The HAND
Topic: Thirteen Thursday

"Hey Tige," I blurted out to Mr. Tiger, the pest who never lends a helping hand on Thanksgiving or any day throughout the year, "the hand! A neglected part of our bodies. Ever thought much about how the hand shapes our lives?"

'Can't say that I have, nor do I care,' he answered in an detached manner. 'On the other hand,' he added as he deliberately raised his own to make an unseen gesture, 'there are some perfectly good reasons to appreciate the hand.'

I cut him off as quickly as I could to state, "The hand is going to be the subject matter for Thirteen Thursday edition # 68."

'With the internet at your fingertips it shouldn't be too hard to hand out a stale look at the hand, which probably has been done before.' I let him win this hand of our conversation, coming back with a simple, "Thank goodness for copy and paste because the internet kinda goes hand and hand with collecting data , don't ya think?"

Before he could answer I proceeded with an assortment of 13 facts that I've highlighted from my observations, articles across the internet, and books I've read. I began my list with a quote from C.S. Lewis, who said,

1. "You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile."

2. Since it's Thanksgiving today I went with a picture of a construction paper turkey decoration that can be made from a child's hands and feet.
3. 'The Hand: How its use shapes the brain, language, and human culture' was my next pick. I read over at Amazon.com an editorial review by Rob Lightner where he writes: The hand is, among other things, a complex symbol, representing both the creative and the prosaic. This blending of the spiritual and the mundane is what makes the hand unique, as it in turn makes us unique among animals. Neurologist Frank R. Wilson has taken on a heroic task: to explain the hand on both of these levels and to show us how we use these marvelous instruments to find and create meaning in our lives.

Publishers Weekly mentions more on Dr. Wilson's insights.

4. Neurologist Wilson (Tone Deaf and All Thumbs?) gathers arguments from anthropology, psychology and medicine, along with the personal stories of musicians, backhoe operators, puppeteers and prestidigitators, to demonstrate the centrality to intelligence of our human hand. His account of the coevolution of hand and brain through our primate ancestors is fascinating, and the science he sites is rigorous and profound. which leads to...

5. and image of American Sign Language.

6. My favorite sign is:
(I LOVE YOU)

7. Try this: Have someone fill a bag with familiar household objects. Shut your eyes and feel them with your bare feet. Can you guess what they are? Now try again, this time using your hands. You'll be able to feel the difference.

8. A touch of velvet, fur, rock, sand, water, or leather can all be distinguished.

9. Chirognomy, a form of Palmistry, is a assessment of the shape of the hand. Some say it is the outline of your personality. For instance it has been hypothesized that the size, shape and appearance of the hand is an outline of our personalities.

10. I have an Air Hand. According to this site, The Air hand has long fingers and tends to have an abundance of clear lines in the palm. Air types spend their time in the intellecual realms. They are curious and full of ideas. They thrive on nervous energy and may be prone to worry and stress. Air types are communicators and are often good at working with the public. However they may tend to intellectualize their feelings and can have difficulty with close, personal relationships. Astrologically, the Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

11. Fingerprints form in the womb.

12. Dr. by John Napier, author of Hands says, ''One of the saddest sights there is is to watch the hands of the mentally disturbed. When the brain is empty, the hands are still.''

13. I ended as I started; with a quote. "You can't shake hands with a clenched fist." - Indira Gandhi

Kahlil Gibran
Topic: Thirteen Thursday
"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the inner pest whose aim is to shake up my confidence, "I'm eager to get to my next Thirteen Thursday, but I'm busy all day so I'm doing a repeat, retrieved from my lost blog for Edition #67."

'Give me a break,' Tiger said putting his gloves on and saying in typical fashion, 'What blockbuster thoughts do you have today for this idiot meme? It's nothing but a virus consisting of extremely simple and worn out ideas passed from one host to another.'

"Infectious indeed," I agreed, not letting him trigger a reaction.

Without any further ado I went directly to my Thirteen Thursday, hoping to propagate some of the wisdom of Kahlil Gibran.

