The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion'
in a casual manner, think about whether you want that
'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases. Follow this ;
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the
rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans. It's amazing what you can learn with some simple math .
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans .
Interesting number, what does it mean?
A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your
home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays
Put these words upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me to my doom!'
And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Univers al Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'
And we still have to 'press
1' for English.
I hope this goes around THE
USA at least 100 times
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
What makes a Christian different from anyone else
"What makes a Christian different from anyone else?"
One must first define what it is to be a "Christian"
Lace trimmed bobby sox,spit 'n polished, blacker than black leather shoes,
a starched gathered skirt a flight layers of cloud like crinoline, spotless white
gloves, topped off with a seasonably appropriate hat and... voila... there
I stood, a Christian girl of the 60's...ready for church.
I would have said, without a doubt, I was a Christian since I had been
christened as an infant, attended bible school as a teen, sang in the
choir and knew the Lord's prayer by heart.
My Uncle Bob had emphatically said, "Don't go talkin' about that
religion. It's a personal thing and not to be discussed.PERIOD!"
God was to be saved for church, weddings, funerals ,exam time and...
catastrophies like a teenager's broken heart or a pimple outbreak on
prom night. Perhaps just acknowledging John 3 :16- For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten son so whom so ever beleives in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life ,is testimony sufficient enough.
The dictionary simply says a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ.
We all know He healed the sick, clensed the lepper, raised the dead and
walked on water so if the dictionary definition is correct...there is a
whole lot less Christians around than we think.
For the sake of this essay, however, I feel there is more to being a
Christian than simply acknowleging John 3:16. It's at that pivitol, life
changing point when a person calls unto God, sincerely repents for their
life of sin or rebellious living, surrenders their entire being to Him and
invites Jesus into their heart then they become a Christian. This is what
is called being born again.
Now to answer the main question: What makes a Christian different
from anyone else? let's examine the various signs of Christian living.
Firstly, there is the fruit of the spirit,Galatians 5:22-23, these
attributes are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness and temperance. There are agnostics and in fact athiests
that exibit many of these characterists.
So what about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? These are: words of wisdom,
words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracle working, prophesy, discernment
of spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting of tongues. Again, these are
not found only in Christians.
Satan is a liar and copies much sometimes even appearing as "light".
Magic is something Christians are advised to avoid simply so others cannot
accuse a Christian of magic instead of miracle working.
To understand the answer to the later question we will breifly go
back in history to a prisoner of war camp in Japan, WW2. Apparently,
the Japaneese gathered many POW's aboard a submarine telling them the
war was over and they were being returned to their various home
countries. Down below the ocean the abused soldiers were jubulent
as they talked about returning home to their loved ones and tasting
freedom once again.
After some time the submarine resurfaced and the prisoners came up amidst
much excitement and cheering. Time breifly stood still then there was a
collective gasp as the prisoners realized they had been tricked.
The submarine had stayed all this time in Japaneese waters. Hope dashed,
many of the prisoners died instantly as the Japaneese soldiers taunted
and laughed at them.
Here one sees how important hope is and it is HOPE that makes a Christian
different from anyone else. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says it perfectly:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away our
inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary
affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison"
In His service,
A.J. Lo
One must first define what it is to be a "Christian"
Lace trimmed bobby sox,spit 'n polished, blacker than black leather shoes,
a starched gathered skirt a flight layers of cloud like crinoline, spotless white
gloves, topped off with a seasonably appropriate hat and... voila... there
I stood, a Christian girl of the 60's...ready for church.
I would have said, without a doubt, I was a Christian since I had been
christened as an infant, attended bible school as a teen, sang in the
choir and knew the Lord's prayer by heart.
My Uncle Bob had emphatically said, "Don't go talkin' about that
religion. It's a personal thing and not to be discussed.PERIOD!"
God was to be saved for church, weddings, funerals ,exam time and...
catastrophies like a teenager's broken heart or a pimple outbreak on
prom night. Perhaps just acknowledging John 3 :16- For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten son so whom so ever beleives in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life ,is testimony sufficient enough.
The dictionary simply says a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ.
We all know He healed the sick, clensed the lepper, raised the dead and
walked on water so if the dictionary definition is correct...there is a
whole lot less Christians around than we think.
For the sake of this essay, however, I feel there is more to being a
Christian than simply acknowleging John 3:16. It's at that pivitol, life
changing point when a person calls unto God, sincerely repents for their
life of sin or rebellious living, surrenders their entire being to Him and
invites Jesus into their heart then they become a Christian. This is what
is called being born again.
Now to answer the main question: What makes a Christian different
from anyone else? let's examine the various signs of Christian living.
Firstly, there is the fruit of the spirit,Galatians 5:22-23, these
attributes are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness and temperance. There are agnostics and in fact athiests
that exibit many of these characterists.
So what about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? These are: words of wisdom,
words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracle working, prophesy, discernment
of spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting of tongues. Again, these are
not found only in Christians.
Satan is a liar and copies much sometimes even appearing as "light".
Magic is something Christians are advised to avoid simply so others cannot
accuse a Christian of magic instead of miracle working.
To understand the answer to the later question we will breifly go
back in history to a prisoner of war camp in Japan, WW2. Apparently,
the Japaneese gathered many POW's aboard a submarine telling them the
war was over and they were being returned to their various home
countries. Down below the ocean the abused soldiers were jubulent
as they talked about returning home to their loved ones and tasting
freedom once again.
After some time the submarine resurfaced and the prisoners came up amidst
much excitement and cheering. Time breifly stood still then there was a
collective gasp as the prisoners realized they had been tricked.
The submarine had stayed all this time in Japaneese waters. Hope dashed,
many of the prisoners died instantly as the Japaneese soldiers taunted
and laughed at them.
Here one sees how important hope is and it is HOPE that makes a Christian
different from anyone else. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says it perfectly:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away our
inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary
affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison"
In His service,
A.J. Lo
The New Has Come
The New Has Come
Today's Scripture
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
As a follower of Christ, you are a new creation! You have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! Are there “old” things in your life that you are trying to get rid of? Maybe you have old behaviors or addictions that you want to change. Remember, the new has come. It’s a new year and it’s time to be the new you. Let this year be the year you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. And your new life includes all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in His Word. You have a promise of peace. Health. Protection. Provision. Be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening in your life right now, you can embrace the new life God has prepared for you. Make the choice today to leave the old behind—leave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words. Embrace the new by faith and you’ll move forward into the life of blessing the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. Help me to understand Your plan for me so that I can fully embrace Your promises. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Today's Scripture
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
As a follower of Christ, you are a new creation! You have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! Are there “old” things in your life that you are trying to get rid of? Maybe you have old behaviors or addictions that you want to change. Remember, the new has come. It’s a new year and it’s time to be the new you. Let this year be the year you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. And your new life includes all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in His Word. You have a promise of peace. Health. Protection. Provision. Be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening in your life right now, you can embrace the new life God has prepared for you. Make the choice today to leave the old behind—leave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words. Embrace the new by faith and you’ll move forward into the life of blessing the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. Help me to understand Your plan for me so that I can fully embrace Your promises. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Focus on the Unseen
Focus on the Unseen
Today's Scripture
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Every obstacle in your life is subject to change. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing, there is an answer in the unseen. The unseen is the spiritual realm where the promises of God exist. Your faith brings those unseen things into this natural realm. When you are fixed on something, you can’t be moved. There’s a determination that fuels your focus. When you fix your eyes on the unseen—the promises of God—your faith will not be moved by your circumstances and you’ll eventually see those promises come to pass. Make the decision today to fix your eyes and mind on the promises of God. Meditate on His promises until they become more real to you than the air you breath. Declare that His promises will come to pass in your life. Declare that you have His favor. Declare that you are more than a conqueror. Don’t allow fear and doubt to change what you are speaking over your li fe. As you continue to fix your spiritual eyes on the unseen promises of God, you will see those things come to pass in the natural and you will move forward into the abundant life the Lord has for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father God, today I choose to fix my eyes on you. I choose to fix my mind and heart on your promises, no matter what it looks like in this natural world. I know that Your Word is true and that your promises will be fulfilled in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Today's Scripture
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Every obstacle in your life is subject to change. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing, there is an answer in the unseen. The unseen is the spiritual realm where the promises of God exist. Your faith brings those unseen things into this natural realm. When you are fixed on something, you can’t be moved. There’s a determination that fuels your focus. When you fix your eyes on the unseen—the promises of God—your faith will not be moved by your circumstances and you’ll eventually see those promises come to pass. Make the decision today to fix your eyes and mind on the promises of God. Meditate on His promises until they become more real to you than the air you breath. Declare that His promises will come to pass in your life. Declare that you have His favor. Declare that you are more than a conqueror. Don’t allow fear and doubt to change what you are speaking over your li fe. As you continue to fix your spiritual eyes on the unseen promises of God, you will see those things come to pass in the natural and you will move forward into the abundant life the Lord has for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father God, today I choose to fix my eyes on you. I choose to fix my mind and heart on your promises, no matter what it looks like in this natural world. I know that Your Word is true and that your promises will be fulfilled in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Air Scrabble
Air Scrabble - Keep it going!
CHANGE ONE LETTER OF THE BOTTOM WORD POSTED AND SEE WHO GETS STUCK AND CAN'T CONTINUE!
RULES: YOU CANNOT ADD LETTERS YOU CANNOT USE FOREIGN LANGUAGES YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE ONE LETTER
Send it back to the person that sent it to you, plus 10 new people.
STARTING WORD: foot
Hannah - boot Mary -bout Dan - boat Taylor- coat Nat - coal Brian - cool Bryan- fool Amy - tool Sami - pool Sarah - wool Kasey - woof Lori - hoof Katie - roof Bon - root Lisa- hoot Colleen - coot Yvonne - cook Karen - look Audrey - took Bonnie - book Charlie - hook Nan- honk Audrey - hank Jeannette -hunk Bette -dunk Molly -punk Bev - hunk Ernie- sunk Phyllis - junk Sharon - June Jane - tune Linda - tone Bruce - bone Lisa- lone Helen - gone Midge - done Sherlin - cone Vivian - none Dora - zone Jean - hone Sally - home Mary - come Tim - dome Yesi - some Teri - same Donna - sage Emilie - cage Betty - page Dick - pale Laura- bale Kate - male Barb - mole Susie - pole Rebecca - poke Janet - joke Angie - toke Laureen - coke Lori - code Vickie - rode Sabrina - rose Leslie - rise Denise - rite Sheri - rate Sharon- rats Linda - cats Carolyn - mats Jamie- mate Becky - mite Michelle - mice Brenda - dice Cheryl - lice Jody - lick Linda - wick Felicia - kick Shar I - sick Whitney - suck Heather - tuck Brenda - duck (I'm not going to be the one to say it!) Betty - dock (you thought it was going to be something else, didn'tYou?) &nb sp; Vicki - sock Helen - cock (a faucet or valve for regulating flow of liquid - just want to be clear) It's also a farm animal. Barbara - mock Carol - lock Sheri - jock Pam - jack Eva - back Michelle - lack Angie - lace Kathy- face Angie - fact Julie - fart Mel - farm Debbie - fare Lisa- dare Margaret - bare Petra- care Don - mare Mary Jo - mart Karen - cart Ellen - dart Ann - darn Meghan - yarn Jana - barn Lisa- born Sheila - corn Dana - cork Carol - pork Cheri - port Chris - part Tina - park Erica - lark Lou- hark (You know, Harold's angels singing) Robyn - dark Jacque - dank Helen -dunk Delisa - dune Bethany - Dane Nicole - done Kayla- Bone Lisa- Zone Angie W -Tone Danita V. - none Suzy - lone (as in Lone Ranger..lol) JoAnn - gone Gayle - gene Lorri - gena (I was desparate for a word and found this one in the Dictionary, it means the cheek or lateral side of the face) Margie - gent Sandy- bent Merrikay -beet &g t; Rhonda-feet SARA-FEEL Sheila-feed Mary Ann - need Pat - seed Holly-heed Deb - weld Christina - held Cheryl - help Kurt - kelp Kristie - yelp Kim - yell Brandi - hell Conal - bell Lesley-fell Kevin - Felt Gail - melt Sharon- belt Terry - pelt &nb sp; Linda - welt Kim - well Denise - will Bernie-hill Patti - fill Judy-film Joy - form Sandy- fort Mark Lynn - fork Laura - cork Coreen - cord Marcel--lord Pauline -lard Jo-Anne-card Kelly - care Julie - cage Roxy - came Frankie-game Glenda - lame Leslie - fame Jane - same Lynne - lake Karen - fake Anna - make Sue - bake Patricia - cake Fern - care Eileen rare Hilda - mare Gerry - male Jim - malt Jeanne - salt Jack - bale Brian - ball April - wall Beth- walk Shannon- balk (MLB playoffs are on) Heather - bank Marlie - tank Karen - talc Karon - tale Freda - gale Jill - gala Stephanie - gaga Carla - saga Sandy- rage Shirley- wage Sherry - cage.....wow, that was easy.... Lisa- cave Lorraine- save Bob - gave Heather - have (I'm guessing that this game will eventually have to go back to the word 'foot') Janice - hive Silvy - give Marsha-live Lise - jibe Jenifer - vibe Carla - gibe (to shake or handle roughly) Esther - kibe ( an ulcerated chilblain, esp on the heel) I learned twonew words on this one Renee-kite Patty - site Chris - bite Patti - bile Kevin - wile Gail- file Jim - fife Allan- Life Michele - line Ian - lint Stella - mint< BR>> Sylvia - mind Hilda - find Tanya - Bind Dalene - bend John- send Adrian- seed Brenda - feed Nicki - fled Karin - bled Ingrid - sled Pat - lead Julie - bead Julie - dead Winks - head Alex and Mary - held Wilna - weld Des - wild Paddy-gild Kalpana - gold Shamilla - sold NIRVANA - COLD Niren - Hold MICHELLE - TOLD Ronelle - Toll Roberta - Tall Viloshni - Talk Samantha - Tale Penny - Male Janice rale Camilla - Rule Cavn - Rile Charlene - Wile Charmaine - Life Carmen - Lift Chimonique - Left Christien - Loft Saartjie - Loot IK - Lost SC - Lose rudolph - dose &nbs p; Christie - seed Paul - Need Dave - Weed Frank - Weep Pat - Deep Margery - Seep Eileen - Seek Claire - Meek Sue - Meet Linda - Meat Amanda - Meal Natalie - Deal Lynne - Seal Fran - Teal Linda - Tear Jenny - Bear Jan - Year Elaine - Pear Alexia - Peat Christel - Beat Adrienne - Bear Liz - Beer &nb sp; Dorothy - Beef Libby - reef Linda - reel Barbara----real Linda -- read Jane - bead Pat - beam Nancy- seam Jayne - team Diana -tear Norm - teal Barbara - seal Jane - seat Arilla - beat Bill - heat Ed - hear John - Bear John T - sear Marg- tear Betty- t eat Marg teas Sandy-peas April-peat Joelle-neat C???cile- feat Vera-feet Linda- fees Mary Jane - bees Louise - beet Yvonne - beep,well it took a while but I found one. Jacquie - keep (it going.........................) April - Kelp Maria - help Genevieve - held Laurie - Head Sue - heal Karen- peal ALINE- seal Nancy- Seat Tammy - Heat< BR>> Krista ??? Neat Nancy ??? Beat Lee Ann- Boat Karen - coat Shelagh-colt zzzzsylvia bolt Lindy Lou- belt JoanO-Pelt Margaret - lept Sally-kept Anne- Wept Grant- Welt Anne - Weft Jean?? - West Vicky _ Pest Jan -? Nest ; Gae. - Rest Wilma - Best Margaret - bust Heather rust Marian rusk Maureen - risk Marilyn - wisk Jenny - wise Leah - rise Christine - rice Lee - nice Jo- mice John - lice Sally - Lace Charmaine - late Dougall - Fate [Davo] fete Dobbie - feet Julia - meet D eb - meek Cathy -peek Denise - seek Pauline - geek Lyn - week Krishna- weak Gypsy - leak Sam - leaf Bec - deaf Heidi - deam Rikki - dead kathy - deal Nikol - Meal Lee - mean Jo - lean Sarah - leaf Leanne - feel Robert - feed Beck - seed Karren - need Sandra - deed Debbie - deep Adam - seep Yvette - keep Stephanie - Weep cheryl - week Kerry - seek Sandra - peek Vicky K - peck Katie A - deck Tracey V - neck Fi - nick (small cut) Alicia - Nice Sam - Dice Tim - Dine Louise - Line &n bsp; Michael - live Claire - Life Doug - Fife Angela - Five Julie - Dive Marion - hive Michelle-have Rosy - hale Sarah - halt Anne - Malt Jill-salt Paula- sale Ron- male Glenn - kale - that's a cabbage like your head Hillsy Tony - tale Ron - talc Leanne-talk Leanne B. tall maurie-pall Peter Pail Jenny mail< BR>> Billy tail Evie rail Molly - sail Rhona - said Ronny - paid Ethyl - Maid Riva - maim Hilart -main Yetta -gain Sandy - grin Devorah -grit Carolyn - gait Shereen - tail Fadilla - nail Debbie - Gail Dianne - laid Maggie - lard Sarah - hard Candice - card Angela - care Bev - dare Dianne - fare Lara - mare Julie - Mart Ansie - Mark Anja - park Mariaan - dark Joanne- bark Candice- Lark Rachel - Hark Graham - harm Gemma - warm Penny -Wars Harriet -Mars Alex - cars Vicki - Care Chris -Came Adz- Lame Adam H - Fame Blake -Same Lynz -Sane Nikki - Lane Natalie -Line Claire - Lire Bex - Mire EK - More Pam - Move Chris - Love (aaaaaaaaaaaah! I got a nice word!!) Cheryl - live Lara - five Jenna - jive Sheena - hive Lisa - have Donna - gave Lynda - give Debbie - dive Audrey - dove Julie - done Viv - bone Elaine - cone Darren - zone Linda - gone Vanessa - tone Louise - tune Linda - dune Pat - dine Eunice - kine (as in cows) Fiona- kind Jean - king Chris - sing Claire - sink Judy- pink what else could it be!! Sarah - link Judie - rink sandra kink Bob - mink Stephen - Monk Simon - Bonk Nadine - Bank Kate - Tank Jayne - rank (as in army) Elaine - lank Julia - Land (this game is infinite) Lizanne lend (ooh, dunnit. Thanks sweetie x) Dot - lead Dan - lend Viv bend Kathy - bond Helen - pond Carol-pong Jim Long ( Mrs Long and all the little Longs) Rick - Dong ... (well, whadya expect .. after all my nickname IS "Dick") Steve - Dung Chris Bung Anna - Lung Karen hung [Tyler, Betz] Betz hang Eloise: sang MaryEllen: gang Pat: bang Sam: sang Becki - sand Vicki - band Sharon - bond Cass- bend Jackie--mend
Judy - wend, Jane - went, Mary - want, Luella - wand, Diane - wind
Liz- wine, Cyndy - pine, Judy - pint, Kathy - pant, Joan - pane
(as in window), Tammy - Lane (Ahhaa...Sheeewww I thought I was stuck for a second there...lol I was putting to much pressure on myself and it was a piece of cake! hee hee hee)
Robert-Land, Shirley - Sand, Hand-Daniel
Don't forget:
Send it back to the person that sent it to you,
plus 10 new people and delete all forwarding addresses at the top
CHANGE ONE LETTER OF THE BOTTOM WORD POSTED AND SEE WHO GETS STUCK AND CAN'T CONTINUE!
