UPN get wind of these ideas.

Ambush Boobjob:

In this exciting makeover extravaganza, we give a team of plastic surgeons a van, a bottle of ether, and one mission: endow, endow, endow! They'll roam the city, looking for flat-chested women to 'enhance'. Watch as the docs scope out their patients -- "Look, 'A' cups! Grab her!" Then, they'll pull her into the van, put her under, and kick her back to the curb with a fabulous new set of double-D's! That's 'Ambush Boobjob', where our motto is: "We make mountains out of molehills -- whether you like it or not!"

Electri-Date:

Every week, a new woman goes out on blind dates with three men. And a taser. Watch, laugh, and learn as the guys forget to bring flowers. *bzzzzttt!* Or fail to open the car door. *zzzzzzap!* Or try to 'get French', after suggesting they 'go Dutch'. *ssssszzzzzzzztttttttt!!* At the end of the show, the gal picks her favorite fella, who gets to choose between a second date or a trip to the local burn ward. Fun for the whole family!

Last Comic Starving:

A 'true' reality show, this show follows the lives of ten standups without day jobs, as they compete for gigs, auditions... and sandwiches. Only one will be able to scrounge enough cash together to buy groceries; the rest will either take up panhandling, or give up completely and settle into soul-sucking entry-level day jobs. Who'll be playing to packed houses, and who'll be delivering packages for a living? Tune in to find out!

My Big Fat Obnoxious Television Actress:

In this spin-off, we follow the trials, tribulations, and -- most importantly -- tantrums of a formerly-famous actress, as she attempts to claw her way back into the limelight. We'll find the most belligerent, heinous, loudmouthed... hold on. We already tried this one with Roseanne. And Kirstie Alley. And Kathy Griffin. We can't out-belligerent that. Never mind.

Pimp My Bride:

Still in the concept phase, this show could go one of two routes. In one scenario, we'll allow prospective husbands to compete for glamorous upgrades for their blushing brides-to-be -- facelifts, tummy tucks, nose jobs, and the like. Much like 'The Swan', for the already roped-in crowd. If we go the other way, you'll see husbands pimp out their new wives for cash and prizes. Either way, it'll be the most uncomfortable, gratuitously shocking show since... well, since 'The Swan'. Or that 'NYPD Blue' with Dennis Franz' butt. Keep an eye out for the pilot.

Queer Eye for the Street Guy:

Just because you're wearing rags and living in a box doesn't mean you can't be fabulous! Our dream team of light-loafered fashionistas take one homeless person each week, and transform their clothes, lean-tos, and shopping carts into stylish, modern wonders. Watch to see the guys work magic with burlap, turn paper bags into treasured decorations -- and you won't believe the substances that can be used as 'hair product', in a pinch. See hoboes go faboo, and get in on the ground floor of 'urchin chic'. It'll sweep the nation, one back alley at a time!

The Real M.A.S.H.:

First, it was 'The Real Beverly Hillbillies'. Then, 'The Real Gilligan's Island'. Why not bring back the most popular thirty-year-old T.V. show of all? We've dragged ten contestants off to Korea, where they'll spend twelve tumultuous weeks dodging bullets, sewing people back together, and competing for fabulous prizes! And we've even gotten Jamie Farr, the original Sergeant Klinger, to host -- because really, what the hell else has he done since 1983?

The Real World: Guantanamo:

This is the true story -- 'Truu-uuuee sto-ray!' -- of seven strangers, picked to live in a tiny cell and have all records of their lives erased from all official records. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting... well, we're not sure, frankly. The military won't let our cameras in -- but we're working on it. Maybe in time for fall sweeps.

Survivor:Brooklyn:

Forget the barren outback or a mosquito-ridden jungle. Let's see what sort of alliances form when we drop teams of wide-eyed tourists off in the middle of the borough. Cabs only big enough for two people, subways heading every which direction, challenges involving walking down long, dary alleys -- will competition reign, or will the survival instinct kick in? And if it gets boring, will we walk them over to Harlem to spice things up? There's only one way to find out!

Temptation Island: Greenland:

Sure, it's more interesting with the skimpy clothes and hot, sweaty nights. But if these people can create sparks through sub-zero temperatures and six layers of parkas, that's worth watching! Will they 'play it cool', or risk a bout of hypothermia for a roll in the permafrost? Only time -- and emergency treatments for frostbite of the extremities -- will tell.

