Countless studies have shown that most humans fail to realize what makes them happy. Typically, we spend on short-term glitz instead of long-term satisfaction. And that often leads to misery -- not to mention loads of debt.
Right now, we all need to make a giant U-turn. When money's tight, it's vital to spend in a way that yields the biggest payoff, emotionally as well as financially. Buying more stuff just won't do it.
What follows are seven ways you can use your wallet to turn around your life and your finances. (That's a big promise, but I wouldn't say it if I hadn't experienced it myself.)
1. Relationships
Friends, Romans, countrymen, kids and spousal units: Studies indicate we're happiest when we feel connected to others. People with strong relationships tend to be happier and healthier, and live longer on average, according to psychologist Martin Seligman and many other researchers.
How can you invest more in these bonds of family and friendship? Splurge on a plane ticket to see your best friend. Get your buddies together and buy season tickets to your favorite team -- or the opera. Treat a friend to dinner.
After all, what would really make your month -- another pair of shoes from Piperlime or spending time with someone you love?
2. Time
Would you trade some of the money you make to have more time? A survey by Fortune magazine indicated most people would. Time is one asset that always seems to be in short supply; a free hour or two (or an unexpected day off) can feel like a windfall.
To buy yourself some time:
As part of a raise or promotion, ask for additional time off.
Explore flex-time options. A surprising number of companies support flexible work programs.
Consider paying others to do the chores you loathe because they eat up your time, from hiring a teen to do yardwork to paying a pro to do your taxes, paint the kitchen or organize the garage.
For a little bit of money, you can regain a chunk of your life.
3. Health
Some good health can be chalked up to genetics, but a lot of the rest is lifestyle. And buying good health is a lot like investing in the stock market: Steady investments at regular intervals are the best way to see big gains.
A few suggestions: Pay a bit more to join the gym that's closer to where you work, so you'll actually use it. Shell out for biweekly acupuncture visits. Buy the pricier healthful meal instead the Happy Meal. And take your vitamins.
4. Learning
Humans are born to grow. Research by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced "CHIK-sent-mee-high"), who created the concept of "flow" -- the state of wholly contented absorption in a task -- suggests we are often happiest when engaged in activities that challenge us and hold our focus.
You've been there: when you played in that garage band, when you went scuba diving on vacation, when you determinedly embarked on "War and Peace" and then couldn't put it down. Put your money there.
Buy the damn compact disc set so you can brush up on your Mandarin. Join the local archaeology club and do local digs. Try rock climbing. Or put away your air guitar and restart that garage band. You don't need to spend much to notice the uptick in sheer joie de vivre.
5. Debt relief
Owing money downgrades your quality of life, creating so much stress that it may even make you sick or depressed, according to some studies.
Stop viewing your credit card bills as bad news; instead, treat them like updates on an underperforming asset class. By doubling or tripling your monthly payments, cutting back spending and doing everything in your power to bring your debts down to zero, you won't just be paying a bill -- you'll be increasing your own net worth.
6. Giveaways
A surprise benefit of giving to others, or to a cause you believe in, is how good it makes you feel.
Studies show that altruism not only tickles the feel-good centers in the brain, but it also creates a sense of social bonding and mutual support that enhances your personal well-being.
You don't have to give millions to get that payoff. The most important thing isn't whether you spend money or volunteer time or contribute goods, but that whatever you share -- and however you share it -- means a lot to you.
Read to kids after school; bring canned food to a shelter; contact Kiva and help a South African woman build her business. There are countless ways to give. Just pick one that makes you happy.
7. Security
In an economic crisis like this one, it's tempting to stop putting money aside for the long term, but taking the reins of your future will make you feel more in control now and will beef up that cushion you might need someday.
A first step is to sign up for your company retirement plan (many Americans don't) or open an individual retirement account. At some companies, such as Fidelity, you can open an account with very little money as long as you set up automatic contributions.
Retirement is a huge topic, you can read more here at MSN Money. Making small, steady investments now can create double happiness: peace of mind now and greater wealth down the road.
Here's the real magic: When you start putting more money toward life (and less toward stuff), that shift quickly turns your financial picture from upside down to right side up. You spend less, but get more -- and in feeling more satisfied, reduce your desire to spend.
