Lobbying Top Spenders 1998-2009

Lobbying Top Spenders (1998-2009)

US Chamber of Commerce $606,758,180
American Medical Assn $220,832,500
General Electric $196,410,000
AARP $175,702,064
American Hospital Assn $174,890,431

Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $173,403,920
AT&T Inc $150,471,757
Northrop Grumman $143,005,253
Exxon Mobil $138,886,942
National Assn of Realtors $138,417,380
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $136,317,077
Business Roundtable $134,030,000
Edison Electric Institute $133,995,999
Verizon Communications $132,534,841
Lockheed Martin $122,340,423
Boeing Co $121,528,310
General Motors $106,914,483
Southern Co $104,620,694
Freddie Mac $96,194,048
Altria Group $93,650,000

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source: www.opensecrets.org

Lobbying Top 10 Spenders 2009

Top Spenders 2009 Lobbying Client Total.

Notice the large difference between first and second place.

US Chamber of Commerce $144,496,000
Exxon Mobil Corporation $27,430,000
Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America $26,150,520
General Electric $25,520,000
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $22,715,439
Pfizer Inc $21,930,000
AARP $21,010,000
American Medical Association $20,830,000
Chevron Corp $20,815,000
National Association of Realtors $19,477,000
American Beverage Association $18,850,000
American Hospital Association $18,347,176
ConocoPhillips $18,069,858
Verizon Communications $17,820,000
The Boeing Company $16,850,000
FedEx Corp $16,370,000
BP $15,990,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Assn $15,980,000
Northrop Grumman $15,180,000
AT&T Inc $14,729,673

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source: http://www.opensecrets.org/

Slick Advertising

According to Wikipedia: the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the world's largest not-for-profit lobbying group, representing many businesses and associations across the US.

The Chamber is staffed with policy specialists, lobbyists and lawyers and is known for spending more money than any other lobbying organization on a yearly basis.
Max Brantley shares a press release from Arkansas members of Americans for Financial Reform urging Congress to pass strong legislation to overhaul the financial system. The statement also urges Arkansans to be skeptical of the slick television ads sponsored by the USCC. The ads were part of a $3 million campaign by the Chamber to oppose a Consumer Financial Protection Board.

Small business owners from the Main Street Alliance network responded with their support for a strong, independent consumer agency and question the backing for the Chamber’s new ads.

Los Angeles Times article by Tom Hamburger reports how a swelling tide of money could put the Chamber in an even better position to sway elections.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops





Here are a few pics from my friend Dom's band The Carolina Chocolate Drops at their CD release party at Bowery Ballroom..They got signed to a major label and have a new album Genuine Negro Jig out now..The place was packed and they sounded great..

Dom is also an awesome solo performer who has CD's of his own out, plus he plays on a few tunes on my band's Drunken Barrel House Blues album..He's great to watch in person..If you look him up on youtube you can see him flip his guitar around and do all sorts of fancy stuff..Plus, he's a super nice guy..You can tell he loves what he does when you watch him play.

FEAR: Your Greatest Ally....


"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~John Wayne

FEAR: The very word drudges up mental images of cold sweats, "Jell-O legs," clammy hands & rapid heartrate. Its been something we've been taught to avoid at all costs. Fear is synonymous with "Go Back!" But what if we've misjudged fear's lessons? What if we've misunderstood its teachings?

In the April 2009 issue of "Outside" magazine, an article written called, "This is your brain on adventure" explored the neuro-chemistry behind pushing the boundry, exploring the edge, & why we need a bit of risk in our lives. To check out the article, go to the following link:

http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200904/adventure-science-brain-1.html

"Paleo" man/woman lived in a state of survival. "Nothing fun about that," you say. However, scientists are beginning to look at the possible way our brain gets "extra" creative when we're forced to face our fears. There's something to be said for safety. No one is questioning that. To be unsafe is silly, even faulty. However, there is a new school of thought amongst neuro-scientists that are beginning to differentiate between anxiety and true fear. True fear doesn't actually appear to be all that harmful to the body. Anxiety does. In fact, in our remote-controlled, escalator-ridden world, scientists are seeing that certain neuro-peptides have become "lazy" or "complacent" in our modern society.

Yes, its of advantage that we don't always have to wrestle a bear to get back to our "cave." At the same time, scientists are growing concerned that we don't always move past our places of comfort either. There is a healthy balance, and it will be an individual search within oneself to find it. I hear people say to me, "You rock climb? I could never do that. I'm afraid of heights." I have an answer for them: I am too. I look at climbers that are so much more accomplished than I am, and esteem to have their bravery. If I know my equipment is sound, that there is redundancy in backing up my safety mechanisms, that my belay partner has double-checked everything, and that I am capable of the climb, then I ask myself, "Almine, what are you REALLY afraid of?"

