World Cup Soccer? Phewy. Baseball? Who cares.
My hometown hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, have just forced Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. The team, formerly of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri - has made its way back to the finals and they're doing a magnificient job.
Too bad I can't find a TV channel down here in Ohio that has the games! I'm keeping up on the news Websites though.
Go Oilers!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
A Very Useful, Fun, Free Virtual Personal Trainer
I found a great Website that acts like a personal trainer for fitness.
When you register, it asks you a bunch of questions and then sets up a training schedule for you. A very useful feature is that it shows video clips of each and every exercise, so you can make sure you're doing it right. So much easier than trying to figure out looking at a book or magazine.
Then it shuffles the exercises around each day so you never know what you're getting next. The exercise database seems to be HUGE. And there are lots of little stretches and neat exercises that I've never heard of before. Then, of course, you log what you've done and you get to see your progress.
They suggest that you'll start to see results after 15 workouts, which doesn't seem like such a long time.
I'm giving it a try. I'll let you know how it works.
You can sign up for free here. No tricks or gimmicks. They say they may add other features later that will cost money, but everything I've described is free.
The site requires Flash.
When you register, it asks you a bunch of questions and then sets up a training schedule for you. A very useful feature is that it shows video clips of each and every exercise, so you can make sure you're doing it right. So much easier than trying to figure out looking at a book or magazine.
Then it shuffles the exercises around each day so you never know what you're getting next. The exercise database seems to be HUGE. And there are lots of little stretches and neat exercises that I've never heard of before. Then, of course, you log what you've done and you get to see your progress.
They suggest that you'll start to see results after 15 workouts, which doesn't seem like such a long time.
I'm giving it a try. I'll let you know how it works.
You can sign up for free here. No tricks or gimmicks. They say they may add other features later that will cost money, but everything I've described is free.
The site requires Flash.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
The Ominous Connection Between Sugar and Cancer
Does eating meat cause cancer? Fat? Not exercising enough?
Undoubtedly, all of these play a role. But more and more in holistic circles, I'm hearing that the main factor in causing BOTH heart disease and cancer is too much refined carbohydrates.
Yes, sugar.
Here's a good article (sorry, it's kind of long) on the topic. Ask your naturopath about it.
Undoubtedly, all of these play a role. But more and more in holistic circles, I'm hearing that the main factor in causing BOTH heart disease and cancer is too much refined carbohydrates.
Yes, sugar.
Here's a good article (sorry, it's kind of long) on the topic. Ask your naturopath about it.
User-Generated Healthcare News
Netscape (a division of AOL) has created a new Website where you, the user, submit stories and even vote on the stories you think are relevant.
It's pretty easy to use and they even have a health section. This could easily become the place where we can go to get the "REAL" healthcare news, rather than the constant bull of bird flu, vaccines, new drug, blah blah blah.
Check it out here. You'll need to sign up (free) and then you can submit stories yourself, vote, etc. Very cool.
It's pretty easy to use and they even have a health section. This could easily become the place where we can go to get the "REAL" healthcare news, rather than the constant bull of bird flu, vaccines, new drug, blah blah blah.
Check it out here. You'll need to sign up (free) and then you can submit stories yourself, vote, etc. Very cool.
Investing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
I am having a hard time find a way to invest my Health Savings Account (HSA) in something other than a savings account at 3% interest.
My strong preference would be to find an HSA that allows me to invest in a mutual fund, perhaps a bond fund or even a stock fund.
I recommend using a bond fund in my book Health Insurance Off the Grid, but the reason I personally would invest in stocks is that I don't expect to use my HSA money in the coming years. Yes, I expect to stay healthy (don't we all??) but also I want to use my own personal out-of-pocket money first before even dipping into my HSA.
To me, the HSA is first and foremost a way to save for retirement, and only if I can't afford to pay the deductible amount at some point in time, then I would use HSA money.
I guess I see my HSA as a way to reward myself and my wife for us staying healthy. If we stay healthy until retirement, our HSA will instantly turn itself into an IRA (this is true) and we'll have extra money to retire with. Maybe we'll even save that money off to the side, not use it for day-to-day expenses (we have other IRAs, savings, etc. for retirement) and then pull it out for special occasions like a trip to Antarctica or something.
Your thoughts? Anyone have good results finding a reasonable investment within the context of an HSA?
My strong preference would be to find an HSA that allows me to invest in a mutual fund, perhaps a bond fund or even a stock fund.
I recommend using a bond fund in my book Health Insurance Off the Grid, but the reason I personally would invest in stocks is that I don't expect to use my HSA money in the coming years. Yes, I expect to stay healthy (don't we all??) but also I want to use my own personal out-of-pocket money first before even dipping into my HSA.
To me, the HSA is first and foremost a way to save for retirement, and only if I can't afford to pay the deductible amount at some point in time, then I would use HSA money.
