Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Weekend Fun

Had a busy weekend, working at the Crystal Lake Expo. Traffic was good, so hopefully we will see that turn into business. We went out at the last minute on Saturday for dinner with some friends. We went to a Japanese restaurant in Rolling Meadows called the Bowl House. Very tasty! I had the Spicy Seafood bowl.

What I Am Reading:

The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People



What I Am Watching:

The Ring Two - Sequel to the Ring. Not bad, some very scary portions.

Friday, March 24, 2006

My Newest Favorite FREE Program

OK, I like little gadget programs. Especially when they are free! The Google desktop is just that, with plenty of plug-ins/Panels like:

Suduko
daily bible verses
tic tac toe
EBay watcher
dictionary
AdSense Status
iTunes Control

Want a copy? Go here:
http://desktop.google.com/?pr=rpp-gd-en-v3-2

I am so glad the primary election in Illinois is over. I am so sick of the politicians attacking each other. If they spent half that time working on solving some of the problems in the state this would be a better world to live in.

What I'm Reading:
Flim-Flam! A great book by James Randi, a magician who debunks hoaxers. This is an older book, but worth a read.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

In A Nutshell - A Summary of What's Happening!

  • Working very hard at my day job - I've got a super busy schedule and I expect to continue that way for at least a couple more months... WHEW!
  • Business at my wife's Designer Glass Studio is doing well, we will be at the Crystal Lake Expo this weekend. If you are in the area, stop on by!
  • Uncle Fat's Attic was in the newspaper. Click here to read the story!
  • I'm in the news again! Columbia News Service. The article was close, but not exact. We didn't quit smoking one year ago, it was more like 7 years and Shiritaki Noodles are made from Tofu, not yams. The yam noodles are are called Konnyaku. They are similiar in texture and taste though.
  • Had a great St Patrick's Day dinner at my sisters. Corned beef and cabbage of course!

Here are my new favorite TV shows right now:

Little People, Big World - Very interesting show about two parents who were born little and their 2 average size children and twin boys, one of average height and one of little stature. Watch this show to appreciate life through their eyes and how they share the same problems as average height families.

Flip This House - More reality tv about a company that buys houses, fixes them up and flips them for a profit (at least they hope so)

The Gym - Reality show about a Gym and it's trainers.

What I'm Reading:

Cell - Great book by Stephen King. This will make you think twice about buying a phone.


Thursday, March 16, 2006

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people
suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.


PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped
through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood
sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing ! swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria
found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most
obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded
that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood
sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to
keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up
smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium
found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat,
sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.