Do Copper Peptide Hair Treatments Really Work?

During the Second World War, doctors noticed that patients with severe burns or burn scars had a better chance of scar removal if hair follicles began growing at the edges of the burned area. If not, the odds were the scars would remain.

It was determined that new skin cells were being grown in the hair follicles and migrating to the surround damaged skin. From that, the next step was to link skin repair and hair growth.

It would take many years for researchers to determine the role copper played in this process. It was eventually discovered that copper peptides stimulated healing of wounds and also increased the size of hair follicles at the wound's edges.

Hair loss has many causes. Among the most common are: the production of DHT, which is responsible for male pattern baldness: progressive shrinking of hair follicles as we age: diminished blood supply to the hair follicles: damage due to hair treatments, overheating, dying, etc: free radicals, especially from iron: inflammation around follicles due to autoimmune responses: and decreased subcutaneous fat in the scalp.

Researchers determined that the copper solutions applied to the scalp increased follicle size: rebuilt the blood supply to damaged follicles: increased melanin synthesis, necessary to keep hair from turning white: increased subcutaneous fat below the scalp, needed to produce thick healthy hair: lengthened the hair growth phase: inhibited the formation of DHT: repaired scalp damage; healed inflammation: and caused the scalp to thicken.

This all leads to a healthy head of hair.

Minoxidil (Rogaine) grows new fine "vellus" hair. Copper peptide solutions convert this fine hair into thicker, fuller, pigmented hair and it is suggested that both be substances be used in combination if you are trying to re-grow hair. The copper peptide has the added benefit of reducing the inflammation and itching caused by minoxidil.

Copper peptide treatments are also beneficial after hair transplants. They speed up healing and cut the growth time of new hair in half to just six weeks. They can prevent hair loss due to chemotherapy if used beforehand or cause it to re-grow faster if used after.

While copper peptide solutions show great promise in hair restoration, one of it chief researchers, Dr. Loren Pickart, thinks its major benefit at this time is as a regular scalp treatment applied once or twice a week to maintain healthy hair and scalp.

Dr. Pickart patented several forms of copper peptides, known as GHK-Cu. He created the Folligen line which is devoted to hair and scalp health, as well as hair re-growth.

Copper peptide hair treatments show great promise in helping you keep whatever hair you still have and aiding in at least creating the proper conditions for new hair to grow. I have run a small, admittedly non-scientific, study of copper peptide hair lotions on a group of friends with thinning hair and all of us have noted a marked increase in the amount and thickness of hair as well as some filling in of the hair line.

Copper peptides are not a miracle product that will give you a full head of hair within days, weeks or months. However they do what they advertise and are not terribly expensive.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

Jazz Up Your Food Presentation

Through years of entertaining I have developed different menu combination for different groups of friends I invite over for a get together. I prefer informal gatherings with simple food. However, informal and simple should not be equated with sloppy and boring.

This Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or any other holiday festivity you may be observing, jazz up your table with a few new ideas.

Dished Up. In our mom's generation, everything matched. From the soup tureen to the salad plate to the toothpick holder. Unless you're holding a formal sit-down dinner, you can definitely veer away from this scenario.

Use colorful serving dishes to serve up food. Colored serverware adds oomph to your food's appeal specially those blah-colored dishes like mashed potato, pasta salad or rice or plain food like chips. Colored serving dishes also enhances the hues of stews and sauced-up food. Adding visual appeal to otherwise simple food makes them extra appetizing. The need to make perfect garnish or Martha Stewart-esque grand presentation is not needed when you use your serving plates and bowls as the backdrop for your food.

Add Shape. There is no rule on using only round shaped vessels to dish up your food so why stick to it? Use oddly-shaped platters and bowls to create an interesting presentation and stir up some compliments.

Edible Arrangements. Give your fruit basket a twist by ordering an edible arrangements fruit basket. Edible Arrangements, the company has been delivering fruit baskets since 1999. Started in East Haven Connecticut, this company now has over 870 stores worldwide and offers ordering option via in-store, phone or online.

Each stunning bouquet contains shaped premium fresh fruits which can be complemented with chocolate dipped strawberries, bananas, apples and pineapple daisies. Grace your table with one of these arrangements and it will certainly be a conversation starter or give this as a gift to one of your friends. Visit ediblearrangements.com to see if they are available in your area.

Business Name Trademark Infringement in the Third World

Here in the United States, when you trademark a business you are protecting a company's name and establishing a corporate identity. You are separating yourself from the herd.

And since you own the rights to your trademark, no one else can use it.

The legal system in the United States and Europe has pretty much hammered out the question of how to trademark a business. They've established rules and regulations. They've initiated and instituted some pretty serious repercussions when a person or a corporate identity tries to illegally use another's trademark.

However, if you were to take a look at what is happening as far as trademarks go in certain third world countries your eyes might just open wide as your jaw drops to the ground and you scratch your head in amazement.

Let's take a look at what most people would consider to be blatant trademark infringements in Addis, Ethiopia.

As soon as you disembark from your plane at Bole Airport you can see a huge "Mariot" Hotel down the road.

However, although the logo looks the same, the owner of this establishment dropped the second "t" and the second "r" from the name. The logic is presumably that, at least for the time being, they'll be safe from a lawsuit.

If you're hungry when you're strolling down the streets of Addis you might want to stop into Olives Garden Restaurant & Lounge. When you look at the sign that hangs above the entrance you'll see an amazing replica of the stateside Olive Garden restaurant signage, right down to the logo.

But what if you are hungry and want a hamburger? If you're in Addis Abba you might want to stop into the Burger Queen. Although you won't find a Whopper inside you will find a sign outside that bears a striking resemblance to Burger King's familiar split bun.

And if you are craving a latte and go inside Kaldi's you're going to blink your eyes and do a double take. That's because everything from the paint on the wall to the uniforms that the baristas are wearing are virtual copies of what you'll find in any Starbucks' coffee shop in the United States.

