dinsdag 27 december 2011
A Victim Treats His Mugger Right
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."
"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."
Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo - March 28, 2008
dinsdag 20 december 2011
13 Foods that Fight Pain
While many foods taste great, they are also powerful healers in a
vibrant multicolor disguise. The best healing remedies also taste
fabulous (I can’t say that about any prescription medications). Plus,
foods won’t cause the nasty common side effects that most drugs cause.
1. Cherries
Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective.
Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective.
2. Blackberries 3. Raspberries 4. Blueberries and 5. Strawberries
Dr. Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
Dr. Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
6. Celery and Celery Seeds
James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.
James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.
7. Ginger
Ginger reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. The recommended dosage of ginger is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. If you’re taking medications, check with your health practitioner for possible herb-drug interactions.
Ginger reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. The recommended dosage of ginger is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. If you’re taking medications, check with your health practitioner for possible herb-drug interactions.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric (curcuma longa) is the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries. In research it has been shown to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin suppresses pain through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects). Choose a standardized extract with 1500 mg of curcumin content per day.
Turmeric (curcuma longa) is the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries. In research it has been shown to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin suppresses pain through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects). Choose a standardized extract with 1500 mg of curcumin content per day.
9. Salmon 10. Mackerel and 11. Herring
Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. Fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies also demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.
Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. Fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies also demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.
12. Flax Seeds and Flax Oil
Freshly-ground flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s. Do not cook with flax oil otherwise it will have the opposite effect-irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain.
Freshly-ground flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s. Do not cook with flax oil otherwise it will have the opposite effect-irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain.
13. Raw Walnuts and Walnut Oil
Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain the same powerful Omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body.
Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain the same powerful Omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body.
When it comes to pain, food really is the best medicine.
Source:
Dr Akilah El – Celestial Healing Wellness Center
The Natural Health and Holistic World According to Dr Akilah Elvrijdag 9 december 2011
The Muff March against 'designer vagina' surgery
On Saturday morning, women will march down Harley Street to protest against the pornification of our private parts
"Keep your mitts off our muffs!" "I love my vagina!" "You've put my chuff in a huff!" These are some of the slogans of the Muff March taking place along London's Harley Street Saturday morning.
Its aim? To raise awareness of the increase in gynaecological cosmetic surgery – both on the NHS and in private clinics. The march, which has more than 300 supporters on Facebook, is organised by campaigning group UK Feminista and performance artists The Muffia, who dress up in nude bodysuits decorated with lavish pubic hair.
At its most modest, the Muff March is against the pornography-influenced obsession with removing pubic hair. But it's also about protesting against the sort of surgery that makes you cross your legs. Typical procedures on offer include labiaplasty (trimming or removing the labia) and vaginal rejuvenation (tightening – usually referred to by "designer vagina").
In the US this industry is worth $6.8m (£4.4m). In the UK the latest figures come from a 2009 report in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. It revealed that in 2008 the number of operations increased by 70% compared with the previous year: 1,118 labiaplasty operations on the NHS. (There were 669 in 2007 and 404 in 2006.) And that's just the NHS. The Harley Medical Group reported over 5,000 inquiries about cosmetic gynaecology last year, 65% for labial reduction.
Professor Linda Cardozo of King's College London recently warned of the risks of labiaplasty: permanent scarring, infections, bleeding and irritation. "The private sector is not recorded, audited or regulated. At least if you have it on the NHS you have to go through your GP and that's a gatekeeper." (Although one anonymous blogger writes on the NHS website: "I have flaps of skin everywhere and the whole thing is a total mess. I will never be able to be intimate again.")
I recently heard of a woman GP very concerned by the number of girls in their mid-teens coming to her worried about what their genitals looked like: she thought it was becoming an issue largely because of the fashion for shaving off pubic hair, which made them more self-conscious. Of course, there are rare cases where there is an underlying medical reason for this surgery, but they are just that, extremely rare. A doctor who has treated women seeking labiaplasty told me: "When you examine them, they are completely normal."
Some experts suggest this is a new form of body dysmorphic disorder. Others see it as a depressing but logical extension of the pornification of our culture. As it becomes more acceptable for young people to watch porn (where a "standardised" genital appearance is encouraged and many of the women have no pubic hair), so young women having their first sexual experiences are being measuring – and measuring themselves – against this weird porn "norm". As one woman who has sought surgery says: "I browsed through one of my brother's Playboys to see what the girls looked like. Some seemed to have very small or almost no labia."
In a world where not even your labia can ever be pretty enough, it's time to fight back. Forward march, muffs!
zaterdag 26 november 2011
Happy 69 Year Old Lady Has Not Used Money For 15 Years
Beautiful article of a lady who certainly does not look 69 years old at all!
(By odditycentral.com)
Heidemarie
Schwermer, a 69-year-old woman from Germany, gave up using money 15
years ago and says she’s been much happier ever since.
Heidemarie’s
incredible story began 22 years ago, when she, a middle-aged secondary
school teacher emerging from a difficult marriage, took her two
children and moved to the city of Dortmund, in Germany’s Ruhr area. One
of the first things she noticed was the large number of homeless
people, and this shocked her so much that she decided to actually do
something about it. She had always believed the homeless didn’t need
actual money to be accepted back into society, only a chance to empower
themselves by making themselves useful, so she opened a Tauschring (swap shop), called “Gib und Nimm” (Give and Take).
Her
small venture was a place where anyone could trade stuff and skills
for other things and skills they needed, without a single coin or
banknote changing hands. Old clothes could be traded in return for
kitchen appliances, and car service rendered in return for plumbing
services, and so on. The idea didn’t really attract many of Dortmund’s
homeless, because, as some of them told her to her face, they didn’t
feel an educated middle-class woman could relate to their situation.
Instead, her small shop was assaulted by many of the city’s unemployed
and retired folk eager to trade their skills and old stuff for something
they needed. Heidemarie Schwermer’s Tauschring eventually became
somewhat of a phenomenon in Dortmund and even prompted its creator to
ask herself some questions about the life she was living.