I guess I see my HSA as a way to reward myself and my wife for us staying healthy. If we stay healthy until retirement, our HSA will instantly turn itself into an IRA (this is true) and we'll have extra money to retire with. Maybe we'll even save that money off to the side, not use it for day-to-day expenses (we have other IRAs, savings, etc. for retirement) and then pull it out for special occasions like a trip to Antarctica or something.
Your thoughts? Anyone have good results finding a reasonable investment within the context of an HSA?
Friday, June 16, 2006
A Useful Target Heart Rate Calculator
I'm just headed out for a walk and I wanted to see if my heart rate monitor was set correctly. I found this Website to calculate the lower and upper bounds for exercising. Hmm, my monitor was set a little high. Oh well, I'm leaving it as is - motivation and all that...
By the way, for heart rate monitors, Oregon Scientific is much better than Pulsar, in my humble opinion. The Pulsar monitors use a special battery that costs a lot of money to replace.
By the way, for heart rate monitors, Oregon Scientific is much better than Pulsar, in my humble opinion. The Pulsar monitors use a special battery that costs a lot of money to replace.
Funny Songs about the Government
You have to listen to this set of ridiculously funny songs about the Democrats and Republicans on this Website.
They're set to familiar tunes like B-I-N-G-O, Jamaica Farewell and Strangers in the Night.
Too funny!
They're set to familiar tunes like B-I-N-G-O, Jamaica Farewell and Strangers in the Night.
Too funny!
Money is to Liberals as Sex is to Conservatives
Does this sound like you?
SusanG, a blogger on the liberal political Website DailyKos writes a very eloquent article on how we liberals need to get over our disdain for money. Money is just a tool. Not evil, not bad, not something to be avoided or not discussed.
Read her whole article here at DailyKos.
SusanG, a blogger on the liberal political Website DailyKos writes a very eloquent article on how we liberals need to get over our disdain for money. Money is just a tool. Not evil, not bad, not something to be avoided or not discussed.
Read her whole article here at DailyKos.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
What a Friggin' Day! I Love This Job!
I was in contact with two fantastic people yesterday. First, a guy from the Acupuncture Society of Colorado interviewed me about health insurance and holistic health. He's the head of the Society's insurance committee, and so he was googling around the Web and found my book. We did the whole interview through e-mail. He was so excited about the concepts I introduce in my book, I knew he really "got it."
Then I got a call from someone else who purchased my book recently. His name is Steve Gorman. He owns the insurance agency in California called "Alternative Health Insurance Services."
Steve was also excited about the concepts I raise in the book. And he wants to find some way we can partner. Here is a guy who has created an insurance agency dedicated to providing insurance to people who like alternative medicine. He tries to find policies that cover as much as possible (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, etc.) and then tries to find ways to help even the out-of-pocket expenses (naturopathic, supplements, hypnotherapy, etc.). He even started a to provide them with good group benefits, but he was basically sued out of existence with that by insurance regulators. They hated what he was doing.
So here are two of the coolest people in the country and they want to talk to me! It was a great day.
Then I got a call from someone else who purchased my book recently. His name is Steve Gorman. He owns the insurance agency in California called "Alternative Health Insurance Services."
Steve was also excited about the concepts I raise in the book. And he wants to find some way we can partner. Here is a guy who has created an insurance agency dedicated to providing insurance to people who like alternative medicine. He tries to find policies that cover as much as possible (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, etc.) and then tries to find ways to help even the out-of-pocket expenses (naturopathic, supplements, hypnotherapy, etc.). He even started a to provide them with good group benefits, but he was basically sued out of existence with that by insurance regulators. They hated what he was doing.
So here are two of the coolest people in the country and they want to talk to me! It was a great day.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Podcast #20 - Quantum Touch 2
The newest podcast is now available. It's part two of my interview with Richard Gordon on a fairly new type of energy medicine called Quantum Touch. Very powerful, very easy to learn.
Click here to listen.
Click here to listen.
National City Bank Offer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
It looks like the midwestern bank National City is now offering Health Savings Accounts. Great news! Banks are a perfect place for these, since it is, after all, a savings account.
I'll have to include them as a resource in the next edition of my book "Health Insurance Off the Grid." Hopefully my 3rd edition will be ready soon. (panting...out of breath...need a vacation...must write new edition...)
I'll have to include them as a resource in the next edition of my book "Health Insurance Off the Grid." Hopefully my 3rd edition will be ready soon. (panting...out of breath...need a vacation...must write new edition...)
Teaching at the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies
I'll be teaching at the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies the weekend after next (Jun 23-25) which I always enjoy. This is the business section of the Registered Polarity Practitioner (RPP) curriculum that they put together. The whole curriculum is very, very comprehensive, and I'm so glad they have these days of business training included.
Too many massage therapy schools and other holistic training places don't include any business training, or its just useless stuff like "you should print business cards" and "you may need to incorporate with an LLC" - stuff like that. I think its a disservice to students when they are not taught at least something about how to put a business together conceptually and physically.
