Food for Health and to Fight Sickness

Nobody plans to get sick. On the contrary, your efforts to avoid it sometimes seem borderline OCD: Don't sneeze into your hands, always cook your chicken to exactly 170 degrees, and hose down every germ-carrying preschooler in sight with soap and water. And yet, no matter how many times you gargle with salt before bedtime or coat yourself in antibacterial hand cleanser, now and again the inevitable rumble in your tummy or tickle in your throat hits. Hard. Suddenly, you're down for the count and up to date on the daytime soaps. What are you doing wrong? Probably nothing. But you can do a few more things right. Certain foods and drinks have a natural immunity boost; to tap their benefits, just open up and say, "Ahh."

Tea Off Against Colds

Not just any hot tea, though. Chamomile, according to researchers from London's Imperial College, is the one that'll help prevent sickness. In a recent study, they found people who drank five cups of the brew a day for 2 weeks had increased blood levels of plant-based compounds called polyphenols, some of which have been associated with increased antibacterial activity. Levels remained high for 2 weeks after subjects stopped drinking the tea, says lead researcher Elaine Holmes, Ph.D. (Bonus: chamomile tea also raised levels of glycine, a mild nerve relaxant and sedative.)

More ways to boost your immune system so you never get sick again.

Knock 'em Dead

There's a killer living in all of us. Known as a macrophage and produced deep in your bone marrow, it's a white blood cell that roams the body, picking fights with bacteria, viruses, or any other intruders. But it only works if you help it. These killer cells are activated by beta-glucans, a component of fiber foods. The best source? Oats, says David Grotto, R.D., director of nutrition education at the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care in Evanston, Illinois. So eat your oatmeal. The steel-cut oats, like McCann's Irish Oatmeal, have double the amount found in the rolled, quick-cooking kind.

Dressing for Success

Eating a salad for lunch is smart. Drowning it in fat-free dressing isn't. A recent study from Iowa State University found that without dietary fat, your body doesn't absorb some of the disease-fighting nutrients in vegetables. Researchers fed seven people salad for 12 weeks and tested their blood after each meal. Those who topped their salads with fat-free dressing consistently failed to absorb carotenoids, antioxidants that have been linked to improved immunity. Fat is necessary for the carotenoids to reach the absorptive intestinal cells, says lead researcher Wendy White, Ph.D. Choose dressings with healthy fats from olive or nut oils, such as Many Seeds of Change (available at Whole Foods or in the crunchy section of your neighborhood market) and many Annie's Naturals dressings. If you're feeling adventuresome, try making your own. For an Italianate, try 2 or 3 parts extra virgin olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar; for something with an Asian influence, go 3 parts sesame oil to 1 part rice wine vinegar.

Fight Bugs this Whey

A shot of whiskey might be one way to feel better, but whey protein is a much more effective immune-boosting cocktail. Whey is rich in an amino acid called cysteine, which converts to glutathione in the body. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant that fortifies cells against bacterial or viral infection. For the highest concentration of protein, try something called powdered whey protein isolate, which is more pure—and more expensive—than concentrate. Fortify your morning smoothie with whey protein powder or try another source: yogurt. The clear liquid that forms on top of most cartons of yogurt is pure whey protein—so don't drain it off, just stir it back into the yogurt.

Tomato Trumps Chicken

To beat back a cold, you slurp chicken noodle soup. To avoid getting sick in the first place, ladle out some tomato. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 10 subjects ate a tomato-rich diet for 3 weeks, followed by a tomato-free diet for 3 more weeks. While subjects were on the tomato diet, their infection-fighting white blood cells sustained 38 percent less damage from free radicals—atoms in the body that damage and destabilize cells—than when they ate no tomato products. Researchers speculate that the lycopene in tomatoes acts as an antioxidant, helping white blood cells resist the damaging effects of free radicals.

10 Healthy things you can do with a tomato.

Give Ma Nature a Taste of Her Own Medicine

Butterbur may sound like something that makes you sneeze. But the herbal supplement actually helps you fight allergies. Scottish researchers found that patients with grass and pollen allergies who popped 50 mg of the plant extract twice daily had 13 percent better nasal airflow than those who took a placebo. Another study published in the British Medical Journal reported that butterbur treated seasonal allergies nearly as well as the prescription medication Zyrtec. It's effective against all symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including sneezing, itching, and conjunctivitis, says Andreas Schapowal, M.D., Ph.D., the author of the study. Butterbur is believed to block leukotriene, a chemical that causes allergic reactions, while at the same time controlling eosinophils, the white blood cells that accumulate when allergic reactions take place, says Dr. Schapowal. What's more, there's no drowsy effect with butterbur. You can buy the supplement ($25 for 60 capsules) at most health food stores or at iherb.com.

Down a Sports Drink

Not only will guzzling Gatorade help your body recover from a tough workout, but it may also protect you from the latest strain of the flu. According to a study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition, when 10 triathletes drank more than 1 cup of sports drink every 15 minutes during intense exercise, they had significantly better immune response than they did when they drank a placebo.

