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From: Gregory Brown To: undisclosed-recipients:; Bcc: jeevacation@gmail.com Subject: Greg Brown's Weekend Reading and Other Things.. 09/13/2015 Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 07:46:17 +0000 Attachments: James_Moody_playlistn August_2,_2015.docx; 1.35_million_youths_a_year have_serious_sports_injuries_Michelle_Healey_USA_Today_ August_6,2013.docx; Top_5_Sports_Injuries_in_Children_and_Adolescents.docx; 97_Percent_Of DC's_Prisoners_In_One_Type_Of Solitaty_Confinement_Are_Black_Dana Liebelson_Huff Post_09.02.15.docx Inline-Images: image.png; image(I).png; image(2).png; image(3).png; image(4).png; image(5).png; image(6).png; image(7).png; image(8).png; image(9).png; image(10).png; image(11).png; image(12).png; image(13).png; image(14).png; image(I5).png; image(16).png; image(17).png; image(18).png; image(19).png DEAR FRIEND Frequently wrong but never in Doubt. The deal "strengthens our adversaries, threatens our allies and puts our own security at risk." Inline image 1 As Dana Milbank recently wrote in a Washington Post op-ed — Cheney hyperbolized, hyperventilated and gave rein to hyperactive imagination — "desperation ... cave ...neutered" - and the audience at EFTA00846354 the normally sedate American Enterprise Institute was riled. When Michaela Anang, a student from Boston with the liberal group Code Pink attempted to heckle the "war criminal" Cheney, Marc Thiessen, the moderator (and online columnist for The Post), leaped up to block her, audience members shouted "get out of here!" at her, and one man, in jacket and tie, engaged her in a violent tug of war to confiscate her banner. "Thank you very much," Cheney said with a wry grin. Supporters of the Iran deal are probably saying the same to Cheney. They are probably more grateful still that applauding Cheney from the front row were Paul D. Wolfowitz, a principal architect of the Iraq war, and Sen. Tom Cotton, (Ark.), author of the Senate Republicans' letter to the ayatollahs attempting to kill the deal during negotiations. In the second row were former congresswoman Michele Bachmann and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the Cheney aide whose tenure led to a prison sentence. Surely, those who would like to see Congress undo the nuclear agreement can't expect that rolling out Cheney is going to save the cause. When it comes to dire predictions based on scary intelligence, the former vice president wouldn't seem to have the best track record. Moments after Cheney's speech came reports that the number of Senate Democrats supporting the Iran deal had climbed to 41— more than enough to sustain a presidential veto of any congressional disapproval of the deal, and possibly enough to block such a disapproval resolution from clearing Congress. This came despite an all-out campaign by the once-feared American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates, which spent tens of millions of dollars to rally opposition; The Post called it the largest defeat for AIPAC in more than two decades. The deal's survival also suggests Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extraordinary meddling in American politics backfired. And now, as if to hammer nail into coffin, comes Cheney — angrily questioning "the veracity of the president's claims" about the deal and labeling several Obama assertions "simply false." A lecture on veracity and falsehood from the man who asserted before the Iraq invasion that Saddam Hussein had reconstituted nuclear weapons? The man who said hitting Iraq would strike "a major blow right" at the base of the 9/11 terrorists? The man who claimed that Iraq had "long-established ties with al Qaeda" and that it was "pretty well confirmed" that 9/11 mastermind Mohamed Atta met with senior Iraqi intelligence officials? Most everybody — including former president George W. Bush's brother, presidential candidate Jeb Bush — has come to acknowledge that, given the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the United States should not have gone to war in 2003. But not Cheney. When Thiessen relayed a question to him about whether containment of Saddam would have been better than military action, Cheney said "I disagree." He unabashedly made allegations against Iran Tuesday that he once made against Iraq, citing evidence of "an agreement between the Iranian government and al Qaeda." Echoing the old warnings about Iraq's "mushroom cloud," he noted that a nuclear Iran could kill 6 million Jews in a day. He acknowledged that intelligence failed to predict the North Korea nuclear test when he was in office — but only to argue that there should be "serious concern" about Obama's claim that it would take Iran a year to produce nuclear weapons. EFTA00846355 There should be concern about Obama's claims — but there should be even more about Cheney's. He said, for example, that the deal "threatens the security of Europe" without acknowledging that European powers negotiated it. Dropping his longstanding quest to expand executive power, he said Congress should have seized the authority to ratify the deal. Cheney said it's a "false choice" to claim the alternative to the deal is war. But he went on to say that unless Iran makes much deeper concessions," they must understand that the United States stands ready to take military action ... Iran will not be convinced to abandon its program peacefully unless it knows it willface military action if it refuses to do so." And this isn't war? In the immortal words of George W. Bush: "You can't getfooled again." ****** 1.35 million youths a year have serious sports injuries lane image 2 Last week I did a piece on injuries in Pro Sports and how athletes are more than often pushed to play with injuries that could get worse and ultimately end their career. While researching the piece I discovered that there is an epidemic in America as 1.35 million youths a year have serious sports injuries. Safe Kit Worldwide survey of emergency room visits shows more than a million times a year, or about every 25 seconds, a young athlete visits a hospital emergency room for a sports-related injury. Injuries • 1.35 million kids were seen in a hospital ER in 2012 for a sports-related injury • 1 child every 3 minutes was seen for a sports-related concussion • Younger athletes, ages 12 to 15, made up 47% of concussions EFTA00846356 Occasional bumps and bruises are expected when kids play sports, but for more than 1.35 million children last year a sports-related injury was