There is an element of self-preservation which is completely natural. We all have these innate instincts. Tom Brown Jr., America's most renowned tracker and wilderness survival expert, makes a distinction. He says, "My teacher, Stalking Wolf, told me, 'The difference between the Apaches and the white settlers they encountered, is when the Apaches were afraid they moved towards whatever frightened them. The white settlers stepped back."

The subtle art of knowing the difference between a "surface" level anxiety and a true gut-instinct of "move away" takes time to distinguish. According to Tom Brown, the majority of us mistake anxiety for a true fear. He said that true fear is actually rare in the wild.

Cultures, the world-over, have sought out to master their fears. This has taken place in a variety of ways. The Maya used cenotes (underground well-caves) to experience true darkness in the bosom of the earth...to experience fear welling up inside them...only to learn to calm their mind amongst it. According to Geologist and author Gregg Braden, temples of great civilizations were generally used to "isolate" certain emotions. It is there, in these temples, initiates sought out the internal power to master these emotions. For instance, Egyptologist, Graham Hancock, author of "Fingerprints of the Gods," specifically states that the very bottom chamber of the great pyramid of Giza was used by the Egyptian initiates to "master their most innate darkness." He states that the lower chamber (representing the "lower" or limbic part of the brain) has heiroglyphs etched into the walls indicating the word "fear," or the "mastering thereof."

In Chinese medicine, we look at the vital organs in terms of a more holistic approach. You really could liken them to complex systems, that each "house" or "rule" an emotion. For instance, the ancient medical text, the "Nei Jing," or the "Yellow Emperor's Cannon of Classic Medicine" (as its more commonly known) states, "The kidneys are the house of fear." What does this mean? We do know, in western bio-medicine that the adrenal glands (which look like little "nightcaps" sitting on top of the kidneys) pump out cortisol, our "fight-or-flight" hormone. Chinese medicine is based on 2 main intertwined theories: the theory of yin/yang, and the 5-elements. Both of these theories come together to create a complex, yet completely organic whole-system, view of the human being. For every "yin" organ, there's a "yang" organ. The kidneys are considered "yin," its paired organ, the bladder is considered "yang." The kidneys are said to "rule" the deepest fears of our human self: abandonment, survival, fear of the dark, of deep water, of heights, etc. The bladder is said to "rule" more anxiety, such as: "what am I going to do about money this month?," "did I leave my stove on?," etc. When we feel fear, people say, "I have to pee!" This is an obvious example of how when we feel anxious our bladder responds. "Kidney fear" is said to be mastered. "Bladder fear" is said to be ignored. There are a variety of meditation disciplines in the world to assist in quieting the mind. Lisa Rands, Steph Davis, Dean Potter, Chris Sharma...some of the most accomplished climbers in the world use one form of meditation or another to master their minds, and still their thoughts.

I use climbing as a metaphor because heights is such a common fear (the #2, to be exact...public speaking is #1). I ask myself, over and over, "Almine, if you know your gear is sound, and the climb is within your ability, what's the problem?" I then look at my deepest fears, and do my best to move forward. I'm not always successful. Sometimes I can't commit to the climb. Sometimes I can. This is why the Buddhists call the discipline of "stilling the mind" a "practice." Every day is different, and you have to accept that. Be kind to yourself. Mastering our fears is the opposite of what we've all been taught to do.

We all grew up being fascinated by "Star Wars." The graphics, the costumes, the archetypal story. However, nothing in "Star Wars" captured the imagination, of young and old, like the Jedi. Joseph Campbell, the brilliant mastermind behind the story line of "Star Wars" was one of the greatest mythologists the world has seen. His book "The Power of Myth" is an academic classic in the world of anthropology, history and philosophy. Did you ever stop to wonder where this great concept of the Jedis came from? The historical Egyptian "Jeds" were Campbell's inspiration for the Jedis." The Jeds were said to have "mastered their fears in the temples of Anubis. The underworld (the mind of fear) had no hold left on them."

We are enamored with the timeless Jedis, because we too have the same fears that lurk within us: of the dark, the deep ocean, of small spaces, snakes, heights, the list goes on...insert your own fears.

As an Amazonian shaman said to me, "It is your job, as a human being to live free from fear. To live beyond the shadows of the mind. Do your best and practice diligently."

To resist fear is cheating ourselves. It may have some lessons yet to teach us. Be open to yours, and in the way they come to you. Observe them when they come up, without judgement. They simply ARE. They're neither good nor bad. They're your teacher. Use your life circumstances to practice this, and as the Buddhists say, "The fear of death then, can have no hold on your mind."

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." -Nelson Mandela

3rd Congressional District Forum

Citizens for a Future Springdale held a forum for republican candidates of Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District last week at the Pontiac Coffee House.

All eight republican candidates attended the event, but little was learned to separate one from the other.

