Isn't it time we swallow our narrow political ideologies and recognize the commitment, the idealism and the will to make the USA a better country that drives every one of these presidential candidates? Think of the time, the energy, the crap they have to put up with to be in this race. And for the one who wins, try to imagine the colossal task of trying to manage the affairs of the world's greatest superpower at this moment in time.
Yet we join a spiteful, divisive media, and hacks on the right and left like Hannerty, Chris Matthews, Tucker and many others, in seizing on every word of our least favored candidate that can be misconstrued, and pouncing gleefully on every gaffe, mistake or change of mind.
We talk about uniting the country; than we join every day the crowd of media miscreants who feed on sharpening divisions and aggravating the natural tensions among competing parties and candidates. Shouldn't we at least set a new standard for ourselves, who should represent at our age some wisdom and maturity. Shouldn't we start to focus on the issues rather than the personalities, foibles or human mistakes which makes every active person vulnerable.
If we could stand in their shoes for even one day, we might appreciate the overwhelming burden these candidates have assumed in trying to represent and lead our country.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Trends in the American Elections of 2008
A surprising shift ocurred over the last few months in the issues that Americans believe are most important in this election. Despite the opinion of 2/3 of all Americans that the war in Iraq is a mistake and should be ended, this is no longer the dominant concern of US voters. Illegal immigration and creating a safe border with Mexico has now emerged as the primary focus of voter concern.
Thanks to the dogged criticism and revelations of Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck on CNN, a majority of Americans of all political stripes are now convinced that the US must finally close and secure the border with Mexico and prevent the movement of drugs, people and perhaps terrorists over what has been a wide open frontier. In fact, they were so incensed by the recent attempt of President Bush, Teddy Kennedy and John McCain to pass what came to be called "Amnesty" legislation for illegals already in the country, that public opinion forced an early and decisive defeat of the bill.
It has seemed clear to me for some time that the winner of this presidential election will have to take a very strong stand on securing the border with Mexico and preventing the drug traffic and the wholesale violence it breeds. Border towns on both sides are awash in drug-related violence, and the Laredo area has witnessed over 70 kidnappings of American citizens over the past 2 years, none of them solved or found. (See the film "No Country for Old Men," a great movie touching this issue)
The issue is more problematic for Democrats than for Republicans, in spite of the President's toleration of the status quo. Both Obamba and Hillary stumbled badly in November in supporting the NY State governor's proposal to grant drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. Attacked by his own Democratic party members, the governor withdrew the legislation. Many democrats, independents and republicans are incensed over the costs taxpayers bear for the education, medical care, tax-free incomes and other financial benefits many states afford illegals. The high crime rate among this group, and the fact that in California alone over 50% of the prison population are illegal immigrants compounds the anger.
Among the leading candidates, Mitt Romney has taken the strongest stand on stopping illegal immigration and securing the border. Once the primaries are over, you will see this issue mushroom into one of the defining issues of the 2008 elections. And if the recession that looks increasingly likely comes into play, the war in Iraq may slip further down the list of issues that will dominate this election.
Thanks to the dogged criticism and revelations of Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck on CNN, a majority of Americans of all political stripes are now convinced that the US must finally close and secure the border with Mexico and prevent the movement of drugs, people and perhaps terrorists over what has been a wide open frontier. In fact, they were so incensed by the recent attempt of President Bush, Teddy Kennedy and John McCain to pass what came to be called "Amnesty" legislation for illegals already in the country, that public opinion forced an early and decisive defeat of the bill.
It has seemed clear to me for some time that the winner of this presidential election will have to take a very strong stand on securing the border with Mexico and preventing the drug traffic and the wholesale violence it breeds. Border towns on both sides are awash in drug-related violence, and the Laredo area has witnessed over 70 kidnappings of American citizens over the past 2 years, none of them solved or found. (See the film "No Country for Old Men," a great movie touching this issue)
The issue is more problematic for Democrats than for Republicans, in spite of the President's toleration of the status quo. Both Obamba and Hillary stumbled badly in November in supporting the NY State governor's proposal to grant drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. Attacked by his own Democratic party members, the governor withdrew the legislation. Many democrats, independents and republicans are incensed over the costs taxpayers bear for the education, medical care, tax-free incomes and other financial benefits many states afford illegals. The high crime rate among this group, and the fact that in California alone over 50% of the prison population are illegal immigrants compounds the anger.
