How Does Aspartame Damage Your Brain?

Consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally, according to a new review by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo.

The review found that high doses of the sweetener may lead to neurodegeneration. It has also previously been found that aspartame consumption can cause neurological and behavioral disturbances in sensitive individuals.

Specifically, the review found a number of direct and indirect changes that occur in your brain as a result of high consumption levels of aspartame, including disturbing:

The metabolism of amino acids
Protein structure and metabolism
The integrity of nucleic acids
Neuronal function
Endocrine balances

Further, the breakdown of aspartame causes nerves to fire excessively, which can indirectly lead to a high rate of neuron depolarisation.

Despite these growing concerns, neither the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have changed their guidelines regarding the safety of the ingredient or intake advice.

Sources:
Food Quality News April 6, 2008
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008, 62, 451–462

Comments:

Anyway, there's no problem for us Filipinos because we are not using aspartame as sweetener. We are used to our native sweetener from sugar cane. In any case, this has been an interesting and informative news to date and should not be taken for granted.

For your information and guidance.

WATER - TREASURE WE IGNORE

All life on earth depends on water. A drop of dew, runoff rivulets from supersaturated moss, and the billowing sea are all links in the hydrologic cycle. This is the constant movement of water from ocean back to ocean by means of evaporation, condensation, rain, and runoff - a circular process that washes and nourishes all life on earth.

A man's weight is 70% water. A blade of grass is 90 to 95%
water. Water covers three fourts of the earth, as river, lake,
swamp, sea, icecap. The Bible tells us we are survivors of a
blood. Today's scientists concur that all life began in the oceans and that, though certain creatures have succeeded in living out of water, none we know has or will succeed in living without it.

For those of us whose concerns over water extend no further than to the kitchen tap or to the shower stall, it is hard to imagine that people one very continent are coping right now with water as nature provides it
where they are - too much or too little of it, muddy, salty, stagnant, turbulent, or frozen. In many areas of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, andLatin America, economic and social progress is showed by antiquatedways of using water and by widespread disease resulting from water
pollution.

Each year huge amounts of industrial wastes are dumped into the world's waters. Each year more people waste more water. The future of water in the balance of nature is of grave concern; it and the future of man are inextricably linked.

Philippine Medicinal Plants 4

MANGO

A tree of East Asian origin that is widely cultivated in tropical areas for its fruit, the mango, Mangifera indica, belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. The genus Mangifera contains about 60 species of jungle trees whose fruits are fibrous, acrid, and sometimes toxic, with a flavor that has been likened to turpentine.
Centuries of selection have produced varieties that are free of both fibers and offensive flavor.

They are rich in vitamins A, C, and D. Unripe they are used for mango chutney. When ripe, mangoes are soft and very juicy. An overripe mango tastes like turpentine.

Whoever eats this fruit frequently, also purifies the blood, prevents the accumulations of mucous in the throat and respiratory tract, counteracts all kinds of catarrhs, hoarseness, cough, diseases of the bronchial tubes, pain and debility of the stomach, intestinal laziness and fevers.

Tea made by boiling the leaves of the mango tree, prepared as a concoction, counteracts bronchitis and diseases of the stomach. Tea obtained from the seed of this fruit, prepared as concoction, combats intestinal worms and parasites.

With the use of honey, a very healthful syrup can be prepared from this fruit.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:

ALTERATIVE : A treatment that alters processes of nutrition.

Scientific name : Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae

The decoction of the leaves is antidiuretic. The oil of the seed is useful in chronic malarial fever. The root is also employed as an alterative.

English : Mango
Tagalog : Manga

EARTH DAY

Be a part of the

biggest

EARTH DAY

yet

April 22, 2008

FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE!!!

No matter if you are

rich or poor,

you have to live on the same

planet.

And you have to breathe the same

air.

WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED

IN TODAY'S PROBLEM ON

GLOBAL WARMING?

MORE

GARDENERS

&

EARTH WATCHERS.

