Tax Bad Food & Subsidize Vegetables?

What do you think?

Bad Food - Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables?

How else are we going to change 

our eating habits in America

that's costing tax payers due to

chronic illnesses?

Heart disease,

Diabetes

and

Cancer

ALL

 in large part

caused by the Standard American Diet.

Read The New York Times July 23, 2011 article by Mark Bittman

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html

What do you think of this article?

Then watch Mark Bittman's clip on,

WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR FOOD?

(Note: MyPyramid he used is outdated)

What's going to happen to America?

We need to continually THINK about what 

we put in our mouth

or

our children's mouths.

We need to

BE MINDFUL

that we

TRULY ARE WHAT WE EAT.

Do you know where your food has been?

Do you?

Do you ever stop to think about it?

Do you read the ingredients?
What do they really mean?

READ, READ, READ!

Educate yourself on today's food.

You will be shocked.

What I find interesting is that the

United States does

HELP to subsidize one special vegetable --

Yes, America subsidizes the great all American BIG agribusiness of our beloved vegetable

CORN.

Everywhere you look corn is around us in just about ALL processed foods.

For example, this includes sodas and junk food which are comprised of ---

High fructose corn syrup - very similar to sugar.

Yet, HFCS is now in just about ALL our foods.

WHY???

The irony is that the government ultimately subsidizes

high fructose corn syrup and all the other process foods

we eat that are linked to chronic illnesses

??$$??

Food for thought:
Why isn't the FDA putting a cap on

ALL

the unneeded high fructose corn syrup

placed in our foods?

OR

Why is the FDA o.k with today's American chicken nugget?

Is a chicken nugget really a chicken nugget

IF

it's comprised 50% of corn???

Hmmmmmm?

Are we really ok with this?

What went into growing those chickens?
That's a whole other story.

Are we so used to

processed food sold

as food in America

that we automatically assume it's 

O.K. to eat

for human consumption?

Food for thought...

PEACE!

READ TO A CHILD & WALMART WILL GIVE A CHILD A BOOK!

- Make A Promise & Read with a child.

- Ask friends to do the same.

- For every 5 promises, Walmart will GIVE

   a child a book!

Go to this site to ACCEPT,
PASS it along

& 

Kids get FREE BOOKS!

http://ow.ly/5PRfa

Do Something & Make a Difference for our youth!

Walmart has partnered up with The Boys & Girls Club of America

to promote reading for children from low-income disadvantaged families.

Children lose over 3 times as much

learning during summer as their middle-income peers.

 In fact, by fifth grade, low-income students can be as much as two years

behind in reading.

Boys & Girls Club of America 

Makes a difference!

I

was a Boys and Girls Club member.

It made a difference to ME...

&

SO IT'S MY TURN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

& PASS IT ALONG!

THANKS!!!

Support the children of your local Boys and Girls Club!
Read to a child
& Pass this along!!!

It's FREE!!!

PEACE!

http://ow.ly/5PRfa

SYRACUSE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE: Say, "YES" to Education

Make a Difference:  Say, YES to Education!

Everyone is SO excited about the
Syracuse based comprehensive intervention program

for OUR Syracuse youth. 

http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=2699894

 It gets to the heart of the matter.

Our children's future is our priority. 

When everyone works together for the good of our children  it makes a difference in ALL of our lives.  

http://www.sayyessyracuse.org/

  

I anticipate great things from our Syracuse children
NOW, 5-10-20-30-40-50 years down the road

because when everyone gets involved
and
Puts their heart and soul into our children -  

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN!

This vision that has come to fruition provides
great potential, opportunity and

RESILIENCE

for our youth in the City of Syracuse
who typically may fall through the cracks.

Where will they be 20 years from now?

There are currently five main programs within Say Yes to Education

 to eliminate barriers and create opportunities:

• After School
• Family Support
• Summer
• Health & Wellness
• Legal Clinics

http://www.sayyessyracuse.org/sites/syracuse.yes2.4site.tv/files/pdf/syte-combined-services-brochure-2010-final-1.pdf

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Say-Yes-To-Education.html?soid=1104524378120&aid=zjud8xUBBeY

DREAM BIG!

Every child deserves the right to be lifted up and afforded the opportunity to live their dreams!

KUDOS to the say YES to Education Syracuse program!

MALE REPRODUCTIVE CARE: YOUR BODY - YOUR RIGHT!

SPREAD THE WORD - It's true. 

Both sexes have a right to take control of their own health and body.

Planned Parenthood Male Reproductive FREE confidential services

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

DID YOU KNOW?

Family Planning and/or Planned Parenthood provides

FREE FRIENDLY CONFIDENTIAL MALE reproductive health care?
It's not just for women.

- FREE exams

- FREE sexually transmitted infection/STI and HIV tests 

- FREE birth control - i.e. condoms

- FREE counseling & info on the facts versus the myths.

- CONFIDENTIAL - No one will know your business.

Get checked out - It's a matter of LIFE OR DEATH!

Prevention, Early detection and screening for ALL matters.