Among the leading candidates, Mitt Romney has taken the strongest stand on stopping illegal immigration and securing the border. Once the primaries are over, you will see this issue mushroom into one of the defining issues of the 2008 elections. And if the recession that looks increasingly likely comes into play, the war in Iraq may slip further down the list of issues that will dominate this election.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
On Administrators Impacting Student Learning
By far the most significant influence any head will ever have on student learning in his/her school rests in hiring the very best teachers one can find, and retaining only those who demonstrate a high level of teaching competence.
In far too many of our schools the public school standard is applied to rehiring decisions: Is this person bad enough to let go? The question should be: Has this person demonstrated a teaching ability (measured by student learning) that at least comes close to the school's aspirations?
The biggest obstacle is this: You can become very unpopular letting go nice people doing a "reasonable" job, stoking the fears and paranoia of all the teachers, egged on by those who are leaving and their supporters. Suddenly you are the target, and the attempts to undermine your efforts can be ferocious.
The only way to counter this phenomenon is to make it very clear what the bar is for successful teaching at your school; and to constantly reinforce your appreciation of the staff who are doing outstanding work. But no amount of effort will increase the "popularity" of a head making tough decisions on retaining mediocre staff.
My advice (having been a staff target for much of my career): When you look in the mirror every day, ask yourself if you and your principals are doing all you can to ensure that every kid is interacting with effective and superior teachers. Providing this is ultimately your only reward---but it's the only one that really counts!
Kevin Bartlett recently acted on these convictions at IS Brussels:
"The other thing we are trying to do along similar lines (feeling backed by Collins in Good to Great and the Social Sector, who says that it’s tough to get the wrong person off the bus in schools, and that we’ll always make some hiring mistakes. so we must use ‘early intervention’, in other words move them on at the first opportunity) ) is be much tougher about only retaining outstanding teachers at the end of the initial contract. We’ve shifted the emphasis from an implied ’It’s up to the leadership to prove my incompetence’ to ’it’s up to me to prove I’m outstanding’. We use the example of the simple question addressed by Michael and we say, ’this is effectively a rehiring, so it’s up to you to make sure that we want to re-hire you with enthusiasm’.
We’re far behind in this attitude shift, compared to say, Bill Gerritz, who’s been tougher for years, but better late than never.
In far too many of our schools the public school standard is applied to rehiring decisions: Is this person bad enough to let go? The question should be: Has this person demonstrated a teaching ability (measured by student learning) that at least comes close to the school's aspirations?
The biggest obstacle is this: You can become very unpopular letting go nice people doing a "reasonable" job, stoking the fears and paranoia of all the teachers, egged on by those who are leaving and their supporters. Suddenly you are the target, and the attempts to undermine your efforts can be ferocious.
The only way to counter this phenomenon is to make it very clear what the bar is for successful teaching at your school; and to constantly reinforce your appreciation of the staff who are doing outstanding work. But no amount of effort will increase the "popularity" of a head making tough decisions on retaining mediocre staff.
My advice (having been a staff target for much of my career): When you look in the mirror every day, ask yourself if you and your principals are doing all you can to ensure that every kid is interacting with effective and superior teachers. Providing this is ultimately your only reward---but it's the only one that really counts!