She
started to realize she was living with a lot of stuff she didn’t
really need and initially decided not to buy anything else without
giving something away. Then she realized how unhappy she was with her
work and made the connection between this feeling and the physical
symptoms (backache and constant illness) she was feeling, so she decided
to take up other jobs. She began washing dishes for 10 Deutchmarks an
hour, and despite many were telling her things like “You went to
university, you studied to do this?”, she felt good about herself, and
didn’t feel like she should be valued more because of her studies than
someone working in a kitchen. By 1995, the Tauschring had changed her
life so much that she was spending virtually nothing, as everything she
needed seemed to find its way into her life.
So
in 1996. she took the biggest decision of her life: to live without
money. Her children had moved out so she sold the apartment in Dortmund
and decided to live nomadically, trading things and services for
everything she needed. It was supposed to be a 12-month experiment, but
found herself loving it so much that she just couldn’t give it up. 15
years later, she still lives according to the principles of Gib und
Nimm, doing various chores for accommodation in the houses of various
members of the Tauschring, and loving every minute of it. Schwermer has
written two books about her experience of living without money and
asked her publisher to give the money to charity so it can make many
people happy instead of just one. She’s just happy being healthier and
better off than ever before.
All
of her belongings fit into a single-back suitcase and a rucksack, she
has emergency savings of €200 and any other money she comes across, she
gives away. Heidemarie doesn’t even have health insurance as
she didn’t want to be accused of stealing from the state, and says she
relies on the power of self-healing whenever she gets a little sick.
maandag 14 november 2011
Aan de hemelpoort
Wanneer iedereen op aarde dood was en voor de hemelpoort aan het wachten was, verscheen god die zei: "Ik wil dat de mannen twee rijen maken. Eén rij voor de mannen die het ware hoofd van het gezin waren en een andere rij voor de mannen die onder de sloef van hun vrouw lagen. Alle vrouwen rapporteren bij Sint-Pieter."
Zodra de vrouwen weg waren bevonden er zich twee rijen mannen. De rij met de mannen die onder de sloef lagen was kilometers lang en in de rij met de mannen die waarlijk het hoofd van het gezin waren stond welgeteld één man.
God zei tegen die lange rij mannen dat ze zich moesten schamen, dat hij hen had gemaakt om de leiding te nemen. "Jullie waren niet gehoorzaam en voldoen niet aan mijn wens."
"Slechts één van jullie voldoet. Leer van hem!"
God richtte zich vervolgens naar die ene man en vroeg hoe hij erin geslaagd was om als enige in deze rij te staan?
De man antwoordde: "Ik moest hier gaan staan van mijn vrouw."
Zodra de vrouwen weg waren bevonden er zich twee rijen mannen. De rij met de mannen die onder de sloef lagen was kilometers lang en in de rij met de mannen die waarlijk het hoofd van het gezin waren stond welgeteld één man.
God zei tegen die lange rij mannen dat ze zich moesten schamen, dat hij hen had gemaakt om de leiding te nemen. "Jullie waren niet gehoorzaam en voldoen niet aan mijn wens."
"Slechts één van jullie voldoet. Leer van hem!"
God richtte zich vervolgens naar die ene man en vroeg hoe hij erin geslaagd was om als enige in deze rij te staan?
De man antwoordde: "Ik moest hier gaan staan van mijn vrouw."
dinsdag 25 oktober 2011
New Fad in Japan Promises to Make Your Teeth Look Worse
Most people fly to Japan for medical and cosmetic procedures
that might otherwise bankrupt you in the States. But people in Japan
apparently stay in their country and pay to look worse.
In Japan, having perfect teeth is often frowned upon as it is often seen as intimidating to others who might be tempted to strike up a conversation. The result is “imperfect” veneers — “Tsuke-yaeba,” or “stick-on crooked teeth.”
The procedure is done at a dental salon known as Plaisir and involves gluing the fake teeth directly onto the real teeth. The procedure, which costs ¥30,000, or about $390, is not advised, says Tokyo orthodontist Masaru Iwatsuki.
Teeth need to breathe, he says, and by gluing fake ones directly onto the real ones you run the risk of permanent damage. Of course, he’s not too concerned. He goes on to say that it’s a passing fade, and will fade away within six months.
By Lycurgus on 25-10-2011
In Japan, having perfect teeth is often frowned upon as it is often seen as intimidating to others who might be tempted to strike up a conversation. The result is “imperfect” veneers — “Tsuke-yaeba,” or “stick-on crooked teeth.”
The procedure is done at a dental salon known as Plaisir and involves gluing the fake teeth directly onto the real teeth. The procedure, which costs ¥30,000, or about $390, is not advised, says Tokyo orthodontist Masaru Iwatsuki.
Teeth need to breathe, he says, and by gluing fake ones directly onto the real ones you run the risk of permanent damage. Of course, he’s not too concerned. He goes on to say that it’s a passing fade, and will fade away within six months.
By Lycurgus on 25-10-2011
dinsdag 18 oktober 2011
De Occupy Wall Street beweging groeit en ontwikkelt zich. Reflecties van een Occupy Wall Street betoger.
De Occupy Wall Street beweging groeit en ontwikkelt zich. Reflecties van een Occupy Wall Street betoger.
Liberty
Plaza wemelt van de mensen die zich verzamelen voor bijeenkomsten,
praten over politiek, of bij elkaar komen in werkteams. Driehonderd
bezetters luisteren aandachtig naar een lezing over participerende economie,
terwijl anderen poseren voor foto’s met het enorme gouden kalf, gemaakt
en geschonken door lokale interreligieuze leiders. Er komen mensen
langs die op weg zijn naar hun werk, reizigers die uit de tourbus
stappen om foto’s te maken, studenten van lokale middelbare scholen die
worden rondgeleid. Er zijn mensen van de Bronx en Bed-Stuy, Minneapolis
en Madrid. Mensen doen aan yoga, geven les in compost-technieken, maken
het plein schoon, en hebben een livestream
van de bezetting voor miljoenen kijkers wereldwijd. Sommigen lukt het
zelfs om een paar uur te slapen te midden van alle commotie.
Gisternacht,
tijden een telefoongesprek met een journalist (die twee weken geleden
onze telefoontjes niet wilde beantwoorden, maar ons nu smeekt om iets te
zeggen), zag ik een geïmproviseerde demonstratie bij de befaamde
Charging Bull. Het was slechts enkele straten van een Occupy Wall Street
kunsttentoonstelling, die toevallig aan de overkant van de straat
plaatsvond van een torenhoog financieel gebouw met een spandoek met de
slogan – “Banken
werden gered van de ondergang, en wij zijn verraden.” Het centrum van
Manhattan is een bezette zone, een bruisend revolutionair stadscentrum.