The net effect is more money saved, less debt and a sense of financial control and well-being -- oh, and more happiness. Now that's what I call getting your money's worth.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Corky Trinidad
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s “Corky” Trinidad, whose editorial cartoons for 40 years recorded life and lampooned politics in Hawaii and the world, died at 2 a.m. today of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 69.
In a 2001 interview, Trinidad predicted he’d die at his drawing table, spilling ink one last time.
“Corky was a Star-Bulletin treasure,” said Frank Bridgewater, editor. “Many people, everywhere, started their day by checking out Corky. Even people without Hawaii connections who didn’t understand some of his cartoons looked forward to them. When Corky went on leave, readers immediately began calling and e-mailing me from everywhere wanting to know, ‘Where’s Corky?’”
* * *
Trinidad funeral attracts hundreds
In a 2001 interview, Trinidad predicted he’d die at his drawing table, spilling ink one last time.
“Corky was a Star-Bulletin treasure,” said Frank Bridgewater, editor. “Many people, everywhere, started their day by checking out Corky. Even people without Hawaii connections who didn’t understand some of his cartoons looked forward to them. When Corky went on leave, readers immediately began calling and e-mailing me from everywhere wanting to know, ‘Where’s Corky?’”
* * *
Trinidad funeral attracts hundreds
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Peacemakers Club
A fight has broken out on upper campus. There is chaos, as some students are attracted to the big event and others shuffle along the corridor as if it were just another day.
“We had six policemen here yesterday,” Matayoshi says. “There were disruptions all day. It’s starting up again.”
Anxious, authoritative voices - supposedly that of other teachers or adult supervisors - boom through the crowd. They mean business.
Students rush past us and out the gates toward the fight outside.
Suddenly, the gates close and Matayoshi turns the lock. He sternly instructs students inside the gate to proceed to their fourth-period class.
Those outside the gates are not permitted back in the classroom. They are locked out.
That is how decorum is maintained. Some students proceed obediently to the next class. Several others have already found safe haven in a room known as the Peacemakers Club.
The reconfigured classroom space is the brainchild of Matayoshi. It is filled with video games, recreational equipment and a living room setting where kids can relax during recess and find peace.
It’s a different world inside. The bullies might call this the losers’ den. But members of the Peacemakers Club consider it a hall of honor for those who walk away from senseless conflict and violence. They have been told by people like Matayoshi that irresponsible behavior is a blight on the Nanakuli community, and if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
“The club will not stop the fighting. There will always be fights on any campus. My hope is that it will curb the fighting and make students aware that their actions affect the way the rest of the island views and treats their community.”
Disruptions of this sort make Nanakuli one of the most challenging teaching and learning environments on Oahu. It makes teaching a day-by-day, moment-to-moment scenario. One moment you’re breaking up ignorance, the next moment you’re breaking up fights.
But Matayoshi knew exactly what he was getting into when he asked for the Nanakuli assignment from the Teach for America program. TFA is a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit to two years to teach and effect change in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.
The 24-year-old Punahou and Claremont McKenna College graduate says, “I wanted to be sent to the worst school possible. I wanted a local school with the lowest test scores, poorest parent participation and the most challenging classroom situation.”
“I wish people could see the potential my students have,” he says. “When I mention that I work in Nanakuli, the looks I get are ones of sympathy, even dread. It is a stigma that I know my students will have to live with the rest of their lives, and that makes me sad and angry.
“I have never felt a stronger sense of community than I have at Nanakuli. My students are genuinely curious about science. Of course, there are difficult days and challenges, but the potential for success is there.”
He concludes, quoting Gandhi: “We must be the change we wish to see.”
“We had six policemen here yesterday,” Matayoshi says. “There were disruptions all day. It’s starting up again.”
Anxious, authoritative voices - supposedly that of other teachers or adult supervisors - boom through the crowd. They mean business.
Students rush past us and out the gates toward the fight outside.
Suddenly, the gates close and Matayoshi turns the lock. He sternly instructs students inside the gate to proceed to their fourth-period class.
Those outside the gates are not permitted back in the classroom. They are locked out.
That is how decorum is maintained. Some students proceed obediently to the next class. Several others have already found safe haven in a room known as the Peacemakers Club.
The reconfigured classroom space is the brainchild of Matayoshi. It is filled with video games, recreational equipment and a living room setting where kids can relax during recess and find peace.