9 Ways to avoid germs at the gym.

Wine, then Dine

Drinking wine with your meal, in addition to being good for your heart, may help ward off food poisoning before it happens. Scientists at Oregon State University recently found that wine can put the kibosh on three common food pathogens: E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. In lab studies, the wine's combination of ethanol, organic acids, and low pH appeared to scramble the bugs' genetic material. All wines have some effect, say researchers, but reds are the most potent.

Feel the Burn

Several animal and laboratory studies have shown that capsaicin—the compound that gives chili peppers their fire—can help stop sickness before it starts. Mice in one study were given a daily dose of capsaicin and had nearly three times more antibody-producing cells after 3 weeks than those given no capsaicin. More antibodies mean fewer colds and infections. Results of other studies suggest that eating food containing hot components such as capsaicin may improve immune status, says Rina Yu, Ph.D., of the University of Ulsan in South Korea, the lead researcher. The point is, it can't hurt. At the very least, a dash or two of hot sauce might help flush out some toxins.

Change Your Numbers Game

Losing a little extra baggage will not only reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but also will help shape up your immune system. Researchers at Tufts University asked a group of slightly overweight people to cut 100 to 200 calories from their daily food intake. The result, in addition to weight loss and a drop in cholesterol counts? Participants boosted their immune system response to disease-causing microorganisms. Researchers aren't exactly sure why, but speculate that the benefit comes from a combination of effects. One thing is certain: Cutting 200 calories out of your daily diet is easy. At your next restaurant meal, ditch the baked potato with sour cream and order steamed vegetables instead.

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What People Want

Your blog, your business, your campaign, your new product—should be less about what you think people want, and more about what your prospects will actually act on. Want to be profitable? Then that’s your focus: what people want.

Save yourself time and money. Understanding this “want” gap and bridging it—conquering it—improves your conversion rate, it motivates you through your new-found success, and it takes your efforts to a competing level.

Posted via email from Music Business Information

What's your best tip for other entrepreneurs?

---by Bob Lefsetz

A: It's not about starting a business. It's about solving problems. That's what being an entrepreneur is. Find a problem that there's a better way to solve. Get a vision of how it could work better, and stick with it.

Ron Shaich, Chairman of Panera Bread, in the "Wall Street Journal": http://on.wsj.com/egi4xr

This is why all those online music startups failed, you know the ones that were going to revolutionize distribution, they didn't know who their customer was!  It wasn't the music listener, but the major labels and publishers.  And their problem wasn't easy access or availability, it was revenue replacement.  Unless you can convince rights holders they're going to make a ton of money with your online idea, it's a nonstarter, they just won't license it.  Doesn't matter that you're arguing about an inevitable future, how much easier it will be for consumers, it comes down to cold hard cash.  The labels lost it and they need it. Can you solve that problem?

Kind of like Ticketmaster.  If you can find a way to sell tickets to consumers more cheaply, great.  But your site better not work worse than Ticketmaster's, then you're going in the wrong direction.  This doomed Live Nation's ticketing efforts.  The system didn't work upon launch.  And no matter what improvements were made, public perception was that LN's system didn't work.  And once again, we've got an issue of rights.  Buildings and promoters are less worried about end consumer experience than cold cash.  They're not sacrificing profits in order to make the consumer happy.  Without profits, they're not in business.  And they're greedy, just like the acts.  That's what the Ticketmaster fees are all about, they're hidden profit centers for the acts and promoters and venues.  They don't have a problem with Ticketmaster, you do!

And now we know why Amazon's music efforts are a nonstarter.  The public did not have a problem with iTunes.  And sure, Amazon may blow out music at a loss, but how do you get it into iTunes and on your iPod?  People buy from iTunes as insurance, of a hassle-free experience.  Come on, everyone hates tech trouble.  Who do you call?  Who do you e-mail?  Actually, at this point it's clear you're on your own.  You've got to do online research.  Unless you're an Apple customer.  Then you can go to the Genius Bar.  That's a problem Apple solved.  You buy their products and you've got someone who'll help you.  Ever try to get help at Amazon?

And Sirius XM has solved the problem of endless radio commercials.  But it hasn't solved the problem that their stations sound just like the dreaded terrestrial ones, just without ads.  That's half a solution.  Which is why subscriptions have stalled.  Twenty million people will pay to get rid of commercials.  But in order to get everyone to pay, you've got to be offering a service that's different from what's available for free.

And speaking of free, Pandora's successful because it solves the filter problem.  What do I listen to?  There's a plethora of music online, where do I start?  By plugging in the name of your favorite act in Pandora.  Build a better mousetrap than Pandora, give better recommendations and you can kill the site.  Only one venture in every category succeeds online.  Barnes & Noble has no traction selling books online and Borders is barely in business, everyone just goes to Amazon.  Amazon sells books very well.  They were there first and got it right, like Apple did in music.

