Al Gore should become a Vegan

Watch this video for more.




This is the actual report

This mentions the report and has a good analysis

Also watch thes documentaries
1)
2)
3)

Take a look at the talented Surgeorn

I wish I knew how they did that :)

Chemicals in our products that end up in our children

It seems like every week I learn some new possible danger related to our food supply, our toys, toothpaste, plastics, microwave popcorn and Teflon, any kind of pills, pressure treated wood, laundry detergent and I am sure I just scratched the surface when it comes to men-made items.

Every time I learn about these dangers, I am upset by the fact that 1) My family used or still uses some of these products 2) I can still purchase most of them in a store. 3) It's dangers had been known for years and nothing was done or ignored.

Over and over my confidence in the US government is depleted regarding health and safety standards. It's true that it's better then most countries but not by much. Here's a story that highlights double standards for US and EU from the same companies

Hazard-free products are sold in Europe, toxin-filled versions of the same product are sold in the US and the developing world.

I don't know if this makes any of you shake your head, but reading this I don't feel like our best interests are in our countries best interest.

• I started this blog entry when I pondered why the bottles I used for feeding my infant has bpa in it when it's clearly not as safe as the industry would have us believe. The same applies to the plastic containers labeled #7 that I had purchased not long ago and am now using them for dry food storage like beans or non food storage.
• Why does microwave popcorn and Teflon still on the store shelves?
  
• Why are there acrylamides in processed foods like cheerios given to kids?
• What about those rubber ducks having PVC's which have phthalates - which are now banned, but still, I am sure it was allowed for some time.  
• Christmas lights laiden with with Lead
• Lead in toys and jewelry
• Don't even get me started on procuce safety and use of conventional farming methods including GMO soy corn, etc, as well as synthetic chemicals that are sprayed on our food
• Cleaning products and their poisons
• Anti-bacterial soaps
• What about Nano?  What you don't know is in products you use daily may be harming you.
• Now concerns about Chinese drywall and autoparts made in china

I will continue to look at what's safe and what is not as part of selecting the best food and products.   I hope that the government will step up it's efforts at protecting the publics interests, but in the meantime buyer beware.  

All this makes one thing increasingly clear, we live in a world which is increasingly more and more toxic.  The true effects of all this will only be known years from now but you need to err on the side of caution and continually review what you use daily in order to minimize risk.  

The greatest way to minimize risk is by focusing on what you eat and drink daily since that has been shown to effect us most dramatically.  For these reasons, we choose to follow a high nutrient vegetable based diet recommended by Dr. Fuhrman which is by definition disease-protective.  

  

Plain Soap as Good as Antibacterial

Who said that antibacterial soap is better?

Researchers Say Regular Soap Kills Germs as Well as Antibacterial Soap. Salynn Boyles from WebMD reports

Plain Soap as Good as Antibacterial

Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health reviewed 27 studies examining the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial products containing the active ingredient triclosan.

"Washing your hands is extremely important for preventing the spread of infectious illness, especially at critical points like after using the toilet, changing the baby, or handling raw foods. But consumers can't assume that antibacterial soaps are better for this than other soaps."

But do Antibacterial Soap use lead to Antibiotic Resistance? Not outside a laboratory. Read more to find out

Baby scans: do we need them?

Blare Murphy, a BBC News health reporter asks
"Are ultrasound is just a waste of money?"

For many women, the scan which shows their unborn squirming, kicking and sucking its thumb is one of the important milestones of pregnancy.
In a paper published in Ultrasounds this week, retired Dr Hylton Meire not only argues there is no scientific evidence to prove the 20-week scan is worthwhile, he also casts doubt on the reliability of the principal method of testing for Down's Syndrome - the nuchal fold measurement.
These tests do not give a yes or no answer to whether a baby has Down's, but an indication of risk. Those deemed to have a higher possibility are offered an amniocentesis, where a needle is inserted into the womb to give a much more accurate analysis.

Every amniocentesis carries a small risk of miscarriage, so women who are not carrying a disabled foetus in the first place can end up losing a perfectly healthy baby.

Using various figures, Dr Meire, formerly of King's College Hospital, calculates that as many as 3,200 healthy babies are lost in this way each year.

For every 50 live births of children with Down's Syndrome prevented, he says 160 women miscarry non-affected babies. ... Read more here

Infant Choking and CPR - important to be prepared

A parent should know what to do in case of choking
After looking at info about infant choking and cpr here is what I found

Choking first aid
CPR first aid

Videos





Child CPR

Global Warming - where is the debate?

I knew about the effects of global warming on the planet since I was in High School, as I am sure many of you as well. Earth warms up, climate changes, life has to adapt.

The controversy is in what is causing the warming. Some people say it's CO2 emissions, while some say it's natural CO2 from the planet example: Volcanoes and humans aren't to blame.

The evidence is confusing because there is lot's of money at stake. Follow the money trail for Exxon Mobil, a huge oil company and you will see what I mean http://www.exxonsecrets.org/ One of the examples is the bio. of Mr. Milloy who publishes junkscience.com website http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=881 and is a key person the for the Free Enterprise Action Institute which is funded exclusively by Exxon http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=114

So why is that important? Junk Science is mostly focused on "debunking the fears" that Global Warming is caused by humans. The site even offers a monetary reward for anyone that can prove it.

So how can a person who gets money from Exxon Mobil be trusted to give the audience an accurate representation of the debate on Global Warming?

I believe the ones who say that human activity is not contributing to the warming of this planet are either protecting their assets or has not looked at all the evidence.

I think their argument is silly - just look here http://www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse/

Now I can agree that there may be some very good points there and one has to be a very educated scientist to evaluate each of these points, however there is an equally impressive amount of research that states that humans are contributing to the earth's accelerated warming trend. So who should we believe?

Confusing huh? It kind of reminds me of the debate of nutrition. There is an organization called the Weston A. Price Foundation which tries to tell us that animal products are good for us and Cholesterol is a myth. They also have lots of research to support their claim. If you look at the money trail, they too are supported by the industry they promote. What they want us to do is equally devastating to our health. Funny how things are related...

