Vegan salad dressings (scroll down, recipes at end of article)

Vegan salad dressings that help fight inflammation
By Amie Valpone
Published June 28, 2014 FoxNews.com

Summer is a great time to fill up on fresh salads packed with fruits and vegetables. But what isn't so healthy is the dressing that usually goes on top of these salads; many salad dressings sold in food stores are filled with unhealthy oils, chemicals and additives that aren't doing our bodies any good. In fact, they may be creating inflammation. After suffering from chronic illness for 10 years, I finally found relief from integrative/functional medicine -- not drugs used to cover up my symptoms. We tackled my inflammation at the root cause, which helped heal me from a decade of chronic pain, illness and Lyme's disease. Where did we start? With the food I was eating.

I switched to an organic diet, cut out all processed foods and started eating one-ingredient, whole, unrefined foods that fought inflammation instead of accelerating it. I fell in love with avocados, unique oils such as flax oil, nuts, seeds and hemp. These foods were inflammation-fighting machines for my body. Today, my inflammation is gone. My liver is perfect, my gut is healed and I'm me again. I'm living proof that real food helps fight inflammation and chronic illness.

I've created a few easy salad dressing recipes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegetarian and vegan. Each dressing includes inflammation-fighting ingredients like turmeric, ginger, basil, coconut oil, garlic, parsley, kale and extra virgin olive oil. Chop up that salad and start pouring these dressings on top for your lunch today. Bon appetite!

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing
Serves 6
1/2 'cup' raw cashews
1/2 'cup' sesame seeds
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1/3 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/3 'cup' organic vegetable broth or water
Puree all in a blender or food processor; pulse until smooth. Adjust ingredients as necessary for desired taste and texture.

Ginger Kale & Carrot Dressing
Serves 6
3 large carrots
2 large organic kale leaves
1/2 shallot, minced
3-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 'cup' chickpea miso
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/3 'cup' coconut oil
2 tablespoons organic vegetable broth or water
 Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Place the carrots, shallot, ginger, miso, vinegar, and sesame oil in a blender. Blend, scraping down the sides as necessary, until very finely chopped, about 1 minute. Add oil and blend until nearly smooth, about 30 seconds. Add sea salt and pepper, to taste. If necessary, thin the dressing with up to 2 tablespoons water. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Honey Shallot Dressing with Organic Moringa & Parsley
Serves 6
Juice of 2 large lemons
1 1/2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup if vegan)
1 shallot,
minced 1/3 'cup' extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon organic moringa
pinch of crushed red pepper In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat and serve.

Basil Vinaigrette with Mustard Seeds Serves 6
1/3 'cup' extra-virgin olive oil
 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat and serve.

Amie Valpone is a celebrity chef based in New York City and editor-in-chief of TheHealthyApple.com . Specializing in simple, gluten-free recipes, Amie has been featured in numerous magazines and on well-known websites, as well as TV. Visit Amie on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest .

Aprons

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

Great information about Farmer's Markets

Who Knew? 13 Things Farmers' Markets Won't Tell You BY MICHELLE CROUCH

1. Just because the sign says "farmers' market" doesn't mean there are any real farmers involved in the makeshift shop. Many so-called farmers' markets are actually set up by wholesalers who buy the same food you can get in your local grocery store, mark it up considerably, set up stands, and resell it. For a much more authentic experience, look for farmers' markets that are "producer-only," meaning they require all vendors to actually grow or make the foods they sell.

2. Want to save some money? Ask me about "seconds," visually imperfect fruits and vegetables you can often get by the case at a discount. Also called No. 2 produce, seconds are great for making tomato sauce, salsa, jam, and soup-but they're perfectly fine to eat as is, too, as long as you don't mind a few dings.

3. Don't show up with a set-in-stone shopping list. Part of the fun of a farmers' market is that you never know what you're going to find. So shop first, and then adjust your menu based on what you find.

4. Seriously? You want oranges in Colorado in July? Find out what grows locally and what's in season before getting your hopes up.

5. Please don't walk up to me holding your caramel macchiato and say $3 is too much to pay for a bunch of beets. Did you try to bargain with the barista at Starbucks? I was up at 3 a.m. today harvesting crops just to support my family.

6. Don't squeeze the peaches to see if they're ripe. Ask me to help you pick out some ripe ones, or look for a warm yellow base color and a fragrant smell. And while we're on the subject, don't husk every ear of corn either. That dries them out.

7. You can get great deals by arriving at the end of the day, when vendors discount unsold goods so they don't have to haul them back home. But some markets don't allow the practice, so check before you go.

8. Don't forget us in the winter! Many farmers use greenhouses, cold storage, and other extension methods to make produce available all year. And dairy products, meat, eggs, and homemade breads never go out of season.

9. Buying at the start of the season doesn't always save you money. You'll pay a premium to get the first peaches or tomatoes of the year. If you're on a budget, wait a few weeks until a food is abundant, demand dies down, and prices drop.

10. Get to know your farmer, and be a consistent customer. Once I start to recognize you as a regular, I may get in the habit of slipping some extra in your bag.

11. Don't know what something is or how to cook it? Just ask. For the best advice, ask the grower what he has that day that you shouldn't miss and how he prepares it.

12. There's a reason why our produce tastes so much better than what you find in the grocery store. It was probably picked yesterday or even this morning.

13. Fido may be friendly, but no one is going to be happy if he lifts his leg on a crate of watermelon. Please leave your beloved four-legged friends at home.

Sources: Ann Yonkers, coexecutive director of FreshFarm Markets, which operates 11 markets in the Washington, DC, region; Jenny McGruther, former manager of Crested Butte Farmers Market in Crested Butte, Colorado, and author of The Nourished Kitchen ; and Lynn Caldwell, market manager for Atherton Market in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Another technology based break through!

Real-time ECG from your fingertips By Dr. Kevin Campbell Published June 26, 2014 FoxNews.com

Smartphones and apps are commonplace, but they're not just for our entertainment- they can be important tools to help manage healthcare. While there are many regulatory challenges with mass market medical smartphone applications, the benefits for patients can be enormous. Moreover, if simple, low-cost software programs can help patients better manage their disease at home and avoid costly hospital admissions and ER visits, the financial impact on the struggling U.S. healthcare system could be substantial.

A new device and application created by Dr. Dave Albert and AliveCor , has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale without a physicians' prescription. The AliveCor Device allows patients to obtain a real-time single lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from their fingertips using their own smartphone. The device uses electrodes embedded into a standard phone case to measure electrical signals in the fingertips. These signals are then transmitted via the phone's microphone to the AliveCor app on the patient's phone. This device then allows the patient to record, share and upload their ECG tracing for analysis by their physicians and other healthcare providers.

The ability to obtain a real-time ECG is essential to the treatment of heart rhythm disorders and can also help patients and physicians adjust therapy and improve care. The application associated with the device is able to assimilate the ECG data and allows a patient to create a PDF file that can be stored and even emailed to their physician. If desired, the application will also upload the file to a secure "cloud" for analysis by the ALiveCor staff. The AliveCor device has many practical applications for patients, including monitoring heart rhythm during periods of symptoms. This correlation of real-time heart rhythm with symptoms is often the critical step in helping physicians make a diagnosis and can readily determine if the symptoms are in fact related to a heart rhythm disorder at all.

In addition, the application can help patients avoid costly and time-consuming emergency room visits when they experience certain symptoms such as palpitations or lightheadedness. Instead of rushing to the ER, a patient can record his heart rhythm with the device, transmit the tracing to his provider and, in many cases, receive reassurance right away. In the case of patients with a previously diagnosed heart rhythm disorder such as atrial fibrillation, the device is an excellent way to help monitor response to therapy between visits to their healthcare provider. As more health-related applications are developed, it is likely that there will be regulatory challenges. As medical application "prescriptions" are initiated by providers, there will be more significant FDA involvement.

 Certainly an application designed for patient care and disease management must be "bug free. However, I believe that there is a huge upside to smartphone applications in medical care. Increasingly, physicians are under pressure to see more patients in less time. As more data is made available to both physician and patient, the task of properly evaluating the patient and managing the data- and ultimately the patient's presenting complaint and chronic disease- in the office becomes even more daunting. Smartphones have the capability of collecting and organizing data that can be of use to both patient and physician. Simple tasks like tracking medication use and compliance, monitoring blood pressure or blood sugars can improve a provider's ability to effectively and efficiently manage a chronic disease. Furthermore, having a patient input or transfer data to and from their smartphone engages the patient in their own care- thus improving outcomes. We know that patient engagement in care is critical to successful disease management.