severe enough to send them to a hospital emergency department. Sprains and strains, fractures, contusions, abrasions and concussions top the list of sports-related ER diagnoses for kids ages 6 to 19 — at a cost of more than $935 million each year, according to a report out Tuesday from the non-profit advocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide. The report, which analyzed data for 2011 and 2012, did not find a statistical difference between the two years, but is concerning — one in five kids who go to ERs for treatment of an injury is there for sports injuries, says Kate Can, Safe Kids president and CEO. "Far too many kids are arriving in emergency rooms for injuries that are predictable and preventable," Can says. Using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, the report focused on pediatric sports injuries related to 14 common sports activities, including football, cheerleading, soccer and basketball. More than 46.5 million children played team sports in 2011, says the report. It finds that in 2012, 12% of all ER visits (163,670) involved a concussion, the equivalent of one every three minutes. Nearly half (47%) were in kids ages 12 to 15. That's particularly troubling, given research showing that younger athletes take a longer time to heal than older athletes after a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury, because their bodies are still growing, Carr says. "And we know that a second concussion later can cause even more issues." Like previous studies, the new report shows that in sports in which both girls and boys participate, girls report a higher percentage of concussions. Among youth basketball players, for example, 11.5% of girls seen in the ER are diagnosed with concussions, compared with 7.2% of boys. Among soccer players, it's 17.1% of girls compared with 12.4% of boys. It's unclear what accounts for the variation, says sports medicine physician Kathryn Ackerman, co- director of the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children's Hospital. "We are still looking into it, trying to see if there are really genetic differences, differences in play, or differences in biomechanics, but we don't have that link yet." Ackerman was not involved in the new study. Although the number of injuries cited in the new report may seem high, the actual number is likely even higher, says Neeru Jayanthi, a sports medicine physician at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. That's because the study included only ERs, and many kids go to urgent care centers, their regular doctor or a sports medicine clinic, says Jayanthi, who was not involved in the study. Nor do the figures highlight the significant number of overuse injuries, "about 25% of which end up being serious," he says. Overuse injuries to tendons, bones and joints can result from playing the same sport and performing the same movements too often, too hard or at too young an age with inadequate recovery time. EFTA00846357 Research reported earlier this year by Jayanthi and colleagues found that young athletes who played a single sport for more hours a week than years they were old — such as a 10-year-old who played 11 or more hours of soccer — were 70% more likely to experience serious overuse injuries. Letting the body rest, adding preventive and strengthening exercises, and following proper technique are among injury prevention strategies recommended in the new report. It also says athletes should be encouraged to speak up about injuries, coaches should be supported in injury-prevention decisions, and parents and young athletes should become better educated about sports safety. "These statistics don't have to be part of the game if we take some simple precautions," Carr says. Among other findings from the report: • Football resulted in both the highest number of all pediatric injuries (394,350) and the highest concussion rate (40 per 10,000 athletes). Wrestling and cheerleading had the second- and third-highest concussion rates (15 per 10,000 athletes and 12 per 10,000 athletes, respectively). • Ice hockey had the highest percentage (31%) of concussion injuries; its rate was 10 per 10,000 athletes. • The most common injuries were to the ankle (15%), followed by head (14%) finger (12%), knee (9%) and face (7%). Acute traumatic injuries are things like fractures, sprains and strains, concussions, and cuts. They usually happen after a blow or force — like getting tackled in football or wiping out while skateboarding. Overuse injuries include things like stress fractures and tendonitis. As many children are playing organized sports during the summer months heat-related illnesses including dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are always dangerous and can be fatal. Heat- related injuries are a particular problem for children because children perspire less than adults and require a higher core body temperature to trigger sweating. Playing rigorous sports in the heat requires close monitoring of both body and weather conditions. Fortunately, heat-related illnesses can be prevented. EFTA00846358 lie Inline image 3 Preventing and Treating Injuries Injuries can happen to any child who plays sports, but there are some things that can help prevent and treat injuries. Prevention • Enroll your child in organized sports through schools, community clubs, and recreation areas that are properly maintained. Any organized team activity should demonstrate a commitment to injury prevention. Coaches should be trained in first aid and CPR, and should have a plan for responding to emergencies. Coaches should be well versed in the proper use of equipment, and should enforce rules on equipment use. • Organized sports programs may have adults on staff who are certified athletic trainers. These individuals are trained to prevent, recognize, and provide immediate care for athletic injuries. • Make sure your child has—and consistently uses—proper gear for a particular sport. This may reduce the chances of being injured. • Make warm-ups and cool-downs part of your child's routine before and after sports participation. Warm-up exercises make the body's tissues warmer and more flexible. Cool-down exercises loosen muscles that have tightened during exercise. • Make sure your child has access to water or a sports drink while playing. Encourage him or her to drink frequently and stay properly hydrated. Remember to include sunscreen and a hat (when possible) to reduce the chance of sunburn, which is a type of injury to the skin. Sun protection