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 B-NEWS
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Inside This Issue:
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Remember:
Amateurs built the ark . . .
Professionals built the Titanic
|
Hi Folks,
I'm sorry that it has been so
long between issues. Instead of telling you all of the things that
have delayed the compilation and delivery of this edition, I've
decided to say "it is as it is." Suffice it to say that my life is
full right now. I'm on a tight budget as far as spending my time is
concerned.
Speaking of budgeting, at this
writing, I've received news that the General Assembly for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania voted to approve a $24.3 billion state
budget for 2005-06. They also approved a 16 percent pay increase
($11,000) for rank and file members and thousands more for legislative
leaders and committee heads. This jump puts our "public servants'"
salaries at or above double what the people they serve make.
How nice. They have liberated
money from us to freely give to themselves and release them from the
constraints their former salaries placed on them. And just after
independence day! What a telling statement.
Now, they go on vacation until
September. That way we can't reach them. By then, other things will
occupy our minds and fill our time.
Undoubtedly, this is happening
all over the nation as hungry servants demand pay increases and larger
expense accounts. Maybe they should unionize to get better working
conditions.
Can you imagine having the
power to give yourself a raise like that? Wow!
The governor originally
proposed about $380 million in spending cuts. To appease the people,
they restored about half of that amount.
Now that the budget has
passed, we have an accurate understanding of why Medical Assistance
funding cuts were made. Those who "serve" the public were having
difficulty getting by on their salary. They needed an increase to make
sure they stay at about double ($80,000 +) the average income
($38,000) of the people who pay their salaries. This doesn't even
count the hidden costs associated with their employment.
Perhaps we need to look at the
actual costs related to having these people serve us. The vehicle
expenses. The fuel. The travel and lodging that we pay for. Perhaps
the people whom these government employees serve should stop this
raiding of our wallets.
No, that wouldn't work.
Everyone is too busy getting by on half as much or less than our
public servants. (Who really are the servants anyway?)
When watching the movie
entitled Matrix, I was impressed by a scene where the lead character
and another man were discussing their awareness of the deception of
the Matrix. They were talking over dinner. The lead character was
trying to convince the other to take action about the situation they
were in. As the other man refused, he continued eating his imaginary
steak. The lead character reminded him that it was all an illusion and
that the steak was not real. To which he replied, "But it tastes so
good."
As I reflect upon the events
preceding the adoption of this budget, I'm reminded of how people rose
up in protest to the cuts. The cuts were presented as being very deep
and possibly life threatening to the people who rely upon Medical
Assistance to survive. The companies and employees that sell services
rose up in protest also. Then, as if to offer a solution, some of the
cuts were removed from the budget. Advocates were thrown a bone to
keep them happy and voting. And our legislators received the real
purpose of the cuts; the steak.
Oh, but that bone tastes so
good doesn't it?
Till next time-
John
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"Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities
vanish."-Jean de la Fontaine |
by Jan Tincher
Do you ever feel frustrated?
Think for a moment. If you were feeling frustrated right now, what would
happen if you smiled? Smile and see.
It didn't change what happened to make you frustrated, did it? No. But for a
nanosecond you felt better -- or at least better than frustrated.
Now . . . which would you rather feel? Frustrated or happy?
You've just shown yourself that you can be frustrated and still feel happy --
or if not happy, then at least different. If you spent more time smiling,
you'd spend less time feeling frustrated.
If you are frustrated, you can't accomplish what you are working on very
quickly. Why not smile?
-----
Be a success! Let Jan Tincher, Master Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, help
you! Great articles, great strategies you can implement immediately!
Go here now:
http://www.tameyourbrain.com/success/index1.htm
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|
The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but by oft
falling. -Lucretius |
Advisory Committee to the PA Department of Welfare
Brain Injury Workgroup Meeting Notice
When: Thursday, July 28, 2005
Time: 1-4 PM
Where: Harrisburg Hilton
Teleconferencing available
The Brain Injury Workgroup will be making recommendations to the DPW on
improving services to persons of all ages with brain injury.
