Food, Travel and Beyond...

LIFE IN THE 1500'S

2010-03-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water
temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to
be.

Here are some facts about the 1500s:

These are interesting...

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in
May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting
to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house
had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and
men, then the women and finally the children Last of all the babies. By
then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.

Hence the saying,

"Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw-piled high, with no wood
underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the
cats
and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it
became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the
roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence
the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get
slippery in the winter when wet , so they spread thresh (straw) on floor
to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh
until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A
piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying

"thresh hold."

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that
always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things
to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They
would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold
overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it
that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge
hot,

peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot, nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.
When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It
was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would
cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and

"chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content
caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning
death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years
or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of
the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or

"upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would
sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking
along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They
were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family
would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake
up.

Hence the custom of "holding a wake."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of
places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the
bones to a "bone-house" and re-use the grave. When re-opening these
coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the
inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they
would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin
and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit
out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the
bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a
"dead ringer."

Just For Pinoy Laughs!

2010-03-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Adam & Eve: Islamic Version

2010-03-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

Alarm Clock Problems!

2010-03-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

Nice Story From China!

2010-03-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

A long time ago in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to
live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li
found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all.
Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by
many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li
constantly.
Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never
stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse
was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow t o
her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and
unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great
distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and
dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-
Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs.
She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison
so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, 'Li-Li, I will help
you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I
tell you.'

Li-Li said, 'Yes, Mr. Huang , I will do whatever you tell me to
do ' Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes
with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting
poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause
people to become suspicious Therefore, I have gi ven you a number of
herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body.
Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these
herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects
you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly
towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat
her like a queen.' Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and
hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks
went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the
specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr.
Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her
temper! , obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own
mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.. Li-Li
ha d practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she
almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her
mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and
easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to
love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and
relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever
find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a
real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what
was happening. One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his
help again She said, 'Dear Mr. Huang , please help me to keep the
poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice
woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die
because of the poison I gave her.'

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. 'Li-Li, there's nothing to
wo rry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were
vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and
your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the
love which you gave to her.'

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will
treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: 'The person who loves
others will also be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in
another person's life through you. Send this to your friends and
spread the love..

Remember, if you delete this mail nothing will happen. No one will
die or fall sick. But... if you send it to others you may change
their life. After all you have got nothing to lose but a lot to gain.

'A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one'

Anger Management

2010-03-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

A husband asks his wife,
'You never argue when I get mad at you.
How do you always control your anger?'
'I clean the toilet,' she replies.
'How does that help?' he asks.

'I use your toothbrush.'

Proofs of Parenting Failures

2010-03-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

Check out these photos of parenting failures:

Please VOTE for Jan La'O!!!

2010-03-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hi!

Please vote for Jan La'O!

You have to register first before you can vote. Here's the URL:

http://casting.benetton.com/users/700957-janlao

Go!

An incredible story

2010-02-19T23:45:00.001-08:00

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University . On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.
As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, After which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his
teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly. Probably wasn't the same fucking elephant.

This is for everyone who sends me those heart-warming bullshit stories.

GOOD VISION IN A DOWNPOUR

2010-02-19T23:36:00.000-08:00

> > How to achieve good vision while driving during a
> > heavy downpour.
> >
> > We are not sure why it is so effective; just try this
> > method when it rains heavily. This method was told by a
> > Police friend who had experienced and confirmed it.
> >
> > It is useful...even driving at night. Most of the
> > motorists would turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED of the wipers
> > during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of
> > the windshield is still bad..
> >
> > In the event you face such a situation, just try your SUN
> > GLASSES (any model will do), and miracle! All of a
> > sudden, your visibility in front of your windshield is
> > perfectly clear, as if there is no rain.
> >
> > Make sure you always have a pair of SUN GLASSES in your
> > car, as you are not only helping yourself to drive safely
> > with good vision, Amazing, you still see the drops on the
> > windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling.?
> >
> > You can see where the rain bounces off the road?
> > It works to eliminate the "blindness" from
> > passing semi's spraying you too.?
> >
> > Or the "kickup" if you are following a semi
> > or car in the rain.?
> >
> > When she explained to the highway patrolman what had
> > happened he told her something that every driver should know - NEVER
> > DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.
> >
> > But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise
> > control is on when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact
> > with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making
> > you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly
> > what had occurred.
> >
> > The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the
> > driver's seat sun-visor - NEVER USETHE CRUISE CONTROL
> > WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY, along with
> > the airbag warning.
> >
> > NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE)
> > will not allow you to set the cruise control when the
> > windshield wipers are on. If you send this to 15 people and
> > only one of them doesn't know about this, then it
> > was all worth it.
> >
> >
> > You might have saved a life.