While it may be questionable as to whether it's a major concern of yours that someone in Ethiopia is capitalizing on your company's good name, you certainly wouldn't want that to happen here in the United States. And that's especially true when there are companies on the Internet that can take care of all of the hard work that you would otherwise need to do to trademark a business.

Bit By the MLM Bug: Is There a Cure?

Perhaps you've experienced this yourself or did at one time. If you're currently involved with MLM/Network Marketing there's a 97% chance that you're not making a profit as you read this article. This is not a jab at the MLM industry, but rather a discussion on the core reason why people stay in for sometimes decades with no success. There are various reasons for this stunning statistic, but what is more stunning is the fact that so many people continue on investing time and money despite the tremendous failure rate. Why is this? I've found this phenomenon best described by Business Success Coach, Jeff Zalewski as "being bit by the MLM Bug."

This best describes the masses of people who continue on in MLM even though they have no actionable plans to enhance their current success. It is fueled by "ever-existent hope" that someday the business will take off, they'll get lucky, or they'll eventually figure it out. They don't want to give up on the dream that mlm builds so they stick with it. And what other perceived potential hope can one hold onto where the payoff outweighs the cost so significantly in the mind of the marketer?

How do you know if you've been bitten by the MLM Bug? Check yourself for the following symptoms:

o Continuously pouring cash into your business thinking that persistent and greater investment alone will increase the chances of the magic pay day.

o Moving from company to company, constantly seeking out the greener grass or breakthrough product that "everyone" will need.

o Going in and out of involvement in your business believing that "now" will be the right time.

o Add to the list as you see fit.

So what's the cure to the MLM Bug Bite? Basically, it comes down to sustainable motivation, consistent action and the right action tied in with proper training. In short, doing what works and what's proven to work through market tested and proven strategies. Most MLMer's don't realize that if they're using strategies that are not market tested, then they are the market test. As a result of not taking the right actions they become frustrated with results, but still don't want to give up on the dream that's injected by the MLM Bug Bite.

Nutrition - It's What's Eating You That Counts

"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that counts."

Before we talk about food, the most important nutrients we put in our bodies are air and water. Forget about air if you live in Los Angeles, or now Kona, it's bad there. Also pure tap water is now next to impossible to find in most cities. Even in beautiful Hawaii most people drink purified or filtered water. Our bodies being a high percent of water (about 75%) it becomes imperative to not drink polluted or chlorinated water. By adding chlorine in water we are attempting to purify it, maybe from some bacteria, but we don't take out any of the toxic chemicals that end up in our water source. Besides, chlorine has been linked with heart disease and who knows how long term use may affect our health. Boiling water only kills some bacteria, it makes more sense to get a good water filter, because much of the bottled water is questionable. Well there is smart water, there are new water products in the market with treated water, usually it has been ionized, or chemically altered, the best one I know is Angel FIre water, from New Mexico, Hi guys.

FAT

We are all aware of the fat revolution; Battle of the Bulge. Even my fifteen year old daughter reads all the label to see how much fat or other junk is in the products we buy. She has now decided to be a vegan, and so I have the opportunity to teach and remember why I became a vegitarian once myself.

We know that it's eating the wrong kind of fat that can hurt the immune system and put that extra fat on our body. For many years we thought that it leads to heart disease as well. There is some new research that heart disease is more linked to stress than to fat consumption. Well maybe moderate amounts of fat, are ok. Most doctors are still telling us to cut down fat anyway, both the saturated (meats and milk products) as well as other fats and Polyunsaturated (oils) fats.

Saturated fats are; chicken, beef, lamb, pork, duck and milk products. You want to be able to reduce these high-fat foods and modify your favorite recipes. Especially if you eat them more than three times a month. A good number is to keep fat at about 15 or 20% of your diet (Good fats are better).

Most people are making an effort to cut saturated fat in their diets by reducing the eating of meat, taking the skin off chicken, whole milk is almost eliminated, most people that drink milk are using 2%, I recommend cutting out dairy products all together and going into soy, or almond milk. Cut down on butter, never use margarine, vegetable shortening, and all products made with tropical oils or partially hydrogenated oils, these are not any good for human consumption. Read the labels they are in lot's of stuff you buy.

Polyunsaturated oils are not that good for us either but less harmful they are; safflower, sunflower, corn, soy, but especially avoid cottonseed oil, it's downright toxic. These oils are unstable and many experts feel they react with oxygen and can damage DNA and cell membranes. Especially hazardous are the solid vegetable shortening, butter is better than margarine, but we should try to eliminate these from the diet for optimal health. Hydrogenated oils are in lots of products as well, these are toxic to our cardiovascular system and should be eliminated as well.

Unsaturated fatty acids when heated form TFA's or Trans-Fatty-Acids. Many doctors believe this damages the body at the hormonal level as well as our natural immune system.

I have always loved olive oil as my oil of choice and it turns out that monounsaturated oils are the best for the body; that includes virgin olive oil, canola, peanut and avocado. These oils can help reduce the bad cholesterol in the body as well. Olive oil being the best and it's best use is raw, in salad dressings, or to dip your bread into. Another good fat we can increase the consumption of is Omega 3 (fatty acid) by eating the appropriate fish such as; Tuna (Yellow or blue fin), sardines, mackerel, herring and salmon, salmon having the most oil. Other great sources which many people are taking now are hemp or flax oil, or flax meal, a good source I prefer to get the seeds and powder them as oils can go rancid.

CARBOHYDRATES

We have heard all these theories of weight loss, stop carbos they are the enemy, eat all proteins, the blood type diet, eat less, eat more, it's confusing. It seems every few years we see a new diet for weight loss. I personally have tried many diets, not for losing weight but to experience them first hand. Carbo's are still a great food for clean burning fuel in the body and especially good for athletes. Carbos are only fattening if you're not burning enough calories, as we know that fat and carbos burn clean. It's only protein that does not burn clean, it actually creates toxic residue, see below. For athletes to get the benefits from carbo-loading you need to carbo-starve for three days first, then carbo-load for three days before a competition.

