Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Ibrahim Machiwala (Lodhi)'s LiveJournal:

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Monday, May 8th, 2006
12:33 am	Submit Your Article ArticlesBridge is focused on delivering the best and most essential search results. There are different kinds of searches. You can cast a wide net and see what you catch, but we believe there"s a better way. Discover exactly what you need at www.ArticlesBridge.com, using either browsing or searching techniques. Select a specific publication up front, or start with a general search. ArticlesBridge has articles from thousands of resources, We provide quality articles and information to explore the world, events, history and every thing. Authors Interest All Authors are invited to Sign Up for free account and Submit articles at our ArticlesBridge.com directory. Authors blog where we post articles of great authors. You can Register as a blog member to post your experience in our blog. Authors Benefit Create Pen Name. Google and Search Engine Friendly Script helps to promote your article. Easy to built traffic for your website. RSS FEEDS of Categories and also available for individual articles. Click here Article Rating and Author Rating. Reciprocal Link Exchange Link to Us Daily, Weekly, Monthly Article summary, Article list and Many more. Article Category and Authors Subscription. Google Indexed Pages. Comment on Articles. Top Authors and Top Articles Article Search and Search by Author Name Advertise at ArticlesBridge.com Contact us. BlogsBasket.Com - Create Unlimited Blogs! Create your own blog and let us promote your post. http://www.blogsbasket.com Ismaili-Net.Com - 21st Century Worlds Information Guide! Ismailies Service - 21st Century free information platform. http://www.ismaili-net.com Articles4Free.Com - Submit Your Article A Unique Articles Directory http://www.articles4free.com We are on the way to update and promote our directory with quality articles. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
12:31 am	Submit Your Article Articles4free is focused on delivering the best and most essential search results. There are different kinds of searches. You can cast a wide net and see what you catch, but we believe there"s a better way. Discover exactly what you need at www.Articles4free.com, using either browsing or searching techniques. Select a specific publication up front, or start with a general search. Articles4Free has articles from thousands of resources, We provide quality articles and information to explore the world, events, history and every thing. Authors Interest All Authors are invited to Sign Up for free account and Submit articles at our articles4free.com directory. Authors blog where we post articles of great authors. You can Register as a blog member to post your experience in our blog. Authors Benefit Create Pen Name. Google and Search Engine Friendly Script helps to promote your article. Easy to built traffic for your website. RSS FEEDS of Categories and also available for individual articles. Click here Article Rating and Author Rating. Reciprocal Link Exchange Link to Us Daily, Weekly, Monthly Article summary, Article list and Many more. Article Category and Authors Subscription. Google Indexed Pages. Comment on Articles. Top Authors and Top Articles Article Search and Search by Author Name Advertise at articles4free.com Contact us. BlogsBasket.Com - Create Unlimited Blogs! Create your own blog and let us promote your post. http://www.blogsbasket.com Ismaili-Net.Com - 21st Century Worlds Information Guide! Ismailies Service - 21st Century free information platform. http://www.ismaili-net.com We are on the way to update and promote our directory with quality articles. (Comment on this)
Saturday, March 18th, 2006
10:40 am	Insulin Resistance We hear a lot about insulin resistance, but stop and think a little bit, do you think our cells only become resistant to insulin? The more hormones your cells are exposed to, the more resistant they will become to almost any hormone. Certain cells more than others, so there is a discrepancy. The problem with hormone resistance is that there is a dichotomy of resistance, that all the cells don"t become resistant at the same time. And different hormones affect different cells, and the rate of hormone is different among different cells and this causes lots of problems with the feedback mechanisms. We know that one of the major areas of the body that becomes resistant to many feedback loops is the hypothalamus. The various interrelationships there I really don"t have time to go in to here. But hypothalamic resistance to feedback signals plays a very important role in aging and insulin resistance because the hypothalamus has receptors for insulin too. I mentioned that insulin stimulates sympathetic nervous system, it does so through the hypothalamus, which is the center of it all. "Insulin is by far your biggest poison." You may find an excellent source of insulin information at: overcome-diabetes.com The receptors self-regulate. If you want to know if insulin sensitivity can be restored to its original state, well, perhaps not to its original state, but you can restore it to the state of about a ten year old. One of my first experiences with this, I had a patient who literally had sugars over 300. He was taking 200+ units of insulin, he was a bad cardiovascular patient, and it only made sense to me that you don"t want to feed these people carbohydrates, so I put him on a low carbohydrate diet. He was an exceptional case, after a month to six weeks he was totally off of insulin. He had been on 200 some units of insulin for twenty-five years. He was so insulin resistant, one thing good about it is that when you lower that insulin, that insulin is having such little effect on him that you can massively lower the insulin and its not going to have much of an effect on his blood sugar either. 200 units of insulin is not going to lower your sugar any more that 300 mg/deciliter. You know that the insulin is not doing much. So we could rapidly take him off the insulin and he was actually cured of his diabetes in a matter of weeks. So he became sensitive enough, he was still producing a lot of insulin on his own, then we were able to measure his own insulin and it was still elevated, and then it took a long time, maybe six months or longer to bring that insulin down. It will probably never get to the point of the sensitivity of a ten year old, but yes, your number of insulin receptors increases, and the activity of the receptors, the chemical reactions that occur beyond the receptor occur more efficiently. You can increase sensitivity by diet, that is one of the major reasons you want to take Omega 3 oils. We think of circulation as that which flows through arteries and veins, and that is not a minor part of our circulation, but it might not even be the major part. The major part of circulation is what goes in and out of the cell. The cell membrane is a fluid mosaic. The major part of our circulation is determined by what goes in and out. It doesn"t make any difference what gets to that cell if it can"t get into the cell. We know that one of the major ways that you can affect cellular circulation is by modulating the kinds of fatty acids that you eat. So you can increase receptor sensitivity by increasing the fluidity of the cell membrane, which means increasing the omega 3 content, because most people are very deficient. They say that you are what you eat and that mostly pertains to fat because the fatty acids that you eat are the ones that will generally get incorporated into the cell membrane. The cell membranes are going to be a reflection of your dietary fat and that will determine the fluidity of your cell membrane. You can actually make them over fluid. If you eat too much and you incorporate too many omega 3 oils then they will become highly oxidizable (so you have to eat Vitamin E as well and monounsaturates as well) There was an interesting article pertaining to this where they had a breed of rat that was genetically susceptible to cancer. What they did was they fed them a high omega 3 diet, plus iron, without any extra Vitamin E and they were able to almost shrink down the tumors to nothing, because tumors are rapidly dividing. This is like a form of chemotherapy, and the membranes that were being formed in these tumor cells were very high in omega three oils, the iron acted as a catalyst for that oxidation, and the cells were exploding from getting oxidized so rapidly. So omega 3 oils can be a double edged sword. To learn more about insulin, please read: Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure (Comment on this)
10:40 am	The Importance of Catching Prostate Cancer Early Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. The good news is that prostate cancer is very curable. As with any cancer, the outcome is always better if it is caught early. Prostate cancer is associated with aging and men are deemed more susceptible the older they are. Catching prostate cancer early is the best way for a man to increase their chances of survival and that involves knowing the symptoms and seeing a doctor regularly. When prostate cancer is caught early a man has almost a 100% chance of survival. The symptoms of prostate cancer may not show up during the early stages. That is why getting a regular prostate exam is important. The exam can be done as part of a routine physical and is painless and easy to do. The prostate is a small gland that is located under the bladder. When cancer enlarges the prostate a man can experience: problems with urination, signs of blood in the urine, and back pain. These symptoms can also be from an enlarged prostate which is not life threatening. This is why seeing a doctor on a regualr basis is so important. When a man reaches age 50 it is recommended by the American Cancer Society that they be screened yearly. Men at higher risk are African American and have family history of the disease. Treatment includes a variety of procedures from surgery to hormone therapy. Prostate cancer can be fatal, but it does not have to be. It is the most curable of all known cancers and by catching it early a man increases the chance he will walk away cancer free. By knowing the symptoms and getting regular exams a man can catch prostate cancer early. It is imperative that every man understands the importance of catching prostate cancer early. About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides prostate cancer resources at Prostate Cancer Aid. (Comment on this)
