Touring Corning, NY - Glassworks, Gaffner's Galleries, and Great Eats

Corning is one of western New York's destination gems. Of course, the name, Corning, is known for dishes and glassware. The city of Corning, however, hosts not just one, but two, world-class museums. It's also the southern gateway to the Finger Lakes Region and nearby Watkins Glen.

The Corning Museum of Glass was founded in 1950 as a testament to the history and versatility of molten silica. Spend at least a half-day browsing the exhibit halls, feasting your eyes on intricate examples of cultural glass. You will learn the history, art and science of glassmaking.

Note the size of the building. This is no small-town museum. In fact, it's the third most popular tourist destination in the state. Glass facades rise skyward. The 120,000 square foot museum houses 3500 years of glass-making art. This is a destination worthy of your time.

Stroll into the modern art gallery from the airy lobby. Massive shapes of astounding variety resemble free-form stalagmites in an otherworldly cave. The world's premier glass artisans created these designs: from solid mass to intricate, fragile sculptures - twining vines of glass tubing, discs and plates, odd shapes, swirled or solid colors, and multi-media art.

Explore the fascinating history of glassware from the first primitive shapes to intricate gifts for ancient royalty. See rare artifacts from before King Tut to 20th century Tiffany. Thimble-sized pots, jewelry, perfume and spice jars. Minutely detailed dollhouses, masks, and statuary. Imagine a throne of glass or a bed with a glass headboard. Glass eggs. Glass dolls. Even a Baccarat glass boat! Everything that can be shaped from clay, wood, metal or other materials have been created through the centuries in glass.

Examine the science and wonder of glass through several inter-active exhibits. Stand on a glass floor. Watch master craftsmen at work, demonstrating various ways of working with glass. Allow time to make your own souvenir: an ornament, beads, wind chimes or etched glass. The Corning Museum of Glass is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (9-8 during the summer). Before you leave, browse the Glass Market for house wares, trinkets and collectibles.

The Corning Museum has free parking, so park for the day. Hop on a (summer) shuttle bus to the Gaffner District. This historic area along Market Street features artsy galleries, specialty shops, and eateries. Create your own pottery at the Earth Paint and Fire Studio. Look for a painting for your living room or den at the West End Gallery or Oil Paintings of Interest, both galleries are nearby. If you love antiques, browse Twin Tiers Antiques Plaza on Market Street or head for Antique Revival, just outside of town.

The Gaffner District is also home to the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, billed as "The Best of the West in the East". Explore our American West through paintings, artifacts and special exhibits. From Ansel Adams to Indian art, the museum showcases some of the finest western art anywhere. Exhibits change periodically. The museum is not associated with Norman Rockwell, although one of his paintings is on display. Museum hours are the same as the Corning Museum of Glass. A combination Admission Ticket is a good bargain if you plan to tour both places.

When you get hungry, sample the Gaffner Grill and Tap Room for succulent Angus steaks or barbecued ribs. If you're in the mood for Italian, stop at Sorge's, a 50-year tradition on Market Street. In addition to mouth-watering Italian specialties, Sorge's is also a Guinness World Record Holder for the world's longest noodle (418 feet in 2003!). For five-star fine dining, make a reservation at the Three Birds Restaurant. Menu selections include elegantly named, exquisitely prepared seafood and regional specialties.

If you've more than a day to spend in the area, visit the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society's Benjamin Patterson Inn Museum on Pulteney Street. The Inn, originally known as the Painted Post Tavern, was built in 1796. It has been restored, along with a log cabin, blacksmith's shop, schoolhouse and other historical structures. The original Painted Post Rail Depot (c. 1881) has also been restored. A combined tour ticket includes lunch at Sorge's Restaurant and a discount shopping booklet. Contact the Patterson Inn Museum (www.pattersoninnmuseum.org)

Other notable area attractions include Watkins Glen, the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, and numerous winery tours. The Discovery Center (near Elmira-Corning Regional Airport) hosts an airpower museum with more than 30 aircraft. With reservations, you can soar the skies in a vintage airplane.

Watkins Glen is known for the road-race track. It hosts several SCCA and other races each year. Watkins Glen State Park boasts some of the most beautiful scenery, hiking trails and camping in America. Cascading waterfalls (19 of them) drop the stream almost 400 feet along the two-mile trail. Bring a swimming suit for the outdoor pool and hiking shoes for exploring the trails or the rim of the canyon. If you love to fish, bring a pole! Seneca Lake and area streams are famous for excellent fishing.

For a leisurely stay, consider a historic Bed and Breakfast. Hillcrest Manor, a restored 1890's mansion, is within walking distance of downtown. The Rufus Tanner House, located outside of town, is an 1864 Greek Revival farmhouse with in-room fireplaces, beautiful gardens and an outdoor hot tub (always our favorite way to end a day).

Of course, traditional hotels are available as well. The Radisson Hotel Corning is located in the historic district. Settle in, soak your aches away in the Jacuzzi spa, and then snuggle in on a Sleep Number bed while you dream of the bargains you'll find tomorrow! For 'suite' accommodations, try Staybridge Suites - within walking distance of the historic district and Corning Museum of Glass. Staybridge offers a complimentary breakfast. Other hotels include Comfort Inn, Days Inn and Fairfield. Camping sites also abound.

The city of Corning (current pop. 10,478) was settled in 1788. Timber and farming built the community. It was formally incorporated in 1848 as a 'village'. The canal system (Erie Canal and its tributaries) helped develop the area by providing transport for timber, coal and other goods. Twenty years later, shipments of Pennsylvania coal supplied fuel for a developing glass industry. Corning became a city by 1890. Today the company that has become synonymous with the city, Corning Inc, is one of America's Fortune 500 companies.

If you're within driving distance - or even if you're not - Corning NY is a worthy destination. Located just off I-86, it's easily accessible and eminently enjoyable. Go for a day trip, a mini-vacation, or an extended stay.

mexico burghal noodle

a story of the death of Leon Trotsky by a pre electronic madman named Jacson. History is stranger than fancy in this version of the Communist leader who was killed by agents of Josef Stalin. I wanted to make this story through the eyes of the killer. He did complete his task and did time but at the end of his 12 years he had a free house and his girlfriend to enjoy in Russia. A story of love and promises; kept and lost.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPV8Rjm-ci8&hl=en

The Noodle House, Chef Francisco KSA =

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T-gjGK0k7s&hl=en

my new puppy

she hasn't stopped doing this since we took her in the house...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t3NV1Nfw0w&hl=en

Tasty Old Fashion, Economical Casserole Recipes

In winter, a good time to casseroles. It 's a perfect time to use the oven because it may spread the heat throughout the house. The warmth, the delicious aroma spread through the house, and you with your feet on while cooking your meal without your help! And one of the best things about stews is that they are economically. Here are two very different casserole recipes to your recipe box to be included. This Spanish rice casserole with sausage and rice in bulk. TheChinese Noodle Hamburger Casserole uses Chinese noodles and ground beef, as the name implies.

SPANISH RICE CASSEROLE

1 lb bulk sausage
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
1 onion, chopped
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 cups boiling water
1 can tomatoes
3 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
5 slices bacon, cut-up

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook sausage until brown; crumble and drain. Combine rice and onion; brown lightly in reserved drippings. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water. Combine sausage, rice mixture, bouillon, tomatoes, chili powder and garlic powder; mix well.

Spoon mixture into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Place bacon over the rice and bake another 35 minutes.

CHINESE NOODLE HAMBURGER CASSEROLE

1/4 cup butter
1 lb extra lean hamburger
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can Chinese noodles

Brown meat, onions, celery and bell pepper in a skillet in the butter. Add the soups and simmer for 30 minutes. Add Chinese noodles and mix well. Pour into a lightly buttered casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

20080112 - affair - Noodle Fight #2 - Joe, Clint, Kipp, Greg

Joe distracts us from the noodle fight with his crazy ranting about white people. Then, Kipp & Clint get into "trouble" with Joe, who took on the "angry parent" role. Finally, post-noodle fight, Joe & Greg ... for some reason... break into singing "Girls On Film". Clint, Greg, Joe, Kipp. noodle fighting, singing, talking. pool noodle. Greg and Nicole Z's house, Reston, Virginia. January 12, 2008. ... Read my blog at ClintJCL.wordpress.com ... Read Greg's blog at http ... View Greg and Nicole's photos at www.flickr.com ... See the photos taken during this session at www.flickr.com . .



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjcasL1MLnY&hl=en

Cancer: The Shocking Truth About the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy

If you are being diagnosed with cancer, invariable you will be told to undergo a surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, etc. These seemed to be the only so-called "proven" paths to take. Other paths -- the alternatives and complementary therapies, according to your doctors are suspect, "unproven" and outright hocus pocus. This is also the kind of message you are always bombarded with even in the mass media. Throughout the world -- may it be in the developed or developing countries -- the same perception is being cultivated and "sold" to the general public. Dr. David Brownstein, in the foreword of the book: Avoiding Breast Cancer, wrote: "The pharmaceutical companies want us to believe that a cure for cancer will be found by a "magic-bullet" drug. This will never occur."

Reading through numerous books and research papers on cancer treatment, I could not help but feel disappointed. Much have been written about a combination of some poisons being better than another combination of some other poisons. Data were presented -- but massaged, to yield "statistically significant" results that meant nothing much in terms of cure, survival or preservation of quality of life. Unfortunately most of these "educated" people are playing their games following the same rules that aim to preserve the status quo and safe-guarding their self-interests. Their views are as dogmatic and solidly set as the concrete. Dissenting views and ways are often not tolerated and even punished by loss of right to practise the profession.