Thirteen Things quotes from Kahlil Gibran 1. On Love Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. 2. On Work Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger. And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine. And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night. 3. On Children Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. 4. On Buying and Selling To you the earth yields her fruit, and you shall not want if you but know how to fill your hands. It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied. Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will but lead some to greed and others to hunger. 5. On Joy and Sorrow Some of you say, "Joy is greater thar sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater." But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. 6. On Crime and Punishment Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you. So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree. 7. On Clothes Your clothes conceal much of your beauty, yet they hide not the unbeautiful. And though you seek in garments the freedom of privacy you may find in them a harness and a chain. Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your skin and less of your raiment, For the breath of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is in the wind. 7. On Prayer I cannot teach you how to pray in words. God listens not to your words save when He Himself utters them through your lips. And I cannot teach you the prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains. But you who are born of the mountains and the forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart, And if you but listen in the stillness of the night you shall hear them saying in silence, "Our God, who art our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth. 8. On Pain Much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity: For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears. 9. On Friendship Your friend is your needs answered. He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving. And he is your board and your fireside. For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. 10. On Giving You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow? And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city? And what is fear of need but need itself? Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable? 11. On Talking You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime. And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly. 12. On Beauty Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide? And how shall you speak of her except she be the weaver of your speech? 13. On Death For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I'll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged. If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Bright Ideas
Topic: Thirteen Thursday



"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, low wattage pest of my psyche, "I'm doing my Thirteen Thursday with the idea of fresh perspectives."

'Is this going to be political?' asked Mr. Tiger who was happy to be done with anything revolving around the midterm elections, 'because fresh perspective are the words Bush used yesterday for the appointment of the new secretary of defense Robert M. Gates - the one replacing Donald Rumsfeld.'

I'm sure I could come up with at least thirteen reasons I was glad to see Rumy replaced and another thirteen showing that it should not be with the former director of the CIA, Robert Graves, but that was not my plan for today. I said to Mr. Tiger, "Since my list has nothing to do with the Democratic party win, nor is it about Texas's good ol' boy network, I'll call this Thirteen Thursday bright ideas."

Before Mr. Tiger had time to speak, I jumped right in with my 13 beginning with the "LouseBuster." Imagine a supped up blow dryer that kills lice! A bright idea that any parent would love, especially if their own children have had the nasty critters and had to use the highly toxic chemical shampoos to get rid of them.

1. Researchers Devise New Weapon for Head Lice
?We think that it works by drying them out,? said the lead author of the study, Dr. Dale H. Clayton, a biologist at the University of Utah. ?The key is volume of air, not heat.? The report appears in the current issue of Pediatrics. read more here.

2. V.Smile? Baby Infant Development System
An activity center that's got lots of different facets to explore with baby. It's easily portable and comes with a separate receiver that plugs into the TV to allow for interactive on-screen play.
picture here.

3. "Little Fretty"
Pocket sized, Little Freddie is recommended for musicians of all skill levels and is great for warm up, practice or rehearsal. He doesn't make any sound so you can jam away without disturbing your neighbors, parents, spouse, friends or fellow musicians, although you may imagine hearing him in your head. He is made of a space age, hard foam type material, engineered to give a 3-Dimensional feel of the guitar neck, frets and strings and gives a pressure resistance to build playing strength and ability

4. Dust Art
As a kid there was nothing like dragging your finger across the dirty back window of your mom's minivan. Imagine lifting your finger to find you've created a Mona Lisa on the rear glass. Scott Wade of San Marcos, TX is perhaps the only person who could say he's done this.
Continue reading and see amazing pictures here

5. Rent designer jewelry for your holiday party
Are you looking to impress some people at your holiday parties this year? You can rent high-end jewelry from a website called bagborroworsteal.com.

6. Bag Borrow or Steal
a new online handbag "store" that works the same way NetFlix and GameFly do for movies and video games.

7. Eyelashes taken to the extreme
for me, these false eyelashes seem more like a Halloween leftover, but for others it might be a bright idea whose time has come.

