newstonews2012

Christian Artist Michael W Smith Plays With the Spirit of Worship

2012-04-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Michael W. Smith has the whole package: incredible talent, good looks and profound faith. It's easy to become disillusioned in the music business, especially after the kind of success Smith has achieved. However, through his faith and his music, Michael W. Smith is one of the true role models in modern American music.

Born in West Virginia, Michael enjoyed playing baseball like the other little boys around him. What made him different was his great affinity for music. He started playing the piano at an unusually young age. By the time he was just five years old, he had penned his first song. He enjoyed singing in the church choir, and when he reached his teens, he felt he was ready to commit himself to the Lord. He enjoyed a happy childhood nurturing his musical talent while praising the Lord with a group of other Christians in the neighborhood.

Michael experienced a low point in his life when his older Christian friends went off to college. Drugs and alcohol drove him even lower. When he eventually finished high school, he was at college for less than a year when he quit to become a songwriter. Like his faith, songwriting and experimenting with music brought him a feeling of wholeness and happiness. He was involved with a few local bands at the time, and professional songwriting was the perfect career choice because of his passion for music.

His first songwriting contract was signed with a publishing company in 1981. He gave up his odd jobs, one of which was assisting in a landscaping business. Michael was first asked to write songs for up-and-coming musician Amy Grant. He took the job and also spent time working on his own material. Michael quickly gained a reputation as a successful songwriter for artists like Bill Gaither and Sandi Patty. Amy Grant's management approached him to play keyboard on one of her tours, and Michael happily accepted.

Michael produced his first album, The Michael W. Smith, and it was released in 1983. The response was overwhelming, and the album was nominated for a Grammy award. The album was released on the Reunion Records label, which was started by Amy Grant's management. Mainstream companies were skeptical about taking on Christian acts at the time, so they started their own company. The label became so successful that music giant BMG Records ended up owning it by 1995.

Michael quickly followed up the success of the first album. He worked hard to release three more in 1984, 1986 and 1988. His 1990 offering spawned the mainstream hit "Place in This World." His albums did well throughout the 1990's, and in 1996, he established his own label called Rocketown Records to promote other Christian musicians.

National tragedies like the Columbine attack and 9/11 prompted Michael to write music in honor of the victims that lost their life. He became firm friends with the Bush family and U2's leading man and philanthropist, Bono. Michael continued to make music into the new millennium, and in 2003, he was awarded the GMA Awards' Male Vocalist of the Year. New Michael W. Smith albums were released in 2004 and 2006 to an ever-growing fan base, thanks to Christian youth camps around the country playing his music.

Beat the Passover Panic With 5 Preparation Tips and a Great Recipe Resource

2012-04-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

At this time of year, even before Purim has come and gone if you mention Passover you may notice people look a little tense. There is so much to do in terms of cleaning and searching for chametz (leaven), and in the kitchen. For some reason cooking and baking for Passover scares people. I don't know if it's the fact that the whole build up to Passover is stressful, or the time element (most people have 1 or 2 days in a kosher for Passover kitchen to do all their cooking), but there's no denying the fact that people find it stressful. Here are 5 top tips to help you beat the Passover kitchen panic:

1. Plan your seder and yom tov meals in advance: find recipes, decide what you want to make and plan it all well in advance. After you have done that, think of some ideas for weekday meals that your family will enjoy. Try to find easy Passover recipes, as well as some that can be made in advance. In addition to main meals and side dishes, don't forget Passover desserts and cakes. Store bought cakes really can't compare to home made ones. One year I made only 2 cakes for the first day of the holiday. Before I had even lit candles the first one, a particularly delicious flourless chocolate cake had been devoured. Since then I always make 2 of those in addition to other cakes.

2. Prepare your Passover menus and shopping lists in advance. Once you have selected your menu and found the recipes make an accurate shopping list. Throughout the year many people have a store cupboard full of essentials. During Passover the situation is different, and you don't want to run out of sugar, and have to go to the shop right before the holiday begins. Believe me, I have been there!

3. Don't under-estimate how many eggs you will need! Almost all Passover recipes contains eggs and we go though dozens during the holiday - from matza brie to cakes, kugels, omelets, quiches and Passover rolls everything needs an egg or two or three. If you plan your menus in advance, then you can really figure out how many eggs you'll need. Whatever figure I work out, I always add an extra tray - if kept in the fridge eggs last well over a month.

4. Before you start cooking and baking, make sure you have all the gadgets and kitchen utensils that you need. So many times I have taken out a lemon only to realize that last Passover my zester had broken, or that the measurements on the measuring jug are no longer visible. To counteract this at the end of every Passover I tape a list to my Passover cupboard door reminding me what I need to buy for next year.

5. Remember that you are supposed to enjoy the holiday! Don't be a slave to the cooking, take a break and remember that it's all about freedom from slavery.

Visit [http://www.jewishholidayrecipe.com/Passoverrecipes.html] to find many Passover recipes. From easy Passover recipes, to cakes and desserts, ideas for Seder menus and meal plans, it's a great resource for all your Passover cooking needs.

Why Should Hillary Clinton Voters Support John McCain?

2012-04-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

This year Senator Clinton received 18 million votes from her supporters. Though she ran a good campaign she somehow found herself behind in a battle against the most liberal and least qualified of all party candidates, Barack Obama. And even as she quickly closed the gap on him and was about to overtake his lead, the DNC saw fit to literally chop her legs out from under her.

What they did was to strip her of all the delegates that she lawfully won in Florida and Michigan, and then just gave Obama half of them. That is the only thing that put him across the finish line and saved his candidacy from her invincible charge. So why would the party of change do this to their foremost female politician?

I suspect that the DNC was in great fear of a massive backlash from black voters more than that of Senator Clinton's supporters. Just do the math for yourself. 90% of all black voters are believed to be voting for Obama. Since there are about 25 million registered black voters in America, Obama will enjoy a 22.5 million vote lead against Senator McCain before the first precinct even opens on November 4.

Senator Clinton only received 18 million votes from her supporters. Had she of won the nomination the DNC was afraid that those 22.5 million black voters would have sat out the election or worse, vote for Senator McCain out of retribution.

However on the other side of this political sword, Senator Clinton's supporters can be more easily swayed into supporting Obama as long as she urges them to do so. Yet how could they guarantee that Senator Clinton would support this inexperienced candidate who has spent more time running for President than he has spent representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate? In fact, why would she want him to win at all after having her delegates plundered by the DNC?

What we have witnessed is that Senator Hillary Clinton was extorted by her own party into submission and, actually forced into giving Obama her "support". You see, Senator Clinton has around $20 million in campaign debt that was supposed to be repaid through her capitulation. I think that is why when she appeared at the podium during the Democrat Convention she was wearing an orange colored pantsuit.

Perhaps Senator Clinton wore an orange suit as a way of subliminally signaling to America that she is a prisoner to her own Party. Rather than having D.O.C. printed on her back in bold black letters, DNC was invisibly etched there in her mind. Now for her surrender, she will be forced to stay in her political prison and live out a term of four to eight years. The duration of her term is predicated only by whether Obama wins or loses the election.

In 2012 Senator Clinton will be 65 years old. Of course her running for President by then is solely based on whether Obama wins or loses this year. If he should win then Senator Clinton will be forced to serve out her eight year term and wait until 2016 before she can run for the Presidency. And yes, she will be 69 years old in 2016.

It is one thing to run this year at the age of 61, but at 69 she will be attacked by her Democrat opponents on age issues just as Senator McCain is being assailed this year. I personally feel that these repugnant attacks on Senator McCain's age is as revolting as those of attacking one's gender and race for political gain. Yet that is the true nature of the DNC and it's never ending hypocrisy.

So you ladies of America who have given your cherished vote for Senator Clinton; the proverbial ball is in your court. You can go ahead and follow lockstep to vote for Obama just as the DNC bigwigs know you will. Or, you can hop over to the Republican side and help Senator McCain beat Obama back until 2012. Then he will have to actually beat Senator Clinton in order to win the Democrat candidacy rather then have it handed to him.

If you help Obama now then you'll pretty much guarantee that Senator Clinton will have to wait until 2016 before she can try to run again. I have a couple of favorable alternatives for you 18 million voters that just may prove more palpable to you than voting for the man who benefited from Senator Clinton's stolen candidacy.

The first is for you to vote for Senator McCain and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. As stated earlier, Senator McCain is 72 years old and the primary Democrat attack against him is his age. My father-in-law is 78 and he plays four rounds of golf a week...without using a golf cart. Like Senator McCain, he's as sharp as a razor and you quickly understand that trying to use his age against him is complete folly. The other DNC attack is that they believe Senator McCain will only be a one term President. I will address this later.

The second morsel as an alternative is Governor Sarah Palin as the Vice-President. She is an incredibly strong woman who has a solid proven record of being a die-hard no-nonsense corruption buster. Her history is that of one who always does exactly what she says she will do. The final proof to this is the number of corrupt politicians that she has laid waste to from both parties. In fact, she gives little regard to party affiliation when she uncovers corruption. That is a change you can believe in.

