Death Valley, Nevada is called that because nothing grows there and the reason nothing grows there is because it never rains in Death Valley.
In the winter of 2004 it rained in Death Valley. It got seven inches of rain.
In the spring of 2005 the floor of Death Valley was covered with plant life.
People came from miles to witness this phenomenon that they may never see again, plant life in Death Valley – proving that the plant life has always been there, Death Valley was alive.
It was just asleep. It just needed the right circumstances to blossom. The seeds were there waiting for the right circumstances to flourish. People are like this.
If the conditions are right they will flourish, they will find their true calling and begin to live, not just exist. We need to think about Death Valley when we’re teaching our children.
They have the creative seeds in them. They just need the right conditions to flourish, to grow, to become something special and it’s up to us to make those conditions just right for them.
It’s also important to realize that no matter what age you are, you have the creative seeds in you; you just need the right conditions to let them flourish.
Thomas Edison said, “People would be astounded if they did all the things they were capable of doing.”
Let your creative juices flow. Challenge yourself, do something with your life. Don’t die with your music still in you.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Money Can Buy Happiness
Money might buy "happiness," but it doesn't seem to contribute to people's enjoyment.
To answer the question of whether money makes people happy, researchers looked at a Gallup poll of 136,000 people from 132 countries, a sample representing 96 percent of the world's population. Survey respondents disclosed information including their income, standard of living, what kind of things they owned and which of their psychological needs were being satisfied.
While there was a clear correlation between personal and national income and respondents claiming general life satisfaction, having more money was only weakly linked to enjoying day-to-day life. Instead, other factors, such as having friends, being independent and having a fulfilling job, proved much more essential to positive feelings at any given moment.
Nevertheless, there is probably some wisdom in the old saying: "Those who think money can't buy happiness just don't know where to shop."
www.worldwidebc.com
To answer the question of whether money makes people happy, researchers looked at a Gallup poll of 136,000 people from 132 countries, a sample representing 96 percent of the world's population. Survey respondents disclosed information including their income, standard of living, what kind of things they owned and which of their psychological needs were being satisfied.
While there was a clear correlation between personal and national income and respondents claiming general life satisfaction, having more money was only weakly linked to enjoying day-to-day life. Instead, other factors, such as having friends, being independent and having a fulfilling job, proved much more essential to positive feelings at any given moment.
Nevertheless, there is probably some wisdom in the old saying: "Those who think money can't buy happiness just don't know where to shop."
www.worldwidebc.com
Wally The Cab Driver
Everyone needs to stop quacking and to soar like Eagles.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar -
No one can make you serve customers well.
That's because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver.
While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card.
It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee?
I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'
My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'
Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.
Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts..
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always: In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard on the radio one day that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''
That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'That was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal.. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.
I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us?
Smile, and the whole world smiles with you... The ball is in our hands!
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar
Have a nice day, unless you already have made other plans.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar -
No one can make you serve customers well.
That's because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver.
While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card.
It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee?
I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'
My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'
Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.
Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts..
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always: In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard on the radio one day that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''
That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'That was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal.. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.
I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us?
Smile, and the whole world smiles with you... The ball is in our hands!
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar
Have a nice day, unless you already have made other plans.
Everything You Do Matters
Most people don’t realize the power of those words. They don’t realize that everything they do, everything they say, every choice they make matters to someone, somewhere, and they may not even know it. And I can prove it.
When I was twelve years old I used to sell popcorn at the baseball games in my hometown. I didn’t make any money for it, but I love baseball, so it worked out. I’d put the concession box around my neck and shout, “Popcorn, get your hot popcorn.”
One night during a game I noticed a couple at the top of the stands having an argument. It was getting heated, about to turn ugly. I walked past them going, “Hot popcorn, get your hot popcorn.”
I stopped right in front of them, too the box off, sat it down in front of me and I checked every box of popcorn. Then I put it back on and went, “Popcorn. Get your popcorn.” I left out the word ‘hot’ because every box I checked was cold.
