Sourse:Greek Salad Recipe

If you have pancake fever roused by all this National Pancake Day talk, but trekking out to your area IHOP for Free Pancake Day isn't your thing, especially because it's the week of eating in, which recommends you not do that anyway (or you did and you still can't shake the craving), read on.

To make perfect pancakes from scratch at home, you hardly need a recipe. Chef, author, and all-around food authority Michael Ruhlman explains the basics of pancake batter — and other related batters too (emphasis ours):

The quickbread ratio is 2 parts flour and liquid, 1 part egg and butter. That will give you a perfect muffin or, baked in a loaf pan, a quickbread. Now, you also need to have a little technique and common sense. A teaspoon of baking powder for every 5 ounces (cup) of flour is needed for leavening, a pinch of salt for flavor, but that's it. If you want a lemon-lime cake, add lemon and lime juice and zest; vanilla is always good, or add lemon and poppyseeds, add cranberry and orange, blueberries, bananas. Make a savory quick bread with cumin coriander and ginger to accompany a dal. (Secret: If you season the batter with a little sugar and vanilla and pour it on a griddle, you have perfect pancakes. That savory quickbread suggestion? Pour it over corn or peas, just enough to bind them, spoon the mixture into hot oil for amazing fritters).

Ruhlman recently published Ratio, an handy manual on cooking using just formulas exactly like the one above (and a great iPhone app, conveniently also called Ratio).

Food expert Alton Brown has some valuable tips for cooking pancakes at home, including recommendations to weight out the dry ingredients (especially flour, which ideally would be a combination of both all-purpose and cake flours), adding something acidic like buttermilk to batters using baking soda, and a reminder that pancake batter should be lumpy and not overbeaten. The recipe for his “Instant Pancake Mix” is here.

Want a cool pancake dispenser like the cooks use at your neighborhood greasy spoon? Go with something much cooler, and greener too: a cleaned-out Heinz ketchup squeeze bottle.

Some pancake recipes to try on for size:

• Jason Kottke's “World's Best Pancake Recipe,” which “taste best with the best buttermilk you can get your mitts on.”
• The Kitchn's “light and fluffy pancakes” home hacks edition.

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Sourse:Seafood Salad Recipe

If fish had a campaign slogan it could very well read — “Does a Noggen Good!”

It's hard to think of a food that has been more important to brain development throughout the course of human history than fish. Scientists know that at some point in our early history, the human brain underwent a massive and very rapid expansion, tripling in size from one pound to three. And there's evidence that this occurred precisely as humans began their first culinary forays into the sea.

Looking at what fish has to offer, the reasons become clear: seafood contains some of the most powerful brain-nourishing compounds known to man, particularly omega-3 fatty acids. Scientists suspect these compounds helped us develop larger, smarter, better brains, in a process that occurred over the course of millions of years of eating fish (yikes, that's a lot of fish!).

But even today, there is very strong evidence that eating fish high in Omega-3 fats can have important beneficial effects, including lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease and slowing the decline of mental faculties as we age. No one is saying that loading up on fish will leave you needing a larger hat size. But eating fish does seem to help the brain run as smoothly as our owner's manual intended.

Personally, I've been whipping up lots of fish lately. But some are much better than others. Your best strategy is to focus on fish that are highest in omega-3's, lowest in contaminants like mercury, and environmentally friendly as well — “superfish,” as I like to call them. Wild salmon, Pacific Halibut and tilapia are a few of the ones you'll find in The 10 Things You Need to Eat.

Last but not least, it also helps to have some easy tasty ways to prepare them. Fish is best prepared quickly and simply, which actually makes it the perfect week-night family meal. Most of the recipes that I came up with for these incredible little “superfish” can be made, start to finish, in under a half-hour — Rachael Ray eat your heart out!

In the book there's a great recipe for Seared Salmon with Blackberry sauce and Olive-Oil Braised Fennel. This meal if perfect for Valentine's Day. The brightness and sweetness of the dish evokes love and passion, and it's packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that help get the blood flowing …

Blood clams are a type of ark clam found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, and the Indo-Pacific region. As their name implies, the clams are red, due to having the red blood pigments hemoglobin and myoglobin, This gives them better oxygen transfer allowing them to live in murky low oxygen environments. Most clams have clear blood.

Here's the part that freaked me out: blood clams filter 40 liters of sea water per day, a larger amount than most shellfish. This means if they are harvested from areas that do not practice standard sanitary regulations, the clams absorb harmful bacteria and viruses such as hepatitis, typhoid or dysentery. Research has found that the hepatitis virus can survive for as long as three months in the clams.

They are currently banned in China as blood clams harvested in China were responsible for a hepatitis outbreak. It is illegal to import Chinese blood clams in the United States, but smugglers still manage to get them in, and there have been crackdowns and arrests in New York City's Chinatown on discoveries of seafood shops selling illegal Chinese-harvested blood clams.

Blood clams from other locations are okay, just not the ones from China or Southeast Asia. Since I have no idea where the blood clams I purchased came from, I decided against eating them, just to be on the safe side. Scary!

Related: Use Caution When Eating Escolar

(Images: Kathryn Hill)

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It's hard to believe it's been 12 years since Slick Willy told a federal grand jury and the American people he didn't boff that chubby girl in the beret.

After seeing a news clip of Billy's infamous speech the other day, I couldn't help but think about my own sexual experiences with women, or a lack there of.

As all five readers of this blog know, I am no prude. And while I've never been into bondage (unless the occasional handcuff fantasy counts) or erotic asphyxiation, I've still been known to get my freak on from time to time.

I've had sex in an elevator.

Been on the giving end of a fair amount of road head.

Fucked a guy within the first 15 minutes of a first date.

I've been felt up in front of tourists on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial (doing in front of honest Abe would just be, well, wrong).

Been the lone female in a boy, boy, girl threesome.

You catch my drift.

I'm no porn star, but I'm still pretty fun at parties.

But after 32 years, one failed marriage, and an extremely respectable number of sexual partners (or depraved depending on who is asking), I have yet to have anything close to a sexual experience with another woman.

Not during a raucous slumber party in high school.

Or a particularly mind-blurring night smoking kind bud in college.

Never in the consoling arms of a girlfriend when my marriage broke up.

And not once when getting drunk with my gay boyfriends and their ridiculously cute lesbian friend who does research with rhesus monkeys at the NIH. (Seriously, the girl is adorable, wears baggy jeans and a wallet chain and can assemble furniture from Ikea or Best Buy like nobodies business).

And despite the fact that I'm an avid supporter of same sex marriage, listen to Melissa Etheridge and k.d. lang with all the angst of a lady in limbo, and played with my own tits from time to time, I've never longed to taste the upper (or lower) lips of another girl.

I'm an angst-filled, love-lorn, chick on the edge of heterosexual desperation, but no matter how hard I try, I can't ever imagine partaking in vagina pie.

Maybe women are too emotionally expensive (hat tip to the Restaurant Refugee).

Maybe I really hate the smell of vanilla and Summer's Eve in the morning.

Maybe I dislike the color pink and think women are sensitive, soft, and kind of dull to get drunk with.

Really, I can speculate until the cows come home and their utters stop milking. Regardless there are a few key reasons why bitches will never be my bag. Here they are, A-E:

A is for Adam's Apple: I've lived with these ovaries and fallopian tubes for 32 years now and as much fun as they've been, I have to say, I can't imagine dating another set of each. They are a hormonal bunch of organs. They bloat like balloons and demand inordinate amounts of chocolate every month. They have cost me some decent dough in silk undies from Victoria's Secret and honestly, a girl can only expend so many tissues on Sarah McLaughin themed-ASPCA commercials before she needs to buy stock in Kimberly Clark. I just can't imagine twice as many Tampax, Costco size bottles of ibuprofen, four sore boobs, and the kind of emotional overload that only comes with the square root of the double X chromosome. So, I'll stick with that damn knobby nodule that protrudes from the neck of Neanderthal Nathan and hope for a smaller monthly Chubby Hubby tab.

