The New Seven Wonders of the World

[12/8/06] GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) -- A global competition to name the new seven wonders of the world is attracting widespread interest, with more than 20 million people voting so far, organizers say.

The Egyptian pyramids are the only surviving structures from the original list of seven architectural marvels. Long gone are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos lighthouse off Alexandria. Those seven were deemed wonders in ancient times by observers of the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Candidates for the new list have been narrowed down to 21, including the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal and Peru's Machu Picchu. The public can vote until July 6, 2007, by Internet or phone. The seven winners will be announced July 7 in Lisbon, Portugal.

* * *

[7/21/07] July 8 (Bloomberg) -- The Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum and the Chichen Itza pyramid in Mexico were selected among the new seven wonders of the world in a poll that drew more than 90 million votes.

Machu Picchu in Peru, Jordan's ancient city of Petra, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Taj Mahal in India were the other winners, according to the New7Wonders Foundation, which organized the poll.

Sites that didn't make the new seven wonders include the Acropolis in Greece, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Easter Island statues, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Alhambra in Spain, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Kiyomizu Temple in Japan, the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral in Russia, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the Statue of Liberty, Stonehenge in the U.K., the Sydney Opera House and Timbuktu in Mali.

The six other ancient wonders of the world were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The six were located around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East, reflecting the origins of civilization.

The Asian women of Bergen County

Asian women of Bergen County can expect to live until the age of 91, the highest life expectancy of any group in the nation, a federally funded study has found. The average person in New Jersey, meanwhile, can expect to live until age 77.

News of this Asian longevity has researchers looking for reasons. Is it diet? Exercise? Close family ties? Attitude? Good medical care?

The Harvard Initiative for Global Health conducted the recent study and is now following up by looking at eight major factors: blood sugar, blood pressure, tobacco use, cholesterol levels, obesity, physical inactivity, diet and alcohol.

Secret Santa revealed

For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the streets every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots. So far, he's anonymously given out about $1.3 million. It's been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa?

But now, weak from chemotherapy and armed with a desire to pass on his belief in random kindness, Secret Santa has decided it's time to reveal his identity.

Global Rich List

The Global Rich List tells you just where you rank among the 6 billion people on earth, in terms of wealth. For example, if you're a public school teacher earning, say, $50,000 per year, you'll learn that "You are the 59,029,289th richest person in the world!" It also tells you that you're in the top 0.98% of people, by wealth.

United States and the environment

[11/29/06] WHEN the subject is global warming, America is usually cast as the villain. Although it produces a quarter of the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet, it refuses to regulate them. When many other countries agreed on an international treaty to do so—the Kyoto Protocol—America failed to ratify it. But not all American officialdom is happy with the federal government’s stance. A dozen states disagree so fiercely they are suing to force it to impose rules on emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas.

[11/14/06] Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most to protect against climate change, but their efforts are not nearly enough, according to a report released Monday by environmental groups.

The United States the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases ranked at 53, with only China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia doing worse.

free movies

OK, maybe not all of these movies are so great, but they're available for free.

For Three Stooges fans available are Disorder in the Court and Africa Screams (an Abbott and Costello movie which also features Shemp and Joe Besser). Some famous titles I see are It's A Wonderful Life, Star Wars, Battle Royale, Plan 9 From Outer Space. Some of these probably won't stick around since they're likely unauthorized.

Frankly, you'd be better off watching these movies on DVD on your TV (if available).

[via frwr-news, 11/21/06]

garden sends a message

Kailua artists Gaye Chan and Nandita Sharma were jogging near their rented flat in Enchanted Lake three years ago when Chan, a photography professor at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, remarked that it was a shame the weedy land around the lake was not better used.

World Map of Happiness

... Analysis showed that a nation’s level of happiness was most closely associated with health levels, followed by wealth, and then provision of education.

“The three predictor variables of health, wealth and education were also very closely associated with each other, illustrating the interdependence of these factors.

“There is a belief that capitalism leads to unhappy people. However, when people are asked if they are happy with their lives, people in countries with good healthcare, a higher GDP per captia, and access to education were much more likely to report being happy.

“We were surprised to see countries in Asia scoring so low, with China 82nd, Japan 90th and India 125th. These are countries that are thought as having a strong sense of collective identity which other researchers have associated with well-being.

“It is also notable that many of the largest countries in terms of population do quite badly. With China 82nd, India 125th and Russia 167th it is interesting to note that larger populations are not associated with happy countries.”

The 10 Happiest Nations in the World are:

1 - Denmark
2 - Switzerland
3 - Austria
4 - Iceland
5 - The Bahamas
6 - Finland
7 - Sweden
8 - Bhutan
9 - Brunei
10 - Canada

[via L Maxwell Wheeler, TheGreatSecret, 11/17/06]

Three Paths

One day while we were taking a break from pruning the avocado trees, B.J. said if I wanted to disentangle myself from the mainstream matrix, I could begin by seeking a higher truth, a truth which he said could be accessed by walking one of three paths: 1.) the path of imitation; 2.) the path of meditation; and/or 3.) the path of experience.

-- The Bridge ~ Step 32 ~ The Second Intent ~ Seek Truth

The Two Minute Rule

David Allen explains the two-minute rule,

Ah, the magic of the two-minute rule. The two-minute rule says if you are processing your in-basket ... then you process it by picking the stuff up and going, "Hmmm, what is the very next action on this, if it is an actionable item at all?" Once you decide, "OK, this is an actionable thing," and the very next action is actually something you could finish right there in less than two minutes, do it right then.

If it takes less than two minutes to do it, it takes longer to stack it, track it, and look at it again than it does to handle it when it is in your face. I guarantee you ... it will feel like you get an extra six months to your life.

The Secret (positive thinking)

[8/11/13] The Secret behind the Secret (I think that's Esther Hicks talking) [via Roy]

The Secret on youtube (uploaded 4/4/13, we'll see how long it stays up)

It's also on Netflix.

[9/13/11] I have the opportunity to get The Secret DVD (the original version with Esther Hicks). Should I get it?

Some say that the Abraham that Esther Hicks is a demon. And that Oprah has lost her soul. Well, I still believe Oprah is a good person. But I have no idea about this Abraham entity. So maybe I should shy away from this one. This Abraham does sound kind of weird. Well, I think I'll cancel for now. I'm busy enough as it is.

Then again, I'm looking over some of the reviews on Amazon and they say the one to get is the Esther Hicks. If it's positive thinking, then how can it be demonic? (You shall know them by their fruits. -- man, that link led to unexpected results) I'm trying to keep an open mind..

[4/12/07] The Law of Vibration and Attraction by Bob Proctor: part 1, part 2

[4/3/07] If The Secret can get any hotter, no one's telling.

It's selling like an elixir that promises everything but eternal life. Rhonda Byrne's book tops USA TODAY's best-seller list for the seventh consecutive week, and the companion DVD is No. 1 on Amazon's sales chart. It has captured wallets and water coolers like nothing else since Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown suggested Jesus was a daddy.

Oprah dedicated two shows to The Secret; Australian video producer Byrne has a roundup on how the mind can deliver a laundry list of goodies, from health to a helicopter. Saturday Night Live was quick to lampoon the book, while Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist Maureen Dowd invoked it while wondering if wishful thinking could lead to a change in the White House.

But such pop culture fascination leaves actress and minister Della Reese Lett laughing.

[3/10/07] Follow-up Larry King show (transcript)

[3/9/07] The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles (pdf document)

[2/26/06] behind the success of “The Secret” is a seamier story about the origins of the film. It involves big money and what some participants say are the broken promises of Ms. Byrne. The star of the first version of the movie, released in March last year, demanded to be cut out of the current version, which has been on the market since Oct. 1.