 Imagine the cost savings impact technology can have for health care- and a patient's life. If, for example, a patient with diabetes is able to track changes or patterns in blood sugar levels and correlate them with particular behaviors, a phone call or electronic communication with his or her physician may prevent a hospital admission or clinic visit. To me, using smartphones to manage medical data and impact disease is more than an exciting science fiction story, it's reality. As a society, we have embraced smartphone use in nearly every aspect of our daily lives.

 Now is the time for physicians, patients and the government regulatory leaders to act. Let's take advantage of what technology has to offer and provide patients and physicians with the tools they need to expedite care and improve outcomes. Dr. Kevin Campbell is an assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more from Dr. Campbell, visit his website DrKevinCampbellMD.com .

Update

Good morning everyone,
Yesterday was a great day with friends over at the Veteran's facility in North Little Rock. Kara does such a great job with her support group! We appreciate the contribution of our retired service men and women and the willingness of those who assist them.

Our next event will be held Saturday, June 28 at the Pine Bluff Library. Ms, He,en will be assisting with a fantastic healthy habits program and we want to encourage everyone in Jefferson County to attend. If you need transportation, please contact Krystal at 501-664-7100.

We will be in Pine Bluff 10-12. The library closes at 1 so we must hustle! I look forward to seeing everyone there!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Great news for those of us with disrupted sleep

No link between insomnia and hypertension, study finds By Nicole Kwan Published June 25, 2014 FoxNews.com

A new analysis finds no link between insomnia and hypertension, despite previously held beliefs that the two conditions are related to one another. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Dr. Nicholas Vozoris, a respirologist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, examined data from nearly 13,000 Americans who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. He found no link between insomnia and high blood pressure.

Insomnia symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep and waking up earlier in the morning than intended. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 50 to 70 million American adults have a sleep or wakefulness disorder. Vozoris chose to study this link after noting that many of his patients were concerned that their insomnia may be contributing to other health problems. "In my contact with patients, I see a lot who suffer from insomnia have concerns of whether the sleep difficulties, besides impairing quality of life, will have some long-term negative impact on their cardiovascular system," he told FoxNews.com. "It's fair to say it's also a concern in the general medical community among general medical practitioners, whether insomnia symptoms may lead to poor cardiovascular health.

Past research has shown a link between obstructed sleep apnea and negative cardiovascular outcomes, which may have led some to question as to whether other sleep disorders, like insomnia, may also be connected to heart problems. However, obstructed sleep apnea and insomnia are entirely different issues, Vozoris pointed out. While there have been studies that show that people with insomnia have higher levels of stress hormones in their blood stream, which could potentially raise blood pressure, Vozoris noted that these previous studies have had inconsistent results.

Other past research that showed positive links between insomnia and high blood pressure used smaller, selective groups of patients and only observed subjective measures of hypertension, such as whether a patient was on blood pressure medications. For his analysis, Vozoris looked at both subjective and objective measures, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The analysis also examined whether a link existed between frequent insomnia and high blood pressure and found a negative relationship. "The fact that even people with more severe insomnia didn't show a link, that finding provides impressive proof that there's probably no real link between the two items," Vozoris said.

The findings should be a reassurance for people who suffer from insomnia. "People who struggle with insomnia are already struggling and suffering... to not have on their mind, on top of that the, 'Oh my gosh, I'm going to have a stroke or high blood pressure attack in the middle of the night,' that's actually really important," Vozoris said. Vozoris noted that, in the past, some physicians may have prescribed sleeping pills to patients with insomnia, over concerns that the sleep disorder could cause cardiovascular problems.

However, he hopes this new research will change that practice. "The take home messages for me are the results of this research provides reassurance for patients and their doctors that there likely is no link between insomnia and hypertension, and especially for patients to not have that worry on their mind," Vozoris said.

BBQ info

Unhealthiest cookout foods By Emily Jacobs

 Summer is almost in full swing and barbecues, cookouts, and picnics are happening every weekend. While many of us are getting ready to fire up the grill and serve up some classic barbecue fare this season, there are a few healthier choices you can make. You may not even know that many of the cookout foods that you enjoy can be replaced by a healthier option.

We've compiled a list of the unhealthiest cookout foods and what you can serve instead to still have a delicious cookout. Hamburgers and hot dogs are a cookout classic - and there's no need to cut them out entirely. Try opting for lean hamburger beef or even trying a turkey or vegetable burger. Same goes for the hot dogs - try a lean beef or turkey dog. Skip the bacon, cheese, and mayonnaise, and add a little mustard and fresh vegetables instead. We've found even more popular cookout foods, from mains to sides and desserts, that we've made healthier. Sounds easy enough, right? By just making a few changes, you can completely transform your cookout menu into something healthy and lower in calories for your family and guests. This summer is about being fit, healthy, and active. Don't get weighed down by unhealthy cookout foods at you barbecue. Try some of these tips and suggestions to have the best (and healthiest) cookout on the block.

 1.  Sugary Barbecue Sauce Shutterstock Check the label on your store-bought barbecue sauce. Many of them are super high in sugar and sodium. Keep the sauce to a minimum or try making your own to ensure healthy ingredients are used. 2.  Mayonnaise-based Salads Shutterstock Pasta, macaroni, and potato salads are full of heavy and thick mayonnaise-based dressings. Instead, use a nonfat Greek-style yogurt for the base. You can also use a light, citrus dressing with olive oil and fresh herbs. 3.  Ranch Dressing Shutterstock For dipping, avoid the sour cream and onion dip along with the ranch dressing. Try guacamole and salsa instead. For salad dressings, use a light vinaigrette and stick to the dark leafy greens for the healthiest salad options. 4.  Fatty Steak Cuts Shutterstock Choose lean cuts of steak without visible, marbled fat like London broil, skirt steak, top sirloin, or filet mignon. Trim the fat before you marinate and grill it to get the healthiest piece.

Home inventory

ASK THE EXPERT

 I understand that a home inventory is crucial information to have in the event of a loss caused by a burglary, fire, tornado or flood. But I was wondering in what other ways this information I've collected might be helpful. A home inventory can prove to be a useful tool when it comes to organizing one's home and keeping it that way, says central Arkansas-based professional organizer Becca Clark, owner of Creative Convenience (convenientlyorganized.com). She says some of the advantages to creating a home inventory include: Becoming more organized in general -- Knowing what you have and the details about your possessions can help you be better organized. "It's best to have a location specific inventory," Clark says. "List your possessions by room, closet, even drawer and cabinet to create a super organized system for accessibility, which is the primary goal of organizing. Clearing out unnecessary or unwanted items -- For those who have too many items in their homes, creating an inventory will help illuminate the excess. "This will help [or force] residents to really look at the number of things they own, especially duplicates, to make judicious and rigorous edits," Clark says. Planning for garage, yard or estate sales -- Understanding what you have will help you grasp what you do not need anymore. Additional purchases -- Being able to access a home's inventory via a phone or laptop can also help people avoid buying duplicates. "You will save time and money by 'shopping' at home when you know what you have and can easily find it," Clark says. Planning for the future -- Knowing what is tucked away in storage units can also assist with estate planning. But, she says, "The biggest savings is to eliminate off-site storage completely by purging unused stuff. "An inventory that includes the ages of appliances will help with planning and budgeting for future repair and replacement," she says. Tracking finances -- Other advantages to creating a home inventory include financial, such as helping to calculate net worth and making sure you have adequate insurance for home and possessions. Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? Contact Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email: lhaymes@arkansasonline.com HomeStyle on 06/21/2014 Print Headline: ASK THE EXPERT

Update

Good morning everyone,
My twin grand babies are here for a few days so pardon me if I hug babies instead of posting great thoughts. Johnye keeps us going with very good articles. Without her, I would be lost!
Hope everyone has a great day!
Hugs to all,
Janet

Fat burning foods

Add 'fat-burning foods' to your grocery list By Dr. Manny Alvarez Published June 20, 2014 FoxNews.com

Fat keeps you warm, regulates your body function and stores energy. But too much of a good thing can actually be bad. It is well known that fat can lead to obesity and chronic diseases, but eating the right foods can help your body burn it.