10:40 am	Being Overweight Makes Hard The Prostate Cancer Diagnose Have you heard the news about a relationship between obesity and cancer death rate? You should know that researchers evaluate that as many as 90,000 cancer deaths in the United States each year may be linked to obesity and, therefore, could be prevented. Obesity and overweight may make it harder to diagnose prostate cancer, resulting to delayed diagnosis and leading some men at an even higher risk for dying of this disease. This is the conclusion of a recent multi-university study. As a consequence, the study authors are recommending that physicians be especially thorough when investigating fat men for prostate cancer. According to the study findings, up to a level, prostate gland size grows as body mass index (BMI) increases. BMI is a body fatness evaluation formula based on weight adjusted for height. Due of larger prostate glands existed among obese men, doctors may be 20 percent to 25 percent less able to diagnose prostate cancer. Most people don"t think that obese or overweight condition is a risk factor for cancer. Usually, the prostate cancer diagnose is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack Going back to obese condition, the bigger the haystack is, the harder it is to find the needle. Therefore in many obese patients physicians may not identify prostate cancers at the right time. Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in issues affecting men such as obesity and cancer (Comment on this)
5:41 am	Podcasting Your Own Podcast The hippest new way to broadcast information on the internet, podcasting, crept into internet vocabulary in 2004. And the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary have selected “podcast” as the word of the year for 2005. Why is podcasting cool and so compelling? Unlike traditional broadcasting, podcasting allows you to select what you want to download to your iPod or other portable audio device and listen to later. A podcast is the wide and growing world of a blog. And of course that means it’s just as cheap: free and easy for all. The major difference is that a podcast involves audio content feeds of “live happenings” while a blog records what happened in the past. So podcast yourself and you’ll catch up with the growth of technology. Especially, no one controls over what you have podcast. No rules, no regulations. Adam Curry, known as an MTV VJ to some but to most as one of the fathers of podcasting, said, "You can hear all these shows that are completely free and open with no FCC restrictions and they don"t have to sound the way radio traditionally has." He added, "Anyone who wants to sell anything or communicate through audio can use this technology." And since anyone can be a podcaster, the cost of publishing free speech plunges. Podcasting is a cross between a radio show and a blog. The great thing is anyone can produce a podcast with little budget and basic knowledge of IT. Once you have produced your own podcast, and as long as you keep on podcasting, you can invite people to subscribe to receive updates regularly instead of having to revisit your site. This is done in a very similar way to using an RSS reader to syndicate blog. Now, if you want to be a celebrity overnight, all you need is a little piece of software, sort of Music Morpher Gold, a microphone and a great concept and you"re an instant podcaster. Not only will your voice be podcast, the many formats of podcasting will also let you publish your video or pictures. That’s the reason why you can use DVD Player-Morpher Gold to produce those stuffs. Have a future in the entertainment industry. Host your own talk show, music radio, personal radio show, etc. Or just distribute your audio and video via the internet. It’s all about convenience! Let everyone see your music as “a proper podcast” in place of "a common crap”. Louise shares some tips to make a podcast. Check out http://www.audio4fun.com for more information. (Comment on this)
5:41 am	iPods and Podcasting for Learning and Sales Enablement The Corporate Podcast Push What do Duke University, IBM, Capital One, Newsweek and Barenaked Ladies all have in common? Answer: they are all reaching out to staff, students, and customers with a new and powerful tool - podcasting. You may have heard about podcasting from your kids or on the news, but podcasting is much more than some phenomenon started by the rock and roll or techy crowd. Podcasting is a powerful communication tool being used to reach global and mobile audiences, save people time and, most importantly, really connect with their audiences in news ways - in today’s communication/message glut. But let’s take a look at what podcasting is, who is using and why it is so effective for both business and individuals. First, we’ll look at the size and scale of the podcasting phenomenon… -- A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that more than 22 million American adults own Ipods or and MP3 player and 29% of them have downloaded podcasts or listened to podcast that have been “pushed” to them. That equates to 6 million people listening to podcasts. Market researchers and analysts continue to buoy up podcasting"s future with latest figures suggesting a US audience alone of 56 million by 2010. -- Jupiter Research recently predicted that US digital music player sales would grow to 56 million by 2010, up from 16.2 million in 2004 and by 2010, three- quarters of all people who own portable digital music players will listen to podcasts, a growth from less than 15% last year. What is podcasting? Whether you describe it as the greatest communication tool since email, or as an RSS feed for audio, podcasting is a way to “push” audio content to subscribers for virtually zero cost. Podcasting allows anyone (me, you, IBM, or NBC) to post audio content that gets pushed to any subscriber’s desktop and then directly to their iPod or MP3 player. This is global. Anyone, anywhere can “tune in” to your podcast and learn what you have to offer or say. You don’t need to be NBC with a global distribution infrastructure. Now people can “subscribe” to a podcast and have new content “pushed” out to them without them having to surf the web, download MP3s or burn CD’s. Ideas/Stories/Voices ? Audio/MP3’s ? Internet ? PC ? MP3 player All the arrows go in one direction. Once someone has subscribe to your podcast, your content get “pushed” out to them. There is no turning in to stations with podcasting. You don’t have to visit a website to find streaming podcasting. Podcasts show up (pushed) when new content is produced. If you are a subscriber, you get the podcast right then. All you need is an Ipod or MP3 player of any kind for listening, thus the word podcasting. The term "Podcasting" is derived from the iPod (Apple Computer’s popular device for playing compressed audio files) and "broadcasting." Podcasting allows for audio files that would have been previously downloaded and played on a personal computer to be automatically downloaded and listened to on portable music playing devices (such as the iPod and other MP3 players). Having originated in the world of blogging, some have even referred to podcasting as "audio blogging." For many, podcasting is a logical next step from blogging. As Business Week Senior Writer Stephen Baker observes, "The heart of the podcasting movement is in the world of blogs, those millions of personal Web pages that have become a global sensation. In a blogosphere that has grown largely on the written word, podcasts add a soundtrack." Now that you know what a podcast is, let’s look at where they come from: who is producing the “pushed audio content.” Who is producing podcasts? The answer is wide ranging. Teenagers, techies and rock musicians were early adopters. Today you see the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Business Week, ESPN and news programs of all types producing, distribution and marketing podcasts. The number of podcasts available is growing at a very rapid pace. In late 2004, there were close to 500 podcasts available. Today there are over 10,000 different podcasts to choose from. Now that podcasting has becoming more mainstream, corporate and non-corporate organizations are getting into the act, using podcasting to connect with customers, students, staff and partners. Here are some examples: -- Duke University handed out iPods to their entire 2005 freshman class so they could receive podcasts that included university news, class work and social content. -- Capital One University has handed out over 3000 iPods to support corporate training and communications. This includes, leadership training, sales, customer service and other topics. -- IBM has created podcasts to show their thought leadership to customers investors and prospects. -- Keane Inc. has handed out over 100 ipods to their global sales force to share training, customers’ stories and organizational content. Why have these and other organizations gotten into podcasting? They have gotten into it because they know their audience (whether internal or external) is inundated with text-based content: emails, articles, the web portals, and marketing messages. Podcasting allows them a unique medium to reach and connect with their audience. iPods will be part of Duke University’s new Duke Digital Initiative (DDI). "We"ve been focusing on iPods and other mobile computing, but our wider goal is to integrate technology broadly into the teaching and learning process,” said Peter Lange, Peter Lange, the university"s provost and senior academic officer. “The iPods have helped jump-start this process, and we plan to keep pushing ahead." Listeners love podcasting