My opinion is that we as a society need to worry about living a lifestyle that is not wasteful. I believe in the term carbon footprint, which is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

However it's not just the co2, but everything like what we throw out each week into the landfills. How much we drive, and how many gallons of fuel we use. How efficient are the homes we live in and cars we drive? It can be better. Why? Because of Respect. Because if we don't our children won't either. And it's a downward spiral for society when we don't respect the earth.

For those of you who think that I am wrong, think about this - How can we not affect the environment when our activity has been so destructive to the earth itself? Very little of the planet in it's natural state is actually left. It's covered with cities and villages, not trees and plants. We produce trash, waste, and co2, chemicals, and pollute the waters. If we continue on this trend, soon there won't be anything natural left. We are killing the planet and we make excuses to make ourselves removed from this fact.

Some excuses are "I can't make a difference, so why try?", "We don't really know if Global Warming is caused by humans", "It's too late to change things, so why try?"

Do you see a pattern? The excuses we make enable us to continue without making any changes in our lives to help the planet. The people claim that humans are not the cause, want us to consume more, spend more, because it effects their bottom line.

Confusion breeds apathy, Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. Apathy breeds indulgence and affluence, and that's a downwards spiral that will breed a general state of decline.

What I really want is for people to realize that the real issues are not who is right about what causes global warming but how to live in a way that will be more natural and less wasteful.

9 Excersise Myths

WebMd Busts 9 Excersise Myths Here are some that I heard lately

Fitness Myth No. 2: Doing crunches or working on an "ab machine" will get rid of belly fat.

Don't believe everything you hear on those late-night infomercials! Harr says that while an ab-crunching device might "help strengthen the muscles around your midsection and improve your posture," being able to "see" your abdominal muscles has to do with your overall percentage of body fat. If you don't lose the belly fat, he says, you won't see the ab muscles.

But can doing ab crunches help you to lose that belly fat? Experts say no.

"You can’t pick and choose areas where you’d like to burn fat," says Phil Tyne, director of the fitness center at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center in Dallas. So crunches aren't going to target weight loss in that area.

"In order to burn fat, you should create a workout that includes both cardiovascular and strength-training elements. This will decrease your overall body fat content," including the area around your midsection, he says.

Fitness Myth No. 6: If you're not working up a sweat, you're not working hard enough.

"Sweating is not necessarily an indicator of exertion," says Tyne. "Sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself."

It's possible to burn a significant number of calories without breaking a sweat: Try taking a walk or doing some light weight training.

Fitness Myth No. 7: As long as you feel OK when you're working out, you're probably not overdoing it.

One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make when starting or returning to an exercise program is doing too much too soon. The reason we do that, says Schlifstein, is because we feel OK while we are working out.

"You don't really feel the overdoing it part until a day or two later," he says.

No matter how good you feel when you return to an activity after an absence, Schlifstein says you should never try to duplicate how much or how hard you worked in the past. Even if you don't feel it at the moment, you'll feel it in time, he says -- and it could take you back out of the game again.

Fitness Myth No. 9: When it comes to working out, you've got to feel some pain if you're going to gain any benefits.

Of all the fitness rumors ever to have surfaced, experts agree that the "no pain-no gain" holds the most potential for harm.

While you should expect to have some degree of soreness a day or two after working out, Schlifstein says, that's very different from feeling pain while you are working out.

"A fitness activity should not hurt while you are doing it, and if it does, then either you are doing it wrong, or you already have an injury," he says.

As for "working through the pain," experts don't advise it. They say that if it hurts, stop, rest, and see if the pain goes away. If it doesn't go away, or if it begins again or increases after you start to work out, Schlifstein says, see a doctor.

tv and your baby - latest study shows poor results in language

I have to admit that we own a few baby Einstein videos, and we didn't think twice about showing them to our son. However now that this study came out we will think twice. La Times reports

Parents hoping to raise baby Einsteins by using infant educational videos are actually creating baby Homer Simpsons, according to a new study released today.

For every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old were shown such popular series as "Brainy Baby" or "Baby Einstein," they knew six to eight fewer words than other children, the study found.

Parents aiming to put their babies on the fast track, even if they are still working on walking, each year buy hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of the videos. Unfortunately it's all money down the tubes, according to Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle.

We really didn't think these videos were going to give him that much more in terms of intelligence and vocab skills, but the fact that it can impede his development is very disappointing. Actually the The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children under 24 months.

The Dirty Dozen: - lighterfootstep.com

So you've decided to take the plunge -- to embrace lighter living, start greening your life, and do something to help the the environment. But where to begin?

Their article Ten First Steps Toward Lighter Living, is a good place to get grounded.

If you're ready to take on taming your shopping cart, we've put together a list we call the Dirty Dozen. These are twelve unhealthy or resource-intensive products you should consider reducing or eliminating from your life entirely. Once you've tackled these, you'll probably think of others -- and you'll be well on your way to a lighter, more sustainable lifestyle.

Styrofoam, Plastic food containers with Bisphenol-A (BPA), Tropical hardwoods, Aluminum in cosmetics, Incandescent bulbs, Petroleum-based fabric sheets and laundry detergent, Overpackaged goods, Paper towels and napkins, Plastic utensils, Disposable batteries, Household cleaners, Commercial insecticides

How Safe Is Your Printer?

Time mag asks How Safe Is Your Printer?

Apparently some office printers cause considerable indoor pollution.

A recent Australian study will have you thinking twice about waiting for those printouts — not for the sake of the paper, but for your health. In the small study, published in the Aug. 1 issue of Environmental Science and Technology, researchers found that nearly 30% of the 62 printers they tested — including laser printers from Canon, HP, Toshiba and Ricoh — emitted high levels of ultrafine toner particles, which were potentially as hazardous as cigarette smoke. In one Brisbane office, the authors found, the concentration of particulate matter per square inch was five times higher during working hours than nonworking hours, and about 3.5 times higher inside than outside, where a freeway ran 130 yards from the building.
...
The study's authors concede that more research is needed before they can make any recommendations about the public's printer-related behavior.
...
In general, concentrations of volatile organic compounds, like cleaning agents and pesticides, can sometimes be 10 times higher indoors than outdoors, says Weschler. With long-term exposure, these types of air pollutants can be linked to allergies and respiratory illness, or worse.

