The Info Backstage

Put them in hot water and they grow stronger except for those that don’t.

On a recent trip to a distant state, my husband and I unexpectedly met a couple visiting the same sightseer’s monument that we were. After speaking for a while, one of those delightful and unexpected light bulbs went on and we realized they were related to two close friends of ours. So of course, we decided to hang out longer than we had planned and soon we were having dinner and talking as if we had to know everything we could about each other. We talked like long lost friends and because we knew we would probably never see each other again. We spoke secrets the way one does with their hairdresser or the person you sit next to on a plane. Instant intimacy secured with the sureness that no real intimacy or connection would ever develop.

They were a vivacious couple, happily married for over thirty years, developers of a thriving business and parents of three wonderful grown children. Eileen had been the “bad” sister who was always in trouble, the child, whose parents never expected to amount to anything positive. She had dropped out of high school and her parents had suggested that she get a job and not even bother finishing her basic education. Barbara, her “good” sister had breezed through school with excellent grades and a fine reputation. She had always made her parents proud. Barbara and her husband were our close friends. Although we thought we knew them relatively well, we had never heard about Eileen and her family. We thought it strange that we never knew that they existed.

Quite rightly so, Eileen and her husband, were very proud of their accomplishments. They were delighted with the fact that they had fooled the world and that they had played a cosmic joke on all who had predicted their failure. Following their own adventurous path, they had achieved the success that everyone told them they never would.

As the wine flowed and we continued to chat, Eileen started to talk more openly about her family history and more specifically, about her sister. Barbara, she said, always seemed blue and she was forever in some sort of psychotherapy and/or on mood medication for her depression. Eileen was proud of the fact that she had never needed psychotherapy or taken medication to lift her spirits. In fact, she was very clear that she couldn’t understand any one who did.

I listened carefully to Eileen’s version of life, of her certitude that if only one has the power of positive thinking and decides to go after what he or she wants, one will achieve his or her goal. It was incomprehensible to her that there could be any reason for anyone to ever “fall apart.” She lived in a world based on ‘wonder woman’ illusions, a world where all people had symbolic gold bracelets that could stop speeding bullets and ensure no emotional harm.

I have heard many people speak as Eileen did, with no comprehension that for some people just getting up in the morning is an act of enormous courage and that sometimes they needed all the help they could get just to make it through the day. For a variety of reasons, many that we know, and just as many that we don’t, some people are like tea bags: put them in hot water and they do grow stronger. Others, worn out, also like tea bags, tear and break, messily spilling their contents adrift in the boiling water.

After years as a psychologist, as someone who has “seen it all,” I know less about what makes the difference between those who make it through life with ease and those who don’t than I ever did. What I do know though, is for those that get through life with minimal scalding, I rejoice. And for those who need help, I stretch out my hand.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.

Dr. Dorree Lynn is co-founder of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and a practicing clinician in New York and Washington, DC. Dr. Lynn served on the executive board of the American Academy of Psychotherapists and she is on the editorial board of their publication, Voices. She is also a regular columnist for the Washington, DC newspaper, The Georgetowner. Dr. Lynn is a noted speaker and well known on the lecture circuit.

The fact is that round glasses have made a return to the market place. The fashion statement of today is now in wearing retro glasses that have a classic vintage look to them. It is very popular to be wearing glasses right now. You can not open a magazine without seeing the celebrities wearing eye glasses. And of course, the latest fashion in eye glasses includes the fabulous look of the vintage pair of eye glasses. You can view a wonderful selection of round frames for your glasses right online. It is often very difficult to find these round frames in the national vision centers in your own neighborhood.

You will be amazed at the great variety of choices you will be able to view. After finding the right pair, you just simply send in your prescription and your glasses will make by professionals especially for you. This is a great way to order new glasses and it will save you money. Their lab uses the latest in technology to make your glasses to perfectly match up with your orders. Everything is guaranteed to your satisfaction and they also offer a generous return policy. This is one on the leaders in the e-commerce of prescription glasses.

Born October 10, 1969, Brett Lorenzo Favre now has 14 years of National Football League experience. This Mississippi native was born in Gulport and grew up in Kiln, which was a very small town with less than 100 residents. This boy who grew up in a small town had nothing but big dreams that he would someday make come true. In his early years, the youngster grew up idolizing a pair of legendary quarterbacks by the name of Archie Manning and Roger Staubach. Having played football at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln, Favre began to get a taste of the game and he loved it. After attending college at the University of Southern Mississippi, he began making his way to the professional league.