Even with such a strong record Governor Palin is now being attacked by those same Democrat henchmen who burglarized Senator Clinton's delegates. Within ten minutes of her announced candidacy the Obama campaign started claiming that she's too inexperienced to be, "a heartbeat away from the Presidency". Again, the hypocrisy of the DNC ignores the fact that Obama has zero experience on an executive level. At least Governor Palin has chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, been the two-term Mayor of Wasilla, and the Governor of Alaska. In comparison, Obama has never run anything other political campaigns.

Still the DNC is confident that with Senator Clinton's coerced endorsement most of her 18 million supporters will blindly join the Obama crusade. It's such a shame that she is being forced to feint her support for a man who President Clinton aptly said, "has the political instinct of a Chicago thug". Not only are they holding the aforementioned $20 million ransom over her head but they also have her political future safely shackled as well. If she doesn't reign in her husband and support Obama, then her future in the DNC is toast.

So there you have it, you 18 million Senator Clinton supporters. You can play by the rules as dictated by those Democrat elites who are using strong armed tactics to make Senator Clinton push Obama or you can cross over and vote to make sure this never happens to another woman again. By crossing over to the light, you can make certain that Senator Clinton lives again to run in 2012.

Better still is if the rumors about McCain only wanting to be a one-term President are true, then there is a potential for a truly historic American event in 2012. That would be that Senator Hillary Clinton could very well be running against Vice-President Sarah Palin for President of the United States in four years. Think about it and remember this, a vote for Senator McCain is a vote to free Hillary for 2012.

How to Cook Supreme Hard-Boiled Eggs

2012-04-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ever set out to make a batch of hard-boiled eggs and wind up disappointed with the results? Greenish yolks, stiff or too-soft whites, even just shells that are difficult to remove? I have been there too, but now I know better. Making perfect hard-boiled eggs is simple if you can remember and stick to a basic formula. Read on for the simple formula and get ready to cook and serve perfect hard-boiled eggs every time!

First, decide how many eggs you will cook and place them in a saucepan. A normal, 1-quart saucepan will work fine (assuming you are cooking a dozen eggs or less). Now fill the saucepan with cold water until the water level is about an inch above your eggs. Quick tip: Never put water on to boil that isn't cold - no matter what your plumbing system is like, hot water will always contain some waste from within your hot water heater.

Once you have your eggs in the pot and covered with water, transfer the saucepan to the stove. Turn the heat up high, as you need the water to boil. For hard-boiled eggs a "rolling boil" is desired, which is when something is boiling quickly and the water's contents may roll around in the pot from the rising bubbles. Let this rolling boil occur for 1 minute (2 if cooking more than 10 eggs, 3 if more than 20, etc.).

After 1 minute, cover your saucepan with a lid and turn off the stove. Allow the eggs to sit in the covered pan for 1 minute per egg. After the appropriate length of time, place saucepan in empty sink and strain out all water. Replace hot water with a few inches of cold water (again, enough to more than cover the eggs) and allow to cool for a few minutes. When eggs are cool to the touch, peel and eat or serve according to your recipe's instructions.

Another quick tip for hard-boiled eggs is for breaking their shells without damaging the soft contents. To do this, tap the top and bottom edges of the egg gently on a hard surface (such as a plate or counter top). When you have "cracked" the shell at both ends, place the egg on its side on your hard surface and gently roll back and forth. The shell should come off easily and will often peel off as one large casing rather than a million small bits.

With these instructions, your hard-boiled eggs will look and taste great every time!

Jay has been interested in health issues for many years now, although he is fairly new to article writing.

For Both Women And Men, Rates Of Major Depression Are Highest Among The Separated And Divorced

2012-04-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

For both women and men, rates of major depression are highest among the separated and divorced, and lowest among the married, while remaining always higher for women than for men. The quality of a marriage, however, may contribute significantly to depression. Lack of an intimate, confiding relationship, as well as overt marital disputes, have been shown to be related to depression in women. In fact, rates of depression were shown to be highest among unhappily married women.

Reproductive Events

Women's reproductive events include the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpregnancy period, infertility, menopause, and sometimes, the decision not to have children. These events bring fluctuations in mood that for some women include depression. Researchers have confirmed that hormones have an effect on the brain chemistry that controls emotions and mood; a specific biological mechanism explaining hormonal involvement is not known, however.

Many women experience certain behavioral and physical changes associated with phases of their menstrual cycles. In some women, these changes are severe, occur regularly, and include depressed feelings, irritability, and other emotional and physical changes. Called premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the changes typically begin after ovulation and become gradually worse until menstruation starts. Scientists are exploring how the cyclical rise and fall of estrogen and other hormones may affect the brain chemistry that is associated with depressive illness.

Postpartum mood changes can range from transient "blues" immediately following childbirth to an episode of major depression to severe, incapacitating, psychotic depression. Studies suggest that women who experience major depression after childbirth very often have had prior depressive episodes even though they may not have been diagnosed and treated.

Pregnancy (if it is desired) seldom contributes to depression, and having an abortion does not appear to lead to a higher incidence of depression. Women with infertility problems may be subject to extreme anxiety or sadness, though it is unclear if this contributes to a higher rate of depressive illness. In addition, motherhood may be a time of heightened risk for depression because of the stress and demands it imposes.

Menopause, in general, is not associated with an increased risk of depression. In fact, while once considered a unique disorder, research has shown that depressive illness at menopause is no different than at other ages. The women more vulnerable to change-of-life depression are those with a history of past depressive episodes.

Specific Cultural Considerations

As for depression in general, the prevalence rate of depression in African American and Hispanic women remains about twice that of men. There is some indication, however, that major depression and dysthymia may be diagnosed less frequently in African American and slightly more frequently in Hispanic than in Caucasian women. Prevalence information for other racial and ethnic groups is not definitive.

Possible differences in symptom presentation may affect the way depression is recognized and diagnosed among minorities. For example, African Americans are more likely to report somatic symptoms, such as appetite change and body aches and pains. In addition, people from various cultural backgrounds may view depressive symptoms in different ways. Such factors should be considered when working with women from special populations.

Abuse

Studies show that women molested as children are more likely to have clinical depression at some time in their lives than those with no such history. In addition, several studies show a higher incidence of depression among women who have been raped as adolescents or adults. Since far more women than men were sexually abused as children, these findings are relevant. Women who experience other commonly occurring forms of abuse, such as physical abuse and sexual harassment on the job, also may experience higher rates of depression. Abuse may lead to depression by fostering low self-esteem, a sense of helplessness, self-blame, and social isolation. There may be biological and environmental risk factors for depression resulting from growing up in a dysfunctional family. At present, more research is needed to understand whether victimization is connected specifically to depression.

Poverty

Women and children represent seventy-five percent of the U.S. population considered poor. Low economic status brings with it many stresses, including isolation, uncertainty, frequent negative events, and poor access to helpful resources. Sadness and low morale are more common among persons with low incomes and those lacking social supports. But research has not yet established whether depressive illnesses are more prevalent among those facing environmental stressors such as these.
Depression in Later Adulthood

At one time, it was commonly thought that women were particularly vulnerable to depression when their children left home and they were confronted with "empty nest syndrome" and experienced a profound loss of purpose and identity. However, studies show no increase in depressive illness among women at this stage of life.

As with younger age groups, more elderly women than men suffer from depressive illness. Similarly, for all age groups, being unmarried (which includes widowhood) is also a risk factor for depression. Most important, depression should not be dismissed as a normal consequence of the physical, social, and economic problems of later life. In fact, studies show that most older people feel satisfied with their lives.

About 800,000 persons are widowed each year. Most of them are older, female, and experience varying degrees of depressive symptomatology. Most do not need formal treatment, but those who are moderately or severely sad appear to benefit from self-help groups or various psychosocial treatments. However, a third of widows/widowers do meet criteria for major depressive episode in the first month after the death, and half of these remain clinically depressed 1 year later. These depressions respond to standard antidepressant treatments, although research on when to start treatment or how medications should be combined with psychosocial treatments is still in its early stages.

DEPRESSION IS A TREATABLE ILLNESS

Even severe depression can be highly responsive to treatment. Indeed, believing one's condition is "incurable" is often part of the hopelessness that accompanies serious depression. Such individuals should be provided with the information about the effectiveness of modern treatments for depression in a way that acknowledges their likely skepticism about whether treatment will work for them. As with many illnesses, the earlier treatment begins, the more effective and the greater the likelihood of preventing serious recurrences. Of course, treatment will not eliminate life's inevitable stresses and ups and downs. But it can greatly enhance the ability to manage such challenges and lead to greater enjoyment of life.

The first step in treatment for depression should be a thorough examination to rule out any physical illnesses that may cause depressive symptoms. Since certain medications can cause the same symptoms as depression, the examining physician should be made aware of any medications being used. If a physical cause for the depression is not found, a psychological evaluation should be conducted by the physician or a referral made to a mental health professional.

