Current Center News will be posted here
Friday, April 28, 2006
Story with a Moral
In 1923, Who Was:1. President of the largest steel company?2. President of the largest gas company?3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?4. Greatest wheat speculator?5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?6. Great Bear of Wall Street? These menwere consideredsome of the worlds most successfulof their days. Now,80 years later,the history book asks us,if we knowwhat ultimately became of them.
The Answers:1. The president of the largest steel company.Charles Schwab,died a pauper.2. The president of the largest gas company,Edward Hopson,went insane.3. The president of the NYSE,Richard Whitney,was released from prisonto die at home.4. The greatest wheat speculator,Arthur Cooger,died abroad, penniless.5. The presidentofthe Bank of International Settlement,shot himself.6. The Great Bear of Wall Street,Cosabee Livermore,also committed suicide. However:in that same year,1923,the PGA Championandthe winner ofthemost important golf tournament,the US Open,wasGene Sarazen.What became of him?He played golf until he was 92,died in 1999 at the age of 95.He was financially secureat the time of his death.The Moral:Screw work.Play golf.
In 1923, Who Was:1. President of the largest steel company?2. President of the largest gas company?3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?4. Greatest wheat speculator?5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?6. Great Bear of Wall Street? These menwere consideredsome of the worlds most successfulof their days. Now,80 years later,the history book asks us,if we knowwhat ultimately became of them.
The Answers:1. The president of the largest steel company.Charles Schwab,died a pauper.2. The president of the largest gas company,Edward Hopson,went insane.3. The president of the NYSE,Richard Whitney,was released from prisonto die at home.4. The greatest wheat speculator,Arthur Cooger,died abroad, penniless.5. The presidentofthe Bank of International Settlement,shot himself.6. The Great Bear of Wall Street,Cosabee Livermore,also committed suicide. However:in that same year,1923,the PGA Championandthe winner ofthemost important golf tournament,the US Open,wasGene Sarazen.What became of him?He played golf until he was 92,died in 1999 at the age of 95.He was financially secureat the time of his death.The Moral:Screw work.Play golf.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Thought you might be interested in this forgotten bit ofinformation.......... It was 1987! At a lecture the other day they were playing an old newsvideo of Lt.Col. Oliver North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during theReagan Administration. There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, butwhat he said was stunning! He was being drilled by a senator; "Did you not recently spend close to$60,000 for a home security system?" Ollie replied, "Yes, I did, Sir." The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, "Isn'tthat just a little excessive?" "No, sir," continued Ollie. "No? And why not?" the senator asked. "Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir." "Threatened? By whom?" the senator questioned. "By a terrorist, sir" Ollie answered "Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?" "His name is Osama bin Laden, sir" Ollie replied. At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn'tpronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of peoplelaughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued Why are you so afraid ofthis man?" the senator asked. "Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of", Ollie answered. "And what do you recommend we do about him?" asked the senator. "Well, sir, if it was up to me, I would recommend that an assassin teambe formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth." The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was shownof the clip. By the way, that senator was Al Gore! Also: Terrorist pilot Mohammad Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. TheIsraelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement withthe Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "politicalprisoners." However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands,The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State,Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. &nb! sp; Thus Mohammad Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying anairplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center. This was reported by many ofthe American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. If you agree that the American public should be made aware of this fact,pass this on.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
The poinsettia is the plant you love to hate. It wouldn't be Christmas without the poinsettia's bold red (or other colors), but you keep your fingers crossed and pray that the plant will make it through the long holiday season. Here are a few tips on keeping this temperamental and temporary houseguest happy.
Steps:
1.
Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. These plants require bright light - the more, the better.
2.
Keep soil evenly moist at all times. Even a day without adequate moisture is enough to make poinsettias drop their leaves.
3.
Provide a constant source of humidity by filling the overflow saucer with gravel. Water seeping through the pot will evaporate from the gravel.
4.
Turn up the heat. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where it is hot during the winter.
5.
Keep the temperature as close to constant as you can, day and night. Decreasing temperatures cause leaves to drop.
6.
Fertilize weekly with half-strength liquid houseplant fertilizer, or use a slow-release food when you first bring your poinsettia home.
Tips:
Pronounced "poin-set-e-uh" by the professionals.
If leaves begin to drop, increase humidity and reduce water.
Poinsettias make wonderful compost at the end of the holiday season.
Steps:
1.
Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. These plants require bright light - the more, the better.
2.
Keep soil evenly moist at all times. Even a day without adequate moisture is enough to make poinsettias drop their leaves.
3.
Provide a constant source of humidity by filling the overflow saucer with gravel. Water seeping through the pot will evaporate from the gravel.
4.
Turn up the heat. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where it is hot during the winter.
5.
Keep the temperature as close to constant as you can, day and night. Decreasing temperatures cause leaves to drop.
6.
Fertilize weekly with half-strength liquid houseplant fertilizer, or use a slow-release food when you first bring your poinsettia home.
Tips:
Pronounced "poin-set-e-uh" by the professionals.
If leaves begin to drop, increase humidity and reduce water.
Poinsettias make wonderful compost at the end of the holiday season.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Most of us live a significant portion of our lives in and around our homes, whether those homes are single-family residences, condominiums, town houses, or apartments. We fill these places with the necessary and unnecessary stuff of our lives. Losing the home and/or the stuff would be catastrophic.
Consider these guidelines when buying homeowner's insurance:
Insure your building for 100 percent of its replacement cost new.
Buy a Home Replacement Guarantee that will rebuild your home even if the cost exceeds your insurance amount. Buy the guarantee without a percentage cap.
Buy liability limits equal to your automobile liability limits.
Choose the highest deductible for which you receive adequate premium credit.
Buy Special Perils coverage for building and contents, which covers any accidental loss not caused by a handful of excluded causes.
Don't just accept the standard coverages for detached structures and contents that come with the policy. Make sure that the dollar amount for those two coverages will fully replace what you own.
Read your policy. Discover what kinds of personal property are excluded or subject to dollar limits. Buy the optional coverages you need to eliminate those restrictions.
Read your policy liability exclusions. Buy the optional coverages you need to cover anything you're doing that is excluded.