THE ROPE

THE WISDOM OF FLORENCE ANN

Life and the Things I've Learned

I've learned

That you can do something in an

instant

That will give you heartache for

life.

I've learned

That it's taking me a long time

To become the person I want to

be.

I've learned

That you should always leave

loved ones with loving words.

It may be the last time you see

them.

I've learned

That you can keep going

Long after you can't.

I've learned

That we are responsible for what

we do,

No matter how we feel.

I've learned

That you either control your

attitude

Or it controls you.

I've learned

That heroes are the people who

do what has to be done

When it needs to be done,

regardless of the consequences.

I've learned

That money

Is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned

That sometimes the people you

expect to kick you when you're down

Are the ones to help you get back

up.

I've learned

That sometimes when I'm angry,

I have the right to be angry.

But that doesn't give me the right

to be cruel.

I've learned

That true friendship continues to

grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I've learned

That just because someone doesn't

love you the way you want them to

Doesn't mean they don't love you

with all they have.

I've learned

That maturity has to do with

what types of experiences you've

had and what you've learned from

them

And less to do with how many

birthdays you've celebrated.

Families aren't biological.

I've learned

That no matter how good a friend

is, they're going to hurt you every

once in a while

And you must forgive them for

that.

I've learned

That it isn't always enough to be

forgiven by others.

Sometimes you have to learn to

forgive yourself.

I've learned

That no matter how bad your

heart is broken

The world doesn't stop for your

grief.

I've learned

That our background and

circumstances may have influenced

who we are,

But we are responsible for who

we become.

I've learned

That just because two people

argue, it doesn't mean they don't love

each other

And just because they don't argue,

it doesn't mean that they do.

I've learned

That we don't have to change

friends

If we understand that friends

change.

I've learned

That you shouldn't be so eager to

find out a secret.

It could change your life forever.

I've learned

That two people can look at the

exact same thing

And see something totally

different.

I've learned

That your life can be changed in a

matter of hours

By people who don't even know

you.

I've learned

That even when you think you

have no more to give

When a friend cries out to you,

you will find the strength to help.

I've learned

That credentials on the wall

Do not make you a decent human

being.

I've learned

That the people you care about

most in life

Are taken from you too soon.

Philippine Medicinal Plants 3

ONION

A widely cultivated Asiatic herb (Allium cepa) of the lily family with pungent edible bulbs.

Onions grew in in Chinese garden as early as 5000 years ago and there are references in some of the oldest Vedic writings from India. In Egypt, onions can be traced back to 3500 B.C. There is an evidence that the Sumerians were growing onions as early as
2500 B.C.

Onions not only provide flavor; they also provide health-promoting phytochemicals as well as nutrients.

Onions contain quercetin, a flavanoid (one category of antioxidant compounds). Antioxidants are compounds that help delay or slow the oxidative damage to cells and tissue of the body.

Several studies have shown quercetin to have beneficial effects against many diseases and disorders including cataracts, cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer of the breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung, and bladder.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTY:

RUBEFACIENT - An external application which produces redness of the skin.
Scientific Name: Allium cepa Liliaceae
The bulb, applied externally, is stimulant and rubefacient.
Tagalog: Sibuyas

Trivial Facts:

Question: What compound in onions bring tears to your eyes?
Answer: Sulfuric compound

TIP: To cut down on the crying, chill the onion and cut into the root end of the onion last.

Question: How many calories are in a serving of onions?
Answer: 45 calories

Sunset at the North Pole

This gorgeous image is often described as a picture of the sunset at the North Pole, with the moon at its closest point. In reality, this is a work of art -- not a photo -- titled “Hideaway,” and created by artist Inga Nielsen.

The scene was intended to be an imaginary celestial place that would be calm and peaceful, and it certainly soothes my mind when I look at it. The giveaway that this really isn’t the North Pole?

