Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Michael Jackson...


MJ started wearing the glove to cover his skin disease Vitiligo, which usually starts in the hands and extremities. Most Vitiligo sufferers are medically encouraged to have treatments that will speed up the process so that there is one skin tone throughout rather than have blotches of different skin colors all over. As for the plastic surgery, if you are without flaw and never made a mistake go ahead and cast the first stone.

For the record, being a pedophile is a disease that cannot be controlled nor does the peophile have the ability to control himself with some children but not others, there is no discrimination with that disease. A pedophile will harm any and all children he can get his hands on. MJ had MANY many kids around him and none of them, celebrity or otherwise, have ever come forward to say that MJ's behavior was inappropriate.

As a matter of fact, one of the two kids (now adult) that took MJ to court has come forward to declare how his parents coerced him to say untrue malicious incriminating statements so that his family could reap money from MJ. A true mother would not want a red cent. So that leaves just the one and I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART that whole incident was a scam for money as well.

Michael Jackson was an Angel on Earth. Just listen to his songs: We Are The World, Heal The World, You Can Change The World, Gone Too Soon, Man In The Mirror, Earth Song, Keep The Faith, etc. All he was trying to do was make this world a better place. He was taken from us and we really need to analyze what direction we're headed in.

Maybe with his music being played now more than ever, his messages can really start to sink in. ~ HG

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Charity King: Michael Jackson Holds Guiness World Record

As the world continues to mourn the loss of a great artist, the Guiness World Record book remembers Michael Jackson instead as the king of charity.

The Millenium issue listed the music legend under Most Charities Supported By A Pop Star, with a staggering 39 international organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Those are only the known ones however, as Jackson was also prone to giving away impulsively and anonymously. Jackson had been known to hand over the proceeds from concerts to local charities and hospitals as he did with the History tour in Bombay, or donate personal items for auction to organisations like UNESCO.

It’s been estimated he may have given up to $500 million to charity in his lifetime.

In addition to his charity work, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, had more Guiness world records than any other artist, including Most Successful Concert Series and Biggest Selling Album for Thriller.

By: Guiness World Record
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No One Who Was Normal Ever Made History: A Tribute to Michael Jackson

I was shocked! And I'm sure you were too, hearing about Michael Jackson's death.

Almost immediately, the news began recounting the many controversies of his turbulent life. Michael changed the world of music as much if not more than any other performer -- that point is not in contention. Despite the many dramas and accusations lobbied against him over the years, Michael Jackson never lost his title of the "King of Pop."

I remember watching the video for "Thriller" in utter amazement when it was released on MTV back in 1983. Never before had there been anything even close to this mini-movie in terms of style and talent. As hard as I tried, I never could figure out how to do that darn moonwalk.

Very few people could understand Michael's enigmatic life, and I'm not suggesting that I'm unique in that regard. However, as a student of history, what I do understand is that Michael's life, when considered within the broader scope of highly creative people throughout history, was not really that unusual after all.

For instance, let's consider Friedrich Nietzsche, the German existentialist born in 1844. Throughout his life, he was continually frail and plagued with illness, a consummate recluse, an alcoholic and considered very controversial for his day. His ideas on God made him a complete outcast to the conservative majority of his day. In college, I devoured Nietzsche mostly because he was provocative and deep. I also thought it was cool to be controversial. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" became my mantra. Ultimately, Nietzsche suffered a psychotic breakdown, had two strokes which partially paralyzed him and died of pneumonia, still in his 50s.

Consider Walt Whitman, the nineteenth-century transcendentalist poet who continues to be one of the most influential poets in the world today. Yet in his time, many thought him to be a madman. His homosexuality or possible bisexuality just didn't fly in the Civil War years. He refused to commit himself to any one religion, stating that all were equally valuable. He spent considerable time alone, and after suffering a stroke near the end of his life, he was too weak to even lift a fork and knife. He wrote, "I suffer all the time: I have no relief, no escape: it is monotony -- monotony -- monotony -- in pain." He died of pneumonia as well.

In the realm of religion, consider the Christian prophet, the man known as Jesus. He was born of Jewish descent, and yet he was constantly breaking Jewish laws and butting heads with the religious leaders of his own heritage. Jesus too is documented on several occasions as going off by himself and spending significant time in solitude. In one particular case, he spent 40 days and nights in the desert fasting. Pretty extreme. As you know, he was ultimately sentenced to death by crucifixion.

We could certainly discuss more examples. While some may say that Michael Jackson shouldn't be considered in this crowd, I submit to you that Michael made every bit as much impact on the field of music and race relations as any of these greats did in their particular fields. The point is that those who leave a major impact on the world are not marching to the same drum as the mass majority.

