Hunger Games Movie - Katniss is Cast

Personally, I am ecstatic that there is going to be a Hunger Games movie!! There's some controversy floating around about the actress that has been cast for the roll of Katniss. I can't say too much since I have not seen Jennifer Lawrence's other movie (Winters Bone), but if Suzanne picked her, then that's good enough for me!

 

'Hunger Games' director Gary Ross talks about 'the easiest casting decision of my life' -- by Karen Valby

Image Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PR Photos; Lester Cohen/WireImage.com

This afternoon Lionsgate announced that The Hunger Games had finally found its hero. Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) will play Katniss Everdeen, the embattled tribute from District 12 who goes on to lead a revolution in Suzanne Collins’ best-selling trilogy. Director Gary Ross spoke exclusively with EW about why 20-year-old Lawrence is the right actress, at the right age, to bring Katniss to life on the big screen. (Warning: Some spoilers follow.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did you know Jennifer Lawrence was your Katniss?
GARY ROSS: First, I saw Winter’s Bone, and I just thought she was phenomenally talented and just kind of riveting and amazing and had so much power. And then we had a meeting and I found her to be just a completely compelling, intelligent person. But then she came in and read for me and it just knocked me out. I don’t want to go into too many details, but we did a scene from the movie and it was so amazingly powerful that it was sort of stunning. You glimpsed every aspect of the role and the potential of the whole movie.

There’s already quite a bit of hand-wringing that, no matter how good an actress Lawrence is, at 20 she’s simply too old for the role.
First of all, I talked to Suzanne extensively about this. Suzanne saw every single audition. And not only did Suzanne not have an issue with Jen’s age, she felt you need someone of a certain maturity and power to be Katniss. This is a girl who needs to incite a revolution. We can’t have an insubstantial person play her, and we can’t have someone who’s too young to play this. Suzanne was incredibly adamant about this. Far from being too old, she was very concerned that we would cast someone who was too young. In Suzanne’s mind, and in mine, Katniss is not a young girl. It’s important for her to be a young woman. She’s a maternal figure in her family. She’s had to take care of Prim, and in many ways her mother, since her father’s death. She’s had to grow up pretty quickly.

Was the opportunity to side step any child labor laws an added bonus?
That’s not the reason. I absolutely cast the right person for the role and in my view there wasn’t even a question who the best Katniss was. It was the easiest casting decision I ever made in my life.

In the books, Katniss is described as being olive-skinned, dark-haired, possibly biracial. Did you discuss with Suzanne the implications of casting a blond, caucasian girl?
Suzanne and I talked about that as well. There are certain things that are very clear in the book. Rue is African-American. Thresh is African-American. Suzanne had no issues with Jen playing the role. And she thought there was a tremendous amount of flexibility. It wasn’t doctrine to her. Jen will have dark hair in the role, but that’s something movies can easily achieve. [Laughs] I promise all the avid fans of The Hunger Games that we can easily deal with Jennifer’s hair color.

How will this inform the rest of your casting, in terms of age, look, everything?
Now that we have Katniss, we see who feels good with her both as Peeta and Gale and the rest of her family.

Have actors already started reading with her?
No, but we’ve read a lot of people for a lot of roles. Obviously, we have to make sure that the cast balances and makes sense. We’re very close. I have very, very good ideas about who I want in a lot of other roles. So I think there’ll be a lot of stuff coming pretty quickly.

Have you had conversations with her about the enormity of stepping not just into a franchise like this, but a character that is already so beloved by the world? How do you prepare a young person for that?
Oh god, have you ever met her? [Laughs] Don’t worry about Jen Lawrence. She’s a very powerful person. Jennifer is from Kentucky. I think she feels such a complete connection to who Katniss is, the way many people do, but this just seems like a very good fit to her. I think she’s very confident about the role, I think it feels very organic to her. She’s ready to dive in. She goes to archery class next week. Yeah, she’s going to start shooting arrows next week! I think by the end of the week she’s going to be learning to climb trees. She’s a very strong, confident young woman. She’s very confident in her own talent and who she is as a woman, and I think that all these things make her want to dive into the role.