The first meeting of the HCBS SPT Brain Injury Workgroup will be in Harrisburg
from 1-4 PM on Thursday July 28th at the Harrisburg Hilton. Workgroup members
who cannot come to Harrisburg are invited to participate by toll-free phone
conferencing.
Contact:
Ginny Rogers
Executive Policy Specialist
PA Department of Public Welfare
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675
phone: 717-346-4481
email: virrogers@state.pa.us
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|
Brain Teaser
What is it that goes with an automobile and comes with it; is of
no use to it, and yet the automobile cannot move without it?
Do you know the answer? Scroll down to find the solution.
|
by Tracy Brinkmann
Tracy Brinkmann © 2005
Everyday we have unexpected events happen to us. We plan down to the
slightest detail and BAM something comes along and throws a major wrench into
the machine. However, it is not what happens to you at times like this it is
how you react to what happens to you. In this article, I want to share a few
ways to keep you acting and thinking both creatively and positively. Thus
keeping your attitude at its very best under all those circumstances that will
be thrust upon you repeatedly.
* Concentrate on the good
If there was a belief store, where you could go and purchase a belief then
the belief that I would have everyone purchase is the success belief; the
belief that everything that happens to you will bring you closer to your
desired success or goal. This belief would enable you to search for and find
the good in every situation. As hard as it may be at times there is always a
good to be had in every single situation that you live through. Whether it is
a lesson learned experience gained or new contact made somewhere in there
is a good to be had. Find it and your attitude will take a positive direction.
* Seek out the valuable lesson
Much like concentrating on the good if you seek out the valuable lesson then
the situation, circumstance or pitfall takes a completely new meaning. You
will begin to realize that whatever situation you are facing right now needed
to be faced in order to learn the lesson. Now take that lesson and integrate
it into your goals and plans for the future. Take that lesson learned and use
it to TAKE ACTION towards your success!
* Concentrate on the solution
Whenever a difficulty rears its ugly head, quickly concentrate on the solution
rather than focusing on the problem. Spending your time rehashing, reliving
and reflecting on the problem will quickly eat away at your positive attitude.
Instead, concentrate on the solution to the obstacle, task or setback that
lies in front of you. Break it down into manageable steps, plan and solve for
each of the steps then TAKE ACTION. The moment you begin thinking and
planning in terms of solutions, you become more positive and more
constructive.
* Concentrate on the future
Whatever challenges stand before you, focus on the future rather than the
past. You can not change the past so instead of worrying about whom did what
to whom and why he is to blame, focus on where you desire to be and how you
can get there from here. Concentrate on the vision of your future. How you
want it to be, how you want it to look. Lay it all out then take action
towards making your future become a reality today. Keep your mind focused on
your future vision and you will take actions that are more positive each day.
* Think as successful people think
Successful people know that a positive mental attitude is an indispensable
tool. You too can be as positive as you want to be if you will concentrate on
the good, seek out the valuable lesson, focus on the solution and think about
the future. If you think as successful people think, using your mind to exert
mental control over the situation, you will be positive and in good spirits a
majority of the time. Moreover, you will receive the rewards that come with
such a positive mental attitude, as all success people have learned.
* Time to Take Action!
First concentrate on the good and seek
the valuable lesson in every snag. Start a journal or make a list of every
idea and insight you can gain from your setbacks and difficulties.
Second become solution-oriented with
every difficulty you encounter. Make it a habit to look for the answers to
your questions as well as the solutions to your problems. Seek out the
assistance of a mentor or coach along your road to success.
Third, think on paper. Take the time to
write out every detail of the situation, and then brainstorm solutions. Plan
the most logical next steps then TAKE ACTION to get through the obstacle.
Think Successfully and Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
About the Author:
Success Atlas & Tracy Brinkmann provide 1-on-1 or Group Coaching, along with
motivational and educational materials spiced up with humor and entertainment.
Informing, educating and listening to keynotes does not
have to be boring! We will put every effort to see to it that it is not.
http://www.SuccessAtlas.com
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|
Answer to Brain Teaser
Noise
|
By John Pistorius
By now, most people have heard that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
has resigned. Some may be asking: "What's the big deal?"
