Friday, August 29, 2008

S: Is for Solutions!

Don't give up so easily on your dreams. Persist and your dreams will become a reality. The key is to be able to visualise and see your dreams before you actually attain them. Some people call it "The Secret" but I think it's not really a secret it's about connecting your physical self and where you are going with the future and where you want to go and visualising yourself already achieving your goal.

Negative energy is felt in the following ways: tiredness, moodiness, snappiness and disregarding people's opinion, addictive behaviors, lack of motivation to achieve. You undermine yourself when immersed in this energy field.


Positive energy effects you with the results leading to: increased energy, confidence, happiness despite one's circumstances, less anxious, not easily annoyed from the little things.

I want you to consider today how much more successful you could be in your life and business. Ask yourself the following questions. What has upset you lately? Who has affected your moods through their actions or words lately? What situations have come into your life that try your patience?
How do you react when you have a trial that is challenging you? Do you give in or do you resign yourself to the fact that you can't achieve success or overcome this problem? Think about these things and pay attention to your energy on a day to day basis. Are you letting people or circumstances weigh you down and affect you? Have you got physical ailments that are always bugging you? Consider some self-reflection, some quiet time and spending some time in reconnecting with who you are and where you are going in life. Make sure that where you are going is some where positive and some where where you want to go. Don't let other people drag you along and make you fit in with their plans for your life. Don't let people drain your energy by projecting their negative thoughts and attitudes onto you. You are a unique individual and you deserve to have your own plans and ideas about things and you are very capable of achieving your goals.

I just want to leave you with an image which may give you some inspiration today. Have a great day and remember to keep smiling. It takes more muscles to frown then it does to smile and plus it looks better.

We live in trying times but there are solutions and that is a F.A.C.T.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

T: Is for Taking a Stand!

Monsanto is a MAJOR force in the political arena. Each year Monsanto contributes thousands of dollars to elected officials through its Political Action Committee. Their main focus is through the millions of dollars spent each year lobbying legislators and regulators.

Here is a partial list of past players: Justice Clarence Thomas worked as an attorney for Monsanto in the 1970s. He then as Supreme Court Justice wrote the majority opinion in J. E. M. AG SUPPLY, INC. V. PIONEER HI-BREDINTERNATIONAL, INC. which found that "newly developed plant breeds are patentable under the general utility patent laws of the United States." This case benefitted all companies which profit from genetically modified crops, of which Monsanto is one of the largest.

Michael R. Taylor was an assistant to the F.D.A. commissioner before he left to work for a law firm on gaining F.D.A. approval of Monsanto’s artificial growth hormone. Taylor then became deputy commissioner of the F.D.A.

Dr. Michael A. Friedman was a deputy commissioner of the F.D.A. before he was hired as a senior vice president of Monsanto.

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was chairman and chief executive officer of G. D. Searle & Co., which Monsanto purchased in 1985. Rumsfeld personally made at least $12 million USD from the transaction.

Additionally, Monsanto has had great success in infiltrating government posts with former executives, scientists and attorney’s. This is important because Monsanto is well documented in suing and bulling thousands of farmers nationally and abroad for allegedly using their patented seed or attempting to market their dairy products as “rBGH-free.” Marketing dangerous chemicals, like PCBs and Agent Orange: Despite overwhelming evidence. Monsanto continues to refuse compensation to veterans and families for exposure to the toxic chemical agent orange and still claims it does not exist. Monsanto has sought to undermine organic agriculture and contaminate the global food supply from Argentina to Canada and has just lost in a major lawsuit in Brazil. Monsanto has repeatedly attempted to market "Terminator" seeds, to produce sterile seed, forcing farmers to become dependent on Monsanto for seed. They have bribed the Indonesian Environmental Officials. In conjunction with the United States so-called Drug War, vast swaths of Colombia has been sprayed with super concentrated versions of Monsanto’s RoundUp, contaminating Colombian communities, waterways and farms.

Monsanto has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being a "potentially responsible party" for 56 contaminated sites in the United States. Monsanto has been sued, and has settled, multiple times for damaging the health of its employees or residents near its sites through pollution and poisoning.

Right now the biggest threat is soy. Monsanto is the largest producer of glyphosate herbicides through its popular brand, Roundup. Roundup has been a source of ongoing controversy, as res several studies show that it leads to the first stages of and/or causes cancer. Since Monsanto genetically modified soy to be resistant to its Roundup weed killers, the European Union placed a ban on GMed soy imports. More than half of rats exposed to GM soy died prematurely compared to rats that weren't exposed. This is due to the fact that GM soy's DNA contains bacterial genes that allow the soy plant to survive the heavy exposure to Monsanto's "Roundup" brand herbicide. Some 85 percent of the soy gown in the United States is Roundup Ready. Soy is present in the majority of processed foods sold in the United States, which mean most Americans eat Roundup Ready soy in some form every day. Soy is the food of the future. Meat will be phased out if we are to live sustainability on this planet. It is interesting, then, that the soy we eat is so infected with dangerous elements. GM soy is also grown carelessly--since there is little or no variation in GM products, the risk of an entire crop failure is much higher. Adverse weather conditions may affect a particular genetic makeup. Weeds all over the world have grown resistant to the now heavy use of Roundup weed killers, and Monsanto is struggling to deter this. In Argentina, two weeds have grown resistant. In the US, an even larger number of weeds have grown resistant, due to our long practice of spraying herbicides.