8. Bebi Ravi, which means "Baby's Delight,"
is a company that helps out women in Nakurua, Kenya

9. Feline Furniture
for cat lovers everywhere scratching posts and plastic kitty litter boxes may become a thing of the past.
(after raising 9 kids my mother is raising Jazzy, a kitten gifted to her after my dad passed away last year)

10. Wallpaper-by-Numbers
paint by numbers wallpaper and borders

11. Disabled Artist Network
I haven't had time to look yet, but this quote is enticing: "Art you will Love - People you will never Forget"

12. Table Settings
Just in time for Thanksgiving, inspiration for beautiful table settings
A.Nanette Lepore
B.a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/template/catC35.jhtml?itemId=cat11970741&parentId=cat11970739&masterId=cat3520749&cmCat=">Jay Strongwater
C.Valentino
D. I'll be using my trusty old Blue Onion, which I've used now for over 30 years during holiday gatherings.

last but not least...
13. BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
whether new or old books are always a bight idea!

When Going to the Polls...
Topic: Thirteen Thursday

"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the pest who seizes any opportunity to divert my attention from important subjects, "I know it's not exactly popular to do a Thirteen Thursday on political issues but since election day is less than a week away I'm going to go for it."

'People like light posts on Thursday Kath,' said Mr. Tiger, 'you won't get many comments.'

"I know that Tiger, that's okay," I said before saying, "Here's my list of 13 things to keep in mind when going to the Polls."

Thirteen Things to keep in mind when you VOTE next Tuesday. 1. The not-so-smart remarks by Senator John F. Kerry, a combat veteran, about the underachieving students being stuck in Iraq is a false controversy, in my opinion, when you consider the bigger picture... 2. Neither Kerry and Bush excelled academically while at Yale. 3. Kerry may indeed deserve some criticism for stepping on his tongue but hasn't Bush done the same thing - hundreds of times. 4. The state of the deficient is more important than Kerry's remarks. Healthcare is more important. ?Energy is more important. Pentagon budget / unnecessary spending is more important. as are these... 5. Civilian deaths are still rising .....BAGHDAD (Reuters) - By Alastair Macdonald The number of Iraqi civilians killed in violence may have jumped to another record high in October. Statistics issued by the Interior Ministry for Iraqis killed in political violence put civilian deaths last month at 1,289, nearly 42 a day and up 18 percent from the 1,089 seen in September, itself a record for this particular series of data. 6. Insurgents Are Targeting US Forces .....October's death toll, the highest for American forces in nearly two years, came during a period without conventional battles or catastrophic helicopter crashes. 7. DU (depleted uranium) Death Toll Tops 11,000 .....Nationwide Media Blackout Keeps U.S. Public Ignorant About This Important Story 8. Bush Signs the Reichstag Fire Decree .....With a flip of the wrist, Bush signed into law the anti-Habeas Corpus, pro-torture law (cleverly repackaged as the Military Commissions Act of 2006), signaling with it the end of American democracy. 9. Alleged corrupt arms deals cost Iraq US $800 Million .....Iraq's former finance minister alleged in a U.S. television report aired Sunday that up to US$800 million meant to equip the Iraqi army had been stolen from the government by former officials through fraudulent arms deals. 10. Mental health crisis haunts front line U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq 11. Diebold's backdoors were designed into the machines intentionally ....Latest security vulnerability in paperless electronic voting underscores urgent need for Paper Trail Auditing 12. Tell your Representative to support Rep. Peter DeFazio's resolution requiring a Congressional vote prior to military action against Iran. 13. The above are consequences of our March 2003 invasion. What if the official?9/11 story were not be true? ....Judge for yourself by watching this 10 Minute video. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I'll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

"Hey Tige,"
Topic: Thirteen Thursday

"When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves." -- Confucius

"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the inner petty tyrant who can be defined by using description from The Fire from Within, as the pest who "annoys me to distraction, "for my Thirteen Thursday today, edition #64, I'm going to select thirteen "Hey Tige" beginnings. In other words - I'm going to list 13 of the over 400 different starts I've used as openers since beginning my blog over 2 years ago." I added for new readers, "before I accidently deleted it."

'No one will even get it,' Mr. Tiger stated flatly.

"No?" I questioned, knowing as I said it that he was right.

'No,' he said again, his fingers crossed.