In order for the aforementioned Live Nation to be successful, it's got to solve the problems of acts.  Which is they want to make more money without giving the appearance of screwing their fans.  Sure, LN overpaid for years, but now they're in trouble if they want to pay less.  Because the acts are not loyal to LN, they're loyal to money.  In order to triumph, LN's got to not only pay more for gigs, but prove to acts that they can upsell ticket buyers on additional merchandise.  We keep hearing about this, but it's yet to happen.  So, right now, unless an act wants to play in the sheds, it's open season in the concert business.  If you're willing to pay, you can promote the act.  Because there's just nothing special to LN.  Used to be they paid more, but with that debt...

And the problem acts have is exposure and getting paid.  Which is why the major labels are faltering.  Because the majors can only expose mainstream/Top Forty fare and they don't want to pay more, they want to pay less for more rights.  That's not an enticing deal.  Certainly not if you're not making Top Forty music.  Unless the majors find a way to sell music in categories other than Top Forty, unless they provide more services for their 360 deals, they're screwed.

And indie retail will continue to die, because most people don't have a problem with online music.  Sorry, it's the truth.

And new venues will always have an uphill climb, because people don't go for the building, but the show.  The problem is getting tickets to see the desirable acts.  StubHub fixed this problem, as did the scalpers, that's why they're triumphing.  The acts have platinum packages, there's talk of airplane pricing, which no one likes when flying, I don't know why they'd like it in concert tickets, the only solution is for the act to truly control the ticket by going paperless.  But that eliminates shenanigans...  But if you're in it for the long haul, it's the only way to go.  Then again, if you're a flash in the pan, your problem is how can you make as much money as possible as quickly as possible.  Don't worry about screwing your fans, they won't care about you two years from now anyway.

And if you're making music...  The consumer's problem is not that he can't find enough beat-driven Top Forty music.  It's that he can't find anything new and innovative that he will pledge allegiance to.  Unless you can make this, you're on a long hard slog.

Posted via email from Music Business Information

You are More than Enough

The following is post by Courtney Carver of Be More with Less.

When I first wrote Living in the Land of Enough as a guest post on this blog, I had no idea it would become a 7-part series on my blog, or translated into Italian, but the more I wrote about The Land of Enough, the more time I wanted to spend there. Today, as the series comes to a close, I thought it would be exciting to share the conclusion on the same blog where it started.

In the very first post about the Land of Enough, I wrote about seven topics. Subsequently, each topic became its own chapter in the series. Here is a quick recap:

Visiting the Land of Enough

1. Save Your Money. There is no need for credit cards or therapeutic shopping in the land of enough. There are also no overdraft fees or ATM charges. Just put your cards away for 10 days. Then, keep a list of purchases you would have made if you were using your credit card, or if you were shopping for sport, and take note of the money that you didn’t spend.
2. Take Your Time. In the land of enough, you have time to breathe. Stop trying to squeeze so much in. If you are always running late, falling behind, or trying to catch up, try slowing down. Cancel a few unnecessary appointments and don’t schedule any new ones if you can help it. Then, make a little time everyday for solitude.
3. Disconnect. Set a specific time to disconnect each day. In the land of enough, there is less need to be plugged in. If you can, commit to not using a computer after dinner or before lunch time. Be mindful of how much time you spend online and are virtually available. Protect your time and your mind.
4. Eat Real Food. Only eat food that you prepare. Summertime is the perfect time to eat fresh food – fruits and veggies are often fresh, local, and less expensive than buying them in winter. Do not eat anything from a box, restaurant or drive-thru. While you may choose to eat less by eliminating processed foods, you may find that you naturally eat just enough.
5. Make Space. Clear out some space in your house. You don’t need to take on big purging projects during this time to make space. Simplify one room (or even just the corner of one room) and keep it as clean and clutter free as possible. Even if the rest of your house is cluttered, this area can be a great reminder of how you might feel living with less.
6. Entertain Yourself. Unplug your TV and plan to enjoy your friends, family, the great outdoors, or a book you have been meaning to read. Do not spend time and money on expensive shows, travel or recreational activities. While the land of plenty calls you to spend more money for entertainment, you already have enough right where you are.
7. Say Thank You. As you go through these steps, you will find enough time and space to be grateful. Through prayer, thank you cards, or a kind gesture, share your gratitude every day.

I love the Land of Enough, but the challenging part for me is being there, and attending to my everyday life at the same time. Some of you commented that living this way all the time is not realistic, and I agree.

If you think that living this life is appealing, but impractical on a daily basis, don’t give up all together. Instead, set aside one day a week, or month to live according to the recommendations above. Choose your favorite ideas and make them part of your life.

When you begin to spend even a few minutes a day in the Land of Enough, you will quickly realize that the experience starts in your heart and begins to change it. But even before you start to make changes, know that you are enough. Sometimes we think we have so far to go to get to where we want to be, that we don’t even try. We think we don’t deserve better because of our current situation. Regardless of your current habits or circumstances, you are enough. You’ve always been enough.