PROTEIN

We need protein to grow, maintain and repair our tissues. Very few people actually don't eat enough protein, quite the contrary, most people in modern society eat too much protein. Because of the complex molecules, protein is harder to digest. The essential nutrients cannot be duplicated by the body nor found in other foods these key components are the amino acids (see next article).

Most people still rely on animal products for protein such as: meat, chicken, fish, and milk or it's products. These however are not as good an energy source for the body. Primarily because it's hard to digest and worse it actually creates toxic residue, in the form of nitrogen, which can irritate the immune system. Also another waste product called ammonia, a very toxic substance. Because it is so toxic, the body protects itself by turning the ammonia into urea, which is then carried to the kidneys and excreted. Balance is the key, to get enough protein so that your body has enough for repair and growth, but not so much that it's overburdened with trying to eliminate the excess and overworking the digestive system. All this extra effort can lead to your body to actually having less energy, more toxins and overall a weaker system.

Some good vegetable sources of protein are; beans, grains, seeds and some nuts at times spouts can give amino acids or even a product called Dr. Braggs Amino acids. The difference between animal and vegetable sources is that meat is very concentrated, whereas the vegetable sources have lots of edible starch and fiber. Another important component for a well functioning digestive system, fiber is one of the things too much meat eating is lacking. We need that roughage for a better functioning colon.

How much protein does the body need? We have all heard many approaches to this and if we take the information from the Blood Type Diet what type of protein you eat is also important. Most doctors say from 4 to 6 ounces a day is plenty. Some cultures do fine on less. For some diabetics they recommend 4 ounces per meal. I think you should feel it out for yourself. Some vegetarians say you don't need animal protein at all. If you are a vegetarian and your body works great, well then great. However I was a vegetarian for fifteen years, now I eat some fish and occasionally organic, buffalo or eggs you just have to feel it out I sometimes saw some very unhealthy vegetarians so you need some information. There is also information that says that you can't get all the amino acids from vegetable sources. I don't really know myself for sure, but again, there is lot's of confusion on that subject. Once again the key is try something and see how you feel. One meal a day with protein seems to be the recommendation, according to most. They key for most bodies is to increase vegetable and grain intake and reduce animal protein.

Grains and beans are a great source of fiber and protein. It's always a good idea to get organic foods, and hormone free meats, what they put in their feed and inject into them these days is scarry.

Nuts and seeds, like almonds and sunflower seeds, are great sources of vegetable protein, they do have some fat (mostly polyunsaturated) so moderation is still important. My yoga teacher once said only eat a handful of nuts or seeds a day. In fact there is a theory that you should always eat only when hungry as well as eat less and more often. Once again try some of these on your own body, and see how you feel.

Soybeans have the most protein as well as significant amounts of polyunsaturated fat. Soy protein is not only made into tofu, but all kinds of products. I personally feel we overdid the soy bean revolution. Also make sure you get organic. Everyone replaced meat with tofu when we where vegetarians. I didn't think it was that great of a food not having much roughage and being high in fat. Many people feel it's a great source of protein, there is cheese, tempeh, yogurt, milk, wieners, burgers and lunch meats made from soy now. Most health food stores carry these products. There may be great health benefits to soy that is just coming to light (I quote Dr. Weil). "Two of the best known soy phytoestrogens -genistein and daidzein-are now being explored for their ability to moderate human hormonal imbalances."

Eggs are a good source of protein, just don't overeat them either. Get fertile natural range fed chickens that scratch on the earth to get their minerals, and no hormones please. Avoid raw eggs, there is salmonella in them quite often. Eat eggs once or twice a week, if you are going to eat them, not daily.

To summarize eat less protein. Begin to replace animal protein in the diet with fish, vegetable and soy products. Eat more vegetables and create meals that have smaller servings of animal proteins. Eat more whole grains, legumes and products made from whole grains the best breads are sprouted breads, like bible bread, because in sprouting the seeds they become more digestible and less alergetic. Eat more fruit, yogurt and raw juices. Reduce your calorie intake by eliminating high-fat foods, canned sodas are slow death, the diet kind the worse. Variety is clearly important, eating the same foods all the time will not give you the different nutrients a varied diet can give.

Do not use polyunsaturated vegetable oils for cooking. Use only good quality olive oil. Cut out cotton seed oil, palm oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, or partially hydrogenated oils (trans-fatty acids). Read the labels, they put some of this stuff in all kinds of foods, keep it simple and natural.

Eat more omega-3 fatty acids by eating the right fish (Salmon and Tuna) and by adding hemp seeds or flax seeds to your diet.

Much of this information is readily available in most books on nutrition, just remember don't be fanatical, it's more important to enjoy life and realize we have eaten junk food for many years. Getting off that is difficult, take it easy, don't shock yourself and consult with your doctor. The body can do wonders with poor eating and bad food, but only so long.

VITAMINS

Taking vitamins is another controversial subject, however most doctors now recommend vitamins, and the best are the natural source vitamins. One key is taking them at the right time and with the right foods. To most experts vitamins are our insurance program as well as our protection from toxins, and heavy metals, as well as most vegetables now have low nutrient level due to spraying, chemical fertilizers and high tech. breeding systems. If you can find liquid, or sublingual vitamins they are said to be the best, see Dr. Robert Young's (Ph Miracle) vitamins and supper greens.

A real simple vitamin program suggested by Dr. Weil (buy his book "Spontaneous Healing").

At breakfast: Take I,000-2,000 milligrams of vitamin C and 25,000 IU of natural beta carotene.

At lunch: Take 400-800 IU of natural vitamin E and 200-300 micrograms of selenium.

At dinner: Take 1,000-2,000 milligrams of vitamin C.

At bedtime take another 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C

To summarize what to do about toxins in foods:

Reduce the percentage of processed foods in your diet and to choose only products made without artificial additives. Cut down the consumption of meat products and buy products certified to be free of drugs and hormones. Especially poultry, they are loaded with toxins, growth hormones and antibiotics.

