Skinny Bitch: A Vegetarian's Guide to Healthy Living

ASSI - During one of my feeding breaks at work, I shared with a coworker my desire to stop eating chicken and turkey, but thought it might be difficult due to the amount of chicken that I consume in a week. According to one of my coworkers, the book "Skinny Bitch" was the wake up call she needed, and thought it would be a good book for me to read as well. At first I was a little taken-a-back due to the style of writing it is harsh and in your face with enough shocking information to get your attention. The profanity was enough to make me cringe but I continued to read, relax, and receive the factual information provided. Rory and Kim are the authors of Skinny Bitch, a New York Times Bestseller that will definitely influence your decision to become a vegetarian. The condition and treatment of the animals will raise your eyebrows and discuss you to the point of thinking twice before eating meat or dairy; however, the affirmations, menus, and alternative foods provided gives you hope that you can eat healthy without tasteless compromises. As I see it, if you are contemplating becoming a vegan or vegetarian you must read Skinny Bitch it will enlighten you and expose the FDA, USDA, and food manufactures of their unsafe practices. I give Skinny Bitch 4.5 blinks

Madea Should Stay In Jail

ASSI - Based on the trailers and the fact that I believe Tyler Perry has formula movies that are cut from the same premise, mellow drama. I was content on waiting for the DVD release. Madea Goes to Jail has funny moments but is not a funny movie...the story line was contrived to make a film, although not far featched. You can see the artistic/creative license used at-its-best. Extreme measures were taken for a laugh. There are pockets of the film that lacks the realism needed for me to care about the characters or the situations. The acting was mediocre, there were no standout scenes, and Keisha Knight Pullium who plays Candy a prostitute is a small stretch for the onetime child actresss, according to Perry this is her break out role. We will see, I am unsure that her portrayl was the best; however, Perry plays three parts: Madea, her brother Joe, and his son Brian, the attorney. He also wrote, produced, and directed the film. The movie also stars Dereck Lucas from Antwane Fisher and N.O.T.O.R.I.U.S. BIG and to round out the cast. As I see it, if you simply want to see Madea Goes to Jail to support Perry make it matinee otherwise wait for it to come out on Blue Ray or DVD. It was entertaining but not a film that I highly recommend or a must see on the big screen. I give Madea Goes to Jail 3 blinks.

Racially Charged Cartoon

Yesterday, the day after President Obama signed the stimulus bill, his first major piece of legislation, the New York Post ran a cartoon depicting the bill's author as a dead monkey, covered in blood after being shot by police.

In the face of intense criticism, The Post's editor is standing by the cartoon, claiming it has no racial undertones, that it's not about Obama, and that it was simply referencing an incident earlier this week when police shot a pet chimpanzee (an argument that pundits and analysts simply aren't buying).1

It's impossible to believe that any newspaper editor could be ignorant enough to not understand how this cartoon evokes a history of racist symbolism, or how frightening this image feels at a time when death threats against President Obama have been on the rise.

Please join us in demanding that The Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print:

http://colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=2076-776892

The Post would have us believe that the cartoon is not about Obama. But on the page just before the cartoon appears, there's a big picture of Obama signing the stimulus bill.2 A reader paging through The Post would see Obama putting pen to paper, then turn the page to see this violent cartoon. The imagery is chilling.

There is a clear history in our country of racist symbolism that depicts Black people as apes or monkeys, and it came up multiple times during the presidential campaign.3

We're also in a time of increased race-based violence. In the months following President Obama's election there has been a nationwide surge in hate crimes ranging from vandalism to assaults to arson on Black churches.4,5 There has been an unprecedented number of threats against President Obama since he was elected,6 with hate-based groups fantasizing about the killing of the president. Just a week ago, a man drove from Louisiana to the Capitol with a rifle, telling the police who stopped him that he had a "delivery" for the president.7

There is no excuse for The Post to have allowed this cartoon to be printed, and even less for Editor Col Allan's outright dismissal of Black concerns.

But let's be clear about who's behind The Post: Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, the Post's owner, is the man behind FOX News Channel. FOX has continually attacked and denigrated Black people, politicians, and institutions at every opportunity, and we've run several campaigns to make clear how FOX poisons public debate.8

We don't expect much from Murdoch. However, with enough public pressure we can set the stage for advertisers and subscribers to think long and hard before patronizing outlets like the Post that refuse to be held accountable.