The EPA has not done any recent research on the health effects of printer emissions — Morawska's study is the most extensive to date — but Sharon Worthy of the U.S. Dept. of Labor says "historically laser printers have presented no known hazard in the workplace." But, according to the Washington-based nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which has conducted research on particulate pollution from automobiles, printers release the same type of fine particles that cars do. "What we need are standards up front so that the pollution we're subjected to don't pose health risks," says Jane Houlihan, the nonprofit's vice president for research. "Printers are just one of the many things we're exposed to during the day that are potentially harmful."

A Terrifying Message from Al Gore

A Terrifying Message from Al Gore:

BPA - new dangers discovered

As if we already didn't have enough to worry about, here comes new concerns about BPA (bisphenol A ).
The Green Guide has summed it up nicely

If you are like many readers of The Green Guide, you try and choose foods that are as free as possible of harmful chemicals such as pesticides. But if you consume canned soups, beans and soft drinks, organic or not, you also may be swallowing residues of a controversial chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) that can leak out of the can linings into your food. Nearly all can liners contain BPA, says Geoff Cullen, director of government relations at the Can Manufacturers Institute. BPA has also been found to migrate, under some conditions, from polycarbonate plastic water bottles. Depending on whom you talk to, BPA is either perfectly safe or a dangerous health risk.

...

Plastic water and baby bottles, food and beverage can linings and dental sealants are the most commonly encountered uses of this chemical. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay put. BPA has been found to leach from bottles into babies' milk or formula; it migrates from can liners into foods and soda and from epoxy resin-lined vats into wine; and it is found in the mouths of people who've recently had their teeth sealed. Ninety-five percent of Americans were found to have the chemical in their urine in a 2004 biomonitoring study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

...

Some scientists urge that action be taken now, regardless. "Science is not in the business of demonstrating anything beyond a shadow of a doubt," says Ana Soto, M.D., a professor and researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, who has found that BPA alters mammary-gland development in mice. "We cannot wait that long to discover whether this chemical is harming human reproduction and development." However, because government agencies remain unconcerned, it is unlikely that BPA will disappear from consumer products anytime soon. A California bill to ban BPA in baby toys and feeding products was defeated in January. In the meantime ...

8 Ways to Avoid Harmful Chemicals in Plastics and Cans

1. If you already own polycarbonate bottles, including the Nalgene bottles popular on college campuses, labeled #7 on the bottom, wash them by hand with mild dishwashing soap, not in the dishwasher, to avoid degrading the plastic and increasing leaching of BPA (see "Picnic Perfect Plastics").

2. Even plastic does not last forever. Look for cracks or cloudiness on your reusable clear plastic bottles. See The Green Guide's survey, "A Nalgene Bottle Poll."

3. Use glass baby bottles or plastic bag inserts, which are made of polyethyelene, or switch to polypropylene bottles that are labeled #5 and come in colors or are milky rather than clear.

4. Choose soups, milk and soy milk packaged in cardboard "brick" cartons, by Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc, which are made of safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) and also recyclable.

5. Choose canned foods from makers who don't use BPA, such as Eden Foods (www.edenfoods.com), which sells certified organic canned beans and other foods.

6. Eat fresh foods in season and save the canned foods for convenience or emergencies. The exception is some canned fruit such as that found in smaller fruit-cocktail cans, which do not require a liner, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.

7. Buy or can your own fruits and vegetables in safe glass jars. For more, see Amy's Green Kitchen "In a Summer Pickle".

8. Some wines have been found to contain up to six times the BPA of canned foods. While most wines probably don't, it's another good reason to drink in moderation.

So there you have it. As always with a debate where there are many sides and truths, theres a choice to be made. Given this information, does an individual act on this information or ignore it.

Here are some sources about BPA controversy

http://www.bisphenolafree.org/
http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=77083

I remember the time when I learned that not all plastics not microwave safe, and that one shouldn't microwave breast milk, as well as Teflon made pots and pans are now considered unsafe because of cancer fears. Treated Wood swing sets also a danger. Every day we learn something new. When plastic was first introduced it dramatically altered human history. It's virtually impossible to imagine a world without it.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that potentially all men made things are somehow dangerous to all living things and some non-living as well I suppose. So unless there is a grand paradigm shift in society as a whole this is the reality we live in today.

Recalls of bread from Sara Lee

Sara Lee Recalls Some Breads:

from WebMD Health
Sara Lee Food & Beverage has issued a precautionary recall of selected whole wheat breads that may contain small pieces of metal."

Cancer patient chooses Raw foods diet instead of chemo

A family is going to try a raw food diet instead of chemotherapy and it's making
headlines "The alternative treatment involves a diet of raw vegetables developed by Florida's Hippocrates Health Institute , which is dedicated to the belief that a pure enzyme-rich diet, complemented by positive thinking and non-invasive therapies, are essential elements on the path to optimum health" according to its website.

I looked more into the institute and their therapy sounds very much on track involving an all raw food diet, massage, relaxation, exercise, and more... They have some videos about them here
An Introduction to Hippocrates

Wow, that takes courage for a family to stand up to the doctors and say that they will not undergo chemotherapy. I am not sure which option is better for the child in this case since the cancer is brain and bone marrow, but a change in ones diet has certainly been shown to heal other types of cancer. If anything it's worth a try.