If you bring work home, buy the optional business liability endorsement to cover injuries to the occasional delivery person.
If you have a home-based business, don't buy the restrictive home-business endorsement. Buy the business owner's policy instead.
Buy the optional sewer backup coverage. And buy federal flood insurance if you're exposed to flood or heavy rains.
Consider these guidelines when buying homeowner's insurance:
Insure your building for 100 percent of its replacement cost new.
Buy a Home Replacement Guarantee that will rebuild your home even if the cost exceeds your insurance amount. Buy the guarantee without a percentage cap.
Buy liability limits equal to your automobile liability limits.
Choose the highest deductible for which you receive adequate premium credit.
Buy Special Perils coverage for building and contents, which covers any accidental loss not caused by a handful of excluded causes.
Don't just accept the standard coverages for detached structures and contents that come with the policy. Make sure that the dollar amount for those two coverages will fully replace what you own.
Read your policy. Discover what kinds of personal property are excluded or subject to dollar limits. Buy the optional coverages you need to eliminate those restrictions.
Read your policy liability exclusions. Buy the optional coverages you need to cover anything you're doing that is excluded.
If you bring work home, buy the optional business liability endorsement to cover injuries to the occasional delivery person.
If you have a home-based business, don't buy the restrictive home-business endorsement. Buy the business owner's policy instead.
Buy the optional sewer backup coverage. And buy federal flood insurance if you're exposed to flood or heavy rains.
Medicinal Foods
Excerpted from Food--Your Miracle Medicine, by Jean Carper. Copyright 1993 by Jean carper. Published by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Jean Carper is a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and author of seven books, including "The Food Pharmacy"
The best prescription for living longer may be right in your kitchen.
It's true -- the foods that are best for you can act like medicine, boosting your immune system and warding off illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. But because foods are exceedingly complex packages of chemicals and compounds, they don't deliver a single biological punch, as do pharmaceutical drugs designed to accomplish a specific purpose. Instead, the right foods can have a much broader effect on a variety of health problems. Eat these foods raw or lightly cooked. (Cooking destroys many of their most protective chemicals.) And remember, no matter how beneficial these foods may be, they're no substitute for a doctor's care.
Apple. Reduces cholesterol, contains cancer-fighting agent known as antioxidant. High in fiber, helps prevent constipation and suppresses appetite.
Asparagus. A super source of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. In studies, glutathione has been shown to act against at least thirty carcinogens.
Avocado. Can help prevent clogging of arteries; dilates blood vessels. Lowers cholesterol. Its main fat, monounsaturated oleic acid, acts as an antioxidant, slowing the buildup LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Also one of the richest sources of glutathione.
Banana. Soothes the stomach. Strengthens the stomach lining against acid and ulcers, and lab tests show that bananas can act like antibiotics. Very high in potassium, thus may help regulate high blood pressure.
Barley. Long considered a heart medicine in the Middle East. Reduces cholesterol levels and contains antioxidants that may help prevent cancer.
Beans. (including navy, black, kidney, and pinto beans, and lentils) Studies show that eating a half cup of cooked beans daily may reduce cholesterol levels as much as 10 percent. Also helps to regulate blood-sugar levels. Very high in fiber. Bean consumption is linked to lower rates of prostate and breast cancer.
Bell Pepper. Super-rich in antioxidant vitamin C. Therefore, a great food for fighting off colds, asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections and cataracts, as well as angina, atherosclerosis (damaged, clogged arteries) and cancer.
Blueberries. Act as an unusual type of antibiotic by keeping infectious bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract, helping to prevent recurring urinary tract and bladder infections. Also contain chemicals that curb diarrhea.
Broccoli & Cauliflower. Abundant in antioxidants. Broccoli is rich in anticancer agent such as vitamin C, beta carotene and quercetin. Both broccoli and cauliflower are considered effective in helping to prevent lung, colon, and breast cancers. These cruciferous vegetables can speed up removal of estrogen from the body, perhaps helping to prevent hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer. Rich in fiber. Compounds in broccoli also help prevent ulcers.
Brussels Sprouts. Possess some of the same powers as their cruciferous cousins broccoli and cabbage. Packed with antioxidants and other cancer-fighters including indoles, chemicals that may help protect against colon cancer.
Cabbage. Contains numerous anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds. Seems to suppress the growth of colon polyps, a precursor to colon cancer; in studies, eating cabbage more than once a week cut men's colon cancer odds by 66 percent.
Carrot. A super source of beta carotene, the antioxidant reputed to help prevent numerous health problems, including heart attacks, cancer, and cataracts. One study showed that the beta carotene in a daily cup of carrots slashed stroke rates in women by 40 percent and heart attacks by 22 percent. One medium carrot's worth of beta carotene daily may cut lung-cancer risk in half, even among formerly heavy smokers.
Celery. Celery compounds have been shown to lower blood pressure in animals. High in certain anticancer compounds that have been shown to detoxify carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. tests also show celery may act as a mild diuretic.
Chili Pepper. Revs up the blood clot-dissolving system, opens sinuses and air passages, and acts as a decongestant. Most of its pharmacological activity is credited to capsaicin, the compound that makes the pepper taste hot. Capsaicin is also a potent painkiller, alleviating headaches when inhaled. Putting hot chili sauce on food may even speed up metabolism, burning off calories.
Cinnamon. A strong stimulator of insulin activity; thus, potentially helpful for those with adult-onset diabetes. Also seems to help prevent blood clots.
Clove. Long used to dull the pain of toothache. Contains compounds that act like aspirin.
Collard Greens. Full of antioxidant compounds, including lutein, vitamin C and beta carotene. In animal studies, collards inhibited the spread of breast cancer. Collard-green consumption, like that of other green leafy vegetables, is associated with low rates of many cancers.
Corn. High in anticancer compounds called protease inhibitors, corn may help fight cancer and act as an antiviral agent.
Cranberries. Like blueberries, help prevent recurring urinary tract and bladder infections. Also believed to be effective in inhibiting viruses.
Dates. High in natural aspirin. Also high in fiber; have a laxative effect. Dried fruits, including dates, are linked to lower rates of certain cancers, especially pancreatic cancer.