[2/24/07] Newsweek article on The Secret:

Oprah lives by it. Millions are reading it. The latest self-help sensation claims we can change our lives by thinking. But this 'new thought' may just be new marketing.

Watch The Secret extended editon [from TheGreatSecret, 3/3/07]

The Secret (original version) [via joanie@TheGreatSecret, 11/30/06]

ABC News report on The Secret [from Linda Miller, 11/27/06]

Larry King: Beyond The Power of Positive Thinking: part 1 (transcript), part 2 (right-click to open in new window)

[3/8/07] watch the Larry King shows at the James Ray site

100 quotes from The Secret [from Iscarcello, 11/17/06]

Dr. Wayne Dyer's Power of Intention (2 hours and 15 minutes, via begumibrahim@TheGreatSecret, 11/18/06)

Blogging the Bible

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters Life!) - If pious Muslims follow the Koran, might Christians and Jews benefit from a closer read of their scriptures too? Can Biblical verses help make them better people, better parents, or even get along better with their in-laws?

People interested by such questions who haven't got much beyond the Adam and Eve story can join a man reading the Bible at slate.com, an online daily magazine.

In "Blogging the Bible," a vaguely religious man plods gamely through scripture, asking down-to-earth or occasionally irreverent questions, and getting thousands of emails in response.

"Any parent knows you have to follow through on your threats, or your children will take advantage of you," notes its author David Plotz, as he wonders why God let Adam and Eve off despite warning that "as soon as you eat of (the fruit of the tree of knowledge), you shall die."

"You can call this 'original sin', but maybe it's just lax parenting."

Plotz is Jewish, and calls himself a lax but well-educated ignoramus. And he finds so much sex, rape, incest, murder and gore in the 'Good Book' that parts of it remind him of 'Desperate Housewives' or 'The Godfather'.

He came up with the project on a rare visit to the synagogue, when he picked up the Torah during a tedious ceremony and chanced upon a rape scene.

"I want to find out what happens when an ignorant person actually reads the book on which his religion is based," he writes. "I think I'm in the same position as many other lazy but faithful people (Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus)."

Most Inspiring Movies

AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers revealed the most inspiring films of all time in a three-hour special television event which aired June 14, 2006 on CBS with commentary from many of Hollywood's most celebrated actors and filmmakers, including Jessica Alba, Don Cheadle, Melissa Etheridge, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier, Mickey Rooney and Steven Spielberg.

resolving conflict starts with talk

The October meeting of Open Table, an interfaith gathering that welcomes the perspectives of all spiritual traditions, featured the thoughts of a visiting Islamic scholar and imam from Australia. It was the kind of stimulating and inspiring exchange that I wish everyone in the world could experience.

Mohamad Abdalla articulated the progressive views of a 21st-century Muslim intellectual and exhibited the compassionate values of a thoughtful humanitarian. Rabbi Peter Schaktman and Sister Joan Chatfield responded with equally thoughtful, insightful comments. Others joined the conversation; everyone left wishing for more time. We sensed a renewed feeling of hopefulness for the resolution of the misunderstandings and conflicts that cause so much unnecessary suffering around the world.

It reminded me of past efforts to bring disparate minds together for some personal, in-depth talking. In the 1980s, Protestant and Catholic youths from Northern Ireland were brought together in a neutral space where they became acquainted and returned home as neighbors rather than enemies. Former President Jimmy Carter initiated similar conversations with world leaders who harbored serious disagreements with each other. If these efforts had been sustained, there might have been some actual resolution.

Continuing conflict should not determine the cessation of talking. We all know from personal experience the importance of talking through our disagreements. When we keep communication open, the problems are solved, and when we stop talking with each other, the problems become worse. It seems like common sense.

-- The Rev. John Heidel is a United Church of Christ minister and a founding member of the Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii.

feng shui

[11/2/06] Amy Scott Grant and Karrie King speak on how using feng shui can lead to prosperity

[via Linda Miller@TheGreatSecret]

termite control

Bob Jones writes about the sodium borate spray method versus tenting.

*** [3/26/14]

xt2000 Orange Oil is another alternative treatment (instead of fumigation)

Authentic Wisdom

Every single thought you have can be assessed in terms of whether it strengthens or weakens you, in fact, there's a simple muscle test you can do to try out any thought that you're having in the present moment. It works like this: Hold your arm out to your side, and have someone else attempt to push your arm down while you resist. Think of telling a lie, and notice how much weaker you are than if you think of a truth. This can be done for any thought that elicits an emotional reaction in a book titled Power vs. Force, David Hawkins, M.D., elaborates on this method and provides a map of consciousness to show you how every thought computes to either weaken or strengthen you.

-- Dr. Wayne Dyer (via sk444@TheGreatSecret)

Nine Tips for Investing in Happiness

If you want to be happier, forget spending dollars -- and focus on how you spend your time. Sure, a bigger house and a fancier car might briefly put a smile on your face. Yet academic studies suggest that simply amassing more stuff won't bring a permanent increase in your happiness.

So what will? I dug through some of the work done by economists and psychologists, and came up with these nine tips.

-- Jonathan Clements

* * *

This chapter [from the Rules of Life] provides eight simple rules that you can follow to enrich yourself and your personal satisfaction. These rules focus on things you can do to improve yourself.

* * *

10 Steps Toward Feeling Happier by Linda Laffey.

Reduce Stress

Just Relax!

By Frederic Luskin Ph.D.
Published: September 24, 2006

Stress is your body’s normal response to a threat of any kind, and the “danger” does not have to be huge: It can be running late for a meeting or having an argument with a friend or colleague. Even if the danger is small, our bodies release chemicals that have a galvanizing effect on every cell. Many Americans today—facing long hours at work, financial pressures and problems with spouses and children— constantly are under stress. Even childhood is not as simple as it once was, and adolescents have a full vocabulary of stress.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can learn simple techniques to keep a clear head, reduce your stress and put less strain on your body.

1. Take a deep breath or two
The most direct way to de-stress is to take two or three slow, deep breaths whenever you notice that you are anxious or under strain. That is not as easy as it sounds, because when you experience a threat, the center of your breathing moves from your belly to your chest, and your breathing becomes quicker and shallower. Your body then sets in motion the sympathetic branch of your nervous system, which releases the stress hormones and suppresses the parasympathetic branch, which triggers the flow of chemicals that have a calming effect.

The good news is that, by paying attention to your breathing, you can switch off the stressed part of your nervous system and return to a state of calm. As you inhale, imagine that your belly is a balloon and you are slowly filling it with air. As you exhale, make sure your belly stays relaxed as it lets the air out.

2. Think of the good stuff
Since stress is the body’s way of dealing with threats, a simple way to de-stress is to use your body’s response to good things to your advantage. A few moments spent thinking how lucky you are to be alive or how grateful you are to be loved or how in awe you are of nature’s beauty all send a chemical message that life is good throughout your body. Though we react to threat in a 10th of a second, it takes longer for the “all-clear” to sound. We have to spend six to 10 seconds appreciating our good fortune for our body to relax. But if you can produce a genuine smile, then your body cannot feel stressed at all.

3. Slow down
When you “multi-task”—by talking on the phone while driving, for example—your body and mind require more energy. When you slow down, you relax your body and reduce the demands on your mind. So, when feeling stressed, do a common activity slowly, carefully and with focused attention. Even getting up from your desk slowly gives your nervous system a break.

4. Change the tape
Sometimes, all we need to do to de-stress is change the tape that runs in our heads. Most of us have a habit of making problems worse by saying things to ourselves like, “This is terrible,” or, “ I have really screwed up.” Instead, say supportive and positive things to yourself, such as, “I can deal with this” or, “I deserve success and good fortune.”