There is one thing about The Land of Enough that I forgot to tell you. Because everyone there is living more authentically and simply, and because they don’t live under a burden of constant stress, they are loving. Simply put, it is easier to love more deeply when you realize you have enough… that you are enough.

The transition from regular life to the Land of Enough takes time. Instead of trying to incorporate all of the changes at once, slowly and deliberately transition the best parts to your life.

Valentine Day's Gift

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Horseradish

 This zesty herb was known to the ancient Greeks and was one of the first commercially processed foods of the 19th century. Of course, no one appreciated horseradish more than the 1930s cartoon character Dagwood Bumstead, the creator of the impossible multi-tiered sandwich of the same name. Today, this herb is one of the few still hand-planted and harvested to the tune of 6 million gallons of prepared sauce each year in the United States alone--enough to spread end-to-end slices of bread that span the globe a dozen times.

Straight from the Horse’s…Hoof?

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a member of the Brassicaceae family of plants, which is composed of more than 3,000 species, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and wasabi, also known as Japanese horseradish. The plant is native to central Europe, where it was once called “red cole” in England and “sea radish” in Germany. The latter reference may provide linguists with a clue as to how this herb received its current name. First, note that the word “radish,” or “rettich” in German, simply translates to “root.” But, ”meer,” the German word for “sea,” was likely pronounced by the English as “mare,” leading to “mareradish” as the result of combining the two. Somewhere along the way, the English eventually traded “mare” for “horse” and the herb’s modern moniker was born. Then again, another theory exists that horseradish is so-named because it was originally processed by “hoofing.” That is, the roots were macerated under the weight of horses stamping their feet.

Although the English peasantry considered horseradish standard fare served with beef and seafood by the mid-16th century, the gentry took little notice of it as a foodstuff. However, horseradish was acknowledged as a medical plant by this time. For instance, the English physician and naturalist, William Turner, wrote of “red cole” in his “A New Herball” printed in 1551. More than 40 years later, John Gerard included this culinary tid-bit in his “Generall Historie of Plantes” published in1597: “…the Horse Radish stamped with a little vinegar put thereto, is commonly used among the Germans for sauce to eat fish with and such like meates as we do mustarde.” The herb was so favored by the common folk, it seems, that it was commonly grown near inns and coach houses for the purpose of refreshing weary travelers with a stimulating cordial made from the root.

Coming to America

Surprisingly, horseradish didn’t appear on American dinner tables until the early 1800s. As European settlers spread their own roots into the New World, the condiment began gaining popularity among the colonists. At first, the cultivation of horseradish took place throughout the northeast. By the mid-1800s, horseradish was naturalized in many northeastern regions, most notably around Boston. Formal cultivation of the plant began in the Midwest in 1850 and by the end of the century it became a booming industry for Illinois and Wisconsin farmers. After World War II came to a close, commercial cultivation spread to California, where it remains a major crop today. However, Collinsville, Illinois, which supplies roughly 60% of the world’s horseradish production, is recognized as the "Horseradish Capital of the World," a designation celebrated each June with the International Horseradish Festival.

Horseradish, Headache & Histochemistry…Oh, My!

Traditionally, horseradish has been used for centuries to treat cough, influenza and other respiratory conditions, as well as gout, rheumatism and disorders of the liver and gallbladder. In Europe, the German Commission E has approved horseradish for the treatment of bronchitis and urinary tract infection.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, including horseradish and other spicy condiments may help you to slim down. In fact, horseradish ranked high among low-fat foods with satisfying flavor among those recommended for a healthy diet for weight management. And, there’s more than one benefit to consider when spreading horseradish on a sandwich other than flavor; the stuff is high in fiber and packed with punch from a chemical called allyl isothiocyanate. While the latter might not sound very appetizing, it kills E. coli, Listeria and other food-borne pathogens you wouldn’t care to share your lunch with.

Then there’s horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to think about. This enzyme, according to researchers at M.I.T., is powerful enough to remove several types of pollutants from waste water.  Classified as a heme protein, HRP is easily taken up by nerve cells, where it hangs around axons and dendrites and makes cells highly visible. As such, HRP is used in molecular biology to identify antibodies, and in immunohistochemistry to label tissue samples suspected of being cancerous.

If all of the above weren’t enough, horseradish is reputed to saddle a stubborn headache. In fact, mothers, grandmothers and other wise women throughout the southern U.S. swear by smearing smashed horseradish across the forehead to quickly chase a headache away. One caveat: This treatment likely repels family and friends, too.

Although there are no known adverse effects associated with the medicinal application of this herb, it would be prudent to refrain from its use if there is a history of stomach ulcers due to the presence of mustard oils, which can irritate sensitive membranes. Similarly, giving horseradish to young children is not recommended. In addition, compounds in horseradish exert diuretic properties, meaning they increase urination. This indicates that people with kidney disease should not consume large quantities of this herb.

Posted via email from WellCare

Gift for Valentine's Day

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Living A Longer Life

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Why Ask People to Pray For You?