RULES: YOU CANNOT ADD LETTERS YOU CANNOT USE FOREIGN LANGUAGES YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE ONE LETTER
Send it back to the person that sent it to you, plus 10 new people.
STARTING WORD: foot
Hannah - boot Mary -bout Dan - boat Taylor- coat Nat - coal Brian - cool Bryan- fool Amy - tool Sami - pool Sarah - wool Kasey - woof Lori - hoof Katie - roof Bon - root Lisa- hoot Colleen - coot Yvonne - cook Karen - look Audrey - took Bonnie - book Charlie - hook Nan- honk Audrey - hank Jeannette -hunk Bette -dunk Molly -punk Bev - hunk Ernie- sunk Phyllis - junk Sharon - June Jane - tune Linda - tone Bruce - bone Lisa- lone Helen - gone Midge - done Sherlin - cone Vivian - none Dora - zone Jean - hone Sally - home Mary - come Tim - dome Yesi - some Teri - same Donna - sage Emilie - cage Betty - page Dick - pale Laura- bale Kate - male Barb - mole Susie - pole Rebecca - poke Janet - joke Angie - toke Laureen - coke Lori - code Vickie - rode Sabrina - rose Leslie - rise Denise - rite Sheri - rate Sharon- rats Linda - cats Carolyn - mats Jamie- mate Becky - mite Michelle - mice Brenda - dice Cheryl - lice Jody - lick Linda - wick Felicia - kick Shar I - sick Whitney - suck Heather - tuck Brenda - duck (I'm not going to be the one to say it!) Betty - dock (you thought it was going to be something else, didn'tYou?) &nb sp; Vicki - sock Helen - cock (a faucet or valve for regulating flow of liquid - just want to be clear) It's also a farm animal. Barbara - mock Carol - lock Sheri - jock Pam - jack Eva - back Michelle - lack Angie - lace Kathy- face Angie - fact Julie - fart Mel - farm Debbie - fare Lisa- dare Margaret - bare Petra- care Don - mare Mary Jo - mart Karen - cart Ellen - dart Ann - darn Meghan - yarn Jana - barn Lisa- born Sheila - corn Dana - cork Carol - pork Cheri - port Chris - part Tina - park Erica - lark Lou- hark (You know, Harold's angels singing) Robyn - dark Jacque - dank Helen -dunk Delisa - dune Bethany - Dane Nicole - done Kayla- Bone Lisa- Zone Angie W -Tone Danita V. - none Suzy - lone (as in Lone Ranger..lol) JoAnn - gone Gayle - gene Lorri - gena (I was desparate for a word and found this one in the Dictionary, it means the cheek or lateral side of the face) Margie - gent Sandy- bent Merrikay -beet &g t; Rhonda-feet SARA-FEEL Sheila-feed Mary Ann - need Pat - seed Holly-heed Deb - weld Christina - held Cheryl - help Kurt - kelp Kristie - yelp Kim - yell Brandi - hell Conal - bell Lesley-fell Kevin - Felt Gail - melt Sharon- belt Terry - pelt &nb sp; Linda - welt Kim - well Denise - will Bernie-hill Patti - fill Judy-film Joy - form Sandy- fort Mark Lynn - fork Laura - cork Coreen - cord Marcel--lord Pauline -lard Jo-Anne-card Kelly - care Julie - cage Roxy - came Frankie-game Glenda - lame Leslie - fame Jane - same Lynne - lake Karen - fake Anna - make Sue - bake Patricia - cake Fern - care Eileen rare Hilda - mare Gerry - male Jim - malt Jeanne - salt Jack - bale Brian - ball April - wall Beth- walk Shannon- balk (MLB playoffs are on) Heather - bank Marlie - tank Karen - talc Karon - tale Freda - gale Jill - gala Stephanie - gaga Carla - saga Sandy- rage Shirley- wage Sherry - cage.....wow, that was easy.... Lisa- cave Lorraine- save Bob - gave Heather - have (I'm guessing that this game will eventually have to go back to the word 'foot') Janice - hive Silvy - give Marsha-live Lise - jibe Jenifer - vibe Carla - gibe (to shake or handle roughly) Esther - kibe ( an ulcerated chilblain, esp on the heel) I learned twonew words on this one Renee-kite Patty - site Chris - bite Patti - bile Kevin - wile Gail- file Jim - fife Allan- Life Michele - line Ian - lint Stella - mint< BR>> Sylvia - mind Hilda - find Tanya - Bind Dalene - bend John- send Adrian- seed Brenda - feed Nicki - fled Karin - bled Ingrid - sled Pat - lead Julie - bead Julie - dead Winks - head Alex and Mary - held Wilna - weld Des - wild Paddy-gild Kalpana - gold Shamilla - sold NIRVANA - COLD Niren - Hold MICHELLE - TOLD Ronelle - Toll Roberta - Tall Viloshni - Talk Samantha - Tale Penny - Male Janice rale Camilla - Rule Cavn - Rile Charlene - Wile Charmaine - Life Carmen - Lift Chimonique - Left Christien - Loft Saartjie - Loot IK - Lost SC - Lose rudolph - dose &nbs p; Christie - seed Paul - Need Dave - Weed Frank - Weep Pat - Deep Margery - Seep Eileen - Seek Claire - Meek Sue - Meet Linda - Meat Amanda - Meal Natalie - Deal Lynne - Seal Fran - Teal Linda - Tear Jenny - Bear Jan - Year Elaine - Pear Alexia - Peat Christel - Beat Adrienne - Bear Liz - Beer &nb sp; Dorothy - Beef Libby - reef Linda - reel Barbara----real Linda -- read Jane - bead Pat - beam Nancy- seam Jayne - team Diana -tear Norm - teal Barbara - seal Jane - seat Arilla - beat Bill - heat Ed - hear John - Bear John T - sear Marg- tear Betty- t eat Marg teas Sandy-peas April-peat Joelle-neat C???cile- feat Vera-feet Linda- fees Mary Jane - bees Louise - beet Yvonne - beep,well it took a while but I found one. Jacquie - keep (it going.........................) April - Kelp Maria - help Genevieve - held Laurie - Head Sue - heal Karen- peal ALINE- seal Nancy- Seat Tammy - Heat< BR>> Krista ??? Neat Nancy ??? Beat Lee Ann- Boat Karen - coat Shelagh-colt zzzzsylvia bolt Lindy Lou- belt JoanO-Pelt Margaret - lept Sally-kept Anne- Wept Grant- Welt Anne - Weft Jean?? - West Vicky _ Pest Jan -? Nest ; Gae. - Rest Wilma - Best Margaret - bust Heather rust Marian rusk Maureen - risk Marilyn - wisk Jenny - wise Leah - rise Christine - rice Lee - nice Jo- mice John - lice Sally - Lace Charmaine - late Dougall - Fate [Davo] fete Dobbie - feet Julia - meet D eb - meek Cathy -peek Denise - seek Pauline - geek Lyn - week Krishna- weak Gypsy - leak Sam - leaf Bec - deaf Heidi - deam Rikki - dead kathy - deal Nikol - Meal Lee - mean Jo - lean Sarah - leaf Leanne - feel Robert - feed Beck - seed Karren - need Sandra - deed Debbie - deep Adam - seep Yvette - keep Stephanie - Weep cheryl - week Kerry - seek Sandra - peek Vicky K - peck Katie A - deck Tracey V - neck Fi - nick (small cut) Alicia - Nice Sam - Dice Tim - Dine Louise - Line &n bsp; Michael - live Claire - Life Doug - Fife Angela - Five Julie - Dive Marion - hive Michelle-have Rosy - hale Sarah - halt Anne - Malt Jill-salt Paula- sale Ron- male Glenn - kale - that's a cabbage like your head Hillsy Tony - tale Ron - talc Leanne-talk Leanne B. tall maurie-pall Peter Pail Jenny mail< BR>> Billy tail Evie rail Molly - sail Rhona - said Ronny - paid Ethyl - Maid Riva - maim Hilart -main Yetta -gain Sandy - grin Devorah -grit Carolyn - gait Shereen - tail Fadilla - nail Debbie - Gail Dianne - laid Maggie - lard Sarah - hard Candice - card Angela - care Bev - dare Dianne - fare Lara - mare Julie - Mart Ansie - Mark Anja - park Mariaan - dark Joanne- bark Candice- Lark Rachel - Hark Graham - harm Gemma - warm Penny -Wars Harriet -Mars Alex - cars Vicki - Care Chris -Came Adz- Lame Adam H - Fame Blake -Same Lynz -Sane Nikki - Lane Natalie -Line Claire - Lire Bex - Mire EK - More Pam - Move Chris - Love (aaaaaaaaaaaah! I got a nice word!!) Cheryl - live Lara - five Jenna - jive Sheena - hive Lisa - have Donna - gave Lynda - give Debbie - dive Audrey - dove Julie - done Viv - bone Elaine - cone Darren - zone Linda - gone Vanessa - tone Louise - tune Linda - dune Pat - dine Eunice - kine (as in cows) Fiona- kind Jean - king Chris - sing Claire - sink Judy- pink what else could it be!! Sarah - link Judie - rink sandra kink Bob - mink Stephen - Monk Simon - Bonk Nadine - Bank Kate - Tank Jayne - rank (as in army) Elaine - lank Julia - Land (this game is infinite) Lizanne lend (ooh, dunnit. Thanks sweetie x) Dot - lead Dan - lend Viv bend Kathy - bond Helen - pond Carol-pong Jim Long ( Mrs Long and all the little Longs) Rick - Dong ... (well, whadya expect .. after all my nickname IS "Dick") Steve - Dung Chris Bung Anna - Lung Karen hung [Tyler, Betz] Betz hang Eloise: sang MaryEllen: gang Pat: bang Sam: sang Becki - sand Vicki - band Sharon - bond Cass- bend Jackie--mend
Judy - wend, Jane - went, Mary - want, Luella - wand, Diane - wind
Liz- wine, Cyndy - pine, Judy - pint, Kathy - pant, Joan - pane
(as in window), Tammy - Lane (Ahhaa...Sheeewww I thought I was stuck for a second there...lol I was putting to much pressure on myself and it was a piece of cake! hee hee hee)
Robert-Land, Shirley - Sand, Hand-Daniel
Don't forget:
Send it back to the person that sent it to you,
plus 10 new people and delete all forwarding addresses at the top
Expect Good Things
Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life…”
(Psalm 23:6).
Today's Word
What are you expecting today? Are you expecting to rise higher in life? Are you expecting good breaks? Are you expecting goodness to follow you everywhere you go? If you are expecting to get the short end of the stick, your own wrong thinking will keep you in mediocrity. Remember, God will meet you at the level of your expectations. Pay attention to what you are thinking about and make the choice to believe God for good things. Every day, imagine there are blessings, favor, increase, and promotion in your path. They already have your name on it! It’s just a matter of time before you come across them. Start confessing everyday “Something good is going to happen to me today.” Stand strong when trouble comes, knowing that your best days are ahead. Believe that God’s blessings will overtake you! Expect goodness and mercy to chase you down. If you’ll learn to raise your level of expectancy, God will pour out His blessings and favor on you. You’ll rise to new levels and live the life of victory He has in store.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I expect your goodness and loving-kindness to surround me. I choose to believe that my best days are right out in front of me. Help me stand strong in You so that I can see Your blessing in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name.