According to a professional astronomer on NASA’s site (which also once used this image as their Astronomy Picture of the Day), “The scene could not exist anywhere on the Earth because from the Earth, the Moon and the Sun always have nearly the same angular size.”

The image may not be that far off, though, as the astronomer continued, “the crescent part of the "moon" shown is approximately accurate given the location of the parent star.

”This is truly an example of the fantastic technology out there that allows creative minds to produce images like this. The software used was apparently a scenery generator program called Terragen,™ which you can get for free if you’re interested in using it for personal use.

This striking image is also a reminder, once again, to always dig below the surface before accepting something as reality.

Plecostomus Under Attack!!

In a recent news, fishermen from Marikina, Philippines, were catching janitor fish aka Plecostomus, in Marikina River and then hauling them to a nearby dump trucks and letting them die under the heat of the sun. Almost 50% of the fish caught were dead before reaching the dumpsite.

According to an updated city ordinance, the local government will pay 50 centavos for every janitor fish caught from the river and presented to the Parks Development and Recreation Office.

To push the campaign further, one councilor from that city, would organize a contest next month which would give an award to the group with the most number of janitor fish caught- and increase the price as well.

Are there any known benefits from this kind of fish that's why they are killing them by the hundreds if not thousands? Yes, there are. And they knew it. The said councilor even has the guts to say that he would support the high school student who won in an international competition for his work on turning oil produced by the fish into biofuel.

The said student, Raymond Joseph Amurao, 16, a graduate of the Marikina City Science High School, won in a science fair in Indiana, USA in May 2006 for his work on extracting oil from janitor fish. The oil could be used in making soap and biofuel.

Its quite an irony , isn't it? Raymond Amurao is from that place with a great scientific mind, could be of help to our energy problem, and they are depriving him of one the sources of his raw material.

For us avid aquarists, we know the meaning of commensalism, mutualism, and symbiotic relationships between fish.

I guess we didn't have to worry because we will have the benefit of watching Plecostomus at peace with our own created environment for them, in the luxury of our home.



Black and Albino Plecostomus in a Peaceful Environment with a Relaxing Music to Boot

Philippine Medicinal Plants 2

CHICO

A tree with many branches, growing to a height of 8 meters. Leaves are oblong to narrowly oblong-obovate, 8 to 13 cm. in length, pointed at both ends. Flowers are hairy outside, 8mm. long and 6-parted. Fruit is brown, fleshy, ovoid to round, 3-8 cm. long, containing 5 0r more shiny brown-black seeds. Flesh is brown, soft, slightly gritty, and sweet.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:

ANTIBILIOUS - Refering to the bile.

Achras zapota (Chico) Sapotaceae

The fruits soaked in melted butter all night and eaten in the morning are considere an excellent preventive of biliousness.

ANTIDIARRHOETIC - Drugs against diarrhoea (diarrhea).

Achras zapota (Chico) Sapotaceae

The decoction of the bark is given to control bowel movement.

Scientific Names:

Achras zapota Linn.

Achras zapotilla Coville

Tagalog - Chico

English - Sapodilla, Chiku Tree

COWABUNGA!!

GRANDMA'S THEORY

A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russel) once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy. At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: "What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat place supported on the back of a giant tortoise." The scientist gave a superior smile before replying,"What is the tortoise standing on?" "You're very clever, young man, very clever," said the old lady. "But it's turtles all the way down!"

Excert from Stephen Hawking's, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME


The ancestors of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all piled-up.

Rubik's Tutorial from a 3 Year Old Girl

She's a WHITE-YELLOW solver and she's doing it the Tyson Mao way (see my Blog on:How to Solve the Rubik's Cube). You can actually see the Fish-pattern in the upper layer. She's using her right and left simultaneously on the Fish-pattern. Very fast for a girl with small hands. A genius and future record breaker!!

LOST IN TRANSLATIONS: Part 1

China Preparing for Beijing Olympics with Chinese-English Translations

How do you do? Glad to meat you!

I wouldn't dare!

I told gramps to use protection...