One of the best known quarterbacks in NFL history, Favre began his rookie season in 1991 with the Atlanta Falcons. The following year, in 2002, he accepted a position with the Green Bay Packers where he remains today. Still retaining an active NFL contract after 15 years, Favre leaves little doubt that he is already a legend of the game.

Among the many recognitions that Brett Favre has received include being the NFL’s only three-time MVP (Most Valuable Player), which he achieved consecutively in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Additionally, he is ranked third on the all-time quarterback wins list, holds the fourth highest winning percentage and possesses a home record. He started 205 consecutive games, which set a quarterback record. One of the most interesting facts about Favre’s earliest plays is the fact that his first NFL completion was to himself in a September 1992 game against Tampa Bay. The event unfolded as Favre caught a deflection pass that he had just thrown before being tackled for a 7 yard loss.

Today, Brett Favre contributes to the NFL and also to the community. In 1996, The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation was established in order to provide aid to disadvantaged and disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi. Since it’s inception, the foundation had donated more than $1.5 million to charities with the help of an annual golf tournament, celebrity softball game and fundraising dinners.

Also in 1996, Favre married longtime love Deanna Tynes and the couple now has two daughters. During his free time, Brett is an avid golfer and is a fan of televised nature programs, crossword puzzles and fishing. In recognition of his great accomplishments in the NFL, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proclaimed November 29, 2004 as “Brett Favre Day.”

Mr Lear’s Dream. Hopefully a Dream To Come True. I have known L E Lear for over 40 years. At my high school reunion on October 8, 2005 I noticed he was missing from the event. He was working on his dream. I will get to that in a little while. I wanted to see him so I contacted Harold Knox, a mutual friend, at the reunion to see if I could get L E’s phone number. Success was at hand. L E and Harold still see each other.

The next day I contacted L E and we spoke for about 15 minutes on the phone. He was still as nutty as ever. He works out deals with Burger King, and McDonalds to get better pricing for buying bulk breakfast sandwiches. That’s my boy.

We reunited October 20 at his brother’s house in Union, New Jersey. We held each other. It seemed like we embraced for minutes. It was great to see him.

I was so excited to see what he was working on. He told me all about it when we spoke the a few nights ago. I still can’t believe what I witnessed. L E has been working on a model of Yankee Stadium. Some people work on model airplanes or cars or trains. L E is the first person I know of that is building a model stadium.

He has poured his soul, his heart and his body into this incredible project for four years. Sacrificing income and living any kind of normal life. Hey that is what this artist chose to do. His seven foot wide, 11 foot long and four foot high replica must be seen to be believed. The scale he uses is, one inch represents 12 feet.

His objective is to have Yankee Stadium, the current Yankee Stadium, refurbished, remodeled, and redone with a retractable roof. He had the roof already erected. This newest Yankee Stadium would have a walkway around an upper level that people could walk around. Each few feet of walking would provide a different sight of the field. There would also be train tracks that ran right up to the ballpark. Quite convenient for those that use mass transit to get to the game. The Major Deegan Highway would have easy access to leave the stadium. This would allow for easy departure once the game was over. Additional parking would be adjacent to the Stadium. Two parking areas would be attached to the ballpark.

Now get this. In the background, next to the stadium would be tennis courts. You would be able to play some tennis and then go to the game. Here is the icing on the cake. We all know that a new Yankee Stadium is in the works. We all know how exorbitant the pricing will be to erect a new house that George builds. We all know how important luxury suits are to a team owner. They bring in lots of revenue. Larry’s resurrected stadium, with retractable roof will have over 200 luxury corporate boxes. Check this out. There will also be family suits under the walkway only for families. These suits will be sold at a reduced cost so more families can get to the Stadium as a family.

. This entire project will cost less than the proposed new Yankee stadium.

So Yankee brass, save some money, keep the tradition and create a new type of ballpark with all the amenities. Every one wins. The traditionalists keep the old ballpark and the owner moves Yankee Stadium into the 21st century.