(Psalm 23:6).
Today's Word
What are you expecting today? Are you expecting to rise higher in life? Are you expecting good breaks? Are you expecting goodness to follow you everywhere you go? If you are expecting to get the short end of the stick, your own wrong thinking will keep you in mediocrity. Remember, God will meet you at the level of your expectations. Pay attention to what you are thinking about and make the choice to believe God for good things. Every day, imagine there are blessings, favor, increase, and promotion in your path. They already have your name on it! It’s just a matter of time before you come across them. Start confessing everyday “Something good is going to happen to me today.” Stand strong when trouble comes, knowing that your best days are ahead. Believe that God’s blessings will overtake you! Expect goodness and mercy to chase you down. If you’ll learn to raise your level of expectancy, God will pour out His blessings and favor on you. You’ll rise to new levels and live the life of victory He has in store.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I expect your goodness and loving-kindness to surround me. I choose to believe that my best days are right out in front of me. Help me stand strong in You so that I can see Your blessing in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name.
The New Has Come
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
As a follower of Christ, you are a new creation! You have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! Are there “old” things in your life that you are trying to get rid of? Maybe you have old behaviors or addictions that you want to change. Remember, the new has come. It’s a new year and it’s time to be the new you. Let this year be the year you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. And your new life includes all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in His Word. You have a promise of peace. Health. Protection. Provision. Be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening in your life right now, you can embrace the new life God has prepared for you. Make the choice today to leave the old behind—leave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words. Embrace the new by faith and you’ll move forward into the life of blessing the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. Help me to understand Your plan for me so that I can fully embrace Your promises. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
As a follower of Christ, you are a new creation! You have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! Are there “old” things in your life that you are trying to get rid of? Maybe you have old behaviors or addictions that you want to change. Remember, the new has come. It’s a new year and it’s time to be the new you. Let this year be the year you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. And your new life includes all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in His Word. You have a promise of peace. Health. Protection. Provision. Be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening in your life right now, you can embrace the new life God has prepared for you. Make the choice today to leave the old behind—leave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words. Embrace the new by faith and you’ll move forward into the life of blessing the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. Help me to understand Your plan for me so that I can fully embrace Your promises. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Shalom-Shalom, Sister!
The American Center For Law/Justice states that we need to pray that an Executive Order will not pass that prohibits military chaplains from praying/witnessing to our troops. Our signatures are also needed on a petition; esp. if we or someone we know has a military background:aclj.org.
The American Center For Law/Justice states that we need to pray that an Executive Order will not pass that prohibits military chaplains from praying/witnessing to our troops. Our signatures are also needed on a petition; esp. if we or someone we know has a military background:aclj.org.
We all know those cute little computer symbols called "emoticons," where:
:) means a smile and
:( is a frown.
Sometimes these are represented by
:-)
:-(
Well, how about some "ASSICONS?"
Here goes:
(_!_) a regular ass
(__!__) a fat ass
(!) a tight ass
(_*_) a sore ass
{_!_} a swishy ass
(_o_) an ass that's been around
(_x_) kiss my ass
(_X_) leave my ass alone
(_zzz_) a tired ass
(_E=mc2_) a smart ass
(_$_) Money coming out of his ass
(_?_) Dumb Ass
You have just been e-mooned! Send
this to 5 people within the next hour and you will be blessed with people laughing at your e-mail.
This is NOT a chain letter, so if you don't mail it out, you won't have bad luck. (But who wouldn't want to e-Moon a friend?)
:) means a smile and
:( is a frown.
Sometimes these are represented by
:-)
:-(
Well, how about some "ASSICONS?"
Here goes:
(_!_) a regular ass
(__!__) a fat ass
(!) a tight ass
(_*_) a sore ass
{_!_} a swishy ass
(_o_) an ass that's been around
(_x_) kiss my ass
(_X_) leave my ass alone
(_zzz_) a tired ass
(_E=mc2_) a smart ass
(_$_) Money coming out of his ass
(_?_) Dumb Ass
You have just been e-mooned! Send
this to 5 people within the next hour and you will be blessed with people laughing at your e-mail.
This is NOT a chain letter, so if you don't mail it out, you won't have bad luck. (But who wouldn't want to e-Moon a friend?)
When did Black people start doing this madness!!!
Police Say Man Killed, Cooked Woman
By PAUL J. WEBER,
AP
Posted: 2008-01-07 07:06:57
Filed Under: Crime News
TYLER, Texas (Jan. 7) - Deputies responding to a 911 call in this East Texas town found a gruesome scene: a human ear boiling in a pot on a stovetop and a hunk of flesh impaled on a fork sitting atop a plate on the kitchen table.
AP
Christopher Lee McCuin
Authorities believe that the man arrested in the death of his 21-year-old girlfriend cooked parts of her body and may have tried to eat them — actions he described to them in the emergency call that led them to the grisly discovery.
Christopher Lee McCuin, 25, was scheduled to be arraigned Monday on a capital murder charge. He was in solitary confinement at a jail on a $2 million bond Sunday night and did not have an attorney, officials said.
Authorities say it is unclear whether McCuin consumed any part of the woman's body.
"We cannot prove that he did," Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith said Sunday. "He was either going to, had been or led us to think that he was doing it."
McCuin is also the suspect in the early Saturday morning stabbing of a man described as his estranged wife's boyfriend, Smith said.
McCuin has a criminal record that includes driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. When he was arrested, McCuin had an outstanding felony retaliation warrant.
Smith said McCuin was known to authorities and had "a history of violence," including assaulting his estranged wife, his girlfriend and his sister.
Officials believe the horrific chain of events began when Jana Shearer, McCuin's girlfriend, was taken by McCuin from her home late Friday night and killed.
Smith said McCuin then drove to his estranged wife's home, where he stabbed his wife's boyfriend, William Veasley, 42. Veasley was in intensive care Sunday night.
McCuin was still in that home when deputies arrived, but he jumped into his car and escaped after a short chase, Smith said. "We did not know at the time that he had murdered anyone," Smith said. "We thought it was a disturbance or an assault."
McCuin wasn't seen again until Saturday morning, when he arrived at the home he shared with his mother and called her into the garage so she could "come see what he had done," Smith said.
His mother and her boyfriend saw the remains of Shearer, authorities said. McCuin's mother and her boyfriend fled the home and flagged down a police officer. McCuin dialed 911 after they left and told an emergency dispatcher he had killed Shearer and was boiling her body parts, Smith said.
When sheriff deputies arrived, McCuin barricaded himself in the home for a short time before coming out. After he emerged, a tactical team entered and found Shearer's body, Sgt. Gary Middleton said. They also found the grisly scene in the kitchen.
After McCuin was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car, he kicked out the vehicle's side window before being put in additional restraints, Middleton said.
Shearer appeared to have died from blunt trauma to her head, Smith said. She may have been kidnapped Friday night, when her mother saw her get into McCuin's truck.
Detectives were trying to determine where the killing happened. They think McCuin drove to his mother's home with the dead woman in the back seat of his extended-cab pickup, Smith said.
Associated Press writer Jeff Carlton in Dallas contributed to this report.
A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked, "Is my time up"? God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live." Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, brow lift, lip enhancement, boob job, liposuction, and a tummy tuck. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was hit and killed by a car. Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn't you pull me out of the path of the car?" God replied, "Giiirrrlllllll, I didn't even recognize you!!"
Pookie Johnson
I know that everyone needs a job, but there are some places
where yo' Cuzzins should not be allowed to work.
There was a case in one hospital's Intensive Care Unit where
patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11
a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors
and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural.
No one could solve the mystery... as to why the deaths occurred around
11 a.m. on Sundays. So a worldwide team of experts were assembled to
investigate the cause of the incidents.
The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11 a.m., all
doctors, and Nurses nervously wait outside the ward to see for
themselves, what the terrible phenomenon was about. Some were holding
wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off the evil
spirits. Just when the clock struck 11...Pookie Johnson, the part-time
Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system
so that he could use the vacuum cleaner.
AND THAT IS ALL I'M GONNA SAY.........
where yo' Cuzzins should not be allowed to work.
There was a case in one hospital's Intensive Care Unit where
patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11
a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors
and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural.
No one could solve the mystery... as to why the deaths occurred around
11 a.m. on Sundays. So a worldwide team of experts were assembled to
investigate the cause of the incidents.
The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11 a.m., all
doctors, and Nurses nervously wait outside the ward to see for
themselves, what the terrible phenomenon was about. Some were holding
wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off the evil
spirits. Just when the clock struck 11...Pookie Johnson, the part-time
Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system
so that he could use the vacuum cleaner.
AND THAT IS ALL I'M GONNA SAY.........
Monday, January 7, 2008
TWENTY THINGS TO REMEMBER
TWENTY THINGS TO REMEMBER
==========================
1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every
day
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of
shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants
us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day - it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
(Preach it!)!
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so
enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise
it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.
Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires
courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage
and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress
when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.
Your character is what you really are, while your reputation
is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm,
when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the
angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life
and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have
lived the width of it as well.
==========================
1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every
day
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of
shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants
us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day - it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
(Preach it!)!
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so
enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise
it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.
Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires
courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage
and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress
when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.
Your character is what you really are, while your reputation
is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm,
when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the
angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life
and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have
lived the width of it as well.
15. The ignorance I glimpse in some of the responses to the article on Barack coalescing with black Christian leaders is disturbing to say the very least. In particular, the comments by Cecil Jones and Wilena White are the most ignominious! How can we say that Barack does nothing for the race? Even more, how can we say that he is splitting the Democratic vote? Sometimes, I believe not only that COINTELPRO is alive and well, but that persons associated with its tactics to infiltrate and subvert black progress visit these sites just to place the sort of comments we see from Cecil and Wilena in order to deceive black people into thinking that there is something inherently wrong with Barack or that his candidacy should not be paid any level of deference.
Barack has done plenty for the race. One does not have to speak from a pulpit or podium with the media in attendence--typically an obvious sign that the individual craves visibility more than vitality--in order to be given credit for having done something for black America. In other words, he does not have to be Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson about his politics to avoid being accused of not having done anything for his race. Barack has long been a proponent of affirmative action. He has fought hard to insure that funds and resources are given to HBCUs to increase the engineering, science, and technology programs at these institutions. He is an advocate for increasing the pell grant, which would allow more minority students--who otherwise are entombed by poverty and privation--an opportunity to attend college and attain a degree. He has been vocal in the ongoing call for civil rights and has proven himself to be a person for the people, having tirelessly worked on the South Side of Chicago for BLACK PEOPLE! If you have not seen the South Side of Chicago, perhaps, you cannot conceive of the idea that he has sacrificed his entire career to help black people rather than pander to the popularity of working in corporate America.
I think that sometimes we as black people tend to get caught up in pigment politics. Barack is light-complexioned and so it is thought that he is not black enough. If anything, that divides the black community from coalescing with a brother like Barack moreso than Barack could ever divide up the votes in the Democratic party. Consider Clarence Thomas. He's dark-skinned but his politics are very white. His political posture reveals a rugged-individualist despite his complexion. Consider the controversial Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. He was light-skinned--some might even say passe blanc--but nevertheless did things to insure that blacks would no longer be treated as second class citizens. Here's a little known black history fact: the reason the N-word is no longer used in Congressional hearings and meetings is because Powell call for an end to the use of the denigrating racial epithet.
Here, in Thomas and Powell, we see the paradox of pigment: The more you have does not always equate to your politics being blacker, or, better said, more representative of the black constituency. And, make no mistake about it, when I say black constituency, I do not speak of this group as a unified whole. One of the things black people more realize is that we do not have to all be of one voice in order to coalesce. After all, unity is a mythological assumption based on absolutely nothing. There HAS never been one unified group in history. NEVER! I am a historian, I should know. That is why it is funny when you hear people say, "we need to go back to Africa" as if Africa is one monolithic place not made up of countries and tribes and forces that have different visions and virtues. That said, we can come together on those things we agree upon and lend support to a candidate who is honest and seems ready to help black people continue along the path of progress. And here's the irony. Barack does not have to scream this all the time in order to accomplish it. The mistake of an individual like Al Sharpton in running for President of the United States has been that he has forgotten that it is the "United" States. You don't have to say what you are going to do solely for black people when it is everyone's issue. In fact, you do better saying the opposite. Black people need better healthcare, education, jobs, etc. But so does everyone else in America. Why say that "as President, I will insure that black people get these things" if everyone needs them? You do more to delineate and demarcate black people as this iconic force separate from the tradition that produces all Americans by doing that even while you constantly campaign for blacks to be considered Americans, that is, equal in our social standing and citizenship to white Americans and other citizens.
Barack understands that by helping ALL Americans get better healthcare or educational resources, that black people will also get these things. And he's not dumb to the fact that America has conditioned a reality where blacks are given a poor distribution of the resources. Nevertheless, Barack's attempt is to get all of America agreeing on the problems that exist in our society and the ways to go about eradicating those problems, while sort of surreptitiously insuring that the most fractious issues facing blacks get included in that attempt. But when you speak as Sharpton has done, you divide people even when those people are in need of the same things black people are in need of.
In the final analysis, I cannot agree with anyone who says that Barack is dividing the Democratic vote. Barack is trying to win an election. Who is dividing the vote from? Hilary? Please! One of the biggest jokes in America right now is that Bill Clinton was a black President, along the same lines, Hilary, I suppose, is the second coming. This is the biggest farce that exist since the notion that John F. Kennedy was a great president for blacks. Simply not true! Lyndon Johnson did more to help blacks than Kennedy did but blacks seem to love Kennedy just as we do Abe Lincoln and now the Clintons. Bill Clinton ignored Rwanda while in office. There was more prisons built on his watch and he's infamous for helping to institute the Rockefeller drug laws that have been responsible for seeing more black men receive extended jail sentences for first time drug offenses. My suggestion here is NOT that the the proliferation of drugs through our community is okay. But when a black male gets dispproportionately more time for selling or smoking crack than a white person gets the same for selling or snorting cocaine, we have a problem. Clinton also dismantled the AFDC, which certainly did not do anything to aid blacks on welfare. While welfare should not be utilized as a lifelong resource, Clinton reneged on his promise to bring reform. And now blacks are clamoring for Hilary as if she has done something special for us? While it is easy to see that Bill Clinton is better than George Bush--of course, having a Democrat in office is always better than a Republican if we only recognize that when Dems are in office, there's a surplus and when Republicans are in office, this country is constantly in debt--we should not ignore the perfidies of the Clinton administration. On his final day in office, when he could have pardoned Assata Shakur (an African-American and former Black Paanther--if you don't know the story, look it up) and allowed her to return from her political asylum in Cuba, and when he could have also pardoned Leonard Peltier (a Native American--again, look the story up)--particularly given that both have been proveninnocent of the crimes charged against them--he instead chose to free known criminals like his brother. Yes, that's doing a lot for black America and now some of us seem to be drinking the Hilary koolaid when her only experience has been watching Bill sleep with other women right under her nostrils.
Do the right thing, stand up and vote for a man who can lead this country in the direction it needs to go! Vote for Barack!