---by Billy Graham

Q: What good does it do to ask people to pray for you? They aren't any better than I am, and anyway, I don't like sharing my problems with someone and then wondering if they're going to gossip about them. -- Mrs. A.Y. 

A: We don't ask people to pray for us because they're better than we are, or because God might be more likely to listen to them. We ask them to pray for us simply because we know we are in need, and that God is pleased when we pray for others. 

I often think of the Apostle Paul in this connection. He was the greatest follower of Jesus Christ who ever lived, and if anyone might have felt he didn't need others to pray for him, it would've been Paul. But repeatedly he asked people to pray for him -- just as he was praying for them. He wrote, "Brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly" (2 Thessalonians 3:1). If Paul sought the prayers of others, shouldn't you also? 

If someone isn't trustworthy, of course, you shouldn't share your problems with them. But don't let your pride, or anything else, keep you from asking for the prayers of those who love Christ and care about you. And don't forget to pray yourself, both for your own needs and the needs of others. The Bible says, "Serve one another in love" -- and one way we do this is by praying for them (Galatians 5:13). 

Never forget: One of our greatest privileges if we know Christ is the privilege of prayer, and it is ours because He opened heaven's door by His death and resurrection for us. Make sure of your commitment to Christ, and then bring your every concern to Him in prayer. 

Posted via email from Religion

Global Info-Graphic of Small Business

By the Numbers: Small Business in the U.S. & Abroad

Inflation and currency exchange play large factors in the cost to start-up a new business abroad compared with the United States. If you're considering starting up a small business, the below info-graphic breaks down start-up costs, ease of business and success rates broken down by country, as well as a view of small business around the globe.

See a larger version of "By the Numbers: Small Business in the U.S. & Abroad

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Idiots Guide to NWO

Super Energy Kale Soup

This quick and easy version of potato kale soup has extra vegetables for more flavor and nutrition and takes little time to prepare. Prep and Cook Time: Prep and cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 medium carrot, diced into ¼-inch cubes (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup diced celery
• 2 red potatoes, diced into ½-inch cubes
• 3 cups kale, rinsed, stems removed and chopped very fine
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp dried sage
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop garlic and onions and let sit for 5 minutes
2. Heat 1 TBS broth in a medium soup pot.
3. Healthy Sauté onion in broth over medium heat for about 5 minutes stirring frequently.
4. Add garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
5. Add broth, carrots, and celery and bring to a boil on high heat.
6. Once it comes to a boil reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add potatoes and kale and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 more minutes.
7. Add rest of ingredients and cook another 5 minutes. If you want to simmer for a longer time for extra flavor and richness, you may need to add a little more broth.

Serves 4

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Since Roe V Wade....America Closing In ON 50,000,000 Abortions!

Statistics compiled over the past decade show that the number of abortions in the United States has dropped precipitously since the early 1980s, but the procedure still remains a prevalent form of birth control in this country and around the world.

According to the U.S .Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, there were 846,181 abortions in the U.S. in 2006, the latest year for which government records are available.

The pro-abortion rights Alan Guttmacher Institute reports that there have been nearly 50 million abortions performed since 1973, the year the Supreme Court issued the Roe v. Wade decision ushering in legal abortion nationwide.

In 2008, Guttmacher says, there were 1.2 million "legally terminated pregnancies" in the United States, based on reports complied from state and local health agencies -- down from 1.3 million the year previous.

According to Guttmacher, 35 percent of all U.S. women will have had an abortion by age 45.

Guttmacher also reports that 93 percent of all abortions occur for “social reasons” such as a mother’s decision that the child is unwanted or “inconvenient.”

Both Guttmacher and CDC say that black women are more than four times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are 2.7 times as likely.

BlackGenocide.com, a pro-life campaign to stop abortion in the African American community, estimates that 13 million abortions have been performed on African American women since 1973. They also estimate that, on average, 1,876 black pregnancies are terminated in the U.S. each day.

Surprisingly, Guttmacher estimates that Catholic women account for more than 31 percent of all abortions performed in the United States while 18 percent of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as born-again Christians or evangelicals. Both religious groups preach against terminating pregnancies.

Guttmacher says that there are 1,793 abortion “providers” in the United States and that the average amount paid for an abortion is $413.

-- Over 60 percent of abortions are among women who have had one or more children, and 90 percent of abortions occur within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.

-- About 20 percent of women having an abortion report using Medicaid to pay for abortions despite laws that prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to fund abortions.

-- One significant change that has occurred over the last decade comes as a result of the development of the drug RU-486 or the “abortion pill.”

-- Guttmacher estimates that use of the pill has risen significantly since 2005 and now accounts for 17 percent of all abortion procedures.

Worldwide, Guttmacher estimates that 42 million abortions are performed each year with nearly half of those being performed by “unskilled” professionals or in nations where abortion is restricted or prohibited.