Mensen voeren actie op de weg, breiden het uit, en voeren de druk op. We
maken de beweging een deel van ons leven, en ons leven een deel van de
beweging.
In meer dan 100 steden in de Verenigde Staten
zijn er nu actieve bezettingen, en meer dan 1300 steden in de VS zijn
bezig met planningen hiervoor. Honderden steden in de Verenigde Staten,
en meer dan 1500 steden in de hele wereld, hebben gisteren op 15 oktober
gezamenlijk demonstraties gehouden. Vakbonden en maatschappelijke
organisaties hebben zich aangesloten bij de actie, en nationale
organisaties proberen te beslissen hoe ze de beweging het beste kunnen
steunen zonder het te hinderen of tegen te werken (wat eerlijk gezegd
onmogelijk is, al zouden ze het proberen).
De geleerden blijven
gissen, terwijl politici als kippen zonder kop rondrennen, proberen uit
te vinden hoe ze ons kunnen gebruiken. En ja, ze hebben het over ons in
het Congres en in het Witte Huis, en ze sturen zelfs hun boodschappers
naar de bezetting.
Ze zouden dom zijn als ze het niet deden. We zijn aan het winnen.
Van
tijd tot tijd, in de loop van een enorme strijd, hebben de strijders
die gedreven, moe, uitgeput zijn een periode waarin ze even stoppen en
een denkmoment hebben, opgewekt raken en naar de toekomst kijken. Ik had
zo’n moment een paar dagen geleden, en toen raakte het me – als een
slag tegen het achterhoofd. We zijn aan het ontwikkelen. We zijn aan het
winnen.
Natuurlijk, we hebben de overheidsinstellingen niet bezet
en ingenomen, hebben niet alle banken en de klassen die ze beheersen
gebroken, hebben zelfs geen concrete hervormingen teweeggebracht of
solide instellingen bedacht om onze overwinningen te beschermen. We zijn
niet eens dichtbij het einde van de actie of bij de wereld waarin we
willen leven.
Maar – samen met revolutionairen over de hele wereld
– hebben wij geholpen het verborgen en sluimerende potentieel van
miljoenen mensen te ontluiken, mensen die nu klaar zijn om weer te
geloven in een alternatief. We hebben de hoop op een nieuwe samenleving
nieuw leven ingeblazen, hebben een klein gat geslagen in de hegemonie
van cynisme, hebben wat plaats in onze harten en onze hersenen
vrijgemaakt om de kracht te verzamelen om te vechten en te dromen. Wat
een maand geleden onmogelijk leek, is nu de realiteit.
En toen raakte het tweede deel van de gedachte me: Als we aan het winnen zijn, wat willen
we dan?
we dan?
Wat willen we?
De media en politici noemen ons warhoofden, en zeggen dat we verward zijn. Ze beweren dat we geen eisen of doelen hebben. Nou, laten we dat even recht zetten. Het is niet zo dat we geen eisen hebben; het is dat we ze in een andere taal uiten. Onze beweging bestaat uit mensen die vechten voor hun baan, voor scholen, voor schuldverlichting, voor eerlijke huisvesting, en voor de gezondheidszorg. We verzetten ons tegen ecologische vernietiging, imperialisme, racisme, patriarchisme en kapitalisme. We
doen het allemaal op een participerende, democratische, felle, en onwrikbare manier. Er is niets vaags aan.
De media en politici noemen ons warhoofden, en zeggen dat we verward zijn. Ze beweren dat we geen eisen of doelen hebben. Nou, laten we dat even recht zetten. Het is niet zo dat we geen eisen hebben; het is dat we ze in een andere taal uiten. Onze beweging bestaat uit mensen die vechten voor hun baan, voor scholen, voor schuldverlichting, voor eerlijke huisvesting, en voor de gezondheidszorg. We verzetten ons tegen ecologische vernietiging, imperialisme, racisme, patriarchisme en kapitalisme. We
doen het allemaal op een participerende, democratische, felle, en onwrikbare manier. Er is niets vaags aan.
Maar
daar stoppen we niet. Dat is misschien wat ons onderscheidt van
diegenen die onze enorm groeiende macht willen gebruiken voor kleine
overwinningen en bescheiden hervormingen. We want more. We want it all.
We willen een politiek en economisch systeem dat we daadwerkelijk samen
kunnen controleren, een systeem dat rechtvaardig en humaan is, een
systeem dat mensen in staat stelt zichzelf te managen en te handelen
vanuit solidariteit, een systeem dat participerend en democratisch is
tot in de kern.
We willen een wereld waarin mensen recht hebben op
hun eigen identiteit, samenleving, cultuur, en de vrij van
onderdrukking en dwang. We willen een wereld met instellingen die onze
jongeren, onze ouderen, en onze families op een zorgende, bevrijdende,
en op consensus gebaseerde manier behandelt. We willen een wereld waarin
de samenleving geen belemmering is op de
individuele vrijheid, maar een uiting is van zijn volle potentieel.
individuele vrijheid, maar een uiting is van zijn volle potentieel.
Als
deze verklaring van onze eisen niet duidelijk genoeg is voor jullie,
CNN, dan weet ik niet wat ik jullie moet vertellen. En weet je wat? We
beginnen pas net warm te draaien.
En zoals we blijven actievoeren,
zullen we onszelf constant goede vragen blijven stellen. Wat voor
wereld stellen we ons voor? Met welke waarden willen we leven? Welke
instellingen hebben we nodig om met deze waarden te kunnen leven? Wat
voor structuren willen we bouwen om te beschermen wat we gewonnen hebben
en om een platform te creeëren voor onze idealen?
Wat willen we voor onszelf bereiken, en wat willen we bereiken voor de
komende generaties? Hoe zullen we deze beweging ontwikkelen op een
effectieve manier die een afspiegeling is van de nieuwe wereld die we
inluiden?
15 oktober en verder
Laat er geen
misverstand over bestaan, we zijn niet zonder doelen; we spreken
simpelweg een andere taal – een taal van wederzijds respect,
participatie, self-management en actie. We maken onze eisen in deze taal
die duidelijk maakt dat we hier zijn om te blijven, en dat ons doel
niet alleen hervorming is, dat onze visie diep en radicaal is, dat we
niet afgekocht of meebestuurt willen worden, en dat we bereid zijn door
te zetten voor niet alleen de winst die we nu kunnen uitspreken, maar
ook voor de winst die we nog niet helemaal kunnen benoemen.