And the way I did it made them laugh so hard they forgot what they were arguing about. I walked past them thirty-minutes later and they were snuggled up enjoying the game.
They left that night holding hands. The point of the story is this: I ran into that guy seven years later. He knew my family and he knew of me. And he said that what I did that night saved his marriage.
He said they were on the verge of breaking up for good until I made them laugh so hard they realized that what they were arguing about wasn’t worth breaking up their marriage over.
They were still married seven years later and had three children.
Today they’re both in their seventies, still married; they have six children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren – None of which would have happened if I hadn’t done what I did that night at the baseball game.
Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will never know me, but they owe their very existence to what I did that night when I was twelve years old. EVERYTHING YOU DO – MATTERS. Don’t forget it.
www.worldwidebc.com
When I was twelve years old I used to sell popcorn at the baseball games in my hometown. I didn’t make any money for it, but I love baseball, so it worked out. I’d put the concession box around my neck and shout, “Popcorn, get your hot popcorn.”
One night during a game I noticed a couple at the top of the stands having an argument. It was getting heated, about to turn ugly. I walked past them going, “Hot popcorn, get your hot popcorn.”
I stopped right in front of them, too the box off, sat it down in front of me and I checked every box of popcorn. Then I put it back on and went, “Popcorn. Get your popcorn.” I left out the word ‘hot’ because every box I checked was cold.
And the way I did it made them laugh so hard they forgot what they were arguing about. I walked past them thirty-minutes later and they were snuggled up enjoying the game.
They left that night holding hands. The point of the story is this: I ran into that guy seven years later. He knew my family and he knew of me. And he said that what I did that night saved his marriage.
He said they were on the verge of breaking up for good until I made them laugh so hard they realized that what they were arguing about wasn’t worth breaking up their marriage over.
They were still married seven years later and had three children.
Today they’re both in their seventies, still married; they have six children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren – None of which would have happened if I hadn’t done what I did that night at the baseball game.
Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will never know me, but they owe their very existence to what I did that night when I was twelve years old. EVERYTHING YOU DO – MATTERS. Don’t forget it.
www.worldwidebc.com
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Go green
Sarah Dietze
Isn't paying lip service to the environment a standard part of every college application essay? Prepare to put your money where your mouth is, as the following green cleaning products make a serious economic and ecological impact.
Tree huggers tout baking soda and vinegar as replacements for every cleaning product in your cupboard. Yet it has to be said – some homemade cleansers simply aren't effective enough and aren't worth the prep work. The following are a couple of recipes I've tested on my own. They've managed to get red wine stains out of clothes and remove crusted-over mac and cheese from countless stove tops. The savings are as real as the results; all prices listed are for brand-name products at Target.
Before beginning, invest in a few empty spray bottles from the dollar store. Better yet, save old Windex bottles and jelly jars to maximize your savings and minimize your impact.
All-Purpose and Window Cleaner
Here, recipes vary widely, but two basic ingredients remain the same: vinegar and water. Planet Green will tell you to add a couple of drops of dish washing detergent to cut the residue left by Windex, but it will leave a film. A mixture of half vinegar and half water works on both windows and hard surfaces. A 32-ounce bottle of Windex typically costs $2.69, while a gallon of Heinz vinegar retails for $3.89. The savings? $1.71 per bottle.
After investing in a gallon of vinegar, check out 74 little known uses for the stuff (which is more than the 57 varieties Heinz boasts of sauces and such).
Furniture Polish
Particleboard from Ikea hardly deserves a mirror-like shine. Still, a few drops of jojoba or olive oil added to a cup of vinegar, cleans and protects like Pledge claims it does. It's amazing that this dressing-like concoction doesn't harm wood, but I've used it on my great-great-aunt's hand-me-down furniture with no ill effect. I highly recommend jojoba rather than olive oil here, as the waxy finish provides momentary protection from spills. Store the mixture in a glass jar, and shake before using. Assuming you already have olive or some sort of cooking oil on hand, this will cost just 12 cents to make versus $2.85 for a 12.5-ounce can of Pledge.