About the author:
Charlie Hatton is an overzealous blogger and aspiring standup comedian offering smart, sophisticated humor about life, language, and the size of his naughty bits. He writes semi-daily and mostly randomly at Where the Hell Was I?

Epiphany and World Peace in a Cereal Bowl: The Law of Attraction at Your Breakfast Table

2008-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

I just had an ah-ha - one of those moments of enlightenment that serves as proof that I've successfully modified the way I think and see in recent years.

This morning my husband sat at the kitchen table slurping his cereal milk. Slurp, slurp, slurp...every 5 seconds. I can't stand noisy eating practices. He knows it.

I thought back to my previous marriage and how I would have handled it. I would have huffed and puffed, sighed in exasperation, made a speech about rude people who eat noisily, gotten all in a tizzy and tried to convince the world of why MY way of eating cereal was better.

Would the energy I would have expended made one iota of difference in the cereal slurper's actions? Nope. Would it have set me on a pissy mood day and possibly created a tiny crack in my thoughts that would allow more negatively tainted energy in? Yep. Would it have made the slurper want to shoot some negative energy my way? Probably.

The law of attraction says that you attract more of what you're thinking and saying. It's a law. You can't mess with it. Don't even bother trying.

I got up and walked out of the kitchen. No more cereal/mouth sounds. Peace.

I'm laughing now. It's a silly thing, but boy, does it drive the point home.

The world DOES revolve around me...the world doesn't revolve around me - both are simultaneously true. I had a choice to experience the slurping any way I chose AND no one in the world gives a hoot about what I think of slurping. Ah, life's great dichotomies.

My response to the cereal slurper is an amusing example of something much bigger for me. My ultimate intention or mission is to live in a peaceful home...and contribute in some way to a peaceful world. I intend to start my day off on a positive, peaceful note because the early hours when I first get up often set the stage for all the words I write, all the thoughts I think, and all the actions I perform that day.

I bet you never knew a bowl of cereal could have such a profound impact on helping to contribute to world peace. It can.

All good things start with one inspired intention, one small action, one kind word.

I have no control over others. I'm always in control by choosing to shift the direction of MY thoughts, words, and actions.

Now, go have some CHEERios to celebrate with me.

And mind your manners.

Article by:
Ann Zuccardy is a freelance writer and entrepreneur with 17 years of industry experience in marketing and technical communication. For engaging copy, blog consulting, or article ghostwriting with heart, soul, passion, vision, and humor, Ann's your gal. Visit Ann’s blog for more writing samples AND gift giving ideas at Vermont Shortbread Company.

Knitting isn't Skydiving

2008-01-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

You know, one of the most wonderful things I’ve heard lately is that knitting isn’t like skydiving. There’s very little that you can do when you’re knitting that you can’t take back or even accept as a flaw and move on. Skydiving, on the other hand, has some very grave consequences for mistakes. For those of you who skydive (or those who’ve watched it on TV), you know that every move is critical. That’s why you practice so much. Knitting has some critical moves, too. Fortunately, each mistake you make is an opportunity to learn a new skill and to learn something new about yourself.

We all make mistakes – every day we make a new one. Some are big, others not so noticeable. One of the reasons I hear so often for people abandoning knitting or never taking it up is that they don’t want to make a mistake. Sometimes it is the making of a mistake that they fear, and other times it is the consequences of having to fix it. Others feel like they could never let anyone see something that is less than perfect. Let me tell you a secret about knitting. It’s a human activity. It’s really ok if it looks like a human made it. Just about everything that’s been knitted has a mistake. Trust me. Even those expensive sweaters in the stores have mistakes. Chances are, you never noticed them. That’s because knitted items have a wonderful way of looking beautiful, despite the flaws. Just like us.

Mistakes are a way for knitters to learn a new skill. If you make a mistake, you get to see what that looks like so you can avoid it in the future. If you like the way it looks, you can incorporate it in a pattern and create a design element – making the piece uniquely yours. Plus, you get to knit more! I am a believer in the process of knitting more than the product you create. The time we spend knitting is a great time for us to connect with our Creator. The more time you have to do that, the better!

So here’s another great thing about knitting. It really helps you achieve self-acceptance. Self-acceptance is one of those things that people who are high achievers often struggle with. I know that I do. I am always looking to make myself better or to change some aspect of me that doesn’t seem to be quite “right.” I really seek other people’s acceptance of who I am. I know many of my friends who feel the same way. Of course, they don’t knit – yet!

