LINKS 4 LIFE

Why Bank Your Baby's Cord Blood?

2009-11-21T17:02:00.000-05:00

Why Bank Your Baby's Cord Blood?

Dear Friends:

I recently received this solicitation in my inbox. It might be of great interest to you.

While we do not offer medical, legal, financial or any other type of professional advice or expertise here at LINKS 4 LIFE, and while we will not be a party to any debate about stem cell research, or any other ethical, religious or political issue, there is a concentration of stem cells in a newborn's umbilical cord which can be extracted and preserved without any harm or injury to the child.

These cells are naturally compatible (and will continue to be) with the baby's physiology and immune system, and there is increasing scientific evidence to support that these cells have the inherent potential to be life-saving, should the baby, through the course of his or her life, need certain types of emergency medical help from a donor. These cells have the potential to assume many different roles within the body which may at some time become compromised through disease or injury.

Just think about it. The umbilical cord, which would routinely be clipped off and discarded, contains special cells which can be stored ("banked") to be used someday in the event that your child needs them. While research as to the potential of these cells is ongoing, the notion of "banking" these malleable and incredibly adaptable cells seems to make sense. No life has to be taken in order to obtain these cells. They are like found money -- a veritable Navel Reserve (I couldn't resist a horrible pun).

We do not endorse the company whose ad appears below, and we do not attest to their legitimacy, pricing structure, or programs. We are simply saying that the idea of preserving your newborn's umbilical cells it is worth an investigation. And if this particular company does not meet your acceptance criteria for any reason, there are other companies and organizations which perform similar services.

The ad which follows is for the purposes of information only. No recommendation, endorsement or warranty is made or should be implied regarding the advertiser's company or services:

Call Now to Learn More

1-888-275-5570
From one of our experienced Cord Blood Specialists

Give Your Baby Every Advantage for a Healthy Future

Why Bank Your Baby's Cord Blood?

•	Breakthrough new uses for stem cells are showing promise in the treatment of brain injury and juvenile diabetes.
•	Lifesaving cord blood stem cells have already been used to treat nearly 80 serious diseases.
•	CBR® is the world's largest, most experienced cord blood bank and is the #1 choice of Ob/Gyns and expectant families.
•	Don't miss your one chance to save your baby's cord blood for your family. We hope that you found this information helpful. Faithfully, Douglas Castle ------ Douglas Castle's Secret Blog Links! http://twitlik.com/DC1 http://twitlik.com/Braintenance1 http://twitlik.com/HM1 http://twitlik.com/IEP1 http://twitlik.com/Internationalist http://twitlik.com/GlobalFuturist http://twitlik.com/TC http://twitlik.com/TNNWNewsletter Receive your free subscription to The National Networker Newsletter and The BLUE TUESDAY REPORT. Click on this thing: *[[][^][]]*

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA November 2009 Bulletin)

2009-11-18T18:39:00.001-05:00

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA November, 2009 Bulletin)

Dear Friends:

Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder are serious health problems. The fact that you can function despite these terrible sensations and thoughts that battle to dominate your life, steal your joy and bring you down does not make them any less of a problem.

Serious depression and all of its menacing and hateful cousins are medical ailments which require professional intervention by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other skilled healthcare provider, either alone in some combination.

Sometimes treatment requires a combination of medication, nutrition, exercise and counseling. Whatever it takes -- please do it. No one deserves to suffer with debilitating emotional problems. Put aside the stigma and "folk wisdom" that depression is a character flaw or simply a bad attitude. Get help now. If you were a diabetic, would you stop taking insulin because you regarded a medical dependency as a character flaw? Of course not!

DBSA is a wonderful organization, and I support them and the work that they do.

Feel free to forward this post to a friend or family member in need.

Faithfully, and with great empathy,

Douglas Castle
http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

November 2009

Douglas, you rascal, you:

Welcome to the November 2009 edition of DBSA's e-Update! If you have any feedback for us, please e-mail discuss@DBSAlliance.org.
» To view this e-mail in a web browser, click here.
» To send this e-mail to a distribution list, provide this shortcut link: http://www.dbsalliance.org/eUpdate1109
» To change your username, password, e-mail preferences or to unsubscribe, please visit www.DBSAlliance.org/MyProfile.

Save the Date

November 21, 2009: National Survivors of Suicide Day
November 27, 2009: Deadline to submit your story for new book, Back from the Brink
December 1, 2009: Deadline to submit videos for 2009 “Facing Us” Video Contest
April 29-May 2, 2010: DBSA 2010 National Conference: Celebrating 25 Years of Peer Support

<><><><>

Announcing the DBSA 2010 National Conference this Spring
Join us for our 25th Anniversary this spring at our 2010 conference, “Celebrating 25 Years of Peer Support.” Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind conference at a beautiful resort. READ MORE

Building on the Dream
Over 250 people attended the 4th Annual Rebecca’s Dream Gala in Chicago, where ABC’s Paige Hemmis accepted the Legacy of Life Award. READ MORE

Send Us Your Story
Submit your personal recovery story as a video, and share your experience through the 2009 “Facing Us” Video Contest. Contest ends December 1. READ MORE

December Peer Specialist Training
Apply for the December DBSA Peer Specialist Training, and help others find recovery. Space is still available. READ MORE

Help Plan the 2010 Chapter Leadership Forum
Attention all DBSA chapters: Do you have a topic suggestion for the next Chapter Leadership Forum? The 2010 conference is coming soon, and we need your help. READ MORE

Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
Help DBSA understand the issues about mental illness that people face every day. Your thoughts and opinions are crucial. READ MORE

What Treatment Strategies Work for You?
Take a few minutes to share with others the kinds of strategies and tools that have been the most helpful in your recovery. READ MORE

Wellness & Inspiration: Lists, Codes, and Laughter
“We live with serous illnesses, but that does not mean we have to always deal with it seriously. Learn to laugh….! "Read more of the inspiration shared in the Facing Us Clubhouse. READ MORE

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
~Albert Camus

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

730 N. Franklin St. Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60654
800-826-3632

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Douglas Castle's Secret Blog Links! http://twitlik.com/DC1 http://twitlik.com/Braintenance1 http://twitlik.com/HM1 http://twitlik.com/IEP1 http://twitlik.com/Internationalist http://twitlik.com/GlobalFuturist http://twitlik.com/TC http://twitlik.com/TNNWNewsletter

Receive your free subscription to The National Networker Newsletter and The BLUE TUESDAY REPORT. Click on this thing: [[*][^][*]]

Public Service Announcement: HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

2009-11-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

Public Service Announcement: HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS ["HAI"]

Dear Friends:

I recently received the email which follows from Ms. Barbara Dunn, of HAI Watch News, an affiliate of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. It deals with some of the real-life infection hazards, some of which can be debilitating or fatal, which are all-too-often caused during the course of a routine healthcare visit, medical procedure or treatment. Simply stated...you can check into the hospital for a minor procedure and wind up with a life-threatening infection. The better-informed you are about the nature of this danger, the more proactive that you can be in minimizing your own risks, and those of the ones whom you love.

Some years back, school teachers would quote Poor Richard's and chant, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

While I heartily agree with that sentiment, I would also suggest that you remember the old Internal Energy Plus/ TNNW equation: KNOWLEDGE + APPLICATION = POWER. Educate yourself and stay healthy!

I found the hyperlink in Barbara's letter to be of great interest. Please read on, and click on the link in the letter.

Faithfully, and wishing you the best of health,

Douglas Castle

http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com

p.s. Please join our Interworked Cooperative Business Community ("ICBC") at THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES. Just click here for our your free weekly TNNW Newsletter and BLUE TUESDAY Report. http://twitlik.com/IN

####

Douglas:

One thing everyone can agree on, no matter where they come down on the current health care debates, is that no one should get sick as a result of visiting the doctor.

