ANGEL WORDS - Earth Star Magazine

Transcription

EARTH STAR
DEC / JAN 2011
CONSCIOUS LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
DOREEN VIRTUE
ANGEL WORDS
A CONVERSATION WITH
DR. JUDITH ORLOFF
THE SECRET HISTORY
OF CONSCIOUSNESS
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
UNDER ATTACK
www.earthstarmag.com
DECEMBER / JANUARY 2011
EARTH STAR
3
EARTH STAR
CONTENTS
ON THE COVER
22 Angel Words
by Doreen Virtue and Grant Virtue
33 The Secret History of Consciousness
by Meg Blackburn Losey, Ph.D.
36 A Conversation with Judith Orloff, M.D.
42 Dietary Supplements Under Attack
by William Faloon
FEATURES
Page 22
12 Down To Earth Astrology
by Tim Gunns
24 What the TSA is NOT Telling You about
Full Body Scans
by Dr Joseph Mercola
31 Pre-Crime Technology to be Used in Washington D.C.
by Steve Watson
34 The Movie Mystic
Bringing Back the Old Hollywood
by Stephen Simon
49 In Memoriam - Zecharia Sitchin
by Tim Gunns
55 The Hundred Years Starship
by Niall Firth
Page 59
57 Quadruple-Dose “Super” Flu Vaccine
by Mike Adams
59 Future Cars
Hybrids and Electrics in 2010 and Beyond
62 Look Out! Your Medicine is Watching You
by Ben Hirschler
63 Big Pharma to Begin Microchipping Drugs
by Mike Adams
Cover Art
If I Were a Mermaid
and Your Were a Unicorn
by Jim Warren
From the wild & whimsical to
the sweet & sensuous, for
over 30 years Jim Warren has
been painting his way into the
hearts and minds of people
the world over. Already considered a "living legend of the
art world", Jim is ever-growing
& ever-changing. His versatility ranges from his unique portraits for celebrities, CEO's
and families, to his illustrations for books, movies and
album covers. Most notably
Jim won a Grammy award for
his artwork on Bob Seger's
1981 album "Against the
Wind". His fine art oil paintings are featured in some of
the top galleries in the world.
Jim's latest paintings and classics are now being produced
as high quality, limited edition
Giclee canvas print. You can
visit his website at:
www.jimwarren.com
DEPARTMENTS
Up Front
18 Book Reviews
40 Calendar of Events
50 Green Living
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Page 36
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EARTH STAR
Jim Warren
Earth Star Up Front
Biosynthetic Corneas Restore Vision in Humans
new study from researchers in
Canada and Sweden has shown
that biosynthetic corneas can
help regenerate and repair damaged eye
tissue and improve vision in humans.
The results, from an early phase clinical
trial with ten patients, are published in
the August 25th, 2010 issue of Science
Translational Medicine.
“This study is important because it is
the first to show that an artificially fabricated cornea can integrate with the human eye
and stimulate regeneration,” said senior
author Dr. May Griffith of the Ottawa
Hospital Research Institute, the University
of Ottawa and Linköping University.
“With further research, this approach could
help restore sight to millions of people who
are waiting for a donated human cornea for
transplantation.”
The cornea is a thin transparent
layer of collagen and cells that acts as a
window into the eyeball. It must be
completely transparent to allow the light
to enter and it also helps with focus.
Globally, diseases that lead to clouding
of the cornea represent the most common cause of blindness. More than a
A
decade ago, Dr. Griffith
and her colleagues began
developing biosynthetic
corneas in Ottawa, Canada,
using collagen produced in
the laboratory and moulded
into the shape of a cornea.
After extensive laboratory
testing, Dr. Griffith began
collaborating with Dr. Per
Fagerholm, an eye surgeon
at Linköping University in
Sweden, to provide the
first-in-human experience
with biosynthetic cornea implantation.
Together, they initiated a clinical trial in
ten Swedish patients with advanced keratoconus or central corneal scarring.
Each patient underwent surgery on one
eye to remove damaged corneal tissue
and replace it with the biosynthetic
cornea, made from synthetically crosslinked recombinant human collagen.
Over two years of follow-up, the
researchers observed that cells and
nerves from the patients' own corneas
had grown into the implant, resulting in
a “regenerated” cornea that resembled
normal, healthy tissue. Patients did not
experience any rejection reaction or
require long-term immune suppression,
which are serious side effects associated
with the use of human donor tissue. The
biosynthetic corneas also became sensitive to touch and began producing normal tears to keep the eye oxygenated.
Vision improved in six of the ten
patients, and after contact lens fitting,
vision was comparable to conventional
corneal transplantation with human
donor tissue. —Science Daily
B Vitamins and the Aging Brain Examined
vitamins--B-6, B-12 and folate-all nourish the brain. But much
remains to be discovered about
the relation between these essential nutrients and our brainpower.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) nutritionist Lindsay H. Allen
has collaborated in ongoing research
that has taken a closer look at the role
these nutrients may play in preventing
decline in brain function. The investigations, led by Mary N. Haan of the
University of
CaliforniaS
a
n
Francisco,
are part of
the multiy e a r
Sacramento
(Calif.) Area
Latino Study
on Aging, or
SALSA.
B
Begun in 1996, the study attracted
nearly 1,800 Hispanic seniors, ages 60
to 101, as volunteers.
According to Allen, the research is
needed because many studies of B
vitamins and brain function have given
inconsistent or conflicting results.
Allen is director of the Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) Western
Human Nutrition Research Center in
Davis, Calif. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of
USDA. Scientists from the University
of California-Davis (UCD) and the
UCD Medical Center also are collaborating in the research.
An analysis of volunteers blood
samples showed that lower levels of
one B vitamin, folate, were associated
with symptoms of dementia and poor
brain function, also called “cognitive
decline,” as determined by standard
tests of memory and other factors. The
impairments were detectable even
though less than one percent of the
volunteers were actually deficient in
folate.
In women, but not men, low levels
of folate were associated with symptoms of depression. In fact, female volunteers whose plasma folate levels
were in the lowest third were more
than twice as likely to have symptoms
of depression as volunteers in the highest third. That finding provided new
evidence of an association between
lower blood folate and depression.
Depression is already known to affect
brain function.
In research with vitamin B-12, the
SALSA team determined that a protein
known as holoTC, short for holotranscobalamin, might be key to a new
approach for detecting cognitive
decline earlier and more accurately.
—Life Extension
EARTH STAR
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Volume XXXlII, No. 197 — December 2010 / January 2011
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EARTH STAR
Earth Star Up Front
U.S. Scientists Create Cloth That Can Listen
his could give a whole new
meaning to the phrase “power
dressing”. Scientists at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
have created a cloth that can hear and
emit noise.
The team, led by MIT professor
Yoel Fink, has reached “a new milestone
on the path to functional fibers: fibers
that can detect and produce sound,” MIT
said in a statement.
The development, described in the
August issue of Nature Materials, transforms the usual passive nature of textiles
into a virtually all-singing, all-dancing
version.
According to MIT, “applications
could include clothes that are themselves sensitive microphones, for capturing speech or monitoring bodily
functions, and tiny filaments that could
measure blood flow in capillaries or
pressure in the brain.”
The decade-old research project
aims to “develop fibers with ever more
T
sophisticated properties, to enable fabrics that can interact with their environment,” MIT said.
The new space-age cloth, it said,
can not only listen, but make sound.
“You can actually hear them, these
fibers,” Noemie Chocat, part of the lab
team, said.
“If you connected them to a power
supply and applied a sinusoidal current,
then it would vibrate. And if you make
it vibrate at audible frequencies and put
it close to your ear, you could actually
hear different notes or sounds coming
out of it.”
The new fibers are based on a similar plastic to that used in microphones.
However, researchers manipulated
the fluorine content to ensure its molecules stayed lopsided. That imbalance
makes the plastic piezoelectric, meaning
it changes shape when an electric field is
applied.
“In addition to wearable microphones and biological sensors, applica-
tions of the fibers could include loose
nets that monitor the flow of water in the
ocean and large-area sonar imaging systems with much higher resolutions,”
MIT said.
“A fabric woven from acoustic
fibers would provide the equivalent of
millions of tiny acoustic sensors.”
—JakartaGlobe
New Body Scanners to Store Biometrics
M
ore and more people now
realize naked body scanners are not about protection from terrorists, as the government
claims, but is in fact a technology
designed for control and data collection. If the government is going to be
successful implementing its control
grid, it will have to introduce technology that can be touted as physically
non-threatening. The largest independent union of airline pilots in the world
earlier this week urged its members to
boycott body imaging machines, citing
dangers of excessive exposure to
harmful levels of radiation during the
screening process.
A Massachusetts company, Iscon
Video Imaging, has stepped into the
fray and is offering body scanning
technology minus harmful radiation.
“The Iscon 1000D is the only
whole body imaging portal that can be
integrated with state of the art technologies to detect virtually any object,
without radiation or privacy issues and
confirm that the person is
indeed who they claim to
be,” a press release issued
on October 29th states.
The “enhanced” version of Iscon’s 1000D
whole body scanner is
equipped with optional
biometric technologies
and identity verification
techniques, according to
the
company.
The
machine “uses thermoconductive infrared technology that completes a
360°scan in thirty seconds, reveals a
multitude of objects, but doesn’t
penetrate clothing, so there’s no privacy
or radiation issues,” explains Iscon.
“Facilities are facing significant
privacy and health issues using scanners that expose a persons body parts
that can be stored and shared digitally,”
Iscon founder and president Izrail
Gorian explains in the press release.
“Using existing databases available
today, or using a proprietary system of
employees or inmates, security will
ultimately be enhanced for everyone
and at the same time ease verification
for those who are not suspect.”
Iscon says the new system utilizes
facial recognition, fingerprint, and iris
recognition technology. It is capable of
comparing a person’s facial attributes
to existing databases and cross matching with other systems, can access
large law enforcement databases, and
is also capable of scanning a person’s
iris and cross-matching the collected
information with databases.
—Activist Post
DECEMBER / JANUARY 2011 EARTH STAR
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Earth Star Up Front
Scientists Discover That Radiation
Causes Breast Cancer (duh!)
irls who undergo chest
radiation as a cancer treatment are significantly
more likely to develop breast cancer
as little as eight years later, according to a study conducted by
researchers from Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center in New
York and published in the Annals of
Internal Medicine.
“Risk in women treated before
puberty is not lower than that in
those treated during adolescence, as
suggested by some early studies,”
they wrote.
The researchers reviewed the
results of twelve prior studies that
had looked at breast cancer risk in
female survivors of childhood cancers. They found that patients who
have undergone chest radiation as
children suffer from an increased
risk of breast cancer as little as eight
years later.
“This incidence is similar to
that in women with a BRCA gene
mutation,” the researchers wrote.
The risk does not plateau over
time but only continues to increase,
so that by age forty or forty-five as
many as one in five childhood cancer survivors has contracted breast
cancer. The more radiation a woman
G
was exposed to as a child, the higher her cancer risk.
The Children’s Oncology
Group, of which the researchers are
a part, recommends that because of
this risk, female survivors of childhood cancers get annual mammograms starting at age twenty-five or
eight years after the end of their
radiation therapy — whichever
comes later.
Yet the researchers cautioned
that more research is needed before
this can be emphatically recommended, since mammograms also
expose women to radiation and can
increase their cancer risk. A woman
who begins getting yearly mammograms at age twenty-five would end
up getting fifteen more mammograms in her lifetime than a woman
who began at age forty.
In addition, it is unknown if
cancer survivors react differently to
radiation than other women do.
Due to concern over false positives and radiation risk, the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force no
longer recommends annual mammograms. It recommends biannual
tests for women over the age of
forty-nine. —Natural News
THE GREAT CHOLESTEROL HOAX
he #1 prescription drug in America is
a cholesterol drug. It rakes in about
$8 billion a year. And three of the top
fifteen drugs are in the same category.
They’re called statin drugs, but some experts
call them a hoax. Did you know that...
Cholesterol-reducing statin drugs are
just patented knockoffs of a simple food that
Asians have eaten for centuries. You can buy
it in pill form in any health food store—yet
drug companies charge $1,740 a year for it!
And, for those who choose to stick with
their statins, that they’re all pretty much the
same? If you must take a prescription statin,
ask for the cheapest one. There’s no proof the
statin that’s #1 is any better than the generics.
—Daily Health News
T
Lo w-Carb Diets
ow-carbohydrate/high-protein diets
are past their peak in popularity, but
researchers are still attempting to see
if they have benefits or detriments. A new
analysis of five previous studies, in the
Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests it
may be a little of both. Ultimately, the key to
weight loss is to reduce calories, since calories still matter most. The safest way to lose
weight, however, is to get a balance of
“good” carbs (whole grains, beans, fruits,
vegetables), “good” fats (in olive or canol a
oil, nuts, seeds, avocados), and lean proteinand to exercise.
—U.C. Berkeley Wellness Letter
L
JAPAN DEVELOPS ‘TOUCHABLE’ 3D TV TECHNOLOGY
Japanese research team said in November that it
had developed the world’s first 3D television
system that allows users to touch, pinch or poke
images floating in front of them.
“It is the first time that you can feel images in the air,”
said Norio Nakamura, senior scientist with the research
team at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial
Science and Technology.
“You can have the sense of touch like poking a rubber
ball or stretching a sticky rice cake” when manipulating
images, he told AFP by telephone.
The technology changes the shape of three-dimensional images in response to “touches”, aided by cameras that
monitor how the fingers move, Nakamura said.
It is not known when the technology will be put to practical use but its creators see it being used to simulate surgical operations and in video game software allowing players
to experience the sensation of holding weapons or sports
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equipment.
It could even use scanned images to supplement
existing realities, said Nakamura.
“This technology could create a virtual museum where
visitors, including vision-impaired people, can put their
hands on valuable sculptures that are usually untouchable,”
Nakamura said. —Breitbart.com
Earth Star Up Front
F l y i n g A C e s n a i s E a s i e r t h a n A Google T V R e m o t e
t’s no secret that Google TV is having a rougher launch then some
might have envisioned. (Some users
have even said that it's the first Google
product that needs the “beta” label but
doesn't have it.) Mark Cuban has even
blogged about how Google TV could
hand Netflix the entire streaming
universe.
In November, it was reported that
Hulu, ABC, NBC, and CBS were blocking content from Google TV, which
makes absolutely no sense at all in my
opinion. Now some users are calling out
the peripherals of Google TV devices,
more specifically the Sony remote. (If
you’re unfamiliar with the remote, you
can see an image below.)
A week later, former Google
employee, suspected pilot, and current
BuzzFeed President Jon Steinberg
tweeted his frustration over Sony’s new
TV remote.
Jon Steinberg tried Google TV
recently and exclaimed, “Flying a
Cessna is easier and has fewer controls
than the Sony remote.”
I
Mr. Steinberg
isn’t alone with his
feelings on the Sony
remote; the Boy
Genius Report stated
the following while
doing their hands-on
demonstration...
“The size is definitely intriguing as
it is way smaller in
person than we
expected it to be.
Also, the feel is
right—pretty light
without feeling inexpensively cheap.
However, the myriad of buttons sort of
confuses us, especially when a bunch of
them don’t serve a purpose ninety percent of the time in what we’d imagine
would be your daily use.”
With any new product there are
bumps in the road; it’s all about how
they respond to the criticism and how
much they truly care about the UX of
their software and devices.
It’s now being rumored that Apple
is vying to acquire Sony, the consumer
electronics giant. Apple reportedly has
fifty billion dollars in cash reserves,
while Sony has a market cap of thirtyfour billion dollars. So, financially
speaking, Sony is a strong possibility for
Apple. It’s unclear at this time what
impact this has for Sony’s new Internet
TV with Google TV, since Apple
already has a digital multimedia receiver with Apple TV. —WebProNews
The Government Can Use GPS to Track Your Moves
overnment agents can sneak
onto your property in the middle
of the night, put a GPS device on
the bottom of your car and keep track of
everywhere you go. This doesn’t violate
your Fourth Amendment rights, because
you do not have any reasonable expectation of privacy in your own driveway—
and no reasonable expectation that the
government isn’t tracking your movements.
That is the bizarre—and scary—rule
that now applies in California and eight
other Western states. The U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers this vast jurisdiction, recently decided
the government can monitor you in this
way virtually anytime it wants—with no
need for a search warrant. —Time.com
G
ore than thirty years after the
famous Star Wars movie scene
in which a hologram of
Princess Leia appealed for help from ObiWan Kenobi, US researchers at the Univ.
of AZ have unveiled holographic technol-
M
ogy to transmit and view moving threedimensional images. The prototype “holographic three-dimensional telepresence” is
the world’s first practical 3D transmission
system that works without requiring viewers to wear special glasses or other devices.
The research
is published in
the
journal
Nature.
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Earth Star Up Front
orried about catching a cold
or the flu? Just slather on
some hand sanitizer and you
will be fine, say experts. But a new report
has some different things to say.
According to “germ experts”, alcoholbased hand sanitizers only kill certain
germs for up to two minutes before drying
up and becoming useless. And a recent
study out of the University of Virginia
(UV) revealed that alcohol-based hand
sanitizers do not reduce the overall number of cold and flu cases, either, suggesting they are ineffective.
NaturalNews covered the UV study
back in September but a new survey conducted by Healthpoint found that most
Americans still believe hand sanitizers are
effective anyway, and that they work for
long periods of time than they actually do.
“Alcohol sanitizers last only a
W
Are Hand Sanitizers Effective?
minute or two and must be reapplied
when
recontamination
occurs,”
explained Dr. Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D.,
director of clinical microbiology and
immunology at NYU Langone Medical
Center. But more than fifty percent of
Americans think hand sanitizers last
about thirty times longer than this in a
single application.
Even the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) admits
that that hand sanitizers “will not kill all
germs”, but the agency still recommends
that people use them. But in the UV
study, there was little difference in the
number of rhinovirus and influenza
infections between people who use hand
sanitizers and people that do not.
Many hand sanitizers are also
loaded with toxic chemicals that get
absorbed in the skin and cause other
health problems. And they ultimately
will not protect you from getting sick.
So a more preferable way to stay healthy
and avoid viral and bacterial infections
is to take plenty of natural vitamin C and
vitamin D, eat powerful superfoods like
garlic and astragalus, and drink plenty
of clean water. —NaturalNews
12 New Ancient Sphinx Statues Uncovered in Egypt
rchaeologists in the southern
temple city of Luxor have
unearthed twelve new sphinx
statues and a road from the reign of
ancient Egyptian pharaoh Nectanebo I
(380-362 BC), Egypt’s culture minister
Farouk Hosny announced in November.
The sphinx statues are inscribed
with Nectanebo I’s name and were
found in the last sector of the Avenue
of the Sphinxes, one of the most
important archaeological and religious
paths in Luxor, the site of the Ancient
Egyptian city of Thebes.
The mythological creatures with
human faces and reclining feline bodies were typically used to decorate the
tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers.
The Avenue of the Sphinxes, built
by Nectanebo I, runs from Luxor to
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nearby Karnak, where it connects to the temple of the goddess Mut. Karnak and contains
a vast conglomeration of ruined
temples, chapels, monumental
gateways to temples, and other
buildings.
The archaeologists discovered the new sphinxes at the end
of the newly unearthed road of
Nectanebo I, said Zahi Hawass,
head of Egypt’s Supreme
Council of Antiquities.
The archaeologists have excavated
twenty metres of the 600-metre ancient
road. The first newly uncovered road
which runs from east to west towards
the Nile river, it is mentioned in many
ancient texts, according to Hawass.
“Along this way, the sacred boat
of Amun, king of the
gods, travelled on the
gods’ annual trip to
visit his wife, Mut, at
the Luxor temple. The
king also used it for
religious processions,”
Hawass said.
One of the road’s
most interesting features it that it is built
from sandstone from
the quarries at Gebel Silsila, north of
Aswan, said Mansour Boraik, Luxor
Antiquities supervisor.
The excavation team also recovered Roman period objects, including
an oil press and pottery, and the digs
are continuing.
Nectanebo I, a 30th Dynasty king
was known as a great builder who
erected many monuments and temples
throughout his long and stable 18-year
reign. The pharaoh restored many
dilapidated temples throughout Egypt
and erected a small kiosk on the sacred
island of Philae which would become
one of the most important religious
sites in ancient Egypt.
From about 365 BC onwards,
Nectanebo was a co-regent with his
son Teos, who succeeded him upon his
death in 362 BC. —AKI, Egypt
L A U G H YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH
ave you ever laughed and then
said, “Thanks, I needed that”?
You were so right—because the
very act of laughing promotes good
health in numerous ways. And in fact, you
can maximize these health benefits for
yourself by doing fun and simple “laughter exercises.”
Want evidence of how laughter
helps? Consider a recent study at Loma
Linda University, which involved diabetic
patients who had high cholesterol and
high blood pressure. One group of participants received standard pharmaceutical
treatment for these conditions... a second
group received the same medications but
also were instructed to “view self-selected
humor” (for instance, watch sitcoms or
videos that they considered funny) for
thirty minutes daily. After one year: In the
laughter group, HDL (good) cholesterol
increased by twenty-six percent and
blood levels of C-reactive protein (a
marker of inflammation) decreased by
sixty-six percent, on average... in the
other group, HDL increased by just three
percentand C-reactive protein declined by
just twenty-six percent, on average.
Additional research from Loma
Linda University suggests that laughter
also can boost immunity... relax tense
muscles... reduce levels of stress hormones... and raise levels of mood-elevating hormones called endorphins (the
same hormones released during orgasm!).
It is easy to bring more laughter to
your life. “The average adult laughs sev-
H
enteen times daily. Keep track for
a few days—and if you’re not
laughing at least that often, make a
conscious effort to increase your
opportunities to laugh,” suggested
Katherine Puckett, PhD, national
director of mind-body medicine at
the Cancer Treatment Centers of
America facility in Zion, Illinois,
who has extensive experience
applying therapeutic laughter.
“Since we laugh most frequently
during social interactions with
others, spend time with people
who enjoy laughing and being
playful. Also try watching children and pets playing... enjoying
funny videos... deliberately smiling more often (it’s contagious!)...
and observing the world through a ‘comic
lens’ as you look for humor around you
even in difficult situations.”
Another option is to consciously do
laughter exercises with friends, family or
coworkers. If you feel self-conscious at
first, remind yourselves that you’re laughing with each other, not at each other, and
that your intention is to have goodnatured fun. “At first, the laughter is simulated—but in short order, it becomes
real,” Dr. Puckett said. As often as you
like, try...
Laughter chant. As you clap in
rhythm, repeatedly say, “Ho-ho ha-ha-ha,
ho-ho ha-ha-ha.”
Roller coaster. Lift your arms, sway,
jiggle and scream as if you were on a
Earth Star Up Front
coaster. (This is easiest while seated.)
Snowball fight. Lean over and scoop
up some imaginary snow, pack it into a
snowball and throw it at another person.
Everyone naturally laughs while throwing
or being “hit.” Try putting some pretend
snow down someone’s back, which may
make you both laugh even harder.