Eggplant. Eating eggplant may lower blood cholesterol and help counteract some of the detrimental effects high-fat foods have on the blood. Lab tests show that eggplant also seems to act as an antibacterial agent and as a mild diuretic.
Garlic. A proven antibiotic that has been shown to kill bacteria, fungi, and intestinal parasites. Also shown to lower blood-cholesterol levels, seems to act as an anticoagulant. Garlic also contains multiple anticancer compounds, antioxidants, and immune-system boosters. A good cold medication, garlic also acts as an effective decongestant and anti-inflammatory agent.
Ginger. Used for centuries in Asia, ginger is a proven anti-nausea remedy. Also, relieves the inflammatory pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Grapefruit. Contains a pectin that's been shown to lower blood-cholesterol levels and blood pressure in animals. High in antioxidants, especially disease-fighting vitamin C, grapefruit may help prevent stomach and pancreatic cancer.
Grapes. A rich storehouse of anti-cancer compounds, red grapes are high in the antioxidant quercetin. Red-grade skins also contain resveratrol, which seems to lower bad-type LDL cholesterol.
Kale. An amazingly rich source of antioxidant compounds. High in beta carotene, and contains more lutein than any other vegetable tested. Kale is a member of the cruciferous family and contains anticancer chemicals called indoles, which may help prevent estrogen-linked cancers.
Melon. (cantaloupe and honeydew) May help prevent blood clots. Orange melons, such as cantaloupe, also contain high levels of beta carotene.
Mushroom. Esteemed in Asia as a heart medicine and cancer preventive. Tests show that compounds in Asian mushrooms, such as shiitake, may help inhibit cancer as well as viral diseases, and can lower cholesterol levels. One study showed that fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms cut cholesterol by up to 12 percent when eaten daily.
Mustard. (including horseradish) Helps relieve congestion from colds and sinus problems, and acts as an antibiotic. Revs up metabolism: One study showed that ordinary yellow mustard seemed to increase metabolic rate, helping to burn more calories.
Nuts. High in the antioxidant vitamin E., nuts help prevent cancer and heart disease. Almonds have a high concentration of oleic acid, which may help reduce cholesterol and protect arteries. Brazil nuts are extremely rich in selenium, an antioxidant linked to lower rates of both heart disease and cancer. And walnuts contain ellagic acid, another cholesterol-reducer.
Oats. Oats can help lower cholesterol and stabilize blood-sugar levels. Compounds in oats also seem to suppress nicotine cravings.
Onion. Including chives, shallots, scallions, leeks) Containing exceptionally strong antioxidants, onions have been shown to help prevent cancer in animals. The onion is a rich source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant known to inhibit stomach cancer. Onions may also help prevent atherosclerosis and blood clots, and even high fight bacterial and viral infections.
Orange. A complete package of cancer-inhibitors, including antioxidants such as vitamin C. Specifically tied to lower rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of their high vitamin C content, oranges may also help ward off breast and stomach cancer, asthma attacks, atherosclerosis, and gum disease. Some studies show that vitamin C deficiencies may also inhibit fertility in some men.
Parsley. Rich in antioxidants, parsley can help detoxify carcinogens, including those in tobacco smoke. Parsley also acts as a diuretic.
Plum and Prune. Compounds in these fruits may act as antibacterial and antiviral agents. High in fiber, these fruits work as laxatives.
Potato. (white) Contains cancer-fighting protease inhibitors. Also high in potassium.
Pumpkin. Extremely high in beta carotene.
Raspberries. As do other berries, raspberries help fight infections, and may help prevent some cancers. Also help curb nausea.
Rice. (white and brown) Like other seeds, contains anticancer protease inhibitors. Effective against diarrhea. Rice bran helps lower cholesterol levels and may help prevent formation of kidney stones.
Soybeans. Rich in compounds that act like hormones and thus seem to ward off cancer, especially estrogen-linked breast cancer. High soybean consumption may be one reason rates of breast cancer and prostate cancers are very low among the Japanese. In studies, soybeans lowered blood cholesterol levels substantially. And animal studies showed that soybeans seem to deter and help dissolve kidney stones.
Spinach. As with other green leafy vegetables, consumption of spinach is linked with lower rates of cancer. A super source of antioxidants, including folate, beta carotene and lutein, for example.
Strawberries. Rich in antioxidant vitamin C as well as high in fiber. Studies show that compounds in strawberries act like antiviral agents. And other studies link regular strawberry consumption to lower rates of all types of cancer.
Sweet Potato. A blockbuster source of beta carotene. One half-cup of mashed sweet potatoes is higher in beta carotene than a medium carrot. Also high in fiber.
Tea. (including black, oolong, and green tea) Tea acts as an antibactial, anti-ulcer agent, cavity-fighter, even an anti-diarrheal agent. In animal studies, tea and tea compounds seemed to inhibit various cancers. Tea drinkers appear to have lower risk of atherosclerosis and stroke.
Tomato. A major source of the antioxidant lycopene. tomatoes are linked to low rates of certain cancers, including bladder cancer.
Watermelon. Like the tomato, watermelon contains high levels of lycopene and glutathione, an antioxidant and anticancer compounds.
Wheat. High-fiber wheat bran has formidable anti-cancer potential. One or two daily servings of wheat-bran cereal has been shown to suppress pre-cancerous polyps that can develop into colon cancer. In women, wheat bran also appears to prevent breast cancer by diminishing supplies of estrogen circulating in the body.
Excerpted from Food--Your Miracle Medicine, by Jean Carper. Copyright 1993 by Jean carper. Published by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Jean Carper is a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and author of seven books, including "The Food Pharmacy"
The best prescription for living longer may be right in your kitchen.
It's true -- the foods that are best for you can act like medicine, boosting your immune system and warding off illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. But because foods are exceedingly complex packages of chemicals and compounds, they don't deliver a single biological punch, as do pharmaceutical drugs designed to accomplish a specific purpose. Instead, the right foods can have a much broader effect on a variety of health problems. Eat these foods raw or lightly cooked. (Cooking destroys many of their most protective chemicals.) And remember, no matter how beneficial these foods may be, they're no substitute for a doctor's care.