A daily conversation, with a tiger no less, is certainly a different approach to blogging, I had to agree. I nonetheless went forward with my list my thirteen but not before leaving another quote that might help to explain:

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering." -- St. Augustine

Thirteen "Hey Tige" opening sentences from A Particularly Persistent Point of View. "Hey Tige," I said to the off tune pest of my psyche, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the insenstive pest of my psyche, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the pest who never has enough, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr, Tiger the humbug segment of my inner self, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the biased pest, who tries my patience "Hey Tiger," I said to Mr. Tiger, the pest who works to keep me locked into the system, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the pest who aims to cast a spell on my inner spirit, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the waste product of my psyche, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the pest who devours my energy, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the blind spot of my inner seeing, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the monkey wrench of my inner work, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger the contriving pest who compromises my motives, "Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, who like Mr. Wolf of 'Little Red Riding Hood' fame, uses disguise to hide his true intent, Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Pet Peeves
Topic: Thirteen Thursday
"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, my biggest peeve, "I have some pet peeves that are not enough to trigger real anger but they do initate annoyance. Thirteen of them - to be exact."

'Nothing bothers me,' lied the pest.

All I said to Tiger in response to his ridiculous statement was, "Ha!" I then vented with the help of my list of thirteen petty things that bother me enough to list them here.

Thirteen Pet Peeves (in no particular order). 1. Why is it that people have to ask, "Do you know what I mean?" between every pause in a conversation? I want to tell them, "I do understand English, so of course I know what you mean." 2. There are two words that are often condensed into one. A lot is not alot. 3. And speaking of words... what's up with inserting the word "like" so many times in one thought? "I like have to go to the store, like in 5 minutes, so I better like hurry up with this list. 4. Have you noticed how what was once a 12 ounce bag of say - Dove chocolates - @ $2.99 is now a 9 ounce bag for 3.49? I understand prices have to go up but this is a double wammy to change the size too. 4. If you find a good article about this price thing, please send me the link. As a matter of fact, when sending any article of interest, please include the link. 5. Good thing my head is attached, because loosing my keys, or for that matter, forgetting where I've put anything, peeves me off. 6. Call me old fashioned but I'd rather pick out my own gift for the bride...and I do. I wouln't be surprised if birthday registries become as common as bridal registries. 7. I'm having a nap when one of those phone calls with a delay jolts me awake. Damn. 8. What part of "no" don't you understand? 9. When someone tells you a story that moments later is repeated I want to say, "You just told me that!" on a similar note: 10. My brother Jimmy once pointed out that a lot of people have a thing with saying something twice. He called them repeaters. "We are due for a lot of rain today. We are due for a lot of rain today, so don't forget your umbrella." 11. A "question authority" button was given to me when I was as young as twenty. I still have it to remind me to question everything with a "who says?" which leads me to a variation... 12. Making a stance is not the same as saying I am an authority on any of my views. My views are my views and nothing more. 13. Myself! Yes sometimes I peeve myself off . What about you? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1.?? (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday.??Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments.?It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Still Learning after All These Years
Topic: Thirteen Thursday


"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the ageless pest within, "a member of the class of 66 has put up a website to celebrate our just past 40th reunion, which was held in August at the Red Parrot in Hull, Massachusetts."

Mr. Tiger feigned obsequiousness and bowed as he whispered, 'You're giving away your age.'

I laughed as I responded boldly, "I'm 58 years old and I've learned a thing or two since those days when the main thing I worried about was my stylish flip. As a matter of fact," I tacked on, "I'm still learning."

Before Tiger had the chance to comment further I began Edition #62, my fourth Thirteen Thursday since loosing my old blog.

13 things I've learned since my high school graduation 40 years ago.

1. I've learned that A's, and B's mean nothing in the real world (although indeed they don't hurt) which is good because I was always just an average student.
2. I've learned that being a mother and wife is much harder than doing my history homework.
3. I've learned that old friendships can last even when so many years have past.
4. I've learned that kisses can still be sweet and saucy no matter our age.
5. I've learned that self improvement is a life long study.
6. I've learned that what exhilarated me at seventeen could become a lifetime hobby because...
7. I'm still sewing and my favorite school "subject" that at the time was called home-economics, has branched out to include rug making which has been more than an economic tool - it has offered me a creative outlet to furnish my home with one of a kind works of art.
8. The opposite sex still intrigues me. I've been "going steady" with one man for the last 30 years.
9. My first set of wheels - the purple bomber - was only the first of many.
10. Instead of cruising the town with my friends, a lot of time has been spent taxiing my kids and their friends everywhere between trips to the grocery store and driving back and forth from work.
11. I've learned what my mother meant when she said she worried if we didn't get home by midnight.
12. I've learned that it's still hard to find time for everything I want to do.
13. I've learned that I can't save the world but with love and commitment I can take care of my small place in it.