because it delivers rich content directly to them, in a form that allows them to save time, control what they hear and listen to while commuting, working or whenever it works for them. No longer is learning tied to a book, PC screen or web portal. Content is still king in any communication, especially recorded podcasts. Podcasting is the delivery tool. Compelling content ensures continuous listening and not a flip of the power switch or turn of the dial. Should you podcast? Podcasting is not answer to all your learning and communication problems. As great as audio is, like any medium, it has its limits. While audio allows users to multi task, it is not easily scanned - which means you consider the listeners needs very carefully. You must provide value. Corporate podcasting is different that individuals or media podcasting. The standard for a corporate podcast is much higher than for individual or media. Your staff and customers expect certain from your communication with them. You can’t just offer long-winded rants, self serving commercials or cute content. It is all about value. When producing that value, ask yourself; who and how will you produce your podcast? Who will review it and how? Will you get it transcribed? There are legal issues to consider as well. Despite these issues podcasting can be simple. Once you have determined your format and established a process the whole process gets much easier. Still podcasting takes a proactive effort, a planned approach, creative development and the courage to try new things. But if you have the courage, and are willing to put the front-end work into it podcasting and mobile audio can provide huge benefits. If you would like to: -- Reach a global audience -- Connect with that audience in a new and effective ways -- Save your audience time -- Share the passion, experience and stories of your business …try podcasting - it works! © 2006 Tim Keelan, StoryQuest Inc. Tim Keelan is the founder of StoryQuest Inc. A Chicago based firm that produces peer-based mobile audio learning and communication tools. You can reach Tim at tkeelan@storyquest.us or by calling StoryQuest at 312-258-0111. (Comment on this)
Friday, March 17th, 2006
9:56 pm	Vasectomy Reversal -- Men Can Also Change Their Minds! Prior to undertaking a vasectomy reversal, it is important to discuss with your doctor all aspects of the operation and your personal situation, to pinpoint significant issues that will impact upon the ultimate result. The extent of the period from vasectomy to reversal is an important factor, as success rates are known to diminish the longer the break has been. This is due to the increased probability of pressure injury sustained in the epididymis or even a blockage within it. Your doctor will be interested in any history of complications that may have occurred after the the vasectomy such as scrotal hematoma or any post operative epididymis infection. Your partners reproductive potential will also be assessed and you must realise that if you were was having difficulty with conception before your vasectomy, this situation is unlikely to change after vasectomy reversal. Also, your specialist will try to procure your surgical notes relevant to your vasectomy to determine, if possible, how your vasectomy was actually carried out. For instance, depending whether the vasectomy was performed high up on the tube or quite low down near the epididymis, could have an effect on the difficulty of the reversal surgery. Your physician will also analyse your physical make up to get a superior understanding of what he will encounter during the reconstruction. Small spongy testes can suggest impaired sperm manufacture and project a poor result. An enlarged or uneven epididymis can mean secondary epididymal impediment that may require a vasoepididymostomy. On the other hand, an incidence of a sperm granuloma is a satisfactory diagnosis as these sperm granulomas allow for the venting of high pressure away from the epididymis, and subsequently allowing protection from pressure induced harm. If you have a sperm granuloma your prognosis is good irrespective of the period since the vasectomy took place. When a very harmful vasectomy has been undertaken, it is conceivable that large portions of the vas have been excised or cut out. This may mean that extensions of the incisions may be required to establish a tension free reconnection leading to more complicated surgery. Naturally, if a satisfactory outcome is obtained by re establishing sperm flow in the man, a successful pregnancy can only be obtained providing the female is also capable of giving birth. The woman should organize for a gynecological examination to guarantee that she is able to conceive. How near she is to menopause can be also be an issue because of the time that it may take for sperm flow to be re established in the man following a successful vasectomy reversal. These are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account before undertaking a vasectomy reversal. Author Antony Wilton discusses important mens issues on his site Vasectomy Reversal His regularly updated blog can be found at Vasectomy Reversal Blog (Comment on this)
9:56 pm	A Guide to the Testosterone Patch Using testosterone patches is a tried and true form of testosterone replacement therapy. The patch is a transdermal system consisting of attaching a patch to a shaved area of the scrotum. This provides a therapeutic and steady level of testosterone to the bloodstream. The testosterone patch is changed once a day and the reason it"s used on the scrotum is because the skin is thinnest there allowing for more efficient delivery of the testosterone hormone. Testosterone replacement therapy utilized by such forms as testosterone patches is the most common treatment for male menopause -- sometimes called andropause. By supplementing the testosterone level and countering the effects of aging, which diminish this crucial hormone, a testosterone patch may alleviate many of the symptoms of male menopause. Some of these symptoms from male menopause can include: low sex drive, fatigue, depression, lack of confidence and assertiveness, and even more. Before testosterone patches existed, methods for raising testosterone blood levels were less safe. The most common offenders were anabolic steroids which were known to cause kidney disease and liver damage. Oral androgens can cause liver toxicity. Applying a testosterone patch in the morning achieves the best effect. The natural patterns of the body are at their peak at this time. The patch thus mimics the natural pattern of the body and delivers 4-6 milligrams of testosterone. An advantage of testosterone patches over other male testosterone boosters such as injections is that they provide time-released dosages. Whereas peaks and valleys may be incurred with other methods, employing a testosterone patch causes little instability with time. The use of testosterone patches has been around for the last two decades and some have received approval from the FDA. Indeed, the their usage has become the most widespread method of treatment for testosterone deficiency. This is because as many as 92% of men ministered to with a testosterone patch have been shown to receive an adequate serum level. Testosterone levels decrease rapidly after the age of 50. By age 80 blood levels have dropped to 20-50% of peak levels. Men with obesity, diabetes or hypertension may be in special need of a testosterone patch according to research conducted. A vigorous and active sex life can be prolonged well into one’s 70’s and 80’s with adequate testosterone. Men may experience diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, muscle weakness, loss of body hair, depression, and mood disorders as a result of testosterone deficiency. Decreased frequency of erections, bone density losses, and other negative secondary sexual characteristic changes are also experienced. Muscle weakness and osteoporosis also go along with testosterone deficiency. The use of testosterone patches may be one way to alleviate these conditions. Other factors can make a testosterone patch more useful in treating male menopause. Exercising and eating a healthy diet can help boost testosterone. Abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is a key to keep testosterone levels healthy. The use of testosterone patches is a viable option for testosterone replacement therapy to be discussed. Learn about other testosterone replacement therapies at http://www.testosterone-booster-guide.com (Comment on this)
9:56 pm	What You Need to Know About Low Testosterone Levels In Men Low testosterone levels in men have been linked to increased risk of heart disease, impotence, osteoporosis and depression. Symptoms of low testosterone in men include low sex drive, muscular weakness, fatigue and others. Traditional testosterone replacement therapy, which involves ingesting or being injected with synthetic testosterone, may pose risks of prostrate cancer, prostrate disease, heart disease and high blood pressure. So, what about a male testosterone natural replacement? Except in cases of testicular or glandular dysfunction, a man’s body produces testosterone naturally throughout his life. What concerns most men are symptoms associated with decreased production of testosterone or lower than normal levels of testosterone. So, how does a male get that testosterone level back up to normal? Is there such a thing as male testosterone natural replacement therapy? Stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle can inhibit the body’s ability to produce testosterone. Using anabolic steroids, like synthetic testosterone, for sports performance enhancement or because of hormone replacement therapy will reduce the body’s production of testosterone. So, these lifestyle issues can lead to low testosterone in men. To naturally increase the body’s ability to produce testosterone, males should address the mentioned lifestyle issues. This would be step one of a male testosterone natural replacement therapy. Eating large amounts of fried foods and fatty dairy foods (like whole milk and processed cheese) can lead to obesity which (see above) can lead to low testosterone levels in men or women. Excess caffeine and sugar over stimulate the adrenals and can lead to low testosterone in men or women. So, a healthy diet is important. Remember to take your vitamins. Zinc is particularly important in testosterone production. What about male testosterone natural replacement supplements? Remember that just because a supplement is “natural” does not necessarily mean it is safe. Some herbal remedies have unwanted side effects and can even pose serious health risks. Tribulus terrestris is one of the safer ones and, according to research done in Bulgaria, it can increase testosterone levels as much as 40%. It has been used by athletes, who wish to enhance their performance without using anabolic steroids, like synthetic testosterone. So, tribulus terrestris may reverse low testosterone levels in men and may be the best male testosterone natural replacement supplement. Learn more about low testosterone levels in men and discover ways to boost this hormone at Testosterone Enhancer Guide (Comment on this)