Will you indulge in the blogs and message boards over the next few days to gauge fan reaction to the casting news?
I think one of the wonderful things about The Hunger Games is that everyone has such a personal relationship to the material that they feel they have a very specific idea about the character and who the character is. And that’s wonderful. And I think a lot of the debate that has gone on about who Katniss is is fantastic, because people feel very passionately that their take on the character is unique and correct. But the one that I’ve honestly listened to the most has been Suzanne, who conjured this girl out of her own imagination. To Suzanne, Jen is the perfect realization of the character who is in her head.

Home Remedies

I found an article online this morning (7 Home Remedies That Actually Work) and 2 of the 7 remedies caught my eye. The other 5 are a little more common.

The first one is eating olives to cure motion sickness.

I’ve been having more problems with motion sickness the past few years so that’s why this one caught my eye. The only problem is, I detest olives and I think eating them would probably cause puking much faster than the motion sickness would!! So, even though this may be a miracle cure, I think I will be sticking with my old friend Dramamine!

‘According to the National Library of Medicine, there are a number of symptoms that present themselves as a result of motion sickness, including increased salivation, which is the body’s way of protecting the teeth from the high doses of acid accompanied by vomit. Enter olives, which contain tannins that, when released in the mouth, work to dry saliva—first eliminating the symptom and then the body’s instinct to follow suit. However, the treatment is only effective during the early stages of nausea, when the salivation changes first appear.’

The second remedy is an interesting method for preventing tension headaches.

‘While doctors aren’t sure why we do it, clenching our teeth is a common side effect of stress. According to Fred Sheftell, MD, director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, when we clench up, we strain the muscle that connects the jaw to the temples, which can trigger a tension headache. By placing a pencil between our teeth—but not biting down—we relax our jaw muscles, which eradicates tension and reduces pain. Just remember, the remedy really only applies to tension headaches—not migraines or headaches caused by sinus pressure, etc.’

If you want to read the full article click here.

Shop to make breast milk ice cream

All I have to say to this is "Ew"...

This article is from yahoo.com

    –
    Thu Feb 24, 10:49 am ET
LONDON (Reuters) – A specialist ice cream parlor plans to serve up breast milk ice cream and says people should think of it as an organic, free-range treat.

The breast milk concoction, called the "Baby Gaga," will be available from Friday at the Icecreamists restaurant in London's Covent Garden.

Icecreamists founder Matt O'Connor was confident his take on the "miracle of motherhood" and priced at a hefty 14 pounds ($23) a serving will go down a treat with the paying public.

The breast milk was provided by mothers who answered an advertisement on online mothers' forum Mumsnet.

Victoria Hiley, 35, from London was one of 15 women who donated milk to the restaurant after seeing the advert.

Hiley works with women who have problems breast-feeding their babies. She said she believes that if adults realized how tasty breast milk actually is, then new mothers would be more willing to breast-feed their own newborns.

"What could be more natural than fresh, free-range mother's milk in an ice cream? And for me it's a recession beater too -- what's the harm in using my assets for a bit of extra cash," Hiley said in a statement.

"I tried the product for the first time today -- it's very nice, it really melts in the mouth."

The Baby Gaga recipe blends breast milk with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest, which is then churned into ice cream.

O'Connor said the Baby Gaga was just one of a dozen radical new flavors at the shop.

"Some people will hear about it and go, 'yuck' but actually it's pure, organic, free-range and totally natural," he said. "I had a Baby Gaga just this morning and I feel great."

(Reporting by Paul Casciato; Editing by Steve Addison)

Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it

Article from http://www.engadget.com/

By Tim Stevens  posted Feb 24th 2011 9:32AM

There are many players in the e-reader world, but few have managed to gain any sort of traction. Though it hasn't achieved Kindle levels of success Barnes & Noble is taking pride in saying that its Nook series of readers has conquered 25 percent of the US e-book market. The company doesn't cite any specific sales figures to back up that number, but we'll go with it. Sadly, though, there's another 25 percent number that is detailed and isn't nearly so positive: that's how much the company's profits dropped from this period last year. That was said to be due to heavy investments in the Nook but, despite that, B&N managed to post a $60.6 million profit -- certainly better than some of the competition.