Staying Healthy
Topic: Thirteen Thursday
"The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind." - Paracelsus

Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the ageless pest within, "is there any proof that the fountain of youth exists?"

'There are many arguments about this but of course,' said Tiger as if his opinion would put an end to the question, 'we know it's a false claim.'

"The long standing myth may indeed be a false claim," I halfheartedly agreed before restating, "but certainly, knowing the dangers of what's considered safe but is not necessarily so, would go a long way in helping us stay young and healthy."

For Edition #61, my third Thursday Thirteen since loosing my old blog, I went straight to my list of 13 surprising tips that'll go a long way in keeping you healthy and young - things you will probably NOT hear from your family doctor.
(in no particular order)

Thirteen Things to help to keep you young and healthy 1. Stop using Fake Nails By KIRSTEN DANIS and MARIA MALAVE Women who get fake nails could be getting something else in the bargain - a dangerous dose of poison. A toxin eradicated from the beauty industry 25 years ago has made a quiet comeback in nail salons nationwide, including New York - and nobody's doing anything to stop it. 2. Don't Drink Your Milk Dr, Mercola states: The recent approval by the FDA of the use of BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) by dairy farmers to increase their milk production only worsens the already sad picture. BGH causes an increase in an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in the milk of treated cows. IGF-1 survives milk pasteurization and human intestinal digestion. It can be directly absorbed into the human bloodstream, particularly in infants. 3. Fluoride: Wonder drug or super poison? "...fluoride was known in the early 1900s as an excellent rat poison. According to Robert Carleton, former scientist with the EPA, fluoride is more toxic than lead, and not quite as toxic as arsenic. It?s a waste product of many heavy industries?derived from the production of pesticides, fertilizers, aluminum, iron, steel, copper, lead, uranium, brick, cement and glass, among others." 4. Healing with Light "The potential is quite endless," said Harry T. Whelan, MD, Medical College Bleser Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Hyperbaric Medicine 5. Household cleaning products are poisons: Dr. Damien Downing says: "I think it comes from over-exposure to things we weren't designed for," he suggests. "Chemical companies produce four million registered chemicals and we never know what we're exposed to at any one time." 6. Amalgam (Mercury Fillings): The Great Dangers Dental Amalgam contains about 50% Mercury. Mercury has been scientifically demonstrated to be more toxic than Lead, Cadmium or even Arsenic. 7. Don't be afraid of the Sun from Shirley's Wellness Cafe Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D., challenges the modem myth that the sun is dangerous to our well-being. The sun was once used as a general tonic to heal almost everything and man has run nacked on this planet under the sun for centuries. The sun provides the basis for all life on earth. The sun is the source of energy for all plants, and indirectly, for all animals. If the sun causes cancer, man wouldn't be here today. Contrary to popular belief, sunbathing actually helps heal cancer of the skin while sunblock increases cancer risk.  8. Root Canals Pose A Health Threat Dr. George Meinig - root canal specialist from American Association of Endodontists "...a high percentage of chronic degenerative diseases can originate from root filled teeth. The most frequent were heart and circulatory diseases and he found 16 different causative agents for these. The next most common diseases were those of the joints, arthritis and rheumatism. In third place - but almost tied for second - were diseases of the brain and nervous system. After that, any disease you can name might (and in some cases has) come from root filled teeth." 9. Daily oil pulling from Curezone.com Take a table spoon of that oil, put it in your mouth and swish it, wash and suck the oil inside the mouth like using a mouthwash. WARNING! Never gargle or swallow the oil. Pull the oil through the teeth often and this oil will pull all the toxins from your body through saliva. 10. Vaccinations - Deception and Tragedy Rebecca Carley, M.D "If children receive all recommended vaccines, they will receive 2,370 times the "allowable safe limit" for mercury in the first two years of life (as if there is such a thing as a "safe" amount of a toxic poison). Yet, even after Congressional hearings instigated by Congressman Dan Burton (whose own grandchild became autistic after receiving vaccines) resulted in the FDA requesting (not ordering) vaccine manufacturers to remove this toxic heavy metal from their products, mercury is still present in many vaccines." 11. Salt Your Way Back to Health Dr. David Brownstein, MD / The Grain and Salt Society hom of Celtic Sea Salt "To develop an accurate understanding of the importance of salt in a healthy diet, we must look beyond what passes for "conventional wisdom." A review of the research literature, as well as my own clinical experiences have convinced me that unrefined salt is vital to good health." 12. Your Body Cries Out for Water by: Fereydoon Batmanghelidj from Amazon.com. As a result of extensive research into the role of water in the body, the author, a medical doctor, believes that he has found chronic dehydration to be the cause of many conditions including asthma, allergies, arthritis, angina, migraine headaches, hypertension, raised cholesterol, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, depression, and diabetes in the elderly. 13. A Healthy Dose of Laughter "You may know the benefits of laughter on the mind and spirit, but are you aware of how much a good laugh can help you physically? Norman Cousins used to say that laughter is so beneficial for your body that it is like ?inner jogging.?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It?s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Out of The Mouths of Babes
Topic: Thirteen Thursday