We
eisen onze ruimte door middel van acties die duidelijk maken dat we hier
zijn om te blijven, en dat deze beweging niet naar huis gaat, dat we
aan het ontwikkelen zijn, en dat er geen weg terug is. We bouwen deze
beweging door middel van de sterke en onbevreesde overtuiging dat een
betere wereld mogelijk is, en dat alles wat minder is, onaanvaardbaar
is.
Je zal onze eisen om de muren van de metro’s zien, gekrabbeld op hangende spandoeken, getweet over de oceanen, gemarcheerd op de schouders van honderdduizenden, in koor geschreeuwd door miljoenen in de straten, achter ramen, en computerschermen.
Je zult ze over de hele wereld zien, van postindustriële steden tot het
platteland, van hoofdsteden tot kleine dorpjes. Je zult ze zien in de
straten van New York City, je zal onze eisen zien als we afdalen naar de
fluorescerende decadentie van Times Square en we het opnieuw decoreren met onze menselijkheid.
Ja,
we spreken een andere taal, een onbevreesde taal en een taal met een
visie. We schreeuwen, met elk grammetje van passie en kracht die we
kunnen opbrengen. Natuurlijk is er een alternatief. Wij zijn het.
Yotam Marom
donderdag 13 oktober 2011
Mama's slikken tot 30 pilletjes Motilium per week
De Vlaamse Organisatie voor Vroedvrouwen (VLOV)
adviseert vrouwen die moeite hebben met borstvoeding, grote dosissen
Motilium. Het maagmedicijn verhoogt de melkproductie, maar zou volgens
recente studies hartstilstand veroorzaken. ‘Maandenlang heb ik tot zes
keer per dag Motilium genomen. Wat heb ik in hemelsnaam gedaan, denk ik
nu.'
Volgens recente studies verhoogt het maagmedicijn
Motilium de kans op hartritmestoornissen, zo berichtte deze krant
gisteren. Dat is problematisch voor de kersverse mama's die op
internetfora honderduit vertellen over de hoge dosissen Motilium die ze -
vaak op doktersadvies - slikken. Daarmee willen ze borstvoeding
vergemakkelijken.‘De belangrijkste tip die ik kreeg om mijn melkproductie te stimuleren, is tot vier keer per dag Motilium nemen.' Of nog: ‘Al bijna drie maanden neem ik Motilium. Afbouwen durf ik niet, nochtans slik ik meer dan dertig tabletten per week.'
Verboden volgens bijsluiter
Hoewel veel mama's hun bedenkingen hebben, stellen ze elkaar gerust: iedereen kent wel een gynaecoloog, lactatiedeskundige of vroedvrouw die verzekert dat Motilium veilig is voor mama en kind. Alleen: recente studies tonen aan dat Motilium, en zeker hoge dosissen ervan, de kans op hartritmestoornissen en plotse dood met vier keer kan verhogen (zie Het Nieuwsblad van gisteren, nvdr.).
‘Angstaanjagend nieuws als je het medicijn maandenlang genomen hebt', vertelt Mine Dalemans (40) uit Lummen. Zij nam Motilium tot zes keer per dag op aanraden van haar eigen gynaecoloog. Nochtans is het medicijn verboden: Motilium wordt uitgescheiden in de melk die baby's krijgen en het is onduidelijk of dat schadelijk is voor het kind. Maar, net als veel andere vrouwen, werd Dalemans verteld dat er absoluut geen gevaar was.
De Vlaamse gynaecologenvereniging ontkent dat ze Motilium aanbeveelt aan vrouwen die borstvoeding geven. De Vlaamse Organisatie voor Vroedvrouwen (VLOV) daarentegen geeft de praktijk wél toe. ‘Wij raden inderdaad maximaal drie keer per dag twee tabletten aan', zegt voorzitster Marleen Reys. ‘Maar dat is pas de laatste optie. Natuurlijk proberen we eerst andere, natuurlijke methodes uit.'
De organisatie zal naar eigen zeggen nieuwe onderzoeken aanvragen en haar praktijk aanpassen, als zou blijken dat de verontrustende bevindingen over Motilium kloppen.
‘Voor mij is het nu te laat', zegt Dalemans. ‘Hoeveel pillen ik in totaal genomen heb, weet ik niet, maar het zullen er genoeg geweest zijn. Nu weet ik wel beter. Als ik vandaag opnieuw zou bevallen, geef ik nog liever flessenvoeding dan dat ik Motilium slik.'
dinsdag 4 oktober 2011
donderdag 29 september 2011
Wangari Maathai: Death of a visionary
Wangari Maathai's
compelling life story is inextricably linked with the social and
political changes that so much of Africa has been through since the idea
of throwing off European colonialism began to gain traction shortly
after World War II.
Her unique insight was that the lives of Kenyans - and, by
extension, of people in many other developing countries - would be made
better if economic and social progress went hand in hand with
environmental protection.
The Green Belt Movement, which she founded in 1977, has planted an estimated 45 million trees around Kenya.
The straightforward environmental benefits of that would have
been important enough on their own in a country whose population has
grown more than 10-fold over the last century, creating huge pressure on
land and water.
But what made the movement more remarkable was that it was
also conceived as a source of employment in rural areas, and a way to
give new skills to women who regularly came second to men in terms of
power, education, nutrition and much else.
Now, she has succumbed to a battle with cancer. But if cancer was new to her, battle was definitely not; it was a way of life.
Opposing a major government-backed development in Nairobi,
she was labelled a "crazy woman"; it was suggested that she should
behave like a good African woman and do as she was told.
Her former husband made similar comments when suing for divorce: she was strong-willed, and could not be controlled.
This alone gives some idea of the battles Dr Maathai fought
in the politically active phase of her life, which encompassed and
indeed wove together the ideals of helping Kenya develop sustainably and
helping Kenyan women achieve equality.
But without the progress of post-colonial reforms, it's
doubtful that she would have been able to achieve a fraction of what she
did; the times she lived in generated the tides she fought against, but
they also provided the means with which to fight.
Post-colonial links with the West offered Africans of great
intellect but poor background the chance to study abroad, in the US and
Germany.