Fortunately, in spite of this, the sky does not remain gray all the time. Sometimes, in some corner of this world there are brave and honest individuals who would stand up, do and say things that others would not dare say or do. Ask your doctors: "what is the contribution of chemotherapy to your cancer cure"? What kind of answers do you get?

"Oh, you have a 50:50 chance. If you don't go for chemotherapy, you have three months and you die."

Or, "If you do chemotherapy you have a 90% chance."

Do not be misled and do not misunderstand. Ask them what is the meaning of chance? The chance of curing cancer or chance of dying from the treatment? Don't be afraid to ask, even if this is done at the risk that you may get chased out of your doctor's office (some patients told me that such thing happened to them). It is better to get chased out of his office then to get chased out of this world!

If you seek an easy, ready-made canned-answer, get it from your doctor. Unfortunately, "instant-noodle" type answers could lead to disappointments later. In life, I always believe that anything good never come easy. You need to do some hard and serious work to know how to do better.

Do you want to know what is the contribution or exact role of chemotherapy to your cancer cure?

If you want to know the truth, read this article: "The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies." The report of this study is exactly what cancer patients have been looking for. We have been waiting for such an answer -- what exactly is the contribution of chemotherapy to overall survival in cancers?

The three authors of the paper are: (1) Graeme Morgan, Associate Professor and radiotherapist at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. (2) Robyn Ward, a senior specialist in Medical Oncology and Associate Professor of Medicine at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. She is also a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. (3) Michael Barton, Research Director Associate Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Liverpool Health Service, Sydney.

Without doubt, these researchers are professionals of great repute. They know what they are saying. Their opinions are just worthy, if not more valuable, than any doctors that you have consulted for your cancer.

They publish their work in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 16, Issue 8, December 2004, pages 549-560. This is a peer-review well-respected medical journal. Their paper was submitted for publication on 18 August 2003. It was revised and finally accepted for publication on 3 June 2004. This means the paper has been scrutinized by fellow doctors and has undergone the normal peer-review process. It is not a back-door, arm-twisting way to get into the pages of the medical journal. Given the above, you and I (and even doctors!) should not have any doubt as to the credibility and validity of what they say in their research paper.

Why do they publish such a paper?

I cannot give you that answer, but I can only guess. In a radio interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Dr. Morgan was asked this question: "Is this, I wondered, an in house battle, the revenge of the radiotherapist?" Dr. Morgan replied: "Well, one can cynically say that but the reason I did was that we were sick and tired of hearing about these new drugs and it wasn't really cementing into anything. And the reason for my doing that paper was to really show that there hasn't been any improvement in survival, or the improvement has been very, very modest despite all these new drugs and new combinations and bone marrow transplants."

Albert Einstein said: "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, But because of those who look on and do nothing." This world is fortunate to have people like Professor Morgan and colleagues to speak their mind. We salute them.

Is there anything wrong with the paper?

There is nothing wrong with the paper and the data presented. Their study was based on data from randomised-controlled trials (RCTs -- the gold standard of medical evidence) published from 1 January 1990 to 1 January 2004. Data were also obtained from the cancer registry in Australia and USA. The contribution of chemotherapy to survival of those over 20 years old and who suffered from 22 major cancers were studied.

If there is any thing wrong at all with this paper, it is because it tells the whole truth about chemotherapy. And truth hurts. The authors did not "sing" the same tune as the majority of the flock. That is the difference (or the wrong!).

What did they say?

The absolute real-life data that this article carries is most shocking: "The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA." In short, they said that the contribution of chemotherapy is not more than 3%.

Can this be true?

Well, they are the experts. And they said so -- loud and clear. Indeed some doctors in Australia were angry. People said the paper was "misleading and unhelpful." The editorial of the Australian Prescriber (The emperor's new clothes -- can thermotherapy survive? 29:2-3. 2006) quoted Professor Michael Boyer, head of medical oncology at the Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney as saying: "The fact is that from a patient's perspective they are not really interested in how much chemotherapy contributes to the cure of all patients ... I don't think this paper helps from a patient's perspective."

Medical experts like to claim that they understand patients better than the patients themselves. So they give authoritative pronouncement on patients' behalf. I beg to differ. I think patients know themselves better. Do you agree that you are not interested to know how much contribution chemotherapy provides to your cancer cure? To me, this is the very answer each and every patient wants to know before he/she is subjected chemotherapy. But unfortunately, no such answer is ever provided. And if patients ask too much questions, they will be scolded or chased out of their doctors' offices.

In the same radio interview with ABC, Professor Michael Boyer was again quoted as saying: "the fact is that if you start ... saying how much does chemotherapy ... the numbers start creeping up ...If you pull it altogether that number probably comes up to 5 % or 6%. I guess what's important is that it doesn't go up to 50% or 60%." This is indeed mind-boggling. The percentage of 2.3% was disputed. According to Professor Boyer it could be 5% to 6%.

Do we need to split hairs? What is so different between 2.3% and 6% -- is that a big enough or meaningful difference at all? If you ask any cancer patient what is the difference between a 3 % chance of cure and a 6% chance of cure, most of them may just say it is "peanuts". If you tell cancer patients your chemo-treatment is only contributing to 3% or 6% of their cure -- I would guess MOST patients would just disappear and not see their oncologists ever again!

But to some "tunnel visioned" statisticians and researchers, 2.3% and 6% is a big "statistical" difference and the difference is significant (to use the scientific jargon). You can "massage" the data to say this. If you do chemo-X, you get 2%, if you do chemo-Y you get 4%. You can twist the picture and say chemo-Y is 100% better than chemo-X. That is how "educated people" massage their data to make it appear and sound good.

So what is your verdict?

Would you go for chemotherapy knowing that the benefit is only about 3%. Human beings differ in our perspectives. So be your own judge.

What do we do with such truth?

There seems to be a bit of hoo-haa in Australia, because it involved work done in Australia. But for the rest of the world -- in the US, UK, Europe, etc. nobody bothers to know or comment. This NEW truth is of no importance or consequence. The truth, as often done, if it clashes with the Establishment, may just be given a quick burial. Nothing is said even by the so called "independent mass media".

Eating Out in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the largest cities in the world for food, is everywhere! You can choose between a food street vendor, small family restaurants, take mid-range restaurant chains in shopping malls, International, Fast food restaurants and Michelin star.

Is Pad Thai, chicken and rice, pizza, Indian curry or a Zinger Burger ... Bangkok has it all!

A lot of people I know return from Bangkok to say that the food was not so cheap as they had expected. When Iask where they ate the usual answer is, "oh in the hotel bar". You can pay over the odds for food in Bangkok if you want, if you're prepared to search and perhaps eat in the more plain looking family restaurants then you'll find the legendary tasty and very cheap Thai food.

Here, I will try to give a rundown of the sort of thing you can expect to find in Bangkok along with a few personal recommendations.

Street vendor food

It is a bit clichéd, but it's true that the best food in Bangkok is the street vendor food. Sure, the surroundings are less than salubrious, but I just love the atmosphere and the feel of eating food by the side of a busy road, sat on a plastic stool! You'll find these set-ups all over the city, usually a group of people together each with their own speciality on their own cart. The most common dishes are chicken and rice (Khao man gai), red pork on rice (khao muu daeng), Pad Thai, many kinds of noodle soup and various curries. Just be adventurous and if you're not confident with the language you can always point to what you want! Always have a glass of Thai-style icy milkshake on hand if something is unexpectedly spicy! I always find milk is much better than water at cooling your mouth down.

A good tip from a local if you're not sure which vendor to choose, is go to the busier ones. That generally means the food is tastier and safe. I've never had any problems eating street food.

Other items for sale include various grilled meats on a stick and servings of fruit. My favorites are the various vendors that line the wall of Lumpini Park in the evening in the parking lot along Ratchadamri Road. The stands of Patpong / Silom area are also very popular.

Thai family restaurants

The Thai Family Restaurant is something many foreigners do not know. A lot of people are away to put on the appearance of mild these bodies are also quite difficult to detect, and many peopleJust do not know are there. At first glance it may look like a person with the shutter doors will open at home. Look closely and you can the old aunt or grandmother of the family cook pasta or chicken cut in front of the store to see! The wall decoration is generally very simple, thin metal tables, plastic chairs and bare. The decorations are only houses the spirit daily supply of Fanta and portraits of royalty past and present will be hanging on the walls.

TheEating is not of this world and always at a reasonable price. The menu selection is of course much broader than those of street vendors. Also look out for fish dishes are some extra spicy! Yam Mun Sen (spicy seafood salad with noodles) is one of my favorites.

A good choice in terms of location Lek seafood is not far from Chong Nonsi Skytrain Station.

Chain Restaurants

There are many good restaurants and inexpensive chain in Bangkok, usuallyto find in shopping malls and supermarkets. Here listed are the most important:

Bar BQ Plaza - my personal favorite, I eat here on every visit! Heated first with a mini-gas grid in the center of the table, has also set a bit 'thick moat of water around the outside. You order plates of meat and vegetables and cook / cooking yourself. You will have some dip, lime, garlic and chilli, can be combined to fit are given.

Daidomon - Alongsimilar lines to Bar B Q Plaza, except you actually get a small barbeque in your table instead!

Fuji - A hugely popular chain of Japanese restaurants, serving all the usual offerings of sushi, gyoza, tempura, curries and much more.

Oishi - Another big favourite with Thai's. There are many variations on the theme, but it's basically a Japanese style buffet restaurant, pay one price and eat all you like. The bigger ones serve sushi, teppanyaki (made to order) food and various Chinese foods that are rotated.