Types of Treatment for Depression

The most commonly used treatments for depression are antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Which of these is the right treatment for any one individual depends on the nature and severity of the depression and, to some extent, on individual preference. In mild or moderate depression, one or both of these treatments may be useful, while in severe or incapacitating depression, medication is generally recommended as a first step in the treatment.11 In combined treatment, medication can relieve physical symptoms quickly, while psychotherapy allows the opportunity to learn more effective ways of handling problems.

Medications

There are several types of antidepressant medications used to treat depressive disorders. These include newer medications--chiefly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)--and the tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The SSRIs--and other newer medications that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine or norepinephrine--generally have fewer side effects than tricyclics. Each acts on different chemical pathways of the human brain related to moods.

Antidepressant medications are not habit-forming. Although some individuals notice improvement in the first couple of weeks, usually antidepressant medications must be taken regularly for at least 4 weeks and, in some cases, as many as 8 weeks, before the full therapeutic effect occurs. To be effective and to prevent a relapse of the depression, medications must be taken for about 6 to 12 months, carefully following the doctor's instructions. Medications must be monitored to ensure the most effective dosage and to minimize side effects. For those who have had several bouts of depression, long-term treatment with medication is the most effective means of preventing recurring episodes.

The prescribing doctor will provide information about possible side effects and, in the case of MAOIs, dietary and medication restrictions. In addition, other prescribed and over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements being used should be reviewed because some can interact negatively with antidepressant medication. There may be restrictions during pregnancy.

For bipolar disorder, the treatment of choice for many years has been lithium, as it can be effective in smoothing out the mood swings common to this disorder. Its use must be carefully monitored, as the range between an effective dose and a toxic one can be relatively small. However, lithium may not be recommended if a person has pre-existing thyroid, kidney, or heart disorders or epilepsy. Fortunately, other medications have been found helpful in controlling mood swings. Among these are two mood-stabilizing anticonvulsants, carbamazepine (Tegretol®) and valproate (Depakote®). Both of these medications have gained wide acceptance in clinical practice, and valproate has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for first-line treatment of acute mania. Studies conducted in Finland in patients with epilepsy indicate that valproate may increase testosterone levels in teenage girls and produce polycystic ovary syndrome in women who began taking the medication before age 20.12 Therefore, young female patients should be monitored carefully by a physician. Other anticonvulsants that are being used now include lamotrigine (Lamictal®) and gabapentin (Neurontin®); their role in the treatment hierarchy of bipolar disorder remains under study.

Most people who have bipolar disorder take more than one medication. Along with lithium and/or an anticonvulsant, they often take a medication for accompanying agitation, anxiety, insomnia, or depression. Some research indicates that an antidepressant, when taken without a mood stabilizing medication, can increase the risk of switching into mania or hypomania, or of developing rapid cycling, in people with bipolar disorder. Finding the best possible combination of these medications is of utmost importance to the patient and requires close monitoring by the physician.

Herbal Therapy

In the past few years, much interest has risen in the use of herbs in the treatment of both depression and anxiety. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herb used extensively in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in Europe, has recently aroused interest in the United States. St. John's wort, an attractive bushy, low-growing plant covered with yellow flowers in summer, has been used for centuries in many folk and herbal remedies. Today in Germany, Hypericum is used in the treatment of depression more than any other antidepressant. However, the scientific studies that have been conducted on its use have been short-term and have used several different doses.

Because of the widespread interest in St. John's wort, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a 3-year study, sponsored by three NIH components--the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Office of Dietary Supplements. The study found that St. John's wort was no more effective in treating major depression than placebo (inactive sugar pill). Another NIH study in underway looking at St. John's wort for the treatment of minor depression.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000. It stated that St. John's wort appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that is used by many drugs prescribed to treat conditions such as heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and rejection of transplants. Therefore, health care providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions. Any herbal supplement should be taken only after consultation with the doctor or other health care provider.

Psychotherapy

In mild to moderate cases of depression, psychotherapy is also a treatment option. Some short-term (10 to 20 week) therapies have been very effective in several types of depression. "Talking" therapies help patients gain insight into and resolve their problems through verbal give-and-take with the therapist. "Behavioral" therapies help patients learn new behaviors that lead to more satisfaction in life and "unlearn" counter-productive behaviors. Research has shown that two short-term psychotherapies, interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral, are helpful for some forms of depression. Interpersonal therapy works to change interpersonal relationships that cause or exacerbate depression. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps change negative styles of thinking and behaving that may contribute to the depression.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

For individuals whose depression is severe or life threatening or for those who cannot take antidepressant medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is useful.11 This is particularly true for those with extreme suicide risk, severe agitation, psychotic thinking, severe weight loss or physical debilitation as a result of physical illness. Over the years, ECT has been much improved. A muscle relaxant is given before treatment, which is done under brief anesthesia. Electrodes are placed at precise locations on the head to deliver electrical impulses. The stimulation causes a brief (about 30 seconds) seizure within the brain. The person receiving ECT does not consciously experience the electrical stimulus. At least several sessions of ECT, usually given at the rate of three per week, are required for full therapeutic benefit.

Treating Recurrent Depression

Even when treatment is successful, depression may recur. Studies indicate that certain treatment strategies are very useful in this instance. Continuation of antidepressant medication at the same dose that successfully treated the acute episode can often prevent recurrence. Monthly interpersonal psychotherapy can lengthen the time between episodes in patients not taking medication.

THE PATH TO HEALING

Reaping the benefits of treatment begins by recognizing the signs of depression. The next step is to be evaluated by a qualified professional. Although depression can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians, often the physician will refer the patient to a psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or other mental health professional. Treatment is a partnership between the patient and the health care provider. An informed consumer knows her treatment options and discusses concerns with her provider as they arise.

If there are no positive results after 2 to 3 months of treatment, or if symptoms worsen, discuss another treatment approach with the provider. Getting a second opinion from another health or mental health professional may also be in order
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Here, again, are the steps to healing:

o Check your symptoms against the list on page.

o Talk to a health or mental health professional.

o Choose a treatment professional and a treatment approach with which you feel comfortable.

o Consider yourself a partner in treatment and be an informed consumer.

o If you are not comfortable or satisfied after 2 to 3 months, discuss this with your provider. Different or additional treatment may be recommended.

o If you experience a recurrence, remember what you know about coping with depression and don't shy away from seeking help again. In fact, the sooner a recurrence is treated, the shorter its duration will be.

Depressive illnesses make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such feelings make some people want to give up. It is important to realize that these negative feelings are part of the depression and will fade as treatment begins to take effect.

Along with professional treatment, there are other things you can do to help yourself get better. Some people find participating in support groups very helpful. It may also help to spend some time with other people and to participate in activities that make you feel better, such as mild exercise or yoga. Just don't expect too much from yourself right away. Feeling better takes time.

WHERE TO GET HELP

If unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor, OB/GYN physician, or health clinic for assistance. You can also check the Yellow Pages under "mental health," "health," "social services," "suicide prevention," "crisis intervention services," "hotlines," "hospitals," or "physicians" for phone numbers and addresses. In times of crisis, the emergency room doctor at a hospital may be able to provide temporary help for an emotional problem and will be able to tell you where and how to get further help.

Harmless April Fools Day Pranks - Great Pranks That You Can Do This Year

2012-04-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of harmless April Fools day pranks that you can do to really trick someone. You're probably not sure which one you want to do this year. So, what I'm going to do is share with you some harmless April Fools day pranks that you can do.

That way, you'll be able to pull the best pranks and jokes this year.

The harmless pranks that you can do are:

1. The first one that you can do to get someone this year is to use the winning lotto ticket prank. This is probably one of the best pranks you can pull on someone. What you do is get a fake lotto ticket that, when scratched off, will show that it's a winning ticket of $25,000.

The person you give this to will think they've actually won. You will laugh so hard. It'll be very funny.

2. Another harmless April Fools day prank that you can pull on someone is the stinky gas spray. This trick is a little lethal...in smell that is. If you get the right gas spray, you will be able to clear out an entire room. Or if you really want to get revenge on someone, you can spray it on their clothes.

3. The third harmless prank that you can pull this year on April Fools day is to give away prank candy. There are a lot of candy that makes someone's breath smell like fart, garlic, and fish. This is a great joke that you can play on someone.

These are some harmless April Fools day pranks that you can do this year that will really have you laughing. If you really want to get someone this year on April Fool's day, make sure you try one of the pranks that I mentioned above.

TV Review: The Killing (AMC)

2012-04-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Killing did not live up to the hype for the pilot episode. It is dark and tragic as the executive producer has described and gives the slow-burn of storytelling a full onslaught. AMC should have pushed for a bit more suspense and thriller for this crime drama series. Admittedly, we have only endured the first episode and we are in for the long haul but can the audience be expected to return?
The music has the feel of a movie of the week or a true story theme that Lifetime Networks could replay all weekend long. Understandably it is set in Seattle, Washington where rain is a given and the population often does not even think twice to check the weather forecast. One scene has the two main characters, Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos ) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman ), standing outside in yet another downpour at a crime scene where fog is flowing leaving us to question. It is dark and cold; a car is being dragged from a pond, so where is the fog coming from?