With polarity, they do a good job of this. And I'm happy to be the instructor for the Ohio Institute. They usually have 15-20 students, so it's the perfect size of group to work with.
Too many massage therapy schools and other holistic training places don't include any business training, or its just useless stuff like "you should print business cards" and "you may need to incorporate with an LLC" - stuff like that. I think its a disservice to students when they are not taught at least something about how to put a business together conceptually and physically.
With polarity, they do a good job of this. And I'm happy to be the instructor for the Ohio Institute. They usually have 15-20 students, so it's the perfect size of group to work with.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Add This to Your List of Fake Diseases
Now we find that 16 million Americans suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
W-H-A-T???
People getting angry is now a disease?
Yep! Someone is inventing diseases again. Just for the hell of it? No way. Invent a disease and then you need a drug for it. In fact, as soon as you invent a disease for an otherwise normal condition, such as kids not paying attention or jumpy legs, and now you need a DRUG.
And what's this based on? Psychiatrists asked a bunch of people if they've had more than 3 angry episodes in their lives. That's the groundbreaking study that proved that IED exists and must be treated.
Check out this article. It defines this so-called disease. Then, at the end, it recommends all the different drugs you need if you have the dreaded Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
It's a perfect plan. Too bad we noticed.
Here's the article from NewsTarget that called my attention to it. As always, Mike Adams writes his very specific criticisms of the "invent a disease" approach of Western medicine.
W-H-A-T???
People getting angry is now a disease?
Yep! Someone is inventing diseases again. Just for the hell of it? No way. Invent a disease and then you need a drug for it. In fact, as soon as you invent a disease for an otherwise normal condition, such as kids not paying attention or jumpy legs, and now you need a DRUG.
And what's this based on? Psychiatrists asked a bunch of people if they've had more than 3 angry episodes in their lives. That's the groundbreaking study that proved that IED exists and must be treated.
Check out this article. It defines this so-called disease. Then, at the end, it recommends all the different drugs you need if you have the dreaded Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
It's a perfect plan. Too bad we noticed.
Here's the article from NewsTarget that called my attention to it. As always, Mike Adams writes his very specific criticisms of the "invent a disease" approach of Western medicine.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Alex Mandossian's 5 Reasons Every Business Should Be Podcasting
Paul Colligan and Alex Mandossian talked about five major reasons why businesses need to be doing podcasts:
To me, a podcast is a great way to market products and services to a tightly focused group of perspective customers. I love doing podcasts, and I've found that they've helped me sell books and services.
And my podcasting audience seems very happy with the results. They're learning stuff for free, I'm selling stuff, and I'm connecting with very cool guests in the process. What fun!
- If the marketing message isn't portable, the marketing message is dead.
- A marketing plan without a podcast element is like a movie studio that refuses to distribute their movies on DVD.
- Our search habits are moving from Google to iTunes and Podcast Alley.
- Not offering portable options two years from now will be considered an insult to your customers.
- The customer who consumes your content on their terms is a very happy customer indeed.
To me, a podcast is a great way to market products and services to a tightly focused group of perspective customers. I love doing podcasts, and I've found that they've helped me sell books and services.
And my podcasting audience seems very happy with the results. They're learning stuff for free, I'm selling stuff, and I'm connecting with very cool guests in the process. What fun!
In Apple iWeb, Changing Names is Dangerous
I just found out a big problem with Apple's iWeb.
Well, first of all, it doesn't collect any type of statistics, so I can never know how many people are downloading my podcast.
But here's another big thing.
If you change the name of the header in your podcast, your RSS feed will break.
Here's what happens.
When you change the header - I don't know what else to call it - it's the little name above Entries and Archive on the left side of iWeb - you are changing your RSS feed.
Your RSS feed is a big long address that people use to subscribe to your podcast.
My RSS feed is:
http://rss.mac.com/darylkulak/iWeb/Holistic%20Health%20Nation/Podcast/rss.xml
You can see that it concatenates my .Mac user ID, the name of my podcast and then it says "Podcast" and then rss.xml.
Okay, I figured I could not change the name - Holistic Health Nation.
But I also cannot change the second part - Podcast.
You see, I now have two podcasts, and at the second level, they're both called "Podcast." This was confusing for me when I was adding content from GarageBand, because it was asking me if I wanted to add this new content to "Podcast" or "Podcast".
So I changed them to "HHN Podcast" and "UML Podcast". Smart huh? Nope. Dumb.
iWeb substituted these new names into my RSS feeds, so it broke all my RSS feeds with my users.
Luckily, I caught it before my users found out and I changed it back, which worked beautifully actually. (Yeah Apple!)
But this breaking the RSS feed is bad news.
So my advice to you is:
Don't change the name or header of your podcast - ever!!
Hope this is helpful to someone.
(Yes, I am using the latest version of iWeb.)
Click here to listen to my UML podcast "UML in Seven Minutes."
Click here to listen to my holistic health podcast "Holistic Health Nation."
Well, first of all, it doesn't collect any type of statistics, so I can never know how many people are downloading my podcast.