They often, as with Michael, live controversial and turbulent lives, and they're often greatly misunderstood. Isn't it unfortunate that if someone is 10 feet ahead, they're considered a leader, but if someone is 10 miles ahead, a target? Michael certainly had his share of playing the target for the media. It's easy to take shots at those at the top, particularly if they're "different enough."

Even though Michael was acquitted on all counts in his court cases, it didn't matter. He would still be plagued with negative comments and jabs. The very creativity that brought the moonwalk, highly produced choreography and music that emotionally moved all ages and races was the same unique mind that drove him to live a very different life that defied societal norms.

In a nutshell, when you're a unique thinker, you have a very hard time relating to mass consciousness. Small talk becomes painful, and your inner world more fulfilling than your outer world. This results in behavior that's often misinterpreted as being aloof, arrogant or sometimes downright weird, which is too bad because people have no idea how very lonely it can be at the top. Furthermore, the contributions of many of these leaders are often never appreciated until long after they're gone.

Howard Gardner's research from Harvard University suggests that there are eight distinct types of intelligences. Musical intelligence is one of Gardner's eight categories. While most of the eight are not measured in school or society at large, except math and linguistic intelligence, they are all equally important and valuable.

It's well known in the studies of human consciousness that, to quote Ken Wilbur, "the greater the depth you have, the less the span." In other words, when you're supremely brilliant in one particular area, you may show deficits in other areas. Read accounts of Einstein getting lost on his own campus walking from one class to the next, and you'll see that the structure of genius takes tremendous depth while often leaving little room for the "less important" issues of life.

What often appears to be dysfunctional to the mass majority may just be the hyper-functional behaviors of a true genius with great depth in his field and a lack of concern or ability to relate in the more mundane things of life.

So here's to the memory of a musical genius, a unique human being that will be an icon for generations. May we always remember as Michael told us in his music that to make a positive change in the world, we must first start with "the man in the mirror."

Thank you, Michael.

May you find the peace in the next life that you rightfully deserve. You made a positive difference. You leave a lasting legacy. While few understood you, you ignited our spirit and touched our emotions with your upbeat message and music. Your gifts will continue to play in our minds and hearts forever.

By: James Arthur

Monday, May 18, 2009

I Promise Myself...

Enjoy!




I Promise Myself...


To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.


By Christian D. Larson

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Home Remedies



Here are some home remedies, pulled from various articles. Enjoy and have a healthy life!



ACNE: vinegar, lemon juice or toothpaste
The acids in vinegar and lemon, when applied with cotton wool, can help to cleanse pores. Some people have reported that applying toothpaste, especially overnight, seems to work well.

BACK PAIN: ice, heat and cling film
When back pain strikes, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the painful area several times a day for up to 20 minutes. After two days, change to “moist heat”. Dip a towel in warm water, wring out and apply; wrap it to the body with cling film and keep it warm with a padded hot water bottle (be careful not to burn yourself). Whereas the ice blocks the pain signals, moist heat reduces painful spasms by increasing blood flow.

DIARRHOEA: blackberry and raspberry tea
Raspberries are rich in astringent tannins that may reduce intestinal inflammation and block the absorption of toxins. Raspberry or blackberry-leaf tea is also said to be effective, but should be avoided in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. You can make your own tea with leaves and fresh fruits. Drink one cup several times a day, between meals.

EYE IRRITATION: bananas, sardines/salmon
Eating a banana every day may help to avoid eye dryness — the main cause of irritation, redness and itch. Bananas are rich in potassium, which plays a role in salt balance and the release of fluid in your cells. Omega is also good for the eye and eye moisture so eating salmon, sardines or fish rich in omega will help.

FATIGUE: potato juice
Cut an unpeeled potato in slices in the evening and leave the pieces in water overnight. The juice, drunk in the morning, is rich in potassium. Some natural healers maintain that potassium deficiencies are common in people with fatigue.

FEELING DOWN: writing 
On a piece of paper write about the events that are affecting your mood. Some researchers believe that writing about your feelings for 20 minutes a day improves your psychological wellbeing after just four days.

FEET (SMELLY!) tea baths 
Simmer two teabags in 500ml of water for 15 minutes and then dilute the tea with two litres of water. Soaking smelly feet daily for 30 minutes decreases odour because the tannic acid in black tea kills bacteria and closes the pores that release sweat.

HEADACHE: bananas,vinegar, soaked scarf
Eat a banana or two. Or wrap a scarf or necktie around your head to the point where you can feel pressure. This reduces blood flow to the scalp and stops the blood vessels in the scalp dilating — one of the commonest causes of headache. You can also try soaking the scarf or tie in vinegar, a traditional remedy.

INSOMNIA: chicken or banana
If you have trouble getting to sleep, a small portion of turkey, chicken or a banana before going to bed may help. These foods contain tryptophan, which helps the body to make the natural chemical serotonin, which calms us down.