That would explainthe beer cubs outside...

Thank you for open!

Philippine Medicinal Plants

HERBOLARIO DRUGSTORE

The Philippines is rich in medicinal plants. The early Spanish missionaries who came to the islands learned of the curative values of these drugs through experience, and passed on the knowledge to others. These missionaries owed their knowledge of these native remedies largely to the mediquillos. Notwithstanding the prejudices of the missionaries against a lot of superstitious practices of these mediquillos, the former were frequently compelled to request the services of the latter when the life of a patient became endangered.
Young graduates of medical schools today who are not sent out into the remote regions of the Philippines to work in the barrios are usually provided with patent drugs by the government or their institutions. They soon run out, however, and they have to resort to local drugs available in the area as whispered to them by the mediquillos or the local herbolarios. An example of this is the gumamela flower below.
Therapeutic Property:

ANODYNE - Drug able to assuage pain; mentally soothing
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Gumamela)
Decoction of the leaves relieves pain; crushed buds of the flowers are used as poultice.

HOW MANY OF THESE WORDS DO YOU KNOW?

serrefine ursprache appoggiatura autochthonous pococurante
prospicience succedaneum demarche logorrhea chiaroscurist
vivisepulture xanthosis antediluvian fibranne spoliator
elegiacal staphylococci luge milieu psoriasis
elucubrate cambist hydrophyte macerate shalloon
croissant sycophant equipage esquamulose smaragdine
eudaemonic catamaran syllepsis schappe condominium
crustaceology transept soubrette vignette insouciant
meticulosity dulcimer psychiatry chlorophyll semaphore
sacrilegious initials therapy canonical sanitarium
promiscuous interning intelligible deteriorating torsion
knack foulard fracas asceticism albumen
luxuriance abrogate gladiolus euonym kamikaze
interlocutory lyceum abalone ratoon chihuahua
vouchsafe propitiatory incisor narcolepsy deification
maculature Purim odontalgia haruspex antipyretic
cacolet troche eczema

These are the winning words in Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Waling-waling: The Queen of Philippine Orchids

The Waling-waling of Davao

Among the groups of flowering plants, the orchid family is the largest with about 940 species of which about 790 are endemic. The queen of Philippine orchids, Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana Reichb. f.), was discovered in 1882 in Mindanao, its original home. Recognized as one of the most beautiful orchids in the world, it has the largest flowers among Philippine species.

Davao's year-round fair climate is conducive to the cultivation of orchids. The pride of Davao, the Waling-waling, is endemic to the region. Its mother plant was discovered by a German scientist upon the slopes of Mt. Apo.

Today, Waling-waling and other hybrids are propagated in many orchid farms scattered across the countryside. The most well known are Yuhico Orchids Gardens in Greenhills, Derling Worldwide Orchid Corporation in Dumoy and the Puentespina Orchids Garden.

A ZEN TALE

PSYCHIC POLARITY

An old monk and a Samurai meet. The Samurai asks the monk: "Please, explain to me what paradise and hell are." The old man stares for some moments at the Samurai's powerful frame. Then an insulting sneer appears on his face and he says: "Step aside and make room for me, you dirty, stinking soldier."

The Samurai, offended by these words, turned red with anger and his eyes flashing with vengeance, takes out his sword. He advances towards the monk with his sword ready to hit. The old man looks calmly at him and then says: "This is hell." The sword slowly comes down and the Samurai's face is covered with amazement. With his heart still beating fast he understands that the old monk has just risked his life to explain this truth. Now he feels only gratitude and his eyes reflect of this feeling. The monk concludes: "And this instead is paradise."

Torment, anger and sadness are feelings very near to everything that opens up to us- love, joy, and gratitude. They are near because there is only a fraction of a second that separates one state or condition from another. We think that love and hatred, joy and sadness are alien to us, distant from each other. When we are enveloped by one feeling, the other seems unthinkable. Passing from one state to another of these feelings instead, can be spontaneous and unexpected as in the case of the Samurai.