Apple. Reduces cholesterol, contains cancer-fighting agent known as antioxidant. High in fiber, helps prevent constipation and suppresses appetite.
Asparagus. A super source of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. In studies, glutathione has been shown to act against at least thirty carcinogens.
Avocado. Can help prevent clogging of arteries; dilates blood vessels. Lowers cholesterol. Its main fat, monounsaturated oleic acid, acts as an antioxidant, slowing the buildup LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Also one of the richest sources of glutathione.
Banana. Soothes the stomach. Strengthens the stomach lining against acid and ulcers, and lab tests show that bananas can act like antibiotics. Very high in potassium, thus may help regulate high blood pressure.
Barley. Long considered a heart medicine in the Middle East. Reduces cholesterol levels and contains antioxidants that may help prevent cancer.
Beans. (including navy, black, kidney, and pinto beans, and lentils) Studies show that eating a half cup of cooked beans daily may reduce cholesterol levels as much as 10 percent. Also helps to regulate blood-sugar levels. Very high in fiber. Bean consumption is linked to lower rates of prostate and breast cancer.
Bell Pepper. Super-rich in antioxidant vitamin C. Therefore, a great food for fighting off colds, asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections and cataracts, as well as angina, atherosclerosis (damaged, clogged arteries) and cancer.
Blueberries. Act as an unusual type of antibiotic by keeping infectious bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract, helping to prevent recurring urinary tract and bladder infections. Also contain chemicals that curb diarrhea.
Broccoli & Cauliflower. Abundant in antioxidants. Broccoli is rich in anticancer agent such as vitamin C, beta carotene and quercetin. Both broccoli and cauliflower are considered effective in helping to prevent lung, colon, and breast cancers. These cruciferous vegetables can speed up removal of estrogen from the body, perhaps helping to prevent hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer. Rich in fiber. Compounds in broccoli also help prevent ulcers.
Brussels Sprouts. Possess some of the same powers as their cruciferous cousins broccoli and cabbage. Packed with antioxidants and other cancer-fighters including indoles, chemicals that may help protect against colon cancer.
Cabbage. Contains numerous anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds. Seems to suppress the growth of colon polyps, a precursor to colon cancer; in studies, eating cabbage more than once a week cut men's colon cancer odds by 66 percent.
Carrot. A super source of beta carotene, the antioxidant reputed to help prevent numerous health problems, including heart attacks, cancer, and cataracts. One study showed that the beta carotene in a daily cup of carrots slashed stroke rates in women by 40 percent and heart attacks by 22 percent. One medium carrot's worth of beta carotene daily may cut lung-cancer risk in half, even among formerly heavy smokers.
Celery. Celery compounds have been shown to lower blood pressure in animals. High in certain anticancer compounds that have been shown to detoxify carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. tests also show celery may act as a mild diuretic.
Chili Pepper. Revs up the blood clot-dissolving system, opens sinuses and air passages, and acts as a decongestant. Most of its pharmacological activity is credited to capsaicin, the compound that makes the pepper taste hot. Capsaicin is also a potent painkiller, alleviating headaches when inhaled. Putting hot chili sauce on food may even speed up metabolism, burning off calories.
Cinnamon. A strong stimulator of insulin activity; thus, potentially helpful for those with adult-onset diabetes. Also seems to help prevent blood clots.
Clove. Long used to dull the pain of toothache. Contains compounds that act like aspirin.
Collard Greens. Full of antioxidant compounds, including lutein, vitamin C and beta carotene. In animal studies, collards inhibited the spread of breast cancer. Collard-green consumption, like that of other green leafy vegetables, is associated with low rates of many cancers.
Corn. High in anticancer compounds called protease inhibitors, corn may help fight cancer and act as an antiviral agent.
Cranberries. Like blueberries, help prevent recurring urinary tract and bladder infections. Also believed to be effective in inhibiting viruses.
Dates. High in natural aspirin. Also high in fiber; have a laxative effect. Dried fruits, including dates, are linked to lower rates of certain cancers, especially pancreatic cancer.
Eggplant. Eating eggplant may lower blood cholesterol and help counteract some of the detrimental effects high-fat foods have on the blood. Lab tests show that eggplant also seems to act as an antibacterial agent and as a mild diuretic.
Garlic. A proven antibiotic that has been shown to kill bacteria, fungi, and intestinal parasites. Also shown to lower blood-cholesterol levels, seems to act as an anticoagulant. Garlic also contains multiple anticancer compounds, antioxidants, and immune-system boosters. A good cold medication, garlic also acts as an effective decongestant and anti-inflammatory agent.
Ginger. Used for centuries in Asia, ginger is a proven anti-nausea remedy. Also, relieves the inflammatory pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Grapefruit. Contains a pectin that's been shown to lower blood-cholesterol levels and blood pressure in animals. High in antioxidants, especially disease-fighting vitamin C, grapefruit may help prevent stomach and pancreatic cancer.
Grapes. A rich storehouse of anti-cancer compounds, red grapes are high in the antioxidant quercetin. Red-grade skins also contain resveratrol, which seems to lower bad-type LDL cholesterol.
Kale. An amazingly rich source of antioxidant compounds. High in beta carotene, and contains more lutein than any other vegetable tested. Kale is a member of the cruciferous family and contains anticancer chemicals called indoles, which may help prevent estrogen-linked cancers.
Melon. (cantaloupe and honeydew) May help prevent blood clots. Orange melons, such as cantaloupe, also contain high levels of beta carotene.
Mushroom. Esteemed in Asia as a heart medicine and cancer preventive. Tests show that compounds in Asian mushrooms, such as shiitake, may help inhibit cancer as well as viral diseases, and can lower cholesterol levels. One study showed that fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms cut cholesterol by up to 12 percent when eaten daily.
Mustard. (including horseradish) Helps relieve congestion from colds and sinus problems, and acts as an antibiotic. Revs up metabolism: One study showed that ordinary yellow mustard seemed to increase metabolic rate, helping to burn more calories.