Steve Womack, Rogers Mayor
Bernard Skoch, retired Air Force
Steve Lowry, former DEA special agent
Mike Moore, Boone County Judge
Kurt Maddox, Gravette businessman
Cecile Bledsoe, State Senator
Gunner DeLay, former legislator
Doug Matayo, former legislator

See all of the recent tweets from Arkansas' third congressional district candidates at one place plus links to the latest news on the race here.

Beautiful

We are all somewhat damaged, and in that realization we are beautiful.

Russell is my hero!

Russell's interview from CBS.com
“Because I have to put these kids in their place. I’m not done playing just yet!"

"I want to challenge myself. You know, I wanna go out there and prove that I can manipulate people. I really can get in people's heads and make them do what I want them to do. And that's exactly what I did. So, I thought that I could do it, and now I just know I could.

I've seen almost every single episode and you know, I'm the one sitting on the couch at home howling at the TV and said, 'what the hell are they thinking? You know, they need to do this, they need to do that!' So, when I got the call, I was pretty excited about it.

I think some people are gonna like me, but most people are gonna hate me. I played how I thought I should play. Everything I've done, everything, even if I was vindictive, I did it strategically. I didn't do anything on purpose that I didn't know what the results were gonna be. So, everything that I did, was a strategic plan. I could care less what people think about me. Because I went there to play the game.

The first time, I went to teach myself a lesson. And now, I'm going to teach all these brats a lesson!

You know, it took them nineteen seasons to find me. Nineteen times. They finally find someone who could dominate this game, and if they think that a bunch of all-stars are gonna come here and play with me, they got another thing coming. I'm gonna run their heads like I ran the first ones! And...it ain't gonna be no competition. I tell you right now. I'm gonna walk through it."

Wooooo! I love, love, love Russell! ;)

Tired but excited!

Howdy, all! What's the crack?

My friend always laughs at me whenever I say, "what's the crack?" He thinks I sound like a drug-dealer. Or a black person. The latter, I don't really mind since the only phrase I could come up with to get that effect is 'yoooooo' and that couldn't be more unnatural coming from a 5'2 Asian girl.

Fact #1. I just had myself measured up and my official height is 5'6 with heels on. So yeah, I'm short.

Fact #2. I came to a bank last Friday to open a new account and after a few minutes chatting up with the bank officer, he point-blanked asked my age. When I said 23, he looked surprised and replied, "Oh really? When you first came in, I thought you were just 18.."

Anyway, you may think it is a good thing that I look younger than my age. I guess some people may say it's a compliment. But I don't like it. Enough said.

Oh wow! I've been working all weekend, and it's nice to have a day off today. Aside from work, there's not much things to tell. I'm very excited of this new freelancing opportunity, though. I'll fill you in on that later when everything is confirmed, alright? But yeah, I'm very excited!

As for my real work. Bleh. It has its ups and downs. One thing to be happy about though, I finally got my visa, and to say that I'm super relieved is an understatement. Woooo, I can't wait to start planning and rearranging my life now. I'm psyched about the future!

Okay, I'm gonna stop with the mushiness. This must be the result from reading too many motivational books. Not that I'm complaining! Anyway, pictures time!

With my favorite colleagues! (Actually, everyone in my office is super, super nice!)

Homey steamboat dinner.

Dinner with babe at Timbre. :)
True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.

Sneaking a picture while working at Suntec last weekend.

And another one ;)

Sorry I've been a bleh about this blog lately! Ugh, I wish I'm more of a multi-tasker! But anyway, hope you all have a nice day. I'm gonna grab some lunch and enjoy my day off as much as humanly possible!

quote of the day

It's hard to wait around for something you know might never happen; but it's even harder to give up when you know it's everything you want.

Dog left at Mars Bar..Any one want to adopt her??

A few days ago a 5-ish year old dark brown female pit bull dog was abandoned at Mars bar. She's around 45 lbs and has white on her paws and neck, and she's had litters. This friendly(to people, not so much with other dogs), needs a home..If we can't find the owner a rescue shelter that is a no-kill one or foster family/home would be great. If not, she is going to a shelter that puts dogs down unfortunately..Mighty Mutts and other organizations have already been tried..this blog is a last ditch effort to help save this pup..I have two psychotic cats so I can't take her..Feel free to email me if you or anyone you know wants this pup!

Double Solitaire


Snopes.com/photos/politics/solitaire.asp confirms the authenticity of this photograph making the rounds on the Internet.

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, pictured standing, far right, speaking while colleagues Rep. Barbara Lambert, D-Milford and Rep. Jack F. Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, play solitaire.

The guy sitting in the row in front of these two is on Facebook, and the guy behind Hennessy is checking out baseball scores.

Photograph by Jessica Hill

Ever Wonder Why A Flock Of Birds Fly Faster Together, Or Why A Pod Of Dolphins Swim Faster As A Group? Maybe They're Onto Something...