9:56 pm	Discover the Causes for Low Testosterone Male menopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 55 due to men becoming low on testosterone with age. Though the causes for low testosterone may present an interesting topic for discussion, for the men (and women) who suffer from it, it"s a matter of reclaiming the joy in their lives. Although the causes of low testosterone can be very technical and difficult to understand when medical jargon is employed, this article will attempt to explain why some men are low on testosterone in while keeping the jargon to a minimum. The cause of low testosterone is when the testes produce less testosterone. Having low testosterone is a byproduct of complex physiological, hormonal, and chemical changes. Low testosterone starts with a complex chain of signals that begins in the brain. This chain is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis where a very intricate physiological sequence of events is triggered. The production of two hormones by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus decrease resulting in the Leydig cells of the testes manufacturing less testosterone. These causes for low testosterone may come from damage to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or testicles inhibiting hormone production. Natural life events oftentimes makes this a difficult to avoid occurrence. The causes for low testosterone that occur in men can also be a result of one’s lifestyle. Lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, smoking, and excessive drinking are all causes of low testosterone that can be modified by changing one’s living habits. These factors are responsible for some of the aforementioned gland damage. Other reasons men may be low on testosterone include poor circulation, and hypertension. Use of prescription or non-prescription medications may also be a cause of low testosterone. Psychological problems, too, it is believed in some circles might cause a man to suffer low testosterone although there is no consensus on this. Although the causes for low testosterone vary and many of them may be out of one’s control, remedies in the form of testosterone replacement therapy do exist. These remedies consist of boosting a man low on testosterone to a normal testosterone level, thereby hopefully alleviating any symptoms from which he was suffering. Another interesting approach to treating the cause of low testosterone is through using an herb called tribulus terrestris. This practice has been taken by many different cultures as a natural way to treat men low on testosterone along with a variety of other sexual conditions for centuries. Tribulus terrestris takes a different approach. It may address one of the other causes for low testosterone related to the pituitary gland. The secretion of Lutenizing Hormone by the pituitary gland is a cause of low testosteron because lutenizing hormone stimulates the testes to produce testosterone. When a man is low on Lutenizing Hormone, he becomes low on testosterone. Using tribulus terrestris is a safe way to try to raise one"s body"s testosterone production because currently it has no known serious side effects. This is opposed to some forms of testosterone replacement therapy that can create undesirable side effects like male breasts in men, acne, deepening of the voice, and more. The causes for low testosterone are complex and can only be understood in general terms by the layman. However, clear steps can be taken to remedy the situation of a man being low on testosterone thus reducing unwanted sexual problems in one’s second half of life. Learn about natural and prescription testosterone boosting therapies at http://www.testosterone-booster-guide.com (Comment on this)
9:56 pm	Forget Everything you THINK you know about Stopping Premature Ejaculation - things have Changed! Good things are happening in the world of men’s health and fitness - and they’ve been slowly improving for a while now. A perfect example of the kind of positive progress I’m referring to is in the subject of male sexual health, namely: premature ejaculation. That’s quite a daunting, almost terminal-sounding term. But in essence, all it really means is that your performance in bed - its length in minutes, or maybe even seconds - isn’t something you’re happy with. If you’ve recognized that your sexual abilities aren’t quite up to scratch and have therefore decided to seek an answer to the problem (a way of massively improving your lasting power FOREVER) then you’re already way, way ahead of most guys who share the same concerns as you over their love-making prowess. And let’s face it: what guy WOULDN’T love to quickly and permanently boost their sexual skills? So, what do most men already know about how to extend sex? Well, I suppose there’s the old classic: taking your mind off it. You can think of non-sexual things, like dead animals, or perhaps try difficult mental arithmetic. This technique works some of the time, for some men. Another method of lasting longer many men try is wearing two condoms, to decrease the sexual sensation and thereby lengthen their performance. Again, this sometimes works for some guys. I think you’ve probably already spotted the problem with both of these methods, though - they decrease your fun and enjoyment. Sex should be exciting and hassle free! Negative thoughts have no place in great sex. And wearing two condoms, while it may give you a little more time to work your magic, can actually cause more problems than it solves - like a tear caused by a trapped air bubble. That’s the last thing you need. Thankfully, many simple and stress-free techniques exist that can be used instead of the two above. Combining just a few of the most effective of these methods is often enough to eradicate the problem of premature ejaculation forever. Let’s take a look at one of the best right now: Breath Control. “The way I breathe? I doubt that has much effect on my sexual performance!” Most men are right to be sceptical - especially considering the fact that many of us guys have tried controlling our breathing while having sex without any noticeable improvement. The reason we don’t see much difference in performance length and overall impressiveness, quite simply, is because we’re not doing it right. We’ve summarized the technique of deep breathing in our heads and in so doing removed any benefit PROPER breath control can have for us men while getting down and dirty. Let’s look at how it SHOULD be done: 1. Keep your focus on your lower torso. As you breathe in, push out your belly and your lower ribs. Don’t suck your stomach in like most people do when they try to breathe deeply. Think of the breathing action as going out and in rather than up and down. If your chest moves before your belly, or you notice your shoulders rising and falling significantly, you’ll simply reinforce the habit of anxious breathing. Anxious breathing massively decreases your ability to control your sexual arousal. Deep breathing does the reverse and gives you the control back. 2. Keep the breathing natural; don’t try to force it to be perfectly regular. Allow each breath to take the shape and time that feels natural to it. Then rest a little at the end of the out-breath, and wait for the in-breath to start when it wants to. Forcing regular breathing during sex, which MILLIONS of men do daily in, actually creates more mental anxiety than it eradicates. Keeping it natural and unforced further de-stresses your mind and by doing so gives you heightened control over your body - namely, your sexual pleasure. There’s a multitude of other 100% natural, easy to learn and even easier to use, techniques that can - however much of a surprise it comes as to most men - enhance your performance in bed. You can it make it longer and much more pleasurable to your and your woman, without the pills, sprays or creams so many other men who seek an answer to premature ejaculation use to disappointing effect. Practice the deep breathing technique above, use it during sex and reap the sexual control benefits! Then, if you want to improve still further, learn and use a few other great arousal management methods. For more information on how to easily and effectively control your performance in bed, check out Edward White’s book: "The Ultimate Orgasm and Ejaculation Control Manual." It’s available at his site: http://www.prejaculation.com (Comment on this)