Nuts. High in the antioxidant vitamin E., nuts help prevent cancer and heart disease. Almonds have a high concentration of oleic acid, which may help reduce cholesterol and protect arteries. Brazil nuts are extremely rich in selenium, an antioxidant linked to lower rates of both heart disease and cancer. And walnuts contain ellagic acid, another cholesterol-reducer.
Oats. Oats can help lower cholesterol and stabilize blood-sugar levels. Compounds in oats also seem to suppress nicotine cravings.
Onion. Including chives, shallots, scallions, leeks) Containing exceptionally strong antioxidants, onions have been shown to help prevent cancer in animals. The onion is a rich source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant known to inhibit stomach cancer. Onions may also help prevent atherosclerosis and blood clots, and even high fight bacterial and viral infections.
Orange. A complete package of cancer-inhibitors, including antioxidants such as vitamin C. Specifically tied to lower rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of their high vitamin C content, oranges may also help ward off breast and stomach cancer, asthma attacks, atherosclerosis, and gum disease. Some studies show that vitamin C deficiencies may also inhibit fertility in some men.
Parsley. Rich in antioxidants, parsley can help detoxify carcinogens, including those in tobacco smoke. Parsley also acts as a diuretic.
Plum and Prune. Compounds in these fruits may act as antibacterial and antiviral agents. High in fiber, these fruits work as laxatives.
Potato. (white) Contains cancer-fighting protease inhibitors. Also high in potassium.
Pumpkin. Extremely high in beta carotene.
Raspberries. As do other berries, raspberries help fight infections, and may help prevent some cancers. Also help curb nausea.
Rice. (white and brown) Like other seeds, contains anticancer protease inhibitors. Effective against diarrhea. Rice bran helps lower cholesterol levels and may help prevent formation of kidney stones.
Soybeans. Rich in compounds that act like hormones and thus seem to ward off cancer, especially estrogen-linked breast cancer. High soybean consumption may be one reason rates of breast cancer and prostate cancers are very low among the Japanese. In studies, soybeans lowered blood cholesterol levels substantially. And animal studies showed that soybeans seem to deter and help dissolve kidney stones.
Spinach. As with other green leafy vegetables, consumption of spinach is linked with lower rates of cancer. A super source of antioxidants, including folate, beta carotene and lutein, for example.
Strawberries. Rich in antioxidant vitamin C as well as high in fiber. Studies show that compounds in strawberries act like antiviral agents. And other studies link regular strawberry consumption to lower rates of all types of cancer.
Sweet Potato. A blockbuster source of beta carotene. One half-cup of mashed sweet potatoes is higher in beta carotene than a medium carrot. Also high in fiber.
Tea. (including black, oolong, and green tea) Tea acts as an antibactial, anti-ulcer agent, cavity-fighter, even an anti-diarrheal agent. In animal studies, tea and tea compounds seemed to inhibit various cancers. Tea drinkers appear to have lower risk of atherosclerosis and stroke.
Tomato. A major source of the antioxidant lycopene. tomatoes are linked to low rates of certain cancers, including bladder cancer.
Watermelon. Like the tomato, watermelon contains high levels of lycopene and glutathione, an antioxidant and anticancer compounds.
Wheat. High-fiber wheat bran has formidable anti-cancer potential. One or two daily servings of wheat-bran cereal has been shown to suppress pre-cancerous polyps that can develop into colon cancer. In women, wheat bran also appears to prevent breast cancer by diminishing supplies of estrogen circulating in the body.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
How to Deal with Impossible People
Steps
Recognize that impossible people exist, you will eventually encounter them. There isn't a thing you can do about it. The first step is all about facing reality: If you think you might be dealing with an impossible person, you're probably right. When in doubt, proceed as instructed below. The headaches you save will be your own.
Be aware that some people simply aren't compatible. Sometimes, a person who gets along with everybody else quite well is an impossible person for you. Most relationships between people contain many shades of gray, but some people simply mix as well as oil and water. It is common to hear your impossible person proclaim that "Everyone else likes me." This is an attempt to shift the blame to you, so don't buy it. It doesn't matter how this person interacts with others. The fact is, the way they interact with you is terrible. Blame never changes the facts.
Understand that it's not you, it's them. This can be surprisingly difficult, considering that impossible people have complete mastery of blaming skills. If you're dealing with an impossible person, you're probably being told on a regular basis that every conceivable thing is your fault. It isn't. As the saying goes, "It takes two to tango." Chances are, the more often they blame you, the more they are actually at fault. Keep in mind that this is not to be used as a way to blame them. Blaming is what impossible people do, and they do it well. Instead, you are only facing the facts, for your own sake. That being said, here's a simple way to tell: If you accept responsibility for your own faults and resolve to improve yourself, it's probably not you. Remember, impossible people can do no wrong.
Realize that you cannot deal with impossible people the same way you deal with everyone else. In some ways, they need to be treated like children. Give up all hope of engaging these folks in any kind of reasonable conversation. It will never happen, at least with you. Remember what happened the last fifty times you tried to have a civilized discussion about the status of your relationship with this person. Chances are, every such attempt ended in you being blamed for everything. Decide now to quit banging your head against a brick wall.
Protect your self-esteem. If you have regular dealings with someone who tries to portray you as the source of all evil, you need to take active steps to maintain a positive self-image. Remind yourself that this person's opinion is not necessarily the truth. Understand that oftentimes, impossible people are particularly "Fact-challenged." If the attacks have little basis in fact, dismiss them. You can't possibly be as bad as this person would like you to believe you are. Do NOT defend yourself out loud, however. It will only provoke the impossible person into another tirade.
Guard against anger. If it helps, consider the fact that your anger is actually a precious gift to the impossible person. Anything you do or say while angry will be used against you over and over again. Impossible people tend to have amazing memories, and they will not hesitate to use a nearly endless laundry list of complaints from the past against you. Five years from now, you could be hearing about the angry remark you made today (which you didn't even mean). Impossible people will seize anything that provides them the opportunity to lay blame like it was gold.