Here are some to try: Beans are filled with protein and fiber, which help you lose weight without feeling hungry. Fiber takes a long time to digest, so your body will be busy burning it off for a while. Add eggs to your diet. Studies show people who eat them in the morning are more likely to drop pounds than people who eat carb-only breakfasts. Bring on the avocados: They are packed with mono-unsaturated fats, which will lower your bad cholesterol. Your body will burn off avocados quickly, so they won't stick to your hips. Foods with omega-3s, like salmon, are vital for burning fat. They contain the hormone leptin, which directly affects your metabolism. Also, add green tea to your shopping list. Studies show substances found in the drink will jump start your body to burn calories and fat. Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as FOX News Channel's (FNC) Senior Managing Editor for Health News. Prior to this position, Alvarez was a FNC medical contributor. Follow Dr. Manny on Facebook.

Great article about Gluten

5 things you need to know about gluten By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD Published June 19, 2014

Unless you've been on a media-free diet, you probably saw Jimmy Kimmel Live's hilarious "What is Gluten? video, in which none of the gluten avoiders interviewed could explain exactly what gluten is. The truth is, most of my gluten-free clients don't really know what it is either, but they do know that they feel better when they avoid it. But there's a problem: I noticed that some of the things people said in Kimmel's video, like where they think gluten is found, were just plain incorrect. The video has more than 2 million views, so I thought it would be helpful to provide a primer. Here are five things you should know before starting a gluten-free diet, in order to reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls.

Gluten is a protein Yup, gluten is a type of protein naturally found in wheat (including spelt, kamut, farro, and bulgur) and other grains, like barley and rye. But gluten also lurks in many products, like salad dressings, seasoning mixes, vitamins, and even lip balm, so eliminating it completely is a big commitment. I've met many people who say they are gluten-free, but in reality they've just eliminated wheat-based foods like bread, pasta, and bagels, because they think wheat is the only source. If you truly need to banish gluten altogether, you need to become a gluten sleuth. Gluten isn't in every type of grain I've heard many people say that gluten is found in grains period, but that's not the case. There are several grains that are naturally gluten-free, including rice, corn and popcorn, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, teff, and oats (as long as they haven't been contaminated with wheat during processing). In other words, gluten-free and grain-free aren't synonymous, and I don't recommend the latter. Gluten-free whole grains are chock full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, and as long as you don't overdo it portion-wise, including them in your diet can help you lose weight, and protect your health. Unfortunately the gluten-free craze has given all grains a bit of a black eye, but refined white pasta and quinoa aren't even close to being in the same category from a nutrition perspective.

Gluten-free foods can be processed, too Some people are under the assumption that all processed foods contain gluten and no gluten-free foods are refined or processed, but that's not accurate. Because gluten-free has exploded in popularity, there are more gluten-free products than ever, and many are highly processed, or made with refined versions of gluten-free grains, such as white rice. For the best nutritional bang for your buck, look beyond the words "gluten-free" on a package and read the ingredient list-it should read like a recipe you could recreate in your own kitchen. And if grains are included (some gluten-free products are made with other starches, like potatoes or beans), they should be whole, which means they haven't been stripped of their fiber and nutrients.

Avoiding gluten may help you feel better, even if you don't have Celiac disease People who have Celiac disease must completely eliminate gluten, because consuming even small amounts triggers symptoms, including belly pain and bloating. This happens because in people with Celiac, gluten causes the immune system to damage or destroy villi, the tiny, finger-like outgrowths that line the small intestine like a microscopic plush carpet. Healthy villi absorb nutrients through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, so when they become damaged, chronic malnutrition occurs, which is typically accompanied by weight loss and exhaustion. In people with this diagnosis, avoiding gluten is the only way to reverse the damage.

However, people who test negative for Celiac may also benefit from going gluten-free if they're experiencing a condition called gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity. While it's not the same as Celiac disease, consuming gluten can cause bothersome side effects in many people, including flu-like feelings, bloating and other gastrointestinal problems, mental fogginess, and fatigue. Unfortunately at this time, there is no widely accepted test for gluten sensitivity, and the symptoms may be related to other issues, including stress, so it's not black and white. If you think you may have a gluten sensitivity, avoid gluten and monitor how you feel.

What you eat when going gluten-free is as important as what you don't A lot of people who go gluten-free focus on getting rid of foods, but to balance your diet and ensure that you're taking in a broad spectrum of nutrients, it's also important to emphasize what you do eat.

As I noted, there are several nutrient-packed whole grains that are naturally gluten-free. So if your old standby side dish was pasta, replace it with something like whole grain rice (brown, red, black, or wild), quinoa, or roasted organic corn. Fresh veggies and fruits, beans, lentils, and nuts are also gluten-free, so if you used to nibble on crackers, pretzels, or cookies, trade them for wholesome snacks, like veggies with hummus, berries with nuts, or roasted chickpeas. One of the key benefits of adopting a gluten-free diet is that it's an opportunity to reinvent the way you eat. Take it on it by seeking out superfoods, so in addition to getting rid of gluten, you'll also be embracing a wide variety of nutrients that will help you look and feel your best.

Cynthia Sass is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on national TV, she's Health's contributing nutrition editor, and privately counsels clients in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Rangers NHL team and the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. This article originally appeared on Health.com.

Important info from AARP

Arkansas ranks 40th when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents, and AARP warns that much more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to improve across-the-board –especially when it comes to effective transitions between one form of care and another.

These findings are according to a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation's leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and The SCAN Foundation.

Raising Expectations 2014: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers – an update of the inaugural 2011 Scorecard – ranks each state and the District of Columbia overall and within 26 performance indicators along five key dimensions: affordability and access; choice of setting and provider; quality of life and quality of care; support for family caregivers; and, as noted above, effective transition. New indicators this year include length of stay in nursing homes and use of anti-psychotic drugs by nursing homes, raising serious concerns about the quality of institutional care.

Arkansas ranks in the bottom quartile of states and D.C. Among the five dimensions, Arkansas ranked weakest (49th out of 51) on Effective Transitions. The performance indicators in that dimension include a ranking of 42nd in the Percentage of Nursing Home Residents with Low-Care Needs, indicating that many people currently in nursing homes could receive quality care at a much lower cost and remain in their homes and communities.

In a 2011 AARP survey of Arkansans 50 and older, an overwhelming 94 percent of respondents said it was important to have services that allow people to remain home as long as possible. Of those who said this was important, 47 percent said it was "extremely important" and 34 percent said "very important." AARP Arkansas serves more than 300,000 members age 50 and older in the Natural State.

Herb Sanderson, AARP Arkansas Associate State Director for Advocacy, said a key reason for the state's low ranking is how the state spends taxpayer dollars on long-term care. "The state of Arkansas is not spending its long-term care dollars as wisely as it could be," Sanderson said. "It makes financial sense and common sense to enable people to stay in their own homes and communities whenever possible and as long as possible."

If Arkansas improved its performance to the level of the highest performing state, 2,945 Arkansas nursing home residents with low-care needs could instead receive long-term care services and supports in their community, the Scorecard found. Sanderson said this translates into potential savings to the state of at least $77 million a year, and that is a conservative estimate based on nursing home care costing twice as much as home & community based services in Arkansas.

Arkansas has made progress in recent years, including applying for federal help through the Balancing Incentive Program to start the shift toward home and community-based care, and providing home and community-based attendant services through the Community First Choice option as part of the state Medicaid program, which gives states the opportunity to transform their care systems. Sanderson noted that system changes take time and time is running out; in just 12 years, the leading edge of the Baby Boomer Generation will enter its 80s, placing new demands on the state.

Arkansas' population of residents 65 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent through 2030. If the state doesn't take serious steps to change how it pays for long-term care, the costs could well be unsustainable, Sanderson said. The good news is that the Scorecard offers positive examples from other states showing how Arkansas can do better.

"The Scorecard shows other states that have achieved success," Sanderson said. "It really provides a roadmap for Arkansas to follow—we can look at other states, learn from them, and find solutions enacted all over the United States. Arkansas has made progress, but we need system change—a variety of things that need to happen, and need to happen soon."

Another key priority for AARP is supporting family caregivers. Of the 26 Scorecard indicators, 13 may be improved through state policy changes, pointing to the importance of AARP's multi-state advocacy campaign, launched this year, to help older Americans live independently, at home, and the family caregivers that support them.