It’s a different world inside. The bullies might call this the losers’ den. But members of the Peacemakers Club consider it a hall of honor for those who walk away from senseless conflict and violence. They have been told by people like Matayoshi that irresponsible behavior is a blight on the Nanakuli community, and if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
“The club will not stop the fighting. There will always be fights on any campus. My hope is that it will curb the fighting and make students aware that their actions affect the way the rest of the island views and treats their community.”
Disruptions of this sort make Nanakuli one of the most challenging teaching and learning environments on Oahu. It makes teaching a day-by-day, moment-to-moment scenario. One moment you’re breaking up ignorance, the next moment you’re breaking up fights.
But Matayoshi knew exactly what he was getting into when he asked for the Nanakuli assignment from the Teach for America program. TFA is a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit to two years to teach and effect change in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.
The 24-year-old Punahou and Claremont McKenna College graduate says, “I wanted to be sent to the worst school possible. I wanted a local school with the lowest test scores, poorest parent participation and the most challenging classroom situation.”
“I wish people could see the potential my students have,” he says. “When I mention that I work in Nanakuli, the looks I get are ones of sympathy, even dread. It is a stigma that I know my students will have to live with the rest of their lives, and that makes me sad and angry.
“I have never felt a stronger sense of community than I have at Nanakuli. My students are genuinely curious about science. Of course, there are difficult days and challenges, but the potential for success is there.”
He concludes, quoting Gandhi: “We must be the change we wish to see.”
Sunday, February 08, 2009
first annual letter from the Gates Foundation
This is the first annual letter I plan to write about my work at the Gates Foundation. In this letter I want to share in a frank way what our goals are and where progress is being made and where it is not. Soon after Warren Buffett made his incredible gift, which doubled the resources of the foundation, he encouraged me to follow his lead by writing an annual letter. I won’t be quoting Mae West or trying to match his humor, but I will try to be equally candid.
... I love the work at the foundation. Although there are many differences, it also has the three magical elements. First there are opportunities for big breakthroughs—from discovering new vaccines that can save millions of lives to developing new seeds that will let a farming family have better productivity, improve their children’s nutrition, and sell some of the extra output. Second, I feel like my experience in building teams of smart people with different skill sets focused on tough long-term problems can be a real contribution. The common sense of the business world, with its urgency and focus, has strong application in the philanthropic world. I am sure I will make mistakes in over-applying some elements from my previous experience and will need to adjust. For instance, the countries where Microsoft does business are far more stable and have a lot more infrastructure than most of the places where the foundation does its work, so I’ll need to better appreciate how difficult it will be to execute our strategies. However, I am equally confident that our maniacal focus on drawing in the best talent and measuring results will make a difference. Finally, I find the intelligence and dedication of the people involved in these issues to be just as impressive as what I have seen before. Whether they are scientists at a university or people who have worked in the field in Africa most of their lives, they have critical knowledge and want to help make the breakthroughs. The opportunity to gather smart, creative people into teams and give them resources and guidance as they tackle the challenges is very fulfilling.
... Over the past 50 years childhood deaths have dropped dramatically. Take a look at Chart 1, which is one of my favorites. (I hope you didn’t think you were going to get through this letter without some figures being thrown at you.) What you see is that in 1960, when there were nearly 110 million children born, almost 20 million children under 5 died. In 2005, when more than 135 million children were born, fewer than 10 million children under 5 died. I think this is one of the most amazing statistics ever. The number of children born went up, while the number who died was cut in half. Two things caused this huge reduction in the death rate. First, incomes went up, and with that increase, nutrition, medical care, and living conditions improved. The second factor is that even where incomes did not go up, the availability of life-saving vaccines reduced the number of deaths. For example, measles accounted for 4 million children’s deaths in 1990, but fewer than 250,000 in 2006.
Despite this progress, 10 million children dying is still 10 million too many. Each death is a tragedy. In the United States we don’t think much about young people dying because it is so rare. It would be a huge breakthrough to cut that 10 million in half again, which I believe can be done in the next 20 years. Chart 2 shows a breakdown of what kills children under 5. As you can see, there are a few diseases, like diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia, that cause over half of the deaths. The key to eliminating these conditions is the invention of a handful of new vaccines and getting them into widespread usage.