Hospitals are rightfully expected to get you better but that's not always the case. Sometimes people are picking up infections, from pneumonia to antibiotic-resistant staph (MRSA), while under treatment for other health problems, or even while just in the hospital having a baby. That's a situation that could, and should, be completely avoidable.

Kimberly-Clark Health Care is on the forefront of protecting patients from Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and has put together a site dedicated to that prevention called HAI Watch: Not on My Watch. The site has information for both healthcare professionals and healthcare consumers.

I would like to ask for your help getting the word out on The National Networker. Here's a microsite which explains everything. Please use any of the images, logos, videos, etc, on your site:

http://www.haiwatchnews.com/

Please let me know if you have any questions and if you are able to post, I'd really appreciated it if you'd send me the link.

Thank you,

Barbara
--
Barbara Dunn
barbara@haiwatchnews.com
http://www.haiwatch.com/

Labels and Tags: accredited education, acinetobacter, aids, bloodborne pathogens, burkholderia cepacia, cdc, ce, centers for disease control, chickenpox, cjd, clinical research, clostridium difficile, clostridium sordellii, continuing education, creutzfeldt jakob disease, cross contamination, digestive health, drug resistant, ebola, gastrointestinal infections, gi infections, global crisis, hai, hai education bus, hai education program, hais, hand hygiene, healthcare associated, healthcare associated infection, healthcare associated infections, healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, healthcare settings, healthcare workers, hepatitis a, hepatitis b, hepatitis c, hiv, hospital acquired, hospital acquired infection, hospital infection, in service training, infection awareness campaign, infection control, infection management, infection prevention, infectious diseases, influenza, kimberly clark, kimberly clark corporation, kimberly clark health care, lengthening hospitalization, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, mrsa, mumps, nationwide doctors, norovirus, nosocomial infections, not on my watch, pain management, parvovirus, patients, pneumonia, poliovirus, post operative normothermia, rubella, s. pneumoniae, sars, ssis, surgical site infections, tuberculosis, vancomycin intermediate staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin resistant enterococci, vap, varicella, ventilator associated pneumonia, ventilator associated pneumonia and surgical site infections, viral hemorrhagic fever, visa, vre, who, world health organization, The National Networker, Articles by Douglas Castle, Blue Tuesday, Braintenance, Taking Command, The Global Futurist, Global Edge Technologies Group LLC, Speedlight ProKit, Lightshop Design, TNNW Buzzworks, Public Service Announcements, Canon EOS, SpeedlightProKitUSA, ICBC, Interworked Cooperative Business Communities, health hazards, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Social Media, education, US Healthcare System, The Internationalist Page, Blogging for Humanity.

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Douglas Castle's Secret Blog Links!
http://twitlik.com/DC1
http://twitlik.com/Braintenance1
http://twitlik.com/HM1
http://twitlik.com/IEP1
http://twitlik.com/Internationalist
http://twitlik.com/GlobalFuturist
http://twitlik.com/TC

http://twitlik.com/TNNWNewsletter

Receive your free subscription to The National Networker Newsletter and The BLUE TUESDAY REPORT. Click on this thing: [[*][^][*]]

TM - TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION REVISITED: Another Possible Method of Drug-Free Stress Reduction.

2009-10-26T13:39:00.000-04:00

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION REVISITED

Dear Thinkers:

I have done a fair amount of training in NLP, Hypnotherapy, positive visualization, brainwave entrainment, martial arts and numerous other self-growth modalities and techniques to improve my personal and professional life. In fact, they have been so powerfully helpful at enhancing my ability to be positively creative and productive, that I joined forces with Martial Arts Master Joseph Droual some years ago to create and refine the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS System of learning and entrainment.

The one method which I have yet to dedicate myself to is Transcendental Meditation. I remember as being a sort of fad in the 1970s, but its long-standing adherents seem to been profoundly benefitted by it in terms of stress reduction, blood pressure reduction, increased perspective and focus, mental clarity, improved resting pulse rate, and re-energization. It is my intention to explore it. And while I do not offer medical or health advice, it might be worth looking into for your own benefit. An excerpted clip from a TM seminar announcement follows for your information. I hope that you find it edifying and enjoyable.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

One of the most valuable benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique is becoming more creative—becoming more innovative and adaptable in the midst of life’s pressures and challenges.

Award winning filmmaker David Lynch recently toured U.S. college campuses with world-renowned quantum physicist John Hagelin and brain researcher Fred Travis to present how the TM technique promotes extraordinary creativity and total brain functioning—higher states of consciousness.

You can view their compelling presentation at:

http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=4169

Better than watching their talks, however, is improving your own brain’s orderly functioning by practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Terms and labels: Articles by Douglas Castle, Braintenance, entrainment, Internal Energy Plus, Joseph Droual, stress reduction, TM, TNNW, transcendental meditation, EMDR, hypnotherapy, NLP, neurolinguistic programming, positive visualization, creativity, meditative exercises, cognitive enhancement, mental focus, clarity, laser vision, mind-control, self-growth

*Follow BRAINTENANCE on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Braintenance .
*Follow DOUGLAS CASTLE's Blog at http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/ .
*Follow DOUGLAS CASTLE on Twitter at http://twitter.com/douglascastle .

*Also: Take a look at the following sites ---
HUMANITAS MAXIMUS, TAKING COMMAND!, INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS BLOG, INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS WEBSITE, THE NATIONAL NETWORKER, THE GLOBAL FUTURIST, THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE.

Your Child's Health - Update from KidsHealth, October 16, 2009

2009-10-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

Your Weekly KidsHealth Update!

Friday, October 16, 2009 10:06 AM

From: "KidsHealth"

To: Links 4 Life

c/o: Douglas Castle

It's easy to spend long hours in front of a screen - watching TV, playing games, surfing online. Try something else! You'll be surprised by how much fun can be had when you break the screen-time habit.

PARENTS

Motivating Kids to Be Active
Parents can help instill a love of activity and help kids make it a part of their everyday routine.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/general/active_kids.html

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old. Though SIDS remains unpredictable, you can help reduce your infant's risk.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html

Sportsmanship
One of the most important goals of kids' sports is helping children develop a sense of good sportsmanship. Here's how to set a good example for your kids.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/general/sportsmanship.html

Taking Care of Your Grandchildren
When you take care of your grandkids, you're probably anxious to put all of your great parenting experience to good use. But there are a few child care basics you may want to brush up on.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/travel/grandkids.html

Deciphering Food Labels
Find out how to make healthy food choices for your family by reading food labels.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/general/food_labels.html

Join Us on Facebook!
Check out KidsHealth.org on Faceook. Visit us there to talk about parenting, share tips and ideas, and learn more about helping kids grow up healthy and strong.
http://www.facebook.com/kidshealthparents

TEENS

Extracurricular Activities
Getting involved is a fun way to try new things, meet people, and move away from the TV. Learn more about the basics and benefits of getting involved in this article.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/involved_school.html

H1N1 (Swine) Flu and Asthma: When to Get Help
You know that flu is an asthma trigger, but when it comes to H1N1 (swine) flu, what should you watch out for? Find out in this article for teens.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/flu_center/get_help/h1n1_asthma.html

Suicide
We all feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions or situations sometimes. If someone is seriously depressed, suicidal thinking is a real concern. Here are warning signs and ways to get help.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/suicide.html

Test Anxiety
Everyone feels a little nervous and stressed before a test. And a touch of nervous anticipation can actually help keep you at peak performance. But for some people, this normal anxiety is more intense.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/test_anxiety.html

5 Ways to Spot a Fad Diet
Here are 5 clues that a diet may be more about empty promises than real results.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/fad_diet_tips.html

KIDS

It's Time to Play
If you're a kid, playing is your job. But sometimes you need a few ideas to get you going. Find them here in this article for kids.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/fit/what_time.html

Indianapolis Colt Marlin Jackson: Small Steps to Super Nutrition
Indianapolis Colt Marlin Jackson says eating right makes him a better football player. Find out more.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/colt_jackson.html

H1N1 (Swine) Flu: Stop the Spread
Follow these tips to help prevent the spread of illness, including H1N1 (swine) flu.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/h1n1_center/h1n1_spread.html

The Truth About Transfusions
Blood transfusions can save lives. But how do they work? Find out in this article.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/transfusions.html

Go, Slow, and Whoa! A Kid's Guide to Eating Right
Want to eat healthier? It's easy when you learn the difference between Go, Slow, and Whoa foods!
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/go_slow_whoa.html

To recommend the weekly KidsHealth Express Email service to friends, please forward this email to them or ask them to visit this page to sign up:
http://KidsHealth.org/ExpressEmail

We hope you enjoy it!