Barack has done plenty for the race. One does not have to speak from a pulpit or podium with the media in attendence--typically an obvious sign that the individual craves visibility more than vitality--in order to be given credit for having done something for black America. In other words, he does not have to be Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson about his politics to avoid being accused of not having done anything for his race. Barack has long been a proponent of affirmative action. He has fought hard to insure that funds and resources are given to HBCUs to increase the engineering, science, and technology programs at these institutions. He is an advocate for increasing the pell grant, which would allow more minority students--who otherwise are entombed by poverty and privation--an opportunity to attend college and attain a degree. He has been vocal in the ongoing call for civil rights and has proven himself to be a person for the people, having tirelessly worked on the South Side of Chicago for BLACK PEOPLE! If you have not seen the South Side of Chicago, perhaps, you cannot conceive of the idea that he has sacrificed his entire career to help black people rather than pander to the popularity of working in corporate America.
I think that sometimes we as black people tend to get caught up in pigment politics. Barack is light-complexioned and so it is thought that he is not black enough. If anything, that divides the black community from coalescing with a brother like Barack moreso than Barack could ever divide up the votes in the Democratic party. Consider Clarence Thomas. He's dark-skinned but his politics are very white. His political posture reveals a rugged-individualist despite his complexion. Consider the controversial Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. He was light-skinned--some might even say passe blanc--but nevertheless did things to insure that blacks would no longer be treated as second class citizens. Here's a little known black history fact: the reason the N-word is no longer used in Congressional hearings and meetings is because Powell call for an end to the use of the denigrating racial epithet.
Here, in Thomas and Powell, we see the paradox of pigment: The more you have does not always equate to your politics being blacker, or, better said, more representative of the black constituency. And, make no mistake about it, when I say black constituency, I do not speak of this group as a unified whole. One of the things black people more realize is that we do not have to all be of one voice in order to coalesce. After all, unity is a mythological assumption based on absolutely nothing. There HAS never been one unified group in history. NEVER! I am a historian, I should know. That is why it is funny when you hear people say, "we need to go back to Africa" as if Africa is one monolithic place not made up of countries and tribes and forces that have different visions and virtues. That said, we can come together on those things we agree upon and lend support to a candidate who is honest and seems ready to help black people continue along the path of progress. And here's the irony. Barack does not have to scream this all the time in order to accomplish it. The mistake of an individual like Al Sharpton in running for President of the United States has been that he has forgotten that it is the "United" States. You don't have to say what you are going to do solely for black people when it is everyone's issue. In fact, you do better saying the opposite. Black people need better healthcare, education, jobs, etc. But so does everyone else in America. Why say that "as President, I will insure that black people get these things" if everyone needs them? You do more to delineate and demarcate black people as this iconic force separate from the tradition that produces all Americans by doing that even while you constantly campaign for blacks to be considered Americans, that is, equal in our social standing and citizenship to white Americans and other citizens.
Barack understands that by helping ALL Americans get better healthcare or educational resources, that black people will also get these things. And he's not dumb to the fact that America has conditioned a reality where blacks are given a poor distribution of the resources. Nevertheless, Barack's attempt is to get all of America agreeing on the problems that exist in our society and the ways to go about eradicating those problems, while sort of surreptitiously insuring that the most fractious issues facing blacks get included in that attempt. But when you speak as Sharpton has done, you divide people even when those people are in need of the same things black people are in need of.
In the final analysis, I cannot agree with anyone who says that Barack is dividing the Democratic vote. Barack is trying to win an election. Who is dividing the vote from? Hilary? Please! One of the biggest jokes in America right now is that Bill Clinton was a black President, along the same lines, Hilary, I suppose, is the second coming. This is the biggest farce that exist since the notion that John F. Kennedy was a great president for blacks. Simply not true! Lyndon Johnson did more to help blacks than Kennedy did but blacks seem to love Kennedy just as we do Abe Lincoln and now the Clintons. Bill Clinton ignored Rwanda while in office. There was more prisons built on his watch and he's infamous for helping to institute the Rockefeller drug laws that have been responsible for seeing more black men receive extended jail sentences for first time drug offenses. My suggestion here is NOT that the the proliferation of drugs through our community is okay. But when a black male gets dispproportionately more time for selling or smoking crack than a white person gets the same for selling or snorting cocaine, we have a problem. Clinton also dismantled the AFDC, which certainly did not do anything to aid blacks on welfare. While welfare should not be utilized as a lifelong resource, Clinton reneged on his promise to bring reform. And now blacks are clamoring for Hilary as if she has done something special for us? While it is easy to see that Bill Clinton is better than George Bush--of course, having a Democrat in office is always better than a Republican if we only recognize that when Dems are in office, there's a surplus and when Republicans are in office, this country is constantly in debt--we should not ignore the perfidies of the Clinton administration. On his final day in office, when he could have pardoned Assata Shakur (an African-American and former Black Paanther--if you don't know the story, look it up) and allowed her to return from her political asylum in Cuba, and when he could have also pardoned Leonard Peltier (a Native American--again, look the story up)--particularly given that both have been proveninnocent of the crimes charged against them--he instead chose to free known criminals like his brother. Yes, that's doing a lot for black America and now some of us seem to be drinking the Hilary koolaid when her only experience has been watching Bill sleep with other women right under her nostrils.
Do the right thing, stand up and vote for a man who can lead this country in the direction it needs to go! Vote for Barack!
December 20, 2007
White House Attack Leaves Cheney Offices In Flames
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers
Russian Security Analyst reports circulating in the Kremlin today are stating that the offices of one of the United States top War Leaders, Vice President Richard Cheney, came under assault by ‘unknown’ US Military assailants who in retreating before what has been described as ‘withering fire’ from Secret Service Agents assigned to protect Cheney literally ‘blew up’ the Vice Presidents office complex.
Propaganda reports from US media organs, however, are reporting on this reported attack as being a ‘fire’ only, and as we can read as reported by the Associated Press News Service in their article titled, "Two-Alarm Fire Hits Cheney's Office in White House Compound", and which says:
"Thick black smoke billowed from a fire Wednesday in Vice President Dick Cheney's suite of offices in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.
Cheney's office was damaged by smoke and water from fire hoses, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. The vice president was not in the building at the time; he was in the West Wing of the White House with President Bush.
More than 1,000 people who work in the building were evacuated. The fire broke out on the second floor of the building around about 9:15 a.m. and was under control within a half hour, District of Columbia fire department spokesman Alan Etter said."
Russian Military Analysts are further reporting that the ongoing, and deadly, power struggle occurring in the United States is eerily reminiscent of the Nazi German power struggles of last century which led to the outbreak of World War II, and which, also, were not reported to the citizens of the German Empire like they are not being reported to the Americans today.
The reasons behind these latest attacks between the US Military and the US War Leaders, these reports state, is the growing crisis in the Western Banking system as it nears total collapse, and which in the past 24 hours has seen the European Central Bank inject an unprecedented $500 billion into its banking system while the US Federal Reserve System has injected a further $20 billion into the American banking system.
These staggering amounts are in addition to the $54 billion injected into the Western banking system by the United Kingdom and the United States last week, but which has failed to stem the tide of imminent bank failures in Europe and North America.
And, as if the imminent failure of the Western banking system wasn’t enough to shock the World this past week, the United Nations has issued a dire report that brings into sharp focus the prospect of mass death due to starvation, and as we can read as reported by the International Herald Tribune News Service in their report titled, "World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN warns", and which says:
"In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.
The changes created "a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The agency's food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said. New figures show that the total cost of foodstuffs imported by the neediest countries rose 25 percent, to $107 million, in the last year.
At the same time, reserves of cereals are severely depleted, FAO records show. World wheat stores declined 11 percent this year, to the lowest level since 1980. That corresponds to 12 weeks of the world's total consumption - much less than the average of 18 weeks consumption in storage during the period 2000-2005. There are only 8 weeks of corn left, down from 11 weeks in the earlier period.
Prices of wheat and oilseeds are at record highs, Diouf said Monday. Wheat prices have risen by $130 per ton, or 52 percent, since a year ago. U.S. wheat futures broke $10 a bushel for the first time Monday, the agricultural equivalent of $100 a barrel oil."
Russian economists are quick to point out, that with the prospect of the Western banking system collapsing, coupled with the shocking rise of oil prices, and now the prospect of Global food shortages, the United States is left with little leverage to protect itself other than its vast military might, and, which many believe is leading the US towards an inevitable conflict with the East in its quest for survival.
To the American people, however, the imminent dangers they are facing are being kept from them as they are consumed by the trivial populist media trash that is being fed to them on an hourly basis, but which does nothing to help them in preparing for the catastrophic events that are soon to overtake them.
And, as the US War Leaders accelerate their battles between their various factions, the World today stands closer to the abyss than in any other time since the outbreak of World War II.
© December 20, 2007 EU and US all rights reserved.
[Ed. Note: The United States government actively seeks to find, and silence, any and all opinions about the United States except those coming from authorized government and/or affiliated sources, of which we are not one. No interviews are granted and very little personal information is given about our contributors, or their sources, to protect their safety.]
White House Attack Leaves Cheney Offices In Flames
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers
Russian Security Analyst reports circulating in the Kremlin today are stating that the offices of one of the United States top War Leaders, Vice President Richard Cheney, came under assault by ‘unknown’ US Military assailants who in retreating before what has been described as ‘withering fire’ from Secret Service Agents assigned to protect Cheney literally ‘blew up’ the Vice Presidents office complex.
Propaganda reports from US media organs, however, are reporting on this reported attack as being a ‘fire’ only, and as we can read as reported by the Associated Press News Service in their article titled, "Two-Alarm Fire Hits Cheney's Office in White House Compound", and which says:
"Thick black smoke billowed from a fire Wednesday in Vice President Dick Cheney's suite of offices in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.
Cheney's office was damaged by smoke and water from fire hoses, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. The vice president was not in the building at the time; he was in the West Wing of the White House with President Bush.
More than 1,000 people who work in the building were evacuated. The fire broke out on the second floor of the building around about 9:15 a.m. and was under control within a half hour, District of Columbia fire department spokesman Alan Etter said."
Russian Military Analysts are further reporting that the ongoing, and deadly, power struggle occurring in the United States is eerily reminiscent of the Nazi German power struggles of last century which led to the outbreak of World War II, and which, also, were not reported to the citizens of the German Empire like they are not being reported to the Americans today.
The reasons behind these latest attacks between the US Military and the US War Leaders, these reports state, is the growing crisis in the Western Banking system as it nears total collapse, and which in the past 24 hours has seen the European Central Bank inject an unprecedented $500 billion into its banking system while the US Federal Reserve System has injected a further $20 billion into the American banking system.
These staggering amounts are in addition to the $54 billion injected into the Western banking system by the United Kingdom and the United States last week, but which has failed to stem the tide of imminent bank failures in Europe and North America.
And, as if the imminent failure of the Western banking system wasn’t enough to shock the World this past week, the United Nations has issued a dire report that brings into sharp focus the prospect of mass death due to starvation, and as we can read as reported by the International Herald Tribune News Service in their report titled, "World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN warns", and which says:
"In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.
The changes created "a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The agency's food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said. New figures show that the total cost of foodstuffs imported by the neediest countries rose 25 percent, to $107 million, in the last year.
At the same time, reserves of cereals are severely depleted, FAO records show. World wheat stores declined 11 percent this year, to the lowest level since 1980. That corresponds to 12 weeks of the world's total consumption - much less than the average of 18 weeks consumption in storage during the period 2000-2005. There are only 8 weeks of corn left, down from 11 weeks in the earlier period.
Prices of wheat and oilseeds are at record highs, Diouf said Monday. Wheat prices have risen by $130 per ton, or 52 percent, since a year ago. U.S. wheat futures broke $10 a bushel for the first time Monday, the agricultural equivalent of $100 a barrel oil."
Russian economists are quick to point out, that with the prospect of the Western banking system collapsing, coupled with the shocking rise of oil prices, and now the prospect of Global food shortages, the United States is left with little leverage to protect itself other than its vast military might, and, which many believe is leading the US towards an inevitable conflict with the East in its quest for survival.
To the American people, however, the imminent dangers they are facing are being kept from them as they are consumed by the trivial populist media trash that is being fed to them on an hourly basis, but which does nothing to help them in preparing for the catastrophic events that are soon to overtake them.
And, as the US War Leaders accelerate their battles between their various factions, the World today stands closer to the abyss than in any other time since the outbreak of World War II.
© December 20, 2007 EU and US all rights reserved.
[Ed. Note: The United States government actively seeks to find, and silence, any and all opinions about the United States except those coming from authorized government and/or affiliated sources, of which we are not one. No interviews are granted and very little personal information is given about our contributors, or their sources, to protect their safety.]
It's Obama Time:
It's Obama Time: What Does His Stunning Iowa Win Mean?
By Eric L. Hinton. Date Posted: January 03, 2008
When Barack Obama pulled off a stunning victory in Thursday's Iowa caucus, one of the whitest states in the nation, some hailed his victory as proof that a black man could be president.
Are we there yet?
More Election '08
Obama Vs. Clinton: Iowa Showdown Looms'
'Articulate & Clean', 'Obama's a Muslim,' Macaca Moment: Blunders From the Presidential Race'
Commentary: 'Black Enough,' Drug Rumors & Quid Pro Quos
Oprah, Barack and Michelle Obama: 'Like a Religious Experience'
Can Oprah Propel Obama to Victory?
'Sanctuary City'? More Immigrants, More Political Lunacy
Michelle Obama Says Black Voters Will 'Wake Up and Get It'
John Edwards: 'Can't Build Enough Jails' for Black Youths?
Giuliani Fears Clinton/Obama Team
All in the Family? Obama and Dick Cheney Are Cousins
I'll Still Win Nomination, Obama Tells Newark Crowd
Osama? Obama? Why Can't Romney Get it Right?
Giuliani: Feds Responsible for Roundup of Undocumented Workers
Will Clinton and Obama Push to Get Gay-Rights Bill Through Senate?
In the past several months, Obama has successfully hurdled questions of "Is he black enough?" and "Is He a Muslim?" on his way to capturing 38 percent of support among Iowa caucus-goers. John Edwards gained 30 percent of the vote while Hillary Clinton, the prohibitive frontrunner in the months leading up to the caucus, finished a disappointing third with 29 percent.
Approximately 25 percent of the Democratic caucus-goers interviewed in entrance polls were younger than 30. Obama received 57 percent of their votes, compared with 14 percent for Edwards and 11 percent for Clinton, reports The Associated Press (AP). Obama also won the highest percentage of independents, first-time caucus-goers, self-identified liberals, and women, according to the AP.
On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee, who's been campaigning on a largely anti-undocumented-immigrant platform, won with 34 percent of the vote, followed by 25 percent for Mitt Romney.
So was Obama's victory in Iowa just a blip on the radar screen or the first step in a massive transformation in American politics? That's what the political pundits are trying to analyze this "day after" as campaign managers go into spin mode and the campaign trail moves on to New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
Obama's historic victory "proved that a black man running for president can have success among voters in a predominantly white state," writes BlackAmericaWeb.com.
"To his credit Barack Obama has carefully cultivated an image as a 'change' candidate who takes the higher ground, one that talks about race -- but not racism," writes New American Media columnist Roberto Lovato. "Iowa confirms that, in doing so, he can make even the whitest electorate feel like it's voting to overcome the catastrophic legacy of racial discrimination."
obama's campaign seemed to kick into overdrive once he was joined on the campaign trail by Oprah Winfrey. It's hard to determine what impact 'The Oprah effect' actually had. But as the Des Monies Register reported in December after Obama received Winfrey's endorsement, he attracted more than 18,000 to a Des Monies event and more than 15,000 in Cedar Rapids. Newsweek says many pundits discounted Winfrey's endorsement despite her the largely female audience, which Obama was trying to capture, "but when MSNBC reported that Obama had won the women's vote in Iowa by several points, the crowd went wild," Newsweek reports.