Sing with laughter. Even if no one is
having a birthday, sing Happy Birthday to
You to each other, substituting “hee hee”
or “ha ha” or “ho ho” for each word. You
can swap this laughter vocabulary for the
words in many songs -- and before you
even finish singing, you’ll be feeling
happier and more energized.
—Healthy Woman
Fish Oil Facts
W
ould you ever even consider eating rotten fish?
Of course not.
What if you discovered that your
omega-3 was spoiled?
Taking rancid oil is dangerous
because oxidized fats actually raise
your risk of heart disease and blood
clots, according to Rufus Turner,
leading expert on oils at the University
of Reading in the U.K.
The problem is that fish oil is so
unstable it begins to oxidize as soon as
it’s extracted from fish and exposed to
air, which is typically long before some
company actually puts it into a capsule.
So how do you ensure that your
fish oil is stable and fresh? And that
you really get its many useful benefits.
Two things you can do, to move up
to fresher omega-3 and be sure yours
makes the grade:
1. Be sure your fish oil contains antioxidants, which help prevent oxidation. Using krill oil instead of fish oil is
an option that provides the natural antioxidants vitamins A and E plus astaxanthin and canthaxanthin—right within the oil.
2. To protect the stability of your krill,
opt for a ‘caplique’ instead of a softgel.
A ‘caplique’ is far more effective than
a gel cap at sealing out oxygen, which
makes the oil go bad. It stands to
reason—a softgel is semi-permeable,
and it allows oxygen to cross that barrier. —Mercola.com
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DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011
wo planetary aspects highly conducive to social networking get
December underway. On the 1st,
a light-hearted sextile between
Mercury and Venus promotes
harmony between mind and feelings, favoring
communications, and trips. Attend a concert, or
participate in your favorite artistic activities.
T
Then, on the 2nd, Mars and Neptune form a
similar alignment, when one’s intuition could
inspire constructive action and activities. A spiritual gathering with like-minded souls might
also bring satisfaction.
However, a jarring square on the 3rd between
Mars and Uranus can quickly get the unwary
into hot water. Avoid acting on impulse. Be
aware and in the moment, and take the time to
consider the consequences of your actions.
Drive with extra care. It would be prudent to
back-up important computer files, as system or
mechanical malfunctions are possible around
this unstable juncture.
December’s new moon arrives on the 5th, in 14°
Sagittarius. Upgrade educational objectives, and
expand your occupational horizons, then move
forward with renewed confidence. Connect with
progressive people or groups with whom you
share common goals or beliefs over the next four
weeks. Bold new beginnings and sweeping
changes are in the wind!
A triple conjunction of Mercury, Mars and Pluto
occurs on December 13th, in 05° Capricorn.
Look to see what you can re-use or breathe new
life into over the next few weeks. Be aware of all
you say and do now, as thoughts and words have
much more power than usual.
Be enterprising as Mercury and Mars
align... seize the initiative, make connections.
There’s certainly no beating about the bush now,
as communications are likely to be direct and to
the point.
A momentous and extremely volatile conjunction between Mars and Pluto perfects on the
13th, so avoid confrontations, attempts to control
others, or placing yourself in precarious situations. Think before you act! To make the most of
this combination of dynamic energies, do work
requiring sustained effort and focus.
The sun moves into a precise square to Jupiter
on the 16th, a cosmic augury to avoid impulsive
behavior. Act only after careful deliberation
(and ideally after Mercury turns direct on the
29th), as you may be inspired to tackle projects
that you normally wouldn’t consider. This
aspect seldom bodes well for property and real
estate interests, or for the stock market.
After five months in retrograde, Uranus, planet
of innovation, stations direct later on the 5th, in
27° Pisces. Ambition is powerfully kindled at
this time, and goal setting is favored. The revolutionary spirit abounds!
Next, the sun sextiles Neptune and forms a jarring square to Uranus on the 18th, propagating
two widely divergent cosmic influences. With
the former, imagination is inspired. Experiment
with telepathy or lucid dreaming. But the latter
aspect, our sun’s square to unpredictable
Uranus, is potentially a real shaker! By all
means flow with any changes in circumstances
beyond your control, but this is not the time to
initiate change based solely upon a desire for
greater personal freedom.
Mars enters Capricorn on the 7th for a six-week
sojourn, conferring greater self-control and self
discipline. Constructive progress can be made
toward professional objectives during this motivating transit. Plan career strategy.
Under normal circumstances, the conjunction of
the sun and Mercury on the 19th, in 29°
Sagittarius, would be a clarion call to act on
your bright ideas. But because the messenger of
the gods is now in retrograde, some careful
12
EARTH STAR
thought and fact checking might be called for
before communicating your thoughts and views.
Nevertheless, this is a good time to attend to
backlogged paperwork, correspondence, and
messages. Be alert to educational opportunities.
Important announcements or decisions could
also be forthcoming.
Mercury squares Uranus and sextiles Neptune
on the 20th, when mechanical or systems failures are possible. Therefore, be sure to back-up
computer files or get your vehicle checked out
prior to this date, Postpone important decisions
or signings, ideally till the end of the month, as
mental processes may tend to be somewhat
erratic. Under the Mercury-Neptune alignment,
a moment of awareness could provide the solution to a problem, while spiritual or metaphysical study can be enlightening.
A lunar eclipse occurs as the full moon culminates on the 21st, in 30° Gemini, in the waning
hours of fall. One’s everyday physical circumstances may in some way come into focus in the
days surrounding this lunation. If you’ve been
contemplating a change of surroundings, now
may be the time to do it...it could even be forced
upon some. Release whatever or whoever no
longer serves you, particularly in regard to partnerships or associations. Observe how you communicate around this juncture for ways in which
you may improve interpersonal relations.
The winter solstice arrives later on the 21st, as
the sun enters the cool, calculating domain of
Capricorn, where its creative energies are
constrained, disciplined and focused on
achievement in this Saturn-ruled sign. Try to get
a handle on where you’re going, career-wise,
over the next four weeks.
The sun conjuncts Pluto on the 26th, in 06°
Capricorn. Willpower and assertiveness intensify,
so watch out for ego clashes, and avoid any
attempts at coercion. A glimpse of the darker
Down To Earth Astrology
side of life, or of oneself, could be revealed. A
strong sexual stimulus also pervades the
ethers.
When Mars squares Saturn on the 29th, its
customary vigor and vitality is temporarily
constrained by Saturn, so don’t push too hard
now. Keep your assertiveness in check. Cultivate
patience. If possible, get plenty of rest.
After three tongue twisting, logically challenged weeks, Mercury stations direct late on
the 29th (PST, early 30th, EST). Communications
are now gradually getting back on track, while
mental processes are accelerating. Move ahead
with plans now but with caution. Avoid making
snap decisions, as there’ll be a tendency
towards impatience for a few days.
The first few days of January are fairly quiet in
the heavens, until the 4th, when a total solar
eclipse occurs at the new moon, in 14°
Capricorn. With the lunation book-ended
between Mars and Pluto, both also in successoriented Capricorn, much creative impetus
exists for planning practical, ambitious new
business ventures now, and in the weeks ahead.
However, as the lunation is in square to Saturn,
Capricorn's ruling planet, you’ll need to be prepared to put in a great deal of effort, surmount
considerable challenges, and be the epitome of
propriety in order to attain your lofty objectives.
Less than four hours after the lunation/eclipse,
Jupiter and Uranus align in a precise conjunction, at 27°02' Pisces, reprising a similar alignment from last June. This is a planetary pairing
that can inspire true genius, a great asset to any
progressive enterprise, when intuition and
judgement combine well. It suggests that the
collective higher mind is now opening to
advanced trends in thought, so any new venture
would do well to include a public educational
element, and to take full advantage of the power
of the Internet. New friendships and progressive connections are also possible now. Reports
of otherworldly visitations, past or present, may
be in the news around this time. It will be interesting to see what transpires concerning the
issue of UFO disclosure. A revolution in conscious awareness is most definitely in the wind.
With Venus in an almost exact trine to both
planets, there could be an outpouring of love,
and possibly money, to a worthy or charitable
cause, or for the loss of someone special.
Venus moves on into Sagittarius on the 7th (till
Feb 4th), ushering in a four-week period in
which to be more sociable and outgoing.
Outdoor activities can be most enjoyable now,
while a yen for travel could prove rewarding.
Just take care not to overextend your resources.
The sun squares Saturn also on the 7th, when
the flow of vitality we receive from the sun can
be restricted by Saturn, bringing temporary
frustrations and impatience, so you may need to
exercise a greater measure of self-discipline
around this juncture. This somewhat heavy
aspect can illuminate personality flaws, perhaps
to show where work needs to be done. Duties
and responsibilities can seem onerous now, particularly as Venus is inclining one to have fun.
Don't expect any favors from your boss,
teacher, or other authority figure just now,
either. However, do persevere, as achievement
will come through hard work and disciplined
effort—is it ever any different? To lift your spirits, meditate on something cheerful or inspiring
Mercury, now gathering forward momentum
through the zodiac after three weeks in retrograde, reprises its connections with Neptune,
Uranus, and Jupiter from December. On the
10th, Mercury's sextile to Neptune could elicit a
moment of awareness that may provide the
solution to a problem.
Mercury’s square to Uranus, also on the 10th, is
often a harbinger of mechanical or systems failures so be sure to back-up important computer
files beforehand, and take extra care while driving. It may be wise to postpone important decisions or signings for a few days, as mental
processes might tend to be somewhat erratic. A
great time to brainstorm, though!
Communications could prove frustrating as
Mercury squares Jupiter on the 11th. Make sure
you have all the facts before offering advice or
information. The wise will remain skeptical of
proposals or offers that come their way today.
Try not to promise more than you can deliver.
Action planet, Mars, sextiles Uranus on the
12th, then makes a similar aspect to Jupiter on
the 13th, a favorable planetary auspices under
which to initiate new activities or ventures.
Progressive career opportunities may present
themselves; however, be discerning.
After Mercury enters Capricorn on the 13th (till
Feb 3rd) thoughts turn toward more frequently
towards business, career and practical considerations, and ambition is fueled. Patience and
mental discipline are easier to come by with
Mercury here, and one’s powers of concentration are enhanced.
Mars enters Aquarius on the 15th for the next
six weeks, encouraging us to organize and clarify our goals and objectives. An inclination to
want to improve the existing order of things,
perhaps in unconventional ways, may take hold,
Pursuits requiring teamwork are favored.
The sun sextiles Uranus on the 17th, while
Mercury aligns in conjunction with Pluto, in
06° Capricorn. A progressive new project on
the drawing board could benefit from a blast of
creative ingenuity. Seek new ways of financing
a pet project. Begin a program of metaphysical,
scientific, or astrological studies.
The first full moon of the year culminates on
the 19th, in 30° Cancer, and domestic responsibilities may be pressing, but the need to take
care of business will also be strong. Strike a
healthy balance between home and business or
career needs. With the sun in an almost precise
sextile to Jupiter, see where you can expand
your intellectual and occupational horizons.
Journeys for business, foreign investments, and
legal affairs are all supported now.
The sun enters Aquarius on the 20th, signaling
a time to reassess your goals and ambitions during the next four weeks. Are you on target, or
up to speed with the techniques or technologies
that can keep you at the head of the pack? Align
with organizations, groups or friends who share
your objectives.
Jupiter enters tropical Aries on the 22nd for its
second visit to this ardent, fiery sign in less than
a year; it was also in Aries from June 6th
through September 9th, 2010. Beliefs and
philosophies are more enthusiastically
expressed with Jupiter here and zealous behavior
will likely abound. The inclination to take
action for what you believe in is strong, as personal confidence levels soar. Be sure that you
can comfortably handle all that you take on during this transit, when optimism and enthusiasm
are greatly heightened.
Seek financial investors for a business venture
when Venus sextiles Saturn on the 23rd, or reorganize your business affairs and finances to
increase stability. Constructive artistic work is
also supported now. The reestablishment of a
past personal or professional connection now
may have karmic implications.
After Saturn stations Retrograde on January
25th, in 18° Libra, for the next five months,
review your professional or educational ambitions and, if necessary, seek vocational guidance. Sensitive issues from the past could resurface for resolution. Restructure personal
finances to afford both a greater degree of control and a stronger sense of security.
Following is a general overview of how the
planetary trends for December 2010/ January,
2011 apply to each sun sign. If you know your
rising sign (Ascendant), read that, too, for additional insights.
EARTH STAR
13
Aries
(March 20—April 19)
Your ambitious, pioneering nature comes to the
fore in December, as Mars, your sign’s ruling
planet, travels through the upper reaches of your solar chart.
Let those in a position to help you know your aims,
particularly during the first ten days of the month, while
Mercury is strong in your solar chart. After the 10th, Mercury
will be retrograde through the 29th, which is a time better
suited to reviewing your career or educational objectives, and
reassessing your game plan. Nonetheless, the winter months,
in general, hold promise for professional advancement.
Indeed, January’s new moon on the 4th in your solar tenth
house of worldly attainment could provide the motive force
necessary to launch you into a more elevated professional
orbit, from which you can gain new perspectives of your
potential. However, there may be challenges to overcome
involving a partner or close associate, requiring tact and
diplomacy on your part.
Taurus
(April 19—May 20)
In preparation for enhancing your potential and
expanding your professional horizons, look carefully to see what may need to be eliminated from
your life, so that you feel more free to pursue your objectives,
unencumbered by elements from your past that may hold you
back. A partner, associate, or significant other could be most
supportive of your quest, so remain open to their input or
guidance. As you contemplate the possibilities for your
future, think twice before severing what may have been an
important alliance in your haste to blaze new trails. Keep the
‘big picture’ in mind, lest you lose the plot and, along with it,
a helpful ally. In January you feel more adventurous, and
you’re ready to pursue enticing new goals and experiences.
Passions run deep now, and may cloud your better judgement.
Nonetheless, you’ve got the bit between your teeth, feeling
encouraged and empowered to open up your life in bold new
ways.
Gemini
(May 20—June 21)
As the holidays approach, you’re more concerned
with transforming your career prospects in new,
more progressive ways, than in participating in frivolous
festive frolics. To this end, you may consider a new
professional alliance, that would enable you to draw from and
build upon your past experience, while considerably
expanding your sphere of influence. There’s the possibility of
adding to your income too, as your stock in trade increases in
value. Seek clarity of purpose and direction, as activities
around you quicken. You may encounter individuals with
great wealth or power, with the resources to support you in
your quest. However, with your ruling planet, Mercury, in
retrograde from December 10th - 29th, don’t count your
chickens before they’re hatched, as circumstances may be
subject to change. Trends in January favor eliminating the
unnecessary from your life, as you prepare the groundwork
for a bold new venture in the weeks ahead.
14
EARTH STAR
Cancer
(June 21—July22)
At last, your work prospects begin to look
more promising, after what may have been a
rather barren patch. Your past good work or
experience could now begin to pay dividends, as your
stock in trade rises in value. An individual with a great deal
of influence and powerful connections may offer you some
form of partnership alliance. Take your time in considering
such an arrangement, as you may not have all the facts.
With Mercury, planet of deals and contracts, in retrograde
from December 10th - 29th, more information could come
to light that might have a bearing on your decision—or
theirs. Domestic constraints or family responsibilities may
also impact this situation, requiring you to think outside of
the proverbial box for resolution, while maintaining your
emotional equilibrium. However, lady luck could be your
ally now, so take heart and keep your eyes on the prize!
Leo
(July 22—August 23)
Your creative juices are flowing again, after a
period of inactivity. You’re more inspired to
reach out to others, who can provide the emotional support
you feel you need. Don’t let pride—or prejudice—stand in
your way now if there are fences yet to mend, as much
healing can come from your outreach, which would
eliminate some of the ‘weight’ you may carry. Indeed, this is
a time to lighten up, on yourself as well as with others, if
you seek greater harmony and flow in your life. Sometimes
it becomes necessary to get out of your own way in order to
make progress. In January, you may encounter challenges
that threaten to upset your plans. And yet the possibility
exists to make ground with your vocational activities, if you
remain steadfast in your efforts and sincerity.
Virgo
(August 23—September 23)
Libra
(September 23—October 23)
Constructive changes within your domestic
environment could occur during December, and
not before time, too, as you may have grown
increasingly unsettled, of late. Financial tensions will ease a
little, as you bring your creative energies to bear on the
matter, while some welcome news could be cause for
celebration as the holiday season approaches. You may not
have everything your way, however, so be patient with any
delays or changes in plans, as your ruling planet, Mercury,
will be retrograde from December 10th - 29th, while timing
may also be a factor in determining the eventual outcome of
events. Nonetheless, you are close to a significant
breakthrough, in terms of your personal affairs, so continue to
be upbeat and more hopeful about your future prospects.
If you’ve managed to translate your thoughts
and bright ideas into actions in recent weeks
you can rest assured that you’re in the flow
and in sync with the cosmic influences acting through your
solar chart. Your challenge now will be to maintain the
momentum you've developed throughout December, when
emotional triggers from past experiences conspire to
undermine your confidence and good progress. Mercury’s
retrograde, from December 10th - 29th, back through your
solar third house of the mind could make you question the
wisdom of recent decisions, yet you somehow know that
you are on the right path and feel inspired to continue on
your quest. When Venus, your sign’s ruling planet, joins
Mercury in your solar third house on January 7th, you’ll
feel more reassured and hopeful about your prospects,
while lady luck could bring extra money your way.
Scorpio
(October 23—November 22)
Your activities for some time now have been focused
mainly on adding to your income, and you may,
indeed, have met with a measure of success. December’s expansive Sagittarius new moon in your solar second house of income
on the 5th encourages you to strengthen your resolve, and to
build upon the progress you’ve made. With lucky Venus on your
solar ascendant, favorably aligned with Pluto, your sign’s ruler, a
measure of good fortune may attend your endeavors in the weeks
ahead. Your principle challenge now will be to overcome nagging doubts and fears that conspire to undermine your best
efforts. Mercury’s retrograde, however, from December 10th 29th, back through your solar second house, could actually work
to your advantage, inclining you to revisit a financial strategy
that you hadn't fully thought out, but that in January, after revising your approach, may finally begin to bear fruit.
Sagittarius
(November 21—December 21)
You’re primed for action and keen to move
forward with projects and activities already
underway, and in December this trend continues, as you
keep your goals for the future in your sights. While your
determination and drive may bring you additional income,
so too can your expenditures increase. Fortunately, you see
the value in adhering to a practical budget, and maintain a
tight grip on your purse strings as the holiday season
approaches. While Mercury is in retrograde (Dec 10th 29th) and moving back through your solar first house, you
might pause to reconsider a personal objective or endeavor,
perhaps in light of recent developments. During January,
though, you’re back in the saddle and riding hard towards
your goal, and when Venus crosses your solar ascendant
into your sign and solar first house on the 7th, the element
of luck travels at your side.
Capricorn
(December 21—January 19)
Converting a dream into a tangible reality could
consume much of your energy these days, as your
vision of a professional objective becomes an overriding
quest. With Mars on your solar ascendant, (Dec 7th) and
traveling through your sign till January 15th, your ambition
may know no bounds, and you’ll move heaven and earth to
reach your goal. You may feel that it’s your fate to succeed in
this endeavor, and are determined to give it your best shot, yet
you must measure your progress carefully, because with
Mercury retrograde from December 10th - 29th, you could
overlook some important details or facts. January’s powerful
new moon/solar eclipse in your sign on the 4th fuels the fire
in your belly, increasing your desire for personal and
professional attainment. However, try not to get caught up in
the myriad details, lest you lose sight of the all-important big
picture.
Aquarius
(January 19—February 18)
Luck is with you now as you pursue career goals,
with Venus riding high through your solar chart.
Don’t be shy about tooting your own horn, because you never
know who might like the tune! Goal setting is favored in
December, fueled by an optimistic Sagittarius new moon in
your solar eleventh house (5th). Your outgoing, progressive
nature can thrive now, while your self-confidence could be in
overdrive. However, when Mars begins a six-week journey
through your dreamy solar twelfth house on December 7th,
and with Mercury in retrograde from Dec 10th - 29th,
consider easing back on the throttle a little, in anticipation of
potential roadblocks or detours. During January, spend some
time fine-tuning your grand vision, and don’t be too keen to
charge ahead. Seek the feedback or advice of friends. And be
watchful of expenditures, as a penny saved could be a penny
earned right now.
Pisces
(February 18—March 20)
Your ambition drives you forward, following
December’s expansive Sagittarius new moon (5th)
in your solar tenth house of worldly attainment, when you're
keen to make tangible progress towards a cherished professional
or educational objective. There’s a very progressive side to your
nature that is often overlooked, except in quiet moments when
the revolutionary within you seeks expression. Pay attention to
your inner prompts, for they could inspire remarkable ingenuity
that could open up new horizons of possibility to you, from
which you may also profit. It’s possible that a new career
objective could take priority during January, when a colleague
or associate may recommend you for a position, or brings news
of an opportunity. Just be sure you have all the facts before
making your decision; don't allow over-optimism to cloud your
better judgement.
Tim Gunns is an astrological consultant,
conference coordinator and producer,
and formerly program director of the
L.A. Conscious Life Expo, and the
national Whole Life Expos.
Tim prepares personalized no-nonsense interpretations of Natal Horoscopes ($40), Future Forecast Transit
Reports ($75 for 1 full year), and Relationship Compatibility
Reports ($45). Shipping is free. Send: Name (as you'd like it to
appear on the chart), Date of Birth, Time (as close as possible),
Place of Birth (city/country, etc.) for each person, and your return
address, phone# and check to: Tim Gunns, c/o110 Hilltop Drive,
Waynesville NC 28786. (828) 452-7885. Consultations by
phone may also be scheduled.
15
16
EARTH STAR
EARTH STAR
17
Winter Reading
The Solomon Secret
7 Principles of Financial Success from
King Solomon, History's Wealthiest Man
By Bruce Fleet
In the bestselling tradition of The Richest Man
in Babylon, The Solomon Secret follows King
Solomon as he mentors his young protégé,
Abidan, on the seven basic principles of life
and their influence on financial success. Each
of these parables illustrates a key principle
that Abidan must discover before he can garner more wealth and happiness, and is then
followed by Fleet’s masterful application of these principles to the reader’s life and to the most urgent and essential financial questions of our
time. Fleet, a successful financial adviser and owner of a large investment firm, draws from the time-honored and historically proven wisdom
of the life of the ancient king to offer-through the siphon of his own talent and perspective-the very best in financial strategies for today’s
challenging economic climate.
Tarcher/Penguin. Paperback, $13.95.
The Subtle Energy Body
The Complete Guide
By Maureen Lockhart, Ph.D.
Ancient traditions of both the East and
West have long maintained that the
human being is a complex of material and
nonmaterial systems, or energy bodies. In
many traditions, the component parts of
the subtle body serve as a map of the different levels of consciousness. The energetic bodies provide a coherent system of
life-affirming principles and practices for
the diagnosis and treatment of the whole
person that is not only part of many traditional healing systems, such as
Acupuncture and Ayurveda, but also is forming the basis for a synthesis of
traditional and contemporary healing practices that could lay the foundation
for the medicine of the future. This lavishly illustrated and well-researched
book belongs on the shelf of any aspiring healer.