Keep your cool. When the impossible person becomes hysterical (and they probably will, as this is a common trait among them), immediately "Turn off" any serious consideration you had been giving them. What they are saying now should be considered gibberish. As they say, "In one ear and out the other." If at all possible, simply remain silent through the whole tirade. If that requires too much discipline on your part, make sure that anything you say tends to agree with them. Humor them. Don't ask them to calm down, because you are just inviting further bombast (such as "Why should I calm down?! Look what you've done this time! You're lucky I'm not angrier than I am!").
Give up self-defense. Understand very clearly that you cannot beat these people. They're called impossible for a reason. In their minds, you are the source of all wrongdoing, and nothing you can say is going to make them consider your side of the story. Your opinion is of no consequence, because you are already guilty, no matter what. If you tell them that you gave a million dollars to charity, they will say that you did it because you have a guilty conscience. If you tell them you discovered the cure for cancer, they will tell you that you just wanted the attention. There is no winning. Nothing you can do will be good enough. Anything positive you say about yourself will be interpreted as boorish bragging or self-justification, and you will be promptly "smacked back down to size" by a litany of negative comments and accusations. Impossible people view it as their sacred task to make sure you don't get the idea that you are worth anything, and they will act accordingly.
Understand that eventually, you and the impossible person will have to part ways. Whether they are a friend, a boss, a parent, a spouse, or whatever else, the time to leave is coming. Maintaining a relationship with an impossible person is, literally, impossible. If you can't (or won't) make a physical departure immediately, make a mental one. In your mind, you've already left the relationship. The only thing left to do is wait for physical reality to reflect that fact.
Avoid letting the impossible person make you into a "clone" of them. If you aren't careful, you could find yourself adopting many of the behaviors of the offender. Eschew blame entirely by understanding that this is just the way the other person is. It is the way nature made them by means of their environment, upbringing, and experiences in life. They have no more choice about being themselves than you have about being yourself.
Be a manager. Until it is over, your task in the relationship is to manage the impossible person, so that they do less damage to you. As a manager, your best resources are silence (it really is golden), humoring the other, and abandoning all hope of "Fixing" them. Impossible people do not listen to reason. They can't, they won't, and even if they could, they wouldn't. You can't convince them that they have any responsibility for the problems between you. They don't recognize (or try to improve) their flaws for a very logical reason; they don't have any flaws. You must understand and manage this mindset without casting blame and without giving in to anger. It's far easier said than done, and you will slip from time to time, but as time goes on, you'll become a better manager.
Realize that impossible people engage in projection. Understand that you are going to be accused of much (or all) of this behavior yourself. If your impossible person gets a look at this text, to them it will look like a page about you. Prepare yourself for the fact that the impossible person's flaws and failings will always be attributed to you. Remember, in their minds, you are at at fault for everything! They will have an endless supply of arguments to support this, and if you make the mistake of encouraging them, they will be more than happy to tell you why YOU are the impossible person, and how ironic it is that you are under the mistaken impression that it is them.
Tips
If you think you might be an impossible person yourself (or you have become one with regard to the other person), realize just how awful you are being and try to improve yourself. Then again, if you are really an impossible person, you won't even recognize yourself here. To you, this page will be all about "the other guy." For the incorrigible impossible person, everything is always about "the other guy." If you're reading this page and thinking "Hey, that sounds just like (insert name of person you blame for everything)," you're probably one of the people we are talking about here (although you could never admit it).
If nothing else helps, resolve to treat your experiences with impossible people as valuable life lessons. Realize that after dealing with them for a while, getting along with everyone else will be a cakewalk. You are getting a free education in how to deal with the most difficult people out there. Although it is unpleasant now, the lessons you learn are going to be invaluable later in life.
It may also help to call a spade a spade and realize that you are dealing with an emotional abuser. More helpful information can be found in literature on that topic.
If you're having trouble coping, seek therapy. Keep in mind that therapy doesn't always involve sitting down in front of a psychiatrist or psychologist. Do that if you need to, but don't hesitate to create your own forms of therapy as well. Journaling can be good, or (for example), you may even find therapeutic value in writing or editing a WikiHow about dealing with difficult people. ;)
Consider responding with kindness. Be kind and friendly to them. Now, don't wait on them hand and foot, they will immediately take advantage of this, but treat them like you would a good acquaintance or a friend. Everyone wants attention from others, and usually these people couldn't get any positive attention during the course of their life, so they instead act like a jerk to receive negative attention, but at least people now notice them. If they are wanting friendship, but don't know how to get it, and you are friendly to them, then they will appreciate what you are doing, and, best case scenario, they will change. If they are just a natural jerk who loves to make others mad, then what you are doing will enrage them because they can't figure out how to make you mad, eventually they will leave you alone.
Some impossible people will see your kindness as a willingness to do any favor they ask. When this happens, kindly and regrettfully say no, citing your reasons for denial. DO NOT LIE. Better to be vague about your reasons. Lying, if discovered, will exacerbate your problems with this person.
Warnings
Do not make impossible people angry; although they (of course) "have no temper" and are "reasonable to everybody," the fact is that if you enrage them, they will blow their stack like you can't believe. Your own moments of frustration with them will pale in comparison. Don't give them a reason. Instead, treat them like patients or children, but do it subtly (in such a way that they can't lash out at you for being "condescending"). This takes practice, but it is a skill worth developing.
If for some reason, you are able to convince impossible people with irrefutable evidence that they (and they alone) are at fault, then there is a possibility that they will completely "crash" in the other direction, expressing the belief that if they are not 50% right, then they must be 100% wrong all the time. This is a coping mechanism of theirs which attempts to encourage others around them to feel sympathy for them and build them back up.
Never tell others how you feel about this person. If the person, to whom you tell about the impossible behaviour of this impossible person, shares the same views as you have, then it is quite possible that this person might spread the chat you had with him/her. Then, when it reaches the ears of the impossible person in this case, regardless of the media by which this knowledge reaches him, he will make every possible attempt to degrade your image, because he will know who started it.
NEVER confront an impossible person with the fact that they are the chief source of the problem. Keep it to yourself, or you will unleash a flood of denial and blame.
Be careful with non-verbal gestures, as they may bring about misconceptions.