ALMINE DANCING WITH THE BELLYDANCING TROUPE (I'm the one in the back), "Ghaziya-13" at the 2009 BELLYDANCE HALLOWEEN SHOW IN PORTLAND, OR.

ALMINE & HER FRIEND, TARA, at "Oregon CrossFit," 2009

We all love our solitude. My job is very people-oriented. Sometimes I just feel the need to clear my head, be alone, and experience the silence of a trail-run...

If you're a "solo exerciser," a recent study found, however, that it may not be a bad idea to expand your horizons. Researchers at Oxford University found that rowers get a bigger surge of mood-boosting endorphins during a synchronized workout vs. when they row alone. Doing the same movements together is a bonding experience, which helps trigger the feel-good vibes, the study authors suspect. The endorphins seemed to be heightened when the group moved in unity, instead of merely just moving as a group. An example of this would be a troupe of dancers moving to the same choreography vs. a group of people hiking together.

So, it may not be a bad idea to take that dance class, or explore rowing in a boat with a group of others...find a synchonized group workout class and throw it in the mix of your "solo" exercise schedule 1-2x a week. The research indicates it can do nothing but make your more happy ;-}

Q., "Almine, What Is Your Feeling On Grain/Grain-Based Product Consumption?" C.B., Portland, OR.

A. To answer this question, I'm going to pass on a link to an article that I think addresses this issue very well:

http://www.westonaprice.org/Be-Kind-to-Your-Grains...And-Your-Grains-Will-Be-Kind-To-You.html

Upon reading the article, if you have further questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask. I will say this: In general, I'm a proponent of the "Paleo" dietary lifestyle (see previous post on "What is CrossFit?"). I also spoke yesterday of "ancestral eating." My ancestors (predominant genetic "strain") were French. They lived in the Rennes-Les-Chateaux region of France. This is a goat/sheep herding region. I eat a fairly modified version of the "Paleo Diet." I do incorporate some goat and/or sheep dairy into my diet. My body seems to do very well with it (no surprise by looking at my genetics), particularly when the dairy is fermented in a product such as kefir or "Roquefort" raw sheep's cheese. That being said, the "Paleo Diet" does not advocate grains and/or grain products. I want to make a distinction with quinoa and amaranth. These two "grains" are not, in fact, botanically speaking, grains at all. They're actually seeds. I do consume quite a bit of quinoa. I soak it overnight (see above link), & get it to the point of soaking where it smells almost "sour." That's when you know its time to discard the soaking water and cook it. If any grain has been pre-soaked, it actually is quite a time saver. It cooks up (particularly quinoa) within 2-3 mins. of high-heat "flash" boiling. Its very time effective. Quinoa has as much protein as turkey, and as much calcium as milk. If someone is a vegetarian, they should absolutely be incorporating quinoa into their diet (please soak first...read above article to understand why this is crucial). When I was doing research in Peru, soaked, fermented quinoa "gruel" was the first baby food introduced post-breastfeeding. It has an extremely high amino acid profile as well.
I have friends who are endurance athletes who consume a high-amount of grain products. Its not my recommendation, however, but they at least can justify the high-carb. caloric intake with the amount of calories they burn per hr., so its unlikely they're going to experience weight gain from it. The old adage of "carb loading" before a workout is now being re-examined by sports nutritionists and physiologists. The jury is still out, however, but I think an excellent read is "The Paleo Diet For Athletes," by Loren Cordain, Ph.D. A longer lasting fuel source for endurance events is actually fat. The good, healthy kind. "Navy Seals" will tell you that during intensive endurance training drills they consume vials of olive oil. Dean Karnazes, "The Ultramarathon Man" was tipped off to this little dietary tip, and hasn't looked back since. He consumes healthy quantities of olive oil as his preferred fuel source during long-distance runs. For folks who may experience a sense of "heaviness" with the combination of exercise and fat intake, my suggestion would be to play with coconut oil. It bypasses much of the break-down process that needs to occur with other fats, & goes straight to the metabolism to fuel it immediately. Coconut oil is also the preferred choice for those who are blood type A, and/or the people who have fat digestion problems (gallbladders removed, lipase and/or bile salt deficiency, etc.) During Adventure Races (AR), or other endurance events, I actually take coconut oil in capsules. Its much more convenient to take it that way, and seems to settle well in my stomach. It gives me a "boost" during any event. If you look at the gladiators of old Rome, historical records of the time state, "They consumed large quantities of raw cream during sports events." Again, we see that fat was the preferred source of fuel for the athletes of history.
Of course, this is a trial and error process for everyone. You will need to "play" with your preferred fuel source, and see how pre-soaked grains feel in your body.
On occasion, I will cook up millet. Outside of quinoa (again, which is a seed, not a grain), its really the only grain we eat in our house. Millet is one of the most ancient grains on the planet. It comes from Africa, & is the main dietary amino acid source in the Sudan and Eithiopia. You rarely see millet "by-products" in the U.S. (breads, tortillas, crackers, cookies), which generally means its still fairly unadulterated. Millet is the only completely "alkalizing" grain there is. It has a complete amino acid profile (which most grains, in fact, are very low in amino acids), and is highly anti-fungal (think disorders such as yeast infections, systemic candidiasis, halitosis, "jock-itch", athletes foot, fungus on the toes, etc.). We use millet in Chinese medicine to help promote fertility, to "hold the baby" (i.e. prevent miscarriage), and to promote healthy "Stomach Qi" (good for gastric ulcers, GERD, gastritis, Crohn's, morning sickness, nausea, etc.). Millet is unique in that it has no phytic acid surrounding the individual grain (see above article), so it doesn't need to be pre-soaked for your body to easily absorb the full nutrient profile, and get maximum nutrition benefits from it.
I hope the above information has been helpful. Another book I'd like to highly recommend is, "Traditional Foods Are Your Best Medicine," by Dr. Ron Schmid, N.D. (the same Dr. Ron who sells the org. glandulars I referred to in yesterday's post at: www.drrons.com) He expounds more on how traditional peoples fermented and pre-soaked their grains for maximum absorption. If you're not willing to do this process with your grains (millet would be the exception), then I would avoid them, and any products derived from them altogether.
If you need some great "Paleo" recipe ideas, please scroll down to the bottom of my blog page to Stephanie Amato's blog-site called "Primal Mama Cooks...and Dishes On Life." She has some great suggestions (which are incredibly tastey, I might add ;-)