may also decrease the chances of malignant melanoma—a potentially deadly skin cancer—or other skin cancers that can occur later in life. • Learn and follow safety rules and suggestions for your child's particular sport. You'll find some more sport-specific safety suggestions below. Treatment • Treatment for sports-related injuries will vary by injury. But if your child suffers a soft tissue injury (such as a sprain or strain) or a bone injury, the best immediate treatment is easy to remember: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) the injury. Get professional treatment if any injury is severe. A EFTA00846359 severe injury means having an obvious fracture or dislocation of a joint, prolonged swelling, or prolonged or severe pain. Keep Kids Exercising Luckily for Raoul, his injury wasn't serious. In a few weeks, he will be fully recovered and able to play again. Even though Raoul got hurt, it's important that he continue some type of regular exercise and sports involvement after the injury heals. Exercise may reduce his chances of obesity, which is becoming more common in children. It may also reduce his risk of diabetes, a disease that can be associated with a lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Exercise also helps him build social skills and provides him with a general sense of well-being. Sports participation is an important part of learning how to build team skills. As a parent, it is important for you to encourage your children to be physically active. It's also important to match your child to the sport, and not push him or her too hard into an activity that he or she may not like or be capable of doing. Teach your children to follow the rules and to play it safe when they get involved in sports, so they'll spend more time having fun in the game and be less likely to be sidelined with an injury. You should be mindful of the risks associated with different sports and take important measures to reduce the chance of injury. For sport-specific suggestions, go on the Internet to the information. Attached please find the top 5 sports injuries in children and adolescents. The Brutal Realities Of The American Prison Complex Inline image 1 "We need to disassemble the notion that prisoners are different." "It's a stark fact that the United States has less than five percent of the world's population, yet we have almost 25 percent of the world's total prison population," Hillary Clinton said in a criminal justice speech in April 2015. "The numbers today are much higher than they were 30, 40 years ago despite EFTA00846360 the fact that crime is at historic lows." When discussing the contemporary state of the prison industrial complex in America, the numbers are frightening. The personal stories, however, are far more horrific. In the month of July alone, at least five black women were found dead in jail. There are numerous tales of grisly murders, suicides, rapes, beatings, and prisoners being denied medication and proper medical treatment, dying as a result. Each story is more chilling than the last. Yet as bad as the aforementioned, in many ways the practice of solitary confinement can be worse. Although solitary confinement conditions vary from state to state and among correctional facilities, systematic policies and conditions include: • Confinement behind a solid steel door for 22 to 24 hours a day • Severely limited contact with other human beings • Infrequent phone calls and rare non-contact family visits • Extremely limited access to rehabilitative or educational programming • Grossly inadequate medical and mental health treatment • Restricted reading material and personal property • Physical torture such as hog-tying, restraint chairs, forced cell extraction • "No-touch torture," such as sensory deprivation, permanent bright lighting, extreme temperatures, and forced insomnia • Chemical torture, such as stun grenades and stun guns • Sexual intimidation and other forms of brutality and humiliation Beginning in the early 1970s, prison and jail administrators at the federal, state, and local level have relied increasingly on isolation and segregation to control men, women, and youth in their custody. In 1985, there were a handful of control units across the county. Today, more than 4o states have super- maximum security—or "supermax"-facilities primarily designed to hold people in long-term isolation. There are more than 8o,000 men, women, and children in solitary confinement in prisons across the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Note that figure is a decade old and doesn't include people in jails, juvenile facilities, and immigrant detention centers. Nearly every state uses some form of solitary confinement, but there's no federal reporting system that tracks how many people are isolated at any given time. Prisoners are often confined for months or even years, with some spending more than 25 years in segregated prison settings. As with the overall prison population, people of color are disproportionately represented in administration segregation -- one type of solitary confinement -- isolation units. Example: 97 Percent of DC's prisoners in one type of solitary confinement are Black. Because the District lacks its own prison facility, inmates sentenced there are actually held in multiple federal prisons. How can this be and still claim that justice is color blind. On average, black prisoners made up 47 percent of the administrative segregation population and 39 percent of the total male prison population in 21 jurisdictions that provided demographic data to one of the studies that I read. ADX Florence, a supermax prison in Colorado, held more than half of its prisoners in solitary confinement for over three years, according to the report. An inmate at that EFTA00846361 facility told The New York Times that prisoners on his cellblock "screamed and banged on their doors for hours." The researchers also sought to shed light on the duration and conditions of solitary confinement. "Most participants reported that inmates in solitary spend 23 hours a day in their cells on weekdays; about half of all jurisdictions reported that prisoners spent 23 hours a day in a cell on weekends," the report said. Conditions varied widely by location. Virginia, for example, prohibited inmates in administrative segregation from having letters, paper or pens and pencils in their cells. New Hampshire banned magazines. Other states, including Montana and North Dakota, prohibited some segregated inmates from getting