According to the United Nations, the country with the highest number of abortions per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44, in 2007, was Russia: 53.7 abortions per 1,000 women. The corresponding number for the United States that year, according to the U.N., was 20.8 abortions per 1,000 women.

For another comparison,  Guttmacher reports that, "In 2008, 153,110 women obtained abortions in New York, producing a rate of 37.6 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age."

Rallies were held in Washington, D.C., on Monday to mark the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed the right to an abortion.

President Obama marked the anniversary by releasing a statement in which he reiterated his support for abortion rights.

“Today marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that protects women's health and reproductive freedom, and affirms a fundamental principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters,” said Obama. “I am committed to protecting this constitutional right.”

Despite the continued legality of the procedure in the United States, pro-life groups have been bolstered in their cause thanks to the Republican takeover of the U.S. House and by recent polls showing support for legal abortion slipping.

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American Security

How long have I been reporting this and how long have I been saying if they want to hit us with a dirty bomb, someday, they will do it by coming through our unsecured borders?

I also reported terrorist are teaming up with the Mexican drug cartel who will help them accomplish their missions.

Everyone knows the best way to attack someone is from their weakest and most vulnerable side...right now that is our Southern Border. 

I also believe all these other things they are doing in America is smoke to disguise what they real strategy is....keep us focused on areas where they really aren't coming from, ultimately.

Do I have proof...NO....but, it only makes sense, plus, all the OTM, being apprehended coming across our Southern Borders.

Posted via email from Global Politics

Politcal Party History of U.S.A.

The First Party System is a model of American politics used by political scientists and historians to periodize the political party system existing in the United States between roughly 1792 and 1824. It featured two national parties competing for control of the presidency, Congress, and the states: the Federalist Party (created by Alexander Hamilton) and dominant to 1800, and the Democratic-Republican Party(created by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison) and dominant after 1800.

The First Party System ended during the Era of Good Feelings (1816–1824), as the Federalists shrank to a few isolated strongholds. In 1824-28, as the Second Party System emerged, the Democratic-Republican Party split into the Jacksonian faction, which became the modernDemocratic Party in the 1830s, and the Henry Clay faction, which was absorbed by Clay's Whig Party.

Contents  [show]

[edit]Federalists versus Anti-Federalists in 1787-88

Further information: Federalist Papers

Leading nationalists, led by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin (see Annapolis Convention), called theConstitutional Convention in 1787. It drew up a new constitution that was submitted to state ratification conventions for approval. (The old Congress of the Confederation approved the process.) James Madison was the most prominent figure; he is often referred to as "the father of the Constitution."^[1]

An intense debate on ratification pitted the "Federalists" against the "Anti-Federalists," with the former gaining the upper hand. The Anti-Federalists were deeply concerned about the theoretical danger of a strong central government (like that of Britain) that some day could usurp the rights of the states.^[2]

The term "Federalist Party" originated around 1792-93 and refers to a somewhat different coalition of supporters of the Constitution in 1787-88 as well as entirely new elements, and even some opponents of the Constitution (such as Patrick Henry). Madison largely wrote the Constitution and thus was a Federalist in 1787-88, but opposed the program of the Hamiltonians and their new "Federalist Party."^[2]

[edit]Washington Administration (1789–1797)

At first, there were no parties in the nation. Factions soon formed around dominant personalities such as Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who opposed Hamilton's broad vision of a powerful federal government. Jefferson especially objected to Hamilton's flexible view of the Constitution, which Hamilton stretched to include a national bank. Washington was re-elected without opposition in 1792.

Hamilton built a national network of supporters that emerged about 1792–93 as the Federalist Party. In response, Jefferson and James Madison built a network of supporters of the republic in Congress and in the states that emerged in 1792-93 as the Democratic-Republican Party. The elections of 1792 were the first to be contested on anything resembling a partisan basis. In most states, the congressional elections were recognized in some sense, as Jefferson strategist John Beckley put it, as a "struggle between the Treasury department and the republican interest." In New York, the race for governor was organized along these lines. The candidates were John Jay, who was a Hamiltonian, and incumbent George Clinton, who was allied with Jefferson and the Republicans.^[3]

In 1793, the first Democratic-Republican Societies were formed. They supported the French Revolution, which had just seen the execution ofKing Louis XVI, and generally supported the Jeffersonian cause. The word "democrat" was proposed by Citizen Genet for the societies, and the Federalists ridiculed Jefferson's friends as "democrats." After Washington denounced the societies as unrepublican, they mostly faded away.

In 1793, war broke out between England, France, and their European allies. The Jeffersonians favored France and pointed to the 1778 treaty that was still in effect. Washington and his unanimous cabinet (including Jefferson) decided the treaty did not bind the U.S. to enter the war; instead Washington proclaimed neutrality.