City Council Meeting

Residents interested in suggested changes to Springdale's animal ordinance attended the City Council meeting on Tuesday to voice their opinions. One resident said the cost of identifying chips for pets would be too burdensome at $55-$65.

A spokesman for the animal shelter said there would be a one time cost of $20 which would save pet owners money compared to the current $5 per year cost of registering pets in the city.

Every lost pet that can be quickly reunited with its owner is potentially saving another animal from euthanasia by opening up that space in the shelter.

In other news, the city council approved the conditional use permit allowing Ozark Electric Cooperative to erect a communications tower on property located downtown on Emma Avenue.

NWA Online article here.

March 31, 2009 - How We See It Article here.

Northwest Arkansas Animal Rescue offers microchipping for $20.

For Pet's Sake

Humane Society of the Ozarks

Fayetteville Animal Shelter


Q "Almine, What Are Some Of The Best Supplements I can take?" T.S., Boise, ID.


A. The supplements that I prefer are not vegetarian. I wanted to state that upfront, because I do get that question a lot. Questions about supplementation for vegans and/or vegetarians would be a separate post. That being said, I'm meticulous about quality. Quality DOES count. You get what you pay for. I only get grass-fed, humanely-raised, additive-free organic supplements (a mouthful, I know ;-) People ask me how I have so much energy? I have "slower" days, like everyone else, but in general, my energy is very good. One of the reasons for this, I attribute to what I call "ancestral eating." My B.S. is in Medical Anthropology. My Master's is in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I have traveled the world over, doing research in the Amazon to living in the high Himalayas. I've lived in jungles in Central America, doing research on Mayan OB/GYN practices, & have studied throughout Europe with the best Celtic herbalists and homeopaths. My suggestion is this. Research a predominant "strain" or "line" of your ancestry, & read up on what their traditional diet was. Do your best to follow that as closely as possible, & it will be hard to not have good health. Genetics don't change very much over thousands of years. New fangled "faux" foods, such as imitation "milks," "meats," etc. zap energy from you. Your body doesn't recognize them, or how to break them down. An example of this would be COQ10. Your body doesn't recognize COQ10 on its own. However, the plains Native Americans have been shown, through Medical Anthropology, to have the highest COQ10 levels of any traditional people. Why? The plains Native Americans, such as the Pawnee and the Sioux ingested heart. Yes, you read that correct: heart. You may recall this being shown in the movie "Dances With Wolves." There is a saying in homeopathic and Oriental medicine: "Like treats like." You eat heart, to have a strong healthy one. If you choose to eat meat, then my advice would be to eat as much of the animal as possible. This is what your ancestors did. They didn't eat the muscle meat only, which was actually considered the "lesser" meat of the animal. All micro-nutrients, organically bound minerals, and fat-soluable vitamins (which is ONLY found in animal fat...there is no vegan source of fat-soluable vits.) was in the organ meat. Again, quality is of the utmost importance. You cannot ingest organ meats, which have been treated with anti-biotics, pesticides, etc. and expect to feel good. These harmful substances, when given to the animal, go straight to the vital organs. Therefore, you MUST get high-quality organ meats. I ingest a great deal of raw, organic, grassfed liver and heart. I get my liver by the large tub at: www.bodybuilding.com Liver is the highest bio-assimilable iron source in the world. Women, in particular need this. Most iron supplements out on the market (even the "natural" ones) create bowel irregularity. The more active a woman is, the more iron she needs. On "high" exercise days I eat up to 18 tablets of liver. Liver is also one of the highest sources of branch chain amino acids (BCAA's), B-complex, and has up to 30x more beta carotene than carrots. In Chinese medicine we use it for eyesight/night-vision problems for obvious reasons (the high beta carotene content). I get my heart at: www.drrons.com Dr. Ron is a naturopathic physician and grass-fed raw dairy farmer. All of his products come from N. Zealand, where they've never had a case of organ contamination, and they do have "humanely raised" standards. If you eat meat, you're "skimping" yourself nutritionally if you're only eating the muscle meat. For more information on this, "ancestral diets," and the Medical Anthropology of native/traditional peoples, please purchase Dr. Weston A. Price's book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration." Truely, the pictures in there are worth the purchase alone. Or, you may go to: www.westonaprice.org My undergrad. thesis was based on Dr. Price's work on traditional people's and native diets.