The characters are tossed at us with no explanation as to the connections they have. The audience is begging for the writers to establish the cast so they can sink their teeth in and ride along. Detective Stephen Holder often talks as if he is a street thug rather than a member of the homicide division. It only works well in one scene when he needs to extract information from some high school girls. When he is playing a cop in proper form, his acting brings the viewer more encouragement that it may take a few more episodes before the writers hit their stride.
Mireille Enos could not have been a better pick to play Sarah Linden. She does not give us over-acting or emotional temperament that is often displayed in today's television. The viewer knows that this character will have her moment of poignancy and in that be able to drive the series. But that will not happen quickly as we have yet to see her in a light other than her job.
When the youngest son, Tom Larsen (Evan Bird ), of the victims mother, Mitch Larsen (Michelle Forbes ), hears her husband, Stanley Larsen (Brent Sexton ) scream on the phone and begins to break down, the boy's face has future star written all over it. Bird gets another opportunity to show his potential when his brother, Denny Larsen (Seth Isaac Johnson ) does not comprehend that their sister has died and Tom begins to scream.
The long, theatrical, over-dramatized visual spanning leaves the audience bored with thoughts of housework, bills, job or anything that pulls away from the story. A recap next week prior to the new episode will easily bring the viewer up to speed. Let's hope they understand that writing a script entails actually putting words on paper for actors to say that will build a good story. At this point, the audience can only guess as to what the characters are thinking while the camera follows them around. At one hour and forty minutes into the pilot, we were still hoping there was something around the corner. Maybe episode two will give us more persuasion to see this through the season.
UPDATES:
-6/5/11
--MISSING (Episode 11)
Finally, after 10 episodes, the writers get to the meat and potatoes of the story. Simply speaking, anyone who has not seen the first 10 episodes can easily step into this storyline and get everything they need for a complete update in this episode. Now, the story really begins, and thank you because my eyes were drooping through every episode until tonight.
-6/12/11
--BEAU SOLEIL (Episode 12)
Another well-written episode; not sure what happened. Maybe the people in power started actually watching and realized that this series needed a boost, or the viewership would dwindle down to nothing. It is a straightforward suspense thriller for the first time, and I cannot wait until next week.
-6/19/11
--ORPHEUS DESCENDING (Episode 13)
I cannot believe how much this show has improved. The slow burn philosophy is very tricky in that you can lose much of your audience before the story grabs the viewer. This may have happened in that without writing a review for the show (and therefore needing to see the first season through to the end) I would have stopped watching by the 2nd or 3rd episode. Hopefully a lot of people stuck around only to find that another season is necessary. The writers surely need to pick up the pace and grab the audience in the beginning and leave them hanging at the end of each episode.

Wrestlemania - The Grandest Stage of Them All

2012-04-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Nicknamed "The Grandaddy of Them All", Wrestlemania is a worldwide global wrestling event that draws the attention of millions of wrestling and entertainment fans every year. First produced by WWE owner Vince McMahon in 1985, it has lasted for more than 25 editions, with the 26th anniversary taking place in 2010.

Since its creation, It has quickly become the most prominent event in professional wrestling. Its popularity and success have helped many of WWE's superstars such as Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, and more to the rise of stardom. It is also currently the dream of thousands of wrestlers and fans alike to be able to participate in the Superbowl of professional wrestling. To most wrestlers, being able to partake in the event is considered to be highlight of their careers and most would be label as having unsuccessful careers if their names do not show up on the event card.

Wrestlemania usually takes place in late March or early April annually. Most of the television shows such as Raw and Smackdown are designed to eventually reach their climax at the event, which features most of the organization's championship titles, especially the World Heavyweight Title and WWE's own World Title. Besides these, the event is also well known for putting up specialty and gimmick matches such as the recently addition of Money in the Bank, where the only way to be declared the winner is to climb a ladder in an attempt to reach a briefcase suspended high above the ring while fending off five to seven competitors. This fast pace and exciting match, filled with high flying maneuvers, amazing aerobics and stunts, have been a fan favorite since its inauguration five years ago.

Just How big is Wrestlemania? For a typical wrestling event, sports arenas is usually the prefer method of attendances. However, nine of the 25 editions have been held in large stadiums used by the NFL and the MLB. Those attendances goes from the low 54,097 at the 19th edition in Seattle to the current world indoor attendance record of 93,173 in Pontiac, Michigan at the event's 3rd anniversary. That edition is widely considered to be the pinnacle of the wrestling boom in the 1980s and was the largest paying attendance in professional wrestling at that time.

Perhaps some of the greatest wrestling moments occurred at Wrestlemania. Long time wrestling fans will mention Hulk body slamming Andre the Giant, the acclaim match between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, the Ultimate Showdown, the classic Ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, the 60 minute Iron Man, Stone Cold's first world championship, the various Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, The Rock and Hogan showdown, the emotional retirement of Ric Flair, and the Undefeated 17-0 streak of the Undertaker.

Due to the popularity and the wide appeal of Wrestlemania, many celebrities have participated with different levels of involvement throughout the 25 years. The first edition witnessed boxing legend Muhammad Ali and Mr. T. The second edition saw a 20 man battle royal pitting WWE superstars against NFL players. Mike Tyson appeared at XIV as the special guest enforcer, while professional welterweight boxer Flyod "Money"Mayweather battled The Big Show at XXIV. The latest saw Oscar-nominated best actor Mickey Rourke as a spectator for a match that ended with him delivering a knock out blow to wrestler Chris Jericho.

Furthermore, many renowned musicians such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, Little Richard, Boyz II Men, Ashanti, John Legend, Motorhead, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock have also performed at the events.

Thought 25 years have passed since its first inauguration, Wrestlemania still shows no signs of slowing down as many cities are still bidding for WWE to bring the event to their cities as the event have helped brought in millions of dollars of revenues in the respective cities through the years. Would we see more memorable moments in the future from this event? We will just have to wait and see.

The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg - How to Do It and Why Eggs Are HealthyThe Perfect Hard Boiled Egg - How to Do It and Why Eggs Are Healthy

2012-04-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

A convenient, tasty and healthy snack can be hard to find. Quality snacks are important when dieting, training or just following healthy eating habits.

Fortunately, with a little preparation, you can take advantage of one of the most complete food sources known to man-eggs.

Yuval Tal Drives Democratization of Global Payments With Payoneer

2012-04-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

While political uprisings all over the world are making headlines, another less visible revolution is also underway. This upheaval crosses national boarders and comes at the intersection of payments and e-commerce. The old regime was typified by a relatively small number of large merchants processing large numbers of in-country transactions. The "insurgency" is being driven by an increasingly large number of small merchants located all over the world. And the volume is increasing at a startling rate. Unfortunately, legacy payment infrastructures are not capable of efficiently managing the global aspects of these changing economies. With the help of Yuval Tal and his company, Payoneer, this is quickly changing.

This new world order is driven by industries including, mobile applications, freelance outsourcing, gaming and outlets like the iTunes® store. Comprised mostly of individuals and small teams, these smaller merchants and developers represent the "democratization" of modern day e-commerce. Were this revolution limited to one country, the transition to the new model would be relatively smooth, as payment infrastructures within developed countries tend to be robust. When we start looking at underdeveloped nations -- and cross-border transactions in general -- the efficiencies quickly break down.
Let's take the US as an example. There are three robust payment platforms in this nation: i) the credit card companies (namely Visa®, MasterCard® and American Express®), ii) the Federal banking system with paper and electronic checks (ACH), and iii) PayPal - the predominant alternative payment network. Keep in mind that only the latter two have historically been used to pay merchants. We will see momentarily how Yuval Tal, Payoneer and the branded prepaid debit card are changing this. Now, consider a native US application developer selling its wares on platforms like iTunes. For this developer, getting paid is easy. Most application stores will tend to remit payment by ACH because it is exceedingly inexpensive.
Most developed nations enjoy the same basic infrastructure with some subtle differences. Getting paid in-country is relatively simple, with multiple choices at varying costs. In developed countries, like the "G7" nations, vendors may get paid via direct debit or via wire transfer. PayPal and more localized alternative payments also exist in most of these countries. Vendors and sales platforms usually arrive at a payment choice based on cost and convenience.
Now, let's take the case where the developer and the sales platform are in different countries. All of a sudden, payment options become a lot more limited, and have a lot to do with sophistication of the banking systems within the respective countries. Generally speaking, it has always been possible to remit payments via wire transfer. Unfortunately, this method can be time consuming and expensive. Usually, both payer and payee incur a fee, and these fees tend to be a lot more expensive than ACH (in US) and direct deposit elsewhere. What's more, in some countries it can take up to 10 days for a wire transfer to clear. But, what about remitting payments to vendors in countries with less developed or more restrictive banking systems?
"When you discuss the democratization of e-commerce, the last places you probably think of are China and Russia - former bastions of anti-capitalism," says Payoneer CEO, Yuval Tal. "Interestingly enough, both areas are becoming major players in the digital world." It is widely accepted that Russia and China have developed a reputation for producing some of the world's best educated software engineers. Many of these engineers are writing apps for mobile devices and freelancing their skills to companies across the globe.
Getting paid in these countries has not necessarily been that straightforward. Of course, making in-country payments has always been the easiest. While not as developed as the US or EC, these banking systems are capable of processing paper checks and various types of electronic interbank payments within the country. But, what about cross-border transactions? It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and this can be seen in both China and Russia. Alternative payment systems like Alipay in China and to some extent, WebMoney in Russia are trying to fill the void. Both are leading "third party" payment companies within their respective countries, and both are trying to augment their cross-border functionality.
Competition for international remittance is heating up, and the credit card associations like Visa and MasterCard may very well have the greatest advantage. "Why should vendors and digital merchants spend money to develop a robust international remittance solution when an existing network can easily do the job." asks Tal? "Why string up 15 square miles of copper phone lines when you can put up one cell tower?" The card brands offer a sophisticated, well developed financial network. People like Yuval Tal have leveraged this network to create reloadable pre-paid debit card programs that make it possible and economically feasible for vendors to get paid on their own debit cards regardless of where they live. These cards can be used to withdraw cash in local currency at millions of ATMs worldwide. They can also be used to buy goods and services from merchants accepting the brands.
The democratization of e-commerce is well underway, and the international payment infrastructure to support it is following quickly behind. Traditional bank payments are giving way to third party alternatives. It should be no surprise then, that people like Yuval Tal, his company, Payoneer, and the ubiquitous debit card card may offer the cheapest, most expedient solution of all.

