Archive for May, 2009
Turn Off the Fat Genes – A Book Review
Once in a while a good title comes along and “Turn Off the Fat Genes” is one of those titles that just have to be written about. If you are not familiar with Dr. Neal Barnard’s work, he has been writing about how to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet for at least a decade now.
I’m amazed, as you might be, that his work is not better known. There are a number of advantages to using a high carb diet and as many disadvantages to the low carb/ high protein diets.
There is some great research in his books that document the ability to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet, which may also be healthier in the long run than the ever-popular low carbohydrate diets.
You might think it surprising, as I do, that more people are not using high carb diets to lose weight. You might also conclude that this is solely due to a lack of awareness on the part of the public.
Turn of the Fat Genes, written by Dr. Neal Barnard features over 150 pages of menus and recipes. The recipe and menu section is very comprehensive and you can definitely find recipes that will delight you out of such a large compilation.
Dr. Bernard discusses the concept that some of the genes that shape and influence us as human beings are themselves subject to influence. The genes that affect taste, appetite and metabolism are subject to the influence of the foods that we eat.
Not only are they subject to influence, the proper use of foods can mean that you don’t have to sacrifice and starve yourself of decent nutrition. You can modify your diet, eat perhaps even more frequently and still enjoy weight loss. Does that sound incredible? It is real. You might feel incredulous because the masses of people out there have been told that low carb is the way to go.
I have been following some of the suggestions in one of Dr. Barnard’s books and I can tell you that a high carb diet can help you lose weight. Using his suggestions, I can eat a lot of food frequently and I still seem to stay thin.
To give you an idea of what kind of information “Turn Off the Fat Genes” can provide you with, here is a list of some of the Chapter titles:
Taste Genes: Broccoli and Chocolate
Appetite and the Leptin Gene
The Fat-Building Gene
Fat-Burning: Turning the Flame Higher
How Genes Influence Your Exercise
Children and the Fat Genes
Food Choices for Optimal Weight Control
Dr. Barnard writes, “Contrary to popular opinion, scientific research reveals that genes are not dictators; they are committees. They do not give orders. They make suggestions. Genes are not rogue tyrants exerting despotic control over your waistline. Rather, they work in groups, often with subtle effects, and you can nudge them in the direction you want them to go. You can counteract the fat genes and boost your thin genes.”
In ancient times, Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” Of course we aren’t really talking about healing as much as we are discussing losing weight, but the principle applies.
One thing I learned from another of Dr. Barnard’s books is that carbohydrates don’t make people fat. It is fat that makes people fat. And it makes sense. Carbohydrates pack around 4 calories per gram and fats have about 9 calories per gram.
By the way, even though it is correct terminology, the fact is that the calories discussed here are actually ‘thousands of calories’. In nutrition they decided to make a calorie equal to 1,000 real life calories as measured for energy.
Anyway I don’t want to confuse anyone, because the RDA is based on nutrition calories, also known as Calories, but no one capitalizes the C as should be done. You can just keep thinking of calories as calories and don’t worry about the technicalities.
Back to the story. Dr. Barnard’s books on high carb diets are great reading and may inform you about healthier weight loss than you are currently use to. Did I mention the recipe list?
This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any health condition. If you have or think you have a health condition or even just want to diet, please consult your physician.
Valerie Hector: The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design
Valerie Hector’s The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design (ISBN 0-8320-0307-8) is an interesting combination of the historical and cultural analysis of various beadmaking traditions and the presentation of works by modern designers who were inspired by these traditions.
There are numerous books on contemporary bead designs, as well as many histories of beadmaking (which may go back as much as 75,000 years, see news.nationalgeographic.com/news
/2004/04/0415_040415_oldestjewelry.html
The book looks at a number of ethnic and historical beadwork traditions:
- Han Beadwork (Mainland China)
- Ancient Japanese Beadwork
- Kathi Beadwork (Guajarat State, India)
- Sa’dan Toraja Beadwork (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
- Straits Chinese Beadwork (Penang, Malaysia)
- Kenyah Beadwork (Indonesian/Malaysian Borneo)
- Ambai Island Beadwork (Indonesian New Guniea)
- Ancient Egyptian Beadwork
- Yoruba Beadwork (Nigeria)
- Maasai Beadwork (Kenya)
- Dinka Beadwork (Sudan)
- Xhosa Beadwork (South Africa)
- Ndebele Beadwork (South Africa)
- Msinga (Zulu) Beadwork (South Africa)
- Seventeenth Century English Beadwork
- J. M. van Selow Beadwork (1760s Germany)
- Wiener Werkst
Violet the Pilot Children
Canadian commercial pilot, owner of a publishing company, mother of two and author of the Violet the Pilot children’s book series, Bettina Bathe has a talent and energy for today’s youth. I think this aviation adventure fiction series is appropriate for children aged between three and eight years old.
Her children’s book series focus during one season in one country at a time, though the adventures in each book are widely different and involve a various aircraft. Starting in Canada, Bettina’s main character takes three passengers in a floatplane for a camping/fishing trip during the spring. Her second book has Violet the Pilot taking two young French passengers on a hot-air balloon ride to a site where the pair can start a bike tour adventure and enjoy fall’s beautiful colors. Bettina’s third book in the series is centered on the Hawaiian Islands during the summer season, where two young passengers desire a scenic tour of the islands in Violet’s helicopter. In this book, there is an unexpected adventure when the three were called upon to rescue a stranded baby whale.
These books could be considered educational tools as the illustrator, Barbara Fortin, incorporates well-designed scenery depicting the countryside, wildlife, clothing and food that are found in each country. Bettina uses educational information about aviation and the various aircraft that are used in her books. The use of maps and other interesting images including each country’s flag &ndash will certainly give the reader tools for further interaction with the children.
Clearly, Bettina’s series of children’s books are designed to not only educate children about their world and the various aircraft technology, but are also written with the intention to inspire aviation dreams in young girls. The author’s website (.violetthepilot.com) offers ongoing contests and awards for readers.
Violet the Pilot in Canada &ndash published October 2004 &ndash ISBN# 1-4120-3215-6
Violet the Pilot in France &ndash published July 2005 &ndash ISBN# 0-9738290-0-1
Violet the Pilot in Hawaii &ndash published January 2006 &ndash ISBN# 0-9738290-1-X
Violet the Pilot in Canada – Review
Violet the Pilot in Canada is the first in the series of children’s book series written by commercial pilot and mother of two, Bettina Bathe. In this book, Grandpa Cliff along with young Chantel and Mathias are going on a camping and fishing trip in Ontario, Canada.
Violet the pilot and her trusty animal and insect friends are hired to take the three tourists to their destination in her violet-colored floatplane. Violet teaches her passengers about the floatplane, takes them through initial flight procedures and delivers the tourists safely to their destination. For Violet, safety always comes first as she instructs the tourists how to exit the plane, protect themselves against the damaging sun reflected off the water and more.
Beautifully illustrated scenery with Canadian wildlife tucked into the images here and there will allow for more interest in the pictures. The illustrator, Barbara Fortin, creates an excellent depiction of rural Ontario’s well-known “Cottage Country” area.
Violet the Pilot in Canada offers more than entertainment and education. The author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Additionally, Bettina’s website (.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers.
ISBN#: 1-4120-3215-6
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Published: October 2004
Violet the Pilot in France – Review
Violet the Pilot in France is the second book in children’s series written by author Bettina Bathe. This adventure involves a hot air balloon trip in Provence, France. Proud Canadian author and commercial pilot, Bettina Bathe was certain to include a Canadian flag patch on her main character’s shoulder. However, Violet the pilot also embraces the country she is working in by placing that country’s flag patch on her other shoulder.
Two young French passengers who want to take a balloon ride to a desirable location for their bike tour adventure, hire Violet’s aviation services. The ride is interrupted with weather problems, but Violet saves them all with her confident and quick-thinking maneuvers. Violet’s animal and insect friends are the ground crew who has their own adventure just trying to keep up to the balloon. After a lovely picnic feast, Violet serenades her departing passengers with a song on her violin.
Illustrations by Barbara Fortin depict rural France, including interesting French architecture, agriculture and fashion. These bright, bold pictures are full of subtle information.
The book uses a few French words and the reader is encouraged to bring interest in the globe and navigation methods in children through useful maps and illustrations. Readers will learn how a hot air balloon is flown – from the pre-flight set-up, testing the wind and flying techniques to landing a hot air balloon. However, Violet the Pilot in France offers more than entertainment and education – the author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Additionally, Bettina’s website (.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers.
ISBN#: 0-9738290-0-1
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc.
Published: July 2005
Violet the Pilot in Hawaii – Review
Violet the Pilot in Hawaii is the third book of a children’s series written by author Bettina Bathe. One of the very first striking aspects of this book is the illustrator’s use of bright colored fish and birds, a flowery helicopter, tropical scenery and agriculture within the Hawaiian Island region. The illustrations by Barbara Fortin (.bellocchioillustration.com) also reveal lush forest and wildlife scenes including a myriad of creatures that dwell in the waters surrounding the islands.
This adventure begins when two Hawaiian youth, Kimo and Malia, request a scenic tour ride in Violet’s purple helicopter. As always, safety comes first for Violet, and they spend a few moments discussing air currents and looking at maps before starting out.
Violet and her passengers are accompanied by as they fly above tropical forests, a beautiful waterfall, interesting volcanoes and agricultural fields. The adventure is interrupted when they are called upon to help rescue a baby whale. Thanks to Violet’s confident pilot skills and her loyal animal and insect friends, the frightened whale is returned to her pod. These unlikely heroes arrive to their destination safely and celebrate with a Luau and a feast. This is no ordinary feast &ndash the table is laden with all kinds of Hawaiian foods. And later, they are entertained by Hula Dancers and Violet plays her Ukulele.
The author incorporates real life terms in her books, yet she is able to explain things in a way that young people can clearly understand. The last page has an illustration with all three of the flags from the countries Violet has worked in so far. These could be excellent teaching and memory tools for the reader to use with children. However, Violet the Pilot in Hawaii offers more than entertainment and education – the author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Canadian Red Cross. Additionally, Bettina’s website (.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers for her young readers to enjoy.
ISBN#: 0-9738290-1-X
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc.
Published: January 2006
Visionary Landscapes book review featuring the art of Justin Michael Jenkins
Visionary Landscapes, the long awaited coffee table style book featuring thirty-one hand selected master drawings by the artist Justin Michael Jenkins, has been in the works for quite sometime. We are now proud to offer the world this 160 page full color published book through the independent publishing source, Lulu. Our vision for this exclusive volume edition was to have a high end collector style book that features many drawings from the chess, anatomy, mind, spiritual, and abstract collections. We decided on a 7.5″X7.5″ format that is suitable for many table styles including most coffee table settings. We have published this through our publishing division at Imaginative Pencil called Imaginative Pencil Publishing.
Visionary Landscapes fuses the insights, critiques, and reviews from various artists, critics, and scholars from all over the world with the intimate perspectives of each work by the artist himself. We collected numerous sources from around the world with regard to the style and approach of Justin and organized the book in such a way as to portray each drawing from various perspectives and also do a complete analytical reviews of the entire range of thought behind all the works. The goal of this exclusive edition is to give hidden insights that would otherwise go unnoticed by many viewers and create a collection of reviews and critiques by selected artists and scholars with a large portion of the deeper understanding coming from the artist himself. We want each reader to explore this large selection of drawings that span many collections and ranges and to become more aware of what the artist is trying to achieve both in meaning and message. Our hope is that readers will be rewarded with not only the secrets of how the artist came to certain conclusions and how he acheived them and why, but essentially the core meaning of each work will be revealed in the simplest terms by showing each drawing as a seperate analysis within the overall meaning of the book. The intimacy of the book centers on the artists deep ciritques and view points of each drawing featured which gives the reader access to the artist on a more personal level like hes in front of them explaining each work.
Book Preface
This first volume will approach the latest drawings from the studio of award-winning artist Justin Michael Jenkins with an analytical, fresh, and insightful point of view. With the help of the artist, we have compiled a small volume that will contain thirty of his most recent drawings taken from five unique collections. The artist will give us his insight into each work of art and the hidden meanings behind the symbolisms and objectivity that lie beneath the color and forms.
This book attempts to give viewers, collectors, scholars, and historians an ambitious and fresh examination into the mind, soul, and overall vision of the artist. We have collected various critics, essays, and feedback from numerous people about the approach and style of artist Justin Michael Jenkins and organized it in the pages ahead along with a gallery of works. We hope this book will give each reader a broader understanding of what the artist is trying to accomplish within the bold shapes, twisting forms, and surreal settings. We also want to shed light on the message his work tries to convey to the world.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what this book will attempt to accomplish, let’s begin our journey and exploration into the surreal, visionary, and inventive world that lies deep in the corridors of the artist’s mind with the hope of finding the truth and inspiration behind his style.
Imaginative Pencil Publishing came to Lulu because the company wanted to be in control of the publishing process and found Lulu’s print-on-demand tools to be fast, easy and, most importantly, free. Visonary Landscapes is available for purchase at .lulu.com, in a marketplace filled with other unique and wonderful surprises. “Independent publishing and print-on-demand is the wave of the future, and the future is now,” said Michael from Imaginatvie Pencil Publishing. “The Lulu process allows me to cut out the middle man (i.e. a separate publisher) and get my work out there the way I want it. Our book, Visionary Landscapes, is much like Lulu itself&ndashit puts control of your destiny in your own hands.”
ABOUT AUTHOR
Imaginative Pencil is a company founded in 2004 that specializes in the sale, distribution, and exhibition of the visionary and surreal pencil art of Justin Michael Jenkins.
Justin Michael Jenkins was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to George and Carole Jenkins. Besides his professional status as a full time artist, he is also a writer, designer, and webmaster. His hobbies include studying the game of chess and collecting Civil War memorabilia.
ABOUT LULU
Founded in 2002, Lulu is the world’s fastest-growing print-on-demand marketplace for digital do-it-yourselfers. Please see .lulu.com for more information.
For more information about selling this book in stores or to order a copy for yourself, please visit our book website at Lulu or contact Michael Retla at publishing imaginativepencil.com or call 1-304-376-0762.
Unspoken Dream: Book Review
Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is one I have encountered only rarely in a book. Here, we have a victim who looks like he had been swarmed by bees in the middle of a storm, but the reader is lead to believe that it was something much more ominous and that it is about to get worse.
There are many characters in the tale, but a group of teenagers that are about to graduate from high school (Mike, Jack, Jared, Jenny, Tracy, Dana, Alan) and Sheriff Nate are the main characters. The lead character, Mike, is more like a father figure for the group in that he concerns himself with the needs of his friends and becomes a compassionate leader to his community during an emergency. His girlfriend Dana, as a sweet and supportive character, gives him strength. Shy, Jenny who is blooming into a beautiful girl has a crush on Mike’s friend Jack, which sends Alan into a jealous frenzy. Though James and Tracy are dating, their buddy Jared holds a secret fondness for Tracy.
Carol did a wonderful job in portraying the characters in Unspoken Dreams. I was so involved in the story that by the time Mike finally broke down in grief for his friends’ death, I had tears running down my cheeks &ndash this was less than 2 dozen pages into the book! Mike’s humorous relationship with his parents had me laughing aloud. And I felt real pity for Alan’s situation.
An excellent read for those who love a good thriller with a solid rate of tension throughout the book.”
ISBN#: 1413767397
Publisher: Publish America, Inc
Author: Carol Bennett
Wall Street: the Road Block To Your Investing Success
Worried about your stocks? Blame it on Wall Street.
Investors today face a barrage of conflicting information and exaggerated return claims from what most people consider the “market” -; the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But these indexes only comprise about 12 percent of all U.S. stocks. The reality is that these stocks can’t be predicted with any consistency, especially long-term.
In the complicated world of financial services, you’re being misled.
Wall Street advisors employ a strategy of “active marketing,” which is the continual development of new products designed and marketed as the latest and greatest solution to investors’ fears and concerns. There is an addiction factor at work here; active marketing feeds our desire to roll the dice. This rolling of the dice takes the form of stock picking, market timing and return chasing, activities otherwise known as active management.
The alternative is to “super-diversify” your portfolio with a wide array of unrelated investment choices and assets. This strategy allows you to own the market as a whole, rather than just a few of its components, thereby increasing your return and reducing the risk.
Based on Nobel Prize-winning research known as Modern Portfolio Theory, the application of this theory into a properly diversified portfolio – what I call a “Market Return Portfolio” – consists of no-load institutional asset class mutual funds you normally don’t see in many portfolios. Choices such as micro-cap, small cap international, emerging markets and value stocks can lead to more consistent long-term returns equal to or somewhat greater than the market at large.
Another important aspect of proper portfolio management is finding the right firm to work with. Look for one that is independent, uses a fee structure whereby the firm is paid directly and only from clients, and uses a market return approach. The right strategy, managed by the right help, can truly bring wealth without worry.
In some sense, worry-free investing isn’t really possible. People will always worry about taking care of their families and they’ll always worry about their country’s economy. Yet true “wealth without worry” means not having to track the daily movement of the market, saving time and energy for more important things in life.
Investors’ confidence should be put not in an adviser or their own stock-picking prowess, but rather in the economic miracle we call capitalism. By tracking market movement over the past seven or eight decades, we see that the market goes up more than 80 percent of the time.
The expansion of capital markets is inevitable -; and a windfall for market return investors.
Want to Marry Rich? Tips On High-Society Dating
Ladies: Looking to fulfill your champagne wishes and make your caviar dreams a reality? Marry rich.
But don’t think of the pursuit of a wealthy man as shallow. According to “How To Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating,” by Ted Morgan and Serena Worth, the most common qualities that women desire in a man – charm, humor and intelligence, for instance – can be found in most wealthy men. As the book says, “the cash is a very nice side benefit.”
One of the first steps to marrying rich is to get on the “high net worth” dating circuit. The following tips from the book will help you find a rich suitor in no time.
* Prepare. Find out who’s rich, where these men live and their past and present entanglements. Chatting with high-society women is a great way to find out who’s on the market.
* Go where the rich go. Since many wealthy people find their mates at social events, mingle at high-end cocktail parties and charity benefits in places such as New York City, Southampton, N.Y., Aspen, Colo. and Palm Beach, Fla.
Never buy the dinner ticket, however. Dinner tickets to charity parties can range from $500 to over $1,000. To avoid paying an arm and a leg, buy the after-party ticket instead.
* Find a partner in crime. If you’re uncomfortable socializing alone, take a male or female friend along to help you feel more relaxed and to arrange introductions.
* Go in as “arm candy.” Attend the party with an attractive date who is looking to find rich women. You two can work the room together and help each other meet potential mates.
“How to Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating” also includes such topics as how to avoid the most common high net worth dating pitfalls and how to negotiate the prenuptial agreement. The book also features a list of the richest single or divorced men in America.