This brought her the knowledge of biology and the PhD that
both opened doors in corridors of influence and gave scientific
underpinning to the environmental restoration work on which she
embarked.
Another vital strand in her life was the creation of global environmental organisations, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) in 1972.
These organisations desperately needed to tap into expertise
in the developing world, especially because it was in these countries
that the vicious circle of environmental degradation, unsustainable
population growth and poverty was at its most grinding.
With its headquarters situated in the Kenyan capital Nairobi,
Wangari Maathai was one of the first people from the developing world
adopted into the Unep "family", which meant global exposure and,
relatively, a huge influence.
Among other things, that meant the capacity to spread the
Green Belt philosophy to other countries where the ecological and
economic need is even more pressing than in Kenya - notably the Congo
Basin, where warring factions and deep poverty have put huge pressure on
forests and the wildlife they maintain.
Eventually, this would all lead to the award in 2004 of the Nobel Peace Prize - the first time it had gone to an African woman, and arguably the first "green Nobel".
I say "arguably" partly because previous prize-winning work had
contained an environmental component, such as that of Paul Crutzen,
Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina who deciphered the chemistry of ozone
depletion.
And partly because the citation
itself does not explicitly mention the word "environment", reading:
"for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace".
In other words, it's not just planting trees - it's the
reasons why trees are planted, it's the social side of how the
tree-planting works, it's the political work that goes alongside
tree-planting, and it's the vision that sees loss of forest as
translating into loss of prospects for people down the track.
There is, in some parts of the world, a backlash now against these ideas.
Every couple of days an email comes into my inbox asserting
that the way to help poorer countries develop is to get them to exploit
their natural resources as quickly and deeply as possible with no regard
for problems that may cause.
Organisations promoting this viewpoint are not, to my
knowledge, based in the developing world but in the Western capitals
that might make use of the fruits of such exploitation - cheaper wood,
cheaper oil, cheaper metals.
It is the opposite of sustainable.
But the existence of these lobby groups can be seen as a
testament to the influence that Wangari Maathai and others like her have
had on global debate.
The UN initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd), the linking of biodiversity to livelihoods,
moves to strengthen the rule of law as a pre-requisite for
environmental health, and the notion that communities should gain when
the natural resources they maintain are exploited - all these in part
trace their roots back to Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement.
A Facebook page for tributes is laden with short but moving comments that in a way sum up everything she was and achieved.
"If all us who loved her will plant a tree on her hon: she
will smile from the windows of heaven seeing green world. I will plant
one today".
"You have been a true inspiration to those who love and care for nature".
maandag 26 september 2011
The White Rose
Read this on Misty Harris' profile on Facebook today:
I was walking around in a supermarket when i saw a cashier hand this little boy his money back, the boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.'' The little boy turned to the old woman next to him, ''Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?'' She replied, ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear.'' Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.
Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.' I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. 'No, Santa Claus can't bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this, 'My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.''
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of himself. He was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she didn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.
I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll!'' OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said, 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!' Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.'' 'My mommy loves white roses.'
A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state of mind from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after this encounter with the little boy I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.
She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine, and in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.
donderdag 22 september 2011
Veel melk gevaarlijk
Eindelijk begint het ook in Nederland door te dringen. Nu Vlaanderen nog ...
Moedermelk is voor baby's, koemelk voor kalfjes.
Eens een persoon volwassen is heeft hij/zij GEEN melk meer nodig. Ooit al een volwassen koe onder een andere zien hangen?
ROTTERDAM -
Veel melk drinken is gevaarlijk en kan de kans op kanker vergroten. Dat zegt
de gerenommeerde Amerikaanse voedingswetenschapper Walter Willet morgen
zeggen tijdens de publiekslezing van het Erasmus Medisch Centrum.
Voor zijn gastoptreden in ’het land der melkdrinkers’ belicht Willett zijn bevindingen over melkproducten. Volgens Willett is het een fabeltje dat je van melk sterkere botten krijgt. Mensen die meer dan twee glazen melk per dag drinken, krijgen net zo vaak botbreuken als andere mensen die minder melk drinken. Ook lijken ze een groter risico te lopen op bepaalde vormen van kanker, zoals prostaatkanker, stelt hij. Willett vindt dan ook dat voedingsadviesorganisaties voorzichtiger moeten zijn met het aanraden van grote hoeveelheden melkproducten nu wetenschappelijke studies laten zien dat er gezondheidsrisico’s aan kunnen kleven.
Het Voedingscentrum in Nederland adviseert drie tot vier glazen melk(producten) per dag.
Lange mensen lopen een grotere kans op verschillende vormen van kanker, zoals borstkanker en eierstokkanker. „En omdat mensen die veel melk drinken langer worden, lijkt het erop dat het consumeren van veel melkproducten tijdens de kinderjaren het risico van kanker vergroot”, stelt de aan de Harvard School of Public Health en de Harvard Medical School verbonden Willet.
De melkproducten helemaal laten staan, is ook niet nodig: „Want er zijn ook positieve effecten. De kans op darmkanker kan door melk te drinken juist afnemen. Onderzoek moet uitwijzen bij welke hoeveelheid de voordelen voor de gezondheid groter zijn dan de nadelen. Tot die tijd moeten we voorzichtig zijn met het drinken van grote hoeveelheden melk. En twee glazen per dag is veel.”
Lof der Geneeskunst is morgen vanaf 14.30 uur live te volgen via internet: www.erasmusmc.nl/lofdergeneeskunst .
woensdag 14 september 2011
Hoe simpel iets opgelost kan worden ...
Griekse
crisis, welke crisis?
Het is een mooie dag in een klein Grieks plaatsje. Alle straten zijn leeg. Het zijn slechte tijden, een ieder heeft schulden en allen leven op de pof.
Op deze dag rijdt een welgestelde Nederlandse toerist door het Griekse dorpje en stopt bij een klein Hotelletje.
Hij zegt tegen de eigenaar dat hij graag de kamers bekijken wil, om er misschien een voor een nacht te huren en legt als onderpand 100 Euro op de desk.
De eigenaar geeft hem een paar sleutels.
Als de bezoeker de trap op is, neemt de Hotel-eigenaar het geld, rent naar zijn buurman de slager en betaalt zijn schulden.
De slager neemt de 100 Euro, loopt de straat uit en betaalt de boer.