Here is some links to cancer and diet

Cancer and diet

• Increasing the Survival of Cancer Patients
• HealthDay News: Veggies Good, Cured Meats Bad
• Fruits and Veggies vs. Diabetes and Colon Cancer
• Pomegranates, Atherosclerosis, and Diabetics
• Ten Ways to Help Prevent Breast Cancer

Sushi and Fish Scare - TIME reports

Ahh Sushi, it's a dish like no other. You can wrap practically anything in rice and seaweed. However there is a greater concern now about the fish being contaminated with pollutants such as mercury and other pollutants. See the recent FDA updates on fish products from China
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/fishtimeline062807.html
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/seafood062807.html

Time reports further on what a consumer can do How to Eat Sushi During a Fish Scare - TIME: "Seafood and sushi eaters are navigating troubled waters these days Ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned imports of certain farmed fish and shellfish from China last month, seafood fans have been nervous — especially the huge cohort of raw fish eaters converted to sushi and sashimi over the last two decades. And several industry veterans and watchdog groups say those worries appear to be justified. "It's really hit-or-miss," says Jeff Nitta, director of operations at Hokusai, a Beverly Hills sushi restaurant that zealously monitors the origin and quality of fish it serves. "People do need to be worried, depending on where they get their fish. There are a lot of chefs and fish market owners who are passionate about doing the right thing. But differentiating between those that are and those that aren't is the tough part."
...
"The fish distribution system is so opaque and complicated that even many fishmongers and sushi chefs have no idea where their fish comes from," says Trevor Corson, author of The Zen of Fish: The Story of Sushi from Samurai to Supermarket. "They just trust their guy who trusts his guy who trusts his guy. Sometimes it leads to good quality fish being served, but other times fish gets to the restaurant and no one has any idea where it was caught.

To assess the rest of the fish that's on the market, here's what the experts advise:

1. Educate yourself, and ask lots of questions
2. Don't let your eyes be your only guide.
3. Be prepared to pay more to insure quality and safety."

So if you must eat fish, don't just assume it's clean and healthy. Since there is no sure way to know, the advice in this article is a good guideline. Sometimes we have to be reminded of the things we already know to put it into the present context.

Melanoma - What one can do to prevent it.

Web-MD has good information about the risks and prevention of a very serious condition.

Melanoma

A serious form of skin cancer, that can be prevented. Unfortunately I don't think many of us really understand what the danger is.

Experts talk about prognosis in terms of "5-year survival rates." The 5-year survival rate means the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years or longer after their cancer was discovered. It is important to remember that these are only averages. Everyone's case is different, and these numbers do not necessarily show what will happen to you. The estimated 5-year survival rate for melanoma is:⁵

• 98% if cancer is found early and treated before it has spread.
• 64% if the cancer has spread to close-by tissue.
• 16% if the cancer has spread farther away, such as to the liver, brain, or bones.

So there is a risk that you will die within 5 years once diagnosed. That's scary.

How can I prevent melanoma?

You can prevent all forms of skin cancer, including melanoma, by avoiding overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays.

• Stay out of the sun during the midday hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).
• Wear protective clothing outdoors, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
• Use daily a sunscreen with an SPF of least 15. Look for a sunscreen that protects against both types of ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays-UVA and UVB.
• Use a higher SPF when at higher elevations.
• Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons. Studies suggest that UV rays from artificial sources such as tanning beds and sunlamps are just as dangerous as those from the sun.³
• Set a good example for your children by always using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Perform a skin self-exam monthly to identify suspicious growths that may be cancer or growths that may develop into skin cancer (precancers). Look for any abnormal skin growth or any change in the color, shape, size, or appearance of a skin growth. Check for any area of injured skin that does not heal. Also, have your health professional check your skin during your regular physical exams, or at least once a year.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful. Exposure to sunlight during the winter months puts you at the same risk as exposure during the summertime.

Cumulative sun exposure causes mainly basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe sunburns, usually before age 18, can cause melanoma later in life. Other less common causes are repeated X-ray exposure and occupational exposure to certain chemicals.

Melanona is the most serious skin cancer. Lets see what else overexposure to sun is about:

How Does the Sun Change My Skin?

Exposure to the sun causes:

• Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions - caused by loss of the skin's immune function
• Benign tumors
• Fine and coarse wrinkles
• Freckles
• Discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation;
• Sallowness -- a yellow discoloration of the skin;
• Telangiectasias -- the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin;
• Elastosis -- the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about melanoma:	What is melanoma? What causes melanoma? What happens in melanoma? What are the symptoms of melanoma? How common is melanoma? What increases my risk for melanoma? Can I prevent melanoma? When do I need to see my health professional? How can I protect my skin from ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer? Can a test find skin cancer early?
Being diagnosed:	How is melanoma diagnosed? What is a skin biopsy? What is a sentinel lymph node biopsy? What are the stages of melanoma?
Getting treatment:	How is melanoma treated? Which medicines are used to treat melanoma? Will I need surgery? Will I need radiation therapy? What are clinical trials?
Ongoing concerns:	When should I call my health professional?
Living with melanoma:	What can I do at home to manage the side effects of melanoma treatment?
End-of-life issues:	How can I prepare for end-of-life issues? What is hospice care?

Another reason to avoid meats - Red 2G

Red 2-G:
is used to make processed meats look red—causes cancer. It was banned in Britain and Ireland. Read more here

Teaching Kids to eat healthy

Here is some good info diseaseproof blog
Teach your kids the importance of healthy eating habits early. From Dr. Fuhrman’s book Disease-Proof Your Child:

We teach our children to eat when not hungry. We encourage it. Many parents actually think it looks health for their kids to be plump and bigger than average. They continually encourage them to ignore their bodies and eat when not hungry. The children learn to eat for a taste thrill; it is recreational eating, akin to recreational drug use. They do it for a thrill and pay a price for it later. These children and adults have overeaten their whole lives, so that they have no recollection of what true hunger feels like.

The first step toward your child’s healthy eating is changing your own. Concentrate on changing the dietary habits of the parents first and gradually remove more and more of the unhealthy options. If your child doesn’t change his diet right away, that is okay. Stop trying to control his intake. Stop battling. Instead, continue to offer delicious vegetable dishes and other great foods that are available. If he chooses to eat very little of it, that is fine. The best way to handle it is to say, “You don’t have to eat. If you are not hungry, why don’t you go and play.” If he asks for something not in the house, simply tell him that you do not have any. When he gets very hungry, he will ask to eat and relish what was offered earlier. You might be surprised at how much good stuff he will eat because he is really hungry and not forced to eat something when he was not. It will also be easier if he sees the rest of the family enjoying eating the healthy food choices and healthful recipes.