9:56 pm	Discover the Complications of Low Testosterone Many men feel that changes in their mood or physical abilities are indicators that the days of getting older have finally arrived. What they don’t know is that a lot of symptoms that seem like the effects of aging are actually signs of decreasing testosterone levels. Men often have the misconception that low testosterone levels only show themselves through low libido or hair loss but those are just a couple of the complications of low testosterone. Depression testosterone Testosterone is a hormone that affects mood, energy, weight and sexual arousal. These are key factors that contribute to a persons well being and overall disposition. When testosterone levels in men drop, beginning as early as mid to late thirty’s, depression is very common. Men who begin to experience mild to severe mood swings, poor mental and physical performance or just a sour outlook on life are often showing signs of complications of low testosterone. While dealing with these issues many men have difficulty fulfilling their roles as father, lover and businessman. Erectile dysfunction and Testosterone Familiar complaints of many aging men are changes within their sexual relationships. There are definite parallels between erectile dysfunction and testosterone levels. Not being able to perform at all sexually or not being able to have the stamina of times before is one of the more common complications of low testosterone. Many men lose the desire they once had to engage in sexual activity and see a swift decline in their ability to connect sexually with their partners. Closely related to sexual and erectile dysfunction is self image. Depression caused by low testosterone levels can contribute to weight gain thereby diminishing self image. Testosterone helps regulate fat distribution so when there are drops in amounts of testosterone fat is likely to begin collecting in certain areas. In many men this happens to occur in the abdomen area. Muscle weakness develops and just an overall lack of energy settles in. Unwanted extra weight and the lack of energy to exercise to get rid of it pose a problem to many men with this condition.These things coupled with depression are the reason many men feel they have hit the dreaded midlife crisis. Studies have shown that decreased levels of testosterone can attribute to the development of insulin resistance and that men who have diabetes have lower amounts of free and total testosterone than men without diabetes. New research has also shown that diabetic men with extremely low testosterone levels are more prone to develop atherosclerosis (artery hardening), which can lead to heart attacks. With such serious complications of low testosterone it is a scary thought that approximately 13 million men in the U.S. have this problem but only a mere 10% receive treatment for it. That means that a friend, spouse, father, or uncle you know probably suffers with this silent nemesis and has no idea that they are symptomatic. If you are a man that feels that you are experiencing complications of low testosterone it is to your benefit to seek medical advice. Learn more about complications of low testosterone and testosterone boosting therapies, both prescription and natural, at http://www.testosterone-booster-guide.com (Comment on this)
10:25 am	Women Who Date the Clasic Bad Boy, Pinocchio! (Part One) Now some men may be six feet tall, own a platinum card, retain a drivers license, able to die for our country, and saddle up to the bar stool legally; but it does not guarantee that they are and adult. These are owls and crows with degrees. Or Monkeys with wigs. Then others are more like Pinocchio falling from addiction, to abuse, and prison. In some cases, they are not even adolescent yet. But still boys waiting for the maturity of puberty to come on. My advice to you women who are dating them, jump ship! If you stay with them, here is the fairy Tale to save them that has been in the movie AI and saving nemo. But maybe after this story you will not. Pinocchio Now Geppetto wanted a son. But he was not ready yet to raise one because his temper was great. He was not taught enough by his own parents example to be a fine parent. But he made a son anyway. Now like father like son, Pinocchio was a rascal like his old man. Which made things worse for him. For every time Pinocchio got in trouble, it reminded Geppetto of the shame and trouble he brought his own father. This only mad him more angry at Pinocchio. Once out in public, Geppetto was seen thrashing Pinocchio. Which he was sent to prison for. During this time Pinocchio raised himself. He took to doing everything he wanted to. Jumping through brooks, through dales, and fields. Always watching out for the police who was after him originally on the day they arrested Geppetto. One day Pinocchio returns home to find a Cricket talking to him. This Cricket has lived in the house for a hundred years. He warns Pinocchio if he does not learn to earn a keep by hand and mind he would turn into an ass. So Pinocchio throws a hammer at him and kills him. This Cricket was a minute version of Merlin. The old sage that lives in our mind. Also these can be external real people who speak outward of what we know we should be doing. It is like the angel on the shoulder who gets knocked off for the promises of fun and easy pursuits by the devil on the other. But they are both our friends who come to us in our youth. Like Merlin advising Arthur before he pulls the sword of adulthood and direction from the stone, the Cricket had came to teach this boy how to be a good King of his own life. This begins the long arduous road to redemption for Pinocchio. He becomes like many believing that the devils path of denial and ease will bring him to heaven. But the devil will be his friend. Like his father, Pinocchio will find himself in prison in time too. So Pinocchio with no trade or eduction finds himself hungry in his house alone. Except for a single egg in the corner. He cracks it open to cook an omelet. But a Chick flies out and thanks him for his help and flies away. The egg is the symbol of the soul, and his is cracked. The chick, like at easter, is the resurrection of our redemption into better people. Which is far from coming for our little Pinocchio. This is the first of many bird references within the story. Alchemy which is the spiritual practice of turning the lead of your soul into gold is referred by many as the Secret language of Birds. Giving up for the night, Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on the foot warmer he hoped to cook the omelet on. Being made out of wood, he woke in the morning to find his feet burned off. The feet is the symbol of parental foundation, which he has none. Geppetto is released from Prison that morning to find his son alone in the house. Geppetto has no key to get in and calls to Pinocchio. But Pinocchio can not make it to the door. He is reluctant to let the father back in. But Geppetto makes his way in through the window and is feeling great guilt over leaving Pinocchio to raise himself he ignores his son refusal to let him in and promises to make him new feet. He also gives Pinocchio his only three pears and starves himself. Pinocchio eats them all without sharing any. Pinocchio is so grateful for the pears that he promises to go to school and become a good boy. So Geppetto sells his only coat, being an old thin man cost him much, so Pinocchio can buy an ABC book. But before Pinocchio can buy such a book, he spends his money on a puppet show. At the puppet show the puppets treat him like a brother. But the puppet master finds him and wants to use him as firewood to cook his meal on. Pinocchio talks his way out of it, but the puppet master calls for Harlequin to be placed on the fire instead. But Pinocchio pleads for his new found brothers life and saves him. For his kindness, the Puppet master gives Pinocchio five gold coins for his poor father without a coat. Pinocchio means well. He has shown compassion for his brother, but society is a mean mistress. Far worse than any lover nature pretended to be with her storms and famines. For society is filled with cats and foxes waiting to prey on your desires and weaknesses. Pinocchio is enticed by a fox missing its paw and a blind cat. Enticed in believing that beyond the Town of Simple Simons lay a field. A field that is so magical it is called the field of Wonders. That if anyone was to place a gold coin buried within it, it would sow thousands in its place by morning. A bird tries to warn Pinocchio about this bluff, but he is snatched out of mid air by this blind cat and eaten for his troubles. Instinct is overcome by greed. So Pinocchio journeys on with his new found friends a short distance to this field. The devil promised a short cut, but as Pinocchio finds that the devil’s short cut always makes one weary. So our group falls to an inn for the night. The Fox who could not think of eating more than a cracker eats an ox. Where the cat who says he ate before his journey tonight falls to eating the herd the ox came from. But Pinocchio who is lost in his dreams loses hi hunger. The group adjourns for the night. Pinocchio awake in the middle of the night to get his friends to continue onto the field. But they are gone leaving the tab and a message to meet them under the a tree in that field. Pinocchio’s first gold coin is lost. On the way he meets with the cricket once more. Like Merlin, Gandolf, and soon you will find out Dumbledor have all returned from the dead to advise us. The voice we ignored telling us the right thing to do has never left. Only occasionally we allow it to sneak in to advise us to ignore our ego and do what is right. But it makes no promises and calls for work. The cricket warns Pinocchio once again that wealth only comes from the work of mind and hand. But it falls on wooden ears. At the tree Pinocchio is confronted with assassins who try to steal his money. Pinocchio places it in his mouth and bite off one of their hands when they try to steal it. These assassins were the cat and fox in disguise. So the capture Pinocchio and hang him by his neck on a grand oak. Expecting to find him dead in the morning with his mouth open and the coins littered on the ground. The hanged man in the tarot cards which is taken from the myth of Odin who had given himself to himself on a tree for nine nights to gain illumination. It is the act of dying to oneself that brings on a new job, the end of a habit, or the courage to leave our abusive spouse. It is the act of killing misses Smith just to become Joan. The act of quitting the job to become Frank. It is sacrifice of what is killing us no more faster