visits or social phone calls. Seven jurisdictions provided free televisions. North Dakota and Wyoming allowed video game consoles, Arkansas, MP4 players. But jurisdictions may limit access to activities and personal materials. With this said, most isolation is Spartan. Prisoners can be placed in isolation for many reasons, from serious infractions, such as fighting with another inmate, to minor ones, like talking back to a guard or getting caught with a pack of cigarettes. Other times, prisoners are thrown into solitary confinement for not breaking any rules at all. Prisons have used solitary confinement as a tool to manage gangs, isolating people for simply talking to a suspected gang member. Prisons have also used solitary confinement as retribution for political activism. Inline image 2 The stress of isolation inhibits neuron formation, scientists have found, which can cause permanent changes to the brain. General concerns about the practice prompted the Association of State Correctional Administrators, which includes heads of corrections agencies, to partake in the project EFTA00846362 with Yale. They acknowledge in their report that prolonged isolation is a "grave" problem and say that they seek to limit or end it, an unprecedented statement. Numerous studies have documented the harmful psychological effects of long-term solitary confinement, which can produce debilitating symptoms, such as: • Visual and auditory hallucinations • Hypersensitivity to noise and touch Insomnia and paranoia Uncontrollable feelings of rage and fear Distortions of time and perception Increased risk of suicide Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) These effects are magnified for two particularly vulnerable populations: juveniles, whose brains are still developing, and people with mental health issues, who are estimated to make up one-third of all prisoners in isolation. If a person isn't mentally ill when entering an isolation unit, by the time they are released, their mental health has been severely compromised. Many prisoners are released directly to the streets after spending years in isolation. Because of this, long-term solitary confinement goes beyond a problem of prison conditions, to pose a formidable public safety and community health problem. Is solitary confinement considered "torture?" A: Yes. Prison isolation fits the definition of torture as stated in several international human rights treaties, and thus constitutes a violation of human rights law. T he M. Convention Against Torture defines torture as any state-sanctioned act "by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" for information, punishment, intimidation, or for a reason based on discrimination. Since the 1.99os, the M. CommitteeSginst Torture has repeatedly condemned the use of solitary confinement in the U.S. In 2011, the M. special rapporteur on torture warned that solitary confinement "can amount to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment when used as a punishment, during pre-trial detention, indefinitely or for a prolonged period, for persons with mental disabilities, or juveniles." I understand that it may be difficult to totally end solitary confinement in the U.S., especially when some prisoners need to be placed in segregation for their own protection while for the protection of others we need segregate our most violent predators. Still the pervasive use of solitary confinement is not only inhumane it does little if not nothing to stem recidivism. Recently prisoners and their families have taken the lead in making the public and policymakers aware of this cruelty taking place in U.S. correctional facilities, forming coalitions and working to ensure their stories are told in the news media. Also several faith-based organizations, including AFSC, have accompanied survivors of solitary confinement in calling for an end to the practice. And even though politicians and other public figures — such as President Obama, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Pope Francis have EFTA00846363 denounced long-term solitary confinement, as well as the U.S. Senate who has called for reforms from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. We need to keep the pressure on until the pervasive use of solitary confinement is over. Prison isolation must end — for the safety of our communities, to respect our responsibility to follow international human rights law, to take a stand against torture wherever it occurs, and for the sake of our common humanity. ****** Another Reason to Love Bernie Inline image 2 If you are a Liberal/Progressive (even if you are a Hillary supporter) or if you are really an Independent more than often you will find yourself loving Senator Bernie Sanders because he does not embrace or advocate the consensus of the herd or the special interest groups that do the bidding of others ideological preferences and/or personal gain. Even though he is a politician he speaks with the clarity of a sage. Most recently on his blog he wrote an op-ed on why he is supporting the Iran Nuclear Agreement that the United States negotiated with China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom with Iran. The purpose of the Agreement is to make certain that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon -- an occurrence which many believe including all most all of the supporters of the Agreement would destabilize the region, as well as lead to a nuclear arms race in the area and would endanger the existence of Israel. Those who have spoken out against this agreement which include almost all of the Republican leadership in a partisan lockstep have made every effort to thwart the diplomatic process, are many of the same people who spoke out forcefully and irresponsibly about the need to go to war with Iraq -- one of the worst foreign policy blunders in the modern history of our country -- people like former vice president Dick Cheney and many of the other neo-cons who pushed us to war Iraq were not only tragically wrong then, they are wrong now. Clouded by the belief that they can't do no wrong and having rewritten the history in their own minds these individuals have learned nothing from the results of that disastrous policy and how it destabilized the entire region -- the only diplomacy that they support is that of aggression without any consideration of consequences. Should this Agreement be canceled what does these neocons believe ought to be done? Their answers is as fuzzy as their recollections of how we got