Neil Izenberg, MD
Editor-in-Chief and Founder, KidsHealth
Chief Executive, Nemours Center for Children's Health Media
Nemours Foundation

Since 1995, KidsHealth has been the web's most-visited site about children's health - from before birth through adolescence. Created by physicians and other health experts at the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth receives over 100 million visits each year. Visit http://www.kidshealth.org/ to check out the latest features.

NOTE: Special thanks from THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES, INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS, BRAINTENANCE, and SPEEDLIGHTPROKITUSA for sponsoring this re-publication of this material.

Faithfully, Douglas Castle

Some Frightening News About SSRIs (Some Common Antidepressent Medications)

2009-10-03T12:25:00.000-04:00

Source: http://ssristories.com/

SSRI Stories
Antidepressant Nightmares
Click For Sortable Database of 3300+ Media Articles Naming Antidepressants

WARNING!
Withdrawal can often be more dangerous than continuing on a medication. It is important to withdraw extremely slowly from these drugs, usually over a period of a year or more, under the supervision of a qualified specialist.

This website is a collection of 3300+ news stories with the full media article available, mainly criminal in nature, that have appeared in the media (newspapers, TV, scientific journals) or that were part of FDA testimony in either 1991, 2004 or 2006, in which antidepressants are mentioned.

Antidepressants have been recognized as potential inducers of mania and psychosis since their introduction in the 1950s.

Klein and Fink described psychosis as an adverse effect of the older tricyclic antidepressant imipramine. Since the introduction of Prozac in December, 1987, there has been a massive increase in the number of people taking antidepressants. Preda and Bowers reported that over 200,000 people a year in the U.S. enter a hospital with antidepressant-associated mania and/or psychosis. The subsequent harm from this prescribing can be seen in these 3300+ stories.

This web site focuses on the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), of which Prozac was the first. Other SSRIs are Zoloft, Paxil (Seroxat), Celexa, Sarafem (Prozac in a pink pill), Lexapro, and Luvox. Other newer antidepressants included in this list are Remeron, Anafranil and the SNRIs Effexor, Serzone, Cymbalta and Pristiq as well as the dopamine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant Wellbutrin (also marketed as Zyban).

The Physicians' Desk Reference
The Physicians' Desk Reference lists the following adverse reactions (side effects) to antidepressants among a host of other physical and neuropsychiatric effects. None of these adverse reactions (side effects) is listed as Rare. They are all listed as either Frequent or as Infrequent:

Manic Reaction (Mania, e.g., Kleptomania, Pyromania, Dipsomania)
Abnormal Thinking
Hallucinations
Personality Disorder
Amnesia
Agitation
Psychosis
Abnormal Dreams
Emotional Lability (Or Instability)
Alcohol Abuse and/or Craving
Hostility
Paranoid Reactions
Confusion
Delusions
Sleep Disorders
Akathisia (Severe Inner Restlessness)

Discontinuation (Withdrawal) Syndrome
Adverse reactions are most likely to occur when starting or discontinuing the drug, increasing or lowering the dose or when switching from one SSRI to another. Adverse reactions are often diagnosed as bipolar disorder when the symptoms may be entirely iatrogenic (treatment induced). Withdrawal, especially abrupt withdrawal, from any of these medications can cause severe neuropsychiatric and physical symptoms. It is important to withdraw extremely slowly from these drugs, often over a period of a year or more, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced specialist, if available.

FDA Public Health Advisory
On March 22, 2004 the FDA published a Public Health Advisory that reiterates several of these side effects and states (in part) "Anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, akathisia (severe restlessness), hypomania, and mania have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric." (Click Links button at bottom of this page for a direct link to this FDA Warning.)

On September 14, 2004 the FDA added a Black Box Warning in regard to antidepressants & suicidality in those under age 18.

On September 14, 2004 the FDA mandated that pharmacies provide to all parents or guardians for those younger than 18 an Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide. This guide reads (in part) "Call healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms: Acting aggressive, being angry, or violent & acting on dangerous impulses." This Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide also states "Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms." (Click Links button at bottom of this page for a direct link to this FDA Antidepressant Guide.)

On December 13, 2006, the Black Box Warning for suicidality was updated to include those under age 25. The Black Box Warning is included in the insert to the drugs and in the Physicians' Desk reference.

48 School Shootings/Incidents Involving SSRIs
Most of the stories on this site describe events that occurred after the year 2000. The increase in online news material and the efficiency of search engines has greatly increased the ability to track stories. Even these 3300+ documented stories only represent the tip of an iceberg since most stories do not make it into the media. There are 69 cases of bizarre behavior, 48 school shootings/incidents, 62 road rage tragedies, 15 air rage incidents, 47 postpartum depression cases, over 700 murders (homicides), over 200 completed murder-suicides and other acts of violence including workplace violence on this site.

An Absence of Controlled Scientific Evidence
In the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 14, Number 1, Spring 2009, there is a journal article by Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D., which is titled: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Drugs: More Risk Than Benefits?"

In reference to SSRIStories.com, Dr. Kaufmann made the following statement: "Since no clinical trial involving multiple homicides is ever likely to be run, no firmer evidence is likely to be found. Healy noted that much of the evidence for suicide and murder came from the efforts of journalists and lawyers".

To read the full article go to the Links page on this site (click the button at the bottom of this page).

Japanese Warning on Violence
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan has investigated reports where people on antidepressants have committed sudden acts of violence against others. The agency has decided to revise the warnings on the medication guide to read, "There are cases where we cannot rule out a causal relationship with the medication."

A Public Health Problem of Epidemic Proportions
There is a grave concern among advocates that adverse reactions are greatly underestimated by the public, the medical profession, and the regulatory authorities. Each of these stories in our list can be interpreted as an adverse reaction and in most cases we have highlighted the portion of the article that refers to evidence of bizarre behavioral change consistent with drug reaction. In some stories causation is acknowledged and the juxtaposition of these stories with those where it goes unrecognized as well as the repetition of themes and circumstances is chilling. If indeed medications played a significant role in all these tragedies, then this is a public health problem of epidemic proportions on a global scale.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN YOUR SELECTION, USE, MONITORING, ALTERING, DOSING, COMBINING AND WITHRAWING FROM ANY OF THESE MEDICATIONS. SEEK EXPERT PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.

Yours Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

Kids Health: Extract from an Excellent Newsletter and Resource

2009-08-20T11:41:00.004-04:00

Dear Friends:

The Newsletter reprinted below came to me from http://www.kidshealth.org . I would advise every parent of a school-age child to subscribe to this newsletter. It is informative, easy to understand and very user friendly.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

Receive your free subscription to The NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter - http://twitlik.com/OK.

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Your Weekly KidsHealth Update!
Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:44 AM
From: "KidsHealth" ExpressEmail@kidshealth.org

As back-to-school preparations get underway, new backpacks are on many shopping lists. But these essential accessories, when overloaded, can cause back problems and lead to injuries. Before you contemplate a suitcase-sized new tote, read about how to make a backpack useful and safe.