Today, unpaid family caregivers provide the bulk of care for older Arkansans in part because the cost of long-term care remains unaffordable for most middle income families. In Arkansas, more than 478,000 residents help their aging parents, spouses and other loved ones stay at home by providing assistance with bathing and dressing, transportation, finances, complex medical tasks like wound care and injections, and more. The value of this unpaid care totals about $4.5 billion.

According to the state Scorecard, 37.4 percent of family caregivers in Arkansas face a degree of stress and worry; Arkansas ranks 16th nationally in the dimension of Support for Family Caregivers and 14th in the Family caregivers without much worry or stress, with enough time, well-rested performance indicator. But more must be done and in Arkansas, the state could help caregivers by increasing the level of respite care services to give family caregivers additional, much-deserved relief, Sanderson said.

"Family caregivers really perform a herculean task and they should be commended and supported," Sanderson said.

The single strongest predictor of a state's long-term care system is the reach of its Medicaid long-term care safety net. That's why AARP has fought and continues to fight to expand services provided at home and in the community, by shifting funds away from more expensive nursing home care. 

Big news in Memphis!

Rob Robertson
Staff writer-
Memphis Business Journal

The Southern College of Optometry plans to open a clinic dedicated to the treatment of dry eye, a condition that mainly affects people older than 50 in the United States.

The TearWell Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Center, as the clinic will be known, will be located on the SCO campus in Midtown Memphis, and is set to open July 1.

“Dry eye is a prevalent issue, especially among older adults,” Whitney Hauser, TearWell’s clinical director, said. “The condition is often exacerbated by allergic reactions, making Memphis a tough climate for people suffering from dry eye. That’s one reason we are so proud to open this clinic.”

Dry eye is a condition in which the eyes are not producing enough tears to adequately lubricate themselves. People suffering from this condition typically do not have enough tears or produce "poor quality tears," according to SCO. It is a common, often chronic problem that worsens with age and is often associated with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems.

SCO is an independent, not-for-profit institution with more than 500 students and residents from 40 states. The Eye Center at SCO serves nearly 80,000 patients annually.

Dr. Oz on the hot seat

(CNN) -- Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of "The Doctor Oz Show," was grilled Tuesday by senators on Capitol Hill about the promotion of weight loss products on his show.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, chairwoman of the subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance, led the panel that looked at false advertising for weight loss products. Subcommittee members took issue with claims Oz has made on his show about products that don't have a lot of scientific evidence to back them up, such as green coffee beans.
"The scientific community is almost monolithic against you in terms of the efficacy of the three products you called 'miracles,'" said McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat. She said she was discouraged by the "false hope" his rhetoric gives viewers and questioned his role, "intentional or not, in perpetuating these scams."
"I don't get why you need to say this stuff when you know it's not true. When you have this amazing megaphone, why would you cheapen your show?... With power comes a great deal of responsibility."

Oz told the committee that he does use "flowery language" to describe certain products on his show, but added he believes in them so much he has given them to his own family.
"My job, I feel, on the show is to be a cheerleader for the audience, and when they don't think they have hope, when they don't think they can make it happen, I want to look, and I do look everywhere, including in alternative healing traditions, for any evidence that might be supportive to them," Oz told the panel.
He testified that he could not be held responsible for what certain companies say online about the products. He said he's toned down some of his language and will publish a list of products he thinks really can help people lose weight.
"To not have the conversation about supplements at all however would be a disservice to the viewer," Oz said in a prepared statement after the hearing. "In addition to exercising an abundance of caution in discussing promising research and products in the future, I look forward to working with all those present today in finding a way to deal with the problems of weight loss scams."
In May, the Federal Trade Commission sued the sellers of Green Coffee Beans for deceiving consumers through fake news sites and invented health claims. The FTC said that weeks after "The Doctor Oz Show" promoted the benefits of Pure Green Coffee, some companies that marketed the product used video from his show to increase sales.
The FTC told CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen that there are just "too many" of these products to sue them all. But consumers should be wary of certain phrases that are most certainly false, the FTC said, including any that claim to help you lose weight without diet and exercise.
Bottom line -- don't believe everything you see. Do your homework online and make sure any claim about a weight loss product is backed up by scientific evidence.

Diabetic news

Subject: Article from Fox News Health Section 2014 06 16

Progress made on 'bionic pancreas' for diabetics
Published June 16, 2014 Associated Press

The bionic pancreas consists of a smartphone, top, hardwired to a continuous glucose monitor and two pumps, bottom, that pumps deliver doses of insulin or glucagon every five minutes. Scientists have made big progress on a "bionic pancreas" to free some people with diabetes from the daily ordeal of managing their disease. A wearable, experimental device passed a real-world test, constantly monitoring blood sugar and automatically giving insulin or a sugar-boosting drug as needed, doctors said Sunday. The device improved blood-sugar control more than standard monitors and insulin pumps did when tested for five days on 20 adults and 32 teens. Unlike other artificial pancreases in development that just correct high blood sugar, this one also can fix too-low sugar, mimicking what a natural pancreas does.

The device was developed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University. Results were featured Sunday at an American Diabetes Association conference in San Francisco and were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. "I'm very excited about it," said Dr. Betul Hatipoglu, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic who had no role in the work. Many patients have been frustrated waiting for a cure, so "this is really a great new horizon for them," she said. The bionic pancreas is for Type 1 diabetes, the kind often found during childhood. About 5 percent of the 26 million Americans with diabetes have this type and cannot make insulin to turn food into energy. Sugar builds up in the blood, raising the risk for heart disease and many other problems. These people must check their blood and inject insulin several times a day or get it through a pocket-sized pump with a tube that goes under the skin. "This would lift that burden off of their shoulders," Dr. Steven Russell, a diabetes specialist at Massachusetts General, said of the bionic pancreas he helped design.

 It has three parts: two cellphone-sized pumps for insulin and sugar-raising glucagon, and an iPhone wired to a continuous glucose monitor. Three small needles go under the skin, usually in the belly, to connect patients to the components, which can be kept in a fanny pack or a pocket. Patients still have to prick their fingers to test blood sugar twice a day and make sure the monitor is accurate, but the system takes care of giving insulin or glucagon as needed. Kristina Herndon said her 13-year-old son, Christopher, "loved it" when he tried it for the study, and "felt pretty badly giving it back" when it ended. Christopher has to check his blood sugar eight to 10 times a day and his family has to watch him closely in case it dips too low while he sleeps, which can cause seizures or even death. "It's a disease that I think people think is not a big deal but it's tough. It's hard on a family," said Herndon, who lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Next steps: A study starts Monday in 40 adults who will use the device for 11 days. By fall, researchers hope to have a next-generation version combining all three components in one device to be tested in studies next year aimed at winning federal Food and Drug Administration approval. "My goal is to have this device done by the time my kid, who has Type 1 diabetes, goes to college" in about three years, said Ed Damiano, a biomedical engineer at Boston University. Two San Diego-based companies - DexCom and Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. - made components of the version tested in the current study. Boston University and Massachusetts General own or have patents pending on the system, and several researchers may someday get royalties. Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson and several other companies also are working on artificial pancreas devices.

The Boston group's work is exciting and the results are compelling, but there still are practical challenges to bringing a device to market, said Aaron Kowalski, who oversees grants by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on artificial pancreas development. "Most people with diabetes want less devices in their lives, not more," so putting the components into a single automated system is key, he said.

Monday schedule

Hello everyone,
Monday will be a busy day! The wonderful folks at Woodland Heights are going to the library to download Overdrive! Wish us luck!
Have a great day everyone
Until tomorrow,
Dr Janet

Happy Father's Day

Fathers are Wonderful People
Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should.

For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills...

And Father struggles daily
To live up to "HIS IMAGE"
As protector and provider
And "hero or the scrimmage"...

And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,

But if you look inside Dad's heart,
Where no one else can see
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be...

But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife...

But Fathers are just WONDERFUL
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolade of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness...

And like OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
He's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE.
Helen Steiner Rice

Saturday, June 14

Happy Flag Day!
Finally, a beautiful Saturday! I have lots of errands and household chores today so I am very pleased to see the sunshine. After so much bad weather, I am ready for the sunshine and heat. I may not complain much when the August heat and humidity arrive.

Next week will be busy. Monday is Woodland Heights training at the Library on Overdrive!

Have a great day and make a difference!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

How's your Mama?