You can help by making it clear that the Post's behavior is unacceptable, and by asking your friends and family to do the same. It only takes a minute:

http://colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=2076-776892

-- James, Gabriel, Clarissa, William, Dani and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
February 19th, 2009

References:

1. "NY Post Defends Cartoon, Slams Al Sharpton," Huffington Post, 2-18-2009
http://tinyurl.com/cdmhmm

2. "Obama Photo Preceded Cartoon Of Gunned Down Chimp," Huffington Post, 2-18-2009
http://tinyurl.com/d4jf3m

3. "'Curious George' Obama Shirt Causes Uproar," CBS News, 5-15-2008
http://tinyurl.com/d3ym5w

4. "Post-Racial USA? Not So Fast." Associated Press, 11-15-2008
http://tinyurl.com/b6nw6u

5. "Arson seen in post-election fire at black church in Springfield," Boston Globe, 11-8-2008
http://tinyurl.com/689k4k

6. "Obama never worries about his security despite record number of threats," Daily Mail, 11-27-2008
http://tinyurl.com/bwpr2b

7. "Winnfield man with rifle said he had 'delivery' for Obama," The Advocate, 2-11-2009
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/39429842.html

8. ColorOfChange.org campaign -- "Dancing with the Devil"
http://colorofchange.org/cbci_debates/

Cassava What a Chip

ASSI - I grabbed a bag of chips off the shelf while shopping at my local Wholes Food Market and what I discovered was a bag full of tasteful surprise. According to Arico a Natural Foods Company, the packaging of Cassava Chips is enough to entice any crunch monger. The following information is on the bag: 30% less fat than potato chips, twice the fiber of potato chips, trans fat free, gluten free, dairy free, cholesterol free, free of artificial flavor or color, and it also states that Cassava grows much like potato and originated from the ancient South American civilization thousand of years ago. Its cultivation spread to other parts of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. today cassava is consumed by millions around the world and is relatively unknown in North America. When prepared as a snack chip has a delightfully satisfying flavor and a light, crispy addictive crunch and are lightly cooked without the use of trans fat and gently seasoned in an array of tantalizing flavors. Cassava chips are good for you and good for the earth. As I see it that says it all; however, I tried the original that exceeded my expectations. The texture, taste, and satisfy my crunch fix. If you are watching your weight but want to still enjoy a guilt free snack you must try Cassava Chips. The other flavors available are Barbeque Bliss, Ginger on Fire, and Sea Salt Mist. I give Original Cassava Chips 4.5 blinks.

All men over the age of 35 need to get checked for Prostate Cancer

AHSI.....Prostate has now become a major concern for all men over the age of 35. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate makes and stores a component of semen and is located in the pelvis, under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut. The flow of urine can be slowed or stopped if the size of the prostate increases. Prostate cancer occurs when the cells of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably. If caught early, and treatment is administered, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90% .

Physicians commonly use two methods for detecting prostate cancer:
Digital rectal examination (DRE) has been used for years as a screening test, but its ability to detect prostate cancer is limited. Tumors often form in areas of the prostate that cannot be reached by a DRE. Clinicians also can have difficulty distinguishing between benign abnormalities and prostate cancer.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement is a blood test used by many doctors use. PSA is an enzyme measured in the blood that can rise naturally as men age or if prostate abnormalities are present. However, the PSA test cannot distinguish prostate cancer from benign growth or other conditions, such as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate). PSA testing also fails to detect some prostate cancers.

Their are many tools to help you fight prostate cancer on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies are provided by cancer experts who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies, which may include:
High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy for internal radiotherapy. This method of precisely delivering radiation from the inside out spares surrounding healthy tissue and organs and may reduce the need for surgery.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for the most advanced form of conformal radiotherapy. IMRT employs a powerful, advanced computer program that plans a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions based on individual tumor size, shape and location. IMRT allows for higher radiation doses than traditional radiotherapy methods, while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue.
Fractionated Dose Chemotherapy divides a powerful dose of drugs into smaller doses, given over several days. This approach exposes cancer cells to the drugs for a longer period of time, while also seeking to reduce the unpleasant side effects often experienced with larger doses.

The symptoms of prostate cancer can go undetected for many years and the signs are: pain or burning during urination; urine flow that starts and stops; not being able to urinate; frequent pain in the lower back; hips or upper thighs; blood in the urine and semen; weak flow of urine; and needing to urinate often, especially at night.

49er Fans from East to West and North to South would like to Congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on Winning their 6th NFL Superbowl

ESPN Analysts discuss Superbowl Sunday / Best D--Sports Show Interview with Willie Parker