How important was Obama's Iowa win? It may be difficult to believe with 49 states still unheard from that the first--particularly Iowa which is 95 percent white--could be a deciding factor. But Jonathan Alter, senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, says the Iowa win has made Obama the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
"It's hard to believe a few thousand votes in Iowa can have so shaken the political landscape, but the front-loading of the primary process--originally meant to settle on Hillary Clinton early so she could concentrate on defeating the GOP in November--has backfired badly for the Democratic Party establishment," writes Alter. "The only one who can stop Obama from making history is Obama."
The Clinton camp has a different perspective, obviously. Clinton's campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle offered congratulations to Obama while saying the battle was far from over. "This race begins tonight and ends when Democrats throughout America have their say," Doyle writes on the Clinton campaign web site. "Our campaign was built for a marathon and we have the resources to run a national race in the weeks ahead."
Timing is everything. It's possible Obama may be the last candidate to ride the Iowa wave to a party nomination, should he go that far. Some political analysts are suggesting that Iowa, largely rural, white, conservative and sparsely populated, exerts far too large an influence over the political process.
"The major parties would be far better off if the presidential nominees were chosen much later in the process," says Steven S. Smith, a political expert at Washington University who predicts Iowa's special role in party politics may end after this year. "It's a lousy way to elect a president. Is it reasonable to allow states like Iowa and New Hampshire to have such a disproportionate impact on the presidential race?"
The New York Times concurred. On its editorial page, the Times urged that "this year's Iowa-New Hampshire rush to judgment will be the last."
"We don't question the enthusiasm of the commitment of the people of Iowa and New Hampshire. But Iowa, where a huge turnout amounts to less than 10 percent of the population, is about 92 percent white, more rural and older than the rest of the nation," says the Times.
How interesting, then, that Iowa's sawn song with its predominantly white populace may be propelling Barack Obama to the Democratic nomination.
Timing is everything. It's possible Obama may be the last candidate to ride the Iowa wave to a party nomination, should he go that far. Some political analysts are suggesting that Iowa, largely rural, white, conservative and sparsely populated, exerts far too large an influence over the political process.
By Eric L. Hinton. Date Posted: January 03, 2008
When Barack Obama pulled off a stunning victory in Thursday's Iowa caucus, one of the whitest states in the nation, some hailed his victory as proof that a black man could be president.
Are we there yet?
More Election '08
Obama Vs. Clinton: Iowa Showdown Looms'
'Articulate & Clean', 'Obama's a Muslim,' Macaca Moment: Blunders From the Presidential Race'
Commentary: 'Black Enough,' Drug Rumors & Quid Pro Quos
Oprah, Barack and Michelle Obama: 'Like a Religious Experience'
Can Oprah Propel Obama to Victory?
'Sanctuary City'? More Immigrants, More Political Lunacy
Michelle Obama Says Black Voters Will 'Wake Up and Get It'
John Edwards: 'Can't Build Enough Jails' for Black Youths?
Giuliani Fears Clinton/Obama Team
All in the Family? Obama and Dick Cheney Are Cousins
I'll Still Win Nomination, Obama Tells Newark Crowd
Osama? Obama? Why Can't Romney Get it Right?
Giuliani: Feds Responsible for Roundup of Undocumented Workers
Will Clinton and Obama Push to Get Gay-Rights Bill Through Senate?
In the past several months, Obama has successfully hurdled questions of "Is he black enough?" and "Is He a Muslim?" on his way to capturing 38 percent of support among Iowa caucus-goers. John Edwards gained 30 percent of the vote while Hillary Clinton, the prohibitive frontrunner in the months leading up to the caucus, finished a disappointing third with 29 percent.
Approximately 25 percent of the Democratic caucus-goers interviewed in entrance polls were younger than 30. Obama received 57 percent of their votes, compared with 14 percent for Edwards and 11 percent for Clinton, reports The Associated Press (AP). Obama also won the highest percentage of independents, first-time caucus-goers, self-identified liberals, and women, according to the AP.
On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee, who's been campaigning on a largely anti-undocumented-immigrant platform, won with 34 percent of the vote, followed by 25 percent for Mitt Romney.
So was Obama's victory in Iowa just a blip on the radar screen or the first step in a massive transformation in American politics? That's what the political pundits are trying to analyze this "day after" as campaign managers go into spin mode and the campaign trail moves on to New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
Obama's historic victory "proved that a black man running for president can have success among voters in a predominantly white state," writes BlackAmericaWeb.com.
"To his credit Barack Obama has carefully cultivated an image as a 'change' candidate who takes the higher ground, one that talks about race -- but not racism," writes New American Media columnist Roberto Lovato. "Iowa confirms that, in doing so, he can make even the whitest electorate feel like it's voting to overcome the catastrophic legacy of racial discrimination."
obama's campaign seemed to kick into overdrive once he was joined on the campaign trail by Oprah Winfrey. It's hard to determine what impact 'The Oprah effect' actually had. But as the Des Monies Register reported in December after Obama received Winfrey's endorsement, he attracted more than 18,000 to a Des Monies event and more than 15,000 in Cedar Rapids. Newsweek says many pundits discounted Winfrey's endorsement despite her the largely female audience, which Obama was trying to capture, "but when MSNBC reported that Obama had won the women's vote in Iowa by several points, the crowd went wild," Newsweek reports.
How important was Obama's Iowa win? It may be difficult to believe with 49 states still unheard from that the first--particularly Iowa which is 95 percent white--could be a deciding factor. But Jonathan Alter, senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, says the Iowa win has made Obama the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
"It's hard to believe a few thousand votes in Iowa can have so shaken the political landscape, but the front-loading of the primary process--originally meant to settle on Hillary Clinton early so she could concentrate on defeating the GOP in November--has backfired badly for the Democratic Party establishment," writes Alter. "The only one who can stop Obama from making history is Obama."
The Clinton camp has a different perspective, obviously. Clinton's campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle offered congratulations to Obama while saying the battle was far from over. "This race begins tonight and ends when Democrats throughout America have their say," Doyle writes on the Clinton campaign web site. "Our campaign was built for a marathon and we have the resources to run a national race in the weeks ahead."
Timing is everything. It's possible Obama may be the last candidate to ride the Iowa wave to a party nomination, should he go that far. Some political analysts are suggesting that Iowa, largely rural, white, conservative and sparsely populated, exerts far too large an influence over the political process.
"The major parties would be far better off if the presidential nominees were chosen much later in the process," says Steven S. Smith, a political expert at Washington University who predicts Iowa's special role in party politics may end after this year. "It's a lousy way to elect a president. Is it reasonable to allow states like Iowa and New Hampshire to have such a disproportionate impact on the presidential race?"
The New York Times concurred. On its editorial page, the Times urged that "this year's Iowa-New Hampshire rush to judgment will be the last."
"We don't question the enthusiasm of the commitment of the people of Iowa and New Hampshire. But Iowa, where a huge turnout amounts to less than 10 percent of the population, is about 92 percent white, more rural and older than the rest of the nation," says the Times.
How interesting, then, that Iowa's sawn song with its predominantly white populace may be propelling Barack Obama to the Democratic nomination.
Timing is everything. It's possible Obama may be the last candidate to ride the Iowa wave to a party nomination, should he go that far. Some political analysts are suggesting that Iowa, largely rural, white, conservative and sparsely populated, exerts far too large an influence over the political process.
ALERT
Dear friend, I have struggled for years with the idea of writing this article, because I know it will trouble some people very close to me, but I feel it's an article whose time has come. Please consider it, and provide me with your personal imput. I would much appreciate it. Lyle
Prescription Drugs and Sorcery
Lyle L, January 2008
“Just say no to drugs.†How many times have people heard this advice, yet still think nothing of going to the local pharmacy to pick up their drug prescriptions? America is awash in a sea of drugs, both legal and illegal. Traces of painkillers, tranquilizers, antidepressants, antibiotics, birth control pills and chemotherapy agents, to name a few, are present in the food chain and our drinking water. The number of people who die every year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs is so high that USA Today listed it as the 4th leading cause of mortality on their 1998 list of Top Ten Killers in the USA, and the situation is far worse, today.
Most consumers think that illegal street drugs are in an entirely different class than prescription drugs and they believe that pharmaceutical companies would never manufacture or sell street drugs. But guess what? As you'll read here, drug companies actually invented many of the street drugs now considered to be the most devastating, including heroin and meth ("ice"). The following facts clearly establish the connection between street drugs and pharmaceutical companies:
1. Heroin was launched as a medicine by Felix Hoffman, an employee of Bayer, only a few days after he invented aspirin. Bayer immediately applied for a trademark on the term "heroin" then began marketing the drug as a cure for morphine addiction, and as cough syrup for children.
2. Parke-Davis, a subsidiary of Pfizer, promoted and sold cocaine. It even produced a "cocaine injection kit" complete with a syringe for shooting up. Skeptical? You can view the picture yourself by clicking
http://www.NewsTarget.com/gallery/articles/ParkeDavisInjection.jpg.
Also related: Coca-Cola really did contain cocaine during its first few decades on the market (it also contained kola nut extract, hence the name). Cocaine was later removed from the formula and replaced with caffeine, a substance that is similarly addictive and serves much the same purpose.
3. A subsidiary of Novartis, Sandoz Laboratories, introduced the world to LSD in 1938, marketing it as a psychiatric drug named Delysid. This same drug company also created saccharin, the artificial chemical sweetener.
4. Drug giant Merck pioneered the commercial manufacture of morphine from opium and was a heavy pusher and marketer of cocaine. Merck also patented MDMA (Ecstasy, the rave drug). After World War II, Merck also began producing pesticides and food preservatives.
5. Ritalin is "speed" for children. A chemical amphetamine, Ritalin is made of controlled substances that would land you in prison if you sold them to a kid on the street, yet the drug is currently prescribed to millions of schoolchildren in the United States to treat a "brain chemistry condition" that was invented by the drug companies.
6. In the 1930's, drug companies marketed amphetamines as over-the-counter inhaler medicines for treating nasal congestion. Tablet amphetamines were also widely available in tablet form and frequently abused by students, truck drivers and other groups.
7. Meth was first synthesized by chemists and later refined by drug companies. During WWII, meth was prescribed to soldiers by the U.S., Germany and Japan. Hitler was known as a "meth head" by his own staff. By the end of the war, millions of military personnel were addicted to the drug. Today, meth ("crank") is made from ingredients found in over-the-counter cold medicines. While a meth epidemic sweeps America, destroying entire communities and even threatening some states (Hawaii in particular), drug companies insist their cold medicines should remain over the counter and not be classified as controlled substances. There is currently no legislative effort whatsoever to ban over-the-counter cold medicines containing the chemicals used to create meth.
Once you realize the connection between street drugs and prescription drugs, it's easy to figure out why Big Pharma is such a strong supporter of the Partnership For A Drug-Free America - because they don't want consumers getting their drugs from street dealers, they want people buying their drugs from drug companies, prescribed by physicians, and dispensed by pharmacists! Drug companies' attempts to outlaw street drugs are little more than a way of eliminating the competition and monopolizing the drug market.
Ultimately, Big Pharma is just another drug pushing cartel that has the same goals as any drug dealer: Convince customers they need your drug, get them hooked on it and eliminate the competition. The only difference is that Big Pharma has been so successful at dealing drugs that it has enough funds to buy off Congress, the Food and Drug Administration and practically the entire psychiatric industry (not to mention medical schools and mainstream media outlets). With such a record, the pharmaceutical industry (and the medical profession which prescribes and dispenses these drugs) would be considered criminal by any other civilized standard.
"Those who worship at the throne of the 'chemical gods' of the religion of evolution science, espoused by modern medicine for decades, might do well to consider that the word 'sorceries', found in the original texts of both the Old and New Testaments, was actually the Greek word, Pharmakeia, meaning medication or pharmacy." Isn't that interesting? The Bible, the standard by which most Christians and many non-Christians live their lives, condemns the everyday use of any kind of drugs, potions, or spells, as well as poisoning or witchcraft.
Most people, including those who believe the Bible, would have no trouble in defining pharmakeia within the parameter of mind altering or hallucinogenic drugs. It’s with the legal drugs, prescribed by a respected physician, and dispensed by a respected pharmacist, that so many fail to see a dangerous and sinister spiritual connection.
When confronted with the revelation that God condemns pharmakeia, some would argue that the reference to "practicing sorcery or engaging in witchcraft" in Deuteronomy 18, or the Apostle Paul's describing idolotry and witchcraft as "acts of a sinful nature (the flesh)" when he wrote his letter to the Church at Galatia, had to be referring to illegal, mind-altering drugs (like cocain, heroin, LSD, and marijuana), certainly not prescription drugs. They would be half right. Narcotics and hallucinogenic drugs were not uncommon in 1st century AD. For instance, the Oracles of Delphi apparently used Datura, a kind of Jimson plant that contained powerful alkaloids, during their quests for visions.
God’s Word lists pharmakeia as a work of the flesh for a reason. Those who turn to drugs (and those who encourage their use) place dependency on a false reality (an illusion) instead of in God, our real healer. It is an insidious scheme, one that has kept millions from knowing the power of healing still afforded to them by God. Yet many of those same peoples, Christians and non-Christians alike, would fret over the former as though they are a scourge (and they are), while completely overlooking the physical and spiritual danger of the latter. If these people were as much concerned about taking prescription drugs as they are about their children getting involved with illegal drugs, there would be far fewer deaths. That’s because deaths from adverse prescription drug reactions are many times greater then deaths caused by illegal drugs. Many people who respect the Word of God think legal drugs are different because they are part of our medical system. Simply stated, they trust anyone wearing white robes to prescribe and dispense drugs. They do so without understanding that everything about the pharmaceutical industry violates the spiritual foundational truth and teaching of God.
There are many reasons why God condemns pharmakeia. Perhaps the primary reason is that God calls Himself Jehovah-rapha, the God who heals us (Exodus 15:26). He wants us to look to Him for healing (to make us whole), because only He and what He has provided to us for healing can really heal. King David acknowledged this foundational truth when he wrote: "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion…" Psalm 103:2-4
When anyone is dependent upon drugs, illegal or "legal," they unknowingly deny God the glory and the ability to heal them. Because nearly half of Americans take from one to a dozen prescription drugs, daily, this information will be hard for many to accept, because they really depend on those drugs. You need to understand that drug companies think this number is still too low. Their goal is to have 100 percent of us taking not just one drug per day, but multiple drugs every day, for life. I can't judge anyone's motivations, but I suspect the reason for the dependence is two-fold: many don't really see God in their heart and mind as their Healer, in which case they conclude that the age of divine healing is over, and their faith for healing is now bound to a lie (a work of the flesh) called pharmakeia, OR they're addicted to the drugs, and in many cases both are true.
God is a jealous God. So when we place our dependency in anything other than in God, we are in effect, turning our backs to Him. We are saying, “God is not sufficient for me. He cannot or will not heal me.†That’s not to say we shouldn’t seek medical help from a physician. The problem, however, is most physicians are secular, having sworn an oath to "an unknown god," and knowing only pharmakeia, surgery and radiation methods of treatment. They do not know Yehovah-rapha or the healing provision He created and placed in the plant kingdom for the health and well-being of generations of mankind to come (Genesis 1:29). But God didn’t place every provision for healing in the plant kingdom. For He knew there would also be illnesses and disease visited on man through man’s sins of the heart. These sins include fear, worry, jealously, hatred, guilt and the like. These illnesses and diseases are spiritual in nature, and require a cleansing of the heart only God can perform in order for healing to become reality.