into the second war in Iraq. They somehow gloss over EFTA00846364 the cost of war -- such as the lives of the 6,700 brave men and women, and many others have come home without legs, without arms, without eyesight. Or the 5OO,OOO veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who returned to their families with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The suicide rate of young veterans is appallingly high. The divorce rate is appallingly high, and the impact on children is appallingly high. God knows how many families have been devastated by these wars. And almost never mentioned by Cheney and his neocon friends are the many hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women, and children who died in that war, and the millions whose lives who have been completely destabilized, including those who are fleeing their country today with only the clothes on their back as refugees. The cost of war is real. Like Sanders and many others I support the Agreement. And YES, the military option should always be on the table, but it should be the last option. We have got to do everything we can do to reach an agreement to ensure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon without having to go to war. Even as a superpower we have an obligation to pursue diplomatic solutions before resorting to military engagement -- especially after nearly fourteen years of ill-conceived and disastrous military engagements in the region. Remember the agreement calls for cutting off Iran's pathways to the fissile materials needed for a nuclear weapon by reducing its stockpile of uranium by 98 percent, and restricting the level of enrichment of uranium to well below the level needed for weaponized uranium. The agreement requires Iran to decrease the number of installed centrifuges by two-thirds, dismantle the country's heavy-water nuclear reactor so that it cannot produce any weapons-grade plutonium, and commit to rigorous monitoring, inspection, and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Only after Iran has demonstrated to the international community its compliance with the tenets of the agreement — the U.S. and European Union will lift the sanctions that helped bring Iran to the negotiating table in the first place. The agreement also contains a mechanism for the "snap back" of those sanctions if Iran does not comply with its obligations. Does the agreement achieve everything everyone would like? No, it does not. But it is far better than the path we were on -- with Iran developing nuclear weapons capability and the potential for military intervention by the U.S. and Israel growing greater by the day. Let us not forget that if Iran does not live up to the agreement, sanctions may be reimposed. If Iran moves toward a nuclear weapon, all available options remain on the table. As a result, it is incumbent upon us, however, to give the negotiated agreement a chance to succeed, and it is for these reasons our politicians should support the agreement because as Bernie Sanders wisely warns, "War Should Be The Last Option." Bravo.... Bernie.... ****** An American Summer EFTA00846365 Inline image 7 ; 21, More than 3,700 killed by gunfire. Nearly 8,200 wounded. The real story of the season was not the shootings that drew the most headlines. Between the start of Memorial Day Weekend and August 28 (the date when the most recent statistics were pulled), an estimated 3,702 people were killed by guns in America. Another 8,153 were wounded. That's according to preliminary data from the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks incidents of gun violence through media reports and police blotters. This amounts to 81 more shooting deaths and 959 more gun injuries than during the same period in 2014. I am told that statistically, this summer's increase in firearms casualties has not been huge and that the real significance is the effect on perceptions. But numbers do matter yet people still haven't been blown out of their detachment and denial. If there is a lasting shift, it will owe in part to the way The Summer of 2O15 was a mix of horrors far too-familiar and new: Innocent churchgoers standing in for innocent school kids, a Tennessee Naval Reserve facility instead of a Texas army base, a movie theater shooting sequel, a workplace rampage that in a depraved twist was documented with not one but two cameras. And somehow it seems that Americans may have come to expect an Aurora or Newtown or Fort Hood on a semi-annual basis, but there yet remain varieties of brutality for which we aren't prepared, have not already pre-processed. There are of course other ways to view the 2O15 shootings that have made the most-read and most- watched lists. For example: As the product of racism, pure and simple, or a "mental health problem," or the perils of gun-free zones. Dylann Roof, John Houser, Mohammad Abdulazeez, and Vester Flanagan were all able to buy guns through licensed dealers — never mind that Roofs purchase only went through because of a loophole in the law and "cascade" of clerical errors, nor that the other shooters all exhibited warning signs that might have disqualified them from gun possession under a background check system better designed to account for the role of substance abuse and anger management in violent crime. If you believe America already has all (or more than) the gun regulation it needs, then for you those four shootings fit neatly into a standing argument against reform. As such this summer should go down as a reminder of the downside of the public tendency to fixate on mass shootings while ignoring other types of gun violence. The fact that only two of the past three months' high-profile killings even qualify under the most widely used definition — four or more people shot dead, a public setting, a lack of gang or other criminal context — also gave fresh fodder to a group EFTA00846366 of activists who have been pushing for an updated criteria. To the pseudonymous record-keepers behind the crowd-sourced Mass Shooting Tracker, "a shooting is a shooting," and a mass shooting is any that produces four or more victims, whether deceased or wounded. Using that standard, the numbers — and it's the numbers, remember, that matter — are these: more than 125 incidents since Memorial Day, or more than one every 24 hours. In the aggregate, those shootings left 58 people killed and another 571 injured. In a single incident in Fort Worth, Texas, six people were sprayed with bullets, and the counts climb from there. Seven shot at