PARENTS...Backpack Safety. As practical as they are, backpacks can strain muscles and joints and may cause back pain if they're too heavy or are used incorrectly. Here's how to help kids find the right backpack.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/backpack.html

Your Child's Vision...It's important for kids to have their eyes examined regularly, as many vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated early.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/vision.html

Financial Woes? How to Talk to Kids When Money Is Tight...Saying "no" to your kids can be hard. Here are some age-appropriate ways to discuss financial matters when times are tough, while still finding ways to have fun.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/financial_woes.html

Tips for Divorcing Parents...No guide can guarantee a way to steer kids unscathed through a divorce. Every situation - and every family - is different. But these commonsense guidelines might make the adjustment a bit easier.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/divorce.html

Teaching Kids Not to Bully...Whether bullying is physical or verbal, if it's not stopped it can lead to more aggressive antisocial behavior - and interfere with a child's success in school and ability to form and sustain friendships.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/no_bullying.html

We're on Facebook!Be our fan on Facebook. Visit us to talk about parenting, share tips and ideas, and learn more about helping kids grow up healthy and strong.http://www.facebook.com/kidshealthparents

TEENS Backpack BasicsBackpacks help you to stay organized. They also have health benefits because they're better for carrying schoolbooks and supplies than messenger or other shoulder bags. But can they cause health problems?http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/backpack.html

Irregular Periods...Wondering whether it's normal to have irregular periods? Get the facts about this common problem.http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/irregular_periods.html

Anxiety Disorders...Anxiety is a natural part of life, and most of us experience it from time to time. But for some people, anxiety can be extreme.http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/anxiety.html

Back to School...Dread it or love it, you gotta go to school. Looking for ways to make the first day a little less painful? Here are some tips.http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/back_to_school.html

What Is a Healthy Lunch I Can Bring From Home?...Find out what the experts have to say.http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/expert/nutrition/healthy_lunch.html
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Some News From the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

2009-08-19T13:01:00.004-04:00

Newsletter: August 2009
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

Tell us what is needed most to keep moving toward a world free of multiple sclerosis
Connect with others whose lives are affected by MS, like Cyclist and Life Coach, Maureen Manley. read her storyand many others

Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. more facts

Sponsor Reports Positive Results of Clinical Trial of Zenvia™ for Pseudobulbar Affect (Uncontrollable Laughing and/or Crying)
more news

View Momentum

Donate Now

MS Research Update: Challenges and Opportunities
by John R. Richert, MD

People are always asking 'What's going on in MS research?' But lately, many individuals are also adding, 'What challenges are we facing in the current economic environment?' As a response, I believe a quick update on the Society's research program — where we are now and what is required to maintain critical discovery — will not only address this question, but also let each of us know what we can do to help.

There has never been a more amazing time in MS research than now. Progress is being made at a remarkable rate, and the National MS Society's 62-year-involvement has driven much of this progress, including the six approved disease-modifying drugs and new therapeutic approaches making their way through the development process.And even in these challenging economic times, we're continuing to propel research forward. This year alone, we're providing over $33.5 million to support 345 new and ongoing projects in our core research portfolio, plus $1.5 million for Fast Forward, our drug development subsidiary which continues to attract its own new funding streams.

In addition, thanks to the efforts of our MS activists, an additional $5 million has been specifically set aside for funding MS research out of the 2009 Department of Defense budget.At the Society, we have three clear research goals — STOP MS, REVERSE THE DAMAGE AND END MS FOREVER.

Learn more about these goals and some exciting projects making headway in this three-pronged approach >>

On the Road
Many factors come into play when driving with MS. The fall issue of Momentum explores safe driving, driving with low vision, accessible driving products and how to keep moving when adaptations can't do the job. Read it online now >>

Volunteer of the Year
Kevin O'Sullivan has been making an impact in the lives of people with MS for over 23 years. Throughout his life, he has combined his talents for leadership, fundraising and visionary planning with his enthusiasm and sensitivity for others in volunteer activities.Learn more about Kevin >>

An Incredible Pledge to Participate in MS Events in all 50 States by 2020
Sheri Paulson leads a very full life, with strong focus on her mission to spread her message — live life to its fullest and be an active supporter of the MS community. But life isn’t always so seamless, and Sheri has had — and continues — to overcome many challenges.Read more about Sheri >>

2008 Annual Report
See the National MS Society's 2008 report — and the stories of some remarkable people who helped us move others last year. See how the Society moved people in 2008 >>

MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We are a collective of passionate individuals, moving together to create a world free of MS. JOIN THE MOVEMENT.

To receive information about living with MS, Bike MS or Walk MS — or to contact National MS Society staff in your area — please visit our Web site.

Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at http://www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society 733 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

HELP FOR DEPRESSION

2009-07-20T19:52:00.012-04:00

HELP FOR DEPRESSION

Originally published in LINKS 4 LIFE (http://lifelinksiep.blogspot.com)
LINKS 4 LIFE is sponsored and supported by:
The National Networker Companies @ http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com
Internal Energy Plus @ http://www.InternalEnergyPlus.com
SrMeetUp! @ http://SrMeetUp.blogspot.com
The Castle Consultancy @ http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

Dear Friends:

Major emotional depression, in its many forms, is an illness. It is not a flaw of character, or an unwillingness to "cope" or to see "the glass half-full". It is a serious condition requiring serious treatment. Some of these treatments include cognitive therapy, psychiatry, counseling, prescription medication -- or some combination of these approaches.

Make it your business to recognize the symptoms of serious depression. If you just enter the word "depression" on Google and conduct a search, the first page of results should provide you with a wealth of information. If you find yourself suffering with symptoms of depression, get help immediately (scroll down to the RESOURCES Section at the bottom of this page). If someone whom you know is talking about or showing signs of depression, make it your business to tell that person that he or she should get help.

Depression is, in large part, treatable...but it does not generally get better left untreated. In fact, it usually gets worse over time. Get the facts about depression. You don't have to suffer. And you don't have to handle depression alone -- there are many resources available.

One very good source of information and help is the Depressed Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). They have a toll-free helpline which is open 24 hours daily, and they have support groups at locations all over the country:

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
730 N. Franklin St. Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60654
800-826-3632

Don't ignore depression. Don't isolate yourself. Please get help. Don't wait.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH - Toxic Personalities to Avoid

2009-06-19T18:12:00.008-04:00

Dear Readers:

We have all experienced what many adherents to INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS like to refer to as "Energy Vampires." These are people who deplete us of of our energy, our initiative, our joy, our self-esteem, our optimism, and, of course, our valuable time. When we are with positive, stimulating and giving people, we feel inspired and energized by them. They are a source of encouragement and actually enhance our energy level. It has been empirically demonstrated that being surrounded by positive, stimulating people brings out our creativity, social nature and good spirits. They actually improve our general state of health.

Conversely, being engaged one-on-one by an Energy Vampire can leave you feeling emotionally and physically depleted, and defeated. These people have many different reasons for behaving as they do -- unhappiness, laziness, loneliness, a need for power, a need for control, to name a few -- but they all try to resolve their problems by burdening us. Given the opportunity they will enslave and use us. It is never a wise decision to invest any time with an Energy Vampire, and to do so will adversely affect you. If you suspect that a person is an Energy Vampire, avoid any prolonged contact!

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

http://Braintenance.blogspot.com

http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com

http://twitter.com/douglascastle

8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid

This article was reprinted from SHINE
• by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance, on Wed May 13, 2009 8:01am PDT

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:
1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

• Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.

2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

• Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.

3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

• Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.

4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.

• Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.

5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.

• Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.

6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

• Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.

7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

• Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.

8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

• Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.

Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?
------
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LYNN PATNER: To Grumble or Not to Grumble, That is the Question...