than cigarette do. An old axiom is, if you want to boil a frog you must turn up the heat slowly. Most of what is in life that kills us comes on this slow and is easy to be denied. But a fairy that denied him access to her home when he was running from the assassins has pity for him now. She sends a falcon to free him and return him to he house. This is the woman who can only fall in love with the bad boy. Some one she can save. This urge tends to be grown in a child when a parent does not act like one and falls abuse to the world or the other parent. So the child becomes the adult to soon in vain attempts to save the parent. In hopes the parent will love and save them. When they find themselves incapable of saving the parent, they try to save the world. But they are not all sweetness and light, for just like their parent they have a hyde side. Every victim needs a slayer and the king is twin to the fool. Tables turn quick in this world. An owl, a crow, and the cricket returns to doctor our near dead Pinocchio. The Owl and Crow are the air bags of wealth and position young boys in our society must admire to become. But Pinocchio knows truth, if education and work make you like them, he wants nothing of it. But Cricket abuses him ones more for his sins. Being half dead the Fairy tries to give him medicine. This medicine is trying to point out Pinocchio’s faults so he can change his life. But he will not hear any of it without the sugar of the sweat tongue. In praising him to do better, Pinocchio never hears his faults until two black rabbits come into the room carrying a coffin. How many times does one come near to prison, death, or suicide before he changes his ways. He is scared straight. But it becomes too much for the youth to continue without the constant fear of death in his mind. So relapse is imminent for these people. Always two steps forward, three steps back. The abuser in the codependency relationship is always sorry the day after and treats his partner like a god or queen for a couple of weeks until society pulls the rug out from him again. And back into the abuse of his or her partner. Now The Blue Fairy wants to save his father and Pinocchio and has sent for geppetto to move in. The woman in this relationship does not only see her mate but also her father in him she wants to save. So she asks Pinocchio about his money. Like Irish women in Ireland during the thirties, they new their men will spend the dole in the bar if they did not go with them. So she asks where is the money? He says he lost it and his nose grows. Only to have woodpeckers whittle it down when he confesses. On a side note. I knew a woman who went from codependent relationship to another. She had a lie detector test to tell if you had been drinking. She would get more than your nose to grow and check the salt content in your semen. Saltier the more you were drinking. But on the way on meeting Geppetto half way he meets the cat and fox again. They convince him to go with them to the field to bury the coins once more. But Pinocchio ignores his instinct once more when he sees the cat missing a paw. Oh well. Now they walk through Simple Simon Town. A town like an crack alley. Filled with animals who gave everything they owned for an instant fix in this world. Hairless dogs, featherless peacocks, and sheared sheep. The only ones who rode in fine cadillacs was the foxes, crows, and vultures who fed on these people. The pimps, dealers, bosses, bad parents, and politicians. On past the town they go to the Field of Wonders where Pinocchio buries his money. He returns in the morning to find a parrot laughing at him for believing the cat and fox. So he runs back to the town to report the robbery, but it is himself in turn he is sent to jail. Like Father like son, swearing he did nothing wrong for he was only an accomplis to his own down fall. To be Continued...... Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin is proprietor of Docspond Life Coach Services providing Individual Counseling, Group facilitation, and key note addresses that speak to the heart of the mission while delivering the bottom line finacial growth. Helping millions find their bliss and return meaning to success! Guaranteed 20% improvement in your quality of life after the first meeting! Also is the propietor and designer at Norgeforge Illumination Studios that will SEO illuminated design giving Aesthetics to traffic driven sales. So get out of the cold and get Norgeforged! (Comment on this)
5:04 am	Interview With Peter Lewis, Author of "Treehouse Chronicles" Reader Views is happy to have with us, Peter Lewis, author of “Treehouse Chronicles.” Welcome Peter! Irene: Peter, you have a book here that is very unlike other books. Tell us a little more about it. Peter: “Treehouse Chronicles” is a story about people, the joys of working together, and the wonder of the natural world, all wrapped around a dream shared by kids of all ages-the creation of an enormous treehouse filled with odd contraptions, secret locks, furniture made from trees, and a drawbridge activated by gravity and falling boulders. It"s a hardcover, large format book full of photographs, sketches, and watercolors. But it"s more than just big and pretty: it has a wonderful message - it"s a coffee-table book with heart. It"s the story of what happens when big people decide to be kids again and they have tools and lumber. I call the book my "master"s thesis on irony" because it explores the ups and downs (pun intended) of living a dream which on some days seemed like the greatest adventure in the world, and on other days seemed like the biggest mistake I ever made. I kept a journal during the construction and the 1400 pages that I amassed form the heart of the book: from day 1, when inspiration struck, to day 1028, when I splashed the last bit of shellac on the last stair tread. It"s the story of an ordinary man who goes on a great journey without ever leaving his back yard. Irene: What inspired you to publish this book? Peter: I"ve written a bunch of books and this was my first book of whimsy (and it won’t be the last). I published this book because people need to know that childhood never really has to end, and that being a grownup isn’t just about going to meetings and paying bills and shuttling kids to soccer practice and answering e-mails. Although chronologically I was in my 40s when I built the treehouse, the whole time I felt like I was about twelve-and I had the time of my life. Irene: Tell us about yourself and how “Treehouse Chronicles” reflects on your own life. Peter: I grew up in a family where imagination, creativity, and industry were highly prized. My parents didn’t encourage me to think outside the box-they told me they weren’t sure there was a box. (My father, who is 80, builds boats.) This idea of pushing, learning, and experimenting, has stuck with me my entire life. But, we weren’t just idle dreamers-there was a practical side. When I was little, my mom said to me, “Dreams need feet, Peter. They’re no good stuck between your ears.” She meant that the “doing” part of dreaming was even more important than the “thinking” part-she (and my dad, too) wanted results. (It was okay if the dream was silly-as long as you got it done.) Irene: You were very fortunate to have parents did were so upbeat. They seemed to be ahead of their time when you were growing up. Did you appreciate their encouragement when you were growing up? Peter: In most ways my parents, and my early years, were fairly conventional: two parents, two kids, dog, house in the suburbs (fortunately surrounded by forests and swamps). My dad was a mechanical engineer; my mom was mostly home, but worked a little. Typical for the 1960"s. My parents were different-although I"m not sure "ahead of their time" describes them. I certainly appreciated the freedom they gave me to get a feel for the creative life. We had rules, to be sure, but my parents weren"t afraid of saying "yes," whenever I wanted to try something. They let me keep snakes in my room (and in my pockets); I was allowed to climb on the roof (as well as trees) starting when I was about six; tools and lumber were everywhere for me to experiment with; playing in the swamp behind the house was considered normal. My parents told me I could do anything. I believed them. Irene: Do you have children? If so, do you give the same encouragement your parents gave you? Peter: I have two children. And no, I don"t give them the same encouragement my parents gave me-I give them more. My typical response to "Daddy, can I?" is, "YES!" I only say no if something is truly dangerous or unethical or would hurt someone else. The pat answer that most parents give their kids is "no." They often do this because "yes" would inconvenience them or make them look odd to their friends and neighbors (or both). I think that"s sad. Lest you think our home is chaotic, let me reassure you that it is not. Both my kids are respectful, studious, well behaved, and motivated to succeed in life. They have been encouraged to learn the value of initiative and hard work and they know where life"s real boundaries lie. My son is a junior at a prestigious engineering school and will likely go on to get his master"s degree in nuclear engineering (he wants to work in the field of marine architecture). He is my best friend and when I get older I want to be just like him. My daughter is tall and lovely, reads several books a week, and is about to help me renovate our barn just in time for her new horse. She"s only 13 so she"s not sure what she wants to be when she gets older (notice I didn"t say "when she grows up"), but she"s already talking about college. (By the way, both kids are home schooled-all the credit goes to my wife, Karen.) Karen is the rock in the family. She"s German, and very pragmatic. Without her we"d be completely out of control. She doesn"t climb trees or keep snakes in her pockets, but she does cheer us on. Occasionally she says "no" and it"s always a good thing when she does (it saves us trips to the emergency room). She"s wonderful and the love of my life. Irene: T.B.R. Walsh is