Reduce eating foods known to contain natural toxins, such as black pepper, celery, alfalfa sprouts, peanuts and some commercial mushrooms.

Eat a varied diet rather than eating the same foods every week.

Wash and peel fruits and vegetables especially if they are not organically grown. Better yet buy organic when you can.

Attempt to buy only organically produced apples, peaches, grapes, raisins, oranges, strawberries, lettuce, celery, carrots, corn, green beans, soy beans, potatoes and wheat flour. These products tend to be sprayed worse than the rest of the foods and because they are grown in large numbers are usually also chemically fertilized.

Grow a small garden, sprout seeds or look for sources of local organic produce farmers markets are everywhere now. A lot more vegetables are available in health food stores and even some major chains, now carry organic foods.

Stop eating fast and deep fried, processed foods, preservatives, chemical dyes and artificial sweeteners.

DRUGS, & COSMETICS

Remember what you put on your body is absorbed into your skin. Shampoos, make- up, creams and all the other drugs we take can have long term detrimental side affects to our health. This includes prescription as well as illegal drugs. Know what you are taking or putting on your skin.

Most doctors use drugs to treat disease, it's all well and good and we are lucky to have some of these drugs. However, it's important to be well informed of any drug you are taking as well as to look at the alternatives; such as herbs, Chinese medicine as well as naturapathy, or homeopathy. One of the widest use of drugs is in athletics, steroid use is very dangerous and there is enough research out that proves this.

It's easy to get confused with so much information on nutrition, my intention is to make the reader aware of substances that can help you heal and resist the effects of toxins, stress, and aging in your body. As well as help you feel, perform better and improve the quality of your life. There is lot's to learn and we are discovering more powerful nutrients to help us every day. One of the most revolutionary products out is deer antler extract or Igf1 which is a pre-cursor to HGH (Human Growth Hormone) which I don't recommend without a professional doctor treating you. Deer antler not new, the Chinese have been using it for thousands of years as a tonic. It's sexual powers are just one facet, it actually contains all the amino acids, as well as promoting the human growth hormone (HGH) which can get our metabolism on track again. It's good for increasing muscle mass, reducing fat, building new cell tissue, giving a boost to our immune system, natural anti- inflammatory, good for arthritis and much, much more.

Being Mexican I have always eaten lots of onions, chiles and garlic. Eating more garlic, onions and ginger; not only help the food taste better, the benefits; like lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, blood clotting, antioxidants, aiding digestion are well known. There are more benefits coming out every day. We have not done much research with ginger in the states, but it is a great tonic as well and used very extensively in the Asian cooking.

If you drink coffee eat something with it, it's very damaging on an empty stomach. It can make your adrenals work extra. You can buy organic as well and on some days, switch to green tea, or herbal teas.

If you have been exposed to toxins or feel you have a high toxic overload. Take milk thistle to help your body recover, as well as the suggested vitamin program of Dr. Weil.

If you are generally weak or lacking energy, or you catch all the bugs that come around. Try a cleansing diet, work out, walk more, or see a specialist and find out why you have low energy. Experiment with Siberian ginseng, Dong Quai or cordyceps, change your diet. Give your body a break, try a fast by eating only raw foods one day a week, come off gently with soup. Move into raw juice fasting, or the master cleanser diet. Read some books, experiment with your body. Not all bodies are the same we each must find the perfect eating system for our needs.

This is all very simple and can be implemented into your lifestyle very easy, it just takes desire, remember don't get fanatical and go easy. Your body will go into shock if you jump into fasting too fast. Consult with your doctor, get informed have fun.

This is not an article to prescribe or diagnose any disease. Eating is the natural way to take good care of your body. Much of this information is suggested by Dr. Andrew Weil (buy his book "Spontaneous Healing") and John MacDougal MD. and not intended as medical advice.

One of Dr. Weils' best sayings is "Do not seek help from a conventional doctor for a condition that conventional medicine cannot treat, and do not rely on an alternative provider for a condition that conventional medicine can manage well".

As my good friend Dr. Bruce Parker says, "It's not what you eat, but what's eating you that counts".

For more information or other articles see http://www.molinamassage.com

Snowball! The Little Dog Who Broke The Nation's Heart! Animal Rescue Responds to Katrina

During the Katrina evacuation from the Superdome in New Orleans, thousands of people were pushed up against barricades trying to get a seat on a bus that would take them out of a hell hole. Amongst the pushing bodies a little boy held on to a small dog. The were both frightened, hungry and thirsty. Hope abounded when the busses finally started trickling in. Then adroitly a police officer confiscated the little boy's dog. Dogs are not allowed on the bus. As the dog was pried from his hands the child squealed in anguish "Snowball, Snowball.. " and was so overcome with grief he vomited.

Hurricane Katrina has devastated the Gulf Coast, and the human death toll is climbing. For survivors, concern over pets left behind only adds to their trauma. Some evacuees who had vehicles were able to take their pets with them, but thousands entered the Superdome being forced to leave the animals they love behind to fend for themselves. Left heart wrenchingly to face a terrifying hurricane, all alone.

For those animals who did not perish in the hell that was Katrina, their worst was yet to come. The water started rising. Many animals lost and confused started wandering the streets in a world they didn't recognize, hungry and thirsty and longing for their guardians.

A woman came rushing back to find her entire apartment reduced to oversized matchsticks, but the loss she expressed was only for her dog. "My dog was in the apartment!" she cried out and tears rolled down her face.

A white Labrador stuck in a tree, stranded and terrified looked confused as people just passed him by. But the rescue effort for humans does not have a big enough social heart to include our animals.

Dogs who were carefully rescued and held by families on top of rooftops were abandoned as humans were evacuated. Elderly residents who had stayed in water-logged residences for five days just to safeguard their beloved animals-- were forced to leave their animals behind to starve, perhaps to drown. An elderly man got into the boat, his dog patiently waiting for him to invite him in, but instead, he watched his owner float away. "Max" cried the man... "Max" he cried realizing his folly too late as his rescuers hurriedly moved them out of range.