I have seen the conditions that L E has worked in to create his dream. Tight working area with little room to maneuver. Poor air circulation in winter and summer. His dream can come true. I love the idea. This replica is an incredible piece of work. Down to the finest detail.

I think Yogi Berra, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Thurmon Munson, Craig Nettles, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey and today’s Yankees like AROD, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera would love to see this dream become reality.

I’ve been reading a lot of postings to various message boards,
newsgroups and talkback boards on how evil Microsoft (often
spelled as Micro$oft or more simply M$) is. The foam-at-the-
mouth rantings after the publication on anything even remotely
related to that company are nauseatingly predictable.

The argument goes something like this: Microsoft is equated with
everything evil and foul in the world. Lucifer himself is kind
and gentle compared with Bill Gates, and every product ever
produced by his company has at least one hidden evil intention.
All of Bill’s products are purposely created to produce the
greatest amount of harm for the most people. Bill and his
entourage are planning to take over the world and destroy
everything and everyone, especially any competing companies.

These postings are actually very amusing. They are often so
childish, so silly that it’s incredible to believe that these
people are serious. Sometimes I wonder if rational minds exist
behind many of these messages.

For example, an article about the Klez virus (which did not
even mention Microsoft by name) produced some fascinating
replies. One reader wrote:

“Only Windows users would put up with such a scam. Windows
security is like building a house with no doors and being
forced to hire a security guard to walk around your home
while you’re living there.”

It’s fascinating how people can write such uninformed drivel.
Another reader had similar opinions.

“Most thanks for the viruses go to M$ and their sorry excuse
for an e-mail system Exchange coupled with their new, dynamic
protocol called VTP (Virus Transport protocol). Kudos to Bill
for designing such an elegant virus propagation environment.
Who needs enemies when you have M$?”

More silliness from an ignorant person who probably has allowed
viruses to slip through his defenses.

Let’s look at an analogy. Let’s say you purchase a car. The
car does not come with an alarm system, and the locks are of
standard issue. You decline to purchase an alarm system and
more advanced locks.

Now a car thief breaks into your car and steals it. Who is to
blame? The car manufacturer for creating a car with simple locks
and no standard alarm system? The thief for stealing your car?
The city for allowing thieves? The police department for not
guarding your automobile 24×7? Perhaps your child distracted
you before you locked the door – is the child responsible?

Or are you responsible because you didn’t educate yourself on
how to protect your valuable car? Are you responsible for not
purchasing better locks and perhaps an alarm system? Is it your
fault that you parked your car in a bad place in town?

Let’s look at another analogy. Suppose you bought a car. Now,
as anyone who has owned a car for any length of time knows, you
have to change the oil occasionally. You can forget all other
maintenance, but you had better change the oil.

I knew someone who had bought his first car. He didn’t change
the oil, even after several people (including myself) suggested
that it would be a good idea. One day his car stopped working.
He was very angry, claimed no one had told him anything, the
dealer was evil, he would never buy that brand of car again, and
other nonsense.

What’s the point? Microsoft has indeed been lax in designing
security into it’s products. There is no question about that.
However, the fault is not totally with that company, and poorly
designed security does not make Bill Gates or others in his
company evil.

There are many other companies with horribly insecure products.
Security is something that must be given a priority in product
development or it is often simply overlooked and under-designed,
and testing is generally not adequate. One simply fact: security
is generally not a money maker for these kinds of products.

Actually, until September 11th stressed the importance, it was
very common for IT managers to completely skip security in their
network and infrastructure planning. Even now security is not
high on many agendas.

Oh yes, most of my colleagues do think about security and are
trying to do something, but it’s tough to get managers and
others to actually put their money where their mouth is.

Okay, back to the point – security is a shared responsibility.
We all have to practice security. Users must install antivirus
software and keep the definitions up-to-date. Firewalls must be
added and used properly. The operating systems must be updated
occasionally, and security bulletins must be reviewed once in a
while.

It’s the same as if you owned a car, you are expected to read
the owners manual and bring it to the mechanic occasionally. If
you’ve got a house, you had better be spending some time making
some improvements. And if you’ve got a computer you should
learn about it. Otherwise, it just might bite you back – just
like a car, a house or anything else in your life.

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Every year it’s the very same story. In spite of cycling to the office, and an episodic hike, each skiing season kicks off enduring those painful 1st couple of trips in which I am left in the tracks of younger and healthier ski touring cronies.