Time For Bed So Take Your Sleeping Pill - Or Not

2012-04-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

For most of us, a prescription pill is the concrete symbol of modern medicine. One-third of the population experiences sleeping problems and half of that number are motivated enough by their distress to take their problem to a physician. Nothing I have ever read recommends the use of sleeping pills for anything other than a short term solution to a sleeping problem. Why is it that we all know people who take sleeping pills every night of their lives? Ask any pharmacist, and you will find that many people take sleeping pills for prolonged periods of time. Why are these people being prescribed this medication for extended periods? Maybe the answer is that their doctors are aware of no acceptable solution other than to dispense sleeping pills. The doctor knows their patients have to sleep.

Regular use of sleeping pills is no longer considered safe or appropriate due to their undesirable and potentially dangerous side effects. Furthermore, sleeping pills are only moderately effective for insomnia and do not help insomniacs become normal sleepers. Sleeping pills also fail to treat the cause of insomnia. Because they treat only insomnia's symptoms, any improvement in sleep can only be temporary, thereby perpetuating the cycle of insomnia and sleeping pills. The insomnia can end up being much worse than if the medication were withheld. Sleeping pills are not the answer to chronic insomnia. However, sleeping pills can become a trap that escalates feelings of dependency, lowered self esteem, and guilt. You end up having to cope with two stressful problems: insomnia and dependency on sleeping pills.

When many medications are used regularly for even a short period of time, there can be a loss of effectiveness due to adjustments made by the user's body known as tolerance. Increasing doses of a medication are necessary to sustain the initial effectiveness the drugs produced. While sleep medicine may work in the short term, the dosage must be increased or a new medication must be substituted to produce the same results. Ultimately, the insomnia can return even with the continued use of the medication, plus there is the real possibility of drug dependence.

Most people who take a sleeping pill believe that they take it and like magic it puts them to sleep. If only it was that easy. What actually happens is that you take a pill; it has to dissolve in your intestinal tract, get absorbed, pass through and get broken down by the liver, make its way into the blood, then to the brain, where it attaches to receptors. Throughout this process, the body tries to rid itself of the chemical. People are surprised to learn that a sleeping pill will not put them to sleep the moment after they have swallowed it.

Problems of safety, negative side effects, upsetting effects on sleep stages, dependency and addiction tendencies, interactions with other drugs, limited duration of effectiveness, and rebound and withdrawal complications all hinder the successful employment of sleeping pills for sleep disorders.

tornades Texas

2012-04-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Tony Malley, Attorney at Law is announcing that offers free consultations for individuals, families and property and business owners affected by tornadoes and other disasters in Texas.
Attorney Tony Malley represents individuals in claims Texas Tornado and can help you and your family recover the compensation you need to rebuild and move forward with your life.When tornadoes hit, they bounce in and out of neighborhoods, devastating hundreds of homes and businesses. It is moments like these that people need their insurance the most. But, according to Tony Malley, it is also times like these that insurance companies are most likely to deny or delay valid claims, due to the large number of claims being filed.Texas personal injury lawyer Tony Malley announced that it offers free case reviews for those affected by tornadoes, including residents and business owners in Lancaster, Tyler, Arlington, Huntington, Forney, Dallas area, Tarrant County , Wood County, Smith County and Dallas County.He has experience in complex insurance litigation and he says he wants to use his knowledge and experience to help those affected by the tornado damage pass through the insurance process as quickly and efficiently as possible so they can move forward with their lives.According to Tony Malley,
insurance companies sometimes act disaster in bad faith following such as tornadoes and windstorms because they want to protect their own margins.Practice examples of bad faith include:
Deny valid insurance claims
Delay the processing of a claim
Delay payment of a claim
Unreasonable delay in the processing of an application
Providing colonies that are only a fraction of the value of claimWhen a disaster like a tornado in Texas success injury lawyer Tony Malley is available to help people get through the process quickly and recover the full amount of their claim.About Tony Malley, Attorney at LawTony Malley, Attorney at Law helps people throughout the state of Texas with a number of complex insurance claims. It now offers free case reviews to discuss claims Texas Tornado.

Stolen Dreams Or Misplaced Mutterings

2012-04-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, what's your headshot doing on my book jacket? I've been robbed. Without my explicit permission, you stole my story, fame, and future in one fell swoop. When did it happen? I was never informed. This is my lottery ticket and you snatched it right from under me. I'm going to find a great lawyer and sue you, but first I'll call the police!

How many of us think that the story rolling around in our head is so special that it is definitely material worthy of a best seller? If only I had the time to get to sitting down and writing it...but it's in there, yes indeed. Surely this would be the tale no one has yet told. What about my audience; legions of fans who clamor for my attention, publications eager to quote me and the talk show circuit at the ready for my OK. If only I had the time to sit down and write it.

It's quite a tale and I know that red is the perfect color to bring out my best. Short and pithy responses make for great sound bites and I am ready for the incisive interview, deftly handling the most provocative questioners. Yes, I am prepared for in-depth grilling and the subsequent headlines. I can handle anything they throw at me no matter how complex. If only I had the time to sit down and write it.

My acceptance speech is quite remarkable. Who could have imagined the impact my words made on countless lives. The testimonials continue to pour in and I can no longer handle the personal correspondence. My assistants are overwhelmed by the steady outpouring from my readers as they clamor for more. If only I had the time to sit down and write it.

Who am I kidding? I've procrastinated long enough about this robbery. Please call the police and report another theft of my dream.

Maureen Weisner, M.Ed., PCC, is president of Women Living on the Edge of Change. We provide one on one personal and executive coaching, creating a partnership with our clients as they identify the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together we design, strategize, and implement a structure for the client to work from in achieving her goals and the motivational strategies to support those transitions. We are expert in customizing unique workshops, seminars, and keynotes for groups, focusing on how change impacts our lives from moment to moment and for the long term.

Est-Amanda Bynes All That?

2012-04-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

En 1996, Amanda Laura Bynes est devenu un membre régulier de l'émission All That Nickelodeon. À l'âge de 7 ans, Bynes a été formé par Arsenio Hall et Richard Pryor dans un camp de la comédie. Après avoir quitté All That Nickelodeon en 2000, Bynes a obtenu sa propre émission porte bien son nom, Le Amanda Show, qui était également sur Nickelodeon. Le spectacle mettait en vedette plusieurs sketches comiques en direct d'action, y compris le juge Trudy, une esquisse sur la base du spectacle, le juge Judy. Bynes joue également le rôle de Pénélope Taynt, un fan obsédé par Amanda.

En 2002, Bynes a fait ses débuts dans son premier film, Big Fat Liar, où elle a partagé la vedette avec l'étoile Frankie Muniz. Après le succès de Big Fat Liar, Bynes a décroché son premier rôle principal dans What a Girl Wants. En 2002, Bynes aussi décroché un rôle principal dans la comédie WB, Ce que j'aime chez toi. Amanda Bynes a été nommé Teen People «25 étoiles les plus chaudes de moins de 25" en 2007 et était également sur la liste Forbes comme la célébrité cinquième le plus élevé payé en vertu de l'âge de vingt et un, gagnent plus de 2,5 millions de dollars.