As President Bush considers potential nominees to fill the Supreme Court
vacancy left by the resignation of Justice O'Connor, it is urgent that
citizens look beyond politics and media coverage. We need to consider the
impact that her replacement will have on our Constitution and laws.
The American people deserve a realistic presentation of the facts regarding
the impact of future Supreme Court justices on their lives, liberties, and
legal protections. The internet is the greatest leveling tool known to mankind
these days. All sides of every issue can be found and studied. Take time to
look for the truth.
Some spew rhetoric about the need for "collaborative consultation with
senators from both parties, and to the selection of a consensus nominee or
nominees whose commitment to protecting Americans rights and freedoms will
earn genuine bipartisan
support."
In other words, they want to insure that the nominee serves their interests.
Anyone who might not side with those writers is labeled "controversial" and
"backward looking." Let's face it folks, the power struggle is what it is.
Each side calls the other names and spits out half-truths.
Let us seek to influence this decision in a way that exemplifies the
government of, by and for the people. What is the true consensus of the
majority of the people of this nation? What standards do "we, the
people" expect to be met?
Justice O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She
became one of its most powerful and widely respected justices because she was
often the deciding vote in many decisions handed down by the court.
Undoubtedly, O'Connor's vacancy and the fact that more vacancies may occur on
the Court over the next few years will have long-lasting and far-reaching
consequences for every American citizen. Citizens of other countries who
follow our lead in important human rights issues can be affected for a long
time to come also.
This is no different than any time in history when vacancies arose on the
Court. But now we are being "fear-factored" into believing that this time is
different. The media hype and hoopla over O'Connor's replacement is a clear
example of what is wrong in this nation.
Special interest groups preach tolerance about their issues, while practicing
intolerance over other's interests and concerns. The leadership of these
groups are actively pushing their special interest agenda by using fear
tactics to compel citizens to stand with them to demand a replacement for
O'Connor who will vote their way on matters before the court.
It's time to stand up and think for yourself instead of being driven to act on
someone else's agenda.
What are your core values? Do they line up with those of the group or
leadership that is attempting to convince you of the need to insist upon a
candidate that will secure them power by proxy? If not, stand firm and state
what you believe. Stop being sheep that are pushed by the hounds of special
interest shepherds.
"Individual rights" and "the common good" are used in sentences by writers
that pretend that they are the same thing. Our rights are given to us at birth
by God and protected by our constitution. The trend in modern politics is to
rewrite whatever part of our constitution does not suit particular special
interests. The rewriting occurs by Supreme Court rulings. Instead of accepting
the document as it is written and interpreting it as it was drafted, our
courts are revising it by majority vote. This is the greatest failure of our
political and judicial system today.
A Supreme Court with additional justices who do not meet special- interest
group standards could return us to a constitutionally protected nation of
justice for all. This truth should figure prominently in any public
debate over the courts. It should give all Americans reason to pause before
accepting any nominee to this nation's highest court.
We need Justices who are committed to upholding the basic rights and legal
protections that Americans are offered by our Constitution, not special
interest group pseudo-rights. We need Justices who are constitutional
scholars. We need Justices who understand the context in which the
Constitution was written. We need Justices who understand the republic form of
government upon which this nation was created. And we need Justices who hold
to the values that our forefathers held. Then will we see our country return
to the way that it was founded, by, for and of all of the people, not
just some special interest groups.
Think about it!
Back to table of contents
|
Write injuries in sand,
kindnesses in marble. French Proverb |
By Mark Johnson
(Editor's note: On July 26, 1990, At the Second Session of the One Hundred
First Congress of the United States of America, the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress enacted an Act: To
establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis
of disability. We know this as the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.