a party outside Cincinnati in Madisonville, Ohio. Eight in Modesto, California. Nine in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York The dubious distinction of the shooting producing the highest number of casualties this summer seems to belong to an outburst of violence on the evening of Saturday, August 8 in Blytheville, Arkansas, a town of around 15,000 residents near the Mississippi River. Adeline King, 19, was killed and it others were wounded after King said hello to her sister's ex-boyfriend, angering his new girlfriend. Few witnesses came forward to provide details to the police, even though there were reportedly 50 people at the crime scene and 200 at a hospital that received some of the victims. It took 12 days for police to publicly identify the suspect, 27-year-old Billy Dee Williams, who reportedly opened fire into a crowd gathered on the street, killing King. King had been attending a family gathering following the funeral of a cousin. The shooting received scant press coverage outside of Arkansas and the nearby Memphis area. Two similar shootings generated hardly more attention. On Father's Day, ten people, including a two- year-old and a ten-year-old, were shot at a block party in West Philadelphia by two men who randomly sprayed the crowd with shotgun pellets. That same evening, at a block party on the west side of Detroit, another ten people were shot, one fatally, when a gunfight ensued on a basketball court. Detroit Police Chief James Craig called the shooting an "act of urban terrorism." Nonetheless there is another part of this story that happened almost every day if not twice or three times or more in the same day that may have gotten local notice but did not receive the national attention that it would have received in almost any other industrialized country. On the Fourth of July in Chicago, gunfire took the place of fireworks when 3o people were shot in an eight-hour period. Three were killed, among them 7-year-old Amari Brown, struck with a bullet intended for his father. "He wasn't crying, he was speaking. `Daddy, daddy,'" Brown's father said. In a two-hour span on one Baltimore Sunday in early August, ten people were shot, seven of them in a single incident. The next day in New York City, a pregnant woman was shot five times and her unborn child killed in a drive-by shooting. The incident was one of seven shootings over a long holiday weekend, leaving a total of 16 shot. Days later, the city's parks, basketball courts, and streets erupted in mayhem again: In six hours, nine people were shot. And so this summer may also go down as a reminder of the downside of the public tendency to fixate on mass shootings while ignoring other types of gun violence. The fact that only two of the past three months' high-profile killings even qualify under the most widely used definition — four or more people shot dead, a public setting, a lack of gang or other criminal context — also gave fresh fodder to a group of activists who have been pushing for an updated criteria. To the pseudonymous record-keepers behind the crowd-sourced Mass Shooting Tracker, "a shooting is a shooting," and a mass shooting is any that produces four or more victims, whether deceased or wounded. Using that standard, the numbers — and it's the numbers, remember, that matter — are these: more than 125 incidents since Memorial Day, or more than one every 24 hours. In the aggregate, those shootings left 58 people killed and another 571 injured. In a single incident in Fort Worth, Texas, six people were sprayed with EFTA00846367 bullets, and the counts climb from there. Seven shot at a party outside Cincinnati in Madisonville, Ohio. Eight in Modesto, California. Nine in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York. Some in law enforcement attribute the increase in urban shootings to the "Ferguson effect," a term coined by St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson that describes overburdened and highly scrutinized forces quietly stepping down enforcement efforts. But gun violence had been increasing in St. Louis before the death of Michael Brown, and in Baltimore before the death of Freddie Gray, whose spine was nearly severed during a "rough ride" in the back of a police van. While theories falter, there are numbers, again, to be reckoned with: The Guardian has counted 298 people, 61 of them black — seven of them black and unarmed — shot by police this summer. On the other side of the thin blue line, twelve police officers were killed in June, July, and August, eight of them in one ten-day stretch. One of them, Darren Goforth, a deputy sheriff ambushed while pumping gas in Harris County, Texas, was approached from behind by a man who emptied 15 rounds into his head. This is shameful and senseless. But not nearly as ugly as the stories of the n -year-old boy finds his mother's semi-automatic pistol and shoots his 9-year-old brother in the face or the three-year-old, likely searching for an iPad, instead discovers his parents' loaded Glock 9mm and shoots himself in the head. And the trend of course was not confined to any one state. July 6, Spring, Texas: a three-year- old boy fatally shoots himself with his grandfather's handgun. July 29, Washington, A seven- year-old boy, another unsecured handgun, another young sibling dead. August 25, back-to-school week, Augusta, Georgia: a third-grader is grazed by a bullet as a classmate plays with a .38o-caliber handgun. Perhaps the horror and shock of this last group of incidents can best be understood through the anguish of an Ohio mother, who called 911 after her three-year-old son shot himself. "The gun is mine. It is in the house, I carry it in my purse, I laid it down. We just got home," she howls into the phone, her voice hysterical. "His eyes are open, but he's out." A majority of Americans now believe that a home with a gun in it is a safer home, as the pollsters at Gallup tell us. First of all, statics tell us that this is not true — A gun in the home makes homicide three times more likely, suicide up to five times as likely, and accidental death four times higher than in non-gun owning homes. More importantly when a gun kept for self- defense is a gun kept at the ready, loaded and unobstructed by locks or passcodes, it becomes a gun that can find itself into a child's hands and far too often does. But far too often gun violence happens between people who know one another; workmates, friends, families and lovers. Example: on August 9, just 20 miles from where Texas sheriff