Word Watch:

Samurai - a Japanese warrior
Katana - sword use by the Samurai

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BRO!!

Actually we have only one 'Birthday' ( actual date) and the yearly return of a date is called Anniversary.

"Happy Anniversary to ALL celebrators..."

ADDITIONAL INFO:

It's incorrect to say "birthday celebrant." Strictly, a celebrant is one who participates in a religious or some other solemn ceremony, such as a mass. Anyone who celebrates a birthday, anniversary, or some other festive occasion is properly called a celebrator.

"Mr.Chi"- The Executioner

When you look closely using a magnifying glass, the characters near the lateral line says, "Chi".

Record:

Killed one Livingstone cichlid, one small Plecos (janitor fish), one medium size Plecos, two small Shubunkin, one Betta, and so many worms.

Punishment:

Solitary confinement, less one aerator

Feed:

Three worms per day, three pinches of Flowerhorn food

Habitat:

Water change once a week

Actually Flowerhorn fish is territorial in nature and should be isolated...

STEPHEN HAWKING wHERE aRE yOU?

For three days now, I've been searching for Stephen Hawking's book: A Brief History of Time (From the Big Bang to Black Holes).

Our library is in such a sorry state. It's a total mess!

I just want to share with you a funny story from that book.

For the meantime, I guess I have to blog something lighter.

There is always an opportune time to blog about the brilliant mind of Hawking.

If I have to turn everything in the library upside down and inside out, I will do it, for that one story.

It's quite an irony that my comments to other bloggers are longer than this one.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

HANNSPREE FANTASY LCD TV

WHO says a 25-cm TV has to look like one? Plush monkeys and turtles are just the beginning for Hannspree; its LCD models take many forms, including fire engines and flowerpots.

So cute!!

REMINISCENCE

Do you know what the strangest language is? Read on…

The story happened when I was still working at West-in Philippine Plaza Hotel.

The setting was at 9th floor of the hotel. There were two guests standing near the elevator foyer. I was at west wing and within a hearing distance from the American and a Filipino guest. Obviously, they were waiting for the elevator car.

We heard the sound of the elevator car coming. The two guests readied themselves. When the door opened on the 9th floor, the Filipino guest ask the elevator man, “ Bababa ba?” ( Going down?)

The elevator man answered, “ Bababa.”

After hearing this, the American turned his back and made a few steps, as if he was going back to his room. Suddenly, he turned back again after hearing the clinging sound (signifying that the door is closed and ready to descend). He walks straight to me and said, “What was that? It’s so strange. All they’ve said was “bababa” and they understood each other?”

He was relieved when I translated to him what he heard. I accompanied him down.

“I thought they were into something sinister,” he said to me when we’re inside the elevator car.

P.S. PLEASE PASS IT ON...

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this...

Very interesting, read until the end...

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.'

Here are some men and women who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer)

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966).
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil)

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet)

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: 'Not even God can sink it' The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic .

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment .

Bon Scott (Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: 'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980 , Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit .

Campinas (In 2005)

In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend..... The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You... " She responded: "Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here...It's Already Full. " Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken .

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)

She said that the Bible (Word of God)was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle .

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive .

ROBERT JAMES "BOBBY" FISCHER: The Genius of the 64-Square Board

The King is Dead! Robert James Fischer, the King of the Chessboard, died aged 64 (Jan. 17, 2008), of kidney failure in Reykjavik,Iceland, the scene of his 1972 "Match of the Century" victory over Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. He was 64 ( the same number as the squares in the chessboard.) Such a great loss to the chess playing world.

He was the second chessplayer to be called "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess." (The first was Paul Morphy, during the 19th Century)

For more information visit:
www.bobbyfischer.net

TATTLETALE

Hans has this habit of looking at me as if studying my mood and my facial expressions when something goes wrong. Upon noticing this, I would quickly ask him, "Do you have something to tell me?" More often than not, he would tell me that he did something stupid a kid normally does.