Daddy's scribbles

2010-02-19T23:34:00.001-08:00

Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.

The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he
calls it a poem, and they give him $50."

The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a
piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."

The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on
a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to
collect all the money!"

Nurse Ghost?

2010-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Is this for real? Take a look at the window. Believed to be a nurse who committed suicide at one of the hospitals here in Bacolod City in the 70s. Scary! She was found dead at the restroom of one of the nurse's stations. Scary!!!

Important Information

2010-02-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist)
Bangalore‏

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart ?
Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts
and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?
Ans: No

Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past
the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?
Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in
everything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue
and injury to joints .

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
Ans: Extremely rare

Qn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age (I'm currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?
Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your
body's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Qn: Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?
Ans: All oils are bad .

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP,
Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet
under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a
coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first
hour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?
Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst
youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and
serious heart problems.
Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, edentary
lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people
are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than
Europeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?
Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not
have a software engineer as a child

Qn: Man y of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to
stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions
would you recommend?
Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these
irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?
Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern
anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
Ans : No.

Qn: How would you define junk food?
Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala
dosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the
reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?
Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians
are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?Ans : No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot
of forwarded emails on this)?
Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any
description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest
coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance
since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to
heart problems?
Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your
exercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So,
does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the
house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and
even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and
sitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vul! nerable to
heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease
when compared to day shift workers?
Ans : No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right
combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and
go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce
weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart
attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke
and, go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six
months recommended)...

5-minute Management Course

2010-02-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.

The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.

When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour.

Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.'

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds,
Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and
goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?'

'It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies.

'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Moral of the story:

If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a
position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift.

She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.

The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest removed his hand But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again
said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily
And went on her way.

On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up,
you will find glory.'

Moral of the story:

If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:

A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.' 'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to
be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.'
Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal
masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'

Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after
Lunch.'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4:

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?'
The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.'

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the
rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5:

A turkey was chatting with a bull.

'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.'
'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.'

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch
of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there..

Lesson 6:

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a
large field.

While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to
investigate.

Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate
him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your
friend.

(3) And when you're in deep shit , it's best to keep
your mouth shut!

Banana: All-cure fruit!

2010-02-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!!

Bananas which contain three natural sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose)
and fiber give an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous, 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana
can help us keep fit.It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial
number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily
diet.

Reducing Depression:According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst
people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a
banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that
the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your
mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates
blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in
the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so,
the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to
make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood
pressure and stroke.

[IMAGE]Brain Power:Two-hundred students at a Twickenham (Middlesex, UK)
school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at
breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research
has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making
pupils more alert.

Constipation:High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore
normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to
laxatives.

Hangovers:One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana
milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the
help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk
soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep
blood-sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito Bites:Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at Work?Studies at the Instituteof Psychologyin Austriafound
pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most
obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded
that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our
blood-sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every 2 hours to
keep levels steady.

Ulcers:The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders
because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that
can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes
over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature Control:Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit
that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant
mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.

Smoking Cessation:Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found
in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress Relief:Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing
our potassium levels. They can be re-balanced with the help of a
high-potassium banana snack.

Stroke Risk:According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!

Wart Removal:Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to
kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with
the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or
surgical tape!

Splinter Removal:For those hard-to-remove wood splinters, rather than
poking and prodding with tweezer and needle, take a small piece of banana
skin, large enough to cover the splinter wholly, yellow side out, and
carefully tape it over the splinter with a band-aid or tape. Overnight the
banana and its enzymes will work the splinter out, dissolving it and
sealing the wound. So in the morning, when you remove the band-aid, the pad
will be yucky brown mush and no more splinter!

CONCLUSION:So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you
compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the
carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and
iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in
potassium and is one of the best value foods around!

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say: "A
banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

The funniest Divorce Letter Ever!

2010-02-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Wife:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever. I've
been a good man to you for seven years and I have nothing to show for it.
These last two weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you
quit your job today and that was the last straw.