2009-06-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

The article which follows was originally published on the SrMeetUp! Blog (http://SrMeetUp.blogspot.com), and has been reprinted with the permission of SrMeetUp!
####

To Grumble or Not To Grumble , That is the Question…
By SrMeetUp! Featured Columnist Lynn Patner

All around me I am hearing grumbling. I hear grumbles from my students, from my clients, while I am standing in a grocery store and at dinners with friends. There are the economic grumbles, the physical grumbles and of course the relationship grumbles. I cannot go anywhere anymore without hearing someone grumble. All this grumbling is affecting me, and even at the dog park, the dogs are getting into the grumbling mood. Fights are breaking out right and left.

Now granted, the world situation is less than perfect. The collapse of the economy, the housing debacle and the loss of jobs, et cetera, only brings around more grumbling, nothing else. It goes like this: one starts to grumble, then another adds their grumbles and soon there are many grumbles. Now grumbling would be fine if it solved something or was of good use, but grumbling does nothing. It’s like sitting in a rocking chair and expecting to go somewhere. It doesn’t even make one feel better.

Do you remember the cartoon character in the Charlie Brown series, Pigpen? Wherever he walked little clouds of dust followed. That is exactly what happens with grumbles; they are like little clouds of dust that follow behind you collecting more grumbles as they go forward. The problem is they keep attracting only negativity.

In 1994 I stepped onto a path and began an amazing journey. I learned that our thoughts, either verbalized or not, create our experiences. That new information took a very long time to penetrate my mind. But then I saw what thoughts and beliefs produced, and it opened an entirely different world of reality. The reality is, I am the producer, the director and the star of my own life. This revelation did not make me happy because I could no longer be the victim in my own life drama. I couldn’t blame my parents, nor the environment and worse yet I couldn’t grumble about any of it anymore. If I was not a victim, then I must be the creator. Creator is definitely a better option.

What I have learned about my thoughts and the power of them, my emotions, and my beliefs is they literally create my reality. And it is now being proven by scientific methods no less. Wow! All you doubting Thomas out there read on.

In 2005 Bruce Lipton Ph.D., a cellular biologist, published “The Biology of Belief.” This book was awarded 2006’s Best Science Book of the Year. In the book he presents scientific evidence showing that genes and DNA do not control our biology. Instead, our genes are turned on and off by signals from outside the cells in our bodies, including the energetic messages emanating from our positive and negative thoughts. The significance of this shift in belief is vast, in that the original view held for a long time was that we were victims of our own biology. The ‘new’ sciences show that we are actually masters of our biology.

An earlier book, “Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Beliefs,” published in 1997 by Dr. Herbert Benson, M.D. tells about a study conducted in 1957 at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. This study found, according to Dr. Benson, that 30 percent of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis benefited from placebos. Their placebo relief lasted at least three months. In 1995 more research was conducted confirming this study. The results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, where 40 percent of individuals suffering with rheumatoid arthritis had a 50 percent reduction in both swelling and tenderness in their joints by simply taking a placebo. These effects lasted for six months or more.

There continues to be scientific evidence that states that we are powerful creators in our lives and the world in which we live. So, less grumbling is important as our beliefs about ourselves and the world, regardless if they are true or false, positive or negative affect us on a multitude of levels. So, I say, " just say no to grumbling."

A few tools to assist you any time you are in a grumbling space…

• Listen to uplifting music
• Think positive thoughts
• Walk in nature
• Relax in water
• Read an inspirational book
• Play with a child
• Laugh often
• Go shopping

What is important to remember is that our thoughts are creating our reality all the time. Most of the time we are creating these thoughts with our unconscious mind. As a matter of fact, I just recently heard that we are creating our lives around 95 percent from the unconscious mind. That is important information to notice. So you ask, what is the answer. The answer is: become aware of your thoughts and redirect them when you start to grumble.

Do anything that opens your heart and fills you with joy and you are on the path to bring about a life transformation.

-- Lynn

BRIEF COMMENTARY By ELAINE INGIS:

It is amazing how much we accomplish out of sheer vision and the will to make things happen. Lynn Patner offers both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge to every Boomer -- since we have the ability to transform our state of physiological health by out thoughts about life, why do we waste time dwelling on negative possibilities? There may be more to the Law of Attraction (the force behind those "self-fulfilling prophesies" many of us learned about in Psychology 101) than many of us have ever realized. We are blessed and burdened by the obligation to create our own reality by our thinking processes.

Being aware of this, we owe it to ourselves, each of us, to surround ourselves with positive influences and to avoid energy vampires who seem to thrive on complaining, suffering and misery. Carrying this one step further, we can enrich and improve our lives by becoming vitally involved in a social group or community that has a courageous, problem-solving orientation, instead of by sitting alone and talking to some well-intentioned friend on the telephone who reaffirms and prolongs our misery by fueling our outrage or by encouraging us to retreat from what life has brought us. We each have great personal power; this power is multiplied when we combine forces with other positive people.

At the risk of sounding like a shameless self-promoter, SrMeetUp! was created to bring about a positive, supportive and strengthening community environment for our Members. Positive thoughts are contagious -- why not share them? - E.I.

[Douglas Castle, a Director of SrMeetUp! and the Developer of both the Braintenance and Links 4 Life Blogs contributed to this Commentary]

***You can Follow SrMeetUp! on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SrMeetUp .
------
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
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Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
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Tagged.com -- A "Social Network" That Behaves More Like A Virus - Warning!

2009-06-05T16:22:00.005-04:00

Tagged.com -- A "Social Network" That Behaves More Like A Virus - Warning!

Links 4 Life offers its thanks to Mr. Rob Botwin of Computer Systems Consultants and to Mr. Adam J. Kovitz of The National Networker (TNNW) for providing its readers with this alert.

PLEASE: CAREFULLY read the following article(s) referring to "tagged.com"...

This "virus-like" worm has been making the "rounds" with increasing regularity...

DO NOT BE THE NEXT VICTIM!

1) It is NOT a "virus" per se... But it DOES use "viral techniques" for self-promotion and self-propagation...

2) They (tagged.com) are an UNSCRUPULOUS company trying to self-promote via the vectors of ignorance & stupidity.

The main victims are those individuals ALREADY involved in "social-networking" activities, e.g. FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, AOL, etc.

3) RUN (do not walk) from any emails that come via this vector & PLEASE FORWARD THIS ENTIRE EMAIL to people that you believe may be HOODWINKED by this SCAM!

4) The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has already been notified repeatedly about their UNSCRUPULOUS and possibly ILLEGAL activities!

LINKS:
http://www.istokpavlovic.com/blog/spamming-20-taggedcom/

http://dotnet.org.za/thea/archive/2007/04/09/i-hate-tagged-com.aspx

http://www.intuitive.com/blog/is_tagged_a_spam_site_or_what.html

***Please note that Links 4 Life is not in any way opposed to the lawful and ethical practice of social networking, or to the use of social media and other similar mechanisms which use the enhanced communication capabilities of the internet to facilitate social and business introductions. We have issued this alert for the benefit of the public in hopes that this information will help individuals in making better-informed and safer decisions with respect to solicitations for membership or participation in various of the many rapidly-emerging social media groups. We urge that you exercise caution when opening any emails, attachments, unfamiliar websites, or when considering whether or not to become involved in any group or community which utilizes the internet as its principal forum for communications. Viruses, "worms," malware, spyware and computer "phishing" or "hijacking" can be very dangerous, destructive and costly -- you run the risk of losing your data, your hardware and your identity if you do not take appropriate measures to safeguard the security of your computer and your communications.***
------
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com
Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
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Please visit BRAINTENANCE:
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LIFE LINKS HAS BEEN RENAMED "LINKS 4 LIFE"

2009-05-22T18:59:00.003-04:00

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Life Links has been renamed "Links 4 Life"

Dear Friends:

Effective immediately, LIFE LINKS has changed its name to "LINKS 4 LIFE." Our web address will remain the same, at http://lifelinksiep.blogspot.com/ , and our updates will be posted more frequently. As a not-for-profit service for the benefit of the public, we offer unsurpassed resources in the event of a health, financial or psychological crisis. We have contacts for returning soldiers, the recently unemployed, the elderly and the chronically ill. Please visit the site and make us a favorite.

