"Looming over all is the biggest risk for the Democrats. Albeit in a worthy cause, Obama has broken faith with American voters. He promised post-partisan leadership. He promised to moderate the warring tribes on Capitol Hill, and strive for common-sense, centrist solutions. Then, on this epic issue, he allied himself with — in fact, subordinated himself to — liberal Democrats in Congress. With help, to be sure, from a rabidly partisan Republican party, he has divided the country more deeply than ever. And he has pushed through a far-reaching measure that country does not want. In November we will find out what, if anything, it will cost his party and his presidency." - This was taken verbatem from a news source online after the democrats "huge win" on passing the health care bill March 2010.
Isn't it obvious that Obama came to power by design...not by chance or by the true will of the people? Is it possible he is the antichrist? People are charmed by him, but he is only out to destroy. An interesting similarity don't you think?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A funny moment in the clinic...
One of my optometry patients told me that "the reason they squint is because when they were young they lived on a farm and they squinted to keep the dust out of their eyes... it had nothing to do with not being able to see." My response? "I think one of us is in denial."
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Global Diet Poll
More people around the world now die from obesity than from starvation. - The World Health Organization
"Home grown." Having your own flock has its benefits. You get the freshest eggs possible, confidence in knowing exactly what you are eating, and satisfaction in knowing that by re-using the egg cartons you are doing your part in helping to save the planet.
In October 2009, the Reader's Digest commissioned a poll addressing how people from around the world felt about the obesity epidemic. Here are the results:
1. The country most aware of the dangers of obesity. - Finland
2. The country that feels the most pressure to be thin. - Brazil
3. The country where wives most want their husbands to lose weight. - United States
4. The county where husbands most want their wives to lose weight. - India
5. The country where you are loved just the way you are. - Hungary
6. The country that swallows the most diet pills. - China
7. The country most likely to ignore their doctor. - Switzerland
8. The country still trying to puff-off (smoke) the pounds. - Russia
9. The country most likely to blame a lack of willpower. - Philippines
10. The country most likely to blame the parents. - Russia
11. The country most likely to blame Americans. - France
12. The country with the highest weight loss IQ. - Mexico
13. The country where pounds are most likely to get in the way of a promotion. - India
14. The country where overweight women struggle most. - United States
15. The countries where being fat interfere's most with your sex life. - Australia and Mexico
Although obesity is a global problem, most cultures also have ingenious tips to help shed the pounds. And some are just plain common sense.
1. Thailand - Add hot peppers to your diet. They not only raise your metabolism, but they also slow down your eating.
2. United Kingdom - Say no to supersizing and ration your food. No one really needs to eat a half pound of burger at one sitting.
3. Brazil - Include sides of rice and beans; they're lower in fat and higher in fiber.
4. Indonesia - Occasional fasting may help break patterns of mindless eating. Or try cutting your intake by half.
5. Poland - Eat at home more often. People who don't cook at home tend to eat less healthy and are more obese.
6. Germany - Don't skip breakfast and eat fruit and whole-grain cereals.
7. Netherlands - Pedal to work instead of taking the car. Biking is fun and you'll be amazed at how many calories you can burn.
8. Switzerland - Eat a bowl of muesli's fiber for breakfast or a light evening dish. Muesli is a porrige or cereal made with oats, fruit, and nuts. It was created by a Swiss physician by the same name to provide nourishment to his patients. It is slow to digest which also helps to keep you feeling full longer.
9. Russia - Eat what you grow. Your diet will be more nutritious and there's not much you can grow that will make you fat.
10. Malaysia - Add the spice turmeric to your stir fry. It is thought to suppress the growth of fattty tissue and increases fat-burning.
11. Finland - Take up Nordic walking. It's a simple way to increase the intensity of your regular walking routine.
12. Sip more tea...especially rooibos. It's naturally sweet so it doesn't require sugar and will help keep you hydrated. You may just be dehydrated instead of actually being hungry.
13. Hungary - Eat pickles. The vinegar from the pickling process may help keep you thin. The acetic acid may have health benefits.
14. India - Engage in stress relief tactics. Yoga helps keep you fit both mentally and physically.
15. Japan - Take a cat nap. Evidence suggests that lack of sleep raises the risk of weight gain.
16. Mexico - Eating less at night helps you eat a bigger breakfast...the most important meal of the day. It also facilitates weight control.
17. Netherlands - Eat fish! Fish contain Omega 3 which reduces the making of cortisol; Cortisol increases the amount of fat around your mid section.