Also, I'm a proponent of HIGH-VITAMIN cod liver oil. I emphasize high-vitamin, because it must say that on the bottle, or you're not getting the fat-soluable vitamin amount in the cod liver oil that your ancestors did, when they ingested cod liver oil. You cannot find high-vit. in stores, even "Whole Foods" or any of the health food store chains. Again, you may order this online from www.drrons.com They even have a fermented option, which is a bit more expensive, but worth its weight in gold. It is a completely raw product, rich in enzymes and associated nutrients, and is produced in America by traditional methods with imported cod livers.
In addition, I always take digestive enzymes with my meals, even my raw ones. I eat a diet rich in a variety of fermented beverages and foods. Native peoples get the majority of their vit. C (particularly those above the equator) from fermented foods. There are very few trees of the citrus family in places such as the Alps, Ireland, Scotland and Scandanavia, so Northern European peoples had to improvise by using the "food alchemy" process of fermentation to create a dynamic, bio-assimilable vit. C source in the winter, rich in pro-biotics and enzymes by fermenting their food and beverages such as kraut, olde-world style mead, beet kvass, etc. With the depleted soils, that our food is produced in (even the organic ones) it would be hard to get enough fermented foods and beverages in your body, particularly for the athlete. Digestive enzymes have been shown to decrease DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) post-workout. People can say, "Yes, but I eat an all raw, or the majority of raw food in my diet, so I'm getting enough enzymes." My response, "Not necessarily." Just because you ingest something doesn't mean you digest it. Oriental medicine says, that unless you're living in a warm, year-'round area to have the environment help "warm the middle jiao" (or the digestive system, as we say in the west), eating a perpetual diet of raw food in a cold region will "suppress the digestive fire, and in the long run create weakness." My suggestion is to eat seasonally. Traditional people ate more cooked foods in the fall/winter, and then switched to more raw in the spring/summer. Using the "Macrobiotic Diet" general rule of "80/20" is a good place to start. I "eyeball" my plate, and have 80% cooked food on it in the fall/winter, and 80% raw food on it spring/summer. You don't have to measure this out. Just use your eyes as your measurement tool. Again, when I eat a predominatly cooked diet, I eat and/or drink a good amount of fermented foods and/or beverages with it for enzymes. This is the way of my ancestors. Native people's didn't eat like it was Thanksgiving everyday. Even when their physical activity increased in the spring/summer, statistically, they still ate less in the warmer summer months. Generally, Americans eat like they're about to go into a famine everyday. You will have to take into consideration physical exercise, of course. The amount of food one eats, for obvious reasons, will need to be increased the more physical activity you do. This is a different subject matter all together. For now, I'm referring to "the average American." The above is a good start to getting you on your way to peak health and wellness. Enjoy ;-}

Q. Almine, What Exactly IS "CrossFit"? -J.B., Columbus, Ohio

A. "Crossfit: World-Class Fitness in 100 Words" (according to Coach Glassman)

Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.

"Welcome To My New Blog"

As a licensed acupuncturist & certified fitness trainer, I get many questions a day ranging on topics from herbs to fitness protocols. This blog is a way of streamlining some of the answers to your questions. It is also a way to keep you updated on new findings regarding complimentary medicine, fitness, sports nutrition & various events that may inspire you to move your body & stay healthy. Frequently I'll post fitness activities I'm doing, answers to questions (when I'm able to...some medical questions I may not answer via internet), & various recommendations on how to keep yourself healthy & fit. Thanks for stopping by. I'm just learning about how to blog, so will hopefully be a bit more "sophisticated" with it by adding pictures, attaching articles, etc. in the future. ***Enjoy!***

The Major Tom's at Arlene's Grocery and Ladies Bike Ride!