TITLE I covers EMPLOYMENT. TITLE II covers PUBLIC SERVICES. TITLE III covers
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES OPERATED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES. TITLE IV
covers TELECOMMUNICATIONS. And TITLE V covers MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. To
learn more about the ADA, please visit
http://www.sedbtac.org/)
Mark Johnson offers the following suggestions for ways to celebrate the
15th anniversary of the passing of the ADA into law:
--sign the Statement of Solidarity at
http://www.aapd-dc.org/
-July 26th, participate in a local event, go to
http://www.aapd-dc.org/ADAcelebration/adacel05/stateadacel.html
-July 23rd, support the National Fun Run,
http://www.adaptfunrun.org/
-support the protesters in TN, Day 11,
http://www.mcil.org/mcil/ ,
FOR information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), go to
http://www.sedbtac.org/ .
TO resolve a complaint, go to
http://www.napas.org/
Looking back, 10th anniversary of ADA
-
http://www.aapd-dc.org/torchrelay/torchrelayindex.html
-http://www.icanonline.net/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=24F0AB10-54DA-4EE3-92DB6E211B5183E5&cx=news.special_reports
Mark_Johnson@shepherd.org
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|
My wheelchair is the ultimate partner - it doesn't answer me back,
always supports me, takes me everywhere and I have always got a seat!!
-Meriel Stanger |
In an article published by Rueters.com, author Patricia Reaney writes:
"Patients suffering from severe depression who have not responded to other
treatments may be helped by deep brain stimulation. . ."
The treatment is likened to being a pacemaker for the brain. Using electrodes
implanted in the brain, researchers are able to "switch off or interrupt
electrical circuits linked to depression."
The author states that deep brain stimulation relieved depression in four out
of six patients who failed on all other treatments.
"Patients would experience an immediate shutdown of a negative state," Dr
Helen Mayberg, a neurologist at Emory University School of Medicine in
Atlanta, Georgia told a news conference. The technique was originally
developed for Parkinson's disease patients. Dr. Mayberg and her colleagues
have adapted it for patients with severe depression.
To read the article, please click the following link:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-06-27T124853Z_01_N27276304_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-HEALTH-DEPRESSION-DC.XML
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|
Gratitude brings your whole into closer harmony
with the creative energies of the universe. -Wallace D.
Wattles |
by Kevin Eikenberry
Doesn't it make sense then to do some regularly scheduled maintenance on our
brain - a tool far more valuable than the rest?
It happens to all of us. We get in ruts, we build routines and we develop
habits, and in doing so we often don't use our brain the way we could. It is
one of our most valuable and precious resources and it is time to re-energize
it.
Here then are eight ways you can re-energize, re-invigorate and do some
ongoing maintenance for your brain.
1. Ask Why? Our brains are wired to be curious. As we grow up and
"mature" many of us stifle or deny our natural curiosity. Let yourself be
curious! Wonder to yourself about why things are happening. Ask someone in the
know. The best way to exercise our curiosity is by asking "Why?" Make it a new
habit to ask "why?" at least 10 times a day. Your brain will be happier and
you will be amazed at how many opportunities and solutions will show up in
your life and work.
2. Laugh. Scientists tell us that laughter is good for our health; that
it releases endorphins and other positively powerful chemicals into our
system. We don't really need scientists to tell us that it feels good to
laugh. Laughing helps us reduce stress and break old patterns too. So laughter
can be like a "quick-charge" for our brain's batteries. Laugh more, and laugh
harder.
3. Remember. Get out an old photo album or high school yearbook. Your
brain is a memory machine, so give it a chance to work! Spend time with your
memories. Let your mind reflect on them and your mind will repay you in
positive emotions and new connections from the memories to help you with your
current tasks and challenges.
4. Do a puzzle. Some of us like jigsaw puzzles, some crossword puzzles,
some logic puzzles - it really doesn't matter kind you choose to do. Doing
puzzles in your free time is a great way to activate your brain and keep it in
good working condition. Do the puzzle for fun, but do it knowing you are
exercising your brain.
5. Play. Take time to play. Make time to play. Play cards. Play video
games. Play board games. Play Ring Around the Rosie. Play tug of war. It
doesn't matter what you play. Just play! It is good for your spirit and good
for your brain. It gives your brain a chance to think strategically, and keeps
it working.