Goforth was killed, a domestic dispute ended with eight dead, six of the victims under i8, an event tied for the most children fatally shot in a single place since Sandy Hook. David Conley, 49, broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend, restrained her, her boyfriend, and six children — one of whom was Conley's — and shot each of them in the back of the head. In a jailhouse interview, Conley said of the son he killed, "I love Nate to death." In one study children aged 5 to 14 in the United States are 11 times more likely to die from an accidental gunshot wound than children in other developed countries and roughly 1 person dies every 17 minutes in America from gun violence. Yet it seems that our political leaders are too brain dead to even try to do something that might make a difference in this epidemic of gun violence that should shame every American and this is my rant of the week.... WEEK's READINGS EFTA00846368 35 soul-crushing facts about American income inequality The money given out in Wall Street bonuses last year was twice the amount all minimum-wage workers earned combined Inline image 1 While Hillary Clinton occasionally gives some lip service to the problem of extreme inequality, Bernie Sanders is the only candidate really hammering away at it. He has even blasted the orthodoxy of economic growth for its own sake, saying according to Monday's Washington Post that unless economic spoils can be redistributed to make more Americans' lives better, all the growth will go to the top I% anyway, so who needs it? Sanders might know his history, but the rest of the candidates could use a little primer. The United States was not always the most powerful nation on Earth. It was only with the end of World War II, with the rest of the developed world in smoldering ruins, that America emerged as the free world's leader. This coincided with the expansion of the U.S. middle class. With the other war combatants trying to recover from the destruction of the war, America became the supermarket, hardware store and auto dealership to the world. Markets for American products abounded and opportunity was everywhere for American workers of all economic means to get ahead. America had a virtual monopoly on rebuilding the world. Combined with the G.I. Bill of 1944, which provided money for returning veterans to go to college, and government loans to buy houses and start businesses, the middle class in America boomed, as did American power, wealth and prestige. Between 1946 and 1973, productivity in America grew by 104 percent. Unions led the way in assuring wages for workers grew by an equal amount. EFTA00846369 The 197os, however, brought a screeching halt to the expansion of the American middle class. The Arab oil embargo in 1973 marked the end of cheap oil and the beginning of the middle-class decline. The Iranian Revolution in 1979, with more resultant oil instability, combined with the rise of Ronald Reagan's conservative revolution at home, accelerated the long and painful contraction of the middle class. Cuts in corporate taxes, stagnant worker wage growth, the right-wing war on unions, and corporate outsourcing of work overseas greased the wheels of the middle-class decline and the upper- class elevation. Cuts in taxes on the wealthy, under the guise of trickle-down economics, have resulted in lower government revenue and cuts to all kinds of services. All of which has led to today, an era of national and international inequality unparalleled since the days of the Roaring '20s. Here are 35 astounding facts about inequality that will fry your brain. 1. In 81 percent of American counties, the median income, about $52,000, is less than it was 15 years ago. This is despite the fact that the economy has grown 83 percent in the past quarter-century and corporate profits have doubled. American workers produce twice the amount of goods and services as 25 years ago, but get less of the pie. 2. The amount of money that was given out in bonuses on Wall Street last year is twice the amount all minimum-wage workers earned in the country combined. 3. The wealthiest 85 people on the planet have more money that the poorest 3.5 billion people combined. 4. The average wealth of an American adult is in the range of $250,000-$300,000. But that average number includes incomprehensibly wealthy people like Bill Gates. Imagine to people in a bar. When Bill Gates walks in, the average wealth in the bar increases unbelievably, but that number doesn't make the other 10 people in the bar richer. The median per adult number is only about $39,000, placing the U.S. about 27th among the world's nations, behind Australia, most of Europe and even small countries like New Zealand, Ireland and Kuwait. 5. Italians, Belgians and Japanese citizens are wealthier than Americans. 6. The poorest half of the Earth's population owns 1% of the Earth's wealth. The richest 1% of the Earth's population owns 46% of the Earth's wealth. 7. More locally, the poorest half of the US owns 2.5% of the country's wealth. The top 1% owns 35% of it. 8. Inequality is a worldwide problem. In the UK, doctors no longer occupy a place in the top 1% of income earners, London plays host to the largest congregation of Russian millionaires outside of EFTA00846370 Moscow, and also houses more ultra-rich people (defined as owning more than $3o million in assets outside of their home) than anywhere else on Earth. 9. The slice of the national income pie going to the wealthiest i% of Americans has doubled since 1979. to. The 1% also takes home 20% of the income. This figure is the most since the 1920s era of laissez faire government (under Republicans Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover). 11. The super-rich An% of America, such as Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, take home a whopping 6% of the national income, earning around $23 million a year. Compare that to the average $30,000 a year earned by the bottom 90 percent of America. 12. The top 1% of America owns 50% of investment assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds). The poorest half of America owns just .5% of the investments. 13. The poorest Americans do come out ahead in one statistic: the bottom 90% of America owns 73% of the debt. 14. Tax rates for the middle class have remained essentially unchanged since 1960. Tax rates on the highest earning Americans have plunged from an almost 70% tax rate in 1945 down to around 35% today. Corporate tax rates have dropped from 30 percent in the 195os to under to percent today. 