B is for Bitch: From the elementary school playgrounds of yesteryear to my cubicle colleagues of today, girl groups have always inspired a kind of blood curdling fear in the pit of my stomach. Women in numbers greater than one are notoriously mean. I'd rather run around with tampons stuck in my nostrils twitching and muttering about the parting of the Red Sea than endure the wrath of a collective chick click on a day I'm wearing an unflattering pair of skinny jeans. My mother, bless her heart, loves to prognosticate what will happen when my thirty-year-old sexually tinged friendships with boys evolve into forty-year-old relationships with married family men. God willing, my cirrhosis-lined liver will help me stumble towards my maker before the realities of a sewing circle filled future ever gets a chance to set in.

C is for Clooney: Even the most gorgeous girl can't get my gourd the same way George Clooney does on his most average of days. Not Angelina or Scarlet, Kate Beckinsale when she beefed up and played Ava Gardner in The Aviator, or even Beyonce when she got on her knees in that tight black number at this year's Grammys and pontificated like a gilded lioness what she would do if she was in fact, a boy.

D is for Dick: I really dig dick. White. Black. Big. Not quite as big. In me. On me. Sideways. And back around. An imperfect beast, with a mind all its own. They almost assuredly cum when you call them. And while healing isn't their strong suit, they can learn to obey if you're willing to put the time and effort into training them.

E is for Edification: In the end, as much as I bellyache about the ramifications of dating dudes, I really do adore their primitive ways. I like the ridiculous ways they attempt to relate to others. The sports metaphors and the way they stink after a workout. The way they muscle rather than reason through an argument. Their penchant for chili fries and blow jobs. The raw rather than the refined. The way they'd rather save than merely soothe. The way they will never remember the anniversary of the first time you kissed but they'll buy you jewelry nonetheless once you remind them how daft and unthoughtful they are. The way they look at you with passionate recognition when you deep throat a bacon cheeseburger on the first date. The way they'll oblige morning sex before you've had a chance to brush. The way they covet tits the size of the Sutter Buttes or the ones tantamount to Tibetan glory. And above all the way they'll wrap you in their arms, chubby or chiseled, and whisper promises in your ear, regardless of whether they're bullshit or bona fide.

“In the kitchen
in the shower
and in the back seat of my car
I'll hold you up
in your office
preferably during business hours
'cause you know how I like it when there's people around
and I know how you like it
yeah I know how you like it
I know how you like it when I tease you for hours” -Melissa Ferrick

CME Information

Jointly Sponsored by:

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CREDITS

Physicians: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

Family Physicians: 0.25 Elective credits

Release Date:
Feb. 17, 2010
Expiration Date:
Feb. 17, 2011

Estimated time for completion: 15 minutes

There is no fee for this activity.

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In order to receive your certificate of participation, you should read the information about this activity, including the disclosure statements, review the entire activity, take the post-test, and complete the evaluation form. You may then follow the directions to print your certificate of participation.

Program Overview

Among the many issues clinicians face today, staying current with advances in medicine is becoming a major challenge. Teaching Brief® articles will allow clinicians to stay up-to-date and assimilate new information into their daily practice. The content of these Teaching Brief articles has been validated through an independent expert peer review process.

Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this educational program, the reader should be able to:
1. Discuss the results of this study
2. Review the relevance and significance of the study in the broader context of clinical care

Disclosures

Crystal Phend , Zalman S Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner,

have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest with commercial interests related directly or indirectly to this educational activity.

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designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Credit for Family Physicians

MedPage Today “News-Based CME” has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 999 Elective credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins January 1, 2010. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Each article is approved for .25 Elective credits. Credit may be claimed for one year from the date of each article.

Sourse:Seafood Salad Recipe

Apartment 3 Penthouse Suite Sale
We love a bargain, which is why we got ants in our pants the second we heard about this sale. Today you can find Apartment 3's fab vintage clothing hanging in room 1214 at the Standard downtown, but on sale for bargain basement prices. (Hundreds of items for under $45!) To sweeten the deal, cupcakes, free cocktails and live DJs will be on hand to keep your shopping energy up. RSVP via email: rsvp@apartment-3.com

Food Art at Heath Ceramics
We've all seen the typical fruit bowl still life painting before, but how about food art via crochet? Imagine the following in yarn formation: seafood gumbo, catfish poboy, oysters on the half shell. Kind of intriguing, no? Tonight food artist and author Clare Crespo unveils her collection of Mardi Gras-inspired crochet food pieces at Heath Ceramics on Beverly Blvd. All items are for sale, along with her cookbooks and children's DVD series. in Fat Tuesday spirit, beer and King Cake will be served. 6 p.m. Show runs through Feb. 21.

Bob Marley Exhibit
In honor of what would be his 65th birthday, Mr. Musichead Gallery presents the 1st Annual Jammin' & Wailin' festival, an art and photography event in honor of Bob Marley. At tonight's opening reception, enjoy the pieces along with coffee and rum tastings, and reggae music provided by Indie 103.1's Native Wayne. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders Haiti Relief. $10 admission. 7 p.m.

Sitar and Tabla at Occidental
Tonight noted sitar player Shujaat Husain Khan is joined tabla player Abhiman Kaushal for a one night only performance at Occidental's Herrick Chapel as part of SoCal's Music Circle series. $20 for members, $30 general admission, $5 for students with current student ID. Free to Oxy students! 8 p.m.

They're cooking up vats of gumbo right now in New Orleans, they've sold countless King Cakes and made a profusion of pralines. They've been partying since the Saints won the Superbowl and it all reaches critical mass tomorrow, Mardi Gras.

French for Fat Tuesday, it's not just cheap beads and anonymous orgying (not that there's anything wrong with that). Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, when Catholics begin the Lenten 40 days of penance, prayer and cleansing before Easter. Traditionally, Mardi Gras was a night of eating rich food, the better to endure the lean days of Lent. New Orleans embraced the concept with typical passion. It seems like half the regional recipes start with a cup of heavy cream (not that there's anything wrong with that, either). Somehow, the custom evolved into partying, drinking and eating dirty rice — none of which is exactly sanctioned by the Catholic Church.

Clearly, New Orleans has its own way of doing things. The locals live by the city's motto, laissez les bon temps rouller — let the good times roll — and it comes through in their cooking. Like every region, New Orleans has its own cuisine shaped by what grows there, but also by the people who live there.

New Orleans newbies Brangelina and their babes may have brought the paparazzi, but the centuries-old city's spicy mix of Cajun, Creole and French took the abundant local ingredients, including rice, chilis, greens, okra, mirliton (chayote) and gulf-fresh seafood, and created its cuisine. These people make food that cooks, and they're proud of it. You can't get a fast food burger at the Jazz and Heritage Festival, but you can get New Orleans specialties like red beans and rice, crowder peas and okra and sandwiches from muffalettas to banh mi, a culinary contibution from the Vietnamese.

Food helped unite the city after Hurricane Katrina wiped it out five years ago. Local chef John Besh lost his home and his restaurants but dished out red beans and rice to refugees and relief workers. New Orleans native Richard McCarthy rebuilt Crescent City Farmers Market, now a city-wide, three-day market with local growers and vendors grossing $9 million a year. Katrina also did in the homes and gardens in the city's Vietnamese community, so they created what is now a flourishing 28-acre community garden to grow bitter melon, Malabar spinach and other crops they brought from Asia. They're adding their own layer of culture, tradition and taste to the city. They party at Mardi Gras but yesterday they also celebrated Tet, the Vietnamese new year.

What New Orleans grows, what it cooks comes from love and what Besh calls “an act of stewardship.” Everyone's got a personal stake in this.

Food goes beyond the plate. There's its traditions, how its sourced, its romance and history, the powerful associations it evokes. You can't eat these things and yet they deepen your experience and appreciation of your food. They add their own spice. They make you care. So you can forgive the Mardi Gras madness in the French Quarter tomorrow, because you know everything will be made lovingly, locally, traditionally and liberally seasoned with joy. Food at its source tastes of the spirit of a place and in New Orleans, that means laissez les bon temps rouller.