Netflix Getting New Instant Streaming Material

Netflix and CBS ink two-year content deal
Article from http://www.bgr.com/

By: Zach Epstein | Feb 23rd, 2011 at 05:24AM

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Filed Under: Services

Netflix on Tuesday announced a new deal with CBS that will bring shows from the CBS library to Netflix’s portfolio of streaming content. The news comes on the same day Amazon finally debuted its new streaming video service for Amazon Prime members. Netflix and CBS did not disclose the terms of the deal, saying only that it will bring CBS content to Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” service for the next two years. CBS also has an option to extend the deal for another two years. Content covered by this new deal includes episodes of new shows such as Medium and Flashpoint, as well as full seasons of shows like Frasier and Cheers. “We are thrilled to be bringing CBS shows to Netflix and are looking forward to growing our relationship over time,” Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement. ”Netflix is now the only online premium subscription service with shows featured on all four broadcast networks and dozens of cable TV’s biggest brands.” Hit the break for the full press release from Netflix.

CBS and Netflix Announce Two-Year Licensing Agreement For Library Content
NEW YORK and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – February 22, 2011 — CBS Corporation [NYSE: CBS.A and CBS] and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced a two-year, non-exclusive licensing agreement that will allow select TV shows from CBS’s library, including episodes of ”Medium” and “Flashpoint” as well as full seasons of classics such as “Frasier,” and “Cheers,” to be streamed instantly from Netflix. CBS retains an option to extend the agreement for up to two additional years.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Beginning in early April, dozens of hit shows from CBS will join the extensive library of television shows and movies available to watch instantly from Netflix for only $7.99 a month.
Content covered under the new deal includes the long-running drama, “Medium” and the summer season favorite, “Flashpoint.”  Also covered under the agreement are episodes from some of television’s most iconic franchises.  Full seasons of sitcom greats “Frasier,” “Family Ties” and “Cheers” will be streaming instantly from Netflix.  Episodes from the original “Hawaii Five-0″ are included in the package, as are episodes from all generations of the definitive sci-fi series, “Star Trek,” and the cult favorite, “Twin Peaks.”  Installments of ’60s classics, “The Twilight Zone” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” will be available as well.
“This deal recognizes the increasing value of our content in today’s marketplace,” said Scott Koondel, President of Distribution, CBS Television Distribution.  “More and more, people want to be able to access our programming on a wide variety of platforms.  We are very pleased that the titles offered through this deal will now also be made available to a whole new community through the terrific and convenient service that Netflix offers.  We will continue to pursue additional non-exclusive distribution partners that are additive to our overall business.”
“We are thrilled to be bringing CBS shows to Netflix and are looking forward to growing our relationship over time,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix. ”Netflix is now the only online premium subscription service with shows featured on all four broadcast networks and dozens of cable TV’s biggest brands.”

I came across this article and I’m a little disappointed. On one hand I’ve never really put too much belief in ‘reading the stars’ but on the other hand I’ve always been proud of being a stubborn earthy bull (aka Taurus). Since there has been an astrological shift, I am now Aries.  I have traits of both signs and am a closer match to Taurus, but I guess I should start embracing the ram instead of the bull.

Horoscope Hang-Up: Earth Rotation Changes Zodiac Signs

By: Megan Friedman

Topics: astrology, bizarre, horoscope, new Zodiac, zodiac

If you're the type of person who relies on mysterious-sounding locations of stars to determine your personality and outcome in life, get ready to be shocked.

The field of astrology, which is concerned with horoscopes and the like, felt a major disruption from astronomers, who are concerned with actual stars and planets. The astronomers from the Minnesota Planetarium Society found that because of the moon's gravitational pull on Earth, the alignment of the stars was pushed by about a month.