[via iluvbabyb, 1/26/09]
... I love the work at the foundation. Although there are many differences, it also has the three magical elements. First there are opportunities for big breakthroughs—from discovering new vaccines that can save millions of lives to developing new seeds that will let a farming family have better productivity, improve their children’s nutrition, and sell some of the extra output. Second, I feel like my experience in building teams of smart people with different skill sets focused on tough long-term problems can be a real contribution. The common sense of the business world, with its urgency and focus, has strong application in the philanthropic world. I am sure I will make mistakes in over-applying some elements from my previous experience and will need to adjust. For instance, the countries where Microsoft does business are far more stable and have a lot more infrastructure than most of the places where the foundation does its work, so I’ll need to better appreciate how difficult it will be to execute our strategies. However, I am equally confident that our maniacal focus on drawing in the best talent and measuring results will make a difference. Finally, I find the intelligence and dedication of the people involved in these issues to be just as impressive as what I have seen before. Whether they are scientists at a university or people who have worked in the field in Africa most of their lives, they have critical knowledge and want to help make the breakthroughs. The opportunity to gather smart, creative people into teams and give them resources and guidance as they tackle the challenges is very fulfilling.
... Over the past 50 years childhood deaths have dropped dramatically. Take a look at Chart 1, which is one of my favorites. (I hope you didn’t think you were going to get through this letter without some figures being thrown at you.) What you see is that in 1960, when there were nearly 110 million children born, almost 20 million children under 5 died. In 2005, when more than 135 million children were born, fewer than 10 million children under 5 died. I think this is one of the most amazing statistics ever. The number of children born went up, while the number who died was cut in half. Two things caused this huge reduction in the death rate. First, incomes went up, and with that increase, nutrition, medical care, and living conditions improved. The second factor is that even where incomes did not go up, the availability of life-saving vaccines reduced the number of deaths. For example, measles accounted for 4 million children’s deaths in 1990, but fewer than 250,000 in 2006.
Despite this progress, 10 million children dying is still 10 million too many. Each death is a tragedy. In the United States we don’t think much about young people dying because it is so rare. It would be a huge breakthrough to cut that 10 million in half again, which I believe can be done in the next 20 years. Chart 2 shows a breakdown of what kills children under 5. As you can see, there are a few diseases, like diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia, that cause over half of the deaths. The key to eliminating these conditions is the invention of a handful of new vaccines and getting them into widespread usage.
[via iluvbabyb, 1/26/09]
Friday, February 06, 2009
Cholesterol Lowering Foods
Dear Savvy Senior
Are there certain kinds of foods a person can eat to help lower their cholesterol?
- Cholesterol Concerned
Dear Concerned
What you eat can actually play a huge role in lowering your cholesterol, and for many, it may even eliminate the need for cholesterol-lowering medication.
Know Your Numbers
As you may already know, your cholesterol level is the amount of fat in your blood. If it's too high, you're at a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Ideally, you want your total cholesterol reading (that includes your LDL and HDL cholesterol) to be below 200, and your "bad" LDL cholesterol below 129 - less if you're at risk for heart disease. If your total level hits between 200 and 239, or your LDL reaches 130 - 159 you're considered borderline high. And if your total is above 240, or your LDL is over 160 you have high cholesterol.
On the other hand, a higher number is better when it comes to the "good" HDL cholesterol. Most men range between 40 and 50 HDL, and women range between 50 and 60. Anything below 40 (for men) and 50 (for women) is too low, and anything above 50 (for men) and 60 (for women) is great, because it provides extra protection against heart disease.
Cholesterol-Lowering Foods
Lots of research over the past few years has shown that certain foods can help lower your LDL cholesterol and/or boost your HDL, including:
Oatmeal and oat bran: Loaded with soluble fiber, oatmeal or oat bran is a great way to start the day and shave five percent off your LDL. Five to 10 grams per day are recommended. Other good sources for soluble fiber are apples, pears, prunes, citrus fruits, kidney and lima beans, barley, psyllium, carrots, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
Nuts: Studies have also shown that a daily dose of walnuts and almonds can lower your LDL by 10 percent, and raise your HDL by as much as 20 percent. Peanuts, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, and pistachios have also been shown to lower cholesterol. But be careful. Nuts are high in calories, so a handful (no more than 2 ounces) will do. The best way to add nuts to your diet is to substitute them for foods that are high in saturated fats like cheese and meat. That way you're gaining the benefits of nuts without adding more calories.