The healing of disease is one of God’s blessings to mankind. He never intended one should have to spend half their income on a man-made drug to live. He never intended that medicine should come at the price of “acceptable risk.†It is only the greed in man that creates a man-made substitute from those provisions and then foists them on an ignorant people as the latest miracle drug. The truth is all man-made drugs are far inferior to the real thing; faster, maybe, but not as beneficial.
But in most cases it’s not the physician’s fault. Physicians only know to treat patients according to the methods they were taught, and since the medical and pharmaceutical cartel dictates curriculum at the highest levels, much that needs to be known doesn't get learned. Like the ol' mountain man once said, "You can't no more give someone else somethin' you ain't got than to go back agin to where you ain't never been before." Makes sense to me in 2008. An example of what I mean is found in the fact that, according to former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, "fifteen out of every twenty one deaths in America are nutrition related," and yet, doctors in training learn virtually nothing about the connection between nutrition and healing. If fact, they aren't taught to think in terms of "healing" because getting rid of the symptoms is what "modern" medicine is all about, and what drugs are intended to do.
If drugs actually worked and healed people, without killing or hospitalizing many of those who take them, we wouldn't be considering the problem, right? But drugs do not heal. At best, they only suppress symptoms. At their worst, they hospitalize over two million people and kill hundreds of thousands more, every year. For a detailed article on the extent of this very situation, go to the inpursuitofwellness.info website, and click on the article, Death by Friendly Fire. You'll get the picture!
There is both good and bad medicine. The difference between the two is that good medicine only heals and never harms. Bad medicine never heals and always harms, sooner or later. Drugs that kill in the name of healing are not from God. They belong to the enemy of your soul, Satan. The pharmaceutical industry has no interest in healing the sick. Its only interest is in selling more drugs, and getting as many people as it can started on drugs, and keeping them there for the rest of their lives.
God cannot embrace any medicine that kills or maims in the name of healing. Such a modality stands opposed to everything God stands for. God desires that everyone enjoy good health, and that all may go well with us, even as our souls are getting along well (3 John 2). Certainly, God can use even an illness or a surgery for his glory, and to sometimes get our attention, but I don't believe that's his "A" plan for us. Satan, on the other hand, is a liar, the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning (John 8: 44). What else can you expect from him?
The above sentence, “keeping them there for the rest of their lives,†plays a big role over what God is concerned with. When you read Galatians 5:21, you will see the following text: “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.†The word “live†refers to everyday use, to be dependent upon, to make routine. In other words: To live by. The Bible tells us, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits†(I John 4:1). And again, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil†(I Thessalonians 5:21-22). Does a system that relies on sorcery and witchcraft that promotes addiction, sickness and death sound like a good spirit (good medicine) to you?
We recognize that drugs have a role to play in hospital emergency rooms and ICU’s. Drugs used here are used primarily on a temporary basis to stabilize patients for medical procedures and control of pain. When used in this manner, drugs have saved many lives. This is a good and necessary thing! It’s the people who “live†and stay on drugs to “manage†their lives that creates the spiritual tension that opposes total reliance on Him for our wellness.
Today, drugs are routinely prescribed for almost any physical, lifestyle or emotional complaint: male impotency, baldness, lack of sleep, arthritis, depression, pre and post menopause, acid reflux, anxiety, osteoporosis, acne, A.D.D., constipation and diabetes, and confuse us by counterfeiting the will of God in our lives. By creating alternative realities, the spirit behind these drugs can move us away from God’s will into an illusion, a false reality of truth.
I have good news and bad news. While a a significant number of people still refuse the prescriptions that most mainstream physicians dole out like candy, based on a recent Wall Street Journal poll, the number of doubting Thomases has shrunk from 32 percent to 27 percent in just two years. Second opinions are dwindling slightly too, from 21 percent down to 20. Clearly, mainstream health professionals continue to be trained to believe that prescription pharmaceuticals are the answer to whatever ails you, and the number of people following along is increasing. I'm of the firm opinion that the vaccination of babies and children with dangerous chemicals with un-researched, long-lasting side-effects could be the genesis of this problem. We know that processed foods contain addictive components, MSG for example, so why couldn't that be planned as one of those "un-researched, long-lasting side-effects." Questioning the "chemicals have all the answers" mentality, and pursuing a course to determine if there are other, safer alternatives, might not only save you money (since the cost of prescriptions continues to rise), but it could save you from one of the potentially deadly side-effects associated with the wares peddled by Big Pharma, that of addiction.
Regarding this question of vaccinations. Early in 2007 an extensive interview was conducted with a former vaccine researcher who worked nearly 15 years in the labs of major pharmaceutical houses, and the US government's National Institutes of Health. He retired during the 90's. He was "disgusted with what he had discovered about vaccines." He has been a little reluctant to speak out, but the current push to make vaccines mandatory -- with penalties like quarantine lurking in the wings -- has caused him to break his silence. Here are some quotes from the interview:
"As far as I'm concerned, all vaccines are dangerous, for several reasons. They involve the human immune system in a process that tends to compromise immunity. They can actually cause the disease they are supposed to prevent, and they can cause other diseases than the ones they are supposed to prevent."
"The atmosphere surrounding vaccines is full of lies, how can anyone choose what is right for their family? If the FDA were run by honorable people, these vaccines would not be granted licenses. They would be investigated to within an inch of their lives."
Asked if, looking back now, could he recall any good reason to say that vaccines are successful, the doctor's reply was, "No, I can't. If I had a child now, the last thing I would allow is vaccination. I would move out of the state if I had to. I would change the family name. I would disappear with my family. I'm not saying it would come to that. There are ways to sidestep the system with grace, if you know how to act. There are exemptions you can declare, in every state, based on religious and/or philosophic views. But if push came to shove, I would go on the move."
And speaking of the medical cartel, in general, he said, "At the highest levels of the medical cartel, vaccines are a top priority because they cause a weakening of the immune system. I know that may be hard to accept, but it's true. The medical cartel, at the highest level, is not out to help people, it is out to harm them, to weaken them. To kill them."
To hear the entire interview, go to inpursuit of wellness.info, click on the link entitled The Truth About, and then click on The Truth About Vaccines.
If you would be interestd in knowing how my wife of fourty three years and I have managed in avoiding doctors and prescription drugs for nearly thirty-five years, please feel free to contact us. May you enjoy the good health your Creator desires for you.
Lyle L
Prescription Drugs and Sorcery
Lyle L, January 2008
“Just say no to drugs.†How many times have people heard this advice, yet still think nothing of going to the local pharmacy to pick up their drug prescriptions? America is awash in a sea of drugs, both legal and illegal. Traces of painkillers, tranquilizers, antidepressants, antibiotics, birth control pills and chemotherapy agents, to name a few, are present in the food chain and our drinking water. The number of people who die every year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs is so high that USA Today listed it as the 4th leading cause of mortality on their 1998 list of Top Ten Killers in the USA, and the situation is far worse, today.
Most consumers think that illegal street drugs are in an entirely different class than prescription drugs and they believe that pharmaceutical companies would never manufacture or sell street drugs. But guess what? As you'll read here, drug companies actually invented many of the street drugs now considered to be the most devastating, including heroin and meth ("ice"). The following facts clearly establish the connection between street drugs and pharmaceutical companies:
1. Heroin was launched as a medicine by Felix Hoffman, an employee of Bayer, only a few days after he invented aspirin. Bayer immediately applied for a trademark on the term "heroin" then began marketing the drug as a cure for morphine addiction, and as cough syrup for children.
2. Parke-Davis, a subsidiary of Pfizer, promoted and sold cocaine. It even produced a "cocaine injection kit" complete with a syringe for shooting up. Skeptical? You can view the picture yourself by clicking
http://www.NewsTarget.com/gallery/articles/ParkeDavisInjection.jpg.
Also related: Coca-Cola really did contain cocaine during its first few decades on the market (it also contained kola nut extract, hence the name). Cocaine was later removed from the formula and replaced with caffeine, a substance that is similarly addictive and serves much the same purpose.
3. A subsidiary of Novartis, Sandoz Laboratories, introduced the world to LSD in 1938, marketing it as a psychiatric drug named Delysid. This same drug company also created saccharin, the artificial chemical sweetener.
4. Drug giant Merck pioneered the commercial manufacture of morphine from opium and was a heavy pusher and marketer of cocaine. Merck also patented MDMA (Ecstasy, the rave drug). After World War II, Merck also began producing pesticides and food preservatives.
5. Ritalin is "speed" for children. A chemical amphetamine, Ritalin is made of controlled substances that would land you in prison if you sold them to a kid on the street, yet the drug is currently prescribed to millions of schoolchildren in the United States to treat a "brain chemistry condition" that was invented by the drug companies.
6. In the 1930's, drug companies marketed amphetamines as over-the-counter inhaler medicines for treating nasal congestion. Tablet amphetamines were also widely available in tablet form and frequently abused by students, truck drivers and other groups.
7. Meth was first synthesized by chemists and later refined by drug companies. During WWII, meth was prescribed to soldiers by the U.S., Germany and Japan. Hitler was known as a "meth head" by his own staff. By the end of the war, millions of military personnel were addicted to the drug. Today, meth ("crank") is made from ingredients found in over-the-counter cold medicines. While a meth epidemic sweeps America, destroying entire communities and even threatening some states (Hawaii in particular), drug companies insist their cold medicines should remain over the counter and not be classified as controlled substances. There is currently no legislative effort whatsoever to ban over-the-counter cold medicines containing the chemicals used to create meth.
Once you realize the connection between street drugs and prescription drugs, it's easy to figure out why Big Pharma is such a strong supporter of the Partnership For A Drug-Free America - because they don't want consumers getting their drugs from street dealers, they want people buying their drugs from drug companies, prescribed by physicians, and dispensed by pharmacists! Drug companies' attempts to outlaw street drugs are little more than a way of eliminating the competition and monopolizing the drug market.
Ultimately, Big Pharma is just another drug pushing cartel that has the same goals as any drug dealer: Convince customers they need your drug, get them hooked on it and eliminate the competition. The only difference is that Big Pharma has been so successful at dealing drugs that it has enough funds to buy off Congress, the Food and Drug Administration and practically the entire psychiatric industry (not to mention medical schools and mainstream media outlets). With such a record, the pharmaceutical industry (and the medical profession which prescribes and dispenses these drugs) would be considered criminal by any other civilized standard.
"Those who worship at the throne of the 'chemical gods' of the religion of evolution science, espoused by modern medicine for decades, might do well to consider that the word 'sorceries', found in the original texts of both the Old and New Testaments, was actually the Greek word, Pharmakeia, meaning medication or pharmacy." Isn't that interesting? The Bible, the standard by which most Christians and many non-Christians live their lives, condemns the everyday use of any kind of drugs, potions, or spells, as well as poisoning or witchcraft.
Most people, including those who believe the Bible, would have no trouble in defining pharmakeia within the parameter of mind altering or hallucinogenic drugs. It’s with the legal drugs, prescribed by a respected physician, and dispensed by a respected pharmacist, that so many fail to see a dangerous and sinister spiritual connection.
When confronted with the revelation that God condemns pharmakeia, some would argue that the reference to "practicing sorcery or engaging in witchcraft" in Deuteronomy 18, or the Apostle Paul's describing idolotry and witchcraft as "acts of a sinful nature (the flesh)" when he wrote his letter to the Church at Galatia, had to be referring to illegal, mind-altering drugs (like cocain, heroin, LSD, and marijuana), certainly not prescription drugs. They would be half right. Narcotics and hallucinogenic drugs were not uncommon in 1st century AD. For instance, the Oracles of Delphi apparently used Datura, a kind of Jimson plant that contained powerful alkaloids, during their quests for visions.
God’s Word lists pharmakeia as a work of the flesh for a reason. Those who turn to drugs (and those who encourage their use) place dependency on a false reality (an illusion) instead of in God, our real healer. It is an insidious scheme, one that has kept millions from knowing the power of healing still afforded to them by God. Yet many of those same peoples, Christians and non-Christians alike, would fret over the former as though they are a scourge (and they are), while completely overlooking the physical and spiritual danger of the latter. If these people were as much concerned about taking prescription drugs as they are about their children getting involved with illegal drugs, there would be far fewer deaths. That’s because deaths from adverse prescription drug reactions are many times greater then deaths caused by illegal drugs. Many people who respect the Word of God think legal drugs are different because they are part of our medical system. Simply stated, they trust anyone wearing white robes to prescribe and dispense drugs. They do so without understanding that everything about the pharmaceutical industry violates the spiritual foundational truth and teaching of God.
There are many reasons why God condemns pharmakeia. Perhaps the primary reason is that God calls Himself Jehovah-rapha, the God who heals us (Exodus 15:26). He wants us to look to Him for healing (to make us whole), because only He and what He has provided to us for healing can really heal. King David acknowledged this foundational truth when he wrote: "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion…" Psalm 103:2-4
When anyone is dependent upon drugs, illegal or "legal," they unknowingly deny God the glory and the ability to heal them. Because nearly half of Americans take from one to a dozen prescription drugs, daily, this information will be hard for many to accept, because they really depend on those drugs. You need to understand that drug companies think this number is still too low. Their goal is to have 100 percent of us taking not just one drug per day, but multiple drugs every day, for life. I can't judge anyone's motivations, but I suspect the reason for the dependence is two-fold: many don't really see God in their heart and mind as their Healer, in which case they conclude that the age of divine healing is over, and their faith for healing is now bound to a lie (a work of the flesh) called pharmakeia, OR they're addicted to the drugs, and in many cases both are true.
God is a jealous God. So when we place our dependency in anything other than in God, we are in effect, turning our backs to Him. We are saying, “God is not sufficient for me. He cannot or will not heal me.†That’s not to say we shouldn’t seek medical help from a physician. The problem, however, is most physicians are secular, having sworn an oath to "an unknown god," and knowing only pharmakeia, surgery and radiation methods of treatment. They do not know Yehovah-rapha or the healing provision He created and placed in the plant kingdom for the health and well-being of generations of mankind to come (Genesis 1:29). But God didn’t place every provision for healing in the plant kingdom. For He knew there would also be illnesses and disease visited on man through man’s sins of the heart. These sins include fear, worry, jealously, hatred, guilt and the like. These illnesses and diseases are spiritual in nature, and require a cleansing of the heart only God can perform in order for healing to become reality.
The healing of disease is one of God’s blessings to mankind. He never intended one should have to spend half their income on a man-made drug to live. He never intended that medicine should come at the price of “acceptable risk.†It is only the greed in man that creates a man-made substitute from those provisions and then foists them on an ignorant people as the latest miracle drug. The truth is all man-made drugs are far inferior to the real thing; faster, maybe, but not as beneficial.
But in most cases it’s not the physician’s fault. Physicians only know to treat patients according to the methods they were taught, and since the medical and pharmaceutical cartel dictates curriculum at the highest levels, much that needs to be known doesn't get learned. Like the ol' mountain man once said, "You can't no more give someone else somethin' you ain't got than to go back agin to where you ain't never been before." Makes sense to me in 2008. An example of what I mean is found in the fact that, according to former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, "fifteen out of every twenty one deaths in America are nutrition related," and yet, doctors in training learn virtually nothing about the connection between nutrition and healing. If fact, they aren't taught to think in terms of "healing" because getting rid of the symptoms is what "modern" medicine is all about, and what drugs are intended to do.