Kevin Bartlett recently acted on these convictions at IS Brussels:
"The other thing we are trying to do along similar lines (feeling backed by Collins in Good to Great and the Social Sector, who says that it’s tough to get the wrong person off the bus in schools, and that we’ll always make some hiring mistakes. so we must use ‘early intervention’, in other words move them on at the first opportunity) ) is be much tougher about only retaining outstanding teachers at the end of the initial contract. We’ve shifted the emphasis from an implied ’It’s up to the leadership to prove my incompetence’ to ’it’s up to me to prove I’m outstanding’. We use the example of the simple question addressed by Michael and we say, ’this is effectively a rehiring, so it’s up to you to make sure that we want to re-hire you with enthusiasm’.
We’re far behind in this attitude shift, compared to say, Bill Gerritz, who’s been tougher for years, but better late than never.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Facing The Brutal Facts (by Bambi Betts)
Facing the ‘Brutal Facts’
by Bambi Betts
In his widely acclaimed book, ‘From Good to Great’ Jim Collins describes a critical finding from his research that should be a wake-up call for international schools. To become ‘great’, an organization must ‘face the brutal facts’. And greatness in a school can mean only one thing: more and better learning for all.
How woefully far we are from that goal. What have been passing for facts have often been unchallenged perceptions, perpetuated by a culture of excuses. Whether through naiveté, cunning political savvy, or just plain ignorance, we in international schools continue to show an unwillingness both to find and to face those ‘ brutal facts’.
Some challenging examples:
FACT: Dozens, if not hundreds of schools claim in their mission statements that they will educate their students to become global citizens. Yet, it is entirely possible (and very frequently happens) in an international school for a student to complete all the grades in the school and NEVER, that’s right NEVER have to grapple with a global issue?. This is true even in programs like the IB.
FACT: Despite decades of emphasis, and writing it into curricular 'standards', today's secondary school graduates are no better at public speaking today than those of two decades ago. Moreover, according to polls of adults, this remains one of their worst fears.
FACT: The majority of students report that they were never actually TAUGHT to do research. They were just ASSIGNED research.
FACT: Almost no school can claim ‘the ability to innovate’ as one of its school-wide learning standards. How frightening for our on-going civilization to imagine another generation educated for compliance rather than innovation.
FACT: The underlying premise for an overwhelming number of practices in our schools is teacher equity rather than student learning. We are often more concerned, for example , that each teacher has an equal teaching load than whether individual students have equal opportunity to learn.
FACT: We frequently allow learning to be the variable, while sacred organizational structures (like departments, length of day, start times) are the constant. We ask not what structures would best support learning, but rather what learning might emerge from the sacred structures we have adhered to for decades. Organizational structures in our schools which supposedly support learning have not been significantly overhauled since well before the advent of the information age. We fear to question lest we ‘offend’ a professional educator. Never mind about the learning. FACT: In school after international school, a huge proportion of the writing program for children in elementary (and often secondary as well) continues to be based almost exclusively in creative writing - stories, poems, personal journals. Meanwhile, purposeful and technical writing - editorials, proposals, factual accounts, 'brief's - are largely ignored. And to add insult, we ignore the FACT that the transfer of writing skill from creative fiction to purposeful products is minimal.
For too long we in education have been too easy on ourselves., too willing to accept the perceptions when finding the facts is either too hard or too demoralizing. We somehow have exempted ourselves from one of the primary ingredients that actually constitutes a profession - facing the facts and holding ourselves accountable.
by Bambi Betts
In his widely acclaimed book, ‘From Good to Great’ Jim Collins describes a critical finding from his research that should be a wake-up call for international schools. To become ‘great’, an organization must ‘face the brutal facts’. And greatness in a school can mean only one thing: more and better learning for all.
How woefully far we are from that goal. What have been passing for facts have often been unchallenged perceptions, perpetuated by a culture of excuses. Whether through naiveté, cunning political savvy, or just plain ignorance, we in international schools continue to show an unwillingness both to find and to face those ‘ brutal facts’.
Some challenging examples:
FACT: Dozens, if not hundreds of schools claim in their mission statements that they will educate their students to become global citizens. Yet, it is entirely possible (and very frequently happens) in an international school for a student to complete all the grades in the school and NEVER, that’s right NEVER have to grapple with a global issue?. This is true even in programs like the IB.