Sterols and stanols: These are substances found in plants that help prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into your bloodstream. A recommended dose of two grams per day can help knock 10 percent off your bad cholesterol level. The best way to get these substances is to consume store-bought foods that are fortified with sterols or stanols including certain orange juices, yogurts, breads, cereals, granola bars, cooking oils, salad dressings, margarine spreads and more. Check the labels to find products that contain sterols or stanols and watch out for high calories.
Fish: Rich with omega-3 fatty acids, eating fatty fish (mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna) a few times a week can help boost your good HDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent, not to mention lower your triglycerides and blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. If you don't like fish, other food sources that provide omega-3s are walnuts, soybeans, flaxseed and canola oil, or take a fish oil supplement.
Olive oil: Contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your LDL without affecting your HDL. A good way to work olive oil into your diet is to substitute it with butter or other cooking oils, or mix it with vinegar as a salad dressing. About two tablespoons a day are recommended.
Other Tips
Additional lifestyle tips that can help lower LDL and raise HDL include: reducing the saturated fats (fatty meats, butter and whole dairy products) and trans fats (found in store-bought cookies, cakes, crackers and many fried foods like french fries) you eat; lose excess weight (even 5 to 10 pounds can make a difference); exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes, five days per week); quit smoking; and drink some alcohol (no more than one drink per day for women and two for men).
Are there certain kinds of foods a person can eat to help lower their cholesterol?
- Cholesterol Concerned
Dear Concerned
What you eat can actually play a huge role in lowering your cholesterol, and for many, it may even eliminate the need for cholesterol-lowering medication.
Know Your Numbers
As you may already know, your cholesterol level is the amount of fat in your blood. If it's too high, you're at a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Ideally, you want your total cholesterol reading (that includes your LDL and HDL cholesterol) to be below 200, and your "bad" LDL cholesterol below 129 - less if you're at risk for heart disease. If your total level hits between 200 and 239, or your LDL reaches 130 - 159 you're considered borderline high. And if your total is above 240, or your LDL is over 160 you have high cholesterol.
On the other hand, a higher number is better when it comes to the "good" HDL cholesterol. Most men range between 40 and 50 HDL, and women range between 50 and 60. Anything below 40 (for men) and 50 (for women) is too low, and anything above 50 (for men) and 60 (for women) is great, because it provides extra protection against heart disease.
Cholesterol-Lowering Foods
Lots of research over the past few years has shown that certain foods can help lower your LDL cholesterol and/or boost your HDL, including:
Oatmeal and oat bran: Loaded with soluble fiber, oatmeal or oat bran is a great way to start the day and shave five percent off your LDL. Five to 10 grams per day are recommended. Other good sources for soluble fiber are apples, pears, prunes, citrus fruits, kidney and lima beans, barley, psyllium, carrots, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
Nuts: Studies have also shown that a daily dose of walnuts and almonds can lower your LDL by 10 percent, and raise your HDL by as much as 20 percent. Peanuts, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, and pistachios have also been shown to lower cholesterol. But be careful. Nuts are high in calories, so a handful (no more than 2 ounces) will do. The best way to add nuts to your diet is to substitute them for foods that are high in saturated fats like cheese and meat. That way you're gaining the benefits of nuts without adding more calories.
Sterols and stanols: These are substances found in plants that help prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into your bloodstream. A recommended dose of two grams per day can help knock 10 percent off your bad cholesterol level. The best way to get these substances is to consume store-bought foods that are fortified with sterols or stanols including certain orange juices, yogurts, breads, cereals, granola bars, cooking oils, salad dressings, margarine spreads and more. Check the labels to find products that contain sterols or stanols and watch out for high calories.
Fish: Rich with omega-3 fatty acids, eating fatty fish (mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna) a few times a week can help boost your good HDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent, not to mention lower your triglycerides and blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. If you don't like fish, other food sources that provide omega-3s are walnuts, soybeans, flaxseed and canola oil, or take a fish oil supplement.
Olive oil: Contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your LDL without affecting your HDL. A good way to work olive oil into your diet is to substitute it with butter or other cooking oils, or mix it with vinegar as a salad dressing. About two tablespoons a day are recommended.
Other Tips
Additional lifestyle tips that can help lower LDL and raise HDL include: reducing the saturated fats (fatty meats, butter and whole dairy products) and trans fats (found in store-bought cookies, cakes, crackers and many fried foods like french fries) you eat; lose excess weight (even 5 to 10 pounds can make a difference); exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes, five days per week); quit smoking; and drink some alcohol (no more than one drink per day for women and two for men).