If drugs actually worked and healed people, without killing or hospitalizing many of those who take them, we wouldn't be considering the problem, right? But drugs do not heal. At best, they only suppress symptoms. At their worst, they hospitalize over two million people and kill hundreds of thousands more, every year. For a detailed article on the extent of this very situation, go to the inpursuitofwellness.info website, and click on the article, Death by Friendly Fire. You'll get the picture!
There is both good and bad medicine. The difference between the two is that good medicine only heals and never harms. Bad medicine never heals and always harms, sooner or later. Drugs that kill in the name of healing are not from God. They belong to the enemy of your soul, Satan. The pharmaceutical industry has no interest in healing the sick. Its only interest is in selling more drugs, and getting as many people as it can started on drugs, and keeping them there for the rest of their lives.
God cannot embrace any medicine that kills or maims in the name of healing. Such a modality stands opposed to everything God stands for. God desires that everyone enjoy good health, and that all may go well with us, even as our souls are getting along well (3 John 2). Certainly, God can use even an illness or a surgery for his glory, and to sometimes get our attention, but I don't believe that's his "A" plan for us. Satan, on the other hand, is a liar, the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning (John 8: 44). What else can you expect from him?
The above sentence, “keeping them there for the rest of their lives,†plays a big role over what God is concerned with. When you read Galatians 5:21, you will see the following text: “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.†The word “live†refers to everyday use, to be dependent upon, to make routine. In other words: To live by. The Bible tells us, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits†(I John 4:1). And again, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil†(I Thessalonians 5:21-22). Does a system that relies on sorcery and witchcraft that promotes addiction, sickness and death sound like a good spirit (good medicine) to you?
We recognize that drugs have a role to play in hospital emergency rooms and ICU’s. Drugs used here are used primarily on a temporary basis to stabilize patients for medical procedures and control of pain. When used in this manner, drugs have saved many lives. This is a good and necessary thing! It’s the people who “live†and stay on drugs to “manage†their lives that creates the spiritual tension that opposes total reliance on Him for our wellness.
Today, drugs are routinely prescribed for almost any physical, lifestyle or emotional complaint: male impotency, baldness, lack of sleep, arthritis, depression, pre and post menopause, acid reflux, anxiety, osteoporosis, acne, A.D.D., constipation and diabetes, and confuse us by counterfeiting the will of God in our lives. By creating alternative realities, the spirit behind these drugs can move us away from God’s will into an illusion, a false reality of truth.
I have good news and bad news. While a a significant number of people still refuse the prescriptions that most mainstream physicians dole out like candy, based on a recent Wall Street Journal poll, the number of doubting Thomases has shrunk from 32 percent to 27 percent in just two years. Second opinions are dwindling slightly too, from 21 percent down to 20. Clearly, mainstream health professionals continue to be trained to believe that prescription pharmaceuticals are the answer to whatever ails you, and the number of people following along is increasing. I'm of the firm opinion that the vaccination of babies and children with dangerous chemicals with un-researched, long-lasting side-effects could be the genesis of this problem. We know that processed foods contain addictive components, MSG for example, so why couldn't that be planned as one of those "un-researched, long-lasting side-effects." Questioning the "chemicals have all the answers" mentality, and pursuing a course to determine if there are other, safer alternatives, might not only save you money (since the cost of prescriptions continues to rise), but it could save you from one of the potentially deadly side-effects associated with the wares peddled by Big Pharma, that of addiction.
Regarding this question of vaccinations. Early in 2007 an extensive interview was conducted with a former vaccine researcher who worked nearly 15 years in the labs of major pharmaceutical houses, and the US government's National Institutes of Health. He retired during the 90's. He was "disgusted with what he had discovered about vaccines." He has been a little reluctant to speak out, but the current push to make vaccines mandatory -- with penalties like quarantine lurking in the wings -- has caused him to break his silence. Here are some quotes from the interview:
"As far as I'm concerned, all vaccines are dangerous, for several reasons. They involve the human immune system in a process that tends to compromise immunity. They can actually cause the disease they are supposed to prevent, and they can cause other diseases than the ones they are supposed to prevent."
"The atmosphere surrounding vaccines is full of lies, how can anyone choose what is right for their family? If the FDA were run by honorable people, these vaccines would not be granted licenses. They would be investigated to within an inch of their lives."
Asked if, looking back now, could he recall any good reason to say that vaccines are successful, the doctor's reply was, "No, I can't. If I had a child now, the last thing I would allow is vaccination. I would move out of the state if I had to. I would change the family name. I would disappear with my family. I'm not saying it would come to that. There are ways to sidestep the system with grace, if you know how to act. There are exemptions you can declare, in every state, based on religious and/or philosophic views. But if push came to shove, I would go on the move."
And speaking of the medical cartel, in general, he said, "At the highest levels of the medical cartel, vaccines are a top priority because they cause a weakening of the immune system. I know that may be hard to accept, but it's true. The medical cartel, at the highest level, is not out to help people, it is out to harm them, to weaken them. To kill them."
To hear the entire interview, go to inpursuit of wellness.info, click on the link entitled The Truth About, and then click on The Truth About Vaccines.
If you would be interestd in knowing how my wife of fourty three years and I have managed in avoiding doctors and prescription drugs for nearly thirty-five years, please feel free to contact us. May you enjoy the good health your Creator desires for you.
Lyle L
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
ALERT!
The Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
Lyle Loughry, January 2008
During a recent World Environmental Conference on "Aspartame," being marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and "Equal Spoonful," one of the speakers sounded the following warning; "If it says SUGAR FREE, on the label, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"
In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and that it was difficult to understand what toxin was causing this to occur. One of the scheduled speakers stood up and said that he was there to lecture on exactly that subject. Later, he went on to explain why Aspartame, the topic of the conference, is so dangerous:
According to him, when the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in Aspartame converts to Eformaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants (candalilla). The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis. His contention was that many people were being misdiagnosed as having multiple sclerosis when they were actually experiencing methanol toxicity. It's important to distinguish that, while multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, methanol toxicity is! Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially among Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. Supporting that position, a nurse reported that six of her friends who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!
The victim usually does not know that the aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use, irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become life-threatening. In some instances, patients with systemic lupus become asymptomatic once taken off diet sodas, and in the cases of those misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. There have been many other cases where vision returned and hearing improved markedly. Marked improvement has also been witnessed in cases of tinnitus.
Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. All physicians know what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. Some physicians who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy discovered that, in fact the very same symptoms are prompted by aspartame. The aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control, causing many patients to go into a coma. Unfortunately, many have died. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are neurotoxic without the other amino acids found in protein. Thus it passes the blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the brain, causing in diabetics (as well as in patients not suffering from diabetes) various kinds of brain damage, seizures, depression, manic depression, panic attacks, rage, and violence. It is not uncommon to hear reports of people who had switched from saccharin to an aspartame product, and how these people's physicians could not get their blood sugar levels under control. The patients suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and death.
Another well known conference speaker was H. J. Roberts, MD, F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P. Many regard Dr. Roberts as the foremost "aspartamologist" because of his extensive pioneering studies and publications in this field. He presents a clear overview of the problem with a minimum of medical and technical terms, coupled with scores of instructive experiences and humorous cartoons in SWEET'NER DEAREST, Dr. Roberts' book of bittersweet vignettes about Aspartame. More than 80 percent of complaints about foods and additives previously received by the FDA nearly two decades ago, involved aspartame-sweetened products ( FDA Consumer, October 1988), including hundreds of persons with convulsions.
Over the years, thousands of outraged consumers have volunteered information about their severe reactions (including convulsions) to this agency, which still chooses to label them as "only anecdotal." The author's database now exceeds 1,300 aspartame victims. In SWEET'NER DEAREST, this foremost "aspartamologist" describes aspartame disease with a minimum of medicalese coupled with scores of instructive case reports and many humorous cartoons. Beatrice Trum Hunter (The Sugar Trap & How To Avoid It) commented: "With wit, charm and obvious medical expertise, Dr. Roberts informs and cautions the general public through these 'bittersweet vignettes.'"
The more frequent complaints attributed to this "most tested additive in history" include severe headaches, confusion, memory loss, depression, dizziness, insomnia, impaired vision or blindness, behavioral changes, nausea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, rashes, and even weight gain! Patients with hypoglycemia ("low blood sugar attacks") and diabetes are often adversely affected by using these "diet" products to avoid sugar. According to Dr. Roberts, "Once off these products, with no significant increase in exercise, etc., I have had patients who lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period."
Dr. Roberts also warned that it can cause birth defects i.e. mental retardation if taken at the time of conception and early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NOT be given NutraSweet. Different case histories of children having mal seizures and other disturbances noted that they were also consuming NutraSweet. Unfortunately it is not always easy to convince a mother that aspartame is to blame for her child's illness. Only by trial and access will she be able to warn other mothers to take their children's health into their own hands.
According to Dr. Roberts, here is the problem. There were Congressional Hearings when aspartame was included in 100 different products. Since this initial hearing, there have been only two subsequent hearings, but to no avail. Nothing as been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Now there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical. At the time of this first hearing, people were going blind. The methanol in the aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of the eye. Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of drugs as cyanide and arsenic- DEADLY POISONS! Unfortunately, it just takes longer to quietly kill, but it is killing people and causing all kinds of neurological problems. Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry. It is the reason for severe seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain. Imagine what this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease. This drug also causes Birth Defects."
Dr. Roberts insists, "There is absolutely no reason to take this product. I assure you, MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is. It is significant that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the Conference of the American College of Physicians. This has been exposed in the New York Times - to no avail. These Associations cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and have to endorse their products."
During the lecture another speaker said, "If you are using Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss-you probably have Aspartame Disease!" People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got some of these symptoms: Is it reversible?" The answer came back, "Yes, by not drinking diet sodas and keeping an eye out for aspartame on food labels, yes!"
Ironically, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, etc. ARE NOT DIET PRODUCTS! The Congressional Record states that they cause you to crave carbohydrates and will make you FAT. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. In the opinion of Dr. Roberts, "Aspartame Disease has become a major medical and public health problem" According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians "we are talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by this deadly poison." (The Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.)
A new study, released in June 2007 by the European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences, in Italy, expressed Concerns over the safety of aspartame after a new study with rats linked regular intake of the sweetener with increased risk of leukemia, lymphomas and breast cancer. The study also reports that when exposure to the sweetener starts during fetal life, the potential carcinogenic effects are increased. This has led some consumer groups, particularly in the US, to call for a review of the safety data on aspartame and for consumers to avoid products that contain the ingredient. Not unexpectedly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it is currently reviewing the news, but notes that the research is at odds with its own studies. Indeed, FDA spokesman Michael Herndon told Reuters: "At this time, FDA finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food."
The safety of aspartame was first called into question in 2005 when Ramazzini researchers claimed that aspartame consumption by rats leads to increase in lymphomas and leukemia's in females at dose levels "very near those to which humans can be exposed." The new study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is said to support, confirm and expand on this initial study. In terms of world consumption, the artificial sweetener represents 62 per cent of the value of the intense sweetener market, and is believed to be found in around 6,000 products worldwide, including carbonated and powdered soft drinks, hot chocolate, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, tabletop sweeteners, and some pharmaceutical products, such as vitamins and sugar-free cough drops.
Why Splenda (sucralose) is not a suitable solution
As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. The two published trials had a grand total of thirty-six (36) total human subjects. Thirty-six people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse, only twenty-three (23) total were actually given sucralose for testing and here is the real killer: The longest trial at this time had lasted only four (4) days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.
Splenda advertising is laced with deception. Best known for its marketing logo, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar,' it has taken the sweetener industry by storm. There is no question that sucralose starts off as a sugar molecule, it is what goes on in the factory that should concern you. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine (cancer-causing) molecules are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule, a molecule that doesn't even occur in nature and therefore your body cannot properly metabolize it. McNeil Nutritionals turns this fact into an advertising claim; that "Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories." That's how advertising works, right?
Splenda has become the nations number one selling artificial sweetener in a very short period of time. Recently, in a one year period, Splenda sales topped $177 million compared with $62 million spent on aspartame-based Equal and $52 million on saccharin-based Sweet 'N Low. McNeil Nutritionals, in their attempt to convince consumers that it is in fact safe, claim that over 100 studies have been conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies are on animals. There have been no long-term human toxicity studies published until after the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. Following FDA approval, a human toxicity trial was conducted, but lasted only three months, hardly the length of time most Splenda users plan to consume sucralose. No studies have ever been done on children or pregnant women. Much of the controversy surrounding Splenda does not focus just on its safety, but rather on its false advertising claims. The sugar industry is currently suing McNeil Nutritionals for implying that Splenda is a natural form of sugar with no calories.
If you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated from animal studies) you will see that in fact 15% of sucralose is absorbed into your digestive system and ultimately is stored in your body. In one human study, one of the eight participants excreted no sucralose, even after 3 days. Obviously, his body was absorbing and metabolizing this chemical. That is what our bodies are supposed to do. If you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may actually be at higher risk for breaking down this synthetic product in your stomach and intestines. The manufacturers of Splenda cannot make guarantees based on limited animal data!
Let's look at the facts again:
* There have only been six human trials to date
* The longest trial lasted three months
* Only two of the six were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. A grand total of 36 human subjects were tested, and only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing.
* The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.
* At LEAST 15% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner
Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health.
If the above facts don't concern you because you believe the FDA would never allow a toxic substance into the market, then read on.
The only organizations between you and potentially toxic side effects are the FDA and the manufacturers of sucralose (Tate & Lyle) and of Splenda (McNeil Nutritionals). The FDA has a long standing history of ineffective screening and rampant conflict of interests, as demonstrated in their inability to identify Vioxx as too dangerous to be on the market. This tragic blunder cost an estimated 155,000 patients their lives, to date! Recently, the FDA has issued its second warning about the improper use of transdermal patches that emit the painkiller, Fentanyl, saying that people are dying as a result of using it.
First synthesized in Belgium in the late 1950s, fentanyl, with an analgesic potency of about 80 times that of morphine, was introduced into medical practice in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic. Today, fentanyls are extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia to be absorbed transderrmally and transmucosally. Illicit use of pharmaceutical fentanyls first appeared in the mid-1970s in the medical community and continues to be a problem in the United States. Illegal fentanyls are most commonly used by intravenous administration, but like heroin, they may also be smoked or snorted.
Fentanyl has been diverted by pharmacy theft, fraudulent prescriptions and illicit distribution by patients, physicians, pharmacists. Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. There is evidence of large illegal distribution rings selling fentanyl products along with other opioid pharmaceuticals. To date the FDA has taken no action to remove this dangerous drug from the market.
Most recently, in November 2007, the FDA pressured the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company to halt the sale of the anti-bleeding drug Traysol after a Canadian clinical study determined that it could be linked to a higher risk of death than other drugs, but not without plenty of foot-dragging.
Only ONE MONTH before the FDA's announcement that it "cannot identify a specific patient population where we believe the benefits of using Traysol outweighs the risk," FDA advisors recommended that Traysol REMAIN on the market – in spite of its known links to an increased risk of death and other serious side effects. Once again, our "protectors" at the FDA gave a drug promoted by Big Pharma the benefit of the doubt – in spite of the fact that studies had suggested the drug was dangerous.