De boer neemt het geld en betaalt zijn rekening bij de koelopslag.
De man daar neemt het geld en rent naar de kroeg om zijn drankrekening te betalen.
De kroegbaas schuift het bedrag door naar een aan de bar zittende prostituee, waarbij de hij nog schulden had.
De prostituee rent naar het Hotel om daar haar uitstaande rekening van 100 euro te betalen.
De Hotelbaas legt het geld weer op de balie.
Op dit moment komt de toerist de trap weer af, neemt het geld van de balie en zegt dat de kamers hem niet aan staan en hij verlaat het dorpje.
Niemand heeft iets geproduceerd
Niemand heeft iets verdiend
Iedereen is zijn schulden kwijt en ziet de toekomst met optimisme tegemoet.
Zo, nu weten jullie hoe het zit.
vrijdag 9 september 2011
Human gelatin to be used in snacks
Dan Cleeve, editor, Bing, 07/09/2011 16:39
Ojo Images Rex Features
The new research, by scientists at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, claims to have found a new way to make gelatin from human DNA and they say their discovery is attracting "increasing interest from research and industrial circles". Researchers say they have developed a way to insert human genes into a strain of yeast to grow large amounts of recombinant human gelatin.
Gelatin is regularly used a gelling agent by the food industry, often in sweets. However, researchers claim the human-derived gelatin "could become a substitute for some of the 300,000 tons of animal-based gelatin produced annually for desserts, marshmallows, candy and innumerable other products".
"There's a very high degree of similarity between gelatin that comes from a cow, a pig, and a human," Dr David Olsen, the senior scientist at FibroGen, said in a statement. "So due to their similarities, I can't see why there would be a health risk to it. It's a very similar protein to what people have been ingesting for many years."
However, others in the science world have admitted the general public might question its use. Dr Gregory Kaebnick, of the US-based Hastings Center For Bioethics and Public Policy, says the idea of human-derived gelatin "appears to raise the question of cannibalism."
Find out more on Bing...
Weird science
Scientists are regularly discovering new, interesting and weird things but can you spot the real discoveries from the red herrings? Take this quick Bing quiz and find out...
Previously children with rare bone cancers were forced to have limbs amputated to try and stop the spread of the disease. Scientists have now found a way to replace the infected bones with a bionic bone that grows with the children. True or false?
Scientists from a group of American universities say that 4.4billion years ago two moons circled the Earth, the one we see today as well a much smaller one trailing behind. True or false?
The density of Saturn is less than water so it would float if you put it in the sea. True or false?
Scientists recently claimed that the venom from tropical jewel wasps removes 'free will' from its prey, normally cockroaches, in what they have called 'turning them into zombies'. True or false?
vrijdag 26 augustus 2011
Astronomers discover planet made of diamond
LONDON (Reuters) - Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.
The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.
"The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised of carbon -- i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own Sun," said Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
Lying 4,000 light years away, or around an eighth of the way toward the center of the Milky Way from the Earth, the planet is probably the remnant of a once-massive star that has lost its outer layers to the so-called pulsar star it orbits.
Pulsars are tiny, dead neutron stars that are only around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in diameter and spin hundreds of times a second, emitting beams of radiation.
In the case of pulsar J1719-1438, the beams regularly sweep the Earth and have been monitored by telescopes in Australia, Britain and Hawaii, allowing astronomers to detect modulations due to the gravitational pull of its unseen companion planet.
The measurements suggest the planet, which orbits its star every two hours and 10 minutes, has slightly more mass than Jupiter but is 20 times as dense, Bailes and colleagues reported in the journal Science on Thursday.
In addition to carbon, the new planet is also likely to contain oxygen, which may be more prevalent at the surface and is probably increasingly rare toward the carbon-rich center.
Its high density suggests the lighter elements of hydrogen and helium, which are the main constituents of gas giants like Jupiter, are not present.
Just what this weird diamond world is actually like close up, however, is a mystery.
"In terms of what it would look like, I don't know I could even speculate," said Ben Stappers of the University of Manchester. "I don't imagine that a picture of a very shiny object is what we're looking at here."
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Sophie Hares)
dinsdag 23 augustus 2011
Oproep GAIA aan alle mannen: ‘Laat ze hangen’ op vrijdag 9 september
Onderbroekloze vrijdag als protest tegen onverdoofde varkenscastratie
Brussel, 22 augustus 2011 – Vandaag presenteert GAIA de campagne 'Laat Ze Hangen'. De campagne roept mannen op om ze op vrijdag 9 september voor 1 keer te laten hangen door geen onderbroek aan te trekken. Uit solidariteit met de 5 miljoen biggen die jaarlijks onverdoofd en nodeloos worden gecastreerd. Met de onderbroekloze vrijdag wil GAIA de krachten bundelen om supermarkten en varkensboeren te overtuigen over te stappen van onverdoofde castratie naar pijnloze vaccinatie.
In België worden jaarlijks vijf miljoen mannelijke biggen (beren) onverdoofd gecastreerd om berengeur te vermijden. Dat is een onaangename geur die kan vrijkomen bij het verhitten van vlees van geslachtsrijpe, ongecastreerde varkens. Enkele dagen na hun geboorte wordt bij mannelijke biggetjes zonder verdoving een insnede gemaakt waarna de teelballen worden weggenomen. Een erg pijnlijke ingreep .
Michel Vandenbosch licht het doel van de campagne toe: 'met de actie ''Laat ze Hangen' bundelen we de krachten om de varkenshouders te overtuigen ze bij hun biggen ook te laten hangen. Dit kan perfect door over te schakelen op pijnloze vaccinatie. Als mannen massaal meedoen aan onze actie, zullen de supermarkten aangezet worden om, zoals Colruyt, geen vlees van gecastreerde varkens meer te verkopen.
Dit filmpje toont hoe biggen onverdoofd gecastreerd worden: http://vimeo.com/25771292
'Laat Ze Hangen' op vrijdag 9 september
Mannen die hun solidariteit met de biggen willen tonen, kunnen dit door op 9 september zonder onderbroek de deur uit te gaan. Uw protest is officieel van zodra u uw deelname heeft bevestigd via de Facebook eventpagina te vinden via de GAIA Facebook-pagina. Via de Facebook-pagina kan iedereen vanaf vandaag ook massaal Facebook-vrienden uitnodigen ook mee te doen. Hoe meer officiële deelnemers, hoe groter het signaal dat GAIA kan uitsturen naar de supermarktketens en de varkenshouders.