A brave group of animal rescue organizations mobilized to find and rescue dogs, pets, horses and other animals. A shelter was discovered with animals still inside that had not had food or water for three days.

Frantic e-mails over the internet made one sick to the stomach. "Could someone go and feed my animals?" Not knowing if their animals were even alive after a week with no food or water, or if in fact their homes still existed, all they wanted was for things to be so simple... just feed the animals. A poignant picture of a cat in the open packed suitcase made one cry. If only they could have left the luggage and taken the cat.

Samson, a big white and brown boxer had been alone a week - he survived. He was left at a veterinary office when the hurricane hit and his family evacuated to Dallas without him. His mellow face was imperative enough for rescuers to offer to drive from other states to go and search shelters in the disaster area.

"THEY FOUND HIM!" yelled the posted message. "He was taken to Gonzalez with the other animals from the clinic. THANK YOU for your help and understanding. I am eternally grateful..." their infectious joy snatched up as a small consolation by all who needed something good to hold on to amidst all the sorrow.

A pet shelter was set up at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, right next to the Cajundome. Evacuees could bring their pets there for housing. They reiterated that they had "PLENTY of food, water, crates, cages, bedding and newspaper. BUT the owners are responsible for feeding, watering, walking and medicating their own pets." And then the cruelest cut of all.

Many of those pets who hugged close to their guardians and survived the hurricane, floods, hunger, thirst and evacuation, have been dealt one final blow by economic necessity. The have been given up for adoption. Their Guardians greater need? To rescue themselves right now.

A group of students at LSU set up an ad-hoc rescue center at the LSU AgCenter/Parker Coliseum housing animals in crates, the "tent home" for dogs. But rescuers can bring large numbers of animals and crate them while they are waiting to be reunited with their owners.

But money for animals is much harder to find. They need 1,000 more extra large air-kennels (open crates), animal supplies, towels, bowls, veterinary supplies, tick and flea medicine and experienced animal shelter volunteers.

"Please, donate at MuttShack Animal Rescue. We need more homes for animals! Every crate is one more life saved!" says Amanda St. John, Founder of MuttShack Animal Rescue.

Hopefully somewhere amidst the rows of crates filled with broken-hearted animals we will find Snowball.

God bless the little boy who jolted our national conscience and made us look repugnantly at ourselves and how we treat our animals...

Are American Twins - Majority Rule and Public Opinion, Sometimes Just a Couple of Dumbbells?

The idea that the majority shows the will of the people is a pretty good fix for now but it is not without its faults and weaknesses. That everyone decides to do something with one will is not now nor has ever been the promise of a perfect decision, direction or choice of any kind.

Looking way back in time we might start with the ancient Israelites who grew restless while roaming the wilderness. Moses took a bit more time than they expected to go up the mount to see God, and with a majority voice they decided to make a new God. Yeah, the old golden calf god, you remember. Moses returned and heads flew because of this little majority rule blunder.

The picture of people collectively exercising their will to their own hurt is repeated many times across the historical panorama. We could peruse many but let us note just a few of the more familiar ones. Getting a good leader with a whole new way of viewing things was one of the ideas of the German people not that long ago, enter Hitler. A wave of popular ascent swept Chinas youth not that long ago and the world watched in amazement as they tore every established institution to shreds and murdered and removed all those who didn't get into the sweep of Chairman Mao.

We pride ourselves in America with the safety measures we have in place to ensure that these kinds of mass hysteria won't fly in and wreck our system of government. Specific length of terms for public officials is one example. That leaves only one question, how has it been working?

Between 1880 and 1920 America went into a lynch mob mentality. Crowds of vigilante citizens managed to hang people as if they were mere Christmas ornaments on trees throughout this land. More people were lynched here in that short period than in all the lynching throughout the rest of the world combined, at any time in history. Churches were established in many of the places where these hangings took place. Apparently, the Bible teaching about not following a crowd to do an evil thing was not preached too very often. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment, Ex 23:2. The will of the majority was no threat to our government in these lynchings, but it became a very real threat to many people right under the shadow of the government.

For a much broader example of the failings of the will of the majority we can jump ahead to the nineteen seventies and something more familiar. In one moment a confident and eager majority voted for Mr. Richard Nixon on his second term as President. In a landslide victory unparalleled in our history Mr. Nixon sailed into his second term. Only a few short years later, the same majority angered and fed up, wanted to give Mr. Nixon his walking papers via the good old American boot in the... impeachment. This majority may have been the best example in our history of how wrong a whopping big majority can be.

Twin - public opinion has its history as well. As a lad, I recall sitting in front of a small black and white television as newsmen revealed the shocking result of a recent opinion poll. Public polling, so new that they had to explain to viewers how they had calculated the result. They said that the people were asked, who are the three people they trusted the most in their lives? The shock was that only a few years earlier the answers were almost totally contraverted. The poll concluded that the three people Americans trusted the most were first, some close family member, then their doctors and lastly their ministers or priests. Previous polls had the order in reverse. I can remember the lingering doubt this poll left with me, were Americans more fickle feathered than firmly founded?

Next to the right to vote, Americans pride themselves with their right to voice their opinion. In fact sometimes people use their right to vote to express their opinion. Who has not heard someone say that they cast their votes for former presidential candidate Ross Perot knowing he had no chance to win. The reason for this wasted ballot many said was to... state their opinion or its little pal...to make a statement.

Enter the computer, now we can cast our opinion around instantly at nearly the speed of light. Daily news shows are calling for our votes on everything from noted trials to whether we support euthanizing someone. All too often our opinions are far removed from the trend or the actual event, but that seems to have no effect on the outcome. One example would be our opinions on, Roe V Wade. Americans have been casting their opinions on this rumbling volcano for decades; the numbers have been crunched repeatedly in favor of pro life. Like war wounded, these opinions lie tattered and defeated in the trenches of indifference. Twins, majority rule and public opinion die a tragic death alone as liberals ride off to the victory party.