From the Abbeville Institute:

If I ever got started writing about Southern good manners, I’m not sure I could stop. I’ve heard it said that the South is the country’s last outpost of good manners, and it’s a topic that deserves special and exhaustive treatment. However, I overheard my wife talking to someone yesterday, and I can’t pass up this small opportunity.

As I said, my wife was talking to a friend, and at one point she asked, “How’s your mama doing?” The person’s mother wasn’t sick, or in any kind of jeopardy, so my wife wasn’t really concerned about the potential of receiving a negative response. In fact, she got the exact response she (and I) expected to hear:

“Oh, she’s fine. I’ll tell her you asked about her.”

To be “asked about” is a very high Southern honor, indeed. On the surface, it sounds exactly like what my wife actually said, which was, “How is she doing?” However, in reality, there’s a lot more to it. What the person actually said translates more accurately into “Please be sure to tell her I’m thinking about her fondly.”

There are two distinct parts to this. First, there is a genuine curiosity for someone’s condition. Are they feeling OK? Have they recovered from whatever it was they had? Are they coping as best as can be expected? Are they excited about the great news? Those kinds of things.
However, in the second part, it is the solemn duty of the person being asked to relay the inquiry TO the person being asked about. They have to know that they were “asked about.” It’s important. At some point in the day, my wife’s friend will eventually say to her mother, “Guess who asked about you today?” And her mother will feel better once she hears about it.

To be “asked about” means that you are loved and remembered and you need to know that. There’s never any kind of follow-up, like, “They asked about you, and they said to tell you where the money is buried.” No, the whole thing begins and ends with a simple, “They asked about you.” And that’s it.

And Southerners like to know that someone was asking about them, because it helps connect all of us together.

Please consider reducing your red meat intake

NBC NEWS -- There has been a lot of debate on the effects of meat on our health.

Now, a new study finds that when you eat red meat may raise the risk of breast cancer in women.

Although most studies suggest there is little or no association between breast cancer and red meat, researchers say those studies focus on older women.

New data, which is published in the latest edition of the British Medical Journal, indicates that young women eating a lot of red meat could increase the risk of developing breast cancer earlier in life.

A group of Harvard researchers looked at data on over 88,000 premenopausal women who took part in the famous Nurses' Health Study II.

All participants completed a questionnaire on diet in 1991 when the women were between the ages of 36 to 45.

Investigators found women who ate a lot of red meat had a 22 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Women who ate more poultry, fish, vegetables, nuts, along with less red meat had a 17 percent lower risk of breast cancer overall.

Researchers believe that replacing red meat with a combination of other, less fatty proteins may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Although the study is a good beginning, further research is needed to better understand the relationship between diet at an early age and its risk on breast cancer later in life.

Great dental article

9 questions you're not asking your dentist? but should be By Lacie Glover Published June 11, 2014 NerdWallet

Dental fear is common in America, and it has been estimated that 50 percent of Americans don't go to the dentist consistently. Regular trips to the dentist are important for your health, both oral and overall. The human mouth is a hotbed for bacteria, mainly good, but also some harmful types. Without proper oral care, harmful bacteria can get out of control. When there's too much bacteria growing in your mouth, it can spread to your vital organs or result in tooth infections, decay or gum disease. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, has been linked to America's biggest killer: heart disease.

Periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, has also been linked to diabetes, osteoporosis and pregnancy complications such as premature birth and low birth weight. This is why it's important to take care of your teeth regularly, but also to go to the dentist on a regular basis. Whether you're diligently devoted to your oral hygiene or haven't been to the dentist in years, here's what you should  be asking:

Choosing a dentist

1. Does the practice take my dental insurance? If you have dental insurance, you'll want to find an office that takes your insurance. Dental insurance is inexpensive, so if you don't have coverage you should consider buying some, especially if you haven't been to the dentist in a while. Depending on your oral health status, you might need a few procedures that could cost more than twice as much without insurance.

2. Will the staff review the cost of procedures before treatment is done? Before you agree to any procedures, you should know their costs. Ask if the staff will go over costs with you when you know which procedures the dentist recommends, if any. If you want to be extra diligent (and have the time), you can ask about the costs of specific procedures and compare them to other practices' charges, or check against online estimates.

3. What can I expect during the first exam? The first visit should include discussions about your dental history and medications, a full examination, cleaning and X-rays, if necessary.

 4. How am I expected to pay? Each office has different payment schedules, so it's in your best interest to ask about payment options before your first visit. This way, you won't get stuck with costly late charges.

 5. How are instruments sterilized? You might not feel comfortable grilling the dentist's staff about their attention to sterilization, but this question might pay off. An office that doesn't heat sterilize all equipment between patients should raise a red flag. Key terms that should come from the staff are autoclave or chemiclave, the two leading methods of heat sterilization.

 6. Does the dentist keep up with new advancements in science? Science and technology evolve rapidly, and for a dentist this means that new treatment options become available often. Dentists who regularly attend seminars and trade shows or take continuing education courses will be up to date on advancements in dentistry. This is important because these new treatment options may be less expensive, time consuming or painful than older treatments.

 During the visit
7. Do you have any recommendations for my diet? Your dentist may also be able to tell what you're eating by examining your mouth. Usually, your dentist can tell if you're eating too much sugar or acids, or not enough vitamin C. He or she may discuss eating less sugar and when to eat sugar for minimal damage to your teeth.

8. What should my care and maintenance schedule be? Everybody's health needs are different, and that includes your oral health needs. This means that you may need to come in less or more frequently for exams and cleanings, or that brushing and flossing may not be enough for your home care routine. Your dentist should be able to give you a customized plan for care, which should include home-care methods and an office visit schedule.

 9. Is there anything I should tell my family doctor? Since oral hygiene is linked to so many other bodily conditions, your dentist may find signs of non-oral diseases in your mouth. Your dentist may also see early evidence of side effects from drugs you're taking, in which case you'll want to talk with your regular doc about switching meds.

Lacie Glover writes for NerdWallet Health , a website that empowers consumers to find high quality, affordable health care and insurance.

New CEO at World Services

World Services for the Blind Taps Tony Woodell as President, CEO
by Lee Hogan  on Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2014 2:35 pm

Tony O. Woodell, chief operating officer at World Services for the Blind, has received a promotion.

Woodell will assume the role of president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Larry Dickerson, who announced his retirement in March after five years as the nonprofit's top executive.

"I am excited about the opportunity and am honored by this appointment," Woodell said in a news release. "The groundwork provided by those who have served in this capacity before me has laid a strong foundation on which to build. I look forward to working with the staff and board to help our clients achieve sustainable independence."

Woodell joined WSB in 2011. Previously, he worked with the Baptist Health Foundation and Heifer International. A Casper, Wyoming native, Woodell earned his bachelor's at Ouachita Baptist University and completed his graduate studies at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tom Duke, chairman of the nonprofit's board of directors, said Woodell's appointment was a unanimous decision.

"The board is confident in Mr. Woodell's ability to lead World Services for the Blind," he said in the news release. "Like many nonprofits we have experienced and, thankfully, overcome our share of hardships. I expect our future to be bright as we move forward with new ideas and new programs."


Dickerson will stay on staff until July 15 in a consulting capacity during the transition period.

Thanks Johnye for this inspirational post

America's hope
By Kelly Wright
Published June 10, 2014 FoxNews.com

"Life is about perspective. Don't look at what's wrong with your life, think about what's right with your life. -Joel Osteen Far too many of us go through life carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. We wake up with a burden of heaviness, looking ahead at the day with a dim view. In large part, this is due to what we feed into our heart and mind. We have the tendency to drift towards the negative images of life because that's what we see an abundance of in the media. We are constantly bombarded with information about what's wrong with the world.