Well, I survived my first day as an extra on The Good Wife yesterday..Kinda rough doing an almost 12 hour day in the pouring rain on no sleep whatsoever..but I still had fun and met a lot of people and stuff..The more tired everyone became, the funnier it got. We were all slap happy..Gawkers kept asking what we were filming and I would make something different up every time..I said it was "Star Wars-The Prequel to the Prequel entitled the Sqeakuel-IN SPACE!!!" or a remake of The Shawshank Redemption starring Gary Colemen and Barbara Streisand and stuff like that..I also took pics of random weirdos who kept ruining the shots by walking through the set on my iphone to pass the time..I doubt I made it into any shots-maybe one for a half a second when these FBI agents rush in and violently arrest this one guy-they almost knock me over and I act all shocked and scared..I doubt it will make it onto the show though..

Anyway, here are some pics from last friday's Time's Up weekly bike ride through Tompkins..It was Girls Ride night so these gals did a little routine with their bikes to some 80's music before taking off for Astor Place and Union Square..The men sitting around at Tompkins Park were VERY excited and happy to see these girls dancing around with their bikes in their sassy outfits to say the least..

Then I put up of a video of The Major Toms-a band that my friend Alec is in..They are a David Bowie tribute band with Owen Comaskey on vocals, Charles Roth on keyboard, Adam Roth on guitar, Alec Morton on bass, and Joe Vincent on drums. Ziggy Stardust right into Suffragette City! They sounded freakin' amazing..Besides Owen, these guys usually play as The Enablers and are Denis Leary's back up band when he does comedy specials and such..Great great great musicians!

Anydouche, I think i'm taking it easy today..I'll stay in and watch movies and practice the guitar..I think I have some more extra work already this week on a movie being filmed now..It has Julia Roberts niece in it or something and i'll be an extra playing a high school student..Heh-Botox really works! Eleveneteen 4-Eva!!!!

Year of the Patch

KFSM reported yesterday the City of Springdale is referring to road conditions as "the year of the patch," due to damage caused by worse than average winter weather.

The short article goes on to say that the three worst spots are Huntsville Avenue at Elmdale Shopping Center, Randal Wobbe near the railroad tracks and Lakeview Drive by the Springdale Country Club.

Would you come up with the same three?

the geek in me.

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. :)

L.E.S. fixture Cowboy Stan lets loose at Ray's..



Saturday night was a warm, therefore kinda crazy time in front of Ray's Candy Store..all the regulars were out including Cowboy Stan whom Sam Basset made a documentary about a few years ago..He had a brand spankin' new pair of cowboy boots on and his boombox on high and was singing along to Janis, Bob Dylan, Hank Wiliams and more til about 2 am in front of the Yuca Bar. Bystanders seemed curious, confused, and perhaps terrified..it's really hard to say.

Anyway-I'm about to go out and see The Major Tom's-Adam Roth's David Bowie tribute Band..and then stay up all night because I need to be in queens at 7am. This is because I am embarking on my new career as a background extra..Tomorrow I shall cross the street many times very early in the morning for the show The Good Wife. IMPRESSED YET????

from The Notebook

It’s the possibility that keeps me going… and though you may call me a dreamer or fool or any other thing, I believe that anything is possible.

font? =p

Last week I went to visit a bridal boutique to interview a designer. I haven't yet received my personal name card at that time, so I took a general office card and wrote my own name and email address there for me to give out.

When I gave the card to the lovely owner at the end of our interview, he looked at it for a while and said to me,

"What an interesting font..."

My colleague and I burst out laughing and I said, "That's my handwriting actually!"

Random Photos of Weird Shit.









Well here are some random photos in honor of the fact that it is now officially spring! And I'm not drunk! I just wandered around all day and ended up seeing Ghost Writer which wasn't as great as I expected it to be..Tomorrow is in the mid-70's. Are you LISTENING to me people??!!!! Hell yeah! Sure, it gets rainy and colder after that but i'll ignore that fact and it will go away...I love summer. I was outside for literally about 20 minutes today and immediately saw a dozen people I haven't seen since it got cold..That amount tripled when I hit the park..love it love it love it love it...

Here's a pic of me and my most prized possession. The illustrious HANDCHAIR. I am going to paint it pink soon, since it's this ugly shade of bone/beige which reminds one of your granny's panties. Then there's King Missile playing at Bowery at the Tuli benefit last week..Thurston Moore was there too-he is exactly twice my size. EXACTLY. Then Taylor Mead spouting on about something or other which was funny..

Then some large carboard cut-out of some guy leaning on a tree on the street..I really had to resist the urge to bring that thing home and hang it in the lobby of my building. I think it would add that touch of class it desperately needs..Then there is Jessaica Delfino and some dancers performing My Pussy is Magic at Bowery which I thought was damn entertaining..And I couldn't resist a pic of the chinese restaurant called Lucky Wang..That's almost as good as Phucket Thai was..

Anycooch, that's it for now suckers! I predict lotsa shenanigans this week..and I can vend again soon-ish! That's always an experience..