the illustrator. Tell us a little about Mr. Walsh and how he became part of your book. Peter: Ted is my friend, business partner, and a craftsman and artist. He helped conceive of and build the treehouse, and his artistic talent helped make the book truly special. He grew up in northern Massachusetts and on the Maine coast and his artistic bent showed up early. Before he turned four, he drew a three-dimensional cow. “There’s something wrong with this kid,” his dad said. “We’ve got to get him tested.” He has studied the history of art in New England and Italy, dabbled in experimental archeology and comparative ancient languages, once built a Celtic wheelhouse, and restored a 37-foot wooden sloop (which he sails on the coast of Maine). After college he taught art history, history, and architecture design at a private secondary school for nine years where he slowly lost his mind. He taught wilderness and leadership skills at a prestigious wilderness medicine school in New Hampshire for many years, and lives in a cottage in the woods with a wolf. Irene: When you were trekking with your camera and journal, were you aware at that time your findings will end up in a book? Peter: Very early on, as I was tinkering with design ideas for the treehouse, it occurred to me that this was going to be a series of mishaps that many people would find interesting-I can’t imagine not deciding to do the book. I’m always looking for the extraordinary in ordinary things, so writing a book about my little adventure hanging a cottage in the sky was inevitable. Irene: Much of your book is about nature. From this, I gather that you bond with nature and the creatures in it. Tell us about your experiences. Peter: Again, this stems from the early years of my childhood. I grew up in the woods, spent much of my free time exploring the local hills and swamps, and frequently snuck wild things into my room (logs full of ants, snakes, big rocks, bird’s nests, bee’s nests, turtles, leaves, live squirrels, etc.) My parents encouraged all this (except for the ants, which my mom had to vacuum up). We spent summers deep in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York on a lake where we had to take a boat to get to our camp. I thought it was paradise and I spent much of my time fishing or knee-deep in muck bonding with frogs. I went on to get a degree in forestry, and though I never worked in that industry, my love for wild places has never waned, (e.g. I spent twenty years on-and-off as a professional mountain guide). I feel most at home in the forests and mountains and streams. Irene: The book is about fulfilling a dream. In reality, whose dream is this? Peter: It"s certainly my dream-at least in the sense that I was the guy who first had the nutty idea. But, there were many conspirators, and, if this project was anything, it was a magnet for people who don’t take life too seriously (my father and my son in particular). I would have friends call me up and say things like, “Hey, I’m not busy on Saturday, can I come over and help you lug heavy timbers up a ladder? Please?” So, at least in a sense, this dream of mine was contagious and when it was over there were dozens of people whose lives had somehow been enriched by it. And perhaps it wasn’t even the concrete dream itself-the indisputable fact that we were hanging a three-ton house in the sky-but rather the idea that this sort of thing was not only possible, but should be encouraged. I’ve had many readers tell me that this book has inspired them to throw convention to the wind and follow their own dream. I love the way that makes me feel. Irene: As humans, one of our greatest needs is to belong - be needed. You filled that need for your friends. Do you believe that your dream became your friends’ reality? Peter: I hope not. I hope this dream we all shared will motivate my friends to go out and do their own great (if offbeat) things. And I hope they invite me over when they need help. Irene: There is a deep message in “Treehouse Chronicles.” Please tell us what it is that you hope your readers will “get”? Peter: I’ve probably already answered this: • Dreams need feet. They’re no good stuck between your ears. • Childhood never really has to end. • Don’t take life too seriously (and don’t worry if people think you’re a nut). • The natural world is a wonderful place; spend more time there. • Creativity and hard work have their own rewards. • You don’t have to travel to some far-flung corner of the world to have an adventure-I had my greatest adventure in my own back yard. Irene: Why this message, and not some other message, like hiking is fun. Peter: Because this message (described in the bullet points above) can be applied to anybody, anytime, anywhere, doing anything. It is not bound by social status, or financial security, or cultural convention, and is not limited to any one activity. P.S. I’m not sure hiking is fun; my knees hurt (unless I’m running). Irene: Explain to us about the squirrel - the squirrel with an attitude. Peter: Vinny (Vincent R. Thugrat) is a red squirrel whose great grandfather came over on the boat from the Old Country. He is the principle antagonist in the book and my archenemy. He owns the tree (and, he thinks, the entire forest), and sees me as both a trespasser and a vandal. He is loud, obnoxious, and leaves cigarette butts and turds everywhere. He chews on woodwork, steals insulation, parties until the wee hours of the morning, and is just an all-around grouch. We constantly bicker and he always wins because he’s louder. I’ve often thought of killing him, but he has bigger, more thuggish cousins (all named Vinny) who swing baseball bats. Irene: Does Vinny’s character resemble anyone you know? Peter: Danny DeVitto in the sitcom Taxi. Irene: What was your purpose of including the squirrel? Peter: I had no choice. He threatened my family. Besides, he offers a kind of Mob-style comic relief. Irene: It sounds like Vinny has a deeper message than just being a nuisance. What message does he give? Peter: Don"t give Vinny too much credit. He"s just a squirrel (and not an overly bright one at that). He"s made up of equal parts angst, opportunism, and territorial imperative. He gets far more press than he deserves. Vinny does not represent some deep and repressed feelings of anger or inadequacy that I have. He"s just a common thug and we play him up in the book and in interviews because he makes people laugh. Irene: Thank you Peter. I can’t help but smile thinking of how much fun you had writing this book. And, needless to say, your readers will get a charge out of it too. Is there anything else that you would like your readers to know about your or your book? Peter: Making the book was as fun and creative as making the building-and it was inside work with no heavy lifting. Irene Watson is Managing Editor of Reader Views http://www.readerviews.com (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 16th, 2006
8:04 am	As Consciousness Refines in the New Energy We Are Beginning to Glow in Oneness Over the past 50 years we have watched the advances in computer technology. As the components get smaller and operate on more subtle levels of matter, we see the power and speed increase. There is a message here for our own human intelligence. It is time we realized where the power is within the human mind. - Is it in the physical brain? Is it in the consciousness? The power comes into the human mind when we integrate the human experience on all levels and in all aspects of what it is to be a human being. Awareness and self-knowledge are the keys - awareness that consciousness is much more than our brain: the brain is just the computer of the body. What creates the difference is, to become aware of the example of the computer and the refinement of technology. We are becoming aware that we can think on finer and finer levels of our existence just like the computer. Human consciousness is becoming multi-dimensional, multi-layered and multi-facetted. As our awareness integrates we start to combine our mind, emotions and feelings into a seamless flow of consciousness, which is integrated with our environment in both time and space. Just as the components of the computer are continuously being miniaturized and taken to ever-finer levels of existence, now human consciousness is refining its operation on many levels of existence simultaneously. We no longer rely solely on the brain. We operate on all levels of existence through the cells, not just electrically through the nerves, or chemically. Consciousness has moved down the layers through the molecules and atoms of our body: all are taking an active part in human awareness. We are now learning to transcend our human body altogether and think consciously in our spiritual, non-physical energy. We know that below the level of the atoms our consciousness changes from physical to non-physical as the small subatomic particles turn from solid to wave or from physical into light. We are aware of our consciousness communicating with the underlying field of space - or vacuum - that is filled with the "dark matter" that underlies physical existence. Human awareness is passing through the light into the spiritual realms and into the primordial soup of dark matter. It is human consciousness that is waking up this universal oneness, as we each breathe our awareness into these finer and finer levels of being. We start by feeling empty inside, like a void, as we breathe our awareness into these subtle areas of consciousness. The dark matter starts to come to life and glow within its Self. We become super-radiant beings of light and the Universal Mind flows through us. Human consciousness is coming home as it joins back with the Universal Mind that underlies physical existence in the spiritual, non-physical layers of creation. Many people are starting to have out-of-body experiences as their awareness comes home to their Higher Self. They realize they are one with the whole universe and can astral travel to any part they choose. As more and more of us wake up to our universal nature, so the universe wakes up to us. The dark matter which science has known about for years is starting to glow and radiate unity. We are beginning to see the futility of wars, and religious and racial conflicts, as we realize we are all part of the same one field of life. As this life glows and becomes charged with its own awareness, the whole universe is becoming synchronized and co-ordinated from within. Naturally we stop ripping each other off, as we realize we are only hurting ourselves. The need for money as a medium of exchange is naturally disappearing. People are giving to each other and sharing all their abundance, and abundance is being experienced by all. And so it is. Message channelled by George Lockett (C) Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved. * New book * "A Journey into the Self -- the multi-dimensional nature of being human": HealerGeorge Web Site and New Book Read HealerGeorge’s Blog: Journey into the Self or ask at question at: Ask HealerGeorge (Comment on this)