FACT: Despite decades of emphasis, and writing it into curricular 'standards', today's secondary school graduates are no better at public speaking today than those of two decades ago. Moreover, according to polls of adults, this remains one of their worst fears.
FACT: The majority of students report that they were never actually TAUGHT to do research. They were just ASSIGNED research.
FACT: Almost no school can claim ‘the ability to innovate’ as one of its school-wide learning standards. How frightening for our on-going civilization to imagine another generation educated for compliance rather than innovation.
FACT: The underlying premise for an overwhelming number of practices in our schools is teacher equity rather than student learning. We are often more concerned, for example , that each teacher has an equal teaching load than whether individual students have equal opportunity to learn.
FACT: We frequently allow learning to be the variable, while sacred organizational structures (like departments, length of day, start times) are the constant. We ask not what structures would best support learning, but rather what learning might emerge from the sacred structures we have adhered to for decades. Organizational structures in our schools which supposedly support learning have not been significantly overhauled since well before the advent of the information age. We fear to question lest we ‘offend’ a professional educator. Never mind about the learning. FACT: In school after international school, a huge proportion of the writing program for children in elementary (and often secondary as well) continues to be based almost exclusively in creative writing - stories, poems, personal journals. Meanwhile, purposeful and technical writing - editorials, proposals, factual accounts, 'brief's - are largely ignored. And to add insult, we ignore the FACT that the transfer of writing skill from creative fiction to purposeful products is minimal.
For too long we in education have been too easy on ourselves., too willing to accept the perceptions when finding the facts is either too hard or too demoralizing. We somehow have exempted ourselves from one of the primary ingredients that actually constitutes a profession - facing the facts and holding ourselves accountable.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
We Must Teach History; Not Just Social Studies
Since I became an educator in 1973, I have ranted and raved about the need to ensure that every HS graduate of our schools has a solid grounding in 20th century history, at the very least. One of my first changes at AIS Israel was to develop a year-long course for seniors on the 20th century, and to require every senior to pass that course in order to graduate. We had a staff of outstanding history teachers at AIS, and the HS curriculum included ancient history (grade 9): world history (10) : and American History (11). Other social studies courses were available, but as electives.
Surveys in the USA and the UK consistently reveal that history/social studies are to HS students the most boring and irrelevant courses they take. But that is because they are most often not taught by history majors; but rather by teachers with social studies or general degrees. Taught by impassioned, committed and innovative teachers, history will be, as it was at AIS, the most enjoyable amd popular set of courses in the school.
Why should this matter? Humankind is facing a complex and dangerous period, in which violence on a grand scale, ecology, diseases and religious conflict again threaten the world's equilibrium and survival. But most Americans under 30 now get their news from Jon Stuart, a TV comedian. Most students (and often their teachers) fail on the most simple assessments of historical knowledge, and most assessments focus on pure factual knowledge. Political candidates can and do distort with impunity the meaning and lessons of even recent history. The internet guarantees that anyone can secure a view of history grossly distorted through the lenses of religious, political and social fanatics.
Those who read the many excellent books focussed on historical events know that history is more exciting, surprising and compelling than any work of fiction could ever be. The true human stories, like that presented in the recent, acclaimed ducumentary by Ken Burns (The War), are increasingly accessible on film as well.
What would it take to promote a renaissance in the teaching of history, that would deliver a structured, comprehensive understanding of where mankind has been andwhere we might be headed?
I beseech every educator to focus time and energy on this formidable but vital task, of ensuring that every student develops not only an understanding of the history of humanity, but also a passion and excitement that guarantees a lifetime of learning.
Surveys in the USA and the UK consistently reveal that history/social studies are to HS students the most boring and irrelevant courses they take. But that is because they are most often not taught by history majors; but rather by teachers with social studies or general degrees. Taught by impassioned, committed and innovative teachers, history will be, as it was at AIS, the most enjoyable amd popular set of courses in the school.