A&P

The Springdale Morning News reported Wednesday that the city's Advertising & Promotion Commission is considering hefty budget cuts to cover falling tax revenue.

The article quotes Chamber of Commerce President Perry Webb as the group's spokesperson. Apparently the chamber provides the A&P staft [sic]. What a convenient way to keep the chamber's paws in the pot.

If the A&P would break their old habit of annually tossing $60,000 at the Chamber of Commerce for their lavish luxuries the problem would be solved.

See how easy that was?

The best news came in a short sentence at the end of the article:

"The commission also approved moving its meetings to the council chambers, in the city administration building. The meetings can be recorded and televised at the council chambers."

This is GREAT news. I for one can't wait to watch these meetings in the future. Stay tuned to Jones Television Network for programming.

The A&P is regularly scheduled to meet the second Wednesday of each month.

Suspicious Activity Report

Just moments ago (10:00 AM on Thursday, March 18, 2010) motorists passing Price Cutter at 1109 N. Thompson Street in Springdale reportedly spotted Jim Phillips (Springdale Liquor Association Cartel) and Arkansas State Representative Jon Woods in the parking lot, cars facing each other in what appeared to be a suspicious exchange.

Exactly what the two were exchanging in such an inconspicuous manner is unclear at this time.

quote of the day

What I've learned is not to change who you are, because eventually you’re going to run out of new things to become.

tomorrow is another day.

I'm having a terrible day at work today. Things just didn't seem to be going my way, and I found myself staring at the blank cursor on Microsoft Word because words were failing me; I couldn't find the inspiration to write the things that I was supposed to write. Normally it would just take me a short while and I could get some writings done in a day, but it just seemed so heavy and difficult today.

My boss also didn't neglect to point out a mistake that I did. Well, of course she didn't.

As my spirit deflated when I finally arrived home, I browsed through my favorite blogs and came across this beautiful quote that seemed to speak right to me. At least, that's how I felt.

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

And how true it is. Inevitably, every job has its ups and downs and mistakes are bound to be made. What good does it do for me to think and be stressed over it? It's all strictly business anyway.

So, for everyone who's also having a bad day today, don't worry. There's always another day. So smile and forget today. I'm lucky I can go home to a warm, loving family that never fails to make me feel better just by being themselves.

Google Fiber for Communities

Google Fiber for Communities is an experimental initiative that would offer open access direct-to-home fiber-optic connections for selected test communities. Towns across America are pulling out all the stops to get Google's attention.

Google hopes the experiment will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. They plan to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations that have a population of at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

From now until March 26, interested municipalities can provide information about their communities through a Request for Information (RFI), which Google will use to determine where to build their network.

I haven't heard a peep if the City of Springdale or the Chamber of Commerce has made any attempt to at least put our name in the hat to bring Google Fiber to Northwest Arkansas.

Maybe we can petition the city for economic development funds if we take it upon ourselves to nominate Springdale here.

Oh-The laughter! I love to laugh!








Here are some delightful treasures to amaze and astound you all! We have proof that Zippy the Pinhead loves me, a human skin bag and matching zip up sweater I would literally KILL for! And other random fun pics! Just because I love you all dearly and i'm a giving person. I just really live to make people happy..and tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day after all..If these pics aren't proof that the three leaf clover is the holy trinity, i'll eat my hat..or make a baby tee out of your skin!
xoxoxo
Eden Bee

Survivor Fan

"Tomorrow we make our apologies, tonight we make our move."

- Tom Westman on Survivor: Heroes vs Villains.

I dislike all the members in the Heroes tribe except for Tom. He's the single most decent and honorable player there, and I'm really upset to see him get eliminated. Stupid b****es and dodos.

That quote is powerful so I shall leave you with it. Good night :)

9:15 am

You may think that climbing up 6 storeys of stairs is a good idea of exercise.

Well. Not when you are sleepy at 9 in the morning and caffeine-deficit. I would argue that it could even be dangerous. Shut your eyes for one second and you may roll down those stairs like a doughnut. Lose a split moment of concentration and you may end up with half your leg. Or brain.

See, it’s not a good idea to take the stairs to the office every morning.

But the elevator in my office building is under renovation, so if you don’t want to take the cargo lift (which is really in poor and scary condition), you are left with no other choice but take the damn stairs.

At least give the girl a plate of McD’s big breakfast first, will ya?

Buy Ray's Thong!




Well, when you pick up that drunken girl at the local dive bar..you know the one who gave all your friends pubic pals..and you're getting down to business in a seedy brothel..You know when she takes it all off there is nothing that will make the night any better than if you see she is sporting a SAVE RAY'S THONG!!! Cafe press now has all kinds of Ray's stuff for sale on their site..T-shirts, Aprons, tank tops..and the THONG! You know you want-no..you know you NEED this stuff!
Happy Ides of March Day!!!