Zoroastrianism
On the Central Asian steppes between the years 1000 B.C. and A.D. 600, there flourished a faith ascribed to the teachings of Zarathustra, or Zoroaster as the Greeks called him. For 1,000 years it was the court religion of three Persian empires: the Achaemenians, the Parthinians and the Sassanians. The followers of this faith stretched from Greece in the west to the Hindukush in the east, across Central Asia, and were numbered in the millions.
Zarathustra preached the monotheistic religion of the One Supreme God, Ahura Mazda, and it was declared the state religion by Cyrus the Great in 558 B.C.
Zarathustra's message was positive, life-affirming, based on both faith and reason. Its principles were simple, namely of Humata, Hukta and Huverishta, which means good thought, good word and good deed. It was not a prescriptive ethic based on fear or obedience, but rather on love and personal responsibility.
A Zoroastrian is taught to lead an industrious, honest and charitable life, and there is no place for asceticism. It is based on the loftiest ideals of Asha, the divine law of truth, and Vohu Mana, or the good mind. Zarathustra declared that every person must think for oneself and that each has the freedom to choose between good and evil.
The faith is spread to achieve a harmonious, morally perfect social order. It promotes respect for the environment and teaches that there is mutually beneficial existence of the sun, fire, earth and water.
Zoroastrianism has been a peace-loving religion that resisted the onslaught of Alexander the Great and his destruction of the capital of the Persian Empire, Persepolis. Its philosophy has influenced many cultures and faiths, including Judaism and Christianity. It is of interest to note that the Magi who heralded the Infant Christ were Zoroastrians, and to this day, frankincense and myrrh are offered at the altars of their temples.
In the year A.D. 652, shiploads of followers of this religion fled Persia under the Muslim invasion and sought refuge on the shores of India. Despite having lived in India for 12 centuries, the Parsees, as they are known, have kept their religious distinctiveness. They contributed to the industrialization of India, and their influence is felt even today in the economic development of the country. Their philanthropy resulted in the establishment of schools, colleges and hospitals in India.
Now they have spread to North America and are integrated with all communities there. With the persecution by Ayatollah Khomeini in the late 1970s and 1980s, Zarthushtis fled from Iran to North America. Now they, jointly with the Parsees from India, preserve their belief without proselytizing.
The most important doctrine of this faith is the belief in one Supreme God with truth and right action to spread love for all human beings without discrimination. Like other doctrines, they believe that there is only one presence and one power in the universe and in our lives, God the Good Omnipresent.
Zarathustra preached the monotheistic religion of the One Supreme God, Ahura Mazda, and it was declared the state religion by Cyrus the Great in 558 B.C.
Zarathustra's message was positive, life-affirming, based on both faith and reason. Its principles were simple, namely of Humata, Hukta and Huverishta, which means good thought, good word and good deed. It was not a prescriptive ethic based on fear or obedience, but rather on love and personal responsibility.
A Zoroastrian is taught to lead an industrious, honest and charitable life, and there is no place for asceticism. It is based on the loftiest ideals of Asha, the divine law of truth, and Vohu Mana, or the good mind. Zarathustra declared that every person must think for oneself and that each has the freedom to choose between good and evil.
The faith is spread to achieve a harmonious, morally perfect social order. It promotes respect for the environment and teaches that there is mutually beneficial existence of the sun, fire, earth and water.
Zoroastrianism has been a peace-loving religion that resisted the onslaught of Alexander the Great and his destruction of the capital of the Persian Empire, Persepolis. Its philosophy has influenced many cultures and faiths, including Judaism and Christianity. It is of interest to note that the Magi who heralded the Infant Christ were Zoroastrians, and to this day, frankincense and myrrh are offered at the altars of their temples.
In the year A.D. 652, shiploads of followers of this religion fled Persia under the Muslim invasion and sought refuge on the shores of India. Despite having lived in India for 12 centuries, the Parsees, as they are known, have kept their religious distinctiveness. They contributed to the industrialization of India, and their influence is felt even today in the economic development of the country. Their philanthropy resulted in the establishment of schools, colleges and hospitals in India.
Now they have spread to North America and are integrated with all communities there. With the persecution by Ayatollah Khomeini in the late 1970s and 1980s, Zarthushtis fled from Iran to North America. Now they, jointly with the Parsees from India, preserve their belief without proselytizing.