"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, humorless pest from within, "remember that old show, Kids Say the Darnest Things?"

Rather than answer my question Mr. Tiger responded with, 'You're giving away your age.' And then because it didn't trigger a remark from me he added, 'And besides, who cares about Art Linkletter's old TV variety show, House Party - it's long gone.

"But kids are still saying the darnest things Tige," I said while recalling some of the cute and funny stuff from my kids and theirs. I included, "I wish I had written everything down."

'Hail Mary full of grapes,' Tiger offered, not because of the laughably of this from a child who thought grapes made as much sense as grace in the Hail Mary prayer but because he was scoffing ay my topic for this week's Thursday Thirteen: Edition #59, my third since accidently deleting my blog.

I laughed anyway and before going to my list I put in one of my own, "And wind-chill," I chuckled, "is how my sister Sherry used to say windshield. Made pretty good sense, since the windshield does cut down on the chill from the wind."

Thirteen Funny Things said by My children and Theirs 1. Chrissie, who is now 38, said after filling a jug of water from the tap and going out to our front yard to make herself a small fortune yelled as people walked by, "Ice cold water - a penny a sip," to which I responded, "No one will ever pay for water Chris when they can get it for free straight from their tap." (Had listened to her, I might be a millionaire today, but NO ONE in those days ever heard of purchasing water). 2. Kim who is now 37 was in the car with her dad when she kept saying over and over, "funning and writening." Her anger grew because her father didn't know what she meant. If not for the rain clouds ahead, he might never have figured out that she was saying was , "Thunder and lightening." 3. Beth who is close to thirty now, was playing Barbie dolls with her older sister Kim. After they played for a bit Kim, who was eight years older, became bored. She told her younger sister as she left for a short break that she'd be back before Beth could count from one to ten. Beth innocently counted, "One, two, ten." 4. Our family took in an art show over twenty one years ago when Molly was only two. On the way home Molly sighed with what amounted to contented satisfaction. It was as if she finally figured out her purpose in life when he said with surety, "Mom, all I've ever wanted to do for my entire life was to be an artist." 5. Another gem from this same little girl was said when she was being potty trained. She called me into the bathroom asking if indeed the food we ate was digested before turning into waste. When I agreed she opened the lid and said about her extra long specimen, "This one must have been a carrot." 6. Beth always the cautious one, even when very young, said numerous times to her older sisters, "I wouldn't do that if I were you!" 7. The mall had a CVS store. With dead seriousness Molly who had yet to begin school looked at Beth and exclaimed that she knew how to spell. Looking at the store's sign and spelled the letters, "C - V- S." 8. Isabel turned seven in March. Her five year old brother Dominic said to Beth, his mom, "I know what I'll give Isabel for her birthday." Beth asked him what that would be and he answered, "I'll love her forever." 9. This same little guy was nursed until he was two. Recently Dom said while pointing to his mother's breasts, "Mom, I forget what those look like." 10. Beth recently told me about a discussion between her and her kids. They were talking about why people went to jail. Beth told them that it's because some people do bad things, to which Dominic contributed, "You can go to jail for stealing." Isabel then inquired, "If you killed an elephant and took their tusks, would that make you go to jail?" Her mother laughed and told her "yes," explaining that that was called poaching. Curious as to where this question came from, Beth asked her little daughter if she was studying that in school. Isabel nonchalantly replied, "No, it was just something I was thinking about." 11. Sami, my twelve year old granddaughter who likes to wear all the popular styles, even when it comes to her underwear, came into the bathroom after I finished showering. I was standing in my underwear when she artfully asked, trying not to hurt my feelings, "Nana, why do you wear grandmother underwear?" 12. Isabel's mommy was toweling her off after her bath when Isabel smiled and said, "I'm so glad God invented mommies." And lastly, one that might make you melt: 13. One night when Beth was putting the kids to bed during a big storm, she let the kids sleep with her in her bed. When she was tucking them in and giving them kisses Dom said, "Mom I love you." Beth answered back, "I love you too." He said again, this time with more intent, "No, I love you because you do things that no one else does." Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I'll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

