A petition you'd be interested in....
A peitition that is the first step to getting the laws changed because we need to be able to protect ourselves and family with out being jailed, when the law enforcement ignores the problem, and waits for someone to be seriously hurt or killed before they act....
Right to protect one's self and family
Target: Rick Boucher, Congressman, US House of Representatives
Sponsor:
Christine Schaffner
People should be allowed to do what is reasonable to protect themselves and thier family. Too often, when someone does do such, they face jail time instead of the person who was harming them in the first place.Imagine how you would feel, if you had to go to the furthest part of your peoperty and let the intruder do as they please. Then you are told, that if you raise one hand in self defense against the attacker, then you'd be the one in jail.
Right to protect one's self and family
This country was founded by people who were willing to take a stand and face the issues that interfered with thier ability to protect thier families. Why is it then, now, people are afraid to protect themselves, because too often the criminals get off scott-free, and the victims are painted out to be the criminal.
A petition you'd be interested in....
wolf's dreamer
arthritis
Types Of Arthritis Treatments
by: Gray Rollins
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not a condition that only old people get. It is a condition that can impact people of all ages, and in severe cases, the pain associated with arthritis can be absolutely debilitating. In its simplest definition, arthritis is the pain that emerges in the area where two joints come together such as the fingers, knees, elbows, hips, and shoulders.
There are a number of tests that can be performed that will help determine the cause of the pain, the degree and frequency of the pain, and the areas most impacted. Once all of this information is gathered, there is a better chance an effective course of arthritis treatments can be offered. Here are some of the more common arthritis treatments.
NSAIDS/Over the counter treatments
NSAIDS, which stands for Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are effective at treating the symptoms of arthritis. Many different drugs fall into the category of NSAIDS, many of which are available only by prescription.
Over the counter medications that reduce pain and inflammation are for many people, effective arthritis treatments. Aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen and ibuprofen are all safe if taken as directed and easy to obtain without a prescription. These types of arthritis treatments are relatively inexpensive and have few negative side effects.
Taken as directed, NSAIDS can help arthritis sufferers get relief from stiffness, swelling, inflammation, and pain in the joints. Before taking any of these treatments however, be sure to discuss the risks and all known side effects associated with taking this type of medication.
COX-2 Inhibitors
These types of arthritis treatments are better known by their brand names: Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra and the like. While these products do an effective job treating the symptoms of arthritis, their effectiveness came with a heavy price in the form of potentially life-threatening side effects. Several of these name-brand products have been taken off the market. If you’d like more information about COX-2 Inhibitors, you should consult your doctor. http://www.arthritisnatural.com/safetyofarthritismedications/
Joint Replacement
This type of arthritis treatment involves a surgical procedure and is most often prescribed for patients with severely damaged joints. During surgery, the damaged joint is removed, and a replacement part is put in place. The resulting pain is mainly caused by the incision and generally will pass in several weeks. After recovery, patients should be able to resume up to 75% of mobility in the affected joint area. Hip replacement is the most common type of joint replacement surgery but regardless of the type, replacement is a very effective arthritis treatment.
Other Types of Surgery
Sometimes rather than replacing a joint, surgery is prescribed to repair a tendon that has become damaged or to remove the tendon’s covering if that is what’s causing the pain. The lining inside the joint cavity is also something that might be removed during a surgical procedure, as could the removal of a bone. Sometimes the joint pain is being caused by nerves that have become trapped and a surgical procedure can alleviate this situation as well.
About The Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.arthritisnatural.com. For more information about arthritis treatments, please visit http://www.arthritisnatural.com/arthritispainrelieftips/.
home remedies
Various Home Remedies
by: Dana Goldberg
What was the first thing your mother did for you when you had a cold? She cooked some chicken noodle soup. It has been proved, however, that some of these various home remedies work. While some border on the outrageous, some may work. Remember, however, that if the problem is severe, to see a health care professional. On to the home remedies!
Acne and pimples: Try toothpaste. The chemicals in the tooth paste that are used to scrub your teeth clean actually dry out the pimples over night. Lemon juice will have the same affect. Be sure to wash with warm water in the morning. If your acne isn’t phased by these two remedies, try boiling 3 teaspoons of basil leaves in 1 cup water and applying it to the affected areas via a cotton ball. Rubbing raw garlic on the affected area will also help blemishes to disappear with minimal scarring.