Inner Traditions. Paperback, $29.95.
The Secret Language
of Your Body
The Essential Guide to Health
and Wellness
By Inna Segal
Foreword by: Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
In The Secret Language of Your
Body, author Inna Segal unveils the
secrets to understanding the messages of your body and reveals the
underlying mental, emotional, and
energetic causes of physical symptoms and medical conditions. This inspiring handbook delves deeply
into the possible reasons for health issues in all areas of your body.
Inna offers a unique, step-by-step method to assist your body in
returning to its natural state of health. By encouraging you to connect
with your innate healing intelligence and calling on your body’s builtin ability to heal itself, Inna gently guides you on a journey of lifechanging transformation and empowerment .
Atria Books. Paperback, $18.00.
Archangels 101
How to Connect Closely with
Archangels Michael, Raphael, Uriel,
Gabriel and Others for Healing,
Protection, and Guidance
By Doreen Virtue
Legions of loving and trustworthy archangels
watch over us, and you can develop an even
closer relationship with them by learning their
names and specialties. In this uplifting nondenominational book, Doreen Virtue guides
you in connecting with her 15 favorite
archangels; and you’ll read true stories from
people who received protection, miraculous healings, and amazing guidance from these beloved heavenly beings. Whether you’re new to working with angels, or someone who has believed in angels all your life, you’ll
want to refer to Archangels 101 again and again.
Hay House. Hardcover, $15.95
Be Love Now
Beginner's Grace
Bringing Prayer to Life
By Kate Braestrup
Writing in the beautiful, funny, honest narrative style that moved and inspired readers of
her first book, Here If You Need Me, Kate
Braestrup explains what prayer is and the
many ways we can pray. With an approach
that is both personal and inclusive,
Beginner’s Grace is a new kind of prayer
book. Even if you don’t pray and don't consider yourself religious, there’s room in this
book for you. In these pages, Braestrup explains how and why the
practice of prayer can open a space in our busy lives for mindfulness,
gratitude, contentment, and a wider compassion toward others.
Free Press. Hardcover, $25.00
The Path of the Heart
By Ram Dass,
with Rameshwar Das
In Be Love Now, Ram Dass, one of America’s
most beloved spiritual teachers, shares what
he has learned in his remarkable fourdecade-long spiritual journey. Through timeless teaching stories, compelling and often
humorous personal anecdotes, and soul-stirring insights, Ram Dass tracks the stages of
his own awakening in his trademark downto-earth style. Starting with his days as Harvard psychologist and psychedelic “inventurer”, continuing through his profound encounters with his
guru, Neem Karoli Baba, and moving beyond the reawakening brought on
by his near-fatal stroke, Ram Dass shares his life experiences while offering a timeless teaching on love and the path of the heart.
HarperOne. Hardcover, $27.99.
18
EARTH STAR
Winter Reading
The Order of Melchizedek
Love, Willing Service,
& Fulfillment
By Dan Chesbro with James Erickson
The teachings of Melchizedek—a totally
balanced, authoritative incarnation of
Christ prior to that of Jesus—on topics
such as reincarnation, spiritual development, and free will, are presented in this
manual that relates a positive approach
to the current transitional stage of spiritual evolution. Promoting a harmonious
view of religion—where there is one
God, understood and worshiped in a variety of different ways, each
serving a purpose to those worshiping and to the overall understanding of spirituality—this testament to the Order is both downto-earth and profound.
Findhorn Press. Paperback, $16.95.
How to Be Rich
By Napoleon Hill
Joseph Murphy, PhD, D.D.
Wallace D. Wattles
Robert Collier
In How to Be Rich, the accumulated wisdom
of the most celebrated motivational writers
and positive-thinking guides of all time is distilled into one concise volume for unlocking
the prosperity-power of your mind. Why not
you? This is the guiding question of How to
Be Rich. To answer it, this compact book
gleans must-read passages, powerful meditations, and tantalizing wealth-building techniques from the collected work
of the greatest motivational writers ever. Each chapter is short enough to
read in a grocery store checkout line-yet powerful enough to challenge
years of ingrained, self-limiting thinking.
Llewellyn’s 2011 Sun Sign Book
Horoscopes for Everyone
By Llewellyn
Don’t be without this annual classic sun
sign guide! Find out what to expect in the
year ahead, get answers to life’s most
important questions, and feel inspired every
day with Llewellyn’s Sun Sign Book. In
addition to horoscopes for every sign by
popular astrologer Kris Brandt Riske,
you’ll find rewarding and challenging
days for each month, as well as guidance
for love and relationships, your career
path, and living a healthy and fulfilling life.
It also includes ideal dates to begin a romance, take a vacation, look
for a job, and plan other important endeavors. This edition also features insightful articles by renowned astrologers that contain practical
planetary wisdom, which you can use to enrich your life.
Llewellyn. Paperbook, $10.99.5
How to Rule the World
from Your Couch
By Laura Day
You don’t have to be full of ‘get up and go’
to have success, find love, or even earn a living. There are tools, innate tools, which permit you to do much of the heavy lifting without your feet ever touching the floor.
Internationally renowned teacher and intuitive Laura Day shows you how to create
success in any area by using your brain in
unique and compelling ways so that your
innate intuition can propel you ahead to successful solutions. Includes step-by-step
exercises—many of which can be done from
the comfort of your couch!
Atria. Paperback, $15.00.
Sun Signs & Past Lives
Your Soul’s Evolutionary Path
By Bernie Ashman
In Sun Signs & Past Lives, internationally
known astrologer Bernie Ashman offers
ways to reach your full potential with an
instant past-life reading, based on your
sun sign. Ashman’s method is an easy,
foolproof way to pinpoint behaviors that
may be holding you back from a rewarding life of peace and fulfillment. You don’t
have to know any specialized astrology
terms or concepts to use this book. All
you need is your birthday. Each sun sign
into three energy zones. Simply look up the zone in which your birthday falls and find out your innate strengths and the spiritual lessons
you need to learn for this lifetime. Most importantly, you’ll discover
how to transform these precious insights into action.
Llewellyn. paperback, $16.95.
Lost Knowledge of
the Ancients
A Graham Hancock Reader
Edited by Glenn Kreisberg
Representing the latest findings in scientific
and historical research, this anthology of
essays commissioned by Graham Hancock,
covers the forefront in alternative theories on
history, the origins of civilization, technology,
and consciousness with topics ranging from
quantum philosophy and paranormal phenomena to the ancient use of electromagnetism, the effect of cosmic rays on human evolution, and NASA’s cover-up of ancient
Martian civilizations. Recognizing that many recent discoveries are actually
rediscoveries of lost knowledge from past civilizations, these authors seek
to understand where, within the bigger picture of human knowledge, our
present time fits into the cycle of human existence.
Bear & Company. Paper, $18.00.
19
Common Wealth
Our Legacy of Places Of Power
and the Transfiguration of the
Human Soul
By Freddy Silva
In Common Wealth, bestselling author
Freddy Silva examines the origins of
sacred places and what makes them so,
from pre-diluvial mansions of the gods to
the resurgence of ancient knowledge in
the modern era. Following a global
catastrophe in 9703 B.C., groups of
sages embarked on a mission to rebuild
a worldwide network of temples that would maintain indefinitely a society
in balance with itself and with the cosmos. These places of power, Silva
explains, were constructed at magnetically sensitive locations and according to prescribed laws that are capable of altering states of consciousness.
But not only did temples become repositories of an incredible ancient science, they would also serve as an insurance policy in times when people
lost sight of the fact that they too are gods.
The Pot Book
A Complete Guide to Cannabis
Edited by Julie Holland, M.D.
Exploring the role of cannabis in medicine, politics, history, and society, The Pot Book offers a
compendium of the most up-to-date information and scientific research on marijuana from
leading experts, including Lester Grinspoon,
M.D., Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Allen St. Pierre
(NORML), and Raphael Mechoulam. Also
included are interviews with Michael Pollan,
Andrew Weil, M.D., and Tommy Chong as well as a pot dealer and a
farmer who grows for the U.S. Government. Encompassing the broad
spectrum of marijuana knowledge from stoner customs to scientific
research, this book investigates the top ten myths of marijuana—from
its physiological and psychological effects, to the complicated world of
pot and parenting. As legalization becomes a reality, this book candidly offers necessary facts and authoritative opinions in a society full of
marijuana myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes.
Park Street Press. Paperback, $19.95.
Invisible Temple. Paperback, $25.00.
The Secret History
of Consciousness
Ancient Keys to Our Future Survival
By Meg Blackburn Losey, Ph.D.
In this new book, Dr. Meg Losey reveals the
secrets that were known to the ancients but
lost to the modern world. Secrets about consciousness and the relevance of sacred sites
from around the globe. She uncovers the true
meaning of the Mayan Calendar and links
sacred geometry, the Kaballah, the Flower of
Life, the Pyramids, Atlantis, Lemuria, and more
to reveal that these ancient secrets show us
that we are all unlimited beings of creation. Dr. Meg invites us to open our
minds and hearts to the meaning of our shared and hidden history and
offers simple meditations that will allow each and every one of us to
become conscious of the change we are creating together.
Weiser Books. Paperback, $16.95.
Tao II
The Way of Healing, Rejuvenation,
Longevity, and Immortality
By Zhi Gang Sha
Tao II, the successor to Tao I: The Way of All
Life, reveals the highest secrets and most
powerful practical techniques for the Tao journey, which includes one’s physical healing
and rejuvenation journey and one’s entire
spiritual journey. In Tao II, Master Sha explains
the significance of this highest secret and
exactly how to do it. It provides the sacred key
for your whole life’s practice and shares two hundred and twenty sacred
phrases that include not only profound sacred wisdom but also additional simple and practical techniques. The final goal is to reach immortality to be a better servant for humanity, Mother Earth, and all universes.
Atria Books. Hardcover, $27.95.
20
EARTH STAR
The Secrets of People Who
Never Get Sick
By Gene Stone
Gene Stone has investigated, firsthand, virtually
every form of regimen, diagnostic test, therapy,
and fad. This fascinating and original book of
science tells the stories of 25 people who each
possess a different secret of excellent health—
and shows how we can all use these insights to
change our lives for the better. The stories make
it personal; then comes the science, the authority, and the nuts and
bolts—how to bring each secret into your own life. From probiotics to
veganism to a daily dose of garlic, from yoga to cold showers, it’s an
invaluable collection of secrets to a healthy life.
Workman Publishing. Hardcover, $23.95.
Wonders in the Sky
Unexplained Aerial Objects
from Antiquity to Modern Times
By Jacques Vallee
and Chris Aubeck
In Wonders in the Sky, respected
researchers Jacques Vallee and Chris
Aubeck examine more than 500
selected reports of sightings from biblical-age antiquity through the year
1879—the point at which the Industrial
Revolution deeply changed the nature
of human society, and the skies began
to open to airplanes, dirigibles, rockets, and other opportunities for misinterpretation represented by military prototypes. Using vivid and engaging case studies, and more
than seventy-five illustrations, they reveal that unidentified flying
objects have had a major impact not only on popular culture but on
our history, on our religion, and on the models of the world humanity has formed from deepest antiquity. This book is sure to become a
classic among UFO enthusiasts.
The 2012 Story
The Myths, Fallacies, and Truth
Behind the Most Intriguing
Date in History
By John Major Jenkins
From the pioneering author who helped
introduce the question of 2012 into the
global spiritual community comes an
epic exploration of the authentic origins
and meaning of this portentous date.
Drawing from his own groundbreaking
research (including his involvement in
the modern reconstruction of Mayan
2012 cosmology), John Major Jenkins
has created the crucial guide to 2012,
surveying its roots in Mayan cosmology, modern astronomy, ancient
prophecy, and metaphysical philosophy and exploring why it has
become a focal point for millions today.
Man-Made Monsters
A Field Guide to Golems, Patchwork
Soldiers, Homunculi, and Other
Created Creatures
By Bob Curran
Life exists all around us, in forms that we can
readily and easily identify. But what if there were,
lurking in the shadows, other forms of life that are
not so familiar, creatures created not by Nature,
but by Man? They exist in our stories and myths.
But just what are these mysterious creatures, and
do they have some basis in reality? In his fascinating and wide-ranging new book, essential reading for anyone who wants
to explore artificial beings and peer into the dark recesses of the human mind,
Dr. Bob Curran explores man-made monsters and the truth behind the myths.
New Page Books. Paperback, $14.99.
Angel Words
Visual Evidence of How Words
Can Be Angels in Your Life
By Doreen Virtue and Grant Virtue
When Doreen and her son Grant Virtue
were recording podcasts, they noticed
that whenever she said the word “angel”,
the recording graphics were shaped like
angel wings! So they studied the other
words she said and realized that those
with a spiritual or loving basis had large graphs. So they experimented
with saying negative words and found that their appearance was completely different: tight and small. Similar to Masaru Emoto’s work with
water crystals, Angel Words gives visual proof of the power and impact
of speaking in a loving way. You’ll come to understand why positive
words express the most energy and therefore have the most power to
manifest your dreams. You’ll also see how negative words have low
energy and read how they can actually draw negative experiences to
you. This unforgettable book will immediately motivate you to
choose positive words!
Hay House. Paperback, $14.95.
The Divine Seed
The Esoteric Teachings of Jesus
By Pekka Ervast
Foreword by Richard Smoley
The Divine Seed, Ervast’s lasting gift to
Christian seekers, is the esoteric decoding
of Jesus’ teachings, including the parables,
the Sermon on the Mount, and The Lord’s
Prayer. In order to uncover the Holy Bible’s
hidden knowledge, Ervast argues that the
seeker must first adopt the theosophical
perspective, which endeavors to reveal science behind religion. Ervast carefully takes
into account the existing two-fold theological critique of the New Testament: that which argues Jesus and his disciples as mythical symbols rather than true historical figures; and that which
argues Jesus as a real-life character, entirely human rather than divine. In
this way, Ervast’s The Divine Seed explores the Bible through three
lenses of interpretation: feeling, intelligence and will, concluding that
revelation occurs only when it is read via the third lens—”will”, established in practical life experience.
Quest Books. Paperback, $14.95.
Heart Wisdom
Your Transformational Guide to Joyful
Living and Loving
By Russell Feingold
Utilizing his extensive experience in the fields of
healing, teaching, and coaching, and the power of
guided visualization and meditation, Russell
Feingold lights up an unerring pathway that moves
you from the limitations of operating from your
head, where every thought, action and decision is
unconsciously dictated by past conditioning to the
exquisite liberation of being fully reconnected to
the wellspring of wisdom that resides within your
heart. Serving as your personal guide, he gently steers you back to your
authentic self, excavating all past hurts and suffering, and unwinding all the
stress, tension and fear that have been preventing you from living the life you
truly desire. Reconnected with your heart and its inherent wisdom, you will
feel, think and respond differently to every experience that unfolds in your life.
Findhorn Press. Paperback, $14.95.
Llewellyn’s 2011 Moon Sign Book
Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon
By Llewellyn
A popular companion guide for over a century,
Llewellyn’s 2011 Moon Sign Book is jam-packed
with lunar essentials. Plan vacations and get a
jump on the year ahead with weekly weather
predictions and full moon forecasts. It’s filled with
ways to enrich your life and boost your health
with lunar energy. Consult the handy weekly
planner for the best times to fertilize, cultivate,
and harvest your crops. With the monthly lunar aspectarian, you’ll
always know the best times to launch new projects and schedule
important events.
Llewellyn. Paperback, $10.99.
21
ANGEL WORDS
By Doreen Virtue and Grant Virtue
22
EARTH STAR
The following excerpt is taken from the book ANGEL WORDS: Visual Evidence of
How Words Can Be Angels in Your Life by Doreen Virtue and Grant Virtue. It is
published by Hay House (November 2010) and is available at all bookstores or online
at: www.hayhouse.com.
hen my son Grant and I were
recording a podcast about
archangels, he stopped and
pointed to his computer
screen, exclaiming, “Look!
When you said the word angel, the graph made
angel wings!” Sure enough, his computer program
showed all sorts of shapes representing each word
I’d used. And when I said “angel,” the graph looked
like a celestial being soaring from heaven.
W
Grant and I began experimenting with other
words to find literal graphic representations of their
meanings. What we discovered was remarkable: the
words we consider positive and feel-good were significantly larger than those considered negative.
We were astounded by this visual representation of positive and negative utterances! Here was
tangible evidence of high and low vibrations within
speech. The positive words exhibited a much bigger
impact, like light shining radiantly. Meanwhile, the
negative ones looked tight and constricted.
The word admiration shows evidence of big
radiant energy, while jealousy shows the opposite.
This makes sense, since when you admire someone,
you’re affirming that there’s abundance in the
world. You’re saying, “Wow, isn’t it wonderful that
this person is enjoying success, health, love, and
happiness. If he or she can do this, then so can I!”
Doesn’t that feel expansive and generous?
Contrast this with the word jealousy, which is
based upon a belief in lack and limitation. Jealousy
says, “Hey! How come that person gets to have
fun? How come I can’t have what he or she has?”
and “This isn’t fair!” Can you feel the underlying
fear within jealousy? No wonder it shows up as a
small graph!
This very message was demonstrated during
one of my appearances on the Oprah television
show. My book Losing Your Pounds of Pain had just
been released; and Oprah, her guests (including
me), and the audience were discussing the psychology of weight loss and gain. This was in the early
1990s, when the talk-show host had lost a great deal
of weight while working with a personal trainer and
a personal chef.
Oprah’s staff had collected and divided letters
she’d received into two categories: (1) those from
viewers who admired her weight loss and said that
it inspired them to take up this goal themselves, and
(2) those expressing jealousy about her accomplishment. A sampling of the letter writers from
both viewpoints had been flown in to the studio.
What Oprah discovered was remarkable: those
who admired her weight loss had all been subsequently successful with a fitness, exercise, and
weight-loss plan. Conversely, those who were jealous reported that they hadn’t been able to lose even
one pound! Clearly, this negative emotion blocked
them from emulating Oprah’s healthy habits. Their
negative mind-sets wouldn’t allow them to follow
her positive example.
Similarly, a woman named Sharon Gartner (a
reader of my books who contacted me) found that
her smoldering jealousy of her neighbors blocked
her from living the lifestyle that she desperately
wanted. She’d look at others’ nice houses and cars
and say, “It’s not fair! I never have enough of anything!”
Sharon felt as if she were living in a dark hole
of despair and worry. She told me, “My thoughts
and words were the shovel digging my way deeper
into darkness.” Sharon was so consumed with jealousy and loathing for those who had more than she
did that she hadn’t noticed that her husband had
become withdrawn and moody and her children
were unhappy. Nothing seemed to be going right in
her family’s life.
One night, Sharon had a dream of sitting on a
park bench under a tree. A man who looked like a
hobo sat beside her and handed her a piece of paper,
EARTH STAR
23
which simply read: “Let it go.” Sharon awoke with
the knowledge that everything would be okay. She
started affirming, “I give love and I receive love,”
and “I am open to receiving prosperity from expected and unexpected sources.”
Sharon now describes her life as wonderful. She
and her husband have fallen back in love and feel
that they are living their dreams together.
Wonderful opportunities come to them daily, and
their children are now happy. Why? Sharon says:
“It’s because I changed my thinking pattern, guided
by those three simple words: Let it go. I now realize
that the reason my life wasn’t going well was
because my dark, jealous belief was that I wouldn’t
have ‘nice things,’ since I thought I wasn’t worthy
of having such things. I now live in a constant state
of love and joy, with the knowledge that I am only
open to receiving all that is good in my world.”
When you see someone who seems to have
more than you do, you can either say, “Wow, I can
do that, too!” or “Why don’t I have that?”
Hopefully, the graphs, stories, and discussions in
this book will help you choose the former instead of
the latter.
Angel Words
Positive words, like guardian angels, can help
you soar into new horizons. The mere act of altering your vocabulary and using life-affirming words
can quickly and dramatically change your life in
magical ways!
I’d always noticed my unpleasant reactions
whenever I or others around me engaged in negative
discussions. No matter how juicy the gossip, I could
feel my stomach tightening in response to talking
about others. The same went for fear-based speculations about the earth’s environment or
humankind’s future.
Looking at the constricted, negative word
graphs, it was no wonder why my body feels tense
around negative words! Low-vibrational discussions are palpable! In addition to stomach tightening, I notice that my energy and enthusiasm
becomes drained. I’m tired and no longer smiling
after a negative discussion. I remember a saying
that someone wise taught me as a child: “Small
24
EARTH STAR
people talk about other people, average people talk
about material things, and great people talk about
ideas.” The adage is a bit blunt, but you get the idea.
In my books and workshops, I frequently discuss how our positive thoughts attract and create
positive life experiences. Most people understand
this concept. Putting it into practice is another
thing, and is a big part of personal growth. Positive
living involves choosing corresponding words, a
lesson I learned firsthand many years ago.
As a busy mother of two young sons, I rarely
had time to think about my own wants or feelings.
Mostly I was focused upon keeping my husband
happy and attending to my children’s needs. Like
many young families, we had financial challenges,
and some days I didn’t know how we’d afford our
electricity and food. So my mental atmosphere was
filled with stress and fear.
Somewhere along the line, I was given a book
by Norman Vincent Peale called Positive Imaging,
about the power of positive thinking. Peale
explained how our affirmations need to be filled
with gratitude, as if our wishes have already come
true. So I created my own affirmations tape filled
with my desires, such as “I am a best-selling
author,” “I am confident,” “I have a healthy, physically fit body,” “I have wonderful friends,” and so
forth.
Although these statements initially felt fictitious
and false, I faithfully listened to them three times a
day. I’d be vacuuming the rug with my earphones
on, listening to the affirmations. And somewhere
along the line, they sank in!
I clearly remember the day when the positive
words “clicked”: I was standing in line at the store,
patiently waiting to buy food for my family. A man
cut in front of me. Previously, I would have silently
done nothing, and probably resented the man for
usurping my place in line. But the affirmations tape
shifted something deep inside of me, and I simply
said, “Excuse me, but I was next.”
The man turned to look at me as if seeing me for
the first time. He apologized, and I took my turn—
a huge victory for me personally, in that I stood up
for myself, which I hadn’t ever done before. The
words on the tape helped me honor and value
myself and my time.
From there, magic happened. Everything I’d
affirmed came true, in almost miraculous ways. Of
course, I had to put human effort into writing the
books that eventually became bestsellers, and into
the daily exercise and healthy eating that enabled
me to have a fit body. But I credit the positive words
on those tapes for giving me the confidence and
courage to do the work!
***
The number one question I’m asked during my
workshops, on my radio show, and in my readers’
letters is: “What is my life purpose?” I can heartily
say that the graphs within this book hold the
answer: your purpose is to speak, think, and write
the powerfully positive words that are so abundantly available to you.
As a writer, I’ve always found that there’s a positive and a negative way to say the same message.
For instance:
“You shouldn’t say negative words, as
they’ll make you feel bad.”
“Saying positive words can help you to
feel happy.”
Although both sentences convey the same
meaning, their energies are completely different. As
you read the above two phrases, how did they affect
you? Did you notice any muscles tightening or
relaxing in response to each? Which sentence feels
better to you?