Scouring Powder
Versatile and inexpensive, baking soda doesn't deserve banishment to the back of your refrigerator. Mix it with a bit of water to scrub sinks, counters and stove tops. Sprinkle a half cup or so in the toilet as an alternative to Lysol, then add a bit of vinegar for disinfecting power. Baking soda can be difficult to rinse away, but the same is true of Soft Scrub (which sells for $2.79 per 32 ounces compared to $1.18 for the same amount of baking soda)
Laundry detergent
While making laundry detergent is more labor-intensive than for any other item on this list, the savings are a substantial reward. Listen and clean up -- in more ways than one.
Trent Hamm of The Simple Dollar has one of the most popular recipes on the Internet. He estimates his cost at 3 cents per load, and his savings at $0.25 a load over Tide. Unfortunately, he also mixes each batch in a five-gallon bucket that would dominate the average dorm room. Lindsay Edmonds at Passionate Homemaking offers a scaled-down version using castile soap, washing soda, salt and vinegar. Washing soda is easier to find in independent grocery stores or regional chains. I keep each batch in a recycled Arizona tea jug. The geisha illustration on the front brightens my day as its contents brighten my clothes.
Fabric Softener
Homemade detergent has one downside: if you use too much soap, your clothes become both stiff and dingy. Traditional fabric softener, whether in liquid or dryer sheet form, will only further coat your clothes, often with animal fat. A cup of vinegar added to the rinse cycle cuts residue, costs only 49 cents per load and is more appealing, vegan or not.
If static cling is an issue, try a set of dryer balls or a bit of foil in the dryer. A twin pack of dryer balls will set you back $4.99, compared to $4.29 for 120 loads of Snuggle. The spiky spheres fluff and aerate clothing and last indefinitely.
Air/Fabric Refresher
What did collegiate males do before Febreze? Procter & Gamble is well aware that it's cornered the market on "linen & sky" and "meadows & rain," charging $3.49 for a 16-ounce bottle. Use your all-purpose vinegar cleaner as Febreze, either in the air or on fabrics. The acidic scent and offending odors disappear as the mixture dries.
towels for additional savings.
Ultimately, all of the above recipes should help save time and money. If you have to spend hours scrubbing, either modify the recipe or ditch it altogether. While you're at it, try using giveaway t-shirts instead of paper
Isn't paying lip service to the environment a standard part of every college application essay? Prepare to put your money where your mouth is, as the following green cleaning products make a serious economic and ecological impact.
Tree huggers tout baking soda and vinegar as replacements for every cleaning product in your cupboard. Yet it has to be said – some homemade cleansers simply aren't effective enough and aren't worth the prep work. The following are a couple of recipes I've tested on my own. They've managed to get red wine stains out of clothes and remove crusted-over mac and cheese from countless stove tops. The savings are as real as the results; all prices listed are for brand-name products at Target.
Before beginning, invest in a few empty spray bottles from the dollar store. Better yet, save old Windex bottles and jelly jars to maximize your savings and minimize your impact.
All-Purpose and Window Cleaner
Here, recipes vary widely, but two basic ingredients remain the same: vinegar and water. Planet Green will tell you to add a couple of drops of dish washing detergent to cut the residue left by Windex, but it will leave a film. A mixture of half vinegar and half water works on both windows and hard surfaces. A 32-ounce bottle of Windex typically costs $2.69, while a gallon of Heinz vinegar retails for $3.89. The savings? $1.71 per bottle.
After investing in a gallon of vinegar, check out 74 little known uses for the stuff (which is more than the 57 varieties Heinz boasts of sauces and such).