Bladder/Kidney Problems: Boil cranberries and let me fall apart into the water. Cool and drink the water, and make sure to not add sugar.
Bags Under Your Eyes: Mix 1 teaspoon of tomato juice with a pinch of turmeric powder, half a teaspoon lemon juice and a teaspoon of flour. It will make a paste. Apply around your eyes for 10 minutes and then wash off.
Energizer: Drink a mixture of grapefruit juice and lemon juice in equal parts to eradicate that tired feeling at the end of the workday.
Gum in Your Hair: Surprisingly, this can be remedied easily by soaking the affected hair in Coca Cola. The gum will easily wipe out.
Hangovers: Drink plenty of water! Alcohol leaves the body in a severe state of dehydration. Also, try some honey. The fructose in the honey will help the alcohol dissipate from your body.
Heartburn: Because heartburn is caused by an overload of stomach acid trying to make its way up the esophagus, try sitting up and eating rice pudding that was made with milk. It will help absorb all that extra acid floating around your stomach. If your heartburn reoccurs often.
About The Author
Dana Goldberg is the webmaster of Homeo Home Remdy. A guide to home remedies and holistic cures for common illnesses and ailments. http://www.homeohomeremedy.com.
Blogonomicon
Blogonomicon
Seeking Justice
Seeking Justice
A MM'ers Prayer
A MM'ers Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the spinning slows down to a creep.
May I find a way to ignore the noise
That rings in my ears and drowns out the joys.
Of a long ago and peaceful night of dreams
Too much to ask for, sometimes it seems.
Daylight has come, I've barely slept
I laid in bed most of the night and wept.
The spinning and ringing and feeling bad
I prayed for the days when MM I'd not had.
I wake only to find it's with me still.
And reach for yet another pill.
I pray to be free of this MM of mine
So someday I could walk in one straight line.
Not to run into a wall or a door
And pray that I won't hit the floor
Be able to ride in anything on wheels
Without the ills of tossing my meals.
I pray to someday lead a normal life
Free from MM's constant strife.
For now Lord, all I can do is pray
That you help me through another day.
Help me to get out of my bed
And clear this fog from my head.
Help me to get just one small thing done
Without needing help from anyone.
The dishes or laundry or driving my car
Just to the store, that's not very far.
To do just one simple thing's all I ask
Without it being such a major task.
Another day has come to an end
What's there to show for the efforts I spend.
My head spins in circles, I ran into walls
Took dozens of pills and made more phone calls.
For doctor to help, what good does it do
I tossed every meal, yet kept praying to you.
I know that someday you will hear my plea
And take this disease away from me.
Written by Lynda Brallier
American Morality - A Glimmer of Hope on the Horizon
American Morality - A Glimmer of Hope on the Horizon
Has the United States lost it’s basic principle of morality? Has the United
States moved away from the guiding principles that this country was founded on?
A single line from the Declaration of Independence describes these basic
principles, and it is the meaning of these words which provided the foundation
for the formation of the United States:
"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - Thomas
Jefferson
All Americans are created equal and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
is a right granted to every citizen of the United States. Our founding fathers
acquired these principles from their religious beliefs, and regardless of what
people may think, the United States was founded on Biblical principles. Our
founding fathers did not use certain aspects of the Bible just to satisfy what
they wanted in a country. They used the Bible as a whole in order to create an
understanding of what the basic rights are for an individual. They concluded
that these rights are from God and are given to all individuals.
One of the unalienable rights given by our creator is the right to live our
lives. Our creator placed each individual on this earth for a reason. Is it
not true that other people in the world have that same unalienable right to live
and fulfill God's purpose? So, if this is a founding principle for our country,
does it not follow that we as a country should help others less fortunate then
us? Should not others, who were born in underdeveloped countries, have the same
right to life? In this article, I will address some of these questions, with the
hope that by examining these issues, we can as a society, move in a direction
our founding fathers had envisioned. Americans have lost site of the fact that
excess without giving is not really what our founding fathers had in mind. Lets
examine some examples which are symbolic of this immorality that currently
exists within the American society.