Do not attempt to make any physical contact with the person; a mere pat on the back may aggravate even the most mild-mannered impossible person.
Don't show this page (or any other similar advice) to impossible people in an attempt to convince them of how difficult they are. Again (and it bears repeating), you can't convince them of diddly-squat. Any attempt whatsoever to do so will only result in you getting blasted with another tirade, which will create more resentment against you and compound the problem.
Steps
Recognize that impossible people exist, you will eventually encounter them. There isn't a thing you can do about it. The first step is all about facing reality: If you think you might be dealing with an impossible person, you're probably right. When in doubt, proceed as instructed below. The headaches you save will be your own.
Be aware that some people simply aren't compatible. Sometimes, a person who gets along with everybody else quite well is an impossible person for you. Most relationships between people contain many shades of gray, but some people simply mix as well as oil and water. It is common to hear your impossible person proclaim that "Everyone else likes me." This is an attempt to shift the blame to you, so don't buy it. It doesn't matter how this person interacts with others. The fact is, the way they interact with you is terrible. Blame never changes the facts.
Understand that it's not you, it's them. This can be surprisingly difficult, considering that impossible people have complete mastery of blaming skills. If you're dealing with an impossible person, you're probably being told on a regular basis that every conceivable thing is your fault. It isn't. As the saying goes, "It takes two to tango." Chances are, the more often they blame you, the more they are actually at fault. Keep in mind that this is not to be used as a way to blame them. Blaming is what impossible people do, and they do it well. Instead, you are only facing the facts, for your own sake. That being said, here's a simple way to tell: If you accept responsibility for your own faults and resolve to improve yourself, it's probably not you. Remember, impossible people can do no wrong.
Realize that you cannot deal with impossible people the same way you deal with everyone else. In some ways, they need to be treated like children. Give up all hope of engaging these folks in any kind of reasonable conversation. It will never happen, at least with you. Remember what happened the last fifty times you tried to have a civilized discussion about the status of your relationship with this person. Chances are, every such attempt ended in you being blamed for everything. Decide now to quit banging your head against a brick wall.
Protect your self-esteem. If you have regular dealings with someone who tries to portray you as the source of all evil, you need to take active steps to maintain a positive self-image. Remind yourself that this person's opinion is not necessarily the truth. Understand that oftentimes, impossible people are particularly "Fact-challenged." If the attacks have little basis in fact, dismiss them. You can't possibly be as bad as this person would like you to believe you are. Do NOT defend yourself out loud, however. It will only provoke the impossible person into another tirade.
Guard against anger. If it helps, consider the fact that your anger is actually a precious gift to the impossible person. Anything you do or say while angry will be used against you over and over again. Impossible people tend to have amazing memories, and they will not hesitate to use a nearly endless laundry list of complaints from the past against you. Five years from now, you could be hearing about the angry remark you made today (which you didn't even mean). Impossible people will seize anything that provides them the opportunity to lay blame like it was gold.
Keep your cool. When the impossible person becomes hysterical (and they probably will, as this is a common trait among them), immediately "Turn off" any serious consideration you had been giving them. What they are saying now should be considered gibberish. As they say, "In one ear and out the other." If at all possible, simply remain silent through the whole tirade. If that requires too much discipline on your part, make sure that anything you say tends to agree with them. Humor them. Don't ask them to calm down, because you are just inviting further bombast (such as "Why should I calm down?! Look what you've done this time! You're lucky I'm not angrier than I am!").
Give up self-defense. Understand very clearly that you cannot beat these people. They're called impossible for a reason. In their minds, you are the source of all wrongdoing, and nothing you can say is going to make them consider your side of the story. Your opinion is of no consequence, because you are already guilty, no matter what. If you tell them that you gave a million dollars to charity, they will say that you did it because you have a guilty conscience. If you tell them you discovered the cure for cancer, they will tell you that you just wanted the attention. There is no winning. Nothing you can do will be good enough. Anything positive you say about yourself will be interpreted as boorish bragging or self-justification, and you will be promptly "smacked back down to size" by a litany of negative comments and accusations. Impossible people view it as their sacred task to make sure you don't get the idea that you are worth anything, and they will act accordingly.
Understand that eventually, you and the impossible person will have to part ways. Whether they are a friend, a boss, a parent, a spouse, or whatever else, the time to leave is coming. Maintaining a relationship with an impossible person is, literally, impossible. If you can't (or won't) make a physical departure immediately, make a mental one. In your mind, you've already left the relationship. The only thing left to do is wait for physical reality to reflect that fact.
Avoid letting the impossible person make you into a "clone" of them. If you aren't careful, you could find yourself adopting many of the behaviors of the offender. Eschew blame entirely by understanding that this is just the way the other person is. It is the way nature made them by means of their environment, upbringing, and experiences in life. They have no more choice about being themselves than you have about being yourself.
Be a manager. Until it is over, your task in the relationship is to manage the impossible person, so that they do less damage to you. As a manager, your best resources are silence (it really is golden), humoring the other, and abandoning all hope of "Fixing" them. Impossible people do not listen to reason. They can't, they won't, and even if they could, they wouldn't. You can't convince them that they have any responsibility for the problems between you. They don't recognize (or try to improve) their flaws for a very logical reason; they don't have any flaws. You must understand and manage this mindset without casting blame and without giving in to anger. It's far easier said than done, and you will slip from time to time, but as time goes on, you'll become a better manager.
Realize that impossible people engage in projection. Understand that you are going to be accused of much (or all) of this behavior yourself. If your impossible person gets a look at this text, to them it will look like a page about you. Prepare yourself for the fact that the impossible person's flaws and failings will always be attributed to you. Remember, in their minds, you are at at fault for everything! They will have an endless supply of arguments to support this, and if you make the mistake of encouraging them, they will be more than happy to tell you why YOU are the impossible person, and how ironic it is that you are under the mistaken impression that it is them.
Tips
If you think you might be an impossible person yourself (or you have become one with regard to the other person), realize just how awful you are being and try to improve yourself. Then again, if you are really an impossible person, you won't even recognize yourself here. To you, this page will be all about "the other guy." For the incorrigible impossible person, everything is always about "the other guy." If you're reading this page and thinking "Hey, that sounds just like (insert name of person you blame for everything)," you're probably one of the people we are talking about here (although you could never admit it).