Before I submit a new book to my editor at Hay
House, I scan for any sentences that can be rewritten in a more positive way. Each time I do so, I can
feel the entire manuscript’s energy level being
uplifted. When the book consists of sentences that
are written in affirmative tenses, its energy practically floats in the clouds!
It’s like the old adage about people who view
the same glass of water as being half-full or halfempty. Sure, they’re saying the same thing, but
who’s having more fun?
Judgment vs. Discernment
When I say that a word is negative, I’m not
implying that it’s “bad” or “wrong.” That is judgment, which is the ego’s way of labeling and
pigeonholing everything. Instead, the word negative
is a synonym for low-vibrating.
While the ego relies on up-in-the-head judgment to decide whether something is good or bad,
the higher self uses discernment, which is a feelingbased way of either being attracted to or repelled by
something. Ego uses labels. The higher self
employs feelings and the Law of Attraction.
As an example, the ego would say that cigarette
smoking is bad. The higher self would say that it’s
not attracted to cigarette smoking. Which feels
better, the ego’s judgment or the higher self’s
discernment?
As Grant says: “The purpose of this book isn’t
to create some sort of verbal tyranny where you
have to closely guard your speech. We simply
would like to illustrate, in the plainest possible way,
that what you say and how you say it can and does
have an effect upon you and your environment. The
vibrations of your voice go out and have the
potential to subtly change everything they come in
contact with.
“Once you have that critical piece of information, it then becomes your choice to use your words
as you see fit. What I’ve learned from the research
we’ve conducted in this book is that what I say can
directly affect the outcome of any endeavor I am
currently working on. I, for one, will certainly strive
to ensure my speech is much more positive in the
future.”
25
What the TSA is NOT Telling You
About Full Body Scans
By Dr. Joseph Mercola
he Electronic Privacy Information Center
(EPIC), a leading privacy group, has asked
a federal appeals court to suspend the U.S.
government’s program of introducing fullbody imaging machines at airports.
According to the group, the imaging machines constitute a suspicionless search of all airport travelers in an
extremely invasive way—so invasive that it violates the
reasonable standard contained in the Fourth
Amendment.
Wired reports:
T
“The constitutional challenge aside, EPIC also
charges that the Department of Homeland Security, in
rolling out the devices, violated a host of bureaucratic
policies requiring public review, including the
Administrative Procedures Act. What’s more, the group
claims the machines, among other things, violate the
federal Video Voyeurism Prevent Act, which protects
against capturing improper images that violate one’s
privacy.”
Further, scientists at the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF) sent a letter to the White House
Office of Science and Technology in April warning of
potential health risks—including skin cancer—from the
scanners, which distribute a dose of radiation to the skin
and underlying tissue.
Dr. Mercola’s Comments
There are about 350 full-body scanners being used in
close to 70 U.S. airports, and that number is expected to
increase to 1,000 scanners by the end of 2011.
Dubbed “naked” scanners because they give a
26
EARTH STAR
graphic image of your body, including genitalia and
other personal effects like sanitary napkins, the devices
are raising privacy and health concerns among frequent
travelers and pilots groups alike.
The alternative is also causing outrage. Those who
opt out of being scanned must now submit to a far more
intrusive form of pat-down, and a large number of horror stories have already surfaced, where people of all
ages have been humiliated, or worse, during these
‘enhanced’ pat-downs.
Are Full-Body Scanners an
Invasion of Privacy?
Increasing numbers of people are expressing their outrage over being submitted to full-body scanning.
Already the U.S. Travel Association has received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls from angry travelers
who say they will stop flying until the scanners are no
longer in force.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
has also sought a court order to stop the use of the scanners, citing privacy and health risks and calling for the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a public rule-making to assess the safety and security issues.
Marc Rotenberg, president of EPIC, wrote on
CNN.com:
“The courts give the government a great deal of latitude in airports, but it is not unbounded, and the current screening procedures—the digital X-ray cameras
called “body scanners” and the genital-groping searches called “pat-downs”—have never been reviewed by a
court.
Is a court really prepared to say that in the absence
of suspicion, these search procedures—which the law
would otherwise treat as sexual battery—are “reasonable”?
… No other country in the world subjects its air
travelers to the combination of screening procedures
that Americans are being asked to endure.”
vivor whose urostomy bag was ruptured by an unconcerned TSA agent, leaving him covered in his own urine.
In an interview with MSNBC.com, Sawyer said:
“I am a good American and I want safety for all
passengers as much as the next person. But if this country is going to sacrifice treating people like human
beings in the name of safety, then we have already lost
the war.”
Pilots’ unions for US Airways and American
Airlines have also urged their pilots not to submit to
Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) screening due to
potential health risks and privacy issues.
Grassroots efforts are also underway, with one
online group at the Web site WeWontFly.com likening
the scanners to a strip search.
They say:
According to Jeffrey Goldberg, a national correspondent for The Atlantic, these ‘enhanced’ tactics are
purposely designed and intended to be intimidating and
humiliating, in order to stop you from opting out of the
scanner!
“We are opposed to the full-body backscatter X-ray
airport scanners on grounds of health and privacy. We do
not consent to strip searches, virtual or otherwise. We do
not wish to be guinea pigs for new, and possibly dangerous, technology. We are not criminals. We are your customers. We will not beg the government anymore. We will
simply stop flying until the porno-scanners are history.”
Need to Fly? Submit to Humiliation
or Face $11,000 Fine
Making matters even worse, not to mention bizarre, once
you’re at the security check, there’s no turning back; you
have no choice but to submit to either, or both, of the
new and enhanced security techniques, according to the
TSA.
There are also concerns that the images from the
scanners could be saved, an assertion the TSA denies.
However, reports have already surfaced of workers saving such images and using them to humiliate colleagues.
“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
is warning that any would-be commercial airline passenger who enters an airport checkpoint and then refuses to undergo the method of inspection designated by
TSA will not be allowed to fly and also will not be permitted to simply leave the airport,” the Sun Sentinel
reports.
“That person will have to remain on the premises to
be questioned by the TSA and possibly by local law
enforcement. Anyone refusing faces fines up to $11,000
and possible arrest.”
Should TSA Agents Be Allowed to
Sexually Violate Passengers?
You can opt out of the full-body scans at this time, but
doing so means you will be subjected to an “enhanced
physical pat-down” during which TSA agents use open
hands and fingers to search your body physically,
including your breasts and genital area. Previously,
agents would use only the backs of their hands during
pat-downs.
Some of the horror stories now emerging are causing a fury, and rightfully so.
Is there no limit to how far TSA agents can go when
frisking passengers?
Take the case of a female flight attendant who was
forced to pull out her prosthetic breast, for example.
Several other women have reported feeling shocked by
what they call “sexual violations,” including having their
labia groped without warning. TSA agents have even
been accused of treating young children in such a way
that they’d be brought up on child molestation charges
had it not occurred in an airport.
There are stories of all sorts of inhumane treatment,
such as the one from Tom Sawyer, a bladder cancer sur-
Airports Can Opt Out of TSA Screenings
It’s a little-known fact that airports are not required to
use TSA screenings at all. They can opt-out of such programs altogether—including the body scanners and
“enhanced pat-downs” —and hire private screening
agencies instead.
As Byron York, chief political correspondent with
the Washington Examiner, recently wrote:
“… With the TSA engulfed in controversy and hated
by millions of weary and sometimes humiliated travelers, Rep. John Mica, the Republican who will soon be
chairman of the House Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, is reminding airports that they have
a choice.
Mica, one of the authors of the original TSA bill, has
27
recently written to the heads of more than 150 airports
nationwide suggesting they opt out of TSA screening.
“When the TSA was established, it was never envisioned that it would become a huge, unwieldy bureaucracy which was soon to grow to 67,000 employees,”
Mica writes. “As TSA has grown larger, more impersonal, and administratively top-heavy, I believe it is important that airports across the country consider utilizing
the opt-out provision provided by law.”
Many airports choose not to hire private screeners
out of liability concerns if a terrorist managed to get
through, and there’s no way to know right now whether
such changes would make airport screening any safer or
less intrusive. Still, it’s an option that many do not realize exist.
Some airports in Florida may ditch TSA. According
to Larry Dale, president of the Sanford Airport
Authority in Orlando, says the change to a private
screening company was approved on Oct. 5, CNN
reports.
However, security contractors must still follow TSA
security guidelines. According to TSA spokesman Greg
Soule:
“All commercial airports are regulated by TSA
whether the actual screening is performed by the TSA
officers or private companies. The TSA sets the security
standards that must be followed and includes the use of
enhanced pat-downs and imaging technology, if
installed at the airport.”
Private contractors may, however, be more careful
about the professionalism and courtesy of their employees, compared to TSA. According to Larry Dale,
“research shows that using a private security screening
company would be more efficient and more enjoyable to
the public.”
Airport Scanners May Cause Cancer
The other glaring issue posed by the TSA scanners has
to do with your health and their use of controversial
backscatter technology, which projects an X-ray beam
onto your body.
As WeWontFly.com stated:
“Backscatter X-ray uses ionizing radiation, a
known cumulative health hazard, to produce images of
passengers’ bodies. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with defective DNA repair mechanisms are
considered to be especially susceptible to the type of DNA
damage caused by ionizing radiation. Also at high risk
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EARTH STAR
are those who have had, or currently have, skin cancer.
Ionizing radiation’s effects are cumulative, meaning
that each time you are exposed you are adding to your
risk of developing cancer. Since the dosage of radiation
from the backscatter X-ray machines is absorbed almost
entirely by the skin and tissue directly under the skin,
averaging the dose over the whole body gives an inaccurate picture of the actual harm.”
Scientists from the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF) sent a letter to the White House
Office of Science and Technology echoing the concern
that radiation from the scanners could damage skin and
underlying tissue, potentially leading to skin cancer.
The White House Office responded that the technology had been tested extensively for safety, but the
scientists noted numerous flaws in the response and are
currently preparing a rebuttal.
Because the radiation beam from the scanners concentrates on your skin, researchers believe the dose may
be up to twenty times higher than is being estimated.
As Mail Online reported, Dr. David Brenner, head
of Columbia University’s center for radiological
research, also noted that about one in twenty people,
including children and people with gene mutations, may
be at increased risk as they are less able to repair the
DNA damage caused by the x-ray scan.
Even the U.S. Airline Pilots Association (USAPA)
recognized the potential risks, especially from frequent
exposure. As CNN reported, Capt. Mike Cleary, president of the USAPA wrote:
“Based on currently available medical information,
USAPA has determined that frequent exposure to TSAoperated scanner devices may subject pilots to significant health risks.”
Scanners Use Harmful Ionizing Radiation
Some of the TSA’s full-body scanners subject your body
to small doses of ionizing radiation.
Ionizing radiation creates charged ions by displacing electrons in atoms, even without heat. Examples are
radiation emitted from radioactive substances in rocks
and soil, cosmic rays of the sun, and radiation from
man-made technology such as x-ray machines, power
stations, and nuclear reactors.
A host of epidemiological studies have strongly suggested that x-rays and other ionizing radiation are a
cause of most types of human cancer. X-rays may even
be responsible for most of the deaths from cancer and
ischemic heart disease, according to John Gofman, MD,
PhD, a professor at U. C. Berkeley and one of the lead-
ing experts in the world.
Ionizing radiation is a uniquely potent mutagen due
to its ability to wreak havoc upon your cells and their
genetic code.
Your cells are unable to repair the very complex
genetic damage done by x-rays. Some of the mutated
cells die, but others do not, and the cells that go on living have a proliferative advantage—giving rise to the
most aggressive cancers.
Unlike some other mutagens, x-rays have access to
the genetic molecules of every one of your internal
organs, if the organ is within range of the x-ray beam.
Even a single high-speed, high-energy electron, set into
motion by an x-ray photon, can bounce around and
cause you irreparable damage.
That is why there is no safe dose of x-rays.
Further, the effects of radiation are cumulative,
which means that every time you walk through an airport scanner, you’re adding to your dose. If you fly
frequently or you’re exposed to other forms of radiation
through CT scans, mammograms and other medical
procedures, you could easily be on radiation overload.
Fears of Radiation Exposure May Be Overblown
It is important to place this radiation exposure risk in its
proper perspective.
Let’s look at the reported numbers.
Screening at an airport x-ray scanner produces .02
microsieverts of radiation. But REMEMBER you are
only getting them because you are going on a flight.
Nearly everyone forgets that when you fly there is also
ionizing radiation exposure. In fact on a typical
transcontinental flight at 30,000 feet you will be
exposed to 20 microsieverts of radiation.
That is one THOUSAND times the dose you
receive from the scanner.
So if you are willing to accept the risk of air travel
radiation how could you possibly justify concern about
these scanners?
However, having said that this past year I became
aware that the way to reduce your air travel radiation by
ninety-nine percent is to fly at night. Just as it is impossible to get a suntan at night, you will avoid virtually all
of the radiation when you fly at night.
That is why I nearly fly exclusively at night now, or
as far away from noon as practically possible.
I also take 2 mg of astaxanthin every day, which is
believed to radically limit damage from ionizing
radiation.
But please understand the main point of this article:
the REAL health danger is from CT scans, which is
FIFTY THOUSAND times the radiation dose of one of
these scans. You would have to have one scan every day
for 136 years to equal the radiation of one CT scan.
The issue of whether or not the alternative—being
groped and potentially humiliated during an ‘enhanced’
pat-down—is warranted, or even legal, is another issue
altogether.
Analysis Only Works if We Aren’t Being Lied to
Please understand that this calculation and risk proposal
is based on the reported radiation levels. If we are being
lied to then all bets are off and we need to reanalyze, but
if the numbers are accurate you would have to have to
have one hundred scans to equal the radiation exposure
of one daytime flight.
Radiation is NOT the Only Health Hazard
of Full-Body Scanners
That said, “the radiation dose is likely the least of the
problems with airport screening,” according to Dr. Jane
M. Orient, M.D. In her article for the Association of
American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), she details
what the medical community considers to be the REAL
health hazard of full-body scanners, namely the use of
low-energy backscatter technology.
Dr. Orient explains:
“They use an ingenious low-energy backscatter
technique, which is apparently wonderful for identifying
explosives in cargo. Since the radiation doesn’t penetrate far, it wouldn’t affect an unborn baby. But it does
concentrate the dose in the skin.
Some scientists warn that this effect has not been
properly studied, and one nuclear medicine expert told
me that he is going to opt out of the scan. I think this
much is clear: if you had a deadly disease, and the scanner were an FDA-regulated device that might save your
life, your doctor wouldn’t be allowed to use it, because
of inadequate study.”
Likewise, two scientists who recently spoke with
CNN point out the potential for backscatter technology
to cause fatal skin cancer. CNN reports:
“The risk of harmful radiation exposure from backscatter scans is very small, according to David Brenner,
director of the Center for Radiological Research at
Columbia University and a professor of radiation biophysics.
But he said he is concerned about how widely the
scanners will be used.
“If you think of the entire population of, shall we say
a billion people per year going through these scanners,
EARTH STAR
29
it’s very likely that some number of those will develop
cancer from the radiation from these scanners,” Brenner
said.
Skin cancer would likely be the primary concern, he
said. Each time the same person receives a backscatter
scan, the small risk associated with the low dose of radiation is multiplied by the number of exposures.
... The TSA says each backscatter scan emits radiation equivalent to just two minutes of cosmic radiation at
altitude.
Peter Rez, a professor of physics at Arizona State
University, disagrees. Rez has independently calculated
the radiation doses of backscatter scanners using the
images produced by the machines.
“I came to the conclusion that although low, the
dose was higher than they said,” he said.
Based on his analysis, Rez estimates each scan produces radiation equivalent to 10 to 20 minutes of flight.
... The probability of dying from radiation from a
body scanner and that of being killed in a terror attack
are roughly the same, he said. About one in 30 million.
“They’re both incredibly unlikely events. These are
still a factor of ten lower than the probability of dying in
any one year from being struck by lightning in the
United States.”
actually flying at 35,000 feet. We were never meant to
be living this high above the ground
So what can you do?
The simplest solution is to fly at night or at least
avoid flying from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with noon being the
worst. If you fly at night you can reduce your radiation
risk by ninety-nine percent because nearly all of the
radiation from the sun is being blocked by the earth.
If you are unable to fly at night for whatever reason
the next best solution I have found is to use the most
potent lipid-soluble free radical antioxidant I know of,
which has been shown to virtually eliminate the risk of
cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. It also
helps prevent sunburn.
And just what antioxidant would that be?
It is astaxanthin, which is carotenoid extracted from
a marine algae. The typical dose is 2 mg, but the key is
that it needs to be taken for about three weeks before
your radiation exposure.
This is not only helpful for exposure to high-altitude
radiation but any radiation from the airport scanner or
even CT scans, which are 10,000 times stronger.
If you opt for the pat-down, keep hygiene in mind.
Dr. Orient also brought this issue up in her AAPS
article:
Who Stands to Gain Financially from
Full-Body Scanners?
As in so many other instances, our legal and civil rights
system is being willfully manipulated and trampled for
the sake of private and corporate profits.
In this case, the former homeland security chief and
co-author of the PATRIOT act, Michael Chertoff, is
now the primary promoter of full-body scanners, and is
a paid consultant for the companies that sell them!
As Dr. Orient said in her AAPS article:
“… what about the transmission of scabies, crab
lice, bedbug larvae, and all manner of germs by TSA
gropers? Do they change gloves and wash their hands
between subjects, as hospital personnel must do?”
“… if your doctor had an ownership interest in the
scanner, he might go to federal prison for referring you
for a scan. These anti-kickback laws, however, do not
apply to the influential government cronies who stand to
make a fortune from the scanners.”
It’s just the latest in a very long line of blatant conflicts of interest and corporate agendas that have, and
continue to, erode our personal freedoms in the name of
“security.”
What Can You do if You’re Planning to Fly?
As for the level of health hazard, I sincerely believe the
most significant risk you have when flying is due to ionizing radiation but NOT from these scanners; it is from
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EARTH STAR
According to eye-witnesses, TSA agents do not routinely change gloves between each passenger… So, the
obvious remedy would be to insist the agent puts on a
fresh pair of gloves before touching you and your child.
As for the humiliation factor that these enhanced
TSA security checks present, I would encourage you to
contact your local government officials and state representatives, or join the “We Won’t Fly” campaign.
The campaign site also lists 24 additional ways you
can make your voice heard on this issue.
Dr. Mercola is the founder of the
world’s most visited natural
health
web
site,
www.Mercola.com. You can
learn the hazardous side effects
of OTC Remedies by getting a
FREE copy of his latest special
report The Dangers of Over the
Counter Remedies by going to his
Report Page.
Pr e-Crime Tec hnolo g y
To Be Used In Washington D.C.
Computers predict what crime will be committed
where, by whom and when
By Steve Watson
aw enforcement agencies in Washington
D.C. have begun to use technology that
they say can predict when crimes will be
committed and who will commit them,
before they actually happen.
The Minority Report like pre-crime software has
been developed by Richard Berk, a professor at the
University of Pennsylvania.
Previous incarnations of the software, already being
used in Baltimore and Philadelphia were limited to predictions of murders by and among parolees and offenders on probation.
According to a report by ABC News, however, the
latest version, to be implemented in Washington D.C.,
can predict other future crimes as well.
“When a person goes on probation or parole they are
supervised by an officer. The question that officer has to
answer is ‘what level of supervision do you provide?’”
Berk told ABC News, intimating that the program could
have a bearing on the length of
sentences and/or bail amounts.
The
technology
sifts
through a database of thousands
of crimes and uses algorithms
and different variables, such as
geographical location, criminal
records and ages of previous
offenders, to come up with predictions of where, when, and
how a crime could possibly be
committed and by who.
The program operates without any direct evidence that a
crime will be committed, it simply takes datasets and computes
possibilities.
L
“People assume that if someone murdered then they
will murder in the future,” Berk also states, “But what
really matters is what that person did as a young individual. If they committed armed robbery at age fourteen
that’s a good predictor. If they committed the same
crime at age thirty, that doesn’t predict very much.”
Critics have urged that the program encourages categorizing individuals on a risk scale via computer mathematics, rather than on real life, and that monitoring
those people based on such a premise is antithetic to a
justice system founded on the premise of the presumption of innocence.
Other police departments and law agencies across
the country have begun to look into and use similar predictive technologies. The Memphis Police Department,
for example uses a program called Operation Blue
CRUSH, which uses predictive analytics developed by
IBM.
Other forms of pre-crime technology in use or under
31
development include surveillance cameras that can
predict when a crime is about to occur and alert police,
and even neurological brain scanners that can read
people’s intentions before they act, thus
detecting whether or not a person has “hostile intent”.
It is not too far fetched to imagine all these forms of
the technology being used together in the future by law
enforcement bodies.
The British government has previously debated
introducing pre-crime laws in the name of fighting
terrorism. The idea was that suspects would be put on
trial using MI5 or MI6 intelligence of an expected terror
attack. This would be enough to convict if found to be
true “on the balance of probabilities”, rather than
“beyond reasonable doubt”.
The government even has plans to collect lifelong
records on all residents starting at the age of five, in
order to screen for those who might be more likely to
commit crimes in the future.
Another disturbing possibility for such technology
comes in the form of a financial alliance of sorts
between Internet search engine giant Google and the
investment arm of the CIA and the wider U.S. intelligence network.
Google and In-Q-Tel have recently injected a sum of
up to $10 million each into a company called Recorded
Future, which uses analytics to scour Twitter accounts,
blogs and websites for all sorts of information, which is
used to “assemble actual real-time dossiers on people.”
The company describes its analytics as “the ultimate
tool for open-source intelligence” and says it can also
“predict the future”.
Recorded Future takes in vast amounts of personal
information such as employment changes, personal education and family relations. Promotional material also
shows categories covering pretty much everything else,
including entertainment, music and movie releases, as
well as other innocuous things like patent filings and
product recalls.
Those detached from any kind of moral reality will
say “If you’ve got nothing to hide then what is the problem with being scanned for pre-crime? If it keeps us all
safe from murderers, rapists and terrorists I’m all for it”.
How far towards a literal technological big brother
police state will we slip before people wake up to the
fact?
Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor at Alex
Jones’ Infowars.net, and regular contributor to
Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International
Relations from the School of Politics at The University of
Nottingham in England.
SEASONAL FLU DEATH ESTIMATES GROSSLY OVERESTIMATED
very year as flu season
approaches, health authorities begin their chorus of
warnings about the dangers of getting the flu. As part of their campaign to drum up support for the
annual flu vaccine, it is common to
hear about the 36,000 people who
die every year from flu-related illness. But is this statistic even accurate? According to a recent
announcement from the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), no.
According to the CDC, there is
no average number of people who
die from the flu because the actual
count varies significantly from year
to year. Published in its Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report, the
CDC announcement explains that
the actual death count from flurelated illness has been as low as
3,300 in some years, which is far
E
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lower than the statistics used in
media talking points.