But here's another big thing.
If you change the name of the header in your podcast, your RSS feed will break.
Here's what happens.
When you change the header - I don't know what else to call it - it's the little name above Entries and Archive on the left side of iWeb - you are changing your RSS feed.
Your RSS feed is a big long address that people use to subscribe to your podcast.
My RSS feed is:
http://rss.mac.com/darylkulak/iWeb/Holistic%20Health%20Nation/Podcast/rss.xml
You can see that it concatenates my .Mac user ID, the name of my podcast and then it says "Podcast" and then rss.xml.
Okay, I figured I could not change the name - Holistic Health Nation.
But I also cannot change the second part - Podcast.
You see, I now have two podcasts, and at the second level, they're both called "Podcast." This was confusing for me when I was adding content from GarageBand, because it was asking me if I wanted to add this new content to "Podcast" or "Podcast".
So I changed them to "HHN Podcast" and "UML Podcast". Smart huh? Nope. Dumb.
iWeb substituted these new names into my RSS feeds, so it broke all my RSS feeds with my users.
Luckily, I caught it before my users found out and I changed it back, which worked beautifully actually. (Yeah Apple!)
But this breaking the RSS feed is bad news.
So my advice to you is:
Don't change the name or header of your podcast - ever!!
Hope this is helpful to someone.
(Yes, I am using the latest version of iWeb.)
Click here to listen to my UML podcast "UML in Seven Minutes."
Click here to listen to my holistic health podcast "Holistic Health Nation."
Whole Foods Market Begins a Podcast
Whole Foods Market, the largest health food store in the country, has started a podcast. Their first two episodes are very interesting - Natural Meat.
I look forward to their upcoming podcasts. Wow! This could be a great source of information about the stuff they sell. One iTunes commenter asked if they would explain how you prepare some of their exotic fruits and veggies. Cool topic.
Here's the feed.
Here's a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on their podcast.
I look forward to their upcoming podcasts. Wow! This could be a great source of information about the stuff they sell. One iTunes commenter asked if they would explain how you prepare some of their exotic fruits and veggies. Cool topic.
Here's the feed.
Here's a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on their podcast.
Amazing Optical Illusion of a B&W photo that colors a picture in your brain
Here's the link to the illusion.
1. Stare at the dot on the blue and yellow picture for 30 second.
2. Then after the 30 seconds, move the mouse cursor and the picture appears to be in full color, then fades to black and white again as your eyes adjust!
Utterly amazing!
And here is how it was created in Photoshop.
read more | digg story
1. Stare at the dot on the blue and yellow picture for 30 second.
2. Then after the 30 seconds, move the mouse cursor and the picture appears to be in full color, then fades to black and white again as your eyes adjust!
Utterly amazing!
And here is how it was created in Photoshop.
read more | digg story
Friday, June 09, 2006
Hollywood and the Hackers
It seems ridiculous, but the MPAA seems to be following in the footsteps of the music industry, obsoleting itself in the process.
In this back-and-forth between the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the co-founder of the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF), I am shocked to see the same line of thinking coming from the MPAA that pushed the music industry into the bit bucket.
Here are a few gems from the MPAA guy:
Hmm, like what happened with music? No, wait a minute, a lot of bands see free distribution of their music as a way to promote themselves. Just ask the Arctic Monkeys. Or Chance. Or Brother Love. Imagine the creativity we unleash when artists have the capability to release their music for free over the Internet.
Also interesting to me is that the people the MPAA guy mentions do not get most of the money collected for a movie. Not even close. Most of the money goes to the distributor and the production studio. Merchandisers. Why doesn't he mention those guys? This is very illustrative to me, because here are the "members" of the MPAA:
See many artists, directors, creators and actors represented in that list? I don't see one.
Oh really? Again, let's look at music. Music is freely available on the music sharing services. And yet iTunes sold a billion (with a "b") songs in the past year. Is that against human nature??
The clothes store and car dealership comparisons are not useful. Each of those things has a unit cost for each sale. Music and movies in digital form do not.
I can see that there will be a big problem when the big studios that the MPAA represents have to compete on a level playing field with the independent producers of movies. It's a big problem for the studios, not for us. We as consumers just get a bunch of unique content to choose from.
I really expected the MPAA to act differently than the music industry. I thought they would have learned.
Myself, I have a lot of affinity to the movie industry. I get great enjoyment from watching movies, Hollywood movies included. I love them. We hardly ever go to the theater, but we have tons of movie channels at home through DirecTV, and we watch several movies every week. I never cease to be amazed at how entertaining movies can be, even the most basic Hollywood stuff. Yes, I realize that Hollywood produces a bunch of junk too (Basic Instinct 2, Santa With Muscles, Baby Geniuses, etc.) but I cannot ignore all the great movies they've created too (Fight Club, Lord of the Rings, The Incredibles, Crash, Kill Bill, Mystic River, etc.). I could go on and on.