I believe the American Dream is still very much alive and is still achievable. Consequently we find ourselves overloaded with uncertainty about the future. This often leads to thoughts that we as a nation have fallen and we can't get up. Some of our greatest critics gleefully say that America's best days are behind her. That America is nothing more than a shell of its former glory days as a pinnacle nation. Well, put a check on that negative spirit! I believe the American Dream is still very much alive and is still achievable. Judging by the 55, 000 people who recently jammed the storied Yankee Stadium for America's Night of Hope, I am not alone in my positive thinking. The perpetually smiling Pastor and Motivator Joel Osteen presented the event to inspire people to live their best lives now. He explained to those in attendance and to others watching a world wide broadcast of the event that we need to as scripture says, put on a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Osteen added that we should strive to be thankful and be hopeful. "Everyday is a gift of God. Life is too short to go through life depressed and angry," Osteen says. With that in mind he advises us to change our internal dialogue. Change the negative recording we constantly hear going through our minds; you're no good, you're too fat, you're too this-you're too that. My goodness! We become our own worse enemies by the harmful thoughts and pessimistic attitudes we possess. Osteen says; "You've got enough people against you. Don't add to it by being against yourself. Good point. After all, when we criticize ourselves, we're really criticizing God's creation. We are, as scripture says, fearfully and wonderfully made. We need to stop seeing ourselves as junk and begin to see ourselves as treasures, as a masterpiece created by a master artist. Let everyday be a new beginning. Don't drag yesterday's blues, regrets and baggage into a new day. Don't allow your dreams to be stolen and your hope highjacked. Forgive yourself and others. Stir up your faith, put down your fear and live your best life now. No excuses. Just do it. Good people bring good things to life because of the goodness that's stored in their hearts. America is a good nation of good people who desire to do great things. So we need to enlarge our vision and exercise faith like it's a muscle that needs to be developed. The more we build it up, the greater and stronger it becomes. It's imperative that we understand that we can't have faith if we don't have hope.

 Our days ahead are greater than the days we leave behind. Kelly Wright is a general assignment reporter for Fox News Channel (FNC), based in the Washington, D.C. bureau. He is also a co-host on "America's News Headquarters" on Saturdays (1:00-2:00 PM/ET) . Wright previously served as a co-host on "Fox & Friends Weekend.

Walgreens has launched talking prescriptions

Walgreens Now Offers Talking Prescription Labels

Description: Description: Prescription bottles without labelsCongratulations Walgreens! Today the national pharmacy retailer announced that it is providing talking prescription labels free of charge to customers with visual impairments in over 8,000 stores and through mail order.



Walgreens Launches Nationwide Program Offering Talking Prescription Devices for Customers with Visual Impairments

Initiative adds to Walgreens other accessible prescription information services; leadership of blindness organizations praise company’s program

DEERFIELD, Ill., June 3, 2014 — Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG), today announced the launch of a nationwide program offering talking prescription devices to customers with visual impairments. The initiative introduces a new service that complements other accessible prescription information Walgreens currently provides.

Walgreens is the first in the industry to offer this exclusive talking prescription device, called the Talking Pill Reminder, at its retail locations chainwide. The device attaches to prescription containers and will be provided free of charge with prescription medications that Walgreens dispenses to its pharmacy customers who are blind or who have visual impairments. The Talking Pill Reminder can be recorded to speak the information on the customer’s prescription medication label, and also has an audible alarm to remind patients when to take a medication.

The Talking Pill Reminder is available to customers of Walgreens retail pharmacies across the country and through Walgreens prescription mail service. The devices also are available in Walgreens drugstores for purchase for a retail price of $9.99.

Adherence to medication can be critical in treating illness today, and this is an innovation that will help our visually impaired customers correctly identify and take medications as prescribed. As part of our mission to help customers get, stay and live well, we’re proud to have worked closely with other leading organizations to make the Talking Pill Reminder available across all of our more than 8,100 stores nationwide. Jeff Koziel, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy operations

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Walgreens, The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the ACB affiliates in California and Illinois. All partnering organizations praised the Walgreens announcement.

Accessible prescription information is critical to people who are blind, and with today’s announcement, Walgreens assumes a significant leadership role in serving its customers with visual impairments.ACB President Kim Charlson

Illinois Council of the Blind representative Ray Campbell commended Walgreens initiative, saying,

So many of our members and ACB members across the country value Walgreens excellent customer service. The company’s rollout of the Talking Pill Reminder gives them yet another reason to make Walgreens their pharmacy of choice.Ray Campbell, ICB

California Council of the Blind President Donna Pomerantz said,

Standard prescription labels put customers who are blind at risk for mixing up medications or taking them incorrectly. For this reason, Walgreens initiative is a matter of basic safety, and we congratulate the company on its efforts in this important area.Donna Pomerantz, CCB

In addition to providing the Talking Pill Reminder, Walgreens also offers large print patient information sheets to customers who have visual impairments.

Walgreens accessibility initiative will help people with visual impairments who have difficulty or are unable to read a standard prescription medication label.

About Walgreens

As the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,200 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 750 locations throughout the country.

Memory boosters

Your tech gadgets are destroying your memory - here's how to fix it
By Merritt Watts Published June 09, 2014

I can tell you the street address of the house I lived in when I was 8 years old. I can tell you the name of my freshman dorm and exactly how I used to get from there to the local pizza place 10 years ago. But after I'd been living in my most recent apartment for six months, I went to the DMV to renew my driver's license and could not--could not--summon to mind my own zip code. These "senior moments" seem to be happening with alarming frequency for a not-yet-30-year-old, and there might be an unexpected reason for it: According to new research, our high-tech habits--such as reading the news on a laptop, Instagramming every occasion, and IM'ing constantly--could be seriously shortchanging our short-term memory.

Still, permanently tossing aside my iPhone is the only thing I'm less likely to do than remember my BFF's birthday without a little help from Facebook. (Sorry!) But we don't have to totally disconnect to get our synapses to fire correctly--we just have to tweak a few of our tech tendencies.

 The Tech Trap: You Instagram everything. I know, I know: No one has ever seen such a gorgeous waterfall. But there's a reason to stop before you snap: We're less likely to remember something when we take a photo of it, says a 2013 study from Fairfield University. When we take a picture, says Linda Henkel, lead author of the study, we subconsciously count on our camera to capture the moment for us. This could work if we actually used the photos to help strengthen our memories by looking at them later on, says Henkel. Instead, we fill our phones and digital cameras with so many shots that combing through them becomes a nearly impossible task--or we post them on Instagram, gather accolades, then never look back.

The Fix: Take the time to soak in the scene first. And be sure to sort through your photos later. "Before you take a picture, really look at your surroundings and think, What do I want to capture about this? advises Henkel. Making a mindful choice can help you create a more meaningful memory, the kind that's easier for your brain to access later on. A few in-the-moment Instagrams won't cause amnesia, but spend some time organizing your photos into albums on your computer, or feel free to flood your feed with #latergrams: Reviewing and interacting with the photos afterward by cropping and adding filters can improve our recall of the moment. "The photos act as retrieval cues to help your brain conjure up a memory," says Henkel.

 The Tech Trap: While trying to get work done, you're sending GChats, taking calls, and, fine, watching the occasional cat video. When we sit down at a computer, our brains reach the point of information overload a lot sooner than you might think. Most people consider themselves mental multitaskers, but our working memory, which is activated when we're receiving new information, can actually process only three to five items at a given time. "As we approach the limit of our working memory, we become more easily distracted and may start forgetting things," says Erik Fransen, a computer science professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.

The Fix: Disconnect during downtime. No, we're not talking about a weeklong meditation retreat. Giving your brain time to process can be as simple as spacing out for a minute or two while you ride the elevator instead of scrolling through Facebook, says Fransen. The existence of smartphones has pretty much deprived our brains of the built-in moments of passive activities in daily life that can help combat absentmindedness. Also, when you have a challenging task, try to work on it alone for half an hour, because it takes at least 10 to 15 minutes to really focus on a demanding activity, says Fransen.

The Shocking Age When Your Cognitive Ability Starts to Drop Off The Tech Trap: You turn to a search engine every time your memory fails. "You know the actor! The one in the Scorsese movie--the one set on Wall Street! . . .John? Jason something? Argh! Yes, it's one of the most frustrating feelings ever, but in this case, the omnipresent search engine you pull up to figure something out may be the reason you can't remember the fact in the first place: According to a study at Columbia University, people are less likely to remember information when they know they can just look it up later, meaning the existence of Internet search engines can actually make us feel more forgetful.

The Fix: Do. Not. Freak. Out. The reality is, we're not more forgetful. We've always depended on external memory sources, but they used to be other people, not search engines (think of your cousin who is a Trivial Pursuit superstar), says lead study author Betsy Sparrow, an assistant professor of psychology at Columbia University. So, in the case of hitting the Internet, "we're just relying on different things to help us remember," says Sparrow. If you'd rather not lean on a search engine, your best bet is to stay calm. The name you're at a loss for will probably pop into your mind when you clear your head. If that fails, it's likely that you'll be able to think of a few key words to google. And what's the harm in that? (P.S. It's Jonah Hill. You're welcome.)