When war threatened with Britain in 1794, Washington sent John Jay to negotiate the Jay treaty with Britain; it was signed in late 1794, and ratified in 1795. It averted a possible war and settled many (but not all) of the outstanding issues between the U.S. and Britain.^[4] The Jeffersonians vehemently denounced the treaty, saying it threatened to undermine republicanism by giving the aristocratic British and their Federalist allies too much influence.^[5] The fierce debates over the Jay Treaty in 1794-96, according to William Nisbet Chanbers, nationalized politics and turned a faction in Congress into a nationwide party. To fight the treaty the Jeffersonians "established coordination in activity between leaders at the capital, and leaders, actives and popular followings in the states, counties and towns." ^[6]

In 1796 Jefferson challenged John Adams for the presidency and lost. The Electoral College made the decision, and it was largely chosen by the state legislatures, many of which were not chosen on a national party basis.

[edit]Newspapers as party weapons

Federalist poster about 1800. Washington (in heaven) tells partisans to keep the pillars of Federalism, Republicanism and Democracy

By 1796, both parties had a national network of newspapers, which attacked each other vehemently. The Federalist and Republican newspapers of the 1790s traded vicious barbs against their enemies. An example is this doggerel from a Democratic-Republican paper:^[7]

• A SK—who lies here beneath this monument?
• L o!—’tis a self created MONSTER, who
• E mbraced all vice. His arrogance was like
• X erxes, who flogg’d the disobedient sea,
• A dultery his smallest crime; when he
• N obility affected. This privilege
• D ecreed by Monarchs, was to that annext.
• E nticing and entic’d to ev’ry fraud,
• R enounced virtue, liberty and God.
• H aunted by whores—he haunted them in turn
• A ristocratic was this noble Goat
• M onster of monsters, in pollution skill’d
• I mmers’d in mischief, brothels, funds & banks
• L ewd slave to lust,—afforded consolation;
• T o mourning whores, and tory-lamentation.
• O utdid all fools, tainted with royal name;
• N one but fools, their wickedness proclaim.

[edit]Party Strength in Congress

Historians have used statistical techniques to estimate the party breakdown in Congress. Many Congressmen were hard to classify in the first few years, but after 1796 there was less uncertainty. The first parties were anti-federalist and federalist.

Federalist and Democratic-Republican Strength in Congress by Election Year

House	1788	1790	1792	1794	1796	1798	1800	1802	1804	1806
Federalist	37	39	51	47

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Beet Juice

Beet juice recipe is... here it is for you, no digging necessary (except to dig up some beets from your garden!)

1 Beet, leafs and all

4 Carrots

3 Celery Stalks

1 Apple

Pass all these veggies through the juicer and enjoy! :) 

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10 Rudest Spots In The Country

Leave your attitude at the door and check out the ten rudest spots in the country:

10. Dallas/Fort Worth

9. Orlando

8. Las Vegas

7. Baltimore

6. Boston

5. Washington, D.C.

4. Miami

3. Philadelphia

2. New York

1. Los Angeles

Illustrated History

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Left/Right; Democrat/Republican; Liberal/Conservative...????

Political parties exist for the singular purpose of installing people to positions of power and influence in government.  It is the same all over the world and has always been so.  To do this they compete with the opposition for support of the electorate by inciting passion over issues of the time.  Whether the issues have to do with the economy, national security, individual liberties, the environment, Constitutional interpretations, or matters of moral and social conscience, parties stake claim to various convictions then pretend, as necessary, that they have always been philosophically faithful to their positions.  But this is done more often than not to simply gain support in terms of dollars and votes for their own candidates.  Additionally, many people are attracted to particular parties over single wedge-issues like abortion or gun control and discount other party positions.  So the association of any party over time with a particular political philosophy is problematic at best.  Follow along and see if you don’t agree.

The Democratic Party, claiming a position on the left of the political theory continuum, has been labeled “liberal,” both by supporters and detractors alike.  The name is derived from the Latin, liber, which means free.  And until the end of the eighteenth century, it simply meant “worthy of a free man”.  It is from this sense of the word that we speak of “liberal arts”, “liberal sciences”, “liberal occupations”, etc.  Then, beginning in the early part of the nineteenth century, the term came to imply the qualities of intellect and behavior that were considered to be characteristic of those who occupied higher social positions, whether because of wealth, education, or family relationships.  Thus, an intellectually independent, broad-minded, magnanimous, frank, open, and genial person was said to be liberal.  The suffix, “ism,” added to descrip- tive words produces nouns that mean a belief, an ideology, or study, as to be immersed in.  “Liberalism” then connotes a political system or tendency that is opposed to centralization and absolut- ism.  However, the word liberal is generally used in a derogatory way today by those who subscribe to more conservative philos- ophies.  For them, a liberal is someone who believes in big govern- ment and wasteful, giveaway social programs (background/definition).

Most who have political persuasions to the right on the political theory continuum label themselves, “conservative.”  According to Webster, being conservative means a tendency to conserve or to hold back.  But this understanding of the term does not necessarily apply to all who consider themselves to be Republicans today.  Since the end of the Civil War in America, conservatives have tended toward resisting change and preserving established insti- tutions.  Thus, a conservative person would be one who would tend to be more moderate or cautious.  But it was Republicans, as we all recall, who brought about the end to slavery in America though the Civil War years and the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments during Reconstruction – this was major social change (background/definition and History of the Republican Party)!

