Tidbits From The Web #41

The HD Simpsons opening...
In remembrance of Heath...
Do you know your professional symbols?
What your voice says about you...
Transformers...more than meets the eye...
Early childhood stress lingers later in life...
Oo-de-lally...
There's a new face on the quarter...
A new mummy found in Egypt...
Cutting it a tad close aren't we?
Would you pay for your news?
Tech that changed the world...
Bill Gates unplugged...
A look at the new GTA...
Tumeric...the super spice...
The San Francisco Knights...
Introducing...the Borneo Monster...
When toddlers have hockey brawls...
Dr. Emmit Brown would be proud...
Chunk from the Goonies...all grown up...
Comet Lulin is leaving the building...
Cool skateboard art...
How to eat locally in the wintertime...
Leaving it all behind...
The dangers of Twittering...
Facebook is destroying kids' brains...
Schools are destroying creativity...
Oh my dear deer...
Weird MP3 players...
If you are looking for a job...10 resume fixes...
Align your chakras...
Sex as exercise...
First came the Sims...now there is SimAnimals...





National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in the summer of 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since that time, over 900,000 folks have toured the exhibits and participated in the programs. The site offers sections on 'Underground Railroad,' 'Slavery Today,' 'Genealogy and Family Search' and an 'Expand Your Knowledge' area that defines 'Outreach Programs,' 'Educator Resources,' 'Public Programs' and 'Youth Development.' As one visitor explained "Freedom should be like the air that we breathe. Always there, but totally invisible." Tour this site so you'll be better able to formulate what freedom means to you!

Refining the heart model

An animated 3D CAD model of the human heart put together by a team of U.K. doctors is so realistic its four chambers beat in the same asymmetrical rhythm as a real heart. It's expected to improve doctor training.

Full Article




If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
-- Yiddish Proverb

Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push.
-- Joann Thomas



TIME MANAGEMENT

“To get all there is out of living, we must employ our time wisely, never being in too much of a hurry to stop and sip life, but never losing our sense of the enormous value of a minute.” -- Robert Updegraff

"This time like all times is a very good one if we but know what to do with it." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"When you kill time, you kill your opportunities for success." -- Denis Waitley

"Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back." -- Harvey Mackay



"If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door."

- Paul Beatty

	Today's Quote No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. -Francois Muriac

DIGNITY

Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.

Aristotle


True dignity is never gained by place, and never lost when honors are withdrawn.

Philip Massinger

The DesktopGaming web site has created hundreds of retro gaming wallpapers by ripping screenshots from emulated games—and then spicing them up with some photoshop goodness to fit today's giant monitor sizes.

Here I am sharing some favorite retro wallpapers from the DesktopGaming site—starting with this one from Super Mario Bros 3 All-Stars edition.

Donkey Kong Country makes for a nice wallpaper.

Some of the wallpapers are designed to fit across multiple monitors, like this one from Super Mario 2.

A little Earthworm Jim action for you?

Chrono Trigger is one of my all-time favorite games. How many endings did you beat?

Yoshi's Island, not my personal favorite but a nice wallpaper.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! was difficult—could you beat it without a cheat code?

Final Fantasy 3 is another favorite.

Duck Hunt is about as classic as it gets. That dog was seriously annoying.

The DesktopGaming site has plenty of other freely downloadable wallpaper images to choose from, organized by game system and resolution—so you can look for your own nostalgic gaming wallpaper.

DesktopGaming

TechRepublic Geek Trivia

Geek Trivia: Shuffling the (flight) deck

In 2010, the Space Shuttle program will conduct its final spaceflight, finally retiring the three-decades-old spaceplane and clearing the decks for cutting-edge human spacecraft technology -- which is based on four-decades-old space tech. Welcome to Project Constellation, which is known colloquially as "Apollo on steroids" since it reverts NASA's manned spaceflight profile to the rocket-and-capsule paradigm that defined the agency before the Space Shuttle came along.

Don't take that to mean that Project Constellation will be using nothing but 1960s-era transistors and magnetic tape drives. While it's unlikely we'll ever see a return to the heady days of the Apollo Guidance Computer (which was arguably the most advanced portable computer ever built when it first went into space), it doesn't mean that Constellation won't be using some seriously modern tech.