The only thing worse than having an unlearned, prejudiced or heavily biased opinion is to let our opinion be tainted by...public opinion! It happens regularly. Go with the flow opinions as are common to our countrymen as are pop culture trends that burn for a time and fizzle out just before the fashions and accessories for each have flooded the market. If a war doesn't seem popular anymore we start nay saying before the dust has settled only because the dust being kicked up at home is rising faster than the dust of our uncompleted battles. The offences cited, or the reasons for our battles notwithstanding.

Public opinion also fails to see the larger answer because it is often not asked the larger question. As an example consider how many cast their negative opinions on the heap against George Bush because, hey, where are those weapons of mass destruction? Little did we notice that right under our noses our forces had isolated, captured and detained one of the most deadly weapons of mass destruction to ever plague or threaten any people. That weapon of mass destruction is...Saddam Hussein.

Now we are being polled as to whether we think prayer should be allowed to open a session of congress or a sports event. Here is my opinion. Let's not stop praying about anything at anytime. We need all the prayer we can get in this country and at this time. Oh, and lets not forget to pray for the twins.

Vehicle GPS Navigation

Since it was introduced in 1973, by the U.S. Department of Defense for military purposes, GPS Navigation has come a long way. It used to be confusing and difficult to understand and operate and the price caused many people to forgo this technology in favor of the good old paper map. But now like many other technologies the consumer has the options to afford and understand GPS navigation for the multitude of vehicles available today.

Global position satellite technology uses 24 orbiting satellites with very accurate clocks. The timing between your GPS receiver and at least three different satellites allows a distance to be measured, then by using triangulation and distance mathematics your location can be accurately determined. But the consumer doesn't need to know all of this, they just need to know the antenna needs to be in a clear view of the sky and to keep the batteries charged on your unit.

As with most technologies the hardware gets smaller, which means GPS devices can be installed in a multitude of places. Most cell phones now have a GPS receiver built in, and watches too, it is being used to track wildlife, pets, stolen vehicles, fleet delivery trucks and your even your kids! Even with this smaller size the technology can also include some of these new fun features; hands-free calling, MP-3 music, bluetooth, 3-D street level mapping, real time traffic, touch screens, FM transmitters, fuel pricing and weather reports.

Personally, I have 3 different systems I use; car, motorcycle and hiking. I have to admit I love the Garmin products especially their bright screens and simple menus. On my motorcycle I go on out of the way roads and on one trip the fuel light came on so I had 40 miles to find some gas. On my Garmin 376c all I had to do was select "find closest gas station" and there it was only 20 miles away, but it was on a side road I never would have taken! If you are hiker take a portable gps unit with you, because when you are ready to turn around and head back to the car there is a function called "bread crumb trail". This feature shows you exactly the route you just walked and will lead you right back on the same exact trail!

Failures Would Be Surprised to Learn That Winners Failed Many More Times

Thomas Edison said it and I believe it: "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

There are more losers than winners in the game of life because losers many times are people who tried something with all their effort and failed. Because they failed rather than succeeded, they became reluctant to try again. Thomas Edison was not one of those people.

One of the first lessons athletes are taught in competition is that when you give your full effort and are knocked down, you must get up and try again, and again, and again until you succeed. Once you are successful one time, you can hone your talents and use your skills to succeed again and again.

One of the critical areas of life where people fail at an amazing rate is in their relationships. Once involved in a relationship, when faced with challenges and hardships, many more people decide to move on to another partner rather than work through the problems and hardships with the partner they have. There are reasons why marriages fail and giving up too soon is one of them.

Thomas Edison is arguably one of the greatest inventors in the history of the world. He is certainly one of the most prolific, holding 1,093 United States patents in his name as well as patents in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Edison would be dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park" for the impact of his inventions, which included originating the concept and implementation of electric-power generation and distribution to homes, businesses and factories, a crucial development in the modern industrialized world. He would create the first industrial research laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ.

Edison, who was home schooled by his mother, spent only 3 months in formal schooling before his teacher declared him "addled" and unfit for learning. His schoolteacher would go on to no great acclaim. Edison would patent the stock ticker, phonograph, fluoroscope (x-ray machine), and the first commercially practical incandescent light (light bulb) among his 1,093 patents, and form 14 companies (including General Electric, one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world). Edison virtually created the electric industry.

One account claims that Edison and his associates tried 5,000+ different elements before using a lower current electricity, a small carbonized filament and an improved vacuum inside a globe to produce the light bulb, the first reliable, long-lasting source of light that would literally light up the world.

The business world is littered with entrepreneurs who started and bankrupted 1, 2 and even 3 companies before starting a 4th company and succeeding beyond their wildest dreams. These entrepreneurs got knocked down, got back up, did not repeat their mistakes and moved on.

Thomas Edison also said this: "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." Consistent, persistent effort combined with learning from mistakes is a big factor in overcoming failure. To Edison's credit, failure was not a word used in his vocabulary.

As Mark Twain said, Edison "never allowed schooling to interfere with his education."

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Denial of Trademark Registration

When applying for a trademark you may run into some difficulties that may cause your trademark application to be denied. If you still face denial of your application, you have options to appeal the decision.

Reasons for the Denial of a Trademark Application

If you submit an incomplete or poorly developed application, you are almost guaranteed to receive a denial. Your trademark attorney can help you draft your application to avoid this pitfall, but there are several other issues that can result in the denial of an application.

The most common reasons for trademark denials include:

the presence of a similar, pre-existing trademark already registered; your mark is too generic; your mark consists of immoral, disparaging, or deceptive matter; your mark contains the name, image, or signature identifying a living individual without their written consent; your mark contains the name, image, or signature of a deceased President of the United States while his widow is still alive, unless consent is given by the widow;and the mark is used solely as a trade name.

How to Respond to the Denial of a Trademark Application

If your trademark application is denied you will receive notice from the USPTO in the form of an Office Action. The notice of denial will include reasons for the decision, which your trademark attorney can review and discuss with you. You are given a written notice of the time you have in which to submit a response to the decision, typically 6 months.