Furniture Polish
Particleboard from Ikea hardly deserves a mirror-like shine. Still, a few drops of jojoba or olive oil added to a cup of vinegar, cleans and protects like Pledge claims it does. It's amazing that this dressing-like concoction doesn't harm wood, but I've used it on my great-great-aunt's hand-me-down furniture with no ill effect. I highly recommend jojoba rather than olive oil here, as the waxy finish provides momentary protection from spills. Store the mixture in a glass jar, and shake before using. Assuming you already have olive or some sort of cooking oil on hand, this will cost just 12 cents to make versus $2.85 for a 12.5-ounce can of Pledge.
Scouring Powder
Versatile and inexpensive, baking soda doesn't deserve banishment to the back of your refrigerator. Mix it with a bit of water to scrub sinks, counters and stove tops. Sprinkle a half cup or so in the toilet as an alternative to Lysol, then add a bit of vinegar for disinfecting power. Baking soda can be difficult to rinse away, but the same is true of Soft Scrub (which sells for $2.79 per 32 ounces compared to $1.18 for the same amount of baking soda)
Laundry detergent
While making laundry detergent is more labor-intensive than for any other item on this list, the savings are a substantial reward. Listen and clean up -- in more ways than one.
Trent Hamm of The Simple Dollar has one of the most popular recipes on the Internet. He estimates his cost at 3 cents per load, and his savings at $0.25 a load over Tide. Unfortunately, he also mixes each batch in a five-gallon bucket that would dominate the average dorm room. Lindsay Edmonds at Passionate Homemaking offers a scaled-down version using castile soap, washing soda, salt and vinegar. Washing soda is easier to find in independent grocery stores or regional chains. I keep each batch in a recycled Arizona tea jug. The geisha illustration on the front brightens my day as its contents brighten my clothes.
Fabric Softener
Homemade detergent has one downside: if you use too much soap, your clothes become both stiff and dingy. Traditional fabric softener, whether in liquid or dryer sheet form, will only further coat your clothes, often with animal fat. A cup of vinegar added to the rinse cycle cuts residue, costs only 49 cents per load and is more appealing, vegan or not.
If static cling is an issue, try a set of dryer balls or a bit of foil in the dryer. A twin pack of dryer balls will set you back $4.99, compared to $4.29 for 120 loads of Snuggle. The spiky spheres fluff and aerate clothing and last indefinitely.
Air/Fabric Refresher
What did collegiate males do before Febreze? Procter & Gamble is well aware that it's cornered the market on "linen & sky" and "meadows & rain," charging $3.49 for a 16-ounce bottle. Use your all-purpose vinegar cleaner as Febreze, either in the air or on fabrics. The acidic scent and offending odors disappear as the mixture dries.
towels for additional savings.
Ultimately, all of the above recipes should help save time and money. If you have to spend hours scrubbing, either modify the recipe or ditch it altogether. While you're at it, try using giveaway t-shirts instead of paper
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Why Low-Fat Diet Caused Obesity Epidemic by Jonny Bowden
Why Low-Fat Caused the Obesity Epidemic by Jonny Bowden
Eating is a way to deal with stress. Being overweight is stressful. This is an interesting story I found. Check it out.
When you have something as massive and scary as the obesity epidemic, it's hard to point the finger at one single element and say, "that's why it happened." But however you slice it, the low-fat movement played a part in the epidemic.
After World War ll, heart disease rates began to rise precipitously. In the 1970s, a committee led by Senator George McGovern issued a report advising Americans to lower their risk of heart disease by eating less fat. This recommendation was based on evidence that linked diet to heart disease. Unfortunately, the report wrongly singled out saturated fat as the wicked element in our diet responsible for all our problems. This was the beginning of the low-fat movement.
And of the obesity epidemic.
It's more than a coincidence that they happened at the same time, and here's why.
Once dietary fat was "identified" as the chief culprit in heart disease -- a huge case of mistaken identity in my opinion -- food manufacturers sprang into action. The race was on to produce low-fat and no-fat foods, and to engineer the saturated fat out of everything.