Bynes a été connu sous le nom quelque peu d'une bonne fille sur le spectre social. En 2007, elle était très vocale de ne pas boire ou faire la fête:.. "J'aime danser et tout ça, mais boire n'est pas bon pour vous dans tous les sens, il n'est pas bon pour votre peau, elle vous fait vous sentir horribles Donc potable sage , non ». Toutefois, dans le Janvier 2009 de Cosmopolitain, Bynes a déclaré qu'elle aime sortir et boire un verre et danser si elle veut. Le 16 Janvier 2009, elle a annoncé qu'elle s'est séparée de son petit ami de trois mois, Doug Reinhardt de MTV The Hills.

Alec Baldwin's Tirade A Publicity Stunt For Martin Scorcese's Lymelife

2012-04-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you love to know what's really going on behind the scenes in the oval office, the room where the lives of the people of earth are manipulated? Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in the oval office? Not that flys can understand English but who's perfect?

There seems to be a web cam in every co-ed's dorm room in America so why isn't there one in the oval office? What are our puppet masters hiding from us? Why are American politicians campaigning for President 2 years before the election? Wouldn't a one month campaign be enough? Surely this campaign was designed to grind us all up into submission so that we will be too weak to oppose George Bush's imminent nuclear invasion of Iran. The minute he gets the funding he's going to push the button.

We have all been thrust into a media controlled real live Gitmo with threats that if we aren't good little boys and girls we will be forced to watch Lucy reruns forever, Bill and Hillary and Chelsea back in the White House for another 8 years, 3000 days. Is America that lame that all we can come up with is Bushes and Clintons? Is there nobody out there? Why do bad things happen to good people? What did we do to deserve this Chinese water torture?

It used to be said that religion was the opium of the masses. As long as people were promised eternal paradise in the future for chanting "Mumbo Jumbo" their rulers could basically get away with anything during their short mortal years. It is because our lives on earth are so short that we don't really worry about what we do to the planet while we're here. We have more important things to do. When Bill Clinton was in office no one knew where Afghanistan was. Now that America has occupied Afghanistan for five years, the source of 90% of the world's heroin, why haven't the troops uprooted even one poppy plant?

America is suffering from collective ADD. We have the attention span of a deer tick. The war mongers who are fleecing us now have purchased the media. General Electric bought NBC Universal. Why don't they put rainbow colored peacocks on their fighter jet engines. The 72 members of the Saudi Royal family who own the Middle East and pay one dollar a barrel to get the oil out of their ground and then sell 10 million barrels a day to America for $65 a barrel, bought the Bush family with the profits. George Bush senior sits on the board of the Saudi Royal family and the Carlysle Warmonger Corporation and the Saudi bin Laden family financed Junior's oil company. While nobody was looking the Saudi Royal family bought AOL Time Warner which owns CNN.

Like a magician the Sunni Saudi Royal family has diverted our attention from their latest orders to George Bush to capture Shiite Iran for them. MSNBC the propaganda arm of warmonger GE, and CNN the propaganda arm of our true masters the Saud boys have diverted our attention from their destruction of our planet by the burning of oil with a massive all out 24/7 propaganda entertainment blitz starring Anna Nicole Smith, Larry Birkhead, Howard K. Stern, Virgie Arthur, Dannielynn Smith, Daniel Smith, Judge Larry Seidlin and Dr. Joshua Perper. Can't Dr. Perper wear a hat? His head has freaked us all out in a classic brainwashing technique.

Once the NBC ratings department saw that we were losing interest in the Anna Nicole Smith saga they used their own script with Don Imus to divert us again. The mistake they made with the Anna Nicole Smith story was the guest list at the funeral. Where were President Bush and Laura? Where was Queen Elizabeth? Where was Helen Mirren? Who were these dress designers and haidressers? They couldn't even get Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger to attend. This was when we knew that we had been had.

These political shenanigans were not lost on the masters of suspension of disbelief the Hollywood producers and directors. Normally the film companies spend millions of dollars advertising their garbage before the film is released. Our country has massacred 1 million innocent Iraqi men, women and children and we are all glued to our television sets and computer screens being whipped into a collective hysteria by the boob tube pseudo Sigmund Freuds terrified that Ireland Baldwin is now going to suffer permanent debilitating psychological brain damage because her dad Alec Baldwin left her a nasty phone message. We have gone from agonizing over the long term damage Dannielynn Smith will suffer from womb methadone to this. Howard K. Stern has now been replaced in this Western by the new villain and scapegoat for all of our self inflicted problems Alec Baldwin.

Why did Seung hui Cho send his video to GE Universal NBC? If he wasn't sure that his actions would gain him world wide fame and immortality would the Virginia Tech students still be alive? Was Seung hui Cho not the classic example of demonic possession or was the murdering and vanity just an act?

Stephen Hawking is the world's leading scientist. Stephen Hawking recently said from his wheelchair while he was sipping a diet coke that we would soon all go extinct from nuclear world war 3, global warming or something we had not yet thought of. Well guess what. Albert Einstein said that without bees humans could only survive four years. The bees pollenate our crops. The AT&T Cingular cell phones are ruining the bees' navigational systems, they can't find their way back to their hives and half of the bees on earth disappeared over the winter. If the other half of the bees die next winter then our species is finished. Get ready for the huge cell phone companies to tell us that the evidence is inconclusive, just like the tobacco companies and then the oil companies.

On Halloween 1938 in the years leading up to world war 2 CBS broadcast a radio program called "The War of the Worlds." Martians landed in Grovers Mills New Jersey and began to take over New York City with heat rays and poison gas which the American military was defenseless against. The United States went into a national panic and in the aftermath Orson Welles shot to superstardom. Adolf Hitler remarked that the "American panic was evidence of the decadence and corrupt condition of democracy." It led him to believe that Americans were mindless weaklings and gave him the confidence to invade Poland. When you hear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say that the Ireland Baldwin incident is evidence of how weak and far gone we all are you will know that he is about to invade Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Israel. The world will be plunged into nuclear world war 3 because of a publicity stunt for Alec Baldwin's new movie Lymelife about a teenager watching his family disintegrate as his father Alec Baldwin has an affair with a woman whose husband got bitten by a deer tick and got Lyme Disease and hid in the basement smoking weed but not inhaling.

Tyler Hansbrough University of North Carolina (UNC) - Basketball Career Bio With Coach Roy Williams

2012-04-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Tyler Hansbrough was a highly recruited college basketball prospect as a high school student from the state of Missouri of who won two boys basketball state championships. After considering basketball scholarship offers from numerous storied basketball programs such as Duke University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Kentucky Tyler ultimately decided to play hoops for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels.

When Tyler arrived on the Chapel Hill, North Carolina campus he was greeted by famed head coach Roy Williams. Coach Williams made a name for himself as a long time respected head basketball coach at the University of Kansas before returning to his alma mater in 2003 as the head coach at UNC. Shortly after returning to the college that he graduated from in 1972 Roy Williams won his first national championship with the Tar Heels in 2005. Over the course of the four years that Tyler spent at UNC Hansbrough and Roy Williams formed a bond about as close any athlete and coach can have. When Hansbrough had his jersey retired in February of 2010 before a UNC vs. Duke rivalry game the ceremony brought tears to the eyes of Coach Williams.

As a freshmen on the UNC Tar Heels basketball team Tyler made an immediate impact. The first year star finished the season as the second leading scorer in the Atlantic Coach Conference (ACC) when he trailed only J.J. Redick of Duke, a player that would set the all-time record for points scored in the ACC in 2006 before Hansbrough would later break it in 2009. For his efforts Tyler was not only chosen as the conference freshmen of the year but also became the first player ever to be selected as a unanimous choice for first team All ACC as a freshman. The Sporting News even made Tyler a first team All-American after his first season.

Tyler would play three more seasons and be named to first team All-American lists for each of his four years. Despite being recognized after his junior season in 2007-2008 as the national player of the year Tyler decided to forego the NBA Draft and come back for his senior season in hopes to winning an elusive national championship with Coach Roy Williams. On April 6, 2009 Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Williams achieved their goal by winning a national championship together when they defeated Michigan State University in a game played in Detroit, Michigan.

