The picture is called an “avatar”.  It is very simple and easy to get one.  Simply click on this link   http://en.gravatar.com/  

 Once you get to the site simply click on the “Get your Gravatar today” button – you only need to input your email to get going.  There is also a small video to watch at the top of the page to explain how it all works.

Leave a comment when you have your avatar picture and say Hi.

This self-paced certificated anatomy and physiology course will cover all the major body systems. It will particularly appeal to those who wish to enter into studies in the area of complimentary medicines or simply wish to improve their knowledge in this area. Easy to follow lessons focus on the need-to-know facts, that must be understood by anyone wanting to pursue a health care career. Ideal for anyone requiring a solid understanding of how the human body works.

http://reflexologyestore.com/anatomy-physiology%e2%80%94aap1

The first British field trial of genetically modified potatoes was planted yesterday – in defiance of public opinion and complaints from green campaigners.

The test, funded by the taxpayer, is designed to create a crop resistant to a serious disease called late blight. But critics argue the experiment is a waste of public money because blight-resistant potatoes produced through natural techniques already exist. They also say the GM crops could be a risk to food safety.

The trial is being carried out on a plot in Norfolk by scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory, which specialises in plant research. It is part of a programme that has cost taxpayers £1.7million since 2001. Approval was granted by the department of the new Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who has a long history of support for GM farming. Formal approval came from one of her ministers, Lord Henley.

However, studies of public opinion have revealed enormous resistance to the development of so-called Frankenstein foods.  There has been little independent research into the health effects of eating GM food, while trials of other modified crops have identified risks to neighbouring wildlife.

The GM Freeze campaign group last night raised concerns, including food safety fears over an antibiotic-resistant marker gene implanted in the trial potatoes. Director Pete Riley said using GM technology to tackle blight was expensive, unproven and ‘disruptive for the industry because of the measures needed to prevent contamination to protect consumer choice’.

‘Conventional breeding is miles ahead of GM in producing very good resistance in varieties that are already on the market,’ he added. Friends of the Earth called into question the wider benefits of GM crops.

Food campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said: ‘The largest scientific farming study ever conducted saw no clear role for GM crops in feeding the world – and their roll-out in other countries reveals that they benefit big business, not local farmers or hungry people. ‘We can feed a growing global population without trashing the planet or resorting to factory farms and GM crops.’

But Professor Jonathan Jones, of the Sainsbury Laboratory, defended the trial, saying it could help reduce the use of chemical sprays. ‘We have isolated genes from two different wild potato species that confer blight resistance,’ he said. ‘We are testing whether these work in a field environment to protect a commercial potato variety, Desiree, against this destructive disease.’

Late blight spreads easily and can wipe out entire fields. It was responsible for the 19th century Irish potato famine.

The trials come as Mrs Spelman moved to close down her biotech lobbying firm. The minister has attracted mounting criticism about a possible conflict of interest with her role in taking decisions over the future of GM food.

Aides confirmed last night that she had taken steps to wind up Spelman, Cormack and Associates, which was set up with her husband Mark in 1989.

A spokesman insisted Mrs Spelman had taken the decision shortly after being appointed Environment Secretary last month. He insisted that the firm ‘did not represent GM clients’.

An analysis that included nearly 400,000 participants finds that those with higher blood levels of vitamin B6 and the essential amino acid methionine (found in most protein) had an associated lower risk of lung cancer, including participants who were current or former smokers, according to a study in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

“Lung cancer remains the most com­mon cause of cancer death in the world today and is likely to remain so for the near future. It is essential that for lung cancer prevention, any additional evidence about causality does not detract from the importance of reducing the numbers of individuals who smoke tobacco. With this in mind, it is important to recognize that a large proportion of lung cancer cases occur among former smokers, making up the majority in countries where tobacco campaigns have been particularly successful, and a non-trivial number of lung cancer cases oc­cur also among never smokers, particu­larly among women in parts of Asia. Clarifying the role of B vitamins and re­lated metabolites in lung cancer risk is likely therefore to be particularly relevant for former smokers and never smokers,” the authors conclude.

Researchers at Kingston University have spent 3 years developing an ointment based on pomegranate rind (mixed with metal salts and Vitamin C) that, they say, will treat a range of common infections – including MRSA.  The findings which have recently been published in the journals British Journal of Biomedical Science and BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, are yet another success for pomegranates as “medicinal plants.”