18. France - Talk at the table. Conversation slows down your eating and gives you time to realize you are full.
19. United States - Uh Oh! There were no suggestions. Why am I not surprised?
In October 2009, the Reader's Digest commissioned a poll addressing how people from around the world felt about the obesity epidemic. Here are the results:
1. The country most aware of the dangers of obesity. - Finland
2. The country that feels the most pressure to be thin. - Brazil
3. The country where wives most want their husbands to lose weight. - United States
4. The county where husbands most want their wives to lose weight. - India
5. The country where you are loved just the way you are. - Hungary
6. The country that swallows the most diet pills. - China
7. The country most likely to ignore their doctor. - Switzerland
8. The country still trying to puff-off (smoke) the pounds. - Russia
9. The country most likely to blame a lack of willpower. - Philippines
10. The country most likely to blame the parents. - Russia
11. The country most likely to blame Americans. - France
12. The country with the highest weight loss IQ. - Mexico
13. The country where pounds are most likely to get in the way of a promotion. - India
14. The country where overweight women struggle most. - United States
15. The countries where being fat interfere's most with your sex life. - Australia and Mexico
Although obesity is a global problem, most cultures also have ingenious tips to help shed the pounds. And some are just plain common sense.
1. Thailand - Add hot peppers to your diet. They not only raise your metabolism, but they also slow down your eating.
2. United Kingdom - Say no to supersizing and ration your food. No one really needs to eat a half pound of burger at one sitting.
3. Brazil - Include sides of rice and beans; they're lower in fat and higher in fiber.
4. Indonesia - Occasional fasting may help break patterns of mindless eating. Or try cutting your intake by half.
5. Poland - Eat at home more often. People who don't cook at home tend to eat less healthy and are more obese.
6. Germany - Don't skip breakfast and eat fruit and whole-grain cereals.
7. Netherlands - Pedal to work instead of taking the car. Biking is fun and you'll be amazed at how many calories you can burn.
8. Switzerland - Eat a bowl of muesli's fiber for breakfast or a light evening dish. Muesli is a porrige or cereal made with oats, fruit, and nuts. It was created by a Swiss physician by the same name to provide nourishment to his patients. It is slow to digest which also helps to keep you feeling full longer.
9. Russia - Eat what you grow. Your diet will be more nutritious and there's not much you can grow that will make you fat.
10. Malaysia - Add the spice turmeric to your stir fry. It is thought to suppress the growth of fattty tissue and increases fat-burning.
11. Finland - Take up Nordic walking. It's a simple way to increase the intensity of your regular walking routine.
12. Sip more tea...especially rooibos. It's naturally sweet so it doesn't require sugar and will help keep you hydrated. You may just be dehydrated instead of actually being hungry.
13. Hungary - Eat pickles. The vinegar from the pickling process may help keep you thin. The acetic acid may have health benefits.
14. India - Engage in stress relief tactics. Yoga helps keep you fit both mentally and physically.
15. Japan - Take a cat nap. Evidence suggests that lack of sleep raises the risk of weight gain.
16. Mexico - Eating less at night helps you eat a bigger breakfast...the most important meal of the day. It also facilitates weight control.
17. Netherlands - Eat fish! Fish contain Omega 3 which reduces the making of cortisol; Cortisol increases the amount of fat around your mid section.
18. France - Talk at the table. Conversation slows down your eating and gives you time to realize you are full.
19. United States - Uh Oh! There were no suggestions. Why am I not surprised?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
My Blue Cloud Birman
Legend say's that Sinh, a yellow eyed cat with long silky fur, became the first Birman cat when he placed his paws upon his master at the exact moment of his death. Then a miraculous transformation occurred...
This is Jolie... my sacred cat of Burma.
ABOUT JOLIE:
Jolie was born on October 31, 2005 to a Birman breeder in Frankfurt, Germany. Her mother's name was Flame' and her father came from a long line of champions. She is considered a blue point and her registered name is Jolie of Blue Clouds. I happily adopted her at the price of 550 Euros...which, at the time, equalled about $700.00 U.S. dollars.
She is loyal, playful, loving, affectionate, gorgeous, a great companion, and regal all in one. She is very petite and I love those little characteristic things about her such as the perfect placement of her front paws, one directly infront of the other, when she walks. Words can not express how much I love and appreciate the bond between us.
One day, I noticed that something was terribly wrong. We found that she had swallowed a sewing needle and thread and that the sewing needle had punctured her intestines in several places and then passed through her organs, embedding itself in her fatty tissue. She had exploratory surgery to try to fix the damage that had been done.