See Fah - Serves a good selection of Thai food.

Sizzler - Get there early because these places fill up fast! Popular with Thais and tourists, this is an American fill-ya-face steakhouse with an extensive western menu and unlimited salad bar. You could get seriously overweight if you ate here every day!

MK - Similar concept to Bar B Q Plaza, but here you boil all of your own food. They serve hot items off the menu too, the duck is a Favorite.

Pizza Company - Despite its name, this is a Thai pizza chain, but they sell all favorite pizza toppings, bread, garlic, etc. similar to the standard Pizza Hut pizza and something too expensive, but it's filling a good If a pizza has to be repaired!

I'm sure there are more than I lost, but it covers the most important choices!

International Restaurants

There are a number of Italian, French, English, American, Indian restaurants in Bangkok and etc. etc. I will not even trycategorize them here! Wherever you stay, you'll more than likely have a few in your vicinity. The main concentration of European food is around the Silom and lower Sukhumvit areas. Great Japanese food is available on Soi Thaniya (Little Tokyo) just off Silom (near Pat Pong). This is also a great people watching spot, spend an hour in any of these Japanese eateries and you'll see a never ending procession of Japanese executives coming and going, some in groups, some alone. Some reading newspapers, some reading comics (!!). All with a mobile phone or IPhone glued to their ears!

Arab and Indian food is plentiful around Ploen Chit and Nana skytrain stations and surround Sois. I like Mrs Balbir's Indian restaurant, on Sukhumvit Soi 11/1 (Nana skytrain station). For a cracking pizza, try Bangkok Pizza on Sukhumvit Soi 26/1.

Fast Food

You can get your fix of KFC, McDonalds and Burger King all over Bangkok....enough said!

Upmarket eateries

If you fancy a splurge on upmarket eateries there is also plenty to choose from. For the location, try Vertigo on top of the Banyan Tree Hotel on Sathon Road (weather permitting of course!).

Baan Khanita (off Sukhumvit Soi 23) is an award winning Thai restaurant and La Normandie in the Oriental Hotel offers great food and great views of the Chao Phraya river.

There are many, many more but of course, I need to save up before I can afford to visit another!

Bad food experiences are rare in Bangkok, be adventurous and simply decide not only get the option of room service, and to explore what in your area. If you have further suggestions to add to this list please let me know and I will be happy to add your contributions to my list.

Trusty Old Crockpot Recipes for a New Generation!

Fast foods may have been the meal of choice for many busy families through the last couple of decades. But now the slow cooked, home-prepared meals are gaining in popularity! Crock pots, with their wafting aromas and 'ready to eat' meals, entice health-conscious, busy people.

And it doesn't take super human talent, skill, or effort to make a delicious meal in a crockpot - in fact there are quite a few crockpot recipes that require 5 or less ingredients! And crockpot cooking can be as simple as tossing a few ingredients into the pot before everyone leaves for the day. In the evening, the smell of slow cooked food fills the house and whets the appetite. There's no more last minute trip to the grocery store, or the endless 'what's for dinner' questions.

Rising food costs and shrinking household budgets have helped bring many nostalgic foods back to the forefront. Time stressed families, tired of eating prepackaged foods, have begun to crave the aroma of savory nutritious meals.

Pot roast, beef stew, chicken and noodles can utilize less expensive cuts of meat, which taste tender and moist after slow cooking.

Our grandmothers knew how to manage a frugal, yet efficient and productive home -- and they didn't need expensive gadgets either! Many slow cookers sell in the range of $20 to $35, and the cost is soon made up by the thriftiness of eating at home.

On the market now are the programmable crockpot slow cooker. No stirring or supervision is necessary, and once cook time has expired the smart-pot automatically shifts to a warm setting. Want a side dish with your stew? Try the dual cooker. It allows cooking of two different dishes at the same time. Worried about little hands reaching up to the counter? Try the 'cool touch' slow cooker. These can be up to 25% cooler than other slow cookers.

Although crockpots are a relatively new invention, making hearty foods that simmer all day has been around for quite a while. Whether you're cooking for just two people or a large family, make your own convenience food! Dig out some old recipes or find a new one, and enjoy flavorful foods without the hardship.

Opening the front door on a cold evening evening and being greeted by the inviting smells of a beef stew or chicken noodle soup wafting from a slow cooker - ahhh - it is truly a diner's dream come true!

Blaze shots

More views of the Beijing Noodle House fire



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c02CA6e4oo&hl=en

Doc Chey's - Lion Dance

Jordan and I went to Doc Chey's Noodle House in Grant Park on Feb. 27th to celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the Tiger.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaVA4qgQi0&hl=en

Mestophiso - Dancing Noodle (Cultures Remix)

My shot at Mesto's tune with the obscure titel 'Dancing Noodle'. :) Discussions: tranceluvers.com Picture URL: www.blirk.net



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3tsPhSDRlc&hl=en

Baking Homemade Bread - Not As Hard As it Sounds

In a world of instant mixes, frozen dinners, and fast food, the simple pleasure of baking bread has almost been forgotten. From early childhood, I have pleasant and cherished memories of my mother and grandmothers baking yeast breads and batter breads-hearty breads for meals, sweat breads for desserts. Baking bread, much like sewing, crochet, and knitting, is fast becoming a lost art, but the truth is that baking batter breads doesn't take much longer than a bread mix.

Hmm, fresh yeast bread! The aroma fills the entire house, causing all within to follow the fragrance to the kitchen in hopes of getting a slice of hot, buttered, yeast bread. For as long as I can remember, the smell of bread baking has been a comforting sign of home.

There are so many things that come to my mind when I think about bread: my grandmother's old stories of times when bread and cheese, or worse, bread and water, were all that was available to eat; the five loaves Jesus blessed and fed to 5,000 men (the women and children were not counted); the unleavened bread of remembrance for the body the Christ sacrificed that the world might have peace with God; the buttered bread toasting in the oven on a cold winter morning; the first time I punched down the yeast dough, then baked the loaf and served it to my new husband. . . So many things come to mind that I can spend an entire, serene morning just thinking while enjoying the scent of rising and baking bread. Even batter breads (breads leavened with baking powder or a combination of baking soda and buttermilk rather than yeast), such as the cornbread my mom served with hot brown (pinto) beans, lend a sense of home and belonging.

Grocery stores have long sold boxes of cake mixes on their shelves (I confess that I occasionally use one of them.). For some time, now, they have also sold different types of bread mixes, biscuit mixes, cornbread mixes, and frozen yeast breads and rolls. While these are usually ok, they just don't have give your home the ambience of handmade, fresh breads. Nor do the pre-made, brown-in-the-oven varieties.

Think you don't have time to bake bread? While it is true that yeast breads take some time, after all, they need to rise, many bread recipes don't take much, if any, longer than using a mix. For instance, to use a cornbread mix, you open the package and pour it into a bowl, add egg, oil, and milk. To make cornbread from scratch, you measure cornbread, flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, and then add egg, oil, and milk. While it might, maybe, take two extra minutes to measure four items, the taste difference is incredible! Another example would be homemade biscuits. To make biscuits from scratch, measure flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, add oil and milk. Depending on the biscuit mix you buy, you can open the package and pour it into the bowl, or open the container and measure the appropriate amount into the bowl, then add oil and milk. Not much difference, is there?

It doesn't even take too much longer than "whampum" biscuits (store-bought refrigerator biscuits in a roll can). Even with those, you have to open them and put them in the pan. Frozen biscuits might be faster, but again, the difference in taste is definitely noticeable.

I have memorized three bread recipes: the yeast bread I use for both pizza crust and table bread, the cornbread my mother taught me to make, and the biscuits my husband loves. The following three quick bread recipes, with full instructions, will help you recapture the aromatic art of baking bread.

Yeast Bread

Can be used to make 2 loaves or to divide and use as the crust for two pizzas.
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons dry baker's yeast
4 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
5 cups flour

In a 2 cup measuring cup, add the yeast to the warm water and mix well. Add the sugar, salt and oil. Stir liquid and let sit for 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease two pans (loaf pans or pizza pans, depending on which you are making) with 1 tablespoon of oil for each.

Pour yeast liquid into a mixing bowl. Add half the flour and stir gently with a fork until moistened, then add the rest of the flour. Stir with fork until dough forms ball around fork (about 25 stirs). Flour hands and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Divide dough into two balls.

For bread loaves, roll each ball into an 18" X 9" rectangle. Starting at the small end, roll dough into a log shape. Pinch edges together, and tuck ends under. Place into oiled pan, cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

For pizza crust, press each ball into a 12" to 14" oiled pizza pan. Make sure that the dough is distributed evenly. Top each with ½ cup pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. Bake for 20 minutes until toppings are done and bottom is lightly browned. After 10 minutes, I trade places with the two pans, moving the one on top to bottom, and the one on bottom to the top. This prevents one being overdone and the other underdone. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Biscuits

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
¼ cup oil
¾ cup milk

Preheat oven to 420 degrees F. Measure the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. In a glass, liquid measuring cup, measure ¼ cup of oil. Into the same cup, over the oil, pour in milk to the 1 cup mark (mixture will bubble). Pour all at once into the dry ingredients. Using a fork, stir until dough follows fork, then stir 10 more times. Flour your hands, and knead dough ten times. Roll or pat dough onto a cutting board or clean counter. Cut into squares or use a floured glass to cut round biscuits. If you are in a hurry, you do not have to roll the dough. Pat it out and tear off biscuit size pieces and put them into the pan. If you want the biscuits to be crispy, butter or oil the pan. Otherwise, just place then in the pan. If you prefer the sides to be crusty, place the biscuits 2" apart on the pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until light golden brown.