This, in turn, led to a slew of "food-like" products, manufactured and processed edible substances bearing little resemblance to whole foods, and to idiotic experiments like margarine. Add to this witches' brew the invention of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (to replace saturated fat) and you had the perfect dietary storm.
You see, if you're a food manufacturer and you're removing the fat from some food, you need to replace it with something else or it won't taste very good. So, we wound up with a slew of low-fat products loaded with sugar. And since high-fructose corn syrup was now available cheaply, adding sweetness was an easy thing to do.
So easy, in fact, that high-fructose corn syrup started showing up in hundreds -- if not thousands -- of food products.
At the same time as all of this was happening, American started eating more of everything. This, too, is no coincidence. Here's why: If I give you a carton of Domino's sugar and tell you to eat till your heart's content, you won't consume very much. Same thing with butter. But if I put them together, something magical happens. Combine sugar and fat and every one of your evolutionary buttons are pushed. Manufacturers know this. Cravings get activated, brain chemistry starts firing, you can literally eat this stuff 'till you bust.
And we did.
The whole low-fat movement coincided with a huge spike in food processing and those who process and manufacture food products for a living have one goal -- getting people to eat more of their products. That's easy to do -- just engineer combinations of sugar and a bit of fat, which worked really well with the whole "low-fat" philosophy.
As long as it didn't have too much fat, you could eat it, right?
Meanwhile, fat -- the one macronutrient that keeps you full and satisfied -- was lacking from most of what we were eating. Sugar, the one element that keeps cravings going, was plentiful. Portion sizes in general collectively took a shot of steroids, as the whole country decided that super sizing was its birthright.
Low fat has a lot to answer for. It may not be the only reason we're experiencing one of the worst health epidemics in modern times, but it sure is one of the biggest.
Want to ditch the low-fat foods? Then learn how to eat healthy and distinguish serving versus portion size.
For more information from Jonny, visit his website.
Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
Eating is a way to deal with stress. Being overweight is stressful. This is an interesting story I found. Check it out.
When you have something as massive and scary as the obesity epidemic, it's hard to point the finger at one single element and say, "that's why it happened." But however you slice it, the low-fat movement played a part in the epidemic.
After World War ll, heart disease rates began to rise precipitously. In the 1970s, a committee led by Senator George McGovern issued a report advising Americans to lower their risk of heart disease by eating less fat. This recommendation was based on evidence that linked diet to heart disease. Unfortunately, the report wrongly singled out saturated fat as the wicked element in our diet responsible for all our problems. This was the beginning of the low-fat movement.
And of the obesity epidemic.
It's more than a coincidence that they happened at the same time, and here's why.
Once dietary fat was "identified" as the chief culprit in heart disease -- a huge case of mistaken identity in my opinion -- food manufacturers sprang into action. The race was on to produce low-fat and no-fat foods, and to engineer the saturated fat out of everything.
This, in turn, led to a slew of "food-like" products, manufactured and processed edible substances bearing little resemblance to whole foods, and to idiotic experiments like margarine. Add to this witches' brew the invention of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (to replace saturated fat) and you had the perfect dietary storm.
You see, if you're a food manufacturer and you're removing the fat from some food, you need to replace it with something else or it won't taste very good. So, we wound up with a slew of low-fat products loaded with sugar. And since high-fructose corn syrup was now available cheaply, adding sweetness was an easy thing to do.
So easy, in fact, that high-fructose corn syrup started showing up in hundreds -- if not thousands -- of food products.
At the same time as all of this was happening, American started eating more of everything. This, too, is no coincidence. Here's why: If I give you a carton of Domino's sugar and tell you to eat till your heart's content, you won't consume very much. Same thing with butter. But if I put them together, something magical happens. Combine sugar and fat and every one of your evolutionary buttons are pushed. Manufacturers know this. Cravings get activated, brain chemistry starts firing, you can literally eat this stuff 'till you bust.
And we did.