Down Syndrome: Trisomy 21

2012-04-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Down syndrome, also known as Down's syndrome particularly in the United Kingdom or trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition which arises due to the presence of all or an extra part of chromosome 21.
The syndrome is named after the British physician John Langdon Down who first gave the description of this condition in 1866. The clinical details of this condition were given in the nineteenth century by Jean Etienne Dominique Esquirol in 1838 and Edouard Senguin 1844. Dr. Jerome Lejeune in 1959 identified that Down syndrome crops up due to trisomy of chromosome 21. The identification of this syndrome in the fetus can be done by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis in pregnancy or after the birth of the child. The effects and extent of the extra copy of chromosome 21 vary among individuals and may depend upon the genetic history and pure chance.
The incidence of this syndrome is estimated 1 per 733 births but the statistical data suggest that the incidence increases in case of older parents as the chances of mutation increases in the reproductive cells of such parents. Down syndrome has been reported in other mammalian species like chimpanzees and mice also.
English physician John Langdon Down first identified this syndrome as a kind of mental disability and published a report in 1866 about it. He used the term mongoloid for the children suffering from this syndrome as they have facial similarity with the Blumenbach's Mongolian race. By the 20th century this syndrome became popular as form of mental disability. The sufferers were treated medicines but majority of them either died in infancy or in early adulthood. With the rise of the eugenics movement, 48 states of United States began the sterilization of such individuals and Action T24 in Nazi Germany made the program of systematic murder of such individuals. Until the middle of the 20th century the exact reason for the occurrence of Down syndrome remained unknown but its relationship with the maternal age was noticed very soon. It affects people of all races. Many theories advocated that it is caused by unknown inherited factors while others believed that it is the result of injuries caused at the time of birth.
With the advent of the karyotype techniques in 1950s it became possible to identify the abnormalities associated with chromosome number and shape. In 1959, Jèrôme Lejeune discovered that Down syndrome is the result of presence of an extra chromosome. The extra chromosome was identified as 21 and the condition was named as trisomy. In 1961, 18 geneticists wrote to the editor of The Lancet that term Mongolian idiocy must be changed and it was named as Down syndrome later. In the present scenario the incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 to 1 per 1000 births. In the United States about 5429 individuals are born by this syndrome as calculated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2006. Approximately 95% of these cases crop up due to trisomy of chromosome 21 and it occurs in all races and all economic classes.
Maternal age strongly influences the chances of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome. At maternal age the chance is 1 in 1562, at the age of 35-39 the rate is 1 in 214 and above the age of 45 the chance is 1 in 19. According to a report about 80% of the babies born with Down syndrome belonged to the maternal age group of 35-39. Recent data also suggest that paternal age also influences the chances of occurrence of this syndrome. Fathers with the age group of above 42 are at the risk of giving birth to children with this syndrome. Current research indicates that Down syndrome occurs due to a random event during the formation of sex cells or pregnancy. There is no evidence that whether it is caused due to parental behavior or environmental factors. Individuals suffering from Down syndrome suffer from mild to moderate learning disabilities, developmental delays, low muscle tone in early infancy and characteristic facial features. Some individuals also suffer from heart defects, leukemia, early onset Alzheimer's disease, gastrointestinal troubles and other defects. The symptoms of the syndrome may vary from mild to severe.
Genes present on an extra copy of chromosome 21 are mainly responsible for Down syndrome. As a general rule all human beings contain 23 pairs of chromosomes and all these bear specific genes needed for the proper functioning of all the vital activities of body. All humans inherit 23 chromosomes from the father through sperm and 23 from the mother through egg cell during the act of fertilization but sometimes an extra copy is also inherited from one of the parents. In Down syndrome the offspring generally inherits two extra copies of the chromosome 21 from the mother and one from the father and for this reason the disorder is also known as trisomy 21. About 95% of the persons with this disorder inherit an entire extra chromosome 21.
About 3-4% of the individuals with this syndrome does not inherit the entire extra chromosome 21 but inherit some extra 21 chromosome genes that are generally located on the chromosome 14. This phenomenon is known as translocation and the chances of their occurrence are random for example, if the parent has exactly two copies of chromosomes but some of the genes are also distributed on other chromosomes and if the baby inherits chromosome with extra genes from chromosome 21 then he or she will suffer from Down syndrome. About 2-4% individuals with this disorder inherit additional genes from chromosome 21 and then the condition is identified as mosaic Down syndrome. The percentage of occurrence of mosaic Down syndrome varies and so the individuals do not have typical physical characteristics as found in the individuals with full trisomy 21. Sometimes the symptoms are so mild that this syndrome may remain undetected. If proper genetic testing is not done then this condition may be often confused with trisomy 21.
The exact reason how extra genes on chromosome 21 result in Down syndrome is not yet clear. Scientists believe that the presence of extra gene interfere with the normal functioning of other genes or there are chances that these extra genes may become more active than other genes that may alter some vital functions of body and so resulting in this disorder. Scientists are still working to find out which genes from chromosome 21 are exactly inherited that develop the symptoms of this disorder. About 400 genes have been identified on chromosome 21 but the function of majority of them is not clear. With the help of human studies and animal models scientists are trying to reveal the mystery of these genes. The only known reason why a child with Down syndrome is born is the increased maternal age. The woman who conceives very late is generally at a very high risk of giving birth to a child with this disorder. Parents who have conceived a child with Down syndrome have 1% chance of giving birth to another with this disorder. If a parent is a carrier of a chromosome 21 translocation then the risk of giving birth to a child with this disorder is 100%. A woman suffering from Down syndrome is at 50% risk of giving birth to a child with this syndrome. If the father is suffering from this disorder then the chances of child with this disorder are also increased.
The severity of Down syndrome may vary from mild to severe but the individuals share some widely recognizable features. These features include flattened face and nose, short neck, small mouth with protruding tongue, small ears and small eyes with many folds of skin present at the corner of the eyes. White spots may be identified near the colored part of the eyes. The hands are short with broad and short fingers. The muscle tone is poorly developed with loose ligaments. Growth and development also delayed and height less than average. Many noninvasive screening techniques are now available by which the parents can identify if the chances of a baby with Down syndrome are suspected. This helps the parents to decide the fate of the baby. The prenatal screening tests include expanded alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening test, nuchal translucency test and additional ultrasound screens that detect certain important anatomical features of the fetus. These tests give a prediction that there are chances of Down syndrome to occur in the fetus but the results may not be 100% true.
The most widely used test is the expanded alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP). A blood sample of the mother who is pregnant for 15-20 weeks is taken out and examined. The levels of alpha-fetoproteins and three hormones namely unconjugated estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin and inhibin-A are measured in the blood sample. If the levels of these proteins and hormones are elevated then Down syndrome is suspected but cannot be predicted with 100% surety. The nuchal translucency test measures the thickness of the fold in the neck with the help of the ultrasound. This test can be performed within 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. If mother's age is also taken into consideration then this test gives about 80% accuracy of chances of the birth of a chile with Down syndrome.
Women identified with high risk of giving birth to a child with this disorder can be suggested to undergo more ultrasound screens between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. Some characteristic markers that detect that the child will suffer from Down syndrome are length of long arm or femur, length of nasal bridge, size of renal pelvis, small bright spots in heart and small middle section of the little finger. Other markers include presence of a large gap between the first and the second toe, increased brightness of bowel and widened iliac angle.
The diagnosis of Down syndrome in the fetus can be made before birth but the diagnostic tests carry a small risk of miscarriage. If Down syndrome is suspected after the birth of the child then the diagnosis can be done by using chromosome analysis. Amniocentesis is performed between 16-20 weeks of pregnancy in which a thin needle is inserted into the amniotic cavity through the abdominal wall and a small amount of the amniotic fluid is taken out. This sample is then analyzed to identify chromosomal abnormalities. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is another technique that is generally carried out between 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. This test involves collection of the chorionic villus cell sample from the placenta that can be taken out by inserting a needle in the abdominal wall or through a catheter in the vagina.
The chromosomes collected in the sample are checked for abnormalities. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUB) can be carried out where the fetal blood sample can be collected from the umbilical cord by the insertion of needle in the abdominal wall and then the sample is analyzed for abnormalities. This test is generally performed after 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Cognitive impairment is the most common condition associated with Down syndrome. The process of cognitive development in such individuals is generally delayed and the symptoms may vary from mild to severe as they find difficulty in learning things. How trisomy of chromosome 21 leads to cognitive impairment is still a mystery. Scientists have found that the average brain size of a person with this disorder is generally small and certain areas of brain especially the hippocampus and the cerebellum also show alterations in their normal functioning. Defect in hippocampus results in impairment of learning and memory formation. Scientists are tirelessly working to find out which genes are present on the chromosome 21 that result in cognitive impairment. The other health problem associated with Down syndrome is congenital heart defect. Majority of the individuals born with this syndrome generally suffer from atrioventricular septal defect. Other heart defects that can be coupled with this disorder are ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot and patent ductus arteriosus. Some babies are suggested to undergo immediate heart surgery soon after their birth in order to cure these heart defects.
Gastrointestinal troubles are also associated with Down syndrome and they commonly include esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, duodenal atresia, Hirschsprung disease and imperforate anus. Individuals suffering from Down syndrome are at higher risk of getting infected with celiac disease. Sometimes surgery is required to get rid of these problems. Certain kinds of cancer are very frequently found in individuals suffering from Down syndrome for example, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myeloid leukemia and testicular cancer. Solid tumors rarely make their appearance in such individuals. Other conditions that can also arise in individuals with this disorder are hearing loss, frequent ear infections, hypothyroidism, cervical spine instability, visual impairment, obesity, constipation, infantile spasms, dementia and early-onset Alzheimer's disease. About 18-38% of the individuals with this disease also suffer from behavioral defects like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and stereotypical movement disorders.
In the present context although the genetic cause of Down syndrome is known but there is no possible cure for this disorder. Scientists are continuously working to find out the mystery of the genes responsible for this disorder but it will take some more years to solve this riddle. Corrective surgery to cure heart defects, gastrointestinal problems and other health issues is mandatory in case of some individuals. Regular health checkup is required in order to keep a track over hearing aids, hypothyroidism, visual impairments, obesity, ear infections and other medical conditions.
Such individuals should be fully welcomed in the family and community. It is very important that proper care of the children suffering from Down syndrome must be taken and they must be stimulated, encouraged and educated from their childhood. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are very beneficial for the treatment of such children. Children with Down syndrome are able to learn like normal children and if they are encouraged they give good results also. Social development and social learning of such children are generally normal but the motor skills, speech and language associated features are delayed.
Adults with Down syndrome attain same hormonal changes during puberty like the normal individuals. Girl with this disorder have normal menstrual cycle although they are less fertile and may also become pregnant. Males have low sperm count but can become fathers. Proper education of such individuals about sexual development and contraception is very important. Individuals with this disorder generally live normally and with proper support they enjoy life, relationships and work. Such adults generally undergo ageing faster than normal individuals. As they grow old the risk of memory impairment, hypothyroidism and dementia increases.
By the age of 40 these individuals show signs of dementia and early onset of Alzheimer's disease. By the age of 60 about 50-70% of the individuals develop Alzheimer's disease. The reason why the individuals with Down syndrome age prematurely and develop Alzheimer's disease is not known. Since individuals with this disease have three copies of chromosome 21 and the genes present on these chromosomes generally increase the chances of onset of Alzheimer's disease. Although many individuals with Down syndrome get paid employment while others remain unemployed and those who wish to do job are provided adequate training.