Some children, afraid of being called tattletale, would keep something for themselves. Being a parent, we should encourage our children to open-up when something goes wrong, that sometimes it is okay to tattle.

IT'S OKAY TO TATTLE WHEN...

• a friend or family member is making choices that could harm them.
• a friend is being hurt by someone but is afraid to tell someone about it.
• you witness a minor being abuse by neighbours or his/her relative(s).
• someone is bullying you in school. This is a total war!!
• someone is threatening to hurt you or has hurt you.
• a child has been neglected.

The basic rule is to tell an adult when someone is in danger even if the person doesn't want you to tell. You may just save that person from being hurt or getting worse.

MONEY TALKS...

... and all it says is, "Goodbye!"

Money perse is not bad. In our present system, we need it, and we need it badly. Rich and poor alike depends on its value. It's our medium of exchange. Gone are the barter system of old.

During the Middle Ages it was customary for wealthy European families to store their gold, jewels, and coins in vaults kept in the cellars of goldsmiths' shops. The goldsmiths gave written receipts for all valuables received, and these articles could be redeemed with the same receipts at any time. Eventually, the receipts themselveswere being used as currency by those who didn't want to take the trouble of going to the vault every time they needed money. As a consequence, businesses throughout the continent started accepting them as readily as gold. The practice became institutionalized and paper money- the erstwhile receipts- became a common form of legal tender.

There was a wrong notion that, "money is the root of all evil." It's not what the Bible says. What St. Paul actually said was: "For the love of money is the root of all evil." ( 1 Timothy 6:10 )

According to Carl Sandburg, an American poet: Money buys everything except love, personality, freedom, immortality, silence, peace, character, clear conscience, and true friendship.

You can buy all expensive beds you want with all your money but you can never buy a good night sleep. You can have all the food you want but you can never buy a good appetite. You can build your beautiful house with your money but not a home full of love.

Money does all things; for it gives and it takes away, it makes honest men and thieves; fools and philosophers and others.

Learn from the lesson of Rudyard Kipling, an English poet. This what he said: Someday you will meet a MAN who cares for none of these and you will know then how poor you are.

John Milton explain it this way: True wealth is in the heart and not in the hand.

When the famous comedian, Richard Pryor, suffered burn all over his body, this is what he said to his friend Johnny Carson: All I could think of was to call on God. I didn't call the Bank of America.

Remember: "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away..."

THE INVENTIVE MIND OF GREG DROUILLARD

FRUIT TATTOOS

Goodbye pesky stickers. A growing numbers of produce packers and distributors are experimenting with natural-light labeling, a new process that uses a laser to etch identifying information (country of origin, variety, etc.) into the skins of fruits and vegetables without bruising or causing other damage. In a taste tests with pears from Southern Oregon Sales, the labeled areas proved entirely edible, if oddly textured.

The process allows suppliers to attach more specific data to individual items- such as when a peach will be ripe enough to eat and other handy tidbits- in a way that won't stick to your hair.

AKIANE KRAMARIK: The Angelic Child Prodigy

I came across her name when I was searching for child prodigies past and present. I was really amazed by this child. Her drawings, paintings, and even her poetry will really caught your attention. Back then, circa 2004, she was only 9 year old, but her paintings are already comparable to that of the old masters.



Now, in a span of four years, she has amassed numerous work of arts, all masterpieces, if I may say. She was such a prolific artist ala Pablo Picasso (another genius).



Just look at the color rendering of her painting, Returning Home, and decide for yourself. Wow! Is this a work of a child? It's amazing!!


About Akiane

• An internationally recognized 13- year old prodigy, considered the only known child binary genius, in both realist painting and poetry.
• Selected as 1 of 20 most accomplished visual artists in the world by Tribute Entertainment (London) and ABI (United States).
• Kids Hall of Fame inductee.
• World Council for Gifted and Talented Children inductee.
• A best selling author of two books, "Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry" and "My Dream is Bigger than I - - Memories of Tomorrow".