Why should this matter? Humankind is facing a complex and dangerous period, in which violence on a grand scale, ecology, diseases and religious conflict again threaten the world's equilibrium and survival. But most Americans under 30 now get their news from Jon Stuart, a TV comedian. Most students (and often their teachers) fail on the most simple assessments of historical knowledge, and most assessments focus on pure factual knowledge. Political candidates can and do distort with impunity the meaning and lessons of even recent history. The internet guarantees that anyone can secure a view of history grossly distorted through the lenses of religious, political and social fanatics.
Those who read the many excellent books focussed on historical events know that history is more exciting, surprising and compelling than any work of fiction could ever be. The true human stories, like that presented in the recent, acclaimed ducumentary by Ken Burns (The War), are increasingly accessible on film as well.
What would it take to promote a renaissance in the teaching of history, that would deliver a structured, comprehensive understanding of where mankind has been andwhere we might be headed?
I beseech every educator to focus time and energy on this formidable but vital task, of ensuring that every student develops not only an understanding of the history of humanity, but also a passion and excitement that guarantees a lifetime of learning.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A Simple Truth That Transforms
Ever wondered why the Chinese and some other old civilizations honor profoundly their ancestors? Think for a moment just about the lives of your four grandparents.
The truth is that everything they did made an incalculable difference to you, however trivial or important it seemed at the time. The hard fact is that every action they ever took in their lives, and every chance encounter they had with man, beast or inanimate objects, had to have happened in such a precise and perfect sequence for you and your offspring to have been born. Had one of them missed the bus that day of your parents' conception; not gone to a party; neglected to call on Friday Nov. 12, 1908 for a date; and on and on in an infinite panorama of possibilities, any one action of which would have doomed your ever being born.
Endless, really, and mind-boggling, how perfectly timed almost every aspect of their lives had to have been to have borne just your parents into the world. And the same for every prior and subsequent generation in your direct line to the mystic past.
It's much like the discoveries of science that have converted modern physicists into persons of faith. Had the Big Bang not occurred with the precise force and timing that it did, the resulting universe would not have been created in a way that could initiate and sustain living organisms. So the birth of every one of us is tied to this initial miracle, and a timeless sequence of events has resulted in our own miraculous birth.
That unassailable truth about each of our own lives screams out at us. If only we would listen. Every thing that happened to every one of our direct descendants, and to the organisms which preceded them, had to happen precisely as it did for each of us to have been conceived.
However ordinary our lives, or those of our progenitors, in conventional terms, the incomprehensible odds of our being conceived makes us each the winner of a cosmic lottery against odds we couldn't even imagine. So little had to happen in the course of millions of years for us not to have made it into existence. The smallest detail might have sabotaged our very lives.
So totally extraordinary is it that I am alive, and every ancestor before me.
A miracle really. Every person who has come into existence represents a miracle, in overcoming the incalculable odds of it never having happened. But do we remember this in the conduct of our lives? Are we imbued with the profound miracle of our private existence, so that we treasure every moment and experience? And give thanks?
___________________________________
The truth is that everything they did made an incalculable difference to you, however trivial or important it seemed at the time. The hard fact is that every action they ever took in their lives, and every chance encounter they had with man, beast or inanimate objects, had to have happened in such a precise and perfect sequence for you and your offspring to have been born. Had one of them missed the bus that day of your parents' conception; not gone to a party; neglected to call on Friday Nov. 12, 1908 for a date; and on and on in an infinite panorama of possibilities, any one action of which would have doomed your ever being born.
Endless, really, and mind-boggling, how perfectly timed almost every aspect of their lives had to have been to have borne just your parents into the world. And the same for every prior and subsequent generation in your direct line to the mystic past.
It's much like the discoveries of science that have converted modern physicists into persons of faith. Had the Big Bang not occurred with the precise force and timing that it did, the resulting universe would not have been created in a way that could initiate and sustain living organisms. So the birth of every one of us is tied to this initial miracle, and a timeless sequence of events has resulted in our own miraculous birth.