"When [astrologers] say that the sun is in Pisces, it's really not in Pisces," noted Parke Kunkle, a member of the group's board. Your astrological sign is determined by the position of the sun on the day you were born, so that means everything you thought you knew about your horoscope is wrong.

It turns out that astrology has had issues from its inception. (Aside from the fact that it tries to link personality traits with positions of the stars.) Ancient Babylonians had 13 constellations, but wanted only 12, so threw out Ophuchicus, the snake holder. Libra didn't even enter the picture until the era of Julius Caesar.

According to the Minnesota Planetarium Society, here is where the real signs of the Zodiac should fall. Get ready for your world to change forever.

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.  (Yep, this one is new — read all about the Ophiuchus way of life here)
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/13/horoscope-hang-up-earth-rotation-changes-zodiac-signs/#ixzz1DKY5S4Uz

Solar Wind Concept Bridge

Solar Wind bridge concept could power 15,000 homes, grow vegetables

By Donald Melanson posted Feb 7th 2011 1:48AM

As a kind of spin off of my previous post, I recently found this article. This concept bridge looks incredible. I love the modern design contrasting with the natural landscape. It obviously has some serious potential flaws but imagine the resources we would save if we could build bridges to fuel our towns.

Why just use solar power or wind power when you can use both? Designed by Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino as part of an Italian design contest to re-imagine a decommissioned bridge (for which it placed second), this so-called Solar Wind concept would have solar cells embedded in the roadway (an idea that's already catching on) and an array of 26 wind turbines underneath, which the designers say could produce enough energy combined to power 15,000 homes. To make the design greener still, the designers have even included a "green promenade" that would run alongside the road, which they suggest could be used to grow fruits and vegetables that'd then be sold to folks driving by. Incidentally, while it's less focused on technology, the design that placed first in the contest (a so-called "vertical village") is pretty impressive in its own right

9 "Harmless" Habits That Age You

Warning...this is a long article

By the Editors of Prevention
Thu, Jul 15, 2010

Look Your Age—Or Younger!
It pretty much goes without saying that smoking cigarettes and frying your skin in the sun make you older, so kudos for quitting and slathering on the sunscreen religiously. But if you're trying to turn back the clock—or at least slow it down a little—don't overlook these other habits that may be sabotaging your efforts.

1. You keep your college bedtime
It's not uncommon for superbusy women to cram a day's worth of around-the-house to-dos into the late evening hours, a practice that pushes back bedtime into—eep!—Late Night with Jimmy Fallon territory. The problem with this is that too-little sleep is proving to be really, really bad for your health: Research links it to high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and even just looking tired and older.

Act your age: We're not saying you need a perfect 8 hours every single night, but make sleep a priority more often and your body will thank you. Everyone's sleep needs are different; to find out what yours are, sleep experts recommend you turn off the alarm clock when you're well rested, and see how long you naturally sleep. (Most people need 7 to 8 hours.)

2. You have a soft spot for sweets
A sugar-packed diet can take its toll on your waistline, but now experts also believe it can make your skin dull and wrinkled too. To blame is a natural process known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs, for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop; these damage surrounding proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep skin firm and elastic. Once damaged, springy and resilient collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging. These aging effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Act your age: It's not easy to eliminate sugar completely, but limiting added sugar to no more than 10% of total calories can help. If you're a 45-year-old woman of average height (5-foot-4), that's 160 calories (or 10 teaspoons) from added sugar—about the number in one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola or six Hershey's Kisses. By comparison, the average American consumes 31 teaspoons per day of added sugar, or the equivalent of 465 calories. Watch for stealthy sugar in unexpected foods, like salad dressing. Many prepared foods contain hefty amounts of sugar, but it's hidden under aliases—including barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, and turbinado—on ingredient panels.

3. You're stressed more often than not
You don't feel good when you're stressed-out—be it from work projects piling up, a miserable commute, issues with the kids, etc.—and there's good biological proof why you shouldn't. Stress increases the concentration of the hormones cortisol and norepinephrine in the bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing immunity. Over time, stress that doesn't go away can delay healing, harden your arteries, and possibly shrink areas of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mood—talk about feeling older!