The most important doctrine of this faith is the belief in one Supreme God with truth and right action to spread love for all human beings without discrimination. Like other doctrines, they believe that there is only one presence and one power in the universe and in our lives, God the Good Omnipresent.
walking is good for the brain
Earlier this year, researchers at Stanford University reported the results of a 21-year study that tracked more than 500 runners who were in their 50s or 60s, and are now in their 70s and 80s.
The joggers, who put in an average of 4 hours a week on the trail, were matched for comparison with an otherwise similar group of people who did not run.
Nineteen years into the study, 34 percent of the non-runners had died, versus 15 percent of the runners.
Of course, time still caught up with the runners -- with many of them reporting disability such as difficulty dressing or grooming or getting out of a chair. But on average, runners' initial report of a disability came 16 years later than that reported by the non-runners on annual questionnaires.
But for the brain, walking may actually be better than running, since there's more oxygen left in the blood to reach the brain than from most vigorous exercise. Studies in the elderly have found that stroke risk can be cut by as much as 57 percent in those who walked as little as 20 minutes a day.
Another study of older women found that those who walked 17 miles or more a week were about 40 percent less likely to experience mental decline than those who walked a half mile or less a week.
.. another study just published in December in the journal Psychological Science, suggests that where we walk may be as important as how much when it comes to brain benefits.
Researchers at the University of Michigan ran two experiments with a group of volunteers, testing them for memory and attention, then sending them out on a walk either in a park or through downtown Ann Arbor, then back for a re-test.
Performance on the memory and attention test improved greatly for the group that took a walk in the park, but did not improve for the group that walked downtown. A similar result was seen when the two groups sat for a while and viewed photos of nature or urban scenes.
The scientists suspect that walking around an urban setting presents the brain with a relatively complex, even confusing pattern of stimulation, while a walk down a tree-lined path takes less mental effort and has a more restorative effect for the brain's attention centers.
The joggers, who put in an average of 4 hours a week on the trail, were matched for comparison with an otherwise similar group of people who did not run.
Nineteen years into the study, 34 percent of the non-runners had died, versus 15 percent of the runners.
Of course, time still caught up with the runners -- with many of them reporting disability such as difficulty dressing or grooming or getting out of a chair. But on average, runners' initial report of a disability came 16 years later than that reported by the non-runners on annual questionnaires.
But for the brain, walking may actually be better than running, since there's more oxygen left in the blood to reach the brain than from most vigorous exercise. Studies in the elderly have found that stroke risk can be cut by as much as 57 percent in those who walked as little as 20 minutes a day.
Another study of older women found that those who walked 17 miles or more a week were about 40 percent less likely to experience mental decline than those who walked a half mile or less a week.
.. another study just published in December in the journal Psychological Science, suggests that where we walk may be as important as how much when it comes to brain benefits.
Researchers at the University of Michigan ran two experiments with a group of volunteers, testing them for memory and attention, then sending them out on a walk either in a park or through downtown Ann Arbor, then back for a re-test.
Performance on the memory and attention test improved greatly for the group that took a walk in the park, but did not improve for the group that walked downtown. A similar result was seen when the two groups sat for a while and viewed photos of nature or urban scenes.
The scientists suspect that walking around an urban setting presents the brain with a relatively complex, even confusing pattern of stimulation, while a walk down a tree-lined path takes less mental effort and has a more restorative effect for the brain's attention centers.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
smoking and heart attacks
A smoking ban in one Colorado city led to a dramatic drop in heart attack hospitalizations within three years, a sign of just how serious a health threat secondhand smoke is, government researchers said Wednesday.
The study, the longest-running of its kind, showed the rate of hospitalized cases dropped 41 percent in the three years after the ban of workplace smoking in Pueblo, Colo., took effect. There was no such drop in two neighboring areas, and researchers believe it’s a clear sign the ban was responsible.
The study suggests that secondhand smoke may be a terrible and under-recognized cause of heart attack deaths in this country, said one of its authors, Terry Pechacek of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study, the longest-running of its kind, showed the rate of hospitalized cases dropped 41 percent in the three years after the ban of workplace smoking in Pueblo, Colo., took effect. There was no such drop in two neighboring areas, and researchers believe it’s a clear sign the ban was responsible.
The study suggests that secondhand smoke may be a terrible and under-recognized cause of heart attack deaths in this country, said one of its authors, Terry Pechacek of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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