MEMORY: listening to music 
Some research has indicated that music can improve your ability to concentrate and helps you remember what you have learnt.

SUNBURN: cucumber, potato and vinegar
Gently rubbing the burnt area with sliced cucumber or potato may cool the burn and help to reduce swelling. Applying white or cider vinegar, or putting it in your bathwater, may also help to ease pain and inflammation.

TOOTHACHE: cloves, or ginger and cayenne pepper paste 
Clove oil, which has been used for toothache since 1800, contains eugenol, a local anaesthetic and antibacterial agent. Dabbing with clove oil or putting whole cloves on your tooth may help. It is supposedly possible to get similar effects with a paste made of powdered ginger, cayenne pepper and water; apply with a cotton bud.

WARTS: garlic 
Some people swear that freshly crushed garlic applied to a wart and covered with a bandage causes the wart to blister and to fall off in a week. The garlic should be changed every day and should not be applied to the surrounding healthy skin. Some herbalists also suggest that eating raw garlic or taking three garlic capsules a day can help the immune system to fight the wart-causing virus.

WRINKLES: papaya and milk 
Papayas are full of enzymes that seem to strip away the very top layers of skin, thus lessening the appearance of wrinkles. Wash and peel a papaya, then mix two tablespoons of the pulp with one tablespoon of dry oatmeal and apply the mixture to the skin for ten minutes. Milk applied with a clean flannel may also reduce the wrinkles; it contains alpha-hydroxy acids which clear away dead cells on the surface of the skin.


These links are also very helpful:

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/

http://www.grannymed.com/home-remedies

http://www.best-home-remedies.com/

Prayer



Good Morning All,

For those of you that like to pray with others or perhaps not really into prayer but would like those that do pray to pray for you and your intentions, here are some helpful links:






- St. Augustine

“Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.”  
- Gandhi

"Prayer can't hurt but it just might help."
- Honey


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Networking



Hello Friends,

One great way to start networking is by volunteering for your favorite charities. Call them up and ask how you can help, most charities welcome volunteers and it is a great way to give back as well as keep yourself busy for a wonderful cause. Throughout your volunteering experience you will meet people and right there will be a window for networking. Churches and community bulletins will guide you in the local, national and global charities they support.

Also, going through your political party, finding the local neighborhood, city or state groups within your political affiliation is one way to get out there and socialize/network. Many political events and gatherings are free, some of course will be fundraisers requiring fees/donations but I suggest taking advantage of the free events. They also usually ask for volunteers for the events and that is another way to meet people that somehow may help you in job transitioning. Even for the moderates and those without a specific political interest/side, if you so desire, investigate all affiliations and participate in free events you do agree with.


For those of you that may not be networking and would like to start or for those of you in need of career and job search advice, ETP Network can be very helpful. It's a nationwide free network with many supportive and motivating members. 

You can read more on ETP Network at http://etpnetwork.com/


The best way to introduce a friend to ETP Network is to share our "Quick Start" Program below. Just copy/paste it into an email.

ETP Network free "Quick Start" Program
It allows you to 
hit the ground running with your job search.

Optimism

After watching Michael J. Fox in his special on Optimism, I can say that his presentation was pretty good and Michael J. Fox brought to my attention that there is a country called Bhutan that has a GNH (Gross National Happiness).  I never knew that so now I'm sharing with you all an inspiring article I found about Bhutan and their way of thinking  

(Needless to say that Michael J. Fox is a living optimist and great example for us all.)


Journalist: Any message, advice and instructions to the people of Bhutan?

His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh of Bhutan: 

I have no advice as such but few thoughts and reflections to share. We all desire happiness but most of us actively follow the causes of unhappiness, and feel that qualities like compassion, forbearance, generosity, patience and appreciation, caring for others are only for the spiritual people like monks, lamas and practitioners but the reality of interdependence is that we have to give others happiness in order for ourselves to experience happiness. It is especially true for us human beings because most of our joy and suffering are very much dependent on how others relate to us.

Negative thoughts and actions never give personal happiness, neither to one's circle of friends and family or to the society at large. Anyway I am sure that reflections of our past actions, thoughts and experience will prove that.

Other than wisdom and compassion there is no true way of affecting a change in one's thoughts, perceptions and actions. 

Monday, March 16, 2009

Worry

90% of the things we worry about never actually happen.

Where your mind is, that's where you go. Therefore always try to visualize the best possible outcome.

"Worry gives a small thing a big shadow." 

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly." 
Buddha

"I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about." 

"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." 
Leo Buscaglia

"Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due." 
William R. Inge


"Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry: Worry never fixes anything." 

Ernest Hemingway


"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." 
Benjamin Franklin


"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment." 
Charles F. Kettering