But just because the MPAA members produce good stuff, doesn't mean that they should have a monopoly on the content coming to us. And they won't. They can't control that. The smaller movie producers, everything down to the one guy doing a documentary, will be competing head to head with Hollywood and winning half the time. These small operations will be putting out movies on super low budgets, distributing them through the Internet, getting seen, and getting funded.
It will keep Hollywood on their toes. And they can't stop the little guys from putting stuff out. Which is killing them, I guess.
I don't have all the answers. But I wish the MPAA would learn from the mistakes of the music industry and look for ways to capitalize on the Internet as a distribution medium, and consider the possibility of putting stuff out for free.
Why not? You couldn't do any worse than the music industry!
read more | digg story
In this back-and-forth between the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the co-founder of the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF), I am shocked to see the same line of thinking coming from the MPAA that pushed the music industry into the bit bucket.
Here are a few gems from the MPAA guy:
you see if you don't adequately compensate the artist, the director, the creator, the actor, they won't do it in the first place so people won't get movies.
Hmm, like what happened with music? No, wait a minute, a lot of bands see free distribution of their music as a way to promote themselves. Just ask the Arctic Monkeys. Or Chance. Or Brother Love. Imagine the creativity we unleash when artists have the capability to release their music for free over the Internet.
Also interesting to me is that the people the MPAA guy mentions do not get most of the money collected for a movie. Not even close. Most of the money goes to the distributor and the production studio. Merchandisers. Why doesn't he mention those guys? This is very illustrative to me, because here are the "members" of the MPAA:
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; (The Walt Disney Company)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
- Paramount Pictures Corporation
- Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
- Universal City Studios LLLP
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
See many artists, directors, creators and actors represented in that list? I don't see one.
It is ridiculous to believe that you can give product away for free and be more successful. I mean it defies the laws of nature. Would a clothing store give all their clothes for free? Would a car dealership give all its cars for free? Of course not. If they don't make a profit in this world they're out of business. That's just the laws of human nature.
Oh really? Again, let's look at music. Music is freely available on the music sharing services. And yet iTunes sold a billion (with a "b") songs in the past year. Is that against human nature??
The clothes store and car dealership comparisons are not useful. Each of those things has a unit cost for each sale. Music and movies in digital form do not.
I can see that there will be a big problem when the big studios that the MPAA represents have to compete on a level playing field with the independent producers of movies. It's a big problem for the studios, not for us. We as consumers just get a bunch of unique content to choose from.
I really expected the MPAA to act differently than the music industry. I thought they would have learned.
Myself, I have a lot of affinity to the movie industry. I get great enjoyment from watching movies, Hollywood movies included. I love them. We hardly ever go to the theater, but we have tons of movie channels at home through DirecTV, and we watch several movies every week. I never cease to be amazed at how entertaining movies can be, even the most basic Hollywood stuff. Yes, I realize that Hollywood produces a bunch of junk too (Basic Instinct 2, Santa With Muscles, Baby Geniuses, etc.) but I cannot ignore all the great movies they've created too (Fight Club, Lord of the Rings, The Incredibles, Crash, Kill Bill, Mystic River, etc.). I could go on and on.
But just because the MPAA members produce good stuff, doesn't mean that they should have a monopoly on the content coming to us. And they won't. They can't control that. The smaller movie producers, everything down to the one guy doing a documentary, will be competing head to head with Hollywood and winning half the time. These small operations will be putting out movies on super low budgets, distributing them through the Internet, getting seen, and getting funded.
It will keep Hollywood on their toes. And they can't stop the little guys from putting stuff out. Which is killing them, I guess.
I don't have all the answers. But I wish the MPAA would learn from the mistakes of the music industry and look for ways to capitalize on the Internet as a distribution medium, and consider the possibility of putting stuff out for free.
Why not? You couldn't do any worse than the music industry!
read more | digg story
Naturopath Charged By Chiropractic Board Fights Back
Cynthia Rosi has written a great article on her blog "Holistic Woman" about Dan Nuzum, a naturopathic practitioner in Northwestern Ohio.
Dan Nuzum's story is pretty well known in the holistic healthcare community, but Cynthia did a number of interviews of the players involved and has some good perspectives on the issues.
Dan was charged by the Chiropractic Board a couple of years ago with practicing chiropractic without a license. They shut down his business in a day and dragged him through various legal proceedings. Eventually, Dan was vindicated, but the Chiropractic Board owed him nothing for shutting his legitimate business down for all those months.
Now Dan is suing the Chiropractic Board for his losses.
Anyway, read Cynthia's article on her blog. It's excellent.
Dan Nuzum's story is pretty well known in the holistic healthcare community, but Cynthia did a number of interviews of the players involved and has some good perspectives on the issues.
Dan was charged by the Chiropractic Board a couple of years ago with practicing chiropractic without a license. They shut down his business in a day and dragged him through various legal proceedings. Eventually, Dan was vindicated, but the Chiropractic Board owed him nothing for shutting his legitimate business down for all those months.