6. Learn something new. This one might seem obvious. Yes, we capitalize
on our brain's great potential when we put it to work learning new things. You
may have a specific topic for work or leisure that you want to learn more
about. That's great. Go learn it. If you don't have a subject in mind right
now, try learning a new word each day. There is a strong correlation between
working vocabulary and intelligence. When we have new words in our vocabulary,
our minds can think in new ways with greater nuances between ideas. Put your
mind to work learning. It is one of the best ways to re-energize your brain.
7. Write to be read. I am a big proponent of writing in a journal to
capture ideas and thoughts. There is certainly great value in writing for
yourself. I continue to find that my brain is greatly stimulated by writing to
be read. Writing this article (and at least one per week) is one example and
writing in my Blog is another example. There are several situations and
audiences for which I write each week. There are many benefits to me in doing
this. The greatest isn't visibility or marketing; the greatest is what it does
to expand my brain's capacity. Find ways to write to be read - in your church
newsletter, by writing things for your kids to read, by capturing the stories
of your childhood (see number 3 above), starting your own blog or whatever -
just write to be read.
8. Exercise. We all know that exercise is important for your physical
health. Our brain is a part of that body, so increasing our blood flow brings
more oxygen to the brain - oxygen that is the fuel for that beautiful brain.
When I exercise I get fresh ideas. When I exercise I feel better physically
and mentally. Just add "improving my brain" to the list of great reasons to
exercise.
This is a short but powerful list. I encourage you to apply at least one of
these approaches starting today. Look at your to do list and your calendar.
Put it on your list in ink.
Your brain will thank you in the form of new ideas, greater stamina, more
passion for your tasks and in so many more ways.
-----
©Kevin Eikenberry 2005. Kevin is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin
Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company
that helps Clients reach their potential
through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive
your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to
http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or
888.LEARNER.
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|
Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens
the lock. -Author Unknown |
Harvard study reveals cognitive forms of blindness.
By John Pistorius
In a report entitled "Gorillas in our midst: sustained inattentional
blindness for dynamic events," Harvard researchers offer us evidence about
how fixing our attention can affect our ability to "see."
In the study, test subjects were shown videos of people passing a basketball
back and forth and told to count the number of passes. During the
presentation, a short person wearing a gorilla costume walked through the
action. When finished, the viewers were asked if they had observed anything
unusual.
About fifty percent of the test subjects did not report noticing the person in
the gorilla costume.
The researchers tested another group of observers and this time the costumed
person stopped moving while facing the camera, thumped its chest and then
moved on.
This is where the study got interesting. Once again, only half noticed the
gorilla costumed person.
When our attention is so fixed on something, we fail to notice other things
that are happening right in front of us. This shows what many motivational
authors, teachers and speakers have been sharing for thousands of years. We
reap what we sow. Where we "sow" our attention is where we "reap" recall. What
we attend to is exactly what we are able to report to others. If we focus on
negatives, we report negatives, even when positive things are happening right
in front of us. Conversely, if we focus on positive aspects of our lives, we
can use "inattentional blindness" to screen out negatives.
This might be a really simple way to treat the blues. Look for things in
your life to be grateful for. Get off of the negative thinking patterns that
produce sadness and depression. Look at all of the goodness in your life.
If you are not focused on what you desire to be, do, or have, you might never
see it. If you are focusing on things you don't want, the very thing you
deeply desire to be, do or have could be right in front of you right now and
even waving its arms and thumping its chest, and you've got only about a 50%
chance of noticing it. Instead, you might only notice the very thing you do
not want in your life.
What do you want? What is the "person in the gorilla costume" that you want in
your life? Focus your attention on that very thing and watch as it "magically"
appears. Look for any clue that it might already be present and "see" if you
can unmask it. In many cases, it is already there, you are just overlooking
it. Many people are so busy focusing on the gloom and doom of the popular
media and listening to others who have been conditioned by it that they
overlook opportunities to "see" the good things in life.
Look where you want to go and get there. Look for what you want in your life
and find it. Stop filling your mind with all of the bad news every day. There
is nothing new under the sun. The world was turning before you stepped upon it
and it will continue to turn after you stop.