5. Let it go
There are occasions in life when you need to recognize that you cannot change the situation. In those cases, you can make a conscious decision not to stress yourself out over something that you can’t make different or better.

-- Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., is the author of “Stress Free for Good: 10 Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness” and “Forgive for Good.”

color therapy

Scientists, who have have studied color and light extensively, recognize that colors bring about emotional reactions to individuals. Our reactions and attitudes to colors differ from person to person, which makes an interesting study in itself. Our attraction to certain colors may very well signal areas where we are imbalanced. Understanding why certain colors effect us favorably while others bring about negative feelings helps us along our healing journeys.

If you live long enough

[9/19/06] Aubrey De Grey achieves major breakthrough.

[10/29/05] Ellen Heber-Katz, professor of immunology at Wistar, announced that she and her team had accidentally created a “miracle mouse” that “can regenerate amputated limbs or badly damaged organs, making it able to recover from injuries that would kill or permanently disable normal animals,” reported the British Sunday Times.

[11/24/05] Ray Kurzweil and the Singularity / Part 2

[9/15/05] Aubrey de Grey is still going strong.

[6/3/05] Aubrey de Grey thinks so too

[2/9/05] If you live long enough, you might live forever. So says Ray Kurzweil anyway.

ZabaSearch

How much information does the internet have? Search yourself.

All Believers Network

The Hawaii-based All Believers Network (Belnet) encourages individuals to examine their own faiths objectively and explore how scriptural passages that build barriers against other faiths might be reinterpreted to become more inclusive. Rather than focus on ritualistic differences among religions, Belnet tries to examine the underlying areas in common.

[9/6/06] Saleem Ahmed, founder of the All Believers Network (Belnet), just may have the recipe for world peace. Ahmed, a Muslim, has created a monthly forum for people of all faiths to gather and discuss the common threads between their respective religions. His gatherings attract anywhere from eight to 50 people of various faiths including Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Subud, Zoroastrian, Baha’i, Buddhist, Jain, Sufi, Sikh and Hawaiian Spiritualist. And he would love the list to grow.

junk mail

If you decide that you don’t want to receive prescreened offers of credit and insurance, you have two choices: You can opt out of receiving them for five years or opt out of receiving them permanently. Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com for details. The telephone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.

-- courtesy of Todd Haverkos

gas saving devices

Over the years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested myriad gas-saving devices that burst onto the consumer scene: devices that bleed air into the carburetor or bubble air through a container of water and antifreeze mixture, fuel-line gadgets that heat the gas before it enters the carburetor, magnets that clamp to the inside or outside of the fuel line to change the gasoline's molecular structure and metallic fuel-line additives with dissimilar metals that claim to ionize the fuel.

Experts say they all have one thing in common. "They don't work," says John Millett, spokesman for the EPA. "Believe me, if it were that easy, cars would be built that way, especially the magnets and whirligig devices. It's smart to be skeptical about any claims like that."

The EPA to date has tested in the neighborhood of 100 gas-saving devices, the most recent at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, and only six "indicated a very small improvement in fuel economy without an increase in exhaust emissions."

Popular Mechanics magazine's experts tested seven fuel-saving products for its September 2005 issue and found no significant change in miles-per-gallon ratings. Two actually increased fuel consumption by 20%, according to the writer, and a third one melted before they could complete the test.

Snakes on a Plane

Whether it's a good movie or a dreadful movie is, to everybody except the bean counters at New Line Cinema, beside the point. Even they may be in on the joke, though: There have been no advance screenings of the $30 million high-flying action film, for critics or anyone else, not (the studio claims) because the movie stinks from the neck down but because what's most fun about ``Snakes" has been the Internet-driven hype that surrounds it. That hype comes down to one thing: the boneheaded comic purity of the movie's title.

In the year since a Hollywood writer named Josh Friedman posted on his Web diary that he'd been script-doctoring a movie of that title, the ``SoaP" meme has grown like Topsy. It's the latest iteration of viral marketing, an Internet kudzu that initially took on a life of its own against the wishes of the film's corporate keepers. And it's almost certainly the most visible example of a sensibility that didn't exist before the digital revolution: Mass Camp.

When word got out that the film's studio, New Line, had changed the title to the supremely bland ``Pacific Air 121," the blogosphere erupted in rage. The suits didn't get it: What was exciting people was the notion of B-movie junk that for once declared itself as B-movie junk. The original title pulled away the velvet Hollywood curtain of hypocrisy and called the thing for what it was: product. Such honesty was delightful, crass, and cheering, as if ``Jurassic Park" had been retitled ``Steven Spielberg Presents Very Realistic Dinosaurs Eating People."

The studio backed down. ``Snakes on a Plane" it was. Then things started getting strange.

Your Social IQ

Research shows “people smarts” are as much of a key to success as anything else. What exactly are they? Do you have them? Can they be nurtured?

Active First Aid

This online manual has been designed to help a first aider in most emergency situations by providing simple to follow treatment sections. Emergency situations require prompt action, and an untrained first aider can often find themselves at a loss to know what to do. We hope this manual will assist first aider’s to provide first aid efficiently and effectively.

Whilst this online manual is a valuable resource, we encourage every person to attend an accredited first aid course at the earliest convenience. Should you be faced with the situation where you are required to administer first aid, then your training, and the information provided in this book, will enable you to cope effectively. [via frwr-news]

Qi Qong

[1/25/09] As we enter this new Year of the Tiger, give your immunity system a boost with the help of Grand Master Hong Liu at his free Winter Immunity Humanitarian Event Jan. 9 sponsored by the Natural Healing Research Foundation.

“We will be employing natural healing techniques that can effectively improve the human body’s immunity function, which is especially important nowadays with the H1N1 virus, and also we’re in the midst of the flu season,” explains Liu through a Chinese-English speaking translator. “In a nutshell, this workshop is for anybody who has either a compromised or weakened immunity that is prone to catching colds, the flu, or for people with respiratory ailments such as asthma or sinus problems.

“All the anti-inflammatory or antiviral and antibacterial medications and vaccines have a very good purpose. However, if we can naturally improve or strengthen one’s immunity, then this person will not catch a flu as easily and then it will be better for oneself as well as for society.”

Liu, who received his formal medical training as a doctor from the Shanghai Military College and specializes in the treatment of cancer, immigrated to the United States in 1990. His resume lists him as a distinguished professor of Qi Gong at the Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica and at Samra University in Los Angeles.

He also serves as an adjunct professor with the University of Hawaii, and resides in both Los Angeles, where he has a healing center in Arcadia, and in Honolulu where he has a home in Windward Oahu.

His Web site (www.qimaster.com) includes pictures of some of his many celebrity clients, including Elton John, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, Cameron Diaz, Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn and Courtney Love.

According to Liu, the I Ching is one of the most fundamental tools of Chinese culture and philosophies. It’s often used as an oracle to do divination and predictions.

“Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, feng shui, Chinese astrology, it’s all derived from the I Ching,” he explains. “It’s the origin of all this knowledge and wisdom, as well as all the theories from the five-element theory to yin and yang balance.

s resourceful, important and widely available as the I Ching is, Liu says very few people read it or even understand it. Having studied qi gong for more than

30 years, Liu, 64, says the key difference between a grand master and master is that he or she has to be well -versed and understand all seven areas of qi gong - martial arts, self-healing, longevity, intelligence, helping others to emit external energy, spirituality and discovering extraordinary human powers. You also have to know Chinese herbs, acupuncture, moxibustion, the I Ching and Chinese astronomy.

***

[4/30/07] In the April 18, 2007 MidWeek is this notice about Qi Gong classes.

Qi Center of Honolulu, 1110 University Ave., first floor, Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30-10:30 a.m. $40 per month, free for seniors age 65 plus. Join the ongoing "Qi Gong for Health" classes, focusing on the 12 setting exercises to enhance your body. Register online at www.qimaster.com or by phone (947-1333).