Would you like to enter the world of Akiane? Visit: www.akiane.com

THE POWER OF PRAYER

From the MIND of Eric Arthur Blair aka GEORGE ORWELL:

" Big Brother is Watching You! "

---From the novel, 1984.

It is really gratifying, satisfying, and rewarding to have a Big Brother whom you can rely upon, financially, intellectually, and most importantly; spiritually.

Whenever I check my mail, it's a rarity that an e-mailed Prayer was not included. Prayer(s) with beautiful graphics and icons abound. Although, I am not an icon believer, just the same, I am ably benifited because of the accompanying Prayers.

I am dedicating this blog to give honor to him, my Big Brother.

" Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of heaven there are no barriers, the only 'password' is Prayer. "

To those repentant and humble heart the password is Prayer. To the downtrodden, Prayer is the only thing they can boast of. It's the only thing they know and left for them to do. They know how to talk to God.

Here is a story of a missionary to Mongolia- James Gilmour.

One day, some casualties of war were brought to James. One of the soldiers has a broken leg and a candidate for amputation. Another soldier has a wound in his eyes. James didn't know what to do because he was not a doctor. So, he did the best thing he knew- Pray.

He prays unceasingly for the wounded soldiers.

After praying, James continue with his works. He knew that God hears every word he says.

And, they were cured.

Here is the advise in the book, God's Little Devotional Book on Prayers...

" When we come to God with a humble heart, admitting we don't know what to do, the Lord will answer and He will show us the way. "

If we don't know how to solve our problem, the best thing to do is to Pray. Our God is a God of Miracle- most Merciful, Beneficent, and Almighty..

And, I am happy to say that I'm afraid no more because Big Brother is Praying for us...

Visit Big Brother at:
www.onchong.blogspot.com

RIDICULOUS AND INEFFECTIVE DIETS

Many diets are ridiculous, ineffective, and even dangerous. RNCentral.com has compiled 25 such diets ranging from those that merely don’t work, to those that are somewhat effective but deceptively advertised, to those that can cause you physical harm.

Some of the most astonishing include:

1. The Tapeworm Diet: This one involves swallowing cysts that you've dissected out of beef carcass. You allow the tapeworm to live in you for up to 10 weeks. One of the most dangerous diets, it requires you to swallow a parasite and encourages unhealthy eating habits.

2. “The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About”: The “cure” consists of ingesting the urine of pregnant women. Whether or not this is effective, there are simply better ways to lose weight.

3. The Wu-Yi Tea Diet: Wu-Yi tea is simply oolong tea, offering no more benefits than the tea you can pick up at your grocery store.

4. The Subway Diet: Eating at Subway for all of your meals is not inherently healthy; it depends on what you order. Plus, this diet is useless because you can just as easily make your own sandwich and take a walk.

5. The Cabbage Soup Diet: Eating a low-calorie cabbage soup for one week has been purported to help you lose up to 10 pounds. However, there’s the problem of high sodium content, extremely low protein, feelings of weakness and increased flatulence.

6. The Low-Fat Diet: Low-fat products aren’t any healthier than regular products, as they typically trade fat for more sugar, sodium or calories. Meanwhile, serving sizes are often skewed to make unhealthy food seem healthier.

7. Slim Fast: You may lose weight drinking Slim Fast shakes, but the products are not satisfying enough to subsist on long-term. This diet offers nothing more than ineffective substitutions.

8. Russian Air Force Diet: This diet allows you to put all kinds of herbs, sauces and spices on your meals, but the “meals” are incredibly tiny, leaving you hovering near starvation.

For 17 more silly diets, click the link below.

Sources:RNCentral.com February 26, 2008

HARRY NELSON PILLSBURY: A Genius Ahead of His Time

The Memory Genius

Chess player, born in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. The best American since Paul Morphy, he beat an unprecedented field including the world champion, the ex-champion, and the champions of six countries, in Hastings, UK (1895), and twice beat Jackson Showalter for the US title (1897, 1898). He died of a stroke.