Mom's Cornbread

2 cups cornmeal (yellow is best, for the color)
1 cup flour
2 tbsp. aluminum free baking powder
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Enough milk to make medium dough-should not be as thin as cake dough, but not as thick as cookie dough.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 12" baking pan. The best pan to use in baking cornbread is an iron skillet. Pre-heat oiled pan. This allows the cornbread crust to crisp nicely.

Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add eggs and oil and stir to make a crumbly mixture. Add enough milk (start with 1 cup, and add a little more at a time until you have enough), to make a medium dough-dough will pour, but not very fast. Do not over-mix. Pour dough into iron skillet. Bake for 20 minutes. Delicious with bean soup of any kind, corn and ham chowders, or just crumbled into a large glass of milk for breakfast!

Whichever bread you prefer, the aroma of baking bread will bring your family running to the table. Spend a few extra minutes to create some special memories for your children, or even better, let them help measure the ingredients and roll out the dough! Bread making, once a common, daily activity, is not almost a forgotten art. Learn to bake bread, make some memories, and help a tradition that spans thousands of years to survive!

Copyright 2008, Linda Pogue

Basic Ingredients For Italian Recipes

So you decided you're going to start doing some more Italian cooking. You found a great database of Italian recipes and you're excited about wading into the world of pasta, pesto and parmagiana.

It would be helpful to have on hand some staple ingredients that are found in a lot of Italian cooking. That way, you'll be able to get your fix of Italian food any day, without extensive grocery shopping. Let's look at some of them!

Garlic: It may sound like a cliché, but this humble bulb has a place in just about all-Italian cooking. Keep it in a cool, dry place such as a root cellar or pantry. When buying garlic, look for bulbs with no dark discoloration on the bottom. This may indicate age or molding.

Tomato sauce: Don't go expensive here. The house brand at your local grocer and the national brands will be impossible to tell apart if you put them in a bowl. Avoid the "preseasoned" blends, as you'll be adding your own herbs and spices to your recipe.

Pasta: Don't buy a huge amount of any one specific noodle. Rather, keep a small amount of the most common types, such as spaghetti, linguine, elbow macaroni, small and large shells and wide egg noodles. For storage, it helps if you can keep long noodles in a long container. Most plastic ware makers have a "pasta keeper" of some sort available.

Parmesan cheese: While it may not always be an ingredient, freshly ground Parmesan is almost always a welcome addition on top of a pasta dish. Kraft has a new "fresh shreds" product with a block of cheese in a container with its own grater. It works very well, and the price is not exorbitant.

Olive oil: One mistake many Italian-food rookies make is using expensive extra-virgin olive oil for things like pan-frying. Use standard olive oil, which will be yellow in color and as much as 50 percent cheaper, for these purposes. You'll still get all the health benefits!

Keep your pantry properly stocked, and you'll be prepared to cook any Italian recipes you wish!

The aborigine 2009 Lao Band

The freeman 2009 Lao Band Performing in Hamilton Ontario The Group are Based in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge Area...They can perform Thai Lao and English of course, But will Travel all over Ontario or Buffalo, NY USA



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzmX9NJDDew&hl=en

The Dangers of Tap Water

Clean, safe water is one of the most important elements of a healthy body. It is essential to life Water is a universal solvent. It carries nutrients to every cell in our body. Water flushes out harmful toxins from our body. We are a water-based lifeform. The first step in getting the body chemistry in proper order is to become well hydrated with the best water ever. Being well-hydrated increases the strength of our immune system. Proper hydration keeps our skin and organs healthy. Hydration is in line with our clear, bright and beautiful essential. Hydration is the most important factor is the fabric "remains juicy."

It 's a sad fact that finding a source of pure water at the level of pollution now is almost impossible. Contaminated water is not only a problem in the Third World. to find water that is safe to drink even more difficult in developed countries like the United States, research shows that most tap water and well water in the U.S. are now drinking due to severeIndustrial and environmental pollution. We have a situation where all our drinking water sources, including local government set up water systems, rivers, lakes, streams and fountains, and even glaciers, contain some degree of contamination.

Although many of the pollutants found in our drinking water levels are not likely to cause immediate sickness, research has found that low-level exposure to many of these pollutants cause severe diseases such as cancer, viatime. The chemicals commonly used to treat municipal water supplies such as chlorine and fluoride are toxic and are known to have negative effects on the human body.

How bad is it?

The General Accounting Office reports that 20% of the nation's 65,000 community systems are unable to meet minimum standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. A recent government study found that more than 25% of all large U.S. public water systems contain traces of one or more toxic Substances.

The information from the EPA, after you tap water contains more than seven hundred organic chemicals that are suspected to, cause cancer agents. Other common pollutants in our tap water are:

Lead
Petrochemicals
Organo-phosphates
Cyanide
Strontium
Uranium
Vanadium
Arsenic
Lead
Copper
Nitrates Directive
Phosphate
Radon

In the book Dr. Howard Fisher Extreme Toxic Times: How to get out himself, he notes thatGovernment sources have four categories of pollution of drinking water:

1st natural pathogens
2nd organic chemicals, inorganic or radioactive
3rd disinfectants and coagulants (which are for the treatment of water-borne pathogen left)
4th of chemical origin (which are currently due to the reaction of disinfectants with organic or inorganic substances in water)

Public water systems are not for the carcinogenic chemicals and dangerous to others who are test-being found.

Not only are we drinking from contaminated water sources, but we are also bathing in them. Do you have a water filter on your shower or bathtub? If you don't, then your skin, which is the largest eliminative organ in your body, is soaking up all those poisonous chemicals. All the toxicity that is present in the tap water is being delivered directly into your cells.

Don't EVER drink tap water again. It is undermining our health. We are remaining dehydrated and toxic. We're not flushing anything out, we are adding to the problem and not the solution. Now don't despair, Nature has a solution. It is easy, fun, and free! We get ourselves so deep into a hole, but Nature is always there to pull us out. The solution to this problem is fresh spring water from the source. Fresh spring water is the quintessential product of the Earth's natural hydrological cycle. Bottled spring water in glass is a great choice for drinking water.

When we drink spring water collected fresh from the source, is absorbed directly into the body. The cells absorb all the hydrogen ions in water (remember, water = H2O + Ormus) so that the water barely reaches the stomach. So instead of reversing around inside, it feels as if the water is directly converted into light. When we drink the water that heavy feeling in your body, which means that water is of poor quality, because it absorbs directly into our system.

Victor Schauberger was the firstperson to focus my attention on the idea that water can be "ennobled", and how all of life is about ennobling water in a dynamic interaction between the "heavens" and the Earth. I started to see that what is going on inside of every tree, every plant, every amoeba, is, ultimately, an ennobling of water. That organism is taking water into it's own biology, it's own consciousness, and is ennobling the water to it's view of the world. For example, a flower's perspective of the world is different ours, and so the "awareness" of water from a broad spectrum of life to go and collect unlimited information.

If any living being is made of water if it is a tree or to be ourselves, the water will be seen in his worldview. The approach is an interesting corner of life on Earth. When looking for the water, like a living creature that is with experience as we are, helps us in relation to water, where there are no charges our rivers, we do not knowpollute the aquifers, and we actually produce pure drinking water and spring water consciously bottled in glass.

At my house the water comes from a spring that is about a thousand yards away. When I am not at home I am always on the lookout for fresh spring water sources to fill up at. It is such a gift to be able to drink fresh, naturally filtered water, the way the earth does it. When one has this kind of living water, it becomes much easier to fast and eat less in general, for the water nourishes you.

Charging Water

Charging water means giving a "life-pattern" or structure to the water at a microscopic level. The hydrogen molecules in water are closer together if the water is charged. This makes the water more polar (strongly electrical).

The Best Ways to charge water:

Squeeze fresh juices into the water. Squeezing lemons and/or limes into your water are excellent choices because they have incredible cleansing and Mucus-dissolving properties.
Add a blade of grass or herbs and green leaves in water
Add some 'green superfood powder in water (add a little' agave, honey, yacon, or Stevia can sweeten the taste)
Add a few pinches of Celtic sea salt or mineral Grey Himalayan Pink Salt. These are some of the best decisions for non-plant sources of salt. These salts each contain more than 80 different minerals in similar circumstances as they appear in seawater. They are "raw" salts,So they differ from salt coagulated and was the most "Kiln-dried" sea salt, that their oxidized minerals removed by heating.
Add Dr. Patrick Flanagan Crystal Energy
Add MSM crystals powder

Put a crystal in your glass of water
Put water in a glass outside under the moonlight at night (especially the full moon). The water reacts to the moon.
Run the water through a vortex, water Spinner / or vortrap Vitalizer (tornado) to improve itsquality.
Dr. Emoto has shown in his books The Message from Water, that water responds to loving thoughts and even words written on a water bottle. Water quality seems to always reflect our actions and intentions. Try it for yourself!
How Much Water Should we Drink?

We should ideally drink when our stomach is empty of food. Drinking water with food can dilute digestive fluids leading to poor absorption and constipation. The best time to drink water is upon rising in the morning. Drink at least 1 / 2 liter (16 ounces) or more at this time.