If you don’t accept yourself, you believe that for whatever reason, who you are isn’t good enough. Or maybe some part of you doesn’t fit with your image of the ideal. That way of thinking is preventing you from achieving the “best you” that you are striving to become. It’s kind of ironic that our efforts to improve ourselves often prevent us from being our best. Simply put, every part of you is essential to make you who you are and to prepare you to be the best you can be. Even (and perhaps especially) the parts you’re not so fond of.

So why knit? First, we knit because it is relaxing. Once you get over the learning part, knitting is a rhythmic, natural motion. It is almost meditative in nature. Second, we knit because you get to make something for yourself or someone else. Third, we knit to be able to find some quiet time for ourselves where we can let our mind rest and seek the answers to those nagging questions. Finally, we knit because it helps us accept ourselves. If you can accept that you’ve knit something that has a mistake and still looks good, then you are on the path to accepting yourself – warts and all!

Article by:
Lisa Akers is the president of Be Still & Knit. Her company teaches women how to find peace and stillness in their lives through handwork. By discovering knit and crochet, women develop a new way to take time for themselves and share the love they have as warm clothing! Find out more about Lisa at www.bestillandknit.com or listen to her podcast at www.peacefulknitter.com.

Ginseng As A Cold And Flu Remedy

2008-01-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

Ginseng is a very popular herbal supplement, and is used for a host of problems. These can range from improvements in memory, poor concentration, fatigue, hypotension, problems associated with aging, mild depression, and even giving birth!

There are two types of ginseng that are used medicinally. Panax ginseng is also known as Asian ginseng. It is this variant that has a long history of use in China and other Asian countries. American ginseng is not considered as effective as Panax ginseng, though it may suit some people better.

Siberian ginseng is actually not in the same genus as Panax and American ginseng, and its active constituents are also quite different. Thus, even though it is nicknamed 'ginseng', it is actually not a ginseng. To get a sense of the differences in plant classification that a genus represents, look at the term 'homo sapien', as applied to humans. The genus is represented by the term 'Homo'. 'Sapiens' is used to name the species. Both American and Asian ginseng belong to the same genus - 'Panax'.

Another important difference between Siberian 'ginseng' and the Panax varieties, is that Siberian ginseng does not contain ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are found only in plants belonging to the Panax genus. They are believed to be responsible for ginseng's medicinal effects, and there are a number of different variants that have slightly different effects. The exact amounts of the different ginsenosides predominant in various ginseng plants does vary - even from plant to plant. Things like where the plants were grown, and how old they were when they were harvested, can all have an impact on their ginsenoside content. For this reason, it really pays to get good quality ginseng, whether it's the American or Asian variety you're after.

Whilst there have been problems of credibility associated with some ginseng studies, possibly related to the variety in strength and quality of the supplements used, there have been good quality studies as well.

Ginseng For Colds

One study, from the University of Western Ontario and the University of Alberta, was designed as a placebo controlled, randomized, double blind study of 170 people between the ages of 18 and 65 years. This is considered a good-quality study design amongst scientists. They used a standardized extract of American ginseng, which came in a 200g capsule, with 80% poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides from the root.

The people in the study had a history of getting at least 2 colds in the previous year. They were told to take 2 capsules of either ginseng or the placebo (they didn't know which they were getting), every day for 4 months. The trial started at the beginning of the cold and flu season.

The results were interesting. Of those taking ginseng, only 10% got two or more colds, compared to 22.8% of those taking the placebo. This was comparable with the results of common antiviral drugs that are used to prevent or treat flu. And of those who took the ginseng but still got sick, their symptoms were less severe.

Thus ginseng may provide a valuable immune boost to those who are susceptible to winter colds. This is especially valid for the elderly, as ginseng has been shown to have other important benefits for memory and aging.

For more information on the herbal medicine ginseng, click here. Rebecca presents articles on herbal remedies here.

References: Nutraingredients

A happiness poem by The Happy Guy

2008-01-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

This happiness poem first appeared in "A Daily Dose of Happiness"

by David Leonhardt

A happiness poem:

If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile,
Then my face would always dress in style.

If my ears could hear my computer screen,
From one to another, they, too, would grin.

My keyboard types for my eyes not my tongue
This happiness poem will never be sung.