=*=*=*=

There's also an ad on page 14: Meet Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha. New York Times Best-Selling Author of Soul Mind Body Medicine returns to Honolulu April 19-21.

Mind over matter does not go far enough. The soul can heal, rejuvenate and transform your life and your relationships," says Master Sha, "and you can access the power of your soul using practical, easy-to-learn techniques."

An MD in China and a traditional Chinese medicine doctor in China and Canada, Dr. Sha has trained in the most advanced cellular healing science now occurring in China, and is involved in the West in breakthrough research on the effect of sprituality on the human system.

A direct lineage holder of 5,000 year-old Buddhist and Taoist secrets for self-healing and rejuvenation, he is also a grandmaster of Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu, I Ching and Feng Shui. PBS has featured him in two documentaries: Power Healing with Master Sha and Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century.

www.DrSha.com | Institute of Soul Mind Body Medicine | 1-888-3396815

* * *

[8/15/06] Hong Liu vs. asthma

[11/15/04] Hong Liu starts natural healing treatment center in the Koolau Mountains

a scientist converts

He opened the session by improvising on hymns at the piano and concluded it by accompanying a singalong on the guitar. In between, he delivered a compelling account of his unlikely conversion from atheism to evangelical Christianity.

The lanky, amiable personality wasn't a traveling revivalist but one of the world's leading biologists.

Francis S. Collins led the international Human Genome Project that mapped the 3.1 billion chemical base pairs in humanity's DNA. He now directs the U.S. government program on applying that information to medical treatments.

He has also emerged as an advocate for faith and its compatibility with science.

Six Super Foods

[8/10/06] Foods for long life.

[9/7/05] Two years ago British scientists proposed the "Polypill," a cocktail of six known drugs that, they claimed, would slash the risk of heart attack and stroke by 80 percent if taken daily.

Now meet the "Polymeal," six foods that, eaten regularly, could cut heart disease risk by 76 percent—without drugs. Dutch scientists proposed the diet in fun to show that healthy nutrition can protect your heart as well as drugs can. But they designed the meal by studying scads of research, so it really could add years to your life.

Dogs: Wolf, Myth, Hero, Friend

[8/9/06] Today, dogs enhance the lives of millions in countless ways, but they are also some of humans' oldest friends. Ancient clues like cave paintings and burials reveal that dogs and people have lived together for thousands of years. But why have humans formed such close relationships with dogs, and not cows or chickens? This site examines the facts on dogs and explores what makes the human/dog relationship so unique. [robin988@frwr-news]

[4/8/07] PetEducation.com looks like a really good site on caring for your pet

Bio-Mat

The Richway Bio-Mat is a device claimed to have the capability of improving your health.

It's a mat that you can place on your bed or floor and you lie down on it. Supposedly it emits far (or long) infrared rays that enter your body. The rays are supposed to raise your body temperature "inducing an artificial 'fever'. As it works to combat the fever, your body's immunce system is strengthened. Combined with the elimination of toxins and waste produced by the intense sweating, your overall health and resistance to disease is increased."

In addition it emits negative ions. "When the amount of Negative Ions in the blood increases, the function of the cell is activated. Thus increasing nutrient absorption, waste elimination, metabolism and cell function.) The reverse holds true if there is a lack of negative Ions, and too many positive Ions within a cell. Thus, absorption of nutrition and elimination of waste material cannot be done effectively. As a result diseases happens.

I tried it for about 45 minutes and it seemed pretty comfortable as the the mat felt warm after a while. I was looking for two effects. To see if it halted my tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and improve my nasal congestion. The tinnitus did subside and the nasal congestion seemed to slightly improve after a while. Of course, this could have been just coincidence as both conditions occasionally do improve on their own. Then again, maybe it wasn't.

I'm looking for this product on one of those quack reports.

blueberries

Dr. Steven Pratt, bestselling author of SuperFoods RX and SuperFoods HealthStyle is a big fan of blueberries. The good doctor (he's an ophthalmologist) first noticed a link between nutrition and health when some of his patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease, improved with a diet of nutrient-dense "super foods."

These include apples, avocado, beans, blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate, kiwi, garlic, honey, oats, extra virgin olive oil, onions, oranges, pomegranate, pumpkin, wild salmon, soy, spinach, tea, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts and yogurt. All are high in macronutrients and sources of healthy fats, carbs and proteins, and are part of the federal government's food pyramid for healthy eating -- if they're eaten in appropriate amounts.

Blueberries contain more powerful disease-fighting antioxidants than any other single fruit. Just one serving provides as many antioxidants as five servings of carrots, apples, broccoli or squash. Blueberries also have the potential to help protect against inflammation, urinary tract infections, heart disease, dementia, Type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Dr. Pratt explains, "If you want to look, think and move like a youngster as you get older, there is probably no better food. Blueberries are the best calorie-suppressed and nutrient-dense fruit of its class."

-- from Costco Connection, June 2006, page 56.

Servant of Humanity

n our fast-paced society, the quick fix is often desired as a solution to illness. But elevated health-care costs and the harmful side effects of medications have many people considering alternative treatments.

A quick fix can make symptoms go away, but true healing integrates physical, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being, according to Sha, author of "Power Healing: The Four Keys to Energizing Your Body, Mind & Spirit" (HarperSanFrancisco, 2003, $32).

Sha has been featured in the PBS documentary "Power Healing with Master Sha" and last month released another book, "Soul Mind Body Medicine" (New World Library, paperback, $15.95). He resides in Canada with his wife and children.

replacing your vital documents

Collection of links for help in replacing documents lost or damaged as a result of a natural disaster, such as bank records, driver's licenses and vehicle registration, immigration documents, passports, medical records, savings bonds, damaged currency, Social Security cards, tax returns, and birth, marriage, and death certificates. [frwr-news]

HouseKeepingChannel

HousekeepingChannel.com (HC) is a comprehensive resource for "Better, Faster, Healthier" cleaning and housekeeping. HC exists to help you clean, protect and enhance your home environment using proven processes and practices from cleaning experts, professional cleaning services, environmental service professionals, and organizational and time-management consultants. [frwr-news]

Medline Plus

The tutorials listed on this U. S. National Library of Medicine site are interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute. Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language. [frwr-news]

state sponsored child abuse

Of course you have heard of the Nazi Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele, who became infamous for conducting grueling medical experiments on concentration camp inmates during WWII. Some of his victims were children. He tested unsafe drugs on them, injected them with lethal germs, removed their organs and limbs and performed sex change operations on them. His primary interest were identical twins.

Thank goodness something like that could never happen here. Or could it?

While the U.S. mainstream media eagerly report on every new case of child molestation, abuse, kidnapping, or murder, they're strangely silent about the many historical and not-so-historical cases of child abuse for scientific purposes, condoned and/or sponsored by modern, "civilized" governments.

* * *

Reader feedback

Historical Sounds

Historical sounds in MP3 format from the Free Informations Society

-- via Cool Tricks and Trinkets

Extend Your Life

There's evidence life spans in America may actually shrink if we keep our couch-potato ways. But some surprisingly simple steps (more sleep, anyone?) may put us on the right path. Our guide to extending your golden years.

KEITH HAYES was willing to try almost anything to lower his blood pressure. He sat quietly, breathing deeply, in his car. In empty conference rooms. Even in his own cubicle, with his eyes closed. But the best oasis he found for destressing during the day was a tiny 4-by-8-foot room — otherwise known as the office utility closet.

Everyday Mysteries

Did you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why our joints make popping sounds? These questions deal with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but each can be explained scientifically.