The vast majority of flu-related
deaths occur in people over the age
of 65. Typically it is not even the
flu that kills them, but other illnesses that result at some point after
having the flu. But this fact has not
stopped the CDC from now recommending that every person over the
age of six months get a flu vaccine.
But do flu vaccines even work
in the first place? According to two
reviews recently published by the
Cochrane Foundation, flu vaccinations are not effective at preventing
the flu. In fact, they do virtually
nothing to prevent the flu-related
illnesses that are actually responsible for causing death primarily in
the elderly.
According to Dr. Tom
Jefferson from the Cochrane
Vaccines Field, flu vaccines “show
only modest or no effect against
influenza and hospitalization from
pneumonia.” He goes on to say in a
podcast that “we have no reliable
evidence on the effects of influenza
vaccines on the elderly and health
care workers who work with the
elderly. What we do have evidence
of is widespread manipulation of
conclusions and spurious notoriety
of the studies.”
So in summary, all the hoopla
over flu deaths and the need for a
flu vaccine are grounded in junk
science and faulty statistics.
—NaturalNews
The Secret History of
Consciousness
By Meg Blackburn Losey
ne night at group, after I was finished
channeling and returned to my chair, I
looked over at the young man who was
sitting across from me. His kidneys
were failing, and the dialysis he was
having wasn’t working. He was on a transplant list. As I
looked at him, my vision switched to his insides—not
just to his internal organs, but also to the tiniest inner
workings of his physical being. It was beautiful and fascinating. Spontaneously, I began to read his body to him,
somehow explaining that the sodium content and some
other things having to do with his dialysis weren’t in the
right balance for him. I saw it all, and told him everything. Around the room, everyone stopped in their
tracks.
The information turned out to be right on. When the
young man’s dialysis was adjusted to the new protocol,
he felt much better.
This new ability was exciting to me. As time went
on, I found that the reads would happen spontaneously if
someone asked a health question. This gift seems to be
a natural ability, and since then my first experience, it
has expanded. Many medical doctors have taken my
classes on inter-dimensional healing. One of them actually stood up in front of a class of about thirty people
and told them I was better than an MRI. I had worked
with his sister who had metastatic breast cancer, and I
had read tiny lesions in her brain, exactly where they
were later found.
In conjunction to the new sight I had gained, the
intense energy in my body was relentless. I couldn’t
seem to find a trigger switch to let the energy out of me.
I was losing weight and couldn’t sleep. It was as if I
were plugged into an invisible force that never stopped.
In an effort to get more comfortable, I began to play with
the energy. I’d put on music that had no real melody, and
I’d begin to move, allowing the energy to flow through
O
me, out of my hands, around me, inside of me. One day,
as I spread my hands, my sight opened again, and I saw
a rainbow- colored arc flowing from my right hand over
my head to my left hand. I was in awe.
And then I got aggravated. I started talking out loud.
“Okay, this is beautiful, but I have no idea what to do
with it. So now what?” I had no clue, so I kept moving
and kept working with the energy.
Every morning, I did the same thing, and out of desperation, I would say aloud to no one I could see,
“Someone show me what to do!”
One morning someone showed up. An absolutely
magnificent holographic being stood right there in front
of me, in the middle of my living room. I was so startled
I jumped straight up and straight back.
He disappeared.
Quickly, I centered myself and found the sacred
place within me. I opened my eyes, and there he stood
again, patiently waiting for me. He was grandly and
extraordinarily tall, with very defined features. His hair
was nearly black, and it flowed over his shoulders. He
literally glowed in his crimson robes. In fact, he glowed
seemingly from the inside out. He was almost transparent, but he felt huge and solid. Dear God, what was happening? I didn’t know for sure, but I did know that all of
those times I had begged for clarity, for help, for understanding, really had been heard.
The being started to move like I had been doing, but
with some very subtle changes. As I watched him, the
energy he manipulated changed color and shape. In my
body, I could feel what was happening in his hands. I
started to move, too, mimicking him. As I did, the energy within my hands began to change shape and change
color.
Every morning, as if by cosmic appointment, I met
with this being, whom I had lovingly begun to refer to as
“Master,” because his presence felt like an expanded
33
part of that holy place inside of me. His presence to me
felt like sacredness embodied and oh, how humble I felt!
Calling him Master seemed insufficient, almost trite, but
yet there were no other words to describe him. Being
with this Master reminded me of what it must be like to
be in the presence of enlightened beings such as the
group of Ascended Masters that included Jesus,
Metatron, Enoch, and others. I grew to love these
moments, when he and I would move together. Instead
of feeling insane, I felt calmer and more centered than I
ever had in my life. My inner vision had changed again
and again, growing in its scope and abilities. And all I
kept saying was, “Show me.” Never why, what, or
who—just “Show me.”
One day, as we were moving together, my entire
sense of reality changed. It was as if I had leaped into
another dimension or into someone else’s dream. I
found myself walking down a path, away from my cosmic teacher. As I walked down the path, a young boy
came to me and said I had to go with him.
“No!” I firmly told him. I had to keep practicing.
The kid wouldn’t take no for an answer. He looked
like a peasant from nineteenth-century Europe. His
blond hair was tousled, and his pants torn at the knees.
His white shirt was at least two sizes too big and well
worn, like a hand-me-down. Yet he spoke with such a
confidence and authority that I couldn’t ignore him. So
I followed. Up the narrow path we climbed until we
came to a large opening in the native rock. It was the
entrance to a grotto, a shallow cave. In it were about
twenty or so men, all in white. They were silent, as if
keeping vigil for something. Another man there held a
sword, tip down, in the position of peace. He silently
beckoned me with his liquid brown eyes.
“Listen,” I said, “I have work to do, and I don’t have
time for distractions.” He remained silent, yet I heard in
my body that I was supposed to go to him. I did. There
was a ceremony, and he gave me a gift, although I didn’t understand it at the time.
At the moment the ceremony culminated, my sense
of reality shifted again, and I was at the entrance to a
courtyard. There was a gate in the arched entrance, but I
couldn’t go through it. My feet felt glued to the floor. I
could see people in the courtyard beyond, milling about.
I wondered what this place was. It felt like a university
of some kind, but I wasn’t sure.
Meg Blackburn Losey, Ph.D. is the author of The Secret
History of Consciousness, Weiser Books, September 2010,
www.redwheelweiser.com
Study Advances Link Between Weight Loss And Acupuncture
ould a few pinpricks make
someone
thinner?
Evidence weighs heavily
in favor of that proposition, according to the results of a new study to
C
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be presented at the Pacific
Symposium in San Diego recently.
The groundbreaking study, “The
Effects of Acupuncture on WeightLoss in Over-Weight and Obese
Adults Over 24
Years
Old,”
reports that ninety-five percent of
its subjects lost
weight in a sixweek period after
receiving regular
acupuncture treatments. Of those
subjects, another
fifty percent continued to lose
weight after treatments stopped.
Dr. Edward Lamadrid, a doctor
of acupuncture and oriental medicine (DAOM), conducted the study
and authored its findings. As one of
the country’s approximately one
hundred DAOMs, Lamadrid has
treated thousands of patients with a
variety of problems and health conditions, and he has long suspected
that acupuncture assists in weight
loss. However, it wasn’t until this
controlled, scientific study that the
Chicago-based expert could positively confirm a more formal
hypothesis and the positive conclusions. —Life Extension Daily News
The Movie Mystic
By Stephen Simon
BRINGING BACK THE OLD HOLLYWOOD
Fade In.
We’re in a family room in the year 2023.
A couple in their early fifties are watching one
of their favorite films on Turner Classic Movies as
their teenage daughter walks in, sits next to them
for a moment, and speaks.
“You guys are so cute with your old movies.”
“Thanks, sweetheart,” Mom laughs.
“Can I ask you something?” the daughter
responds.
Putting the film on pause, Dad says “Sure.
What’s up?”
“It must have been so cool for you guys to have
lived during a time when they still actually made
new movies every year. What was that like?”
Fade Out.
Or Not.
It’s up to us.
illustrates, unless something dramatic is done, new
movies will soon become extinct. In the book, I talk
about how The New Hollywood temporarily pushed
The Old Hollywood out of the way.
Bringing Back The Old Hollywood is a passionate declaration that The Old Hollywood is most definitely not gone forever. Like Brigadoon, it has only
been cocooned, soon to emerge in a newer and
more dazzling form.
We miss The Old Hollywood even more when
today we see the eighth sequel to some mindless
action film, or the same formulaic story told over
and over again, or comedy so crass that it embarrasses us, or violence so graphic that it numbs our
senses, or the seemingly endless parade of dark,
cynical, nihilistic films that masquerade as “deep”
but in actuality make us feel ashamed even to be
human.
So begins my new book, Bringing Back The Old
Hollywood.
The spirit of The Old Hollywood is engrained in
my soul and in the souls of hundreds of millions of
people around the world.
I grew up in the Old Hollywood. Frank Sinatra
was my “godfather”. My father was a producer and
director who made movies with stars like Lucille
Ball, Lana Turner, Abbott and Costello, and Dad’s
best friend, Red Skelton
In my own career, I have produced movies with
Christopher Reeve, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams,
and Madonna, who gave me lessons in honesty. Yes,
truly, she did.
I also hired and then fired Nancy Meyers who
went on to become the most successful woman
director (The Holiday, What Woman Want, It’s
Complicated) in the history of the film business.
Oh, and I said “no” to Steven Spielberg.
Obviously, a genius I’m not.
As the excerpt at the beginning of this column
For more information about Bringing Back The Old
Hollywood,
please
connect
to
www.TheOldHollywood.com (note to publishers: if
you become an affiliate, please use your own link
here to www.theoldhollywood.com)
Bringing Back The Old Hollywood is not just a
book that I hope will both amuse and entertain you.
It’s also not just
a metaphor. It is
a call to action
and involvement so that we
can truly bring
back The Old
Hollywood.
Stephen Simon co-founded www.
Spiritualcinemacircle.com. He also produced such films as Somewhere In Time
and What Dreams May Come, and both
directed and produced Indigo and the film
version of Conversations With God.
35
A Conversation with
Intuitive Physician
and UCLA Psychiatrist
Dr. Judith Orloff
udith Orloff MD, physician, psychiatrist,
intuitive and New York Times bestselling
author, synthesizes the pearls of traditional
medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of
intuition, energy and spirituality to create a
new blend of healing wisdom. She believes that the
future of medicine depends upon integrating all these
elements to achieve emotional freedom and total wellness. Her new book, Emotional Freedom: Liberate
Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your
Life, is now available..
J
What is emotional freedom?
Emotional freedom is your ability to love by cultivating
positive emotions and being able to compassionately
witness and transform negative ones, whether they’re
yours or another’s. This skill liberates you from fear and
lets you navigate adversity without attacking someone,
losing your cool or being derailed by negativity. With
emotional freedom, you can choose to react constructively, rather than relinquishing command of the situation
when your buttons get pushed. If you get mired in the
muck of negativity, you can’t lead a liberated, happy life.
Why is compassion crucial to emotional freedom?
Unless you have self-compassion, it’s hard to heal difficult
emotional states. When a loved one is going through a trying time, being compassionate without judging them is
essential. My spiritual teacher says we make progress on
the spiritual path by beating ourselves up a little bit less
each day. I believe that. It’s about baby steps.
Why do individuals respond to situations in such
radically different ways?
I’ve defined four emotional types: the intellectual, the
empath, the gusher and the rock. These are the filters
through which you see the world—the default setting of
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EARTH STAR
your personality to which you revert, especially under
stress. Each type is determined by inborn temperament,
upbringing and perhaps, karma. Because emotional freedom means being able to remain sensitive, but centered, in
an overwhelming world, it’s essential to know your emotional type. Without this knowledge, many people dysfunctionally hunker down in their type for decades without
examining which aspects do and don’t serve them.
How can we stay free from absorbing others’ negative emotions?
Many sensitive people come to me, as patients and in
workshops, who have been labeled “overly sensitive.”
Like me, these people are what I call emotional empaths.
Because we are so sensitive, we absorb the energy of
others. We sense their fear, anxiety and stress and sometimes take them into our bodies. Then, we get exhausted
or feel ill. People on a spiritual path tend to gain more
sensitivity as they develop. They need to learn how to
stay centered and be compassionate without becoming
an emotional sponge.
How can we calmly refrain from retaliating when
attacked by a difficult personality?
“Emotional vampires” is my term for many difficult
people such as criticizers, victims, narcissists or
controllers. I say, let them be our teachers, rather than
tormentors. We must ask ourselves: “How do they teach
us to communicate with more heart and better boundaries? How can we deal differently with feeling irritated,
controlled or insulted?”
The old way is to get nasty or withdraw. The new
way is to not simply react when your buttons get
pushed—a behavior that perpetuates war. Practice what
I call the namaste effect, which is; “I respect the spirit
within you, even if I don’t like what you’re doing.”
Your victories over emotional vampires are not
small—they’re huge. With every success, you are creating
more hope for the world. From an intuitive standpoint, we
are all interconnected; my emotional freedom affects your
emotional freedom and everyone in the world.
Can emotions serve as a path to spiritual awakenings?
It’s necessary to understand these four basic components
of emotion; their biology, spirituality, energy and psychology. My book teaches the tools you need to proactively shift your biochemistry, as well as your energy,
and to see the spiritual and psychological meaning of
what you’re going through.
I see difficult emotions as a laboratory for spiritual
growth, whereas traditional psychiatry often views them
more as tormentors; something to get rid of. I believe
that emotions come to us—even wrenching ones—to
spiritually awaken us.
Each emotion is a prompt for you to get more in touch
with your heart and expand your light. This perspective
changes how you deal with all emotional challenges.
What does it take to overcome fear in times of terrorism, economic turmoil and natural disasters?
Part of emotional freedom is making a vow not to lead a
fear-driven life. That must be a deep desire in your heart.
Then, do everything possible to overcome fear and worry
with faith in goodness, trying to stay in the moment, rather
than catastrophizing the future. Courage or fear is a
choice. It’s not something that just happens to you.
You say emotional freedom offers us opportunities to
be heroes in our own lives. Would you elaborate?
You become a hero in your own life as you learn to use
emotions as a chance to become stronger, brighter and
more. This is critical on a personal level, because it frees
you from suffering. But, it’s just as important on a collective level, because if we don’t face the fear and anger
in ourselves, then we risk projecting it onto a global
sphere. This creates war and massive suffering to our
human family. We must find inner peace before we can
have outer peace. That’s why I consider emotional freedom an inner peace movement.
5 Intuitions About Love and Sex
You Shouldn’t Ignore
hen we’re looking for love (or under its intoxicating influence), we often miss seeing
extraordinary signs and messages that pop up
in our daily life to give us clues as to whether we’re on the
right track. However, if you can slow down enough to recognize and listen to your intuitive intelligence, it can reveal
truth, warn you of danger, or help you understand people
and relationship situations in new ways.
W
From my book Emotional Freedom, here are five types
of intuitive experiences you may encounter, and what
they can teach you about your love relationships.
Body signals. Your body has many ways of getting your
attention. It could be goosebumps when a date feels just
right or says something about you that rings “true.” Or it
might be your hair standing up on the back of your neck
when a creep replies to your online dating profile.
How to use it in romantic relationships. Most commonly referred to as a “gut reaction,” your body’s
response to the world around you is often instant—
quicker, in fact, than your conscious thought. Next time
you sense your body is trying to alert you to something,
check in with it. Are your shoulders tense? Is there a
knot in your stomach? Or do you feel energized and
excited? When you learn to read your body signals, a
whole new type of information will be available to you.
What’s more, you may be able to avoid getting involved
with destructive, unhealthy lovers, or be curious to pursue a really good guy who, at first blush, doesn’t seem
to be your “type.”
Déjà vu. This is when you feel as though you’ve had this
exact conversation before with someone—even if it’s
someone you’ve just met—or you’ve been to this place
before and know what’s around the corner and up ahead,
even though that’s impossible.
How to use it in romantic relationships: Instead of
thinking it’s strange and then moving on, don’t let the
experience go unremarked. Discuss it with a trusted
friend, or write it down. Bringing a déjà vu experience
that happens in the context of a relationship into the
open energizes it, acknowledges its significance, and
enables you to find out what it’s trying to tell you or where
it’s trying to lead you. When it comes to romance, déjà vu
can be a powerful affirmation that you’re doing just what
you’re supposed to be doing in the moment. Or conversely, it may be a way of telling you to pause, think, and
reflect on where you are right now, before proceeding
ahead willy-nilly into a relationship you’ll regret.
37
Synchronicity. This is the experience of perfect timing, such as when you’re thinking about a song right
when you hear it on the radio, or the computer guy you
found in the yellow pages turns out to be someone you
had a mad crush on in college.
How to use it in romantic relationships: Stay aware and
look for synchronicity everywhere. Such moments let
you know that you’re in the flow—in the right place, at
the right time. See if you can uncover its hidden significance. Were you meant to bump into this old love? Is the
song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” trying to tell you
something about that “bad boy” you’re crazy in lust with
at the moment?
Seeing beyond. This is when you’re tuned in to an event
that’s happening right now, but in a different place. For
example, you think of a long-lost boyfriend, and then he
sends you an email in that instant. Or, you call your guy
at work and ask him to pick up a pizza. Turns out there
was a deadly accident on his regular route home.
How to use it in romantic relationships: Your entire
body—not just your brain—acts as an intuitive receiver,
so the more conscious you become of your whole body,
perhaps through a discipline like yoga, the more likely
you are to tap into realities outside of your immediate
setting. They will come to you in snapshot-life flashes—
a taste, smell, sound, or a feeling in your body. Jot down
your impressions. The better you get at tuning in, the
clearer the messages will become. When two people are
really “clicking,” such experiences become even more
commonplace, such as having intuitive flashes about
your lover’s health, or about where you two might be living in five years.
Intuitive empathy. This is when you “pick up a vibe”
from another person. For no apparent reason, you suddenly sense a person’s deep loneliness, or you feel hostility coming from a person who is smiling at you.
How to use it in romantic relationships: Being sensitive
to other people’s nature is a valuable skill—but it comes
with perils. If you feel drained after meeting someone at
a party, for example, pay attention so you can avoid giving him your phone number. Learning to “read” other
people’s feelings will improve your romantic relationships, as long as you don’t “take on” others’ moods and
emotions. For example, when you can sense your
boyfriend had a bad day, or is tense after talking on the
phone to his mom, you can ask him questions to get him
emoting. Such empathetic communication deepens and
enhances love partnerships.
Secrets For Sensitive People To Find
Relationships That Work
oneliness gets to some more than others. But
why it hangs on isn’t always apparent when read
by traditional medical eyes. In my psychiatric
practice in Los Angeles and in my workshops I’ve been
struck by how many sensitive, empathic people who I
call “emotional empaths” come to me, lonely, wanting a
romantic partner, yet remaining single for years. Or else
they’re in relationships but feel constantly fatigued and
overwhelmed. The reason isn’t simply that “there aren’t
enough emotionally available people ‘out there,’” nor is
their burnout “neurotic.” Personally and professionally,
I’ve discovered that something more is going on.
Emotional empaths are a species unto themselves.
Whereas others may thrive on the togetherness of being
a couple, for empaths like me, too much togetherness
can be difficult, may cause us to bolt. Why? We tend to
intuit and absorb our partner’s energy, and become overloaded, anxious, or exhausted when we don’t have time
to decompress in our own space. We’re super-responders; our sensory experience of relationship is the equiv-
L
38
EARTH STAR
alent of feeling objects with fifty fingers instead of five.
Energetically sensitive people unknowingly avoid
romantic partnership because deep down they’re afraid
of getting engulfed. Or else, they feel engulfed when coupled, a nerve-wracking, constrictive way to live. If this
isn’t understood, empaths can stay perpetually lonely;
we want companionship, but, paradoxically, it doesn’t
feel safe. One empath-patient told me, “It helps explain
why at thirty-two I’ve only had two serious relationships, each lasting less than a year.” Once we empaths
learn to set boundaries and negotiate our energetic preferences, intimacy becomes possible.
For emotional empaths to be at ease in a relationship, the traditional paradigm for coupling must be redefined. Most of all, this means asserting your personal
space needs—the physical and time limits you set with
someone so you don’t feel they’re on top of you.
Empaths can’t fully experience emotional freedom with
another until they do this. Your space needs can vary
with your situation, upbringing, and culture. My ideal
distance to keep in public is at least an arm’s length. In
doctors’ waiting rooms I’ll pile my purse and folders on
the seats beside me to keep others away. With friends it’s
about half that. With a mate it’s variable. Sometimes it’s
rapture being wrapped in his arms; later I may need to
be in a room of my own, shut away. One boyfriend who
truly grasped the concept got me a “Keep Out” sign for
my study door! For me, this was a sign of true love. All
of us have an invisible energetic border that sets a comfort level. Identifying and communicating yours will
prevent you from being bled dry by others. Then intimacy
can flourish, even if you’ve felt suffocated before.
Prospective mates or family members may seem like
emotional vampires when you don’t know how to
broach the issue of personal space. You may need to educate others—make clear that this isn’t about not loving
them—but get the discussion going. Once you can,
you’re able to build progressive relationships.
If you’re an empath or if the ordinary expectations of
coupledom don’t jibe with you practice the following tips.
DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE NEEDS
Tips for empaths to feel at ease in a relationship
Tip 1. What to say to a potential mate
As you’re getting to know someone, share that you’re a
sensitive person, that you periodically need quiet time.
The right partner will be understanding; the wrong person will put you down for being “overly sensitive,”
won’t respect your need.
Tip 2. Clarify your preferred sleep style
Traditionally, partners sleep in the same bed. However,
some empaths never get used to this, no matter how caring
a mate. Nothing personal; they just like their own sleep
space. Speak up about your preferences. Feeling trapped in
bed with someone, not getting a good night’s rest, is torture. Energy fields blend during sleep, which can overstimulate empaths. So, discuss options with your mate.
Separate beds. Separate rooms. Sleeping together a few
nights a week. Because non-empaths may feel lonely
sleeping alone, make compromises when possible.
able. Here’s why: conversations, scents, coughing, movement can feel intrusive. Even if my partner’s vibes are sublime, sometimes I’d rather not sense them even if they’re
only hovering near me. I’m not just being finicky; it’s
about maintaining well-being if I live with someone.
Tip 4. Travel wisely
Traveling with someone, you may want to have separate
space too. Whether my companion is romantic or not,
I’ll always have adjoining rooms with my own bathroom. If sharing a room is the only option, hanging a
sheet as a room divider will help. “Out of sight” may
make the heart grow fonder.
Tip 5. Take regular mini-breaks
Empaths require private downtime to regroup. Even a
brief escape prevents emotional overload. Retreat for
five minutes into the bathroom with the door shut. Take
a stroll around the block. Read in a separate room. One
patient told her boyfriend, “I need to disappear into a
quiet room for ten minutes at a party, even if I’m having
fun,” a form of self-care that he supports.
In my medical practice, I’ve seen this creative approach to
relationships save marriages and make ongoing intimacies
feel safe, even for emotional empaths (of all ages) who’ve
been lonely and haven’t had a long-term partner before.
Once you’re able to articulate your needs, emotional freedom in your relationships is possible.