Please forward this message to all of your family, friends and business associates...it could save somebody's life.

Thank you.

Douglas Castle

---This message is sponsored by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER, INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS and SrMeetUp!---

------
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com
Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
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Please visit BRAINTENANCE:
http://braintenance.blogspot.com
Please visit DAILY DOSE OF WISDOM:
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com

SWINE FLU OUTBREAK ALERT

2009-04-28T09:04:00.007-04:00

Dear Friends:

There is currently a worldwide watch on a recent outbreak of the deadly Swine Flu virus, believed to be started in Mexico, and now spreading worldwide due to international travel via airlines. The disease, if untreated immediately, can be fatal.

If you feel any flu-like symptoms, do not attend work or school - immediately seek medical treatment through your local physician or clinic. When calling for an immediate appointment, stress that you suspect that you may have contracted Swine Flu, and that it is an emergency. Please avoid going to hospital emergency rooms, which are seriously overcrowded and where the threat of contamination and infection can be particularly high.

Take the precautions which the governmental health care agencies have been announcing (more on that in a moment), especially if you are chronically ill, elderly, or if you have young children. If you are a nutrition buff, you might want to increase your daily dosage of zinc and lysine to higher levels in order to further bolster your body's immune system; but be aware, that this should not be done without your healthcare practitioner's knowledge and approval. Nutritional aids are not a substitute for a doctor's immediate expert attention.

Further information follows. Just click on the links:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1894029,00.html

Be vigilant. Be proactive. Spread the word -- but not the virus!

Stay well.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
------
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com
Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
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Please visit BRAINTENANCE:
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Please visit DAILY DOSE OF WISDOM:
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CONFICKER WARNING - VIRUS ATTACK

2009-03-31T15:48:00.000-04:00

CONFICKER WARNING - BACKUP YOUR SYSTEMS AND DATA TODAY - URGENT!
--Douglas Castle

Tomorrow -- April 1 -- is D-Day for Conficker, as whatever nasty payload it's packing is currently set to activate. What happens come midnight is a mystery: Will it turn the millions of infected computers into spam-sending zombie robots? Or will it start capturing everything you type -- passwords, credit card numbers, etc. -- and send that information back to its masters?
No one knows, but we'll probably find out soon.

Or not. As Slate notes, Conficker is scheduled to go "live" on April 1, but whoever's controlling it could choose not to wreak havoc but instead do absolutely nothing, waiting for a time when there's less heat. They can do this because the way Conficker is designed is extremely clever: Rather than containing a list of specific, static instructions, Conficker reaches out to the web to receive updated marching orders via a huge list of websites it creates. Conficker.C -- the latest bad boy -- will start checking 50,000 different semi-randomly-generated sites a day looking for instructions, so there's no way to shut down all of them. If just one of those sites goes live with legitimate instructions, Conficker keeps on trucking.

Conficker's a nasty little worm that takes serious efforts to bypass your security defenses, but you aren't without some tools in your arsenal to protect yourself.

Your first step should be the tools you already have: Windows Update, to make sure your computer is fully patched, and your current antivirus software, to make sure anything that slips through the cracks is caught.

But if Conficker's already on your machine, it may bypass certain subsystems and updating Windows and your antivirus at this point may not work. If you are worried about anything being amiss -- try booting into Safe Mode, which Conficker prevents, to check -- you should run a specialized tool to get rid of Conficker.

Microsoft offers a web-based scanner (note that some users have reported it crashed their machines; I had no trouble with it), so you might try one of these downloadable options instead: Symantec's Conficker (aka Downadup) tool, Trend Micro's Cleanup Engine, or Malwarebytes. Conficker may prevent your machine from accessing any of these websites, so you may have to download these tools from a known non-infected computer if you need them. Follow the instructions given on each site to run them successfully. (Also note: None of these tools should harm your computer if you don't have Conficker.)

As a final safety note, all users -- whether they're worried about an infection or know for sure they're clean -- are also wise to make a full data backup today.

What won't work? Turning your PC off tonight and back on on April 2 will not protect you from the worm (sorry to the dozens of people who wrote me asking if this would do the trick). Changing the date on your PC will likely have no helpful effect, either. And yes, Macs are immune this time out.

This warning appears courtesy of Yahoo!

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/

------
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
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BEING A CAREGIVER: DEALING WITH ALZHEIMER'S

2009-03-20T23:08:00.001-04:00

THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW) is honored to invite you to a radio show featuring an interview with TNNW Member CHRISTINE SOTMARY, author of the newly-released and critically-acclaimed book LIVING ON THE VERGE OF INSANITY. The show, hosted by Paul Morris, will be aired Wednesday, March 25th, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) at www.blogtalkradio.com/the-self-bonding-hour.

You can order Christine’s book directly at http://christinesotmary.blogspot.com/.

More info?: Click for download http://www.mediafire.com/?ynnzgbgyk2m

------
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http://www.internalenergyplus.com
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Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
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Domestic Violence Resources

2009-03-13T16:43:00.003-04:00

Dear Friends -

Violence against women has again made the pop headlines and proves that more than ever, we must unite to help provide support and solutions to this tragic problem.

If you are a victim of abuse or violence and need assistance, please consider this site: http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/menu.shtml AARDVARC (An Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection) lists available resources by state and is the most comprehensive site I've found to date.

For a complete list of Domestic Violence resources, please see the section at the end of this site.

As it appears in Living Victoriously: A Women’s Guide:

“One Is One Too Many.

Statistically, one in every four women will experience sexual assault by the age of eighteen. That’s 25% of the population and probably includes a woman you know – maybe even yourself.

It’s time for this to stop.

Thank you for joining me in supporting women world-wide who are choosing to help themselves and support each other in an effort to end violence against women.

Together we can usher in a healthier, happier world free from fear, shame, rage, hatred, abuse, control, lies or tyranny.

It starts with you. It starts with me.

It grows and succeeds with us.”

Sincerely,

Barbara H. Marynowski

http://www.barbaramarynowski.blogspot.com

TRY THESE EASY STRESS BUSTERS

2009-02-19T19:26:00.006-05:00

One of the biggest reasons we all eat too much, drink too much, or indulge in other bad habits is that these activities distract us, and so make us feel temporarily better when we are down or stressed out. Short term these unhealthy activities may help, but long term they create more problems. So here are other activities which are proven to help improve our mood and make us more stress resistant. When feeling down or overwhelmed instead of indulging your usual bad habits, stop, take a breath and ask yourself if it would help to instead:

Exercise - Getting physically active relaxes your body, and a relaxed body leads to a relaxed mind. When you relax your mind it lowers your feelings of stress. Exercise also improves focus and increases energy.

Sleep – Too little sleep makes us more easily thrown off course emotionally, more hungry and more grouchy!

Light – Get outside or near another natural light sources every day (with sunscreen)– it is good for you and improves mood.

Healthy Food/Water – Getting balanced meals and enough hydration make a big difference in your mood, energy level, and alertness.

Time Doing “Nothing” – How long has it been since you just stopped and watched the clouds, a squirrel running around, a bird flying? Do you notice how it quiets your mind and lets you relax? Just let yourself “be” for a while?

Finding and Pursuing Your Interests – If you have something you enjoy doing, you are less likely to revert to bad habits out of boredom, stress, or sadness. Next time you want to indulge a bad habit, try to start an activity you enjoy doing instead.

Finding something that smells peaceful and relaxing to you. Good smells make our bodies feel calmer and happier and it is easier to let go of negative emotions.

Finding something that sounds peaceful and relaxing to you. Soothing sounds lift your mood and allow you to let go of tension.