Everyday Mysteries will help you get the answers to these and many other of life's most interesting questions through scientific inquiry. In addition, we will introduce you to the Library of Congress' rich collections in science and technology.

All of the questions presented on this Web site were asked by researchers and answered by librarians from the Library's Science Reference Services.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #403

The Happiness Formula

A new six-part BBC series, starting this week, looks at the newest research from around the world to find out what could it be that makes us happy.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #403

The Creation of American Idol

Network television programmers face a challenging job, though not a complicated one: they need to find hits. That's why they spend millions to find and hire talented writers, actors and producers. In many cases they would be wiser to invest in a catcher's mitt, because really big hits, ones that can transform the fates of networks — and of network executives — tend to fall from the sky. Here is the story of how "American Idol," the biggest hit on television, hovered over every network in 2001, waiting for one of them to grab it. This article is adapted from "Desperate Networks" by Bill Carter, a reporter for The New York Times. Doubleday will publish the book on Tuesday.

Religious Tolerance

[5/26/06] Religioustolerance.org promotes religious tolerance. That is, we encourage people to respect the freedom of other individuals to follow freely their own religious and spiritual paths, without discrimination and oppression. This is a human right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.. Ultimately, it leads to peace in a land of religious diversity, and to religious freedom for all.

Unfortunately (in my view) not all are tolerant with this site's views.

-- found from a link from the BBC site on religion which was featured in Cool Tricks and Trinkets #404

daily health

5/16/06 - Stress Busters
The idea behind living a stress-free life is to remove the obstructions in your life that are causing you to be stressed. Of course this is easier said than done, but it is truly the only way to not have stress. Here I list some things that can be done on a daily basis, or as needed, to reduce the symptoms of stress.

• Walk outside for at least 20 continuous minutes every day
• Take the stairs whenever possible
• Take 10 deep belly breaths every hour, if possible
• Drink plenty of pure water — at least 10 glasses a day
• Avoid sugar and caffeine in all forms
• Regulate sleep and wake cycle to a consistent daily routine
• Engage in Mindfulness Meditation for at least 15 minutes per day
• Prioritize your life, work, family and personal time and activities
• Do six shoulder shrugs whenever you are tense
• Realize that when people criticize and judge, they are labeling an "image" of you and not you personally
• Realize that you are worth so much more than the sum of your titles, money and belongings


5/11/06 - Excercise Your Breath
There are innumerable ways in which one can benefit from the practice of the deep breathing exercises of qigong. The practice of qigong improves blood circulation and enriches the blood with more red blood cells. This increases the supply of oxygen to the tissues and promotes healthier tissues and organs. The greater supply of oxygen enables the heart to pump slower, while still providing enough oxygen to the body.

gas saving tips

With the statewide average price of regular gasoline passing $3.40 last week, drivers are looking for ways to cut their gas consumption. "There's lots of things you can do," said George Nitta, host of a local radio show about cars. If you really want to save gasoline, get a bicycle, Nitta said.

[6/15/08] Here's Edmunds' article on what really saves gas (article dated 11/22/05, from frwr-news of 6/3/06)

David Blaine

Performance Artist, Illusionist, Magician and newbie diver David Blaine has ended his 177-hour stay in a water-filled acrylic sphere, failing in his attempt to free himself from chains and shackles while holding his breath beyond the 9-minute mark.

Taylor Hicks? GoFish

Taylor Hicks videos on gofish. I don't know how long they'll last but enjoy them while you can. Also some Elliott Yamin. But not much of the others.

Audition (Taylor)

Taking It To The Streets (Taylor)

Levon (Taylor)

Knocks Me Off My Feet (Elliott)

Teach Me Tonight (Elliott)

Happiness grows on trees

American cities are short on trees, and the overload of concrete and asphalt landscapes has become a drain on people's well-being, experts say.

Aside from taking in carbon dioxide and generating life-giving oxygen, trees and greenery also clean the air and water, help sick people get well, encourage children to pay attention and give hope to those living in despair, researchers say.

Health Daily

Dr. Mark Wiley writes, "In the Spring of 2004, a group of wellness and lifestyle conscience writers, editors and researchers approached me about building an on-line community where like-minded seekers of optimal health could feel at home, read the latest and share ideas and stories about their health and wellness trials and successes."

The result of that effort is Health Daily.

Damn Interesting

Created by a group of writers, this cool site lives up to its name by
providing a daily dose of interesting facts and ideas to the Internet
public. A wonderful website to bookmark, there is always something
fascinating to read that will no doubt have you saying to yourself,
"Wow, that is Damn Interesting!!"

Scroll the various sections of the site, which include interesting
facts from the subjects of "History", "Space Exploration", "Gray
Matter", "The World of Tomorrow", "Medical Science", "Wonders of
Nature" and much more.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets

10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America

10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America is a television series presented by the History Channel. The series is comprised of 10 films, each created by a different award-winning documentary filmmaker or filmmaking team, spotlighting 10 historic events that triggered seismic shifts in America's political, cultural or social landscape. Using a range of storytelling techniques including re-creations, animation, interviews, archival footage, and historical articles, the series offers viewers a fresh perspective on well-known historical incidents while also shining a light on the tremendous impact of less frequently cited events.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets

garlic the wonder drug

There's an invincible weapon against disease and infection--a cure-it-all remedy that kills any virus it comes in contact with. That includes the most feared biological agents like anthrax, ebola, and H5N1 (the infamous bird flu virus). No known germ has ever managed to develop a resistance to it. It is proven to wipe out cancer cells without harming healthy cells, and it clears plaque-clogged arteries like a charm.

Why haven't you heard about this wonder drug?

Because it's not a drug. It's a food, and its name is garlic.

* * *

Maybe. Maybe not.

there's good fat and bad fat

There's good fat, there's bad fat and there's truly horrible, heinous, reprehensible fat -- the Voldemort of the fat world, a fat so hideous and evil that it's despised by nutritionists and cardiologists the world over.

Trans fat -- shudder! -- is beyond bad. It's so bad, in fact, that it earned the label "metabolic poison" from Harvard School of Public Health professor Walter Willett.

Not satisfied with merely increasing your bad cholesterol, trans fat (short for "trans fatty acids") manages to lower your good cholesterol, too. It occurs naturally in low levels in milk and beef, but most of the trans fat in the American diet comes from 45,000 food products, everything from cookies to fries to Twinkies.

-- Star Bulletin, 4/2/06

The New Medicine

The New Medicine – a two-hour documentary that premiered March 29 on PBS (check local listings for future broadcasts) – explores a burgeoning movement taking place in hospitals and clinics across the country: integrating the best of high-tech medicine with a new attitude that recognizes it is essential to the healing process to treat the patient as a whole person, and not a cog in an assembly line.

The New Medicine suggests that medical practice in America may be on the brink of a transformation. As scientific findings reveal that the mind plays a critical role in the body’s capacity to heal, the medical community has begun to integrate this new understanding into effective treatment strategies that take Western medicine to the next level.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #397

why eat breakfast?

Heed this mantra because your breakfast is THE most important meal of the day. It literally breaks your overnight fast, which can last from 12 to 16 hours depending on what time you had dinner the previous night.

It helps you recharge your energy levels in the morning, which if not boosted will make you feel tired and hungry; you could end up snacking on high calorie snacks or overeat at lunch. Eating breakfast also stimulates the metabolism, which may slow down overnight.

Why breakfast is a MUST

Having trouble concentrating at work or studies? Feeling grouchy or lethargic? Here's why.

~ Memory is the worst affected by hunger as the brain requires a minute-to-minute supply of glucose for its normal functioning. Breakfast helps replenish the blood glucose levels, which in turn is the brain's fuel.

~ Research conducted across the world has shown that children who eat breakfast think faster and clearly, solve problems more easily and are less likely to be fidgety and irritable early in the day.