Last week, you came home and didn't even notice that I had a new haircut,
had cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new pair of silk
boxers. You ate in two minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching
all of your soaps. You don't tell me you love me anymore: you don't want
sex or anything that connects us as husband and wife. Either you're
cheating on me or you don't love me anymore; whatever the case, I'm gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. Don't try to find me. Your SISTER and I are moving away to West
Virginia together! Have a great life!
_______________________________________________________________

Dear Ex-Husband -

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter. It's true that you
and I have been married for seven years, although a good man is a far cry
from what you've been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your
constant whining and griping. Too bad that doesn't work.

I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the first thing that
came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!' Since my mother raised me not
to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment.

And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with
MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork seven years ago.

About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the
$49.99 price tag was still on them, and I prayed that it was a coincidence
that my sister had just borrowed fifty dollars from me that morning.

After all of this, I still loved you and felt that we could work it out.
So when I hit the lotto for ten million dollars, I quit my job and bought
us two tickets to Jamaica . But when I got home you were gone. Everything
happens for a reason, I guess.
I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted.

My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from
me. So take care.

Signed,
Your Ex-Wife, Rich As Hell and Free!
P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this, but my sister Carla was born
Carl. I hope that's not a problem.

Australian Tourism Website

2010-02-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

Is this for real???

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website
and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who
obviously have a good sense of humour.
__________________________________________________

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV,
how do the plants grow? (UK).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them
die.

__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

__________________________________________________

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks?
(Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

__________________________________________________

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list
of them in Brisbane, Cairns,Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

A: What did your last slave die of?

__________________________________________________

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not
.... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings
Cross. Come naked.

__________________________________________________

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? ( USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and
we'll send the rest of the directions.

_________________________________________________

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? ( UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

__________________________________________________

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is
... oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in
Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

__________________________________________________

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? ( UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?

__________________________________________________

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?
(Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is
illegal.

__________________________________________________

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can Dispense
rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All
Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make
good pets.

__________________________________________________

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its
name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum
trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare
them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

__________________________________________________

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you
tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

__________________________________________________

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is
smaller than the male population? (Italy)

A: Yes, gay night clubs.

__________________________________________________

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? ( France)

A: Only at Christmas.

__________________________________________________

Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the Girl I
dated while I was staying in Kings Cross*. Can you help? (USA)

A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

Food as Medicine

2010-02-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

HEADACHE? EAT FISH!
Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches.
So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!
Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season.
Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily..

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!
Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of
tea. (actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from
invading....Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) HONEY!
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes. (when I was
young, my mother would make onion packs to place on our chest, helped the
respiratory ailments and actually made us breathe better).

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has
omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? ? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!
Bananas will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!.
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in
pineapple.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!
Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce
depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers
cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red
pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? ? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green
and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this
condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!
Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood
sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium,
Vitamin E &fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.,

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low
Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants &flavonoids which enhances the
activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer,
heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total
antioxidant power among major fruits &protects the body from cancer
causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good
for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us
young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health
field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds)
away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen
the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also
packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune
system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting
oxidant. Other nutrients ?
found in watermelon are Vitamin C &Potassium. (watermelon also has natural
substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our
skin from those darn suv rays)

Guava &Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for
their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps
prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas
and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those
prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

Pareto Principle

2010-02-13T09:34:00.001-08:00

This was sent by my aunt from NYC... Sharing...

"Interesting quote from the movie "Why did I get married?"
In most cases, especially in relationships, you will only get 80% of what
you NEED and you will hardly get the other 20% that you WANT in your
relationship.. There is always another person (man or women) that you will
meet and that will offer you the other 20% which is lacking in your
relationship that you WANT And believe me, 20% looks really good when you
are not getting it at all in your current relationship.
But the problem is that you will always be tempted to leave that good 80%
that you know you have, thinking that you will get something better with
the other 20% that you WANT
But as reality has proven, in most cases, you will always end up with
having the 20% that you WANT and loosing the 80% that you really NEED and
that you already had.
Be careful in deciding between what you WANT and NEED in your life.

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don't have. "Wow, this
girl in my office is a real looker. But it's not her Wynona Rider features
that got me. I'm crazy about her because she's also understanding,
intelligent, tender - so many things that my spouse is not"

Somewhere along the way, you'll find a woman or a man who will be more
charming or sensitive. More alluring. More thoughtful. Richer. Have greater
sex appeal. And you will find a woman or man who will need you and pursue
you and go loco over you more than your spouse ever did.

Because no wife or husband is perfect. Because a spouse will only have 80%
of what you're looking for. So adultery takes place when a husband or wife
looks for the missing 20%. Let's say your wife is melancholic by nature.

You may find yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cherry laugh no
matter what she says: "I broke my arm yesterday, Hahahaha . . .."