At this time, your trademark attorney can help you investigate the reasons for the denial of your trademark application. This information is a critical part of formulating your response, as it needs to address the problems cited in the denial notice.

After your initial response to the denial of your trademark application is filed, the USPTO will issue another decision. Should you receive a subsequent denial, you will need to reformulate the mark before reissuing a response.

Hiring a California Trademark Attorney

It's important to have the guidance of a professional when you are applying for a trademark. Having the advice of a trusted trademark attorney from the start will help you avoid errors in the trademark application process and avoid immediate denial. If you find yourself facing denial of your application, attorneys can help you determine the cause and help rectify it in your response.

How To Pick A Great Drug Rehab - Compare Aftercare Therapies, They Tell You A Lot About The Quality

Once you have decided to get help for a drinking or drug abuse problem and decided that the you really need inpatient care at a drug or alcohol rehab, you still need to choose a quality drug rehab, and you still have a very tough decision to make when evaluating between the hundreds of drug rehabs likely available in your area alone.

Most drug and alcohol rehabs are run by committed professionals and do offer a wide and comprehensive program designed to offer the most benefit to the recovery process. Unfortunately, some exist for little reason other than to collect your admissions check, and will offer very little therapy of value.

How can you pick a good drug rehab?

Thankfully, there are a few ways to determine if a rehab under consideration does offer quality programming, and one criterion you can use for evaluation is the level of aftercare programming as offered by the facility.

Drug or alcohol treatment at a residential rehab facility should never end with the culmination of a residential stay, and drug rehab treatment should occur over two separate and distinct but equally important phases. The first stage occurs while you are a resident of the facility, and is the more intensive phase; the second or "aftercare" phase of treatment occurs only after you have left the facility, yet return regularly for continuing aftercare therapy and education.

The importance of aftercare

This aftercare makes an incredible difference, and one of the best indicators of long term success and sobriety is a committed and enthusiastic maintenance of aftercare therapy. Aftercare may include continuing group peer support sessions, will likely involve some form of continuing 12 steps style meetings, and should also include occasional sessions with a therapist or psychologist.

Aftercare therapy assists recovering addicts reentering the community to maintain the lessons and teachings of rehab even in the face of a different daily reality. Aftercare helps those people struggling with sobriety to consolidate relapse prevention plans even when faced with mounting temptation and availability; and when aftercare includes individual sessions with a therapist, a relapse prevention plan can be modified on the recommendations of a professional to meet the demands of temptation as they occur in the initial months of abstinence.

Aftercare is very important, has a big influence over success rates and should be a priority; but of course it also costs a drug rehab money to run aftercare programs. Drug and alcohol rehabs that exist only to collect your admissions check will have little interest in maintaining a long term commitment to your sobriety, while quality facilities do endeavor to treat each patient successfully. One way to differentiate between the two is in the level of aftercare programming available and offered.

Find out what exactly you are entitled to

While all drug and alcohol rehabs will pay lip service to the concept, find out what specific aftercare therapies you will be entitled to, and for how long. If all that is offered are occasional 12 steps meetings, this indicates a low commitment to recovery. If the rehab maintains a more intensive therapeutic involvement with patients after release, the contrary is true, and this likely indicates a more quality facility.

Drug and alcohol rehabs are expensive and demand a significant time and energy commitment, and you don't want to waste your time at one that offers you a limited chance at sobriety. One way to differentiate between rehabs is the level and intensity of aftercare as offered. Aftercare is not the only thing, but it is important, and how different drug and alcohol rehabs handle aftercare can tell you a lot about the quality of the program in general.

Quick-Service and the Ritz - Separated at Birth?

Horst Schultze, formerly of the Ritz Carlton, recently spoke at Dine America. He noted three keys to guest loyalty: timeliness, defect-free, and service. Ritz Carlton created their legacy based on these three principles--they charge higher prices for that legacy and guests continue to rave about them. Looking into our industry, drive-through or dine-in, the same legacy can be created using similar components: speed, accuracy, and hospitality.

Whether your company practices timeliness in a hotel setting or speed in a quick-service setting, all guests want the same results: their requests/orders completed in a timely manner. Build all your systems with speed in mind--what can we do to deliver the orders more quickly? Don't swing the pendulum too far, however. Too much speed causes mistakes to be made or guests to be pushed through the process.

Defect-free in any industry is a must. Anytime you purchase a product or service, you want it to be right. Accuracy is a must to build TRUST. Repeating the order and doublechecking it ensures it's correct and the guest soon trusts you without looking in the bag or slowing the line down. Institute systems such as one straw per drink, condiment requests while ordering, and so on to ensure you don't forget something the guest may need or hadn't thought of yet.

Finally, add a dose of hospitality. Lose the canned "Next." "Can I take your order?" "No problem." and other phrases. Show the guest you are interested in them--think long-lost friend vs. someone you care less about. The bellman at the Ritz greets arriving guests while discreetly obtaining their name, for example, "My name is TJ and you are..." They then radio it to the front desk so as the guest arrives to check-in, the front desk agent already knows their name.

While that system is likely difficult in the quick-serve setting, your team can certainly learn guests' names/orders and begin personalizing the service. What kind of stealth systems can you put in place to wow the guest and add some hospitality? As we move into summer, wow your guests by focusing on the same three components as the two-time Malcolm Baldrige Quality Service Award Winner, the Ritz-Carlton: timeliness (speed), defect-free (accuracy), and service (hospitality) and you'll soon be creating a service legacy of your own.

What Are Computer Forensic Experts?

In the rapid growth of the Data Forensics field we see a number of "want to-be's" entering the arena daily. Private investigation firms claim they have sufficient computer knowledge to conduct computer investigations. Data recovery companies claim they can investigate unlicensed and present eDiscovery documents in court. Be careful here... not every geek in town who has data recovery experience, is an experienced investigator and not every Private Investigator knows how to search all the different allocations of the hard drive or read a report from the router.