Testicular cancer is more common in teens and young adults.

It also can spread to other areas of your body.

Males have a personal right to take control and responsibility of their own body.

 DID YOU KNOW?

A male can walk into a free clinic & grab a handful of FREE condoms

and walk back out.

NO questions asked -

(it is recommended to privately meet with someone to receive the full health benefits).

What is the next frontier for men?

Male contraceptive gels, pills EVEN scrotum shots to stop sperm.

                                    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43881641/ns/health-mens_health/

Steve Owens of Seattle volunteered to help test different male contraceptives

 and found some more to his liking than others.

(Kevin P. Casey- The New York Times)

OR:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/08/male-birth-control-vasectomy_n_873145.html??ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

Raising awareness on the right to reproductive care for ALL.

PEACE!



Love is Respect: Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationship -Take the QUIZ

LOVE IS RESPECT!

Break the Cycle:   http://www.facebook.com/Breakthecycle



If you or someone you know is being abused please DO SOMETHING & call:

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

OR

GO TO http://www.thehotline.org/ 

to chat or seek helpful info.

SEND this to a friend to RAISE AWARENESS!

BREAK THE CYCLE -

Let me be the last to say, "DON'T STAY, You won't be O.K.!"

BREAK THE CYCLE -

Let me be the last to say, "DON'T STAY, You won't be O.K.!"

The last to say - Atmosphere

Are you in a healthy relationship?

Take the relationship Quiz:
http://www.thesafespace.org/pop-quiz/quiz-is-your-relationship-healthy/

Here's a Checklist in addition to the quiz to use as a guide.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP =

It's about Respect, Trust & Communication!

___ Treat each other with respect

___ Feel secure and comfortable

___ Are not violent with each other

___ Can resolve conflicts satisfactorily

___ Enjoy the time you spend together

___ Support one another

___ Take interest in one another's lives: health, family, work, etc.

___ Have privacy in the relationship

___ Can trust each other

___ Are each sexual by choice

___ Communicate clearly and openly

___ Have letters, phone calls, and e-mail that are your own

___ Make healthy decisions about alcohol or other drugs

___ Encourage other friendships

___ Are honest about your past and present sexual activity if the relationship is intimate

___ Know that most people in your life are happy about the relationship

___ Have more good times in the relationship than bad

_________________________________________________

___ = ? Total

UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP = 

___ Try to control or manipulate the other

___ Make the other feel bad about her/himself

___ Ridicule or call names

___ Dictate how the other dresses

___ Do not make time for each other

___ Criticize the other's friends

___ Are afraid of the other's temper

___ Discourage the other from being close with anyone else

___ Ignore each other when one is speaking

___ Are overly possessive or get jealous about ordinary behavior

___ Criticize or support others in criticizing people with your gender, race,

       ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other personal attribute

___ Control the other's money or other resources (e.g., car)

___ Harm or threaten to harm children, family, pets, or objects of personal value

___ Push, grab, hit, punch, or throw objects

___ Use physical force or threats to prevent the other from leaving

_________________________________________________

___ = ? Total

TALK with someone you trust -

friend, teacher, or counselor.

If a partner, friend, or colleague is harming you or your loved ones physically, emotionally,

or sexually,

it's time to seek help.

If s/he is encouraging other harmful behaviors, like alcohol or drug abuse, unsafe

sexual activity, or other activities that make you feel uncomfortable,

YOU have the right to leave.

- Most importantly TRUST your instincts and the people close to you whose

   opinions you trust and value.

- Each and every one of us deserves to feel safe, valued, and cared for.

- Keep in mind one of the strongest signs of a healthy relationship is that both people

   involved feel good about themselves.

PEACE!

Feast or Famine: Yin & Yang - Is this the balance of the universe?



This blog promotes compassion.
"Be Mindful" of the self and transcend this to others.

We are all connected. 

Keep an open mind and heart.

Raise awareness, Advocate for change & Do Something.

(Dosomething.org)

 

Here in the U.S is an obesity epidemic.
 

1 in 5 U.S. children diagnosed with obesity
& the number is growing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LYYq-gxOCc&feature=related




Then there's the catastrophic famine in Somalia.

Nune Abdil, 2 - malnourished child from southern Somalia  getting treatment in Banadir hospital in Mogadishu, Saturday, July 16, 2011.

(Credit: AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/07/18/un-famine-east-africa.html

Why such a disparity?

How can we make a difference and offset this imbalance?
Be Mindful of every moment & Make a difference!
PEACE!

Environmental health: Nuclear energy - Is it worth the risk?

Have we fallen off track with "safety first"?
OR

Nuclear Reprocessing plant

Do we make exceptions and put money first?

Why not advocate for change - for "SAFE", "HEALTHY" & "BETTER"
alternative energies - i.e. solar, wind, geothermal.

Have we forgotten?

- Three Mile Island, USA 1979
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLPAigMuBk0

- Chernobyl, Ukraine 1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAJ_u3Q0Hw&feature=related

- Fukoshima, Japan 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fdG1Wvpy-E

What's next?