The typical recommendation to drink "twelve ounces 8-10 glasses of water" every day is excessive, if you eat 80% + juicy raw plant foods. Even if you eat raw food 100%, but drinking water per day is still very important. Plain water has its own capabilities, conditioner, not only in coconut water, fruits are found, and vegetable juices. When you eat, + 80% raw food, I recommend you drink plenty of water based onReport: total weight (in kilograms) divided by 4 = # (in ounces)

Take a weight (in pounds) and divide by four. This is a number. This number is then the number of ounces of water you should drink in a day. For example, if you weigh 170 pounds and eats mostly raw plant foods, 170 divided by 4 is 42.5. A good supply of water daily for that person, then 42.5 ounces (this is a little more than a liter to 32 ounces) are. (One is about 30 ouncesml).

Be aware that dehydration can happen quickly. An hour of intensive training can give us a liter (losing liter) of water. A flight of four hours, could lose up to one liter (l) of water.

When buying bottled water, always choose glass over plastic. plastic bases in water (which is often detected by taste), and is harmful because it mimics hormones in our body, glandular imbalances. Distilled water is not natural. It is an unnaturalform of water that should be avoided.

[04-18] of the fruit fly

Happy Saturday! Come cuddle with me? Thank you. I'm not wearing any make in this video. Shh. Thought it would be the landscape a bit, 'because we all change. I felt a bit 'lazy before I go with Anna to grab a soup, so I turned in front of the bed. Oh, say hello to Anna, she is one of my besties and a "FAG HAG" or in my terms, a fruit fly! haha. I hope everyone had a great work week and the weekend began striking. Question: What is the best time for you were? Music used: When ISee Fantasy, someone to call my lover, Janet Jackson



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GezmuCjpXMA&hl=en

Two Delicious Thanksgiving side dishes

My family goes to parents' home every Thanksgiving for a wonderful dinner at home with my mother. One of my favorite dishes my mother used to be Sweet Potato Casserole. The reason why I used to say "" will, every year, my mother, because I can take what you and I now brings me this and another dish, a bowl of salad to ask.

My mother is an assistant teacher at a primary school and Sweet Potato Casserole was one of the dishes at a potluck of another employee. My motherloved so much, got the recipe and we all have since Thanksgiving. It 'more like a sweet side dish.

Cranberry fruit salad recipe I was also a potluck staff available at the school where my mother works. It is sweet, tart, delicious and very simple, which is a big advantage at Thanksgiving! I hope you can find on your table, try this year.

Sweet Potato Casserole
Serving Size: 8

Two 16 Oz cans sweet potatoes
1 / 4 cup butter
3 / 4Cup sugar
1 / 2 tsp. Salt
2 eggs
1 / 2 cup milk
1 tsp. Vanilla

Topping:
1 cup Brown sugar
1 / 4 cup butter
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 / 4 cup flour

Heat & drain potatoes. Mash with remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into ungreased 9 "square glass baking. Combine all topping ingredients until crumbly. Pan Spread over potatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

NOTE: May the day before and refrigerated before baking.
Happy Kitchen -Mother

Cranberry Fruit Salad

a 12-oz pkg fresh cranberries
a 20-oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup sugar
1 package. Mini marshmallows
a container mounted topping 12 oz

Put blueberries in a blender and process until finely chopped, drained pineapple and sugar and stir ads until trial. blueberry compound Put in a bowl and fold in whipped topping and marshmallows.

"Like a FOB (as a parody Boss)

As a parody of the Boss ... I hope you will all enjoy and not be offended ... Mr. Kim Thank you for your next race No writing, no problem, also in Asia, which is fair to say? Of course I am a FOB Okay, so lead us through a day in the life of a FOB OK. At first I did out of the boat (like a) FOB Korean parliament (as a) ACT study FOB (fresh as a FOB) Chinese New Year (as a) FOB Eat little 'rice (like a FOB) with your fingers ( as FOB) Asian squat (like a) FOB Squatting WC (as a FOB) poop in hole(Like a FOB) Butt clean (like a depressed FOB) (as FOB) See some dramas (like a FOB) Get to operate the nose (like a FOB) So Nyuh Dae you (like a FOB) playing ping pong (as a) FOB Eat Fried Rice (as a) FOB racist action (a) FOB Suck a rolling pin (like a) FOB Pokemon (like a FOB) Asian accent (like a FOB) Get bullied (like a FOB) Stroke karate (as a) FOB mudabeaches You Dont Mess With Me! Yahhhh! Bruce Lee (as a) FOB Tai Chi (as an off FOB), shoes (like a FOB) In my house(Like a) tea score FOB (as FOB) crash my car (like a FOB) to see some hentai (like a) FOB eat my dog (like a FOB) play some Starcraft (like a FOB) own some noobs ( as FOB) Slanty eyes (as a) FOB Small Pee Pee (like a) FOB Ching Chong (as a) FOB Ping Pong Pang (as FOB) I love Domo (like a FOB) Be Asian (like a) FOB Huh. So this is a normal day for you then? Uh huh! And I remember you said something with a small penis? No No No No, you did No, no. Okay, this is alsowas ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y5iQOmr-R4&hl=en

Hong Kong Restaurants - Great Authentic Eateries in Asia's World City

Hong Kong is known for its thousands of small authentic restaurants, where you can indulge in delicious Chinese food without having to dig too deep into your pocket. But finding a really good eatery in this jungle of Chinese neon signs can be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

This article will introduce you to seven of the best authentic restaurants and Dim-sum eateries on Hong Kong Island.

Lin Heung Tea House - The best known of them all, has been around for God knows how many years and is still as popular as ever... Conveniently located on Wellington Street, right between Central and SoHo, the ambience at this good old establishment reflects the true spirit of Hong Kong: Noisy and bustling, yet homey and welcoming... Great dim-sums and other "yum cha" delicacies are the main draw, and the place is open from as early as 6am till as late as 11pm.

Mak's Noodle Limited is another Wellington Street icon... Best known for its Won Ton Noodle, which some say is the best in Hong Kong, this humble eatery doesn't have much in the way of decor, but the place is tidy enough, the food is great (although the portions are slightly small) and the prices are not too bad...

Tsim Chai (Jim chai) Noodle, also on Wellington Street, is Mak's mythological competitor... This humble Cantonese food joint draws people from far and wide for its Wonton noodle soup, that comes with large and plumpy wonton dumplings, full with shrimps... Quite expectedly, there's nothing much here in the way of glitz and glamour, but the food is great and the prices are very moderate... So who can ask for anything more?

Kau Kee Noodles - Tucked on tiny Gough Street, just a minute stroll from the SoHo, humble Kau Kee Noodles has made a name for itself as a Hong Kong culinary emblem, after serving some of the best Beef Brisket in town for the last who knows how many years... You can have your Beef Brisket in a plain meaty broth or in a curry broth, and it comes with or without noodles (their noodles are really nice though, so maybe you should give them a try...) Almost needless to say, it's just a small corner shop, so do not expect any "romantic ambience"... Lunchtime queue can be a pain, so try to come later if you can.

Prawn noodle shop in Wanchai specializes in Singaporean-Malaysian Prawn noodle soup. Their menu has 3 different types of soup-base: Spicy prawn, Spicy curry laksa and Pork with chicken... After deciding which soup-base are you going for, you can "beef it up" with extras like: seafood, prawns, chicken, fishball, meatball, squid ball, fish cake, bean curd, and what have you... The place is very busy, so maybe you should try to avoid lunchtime.

Chee Kee is a Causeway Bay institution, particularly known for its Beef brisket noodle in soup and Wonton with noodle in soup. The menu doesn't have a great variety to choose from, but whatever is there, is likely to be good.Located on Percival Street in Causeway Bay (Can be accessed via exit A of MTR Causeway Bay), Open from before lunch until almost midnight

Ho Hung Kee, also in Causeway Bay, is known to have some of the most authentic wonton noodles in Hong Kong. In addition to its outstanding Wonton with noodles in soup, the restaurant serves other authentic Cantonese favorites, such as Shredded pork noodle, Beef chow fun (a Cantonese dish of stir-fry beef with wide rice-noodles and bean sprouts), Ee Fu Noodles and some scrumptious Congees. Located on 2 Sharp Street East in Causeway Bay, just a heartbeat from Lee Theatre Plaza. Open daily, from before lunch to almost 11pm

A Travelogue - Backpacking in Laos, Southeast Asia

Singapore and Hong Kong may be first world destinations but these places are the equivalent of a summer spent with a cross-stitching-fanatic grandmother. A trip to Laos, on the other hand, is like a sizzling summer fling - new, exotic and ultimately unforgettable. Crowned by globetrotters as the new queen of Asia, it is a hip destination on the verge of discovery. You might want to get there fast before everyone finds out about it.

Laos, known as the Land of a Million Elephants, is a country seemingly untouched by time and globalization. Yes, there is no smoggy metropolis, aggressive entrepreneurialism and Starbucks - yet. The main attraction of this former French colony is natural and cultural. There is an abundance of picturesque rice fields, jagged limestone mountains, that hide sprawling caves.

Strolling monks with bright orange robes who serenely walk barefoot on the pavement is mesmerizing to watch. You can even stop by a temple and hear them chant. The hilltribe people who still wear their ancient costumes and about five pounds worth of metal jewelery will give you a visual feast. French influences communed with 3rd world charms results in a progeny of quaint architecture and amazing food. The typical Lao street food is a French baguette with tandori barbequed chicken, fresh tomato and cucumber topped with cream cheese. Drink a cup of that strong Lao coffee to wash the meal down.

Many say that Lao is "one of the last quiet countries on earth". But just like lovers, on a summer rendezvous, you know that romance won't last forever. So hurry and fall-in love with this beautiful country before it loses its blush.

CITIES TO VISIT

1. Luang Prabang
A UNESCO World Heritage site and every photographer's dream location. This city, where time stands still, is framed by lush mountains and amazing waterfalls. Navigate the serene Mekong river with a kayak tour.