Down and Dirty Rice

Traditionally what makes dirty rice dirty is the addition of fowl gizzards. Um, no thanks. Chopped eggplant, a Louisiana crop, takes the place of organ meat in this super-satisfying veggie version It's spicy in itself, but you can make it that way. That's what Tabasco is for.

1-1/2 cup rice (white or brown)
5 cups water or vegetable broth, divided use
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium eggplant, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 tomato, chopped (or 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes)
2 teaspoons paprika
1 handful fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
optional — 1 cup edamame

Pour 3 cups of water or broth into a large pot. Place over high heat and bring liquid to boil. Add rice and bay leaf and give a quick stir. Cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes (brown rice may need an additional 10 minutes) or until rice is tender and all liquid is absorbed. Remove bay leaf and set aside.

May be done a day or two ahead and stored well-covered in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped garlic, onion and eggplant. Saute, stirring for 5 minutes, or until vegetables soften. Add chopped celery, green pepper, tomato, paprika and thyme. Continue cooking another 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice and remaining 2 cups of water or broth.

Reduce heat to medium and cook another 10 minutes until mixture is moist but all liquid is absorbed.

Stir in salt, pepper, lemon juice and chopped parsley, and for a pop of protein and bright green color, fold in optional edamame.

Serves 6 to 8. Keeps several days in the fridge, flavor improves over time.

Everyone gets sick once in a while. It's expected. Therefore they have sick time at job. That's why there are doctors and insurance organizations. However here are a lot of general stuff to make sure you stay in principal perfect health. You should wash your hands. In general, not enough they do this. Especially after using the lavatory. Studies have been shown and a shockingly low %% of people wash their hands after using the lavatory or before meals.

I always say: Consume water. Water treat all ills. Dehydration is the culprit of many common ailments like headaches and even bloating. 8 cups of liquid is the minimum so make sure you're consuming at least that much. Keep in mind that fruits and vegetable juices count towards your daily scoop of hydrating drink. Exercise. Sport does not have to mean hours on the treadmill sweating away to exhaustion. Physical activity can be as easy as walking across the parking lot to the grocery store or doing housework. That's right! Vacuuming burns calories intake! The more active in basic you are the more do sport you're doing. Consider getting a passometer. Pedometer's have shown that men and women who wear pedometer's are more effective than those who don't.

Taking time to eat your food, you will gain more control on how much food your body takes in. The time it takes from when you start eating your meal to send a message to your brain that you have consumed food is about 20 minutes. By eating fast you can eat enormous meals because of the time it takes of stomach to send a message to the brain that you are full. For those who eat fast, it will take plenty of effort slow down your intake. Here are some great ways you can begin to get started on losing weight by eating slowly.

1) Having non-alcoholic drinks before starting on a meal to help fill your stomach will fluid. Water would be the best fluid to do so, but if it's in the colder months you can go with one tea or a nice cup cappuccino. Take time to enjoy your drink and do a takeoff anxiety and anxiety of your hunger, now you can relax your meal slowly for effective weight loss.

2) Start with a meal that takes time to prepare. A salad with lettuce, onions, cucumber, carrots, and light dressing would be perfect as you have to chew your food. Soup would be another option if you're not a salad person. Make sure your soup is warm as it would be more difficult to consume, this way you can eat slower to avoid getting burnt.

3) When eating meals that need to be cut, place small portions in your mouth after cutting. After cutting your food you should remember to put the knife down thus taking longer time to eat your meal.

4) Focus on the flavors of your meal leaving you time to enjoy your food while you savor every bite.

5) As we all know it's impolite to talk and eat at the same time. You can use the proper table manner to your advantage, by involving yourself into small conversations at the dinner table. Chatting with family or your friends change your meal into a great social event that can be a part of your effect weight loss. Now being the last person at the table is an advantage for you.

6) Take five minutes during a meal giving your body a chance to send a signal to your brain to say “Hey I'm full”. If you feel like this at any point during your meal you can always save your food and save it for next day.

If you're really committed about having a new effective way to lose weight try to apply these tips to all your meals.

Whatever trust in Mark Dantonio that was lost following the dorm fight incident in November should be restored today. There were grumblings among Spartan Nation that Dantonio needed to do a better job promoting his no-nonsense attitude, and that he was not producing expected results on and off the field.

On National Signing Day, it seemed that Spartan recruits were unaffected by the incidents last year, as they all stayed on board to produce the fourth highest-rated class in the Big Ten. Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State all finished ahead of MSU and in the Top 25 nationally. The Spartans are just outside of the top 25, ranking 29th on Rivals.

Also according to Rivals, the Spartans landed the only five-star rated recruit in the Big Ten in defensive end William Gholston. He is certainly the prize of this year's class, but there are a handful of other key recruits that can help bring Dantonio's championship plans to light.

Top Recruit:

DE William Gholston: He is the third ranked defensive end in the country (first in Michigan) and the 21st rated prospect overall according to Rivals. He is a mountain at 6-foot-7 inches, but he could stand to add a few more pounds. He is a very lean 237 pounds, and some added weight should make him an absolute beast on the end. He is tremendously athletic, and has the ability to chase down running backs trying to find the corner. Comparisons to Bubba Smith have already begun.

Other Notables:

QB Joe Boisture: He stands at 6-foot-6 inches which is great NFL-type size, but much like Gholston he will need to put some weight on. Right now he is only about 200 pounds, and if he can put on about 30 more, he will be Ben Roethlisberger size. His height gives him the ability to see the whole field, and he is a very accurate passer. One thing he needs to work on besides gaining weight is his throwing motion. It is very long and deliberate, and he needs to shorten it to become more effective. Adding muscle mass will help that along.

MLB Max Bullough: Could he be a potential replacement for Greg Jones? That seems like a tall task, but they are about the same size (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) and both have a great nose for the ball. Bullough is the fifth highest-rated middle linebacker in the nation, and displayed great discipline and instincts in high school. According to Scout, he must add some strength so that he can take plays head-on at the college level.

OL Skylar Schofner: According to Scout, Schofner should get a chance to play early in his college career. He is a big man (6-foot-6 and 280 pounds) who plays with a mean streak, which is a nice combination. Schofner has a great natural run-blocking ability, but he must learn how to pass block better. He has a high ceiling, and could be a great addition to the offensive line.

S Isaiah Lewis: The 20th rated safety in the nation, Lewis is known as a big hitter with great instincts. He recognizes plays quickly, and closes very fast on the ball. The stigma with most big hitters is that they are not always great tacklers. According to Scout, Lewis is both. He is comfortable playing in multiple pass coverage defenses, and is an excellent blitzer to boot.

CB Mylan Hicks: Speed is obviously important when you talk about cornerbacks, and Hicks has plenty of it. He has great backpedal quickness, and loose hips which allow him to change directions very quickly. He must work on his hands, as he has been noted to bat down passes he should intercept. He puts himself in great position to make plays on the ball.

The Rest of the Class (Scout.com star-rating in parenthesis): OLB Justin Wilson (three), RB Jeremy Langford (three), WR Keith Mumphery (three), S Kurtis Drummond (three), P Mike Sadler (three), DE Marcus Rush (three), OT Michael Dennis (three), OG Travis Jackson (three), RB Nick Hill (three), DE Taylor Calero (three), WR Tony Lippett (three), FB Niko Palazeti (two), WR Darquez Dennard (two), DT Anthony White (two), RB LeVeon Bell (two).

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 30, 2010

The moment after The Kids Are All Right bursts open with a feverish soundtrack, it is easy to see that this movie has great energy. And energy alone can make a movie survivable. It’s a good sign to have it all up front. But the sign of a movie that is truly worth your time is one that can maintain that energy, convince you that its characters are worth caring about and perhaps move you in some way emotionally. This isn’t anything new — in fact, it’s been the focus of many of my reviews from this year’s Sundance Film Festival. There have been more than a few films that have been on one side of the energy spectrum or the other. Lisa Cholodenko’s modern alt-family comedy has this energy from the start, and it carries it throughout.