Focus your attention on what you want instead of what you don't and "find"
more of what you want. It might already be there, right in front of you. And
you might just see that its been there all along, waving its arms and pounding
its chest to get your attention.
To read the report, visit:
http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/%7Ecfc/Simons1999.pdf
|
Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. -Robert
Schuller |
by Stephen Drake
The March 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine featured an
article by two Dutch doctors defining a "problem" and a "solution."
Drs. Verhagen and Sauer announced that a survey had found that,
contrary to Dutch law, some infants with severe disabilities have been
euthanized. In an effort to end "uncontrolled" euthanasia, they
proposed adoption of a set of protocols, known as the "Groningen
protocol," for legally euthanizing infants with disabilities and
serious medical conditions.
It's hard to believe anyone could be surprised by the news of this
latest effort to expand the practice of euthanasia in the Netherlands.
For the sake of brevity, one might compare Dutch euthanasia practices
to a highway system. In this system, drivers are responsible for
monitoring their own speed. As long as they tell officials how
fast they're driving, the authorities generally won't issue tickets
for speeding.
Here's the hitch: the problem of speeding has become so problematic
that every few years a driver is actually issued a ticket. In
every reported case, the offender was given a slap on the wrist, and
the speed limit was raised. Predictably, this just results in a
general rise in the speed of traffic and further requests to raise the
speed limits. This is, in effect, what happened in 1994 when Dr.
Boudewijn Chabot was convicted of aiding the suicide of a woman in
despair over the death of her two sons. It happened again in
2001 when Dr. Wilfred van Oijen was tried and convicted for "euthananizing"
an elderly woman without her permission.
The main difference between the Dutch system and the American system,
I'd suggest, is one of degree. We've set the speed limits at a
lower level and mostly resisted requests to raise them.
However, there is significant evidence that at least some medical
professionals in the United States would embrace legalization of
infanticide based on disability. It wasn't that long ago that
passive euthanasia of infants with Downs Syndrome and spina bifida was
an accepted practice here, and it's still unclear to what extent the
practice persists.
The sentiment for facilitating the deaths of infants with disabilities
is evident in numerous research studies. For example, in 2001,
Streiner and colleagues published a study in Pediatrics comparing the
attitudes of parents and health care professionals in "quality of
life" assessments of premature infants. The study found that
neonatologists and neonatal nurses were both more pessimistic about
pediatric outcomes, and also more likely to judge death to be the best
outcome, than were the parents or siblings of the same children.
This study, conducted in Canada, is consistent with earlier U.S.
studies that have demonstrated a bias on the part of medical
professionals in devaluing the lives of infants with severe
disabilities. No one should mistake this bias for anything other
than what it is - an over-valuation of physical and mental norms,
which is bigotry.
That prejudice is often mistaken for objectivity in bioethics
discussions. It's one reason most public discussion of
euthanasia is tainted by misinformation. For example, the
Associated Press story on the Groningen protocol misinformed readers
that the protocol applied to "euthanizing terminally ill newborns."
This is a gross distortion: Verhagen and Sauer made no attempt to hide
that they were talking about newborns with "serious medical
conditions."
It's both puzzling and disturbing that this misinformation was met
with total silence from the bioethics community. You would think
that bioethicists, eager to claim expertise and promising to bring
clarity to public debates, would have jumped all over the Associated
Press report. This silence reinforces the cynical view that the
righteous anger bioethicists express at outspoken disability advocates
has less to do with providing clarity than protecting turf.
Bioethicists who appear in popular media often decry the simplistic
way in which complex issues are addressed. On behalf of Not Dead
Yet and other disability rights organizations, I have a
not-so-respectful request: admit your failure to promote a complex and
accurate public discussion of bioethical issues and make room for
those of us who seem more willing and able to lead the effort.
Stephen Drake, "Perspective - Euthanasia is out of control in the
Netherlands," Hasting Center Report, 35, no. 3 (2005): inside back
cover
Stephen Drake
Research Analyst
Not Dead Yet
7521 Madison St.
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-209-1500
http://www.notdeadyet.org
From: Hasting Center Report, 35, no. 3 (2005): inside back cover.