The whole low-fat movement coincided with a huge spike in food processing and those who process and manufacture food products for a living have one goal -- getting people to eat more of their products. That's easy to do -- just engineer combinations of sugar and a bit of fat, which worked really well with the whole "low-fat" philosophy.
As long as it didn't have too much fat, you could eat it, right?
Meanwhile, fat -- the one macronutrient that keeps you full and satisfied -- was lacking from most of what we were eating. Sugar, the one element that keeps cravings going, was plentiful. Portion sizes in general collectively took a shot of steroids, as the whole country decided that super sizing was its birthright.
Low fat has a lot to answer for. It may not be the only reason we're experiencing one of the worst health epidemics in modern times, but it sure is one of the biggest.
Want to ditch the low-fat foods? Then learn how to eat healthy and distinguish serving versus portion size.
For more information from Jonny, visit his website.
Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
How will we pay for healthcare? by Kelly Phillips Erb
As the House prepares for a vote on health care reform, the overwhelming question is how to pay the estimated $940 billion price tag on the plan. The obvious -- but not so politically popular -- answer is to raise taxes. Even better? Raise taxes so taxpayers don't notice it as much by including it in mandatory withholding.
That explains why the current proposal in the House under HR 3590 would add an increase in the form of payroll taxes. The bill, as it stands currently, would add .9% to the Medicare payroll tax to those individual taxpayers earning over $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing joint tax returns). That would bring the total tax rate to 2.35%.
The current Medicare payroll tax rate is 1.45% and is part of what we know as FICA, or Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax. The tax is imposed on employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare. Since it's imposed on only those who work, the tax has been quite controversial. Unearned income, including interest, stock dividends, and capital gains such as profits from the sale of stock or real estate, are not affected by this tax.
An alternative proposal would increase the tax rate and extend a 2.9% tax rate to include unearned income. This version is favored by President Obama and many Congressional Democrats. As of this writing, it is not expected to be included in the version of the bill taken up for a vote by the House. While the final vote remains to be seen, most pundits expect that the House would approve the health care bill passed by the Senate in December, with any changes implemented using a procedure known as budget reconciliation.
Since most taxpayers would not be affected by the increase, the measure passed easily in Senate at the end of 2009. The final vote was 60 yes, 39 no and 1 abstention: Sen Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) did not vote, citing "family commitments." Interestingly, the final version of the Senate bill tapped the increase at a higher rate than the original proposal: earlier versions called for an increase of just .5%.
If the measure passes the House (and this measure is expected to survive any last minute deal-making), the bump in rates would take effect after Dec. 31, 2012
That explains why the current proposal in the House under HR 3590 would add an increase in the form of payroll taxes. The bill, as it stands currently, would add .9% to the Medicare payroll tax to those individual taxpayers earning over $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing joint tax returns). That would bring the total tax rate to 2.35%.
The current Medicare payroll tax rate is 1.45% and is part of what we know as FICA, or Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax. The tax is imposed on employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare. Since it's imposed on only those who work, the tax has been quite controversial. Unearned income, including interest, stock dividends, and capital gains such as profits from the sale of stock or real estate, are not affected by this tax.
An alternative proposal would increase the tax rate and extend a 2.9% tax rate to include unearned income. This version is favored by President Obama and many Congressional Democrats. As of this writing, it is not expected to be included in the version of the bill taken up for a vote by the House. While the final vote remains to be seen, most pundits expect that the House would approve the health care bill passed by the Senate in December, with any changes implemented using a procedure known as budget reconciliation.
Since most taxpayers would not be affected by the increase, the measure passed easily in Senate at the end of 2009. The final vote was 60 yes, 39 no and 1 abstention: Sen Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) did not vote, citing "family commitments." Interestingly, the final version of the Senate bill tapped the increase at a higher rate than the original proposal: earlier versions called for an increase of just .5%.
If the measure passes the House (and this measure is expected to survive any last minute deal-making), the bump in rates would take effect after Dec. 31, 2012
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