The film follows a Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore), a middle-aged couple trying to raise their two teenage children Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) in suburban Los Angeles. And everything seems to be going just fine until the moment Joni turns 18 and is convinced by her brother to reach out to their biological father. Hesitating at first, Joni eventually puts in a call to the sperm bank, who puts her in touch with Paul (Mark Ruffalo), a restaurant owner and all around “cool dude” who seems willing to meet the kids he never knew he had.

As Paul comes into their lives, the entire family is thrown into disarray. The kids take to Paul in different ways, as to Nic and Jules, all creating a very sticky situation that threatens the otherwise normal existence of their family.

If there’s one thing to be gleaned from this film right off the bat, it is the quality of chemistry between Annette Benning and Julianne Moore. They are a very believable, charming couple of middle age lesbians who have clearly had a good, long relationship and are focused on raising their kids. This situation also benefits from having two great actresses in these roles. Both Benning and Moore are dynamic actresses, and this feels like a perfect showcase for their talent.

Also on the plus side are the performances from the kids, who are in fact all right (excuse my pun, it was there). Mia Wasikowska is not only delightful, but full of depth. As her character connects and disconnects with Paul, she carries the weight of a teen coming of age, trying to find her exact place (socially, sexually and within her own family) before departing for college. Josh Hutcherson is also quite good, continuing his development as an actor. Though, this is yet another angsty role for him, something that has become a trend (though for now, it works). The final piece to the puzzle is Ruffalo, who is as good as ever.

The Kids Are All Right is a sweet film that plays relatively fast and loose with sexuality, but never loses focus on it’s core story. It is a richly drawn portrait of a very modern family that is grounded, imperfect and told with a very keen eye from Cholodenko, who was last at Sundance in 2003 with Laurel Canyon. Her ability to keep the story moving as she unwraps the vulnerable nature of each character, all while delivering a lot of great little comedic moments (especially driven by great back and forth between Ruffalo and Benning) makes the film a very easy, enjoyable experience.

The only problem to be found is that the film stumbles around a bit as it comes to a sweet close. But its a sweet, moving close either way. Driven by a tight, well-rounded story and performances that drive comedy and tension, The Kids Are All Right is yet another smooth winner of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It is also certainly one of those movies that should find success beyond the fest circuit, as it is as accessible as a story about two lesbians trying to raise their teenage children can be.

Read more articles by Neil Miller

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Acyclovir is an antiviral drug prescribed to treat all types of herpes infections. It is used to minimise the severity, and to reduce the duration of an outbreak, but it does not cure the virus.

The multiplication of the virus is inhibited when treated with Acyclovir, and it works by blocking enzyme action within the host cell, this prevents the virus from spreading to other cells, and it also speeds recovery.

The earlier treatment commences, the chance of minimising the effects of an outbreak is improved. The herpes virus spreads at a tremendous rate, and by the time symptoms appear, the virus has already phenomenally multiplied.

Acyclovir is usually prescribed in ointment form for topical application. It is sometimes prescribed in tablet and liquid form and can be administered as an injection in the treatment of severe cases of genital herpes, and it also relieves pain and itching. Those with impaired kidney function carry a risk of the formation of crystals in the kidneys when receiving Acyclovir in injection form. Acyclovir is also manufactured as an eye ointment, and this is prescribed to treat herpes infections of the cornea.

Oral forms and topical preparations are normally prescribed to be taken four to five times daily. When used to treat an existing outbreak the dosage required for tablets and liquid is usually 1g daily. When prescribed to prevent an outbreak the dosage is normally 800mg daily, however occasionally this can increase to 1.6g daily. The onset of effect of Acyclovir usually takes place within twenty four hours and the duration of action lasts for up to eight hours.

During pregnancy topical preparations of Acyclovir carry no known risk, but oral and injectable forms are not normally prescribed, this is because there may be a risk of adverse effects on the foetus. Topical forms are safe when breast feeding, but the other varieties may be harmful to the baby.

Possible Side Effects of Topical Preparations

Burning

Stinging

Itching

Rash

Possible Side Effects of Oral Forms

Nausea

Vomiting

Headache

Dizziness

Possible Side Effects of Injections

Blood in Urine

Confusion

Hallucinations

If Acyclovir is taken orally or by injection in conjunction with the drug known as Probenecid (prescribed for the treatment of gout), then the blood levels of Acyclovir will increase.

Acyclovir should be stopped if a rash emerges, and if blood appears in the urine, or if confusion and hallucinations are experienced. In all of these cases the problem should be discussed with a doctor at the earliest opportunity.

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Abraxane – is a medication used to treat advanced breast cancer.

Paclitaxel – is a cancer chemo drug that works by slowing or stopping cancer cell growth.

Adriamycin-Pfs – Doxorubicin is a a chemotherapy that is used alone or with other treatments to treat different types of cancer. Doxorubicin slows or stops the growth of cancer cells.

Aranesp Injection is used to treat anemia or low red blood cell count in people with long term serious kidney disease or chronic renal failure and people receiving chemo for some types of cancer(non-myeloid).

Darbepoetin alfa helps to reverse anemia and improves energy and activity level. It also helps reduce need for blood transfusions. It makes the bone marrow make more red blood cells and this medication is similar to the natural substance in your body that prevents anemia.

Aredia – is used to treat high calcium levels that may occur with cancer.

Pamidronate is also used to treat a certain type of bone disease (Paget's disease) and bone problems associated with certain cancers such as breast or myeloma. It works because it reduces the amount of calcium released from your bones into your blood.

Arimidex – is an oral medication used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause.

Anastrozole lowers estrogen hormone levels to help shrink tumors and slow their growth.

Aromasin – is an oral medication used with other medications to treat certain types of breast cancer ( hormone receptor positive cancer) in women after menopause.

Exemestane is also used to help prevent the cancer from returning. Some breast cancers grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Exemestane decreases the estrogen amount that the body makes and helps slow or reverse the growth of breast cancers.

Cytoxan – is an oral medication.

Cyclophosphamide is used to treat various types of cancer. It is a chemo drug that slows or stops cell growth.

Epirubicin – is used to treat breast cancer. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells.

Faslodex – is an IM medication that is used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body in women who have gone through menopause. It is used in patients who have not responded well to other medications.

Femara -is an oral medication and is used with other drugs to treat certain types of breast cancer ( hormone receptor positive) in women after menopause.

Letrozole is also used to help prevent cancer from returning. Letrozole decreases estrogen amounts produced by the body and helps slow or reverse the growth of breast cancers.

Gemzar – Gemcitabine is used alone or with other treatments / medications to treat certain types of cancer (breast, lung, pancreas) Gemzar is a chemo drug that slows or stops the growth of cancer cells.

Herceptin – Trastuzumab is used alone or with other meds to treat certain types of breast cancer (tumors that produce more than the normal amount of HER2 protein).

Nolvadex – is an oral medication used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), it is used to treat breast cancer in certain patients after surgery and radiation therapy and to reduce the chances of breast cancer in high risk patients.

Tamoxifen – is an oral medication used to treat breast cancer that has spread (metastatic), it is used in certain patients after surgery and radiation and to reduce the chances of breast cancer in high risk patients.

References for this listing is from the Thomson PDR and Breast Cancer Network. I have been a nurse for over 28 years and have seen the medication arsenal for breast cancer grow rapidly. My only hope is that someday breast cancer could be known as a disease of the past.

The institution of slavery and colonization has had many adverse effects on Americans of African descent. The psychological toll that institutionalized servitude and oppression has had on African Americans, can partially be blamed for the sub par success rate of many African Americans. Du Bois was one of the most prolific exponents of exposing and resisting the ills caused by slavery, and its ugly offspring, discrimination. The writings of Du Bois will be analyzed and drawn upon, in order to scientifically reveal the psychological effect of slavery and colonization upon the Negro.