8:04 am	Computer Consulting Time Constraints Where can you find time to do it all? How can you devote time to finding long-term B2B computer consulting clients when you"re already working 60, 70, 80 hours a week? There"s no easy answer. In this article, you"ll learn some possible options for finding long term clients in computer consulting. Do a Time Study Really looking at where you spend most of your time and figure out if there are some things that you"re doing that you can afford to delegate (or automate or eliminate). For instance, if you"re sitting there building PCs and putting in motherboards and power supplies 10 hours a week, that"s something you can delegate. If you"re sitting and minding the retail traffic in a retail computer store and you have someone else who can do that for a day a week, that is something you can delegate, too. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate Think about what you can safely delegate based on the staff that you already have. Then you can free yourself up for a day to a day-and-a-half a week to start working on actively cultivating B2B computer consulting clients. What to Do With the Extra Time This delegation can free up some time to go out to networking events, planning, marketing campaigns, going out on sales call and making follow-up phone calls. The Bottom Line about Computer Consulting Time Restraints Unfortunately, if you"re already working a ton of hours, you somehow just need to find the time. Think through your time management challenges. Look at where you really spend the bulk of your time every week and figure out if there are a few things that you can delegate to free up some time for the marketing. Really plan how you"re going to develop this part of your consulting business. Copyright Notice: Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consulting Blog. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance} Joshua Feinberg can help you get more steady, high-paying computer consulting clients. You can learn how too. Sign-up now for Joshua"s free audio training program on the Computer Consulting Blog. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006
11:15 am	Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Calculations with Percents How important on a scale of 1 to 10 would you say knowing how to do basic percents was? Personally, I cannot think of a more important basic math function than this. Yet most people struggle with the very basics of percent calculations. This should not be the case. My aim in writing Arithmetic Magic was to show people that they can do basic arithmetic, and this once realized would empower them to study math at a higher level and become more interested in this most precious discipline. Let’s look at what a percent really means. Percent from the Latin literally means “per hundred.” A percent is one part out of a hundred. Ten percent literally means “10 parts out of the hundred,” or “10 parts per hundred.” When we take a percent of a number, we are actually taking a portion of that whole. In other words, when we take 10% of a quantity, we are trying to calculate a portion of that quantity equal to 10 parts out of one hundred. If you read my article “Fractions, Percents, and Decimals,” then you know that these three mathematical entities are one and the same thing: that is a percent is a decimal is a fraction. Consequently 10% is nothing more than 1/10 of the whole. Now as a decimal, 10% is 0.1. To take 10% of any number we need only shift the decimal point of that number one place to the left. So 10% of 50 is equal to 5. (In a whole number the decimal point is not written but can be found immediately to the right of the last digit. Thus in 50, the invisible decimal point is after the 0, that is 50 can be written as 50. ) Based on this principle, and this principle alone, we have a way of calculating percents very easily. How you say? Let’s get into this. We use the following facts: 10% is 1/10 of a number; 1% is 1/100 of a number (a two decimal shift to the left) or 1/10 of 10%; and 5% is half of 10%. To get a percent of a number we use simple combinations of these facts. Watch. Suppose you want to calculate 20% of 40. Now 20% is twice 10%. So get 10% and multiply by two: thus 10% of 40 is 4 and 20% is 8. Abracadabra. You want 21% of 40. No sweat. 20% is 8 (just done) and 1% is 1/10 of 10% of 40 which is 0.4 (a two decimal shift of the decimal in 40 to the left) Therefore 21% is 8.4. You need 35% of 50. Okay, 10% is 5 and 30% is three times this or 15; 5% is half of 10% or half of 5 or 2.5; put the pieces together and you have 35% of 50 is 15 + 2.5 or 17.5. To show the sheer beauty of this method, let’s do one more: calculate 28% of 62. We can do this several ways. Let’s break down 28% into 2 x 10% + 8 x 1%. Now 10% of 62 is 6.2, and 20% is double this or 12.4; 1% is 0.62 and 8% is 8 times this or 4.96 (granted this is harder, and you probably need to study my techniques a bit more in-depth to do this. See “Arithmetic Magic” on my website); thus 28% of 62 is 12.4 + 4.96 or 17.36. Nice job! So you see, working with percents is not difficult at all once you know the tricks. And you should know them since everyone works with percents. Now you can impress your boss with your new-found math skills Joe is a prolific writer of self-help and educational material and an award-winning former teacher of both college and high school mathematics. Under the penname, JC Page, Joe authored Arithmetic Magic. As a result of this publication, Joe was invited to be a guest on the television show the Book Authority. Joe is also author of the charmingly pithy and popular ebook, Making a Good Impression Every Time: The Secret to Instant Popularity; the seminal collection of verse, Poems for the Mathematically Insecure, and the creator and scriptwriter of an upcoming DVD series that is both visionary and highly educational. The diverse genre of his writings (novel, short story, essay, script, and poetry)-particularly in regard to its educational flavor- continues to captivate readers and to earn him recognition. Joe propagates his teaching philosophy through his articles and books and is dedicated to helping educate children living in impoverished countries. Toward this end, he donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every ebook. For more information go to http://www.mathbyjoe.com (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006
11:28 am	Avoiding GPS Theft There has been a lot of reported vehicle break-ins with satellite navigations units stolen from the vehicles. This I will say is partly due to the growing popularity of satellite navigation units. A lot of the owners leave the windscreen mounts of these devices attached to the windscreen when they detach the units, this is a give away signal that leads to the vehicle being broken into with the vandal looking for the device in the dashboard. My solution is simple, get a windows or symbian smartphone, that is compatible with a navigation software and use that for your navigational needs. These smartphones are really getting smarter, you would want to look for a series 60, 80, or 90 symbian phone or any windows powered mobile phone. Bluetooth functionality is a prerequisite as that is what is used to connect to mobile phone to the portable bluetooth gps receiver. Get yourself a compact buetooth gps unit like the holux gpslim 236, that is currently the smallest unit and you are done. Before you talk about screen size, I will say the screen size isn"t that bad at all from experience. Most smartphones have enough screen display size to do the gps justice. There are a lot of advantages to this setup. One thing I will say is I have never heard of a car being broken into because of a phone cradle in sight but leave a gps cradle in sight and you could be asking for trouble. In the United Kingdom you can get a free contract smartphone like the nokia 6630/6680 and alternatively if windows is your thing you can get an orange spv c500/c550/c600 or the t-mobile variants, you can get a navigation software with a bluetooth gps receiver for less than £200 and you are good to go. Francis Ononye writes about satellite navigation (Comment on this)
11:28 am	How Accurate is GPS? Today"s GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to parallel multi-channel design. Garmin"s 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall houses. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin® GPS receivers are accurate to 10-15 meters on average. Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability can improve the accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or any fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get even better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS. The 18-24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,500 miles an hour. GPS satellites are powered by solar energy only. They have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there"s no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path. 16 years as an officer in the Norwegian army. See my pages: http://www.gps-info.org/ and http://www.lincoln-navigator.org/ (Comment on this)