It is nothing short of a miracle that she survived. I believe in my heart that she lived for me and the bond we share. I visited her everyday of her hospital stay and I saw her willing herself to live. She may be small, but she is strong where it counts.
Now, almost two years later, she is doing very well. She continues to be my little snuggle bunny, and make me laugh. She keeps me company while daddy is away in Korea, and I love the way she gazes straight into my eyes as if she is somehow speaking to my soul. She's my little princess.
THE LEGEND:
"Originally, the guardians of the Temple of LaoTsun were yellow-eyed white cats with long hair. The golden goddess of the temple, Tsun-Kyan-Kse, had deep blue eyes. The head priest, Mun-Ha, had as his companion a beautiful cat named Sinh. One day the temple was attacked and Mun-Ha was killed. At the moment of his death, Sinh placed his feet on his master and faced the goddess. The cat’s fur turned white, his eyes turned as blue as the eyes of the goddess, and his face, legs and tail became the color of earth. However, his paws, where they touched the priest, remained white as a symbol of purity. All the other cats in the temple became similarly colored. Seven days later, Sinh died, taking the soul of Mun-Ha to paradise.”
THE HISTORY:
The modern history of the Birman is almost as shrouded in mystery as its legendary origin. What is known for certain is that, probably around 1919, a pair of Birman cats were shipped from Burma to France. The male cat did not survive the voyage, but the female, Sita, did. Happily, and to our benefit, she was pregnant. A breeding program was later developed to ensure the longevity of the breed.
CREDITS:
Photo and biography from Susan Provan.
Legend and history from www.catpert.com/birman.
NOTE:
The Birman, also known as the "Sacred Cat of Burma," should not be confused with the Burmese; they are two entirely separate breeds, both having their own wonderful qualities.
This is Jolie... my sacred cat of Burma.
ABOUT JOLIE:
Jolie was born on October 31, 2005 to a Birman breeder in Frankfurt, Germany. Her mother's name was Flame' and her father came from a long line of champions. She is considered a blue point and her registered name is Jolie of Blue Clouds. I happily adopted her at the price of 550 Euros...which, at the time, equalled about $700.00 U.S. dollars.
She is loyal, playful, loving, affectionate, gorgeous, a great companion, and regal all in one. She is very petite and I love those little characteristic things about her such as the perfect placement of her front paws, one directly infront of the other, when she walks. Words can not express how much I love and appreciate the bond between us.
One day, I noticed that something was terribly wrong. We found that she had swallowed a sewing needle and thread and that the sewing needle had punctured her intestines in several places and then passed through her organs, embedding itself in her fatty tissue. She had exploratory surgery to try to fix the damage that had been done.
It is nothing short of a miracle that she survived. I believe in my heart that she lived for me and the bond we share. I visited her everyday of her hospital stay and I saw her willing herself to live. She may be small, but she is strong where it counts.
Now, almost two years later, she is doing very well. She continues to be my little snuggle bunny, and make me laugh. She keeps me company while daddy is away in Korea, and I love the way she gazes straight into my eyes as if she is somehow speaking to my soul. She's my little princess.
THE LEGEND:
"Originally, the guardians of the Temple of LaoTsun were yellow-eyed white cats with long hair. The golden goddess of the temple, Tsun-Kyan-Kse, had deep blue eyes. The head priest, Mun-Ha, had as his companion a beautiful cat named Sinh. One day the temple was attacked and Mun-Ha was killed. At the moment of his death, Sinh placed his feet on his master and faced the goddess. The cat’s fur turned white, his eyes turned as blue as the eyes of the goddess, and his face, legs and tail became the color of earth. However, his paws, where they touched the priest, remained white as a symbol of purity. All the other cats in the temple became similarly colored. Seven days later, Sinh died, taking the soul of Mun-Ha to paradise.”
THE HISTORY:
The modern history of the Birman is almost as shrouded in mystery as its legendary origin. What is known for certain is that, probably around 1919, a pair of Birman cats were shipped from Burma to France. The male cat did not survive the voyage, but the female, Sita, did. Happily, and to our benefit, she was pregnant. A breeding program was later developed to ensure the longevity of the breed.
CREDITS:
Photo and biography from Susan Provan.
Legend and history from www.catpert.com/birman.
NOTE:
The Birman, also known as the "Sacred Cat of Burma," should not be confused with the Burmese; they are two entirely separate breeds, both having their own wonderful qualities.
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