2. Vang Vieng
The party city with loads of backpackers from all corners of the world. Relax with a beer Lao while floating in a rubber tire through the Nam Song River.

3. Vientiane
The capital of Laos and the center of arts and traditional herbal massages.

GASTROME'S DELIGHT
Sticky rice, fish sauce and a ginger-like ingredient called galangal are Laos' staple food. Try them with:

Tam Mak Houng - spicy papaya salad
Foe - noodle soup
Som moo - ubiquitous pork sausage sold everywhere

GETTING THERE
There are no direct flights from Manila to Laos. Fly to Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh then grab a plane to Luang Prabang or Vientiane via Lao Airline.

Noodle Update

jus a update about my videos givin yall a lil sneak preview of whats still to come don't 4get to comment, rate, subscribe Shoutout to my homeboy/editor johnny this was shot at his house you can find his youtube at jacktownsavage23



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lr19SbkjsI&hl=en

Parenting Tips - Caring For a Sick Child

As it turns out, the swine flu has been sort of a non-event-at least so far. But it's early in the season, and all those hardy viruses are still out there just waiting to pounce-especially on your child and all those other coughing, sneezing friends of his seated side-by-side in crowded classrooms.

All the more reason to take preventative measures, making sure your child washes her hands frequently and uses sanitizing gel in between times. Eating well, getting plenty of sleep, gargling with plain water a couple of times a day, and limiting sugar are all effective at warding off colds and the flu, too. A dose of vitamin C every day wouldn't hurt either.

But despite these efforts, the odds are good that some germ or other will still find its way into your child, so be prepared.

It all begins with school. Your son or daughter should already have enlisted a classmate or two to call in case of an absence, so that all missed work is collected and either brought to your house or left on the main office counter for you to pick up at the end of the day. Calling that friend is job #1.

Job #2 is making sure you're sick-child ready on the home front. After all, there's nothing worse than hearing your child call for you in the middle of the night-head hot, in a sweat, and complaining about a sore throat-only to discover that you're out of Tylenol and throat spray.

On-HAND ESSENTIALS:

o Thermometer

o Acetaminophen or ibuprofen

o Aspirin-, alcohol-, and sugar-free throat spray

o Vitamin C

o Menthol cough drops

o Cool mist humidifier

o Saline nose drops or spray

o Honey

o Tea

Keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises against giving cold and cough medications to children under six, as they can have serious side effects in the very young. Moreover, most cold and flu symptoms dissipate on their own without them. If they don't in a week, call your doctor.

And, in the event that the doctor recommends putting your child on an over-the-counter cold and/or cough remedy, follow the dosing instructions to the letter and use the dropper, dosing cup, or dosing spoon that comes with it-not a teaspoon.

Then take these simple measures to ensure that your child is comfortable and quickly on the mend:

1. Use such pain relievers as acetaminophen and ibuprofen-never aspirin, as it can cause Reye's syndrome in youngsters, a rare but serious disease.

2. Do NOT use ibuprofen in children under six months.

3. Use saline drops/spray to ease nasal congestion.

4. Keep your child well-hydrated by having him drink plenty of liquids, thus helping to thin the mucus.

5. Offer chicken noodle soup and tea with honey-good medicine on both counts.

6. Ease coughing with a hot, steamy shower-or seat her nearby-to loosen nasal and chest congestion.

7. Add moisture to the air with a cool mist humidifier running at night-a natural decongestant-but be sure to clean it often and thoroughly. If not, it will blow fungus, bacteria, and mold into the air.

The rest of the story is that, although initially your sick child will love the idea of missing school, staying in pajamas all day, and watching a bit more television than the usual, boredom is likely brewing.

Head it off by having on hand a new puzzle or two and a few as yet unread books, as well as such items as coloring and activity books, drawing paper, crafts, playing cards, and simple games like Candyland.

Building a fort out of pillows and blankets is always fun, too, and nothing beats cuddling together.

But once your child is feeling up to it, making up that collected missed schoolwork must be a priority. See that it all gets done; otherwise he'll fall way behind his classmates and never really catch up. That's when times really get tough.

I Hate Rain

Rain sucks. So i tried some new tricks



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40kCOOCrAxw&hl=en

Electric Pasta Maker - For the Whole Family

Who said that only Italians could make great pasta dishes? If you enjoy cooking pasta, you will love using a pasta machine with an electric motor. Your pasta will be fresh every time you make it and you will be surprised at the difference in the taste. One thing you do want to be careful about; and that is not to buy a cheap machine that will clog up if you add a little too much flower. Buying good quality in anything you buy will pay off in the long run. This is in course speaking of an electric machine.

By doing a little research you should be able to find a good brand name. A company that has been around for a long time and has a good reputation of producing quality machines is key. Most pasta companies carry both the manual and electric models but the price of the electric models makes it very affordable. It may not be the price that is most important in every case. Many people might enjoy making pasta the old fashion way by kneading their own dough, turning the handle, and watching those beautiful noodles churn out. If time is an issue, the electric pasta maker will win hands down every time. The manual machines run about eighty dollars while the electric machines are around one hundred ninety dollars, for those who are more concerned about money.

Recipes can be found easily by doing a Google search, but a simple recipe includes flour, eggs and salt. Working with these ingredients using a fork until you can no longer stir the mixture is the first step. Then you would need to work with the flour by hand before feeding it into the machine. This is just a simply recipe and I am sure you have your own and most pasta machines come with recipes as well. The ladies at my church have created a recipe book and one of our Italian ladies has a great pasta recipe in the book.

You might be surprised to know that many professional chefs us electric pasta machines, but they have fast become a very common house hold product. Children love to watch Moms work with the dough and then feed it into the machines and be amazed as it comes out. One of many nice features of some electric pasta machines is the ability to change the thickness of the dough sheet. You can make round or flat noodles and you can also control the noodle size by rotating the dial for a total of nine different positions. The children enjoy challenging Moms to make different shapes and sizes. Both children and adults love the homemade pasta because it is so fresh.

If you are in the market for and electric pasta machine, be prepared to entertain the family as you prepare delicious pasta meals.

How to Practice Business Etiquette in Japan

The etiquette system in Japan is perhaps one of the world's elaborate. It involves every aspect of one's life, with its strict codes of behavior governing daily etiquette and manners. Although the Japanese mostly adhere to these codes, it is not expected that people visiting Japan be familiar with them and would not be reprimanded. However, making an effort to be polite and to show at least some understanding of local customs can make life in Japan a bit easier.

Hierarchy and social standings - Japanese etiquette is based on a social ranking. For example, "me-ue-no-hito" (or "person whose eye is above") are those of higher social standing such as a top ranking corporate executive, government official, or teacher. Meanwhile, "me-shita-no-hito" (or "person whose eye is below") are those of lower social standing relative to the other person such as a corporate staffer, a government employee, or a student. Older people have higher social standing than younger people, and that the emperor and his royal family are considered "me-ue-no-hito" by all. This hierarchy is evident in speaking, such as the polite speech (keigo), regular speech, and casual speech, as well as male speech and female speech.

The "Giri" - The "giri" refers to one's innate sense of duty, obligation, morality and the absolute need to return a favor. Everyone in Japan is bound by the giri, like a person's bond towards his parents or towards his teachers and benefactors. It is also expressed by meeting one's obligations and responsibilities as best as possible. Meeting the demands of giri is the same as defending one's personal honor even under the most adverse circumstances, which includes taking suicide (for some Japanese).

Bowing - The practice of bowing is basic to Japanese etiquette. It is the way Japanese people greet each other, say farewell, express thanks, and even apologize. The Japanese can be particularly conscious of his or her personal space, which is why bowing establishes a comfortable and respectful distance between two people. Although modern Japanese have become used to the Western "handshake" as a form of greeting towards foreigners, they are very much appreciative when a westerner shows respect by bowing when meeting. The degree of bowing is determined by social status, bow deeper towards a person of higher authority. Typically, a bow is done at about 15 degrees of bending your body towards the front; the longer the bow is held the more feeling it evokes. When bowing as an apology, it must be as low as 90 degrees.

On the street - It is very common to see packs of tissues being given out on the street for free. Rule of thumb is that you should take one, as using a handkerchief for blowing one's nose is a definite no-no. You may also notice some people wearing face masks while walking, especially during spring. Do not worry about an unannounced epidemic. It is just that they are protecting themselves against pollen inhalation. Meanwhile, eating on the street is considered impolite, even if you see people doing it these days. Spitting and urinating in public (mainly by middle-aged or drunk men) may seem obnoxious, but these do not necessarily raise eyebrows in Japan.

Basic table manners - A typical Japanese meal involves many different foods and sauces presented in little dishes. It is considered polite to pick up these small dishes and bring them close to your mouth, especially when eating soup and rice. The soup bowl (usually on you right side) is picked up and the broth is directly sipped from the bowl. Chopsticks are used to pick-up tofu, seaweed, vegetables, and other food items in the soup. The rice bowl (usually on your left side) is also picked up and brought near the mouth, using the closed chopsticks as a shovel. When dipping sauces are used, chopsticks are used to pick up the food, dip it into the sauce, and then you place it on the rice before eating it.

Basic restaurant manners - Upon entering a Japanese restaurant, bars, or inns, guests are given a wet face or hand towel called "oshibori," which is used to freshen-up the face and hands before eating. After using, it is taken away by the hostess. There are no napkins at restaurants in Japan; that is why most Japanese carry handkerchiefs that they use during meals and place it on their laps. If you are having difficulty with using chopsticks, asking for a knife and fork is all right (especially if the restaurant serves Western food). Toothpicks are used in restaurants after eating, and it is all right to pick one's teeth after a meal as long as it is done discreetly.