If nothing else helps, resolve to treat your experiences with impossible people as valuable life lessons. Realize that after dealing with them for a while, getting along with everyone else will be a cakewalk. You are getting a free education in how to deal with the most difficult people out there. Although it is unpleasant now, the lessons you learn are going to be invaluable later in life.
It may also help to call a spade a spade and realize that you are dealing with an emotional abuser. More helpful information can be found in literature on that topic.
If you're having trouble coping, seek therapy. Keep in mind that therapy doesn't always involve sitting down in front of a psychiatrist or psychologist. Do that if you need to, but don't hesitate to create your own forms of therapy as well. Journaling can be good, or (for example), you may even find therapeutic value in writing or editing a WikiHow about dealing with difficult people. ;)
Consider responding with kindness. Be kind and friendly to them. Now, don't wait on them hand and foot, they will immediately take advantage of this, but treat them like you would a good acquaintance or a friend. Everyone wants attention from others, and usually these people couldn't get any positive attention during the course of their life, so they instead act like a jerk to receive negative attention, but at least people now notice them. If they are wanting friendship, but don't know how to get it, and you are friendly to them, then they will appreciate what you are doing, and, best case scenario, they will change. If they are just a natural jerk who loves to make others mad, then what you are doing will enrage them because they can't figure out how to make you mad, eventually they will leave you alone.
Some impossible people will see your kindness as a willingness to do any favor they ask. When this happens, kindly and regrettfully say no, citing your reasons for denial. DO NOT LIE. Better to be vague about your reasons. Lying, if discovered, will exacerbate your problems with this person.
Warnings
Do not make impossible people angry; although they (of course) "have no temper" and are "reasonable to everybody," the fact is that if you enrage them, they will blow their stack like you can't believe. Your own moments of frustration with them will pale in comparison. Don't give them a reason. Instead, treat them like patients or children, but do it subtly (in such a way that they can't lash out at you for being "condescending"). This takes practice, but it is a skill worth developing.
If for some reason, you are able to convince impossible people with irrefutable evidence that they (and they alone) are at fault, then there is a possibility that they will completely "crash" in the other direction, expressing the belief that if they are not 50% right, then they must be 100% wrong all the time. This is a coping mechanism of theirs which attempts to encourage others around them to feel sympathy for them and build them back up.
Never tell others how you feel about this person. If the person, to whom you tell about the impossible behaviour of this impossible person, shares the same views as you have, then it is quite possible that this person might spread the chat you had with him/her. Then, when it reaches the ears of the impossible person in this case, regardless of the media by which this knowledge reaches him, he will make every possible attempt to degrade your image, because he will know who started it.
NEVER confront an impossible person with the fact that they are the chief source of the problem. Keep it to yourself, or you will unleash a flood of denial and blame.
Be careful with non-verbal gestures, as they may bring about misconceptions.
Do not attempt to make any physical contact with the person; a mere pat on the back may aggravate even the most mild-mannered impossible person.
Don't show this page (or any other similar advice) to impossible people in an attempt to convince them of how difficult they are. Again (and it bears repeating), you can't convince them of diddly-squat. Any attempt whatsoever to do so will only result in you getting blasted with another tirade, which will create more resentment against you and compound the problem.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
When cleaning out closets and drawers, ask the five W-A-S-T-E questions, and you're well on your way to an informed keep-or-toss decision.
Worthwhile: Do you truly like (or fit) the dress or shirt in question? Is that magazine article essential to your job? Does that fax cover sheet contain critical information? If the item isn't worthwhile, toss it out now. If it is, move on to the next four questions.
Again: Will you really use this item again, or is it just going to sit on a shelf or take up space in your files? Use it or lose it: If you don't foresee using something in the next year or if you haven't used it in the last one, clear it out.
Somewhere else: Ask yourself: Can I easily find this somewhere else? Can you borrow it from a friend or get a memo from a colleague? Can you get the details by making a phone call, going online, or at the library? Can you go to a local discount store if you need the item later? If so, you don't need to save it.
Toss: Many things have ways of slipping and sliding by the first three questions, so here's the acid test: Will anything happen if you toss it? If not, go ahead and toss it -- unless it must be legally retained.
This question often ends up taking people on a sentimental journey. Maybe something passed the first three questions because it had sentimental value, but the world wouldn't stop turning if you tossed it. This question is the toughest to judge because it can't be measured by anyone but you.
Entire: Do you need the entire thing? The whole magazine, document, or draft? Every piece of an outfit, even if you wear only the pants? Keep what you need and ditch the excess. Also, get rid of redundancy: Who really needs 17 black pens or a dot-matrix printer when you have a high-speed laser?
Worthwhile: Do you truly like (or fit) the dress or shirt in question? Is that magazine article essential to your job? Does that fax cover sheet contain critical information? If the item isn't worthwhile, toss it out now. If it is, move on to the next four questions.
Again: Will you really use this item again, or is it just going to sit on a shelf or take up space in your files? Use it or lose it: If you don't foresee using something in the next year or if you haven't used it in the last one, clear it out.
Somewhere else: Ask yourself: Can I easily find this somewhere else? Can you borrow it from a friend or get a memo from a colleague? Can you get the details by making a phone call, going online, or at the library? Can you go to a local discount store if you need the item later? If so, you don't need to save it.
Toss: Many things have ways of slipping and sliding by the first three questions, so here's the acid test: Will anything happen if you toss it? If not, go ahead and toss it -- unless it must be legally retained.
This question often ends up taking people on a sentimental journey. Maybe something passed the first three questions because it had sentimental value, but the world wouldn't stop turning if you tossed it. This question is the toughest to judge because it can't be measured by anyone but you.
Entire: Do you need the entire thing? The whole magazine, document, or draft? Every piece of an outfit, even if you wear only the pants? Keep what you need and ditch the excess. Also, get rid of redundancy: Who really needs 17 black pens or a dot-matrix printer when you have a high-speed laser?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)