“Here was a rich new land, the wealth of which was to be had in return for ordinary manual labor. Had the country been conceived of as existing primarily for the benefit of its actual inhabitants, it might have waited for natural increase or immigration to supply the needed hands; but both Europe and the earlier colonists themselves regarded this land as existing chiefly for the benefit of Europe, and as designed to be exploited, as rapidly and ruthlessly as possible, of the boundless wealth of its resources. This was the primary excuse for the rise of the African slave-trade to America.”(Du Bois, The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, 1638-1870) Du Bois makes it clear that slavery was not a necessity for the extraction of resources from the new world. The European need for expediency and efficiency at any cost, was the main justification for the use of slaves in America. It can be determined from Du Boise's work, that the mental and physical suffering of slaves was an unnecessary and unjustifiable atrocity. The Europeans' greed and disregard for humanity, was the catalyst for a system that delivered untold damage to the Negro psyche.

Many African Americans suffer from a sub-conscious inferiority complex, which can be in part attributed to forced disconnection from their source of self- concept and identity. Any and all positive reinforcement such as their history and accomplishments, were replaced with a reinforced and repetitive doctrine of black inferiority. Negative mental conditioning was reinforced by their owners and much of the rest of white society through harsh treatment, and brutal reprisals, for seeking any form of knowledge of themselves or the world at large. Men were stripped of any form of pride and or self-respect, by being humiliated in front of their families for any attempt at seeking any resemblance of justice. Women were often taken from their husbands and raped at their owner's discretion, which further diminished the male's sense of self-worth as well as the women's. (Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk. 1903)

Being forced to work without compensation dragged the blacks further into the psychological quagmire of self-loathing and depression. One of the most damaging aspects of the institution of slavery and oppression is the development of self- loathing and starting to believe that you deserve the treatment that you are receiving. Prisoners of war in Korea were subjected to severe mental conditioning (brainwashing), which resulted in some refusing to return to the United States after cessation of hostilities. The previous statement gives credence to the fact that if the slaves were told something enough times, in time they would come to believe what they were being told, even though it was detrimental to them psychologically.

The slaves' status as human beings was further attacked by barbaric practices such as castration and the removal of limbs for small infractions, which physically incapacitated slaves who were already suffering from hellish psychological torment and indoctrination, at the hands of slave owners. Practices such as battles royals, in which groups of slaves were pitted against each other in fights for no apparent reason other than to entertain and satisfy bets between slave owners, on which group would win. In other instances slaves were pitted against each other in human cockfights, sometimes to the death. Brutal contests, which were sometimes witnessed by other slaves, would reinforce their psychological acceptance of their status as lesser beings.

The selective breeding of the biggest and strongest slaves was a profitable endeavor for the slave owner, but devastated the slave family structure. The selective breeding of slaves was a methodology, that reinforced the idea that the slaves were little more than human livestock, which were to be used and or abused at their owners' whim. The psychological toil that the practice of selective breeding took on slaves is presumably immeasurable, and a valuable tool s with which to wage psychological warfare against slaves. Due to selective breeding some slaves were deprived of the right develop monogamous family relationships. Through selective breeding, married slaves could be forced to copulate with slaves that the master deemed suitable for breeding purposes, in order to ensure that he had a ready supply of strong able-bodied slaves to perform labor at the highest rate possible. Psychologically, selective breeding influenced slaves to believe that familial relationships were of little value, and fostered insecurity and anxiety within the slave psyche in regards to the stability of their family unit. Fornication and adultery were eventually seen as an everyday fact of life, especially for the stronger slaves who more likely forced to engage in the selective breeding process.

A hatred and rivalry could develop between the stronger slaves and the weaker slaves, due to the forced copulation practiced by some slave-owners. Weaker slaves would more than likely suffer severe psychological trauma, when and if their mate or spouse was forced to copulate with one or more of the stronger male slaves. The female slaves forced to copulate with the stronger males would most likely suffer psychologically, especially in the area of self esteem. The weaker males would invariably suffer from feelings of inadequacy due to their limited mate selection and or copulation opportunities, while the stronger males would most n likely take on the alpha male persona, and tend to dominate most aspects of slave community life. The struggle between the stronger and weaker males could lead to assaults, suicide, murder, thefts and nervous breakdowns. The nervous breakdowns would most likely occur in the weaker male slaves, due the psychological pressure of being dominated by the stronger males within the slave community, as well as the slave owners and white society as a whole.

The act of giving better treatment to the lighter skinned slaves, served as a tool in which slave owners could keep an element of dissention and strife among the slaves. Lighter skinned slaves were invariably the by product of copulation between the slave owners and female slaves. These slaves were given the most lucrative jobs within the slave community, such working as servants within the slave-owners home, running errands outside of plantation grounds, and usually better dressed and fed than those of darker skin.

Darker skinned slaves and those with more pronounced Negroid features would usually encounter more difficult living conditions on the plantation. Darker skinned slaves were deemed to be the most inferior of the supposedly inferior race, and were treated as such. Dark skinned slaves were usually housed far from the plantation house, and in close proximity to the fields that they were forced to work. Dark skinned slaves were given the most demanding jobs, the most basic living quarters, and the least appealing clothing.

The difference in treatment between the lighter skinned slaves and those of darker skin had tremendous psychological effects on slaves and free blacks years after the abolishment of slavery. The preference and status given to lighter skinned blacks had the effect of influencing the lighter skinned blacks that they were indeed superior to the darker skinned blacks. In many instances, the lighter skinned blacks willingly informed their owners on the activities of the field hands. Rewards given to the lighter skinned slaves for informing on the activities of the field hands, reinforced the lighter skinned slave's loyalty to the slave owner, and increased the distrust and disdain between the two groups of slaves. The repeated incidents of informing, reward, and punishment, created a psychosomatic cycle in which field hands and servants were continuously at odds with each other, and thus much easier for the slave owner to control.

After extended periods of mistreatment, the dark skinned slaves reached the point of psychological exhaustion, and began to accept the belief that they were inferior to the lighter skinned blacks, as well as their white owners. The darker skinned slaves developed an inferiority complex, which in turn affected their behavior towards other dark skinned slaves. The dark skinned slaves began to display an attitude of submissiveness towards the lighter skinned slaves, and had no qualms about becoming informants against other dark skinned slaves.

The psychological conditioning experienced by early Black Americans has been perpetuated in many forms on Black Americans after slavery, and to the present day. The iron chains of slavery have been replaced with economic bondage, suppression, and oppression. Many Black Americans have passed down feelings of inferiority to their children from generation to generation, long after the abolishment of slavery. After slaves were freed, the mental conditioning experienced in captivity, was reinforced by the social practices of the south and many areas of the north. Segregation, Jim Crow laws, lynching of Black leaders, and other acts of violence against blacks who sought to elevate their socioeconomic status, maintained the sense of anxiety and paranoia experienced by blacks during slavery. (Wright Earl II, Jim Crow Sociology)

The suppression of Black accomplishments in America has helped to keep blacks in a state instability, confusion, and self-loathing. Black inventions, military accomplishments, social accomplishments, positive African history, and many other areas of achievement have been systematically suppressed in order to maintain low self esteem among Black Americans. Feelings of inadequacy and low self image generate a low regard for those who look like you, which creates an environment of envy, distrust, disloyalty, and hatred within black communities. The element of economic suppression and the distress that it creates fosters an environment ripe for black on black crime, havoc, chaos, and mayhem. When one cannot obtain gainful employment, one's choice of environment is extremely limited. Limitations on income hinder one's prospects for upward mobility, and force one to reside in high crime areas. When one is forced to reside in high crime areas one is at increased risk of bodily injury or worse, which increases the level of distress and frustration experienced by the individual. Increased distress and frustration usually result in health issues such as hypertension. Hypertension and other stress related illnesses, require treatment so that the effects can be controlled and hopefully prevent additional illnesses. Treatment requires money that an unemployed or low-income individual doesn't usually have, as well as insurance that's not usually provided on low- income jobs. (Du Bois, The Philadelphia Negro pp.197-397)

A man is in part measured by his ability to take care of himself and his family. When a man feels that he cannot provide for those that he is responsible for, his sense of self worth is significantly lowered. A man that is not adequately providing for his family in some instances begins to lose the respect of his mate, which increases his sense of guilt and inadequacy. The lack of upward mobility coupled with the added pressure of tension with his spouse, creates intense feelings of frustration within the individual. The internal and external tension experienced by the black male could lead to health issues such as hypertension, cancer, and mental disorders, which only exasperate his already fragile state of affairs. The possible mental and physical effects of the stress that he is experiencing, will only serve to hinder his ability to think clearly and formulate a plan in which to free himself from his plight. Each stressor reinforces and exasperates the other source of stress, which engulfs the individual in a vicious cycle of depression and nervous tension. (Du Bois, Health and Physique of the Negro American)

The psychological stress experienced by many African American males, goes unnoticed by mainstream society. Machismo is in part responsible for the failure of many black men to share their feelings, as well as their perception that no one really cares. Many in lower socioeconomic conditions are too busy struggling to obtain the bare essentials for survival, to take notice of the suffering of many around them. Most of the psychological stress experienced by many black men goes unnoticed, until it manifests itself in the form of drug and alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, psychosis, suicides, etc.