While those who go hungry to school are poor learners as skipping breakfast has a direct effect on a child's scholastic performance. They are not as adept at selecting the information they need to solve problems. Their ability to recall and use new information, verbal fluency and attentiveness are all affected by hunger.

~ People who skip breakfast have less energy and slower reactions. They are unable to concentrate and think fast and may suffer stomach aches, headaches and feel grouchy.

~ Skipping breakfast makes you so hungry by lunch time that you become a victim of the 'gobble syndrome,' which is bad for the stomach as the secretion of the digestive juices does not match with the rapid food intake. Also by eating fast, one tends to overeat.

~ Research studies have also shown that the human body tends to accumulate more fat when a person eats fewer, larger meals than when the same number of calories was consumed in smaller, more frequent meals.

kung fu healing

In China, birthplace of martial arts, if you announce yourself as a kung-fu fighter, sick people will approach you as if "wushu" were a Mandarin word for "healer."

In other words, it is assumed in the East that a master of fighting is also a wellness expert.

a good nazi

NANJING, China — From the outside it does not look like much: the shell of a two-story brick building with scaffolding running up its sides and, on a drizzly winter day, a pair of construction workers kicking around in a courtyard littered with building materials.

But 69 years ago the courtyard was filled with hundreds of Chinese seeking refuge from Japanese troops who were rampaging through the city, then China’s capital. The invaders subjected Nanjing to a six-week reign of terror, killing large numbers of Chinese soldiers who had thrown down their weapons and murdering and raping thousands of civilians.

The property was the home of John Rabe, a Nazi Party member and employee of Siemens. In addition to sheltering people in his own compound, Mr. Rabe led a score of other foreigners in the city to form an international safety zone that shielded more than 200,000 Chinese from the Japanese.

April 5th

On Wednesday, April 5th, 2006: at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.

This will not ever happen again in your lifetime.

Cool, huh!

The 8 Virtues

President Hu Jintao has a message for Chinese who are greedy, lazy or unpatriotic: Be ashamed, be very ashamed. Mr Hu's list of eight do's and don'ts was unveiled during the meeting of parliament that ended this week.

"Love, do not harm the motherland.

"Uphold science; don't be ignorant and unenlightened.

"Serve, don't disserve the people.

"Work hard; don't be lazy and hate work.

"Be united and help each other; don't gain benefits at the expense of others.

"Be honest and trustworthy, not profit-mongering at the expense of your values.

"Be disciplined and law-abiding instead of chaotic and lawless.

"Know plain living and hard struggle, do not wallow in luxuries and pleasures."

-- starbulletin, 3/16/06 --

household solutions

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak

and more (and some of them may even be true)

The Official Ramen Homepage

The Official Ramen Homepage is dedicated entirely to the art of cooking this inexpensive, instant dish. You'll find a range of recipes including Sinful Breakfast Ramen, Hamburger Ramen Stroganoff, and other creative versions of this fast food.

- from Cool Trinks and Trinkets #395

Zillow.com

See why your property taxes are so high.

Tom Cruise vs. South Park

Actor Tom Cruise threatened to boycott promotion of his upcoming Paramount Pictures film unless a sister cable TV network pulled a "South Park" rerun lampooning the Church of Scientology, industry sources said on Friday.

Representatives for Paramount and Cruise, a prominent Scientologist, denied he made any such threats or had anything to do with the Comedy Central network canceling plans to air a repeat of the "South Park" episode titled "Trapped in the Closet," on Wednesday.

The controversy caused Isaac Hayes (the voice of Chef) to quit the show. And Comedy Central caved in by cancelling the planned repeat.

But Stone and Parker threw together a new show featuring The Return of Chef (with edited snippets of Chef's voice from past show) featuring the Super Adventurer Club. (And, true to form, even more slanderous than the original.)

Manakai O Malama

A Honolulu clinic that offers different forms of health care sets up a fund to help needy patients

Don Knotts

Don Knotts, the saucer-eyed, scarecrow-thin comic actor best known for his roles as the high-strung small-town deputy Barney Fife on the 1960s CBS series "The Andy Griffith Show" and the leisure-suit-clad landlord Ralph Furley on ABC's '70s sitcom "Three's Company," has died. He was 81.

* * *

Who could forget Barney and Gomer in the haunted house, in search of Opie's baseball.

In the cobwebbed darkness, the pair hears a ghostly moan.

The exchange is short, but unforgettable.

Barney (with jumpy excitement): "What was that?

Gomer: "I don't know, but it don't sound like no baseball."

ethanol a scam?

[3/5/06] A recent careful study by Cornell University's David Pimentel and the University of California at Berkeley's Tad Patzek added up all the energy consumption that goes into ethanol production. They took account of the energy it takes to build and run tractors. They added in the energy embodied in the other inputs and irrigation. They parsed out how much is used at the ethanol plant.

Putting it all together, they found that it takes 29 percent more energy to make ethanol from corn than is contained in the ethanol itself.

[4/19/06] Making 4 gallons of ethanol requires the energy in 3 gallons of ethanol (4/3 = 1.33). So you must make 4 gallons of ethanol to save 1 gallon of gas. But ethanol has less energy per gallon, so to save 1 gallon of gas, you must make 6 gallons (4 x 1.5) of ethanol.

To become energy independent, we would have to grow corn on every square inch of the U.S., including Alaska, and then half that much again. To meet President Bush's goal of ethanol providing 30 percent of energy, corn would cover 50 percent of the United States.

[6/20/06] DuPont and BP, riding the global wave of enthusiasm for bio-based fuels, announced today that the two companies have developed a new biofuel called biobutanol that they say has 30% more energy density than ethanol.

DuPont and BP (nyse: BP - news - people ) have been working on the new fuel since 2003. The two companies plan to introduce the first generation of biobutanol in the U.K. by the end of 2007. And they hope to roll out an improved second-generation biobutanol by 2010. DuPont and BP aim to make the fuel competitive with gasoline, even when oil is priced as low as $30 to $40 a barrel. In the U.K., the partnership will produce the new fuel by extracting fermentable sugar from sugar beets and converting that into a fuel, similar to the way ethanol is produced.

Save The World

The wizened sage sits alone upstairs in his secluded wooden house, massaging his temples in fatigue as he speaks to the camera. Sleeping only two or three hours a day, he is grappling with weightier problems - translating the theory of meditative power into a blueprint for feeding the hungry and bringing peace to the world.

A few hundred meditators on either side of a conflict is all that's needed to create an aura of peace. "We create world consciousness and coherence. Therefore, fighting will stop all over," he says.

"Don't fight darkness. Bring the light, and darkness will disappear."

* * *

A bad movie on the SciFi Channel? Actually that's what Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is doing these days.

70%?

Your junk food joint could be junkier than you've ever thought: Aside from record amounts of trans fats and sugar in your burger, fries, and soda, even the ice in your drinks may be a health hazard. This is the finding of a 12-year-old student's science project, which has by now received international media attention.

Jasmine Roberts from Benito Middle School in New Tampa, FL, randomly selected five fast food restaurants near the University of South Florida, where she collected ice samples from soda fountains and at drive-thru windows, as well as toilet water from the restrooms of the same restaurants. Roberts tested the samples in a lab at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center where she volunteers, mentored by a USF professor.

In 70% of the cases, the toilet water was cleaner than the ice.

how many bullets?

In September of 2005, Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President Reagan, produced a set of calculations trying to establish how many American bullets it takes to kill one insurgent.

The official estimated number of insurgents in Iraq has been 20,000. According to reports of the Government Accounting Office (GAO), by September the U.S. military had used up 1.8 billion rounds of small caliber ammunition in Iraq.