Act your age: Stress will never go away completely, but how you manage everyday blips can keep hormones on a more even—and healthy—keel. Deep breathing is the top antistress pick of Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD: He makes time for it at least twice a day. "It only takes 2 minutes," he says. "I do it in the morning, when I'm falling asleep in the evening, and anytime I feel upset." Try it: Exhale strongly through the mouth, making a whoosh sound. Breathe in quietly through the nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7, then exhale with the whoosh for a count of 8. Repeat the cycle 3 more times.

4. You only exercise to lose weight
Exercise is one of the best turn-back-the-clock agents around, but too many of us don't reap its full benefits because we only associate physical activity with weight loss. If you tend to hit the gym in 2-week stints to shed a few pounds, but then take a few months off from physical activity, you're missing out on some major health perks. Research shows that vigorous exercisers have longer telomeres—cellular biomarkers that shorten as we age—compared with healthy adults who rarely work out. Being active consistently can help fight brain fog, reduce inflammation, and prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions that crop up over time.

Act your age: Don't let your sneakers get dusty. Choose any activity you enjoy—be it walking, cycling, or dancing—and aim for a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes a day. Break it down, if you have to, into two 10-minute sessions. Slowly increase the frequency, duration, and intensity in small increments. If you miss a day, don't let it become a habit; just pick up again the next day.

5. You blast your iPod
Nothing makes you feel 80 years old like having to cup your ear and say "Excuse me?" to get your friend to repeat herself... again. Hearing loss typically develops slowly, the result of prolonged exposure to thousands of high-decibel insults to the ear, many of which come from exposure to everyday gadgets, like iPods or hair dryers. MP3 players set at 50% volume can pump out sounds up to 101 decibels, well over the recommended safety threshold.

Act your age: To ageproof your iPod, keep the volume as low as possible. Use noise-canceling earbuds to block out ambient sounds, reducing your need to jack up the volume. Wear earplugs when you're around other loud noises too, like the garbage disposal, coffee grinder, lawn mower, etc.

6. You never see your girlfriends
Your friends were probably the meat and potatoes of your social calendar back in your 20s; now you spend most of your spare time shuttling your tweens around to their various get-togethers. But here's why making time to cultivate your friendships is so key: One study found that satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems. No wonder you always feel reenergized after a marathon catch-up call with your best college friend or a girls' night out with your high school crew.

Act your age: Your friends keep you young—simple as that. So if hectic schedules keep you apart, consider carving a more permanent place in your schedule for friend time. Take advantage of Facebook or e-mail groups to stay in touch on a more frequent basis—even clicking through and commenting on a pal's recently uploaded vacation photos can help you feel closer.

7. You eat veggies—but not daily
You've likely heard that antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies can help you stay young. These powerful compounds fight free radicals that would otherwise wreak havoc on your body and skin, damaging cells that can lead to cancer and make you look older. But here's the rub: Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished, so don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad for lunch on Monday.

Act your age: ODing on veggies a couple of days a week or month—and skipping them the rest of the time—doesn't do your body any favors. To truly maximize their age-defying benefits, aim to eat antioxidants every 4 hours or so or with every meal.

8. You've shunned all fat from your diet
Cutting out artery-clogging saturated and trans fats is a heart-healthy move, but when it comes to your health and vitality, equally slashing unsaturated fats, like those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil, is like throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. One kind, omega-3 fatty acids, is the ultimate anti-aging fat, essential for protecting your brain, heart, bones, joints, skin, and more. Another kind, monounsaturated, can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis. Plus, studies suggest that a higher intake of these fats may contribute to longer life expectancy.

Act your age: Remember that fat isn't inherently evil, and it won't make you fat per se. About 20 to 35% of your daily calories should come from fat (mainly healthy, unsaturated fat) like those from the above sources.

9. You can't recall when you last had sex
Yep, sex feels good and does wonders for your mood, but it's also fantastically great for your health. Research shows that people with active sex lives have stronger immune systems, less pain, a lower cancer risk, healthier hearts, and less stress. The best news: It can even make you look younger—up to 12 years, a study shows.