It appears that there is an ongoing assault against the physical and mental well-being of the African American male. Limitations to upward mobility, is an ugly fact even for educated blacks, who are seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

It appears that the powers that be recognize the fact that limitations on upward mobility, will invariably lead to the aforementioned psychological and or physical conditions. It can be inferred that those in control of corporate America, recognize the fact that those under extreme stress and duress will seek inexpensive relief. It is indeed no surprise that cheap malt liquor, cigarettes, crack cocaine, and a host of other cheap drugs are easily accessible and readily available in lower socioeconomic areas. Those who cannot find relief through economic means, often resort to drugs to quell their pains. Drug dependence is merely another form of bondage, out of the numerous forms of bondage experienced by African Americans.

The works of W.E.B. Du Bois investigate the sociological, historical, political, educational, and psychological impacts that the black experience has had on past and subsequent generations of African Americans. Du Bois used an inductive scholarly approach to studying the state and condition of early black Americans, as well as the impact of political and economic policies on black Americans. Du Bois was innovative in his approach to studying both the effects of external forces on the condition of black Americans, as well as the effects of their own actions.

What set Du Bois apart from many scholars of the day was his careful attempt to qualify the results of his studies through careful tabulation of tables, counts and figures. Du Bois had the insight, character, and discipline to distinguish between scientific fact, and emotional diatribe. Du Boise's fusion of statistical analysis and demographic mapping enhanced his ability to scientifically prove his theoretical ideas. Through assessments of work, pay, expenditures, health, schooling, community and family life, and social activities, Dubois could make an educated interpretation of hardships in which most black Philadelphians faced daily. Du Bois advocated that economic policy was a major factor in determining the life chances, and circumstances of black Philadelphians.

Du Bois's analysis of the state of blacks in Philadelphia and in all probability the nation as a whole, was through a study of the interplay of six factors. 1) A history of enslavement, servitude and oppression, 2) demographic composition affects such as the disproportion of women to men, 3) economic positioning and intensifying competition with free whites both native born and newly arrived from Europe, 4) racial prejudice and discrimination, 5) the resources, internal structure, dynamics and leadership of the black community itself, and 6) the moral agency and capacity for black self-determination, were the six factors explored by Du Bois. (Du Bois, the Philadelphia Negro)

It can be reasonably assumed that Du Bois placed part of the responsibility for upward mobility on blacks themselves, because one third of Du Boise's six factors are the sole responsibility of blacks themselves.

The systematic oppression that has been experienced by blacks has had profound effects on the psychological, economic, and physical well being of blacks, but there will be continuous debate as to how much of their fate rests in their own hands.

Du Bois experienced both subtle and overt forms of racism as a youth in Western Massachusetts. “Slowly he became painfully aware that some local whites viewed his “brown skin a misfortune; once or twice I became painfully aware that some human beings even thought it a crime.”(Du Bois, Dark water p. 489) The awareness that those around you view your skin color as a misfortune can have devastating effects on your self esteem. Impressionable youths can develop a sense of lowered self esteem, due to the continued messages of inferiority broadcast to them by those that they come into contact with. Du Bois had the iron will and knowledge of self to cast the yolk of racial chastisement aside, but it is very unfortunate that some individuals have to develop such an iron will, in order to maintain their sense of self worth.

Du Bois explores white identity and the meaning of whiteness, as well as the attempts by whites to impart the idea that white is wonderful and superior. “Whites have made the greatest attempts to make children believe that every great soul that the world ever saw was a white man's soul.” (Du Bois, Dark water p. 498) An attempt has been made throughout history to place white faces on every man or woman of great significance. Placing white faces on religious figures such as Jesus Christ was one of the most successful tools with which to wage psychological warfare against blacks. The enforced idea that divine beings are of the white race, make it much easier to maintain a strangle hold on black consciousness. The omission and suppression of black contributions to history and religion are very effective methods with which to rob blacks of their sense of self-identity and self-worth. Through the cunning manipulation of religious imagery, Europeans have (or had) the masses of blacks believing that God is a white man. The purported whiteness of Christianity has had the psychological effect of influencing many to view Christianity as the white man's religion. Many African Americans have converted to Islam, without knowledge of the historically African roots of Christianity. Many convert to Islam, ignorant of the Koran's endorsement of slavery and of the Arab slave trade.

“Du Bois also makes important connections between the unjust enrichment of white Europeans over recent centuries and the unjust impoverishment of people of African ancestry. The greatness of Europe, which Du Bois fully acknowledges, comes from the strength of its foundation, a foundation built on the ideas, sciences, economic developments, and mineral resources of many parts of the globe, but especially those of Africa and Asia.”(Du Bois, The Social Theory of W.E.B. Du Bois) “The using of men for the benefit of masters is no new invention of modern Europe…. But Europe proposed to apply it on a scale and with an elaborateness of detail of which no former world ever dreamed. The imperial width of the thing,–the heaven -defying audacity -makes its modern newness.”(Du Bois, Dark water p.504) Whites in America and Europe have made the covering up of their exploitation of the knowledge and resources of Africa, a virtual science. Through the manipulation of historical facts, and omission of black contributions to European success, whites have led blacks to believe that they have had little influence in the progress of civilization as we know it. Exploitation and the omission of historical facts have had devastating effects on the self esteem of blacks around the world. Lack of self esteem limit's one's belief in their ability to succeed, and thereby reduces that individual's productivity.

In other writings Du Bois documented the point that the enslavement of Africans in the America's was more extreme than slavery in ancient societies such as the Roman Empire. An essential feature of North American slavery was the denial of almost all human liberties. The denial of human liberties during American slavery was a method through which individuals were both physically and mentally stripped of any inkling of self sufficiency. Slaves became childlike due to their forced dependency on their owners, for physical and mental sustenance.

One of the most dastardly and cunning tricks played on the minds of blacks and poor whites, was to get each group to view the other as the primary threat. ” Du Bois suggests that white elites discovered that white working classes, who were starting to rebel against class domination in Europe and America, could be held in check by convincing the latter that they were racially superior to workers of color across the globe.”(Du Bois, On Sociology and the Black Community) The Divide and conquer methods used by the elites, is apparent in today's society. Most white supremacist group demonstrations are composed of the poorest, most ignorant, and intellectually challenged members of white society. Most hate crimes are conducted by the lower class whites, under the direction of hidden upper class leadership and financing. Du Bois developed his critique of modern capitalism, through his observations of the methods through which the capitalist elites gain wealth through the manipulation and exploitation of the working class. “For the immediate available jobs, the Irish particularly competed and the employers because of race antipathy and sympathy with the South did not wish to increase the number of Negro workers, so long as the foreigners worked just as cheaply. The foreigners in turn blamed blacks for the cheap price of labor. The result was race war; riots took place which at first simply the flaming hostility of groups of laborers fighting for bread and butter; then they turned into race riots. For three days in Cincinnati in 1829, a mob of whites wounded and killed free Negroes and fugitive slaves and destroyed property. In Philadelphia, 1828-1840, a series of riots took place which thereafter extended until the Civil War. The riot of 1834 took the dimensions of a pitched battle and lasted for three days. Thirty-one houses and two churches were destroyed. Other riots took place in 1835 and 1838 and a two days' riot in 1842 caused the calling out of the militia with artillery.”(Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America p.2) It can be clearly seen from the information above that the elites succeeded in their plot to pit working class whites against free blacks seeking work. The psychological damage caused by slavery reached beyond the Negro, and into the hearts and minds of working whites as well.