And here are some more posts that’ll help you and your family lock into health eating:

• Preparing Your Home for Eating Healthfully
• The Secrets to Getting Your Children to Eat Healthfully

Diet and Macular Degeneration - Scientists see a link

NY Times reports that a new study has found that eating carbohydrate-rich food with a high glycemic index(measure of a food’s potential to raise blood glucose levels)— is associated with the development of Macular Degeneration disorder.

See some info on glycemic index here http://tinyurl.com/yv3tqw

Read more about the study here

Macular Degeneration - Diet and Nutrition - Medicine and Health - New York Times: "The glycemic index is a measure of how fast carbohydrates are metabolized — the faster they are broken down into glucose, the higher the glycemic index. Simple carbohydrates, like those in cakes and cookies, cheese pizza, white bread or other foods sweetened with sugar or corn syrup, are quickly metabolized by the cells, while the complex carbohydrates in brown rice, barley and many other vegetables are broken down more slowly.

Heavy consumption of foods with a high glycemic index has been implicated in the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers, according to background information in the paper, which appears in the July issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

A new study treated children with ADHD with high-dose EPA/DHA with positive results

The following study links increased levels of EPA/DHA to behavior improvement in children with ADHD.

A study treated children with ADHD with high-dose EPA/DHA

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurological condition in children. This pilot study evaluated the effects of high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the isolated plasma phospholipids and behavior in children with ADHD (primarily inattentive subtype and combined subtype).

Methods: Nine children were initially supplemented with 16.2g EPA/DHA concentrates per day. The dosage was adjusted dependent on the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA in the isolated plasma phospholipids at four weeks to reach a level normally found in the Japanese population.

Results: At the end of the eight-week study, supplementation resulted in significant increases in EPA and DHA, as well as a significant reduction in the AA:EPA ratio (20.78+/-5.26 to 5.95+/-7.35, p<0.01). A psychiatrist (blind to supplement compliance or dosage modifications) reported significant improvements in behavior (inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional/defiant behavior, and conduct disorder). There was also a significant correlation between the reduction in the AA:EPA ratio and global severity of illness scores.

Conclusions: The findings of this small pilot study suggest supplementation with high-dose EPA/DHA concentrates may improve behavior in children with ADHD.

Lighter Footstep - All the Nutrients We Need Are Plant-Based

Lighter Footstep - All the Nutrients We Need Are Plant-Based: "It's a Matter of Health. The bottom line: your mom was right. Eat your vegetables!" - That's what Colleen says along with some good written info about calcium, fat, and other nutrients as well as some misconceptions about eating non-living animals ;)

The Right Way to Praise Your Kids

An article on WebMD asks the question The Right Way to Praise Your Kids: "So what is the right amount of praise?"

Do we over praise our kids or not praise them enough?
The experts say that "neither extreme is a good thing and the quality of praise is more important than the quantity: if praise is sincere and genuine, and focused on the effort, not the outcome, you can give it as often as your child does something that warrants a verbal reward." also "Praising the effort -- not the outcome is better"

Here are some Praising Tips

Praising your kids is an important part of building their self-esteem and confidence. But there are some important dos and don'ts to keep in mind before you break out in applause that will help your child find value in your words of encouragement:

Be specific. Instead of saying, "You're such a good baseball player," say, "You hit the ball really hard and you are an excellent first baseman." Being specific is much better and helps kids to identify with their special skill, explains Berman.

Be genuine. Praise should always be genuine. Kids have a way of knowing when your praise is insincere, and you lose trust. Worse yet, they become insecure because they don't believe your positive words, and they find difficulty in telling the difference between when you really mean it and when you don't, explains Berman.

Encourage new activities. "Praise kids for trying new things, like learning to bike ride or tie their shoelaces, and for not being afraid to make mistakes," says Donahue.

Don't praise the obvious. "Try not to overdo praise about a child's attributes: 'You're so smart, handsome, pretty, bright, talented, gifted,'" says Donahue. "Parents and grandparents are of course going to indulge in some of this, and that is OK, but if our kids hear a constant litany of praise it will begin to sound empty to them and have little meaning."

Say it when you mean it. Saying "Good job," when you mean it, or "Boy, you really worked hard on that paper," tells children that, as parents, you recognize the value of their hard work and efforts, explains Donahue, and that you know the difference between when they work hard at something, and when it comes easy.

Focus on the process. Praise children for their effort and hard work, not for their inherent talents, explains Donahue. "Remember, it's the process, not the product that matters," he says. "Not all our kids will be fantastic athletes or brilliant students or accomplished musicians. But children who learn to work hard and persevere have a special talent. As I like to say, pluggers go far in life."

Why don't kids walk to school anymore?

A recent blog post raised an observation

Disease Proof: Kids Not Walking to School: "Even though one out of three American children live within a mile of their school, barely half of those students regularly bike or walk to class, researchers report." This report has the details.

I remember I walked to school all the time, but I do not remember many children my age walking with me from my neighborhood. So I guess there's some truth in that.

I wonder if this is due to the fact that we want our children to 'have it better then us' and we instinctively try to protect them and walking may be just too dangerous and sometimes uncomfortable (too hot, too cold, too far, too uncertain of safety) But maybe we should try to take a step back and think about being maybe too overprotective and not giving our kids the same experiences as we had. For all the reasons kids should not walk to school, we could design a simple solution.

Fasting for Health

Have you ever heard of Fasting for Health? I started looking into it recently and I want to share what I found. Fasting is a practice with a rich history and some benefits that cannot be overlooked. Take a look at Answers.com Fasting article

"Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions. It is also a spiritual practice in many religions.

Definition

Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions. It is also a spiritual practice in many religions.