Before presenting this first example, we need to have a clear definition of what
morality is. From WordNet, a lexical database for the English language,
developed at the Cognitive Science Library at Princeton University, morality is
concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong. This
first example of immorality may be considered by many as one that does not have
anything to do with morality, but if you give it more then cursory thought, you
would most likely consider it a morality issue.
This first example has to do with Americans and their relationship with their
automobiles. Yes, immorality can be seen at such a insignificant level. More
importantly, this example shows the pervasiveness of immorality within the
American society. Most Americans, if typical, need an automobile for basic
functioning within most areas of the United States. The automobile has become a
perfunctory status symbol. Many people within the United States can barely pay
their rent or mortgage, but they will shovel out money per month on an
automobile they really can not afford. They spend money per month in the form of
a car payment or lease, just to have a “nice” car.
The American obsession with the sport utility vehicle is one I still do not
understand. One basic argument of the SUV owner is that by driving a SUV, they
feel safer. If your driving skill is so poor that you can not avoid poor
drivers, try working on your driving skill. This to me makes more sense then
driving a tank (SUV) which consumes large quantities of fuel and concomitantly
contributes to an increase in fuel demand. This increase in fuel demand drives
fuel prices upward. With Americans so reliant upon their automobiles, higher
fuel prices mean less extra money in their pocket. Money that could be used to
help feed those dying from starvation throughout the world.
The American car companies for many years pushed the SUV on the American public,
and now these car companies are suffering the consequences. The thinking as to
why these companies offered these vehicles to the American public was that they
thought Americans would continue in their mind set that excess is better. The
American car companies today are doing poorly as a business. They have
continually laid off workers in order to maintain a level of viability. They
have been very slow to innovate and the federal government has had to mandate
fuel efficiency. Because of their sluggish response to the need for fuel
efficient vehicles, American car companies are now suffering the consequences.
On the other hand, Toyota and Honda, companies which have put fuel efficient
hybrids out into the market place, are now doing very well. Toyota is now the
number one car seller in the world. Toyota and Honda have always placed fuel
efficiency as a higher priority. A glimmer of hope lies in the fact that
Americans are starting to create the mind set that excess is not good, and
frugality is the way of the future. Simply put, driving SUVs is not intelligent.
Driving an SUV when it really is not necessary is an example of overindulgence
in the United States. Granted, there are situations where an individual needs a
SUV such as Alaska or any area of the country where road conditions are poor or
winters are severe. Or, there are occasions where material needs to be
transported in a SUV because of it’s increase carrying capacity. In these
cases, there is a legitimate reason to own a SUV because of it’s utilitarian
value. But the majority of SUV owners are not in these situations or extreme
conditions frequently enough to warrant owning such a fuel wasting vehicle.
Driving a hybrid is an example of intelligent frugality. In order to buy a
Toyota or Honda hybrid, you will have to be put on a long waiting list. This is
a good sign that Americans are starting to develop the mind set that having less
is better and frugality is the way of the future.
Our society has been through a period of excess and overindulgence but changes,
hopefully, are on the horizon. Morality in the form of giving needs to be
reincorporated back into our society. It makes more sense to drive a more fuel
efficient vehicle, and use some of the saved money to contribute to the world
hunger problem. For most morally conscious individuals, this type of sustained
and continual activity leads to greater long term happiness.
Giving does not have to be monetary, it can be in other forms, such as giving
time or knowledge. This brings us to our next example of morality reduction that
has been in existence in the United States. Many parents today are not giving
enough time to their children. Children need to be nurtured. A parents wisdom,
gained through a life time of experiences, needs to be imparted to their
children. Parents need to impart to their children the value of giving and a
feeling of concern for others . When I was a child growing up, school shootings
where kids are killing teachers and fellow students, was virtually unheard of.
Today, school shootings are occurring at an alarming frequency. To me, part of
the problem is due to parents not spending enough time with their children.
Again it comes down to giving. In this case, it comes down to giving time and
knowledge. Parents not giving enough time to their children is another example
of morality reduction within our society.