The Tech Trap: You get your news digitally. It's no wonder you read that great op-ed on the Keystone pipeline but can't remember enough of the details to make cocktail-party conversation: People who read text on-screen have lower levels of reading comprehension than people who read the same material on a printed page, says a study in the International Journal of Educational Research. The Fix: Put the paper back in newspaper. For longer reads and in-depth analysis, reading on paper may help step up comprehension. The fixed layout of the page aids in recall, because your spatial memory kicks in too, so imagining where the information was on the page can help you remember it. When you do scroll, keep it short and sweet: Part of the issue with memory and screen reading is that LCD screens, like those on your computer or your smartphone, emit a fluctuating light that can cause visual fatigue after a while. This creates more processing work for your brain, so it has to work even harder on other comprehension tasks, including storing the correct information in your memory. The tech-friendly loophole? E-readers that use ambient light instead of backlighting. Unlike most tablets or laptops, ambient-light e-readers reduce the cognitive load required to read and free up some of your mental energy for proper processing.

Monday recipes

Subject: Article from Braille Monitor Articles Section 2014 06 01

Recipes
This month's recipes come from North Dakota. Linda's Chicken by Duane Iverson
It is a simple and tasty way to oven fry chicken.
Ingredients: Chicken pieces, as many as desired
Flour
Bisquick
At least one stick of butter
2 eggs
A splash of milk
Parmesan cheese from a shaker,
optional Method:
Prepare a mixture of half flour and half Bisquick. Liberally grease the bottom of a shallow baking pan with butter; I melt at least a quarter pound. Combine eggs and milk and beat with a fork. Dip chicken pieces in milk mixture to moisten the chicken, then roll it in the flour and Bisquick mixture. Arrange chicken in baking dish and bake for one hour at 350 degrees, turning after thirty minutes. I find that adding a liberal amount of parmesan cheese to the flour mixture enhances the breading.

Marvin's Potatoes
by Duane Iverson
Ingredients:
Potatoes, peeled and evenly sliced
1 onion,
sliced Butter
Slices of Velveeta cheese
Method:
I used a Vegematic to slice the potatoes when I first made this dish. The slices should be just a little thicker than a Talking Book cartridge. Layer the potatoes in the bottom of a greased square casserole dish. Dot the potatoes with butter, spread with a layer of thinly sliced onions, then do another layer of potatoes, butter, and onions. Do three layers in all.
 Cook covered at 350 degrees for a little less than an hour. Test with a fork. If the potatoes feel almost done, that is, the fork goes in easily, cover the top with a generous number of Velveeta cheese slices. Put the lid back on the dish, and return it to the oven for about ten more minutes. The cheese will melt and infuse the potatoes. Since the potatoes are in a covered dish, they stay warm for long enough for you to get everything on the table.

Brad Martin's Meatballs
by Duane Iverson
Ingredients:
 1 pound of ground meat
 1 can chicken-and-rice soup
1 can tomato soup
2 eggs
1 small onion
Lots and lots of soda crackers.
 Method:
In a mixing bowl crack two eggs. Break up the ground meat into the bowl. Grate a small onion or part of a large onion into the mixture. Then begin crumbling and adding soda crackers to the mixture until it is sticky but fairly dry, about the consistency of modeling clay.

 Form the meatballs and place in the bottom of a shallow baking pan. The meatballs should be small, no larger than a cherry tomato. I'd say a golf ball is too large, and a grape is too small. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the bottom of the pan.

 Now combine the chicken-and-rice and tomato soups in the bowl you just emptied. Mix well with a fork. Then pour the liquid evenly over the meatballs.

Cover with lid or aluminum foil and cook at 350 degrees for about an hour. As the meatballs cook, they will absorb much of the liquid from the bottom of the pan. When serving, there will be liquid left that you can spoon over the meatballs.

This dish goes well with Marvin's Potatoes. Happily, you can prepare them beforehand. An hour before supper, mix the soups, pour liquid over the meatballs, and put the dish of potatoes in the oven. You don't have to go back to the kitchen until ten or fifteen minutes before the meatballs are done to put cheese on the potatoes and cook a vegetable.

Sunday, June 8

Good rainy morning everyone,
I hope each of you are having a great weekend. We are having storms again this morning. I awoke to lots of thunder.
School is out so maybe I can get back on track with our blog. Super thanks to Bob and Johnye who keep things going when I am tied up!
I have missed seeing everyone for the past few weeks. It will be good to visit with folks this week.
Tomorrow the Woodland Heights group will take the bus to the library for Overdrive training
Take care and stay dry!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Mo'lasses recipes. My family still grows this and we love it

This piece originally appeared in the May 30, 2014 edition of the The Bowling Green Daily News.

When chef Josh Feathers was growing up in Tennessee, his grandmother always had a jar of sorghum syrup in the cupboard. But he never gave much thought to it, or its significance to Southern culture.

That didn’t happen until he’d grown up, moved away, then returned home to work at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. “My mentor, while we were creating desserts he said, ‘This is one of the main ingredients you need to look at,’” recalls Feathers, now corporate chef at Blackberry Farm. “This is a truly Southern heritage ingredient we want to highlight.”

Today, much of the country — even the South itself — is experiencing a similar delayed appreciation for sorghum.

Sorghum syrup — or “sorghum molasses” as it’s sometimes called — has long been a staple of certain Southern cupboards. Pressed from the tough, grassy stalks of the sweet sorghum plant, then boiled down, it was seen as the province of grandmothers, a stodgy, household ingredient no one paid much mind.

No more. Sorghum syrup and even sorghum grain are being thrust into the limelight by a new generation of chefs in the South and beyond who appreciate its complexities and its provenance.

“Sorghum wasn’t considered a noble ingredient 10 years ago,” says Edward Lee, chef of two Louisville, Kentucky, restaurants and author of the cookbook “Smoke and Pickles.” ”The first thing I get is this very rustic nuttiness, this umami nuttiness, then the grassiness. And then the sweetness unfolds around that. It’s a unique flavor. And it adds a lot of depth to what you’re cooking, more so than honey.”

Lee is not alone. He uses sorghum as a glaze for foie gras and highlights its distinct flavor in sorghum-and-grits ice cream. Feathers calls it “an all-purpose item” that can be drizzled over biscuits, shines up breakfast sausage and enlivens vinaigrettes. Vivian Howard, chef and co-owner of The Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, North Carolina, has deployed sorghum in candied yams. Washington, D.C., chef and restaurateur Jeff Tunks uses sorghum on his “low-and-slow” roast duck. And in Philadelphia, chef Jeremy McMillan of Talula’s Garden combines it with black garlic to glaze carrots.

Demand for sorghum syrup has doubled during the last five years, says James Baier, executive secretary of the National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association, rising so fast that some of his 300 members have begun running out before the new season starts.

Demand is being driven by the public’s search for alternative sweeteners, Baier says, and also by the light shined on sorghum by chefs, restaurants, even cocktail mixologists. Distillers have begun producing a rum-like product from sorghum, Baier says, and others using it to make whiskey, beer and cocktail bitters. Soy sauce producers have also shown interest, he says.

Sorghum grain also is ambling to center stage on many chefs’ plates. Harvested from a short, stout version of the sorghum plant, the tiny grain has been used as food in Africa for thousands of years, but has been known in the United States mainly as biofuel or animal feed.

Today, the grain is being milled into flour and marketed to the gluten-free and whole-grain markets, and is being used by chefs in soups, stews and salads. Only 2 percent of production currently goes to food, says Tim Lust, chief executive officer of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, which markets the grain, but that figure is growing by 25 percent a year.

Cookbook author Martha Rose Shulman has compared sorghum grain to Israeli couscous, and recommends it as a base for a black-bean stew as well as for a salad with cucumber, avocado and cherry tomato. At the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, chef Tucker Yoder combines the grain and the syrup in a quinoa and sorghum pudding. New York chef Marc Forgione has offered sorghum as a side to items such as arctic char.

“The closest possible thing you can compare it to is a real heirloom farro,” says Forgione, who is working with Lust’s group to cook a three-course sorghum lunch at a June trade show. “It tastes like the ancient grain that it is. It’s got a great bite to it. It’s very earthy. When we do it risotto style — I cook mine al dente anyway — it has a nice chew to it, a full texture.”

So is sorghum the next quinoa? Forgione has one word: Sriracha.

“If someone had told us 10 years ago that this condiment you can’t even pronounce was going to be the number one selling condiment, you wouldn’t have believed it,” he says. “You never know.”