Purpose

Fasting can be used for nearly every chronic condition, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity.

I Even found psoriasis and other skin conditions can be helped with fasting.

Fasting is an effective and safe weight loss method. It is frequently prescribed as a detoxification treatment for those with conditions that may be influenced by environmental factors, such as cancer and multiple chemical sensitivity. Fasting has been used successfully to help treat people who have been exposed to high levels of toxic materials due to accident or occupation. Fasting is thought to be beneficial as a preventative measure to increase overall health, vitality, and resistance to disease. Fasting is also used as a method of mental and spiritual rejuvenation.

Physiology of fasting

Through evolution, the body became very efficient at storing energy and handling situations when no food was available. For many centuries, fasting was probably a normal occurrence for most people, and the body adapted to it. It is estimated that even very thin people can survive for 40 days or more without food. The body has a special mechanism that is initiated when no food is eaten. Fasting is not starvation, but rather the body's burning of stored energy. Starvation occurs when the body no longer has any stored energy and begins using essential tissues such as organs for an energy source. Therapeutic fasts are stopped long before this happens.

Many physiological changes occur in the body during fasting. During the first day or so, the body uses its glycogen reserves, the sugars that are the basic energy supply. After these are depleted, the body begins using fat. However, the brain, which has high fuel requirements, still needs glucose (sugars converted from glycogen). To obtain glucose for the brain, the body begins to break down muscle tissue during the second day of the fast. Thus, during fasting some muscle loss will occur. To fuel the brain, the body would need to burn over a pound of muscle a day, but the body has developed another way to create energy that saves important muscle mass. This protein-sparing process is called ketosis, which occurs during the third day of a fast for men and the second day for women. In this highly efficient state, the liver begins converting stored fat and other nonessential tissues into ketones, which can be used by the brain, muscles, and heart as energy. It is at this point in the fast that sensations of hunger generally go away, and many people experience normal or even increased energy levels. Hormone levels and certain functions become more stable in this state as well. The goal of most fasts is to allow the body to reach the ketosis state in order to burn excess fat and unneeded or damaged tissue. Thus, fasts longer than three days are generally recommended as therapy.

Weight loss occurs most rapidly during the first few days of a fast, up to 2 pounds per day. In following days, the figure drops to around 0.5 pound per day. An average weight loss of a pound a day for an entire fast can be expected.


Performing a fast

Fasts can be performed for varying lengths of time, depending on the person and his or her health requirements. For chronic conditions, therapists recommend from two to four weeks to get the most benefits. Seven-day fasts are also commonly performed. A popular fasting program for prevention and general health is a three-day fast taken four times per year, at the change of each season. These can be easily performed over long weekends. Preventative fasts of one day per week are used by many people as well.

Juice fasts are also used by many people, although these are not technically fasts. Juice fasts are less intensive than water fasts because the body doesn't reach the ketosis stage. The advantage of juice fasts is that fruit and vegetable drinks can supply extra energy and nutrients. People can fit a few days of juice fasting into their normal schedules without significant drops in energy. Juice fasts are also said to have cleansing and detoxifying effects. The disadvantage of juice fasts is that the body never gets to the ketosis stage, so these fasters are thought to lack the deep detoxification and healing effects of the water fast.

Medical supervision is recommended for any fast over three days. Most alternative medicine practitioners, such as homeopaths, naturopathic doctors, and ayurvedic doctors, can supervise and monitor patients during fasts. Those performing extended fasts and those with health conditions may require blood, urine, and other tests during fasting. There are many alternative health clinics that perform medically supervised fasts as well. Some conventional medical doctors may also supervise patients during fasts. Costs and insurance coverage vary, depending on the doctor, clinic, and requirements of the patient.

Preparations

Fasts must be entered and exited with care. To enter a fast, the diet should be gradually lightened over a few days. First, heavy foods such as meats and dairy products should be eliminated for a day or two. Grains, nuts, and beans should then be reduced for several days. The day before a fast, only easily digested foods like fruits, light salads, and soups should be eaten. During the fast, only pure water and occasional herbal teas should be drunk.

Fasts should be ended as gradually as they are entered, going from lighter to heavier foods progressively. The diet after a fast should emphasize fresh, wholesome foods. Fasters should particularly take care not to overeat when they complete a fast.

Precautions

Fasting isn't appropriate for everyone and, in some cases, could be harmful. Any person undertaking a first fast longer than three days should seek medical supervision. Those with health conditions should always have medical support during fasting. Plenty of water should be taken by fasters since dehydration can occur. Saunas and sweating therapies are sometimes recommended to assist detoxification, but should be used sparingly. Those fasting should significantly slow down their lifestyles. Taking time off of work is helpful, or at least reducing the work load. Fasters should also get plenty of rest. Exercise should be kept light, such as walking and gentle stretching.

Side effects

Those fasting may experience side effects of fatigue, malaise, aches and pains, emotional duress, acne, headaches, allergies, swelling, vomiting, bad breath, and symptoms of colds and flu. These reactions are sometimes called healing crises, which are caused by temporarily increased levels of toxins in the body due to elimination and cleansing. Lower energy levels should be expected during a fast.

Research and general acceptance

The physiology of fasting has been widely studied and documented by medical science. Beneficial effects such as lowered cholesterol and improved general functioning have been shown. Fasting as a treatment for illness and disease has been studied less, although some studies around the world have shown beneficial results. A 1984 study showed that workers in Taiwan who had severe chemical poisoning had dramatic improvement after a ten-day fast. In Russia and Japan, studies have demonstrated fasting to be an effective treatment for mental illness. Fasting has been featured on the cover of medical journals, although mainstream medicine has generally ignored fasting and detoxification treatments as valid medical procedures.

The majority of research that exists on fasting is testimonial, consisting of individual personal accounts of healing without statistics or controlled scientific experiments. In the alternative medical community, fasting is an essential and widely accepted treatment for many illnesses and chronic conditions.

Resources
BOOKS

Cott, Alan. Fasting: The Ultimate Diet. Chicago: Hastings House, 1997.