That unassailable truth about each of our own lives screams out at us. If only we would listen. Every thing that happened to every one of our direct descendants, and to the organisms which preceded them, had to happen precisely as it did for each of us to have been conceived.
However ordinary our lives, or those of our progenitors, in conventional terms, the incomprehensible odds of our being conceived makes us each the winner of a cosmic lottery against odds we couldn't even imagine. So little had to happen in the course of millions of years for us not to have made it into existence. The smallest detail might have sabotaged our very lives.
So totally extraordinary is it that I am alive, and every ancestor before me.
A miracle really. Every person who has come into existence represents a miracle, in overcoming the incalculable odds of it never having happened. But do we remember this in the conduct of our lives? Are we imbued with the profound miracle of our private existence, so that we treasure every moment and experience? And give thanks?
___________________________________
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Neurosis and Human Growth
One of Freud's disciples was a young woman named Karen Horney. Had she not been a woman, she would have eclipsed Sigmund in every category: understanding the causes of human neurosis, clearly documenting that understanding; and giving her readers rare insight into the phenomenon.
Her book, Neurosis and Human Growth, must be read by every person interested in human presonality development, and the creation and uses of neurotic behaviors. Everyone will find large segments of their own personalities in her deliniations. More importantly, one comes to understand how essential neurosis is to survival, and how endemic and useful it is to mankind. (Do you want to fly with a pilot or be operated on by a surgeon who is not strongly "compulsive"?)
There is no book I could recommend more strongly than this one. For those of us working in education, it should be mandatory.
Please give it a go, and let me know what you think! But I warn you, one dear friend fell asleep every time he came to chapter that encapsulated his own neurotic syndrome. The insights from this book resound forever, and strengthen us greatly.
Her book, Neurosis and Human Growth, must be read by every person interested in human presonality development, and the creation and uses of neurotic behaviors. Everyone will find large segments of their own personalities in her deliniations. More importantly, one comes to understand how essential neurosis is to survival, and how endemic and useful it is to mankind. (Do you want to fly with a pilot or be operated on by a surgeon who is not strongly "compulsive"?)
There is no book I could recommend more strongly than this one. For those of us working in education, it should be mandatory.
Please give it a go, and let me know what you think! But I warn you, one dear friend fell asleep every time he came to chapter that encapsulated his own neurotic syndrome. The insights from this book resound forever, and strengthen us greatly.
Speaking of Miracles.....
Speaking of Miracles........
Our dear friend and wonderful colleague was lying in a Singapore hospital close to death last week. He had been suffering from high fevers for some weeks, which completely debilitated him, and they could not find the cause. After closest family were summoned to his bedside, one of his Docs had a feeling that a very rare disease (10 known cases worldwide) might be involved. On instinct he contacted a US MD who had written on the subject, and got the name of a steroid that had stopped the disease.
48 hours later Bill Powell (formerly head at ISKL and IS Tanganyika, and renowned PTC trainer) was sitting up in bed, talking and planning to go to his and Ochan's home in KL. Recovery will take awhile, but this turn of events is simply miraculous.
So many people were praying for Bill. And the Doc who followed his hunch (where did that come from)? reminds us that answers are available if we hope and search our souls for answers!
Welcome back Bill....we need you and your wisdom, ideas and willingness to share!
Our dear friend and wonderful colleague was lying in a Singapore hospital close to death last week. He had been suffering from high fevers for some weeks, which completely debilitated him, and they could not find the cause. After closest family were summoned to his bedside, one of his Docs had a feeling that a very rare disease (10 known cases worldwide) might be involved. On instinct he contacted a US MD who had written on the subject, and got the name of a steroid that had stopped the disease.
48 hours later Bill Powell (formerly head at ISKL and IS Tanganyika, and renowned PTC trainer) was sitting up in bed, talking and planning to go to his and Ochan's home in KL. Recovery will take awhile, but this turn of events is simply miraculous.
So many people were praying for Bill. And the Doc who followed his hunch (where did that come from)? reminds us that answers are available if we hope and search our souls for answers!