Act your age: Rekindle the romance between you and your partner. To shake things up, try making the first move next time. "Some women are not active participants in their sex lives," says Pat Covalt, PhD, author of What Smart Couples Know. "A lot of men would like to be touched more, seduced more. Everyone wants to feel wanted."

Meditation (cont.)

Looking for peace and tranquility? Here's where to start

By Margot Dougherty

1. Do Your Research There are as many approaches to meditation as there are lotus blossoms in haiku. To find one that resonates with you, poke around the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in West Hollywood, leaf through the flyers at your local yoga studio, or check out the new Ananda LA in Santa Monica (anandala.com). Next-generation guru Max Simon (getselfcentered.com) was born to the cause—Dad cofounded Deepak Chopra's center and Mom is a transcendental meditation teacher. Simon hosts periodic "Public Displays of Meditation" as well as other events and parties for his "soul tribe."

2. Let Go of Distractions Chances are you may be meditating already. Ever stare slack jawed at your computer screen? The trick is to know when you're tuning out—to be simultaneously mindful and detached. There's a lot to be said for meditating in perfect quiet, but if a trash truck rounds the bend or a cat goes into heat just as you’ve settled in, roll with it. The idea is to let uninvited distractions—including your inner dialogue—pass through your consciousness without grabbing on to or resenting them. Acknowledge them, then let them go. Whoosh.

3. Assume The Position For most folks, sitting—in a chair or cross-legged on the floor—and kneeling are the easiest postures for meditating. Lengthen your spine, or shushumna (it's fine to sit against a wall). That’ll give your energy a straight shot from your tailbone, or root chakra, to your head, or crown chakra. Or lie flat on your back (no snoozing!), walk contemplatively—maybe in the Peace Awareness Labyrinth in West Adams (peacelabyrinth.org)—or whirl like a dervish at one of Shiva Rea's or Micheline Berry's trance dances at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in Venice (exhalespa.com).

4. Take a Breath Breathing technique, or pranayama, is integral to setting the stage for meditation. Different styles, like alternate nostril, or nadi sodhana, will be handy down the line, but perfect the basic inhale-exhale first. On the inhale, let your shoulders relax and your ribs expand (outward, not up) and feel your breath in the back of your throat. Count slowly—one-two-three-four—pause, and exhale for the same count. Steady breathing serves as a metronome to keep you focused and acts like a quaalude for your central nervous system.

5. Stick to a Schedule Start your practice by sitting five minutes once or twice a day and gradually aim for about 20 minutes at a stretch. The results are subtle but cumulative; the more you practice, the more you'll be able to bring the calm you feel during meditation to daily activities and relationships. Stress will dissipate. Now it’s time to shine your new inner light around. Kirtans (call-and-response chanting), led by folks like Dave Stringer (davestringer.com), and other group meditations are often geared to the common good. Someone’s got to get the world peace train rolling, so it may as well be you.

Meditation

Meditate

One of my Bucket list items is learn to meditate, so these articles seem to be a good starting point.

Meditate: Zen Meditation

1. Sit on the forward third of a chair or a cushion on the floor.

2. Straighten and extend your spine, keeping it naturally upright, centering your balance in the lower abdomen. Push your lower back a little forward, open your chest, and tuck your chin in slightly, keeping the head upright, not leaning forward, or backwards, or to the side. Sway your body gently from left to right in decreasing arcs, until you naturally come to a point of stillness on your cushion.

3. Keep your eyes on the floor at a 45-degree angle, neither fully opened nor closed, and gaze naturally about 3 to 4 feet in front of your body. If the eyes are closed, you may want to start to daydream or visualize things. If your eyes are open wide open, your mind will scatter.

4. Keep your lips and teeth together with your tongue resting against the roof of your mouth.

5. Place your hands on your lap with the right palm up and your left hand (palm up) resting on your right hand, thumb tips lightly touching, forming a vertical oval. This is the mudra of zazen, in which all phenomena are unified. Rest this mudra with the blade of your hands against your abdomen, a few inches below the navel, harmonizing your own center of gravity with the mudra.