Slurping - Slurping is a double-edge sword. It is considered impolite, but if you don't do it the chef would be insulted. Consider slurping when eating "ramen" (noodle soup), "donburi" (big bowls of rice topped with meat or vegetables), and on "miso" soup.

Saying grace - Before eating, it is important to say "itadakimasu," which literally means "I shall partake" and serves as a kind of pre-meal grace. You could practice it by quickly saying "eat a duck he must." Once the dinner is over, remember to say "gochisosama deshita" to show your appreciation for the meal.

Drinking - The Japanese may be quiet and reserved, but not when they are drunk. Drinking with fellow students or coworkers is almost a ritual in Japan, and considered the best way to break the ice as well as solidify relationships. However, the Japanese can get pretty rowdy when drunk, but all is forgiven and forgotten the next day. It is polite to pour other people's drinks and then hold your own glass while your host or friend fills it. Upon toasting, remember to shout "Kampai," which literally means "dry glass." If you are invited out, it is common for your host to pay the bill.

Gift giving - There are many considerations in buying a gift for a Japanese person. In Japan, gift giving etiquette specifies when, to whom, under what circumstances, and what type of gift is appropriate to give. Also you should also take note how much the gift costs and how the gift should be wrapped. Traditionally, the Japanese do not celebrate birthdays or Christmas. Instead, give gifts to people you feel indebted to (like a business owner towards his customers, or a patient towards his doctor) during June's Obon Festival (in which the gifts are called "oseibo") and in December before the year ends (in which the gifts are called "ochugen"), not to mention during special occasions like weddings, gradutations among others. When presenting or receiving gifts, it is polite to hold the gift with two hands and bow respectfully at the exchange.

The "Omiage" - Another highly ritualized practice of gift giving is called the "omiage." This is done by thanking someone for an invitation, paying someone a visit, and before and after taking a long trip. For instance, when visiting a friend or acquaintance in Japan, you should bring food items like a baked cake, rice crackers, or a beautifully-wrapped fresh fruit. Meanwhile, when visiting the office of a client, potential business associate, or government official, the omiage might be in a form of tea cups or laquerware and would be more expensive.

Visiting someone's home - If you have been invited to someone's house, remember to bring the omiage. Upon visiting, say to the house owner "Tsumaranai mono desu ga," which is similar to "This is just a little something for you." Before entering, take off your shoes by the "genkan" or hallway and put on the slippers provided by the host. If you have to use the toilet, you would have to change slippers again. Upon leaving, the host would usually say "Kondo asobi ni kite kudasai" or "Please come around my place sometime," but this is only said just out of politeness. Visiting the house unannounced could be embarrassing to both of you.

Business cards - In business meetings, it is customary to exchange "meishi" or business cards but in Japan there is a certain manner of giving and receiving it. Business cards are given and received using both hands and each person bows at the exchange. Take note to present your business card written-side up and facing the person receiving it so that he doesn't have to turn the card around and read it. After receiving a business card, you should read (or look as though you are reading) the card and make comments about the company or the address (it is some sort of "breaking the ice"). In keeping the card, it should be handled with respect and place in a special "business card holder" and not in your pocket or purse. When meeting new people in a conference or dinner setting, you should place your business cards in front of them on the table so that they can easily refer you by name.

Bathing - Communal bathing in Japan dates back for centuries and visiting one of its thousands of "onsen" (hot springs) or "sento" (public bath houses) can be a highlight of your trip. Like in any bathroom, you should wash yourself outside the bath before getting into the hot water and soak. You would notice that people usually scrub each other's backs. Remember to bring your own toiletries and put your shoes and clothes in designated lockers. Bath houses are always separated by sex, but these days there are a few mixed bathing places that you could try.

Electric Pasta Maker - For the Whole Family

Who said that only Italians could make great pasta dishes? If you enjoy cooking pasta, you will love using a pasta machine with an electric motor. Your pasta will be fresh every time you make it and you will be surprised at the difference in the taste. One thing you do want to be careful about; and that is not to buy a cheap machine that will clog up if you add a little too much flower. Buying good quality in anything you buy will pay off in the long run. This is in course speaking of an electric machine.

By doing a little research you should be able to find a good brand name. A company that has been around for a long time and has a good reputation of producing quality machines is key. Most pasta companies carry both the manual and electric models but the price of the electric models makes it very affordable. It may not be the price that is most important in every case. Many people might enjoy making pasta the old fashion way by kneading their own dough, turning the handle, and watching those beautiful noodles churn out. If time is an issue, the electric pasta maker will win hands down every time. The manual machines run about eighty dollars while the electric machines are around one hundred ninety dollars, for those who are more concerned about money.

Recipes can be found easily by doing a Google search, but a simple recipe includes flour, eggs and salt. Working with these ingredients using a fork until you can no longer stir the mixture is the first step. Then you would need to work with the flour by hand before feeding it into the machine. This is just a simply recipe and I am sure you have your own and most pasta machines come with recipes as well. The ladies at my church have created a recipe book and one of our Italian ladies has a great pasta recipe in the book.

You might be surprised to know that many professional chefs us electric pasta machines, but they have fast become a very common house hold product. Children love to watch Moms work with the dough and then feed it into the machines and be amazed as it comes out. One of many nice features of some electric pasta machines is the ability to change the thickness of the dough sheet. You can make round or flat noodles and you can also control the noodle size by rotating the dial for a total of nine different positions. The children enjoy challenging Moms to make different shapes and sizes. Both children and adults love the homemade pasta because it is so fresh.

If you are in the market for and electric pasta machine, be prepared to entertain the family as you prepare delicious pasta meals.

The Brady Bunch

THE BRADY BUNCH - THE MEATCUTTER'S BALL

1. A Very Brady Birth

2. Color Coding

3. Caroling

4. The French Connection

5. Brady Fun Trivia

6. Brady Times Infinity

7. Six Degrees Of Brady Sunday Bacon

8. The Brady Bunch Recycled

1. A Very Brady Birth

The idea for the show was brewed up when creator/producer Sherwood Schwartz found that 20% to 30% of all families had at least one child from a previous marriage. He sat down and wrote a 30-minute pilot episode. In it a man with three boys marries a woman with three girls and in the end they all go on a honeymoon together.

2. Color Coding

When it came to casting the show, the powers that be decided that it would simplify things if the kids had the same hair color as their respective parents. The trouble here was that casting for the kids started first, meaning that in order to cover their bases they had to have 3 blond girls, 3 brunette girls, 3 blond boys and 3 brunette boys.

3. Caroling

The part of Carol was originally going to go to Joyce Bulifant from the "Mary Tyler Moore Show". But then Florence Henderson nailed her screen-test. So Florence it was, consequently meaning all the girls were going to be blond. It would have been a much more interesting show if they had been brunette. Brunettes always seem so much more mischievous.

4. The French Connection

A very interesting twist, future Academy Award winning acting legend, Gene Hackman was originally selected to portray architect father Mike Brady. But, Paramount Studios deemed that Hackman was too much of an unknown at the time and he had never done television. It's very possible that Mr. Hackman dodged a bullet with that decision.

The role eventually went to Robert Reed, who very much did not want the part. He had been testing for 3 different series for Paramount and this was his least favorite. Over the years Reed had many disagreements with the show and ultimately did not appear in the final episode.

5. Brady Fun Trivia

Test your noodle against the Brady Trivia Machine:

A. What was Jan allergic to?

B. Where was Alice's room?

C. What was Greg's stage name?

D. What rock star came to Marcia's prom?

E. Which "WKRP" in Cincinnati" regular appeared on the show?

F. What world record did Bobby and Cindy attempt to break?

G. Who had tonsillitis?

H. Where was Carol from?

I. What color did the hair tonic turn Greg's hair?

J. Who found the tiki in Hawaii?

Bonus Trivia if you can identify the subtitle of this newsletter: The Meat Cutters Ball.

Scroll to the bottom of this text for the answers.

6. Brady Times Infinity

The show was never a hit while on the air. However, once it was cancelled it went directly into re-run syndication. The show played like gangbusters. Since then, the Brady Bunch has been airing continuously somewhere around the world.

7. Six Degrees Of Brady Sunday Bacon

Six Brady's plus one, makes Alice and one crazily functional household. All of the stars starred alongside many of other stars that can all meandered back to the infamous "Footloose" twister. However, Florence Henderson seemed to get around Hollywood the most, bumping shoulders with those that have bumped shoulders with others that bumped shoulders with Kevin Bacon.

Florence Henderson was in "Naked Gun 33 1/3" with Julie Hagerty. Julie Hagerty was in "Lost in America" with Albert Brooks. Albert Brooks was in "Broadcast News" with Joan Cusack. Joan Cusack was in "Working Girl" with Alec Baldwin. Alec Baldwin was in "She's Having a Baby" with Kevin Bacon.

Okay try this one: Florence Henderson was in "Shakes the Clown" with Bobcat Goldthwait (if you haven't seen her in this film, then you just don't really know Florence Henderson). Bobcat Goldthwait was in "Police Academy 2" with Steve Guttenberg. Steve Guttenberg was in "Diner" with Kevin Bacon.

Okay one more: Florence was in "Holy Man" with Kelly Preston. Kelly Preston was in "Jerry Maguire" with Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise was in "A Few Good Men" with Kevin Bacon.
Yeesh.

8. The Brady Bunch Recycled

Following the rehashed success the original show found in syndication, several spin-offs where devised.