Fuhrman, Joel, M.D. Fasting and Eating for Health. New York: St. Martin's, 1995.

Page, Linda, N.D. Healthy Healing. CA: Healthy Healing Publications, 1998.
ORGANIZATIONS

Fasting Center International. 32 West Anapurna St., #360, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. .

[Article by: Douglas Dupler]

Here are some studies done on fasting

A trial of fasting cure for PCB-poisoned patients in Taiwan.
Imamura M, Tung TC. PMID: 6425850 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sixteen patients poisoned by ingestion of a rice oil contaminated with polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in Taiwan voluntarily joined a trial of fasting cure for either seven or ten days approximately 26 or 35 months after being poisoned. During fasting, mixed juice made of fresh vegetables and fruits and milk or " tohnyu ," that is, boiled soybean juice, were given on a fixed schedule. All these patients showed improvements of their symptoms and signs caused by the poisoning. Some of them enjoyed a dramatic relief of their sufferings such as severe headache, lumbago, arthralgia, pain at the sole, cough, sputa, and/or acneiform eruptions. The eruptions forming abscesses or cysts were, however, hard to cure. Thus, the fasting cure was demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of the patients. PCB concentrations in blood were rather elevated during and after the fasting.


FGF21: A Missing Link in the Biology of Fasting. Cell Metabolism, Volume 5, Issue 6, Pages 405-407 M. Reitman doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2007.05.010

No Free Lunch and why you should think about this

I stumbled on this Digg Pharmaceutical Industry's Systematic Bribing about to be Exposed which was interesting since I was aware for a while that this "bribing" is happening.

Take a look at this excerpt from
No Free Lunch: "Why should doctors “Say No” to drug reps?

Your doctor’s job is to make sure that you are prescribed the most cost-effective drug. A drug rep’s job is to sell his or her product, whether or not this product is in fact the most cost-effective. Not surprisingly, information provided by reps is likely to biased in favor of their product. Furthermore, reps often provide gifts—food, pens, pads, and more food—in hopes of influencing what your doctor prescribes. Again, not surprisingly, research (as well as common sense) suggests that this works: Doctors who meet with reps and accept gifts from drug companies are more likely to prescribe their drugs – and this may mean a more expensive and possibly even inappropriate drug. There are plenty of sources of information available to doctors—non-promotional, unbiased, independent sources of information, so there is no longer any need for doctors to rely on sales people for this information. Unfortunately, these sources don't come with free lunch!"

I looked for a doctor in my area who participates and the closest one is like 15 miles away.

I wish more doctors knew about this pharma-dependency and take action like instructed on this website. I also hope even more so that they actually do some more research in how nutrition effects a patients health and drugs are not the only answer....

Nutritional Supplemets - Liquid form

I am looking into a product called Pancea which promises many great ingredients. I did research the manufacturer and it's Drucker Labs which makes IntraMax, and other products.

Initially this company sounds too good to be true, since the list of the ingredients is so impressive. What the company tells us on their website is the product was reviewed by many physicians and researchers. I will keep looking.

They have a section of video / audio talks called DoctorTalk

I listened to a few and they made sense on some level; especially the No Milk and the Excessive calcium intake: What is it and what does it do to the body? Listen for such things as "Too much calcium can be shown to associated with Parkinson's and Alsheimer's diseases.

Superior health is up to the individual

I totally agree with the statement "Superior Health is Up to You" "Do not expect to receive valuable health advice from your typical doctor."

In my experience doctors are very limited in their understanding of health as a whole. Some are very good at diagnosis while others take a more trial and error approach (I felt like a test rat sometimes) They are also good at knowing which drug on the market is related to the diagnosis and will often write a prescription. However when it comes to individuals health most are far removed. It is up to the individual to be a self-doctor, or in other words 'care' enough to understand the nature of their problem and to seek changes.

Personally I found that the advice given by Dr. Fuhrman is one of the best I have found yet and the most effective when treating medical conditions, most of which are incurable by current medical science.

Mind- all powerful but it sometimes needs a break

As I was reading the article
The Mind-Body Wellness Connection The point it makes is very good "people turn to mind-body techniques, such as meditation or prayer, to help relieve stress. Stress is known to both cause and contribute to certain conditions and often precedes serious illness. And in turn, serious illness can cause depression which leads to other illness and on goes the cycle.

One technique that is useful in making you aware of your thoughts, so you can influence positive changes in your mood and health, is called mindfulness.

Sit in a quiet room and focusing on your breathing, just your breathing and nothing else. Try working on one task at a time, not five. Just do one thing until it’s done. "

Another thing that I realized is that our mind needs a break from stress that we put on it. Mindfulness is a way to relax your mind. That's harder then it sounds, but very good to do.

About AIDS Cursed, Yet Blessed - TIME

The Time.com reports on how a group of people seem to have a natural immunity to Aids

Cursed, Yet Blessed - TIME: "Munyiva is one of a remarkable group of 25 Nairobi prostitutes who are the subjects of intensive scientific study. The fact that they have no symptoms of AIDS is not so amazing, since HIV can lie dormant in the body for many years before it begins its deadly work. What is surprising is that the virus cannot be found in these women at all; it apparently cannot establish itself in their cells.

A small number of people in other high-risk groups, including some homosexuals and spouses of infected hemophiliacs, have shown resistance to infection. But the Nairobi prostitutes, so frequently exposed to the virus for so many years, provide the strongest evidence yet that people can have a natural immunity to AIDS. If the cause of that protection can be identified, it could spur efforts to develop a vaccine."

Organic Food: Is it Safer and what are the benefits/dangers?

When one decides to buy organic produce there are a number of decisions one needs to make. Personally I agree with recommendations in ETL not eating fruits and veggies is more damaging to one's health then the potential exposure

But Diseaseproof.com ponders the question of "Is Organic Food Safer?" Disease Proof: Is Organic Food Safer?

One of the comments ponders the question of What are the benefits? as well as What are the dangers?

I will continue to look into these questions and post back.