That means “U.S. troops have fired 90,000 rounds at each insurgent,” states Roberts matter-of-factly. “Very few have been hit. . . If 2,000 insurgents have been killed, each death required 900,000 rounds of ammunition.”

In this Wild West-style shootout, U.S. government-owned and domestic commercial ammunition plants combined haven’t been able to keep up with production. A shortage of ammunition forced the Bush administration last year to buy ammo from foreign producers, such as Israeli Military Industries, no doubt for premium prices.

cancer detecting dogs

In the small world of people who train dogs to sniff cancer, a littleknown northern California clinic has made a big claim: that it has trained five dogs — three Labrador retrievers and two Portuguese water dogs — to detect lung cancer in the breath of cancer sufferers with 99 percent accuracy.

-- starbulletin, January 22, 2006, F3

graduation rates

I was surprised to see how low graduation rates are. Out of 100 ninth graders, only 65% graduated from high school and 12% graduated from college on time.

End of the Spear

Far from home, five American missionaries died in brutal fashion: speared and hacked to death by tribesman in the dense jungles of Ecuador. That nightmare moment 50 years ago this month evolved into a remarkable example of reconciliation, and one of the most influential incidents in 20th century Protestant mission lore.

The saga is even being retold in "End of the Spear," a moving independent feature film about redemption in the jungle with a bigger budget ($17 million) and broader release (in 1,200 commercial cinemas in the United States this weekend) than many films of this genre.

Dog Parks

Oahu has more than 40 dog-friendly parks and 121 beaches where dogs on leashes are allowed. For a guide, visit www.hawaiianhumane.org and touch the link Dog Parks & Beaches.

Off-leash fun can be found at four dog parks:

» McInerny Dog Park: Next to the Hawaiian Humane Society in Moiliili; open during shelter hours, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and holidays.

» Bark Park: At Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue, open during daylight hours daily. Visit www.barkpark-honolulu.org.

» Moanalua Dog Park: At Moanalua Community Park off Puuloa Road; open during daylight hours daily (except Tuesday mornings when it is closed for maintenance). Visit www.moanaluadogpark.org.

» Mililani Dog Park: at Mililani Mauka District Park at the Park & Ride, 95-1069 Ukuwai St.; open during daylight hours daily (except Wednesday mornings when it is closed for maintenance).

Ethiopian Idols

"Ethiopian Idols" has its own answer to Simon Cowell, the acerbic judge on the American and British versions. Feleke Hailu disses contestants by telling them they "sing like donkeys." The show has fast won the highest ratings on otherwise dull state-run TV.

Shinran

Until Shinran's time in medieval Japan, Buddhism had been the preserve of monastic adepts who sought enlightenment through rigorous and demanding mental and physical practices that were available to only the most capable individuals. Ordinary people could only look forward to numerous future rebirths in transmigration until they acquired sufficient spiritual potential to break through the bondage of infinitude and attain final nirvana or Buddhahood.

WB + UPN = CW

The two networks were launched in 1995 with great fanfare. Both aimed at the youthful viewers who were lucrative and yet increasingly elusive for their bigger broadcast rivals. Each has since lost its owners close to $1 billion.

Now, in a surprise move that's a sign of the struggles in network television, Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS are shutting down their also-ran networks, WB and UPN, this September. Instead, they are jointly forming a new network, dubbed CW, to replace both. CW will inherit the assets — and most of the top shows — from WB and UPN.

What Women Should Do, Too

As promised, it's the women's turn. Last week's Young View detailed five things men should do, but don't.

If you missed it, they included getting regular checkups, watching less TV, learning how to listen without interrupting, stepping up the intimacy and throwing away old belongings.

Now, let's turn the tables on the ladies.

Five things women should do, but don't:

1) Do minor repairs on your own car. The other day I got an e-mail from a friend. It joked about a woman who went into a repair shop and was asking for a replacement "710."

The repair guys had no idea what she was talking about so they asked her to show them if another car in their garage had a "710." When they opened the hood of the car, the woman pointed to the "710," which was in clear view.

"That's not a '710,'" said the guy. "It's the OIL cap."

Most women - not all, but most - have never changed a flat tire. They may be better than the above-mentioned woman and know where the oil cap is, but whether or not they've ever attempted to change the oil is another matter.

When I was in college, my dad sent me a book for women on fixing cars. It had big pictures and easy diagrams. I don't think I ever used it.

Instead, I called on boyfriends, neighbors or friends anytime a stray nail found its way into my tire. Now, I call on the mechanical services of Sebastian anytime my oil needs changing.

Why should we learn to do what men have been taking care of for the better part of a century? Because we argue for equality and independence. And just because a car has mechanical parts and requires lifting and getting dirty, it doesn't mean it should be a job for guys only.

At the very minimum, we should know how to fix a flat, change the oil and pay attention for any strange sounds emanating from the hood area.

(This item also applies to learning to do your own taxes and, according to Sebastian, learning how to "spackle," a.k.a. do some house repairs.)

2) Less talking. Or, as my friend Alan put it, "Don't take a gosh darn hour to tell me about your day!"

You know how you ask your boyfriend or husband to tell you about his day and he answers, "It was OK."

Men would love it if women could respond the same way. Instead, we women wait anxiously to be asked the question (it makes us feel like the man is interested) and then proceed with an hour-long monologue/diatribe about everything that happened from the time we walked into the office to when we made dinner at night.

Men just can't understand why we need to talk so much. They aren't going to remember all those details so they'd rather we just get to the point and let them get back to watching SportsCenter.

When the gab goes overboard, men tune us out. It's not that they don't care, it's just that they don't need as much verbal contact as we do to feel connected.

No matter how hard we argue it, the bottom line is men by genetics have a listening limit. There's no way to change that and we shouldn't force them.

So let his ears have a break every once in a while. Tell your man about your day in a more selective way. Think Cliff Notes.

3) Be more easygoing. One of the primary complaints I hear from men about their women as that we over-analyze everything. Take Lani, for instance. She and Jay were celebrating their one-year anniversary by having dinner. Lani expressed enthusiasm during the meal by saying, "Can you believe it has been a year already?"

Jay was silent. He nodded and then dug into his plate of chicken saltimboca.

Immediately, Lani began to analyze. "Why didn't he respond? Did he feed his face to cover the fact that he really doesn't care? I guess I don't mean anything to him."

What Jay was really thinking was "Hmm ... one year. That's March, August, November... hey, that's when I got my new truck! Cool."

Women think out loud, men don't. This is why we women freak out when our man doesn't respond to our commentary. Most men don't have hidden agendas like we think they do; they take everything at face value.

So instead of analyzing everything that he says and doesn't say, ladies, take a breath and stop the maddening "what ifs" from taking over.

4) Say what you mean, mean what you say.

This one is easy. Stop making your man guess what you're feeling. It drives them nuts. They are no more capable of reading your subtle signs than they are able to buy you a pretty dress in the right size.

If you're angry at him, just tell him why. If you want him to help more around the house, you have to say so.

Leaving a man to guess at what it is you want or feel is as risky a game as playing roulette in Las Vegas. More often than not, you'll end up feeling angry and dissatisfied.

5) Stop asking his opinion on everything. Even though we women would love to be included on every decision our man makes, from his daily lunch choice to what shirt he wears to dinner, men don't want the same from us. Unless you want his help on something major like buying a new car, your man doesn't feel he needs to have a hand in everything you do. Unless he's a control freak, he probably doesn't care what you're making for dinner, as long as he gets to eat. He also won't be able to give you an opinion on which decanter you should buy for your Aunt Flo who lives in Rhode Island. Though women like that extra assurance in all of life's matters, men would rather we make those little decisions on our own.

Comments?