“No sooner had armies, east and west, penetrated Virginia and Tennessee than fugitive slaves appeared within their lines. They came at night, when the flickering camp fires of the blue hosts shone like vast unsteady stars along the black horizon: old men, and thin, with gray and tufted hair; women with frightened eyes, dragging whimpering, hungry children; men and girls, stalwart and gaunt,– a horde of starving vagabonds, homeless, helpless, and pitiable in their dark distress.” (Du Bois, The Freedmen's Bureau) The decimation of the slaves' self esteem, and forced dependency on their owners, was carried out to such a degree that freed slaves were no longer capable of functioning on their own. Newly freed slaves were often in a state of confusion, and shock when suddenly finding themselves on their own. Many slaves had grown dependant on their owners, for direction in every facet of their lives. It is sad, that a once proud and self sufficient people were reduced to childlike shells of their former selves.

“After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second sight in this American world, a world which yields him no self-consciousness, but lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is peculiar sensation, this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,–an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” (Du Bois, The Strivings of the Negro People p.194) Du Bois gives a detailed explanation of how the treatment of blacks by whites has had an immense psychological effect on many blacks. The treatment of blacks as second class citizens, combined with only partial inclusion and acceptance by white society, has forced many blacks to develop a double consciousness. Many blacks live in a state of confusion as to their legitimacy in American society due to double consciousness, and are thereby hindered in the ability to reach their full potential. By measuring oneself by the tape of the world, a dangerous and debilitating inferiority complex may be developed, which reinforces the self-loathing mentality developed during slavery. The continued use of the term African-American further enhances double consciousness, and reinforces the idea of being something other than American or not fully American. It is amazing that white Americans are referred to as whites or Americans, and are referred to as European – Americans only at the times and places of their choosing. The accurate teaching of world and U.S. history, will serve to provide blacks with the knowledge that they have done just as much to make America what it is today as any other race, and help to erase double consciousness.

“The double- aimed struggle of the black artisan, on the one hand to escape white contempt for a nation of mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, and on the other hand to plough and nail and dig for a poverty-stricken horde, could easily result in making him a poor craftsman, for he had but half a heart in either cause. By poverty and ignorance of his people the Negro Lawyer or doctor was pushed toward quackery and demagogism, and by the criticism of the other world toward an elaborate preparation that over fitted him for his lowly tasks.” (Du Bois, Strivings of the Negro People p.195) Du Bois was the first to expose the psychological plight of the black worker who sought self improvement. Du Bois gives a vivid illustration of the result that contempt by white America had on psyche of black craftsmen and professionals, as well as the inner struggle which resulted in partial surrender and half-hearted efforts. Psychological surrender and half-hearted efforts led to stagnation in black progress, which has been misinterpreted by others as laziness.

“The Negro simply wants to make it possible to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without losing the opportunity of self-development.”(Du Bois, Strivings of The Negro People p.195) In this work Du Bois exposes the underlying conflict within the black American's consciousness. According to DU Bois the Negro is forced to balance his desire to be accepted as fully American, with his desire to avoid the chastisement and abuse from white America that he will likely experience, as a result of his efforts. Many Negroes have resigned themselves to the fact that they will face harsh reprisals and lost opportunities for self-development and upward mobility, as result of there efforts to achieve self actualization. The psychological beatings experienced by many Negroes, have forced them to silently surrender to the forces that be. The sad reality is that the most severe and misguided chastisement experienced by Negroes seeking self-improvement, comes from Negroes still under the spell of the field Negro vs. the house Negro mentality.

” The second thought streaming from the death-ship and the curving river is the thought of the older South,– the sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle, God created a tertium quid, and called it a Negro,– a clownish, simple creature, at times even lovable within its limitations, but straightly foreordained to walk within the Veil. To be sure, behind the thought lurks the afterthought,– some of them with favoring chance might become men, but in sheer self-defense we dare not let them, and we build about them walls so high, and hang between them and the light a veil so thick, that they shall not even think of breaking through.” (Du Bois, Of the Training of Black Men p.1) Du Bois gives us a vivid illustration of the plan to make self-development, upward mobility, and self-actualization, a near impossibility for the Negro. The white establishment in America sought to make the obstacles between Negroes and self development so formidable, that Negroes would see any attempts at a breakthrough as futile.

“You misjudge us because you do not know us. From the very first it has been the educated and intelligent of the Negro people that have led and elevated the mass, and the sole obstacles that nullified and retarded their efforts were slavery and race prejudice; for what is slavery but the legalized survival of the unfit and the nullification of natural internal leadership? Negro leadership therefore sought from the first to rid the race of its awful incubus that it might make way for natural selection and the survival of the fittest.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth P.1) Du Bois provides us with an awareness of how many whites in America misjudge blacks from a lack of knowledge of them, and attempt nullify their progress by hindering the progress of educated and intelligent Negroes. If intelligent and educated Negroes aren't allowed to rid the race of its incubus of ignorance, blacks will be stalemated into a perpetual state of psychological chaos.

“And so we come to the present -a day of cowardice and vacillation, of strident wide-voiced wrong and faint hearted compromise; of double-faced dallying with Truth and Right. Who are to-day guiding the work of the Negro people? The “exceptions” of course. And yet so sure as this Talented Tenth is pointed out, the blind worshippers of the Average cry out in alarm: “These are exceptions, look here at death, disease and crime—these are the happy rule.” Of course they are the rule, because a silly nation made them the rule: Because for three long centuries this people lynched Negroes who dared to be brave, raped black women who dared to be virtuous, crushed dark- hued youth who dared to be ambitious, and encouraged and made to flourish servility and lewdness and apathy.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth p.3) Du Bois illustrates the thinking pattern of many concerning the Negro, which is that death, disease and crime are the happy rule of Negro existence. Many Negroes have accepted the happy rule as a normal state of affairs in the black community, and have psychologically resigned themselves to accepting the happy rule as an inescapable fact of life. Du Bois is adamant in exposing the policy of this nation, to destroy any Negro who attempts to strive for existence outside of the happy rule. The destruction of black leadership by the white establishment continues to have detrimental affects on the psyche of blacks, who have the knowledge to lead others out of psychological bondage.

“Nothing in these latter days has so dampened the faith of thinking Negroes in recent educational movements, as the fact that such movements have been accompanied by ridicule and denouncement and decrying of those very institutions of higher training which made the Negro public school possible, and make Negro industrial schools thinkable.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth p.6) Du Bois has once again exposed the ongoing attack upon the self esteem of blacks, by the white establishment. According to Du Bois, faith in Negro educational movements has been dampened by ongoing ridicule and denouncement, which serves to impede the will of many blacks to pursue self-development. If fewer blacks pursue educational enlightenment, it will be much easier for the white establishment to continue to dominate, control, and suppress black Americans.

“The Father, who worked Colonel Wheeler's farm on shares, would tell me how the crops needed the boys; and the thin, slovenly mother, whose face was pretty when washed, assured me the Lugene must mind the baby. “But we'll start them again next week.” When the lawrences stopped, I knew that the doubts of the old folks about book – learning had conquered again, and so, toiling up the hill, and getting as far into the cabin as possible, I put Cicero pro Archia Poeta into the simplest English with local applications, and usually convinced them—for a week or so.” (Du Bois, A Negro Schoolmaster in the New South p.1) From Du Bois's work, it can be seen that education was given secondary consideration by many blacks. It can be inferred that many blacks viewed the immediate need of working the fields and house duties, as more beneficial for meeting their immediate economic needs. The doubts about book—learning held by many older blacks, were most likely developed by their experiences concerning the condemnation of Negroes who sought to educate themselves. Older blacks were most likely psychologically conditioned to believe, that white society would not allow blacks to be gainfully employed in jobs suited to their level of educational development.