About Healthy Fingernails &Your Health

Take a look at the article and your fingernail health. I know I need to...

'"Fingernail color and texture can reflect a wide range of medical conditions."
By Sherry Rauh

"Take a good look at your fingernails and you may notice subtle variations in the texture or color -- a touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, perhaps some rippling or bumps in the surface. These imperfections may not look like much to you, but it’s more important than you might think to maintain healthy fingernails. That’s because to the trained eye, nails can provide valuable clues about your overall health. And noticing and following up on those clues is the best way to maintain healthy fingernails."

FDA will Regulate Dietary Supplements

This just in

FDA OKs Dietary Supplement Regulations: "June 22, 2007 (Washington) -- Manufacturers of dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and herbs will have to test their products for purity under new regulations finalized by the FDA Friday.

Much of the testing is left to the discretion of companies, and the agency said it would not inspect all manufacturing plants to monitor compliance. But the rule for the first time compels supplement makers to confirm that what’s in the bottles they sell matches what’s on the labels."

So does this mean the FDA finally realized that there is a market out there for supplements, vitamins and minerals? It took them only 13 years to put this together. It makes one wonder about why they are doing this now.

Vertical farming in the big Apple - Than would be great

This article focuses on vertical farming. A new concept which is in essence a multistory greenhouse.

Read more here
BBC NEWS | Americas | Vertical farming in the big Apple:

"Professor Despommier lists many advantages of this revolutionary kind of agriculture. They include:

* Year round crop production in a controlled environment

* All produce would be organic as there would be no exposure to wild parasites and bugs

* Elimination of environmentally damaging agricultural runoff

* Food being produced locally to where it is consumed

And, says the professor, vertical farming would allow some existing traditional farms to be returned to natural forests. Good news in a time of global warming."

The project website is here
http://www.verticalfarm.com/

Simpsons Explain How Meat Is Made

Is a vegan diet deficient in Phosphorus?

Someone in my family recently gave me an article from a newspaper listing the benefits of Phosphorus in a diet. I was always taught that Phosphorus is important but I was never sure why. The article given to me was informative but didn't list any sources.

So I did some more research and this is what I found out...

Phosphorus is only one of the minerals required by the body for proper function. It is present in every cell of the body, but 85% of the body's phosphorus is found in the bones and teeth. There is generally no deficiency of phosphorus because it is so readily available in the food supply.

Excessively high levels of phosphorus in the blood, although rare, can combine with calcium to form deposits in soft tissues such as muscle. High levels of phosphorus in blood only occur in people with severe kidney disease or severe dysfunction of their calcium regulation.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002424.htm

We know phosphorous alone is not as healthy as when it's digested in food because food has many elements which work in concert when your body digests it.

For example
Go here www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez - Type "Co-dependence of calcium and phosphorus on growth and bone development under conditions of varying deficiency" into PubMed search field

Another good source is "Relationship to Phosphorus and Protein Intakes"

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1349&page=178

This article is very interesting since it studies the relationships of phosphorous and a vegan diet. Guess what, they found that "Diets moderately low in bioavailable phosphate – like many vegan diets – might be expected to have a complementary impact on disease risks"

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0306-9877(03)00228-7


Actually if you want to see the Phosphorus content in foods go here
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR16-1/wtrank/16-1w305.pdf
And of any mineral vitamin or nutrient for that matter
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR16-1/wtrank/wt_rank.html

The recommended daily dietary intake of phosphorus set by the FDA is 1000-mg. The Food and Nutrition Board set the official scientific US RDA at 800-mg to 1200-mg.

Under normal conditions, there is only a very small possibility of a phosphorus deficiency because phosphorus is both abundant and widely distributed in most foods.

So when someone is arguing that a vegan diet is somehow deficient in phosphorous, that simply doesn't add up.

About Ayurveda and Unani medicine

A coworker and I had a talk about the benefits of a Vegan diet. As we talked he said his family uses Ayurveda, a traditional medicine from India. He also Mentioned Unani which is related. Apparently the practitioners use food as a medicine among other things and it's is practiced for over two thousand years.

If you are curious here is some info.

Ayurveda Recommendations may include: implementation of lifestyle changes; starting and maintaining a suggested diet; and the use of herbs. In some cases, participating in a cleansing program, called panchakarma, is suggested to help the body rid itself of accumulated toxins so it can gain more benefit from various suggested measures of treatment. In summary, Ayurveda addresses all aspects of life--the body, mind and spirit. It recognizes that each of us is unique, each responds differently to the many aspects of life, each possesses different strengths and weaknesses. Through insight, understanding and experience Ayurveda presents a vast "database" of the relationships between causes and their affects, both immediate and subtle, for each unique individual

Unani medicine is closely linked to the Muslim emphasis on treating illnesses in hospitals with its origins in ancient Greece. The name Unani derives from Ionia, reflecting its Greek origins. The principles of Unani medicine are those of the Hippocratic school of ancient Greece.

As with both Ayurveda and ancient Greek medicine, plants are the basis of the main drugs. Given the Greek origins of Unani, it is not surprising that Dioscorides’ de Materia Medica, written by the Greek physician in about 70 BC, was the most important handbook for plant drugs. Plants are either used by themselves – simple – or in mixtures – compound.


I looked online on a treatment for allergic rhinitis related to Ayurveda since that's what I had and found a herb Tinospora Cordifolia that they use. There was an actual randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial with the following results.

Efficacy of Tinospora cordifolia in allergic rhinitis
With TC treatment 100% relief was reported from sneezing in 83% patients, in 69% from nasal discharge, in 61% from nasal obstruction and in 71% from nasal pruritus.

It's interesting isn't it that an herb is so powerful. Actually I was always interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where herbal therapy is an integral part of curing many ailments.

References
http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=355&xcntr=1
http://www.plantcultures.org/themes/medicine_unani.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8D-4DVTH0P-1&_user=107229&_coverDate=01%2F15%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000008279&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=107229&md5=349e2d1ca9c972e0cc63b5e2730a41e1