Lead researcher, Professor Delcan Naughton, explained “We have developed a topical ointment that can successfully attack a range of drug resistant microbes….it’s a significant breakthrough and a striking example of the effectiveness of adding more components to create a more active product.  The increase in drug=resistant infections found in hospitals has made our research topical and pressing.  The idea of using a foodstuff is unusual and means that the body should be able to cope more easily with its application; patients are less likely to experience any major side effect.”

Thanks to CMA-UK.

Rather, European research teams found that the actual results showed that over a 10 year period (1997-2006) there was only a 1% decline (in women 55-74) in areas where breast screening was undertaken – and a decline of 2% in areas where it was not undertaken.

These results add fuel to the debate about continuing breast screening programmes.  Read the full article at http://bit.ly/cQq1Pe

Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.  Tyron Edwards

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.  Marilyn vos Savant

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.  Michael Althsuler

Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.    Zig Ziglar

Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic.  Anonymous

We must overcome the notion that we must be regular… it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre.  Uta Hagen

Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.  Joel A. Barker

Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.  Dan Rather

An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded.  Alexander Pope

Our own heart, and not other men’s opinions, forms our true honor.   Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I missed nearly the entire episode, but did catch most of the segment on Ear Candling.  It didn’t seem to flow.  The lady from the audience who recommended Ear Candling didn’t seem to know how to use the candles, nor did Dr. Oz.  In fact Dr. Oz awkwardly attempted to hold the candle in his own ear while sitting up, without any instruction whatsoever, then the lady grabbed the candle blew it out and replaced it in or on Dr. Oz’s ear stating the smoke would draw out the ear wax.  Of course when she blew the candle out the whole experiment fizzled and abruptly ended. 

They then asked the “expert” who was a medical doctor.  Does Ear Candling work?  Yes or No?  He said no.  The lady said okay I’ll stop using them.

My understanding with ear candling is that the flame creates a vacuum which pulls out toxins and any built-up wax deposits as well as generally clearing up the eustachian tube.  Also, the candles are placed air tightly in the auricle canal and the client has their head down on one side to facilitate the session.  None of this was demonstrated.

I think Ear Candling got a bad rap.

If you saw the show or if you have any thoughts on Ear Candling, please leave a comment.

Many of us fear failure. But we also want success in life and all the “jolly lolly” that goes with it. Babe Ruth is in the Baseball Hall of Fame as the biggest hitter of home runs (apparently… ) and is also in there for the most strike outs! He put it this way, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” It’s like they say in the Lottery, “You’ve got to be in it to win it!”

As a baseball fanatic, join me for a moment and think about Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player of all time.  The Babe grew up in an orphanage with little chance at being a success.  Yet his attitude, talent and determination led him to the most storied career in all of baseball.  The immortal slugger, the Sultan of Swat, during the height of the depression at a press conference following one of his great games with the Yankees – a disgruntled journalist challenged him saying “Do you know you make more money than the president of the United States of America?” Babe responded “Yeah, I’m having a better year!”

The more we do, the more we learn.  Even if we don’t do it “right”, we have at least learned yet another way of not doing it.  That’s learning; that’s growth.  Take Thomas Edison…

It took Mr. Edison approximately 10,000 experiments to invent the perfect set-up for the electric light bulb. There was a lot of learning to go through. Nobody had done it before. He couldn’t read a book about it. He simply had to plug away, failing and learning, until he worked out the right way to do it.

When I think of my kids and now my grandchildren.  They’re so able to think positively.  Reaching for that crib ornament that’s just out of reach.  Do they quit after one or two tries?  No, they just keep reaching day after day after day.  And then, finally success. 

It’s the same with their first crawl which our newest granddaughter is just now trying to do.  Or their first step.  You were the same, you first learnt to walk after falling down thousands of times. Thank God you didn’t take every fall as some personal flaw – or you’d still be riding around in a pram!

Now consider this – Positive thinking will strengthen your immune system and help to set you moving towards recovery – a fact that the medical community is starting to wake up to.  For instance, there is a doctor who treats his cancer patients with mountain climbing.  Giving people a reason to live boosts their spirits and their immune systems.

So, seek out new challenges, try new things.  You’ll be glad you did!

Loss of sleep decreases our resistance thus increasing our susceptibility to infections and all forms of dis-ease, lowering our vitality and increasing our nervous irritability, pushing us downward instead of onward and upward.

We need all the sound, restful, refreshing sleep we can get.  Sleep builds health – health brings wealth, beauty and happiness.

Did you know?  The first bed was a pile of leaves gathered under the protecting shelter of a ledge, or scooped into a corner of a cave.  The intent was the same as applies to the most elaborate and perfect resting place – favouring relaxation while leaving the circulation of the body unimpeded.  Hmm, I think I prefer a Sealy posture pedic.