The War on Sandra Fluke-A Leader Takes a Stand-Wantabees Evade issue

On Friday, President Obama took a stand on conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's war against Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke. He called Sandra to offer his support as she waited to appear on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports.

Limbaugh bashed the student activist on his show for several days, calling her a "slut" and a "prostitute" and suggesting that she provide videos of her sexual activities. The reason for this abuse is Sandra's testimony to a congressional committee of Democrats after Republican Darryl Issa refused to allow her to testify before the full committee.  Her crime is her support of requiring employers to provide health care coverage that includes contraception.

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Big Bad Joe Arpaio-Sheriff from Hell

Will Joe Arpaio buckle under the pressure of the U. S. Justice Department investigation? Absolutely not! Rather, Joe takes the offensive with the spotlight by revisiting the "Birthier issue".  Along with his cold-case posse, Joe "found probable cause" to believe that the long form birth certificate released by President Obama last April "is a computer-generated forgery". They found the same conclusion about the President's selective-service card from 1980. Surprise, surprise.


Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County, is a staunch advocate of Arizona's tough immigration law which many believed is unconstitutional. Despite the Justice Dept. law suit and civil rights investigation, the G.O.P. presidential candidates sought Joe's endorsement while campaigning in AZ. He endorsed Rick Perry who eventually dropped out of the race.

Staying in the public eye seems to work for Joe.  It's kept him in office since 1992 and allows him to maintain his political clout in Republican circles. It'll be interesting to see how big, bad Joe comes out when the Justice Dept. investigations and law suits are completed.

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Nail Health

Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails. Keep reading to learn what secrets your nails might reveal.

• Pale Nails - Very pale nails can sometimes be a sign of serious illness, such as:
• Anemia
• Congestive heart failure
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

• White Nails - If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis.

• Yellow Nails - One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes or psoriasis.

• Bluish Nails - Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen. This could indicate an infection in the lungs, such as pneumonia. Some heart problems can be associated with bluish nails.

• Rippled Nails - If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Discoloration of the nail is common; the skin under the nail can seem reddish-brown.

• Cracked or Split Nails - Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. Cracking or splitting combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection.

• Puffy Nail Fold - If the skin around the nail appears red and puffy, this is known as inflammation of the nail fold. It may be the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder. Infection can also cause redness and inflammation of the nail fold.

• Dark Lines Beneath the Nail - Dark lines beneath the nail should be investigated as soon as possible. They are sometimes caused by melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

• Gnawed Nails - Biting your nails may be nothing more than an old habit, but in some cases it's a sign of persistent anxiety that could benefit from treatment. Nail biting or picking has also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you can't stop, it's worth discussing with your doctor.

Though nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign. And many nail abnormalities are harmless -- not everyone with white nails has hepatitis. If you're concerned about the appearance of your nails, see a dermatologist.


Source: webmd.com

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Home Remedies: Hangover

A hangover is caused by excessive Ethanol being introduced into the body, this causes an increase in urine production which dehydrates the body leading to a decrease of essential fluids in the body and especially the brain which is the main factor which results in headaches and a feeling of lethargy.

• Symptoms:
• Dry Mouth
• Headache
• Bloodshot Eyes
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Dizziness

• Remedies:
• Antacids like peppermint and chamomile tea may help quell an upset stomach.
• Drink plenty of water or fresh juices to rehydrate yourself. One of the main causes of a hangover is dehydration, however skip acidic juices like orange and opt for apple instead.
• Alcohol causes loss of potassium from your body. Eating a banana may help regain lost potassium.
• Nausea can be treated with ginger. To counteract the effects of the same, drinking ginger-ale is highly recommended.
• Sports drinks are highly recommended as they help regain lost glucose in the body.
• Other clear liquids like soup are recommended until the stomach is strong enough for solid food after which easy to digest foods like toast are ideal. Consume a lot of water before you go to bed. This should provide some relief to the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Drink lots of water even after you wake up.

• It’s a good practice to eat something while and after you are drinking. This helps reduce the rate at which alcohol enters your blood and thus can help reduce the after-effects.
• Take vitamin C tablets. These help break down the alcohol content in your body.
• Never drink on an empty stomach. Food helps to absorb some of the alcohol and aids the body in digesting it faster. 
• Try to eat starchy foods to slow down the alcohol absorption. 
• Limit yourself to less than 1 drink per hour. 
• Try to alternate your alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic beverages such as water.
• Stick to non-carbonated drinks as carbonation can speed up the alcohol absorption.
• Try to avoid sweet drinks (and sugary foods) while you drink. The sweet taste of the drink can make it difficult for you to judge how much alcohol you’re actually consuming.
• One of the earliest recorded remedies for a hangover came from the ancient Romans who on the suggestion of Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) took to consuming raw owl eggs while sometimes opting for fried canary. Through the years, the accepted remedy for a hangover still varied with 1878 Paris World Exposition demonstrated a cure composed of a mixture of raw egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper while in America, people took to consuming a mixture of Coca-Cola and milk. Known author Ernest Hemingway himself swore on tomato juice and beer as being the cure.
• And remember, a good cure for a hangover is plenty of sleep so get a few more hours in than normal!

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Health: Best Snacks 100 Calories or Less

It’s March. The New Year is still fresh, and I’m sure we are all still implementing our “New Year, New You” way of thinking. In my continuous quest to maintain my recent weight loss, I came across this list of snack foods which contain 100 calories or less.

Sweet Treats:

• 5 Nabisco Nilla Wafers
• 1 Whole Foods Market Two-Bite Brownie
• 1 Healthy Choice Mocha Fudge Swirl Bar
• 9 Tootsie Roll Midgees
• 1 pouch Keebler Sandies Right Bites Shortbread Cookies
• ½ cup Sharon's Lemon Sorbet with 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1 Skinny Cow Fat Free Fudge Bar
• 1 Nestlé Butterfinger Stixx
• 12 vanilla Miss Meringue Minis
• 4 Country Choice Certified Organic Ginger Snaps
• 1 Vitamuffin Vitatop

Savory Bites:

• 29 pistachios
• 60 Pepperidge Farm Baby Goldfish Crackers
• 1 Jolly Time Healthy Pop 100 Calorie Mini Bag popcorn
• 25 EatSmart Café Fries
• 12 Back to Nature Sesame Ginger Rice Thins
• 12 Quaker Quakes Cheddar Cheese Rice Snacks
• 40 Rold Gold Classic Style Pretzel Sticks

Dairy Delights:

• 1 Laughing Cow Light Creamy Garlic & Herb cheese wedge and 3 Triscuits
• 1 Kraft Polly-O Superlong Twist-Ums string cheese stick
• 1 Yoplait Light Smoothie
• ½ cup low-fat cottage cheese with 5 strawberries

Hearty Helpings

• Campbell's Soup at Hand Blended Vegetable Medley
• 1 hard-boiled egg with 1 slice Melba toast
• 4 slices Sara Lee Honey Ham with 2 teaspoons honey mustard, rolled in lettuce leaf
• ½ mini bagel with 1 ounce smoked salmon

Fruits & Veggies

• 2 cups raspberries
• 28 grapes
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup mango chunks
• ½ medium cantaloupe
• 15 strawberries dipped in 1⁄4 cup Cool Whip Lite
• 45 steamed edamame (green soybeans)
• 2 tablespoons each of mashed avocado and chopped tomatoes stuffed in 1⁄2 mini pita
• ½ red bell pepper dipped in 3 tablespoons hummus

Source: goodhousekeeping.com

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