Judith Orloff MD is author of the New York Times bestseller
Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative
Emotions and Transform Your Life (Three Rivers Press,
2010), upon which the preceeding excerpts are based. An
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry UCLA, Dr. Orloff
synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting
edge knowledge of intuition, subtle energy, and spirituality.
For Judith’s workshop schedule, free articles, videos and more
inspiration visit www.drjudithorloff.com
Tip 3. Negotiate your square footage needs
You may be thrilled about your beloved until you live
together. Experiment with creative living conditions so
your home isn’t a prison. Breathing room is mandatory.
Ask yourself, “What space arrangements are optimal?”
Having an area to retreat to, even if it’s a closet? A room
divider? Separate bathrooms? Separate houses? I prefer
having my own bedroom/office to retreat to. I also can see
the beauty of separate wings or adjacent houses if afford-
EARTH STAR
39
CALENDAR
events workshops
festivals classes
Top Photo
12/2: Singing This Song for You: The
Leon Russell Story, 8:00pm, at the
Knickbocker Cafe, 35 Railroad Ave, Westerly,
RI, 02891. Tickets: $60. (401) 596-4225.
JANUARY
ONGOING
Visa/MC accepted. CEU's. Call 1-888REIKI-4-U or (603) 654-2787.
1/10: January 10th, 11:30am – 1:30pm, Free
Introductory Talk to The Gathering - A
Women’s Transormational
Group,
www.centeratwestwoods.com, Westwood.
The Gathering is an educational, experiential and supportive group. The intention of
the group is to support each member in
transforming fear based belief systems and
reactive habits into conscious empowered
choices. Contact Patricia Howard
[email protected].
Food As Medicine Workshop, Sharon A.
Kane, Instructor. Live Superfoods can
repair the intestinal damage associated with
celiac, gluten intolerance, candida, IBS,
leaky gut and food allergies. This 8-session
course teaches simple techniques to create
low cost live food at home. Kombucha,
kefir, gluten free bread, lacto-fermented
pickles. For complete info call Sharon A.
Kane, (508) 881-5678 or email
[email protected].
Exquisite Energysm for Women. Center,
ground, and open to the flow. A nourishing,
feel-good event. Cerridwen guides easy
movements from qigong and hands-on healing. Second Thursdays 7:30pm-9:30pm,
Aquarius Sanctuary, Littleton, MA. (978)
486-0248. $20. Call ahead.
1/12: Free Introductory Talks to MBSR Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
11:30am, www.centeratwestwoods.com in
Westwood, and at 7:00pm in Wellesley,
www.visionsmedical.com. The MBSR program was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn
for the prevention and treatment of stress
related disorders and chronic pain. This talk
is also offered on Sunday, 1/16, 2:00pm at
www.centeratwestwoods.com.
Confirm
attendance: [email protected].
Exquisite Energysm for Healers. Relax and
get a dose of the good stuff for yourself. Easy
movements from qigong and hands-on healing
with Cerridwen. Third Saturdays 7:00pm10:00pm. Aquarius Sanctuary, Littleton, MA.
(978) 486-0248. $20. Call ahead.
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EARTH STAR
Reiki Certification, Boston and Wilton,
NH. Libby Barnett, MSW. 26 years experience. Reiki Energy Medicine co-author.
Notebook, pin, certificate awarded.
Buddhist Meditation Group with Peg
Travers, Ordained Priest, Buddha Heart
USA, Sunday evenings, Haverhill, MA,
5:00pm-6:00pm. Learn and practice the
ancient arts of meditation, chanting,
QiGong, Buddhist Yoga & Reiki. Call the
Center for Spiritual Development, Haverhill
MA, (978)-372-5173 or online at
www.uuhaverhill.org/happenings.
Drumming Circle with Kristine Malpica
(of Imagine Studios) on third Friday of each
month. 7:00pm-8:30pm. Center for Spiritual
Development, 15 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill,
MA. (978)-372-5173.
Earth Star Calendar
12/17-12/19: Esoguru.com broadcasts Internet
workshop Open Your Heart in Paradise Retreat with
Ram Dass, Krishna Das and Sharon Salzberg.
To register please visit www.EsoGuru.com.
12/5: Chorus pro Musica is honored to appear with operatic
superstar Andrea Bocelli, “the world's most beloved tenor,”
on December 5th, at 7:00pm, at the 19,600 seat TD Garden. For
Tickets call: 1-(800)-745-3000, or at www.ticketmaster.com.
Shamanic Drumming Circle, founded 1993. Usually Second and Fourth
Fridays of every month, 7:00pm. Quaker
meeting-house, Cambridge. Open to all,
but please call first for full details and
directions. Terrence (978)-952-2704 or
Emily (781)-641-3980.
Workshops for Pain Management
and Improved Wellness. Offerings for
Bodyworkers, athletes, Personal
Trainers, Coaches and general painsufferers. Please visit our website:
web.maynard.ma.us/biz/bmassage, or
call Barry Bailey at (978)-897-0110
for information and brochure of current offerings.
12/6: Mayor Thomas M. Menino invites you
to A Dorchester Christmas at the
Strand Theater, on Monday, December 6, at
7:00pm. Music for Christmas & the Season
with the Boston Classical Orchestra, Steven
Lipsitt, conductor. Tickets $5 & $10. Call:
(617) 423-3883.
The Labyrinth Ladies Spiritual
Empowerment Workshops, go to
www.thelabyrinthladies.com for our
latest programs and walks or call (401)847-6551 for more information.
Facilitator Trainings, site consultations,
workshops for schools, hospitals and
businesses.
Christ Church Unity - Experience the
healing power of music, prayer and
meditation, every Wednesday at
7:00pm. Daily Word Discusion
Sundays at 10:00am. Sunday Service,
11:00am. Corner of Colchester & Chapel
Streets, Brookline, MA 02466. Call (617)
232-4548 for more information or visit:
www.unityboston.org.
Free Energy Healing in Arlington. Johrei
healing is available each Wednesday
evening from 7:00pm-9:00pm at 81
Cleveland St. in Arlington, MA. Johrei purifies the spirit through the channeling of
divine light, restores inner spiritual balance
and eases physical, mental, & emotional distress. There is no charge for Johrei. Please
call (781) 646-0614 for directions or information on other area locations.
Stress Management, Imagery, and a range
of Reiki programs, with CEUs for nurses,
led by holistic nurse educators. Centered in
Amesbury, MA with other locations in
Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Visit www.LymanCenter.com or call: 1(888)-TLC-8485.
The Deadline for listings in the
February/March 2011 issue
is January 26th
EARTH STAR
41
Dietary Supplements
Under Attac k
By William Faloon
N
ear the end of 2008, the media ran headline news stories claiming that vitamins
C, D, and E do not prevent heart attack,
stroke, or breast cancer. Within five days,
we posted a rebuttal on the home page of
our website.
When these biased stories are launched, the media
never gives us prior notice to prepare a response. That
means the public only hears conventional medicine’s
distorted side of the story.
What follows is a slightly modified version of how
we responded to these unfounded attacks:
In the early 1990s, several large population studies
showed significant reductions in cardiovascular disease
in those who consumed vitamin C or vitamin E.
The most widely reported study emanated from
UCLA, where it was announced that men who took 800
mg a day of vitamin C lived six years longer than those
who consumed the recommended daily allowance of 60
mg a day. The study, which evaluated 11,348 participants over a ten-year period of time, showed that higher
vitamin C intake reduced cardiovascular disease mortality by forty-two percent.
These kinds of findings did not go unnoticed by the
federal government, who subsequently invested hundreds of millions of dollars in an attempt to
ascertain if relatively modest vitamin
doses could prevent common agerelated diseases.
In a recent study used by the
media to attack dietary supplements,
four groups of male doctors were
given various combinations of vitamin C and/or vitamin E or placebo.
After eight years, there was no
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EARTH STAR
reported difference in heart
attack or stroke
incidence among
the groups. This led the media to state that consumers
should not buy these supplements.
As you will read, there were so many flaws in this
study that the findings are rendered meaningless.
Regrettably, consumers who trust their lives to the mainstream media may fall victim to this latest charade to
discredit validated methods to reduce cardiovascular
disease risk.
Do You Take Your Vitamins Every Other Day?
In the study involving four groups of male doctors, subjects in the vitamin E groups were told to take one 400
IU capsule of synthetic alpha tocopherol every other
day. This design flaw raises several issues that are rather
obvious to serious supplement takers.
First of all, we don’t take our vitamins every other
day. Free radicals are constantly being generated in our
bodies, and supplement users today seek to take their
antioxidants with most meals, as oxidative damage is
generally the greatest after eating.
It is ludicrous to think that
these study subjects would reduce
their vascular risk by taking a modest
dose, every other day, of a form of
vitamin E with inferior antioxidant
capacity.
If one were to rely only on synthetic alpha tocopherol, the minimum daily dose needed has been
shown to exceed 800 IU, far greater
than the 400 IU ingested every other
day by the subjects in this poorly designed study.
Serious supplement users normally take 400 IU
every day of natural vitamin E along with a plethora of
complementary nutrients. We would not expect 400 IU
of synthetic vitamin E taken every other day to produce
much of an effect. Yet that is the dose given to these
study subjects with the expectation that this would produce a reduction in cardiovascular disease. This is not
the only flaw of this study.
Natural Versus Synthetic Vitamin E
There was a longstanding debate as to whether natural or
synthetic vitamin E is better. For most vitamins, there is
no difference between natural and synthetic. In fact, for
most vitamins, the only forms available are synthetic.
With vitamin E, however, the natural form has proven to
be far superior.
Natural vitamin E is distributed through the body
much better than the synthetic form. The reason is that
specific carrier proteins in the liver selectively bind to
natural vitamin E and transport it through the blood to
our cells. These carrier proteins only recognize a portion
of synthetic vitamin E and ignore the remainder.
Japanese researchers gave natural or synthetic vitamin E to young women to measure how much vitamin E
actually made it into their blood. It took only 100 mg
(149 IU) of natural vitamin E to produce blood levels
that required 300 mg (448 IU) of synthetic vitamin E to
achieve.
How to Check Vitamin E Labels
When checking vitamin labels, natural vitamin E is usually stated as the “d” form or RRR- [for example d-alpha
tocopheryl acetate or RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, dalpha tocopherol, and d-alpha tocopheryl succinate].
Synthetic vitamin E will have an “l” after the “d” or allrac- [for example, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate or all-racalpha-tocopheryl acetate, dl-alpha tocopheryl succinate,
and dl-alpha tocopherol]. Remember – “dl” or “all rac-”
signifies synthetic vitamin E, whereas “d” or “RRR-”
signifies natural vitamin E. If you are getting 400 IU of
natural d-alpha tocopherol (d-alpha tocopheryl succinate
or acetate), it is equal to about 800 IU of synthetic dltocopherol (dl-alpha tocopheryl succinate or acetate).
Most studies show that synthetic vitamin E is only
half as active in the body as the natural form. As it
relates to the flawed study claiming that vitamin E does
not prevent heart attack, the 400 IU of synthetic alpha
tocopherol given every other day equates to only 100 IU
a day of the natural form.
We would not expect 100 IU of natural vitamin E a
day by itself to reduce vascular disease risk. As you will
continue to read, however, there are many other flaws in
this study that render its conclusions useless.
Vitamin C Potencies Too Low
If all you
are going to
take to protect against
free radical
damage is
vitamin E
and/or vitamin C, then
you
will
need
far
greater
potencies
than were given to the study subjects in this flawed
study.
Published studies that document vascular benefits in
response to vitamin C typically use doses of 1,000-6,000
mg each day. The authors of the flawed study alluded to
this when they stated:
“In a pooled analysis of nine cohorts, vitamin C supplement use exceeding 700 mg/day was significantly
associated with a twenty-five percent reduction in coronary heart disease risk.”
Since the doctors who designed this flawed study
knew that vitamin C intakes exceeding 700 mg a day
significantly reduce heart attack rates, we cannot figure
out why they limited their subject’s daily dose to only
500 mg.
Two-time Nobel Prize laureate Linus Pauling and
his associates advocated daily doses of vitamin C ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 mg to protect against heart
attack. Linus Pauling’s theory was that atherosclerosis is
primarily caused by insufficient vitamin C intake. Dr.
Pauling compared the high amount of vitamin C naturally synthesized in the bodies of animals that don’t typically die of heart attacks. A one hundred-and-fiftypound goat, for example will maintain an ascorbate
blood concentration equivalent to ingesting 13,000 mg
of vitamin C.
Unlike most animals, humans lack an internal
enzyme needed to manufacture vitamin C in their body.
If humans don’t obtain enough vitamin C from external
sources, they die acutely from scurvy, or according to
Linus Pauling…slowly suffer atherosclerotic occlusion.
Dr. Pauling crusaded to educate humans about the need
EARTH STAR
43
to take mega-doses of vitamin C.
Dr. Pauling and his associates published papers stating that when vitamin C levels are insufficient, the body
uses cholesterol to repair the inner lining of arteries. Dr.
Pauling believed that cholesterol’s involvement in atherosclerosis was a direct result of insufficient vitamin C.
Life Extension has long recommended that its members take at least 2,000 mg a day of vitamin C, along
with potent plant extracts to enhance the biological benefits of ascorbate inside the body. The 500 mg daily dose
of vitamin C given to the subjects of this flawed study
was clearly inadequate. This did not stop the headlinehungry media and many conventional doctors from recommending that aging humans avoid these supplements
altogether.
Alpha Tocopherol Users Need CoQ10
A number of studies document the ability of ubiquinol
CoQ10 to protect against LDL oxidation better than
alpha tocopherol (and other lipid-soluble antioxidants).
Some of these studies show that alpha tocopherol
vitamin E can turn into an LDL pro-oxidant unless
ubiquinol is also present. These studies help explain the
inability of the alpha form of vitamin E by itself to significantly reduce heart attack rates in certain populations.
The good news is that most members have been taking CoQ10 supplements since around 1983 (when Life
Extension introduced it to the American public) and
have thus protected their alpha tocopherol from converting into a pro-oxidant.
The subjects given synthetic alpha tocopherol in this
flawed study were not given CoQ10 supplements, which
further explains why there were no reductions in heart
attack and stroke risk.
As we noted already, the dose of vitamin E used in
this study was also too low to expect a reduction in vascular disease events. While alpha tocopherol vitamin E
is a classic antioxidant, its free radical-quenching efficacy pales in comparison to polyphenol extracts from
green tea, pomegranate, grape seed, and blueberry.
Based on the superior anti-oxidant properties of
plant extracts such as pomegranate, health-conscious
people today are able to obtain greater protection against
free radicals and enhance the efficacy of the vitamin C
without necessarily having to take the mega-doses recommended by Linus Pauling. On the flip side, to attack
the value of vitamin C based on a group of doctors who
took only 500 mg a day does not make sense, since this
amount does not correspond to the doses that scientific
studies show are needed to prevent heart attack.
44
EARTH STAR
Alpha Tocopherol Displaces
Gamma Tocopherol
An increasing number of scientists are questioning the
wisdom of administering alpha tocopherol vitamin E by
itself. The reason is that alpha tocopherol displaces critically important gamma tocopherol in the body. The
authors of the flawed study admitted that the failure to
include gamma tocopherol may have been a reason that
no effect was seen in the alpha tocopherol groups. Here
is a quote directly from the flawed study:
“Moreover, PHS II and other prevention trials have
used alpha-tocopherol, whereas the gamma-tocopherol
isomer also may have a role in cardiovascular disease
prevention because it has greater efficacy than alphatocopherol to inhibit lipid peroxidation and it may be
suppressed in the presence of alpha-tocopherol.”
The above admission understates the critical importance that gamma tocopherol plays in maintaining arterial health. While alpha tocopherol helps protect against
lipid peroxidation, gamma tocopherol is required to neutralize the dangerous peroxynitrite free radical.
Peroxynitrite damages arteries because:
1. Peroxynitrite promotes the degradation of alpha tocopherol, thereby depleting the body of the vitamin E needed to protect the lipid (fat) part of LDL against oxidation.
LDL is composed of both lipid and protein parts (moieties), and oxidation associated with both moieties has
been implicated in atherosclerosis. In a fascinating paradox, when alpha tocopherol is given without gamma tocopherol, the result is that alpha tocopherol itself can be
neutralized in the body by the peroxynitrite free radical.
This in turn promotes oxidation of the lipid moiety of
LDL, a major step on the path towards atherosclerosis.
2. Peroxynitrite promotes LDL protein oxidation. While
alpha tocopherol inhibits LDL lipid peroxidation,
gamma tocopherol is needed to protect against oxidation
of the protein moiety of LDL.
In the absence of gamma tocopherol, which can occur
when alpha tocopherol is given without gamma tocopherol, both LDL lipid and protein oxidation is
increased, which reveals the egregious mistake of trying
to prevent vascular disease by administering only alpha
tocopherol. Health-conscious individuals should be
assured that other nutrients such as lipoic acid and
polyphenol plant extracts also block protein and lipid
LDL oxidation.
Some studies suggest that only gamma tocopherol
prevents heart attacks. As it relates to atherosclerosis,
gamma tocopherol blood concentrations have been
reported to be significantly lower in coronary heart disease patients than in healthy control subjects. While
alpha and gamma tocopherols each perform life-sustaining functions, only gamma tocopherol increases
endothelial nitric oxide protein expression. As I will
describe next, a deficit of nitric oxide in the endothelium
is a primary cause of arterial disease.
Vitamin E Basics
Alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol are the two
major forms of vitamin E in human plasma. The dietary
intake of gamma toco-pherol is generally two- to fourfold higher than that of alpha tocopherol. Alpha tocopherol plasma levels, however, are about four-fold higher than those of gamma tocopherol. One reason is that
there is a preferential cellular uptake of gamma tocopherol over alpha tocopherol, meaning that more gamma
tocopherol is removed from the blood and assimilated
into cells.
Scientific studies consistently show that gamma
tocopherol plays a significant role in modulating intracellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. Interestingly,
the presence of gamma tocopherol dramatically increases the cellular accumulation of alpha tocopherol.
blocking the oxidation of tetrahydrobiopterin.
Indeed, clinical studies show that supplemental
gamma tocopherol enhances platelet endothelial nitric
oxide synthase activity. Furthermore, a diet high in
gamma tocopherol-rich walnuts improves endotheliumdependent vasodilation in those with high cholesterol.
By administering only alpha tocopherol as was done
in the flawed study, one would expect gamma tocopherol to be suppressed, peroxynitrite levels to increase,
and precious tetrahydrobiopterin to be oxidized, thus
depriving the endothelium of the nitric oxide it needs to
protect against heart attack and stroke. Is it any wonder
that this study failed to show vascular disease reduction
in those given only alpha (but not gamma) tocopherol?
Failing to Account For All Vascular Risk Factors
Numerous independent risk factors are associated
with the development of atherosclerosis and subsequent
heart attack and stroke risk. A major flaw in this study
was expecting low-dose vitamin C and/or E to somehow
overcome all of these underlying causes of artery disease.
We know it is impossible for vitamins C and E to
overcome these many risk factors, but this did not stop
the media from recommending that Americans discard
their supplements.
A Hidden Cause of Heart Attack and Stroke
Even when all conventional risk factors are controlled,
the progressive decline of nitric oxide in the arterial wall
(the endothelium) too often leads to coronary heart
attack and stroke.
Seven years ago, Life Extension researchers identified a critical compound (tetrahydrobiopterin) that is an
essential cofactor for the enzyme that synthesizes nitric
oxide in the endothelium. We spent several hundred
thousand dollars trying to develop an affordable way to
manufacture this compound as it offered tremendous
promise for eradicating atherosclerosis.
We failed to find an affordable way to make tetrahydrobiopterin.
The good news
is that nutrients
that suppress
peroxynitrite
(like
gamma
tocopherol and
pomegranate)
i n c r e a s e
endothelial
nitric oxide by
The following represents a succinct list of documented
vascular disease risk factors:
1. Low testosterone (in men)
2. Excess fibrinogen
3. Low HDL
4. Excess LDL and total cholesterol
5. Excess glucose
6. Excess C-reactive protein
7. Excess homocysteine
8. Hypertension
9. Low blood EPA/DHA
10. Excess triglycerides
11. Excess insulin
12. Excess estrogen (in men)
13. Oxidized LDL
14. Excess platelet activity
15. Nitric oxide deficit (endothelial dysfunction)
16. Insufficient vitamin D
17. Insufficient vitamin K2
The basis for doing this study, as outlined by the study’s
authors, was to use vitamins C and/or E to:
EARTH STAR
45
1. Trap organic free radicals… deactivate excited oxygen molecules… inhibit LDL oxidation
2. Modify vascular reactivity… prevent tissue damage
3. Modify platelet activity and thus reduce thrombotic
potential.
As one can clearly see on the previous page, there are
seventeen documented cardiovascular risk factors. Yet
only three of these risk factors are what formed the basis
for conducting this low-dose vitamin C and/or E clinical
trial. The three most important risk factors the authors of
the flawed study expected to favorably influence with
vitamins C and E were:
1. LDL oxidation
2. Platelet activity and thrombotic potential
3. Vascular reactivity (another term for endothelial
dysfunction).
Failing to Account For All Vascular
Risk Factors
For every one mechanism the study’s authors proposed
might enable low-dose vitamin C and/or synthetic vitamin E to work, there are five additional risk factors that
would not be corrected. For instance, vitamins C and E
in these low doses are not going to reduce C-reactive
protein, homocysteine, fibrinogen, or glucose. Vitamins
C and E in any dose are not going to increase testosterone, decrease estrogen, or provide cardioprotective
EPA/DHA and vitamin D.
On the contrary, as we have already shown, by giving only
alpha but
not gamma
tocopherol,
one might
ex p e c t
increased
LDL oxidation and
impaired
endothelial
function. That’s because alpha tocopherol displaces
gamma tocopherol in the body. Gamma tocopherol suppresses the peroxynitrite radical that oxidizes both LDL
protein and the tetrahydrobiopterin that is needed to produce endothelial nitric oxide.
As far as platelet activity and thrombotic potential
(abnormal clotting inside a blood vessel) are concerned,
gamma tocopherol is significantly more potent than
alpha tocopherol in inhibiting platelet aggregation that
46
EARTH STAR
can lead to a heart attack or stroke. By displacing
gamma tocopherol, the alpha tocopherol used alone in
this study may have increased abnormal platelet aggregation risk.
From everything we know today, this study was
designed to fail. Not only did it not correct for the major
causes of vascular disease, but it may have exacerbated
some of the more dangerous ones.
None of What I Wrote So Far May Really Matter
You have just learned why low-dose vitamin C and/or E
supplementation would not be expected to reduce heart
attack and stroke risk.
I have saved the biggest shocker for last. It turns out
that a significant number of the study subjects (who
were all medical doctors) who were supposed to take the
vitamin C and/or E supplements did not take their pills.
Yet when the calculations for heart attack or stroke incidence were made, those who took as little as sixty-six
percent of their low-dose vitamin C and/or E supplements were counted as having taken the entire dose.