-- KATIE YOUNG, The Young View, MidWeek March 16, 2005

Dahn Hak

Mixing elements from martial arts and yoga, the Korean practice of Dahn Hak is finding new students in Hawaii because, they say, it is both relaxing and energizing.

Some sources say the organization is not so innocent.

Best and Worst from Ebert & Roeper (& Siskel)

Ebert & Roeper's Best Movies of 2005

But more fun is their list of Worst Movies of 2005

Ebert & Roeper Special Shows

Past Best and Worst Lists from Ebert & Roeper (& Siskel) from 1986-2000

Siskel & Ebert & Roeper's Ten Best from 1967-2004

* * *

[1/16/06] Much more importantly, what are my favorite movies of the year? Looking at my DVD collection at dvdspot, here they are.

2005 - Kung Fu Hustle (2004 movie, but 2005 release in U.S.)
2004 - Something The Lord Made / National Treasure / Blade: Trinity
2003 - Finding Nemo / School of Rock
2002 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding / Two Week's Notice / Hero
2001 - Rush Hour 2
2000 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon / Shanghai Noon / Space Cowboys
1999 - The Matrix
1998 - Rush Hour
1997 - Batman and Robin
1996 - Eraser / Independence Day
1995 - Mortal Kombat
1994 - Fist of Legend / Wing Chun
1993 - Demolition Man / Jurassic Park / Army of Darkness / Iron Monkey
1992 - Sneakers / Aladdin / Honeymoon In Vegas
1991 - Once Upon A Time In China
1990 - none
1989 - When Harry Met Sally
1988 - Midnight Run / Rain Man (don't have Midnight Run yet)
1987 - The Princess Bride
1986 - Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1985 - Yes Madam!
1984 - Beverly Hills Cop
1983 - WarGames / Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
1982 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan / Rocky III
1981 - Raiders of the Lost Ark
1980 - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
1979 - The Magnificent Butcher
1978 - Heaven Can Wait / Drunken Master
1977 - Oh God! / Star Wars
1976 - The Bad News Bears
1975 - none
1974 - none
1973 - Enter The Dragon
1967 - The Dirty Dozen
1966 - Batman the Movie
1964 - Goldfinger

The 48 Laws of Power

Law 1 - Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

And 47 more. (This site is actually more or less the table of contents from the book.)

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #383

New Year's Traditions

Why do the Spanish stuff twelve grapes in their mouths at the stroke of midnight? Why won't Scots allow a short, blonde physician to cross the threshold first? And why do Norwegians hide one almond in their rice pudding?

Useless Information

The site is called Useless Information, but it reads sort of like Ripley's Believe or Not.

-- from Cool Tricks and Trinkets #385

The Devil's Candy

High-fructose corn syrup is making America fat. How? By shutting off the switches that control appetite. It's more easily turned into fat than any other carbohydrate. And it's everywhere, from the obvious places like Coke and Mountain Dew to barbecue sauce and canned soup. [from chucks_angels]

Brain Calisthenics

[1/11/07] Is there hope for your hippocampus, a new lease for your temporal lobe? Science is not sure yet, but across the country, brain health programs are springing up, offering the possibility of a cognitive fountain of youth.

[7/6/05] Steps you can take to avoid losing your brain

Yoga For You

01/08/06 - Warrior Pose 3

01/01/06 - Uttanasana (intense stretch pose)

12/25/05 - Bridge Pose

12/17/05 - Standing Eagle Pose

12/11/05 - Half Moon Pose

12/4/05 - Chair Hamstring Stretch

11/27/05 - Virabhadrasana (warrior pose)

11/20/05 - Utkatasana (fierce pose)

11/13/05 - L-shaped pose

11/6/05 - Eagle Pose

10/30/05 - Chair Shoulder Stretch

10/23/05 - Sitting Chair Twist

10/16/05 - Downward-Facing Dog Pose

10/9/05 - Tree Pose

10/2/05 - Cow Faced Pose

9/25/05 - Bound finger pose

* * *

For Ray Madigan, an Iyengar yoga practitioner for 13 years, "The great thing is yoga has become popular, and the bad thing is yoga has become popular."

The Five Things Men Should Do

Some things are easier said than done. For instance, it's easier to say you're going to eat better, but then opt for the drive-through burger when the day gets too hectic.

We all do it, men and women alike. We know we should do certain things, we even say it out loud, "I really should do this or that," but then we never get around to making a life change.

Sometimes there is a logical explanation for our behavior, other times there is not.

But in the name of making the world a better place, there's never a limit on self-improvement.

Five things men should do, but don't:

1) Get regular check-ups. I have a friend who hasn't been to see a dentist in six years. The only way he'll go to any doctor - be it dentist, optometrist or physician - is if his girlfriend makes the appointment for him.

Most men I know avoid regular checkups like they avoid shopping with their wives. Both experiences leave them sitting in uncomfortable chairs waiting for someone to come tell them it's time to go, and the former sometimes also requires turning your head and coughing. Not fun.

The average man firmly believes he can cure himself of whatever ails him by walking it off. If there's nothing ailing him, well, then, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

My co-working attributes this phenomenon to a little bit of "male machismo."

He says that while he sends his wife to the doctor anytime she has the sniffles, he could have an arrow sticking out of his forehead and rationalize, "It's not that bad, I'm sure it will fall out tomorrow."

While logic might point said male in the direction of the doctor's office, when it comes down to it, I think men are scared to go get checked because they're afraid of what the doctor might find.

But maybe the answer to this is less profound than that. After all, male machismo is a strong and baffling force.

2) Watch less TV. Yes, that's right. Watch less TV! Or at least don't be so consumed by what you see on-screen. It's very irritating to us women when we feel like the TV runs your life. We could parade naked in front of you, but if CSI is on (which now runs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) we can forget about getting any kind of attention. There's more to life than the tube, boys, so turn it off every once in a while to see what else is out there.

3) Learn to listen without interrupting. There's nothing worse than when we ladies wait all day to talk to you and in the middle of our in-depth story about something that went wrong at work, you interrupt us mid-sentence to yell, "Whoa, did you see that gecko hiss at the cockroach on the floor? Cool." We feel your lack of ability to just listen to the end of the story means you're not interested in what we have to say. Plus, you're always interrupting us with some insignificant factoid.

Talking is the way we women make a connection to you, the man. Is it that hard to just let us finish?

"But if I didn't tell you about the gecko right then and there I'd forget, or you'd miss it," the man maintains.

That's fine with us, let the gecko go about his business. If you love us, then pay attention to what matters the most in our world: that we get to share our day with someone who really cares to hear what we're feeling.

4) Intimacy before and after. I have lots of girlfriends who complain that the intimacy in their long-term relationships is close to non-existent.

Gone are the early honeymoon-stage days of staring deep into each other's eyes, of shoulder rubs, making out and cuddling.

As time goes on, men seem more obsessed with just getting the job done and getting on with life than with slowing down to enjoy the view.

Women are left feeling a bit neglected and unsatisfied. For us the cuddling and kissing is part of an all-inclusive experience.

We know you're tired, but we'd appreciate a little extra effort every once in a while. Trust me, the more work you put in at the start, the sweeter your lady's experience will be.

5) Throw away old belongings. You know that old shirt with the hole in the armpit? Or that pair of underwear you have from high school that resembles Swiss cheese? How about that pair of used-to-be white socks that are so smelly they've scared away all the other dirty laundry in the basket?

Men should learn to throw their old things out! Sure, save the items that have true sentimental value, but don't tell me that the Swiss cheese underwear "still has some life left in it."

Unless it's a baseball card you've saved from childhood and plan to sell to buy a new house, if it's falling apart, time to let it go. You can buy new socks at Wal-Mart.

Next week: Five things women should do, but don't. Stay tuned.

-- Katie Young, MidWeek, March 9, 2005