___
BLUEBERRY SORGHUM SPOON BREAD
Start to finish: 1 1/2 hours (30 minutes active)
Servings: 8
3 cups milk
1/2 cup sorghum syrup
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cups cornmeal
3 eggs
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups blueberries
In a medium pan over medium-high heat, combine the milk, sorghum syrup and salt. Bring to a boil then, while whisking, pour in the cornmeal in a steady stream. Continue stirring and cooking for 2 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.

Heat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9-by-9-inch baking pan or a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with baking spray.
Transfer the cornmeal mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk. Add the eggs, melted butter and baking powder. Beat on medium to combine, then increase speed to high and beat for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the mixture is lighter in both color and texture. Fold in the blueberries, then spoon into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Nutrition information per serving: 290 calories; 100 calories from fat (34 percent of total calories); 11 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 90 mg cholesterol; 41 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 7 g protein; 420 mg sodium.

(Recipe from Alison Ladman)

___
SWEET-AND-SPICY DOUBLE SORGHUM SALAD
Sorghum grains resemble couscous and taste like a cross between barley and rice. This hearty grain salad is delicious served over a bed of greens, such as arugula.
Start to finish: 2 hours (30 minutes active)
Servings: 8
2 cups sorghum grains
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
3 tablespoons sorghum syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup chopped golden raisins
1/3 cup toasted sunflower seeds
Hot sauce, to taste

In a medium pan over medium-high heat, combine the sorghum grains and enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Add a generous pinch of salt, then bring to a boil and cook for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the grains are tender. If needed, add water during cooking to maintain the level. Use a mesh strainer to drain, then set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic, onion and red pepper flakes and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown and very tender. Set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sorghum syrup, lemon juice, vinegar, paprika and cumin. Add the onion mixture, and then stir in the sorghum, raisins and sunflower seeds. Season with additional salt and hot sauce.
Nutrition information per serving: 290 calories; 80 calories from fat (28 percent of total calories); 9 g fat (1.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 52 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 12 g sugar; 7 g protein; 125 mg sodium.

(Recipe from Alison Ladman)

Michele Kayal is co-founder of the website American Food Roots, http://www.americanfoodroots.com/ . Follow her at @AmerFoodRoots More from Michele Kayal

Helpful spices

5 spices to keep in your medicine cabinet
By Jacqueline Silvestri Banks Published June 03, 2014 FoxNews.com

Our kitchen cabinets are filled with spices, yet we tend to take them for granted. Spices can do a lot more than flavor your dinner. Some spices can help reduce inflammation, stop a bloody nose, or soothe an achy stomach. Here are some super spices that pack more health benefits than you might have known.

Turmeric
Lovingly referred to as the "queen of spices," turmeric boasts antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is what makes this spice so special and turmeric happens to be one of the only readily available, edible forms of it.

A 2007 study also showed curcumin to have anticancer properties, with the potential to fight malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease. Since it tends to lose its punch fairly quickly, make sure you buy this spice in small quantities or opt for fresh turmeric root. Turmeric goes well in lentil dishes, curried chicken salads, or over a green salad and adds extra healing power to homemade chicken soup when you're under the weather.

Cinnamon
According the American Diabetes Association, regular consumption of between one and six grams of cinnamon helps reduce blood glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It can also help manage short-term spikes in blood sugar, making it a perfect addition for high carbohydrate foods such as oatmeal and rice pudding, which tend to spike blood sugar levels. Cinnamon also contains strong antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties making it an excellent addition when trying to fight a cold. Besides adding it to your food, try sprinkling some in your coffee or even using it in a face mask combined with a little coconut oil to help fight acne.

Cayenne pepper
This powerful spice has been used as a healing spice throughout history. Capsaicin, which gives the spice its kick, can boost metabolism, helping to burn extra calories as well as increasing enzyme production. It is thought to act as an anti-inflammatory and is so powerful that capsaicin can be found as the active ingredient in both over the counter and prescription ointments for arthritis and muscle pain. Using this spice regularly can add some kick and anti-inflammatory benefits to your diet. It's also the best spice to keep on hand if you frequently get nosebleeds - one teaspoon of cayenne pepper mixed into a glass of water is believed by some to help stop nosebleeds.

Ginger
While best known to help soothe a queasy stomach, ginger is also thought to help reduce pain and inflammation thanks to gingerol - a chemical found in ginger. If you suffer from arthritis, frequent migraines or menstrual cramps, adding some ginger to your diet just might help reduce the pain. Fresh ginger is more potent than the powdered variety and it makes a delicious addition to herbal teas and baked goods and can even be added to fruit or vegetable juices. Or try making your own ginger oil to treat achy muscles by mixing a few spoonfuls of ginger with sweet almond oil.

Cloves
This is the best spice to have on hand if you tend to suffer from frequent toothaches. All you have to do is put a few whole cloves in your mouth, then gently bite on them to release the oils and move them around to your sore teeth. According to Ayurvedic medicine, clove tea can help reduce, or even prevent, colds while also working as a natural expectorant to get rid of excess phlegm. While generally safe when used daily, taking some of these spices in very large dosages can have negative side effects. Always check with your doctor before using medicinal quantities of spices so you can find a safe amount for your needs.

Jacqueline Banks is a certified holistic health counselor and busy mother. Her focus is on helping other busy moms in all stages of motherhood keep themselves and their little ones healthy and happy. She uses natural and organic solutions to solve individual health problems and promote clean living. Check out her website at www.jbholistic.com.

Words of wisdom

Words of Lasting Interest

Why We Forgive

Anger may be justified, but "getting even" won't make you feel better BY DESMOND TUTU FROM THE BOOK OF FORGIVING

There were so many nights when I, as a young boy, had to watch helplessly as my father verbally and physically abused my mother. I can still recall the smell of alcohol, see the fear in my mother's eyes, and feel the hopeless despair that comes when we see people we love hurting each other in incomprehensible ways. I would not wish that experience on anyone, especially not a child. If I dwell in those memories, I can feel myself wanting to hurt my father back, in the same ways he hurt my mother and in ways of which I was incapable as a small boy. I see my mother's face and I see this gentle human being whom I loved so very much and who did nothing to deserve the pain inflicted upon her. When I recall this story, I realize how difficult the process of forgiving truly is. Intellectually, I know my father caused pain because he was in pain. Spiritually, I know my faith tells me my father deserves to be forgiven as God forgives us all. But it is still difficult. The traumas we have witnessed or experienced live on in our memories. Even years later they can cause us fresh pain each time we recall them. Are you hurt and suffering? Is the injury new, or is it an old, unhealed wound? Know that what was done to you was wrong, unfair, and undeserved. You are right to be outraged. And it is perfectly normal to want to hurt back when you have been hurt. But hurting back rarely satisfies. We think it will, but it doesn't. If I slap you after you slap me, it does not lessen the sting I feel on my own face, nor does it diminish my sadness as to the fact you have struck me. Retaliation gives, at best, only momentary respite from our emotional pain. The only way to experience healing and peace is to forgive. Until we can forgive, we remain locked in our pain and locked out of the possibility of experiencing healing and freedom, locked out of the possibility of being at peace. Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound with chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped. Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness; that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. We become our own liberators. Forgiveness, in other words, is the best form of self-interest. This is true both spiritually and scientifically. We don't forgive to help the other person. We don't forgive for others. We forgive for ourselves. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He served as chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. THE BOOK OF FORGIVING , BY DESMOND TUTU AND MPHO TUTU, COPYRIGHT © BY DESMOND TUTU AND MPHO TUTU, IS PUBLISHED BY HARPERCOLLINS AT $25.99, HARPERCOLLINS.COM.

Thanks Roy for this gem!

A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco.

Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the

way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay,

and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the

plane would re-board in 50 minutes.. Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. A man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the

lady was blind because her guide dog lay quietly underneath

the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight. He could also tell she had flown this very flight before

because the pilot approached her, and Calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in

Sacramento for almost an

hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your

legs?" The blind lady said, "No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to

stretch his legs." Picture this:

All the people in the

gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up

and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a guide dog for

the blind! Even worse, the pilot was wearing sunglasses

!People scattered. They not only

tried to change planes, but they were trying to change

airlines! True story..... Have a great day and remember.... THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR ..A

DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY

WASTED!!!"In a time of universal

deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion."

- George Orwell