It makes a thinking person wonder whether the fact that worldwide sales of Traysol were roughly $135 million for just the nine months between January and September of 2007--with US sales accounted for nearly 68% of that total -- might just have something to do with the FDA being so slow-footed when the initial results from the Canadian study suggested the potential dangers of Traysol.
Worse still, the FDA had begun reevaluations on Traysol's safety almost two years earlier, after a different study suggested serious side effects like kidney problems, heart attack, and strokes. During this time, Traysol remained on the market. Other studies BEFORE the Canadian study also suggested the potential deadly effects of Traysol, and one of those studies was WITHHELD from the FDA by Bayer, written off as "regrettable human error." In spite of this error – THE DRUG REMAINED ON THE MARKET, with little or no coverage in the media, or Internet.
Are you outraged? Well, you ought to be. How long will it be before the money-minded decision making of our so-called FDA guardians allow a 21st century Thalidomide tragedy to occur here in the US? If this Traysol story proves anything, it shows how far the FDA has fallen from its one-time status as White Knight to seedy, anything-for-a-buck business partner with those they're supposed to be watching. It's a sobering reminder that we're still very much on our own. And our well-being is often in the hands of the highest bidder. Historically, we find that approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the drugs that have been approved by the FDA have eventually been removed from the market because they kill people.
Here is a point that you need to understand: Splenda is not a drug, but only a food additive. As such, the number of studies required to receive FDA approval is substantially less than any drug. Drugs, including the 25% of approved drugs that killed people, were subjected to many more comprehensive clinical trials than Splenda ever was. Remember, despite this rigorous approval process, Vioxx alone has killed over 150,000 people. Now, for some good news.
Stevia, a sweet herb (NOT a manufactured additive) which helps in the metabolism of sugar (which would be ideal for diabetics) has now been approved as a dietary supplement by the FDA, and is an excellent substitute for sugar and artificial sweeteners, and is readily available. For years the FDA has outlawed this sweet food because of their loyalty to MONSANTO.
Another excellent substitute for sugars and dangerous artificial sweeteners is Xylitol, a sweetener that occurs naturally in berries, fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. Chemically speaking, xylitol is not actually a sugar, but a sugar alcohol. Xylitol is much sweeter than sorbitol, a bulk sweetener with good taste and reduced calories, but several unwanted side-effects. It's sweetening power is the same as that of sucrose. It is also similar to sucrose in its technical and nutritive properties. Xylitol is an important supplement in the prevention of dental caries, and everyone interested in healthy teeth should be familiar with its properties and effects. Xylitol was discovered way back in the late 19th century. In the Soviet Union it has been used for decades as a sweetener for diabetics, and in Germany in solutions for intravenous feeding. In China, Xylitol has been used for various medical purposes.
Either Stevia or Xylitol would be preferable to any other artificial sweetener available, commercially.
link to additional websites.
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
Lyle Loughry, January 2008
During a recent World Environmental Conference on "Aspartame," being marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and "Equal Spoonful," one of the speakers sounded the following warning; "If it says SUGAR FREE, on the label, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"
In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and that it was difficult to understand what toxin was causing this to occur. One of the scheduled speakers stood up and said that he was there to lecture on exactly that subject. Later, he went on to explain why Aspartame, the topic of the conference, is so dangerous:
According to him, when the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in Aspartame converts to Eformaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants (candalilla). The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis. His contention was that many people were being misdiagnosed as having multiple sclerosis when they were actually experiencing methanol toxicity. It's important to distinguish that, while multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, methanol toxicity is! Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially among Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. Supporting that position, a nurse reported that six of her friends who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!
The victim usually does not know that the aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use, irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become life-threatening. In some instances, patients with systemic lupus become asymptomatic once taken off diet sodas, and in the cases of those misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. There have been many other cases where vision returned and hearing improved markedly. Marked improvement has also been witnessed in cases of tinnitus.
Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. All physicians know what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. Some physicians who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy discovered that, in fact the very same symptoms are prompted by aspartame. The aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control, causing many patients to go into a coma. Unfortunately, many have died. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are neurotoxic without the other amino acids found in protein. Thus it passes the blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the brain, causing in diabetics (as well as in patients not suffering from diabetes) various kinds of brain damage, seizures, depression, manic depression, panic attacks, rage, and violence. It is not uncommon to hear reports of people who had switched from saccharin to an aspartame product, and how these people's physicians could not get their blood sugar levels under control. The patients suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and death.
Another well known conference speaker was H. J. Roberts, MD, F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P. Many regard Dr. Roberts as the foremost "aspartamologist" because of his extensive pioneering studies and publications in this field. He presents a clear overview of the problem with a minimum of medical and technical terms, coupled with scores of instructive experiences and humorous cartoons in SWEET'NER DEAREST, Dr. Roberts' book of bittersweet vignettes about Aspartame. More than 80 percent of complaints about foods and additives previously received by the FDA nearly two decades ago, involved aspartame-sweetened products ( FDA Consumer, October 1988), including hundreds of persons with convulsions.
Over the years, thousands of outraged consumers have volunteered information about their severe reactions (including convulsions) to this agency, which still chooses to label them as "only anecdotal." The author's database now exceeds 1,300 aspartame victims. In SWEET'NER DEAREST, this foremost "aspartamologist" describes aspartame disease with a minimum of medicalese coupled with scores of instructive case reports and many humorous cartoons. Beatrice Trum Hunter (The Sugar Trap & How To Avoid It) commented: "With wit, charm and obvious medical expertise, Dr. Roberts informs and cautions the general public through these 'bittersweet vignettes.'"
The more frequent complaints attributed to this "most tested additive in history" include severe headaches, confusion, memory loss, depression, dizziness, insomnia, impaired vision or blindness, behavioral changes, nausea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, rashes, and even weight gain! Patients with hypoglycemia ("low blood sugar attacks") and diabetes are often adversely affected by using these "diet" products to avoid sugar. According to Dr. Roberts, "Once off these products, with no significant increase in exercise, etc., I have had patients who lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period."
Dr. Roberts also warned that it can cause birth defects i.e. mental retardation if taken at the time of conception and early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NOT be given NutraSweet. Different case histories of children having mal seizures and other disturbances noted that they were also consuming NutraSweet. Unfortunately it is not always easy to convince a mother that aspartame is to blame for her child's illness. Only by trial and access will she be able to warn other mothers to take their children's health into their own hands.
According to Dr. Roberts, here is the problem. There were Congressional Hearings when aspartame was included in 100 different products. Since this initial hearing, there have been only two subsequent hearings, but to no avail. Nothing as been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Now there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical. At the time of this first hearing, people were going blind. The methanol in the aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of the eye. Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of drugs as cyanide and arsenic- DEADLY POISONS! Unfortunately, it just takes longer to quietly kill, but it is killing people and causing all kinds of neurological problems. Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry. It is the reason for severe seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain. Imagine what this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease. This drug also causes Birth Defects."
Dr. Roberts insists, "There is absolutely no reason to take this product. I assure you, MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is. It is significant that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the Conference of the American College of Physicians. This has been exposed in the New York Times - to no avail. These Associations cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and have to endorse their products."
During the lecture another speaker said, "If you are using Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss-you probably have Aspartame Disease!" People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got some of these symptoms: Is it reversible?" The answer came back, "Yes, by not drinking diet sodas and keeping an eye out for aspartame on food labels, yes!"
Ironically, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, etc. ARE NOT DIET PRODUCTS! The Congressional Record states that they cause you to crave carbohydrates and will make you FAT. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. In the opinion of Dr. Roberts, "Aspartame Disease has become a major medical and public health problem" According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians "we are talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by this deadly poison." (The Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.)
A new study, released in June 2007 by the European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences, in Italy, expressed Concerns over the safety of aspartame after a new study with rats linked regular intake of the sweetener with increased risk of leukemia, lymphomas and breast cancer. The study also reports that when exposure to the sweetener starts during fetal life, the potential carcinogenic effects are increased. This has led some consumer groups, particularly in the US, to call for a review of the safety data on aspartame and for consumers to avoid products that contain the ingredient. Not unexpectedly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it is currently reviewing the news, but notes that the research is at odds with its own studies. Indeed, FDA spokesman Michael Herndon told Reuters: "At this time, FDA finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food."
The safety of aspartame was first called into question in 2005 when Ramazzini researchers claimed that aspartame consumption by rats leads to increase in lymphomas and leukemia's in females at dose levels "very near those to which humans can be exposed." The new study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is said to support, confirm and expand on this initial study. In terms of world consumption, the artificial sweetener represents 62 per cent of the value of the intense sweetener market, and is believed to be found in around 6,000 products worldwide, including carbonated and powdered soft drinks, hot chocolate, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, tabletop sweeteners, and some pharmaceutical products, such as vitamins and sugar-free cough drops.
Why Splenda (sucralose) is not a suitable solution
As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. The two published trials had a grand total of thirty-six (36) total human subjects. Thirty-six people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse, only twenty-three (23) total were actually given sucralose for testing and here is the real killer: The longest trial at this time had lasted only four (4) days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.
Splenda advertising is laced with deception. Best known for its marketing logo, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar,' it has taken the sweetener industry by storm. There is no question that sucralose starts off as a sugar molecule, it is what goes on in the factory that should concern you. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine (cancer-causing) molecules are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule, a molecule that doesn't even occur in nature and therefore your body cannot properly metabolize it. McNeil Nutritionals turns this fact into an advertising claim; that "Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories." That's how advertising works, right?
Splenda has become the nations number one selling artificial sweetener in a very short period of time. Recently, in a one year period, Splenda sales topped $177 million compared with $62 million spent on aspartame-based Equal and $52 million on saccharin-based Sweet 'N Low. McNeil Nutritionals, in their attempt to convince consumers that it is in fact safe, claim that over 100 studies have been conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies are on animals. There have been no long-term human toxicity studies published until after the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. Following FDA approval, a human toxicity trial was conducted, but lasted only three months, hardly the length of time most Splenda users plan to consume sucralose. No studies have ever been done on children or pregnant women. Much of the controversy surrounding Splenda does not focus just on its safety, but rather on its false advertising claims. The sugar industry is currently suing McNeil Nutritionals for implying that Splenda is a natural form of sugar with no calories.
If you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated from animal studies) you will see that in fact 15% of sucralose is absorbed into your digestive system and ultimately is stored in your body. In one human study, one of the eight participants excreted no sucralose, even after 3 days. Obviously, his body was absorbing and metabolizing this chemical. That is what our bodies are supposed to do. If you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may actually be at higher risk for breaking down this synthetic product in your stomach and intestines. The manufacturers of Splenda cannot make guarantees based on limited animal data!
Let's look at the facts again:
* There have only been six human trials to date
* The longest trial lasted three months
* Only two of the six were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. A grand total of 36 human subjects were tested, and only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing.
* The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.
* At LEAST 15% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner
Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health.
If the above facts don't concern you because you believe the FDA would never allow a toxic substance into the market, then read on.
The only organizations between you and potentially toxic side effects are the FDA and the manufacturers of sucralose (Tate & Lyle) and of Splenda (McNeil Nutritionals). The FDA has a long standing history of ineffective screening and rampant conflict of interests, as demonstrated in their inability to identify Vioxx as too dangerous to be on the market. This tragic blunder cost an estimated 155,000 patients their lives, to date! Recently, the FDA has issued its second warning about the improper use of transdermal patches that emit the painkiller, Fentanyl, saying that people are dying as a result of using it.
First synthesized in Belgium in the late 1950s, fentanyl, with an analgesic potency of about 80 times that of morphine, was introduced into medical practice in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic. Today, fentanyls are extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia to be absorbed transderrmally and transmucosally. Illicit use of pharmaceutical fentanyls first appeared in the mid-1970s in the medical community and continues to be a problem in the United States. Illegal fentanyls are most commonly used by intravenous administration, but like heroin, they may also be smoked or snorted.
Fentanyl has been diverted by pharmacy theft, fraudulent prescriptions and illicit distribution by patients, physicians, pharmacists. Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. There is evidence of large illegal distribution rings selling fentanyl products along with other opioid pharmaceuticals. To date the FDA has taken no action to remove this dangerous drug from the market.
Most recently, in November 2007, the FDA pressured the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company to halt the sale of the anti-bleeding drug Traysol after a Canadian clinical study determined that it could be linked to a higher risk of death than other drugs, but not without plenty of foot-dragging.
Only ONE MONTH before the FDA's announcement that it "cannot identify a specific patient population where we believe the benefits of using Traysol outweighs the risk," FDA advisors recommended that Traysol REMAIN on the market – in spite of its known links to an increased risk of death and other serious side effects. Once again, our "protectors" at the FDA gave a drug promoted by Big Pharma the benefit of the doubt – in spite of the fact that studies had suggested the drug was dangerous.
It makes a thinking person wonder whether the fact that worldwide sales of Traysol were roughly $135 million for just the nine months between January and September of 2007--with US sales accounted for nearly 68% of that total -- might just have something to do with the FDA being so slow-footed when the initial results from the Canadian study suggested the potential dangers of Traysol.
Worse still, the FDA had begun reevaluations on Traysol's safety almost two years earlier, after a different study suggested serious side effects like kidney problems, heart attack, and strokes. During this time, Traysol remained on the market. Other studies BEFORE the Canadian study also suggested the potential deadly effects of Traysol, and one of those studies was WITHHELD from the FDA by Bayer, written off as "regrettable human error." In spite of this error – THE DRUG REMAINED ON THE MARKET, with little or no coverage in the media, or Internet.
Are you outraged? Well, you ought to be. How long will it be before the money-minded decision making of our so-called FDA guardians allow a 21st century Thalidomide tragedy to occur here in the US? If this Traysol story proves anything, it shows how far the FDA has fallen from its one-time status as White Knight to seedy, anything-for-a-buck business partner with those they're supposed to be watching. It's a sobering reminder that we're still very much on our own. And our well-being is often in the hands of the highest bidder. Historically, we find that approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the drugs that have been approved by the FDA have eventually been removed from the market because they kill people.
Here is a point that you need to understand: Splenda is not a drug, but only a food additive. As such, the number of studies required to receive FDA approval is substantially less than any drug. Drugs, including the 25% of approved drugs that killed people, were subjected to many more comprehensive clinical trials than Splenda ever was. Remember, despite this rigorous approval process, Vioxx alone has killed over 150,000 people. Now, for some good news.
Stevia, a sweet herb (NOT a manufactured additive) which helps in the metabolism of sugar (which would be ideal for diabetics) has now been approved as a dietary supplement by the FDA, and is an excellent substitute for sugar and artificial sweeteners, and is readily available. For years the FDA has outlawed this sweet food because of their loyalty to MONSANTO.
Another excellent substitute for sugars and dangerous artificial sweeteners is Xylitol, a sweetener that occurs naturally in berries, fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. Chemically speaking, xylitol is not actually a sugar, but a sugar alcohol. Xylitol is much sweeter than sorbitol, a bulk sweetener with good taste and reduced calories, but several unwanted side-effects. It's sweetening power is the same as that of sucrose. It is also similar to sucrose in its technical and nutritive properties. Xylitol is an important supplement in the prevention of dental caries, and everyone interested in healthy teeth should be familiar with its properties and effects. Xylitol was discovered way back in the late 19th century. In the Soviet Union it has been used for decades as a sweetener for diabetics, and in Germany in solutions for intravenous feeding. In China, Xylitol has been used for various medical purposes.
Either Stevia or Xylitol would be preferable to any other artificial sweetener available, commercially.
link to additional websites.
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
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