Or because your wife is a homebody in slippers and pajamas, smelling of
garlic and fish oil, you may fall for a fresh-smelling young sales
representative that visits your office in a sharp black blazer, high heels,
and a red pencil-cut skirt Or because your husband is the quiet
type, your heart may skip a beat when you meet an old college flame who has
the makings of a talk show host.

But wait! That's only 20% of what you don't have.

Don't throw away the 80% that you already have!

That's not all. Add to your spouse's 80% the 100% that represents all the
years that you have been with each other. The storms you have weathered
together. The unforgettable moments of sadness and joy as a couple. The
many adjustments you have made to love the other. The wealth of memories
that you've accumulated as lovers.

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don't have.

But faithfulness happens when you start thanking God for what you already
have.
But I'm not just talking about marriage.

I'm talking about life!

About your jobs.
About your friends.
About your children.
About your lifestyles.

Are you like the economy airline passenger that perennially peeks through
the door of the first class cabin, obsessed with what he's missing? "They
have got more leg room! Oh my, their food is served in porcelain! Wow,
their seats recline at an 80% angle and they've got personal videos!"

I guarantee you'll be miserable for the entire trip! Don't live your life
like that. Forget about what the world says is first class.. Do you know
that there are many first class passengers who are miserable in first class
-- because they are not riding in a private Lear Jet?

The main message???

If you start appreciating what you have right now, wherever you are, you
are first class!"

Best Poem of 2008

2010-02-13T09:10:00.001-08:00

This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2008, written by an
African kid

When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray

And you calling me colored ?

Vicks Vaporub - try its magic

2010-02-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

Got this via email as well. Hope this helps.... to those who are having colds, this is it! :)

VICKS VAPORUB - INTERESTING!!!

"During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can
absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes
you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks Vapo rub for years for everything from chapped
lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of
this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists
who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child
(or adult as we found out pe rsonally), put Vicks Vapo rub generously on
the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent,
heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for
many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in
children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it
is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about
why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the
chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise,
finding it to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at
bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children
who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and
persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt
like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes
and believe me, this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds
uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that
she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it
yourself and you will be absolutely amazed at how it works."

DON'T SHUN THIS ONE.. TRY IT THE NEXT TIME YOU GET A BAD COLD

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS FOR LESS THAN $1.00

2010-02-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

Got this via email and I'm sharing this with you...

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt,
poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates
and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to
overcome this?
It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and
boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in
a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.
Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated
poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to
notice the difference which you never felt before.
Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Please forward to all your friends!

The Survival Guide

2010-02-11T04:01:00.000-08:00

Spicy Chicken Breast

2010-02-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
250g chicken breast - skin removed
1 clove garlic chopped
1 tsp chili sauce
1 can diced tomato
1 tbp oil
Juice of 1/4 lemon
salt & pepper
basil leaves
cheese

Procedure:

1. Cut chicken skin into strips or cube (depends on your liking). Marinate with salt, pepper, lemon juice & chili sauce.

In a non-stick pan, saute garlic in canola oil. Once golden brown, incorporate chicken breast. Fry until cooked.

Add tomatoes and let it simmer (until water evaporates).

You may top the sauce on any pasta you desire. As for me, I prefer the Spinach linguini. :)

Lastly, top it with cheese!

The end.

Acrophobia

2010-02-04T00:10:00.000-08:00

I have fear of heights.

While in New Mexico, my aunt wanted me to experience the world's longest passenger aerial tramway. So, we headed off to Sandia Peak which is adjacent to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The aerial view of Albuquerque from the entrance of the Tramway

I think each ticket costs $17.50. Here's a tram descending the Sandia Mountains. I wasn't sure if I want to take a ride on this flimsy looking tram (I know it isn't. It's just me and my nega-mentality working). Well, to save myself from embarrassment, I obliged. My armpits were sweating and so are the soles of my feet. But I survived it! The only way to overcome your fear is to face your fear! Ha! Sorry to disappoint you but it is still my fear. LOL... Haven't overcome it yet.... it will take time!

There are a lot of recreational activity that can be done at the top. You can go biking, nature hiking or back packing. Restaurants are available but I think they open up to a certain time only.

On top of Sandia Peak. It was super cold and I did not bother to bring a jacket. Most of the time I was at the reception area looking at framed insects, etc... It was too cold to stay outside for a long period of time. Can't stand it.

Hiking Trail. If you love nature, this is perfect for you! Highly recommended. :)