In order to be a good Data Forensic Investigator a person should be well versed in both arenas and have the following three main requirements:

The First Requirement is a private investigator license, both Nevada and California require this, practicing without a license can have serious consequences.

The second requirement is to have computer training certifications and field experience in computer forensics. It is not enough to be licensed as a private investigator without extensive computer knowledge because as a computer forensic expert you are expected to be able to offer expert computer advice and have the understanding of how data is stored, collected, sent and copied.

Finally, the third requirement is to have investigative knowledge, background and experience. Most private investigators need to have at least 10,500 hours of investigation experience. If you don't know how to think like an investigator, then how can you be one? A private investigator or a person with 10,500 hours of investigation experience will know how to follow the chain of custody protocols and will also know how to accurately document and correlate incidents to evidence.

In conclusion, before you hire an expert in data forensics and recovery make sure you check that they are compliant with the state licensing regulations, as well as have the experience in both the fields of computer sciences and investigations.

How to Avoid Foreclosure

Foreclosure is something that we all strive to avoid. No one gets a mortgage with the intention to default on it causing the lender to foreclose. But the thing is that life happens and sometimes you just cannot pay the mortgage payments. This could be due to any number of factors, job loss, death in the family or even an accident of some sort.

It is not only you that want to avoid foreclosure the lender doe not want this to happen either. They make their money off of the interest you have to pay on the mortgage and if they need to foreclose they will not be getting this interest so most lenders will be willing to work with you and your circumstances to keep your mortgage moving along.

If however they do not see you getting through whatever trouble you seem to be having at the moment then they probably will not bother even trying to help you but if they think you are worth the risk they will take it.

The only way to get your lender working with you is to let them know what is going on. If you are having trouble meeting your payments tell them right away and tell them why. If you wait until you get way behind on your payments then you will lose all credibility and any trust that the lender had in you will be lost.

As soon as your mortgage payments gets behind by as many as 16 days then they will give you a call to see what the hold up is and if there is any way that you can get the account paid up to the right amount.

Once a month has past and they have not heard from you and you have not made a payment they are going to put more effort to get in touch with you. The first time they may have got you or may not have but now they will keep calling until they get you on the phone. After 90 days you could be dealing with foreclosure.

Throughout this time frame the lender will have sent you letters letting you know what is coming and that you have broken the terms of your contract. The first of these letters will go out around day 45. Your house would actually be sold as soon as day 150. This will happen at auction. Just when this will take place depends where you live as different states go about foreclosures in different ways. It is important to note that some states will even let you purchase your home back from them after foreclosure. There will be a period called a redemption period.

If you are having trouble paying your mortgage payments on time talk to your lender about a repayment plan. This is especially handy if you only missed due to a temporary problem like an accident that cost you a lot in medical bills. Some lenders will allow you to pay off the missed payment over two or three months so ask.

A flexible mortgage lender might even be willing to rework the terms of your mortgage in order to lessen your monthly payments. To do this they will have to lengthen the amortization schedule. Lenders can even roll the missed payments back into the loan and lower your interest rate. This can go a long way to make paying your mortgage possible even for those having financial difficulties.

There is another rather unpopular option and that is a hard money loan. These loans do not have great terms, in fact they have high interest rate and tons of fees but the can be your saving grace. These types of loans can give you the time that you need in order to sell your home before the lender forecloses on it.

A somewhat less likely scenario is that you sell your home and even if you get less than the amount of money that you owe the bank will allow it and accept the money that you get an forgive the rest of the loan

High Blood Pressure and Diabetes: What You Should Know

Fact: Two out of three diabetics suffer from high blood pressure. This is a condition that under no circumstances should be taken lightly, as the complications that it can bring are very serious. Along with your diabetes, you must keep your blood pressure levels under control. It is vital for your health. Let's find out how you can do just that by understanding what high blood pressure is and how it affects you health.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the force that the blood exerts against the arteries is too high. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers:

Systolic Pressure: This is the pressure of the blood as the heart is beating. Your systolic pressure will always be a higher number than your diastolic pressure.

Diastolic Pressure: This is the pressure of the blood as the heart rests, in between beats. This will always be a lower number compared to your systolic pressure, as your heart is not beating.

What Are The Complications Related To High Blood Pressure?

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a serious matter, and the complications that result from it are also very serious and could potentially threaten your life. They include:

Heart Failure

Diabetic Retinopathy (Eye Disease)

Stroke

Nephropathy

What Are The Symptoms?

One scary fact is that high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Some people find out as they experience heart, eye or kidney problems. Because diabetes can cause high blood pressure, it is especially important for you to have your blood pressure checked every time you visit your health care professional, or at least four times a year. There are also home blood pressure monitors available on the market, which you could purchase and keep track of your blood pressure levels at home, very similar to the way you keep track of your blood sugar levels. Always stay in contact with your doctor and let him/her know if you notice any dramatic changes in your blood pressure.

What Is The Treatment?

Once again and very much like blood sugar control, lifestyle changes play a huge role in maintaining your blood pressure levels at a healthy range. It is important to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly (at least thirty minutes a day) and loose weight if you need to. If you smoke, it is important to quit. If you drink alcohol, make sure you limit yourself to no more than one or two servings a day. Always discuss with your doctor the lifestyle changes that fit you best, and come up with a daily plan or routine that will help you achieve your needed goals.

If lifestyle changes are not enough to bring your blood pressure down to a healthy level, your doctor may also prescribe medication. Medications used to treat hypertension include diuretics, beta blockers, alpha blockers, vasodilators, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin antagonists and ACE inhibitors.

Conclusion

The relationship between high blood pressure and diabetes is a dangerous one that could bring along serious, life threatening complications, as we have learned. Always remember that your healthy decisions and lifestyle changes could literally mean the difference between a long healthy life or a short one. With that in mind, prepare yourself to control high blood pressure and diabetes, and prepare yourself to live happy and healthy for a very long time.

For more information on diabetes, diabetes causes, complications and treatment, visit http://www.yourlifewithdiabetes.com