Taking deep breaths to clear your mind and slow your heart. If you concentrate on breathing for even a few minutes, you will feel more calm, alert and focused.

Positive Touch -play with your pet, hug your children, take a walk holding hands with a loved one, get or give a massage, go dancing. Mutual and appropriate positive touch releases stress and increases feelings of well-being.

Laughter – Laughter is truly one of the best ways to release stress! It clears your system. Try Laugh Yoga or other programs to get your laugh muscle back in shape!

Cleaning Your Space – if your living space is cluttered and messy you feel tired or overwhelmed. When you get more organized, you feel more in charge of your life.

Getting support from friends also trying to reduce stress in healthy ways. Doing it together makes it more fun and gives you someone to bounce ideas off of, discuss challenges with, and create solutions with.

These are just a few suggestions of ways to avoid the bad habits that come from our stressful lifestyles. Check out the resources listed below for specific concerns.

Cinda Hocking, LMSW

Internal Energy Plus Consultant and Lifestyle Counselor

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH

2009-02-03T11:17:00.003-05:00

Are you or your family having health problems and related concerns such as low energy, poor sleep, and high stress? You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number and variety of lifestyle changes suggested by experts and those that promise to help you feel better and be happier. There is a lot of information to wade through and choose from, but don’t give up! There is a simple trick to navigating through the options and picking the right strategies for you. The trick is to integrate your choices so you have strategies that work with your “whole” self, not just one of your “parts”.

When you are preparing to create a healthier lifestyle, remember that all of the techniques to get you there focus on one of three areas: the nutritional methods, the psychological strategies, or the physical actions needed. Each area provides important tools for building better health, but they need to be integrated with tools from the other two areas to build something that facilitates a strong, lasting structure. Think of it like you are creating a stronger building. Each area is an important part of the structure: nutrition is the foundation, physical action the walls and frame, and the psychological strategies are the rooms/interior details. It takes attention to all of these to say you truly have a strong house! Remember that using techniques to improve just one of these area is a good start, however making at least one SMALL change in each area will make a BIG difference in your sense of health and well being. Here are some basic questions you can answer to start building better health:

Nutritional – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your health through nutrition? Is there something you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

Psychological – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your ability to create more happiness in your life? Is there a practice, an activity, or focus you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

Physical – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your health through physical activity? Is there a practice or activity you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

If you need to learn more about one or more of these areas so you can develop your tools for better health, check out the resources on this website, and visit us on our Internal Energy Plus Yahoo discussion group listed below.

Cinda Hocking, LMSW
http://cindahocking.blogspot.com

Ann Arbor, MI

STALKING: 10 SIGNS THAT YOU ARE BEING STALKED

2009-01-29T10:06:00.004-05:00

Dear Friends:

The original article was published in http://www.lifescript.com/, (November 9, 2008) and was written by Stephanie Tallman Smith. Its content follows for the benefit of all of our readers.

10 Signs That You Are Being Stalked

Stalking has become one of the most dreaded crimes against women in recent years. According to a 2000 study conducted by the federal Department of Justice, one woman in 12 will be stalked during her lifetime. This figure is startling when compared to the fact that 1 in 3,000 will be raped, based on current FBI statistics. Many women know their stalker personally and as a result, are hesitant to believe the situation is potentially dangerous. Being aware of these alarming signals can help you determine if you are being stalked and what to do about it.

1. Lurking around your workplace or your neighborhood.

Are you constantly bumping into the same guy after work or at the grocery store? Does he conveniently park next to you in the garage or near you on the street? Running into him every night at the gym does not make him a stalker, however, seeing him afterwards at the mall or parked in your neighborhood when you get home may be cause for concern. Likewise an occasional meeting could be serendipity. Repeated meetings could signal stalking.

2. Being watched.

Different than the lurker, the watcher will follow you from a distance, gathering personal information about you and those closest to you. They may photograph you, ask your friends about you or collect information from other sources such as public records or online research firms. Some will even hire a private detective to follow you so that they can learn every detail about your private life. If you get the feeling you are being watched, or persistently recognize the same person in a crowd, you may be under the surveillance of a stalker.

3. Repeated phone calls.

This does not mean a daily check in with someone you have been seeing regularly. This means multiple calls every day from someone you know only casually. It can also mean hang-ups or silent messages left on your machine. Try telling the person to stop and if the calls persist, call the police.

4. Inappropriate gifts.

Some stalkers start out by sending flowers or candy to indicate a romantic interest. When their affections are not returned, they escalate the situation by sending inappropriate and often pornographic gifts. A typical tactic is to send the gifts to your office, so that you are embarrassed in front of your peers and are forced to acknowledge them, even if only by stating you have no idea who sent them. Stalkers will often follow up their gift giving by calling you to see if you received it. If you have a company receptionist, see if that person can screen deliveries for you. The receptionist may also be able to describe the person who dropped off the package, in case it was delivered personally.

5. Finding yourself in the position of needing to be rescued.

While anyone can experience a flat tire or mechanical breakdown on the highway, many stalkers enjoy the feeling of playing the hero and will create situations that require you to be rescued. These can include a flat tire with no obvious signs of tire damage or running out of gas unexpectedly. The stalker will then suddenly appear and gallantly change your tire or have a spare gas can that solves your problem. As tempting as their assistance may be, politely decline and tell the person you have notified a tow company and they will be arriving shortly.
Some hero-complex stalkers are even more subtle in their approach. They will follow you on a rainy day and offer the use of their umbrella or through sleight of hand “borrow” your keys and then miraculously present them to you stating you must have dropped them while in line at the cashier. While most of these instances are in fact just gentlemanly behavior, it is better to be cautious with anyone you do not know personally. A true gentleman will understand your concern and politely excuse himself.

6. Manipulation.

Stalkers are looking for interaction with their victims and will often manipulate women into having contact by filing frivolous lawsuits. These legal measures can range from the ridiculous to the ruthless. The point is that in defending yourself, you are forced to deal with the stalker. Other forms of manipulation include threats against themselves, requiring the victim to intervene. They may threaten suicide, or hurting another person if you do not return their affections. If you find yourself being manipulated into behavior that you otherwise would not condone, you are likely being stalked and should report the person to the police immediately.7. Internet stalking.Modern stalkers send numerous emails to their victim each day. They will bombard their victim with instant messages, invitations to chat rooms, or links to suggestive web sites. Internet stalking is often an extension of physical stalking, although not always. In some cases, the stalker may not even know the “true” identity of the victim, having seen the victim’s profile in an online forum.

This does not make Internet stalking, also called cyber-stalking, acceptable. In fact, Internet stalking can be even more dangerous than physical stalking because it limits the victim’s access to online information, intimidates the victim into changing their online habits and can open the victim’s personal computer and the information it contains to the stalker’s hacking. The good news is most law enforcement agencies have cyber-crime units and often Internet stalking is treated with more seriousness than reports of physical stalking.

If you find yourself being harassed online, report the situation to both your Internet provider and local law enforcement.

8. Defamation of character or insults.

Stalkers often try to isolate their victims from family and friends. They release character-damaging information, regardless of whether it is true or not, in hopes of ostracizing the victim from those closest to her. When hurtful or damaging information is made public, your first reaction may be to retreat or withdraw from the public eye. This is exactly what the stalker wants. Instead, fight character defamation and public insults vehemently. If there is truth to the information, accept responsibility quickly and tell your side of the story. The important thing is to maintain your presence within your normal circles and not isolate yourself from support systems that could help you in the event your stalker moves closer.

9. Violence.

The use of threats or violence to frighten their victims is a common strategy for many stalkers. You car may be vandalized or your home burglarized. While these crimes happen all too often in today’s environment, the non-stalking criminal will not contact you afterwards. If you receive threats or direct contact from someone who claims to have been responsible for a recent crime, report this immediately to the police. The information you provide may help them piece together physical evidence from the crime and solve your stalking case at the same time.