6. Take a deep breath, exhale fully, and then take another deep breath, exhaling fully. Let your breathe settle into its natural rhythm.

7. Keep your attention on your breath. When your attention wanders, bring it back to the breath again and again -- as many times as necessary!

8.. Practice this Zen Meditation every day for at least ten to fifteen minutes (or longer).

Relax meditate reduce stress start now

Headache Relief

I just stumbled on an article about headache relief, here are a few chunks of the article.

Press Valley of Harmony for headache relief

Recently, a patient's eight-year-old child was suffering from a headache. I was able to bring her the benefits of acupuncture without the needles. I simply used my own fingers to administer acupressure on an acupoint in the web between her thumb and index finger called Valley of Harmony. Within five minutes, her headache was gone.

Find the acupoint Valley of Harmony (Li 4) on yourself. It's in the web between the thumb and index finger on both hands. Apply steady pressure with your thumb until you feel soreness. Hold for 2 minutes. Repeat on the other hand.

Find the acupoint Great Yang (taiyang), which is in the indentation of the temples. Stimulate the point with the knuckles of your thumbs or the tips of your index fingers. Massage in circular motion for 5 minutes.

Give yourself a simple spa experience to help relieve a headache. Put 5 drops of lavender essential oil in 1 cup of warm water. Soak a small towel in the water, wring it dry, and then place it on your forehead as a compress during a headache.

How often have you uttered these words in a stressful situation, "This is giving me a headache!" It turns out that the human brain is genetically programmed to translate physical and emotional stress into headaches. Headaches can typically be prevented by relaxation or stress releasing techniques like meditation and tai chi. Here is a simple visualization meditation called White Light Meditation that I have taught to my patients to reduce stress and headaches:

1. Sit or lie down comfortably. Clear your mind, relax your body, and breathe deeply and slowly.
2. Inhale and visualize a white light or clear mountain spring water entering your body at the top of your head and flowing down to your abdomen.
3. Exhale and visualize the white light or water continuing its downward course from your abdomen to the bottom of your feet, where it drains out.
Repeat for 10 minutes. Usually you will experience a quick reduction in symptoms right after this exercise.

B-complex vitamins are one of my recommendations for headaches -- not only for their pain-relieving properties, but because they are crucial for energy production and help the nervous system. Vitamin B6, in particular, can be very effective for alleviating pressure headaches. Use supplements of B-complex vitamins to relieve pain when a headache strikes and take them daily to prevent headaches.

Earthquake

I felt my first earthquake today. I didn't completely realize that's what it was since I'd never felt one, but I was sitting at my desk and it sounded like the building's hvac system was going haywire or something. Then I heard someone down the hall say it was a tremor.

---

Earthquake sends tremors throughout central Pennsylvania
By The Patriot-News
June 03, 2010, 9:40AM
Another earthquake in central Pennsylvania?

At about 8:25 this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 2.9 magnitude earthquake centered in the Dillsburg area that was reverberated across the West Shore.

The quake was also felt in New Cumberland, Camp Hill, Shiremanstown, Mechanicsburg, Boiling Springs and surrounding areas. There were even reports that the tremor was felt across the river as far away as Harrisburg and Middletown.

The duration of the tremor was about two seconds, according to one Franklin Twp. resident. There have been no reports of damage from residents.

In fact, minor earthquakes are not uncommon in the region. According to a Millersville University study, there were a whopping 49 tremors centered in the Dillsburg area between October and December of 2008. though all under 3.0 on the Richter scale.

One of the most powerful Pennsylvania quakes in recent history was an earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck that Berks County in 1994, rattling homes as far away as the Philadelphia suburbs.

How did the West Shore tremor rate compared to a catastrophic earthquake?

Each jump on the Richter scale of one point equals an order of magnitude of 10. So, for example, a 4.0 quake would be 10 times more powerful than a 3.0, while a 5.0 quake would be 100 times more powerful.