At the end of the study, twenty-eight percent of
the study subjects admitted they had not even taken
sixty-six percent of their low-dose vitamin C and/or E
supplements.
Even more troubling is the method used to track
who was really taking their supplements. Participants
were asked to remember and track supplement usage for
over eight years’ time without any verification of actual
pill counts, compliance by plasma antioxidant analysis,
or in vivo surrogate markers of oxidative stress. Relying
upon participants’ memory and recollection over a
lengthy time period of many years is a rather pathetic
way of ensuring adherence, and renders the authors’ socalled “sensitivity analysis” meaningless.
The lack of adherence, i.e., the fact that a significant
percentage of the study participants were not even taking their vitamins, may be the most significant flaw to
this study. No one in the mainstream media bothered to
report this, or any of the other flaws that jumped out at
us.
Instead, the media’s message was don’t waste
your money on vitamin C or E pills. Many supplement users who are taking the right form and dose of
their vitamin C and E nutrients may believe the
media’s biased reporting.
Shocking Deficiencies of Vitamin E
The media used this horrifically flawed study as a
basis to steer Americans away from vitamin C and E
supplements. It’s as if all of the previous positive published studies disappeared overnight.
What was omitted is the fact that ninety-two percent
of American men and ninety-eight percent of American
women do not consume the recommended dietary
allowance of vitamin E in their diet. The federal government says Americans need 15 milligrams per day of
vitamin E, yet even this minute amount is not found in
the diets of the vast majority of people.
This means that most Americans require a vitamin E
supplement to avoid a chronic deficiency, but this important fact was conveniently left out of the news stories.
Conventional medicine says that severe vitamin E
deficiency results mainly in neuro-logical symptoms
such as impaired balance and coordination and muscle
weakness. These neurological symptoms do not develop
for ten to twenty years, as it takes time for free radicals
to inflict nerve damage in the absence of sufficient vitamin E. The reality is that chronic vitamin E deficiency
adversely impacts virtually every cell of the body.
biased against dietary supplements is that the journals
they read seldom publish the favorable studies. Dietary
supplements compete directly against prescription drugs
in many disease categories. When dietary supplements
are properly used to prevent disease, demand for expensive pharmaceutical agents is diminished. It is thus in the
financial interest of pharmaceutical companies to
encourage negative studies to be published in influential
medical journals.
It seems more than a coincidence that mainstream
medical journals publish negative editorials against
dietary supplements at times of the year that garner the
most media coverage. Life Extension has long argued
that the billions of advertising dollars spent by pharmaceutical companies influences media bias against dietary
supplements. This latest study reveals that drug money
may also be corrupting medical journals that have a significant impact on professional and public opinion.
Does Drug Money Influence How Medical
Journals Report on Dietary Supplements?
The optimal moment of the year to get your message to
the masses is the second week of November. This is a
time in between holidays, when winter is setting in, and
few people are on vacation. The television networks
consider this their most important “sweeps week” as it
provides the most accurate measurement of their ratings.
The timing of the release of this horrendously
flawed vitamin C and E study could not have been more
perfect for pharmaceutical interests. It came out less
than one week after the November elections, when the
media was primed to sensationalize any story that would
attract
viewers for
their
all
important
“sweeps
week.”
On the
very same
day
the
m e d i a
launched
its attack on vitamins C and E, the same news sources
reported that very high doses of the statin drug Crestor®
reduced heart attack rates by fifty-four percent in healthy
people who had high C-reactive protein levels. Just
think, uneducated consumers read on the same day that
vitamins C and E are worthless and an expensive statin
drug performs miracles.
Financial analysts predict a windfall for the makers
of Crestor® based on this widely distributed report. In
A group of statistical researchers investigated the relationship between pharmaceutical advertising and articles
regarding dietary supplements in medical journals. The
analysis revealed that:
1. Journals with the most pharmaceutical ads published
significantly fewer major articles about dietary supplements per issue than journals with the fewest pharmaceutical ads (P < 0.001).
2. The percentage of major articles concluding that
dietary supplements were unsafe was four percent in
journals with the fewest pharmaceutical ads and sixtyseven percent among those with the most pharmaceutical ads (P < 0.005).
3. The percentage of articles concluding that dietary
supplements were ineffective was almost twice as high
(fifty percent) among journals with more pharmaceutical
ads than among those with fewer pharmaceutical ads
(twenty-seven percent).
The researchers concluded that increased pharmaceutical advertising is associated with the publication of
fewer articles about dietary supplements and more articles with conclusions that dietary supplements are
unsafe.
A major reason why many conventional doctors are
A Media Coup for Pharmaceutical Companies
EARTH STAR
47
retrospect, conducting a study only on people with high
C-reactive protein (but not particularly high LDL) was a
brilliant marketing strategy. It had a high probability of
a successful outcome, and if the study failed, Crestor®
was never approved to lower C-reactive protein or be
used in this population group, so the pharmaceutical
company had nothing to lose.
We at Life Extension have long warned about the
vascular dangers of elevated C-reactive protein and even
recommended statin drugs if natural approaches fail to
reduce C-reactive protein. We don’t believe most people
have to purchase expensive brand name drugs like
Crestor®, as generic simvastatin (name brand Zocor®) or
pravastatin (name brand Pravachol®) can provide similar
benefit at a fraction of the price.
dered the findings meaningless even if the proper dose
had been given.
The fact that the media made this study headline
news is regrettable because only about twenty percent of
the study population achieved a 25-hydroxyvitamin D
blood result at the minimum level required to prevent
breast cancer (approximately 30 ng/mL or higher). In
other words, most participants in the active or placebo
group failed to achieve even the minimal blood concentrations of vitamin D that other studies document are
needed to protect against breast cancer. So all this study
did was help confirm what vitamin D experts have been
saying for over five years now, i.e., a minimum of 800
IU to 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day is required… not the
400 IU used in this study.
Media Also Attacks Vitamin D
Don’t Be a Victim of This Flawed Propaganda
Not content to bash only vitamins C and E, the media
the very next day in November 2008 ran a headline story
stating that “Supplements don’t reduce breast cancer
risk.” This story was based on a study of women who
received only 400 IU a day of supplemental vitamin D.
As has been
reported
for
years in this and
other health publications, 400 IU
a day of vitamin
D is clearly
inadequate. To
reduce breast
cancer risk by
around fifty percent, a daily
dose of 1,000 IU
and higher is required. The major flaw in this study is
that participants in the active and placebo group were
allowed to take vitamin D outside the study, which ren-
It is in the economic interests of drug companies to steer
Americans away from healthier lifestyles and dietary
supplements. As more Americans fall ill to degenerative
disease, drug company profits increase exponentially.
Enormous amounts of pharmaceutical dollars are
spent influencing Congress, the FDA, and other federal
agencies. The result is the promulgation of policies that
cause Americans to be deprived of effective, low-cost
means of protecting themselves against age-related
disease.
Through the Life Extension Foundation, readers can
gain access to scientific information that is interpreted in
the context of what health-conscious people are really
doing to protect themselves against age-related diseases.
You also learn how this information is distorted by the
government, drug companies, and the media to discourage the public from following healthier lifestyles.
Reprinted with permission from Life Extension Magazine,
www.lef.org
Vegetables Are Brain Food
E
ating vegetables may help
keep your brain "young" and
may slow down the mental
decline that sometimes comes with
aging. A study of almost 2,000 men
and women, aged sixty-five and up,
living in the Chicago area found
those who said they ate more than
two servings of vegetables each day
showed forty percent less mental
decline on cognitive tests than those
48
EARTH STAR
who reported eating little or no vegetables. Scores on short term memory
and other mental function tests
among those who ate more veg-etables were similar to results seen in
people five years younger, according
to the study in the October 23, 2006
issue of the journal Neurology.
However, the study did not look at
whether any of the participants
developed Alzheimer’s disease. In
the study, a “serving” of vegetables
equaled about a half-cup (or one cup
if the vegetable was a raw leafy
green like spinach or kale). The most
beneficial vegetables included green
leafy vegetables including spinach,
kale and collard greens, possibly
because they contain high amounts
of antioxi-dant vitamins, including
vitamin E, which may combat cell
damage. —Food & Fitness Advisor
In Memoriam
Zecharia Sitchin (1920 - 2010)
he internationally acclaimed author and researcher,
Zecharia Sitchin, whose trailblazing books introduced to
readers worldwide the subjects of Nibiru, the Anunnaki,
and the ancient evidence for mankind’s origins, passed
away on the morning of October 9th, 2010, at the age of 90.
T
One of a handful of scholars able to read the Sumerian cuneiform
tablets, Sitchin combined archaeology, ancient texts, and the Bible with the latest scientific
discoveries, to retell the history and prehistory of mankind.
Since 1976, Zecharia Sitchin promoted the idea that a “12th planet” called Nibiru swings past Earth
every three thousands years or so. This 12th planet, he said, is the home of a group of aliens, known
as Anunnaki in Sumerian scriptures and the Nephilim that were mentioned in the Bible. These
aliens crossed their DNA with the native hominids of the time, creating mankind as we know it. He
suggested that ancient Yeti and other hairy hominoids are evidence of these unions.
Zecharia Sitchin was born in Russia and raised in Palestine, and had a comprehensive knowledge
of modern and ancient Hebrew and other Semitic and European languages, the Old Testament, and
the history, archaeology, and culture of the Near East. He was distinguished by his ability to read
and translate Sumerian and other ancient languages. His trailblazing books that introduced to
readers around the world ideas based on the assumption that ancient myths are not myths at all but
rather, historical and scientific texts. Sitchin posited that ancient Sumerian clay tablets reveal that
gods from another planet—Nibiru, which orbits our Sun every 3,600 years—arrived on Earth some
450,000 years ago and created humans by genetic engineering of female apes. His books have been
translated into more than twenty languages; his first one, The 12th Planet, an oft-quoted classic,
celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of its publication. A graduate of the University of London and
a journalist and editor in Israel for many years, he lived in New York City.
Sitchin’s final quest was to find proof positive of the Anunnaki’s existance in antiquity. This excerpt
from his last book, Mankind’s Alien Origins—The Evidence, suggests that he may have succeeded:
“Ah, if only one of the Anunnaki were still around, a chap or lass whose being one of them Nibiruans
would be unquestionable, who would roll up their sleeve and say: Test my DNA, decipher my
genome, see that I am not of your planet! Find out the difference, discover the secret of longevity,
cure your cancers . . . If only!
But, through the grace of Fate and the professionalism of dedicated archaeologists, such
evidence—a physical body of an Anunnaki—does exist. It is the skeletal remains of Nin.Puabi.
. . . What was it, genetically, that the ‘gods’ deliberately held back from us?
Maybe the Creator of All wished the Goddess Who Never Left to stay so that we finally find the
answer.”
49
GREEN LIVING
natural home and garden
Eco-Glass Fireplace
his European-designed fireplace is fueled by Fanola, a
renewable biofuel that burns 40% more efficiently than
wood and emits only steam and CO2 in proportions similar to our own exhalations—humidity levels actually increase
with usage. And there’s no smoke, soot or cleanup. The glass
globe sits on a sturdy granite base and contains flames that
warm heat-emitting stones in a bed of decorative sand. Fill the
aromatherapy glass bowl with included essential oils (fir,
orange, rosemary or cinnamon) to enhance relaxation. Fireplace
will comfortably heat a small room and augment heating in larger
rooms. Germany/Australia/Poland. $160.00 - $899.00.
www.gaiam.com
T
Alcove Wall Shelf
ne frustrating thing about standard shelves is
that they don’t often accommodate for items of
different heights; It’s often tough to fit a vase or
a few records alongside your paperbacks. This steel and
sheet metal unit, made by CB2, will allow you to display
all your things together (although you might need to
invest in some bookends). $159.00. From: www.cb2.com
O
HY MINI UNIVERSAL CHARGER
he HYmini is a handheld universal charger/adapter
device that harnesses renewable wind power / solar
power and conventional wall plug power to recharge
digital gadgets. It stores energy collected from a wall plug,
renewable DC input, wind and sun. $49.99.
http://www.dwell.com
T
Organic Cotton Tote Bag
aper
or
Plastic?
Neither! Use
your Mother Earth
News
tote
bag
instead! 100-percent
all-natural cotton…
and completely leadfree. 12" x 14", $9.95.
Available online from
motherearthnews.com
P
50
EARTH STAR
GREEN LIVING
FUJIYA FLOOR & DESK LAMP
are Studio, a new British company, produces small quantities
of quality furniture and lighting.
The stylish Fujiya Floor and Desk Lamps
have a slightly angled stem, tilting the
powder-coated steel shade a bit to cast
some ever-so-slanted rays on your sofa or
desk. Colors: red, white, American Black
Walnut, White Oak More info from:
www.darestudio.co.uk.
D
natural home and garden
Make Your Own Suitcase Seat
or the guest bedroom or attic hideaway, this suitcase chair is perfect
impromptu seating. Pull it out when you need a place to perch, then fold
up the straps and close up the suitcase, and it tucks away in the closet
or under a bed.
Old suitcases bring back a certain whimsy, charm and character from their
long-ago travels. That makes them hard to throw away, even if they don’t cut it
for modern air travel. You can recycle your old baggage into innovative and useful seating. Whether they’re used as a casual perch or a chair that’s there where
you need it, these old suitcases are heading off to a new life.
1. ATTACH STRAPS: Side straps of patterned webbing keep the back at a
comfortable angle. We drilled holes in the suitcase and used barrel nuts to
attach the straps.
2. CUSHIONING: Cushion the chair with UltraTouch recycled denim insulation, 100 percent cotton fiber that’s less toxic than foam (BondedLogic.com).
Using scissors, cut your pieces 2 or 3 inches wider and taller than your case.
You’ll need 2 or 3 layers for the bottom.
3. UPHOLSTERY: Use heavyweight fabric such as cotton, linen, or hemp for
the cushions. Wrap the batts in the fabric as though you were wrapping a present. Then secure with safety pins.
4. ATTACH CUSHION: Here’s where cutting your batts slightly oversized
starts making sense. Squeeze the wrapped cushions into the suitcase so friction, not glue, will keep them in place.
5. SECURE FABRIC: Because it’s fighting gravity, the back cushion will benefit from upholstery tacks hammered through the fabric into the case every 6
inches or so.
6. OPTIONAL LEGS: If you want to add legs to your chair, buy new ones at
TableLegs.com (or use existing materials around the house). Use top plates
from the hardware store to attach the legs to the suitcase. For added stability,
place 1-by-4-inch boards across the interior of the suitcase at the front and
back before attaching the legs. —Natural Home Magazine
F
TRAVETTA HUMIDIFIER
itch the dowdy, humming, plug-in
humidifier for a sultry ceramic model,
designed by Patricia Urquiola and
made by Il Coccio, that sits on the radiator.
Harness the heat to turn the water in the tray
into moisture in the air. More info:
martinispa.com
D
EARTH STAR
51
THE D E -I NDUSTRIALIZATION
OF
A MERICA
from Common Ground Independent Media
C
hanges Are Coming. Whether these
changes are good or bad depends in part on
how we adapt to them. But, ready or not,
here they come
1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term.
Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the
minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive.
Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Check. Britain is already laying the groundwork
to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial
system billions of dollars a year to process checks.
Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the
eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the
death of the post office If you never paid your bills by
mail and never received them by mail, the post office
would absolutely go out of business.
3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply
doesn’t read the newspaper. They certainly don’t subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the
way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading
the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in
mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the
newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance.
They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell
phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal
pages. I said the same thing about downloading music
52
EARTH STAR
from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly
changed my mind when I discovered that I could get
albums for half the price without ever leaving home to
get the latest music. The same thing will happen with
books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read
a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less
than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen
instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the
story, can’t wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you’re holding a gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large
family and make a lot of local calls, you don’t need it
anymore. Most people keep it simply because they’ve
always had it. But you are paying double charges for that
extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you
call customers using the same cell provider for no
charge against your minutes
6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change
story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just
because of illegal downloading. It’s the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people
who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the
problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates
are simply self-destructing. Over forty percent of the
music purchased today is “catalog items,” meaning
traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older
established artists. This is also true on the live concert
circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic
further, check out the book, Appetite for SelfDestruction by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, Before the Music Dies.
7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are
watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they’re playing games and doing lots of other
things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to
lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates
are skyrocketing and commercials run about every four
minutes and thirty seconds. I say good riddance to most
of it. It’s time for the cable companies to be put out of
our misery. Let the people choose what they want to
watch online and through Netflix.
8. The “Things” That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we
may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in “the cloud.” Today your computer has a
hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies,
and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and
you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is
changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing
up their latest “cloud services.” That means that when
you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the
operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac
OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an
icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you
save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you
may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud
provider.
In this virtual world, you can access your music or
your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That’s the good news. But, will you actually
own any of this “stuff” or will it all be able to disappear
at any moment in a big “Poof?” Will most of the things
in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you
want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album,
grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and
pull out the insert.
9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look
back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That’s gone.
It’s been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras
on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into
your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that
24/7, “They” know who you are and where you are, right
down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street
View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a
zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those
habits. And “They” will try to get you to buy something
else. Again and again.
19 Facts About The Deindustrialization of
America That Will Blow Your Mind
The United States is rapidly becoming the very first
“post-industrial” nation on the globe. All great economic empires eventually become fat and lazy and squander
the great wealth that their forefathers have left them, but
the pace at which America is accomplishing this is
absolutely amazing. It was America that was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. It was America that
showed the world how to mass produce everything from
automobiles to televisions to airplanes. It was the great
American manufacturing base that crushed Germany
and Japan in World War II.
But now we are witnessing the deindustrialization of
America. Tens of thousands of factories have left the
United States in the past decade alone Millions upon
millions of manufacturing jobs have been lost in the
same time period. The United States has become a
nation that consumes everything in sight and yet produces increasingly little. Do you know what our biggest
export is today? Waste paper. Yes, trash is the number
one thing that we ship out to the rest of the world as we
voraciously blow our money on whatever the rest of the
world wants to sell to us The United States has become
bloated and spoiled and our economy is now just a shadow of what it once was. Once upon a time America could
literally out produce the rest of the world combined.
Today that is no longer true, but Americans sure do consume more than anyone else in the world. If the deindustrialization of America continues at this current pace,
what possible kind of a future are we going to be leaving to our children?
Any great nation throughout history has been great
at making things. So if the United States continues to
allow its manufacturing base to erode at a staggering
pace how in the world can the U.S. continue to consider
itself to be a great nation? We have created the biggest
debt bubble in the history of the world in an effort to
maintain a very high standard of living, but the current
state of affairs is not anywhere close to sustainable.
Every single month America goes into more debt and
every single month America gets poorer.
So what happens when the debt bubble pops?
The deindustrialization of the United States should
be a top concern for every man, woman and child in the
country. But sadly, most Americans do not have any idea
what is going on around them.
For people like that, take this article and print it out
and hand it to them. Perhaps what they will read below
will shock them badly enough to awaken them from
their slumber.
EARTH STAR
53
The following are 19 facts about the deindustrialization
of America that will blow your mind....
than twelve million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.
#1 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001. About 75% of those factories employed
over 500 people when they were still in operation.
#12 In the United States today, consumption accounts for
70% of GDP Of this 70%, over half is spent on services.
#2 Dell Inc., one of America’s largest manufacturers of
computers, has announced plans to dramatically expand
its operations in China with an investment of over $100
billion over the next decade.
#3 Dell has announced that it will be closing its last
large U.S. manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina in November. Approximately 900 jobs
will be lost.
#4 In 2008, 1.2 billion cell phones were sold worldwide. So how many of them were manufactured inside
the United States? Zero.
#5 According to a new study conducted by the Economic
Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will
lose over half a million jobs this year alone.
#6 As of the end of July, the U.S. trade deficit with
China had risen 18% compared to the same time period
a year ago.
#7 The United States has lost a total of about 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000.
#8 According to Tax Notes, between 1999 and 2008
employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies increased an astounding 30% to 10.1 million.
During that exact same time period, U.S. employment at
American multinational corporations declined 8% to
21.1 million.
#9 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of
U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented 11.5%.
#10 Ford Motor Company recently announced the closure of a factory that produces the Ford Ranger in St.
Paul, Minnesota. Approximately 750 good paying middle class jobs are going to be lost because making Ford
Rangers in Minnesota does not fit in with Ford’s new
“global” manufacturing strategy.
#13 The United States has lost a whopping 32% of its
manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.
#14 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the
world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it
ranks 15th.
#15 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer
industry is actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975.
#16 Printed circuit boards are used in tens of thousands
of different products. Asia now produces 84% of them
worldwide.
#17 The United States spends approximately $3.90 on
Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on
goods from the United States.
#18 One prominent economist is projecting that the
Chinese economy will be three times larger than the
U.S. economy by the year 2040.
#19 The U.S. Census Bureau says that 43.6 million
Americans are now living in poverty and according to
them that is the highest number of poor Americans in the
51 years that records have been kept.
So how many tens of thousands more factories do we
need to lose before we do something about it?
How many millions more Americans are going to
become unemployed before we all admit that we have a
very, very serious problem on our hands?
How many more trillions of dollars are going to
leave the country before we realize that we are losing
wealth at a pace that is killing our economy?
How many once great manufacturing cities are
going to become rotting war zones like Detroit before
we understand that we are committing national economic
suicide?
The de-industrialization of America is a national
crisis. It needs to be treated like one.
#11 As of the end of 2009, less than twelve million
Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time less
54
EARTH STAR
The Hundred Years Starship
TH E NASA
M I S S I O N T H AT W I L L TA K E A S T R O N A U T S T O
. . . A N D L E AV E T H E M T H E R E F O R E V E R !
MARS
By Niall Firth
N
ASA is planning an audacious mission to
send a manned spacecraft on a one-way
trip to permanently settle on other
planets.
for one-way trips to Mars with Google co-founder Larry
Page, telling him such a mission could be done for $10
billion.
He said said: ‘His response was, “Can you get it
down to $1 [billion] or $2billion?” So now we’re start-
The ambitious idea is known as the Hundred Years
Starship and would send astronauts to colonise planets
like Mars, knowing they could never come home.
NASA Ames Director Pete Worden revealed that
one of NASA’s main research centres, Ames Research
Centre, has received £1million funding to start work on
the project.
The research team has also received an additional
$100,000 from Nasa.
‘You heard it here,” Worden said at ‘Long
Conversation,’ an event in San Francisco. ‘We also hope
to inveigle some billionaires to form a Hundred Year
Starship fund.’
He added: ‘The human space program is now really
aimed at settling other worlds. Twenty years ago you had
to whisper that in dark bars and get fired.’
Worden said he has discussed the potential price tag
55
on Mars is a desirable goal, scientifically and politically. The
strategy of one-way missions
brings this goal within technological and financial feasibility.
NASA’s Mars Exploration
Rover Spirit work on the planet’s
surface. One day humans could
be working alongside the robotic
probe
‘Nevertheless, to attain it would
require not only major international cooperation, but a return
to the exploration spirit and risktaking ethos of the great period
of Earth exploration, from
Columbus to Amundsen, but
An artist’s impression of a Mars base manned by astronauts
which has nowadays being
who would have to learn to be self-sufficient
replaced with a culture of safety
ing to get a little argument over the price.’
and political correctness.’