All These Things
Topic: Thirteen Thursday

"Hey Tige," I said to Mr. Tiger, the over serious pest of my psyche, "I finally got the Thirteen Thursday blog roll up along the side bar."

Always ready to correct whether needed or not, Tiger replied, 'You mean you had help getting it up.'

"Righto Tige," I agreed with a laugh. "I had help getting it up. First from CW, the Tripod helper who sent me some rather easy instructions, and then from my daughter Molly who has no fear of hitting the wrong button, like I do especially since deleting my blog."

'Now what?'

"So now that's it up," I answered, "I'm going to my Thirteen Thursday staying on the same theme I've been presenting all week -100 Things about Me."

I said also, right away, so as not to confuse him as I did the other day when he thought I was doing a solid week of 100 Things written only by me. "So far the 100 Things that have been contributed are from three of my four daughters. Mine will come last."

'That should be something to laugh at,' he poked and then jabbed with, 'If you look on the internet there are over 183,000,000 100 Things About Me done by others. Not too original and rather ego-centric,' he dared to add on.

"Maybe yes, maybe no," I said back before going to my TT list. I said first, "but when you get right down to it there are some benefits as well. Read my thirteen to see what I mean."

Thirteen Things about the 100 Things About Me 1. when I wrote mine I felt the impact of my many stages of development and the attitudes that went with them 2. when doing my 100 Things, this simple activity made me focus on who I think I am 3. 100 Things was almost like painting a private portrait 4. 100 Things was a powerful method of getting in the habit of writing down slices of my life for future generations 5. I wish I had a 100 Things list from all my grandparents. 6. 100 Things is good for recognizing similarities among family members 7. 100 Things is good for accepting differences. 8. 100 Things is like a mini recapitulation that may even alter my views. 9. Accounting to don Juan's teachings, once one has viewed his life in the detached manner, as recapitulation requires, there's no way to go back to the same life. 10. 100 Things, when looked at alongside the thousands of other floating around the web, helps in showing me how relatively unimportant I am in the larger scope of things, which in turn... 11. leads to this quote from A Separate Reality, by Carlos Castaneda: "Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy and vain." 12. and then to another from the same source, "We learn to think about everything, and then we train our eyes to look as we think about the things we look at. We look at ourselves already thinking that we are important. And therefore we've got to feel important! But then when a man learns to see, he realizes that he can no longer think about the things he looks at, and if he cannot think about what he looks at everything becomes unimportant. Everything is equal and therefore unimportant. We need to look with our eyes to laugh. When our eyes see, everything is so equal that nothing is funny. My laughter, as well as everything I do is real but it also is controlled folly because it is useless; it changes nothing and yet I still do it. 13. and lastly it all boils down to another quote also from A Separate Reality, by Carlos Castaneda: "One must always choose the path with heart in order to be at one's best, perhaps so one can always laugh." Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1.(leave your link in comments, I'll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants<

Posted by ben-gal at 11:21 AM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 14 September 2006 11:31 AM EDT

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