The recent earthquake in Haiti was magnitude 7.0. That means it was roughly 10,000 times more powerful than the tremors centered in northern York County on Thursday morning.

5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp - Womans Day

Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit—and that can be the most frustrating thing in the world. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those “senior moments." Whether it's relaxation or adding certain foods to your diet, read on for some techniques worth trying.

1. Chill Out

The brain remembers better when it’s relaxed, say researchers at the California Institute of Technology, so take a few minutes each day to breathe deeply or meditate. "The positive of meditation is you have focused concentration and relaxation taking place at the same time," says Elizabeth Edgerly, PhD, spokesperson for the Alzheimer's Association. "Researchers believe those things are good because they're developing new connections for your brain cells."

2. Focus on the Future

People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent study. But don’t worry if your calendar isn’t overflowing with life-changing events. Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend (and keeping it) will do. "Psychologically it keeps us motivated," Dr. Edgerly says. "There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long-or short-term goals appear to do better." In other words, keep your brain looking forward.

3. Go for a Walk

Mildly elevated glucose levels (even if you don’t have diabetes) can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories, say Columbia University researchers. Experts agree that physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, the strongest evidence is regarding the effect of physical activity on the brain. Dr. Edgerly says, "When you exercise, you release chemicals that are good for your brain. It's like a mini fountain of youth in your brain, and the only way you can get it is exercise." In other words, when you take care of your heart, you take care of your brain.

4. Snack on Berries

Blueberries have compounds called anthocyanins that help communication between brain cells and appear to improve memory, says Robert Krikorian, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati. In general, Dr. Edgerly says the darker the fruit or vegetable, the better. She adds, "It's a healthy, well-rounded diet, especially one that mimics a Mediterranean diet, and that's fish, lots of fruits and vegetables, and red wine, everyone likes the red wine part."

5. Learn Something New

Take a Spanish class online, join a knitting club, or learn to play poker. A UC Irvine study found that mental stimulation limits the debilitating effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain, Dr. Edgerly insists, is when you combine learning something new with physical activity. "It should be something like dancing, or coaching a sport. Or go learn golf with your girlfriends. That sort of thing is even better for your brain than, say, a crossword puzzle.”

Drinking

I am definitely not much of a drinker and I am extremely cautious if I even consider going 'out'. I think planning ahead is important for your safety and the safety of everyone around you. I found this article and thought I would share.

Guarding Against Impaired Driving

“Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver,” reports the Centers for Disease Control.

In addition to the obvious impairment that alcohol can bring about, both legal and illegal drugs cause impaired driving from drowsiness and slowed reaction times while distractions such as texting, using a cell phone, or even adjusting a CD player can impair a driver’s abilities at any time. As the holiday season approaches, along with wintry weather conditions in many parts of the country, avoiding impaired driving is essential.

Take responsibility for yourself at social events:

Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Limit consumption to no more than one alcoholic beverage per hour.
Do not participate in drinking games or contests.
Eat enough food to slow the absorption of alcohol.
Have a designated driver on call who you know will not consume alcohol.
Stop drinking alcohol at least an hour before leaving a party.
As a host, protect yourself and others:

Serve plenty of food during parties.
Do not push alcoholic drinks and offer plenty of non-alcoholic ones as well.
Watch your own consumption so that you can observe your guests carefully.
Recognize that outward signs of impairment may not be evident; an individual’s judgment and reaction time can be affected by just one drink.
Stop serving alcohol and provide coffee, tea and/or hot cocoa for the last hour.
Take the car keys and call a taxi, arrange a ride with a sober driver, or offer your spare room or couch to a guest who is too inebriated to drive.
Save lives by calling 911 if you see drivers who are:

Weaving, swerving or drifting from lane to lane
Almost striking an object or vehicle
Driving excessively quickly or slowly
Braking erratically or stopping without cause
Driving after dark without headlights
Driving on the wrong side of the road
If we can all be responsible for ourselves and do our best to stop impaired drivers from hurting themselves and others, traveling on our roads should become safer.