Worden also suggested that new technologies such
They admit that the mission would come with ‘ethias synthetic biology and alterations to the human cal considerations’ with the general public feeling that
genome could also be explored ahead of the mission.
the Martian pioneers had been abandoned to their fate or
And he said that he believed the mission should visit sacrificed.
Mars’ moons first, where scientists can do extensive
But they argue that these first inhabitants of Mars
telerobotics exploration of the planet. He claims that would be going in much the same spirit as the first white
humans could be on Mars’ moons by 2030.
settlers of North America—travelling to a distant land,
Astronauts would be marooned on the planet’s sur- knowing that they will never return home.
face and would never be able to return home due to cost
They say: ‘Explorers such as Columbus, Frobisher,
News of the Hundred Years Starship comes as new Scott and Amundsen, while not embarking on their voyresearch found that a one-way human mission to Mars is ages with the intention of staying at their destination,
technologically feasible and would be a cheaper option nevertheless took huge personal risks to explore new
than bringing astronauts back.
lands, in the knowledge that there was a significant likeWriting in the Journal of Cosmology, scientists Dirk lihood that they would perish in the attempt.’
Schulze-Makuch and Paul Davies, say that the envision
sending four volunteer astronauts on the first mission to
permanently colonise Mars.
They write: ‘A one-way
human mission to Mars would
not be a fixed duration project
as in the Apollo program, but
the first step in establishing a
permanent human presence on
the planet.’
The astronauts would be
sent supplies from Earth on a
regular basis but they would
be expected to become selfsufficient on the red planet’s
surface as soon as possible.
They say: There are many
reasons why a human colony
56
EARTH STAR
Quadruple-Dose
Seasonal Flu “Super” Vaccine
Now Being Aggressively Pushed
Onto Senior Citizens
by Mike Adams
he vaccine industry has now decided that
injecting senior citizens with the “standard” vaccine dose just isn’t working.
(Gee, really?) So now they’ve decided the
way to make it work better is to offer a
quadruple viral potency vaccine that packs 400% more
viral fragments into one toxic shot.
The target for this quadruple vaccine injection?
Senior citizens, of course—the very people most likely
to suffer the most serious side effects from a vaccine
overdose. The FDA reportedly approved the new
vaccine in April even though no scientific tests have ever
been done to show it reduces flu symptoms. Then again,
since when did vaccines have anything to do with real
science in the first place?
T
Why Do People Need A Quadruple Vaccine
All of A Sudden?
What’s especially entertaining about all this is that the
FDA’s approval of this quadruple potency vaccine is a
blatant admission that single-dose vaccines just don’t
work! Obviously, if the single-dose vaccine was working as advertised, then it would be 100% effective and
there would be no need for a double, triple or quadrupledose vaccine. But all of a sudden, now that the quadruple-dose vaccine is available, the regular single-dose
vaccine “isn’t good enough.”
So all that propaganda about “get a flu shot and you
won’t get the flu” just turns out to be marketing quackery,
because what you really need is a quadruple shot now!
Forget the single dose. It’s no longer strong enough for
you.
So where does this end? When they realize the
quadruple shot isn’t working either (because seasonal
flu vaccines just scientifically do not work on at least
99% of the people), are they going to recommend a ten
times the potency flu shot? Seriously... at what point do
these vaccine pushers ever stop to consider that maybe
the vaccine approach just doesn’t work?
More Money With Higher Profit Flu Shots
Of course, flu shots have never been about what works
in the first place. They’re about what makes the most
money. This new quadruple flu shot is being sold at
about twice the price of a regular flu shot.
Meanwhile, there have been absolutely no scientific
studies demonstrating that the new quadruple vaccine is
any more effective than the single-dose vaccine. Come
to think of it, there aren’t any scientific studies that
prove this year’s seasonal flu vaccine is effective in any
way whatsoever at preventing the flu. The science has
simply never been done. It’s all just based on “wishful
thinking” combined with massive flu shot propaganda.
Taking a flu vaccine is a crap shoot, and taking the
quadruple super vaccine is just a quadruple crap shoot.
People who enjoy playing Russian Roulette with their
health will no doubt line up to be injected.
Pseudoscientific Quackery
Check out the derision of those pushing this vaccine.
EARTH STAR
57
The LA Times reports that Dr Mobeen Rathore, a vaccinologist at the University of Florida, said, “If you’re
somebody who has a reaction from the low-dose vaccine, then I would stick with the low-dose. But if you’ve
VITAMINS GET RID
OF
DARK CIRCLES
lthough the dark circles
under the eyes may not
cause any serious health
problem, they are often a cause of
great cosmetic concern, adding
years to your appearance or making
you look haggard or unhealthy.
There are a number of different
natural remedies for dark under
eye circles—such as vitamins.
Vitamins can be used topically or
orally to get rid of dark circles
The Mayo Clinic recommends
getting rid of your dark circles by
applying a vitamin-rich cream. A
2004 clinical study conducted by
researchers at Tokyo’s Nippon
Medical School showed that a topical gel treatment containing vitamins A, C, K and E had moderately
effective results in reducing dark
circles. The gel, which was applied
twice a day, contained 2% vitamin
K, 0.1% retinol (Vitamin A), 0.1%
vitamin C and 0.1% vitamin E .
Several over-the-counter creams
contain these vitamins.
Tanushree Podder, in her book
A
58
EARTH STAR
been taking the vaccine for years and have no reaction,
get the high-dose vaccine. Or if there’s nothing else
available except the high-dose vaccine, get the high
dose. The most important thing is: Get the vaccine. It
doesn’t matter which one.”
And there you have it: They don’t really care which
flu shot you take as long as you’re injecting yourself
with something.
Pay attention to what they’re NOT telling you about
the flu: Doctors, FDA officials and CDC quacks will
never admit that the best way to prevent the flu is to
take vitamin D3 supplements. It has been scientifically
shown to be many times more effective than a vaccine
shot.
So why isn’t there a big push for quadruple-dose
vitamin D supplementation for senior citizens? Because,
gee whiz, that might reduce flu shot revenues, cancer
clinic profits and hospital visits by seniors—and they’re
the bread and butter of sick-care industry profits.
The very last thing our modern medical racket wants
is for senior citizens to figure out how to protect their
own health without relying on chemical interventions.
UNDER THE
1000 Plus Household Hints, recommends treating your dark circles
with slices of pumpkin. What makes
pumpkin effective? Pumpkin contains Vitamins A, C, and K, which
help to reverse the effect of the dark
circles. Place the pumpkin slices
over your under-eye area for a few
minutes each day.
Amparo Salvador and Alberto
Chisvert report that dermatologists
have recently discovered that
Vitamin K is effective at getting rid
of dark circles under the eyes. In
their book, Analysis of Cosmetic
Products, they explain that this vitamin helps to minimize the appearance of under-eye circles that may
result from poor blood flow beneath
the eyes
In her book, Your Health Is in
Your Kitchen, Gwenyfar notes that
dark circles are among the more visible symptoms of a Vitamin K deficiency. She writes that you can
reverse this deficiency by adding
foods rich in vitamin K to your diet.
These include brown rice, eggs, oat-
EYES
meal, wheat, alfalfa, cornmeal,
sweet potatoes, liver, soybeans, and
milk.
B vitamins help to reduce water
retention, explains Lisa Drayer in
The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has
Never Been So Delicious. Water
retention often causes puffy eyes,
which result in dark circles under the
eyes. The different B vitamins work
together, so you should ensure that
you take all of them. Foods rich in
the various vitamins are walnuts
(Vitamins B1 and B7), yogurt (B2
and B5), wild salmon (B3), spinach
(B9), and oysters (B12). Walnuts,
salmon, and spinach also contain
Vitamin B6. —Natural News
Future Cars
Hybrids and Electrics
In 2010 And Beyond
hat’s coming in hybrid and electric
vehicles over the next few years?
The market for electricity-sippers is
expected to boom over the coming
12-24 months, with options ranging
from hybrid vehicles (think of the Toyota Prius for an
example) to plug-in hybrid vehicles (those that get a little extra “juice” from your wall outlet for more electric
range) to pure electric vehicles (like Nissan’s Leaf, running only on electric power with no tailpipe emissions)
to range-extender electric vehicles (think of GM’s
Chevy Volt, which runs on electric power most of the
time until a small gas or diesel engine starts to support
long-distance driving).
W
Could you be driving an electric or hybrid in the next
few years?
Chevrolet Volt
Release Date: 2011
Powertrain: Plug-in
electric with rangeextender fuel engine
Why It’s Important:
GM’s “moonshot” is the ultra high-mile Chevy Volt
plug-in electric vehicle, said to get 230 mpg. If GM pulls
this off they could
reclaim the green
mantle from Toyota.
Honda CR-Z
hybrid
Release Date: 2010
Powertrain: Hybrid
Why It’s Important: Honda’s well of fun little sports cars
runs deep and the CR-Z clearly brings up memories of
the light and fantastic (and fuel-sippin’) CRX hatchback. Add a hybrid system and they might have found a
new formula for the
hatchback crowd.
Audi Q5 hybrid
Release Date: 2011
Powertrain: Hybrid
Audi hasn’t been
quick to debut hybrid systems in their vehicles, choosing
mostly to stick to diesels. This Q5 could be their way of
testing the water by putting their toe in the water.
BMW 7-series
hybrid
Release Date: 2010
Powertrain: Hybrid
Unsatisfied with
Lexus (and the
forthcoming Fisker Karma) owning the luxury hybrid
sedan space, BMW’s new 7-series hybrid should differentiate itself by providing extra oomph (442 lb-ft of
torque will be on tap).
Buick “Baby Enclave”
Release Date: 2011
Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid
Why It’s Important: If
59
Buick is truly going to become a great American brand
again, they need to start innovating. This system should
use the same running gear as the 230-mpg Chevy Volt,
making this new Buick an exciting one to watch.
Fisker Karma
Release Date: Late
2009
Powertrain: Plug-in
electric with rangeextender fuel engine
Arguably one of the most beautiful new designs on the
road, the Karma should do for the nascent Fisker brand
what all great cars do: garner maximum attention. That
the Karma will be one of the first plug-in electric vehicles available on the market, it should have about a year
on its own before the major manufacturers start competing with it head on.
Honda Fit hybrid
Release Date: 2010
Powertrain: Hybrid
The
Fit
could
become one of the
cheapest hybrids on
the market today, creating a wave of new hybrid owners.
Right now the cheapest hybrid on the market is the Fit’s
older brother, the Honda Insight, but at about $20,000
that is still out of reach for many buyers.
Mercedes-Benz
ML450 hybrid
Release Date: Late
2009
Powertrain: Hybrid
Why It’s Important: At 29 miles per gallon combined,
the S400 can boast about more than just its MercedesBenz badge on its hood. Of course, luxury vehicles have
an easier time being green: their buyers can afford to
absorb the costs of their systems.
Nissan 370Z
hybrid
Release
Date:
Possibly never
Powertrain: Hybrid
A hybrid sports car? Isn’t this blasphemy? Well, in some
circles it just might be; in others, not so much. The idea
of a 370Z hybrid is something along the lines of pure
speculation at this point, but we do know Nissan and
Infiniti are working on their own hybrid system and
internal plans continue to look into its use on the famous
Z sports car.
Nissan Leaf
Release Date: Late
2010 or early 2011
Powertrain: Plug-in
electric
Why It’s Important: Nissan claims the Leaf will have a
fuel equivalent of 367 miles per gallon. That’s not a
typo. For now, though, the Leaf is still just a prototype.
Expect it to come to market in a year or so in limited
markets, mostly in the west.
Porsche Cayenne hybrid
Release Date: 2011
Powertrain: Hybrid
Powertrain: Hybrid
With a 3.5-liter V6 a trusy battery pack, the ML450
hybrid can go 1.8 miles or up to 34 mph on battery
power alone (take that,
2010 Prius).
Mercedes-Benz
S400 hybrid
Release Date: 2010
60
EARTH STAR
Porsche has big
plans for its big
truck and it’s no
secret that many of
its buyers have
interest in hybrid powertrains (and, no doubt, the money
to pay for such a luxury). Expect the Cayenne hybrid to
carry a premium price tag and something near 25 MPG.
Porsche
Panamera hybrid
Release Date: 2011
Powertrain: Hybrid
Porsche is now making a sedan called the Panamera; it’s expected to go on
sale in October of 2009. Since luxury sedan buyers now
expect hybrids as part of an options package, Porsche
will feature a parallel hybrid system (meaning it can
drive under electric power, gasoline power, or both),
meaning it will travel on electric power up to 70 miles
per hour.
Toyota Prius
plug-in hybrid
Release Date:
2011
S EVERE W EATHER THREATENS
WORLD FOOD SUPPLY
xtreme weather conditions across the globe
are destroying crops, cattle and land, as
nations struggle through things like
droughts, floods and other natural phenomena. And
while some say that these occurrences are natural,
cyclic effects from variations in solar activity, others
point to climate change as the culprit.
Russian wheat crop failures, Kansas cattle deaths
and flooding in Pakistan are among the many
struggles currently being faced by nations around the
world, but why are these extreme weather conditions
occurring in the first place? This is a question many
are asking as they work to cope with the destruction
and seek a solution.
E
Powertrain:
Plug-in hybrid
Why It’s Important: A Prius is already a hybrid that gets
50 mpg, but Toyota is readying a plug-in hybrid version
of the car, making it even more efficient. Toyota says that
plug-in hybrid versions of its Prius hatchback are averaging 65 miles per gallon in real-world testing.
Volvo V70 hybrid
Release Date: 2012 or beyond
Powertrain: Plug-in
hybrid
Volvo is expected
to launch its hybrid
system (a plug-in
one, at that) in their
famous wagon lineup. The V70 has long been a Volvo classic (think of old
240 Volvo station wagons from the 80s and 90s) and the
company’s first hybrid system makes sense to launch
here first. There are also rumors that Volvo is launching
a hybrid or electric version of its small C30 hatchback,
too.
Weather extremes have put a heavy strain on
food production, which could lead to skyrocketing
food prices like the ones seen back in 2007 and 2008
when food was in short supply due to similar events.
And according to a recent Reuters article, many are
calling for further talks and agreements to be made
about climate change legislation as a solution to the
problem.
According to Neville Nicholls, a climate scientist at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia,
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles and
human industrial activity is leading to “more and
more hot extremes and worse unprecedented
extremes.” He and others believe global talks must
continue to address practical ways to deal with CO2
emissions, and that the time is now to push for
climate legislation.
Still others, though, point to the sun’s normal
cyclic rise and fall in activity as the instigator of
alleged global warming, and say that climate legislation will only serve to further erode personal
freedom and national sovereignty. —NaturalNews
61
Look Out!
Your Medicine is Watching You
By Ben Hirschler
ovartis AG plans to seek regulatory
approval within eighteen months for a
pioneering tablet containing an embedded
microchip, bringing the concept of
“smart-pill” technology a step closer.
The initial program will use one of the Swiss firm’s
established drugs taken by transplant patients to avoid
organ rejection. But Trevor Mundel, global head of
development, believes the concept can be applied to
many other pills.
“We are taking forward this transplant drug with a
chip and we hope within the next eighteen months to
have something that we will be able to submit to the
regulators, at least in Europe,” Mundel told the Reuters
Health Summit in New York.
“I see the promise as going much beyond that,” he
added. Novartis agreed in January to spend $24 million
to secure access to chip-in-a-pill technology developed
by privately owned Proteus Biomedical of Redwood
City, California, putting it ahead of rivals.
The biotech start-up’s ingestible chips are activated
by stomach acid and send information to a small patch
worn on the patient’s which can transmit data to a smartphone or send it over the Internet to a doctor.Mundel
N
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EARTH STAR
said the initial project was focused on ensuring that
patients took drugs at the right time and got the dose
they needed—a key issue for people after kidney and
other transplant operations, when treatment frequently
needs adjustment. Longer-term, he hopes to expand the
“smart pill” concept to other types of medicine and use
the wealth of biometric information the Proteus chip can
collect, from heart rate and temperature to body movement, to check that drugs are working properly. Because
the tiny chips are added to existing drugs, Novartis does
not expect to have to conduct full-scale clinical trials to
prove the new products work. Instead, it aims to do socalled bioequivalence tests to show they are the same as
the original. A bigger issue may be what checks should
be put in place to protect patients’ personal medical data
as it is transmitted from inside their bodies by wireless
and Bluetooth. “The regulators all like the concept and
have been very encouraging. But ... they want to understand how we are going to solve the data privacy issues,”
Mundel said.
A technology that ensures a patient takes his or her
medicine and checks that it is working properly should
deliver better outcomes and justify a higher price tag.
B i g P h a r m a to Begin
M i c r o c h i p p i n g Drugs
by Mike Adams
he age of pharmaceutical microchipping
is now upon us. Novartis AG, one of the
largest drug companies in the world, has
announced a plan to begin embedding
microchips in medications to create
“smart pill” technology. The microchip technology is
being licensed from Proteus Biomedical of Redwood
City, California. Once activated by stomach acid, the
embedded microchip begins sensing its environment and
broadcasting data to a receiver warn by the patient. This
receiver is also a transmitter that can send the data over
the internet to a doctor.
The idea behind all this is to create “smart pills” that
can sense what’s happening in the body and deliver that
information to the patient’s doctor. Novartis plans to
start microchipping its organ transplant anti-rejection
drugs and then potentially expand microchipping to
other pharmaceuticals in its product lineup. This same
technology could soon end up in pills made by other
drug companies, too.
T
The best laid plans...
It all sounds good on the surface, but NaturalNews readers no doubt have lots of skeptical questions about this
technology. For starters, Novartis apparently isn’t planning on conducting any clinical trials that might take
into account the safety issues of swallowing microchips.
“Novartis does not expect to have to conduct full-scale
clinical trials to prove the new products work,” reports
Reuters. “Instead, it aims to do so-called bioequivalence
tests to show they are the same as the original.”
But I have a question: What chemicals or heavy
metals are contained in the microchip itself? A
microchip that transmits data obviously must have a
power source, meaning it needs to have a very small
battery or capacitor of some sort. The materials used in
capacitors and batteries, to my knowledge, are toxic to
the human body and should never be eaten.
Microchips are not food, and to swallow them seems
risky to your health, especially if you’re swallowing several microchips per day.
Data privacy
Another huge concern with microchips that transmit
data is data privacy. If these microchips are broadcasting
information, then obviously that information can be
picked up by anything nearby, including potentially
unscrupulous individuals or organizations that might put
it to a nefarious use.
For example, suppose a local pharmacy store installs
a microchip signal detector in their main door entrance
in order to track people who are broadcasting medication data. They could then theoretically decode that data
and use it to determine what health condition that customer might be suffering and then push competing
generic pharmaceuticals as a replacement. Government
agents could carry “pharma microchip scanners” that
determine what pills you’re taking right now. This could
be used to violate your privacy by sharing that data with
other government agencies or it could even be sold off to
third-party marketing companies.
I very much doubt the data being broadcast by the
microchips in these pills will be encrypted because
encryption requires real processing power, and there
isn’t room for much of a CPU or power source inside
these tiny microchips. Most likely, they are going to
EARTH STAR
63
broadcast raw signal data that can be detected and
decoded quite easily.
Remember to take your meds
But the really scary part about these microchipped medications is that this technology will be used to make sure
people are taking their medication. Drug companies lose
billions of dollars a year (in their minds) from patients
not remembering to take their pills. Of course, half the
reason they can’t remember to take their pills is because
many pharmaceuticals damage cognitive function, but
that’s another story.
So this smart-pill microchip technology will likely
be used to track what pills patients have taken so that
they can be “gently reminded” to take more pills they
may have forgotten. In the marketing business, this is
called a “continuity program.” It’s a way to make sure
repeat sales happen on a regular basis. In this context,
microchipping the pills benefits the drug companies, not
necessarily the patients. This is especially true when
considering those pharmaceuticals that are harmful to
human health—and we all know the pharmaceutical
market is full of pills that have later been found to be
extremely dangerous or even deadly (Vioxx, anyone?).
Coming soon: Police drug scanners and
employer drug scanners
Now, there may be one interesting side effect to all this:
Employers who are interviewing potential job candidates might be able to buy (or make) simple drug
scanning devices that detect the presence of a pharmaceutical microchip broadcast signal. (You could
probably make one in your garage from electronic parts
purchased at Radio Shack.)
This might be very useful for employers who don’t
want to hire people taking medications. They invite you
in for an interview and quietly scan for drug broadcast
data. A red light tells them you’re broadcasting medication data, and they calmly tell you the interview is over
and “we’ll get back to you.” With employers right now
drowning in health insurance costs, this could provide a
simple, easy way for corporations to avoid taking on anyone who might create a cost burden on their health insurance plans (from their point of view). I don’t necessarily
agree with this use of the technology; I’m just saying this
is one way in which it is likely to be used by employers to
screen out employees who are on medications.
Cops, too, could use a similar scanning device to
determine if a driver at the scene of an accident might be
medication impaired.
Now this is a use I actually do agree with. Today’s
roadways are filled with mentally impaired drivers who
64
EARTH STAR
are doped up on medications. The problem is actually
far worse than drunk drivers, by the way, and yet virtually nothing is being done to combat this problem of
“medicated drivers.” (Most people don’t even know the
problem exists.)
If people taking medications are broadcasting that
fact through all the little microchips they swallow, then
scanning for the presence of medications is simple. It’s
even easier than a breathalyzer test because it requires
no action on the part of the test subject. The cop just
presses a button, waits two seconds, and can then determine whether you’re broadcasting medication data. At
that point, you might be arrested under suspicion of
“driving while medicated.”
Another reason not to take meds
There are clearly a lot of unanswered questions and even
some potential risks involved in taking microchipped
pharmaceuticals. For some people, privacy issues may
be the biggest factor of all, because who wants to broadcast the fact that they’re taking meds in the first place?
I don’t take any pharmaceuticals, obviously, and
most NaturalNews readers avoid them, too. The fact that
drugs will soon be microchipped is yet another good
reason to find more holistic ways to take care of your
health. Don’t bet your life (and your privacy) on Big
Pharma’s pills. Choose a healthy, holistic lifestyle based
on nutritious, organic foods, regular exercise and the
avoidance of all man-made (synthetic) chemicals, and
you most likely won’t ever need pharmaceuticals for
your entire life.
The age of microchipping people and microchipping medications is now upon us. Given what the TSA
is doing right now with naked body scanners, you can
only imagine what Big Brother will do with any
medication data you might be broadcasting from inside
your body. In fact, the very idea that there is a microchip
inside your body that’s broadcasting data might get you
flagged as a possible terrorist by the TSA, which would
then proceed to finger your genitals and palm your
breasts as part of their new “enhanced pat-down”
groping technique.
The best way to avoid all this risk is to simply eat
your veggies and drink
your superfoods. Don’t
become a trackable,
traceable, microchipped
subject of the medical
industry that wants to
turn your body into a
chemical profit center.

ANGEL WORDS - Earth Star Magazine

Transcription

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