Welcome back Bill....we need you and your wisdom, ideas and willingness to share!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Preventing and Fighting Colon Cancer
Blaylock Tip of the Week:
Stop Colon Cancer
Of all cancers, colon cancer has the strongest links to diet, in terms of both prevention and causation. Without a doubt, Americans consume more carcinogens than just about any other population in the world.
As a whole, our diet is high in carcinogenic fats, cancer-causing nitrosamines and nitrites and tumor-promoting sugar. And worse yet, we eat dangerously low amounts of fiber, vegetables and fruits.
Finally, recent evidence indicates that glutamate, found in MSG and other food additives, is a powerful catalyst for the growth and spread of cancer. That is, glutamate enhances the growth of cancer, making it much more deadly.
Generally speaking, it takes decades of nutritional abuse before colon cancer develops.
The first changes occur within special clusters of cells found in the lining of the colon. These are called aberrant crypt foci. The more of these you have, the more likely you are to develop colon cancer.
Several nutrients have demonstrated the ability to suppress these precancerous cell clusters. The most impressive fighters are:
curcumin
conjugated linolenic acid (CLA)
quercetin
DHA
natural vitamin E
vitamin E succinate
silymarin
ellagic acid
N-butyrate (ButyrAid)
vitamin B6
Calcium suppresses colon cancer in those who maintain a high-fat diet. Research shows that curcumin, a flavonoid extracted from the spice turmeric, can powerfully suppress many types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Cumin and turmeric are staples of Indian cuisine and this has been thought to account for the significantly lower incidence of colon cancer within the Indian population.
N-butyrate, a short-chain oil, has been shown to powerfully inhibit colon cancer development as well as the growth of cancers that have already developed.
Research shows that the oil CLA also powerfully suppresses breast and colon cancer. As little as 1,000 mg. a day will be effective. This special oil regulates immunity and directly suppresses colon cancer formation. DHA and omega-3 oils also suppress colon cancer.
Three flavonoids that provide powerful protection against colon cancer are quercetin, silymarin and ellagic acid.
A tremendous amount of recent evidence demonstrates the dramatic anticancer effects of ellagic acid. It is a flavonoid found in most berries (especially the meeker raspberry), walnuts, pecans, pomegranate and muscadine grapes. The dose is 1,000 mg. twice to three times a day.
For a more detailed discussion, see my special reports “Colon Cancer: The Hidden Dangers”, and "Better Digestion: Protect Your Intestines, Colon and Vital Organs from Disease and Cancer."
Editor's Notes:
Nasty Bacteria Can Take Over Your Stomach and Even Cause Cancer: Fight Back!
Can Eating the Right Foods Prevent Cancer? Yes!Discover Details Here.
Heart Attacks Caused by Inflammation, Not Cholesterol.
Stop Colon Cancer
Of all cancers, colon cancer has the strongest links to diet, in terms of both prevention and causation. Without a doubt, Americans consume more carcinogens than just about any other population in the world.
As a whole, our diet is high in carcinogenic fats, cancer-causing nitrosamines and nitrites and tumor-promoting sugar. And worse yet, we eat dangerously low amounts of fiber, vegetables and fruits.
Finally, recent evidence indicates that glutamate, found in MSG and other food additives, is a powerful catalyst for the growth and spread of cancer. That is, glutamate enhances the growth of cancer, making it much more deadly.
Generally speaking, it takes decades of nutritional abuse before colon cancer develops.
The first changes occur within special clusters of cells found in the lining of the colon. These are called aberrant crypt foci. The more of these you have, the more likely you are to develop colon cancer.
Several nutrients have demonstrated the ability to suppress these precancerous cell clusters. The most impressive fighters are:
curcumin
conjugated linolenic acid (CLA)
quercetin
DHA
natural vitamin E
vitamin E succinate
silymarin
ellagic acid
N-butyrate (ButyrAid)
vitamin B6
Calcium suppresses colon cancer in those who maintain a high-fat diet. Research shows that curcumin, a flavonoid extracted from the spice turmeric, can powerfully suppress many types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Cumin and turmeric are staples of Indian cuisine and this has been thought to account for the significantly lower incidence of colon cancer within the Indian population.