Another example of the immorality prevalent within our society is displayed by
the films which come out of Hollywood today. I am sorry to say that most of
these films really are to put it bluntly, garbage. Most of these films lack the
cerebral quality of the earlier films. From a technical perspective i.e. special
effects, they are excellent, but from a cerebral perspective, they are lacking.
Most of today’s films rely heavily on special effects in order to appeal to the
audience. The common theme for today’s films almost always involves action
sequences, sex, and violence. They are always trying to appeal to the dark
side of human nature with very little thinking required of the audience.
Therefore, most of today’s films are lacking in moral quality. They are
produced only to make money for those who are producing them, without any
understanding to the implications they may have on society, especially younger
people.
Creativity is basically gone from Hollywood and many of the movies coming out
today are remakes of successful earlier films. Once and a while a good film will
be presented to the American public, but generally speaking most are junk. Most
of today’s actors are not really household names. They come and go fairly
quickly and lack the staying power of a John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, or Humphrey
Bogart. These actors displayed a level of integrity and they new about the
personification they were displaying to the American public. They were not
perfect, but they did display a higher level of morality.
Is our society spiraling downward into the oblivion of lost hope? I believe not.
More and more we are seeing examples which display the positive value of giving.
A case in point. Time Magazine finally got it right when they named rock star
Bono, and Bill and Melinda Gates as the Persons of the Year for 2005. They were
named persons of the year not because of anything that happened at Microsoft and
not because Bono is a rock star, they were named persons of the year for their
charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and improving
world health. Finally a media organization is recognizing the value of giving.
Another sign of hope that Americans may be moving away from the mind set of
excess and non-giving, can be seen in the enormous outpouring of giving
monetarily in the wake of the worst hurricane season the United States has had
on record. Americans have also given monetarily to the tsunami relief effort.
Americans have not been giving readily to the current starving in Africa. In
December 2005, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization issued a warning that
nearly 12 million Africans face the immediate threat of famine. Americans have
not been giving to the Pakistani earthquake relief efforts.
This lack of giving is not really due to Americans not willing to give, but
rather due to the lack of media exposure. CNN would rather spend hours talking
about whether President Bush broke the law by wire tapping potential terrorists
in the United States, then talk about the important world issues such as the
thousands that are dying in the wake of the Pakistan earthquake or the starving
in Africa. It is very important that the media expose these type of stories. You
can not give if you do not know about the need.
The point is this. Giving on a continuous basis, produces feelings of long term
happiness. For this country to get back to it’s moral principles, giving to
others in need is one way to move in that direction. Which brings me back to my
original point. Americans need to fully get back to the mind set that giving and
having less is of greater value then having more. We must move away from trying
to produce short term happiness via artificial means.
Artificial symbols such as what type of car you drive, how fancy your clothing
is, or how many vacation homes you can acquire should be of less importance to
any one who has some substance to them. The next time you find yourself
propagating one of these excesses, think of the 24,000 people per day that are
dying of hunger. Think about the six million children under the age of five
which will die of hunger each year. Think about the downtrodden, the abused, and
the tortured. When you think about these things, giving makes more sense. Give
what you can and when you can.
Albert Einstein once said “ the value of a man resides in what he gives and not
in what he is capable of receiving.” What many people do not realize is that
Albert Einstein was a deeply religious man. He knew that only a God could
produce such a complex universe, and that such complexity could not have been
produced by random chaotic events. He saw the order in the universe and the
relation of the universe with God. He simply did not wear his religion on his
sleeve. He also had insights beyond physics in that he realized what truly gives
a man a sense of happiness and inner peace.
Einstein had it right in that happiness does not come from what you hold, but
really from what you give. No matter what your religious belief, a life time of
giving to those less fortunate then yourself, will result in long term
happiness. Give it a try. You might be surprised at the feeling it produces. A
glimmer of hope is on the horizon. The United States can move back to it’s
Biblical principles. But we must all do our part.
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Thomas Sullivan, the author of this article, is a Search Engine Optimizer,
Webmaster, and activist for world hunger elimination. He has built and currently
maintains several websites. A relevant website he currently manages is Hunger Relief Organizations
- World Hunger Statistics.
He also maintains the blog World Hunger News. For
questions or comments you can go to his email on his website.
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