Available in pdf format at:
http://www.thehastingscenter.org/pdf/publications/hcr_may_jun_2005_perspective.pdf
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|
With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are
attainable. -Thomas Foxwell Buxton |
Unbreakable Salesmanship
The medical supplies salesman was demonstrating unbreakable combs in
the hospital auditorium. He was impressing the people by putting the
comb through all sorts of torture and stress.
Finally to impress even the skeptics in the crowd, he bent the
comb completely in half, and it snapped with a loud crack.
Without missing a beat, he bravely held up both halves of the
'unbreakable' comb for everyone to see and said,
"And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what an unbreakable comb
looks like on the inside..."
*********
What's the Difference?
An educated man runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a Sheriffs
Deputy.
He thinks that he is smarter than the Deputy because he is sure that
he has a better education.
He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the deputies
expense...
Deputy says, "License and registration, please."
Ph.D. says, "What for?"
Deputy says, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign."
Ph.D. says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming."
Deputy says, "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and
registration, please."
Ph.D. says, "What's the difference?"
Deputy says, "The difference is, you have to come to a complete stop,
that's the law. License and registration, please!"
Ph.D. says, "If you can show me the scientific difference between slow
down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration and you give
me the ticket, if not you let me go and no ticket."
Deputy says, "Exit your vehicle, sir."
At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating
the ever-loving crap out of the Ph.D. and says:
"Do you want me to stop or just slow down?"
**********
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Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes is worn out.
-Italian Proverb |
By Rebecca Fine
Don't you love those special and all-too-rare movies that leave
you feeling wonderful? Inspired, encouraged, happy even
powerful?
Then you'll want to check out this new online movie club I
recently found out about (and joined!) that has a couple of unique
twists.
First, you get three to five movies, many of which you'd never
get to see unless you attend a lot of film festivals, delivered to
your home on DVD every month.
And you don't have to send them back!
But the best part is that, "The movies you'll see ... are
made with love and passion. They're not made just to sell
popcorn."
In other words, you'll have a chance to see the kinds of films
that rarely make it into theaters because the Hollywood machine
prejudges them as not commercial enough.
This looks to me like a great help in feeding our minds the
kinds of images we DO want to see manifested in our lives and our
world rather than the things we don't want (the film industry's
stock-in-trade).
It also looks like a "creative mind" approach to making a
difference in how films are distributed. Already it's gotten
positive write-ups in Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, and
the Los Angeles Times a great beginning!
Editor's note: This
article was found in its entirety in the Science of Getting Rich
newsletter at
http://www.scienceofgettingrich.net/update.html |
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He who is outside his door has the hardest part of his journey behind
him. -Dutch Proverb |
HR 3063 and S 528
Money Follows the Person (MFP) has a House sponsor and bill number now,
and more folks have signed onto MiCASSA.
It is HR 3063 sponsored by U.S. Representative Dale E. Kildee from
Flint, Michigan. Kildee represents the State's 5th Congressional
District. It was introduced June 24th 2005.
Contact your legislators today and tell them to support the passage of
this bill.
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Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of
standing still. -Chinese Proverb |
by Dr. Earl Mindell
Latest News On Alzheimer's Prevention
Alzheimer's may be the only illness that inspires more terror than cancer.
Unlike cancer, which can be treated (albeit with highly toxic agents that can
do more harm than good), Alzheimer's has no treatments that do anything more
than slow its progression slightly. This is definitely one to prevent, if at
all possible.
The research indicates that Alzheimer's prevention involves three strategies:
1) dietary improvements; 2) regular physical activity; and, 3) regular mental
activity.
A summary:
Dietary improvements. The evidence strongly suggests that the same risk
factors are at the root of both heart disease and Alzheimer's. It follows that
a heart-protective, anti-inflammatory, whole-foods diet will also protect the
brain. Plenty of colorful vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and brightly colored
berries are all mainstays of Alzheimer's prevention. Blueberries appear to be
especially protective. A glass of wine, a beer, or a shot of liquor a day also
appears to help keep the brain functioning well. Supplements such as vitamin
E, alpha-lipoic acid, and ginkgo biloba may also help.