N-butyrate, a short-chain oil, has been shown to powerfully inhibit colon cancer development as well as the growth of cancers that have already developed.
Research shows that the oil CLA also powerfully suppresses breast and colon cancer. As little as 1,000 mg. a day will be effective. This special oil regulates immunity and directly suppresses colon cancer formation. DHA and omega-3 oils also suppress colon cancer.
Three flavonoids that provide powerful protection against colon cancer are quercetin, silymarin and ellagic acid.
A tremendous amount of recent evidence demonstrates the dramatic anticancer effects of ellagic acid. It is a flavonoid found in most berries (especially the meeker raspberry), walnuts, pecans, pomegranate and muscadine grapes. The dose is 1,000 mg. twice to three times a day.
For a more detailed discussion, see my special reports “Colon Cancer: The Hidden Dangers”, and "Better Digestion: Protect Your Intestines, Colon and Vital Organs from Disease and Cancer."
Editor's Notes:
Nasty Bacteria Can Take Over Your Stomach and Even Cause Cancer: Fight Back!
Can Eating the Right Foods Prevent Cancer? Yes!Discover Details Here.
Heart Attacks Caused by Inflammation, Not Cholesterol.
Faith or Old Age
On Sunday I flipped around channels to see a nearly perfect NE Patriots team execute miraculous passes; several figure-skating couples performing with great skill and agility; and an international youth orchestra with wonderfully professional musicians, filled with passion and idealism.
I was suddenly overwhelmed with the understanding of what magnificent gifts, talents and opportunities God has bestowed on mankind. For us lesser mortals in terms of talents, the seabirds flocking over Barnstable Bay; or a stunning sunset here instills the same wonder and awe at God's creation of tremendous beauty for us to enjoy.
Maybe one needn't reach this ripe, old age to appreciate the colossal joy and wonder our existence offers; or to know that a divine creator has given us an existence filled with endless possibilities for great happiness, wonder and love.
Love and Peace to you all Forrest
I was suddenly overwhelmed with the understanding of what magnificent gifts, talents and opportunities God has bestowed on mankind. For us lesser mortals in terms of talents, the seabirds flocking over Barnstable Bay; or a stunning sunset here instills the same wonder and awe at God's creation of tremendous beauty for us to enjoy.
Maybe one needn't reach this ripe, old age to appreciate the colossal joy and wonder our existence offers; or to know that a divine creator has given us an existence filled with endless possibilities for great happiness, wonder and love.
Love and Peace to you all Forrest
Impact of Falling Dollar
More and more banks, investors and foreign governments (like China holdin trillions in US dollar assets) are coming around to the position Rogers is taking (Below) Time for everyone to find a hedge against the collapsing US dollar. Gold and currencies popular now---but low real estate prices will make it the favored investment within the next 18 months! Comments??
____________________________________________
"While China may be expensive, Jim Rogers, co-founder of the Quantum Fund, remains bullish. Rogers is shifting all of his assets out of the U.S. dollar and into the Chinese yuan. Rogers believes the Federal Reserve is destroying the dollar's value and that the dollar will no longer be the world's reserve currency. He expects the yuan to quadruple in the next decade. Maintaining his position as the commodities bull, Rogers is still holding gold, silver, palladium, and platinum."
____________________________________________
"While China may be expensive, Jim Rogers, co-founder of the Quantum Fund, remains bullish. Rogers is shifting all of his assets out of the U.S. dollar and into the Chinese yuan. Rogers believes the Federal Reserve is destroying the dollar's value and that the dollar will no longer be the world's reserve currency. He expects the yuan to quadruple in the next decade. Maintaining his position as the commodities bull, Rogers is still holding gold, silver, palladium, and platinum."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)