The main crew vehicle for Constellation will be the Orion spacecraft, a manned crew capsule that will dock in orbit with other Constellation systems, including the proposed Altair landing vehicle, the latter of which is somewhat comparable to the Apollo Lunar Module. Orion, for its part, will be a vast improvement over Apollo capsules, not least because it will accommodate four to six crew members, rather than Apollo's three. As to specific technical advances in the Orion capsule:

• An automated docking system similar to those on the Russian and European unmanned cargo vehicles that resupply the International Space Station.
• A combination airbag/parachute landing system that will allow Orion to touch down over sea or land -- just as the Russian Soyuz capsules do -- rather than being limited to a sea landing, as was the case with previous American capsules.
• A mixed nitrogen/oxygen in-flight atmosphere to decrease the likelihood of fire.
• A zero-gravity "camping toilet" based on those aboard the ISS, eliminating the need for the infamous Apollo relief bags.

Of course, not every system improvement made between the Apollo and Orion capsules is based on that of other modern spacecraft. In fact, a critical component of both the Orion and the Altair vehicles is based on a conventional aircraft -- the avionics suite, which will allow astronauts to actually pilot these space vehicles.

WHAT CONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT'S AVIONICS WILL BE THE BASIS FOR THOSE IN NASA'S NEW ORION SPACECRAFT?

To find out, check out the Geek Trivia answer on TechRepublic.

New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects

James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).

In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.

The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body.

According to Turner, "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study ... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label."

Sources:

Globe Newswire September 28, 2008
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 2008;71(21):1415-29

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match.

Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.

The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days!

There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight gain.

For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and, ultimately, heart disease.

However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain. Splenda:

• reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
• increases the pH level in your intestines, and
• affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications

They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims.

It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria, as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms, and support your general health. Many people are already deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly processed foods. This is why a high quality probiotic is one of the very few supplements I highly recommend for nearly everyone.

The Diet Fallacy

The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have been sorely misled.

In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity!

Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:

• Stimulate your appetite
• Increase carbohydrate cravings
• Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar.

Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to your health than an excess of sugar.

The Health Dangers of Splenda

According to James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health:

"This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda.

It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria."

The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com lists a variety of consumer complaints from Splenda consumption, such as:

• Gastrointestinal problems
• Migraines
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Allergic reactions
• Blood sugar increases
• Weight gain

My site also contains a long list of personal testimonials from readers who have suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval!

The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products:

• Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.
• Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.
• Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches).
• Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.
• Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.
• Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.
• Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.
• Joints -- Joint pains or aches.
• Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.

Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge

You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold to processed food manufacturers and soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug companies.

Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well.

Splenda Has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption

As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda. Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption, and the two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects.

36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse: only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing, and here is the real kicker -- The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.

Even more shocking, the absorption of Splenda into the human body was studied on a grand total of six men! Based on that one human study, the FDA allowed the findings to be generalized as being representative of the entire human population. Including women, children, the elderly, and those with any chronic illness -- none of whom were ever examined.

The FDA claims they reviewed over 100 studies conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies were on animals. And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as:

• Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
• Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses
• Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)
• Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group
• A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group

Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar

Yes. Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar.

Sucralose is in fact a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. It does start off as a sugar molecule. Then, in a five-step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose (sugar) molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule.

This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories.

But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS absorbed into your digestive system, and according to this latest study, it is also absorbed into your fat cells.

Unfortunately, if you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at HIGHER risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines!

Your Healthiest Alternatives

If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find "healthier" ways to continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve your cravings.

The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. But sweets are powerfully addictive – sugar has even been shown to be more addictive than cocaine. Stevia is a preferable natural substitute, which can be used in making most dishes and drinks.

However, complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary to break your addictive cycle, as your hormones insulin and leptin likely play an important role in your cravings.

If you are unable to achieve abstinence from sweets, your emotional connection to cravings might be an important factor for you. One of the most profound methods I know of for diminishing the effects of food cravings is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is the psychological acupressure technique routinely used in my practice to help people reduce their cravings.

There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception. If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you've been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose -- for greed, for profits ... and at the expense of your own health.

Peace, love and happiness...until next time...