The Republican Party today attracts many different groups, including sportsmen and other gun owners who consider their right to bear arms to be under attack, business corporations (particularly defense, energy, and pharmaceutical industries) and wealthy individuals who benefit from limiting social programs, limiting regulations, and reduced taxes, as well as various funda- mental or evangelical Christian groups who are lobbying for social change.  The party had its roots in opposition to slavery when, in 1854, former members of the Free Soil Party, the Whig Party, the American Party, and some Democrats came together in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would have allowed these territories to enter the Union as slave states.  Party founders adopted the name “Republican” to indicate that it was the carrier of “republican” beliefs about civic virtue, and opposition to aristocracy and corruption (History of the Republican Party,Republican Party Today, and Reconstruction Period).

In western democracies the terms, “conservative” and “right-wing” are often used interchangeably, as near-synonyms.  This is not always accurate, but it has more than incidental validity.  The political opposition is referred to as the political left (although left-wing groups and individuals may have conservative social and/or cultural attitudes, they are not generally accepted, by self-identified conservatives, as being part of the same movement).  On economic policy, conservatives and the right generally support the free market and side with business interests over rank-and-file workers and environmentalists.  This is less true of conservatives in Europe and in places other than the United States.  Attitudes on some moral issues, such as opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia, are often described as being either right-wing or conservative.  Liberals, on the other hand, have traditionally drawn much of their support from labor unions, small farmers, civil servants, environmentalists, artisans, academics, philanthropists, immigrants and such – the “huddled masses”.  Collectively, liberals pretty much agree today that government should be a force for social change, to improve the lot of the disadvantaged and to protect the individual rights of all Americans, regardless of their race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.  Liberals would tend to agree that all should have affordable access to quality education and health care (Right-wing, Left-wing).

The Democratic Party in the United States traces its roots back to the early 1790s, when various factions united in opposition to Alexander Hamilton’s fiscal policies, which included a strong central treasury and new taxes to pay-off the states’ debts. Back then it was called the Anti-Administration Party, its subscribers were called Anti-Federalists.  For a time, this movement was added to other minor parties to form the Democratic-Republican Party under Thomas Jefferson.  Yes, in some ways, if not in name only, the two major political parties of America were combined. Then, after the War of 1812, the party split over whether to build and maintain a strong military.  Those favoring a strong military, especially a modern navy, came to be called the Old-Republicans.  Then, during the administration of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic Party was reborn, appealing, as had Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party, to the largely agrarian society of the times and to the common man.  At that time, the Old Republicans strongly favored states rights, while Jackson, even though he was a Southerner, put down the Nullification Crisis which threatened to divide the nation – North and South (History of the Democratic Party).

So, the distinction between liberal and conservative political philosophies and the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, over time tends, to blur. Philosophies and allegiances have switched back and forth over the years.  For example, after the Civil War, most whites in the South became Democrats (Southern Democrats), known then unofficially as the “White Man’s Party“.  Then, following the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, many of these Democrats switched over to support Republican candidates.

And so it goes; political parties come and go. Sometimes the names stay the same, but the philosophies and respective positions on issues change according to the winds of war and fortune.  I say it is impossible to separate politics from economics.  

It’s all about power and influence.

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Brief History of Political Parties in America

The First Party System is a model of American politics used by political scientists and historians to periodize the political party system existing in the United States between roughly 1792 and 1824. It featured two national parties competing for control of the presidency, Congress, and the states: the Federalist Party (created by Alexander Hamilton) and dominant to 1800, and the Democratic-Republican Party(created by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison) and dominant after 1800.

The First Party System ended during the Era of Good Feelings (1816–1824), as the Federalists shrank to a few isolated strongholds. In 1824-28, as the Second Party System emerged, the Democratic-Republican Party split into the Jacksonian faction, which became the modern Democratic Party in the 1830s, and the Henry Clay faction, which was absorbed by Clay's Whig Party.

Abraham Lincoln was a lifelong Whig. The Whigs were a major American political party until the 1850s, when their leaders began to die out. In 1854, the Republican Party was formed, and Lincoln joined it in 1856. He became the Republicans' first victorious presidential candidate four years later.

A group of former Whigs convened and decided to form a new political party. The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Eventually, Whigs and members of fringe parties, like the Free Soilers and Know-Nothings, would become Republicans. Republicans differed among themselves in regards to the major issues of the day; for instance, some opposed slavery's extension but not its existence. Meanwhile, others supported complete abolition of slavery. The one thing all Republicans stood for was progress. This meant the party supported urbanization, new technologies, and free homesteads for farmers.

When the Whig Party split, the Democratic Party split into Northern and Southern branches. As for the Whigs, younger voters simply lost interest in them. The last Whig presidential candidate, Mexican War hero General Winfield Scott, was defeated by Democrat Franklin Pierce in 1852.

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