Oproep aan alle vrouwen
De campagne richt zich in eerste plaats op mannen omdat zij zich als ervaringsexpert het beste kunnen inbeelden welke pijn biggen ervaren bij onverdoofde castratie. Een (zeer geminimaliseerde) vergelijking is de pijn die waarschijnlijk elke man minstens één keer in zijn leven heeft gevoeld wanneer een voetbal of een schoen tegen hoge snelheid recht in zijn kruis belandde.
De campagne richt zich in eerste plaats op mannen omdat zij zich als ervaringsexpert het beste kunnen inbeelden welke pijn biggen ervaren bij onverdoofde castratie. Een (zeer geminimaliseerde) vergelijking is de pijn die waarschijnlijk elke man minstens één keer in zijn leven heeft gevoeld wanneer een voetbal of een schoen tegen hoge snelheid recht in zijn kruis belandde.
Toch richt de campagne zich evengoed naar vrouwen. Zij kunnen meehelpen door het ondergoed van hun man te verstoppen.
En uiteraard kunnen zij ook hun solidariteit tonen door in te tekenen op de Facebook-eventpagina: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221483921232834
Nuttige tips voor deelnemers
Om ongelukken te voorkomen: graag geen broek met rits
Kijk goed uit vooraleer je gaat zitten
Laat je witte broek thuis. We geloven je op je woord.
Draag voor één dag geen laaghangende baggy pants
Om ongelukken te voorkomen: graag geen broek met rits
Kijk goed uit vooraleer je gaat zitten
Laat je witte broek thuis. We geloven je op je woord.
Draag voor één dag geen laaghangende baggy pants
22/08/2011
vrijdag 19 augustus 2011
Jongen (11) zoekt hulp bij politie vanwege gedwongen arbeid
Weken vrij en het enige dat je te horen krijgt is dat je van je moeder al je spullen op moet ruimen. Een elfjarige jongen uit het Duitse Aken heeft het zwaar met zijn zomervakantie. Zo zwaar zelfs dat hij de politie belde om te melden dat zijn moeder hem dwingt tot arbeid en hij geen vrije tijd meer over heeft.
Voor velen is de zomervakantie dé vakantie bij uitstek. Eindelijk eens tijd om alle schoolstress achter je te laten, op vakantie te gaan of leuke dingen te doen met vrienden. Maar de Duitse jongen niet. Volgens zijn tirade aan de hulplijn word de jongen door zijn moeder verplicht tot arbeid, moet hij de hele dag werken en heeft hij geen vrije tijd meer over.
De moeder wist tijdens het gesprek in te breken en gaf aan dat ze de jongen gezegd had dat hij het rondslingerende papier moest opruimen, waarna de jongen dreigde de politie te bellen. Dat laatste bracht de jongen vervolgens in de praktijk.
Vakantie, wat is het toch zwaar.
bron: het laatste nieuws
zaterdag 13 augustus 2011
9 Simple Tips to Manifest More Abundance In Your Life
Do you want to manifest more abundance in your life?
You probably answered yes – but there’s already so much abundance all around you – you just have to notice it.
When was the last time you noticed and appreciated a sunset?
Do you live in a world of abundance?
Or do you come from a place of scarcity and lack?
Abundance is a lot more than just money or material things. You live in a very rich and beautiful world – you just have to open your eyes. Just think about the beauty of the sky, the greenery all around you, the grace of animals, the love in you, and the sheer miracle of this life.
You choose to see the world through the eyes of abundance or lack. It is a choice that you make, based on your conditioning and beliefs. So change your perception, and you will not only be aware of the abundance around you, but even more will flow into your life in the form of love, money and other worldly goods.
Here are some simple things you can do to manifest even more abundance in your life.
1. Begin to appreciate the abundance all around you
Count your blessings and be thankful for all the goodness you already have in your life.
Just for today, show gratitude to every living thing. And then do the same every day from hereon.
2. Be generous, without being wasteful
Always remember that what goes around comes around. Share the abundance already in your life and it will be reflected back to you by the people around you. Openly share your home, skills, goods, time and love, without any expectations of having anything in return.
Plant seeds of abundance all around you. Think of tithing a certain percentage, say 10%, of your income to charitable causes. Do this anonymously, and without expectation of recognition.
3. Simplify your life in all ways
Begin to enjoy the simple things in life such as walks in nature, play time with children and sharing special meals with your loved ones.
Check out these 20 questions to simlpify your life forever.
Get present to just how much joy there already is in your life.
4. Let go of any habits of poverty
Start giving away your loose change to charities and people in need. Start cultivating being prosperous.
Stop yourself from thinking thoughts such as “I cannot afford that”.
5. Expect the best from everything and everyone
Pessimistic people who are always moaning keep having negative experiences and bad luck.
That’s because what you focus on most is what you attract – so focus only on goodness from now on. Think of the things you love and desire.
6. Take time to be still everyday
Meditation, yoga and walks in the park will all help to keep you grounded and calm.
Find what works for you and stick to it.
7. Forgive yourself
Never beat yourself up for slipping into any old habits of negativity or lack of appreciation. Simply forgive yourself and move on.
8. Always be kind and loving towards yourself
Pamper yourself with lots of little treats such as a glass of your favourite wine, a bubble bath or a solitary meal at your favourite restaurant.
9.Remember the good times
Recall a time in your life when you felt a deep sense of richness and completeness. Remember how you felt, and get present to these feelings once again.
Know that you can recreate those feelings of abundance anytime you wish to do so.
From today onwards, consciously think, feel, and identify with happy thoughts of abundance.
Begin each day by being thankful for everything you can think of.
And you will soon be attracting even more good things into your life.
Editorial note: -This article was previously published on Arvind Devalia’s blog – Make It Happen.
woensdag 10 augustus 2011
A Million Dollar Lesson
Author: Petey Parker
A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in
customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational
speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind
of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost
me a $12 taxi ride.
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling
on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included
a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A
spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and
made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the
door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that
the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my
use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what
type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you?
I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took
the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride
in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America.
But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good
enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could
feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love
driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have
done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my
personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I
could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers.