Physical activity. Research shows that regular, brisk exercise-such as
walking, jogging, swimming, and aerobic dance-can help prevent Alzheimer's, or
at least delay its onset.
Mental activity. Crossword puzzles, "jumbles," and other brain-testing
activities have been found to help preserve clear thinking and memory in aging
people. Classes, reading, and generally remaining engaged, active, and
committed to community or causes also help. Particularly good are classes that
integrate mental and physical, such as ballroom dance or tai chi. And, turn
off the TV! Research shows that Alzheimer's risk rises 30 percent for each
additional hour per day of TV-watching. This is probably due not to direct
effects of TV on the brain. More likely, excessive television time is a marker
for other unhealthy, couch-potato behaviors. Also, if you're glued to the
tube, you're probably not engaging in any activity that will boost your
brainpower.
-----
To learn more about how Dr. Mindell can help you
get into the best shape of your life, visit:
http://freelife.com/Sites/keith/Redir.cfm?page=/info/nutrition/nutritionhome.cfm
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Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.
-Sam Ewing |
Free Help for
anyone Starting or Running Peer Groups
The Ten Insider Tips manual is ready for release. Anyone interested in
receiving a copy of the manual and tools can visit
http://www.bisga.org/tools.html and click the 'Tools' button to
receive all of the support group tools created so far.
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Men are made stronger on realization that the
helping hand they need is at the end of their own arm.
-Sidney J. Phillips |
Please visit
http://www.pabia.org for a complete
listing of Pittsburgh Area Peer Support group meetings. Please mark your
2005 calendar for each month in advance as an ongoing reminder.
We do not have any control
over the people who are responsible for directing these meetings.
Therefore, if you are interested in attending any of the meetings,
PLEASE: contact the person listed for that meeting to confirm
the date, meeting place and time.
For more complete information please visit the directory of meetings at
http://www.pabia.org/Support%20Groups/Support%20Groups.htm
For a list of State Brain
Injury Associations and the groups in those states, please visit:
http://www.biausa.org/Pages/state_contacts.html
We have two email support
groups you can join. One is through Denise Patterson. Contact Denise at
deenomad@aol.com
to be added.
The other is through Yahoo
Groups. You can join at
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Brainstormers101/
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|
No one understands that you have given
everything. You must give more. -Antonio Porchia |
B-NEWS Contributors-
your insight, articles, poems and comments are vital to the success of
this publication.
B-NEWS
Subscribers-
Without you, I'd have no reason to publish. Please forward this
newsletter to those whom you believe would benefit from reading it.
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Look at a stone cutter
hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much
as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will
split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but
all that had gone before. -Jacob A. Riis |
B-News is designed to inform, inspire and empower people to be their
best. The staff of B-News value every subscriber and respect your
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may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions provided at
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who doesnt wish to receive it, and every good faith effort will be made
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jp@pabia.org of your intent to be removed.
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Success seems to be largely a
matter of hanging on after others have let go.
-William Feather |
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Don't let the fear of the time it will take
to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time
will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the
best possible use. -Earl Nightingale |
Till next time, Seek to be and remain Barrier-Free. You have the power.
|
People are always blaming their circumstances
for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who
get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the
circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
-George Bernard Shaw |
Thank you for subscribing and
reading this newsletter. It is yours. This newsletter may contain
articles, news releases and other items of interest supplied by or
received from third parties.
Required Disclaimer:
Nothing contained herein is intended to be substituted for medical,
legal, accounting or other professional advice. The information provided
herein should not be taken as a health-care diagnosis, treatment, course
of therapy or as any other approved or prescribed health-care advice or
instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the
publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other
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provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of
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However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace
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The contents of this E-zine may be copied, reproduced,
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without the consent of the author/editor as long as the following
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Compilation Copyright © 2005 John Pistorius
jp@pabia.org . Permission granted to
freely copy, use and distribute for non-profit purposes only. Not to be
sold under any circumstances.
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|
When the world says, "Give up," Hope
whispers, "Try it one more time."
-Author Unknown |
|