For instance, the most recent safety issue (not the first either) at
a local nuclear energy plant in Scriba, NY - Nine Mile Point.

Are these valid health concerns for a safe and healthy environment for our survival?

PEACE!

Amusement park Tragedy: U.S. Vet with no legs killed on roller coaster

Sad and tragic accidents happen everyday that can easily be PREVENTED.

Prevention is key.

http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=2656395

Sgt. James Hackemer tragic 7/14/11 roller coaster fall

We make choices everyday through our own "free will"
and some of these choices may sadly cost us our lives.

Is it ok to force our views on others for safety sake?

How far do we go to make societal changes to
keep people alive even when safety rules are in place?

Would you have stopped Sgt. James Hackemer from
getting on that roller coaster?
Why or why not?

Sheriff says man killed on Darien Lake ride had rules in hand

God Bless Sgt. James Hackemer and his family.
Peace!

New York bill: smoking ban in cars with children

New York bill: smoking ban in cars with children
http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=2546215

Do you think this type of social change is fair to people's personal rights?
OR
Is it a matter of looking out for innocent children's health & well being?

You'd be surprised on the different perspectives relating to this topic.

What do you think?

We'll soon see if this is passed like California has done.

PEACE!

Beaches remain closed; water tests positive for toxic algae

Beaches remain closed; water tests positive for toxic algae

YES! The water tests came back POSITIVE for
dangerous blue-green algae that can make even a healthy individual very sick.

PLEASE BE AWARE and Spread the word to others
about Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI).

Let's stay healthy and have fun this summer by swimming in clean water.

Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) can be prevented.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/oceans/

Peace,
Essie
thehealthyself.blogspot.com

Health Department CLOSES Sylvan Beach to swimmers due to algae

Sylvan Beach closed to swimmers because of algae:

"Sylvan Beach and Verona Beach are off limits to swimmers because
lifeguards are not able to see to the bottom of Oneida Lake due to a
heavy amount of algae."

Kudos to the County Healthy Department that put, "PEOPLE FIRST" and
CLOSED the beach while awaiting the water assessment.

Recreational water illness (RWI) is a health priority during the summer and
can make children, the elderly or even healthy individuals very sick.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-what.html


I'll follow up on the water findings to see what the outcome may be.

PEACE!

Companies refuse to hire smokers & Charge more for insurance

Companies refuse to hire smokers, charge more for insurance:

"More companies are taking a hard line on their employees who smoke.
Some are charging more for health insurance.
Others are refusing to hire smokers altogether."

Health matters!
What do you think of this?
Is this fair?

Peace!

Save the EARTH & $MONEY$ with these easy GAS TIPS!

Check out these EASY "DO SOMETHING" environmental friendly tips
to save gas & money this summer.
http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/tips-saving-gas

"DO" YOUR thing & BE earth friendly --
 
Pass these great gas saving tips along to friends, coworkers & loved ones.

What other simple things will YOU DO to make a difference?

Peace to our beautiful little green home,  

Essie

P.S. Other great environmental info can be found at http://www.epa.gov/

DO SOMETHING generation -> YOU have the Power to Make Change!

Check it out & Make a difference!
http://www.dosomething.org/

The DO SOMETHING generation ROCKS - Yeahhhh!

All about kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, supporters doing something
to make a difference.

YOU have the POWER to change the world.  What will you do?

Pass this along including the young, "DO SOMETHING" generation.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi.

Peace!

7/2/11 MOTORCYCLIST PROTESTS HELMETS-> DIES IN CRASH!

PREVENTION IS KEY!

This tragic incident did NOT have to happen.
It easily could have been prevented.

How IRONIC?
- A motorcylist involved in a protest about wearing helmets.

- DIES during the protest - because he was NOT wearing a helmet.


http://www.9wsyr.com/mostpopular/story/Man-dies-after-motorcycle-crashes-during-helmet/3hjcjSPXsUCsrtyM9cBn0g.cspx

PASS THIS ALONG!


REMEMBER:  Put it on!  Helmets save lives. 


Peace!

DR TEA - Drinking Tea Uplifting & Cleansing Experience!

Did you know?
Drinking tea EVERYDAY = Healthy MIND, BODY & SPIRIT. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbAXgxq5yrA


Make your own TEABAR experience.

TEA TIPS: 
- Drink tea with deliberate SMALL, SLOW SIPS.
- Spiritual clarity & cleansing = Mind, Body & Soul DETOX.
(WHEN? - During mental-emotional stress overload -- YOU will feel it HELP).

- Each sip is to be experienced & appreciated.
- Mild smooth taste - NOT too strong.
- 1 teabag for EACH 2-3 cups of VERY clean hot water in teapot. 
  (DO NOT boil teabag with water).

- USE very small chinese cups (NO handles) & proper tea pot.
  (inexpensive chinese teacups & teapots can be purchased from specialthy Asian store).

Peace to mental clarity & DR TEA! :)
Essie



My favorite tea - Oolong (pronouned "woo-long").