10. Cumulative unwanted contact of any kind.

Perhaps no particular incident stands out in your mind as being dangerous, however, when you look at the entire picture, what you see alarms you. Do you experience repeated unwanted contact from the same person? If it is someone you know, tell him he is making you uncomfortable. If the situation continues, report him to the police. If it is someone you do not know, go directly to the police.

Stalking is often subtle, yet pervasive. In fact, the stalker is counting on you feeling as if his actions are ordinary demonstrations of affection. If you find yourself experiencing any of these situations on a consistent basis, you may be the victim of stalking, and your quick reporting to the police is the most effective tool in putting an end to the stalker’s terror.
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Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

FINDING LEGITIMATE HELP WITH DEBT AND CREDIT PROBLEMS

2009-01-27T18:17:00.006-05:00

There are many agencies claiming to provide help with debt and credit repair services, but beware, many of these companies are scams. If you are looking to repair your credit, considering bankruptcy, or trying to reduce your debt, it is vital to become educated on the legitimate free, low-cost and credit repair service options.

To learn ways to improve your credit and how to find legitimate resources for low or no-cost help, please check out these publications at ftc.gov/credit.

Your Access to Free Credit Reports — Tells you why it is important to monitor your credit history, how to request a report, and how to dispute errors.
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors — Tells you how to report and correct inaccurate information in your credit report. Includes a sample dispute letter.
Building a Better Credit Report — Teaches you how to legally improve your credit report, how to deal with debt, and how to spot credit-related scams.
Knee Deep in Debt — Provides options to help you get back on track with finances, including: realistic budgeting, reputable credit counseling, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy.
Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor — Provides debt repayment plans, explains the differences between secured and unsecured debt, and offers questions to ask credit counseling agencies before using their services.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

Thinking About Credit Counseling? In order to make sure you are using a legitimate service, you can search through this list of government-approved organizations for your state at www.usdoj.gov/ust. This is the website of the U.S. Trustee Program.

To read the full article this information was gathered from go to: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre13.shtm

Cinda Hocking, LMSW
Lifestyle Counselor and Consultant, Internal Energy Plus.com

NEW SECTION: EMPLOYMENT AND JOBS

2009-01-15T19:57:00.005-05:00

Dear Friends:

We have added a new section to our Resources (see below, the second heading down), called EMPLOYMENT AND JOBS.

These are very difficult economic times, and we at LIFE LINKS would like to do anything in our power in order to help stave off the growing threat of unemployment by connecting prospective employees with prospective employers.

Check us out!

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
About: DOUGLAS CASTLE

VETERANS FACE HIGHER SUICIDE RISK - HOW CAN WE HELP?

2009-01-15T10:59:00.004-05:00

When are our depressed military veterans most at risk for suicide and how can we help lower that risk? The most recent University of Michigan suggest 1/3 of the veterans treated in Veterans Affairs hospitals suffer from depression which puts those veterans at an increased risk of suicide. *

When is the risk the highest? The University of Michigan study of veterans with depression revealed an increase in suicide risk after discharge from a psychiatric hospital and a shorter-term increase in risk after beginning treatment with an antidepressant. The study confirmed what other studies have shown: that the first 12 weeks after starting antidepressants is a higher risk period for patients as was the first year immediately following psychiatric hospitalizations. Veterans 61 to 80 years of age were found to have the highest risk of suicide.

How to help? To have the greatest impact on reducing suicide, health systems, loved ones, and social support networks should work to prioritize suicide prevention efforts following psychiatric hospitalizations and after starting anti-depressants. If someone you know is starting an anti-depressant or recently been hospitalized for depression, find out what national and local resources and support groups are available. In addition, help your loved one find physical and social activities, spiritual pursuits, creative expression, hobbies and projects that provide them with a sense of personal fulfillment. Even though a depressed person may act like they want to be alone, it is vital to reach out repeatedly and offer opportunities for them to participate in their community and see why life is still worth living. There are effective tools and techniques available to help people cultivate more happiness in their lives. If they don't have energy to do it alone, maybe you can explore options and learn together?

Just a little extra support can make the difference between life and death. Check out the resources listed below. Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of depression so you can help the veterans and others at risk for suicide in your life.

Cinda Hocking, LMSW
Internal Energy Plus Consultant and Wellness Counselor

*For more details about the study go to: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=95596

In the Bleak Midwinter

2009-01-08T07:02:00.011-05:00

Dear Readers,
I have Seasonal Affect Disorder or SAD. At it's worst, it has stolen from me my ability to smile and laugh, think clearly and most importantly It has kept me from being myself. At it's best, I have labored through my day in a fog just going through the motions. SAD turns those of us who suffer from it into people we don't even recognize. It's as if our own internal energy, the energy that allows us to function at our best has been drained. And I would venture to guess, this winter will probably be one of the most difficult for everyone, considering the social, political and financial crises our country (and the world) is facing.

So being faced with climbing a mountain that seems insurmountable, what do I do to get myself through a long and bleak winter? Truthfully? I do whatever I can. In the past I have taken medication when it was needed. I have also sought out other alternative methods to help me through. And I have come up with some of my own solutions. One of the most important things I have learned in working with this disorder is that there are many different types of approaches that can help. Among the many tricks I have up my sleeve to keep myself from total devastation I have used meditation, visualization, deep breathing, and physical exercise. When do I do these things? I try to attack it even before it starts, but especially when my brain and body are saying to me "I don't feel like it!" In fact, that is the most important time to do something. Why is that? Because I have discovered for myself, that action is what really helps. Even if it means taking baby steps, literally. Here's a secret I will share with you. For a long time, I wanted a magic pill, something that would just make it better. And I looked for it. Believe me. Anything to make me feel better. But what I found out is that there is no magic bullet. I have to put the effort forth. Even if it's just baby steps. Small steps for me started with a sticky note on my mirror that reminded me to smile. Sounds silly and naive and even simple, I know, but eventually it worked.

If you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, please browse through our Life Links support listings under Depression. You will find direct links to helpful information there. Also, take a look at the December 28, 2008 post titled: 'Tools for 2009.' This may seem a shameless plug, but I have been an Internal Energy Plus Consultant for three years and running. I have seen what this system can do for anyone seeking solace from depression, especially me.

Here's to a happier and healthier 2009!
Lola Kern
Internal Energy Plus Senior Consultant.
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com/

OVER THE COUNTER (AND THROUGH THE WOODS)

2009-01-02T19:40:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends:

We tend not to hear too much about non-prescription treatments (i.e., natural remedies) because they are 1) not generally patentable by (or profitable for) the pharmaceutical companies and are therefore not advertised or advocated, and 2) because they are generally more wellness- and prevention-oriented. In our culture, we tend to wait until we get sick, and then look for a "magic bullet" to eliminate our symptoms.

You might wish to research the following uncelebrated but effective nutrients for help in either preventing or relieving some common medical problems. It is easy to get a wealth of information about these via Google search, or by looking in Wikipedia.

1. High total cholesterol and/ or triglicerides? Look up NIACIN.

2. High total cholesterol and/or triglicerides? Look up FOLIC ACID and VITAMIN B12.

3. Worried about hardening of the arteries and coronary artery disease? Look up OMEGA FISH OILS.

4. Worried about arterial plaque or high blood pressure? Look up ARGININE.

5. Concerned about excessive blood sugar, and storing too much body fat? Diet and weight control? Look up CHROMIUM PICOLINATE.

The above nutrients are inexpensive, and may prove very helpful as part of your health and diet regimen. Of course, since LIFE LINKS does not provide medical advice, you should ask your healthcare provider if these supplements are appropriate for your use. There is no substitute for professional advice, especially as it concerns your personal health issues, allergies, sensitivities and possible drug interactions.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle