HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Innocent Man by John Grisham, his first non-fiction book, is an important book which tells the story of the perversity of the criminal justice system when prosecutors are narcissistic despots, cops are corrupt, judges are officious functionaries, and juries are prejudiced mobs who care nothing for facts, evidence, and the truth.

Ron Williamson, a mentally ill ex professional baseball player, is framed for a murder he did not commit and was a couple of weeks from being executed before some diligent indigent defense attorneys finally got a decent judge to review the error riddled original trial and put a stay on the execution. Barry Sheck's Innocence Project finally did DNA testing which found that Williamson and the other man framed, Dennis Fritz, could not have committed the crime.

If you have the misguided notion that our criminal justice system is fair, impartial, and accurate, you will be quickly dissuaded from that notion reading this book.

This is one of Grisham's most important books, and it is a book every American who cares about the criminal justice system and human rights should read. I highly recommend it.

Link: Amazon.com: The Innocent Man: Books: John Grisham.

In the letter from the editor, Sarah Ruth van Gelder, in the Fall, 2005 issue of YES! magazine says a number of good things like:

Hillary Clinton is my senator and as much as I hate to say it she is an idiot.

The North Coast Cafe had a good article on her on 12/09/07.

Here is one of her stupid quotes. She sounds just like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and the neo cons.

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security. This much is undisputed."

-10 October 2002

Unlike John Edwards she has never apologized for her idiocy. The thing that scares me is she is not that stupid so what is her game?

Unless you want a smarter George W. Bush in the white house and more of the same crap, don't vote for her.

Link: North Coast Cafe: Hillary Clinton.

Have you devoted an embarrassing percentage of your life to trying to lose weight? I certainly have done my share (all right, I’ll be honest: MUCH more than my share!) of counting calories, carbohydrates and/or fat grams; reading the latest fad diet book (remember the gruesome grapefruit and hard-boiled egg regime?!), and alternating between starving and inhaling everything in the refrigerator (yes, I’ve even experienced the "there’s nothing else to eat in the house but maple syrup and diet bread, so break open the syrup bottle!" diet blues).

If you're tired of "trying" to be a loser, how about resolving to make 2008 the year you become a winner? If that sounds good, here's my deceptively simple tip: Focus on eating right to stay energized and healthy. Here are suggestions for five New Year’s nutrition resolutions that aren’t as hard to keep as you may think.

Resolution 1: Eat a good breakfast! It doesn’t have to be elaborate, and it doesn’t have to be enormous either. Low-carb dieting makes it easy, from a hard-boiled egg and a slice of cheese when you’re on the go, to a blenderized low-carb smoothie that goes down easy and tastes great. All the research reports reveal that you eat less and lose more if you start off the day on the right nutritional foot. Remove the temptation to indulge in a mid-morning doughnut break by sticking to this resolution.

Resolution 2: Eat the veggies. Regardless of which low-carb diet you’re following, the majority allow some amount of measured vegetables from a select list. Many low-carb dieters, however, think they’ll lose "faster" if they skip the vegetables. Oops. Big mistake. Vegetables fill you up, not out -- and they add variety to your low-carb diet. So go for the green with gusto!

Resolution 3: Take a snack pack with you when you’re on the go at work, school or away from home. Whether you enjoy crunching on baked chicken legs or dipping into a low-carb carton of yogurt, make sure to take the time each morning before you leave to fix your "go-to" snack pack!

Resolution 4: Put on your chef's hat! Each week, try a new recipe that is permitted on your diet. Try your local library for hints, ask friends, do an online search or head straight to eDiets.com and look through the many recipes offered on the site.

Resolution 5: Slow down and eat more mindfully. Pay attention to your meal, and don’t multi-task by reading, watching TV or paying bills in between bites. Then after you eat, celebrate with a visit to your support team at eDiets.com!

Congratulations: you win the diet game!

Joanne Eglash is a writer and an editor specializing in health, weight control and fitness. She's written for a variety of publications and websites, ranging from Energy for Women magazine to KidsHealth.org. Email your feedback, suggestions for future articles and questions to her at healthylifestylescoach@yahoo.com.

An extraordinary occurrence seems to happen every year around this time as people talk about their New Year’s Resolutions. The topic, apparently, triggers many individuals to experience a distinct sense of deja vu.

There is a reason that resolutions to “lose weight,” “quit smoking,” “start exercising,” “pay off all debts” and “travel the world” cause this ever-so-familiar dj vu’ feeling. They aren't new. They are the same resolves that have attempted year after year.

The health and fitness pros at eDiets can show you how to combine exercise and nutrition to get the best results. Click here to get started.

Still as the ball drops on another fresh New Year ahead, past failures are wiped clean and replaced with positive notions that this year will be different.

If you or somebody you know has been affected by the New Year’s Resolution Deja vu Syndrome, don’t worry. There is an easy way to put a stop to it for good.

The best way to make turn resolutions into reality is by transforming them into your habits. Once you alter your behavior and attitude the process of change will ignite. These top 10 resolutions will help keep you focused and motivated so that your healthy resolutions will stay fresh in your mind all year round.

1. Start every day by reading an inspiring quote or saying. These are great motivation boosters. They will help kick off your day in the right direction.

2. Read at least one article a day about your goal. Whether it’s about nutrition, fitness, a destination you’d like to visit or the effects of smoking, vow to take a few minutes to read about it every single day. This will help keep the subject and your objective fresh in your mind.

3. Change your New Year’s Resolutions into New Day Resolutions. Instead of saying, “I’m going to pay off all my debts,” say, “The first bill I am going to pay off will be this, and I’m going to start by setting aside $10 today.”

4. Vow to compliment one person every single day and never put down any compliments you receive. When you take the time to notice your surroundings and the distinct beauty in things, it will automatically help you appreciate your own individual and remarkable characteristics.

5. Declare to take the word “can’t” out of your vocabulary. Become aware of your words and use only constructive language. Instead of saying "I can’t," ask yourself how you can. Rather than saying "I’m no good at this," ask yourself how you can get better.

6. Turn off your cell phone every time you sit down to eat. Something as simple as turning off your phone can make a tremendous impact on your day. Even if you only have a few minutes to eat, turn it off. Try to rid yourself of all distractions and enjoy your food and the company you are sitting with at all times. This will help make you eat slower, think about what you’re eating and enjoy the rewards of good conversation.

7. Do one thing that slightly scares you every single day. Whether it’s throwing away all the junk food stored up in your house, trying out a new workout class, submitting a poem you wrote in a contest or asking someone you’re interested in out on a date, a little nerve a day will help keep you feeling alive, alert and inspired.

8. Pat yourself on the back every day. Take credit for the good things that you accomplish. You told yourself you were going to join the gym today and you did, you parked your car at the farthest parking lot instead of the closest, you brought your healthy lunch to work, you stayed away from the soda machine, you kept your cool after your boss yelled at you -- all these little actions deserve to be acknowledged. Every night before you go to sleep, write down one of your daily accomplishments. After you’ve written down seven reward yourself in some way.

9. Mail a card every week to somebody in your life and tell them how much you appreciate them. If you don’t want to deal with buying stamps, e-mail them. This will remind you of the many good things and people in your life, and the positive energy you send out will come back to you two-fold. You will feel better about yourself and be more likely to accomplish your daily goals.

10. Vow to stop shrugging your shoulders and keep your head high at all times. Good posture will help you not only look slimmer, but also develop more confidence. You’re body language speaks worlds about how you feel. Straighten up the way you look on the outside and your inside self-confidence will soon follow.