Now Dan is suing the Chiropractic Board for his losses.
Anyway, read Cynthia's article on her blog. It's excellent.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
A Free Report for Newbie Massage Therapists
I have finally created a nice report for those massage therapists who are just starting out in this career.
Essentially the report, called "How to Start a Massage Therapy Practice" is a guide to help them with some ideas on creating a successful practice right from the beginning.
No, it's not a bunch of lame stuff about printing business cards and putting an ad in the Yellow Pages. Those are NOT major strategies at all in the service business, like massage therapy.
Instead, I give solid ideas that not everyone is going to think of immediately. Hopefully, it is helpful.
And it's free, so there's no risk for the new therapist. They can just try it!
Here's a link to the download page - "How to Start a Massage Therapy Practice."
Essentially the report, called "How to Start a Massage Therapy Practice" is a guide to help them with some ideas on creating a successful practice right from the beginning.
No, it's not a bunch of lame stuff about printing business cards and putting an ad in the Yellow Pages. Those are NOT major strategies at all in the service business, like massage therapy.
Instead, I give solid ideas that not everyone is going to think of immediately. Hopefully, it is helpful.
And it's free, so there's no risk for the new therapist. They can just try it!
Here's a link to the download page - "How to Start a Massage Therapy Practice."
More Posts on the Wii Workout
Here are a bunch of posts around the 'net on the Wii Workout (see previous posts):
DS Revolution
Resident Gamer
Team Robot
DS Revolution
Resident Gamer
Team Robot
Follow Up on Wii Workout
Here is another commenter on this blog a few posts ago, giving more great ideas for the Nintendo Wii Console and how it could help us work out while we have fun.
Thanks to dr1044 for this great idea.
I love this idea! So creative, dr1044. Any other ideas on how to use this new motion-sensitive remote (wiimote) to increase fitness? I am actually not a big fan of video games, I just get bored of them too quickly. But this game I think I would play!
Thanks to dr1044 for this great idea.
"The Wii Workout"
The market is huge for workout videos/dvds because most people like the convenience and privacy of working out at home. This game could potentially give them that plus a personal trainer and more.
Basically aerobics game targeted (mostly) at females. Need four wiimotes ("remotes"). Strap two to your shins and hold the other two. Do common aerobic type workouts with Chuck Norris/Brooke Burke on screen encouraging/screaming at you.
Game is sophisticated enough so that you can enter your height, weight, gender, and goals, and the game will develop your ideal workout routine or you can set your own goals. If you want to burn say five pounds in a week just enter it in the game and it develops a plan. Norris/Burke gives you instant feedback on if you are doing the exercises right ("keep your arms straight", "your right leg is too far forward") or if you need to speed up or if you are doing good. If one limb is not moving right it gives you a little vibration there.
The number of reps you have done and the number that you have left are displayed and spoken to you. You can either use the preloaded game workout music or use your own that you uploaded. You can be rewarded with your favorite song (or maybe a Chuck Norris fact) or punished with some country music. The game stores your workout results in the memory and it computes graphs of all your workouts so that you can see how you are progressing. It also uses your results to come up with your next workout routine.
Also to motivate you even more you could tell it "I want to lose 10 pounds" and while you are working out it shows how many minutes you will have to work out to reach your goal. Going faster or lasting longer makes the number decrease.
Variations of the game can include yoga, pilates, dancing, martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, weightlifting, and I'm sure a whole bunch of other things."
You could also create a virtual self (like the Nintendo guy put his face on the wiisports). You could go online and compete with other people who match up with your current skill level. It could also big like a biggest loser thing where it's a competition to see who works out the best and loses the most weight.
I love this idea! So creative, dr1044. Any other ideas on how to use this new motion-sensitive remote (wiimote) to increase fitness? I am actually not a big fan of video games, I just get bored of them too quickly. But this game I think I would play!
Stevia Expert
Thanks to reader Eve, I've found another expert on Stevia who I might be able to interview. His name is James May and he wrote the book "The Miracle of Stevia" and is also the founder of SweetLeaf Stevia.
I was trying to contact the people at Stevita, but they aren't returning my e-mails so I've given up on them.
I'm hoping to have a very detailed interview with a stevia expert to get the whole background story and uses of this product for my podcast - Holistic Health Nation.
Thanks Eve!
I was trying to contact the people at Stevita, but they aren't returning my e-mails so I've given up on them.
I'm hoping to have a very detailed interview with a stevia expert to get the whole background story and uses of this product for my podcast - Holistic Health Nation.
Thanks Eve!
Monday, May 29, 2006
How to Access Mac OS X Fonts from X11 Applications
Does anyone know how to access the Mac OS X fonts (listed in Font Book) from X11 applications like OpenOffice and the Gimp?
I having a lot of trouble finding information about this. The best so far was a posting at Mac OS X Hints, but it was from 2003 and nothing of those ideas worked on my up-to-date Tiger operating system.