“For instance, a visitor might tell us that the Negroes of Farmville are idle, unreliable, careless with their earnings, and lewd; another visitor, a month later, might say that Farmville Negroes are industrious, owners of property, and slowly but steadily advancing in education and morals. These apparently contradictory statements made continually of Negro groups all over the land are both true to a degree, and become mischievous and misleading only when stated without reservation as true of a whole community, when they are in reality true only of certain classes in the community. The question then becomes, not whether the Negro is lazy and criminal, or industrious and ambitious, but rather what, in a given community, is the proportion of lazy to industrious Negroes, of paupers to property holders, and what the tendency of development in these classes is. Bearing in mind, it seems fair to conclude, after an impartial study of Farmville conditions, that the industrious and property accumulating class of the Negro citizens best represents, on the whole, the general tendencies of the group.” (Du Bois, The Negroes of Farmville, Virginia P.38) Du Bois eloquently describes the tendency of the media and others to over report the negative aspects of the black community, and to grossly under report the positive aspects of black communities. The tendency to attribute the negatives of the black community to the community as a whole, gives many a negative and distorted perception of blacks. The negative stereotypical portrayal of blacks has had detrimental affects on the psyche of black Americans, who are constantly bombarded with negative and demeaning images of themselves. Blacks, who are not strong enough to resist the psychological onslaught by the media and others, may succumb to accepting the negatives as truths. The negative reports concerning blacks are influential on the perception that many whites and foreigners have concerning blacks, which in turn affects the relations that these groups have with blacks, upon encountering blacks for the first time.

“It is clear that any civilization which is based on the fertility of the soil, and not on the energy of the man, contains within itself the seed of its own destruction. Where food is easily obtained, where there is little need for clothing or houses, where, in brief, unaided nature furnishes all man's necessities, those elements which produce strength of character and vigor of mind are wanting, and man becomes the slave of his surroundings. He acquires no energy of disposition, he yields himself to superstition and fatalism; the very conditions of life which produced his civilization set the limit of its existence. The warm climate made great provision for the future unnecessary, not to say impossible, while social conditions did not favor accumulation of property. It is necessary to emphasize these African conditions, for they have an important influence on future development. Under these conditions Negro character was formed, and that character was not like that of the long-headed blonds of the North.” (Kelsey Carl, The Negro Farmer P.27) Carl Kelsey's work illustrates the thinking of many whites prior to, and after Du Bois's works. Kelsey's work is based on the view that the African climate and environment, were major factors in the formulating the reported shiftless character of blacks. Kelsey is attempting to make a correlation between West African environmental conditions, and those negative character traits that he assumes to be the result of living in such an environment, and naively attempt to apply those negative character traits to the black community as a whole. Kelsey is a prime example of the resulting mentality that is formulated by those who are fed a steady diet of negative imagery as it pertains to the black community. It can be assumed that the majority of Kelsey's experience with Negroes has been with the lower classes of the community, or that Kelsey chooses to ignore the vast majority of Negroes, who are thrifty, moral, and industrious.

There are many loopholes in Kelsey's shallow attempt to describe the development of Negro character, and psychological makeup. The year round growing season of tropical environments require year round agricultural endeavors, which is in sharp contrast to the short growing season experienced by the blonds to the North. The blonds to the North experienced severe winter weather, which at times limited all activity to eating, sleeping, and indoor activities which required very little strength of character or vigor of mind. Much more time was spent eating and sleeping in Northern climates, due to shorter days, and the need for extra calories during the winter months. The heat and humidity of West African jungles is very taxing on the body and mind, and requires that individuals have strength of character in order to work under such conditions. Men were required to hunt and fish in searing heat, as well as to fight in the defense of their tribes under such conditions. Foods were indeed readily available, but gathering fruit and other plant foods was done with an awareness that dangerous predators were always lurking in the grasses and jungle. Thrift and wit were required by those who bravely ventured outside the safety of villages, in order to pick fruit without becoming the victims of man eating predators.

 

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When I decided to write this article I had known about some of the wonderful benefits of garlic for years but not all. For instance, long time ago, I remember hearing that garlic was a natural antibiotic and in many ways was even better than Vitamin-C in helping in not only preventing, but shortening the length of time of the common cold.

I was also curious however, as to the history of this most used herb and how far back the use of garlic went. I was surprised to learn that garlic, which is known in the Latin as Allium sativum and part of the onion family, had been cultivated and used as far back as 6,000 years ago, and was first grown in the Central Asia area. In fact, most of our garlic that we buy in stores even today, is still predominantly grown and comes from the Asian countries. During the early millenniums of civilization, and as trade became more and more popular between other regions of the world, it was quickly adapted and used in Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean areas. In many cases, garlic was so highly prized and considered so valuable that it was even used as currency.

The most amazing fact I learned was that while garlic had been used for thousands and thousands of years in these regions of the world, it didn't become popular or used much in America, except of course by immigrants who came from Europe or Asia countries until the earlier part of the twentieth century. (1) This fact is something that I think would surprise most of us today. I had just naturally assumed that garlic had always been used here in America. I mean can you imagine not having that wonderful garlicky taste on one's pizza, pasta meals, or in soups, to only mention a few foods that we add garlic to? And how about that delicious mouth-watering taste of buttery garlic bread itself? Since I love the taste of garlic in food, I practically add a bit of garlic in all my meals, I even sprinkle a bit of garlic powder on my hamburgers to enhance the burger's flavor.

Over the past few years, more and more benefits are showing up on how healthy garlic is for you. As a result of this, a really large industry has been created in garlic pill supplements, such as Garlique, Kwai and Kyolic, just to name a few. Naturally, fresh garlic is great to use, however, garlic pills have an obvious advantage, in that one can take stronger doses than the equivalent of fresh garlic. I for instance take Nature's Bounty 1,000 mg. To eat the equivalent of 1,000 mg of fresh garlic I would have to eat an awful lot of fresh garlic bulbs and I sincerely doubt if I would have many friends, since lets face it, garlic is rather pungent.

The list of benefits garlic has is quite staggering. I've already mentioned that garlic is a known natural antibiotic and can help prevent or shorten not only the duration of colds, but the flu as well. One of the major reasons for the ever-growing popularity of garlic pills and garlic in general, however, is that it is known to help promote cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol and also lower blood pressure levels. Garlic is also known for it's anticancer properties and can prevent certain types of cancers, from esophageal, stomach, colon and even breast and skin cancers.(2)

With everything however, there are some precautions when using garlic. First of all, one has to remember that garlic is also a natural blood thinner, thus the reason for its benefits for the lowering of cholesterol levels, blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Therefore, high doses of garlic especially as in pill form, should be used with caution when taking any anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen or even common aspirin. It also goes without saying that garlic can interact with any blood thinner medication such as heparin, or enoxaparin or any anticoagulant medication that reduces the blood from clotting, such as warfarin. One even has to use caution in taking too much garlic with other natural herbal supplements such as ginko biloba, ginger, and even willow bark, which by the way, is the natural form of aspirin itself. For a full listing of what medications may interact with garlic, you may refer to this website Garlic Interactions

As with anything when taking any supplement or medication, do talk with your physician about the safety factors involved, especially if you do take any of the prescribed medications that I've listed. All in all, however, I think the overall benefits of garlic far outweigh the risks and moderation is the key.

History of Garlic

http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/garlichistory.htm (1)

More References to Garlic

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/garlic06.html

http://www.emaxhealth.com/19/1024.html(2)

http://www.garlic-central.com/garlic-health.html

http://www.naturalhealthremedies.org/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-garlic/

Possible Side Effects or Drug interactions

http://gsm.about.com/compact/showtext.asp?cpnum=2221&monotype=full&match=M&gname=Garlic,*Allium*sativum&r=6078

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