Being unfit while touring it is unpleasant, and could be out and out perilous. To descend one needs some spare capability. A tired boarder is more likely to have accidents and fatigue is likely to be a contributory factor to accidents, such as falls and rock falls.

Surely there is a easier way to commence the skiing season, and a recently brought out 301 page book by Robert Heim, who previously wrote Ski Alps, seems to provide a resolution. Although directed at mountaineers the report is for the most part applicable to touring, with its arduous scrambles besides different hobbies.

Running, training for peak results is adequately researched and easy to read. It is a quality comprehensive guide which puts together some poignant detail. One could develop a specific training program or tune your present regime. Granted that it’s calculated for mountaineers, therefore some report could be irrelevant for touring, it’s definitely a guide to buy if you wish to do any of the long 24 hrs or multiple day routes.

Candida albicans (and other strains of Candida) normally inhabit our digestive system and genitourinary tract. A healthy person will have millions of Candida, which actually helps protect our gastrointestinal tract against many pathogenic bacteria. Our immune system normally keeps the Candida growth under control and in balance with the “friendly” flora.

Antibiotics, birth control pills, diet high in sugar; environmental toxins may cause a decrease in the friendly flora, resulting in a Candida overgrowth. Cnadida albicans will then mutate from the yeast to the mycelial fungal form and start to invade the body. The fungal state can produce rhizoids (tentacle-like structures). Rhizoids can penetrate intestinal walls causing microscopic holes, allowing bacteria, toxins, and micro-food particles to enter directly into the blood stream.

Because of its many and varied symptoms, this disorder is often misdiagnosed. Both men and women can be affected, but it is rarely transmitted sexually. Candida albicans is the most frequently isolated fungal pathogen of humans. Many chronic health problems are related to Candida overgrowth. These include, but are not limited to:

Genitourinary problems

Fibromyalgia

Digestive disorders

PMS

Muscle pain

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Psoriasis

Leaky gut

Food intolerance

Asthma

Multiple Sclerosis

Allergies

Sexual dysfunction

THE SPIT TEST

Want to know if you may have a Candia overgrowth problem? The “spit test” is an easy and economical way to see if you may have a yeast overgrowth problem.

First thing in the morning, before you do anything, or put anything into your mouth. Work up some saliva and spit it into a glass of water. Check every fifteen minutes for up to one hour.

What to look for: Look into the glass. If you see “tentacles” hanging down from your saliva, suspended cloudy specks, or your saliva sinks to the bottom of the glass – you may have a Candida problem. If you have not seen any of the above after one hour, you probably do not have a yeast problem.

The saliva test is a guideline. Always consult with your doctor if you suspect any health concern.

The best defense is a strong, properly working immune system. If you would like a copy of Immune Building Protocol e-mail Dr. Enders at dr.dkenders@sbcglobal.net. Please put “Candida” in subject line.

Dr. David K. Enders is a 1973 graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a medic before entering college. Dr. Enders has studied nutrition for 30 years and has had several articles on nutrition published in professional journals. After completing a Clinical Teaching Residency at Palmer College of Chiropractic he moved to the Chicago area, where he now provides nutritional counseling. His web site is: http://www.OptimalHealth.TopChiro.com.

Can you identify what plant this essential oil comes from?

Joey Dee and The Starlighters sang a Top-10 hit about me called “______ Twist” in 1962.

Traditional folk remedy uses me as a digestive aid.

I was the first LifeSavers flavor.

Clinical studies have shown that I significantly reduced the pain in irritable bowel syndrome.

In India they hang fresh bunches in doorways and open windows allowing the breeze to carry the scent throughout the house. The aroma is said to symbolize hospitality.

I am a popular toothpaste flavor.

My leaves were given as an “after dinner mint.”

Even one of Charlie Brown’s friend’s is named after me!

Some people rub me on their foreheads and temples to ease a headache.

I am one of the world’s oldest medicinal herbs, with use documented in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

A mojito just wouldn’t be as clean or refreshing without me.

A red and white striped candy is made with me during the Christmas holidays.