If you have any ideas, I'd appreciate a helping hand on this. I found a great site with thousands of free fonts, but so far I can't access them in the apps I use most - OpenOffice 2.0 and the Gimp.
Thanks!
I having a lot of trouble finding information about this. The best so far was a posting at Mac OS X Hints, but it was from 2003 and nothing of those ideas worked on my up-to-date Tiger operating system.
If you have any ideas, I'd appreciate a helping hand on this. I found a great site with thousands of free fonts, but so far I can't access them in the apps I use most - OpenOffice 2.0 and the Gimp.
Thanks!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Copy Protection on Information Products
I've always felt that my information products, like e-Books and Internet-delivered reports, should be free of copy protection and digital rights management.
But listening to an attorney on a podcast recently (scroll down to "Inside the Net 023 - Michael Geist)"), I realized that my instinctive reaction makes a lot of sense.
My battle with getting paid for my e-Books is not against people who are illegally obtaining it. 99.9% of the people who didn't buy my book haven't heard of my e-Book! Therefore, if a few people steal the e-Book, and then the word gets out more and more about my e-Book, that will help more people know about it, helping me with my REAL battle - obscurity.
This leads me to state that putting copy protection on an independently produced piece of content (whether e-Book, music, poetry, stories, podcast, etc.) is an obscurity assurance program. Maybe copy protection makes sense for big companies, but for us independent producers, forget it. It is bad business.
But listening to an attorney on a podcast recently (scroll down to "Inside the Net 023 - Michael Geist)"), I realized that my instinctive reaction makes a lot of sense.
My battle with getting paid for my e-Books is not against people who are illegally obtaining it. 99.9% of the people who didn't buy my book haven't heard of my e-Book! Therefore, if a few people steal the e-Book, and then the word gets out more and more about my e-Book, that will help more people know about it, helping me with my REAL battle - obscurity.
This leads me to state that putting copy protection on an independently produced piece of content (whether e-Book, music, poetry, stories, podcast, etc.) is an obscurity assurance program. Maybe copy protection makes sense for big companies, but for us independent producers, forget it. It is bad business.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Are Video Games the Key to Solving Childhood Obesity?
I believe I have seen the future.
Nintendo just released their "Wii" (pronounced 'we') video game console. It contains a wireless remote that is motion sensitive.
What this means is that to swing a bat in a baseball video game, you swing the remote over your shoulder and across in front of you. To clunk a villain on the head, you move the remote in a similar way.
When I think of the possibilities...
What about a video game where you have to do a certain amount of working out (push ups, swinging your arms, stretches) in order to do something fun in the game (go through to a new level, open a door, etc.). We are now able to link the fun of videogames with the need for physical activity. Indeed, it seems that all videogames will now have an aspect of fitness to them, making them more fun than before.
I've never been a gamer myself, I get bored of them very easily. But knowing that young children today often play games more than they watch TV or surf the Internet, this could be the opportunity we're looking for.
I'm not the first person to think of this. Note the comment at the end of this article on Wii.
Nintendo just released their "Wii" (pronounced 'we') video game console. It contains a wireless remote that is motion sensitive.
What this means is that to swing a bat in a baseball video game, you swing the remote over your shoulder and across in front of you. To clunk a villain on the head, you move the remote in a similar way.
When I think of the possibilities...
What about a video game where you have to do a certain amount of working out (push ups, swinging your arms, stretches) in order to do something fun in the game (go through to a new level, open a door, etc.). We are now able to link the fun of videogames with the need for physical activity. Indeed, it seems that all videogames will now have an aspect of fitness to them, making them more fun than before.
I've never been a gamer myself, I get bored of them very easily. But knowing that young children today often play games more than they watch TV or surf the Internet, this could be the opportunity we're looking for.
I'm not the first person to think of this. Note the comment at the end of this article on Wii.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Solving Immigration and Avoiding a Draft
Would this work?
Rather than goofy guest worker programs (which didn't work very well in France) or other ideas I've heard, could we set up a program where an immigrant from Mexico can gain citizenship by serving in our American armed forces for a couple of years?
It could work for individuals and also families. In a family, one parent would have to serve in the forces, the other could stay stateside with the family. The paycheck from service would hopefully (?) be enough to sustain the family back here.
This solves a bit of our immigration problem with Mexico, and it also brings home people into our armed forces for the time being, right when we need them.
What do you think? (It's my wife's idea.)
Rather than goofy guest worker programs (which didn't work very well in France) or other ideas I've heard, could we set up a program where an immigrant from Mexico can gain citizenship by serving in our American armed forces for a couple of years?
It could work for individuals and also families. In a family, one parent would have to serve in the forces, the other could stay stateside with the family. The paycheck from service would hopefully (?) be enough to sustain the family back here.
This solves a bit of our immigration problem with Mexico, and it also brings home people into our armed forces for the time being, right when we need them.
What do you think? (It's my wife's idea.)