The Philippines Is a Country With Extended American Ties

2012-04-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Republic of the Philippines is an island nation made of more than 1000-islands. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the country came under United States rule and then became a commonwealth in 1935. Full independence was not achieved until the end of World War II and became English the nation's dominate language.

During World War II the small rocky island of Corregidor, at the entrance to Manila Bay became the origin of the single largest surrender of a military force in American history and one of the worst horrors of man's inhumanity to man - the Bataan Death March.
In reality the Death March was a series of marches each lasting from five to nine days. 2012 will be the 70th anniversary of the marches that began April 9, 1942 after the United States and the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese, resulting in 70,000 POW's being taken and led on the infamous 60-mile "Bataan Death March," also known as "The Death March of Bataan."

Americans and Filipinos, civilian and military were taken captive on Corregidor after the three-month Battle of Bataan on the Bataan Peninsula. The island of Corregidor is approximately 4-miles long and barely 1 ½ miles at it's widest.
Today, Corregidor is a major Philippine visitor attraction. The Pacific War Memorial built here is a tribute to both American and Filipino forces that fought in World War II. The memorial was created out of steel shaped in a circle symbolic of a wreath with an eternal flame of freedom. To visit Corregidor is poignant. To become aware of the lack of nature's sounds leaves one taken aback, it is ethereal.
"For the young, war is stolen youth." The POW's were cruelly marched 60-miles inland on Luzon to the Camp O'Donnell, the Japanese POW camp where allied prisoners were held. Prisoners walked day and night in tropical heat. The march characterized by sweeping physical abuse and murder, resulted in high fatalities along the way. One former prisoner phased it, "It was like going from the frying pan into the fire."
Falling down or the failure to continue moving was an automatic death sentence. Beheadings and shootings were the most widespread actions, along with bayonet stabbing, rifle butt beatings and the intentional denial of food or water. The death marchers were all in the prime of their life.

Many of them died en route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution. Consequently, the sides of the roads became littered with dead bodies and many pleading for help. If an allied prisoner helped another solider falling due to weakness both were attacked and killed. Enemy trucks often drove over anyone who fell.
The exact death toll has never been determined, but estimates have placed it at one in four up to two in seven of those brutalized by the forcible march. Internment camp deaths from the postponed effects of the march are uncertain, but thought to be high. Some prisoners were later sold to Japanese factory owners and spent the rest of the war in Japan working in Japanese war effort industries.
After World War II American military bases were reestablished in the Philippines and until our government withdrew from those installations in the 1990s, the Boy Scouts of America troops made up of sons of military members stationed in the Philippines would reenact the march along a portion of the initial route in Bataan taken by the Japanese. For Filipinos, April 9th is "Bataan Day" or "Day of Valor" and a national holiday.
Officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, the Philippines is a beautiful country. During the time my family lived on Luzon, there were many times that we drove by and sometimes stopped to visit and pay respect at a memorial built to commemorate the Bataan battle and march. Bataan is seldom remembered by Americans today, because of both its lessons in both inhumanity and valor the Bataan Death March should not be forgotten.
Kathy Manney is the nationally recognized author of autobiographical, lifestyle and travel articles and the travel columnist for "The Vegas Voice," a monthly regional senior lifestyle newspaper. She spent two years living in the Philippines, where she enjoyed visiting historical memorials.
As the travel expert-at-large for the "Voice" Kathy has seen a lot of the world, she enjoys traveling to new and interesting places and in the process of becoming an adventure Diva, finds some of her articles. Kathy's "must see before I die" travel adventures continue, each filled with enthusiasm.
Kathy is open to freelance work in the fields of non-fiction writing and editing.

How to Become a Home Health Care Nurse

2012-04-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

Home Health Care Nursing Information and Overview

Home health care is allowing the patient and their family to maintain dignity and independence. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse services because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home Health Care Basics

Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and home health care. Home health care nursing is a growing phenomenon as more patients and their families desire to receive care in their homes. The history of home health care stems from Public Health Nursing where public health nurses made home visits to promote health education and provide treatment as part of community outreach programs. Today academic programs train nurses in home care and agencies place home health care nurses with ailing individuals and their families depending on the nurse's experience and qualifications. In many cases there is a shared relationship between the agency and the academic institution.

Many changes have taken place in the area of home health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and documentation. It is important for the nurse and nursing agency to be aware of the many factors involved for these rules and regulations resulting from these organizations. Population and demographic changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers approaching retirement and will present new challenges for the home health care industry. Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also taking place with follow-up home care. This has resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these technologies and medical care has lead to increases in morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for home health care nursing a greater priority.

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in a wide range of treatments; emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient's own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the "family" team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child's condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care. Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Training and continuing education

Most home health care nurses gain their education through accredited nursing schools throughout the country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a master's degree in nursing (MSN). According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. Also, in 2004, there were 417 master's degree programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses can also earn specialized professional certificates online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning.

In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue advancement into administrative positions or research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor's degree is often essential. A bachelor's degree is also important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).

All home health care nurses have supervised clinical experience during their training, but as stated earlier advanced practicing nurses hold master's degrees and unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a minimum of two years of post clinical experience. Course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these programs have training in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004).

Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing facility, or home care, continuing education is necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care and health procedures. Universities, continuing education programs, and internet sites, all offer continuing education. One such organization that provides continuing education is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Conclusion

There are many rewards to becoming a home health care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship with a patient and their family, autonomy, independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and challenges. We must meet these challenges head on - there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing morbidity factor due to increased medical technology and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing care.

Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a time. With clinical experience and proper education, a home health care nurse will lead the future of medical care.

Golden State Warriors Need To Throw the House At Andrew Bynum

2012-04-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

Andrew Bynum is available for trade, or at least we think he is after a "bush league" foul on the Dallas Mavericks' J.J. Barea, paired with speculation that Dwight Howard may be heading west to Los Angeles has sent the NBA media's minds wandering.

Bynum's departure from Game 4 of the Lakers/Mavericks series seemed almost Lebron James-esque. James left his last game as a Cleveland Cavalier in much the same way Bynum did, with their shirts off as if to say "I'm done with this."

Whether Bynum meant to evoke that image or not, we will not know. But it is the Howard heading to L.A. speculation that may play the biggest role in whether or not Bynum is a Laker next season.

If the Lakers pursue Howard, then they will need room at the center position, and Bynum would see to be the odd man out.

If this is the case, teams will be sprinting to acquire Bynum. The 23-year-old big man boasts the defensive and offensive abilities that not many players his size own, which makes him a hot commodity if he is available.

If there was ever a team that needed a center with his set of skills, it is every team, but the Golden State Warriors need him most.

A player like Bynum could put the Warriors over the top in the Western Conference and into the playoffs most certainly.

The talk has always been about how the Warriors need a big man to build around, and the opportunity to get a big man with his ability does not get much better than this.

The Warriors need to throw the house at Andrew Bynum and the Lakers.

By the house, I mean anything.

Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry, you name it, the Lakers get it in exchange for Bynum.

It has come to a point with the Warriors that they cannot win with a stellar backcourt. They need a legitimate center if they want to win. And his name is not Andris Biedrins...

A frontcourt of Bynum and David Lee is a duo the Warriors can build around. Building around Ellis and Curry is not. It's been proven with 36 wins this season, and less the season before.

Just a possibility, but Curry, Dorell Wright, Lee and Bynum sounds a lot better than Ellis, Curry, Wright and Lee.

I am not saying that Ellis is on his way out of Golden State, but if the Warriors want to acquire Bynum, either Ellis or Curry, plus a package of players and draft picks, will be L.A.-bound.