To view this brain teaser with graphics, click here.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m the ever popular, peppermint oil. This oil is used both for health benefits as well as for flavoring. Many people think it is not safe to eat any essential oils, and they are partially correct. Just as there are some plants that are poisonous, there are some essential oils that should never be eaten. Peppermint, however, is not one of them. Not only is peppermint oil safe to eat, assuming that you buy a pure grade oil, it is one of the most popular flavorings around. Think that is a coincidence? Think again. There is a reason after dinner mints are so popular.

Peppermint oil helps to stimulate bile, thereby aiding digestion. It reduces indigestion and colonic spasms by reducing the gastro colic reflex. So next time you eat something that doesn’t agree with you, consider the health benefits of peppermint oil. Something as simple as a strong breath mint or a drop of peppermint oil in water just might feel as refreshing to your body as it does to your breathe.

Resources:

1. Dew MJ, Evans BK, Rhodes J. Peppermint oil for the irritable bowel syndrome: a multicentre trial. Br J Clin Pract. 1984;(11-12):394, 398.

2. Spirling LI, Daniels IR. Botanical perspectives on health peppermint: more than just an after-dinner mint. J R Soc Health. 2001 Mar;121(1):62-3.

For recipes using peppermint oil or to see the Brain Teaser Oil of the Week for fun trivia, go to http://www.healthyaromas.com.

Perhaps you are among those many people who aren’t familiar with the benefits of this miracle oil. I don’t mean to judge you, but that’s the fact…most of us have been brainwashed so long with the wrong concept.

For decades, most of people assume that coconut oil has significant relationship with the cholesterol-rich plaques in blood vessels. This misleading conclusion was actually based on a study done about four decades ago, using hydrogenated coconut oil, not virgin coconut oil.

Unlike hydrogenated coconut oil, virgin coconut oil is derived from fresh coconuts without bleach, solvents, nor heating in the process.

Most of the saturated fats in virgin coconut oil is made up of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA), which has unique properties that are very beneficial for both food and non-food uses.

Despite forming cholesterol-rich plaques in blood vessels, the fats in virgin coconut oil are used by your body as an instant source of fuel. This MCFA is more easily digested than other fats found in other oils, because they are processed directly in your liver.

Many researches done lately show a long list of benefits of virgin coconut oil, that Mary G. Enig, Ph.D claimed this oil in support in good health in the 21st century.

F. Aziz is the owner of all-about-Virgin-Coconut-Oil.com, a site that provides many valuable informations around Virgin Coconut Oil, its definitions, derivations, benefits and uses in the form of articles, reports, recommended sources, books, products and others. Visit all-about-Virgin-Coconut-Oil.com and see whether this miracle oil could help you improve your health.

Thomas R. Cutler, who founded the Manufacturing Media Consortium in 1999, has grown the participation from 300 journalists to more than two thousands key clients, journalists, editors, trendsetters, and key business leaders worldwide. Cutler has authored more than 1000 articles for a wide range of manufacturing periodicals, industrial publications, and business journals including most of the leading monthly trade publications. Cutler is the author of The Manufacturers’ Public Relations and Media Guide. Cutler was voted #1 Manufacturing Journalist for the third year in a row. The firm has forty-two employees worldwide. TR Cutler, Inc., (www.trcutlerinc.com), is the largest manufacturing marketing and public relations firm worldwide and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Cutler suggests that manufacturers are rethinking lean. Before investing in more technology, manufacturers are making sure the processes in place are working at, or close to, capacity. Canada’s Management Magazine contains more of Cutler’s assertions and can be read at http://www.managementmag.com/index.cfm/ci_id/2523/la_id/1.htm.

According to Cutler, “The road to fulfilling a lean initiative begins with a willingness to do some serious housecleaning. Some do this cursorily, derive quantifiable improvements, and suggest that they have achieved their lean objective. However, a lean process has to be a continuous process of improvement if it is to succeed. After cleaning a section of the manufacturing house, it’s time to ferret out the dirt and dust throughout the rest of the enterprise. The bottom line is that if a lean program doesn’t touch all areas of the business, it won’t succeed.”

Lean processes are introduced in companies to eliminate waste. Considering how effective the process has been for many companies, it’s somewhat surprising to learn that only about 61% of Canadian manufacturers have introduced a lean process into their operations. Of that 61%, many confess that the effort has been cursory, managing to deal with only surface issues at best.

TR Cutler, Inc. www.trcutlerinc.com Thomas Cutler 954-486-7562