But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the
customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the
return of being 'great' better than just getting by on
'average'"
Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss
is the traveling folk's friend!
maandag 8 augustus 2011
The Piano Story
Author: Unknown
A mother wished to encourage her small girl's interest in
the piano, so she took her to a local concert featuring an
excellent pianist. In the entrance foyer, the mother met an
old friend and they chatted for a while. The little girl was
so curious to look inside the hall so she wandered off,
unnoticed by her mother. The girl's mother became concerned
when she entered the hall and could see no sign of her
daughter. The staff were notified and an announcement was
made about the little lost girl. With the concert due to
start, the little girl had still not been found. In
preparation for the pianist's entrance, the curtains drew
aside, to reveal the little girl sitting at the great piano,
focused in concentration, quietly picking out the notes of
'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'.
The audience's amusement turned to curiosity when the
pianist entered the stage. He walked up to the little girl,
and said, "Keep playing."
The pianist sat down beside her, listened for a few seconds,
and whispered some more words of encouragement. He then
began quietly to play a bass accompaniment, and then a few
bars later reached around the little girl to add more
accompaniment. At the end of the impromptu performance, the
audience applauded loudly as the pianist took the little
girl back to her seat to be reunited with her mother. The
experience was inspirational for everyone.
It takes just a few moments to make somebody's day, to help
someone with their own personal aims and dreams - especially
someone who looks up to you for encouragement and support.
woensdag 3 augustus 2011
Get Anyone to Like You – Instantly – Guaranteed
This golden rule of friendship works every time – guaranteed!
Get anyone to like you - Instantly - Guaranteed
If you want people to like you, make them feel good about themselves. This golden rule of friendship works every time - guaranteed! The principle is straightforward. If I meet you and make you feel good about yourself, you will like me and seek every opportunity to see me again to reconstitute the same good feeling you felt the first time we met. Unfortunately, this powerful technique is seldom used because we are continually focused on ourselves and not others. We put our wants and needs before the wants and needs of others. The irony is that people will fulfill your wants and needs in any way they can if they like you.
The simple communication techniques that follow will help you keep the focus of the conversation on the person you are talking to and make them feel good about themselves.
The Big Three
Our brains continually scan the environment for friend or foe signals. People who pose a threat give off foe cues and people who do not pose a threat give off friend cues. When you meet people, ensure that you send the right nonverbal cues that signal that you are not a threat.
The three primary friend cues are the eyebrow flash, head tilt, and smile.
If you want people to like you, make them feel good about themselves. This golden rule of friendship works every time - guaranteed! The principle is straightforward. If I meet you and make you feel good about yourself, you will like me and seek every opportunity to see me again to reconstitute the same good feeling you felt the first time we met. Unfortunately, this powerful technique is seldom used because we are continually focused on ourselves and not others. We put our wants and needs before the wants and needs of others. The irony is that people will fulfill your wants and needs in any way they can if they like you.
The simple communication techniques that follow will help you keep the focus of the conversation on the person you are talking to and make them feel good about themselves.
The Big Three
Our brains continually scan the environment for friend or foe signals. People who pose a threat give off foe cues and people who do not pose a threat give off friend cues. When you meet people, ensure that you send the right nonverbal cues that signal that you are not a threat.
The three primary friend cues are the eyebrow flash, head tilt, and smile.
The eyebrow flash is a quick up and down movement of the eyebrows. As people approach one another they eyebrow flash each other to send the message that they do not pose a threat. Since eyebrow flashes can be seen at a distance, people typically eyebrow flash as they approach others.
Head Tilt
The head tilt is a slight tilt of the head to one side or the other. This cue signals that the approaching person is not a threat because they are exposing their carotid artery. The carotid artery is the primary source for blood to reach the brain and if disrupted, causes severe brain damage or death within minutes. Exposing the carotid artery sends the signal that the person exposing their carotid artery does not pose a threat nor does the person they are approaching pose a threat.
Smile
A smile sends the message "I like you." When you smile at someone, they have a hard time not returning the smile. A smile triggers a small endorphin release in the brain, which promotes a feeling of well-being. In other words, when you smile, you feel good about yourself. This supports the notion that people will like you if you make them feel good about themselves.
Empathic Statements
Empathic statements keep the focus on the other person. Because people are typically focused on themselves, they feel good about themselves when others make them the center of attention. Empathic statements capture a person's verbal message, physical status, or emotional feeling, and, using parallel language, reflects that verbal message, physical status, or emotional feeling back to that person. Avoid repeating back word for word what the person said. Parroting can sound patronizing and sometimes condescending. The basic formula for constructing empathic statements is "So you..." This basic formula keeps the focus on the other person and away from you. We naturally tend to say something to the effect, "I understand how you feel." The other person automatically thinks, "No, you don't know how I feel because you are not me." The basic formula ensures that the focus of the conversation remains on the person you are talking to.
Example 1
George: I've been really busy this week.
Tom: So you didn't had much free time in the last few days.
Once the basic formula for empathic statements has been mastered, more sophisticated empathic statements can be constructed by dropping "So you..."
Example 2
George: I've been really busy this week.
Tom: Free time has been at a premium in the last several days.
Flattery
The most effective way to flatter people is to allow them to flatter themselves. This technique avoids the problem of appearing insincere when complimenting someone. When people compliment themselves, sincerity is not an issue and people rarely miss an opportunity to flatter themselves. Consider the following examples:
Example 1
Henry: How do you manage to stay in shape with your busy schedule?
Example 2
Vickie: I haven't met one person who didn't like you home cooked pies.
Asking a Favor
Ben Franklin observed that if he asked a colleague for a favor, the colleague liked him more than if he did not ask him for a favor. This phenomenon became known as the Ben Franklin Effect. At first glance, this seems counterintuitive. If you ask a person for a favor, you would think you would like the person more because they did you a favor; however, this is not the case. When a person does someone a favor, they feel good about themselves. The Golden Rule states that if you make a person feel good about themselves, they will like you. Asking someone to do you a favor is not all about you. It is all about the person doing you the favor. Do not overuse this technique because Ben Franklin also said, "Guests, like fish begin to smell after three days" (as do people who ask too many favors.)
Getting people to like you is easy if you follow the Golden Rule. The hard part is following the Golden Rule because we must put the interest of others above our own.
Published on July 30, 2011 by Jack Schafer, Ph.D. in Let Their Words Do the Talking
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