Being in constant need of money, and perhaps also as a challenge to Lasker, Pillsbury (in addition to normal chess) made pioneering experiments in simultaneous blind chess. Travelling from one event to the next, he popularized chess and attracted the masses. In 1900, he went on a seven-month US tour, covering 40,000 miles, with over 150 performances. In 1897, he had become the official US chess champion. And now, this famous Harry Nelson Pillsbury stood on the stage, self-confident, and ready for the show – because as a show-act it had been announced: a performance of simultaneous blind chess and checkers, ten games of each, along with a surprise memory test! Clamorous applause, then again hushed silence. A member of the jury stepped forward and handed Pillsbury a piece of paper with a strange ‘poem’ to memorize:

Antiphlogistine, periosteum, takadiastase, plasmon, ambrosia,Threlkeld, streptococcus, staphylococcus, micrococcus, plasmodium,Mis sis sippi, Freiheit, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, athletics, no war,Etchenberg, American, Russian, philosophy, Piet Potgelter’s Rost,Salamagundi, Oomisillecootsi, Bangmamvate, Schlechter’s Nek,Manzinyama, theosophy, catechism, Madjesoomalops

Two psychologists had compiled this nonsensical list with the intention of confusing Pillsbury’s memory with known and unknown terms. Unimpressed, Pillsbury read the paper while printed copies were being handed out to the audience. However, the last spectators in the back rows had not yet received the leaflet when Pillsbury laid his sheet aside and repeated the words from beginning to end and, for fun, also backwards. The audience was stunned.

Pillsbury seated himself at a small vacant table while twenty local players of chess and checkers were sitting along a row of tables a few metres away from him, with the boards placed in front of them. One player after the other made his move, which was conveyed to Pillsbury who, after short thought, announced his move. Then his respective opponent was given time to think until Pillsbury had made his next move in all other games. Sporadically he went to another table for some whist drives – just to make the show even more exciting, and also to give his opponents more time to think about their next moves. ...

STREET SCHOLAR

From the mouth of Alvin Toffler, Futurist:

" The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. "

RUBIK'S 3X3 CUBE SOLUTION Part 7

STEP 7. COMPLETING THE CUBE. ALL THE COLORS ARE IN THEIR PROPER FACE.

After doing step 6, you will now arrived at two possible outcomes:

1. You have a solid color face. You have two corner pieces correctly positioned on your left. You have two corner pieces correctly positioned on your right. You have two corner pieces correctly positioned in front.Now, here is an example...

1. Supposed you have a solid BLUE color. After placing this at the BACK, you will now have
a. GREEN face as your FRONT.
b. ORANGE face to your LEFT
c. RED face to your RIGHT.

Supposed ORANGE edge piece is in between the two GREEN corner pieces in FRONT; RED edge piece is in between two ORANGE corner pieces in your LEFT; GREEN corner piece is in between two RED corner pieces to your RIGHT...

You will do the three-way shuffle to the left since the ORANGE edge piece will go to your left, GREEN edge piece to your right will go to your FRONT...

Do the following moves...

...FRONT turn 180 degrees; TOP go to your Left; LEFT Side DOWN; RIGHT Side DOWN (at this point you notice a vertical YELLOW in the MIDDLE); FRONT turn 180 degrees; RIGHT Side UP; LEFT Side UP; TOP to your Left; FRONT 180 degrees... FINISHED!!

2. If you have solid BLUE at the back, RED edge piece in between GREEN in FRONT, GREEN edge piece in between ORANGE in your left, ORANGE edge piece in between RED in your RIGHT...

Do the three-way shuffle going to the right:

...FRONT turn 180 degrees; TOP to your RIGHT; LEFT Side Down; RIGHT Side Down;FRONT turn 180 degrees; RIGHT Side UP; LEFT Side UP; TOP to your Right; FRONT turn 180 degrees... FINISHED!!