It is important to check out the candidates. Moses Mercado, Obama's top adviser is lobbyist for Pfizer, Carlyle Group, Monsanto, the NRA and the Carlyle Group. Monsanto donated $12,000 directly to Bush's presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton has strong ties to Monsanto and when John McCain was a senator guess who contributed. Our health and safety depend on our choices and that is a F.A.C.T.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

C: Is for the Ultimate Clean!

We are a world obsessed with beauty and if beauty is power; a smile is its sword. Teeth whiteners and products that give us that award winning grin are in demand. The standard fee for whitening or bleaching teeth runs about $500. Costs can vary depending upon the area of the country you live in and the type of whitening treatment you undergo. Laser teeth whitening is typically over $1000. In-home tray bleaching can cost between $50. and $100. dollars for a total teeth whitening system. Store-bought whitening strips can cost as little as $25. Last night I attended an event thrown by Daily Candy for a product that releases September 1st, The Philips Sonicare R732. The is a complete system aimed at achieving two shades whiter in just two weeks. Sonicare is the Number 1 recommended brand by dental professionals and uses patented sonic technology to remove plaque and give you that feeling you get after you go to the dentist. The R732 has mode settings for Clean, Sensitive, and Clean and White. Clean mode provides the standard sonic cleaning; Sensitive mode provides a gentle but thorough cleaning for sensitive gums and teeth; Clean and White mode provides two minutes of Clean mode and then an additional 30 seconds of White mode that focuses on your visible front teeth. I found this feature an added plus because I never know how long I should brush and this takes the guess work out of it. For parents it allows your kids a timer system that will save you a fortune in dental bills. The built-in timer also pauses to let you know to clean different areas for that complete clean. Each segment runs 30 seconds in length. You also don't need toothpaste for this to work. I added a tiny amount and it foamed and cleaned my mouth like a dental assistant. Though I have only used it once, I swear I see a difference, so I can't wait to see the results in two weeks. This tooth brush is recommended for the removal of smoke stains and/or coffee, tea or red wine. It is also safe to use on orthodontics, dental work, veneers, implant material, and sensitive teeth. Included in the Box is the Sonicare toothbrush, 2 ProResults brush head (one compact, one standard), deluxe charger with cord wrap, brush head storage, two hygienic travel caps, one travel case and a 2-year warranty. I found this running between $119-$139 with replacement brushes running around $27. This may sound steep but when compared with dental whitening which weakens your teeth and this devise strengthening them, how can you not afford this.

It is said our eyes are the mirrors to our souls, which means our teeth are the mirrors to our health and that is a F.A.C.T. to be reckoned with!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

F: Is for Fashion that's Sweet!










I was running late for an appointment. I had taken the 3rd avenue bus as my foot was run over by an electric wheel chair (no joke!). I was beyond frustrated until I hit 60th and saw into the windows of Dylan's Candy Bar. Low and behold there were the Hershey-inspired fashions featured on "Project Runway". One of my guilty pleasures is watching this show so to see the creations up close was a thrill. The indulgence and imagination, was there looking more deliciously tempting than on the show. I knew they had been auctioned to benefit the Young Survival Coalition. This is the only non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to addressing the concerns and issues unique to young women and breast cancer. The Hershey's auction ended March 18th so how had they ended up deliciously dressing the windows? Paula Abdul bid on the winning dress Rami Kashou made to the tune of $2,975. However the charity only earned $7,583.98. When you think about it though, that's a lot of cash for candy wrappers! Still, a good cause is a good cause. 


The challenge was to create a fun, wearable outfit from materials found at the Hershey's chocolate store, which had a lot of critics shouting "super commercial!" But this wearable eye candy is delightfully sinfully chic when seen in person and has you shouting New Year's resolutions be damned. Kats, Rollos, twizzlers, mint patties and Hershey bars made calories all that more inviting. My favorite dress, a high-neck mini-dress made of Reese's peanut butter cup wrappers by Christian Siriano is simple but elegant. Elisa Jimenez, brown velvet dress made from Hershey's pillow fabric with silver and pink detailing on a sweetheart top and separate silver puff sleeves is better in person but still not thrilling. Kit's tube-top made of Kit Kat wrappers with knotted back closures, a skirt made of oversized Hershey's wrappers and a studded belt of Reese's peanut butter cups, is what childhood dreams are made of.
 
Living in New York allows us to see three dimensionally what pure imagination can create. These fashions when seen in person give a new meaning to talented and that is a F.A.C.T.