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Holistic Health Nation #16 - Organic Insurance
My latest podcast is the coolest ever!
I interview Kathryne Auerback from Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation. She explains their new system of providing a rebate for their members participation in community supported agriculture. Isn't that great??
Listen here.
I interview Kathryne Auerback from Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation. She explains their new system of providing a rebate for their members participation in community supported agriculture. Isn't that great??
Listen here.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
David Blaine Seeing Auras?
David Blaine, the magician who is staying underwater in a bubble this week, told a reporter yesterday that he could see a blur of red, yellow and blue around people's heads in the daytime. Do you think he might be seeing auras?
Just a thought.
Look at this link and play the video. The David Blaine segment is right at the end. The whole video is about 6 minutes.
Just a thought.
Look at this link and play the video. The David Blaine segment is right at the end. The whole video is about 6 minutes.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Getting Rid of Dandelions Organically
Here is a very cool list of ways to get rid of dandelions without using toxic herbicides or "weed and feed" mixtures. My lawn is full of dandelions, and I really don't want to continue to use my toxic sprays and granules.
Let me know what you think of this list.
A quick update on this post. A listener of my podcast, Rob, gave me this link to a fertilizer company that also has a corn gluten based weed control product. Very natural, however you have to put it on before the dandelions germinate. And the fertilizer is made from chicken poop!
Let me know what you think of this list.
A quick update on this post. A listener of my podcast, Rob, gave me this link to a fertilizer company that also has a corn gluten based weed control product. Very natural, however you have to put it on before the dandelions germinate. And the fertilizer is made from chicken poop!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Bill Maher's Monologue Last Week
Bill Maher took another in a long series of potshots at Big Pharma. He really loves to go after the drug companies. He seems to be genuinely interested in promoting the organic food movement, as well as just simple eating right and exercising. He seems pretty fit so he probably practices what he preaches.
Just to prove he's not making this stuff up, I've put in links to Websites that explain each of these weird-sounding things. They're all true (except for Flaccidix).
Here it is:
Just to prove he's not making this stuff up, I've put in links to Websites that explain each of these weird-sounding things. They're all true (except for Flaccidix).
Here it is:
New Rule:
Drug companies have to stop making up diseases! I don't know what the terrorists are planning next for America, but if I had every problem they talk about in medicine commercials: breathing, lifting, walking, sitting, sleeping, crapping, not crapping, getting a boner and male pattern menopause—I would welcome death. Bring it on! Deadly nerve gas? Please, I've got seasonal allergies!
I mean, it seems like every time I turn on the TV these days, I see some ad for some drug I never heard of, to treat some disease I never heard of. That's not a stomach ache you have from eating the chili-cheese fries at Johnny Rockets, it's Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Or I.B.S. Or as I call it, "B.S." Which would also apply to the dreaded "Social Anxiety Disorder." Or as we used to call it, "shyness." And we treated it with an old home recipe: scotch and water.
Your wife doesn't get turned on? Well, it couldn't be because you're a snowman-shaped sausage casing--so full of beer you sweat hops. It's because she has "Female Sexual Dysfunction."
And before they came up with "Restless Leg Syndrome," did that even exist? Did you ever hear someone say, "Sorry I couldn't make the party, Bill." "The old restless leg was acting up." You know, next time you have an uncontrollable urge to move your feet, maybe you should just...move your feet! Your feet are trying to tell you the same thing your dog is trying to tell you when he's been cooped up in the house all day: "I want to go for a walk!"
But be careful. There's a Tasmanian Devil living under your toenail.
I am waiting for the ad that tells me that my morning hard-on is actually "Superfluous Rigidity Syndrome." Or S.R.S. And there's a cartoon bunny who says, "Are you bothered by morning stiffness?" "Try Flaccidix." "Flaccidix is specially formulated to make your penis shiny and more manageable." "Side effects: you bleed from your pores and then explode and die." "And/or dry mouth."
Now, just in the last two years, the "medicines" that have made the headlines under the category, "Take two and call me in the morning if you're still alive," include Vioxx, Ambien, Zyprexa, Ortho Evra, Prempro, Zoloft, Paxil, Ephedra, Celebrex and Fosamax.
And yet it was marijuana last week that was declared by the FDA to have no known medical value. Actually, what marijuana has is no known lobbying value. And, yes - yes, back in 1999, when we still believed in science, the National Academy of Science said what millions already knew from practical use, that weed is useful in treating pain, nausea and weight loss. And that lab rats exposed to it were 38% more likely to forget the maze and just kick it old school.
Folks, drug companies are pushers, and Congress and the FDA are the cop on the beat who's been paid off to look the other way. New drugs used to have to go through a rigorous process of testing. Now they just give it to Courtney Love, and if she lives, it's approved.
And by the way, just to prove who has the power in this country, that fake FDA report about marijuana having no medical value was issued - on purpose, I am sure - on April 20th - four-twenty. And that joke only makes sense to stoners.
So, mom and dad, if your kid just laughed, you might need to search his room.
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