The Brady Bunch Hour was launched in 1976 as a "Donny and Marie Show"-style variety series with the Brady cast hosting the line-up. It survived to produce 8 one-hour episodes.

In 1981 the network resurrected the original series as the matured, "The Brady Brides". It was the last time all the original cast were brought together for a common cause. The premise this time out was that Marcia and Jan marry two completely different kinds of guys and the four of them all share a house together. It lasted for 10 episodes.

In 1988, "A Very Brady Christmas" was the highest rated TV movie of the year. Everyone was present save, Susan Olsen. The character of Cindy was instead played by actress Jennifer Runyon.

In 1990, "The Bradys" debuted. This was a whole-hearted attempt at recapturing the spirit of the original but packaged with a savvier 90's angle. Maureen McCormick was not among them, her character of Marcia was instead played by Leah Ayres. The far too serious situations the once bouncy Brady characters found themselves in proved to be bad match. The show lasted only a month.

With fan support, the Bradys will live on forever!

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Brady Fun Trivia Answers:

A. Tiger's flea powder

B. Adjoining the kitchen

C. Johnny Bravo

D. Davy Jones

E. Gordon Jump

F. The teeter-totter record

G. Cindy and Carol both did

H. Swampscott, Massachusetts

I. Orange

J. Bobby

The Meat Cutters Ball was the event Alice missed when she sprained her ankle.

Congrats if you answered more than 3 of these correctly. These questions are for the pros and serious Brady fans!

Gorillaz-Last Living Souls

A slideshow with the song "Last living Souls", please comment.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvvSfueF2Ok&hl=en

100 Degrees, For a Romantic Dinner - Restaurants in Hyderabad

What you see - 100 Degrees comes across as another winner from Ohri's. What works in its favor is its location on Necklace road with a magnificent view of Tank Bund. The restaurant's interiors are done with muted lights, water fountains in the center and a dome-like-structure that gives positive energy and appeal to the ambiance.

You can decide to dine inside or alfresco. The terrace area overlooking the Hussainsagar Lake with beach umbrellas is nothing short of a seaside experience especially during the evenings. The area is open for dinner and offers perfect setting for a romantic time out. But make your reservations if you want to enjoy the open roof as the seats there are limited and seldom available. The other side of the restaurant has a very secluded feel to it and is modeled like a lounge with soft pop music playing in the background.

What you get - 100 Degrees is a complete treat of global cuisines - Continental, Mediterranean, Tex-Mex and Indian.

The sizzlers are varied - Japanese Yakitori, Indian Kadai Paneer, Moroccan Chicken, Olive crusted Pomfret and more. Indian and Chinese noodle sizzlers are the unique selling points. You can also make your own sizzler choosing the bread, sauces and accompaniments, wash it down with some wine and end with Baklava (Greek and Middle eastern dessert made of thin pastry and nuts) served with ice cream.

The restaurant also offers finest coffees from all over the world. Be it coffee from Coorg, Hawaii, Jamaica, Yemen, Columbia or special teas like Earl Grey and Lemon Tea, the choice is wide.

The 100 Degrees Sizzler and the scrumptious Chicken Sizzler are must-tries. There is nothing like sipping your favorite drink, taking in the cool breeze blowing past and biting into a piping hot sizzler.

Our verdict - The Yakitori is not as authentic as promised but the Middle Eastern fare is par excellence. This is not a restaurant which is modestly priced but the ambiance makes it worth every penny. The kebabs are to die for as well. A glass of fine wine would go really well with the ambiance and is the recommended drink of choice.

The service is satisfactory though the knowledge of the staff on the dishes being served is at best limited but nonetheless satisfactory. We would have liked more tables for two outside as well. There is valet parking facility available. All in all, one of the best places for a romantic dinner in Hyderabad.

Advice for the Ill = Advice for the Well

All of the things we tell sick people so that they recover more quickly are exactly the things that we should be doing every day. Following that advice will not only ward off disease, but also lead to greater energy and vitality, and best of all, weight loss. How we came to ignore these positive factors in our daily lives, I don't know.

In our society, we have a tendency to put off what is most healthy because we think it is inconvenient. When we get sick and can't perform our "more important" jobs, then we make the decision to do what is best for the body. If we took these simple pieces of advice in our regular routines, we would be sick fewer days. So for those who think their work is more important than their health... if you take care of your health first, you'll be able to work longer and take fewer sick days, so you'll accomplish more work!

Fluid Intake

"Drink plenty of fluids" is the thing everybody says whenever someone says they have a cold. Drinking water and natural fruit juices is so easy, yet most people don't do it. There are a myriad of benefits to drinking water all day, especially if you're not sick, which you can find in my article on water on my website. Drink a lot of water all day. The improvements to your digestion, energy balance, joint health, skin health and the function of virtually every organ will astonish you. You will start losing weight right away when you drink at least your quota of 8 glasses of water per day. And there is no danger of drinking too much water, so you don't need to keep track or count glasses, just keep drinking it.

Natural fruit juices are also great for you. They contain sugars to give you energy, but won't dehydrate you like caffeine will. They also contain all of the other vitamins and nutrients from the fruits themselves. In the case of citrus fruits, like oranges, vitamin C comes in high concentrations. We'll get to the vitamins in the next section. Other juices are good for different reasons, but remember that there is no such thing as a "bad" natural fruit juice. Many natural juices are also fortified with calcium, which is another excellent nutrient that will not only strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis when you grow older, but it is also related to fat loss.

No matter how good the label looks, do not drink artificial fruit-flavoured juice, because those only contain sugar, water and flavouring.

Vitamins and Herbs

Many people suggest high doses of vitamin C to cure the common cold. It is such a good nutrient, it should be taken daily, whether you're sick or not. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is known to boost the immune system, which is why it is recommended for treatment of the common cold. But a good immune system is always beneficial; it is better to prevent getting a cold by having a strong immune system than to treat it once you're sick. Vitamin C is also a most powerful antioxident, which means that it prevents all sorts of cellular decay and counteracts cancer-causing carcinogens. Finally, vitamin C boosts the production of adrenaline, which will boost your feeling of wakefulness, energy and speed your metabolism, supporting weight loss.

Vitamin C is not the only supplement that sick people are told to take. My mother is particularly fond of echinacea. This is an herb that also boosts the immune system. It has proven effective in treating the common cold, but unlike vitamin C, it does not show a significant effect on healthy people.

Taking a multivitamin everyday that contains high doses of vitamin C, as well as a full complement of other vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients is a positive step for anyone. It is virtually impossible to get every nutrient that you should every day unless you take a multivitamin. For those attempting to lose body fat by reducing their food intake, it becomes essential. Not only will you replace the nutrients you're not getting from your restricted diet, you're also packing in those nutrients that can speed up your weight loss.

Chicken Noodle Soup and Other Good Food

When you're sick, you may have a friend who offers to take care of you and make you some chicken noodle soup. There are a lot of theories about why chicken soup may be good for you when you have a cold. Some say that it's just the steam and hot liquid that opens up the airways; others claim that it inhibits neutrophils, white blood cells responsible for inflammation. My theory is simpler: chicken noodle and chicken vegetable soups are just good food, and should be consumed regularly. In a tasty meal, you've got protein from the chicken, carbs from the noodles and/or vegetables, spices and seasoning that have herbal benefits, and the chicken fat as well. A good rule of thumb is to eat simple, good food that has these properties.

Sleep

The final and most important ingredient to beating a cold is rest. Of everything discussed in this article, it is also the element that most modern men disregard. Even when sick, we tend to get up and do some work, rather than concentrating on getting well. Sleep is the time your body and mind recuperate from the day's activities. Without sufficient sleep, your body cannot heal properly, and your mind cannot function properly. There have been some studies that show that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and obesity, due to the elevation of certain hormones.

Sleep recommendations have varied tremendously in all the studies done. Most people today believe that 8 hours is the optimum duration of sleep. However, some adults can't bring themselves to sleep longer than 6 hours, and many will sleep for 10 if not awoken by an alarm. The need for sleep steadily declines throughout your life. A baby can sleep as much as 18 hours a day, but it will come at odd times until their rhythms match their parents. So, it seems like they never sleep because they're always crying in the middle of the night, but they're sleeping a lot of the rest of the time. In contrast, the elderly awake early and frequently cannot fall asleep until very late. Some may nap frequently, but in all, they are awake far longer than most adults.

The amount of sleep any person needs seems to be quite individualistic. To find your perfect sleep duration, try waking up at the same time every day for work, but go to bed one half-hour earlier each night. You may not feel comfortable right away, but you'll probably fall asleep within 10 minutes. Eventually, you will find a time that is ideal in that you will fall asleep easily and wake up feeling really energetic. On a weekend, you can test your theory by going to bed when you feel tired, and not set an alarm to wake you. When you wake up, write a note of the time you first woke up (in case you want to sleep in further). Then it is a simple matter to figure out how long your body wants to sleep.

Sleep is not the only component of rest. People will actually tell you to "take it easy" to help you recover. This is also a good idea for everyday life, not only when you're ill. Learn to take time every day to relax. There have been many books and studies on the benefits of meditation. None that I know of relate meditation to weight loss, but it is related to a reduction of stress. Lower stress levels will reduce your risk of heart disease, and if you're an "emotional eater", then reducing your stress through meditation can be a big step towards weight loss.

Feeling Under the Weather?

We're not all sick, but are all "under the weather" because the clouds are above us. So, every day behave as if you're under the weather: drink plenty of fluids, especially water and natural fruit juices; take a multivitamin and the proven herbal health boosters; eat natural food in good proportions; and get adequate sleep, including meditation or some form of relaxation.