But what of my eyes? Don't they shine?
Yes, but not from this poem of mine.

The pen is mightier than the sword,
But a pen can write only words.

The feelings I sense and the senses I feel
For keyboard and screen remain far too real.

My ears and my nose remain at rest.
My cheeks and hairline are doing their best.

But if this happiness poem could make my mouth smile,
My face would forever dress up in style.

Adult ADHD: Are You An Idea Machine?

2008-01-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

Chances are, if you have Adult ADHD, you're an "idea machine"--you come up with great new ideas all the time, maybe several in a day!

Problem is, the ideas are often unrelated to what you already decided to work on, and so each new idea becomes a distraction that takes you further away from your larger goals. What can a person with Adult ADHD and too many good ideas do?

I have Adult ADHD myself, and I have 10 great ideas a day, minimum, that are "million-dollar ideas." How do I actually implement one of them and get something done? I don't want to just stop having great ideas. I love thinking about new ideas. It�s one of the things I'm best at doing.

I say, "Okay, when I have a great idea, it�s my job to figure out how I can take what�s really great about that idea, and apply it to what I'm working on--that is, working on ALREADY." This is something every person with Adult ADHD needs to train themselves to do.

Here's how it works:

Let�s say I'm working on a website about Attention-Deficit Disorder. What happens if I have a great idea about a restaurant they should open up in my local town? I know it would be a great idea. Why don't I just go out and open a restaurant?

Well, I don't really want to open a restaurant. I've worked in a lot of restaurants, and I know that I don't want to deal with the restaurant business. For one thing, it's boring, and boredom kills people with Adult ADHD. But still, it�s a great idea.

So what I say to myself is, "What�s so great about this idea, and how can I apply the essence of what�s so great about this idea to my Adult ADHD website?

Do you see how that works?

As people with Adult ADHD, we tend to think in an all-or-nothing, black-or-white kind of way: "Do I follow the entire idea and go open a restaurant or not?"

But what you really want to say, to make your Adult ADHD work for you, instead of against you is: "How can I apply this great new idea to the project I'm working on already?"

You train yourself to do this over time. You can even do it in conversations when you're brainstorming with friends or business partners or whatever.

When random ideas come up, just say, "Hey, that�s a really good idea. How do we apply that to what we're working on? What makes that idea so good? Why am I so excited about that idea?"

In the case of the restaurant idea, the original idea was, "It would be great to have a Mexican Restaurant here because there isn't one in town and everyone wants one."

So, when I applied that concept to my current business, it became "What does everyone with Adult ADHD want that isn't being given to them?" If I can come up with that, then I'm all set.

The point is, if you can use your Adult ADHD to figure out how to flip your ideas up and switch them around to be focused on your bigger goals, then you're way ahead of people without Adult ADHD--because you have about 5 great new innovative ideas a day!

Just imagine how much progress you will make if you apply them to your main project every day, instead of getting distracted...you'll be a powerhouse!

To find out more about how to turn your Adult ADHD distractions into advantages, like how to use multi-sensory stimulation to focus in on your projects, just see below.

Tellman Knudson, a certified Hypnotherapist, is CEO of Overcome Everything, Inc and Hyperfocus. Stephanie Frank is an internationally known speaker and entrepreneur and author of "The Accidental Millionaire." Together they founded ADDGold.com, the foremost resource for entrepreneurs to take charge of their lives and financial destiny. To claim your special Free VIP membership to ADDGold (value: $127) go to http://www.adhdgenius.com/

*I manage my ADHD with participation in multiple education projects and supporting other authors and business owners. This keeps me plenty occupied in positive directions without having to medicate. ENJOY! ~Rebekah

Abe's Cafe - Littleton, CO

2007-08-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Abe's Cafe
(303) 798-7444
2479 W Main St
Littleton, CO

An interesting little establishment - very comfortable, nothing fancy, just nice people and good food! Hoping they get their air conditioner fixed - but on a nice day the patio is a great place to dine and observe the milling tourists in the historic Littleton district.

I have now had the pleasure of having two main dish items:
FRENCH DIP SANDWICH - absolutely the BEST in Littleton if not all of Colorado! The flavor is amazing, the meat is very tender.
KRAUT DOG - WOW! I used to be a huge Woody's fan, however this item now gets my vote!

CHOCOLATE BROWNIE - too huge of a portion for one person alone!

I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!