15. Since 199o, CEO compensation has increased by 300%. Corporate profits have doubled. The average worker's salary has increased 4%. Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage has actually decreased. i6. CEOs in 1965 earned about 24 times the amount of the average worker. In 1980 they earned 42 times as much. Today, CEOs earn 325 times the average worker. 17. Wages, as a percent of the overall economy, have dropped to an historic low. i8. In a study of 34 developed countries, the United States had the second highest level of income inequality, ahead of only Chile. EFTA00846371 19. Young people in the U.S. are getting poorer. The median wealth of people under 35 has dropped 68% since 1984. The median wealth of older Americans has increased 42%. 20. The average white American's median wealth is 20 times higher ($113,000) than the average African American ($5,600) and 18 times the Hispanic American ($6,300). 21. America's highest income inequality is located in the states surrounding Wall Street (New York City) and the oil-rich states. 22. Since 1979, high school dropouts have seen median weekly income drop by 22 percent. Ethnically, the highest dropout rates are among Hispanic and African American children. 23. In 1970, a woman earned about 6o% of the amount a man earned. In 2005 a woman earned about 8o% of what a man earned. Since 2005, there has been no change in that figure. African-American women earn just 64% of what a white male earns, and Hispanic women just 56%. 24. Over 20 percent of all American children live below the poverty line. This rate is higher than almost all other developed countries. 25. Union membership in the US is at an all-time low, about 11% of the workforce. In 1978, 40 percent of blue-collar workers were unionized. With that declining influence has come a concurrent decline in the real value of the minimum wage. 26. Four hundred Americans have more wealth, $2 trillion, than half of all Americans combined. That is approximately the GDP of Russia. 27. In 1946, a child born into poverty had about a 5o percent chance of scaling the income ladder into the middle class. In 1980, the chances were 40 percent. A child born today has about a 33 percent chance. 28. Despite massive tax cuts, corporations have not created new jobs in America. The job creators have been small new businesses that have not enjoyed the same huge tax breaks. 29. More than half of the members of the United States Congress, where laws are passed deciding how millionaires are taxed, are millionaires. EFTA00846372 30. Twenty five of the largest corporations in America in 2010 paid their CEOs more money than they paid in taxes that year. 31. In the first decade of the 21st century, the U.S. borrowed $1 trillion in order to give tax cuts to households earning over $250,000. 32. In 1970, there were five registered lobbyists working on behalf of wealthy corporations for every one of the 535 members of Congress. Today there are 22 lobbyists per congressperson. 33. In 1962, the i% household median wealth was 125 times the average median wealth. In 2010 the divide was 288 times. 34. During the Great Recession, the average wealth of the i% dropped about 16 percent. Meanwhile the wealth of the 99% dropped 47 percent. 35. Between 1979 and 2007, the wages of the top I% rose 10 times more than the bottom 90 percent. LARRY SCHWARTZ — Alternet — July 15.2015 So Wrong for So Long Why neoconservatives are never right. Inline image 1 EFTA00846373 Over the past few weeks, proponents of the nuclear deal with Iran — from President Barack Obama on down — have marshaled a powerful attack on some of the deal's most prominent opponents. Specifically, they've been pointing out an indisputable fact: Many of the individuals and organizations that are most actively lobbying and speaking out against the deal helped dream up the idea of invading Iraq or worked hard to convince Congress and the American people to go along with the idea. The logic of the pro-deal camp is simple: Given that the opponents were so catastrophically wrong about the Iraq War, no one should listen to their advice today. I agree with this basic argument, of course, but opponents of the deal do have one line of defense against the "Wrong on Iraq, Wrong on Iran" meme. It is possible someone could have been dead wrong about the wisdom of invading Iraq in 2003, but nonetheless be correct to oppose the nuclear deal with Iran today. None of us is infallible, and it is at least conceivable that Bill Kristol, Elliott Abrams, James Woolsey, Fred Hiatt, Max Boot, et al. could have blown it big-time in 2002 - but be absolutely right this time around. Conceivable, I suppose, but highly unlikely. Why? Because their views in 2002 aren't independent from the views they're expressing today. On the contrary, their earlier support for the Iraq War and their opposition to the Iran deal stem from the basic neoconservative worldview that informs their entire approach to foreign policy. To be more specific, the problem isn't that these people just happened to be embarrassingly wrong about Iraq. After all, plenty of other people were equally misguided back then, including many people who now support the deal today. Nor is the problem the neocons' stubborn and morally dubious refusal to admit they were wrong and take responsibility for the lives and money they squandered. No, the real problem is that the neoconservative worldview — one that still informs the thinking of many of the groups and individuals who are most vocal in opposing the Iran deal — is fundamentally flawed. Getting Iraq wrong wasn't just an unfortunate miscalculation, it happened because their theories of world politics were dubious and their understanding of how the world works was goofy. When your strategic software is riddled with bugs, you should expect a lot of error messages. What are the main flaws that consistently lead neoconservatives astray? For starters, neoconservatives think balance-of-power politics doesn't really work in international affairs and that states are strongly inclined to "bandwagon" instead. In other words, they think weaker states are easy to bully and never stand up to powerful adversaries. Their faulty logic follows that other states will do whatever Washington dictates provided we demonstrate how strong and tough we are. This belief led them to conclude that toppling Saddam would send a powerful message and cause other states in the Middle East to kowtow to us. If we kept up the pressure, our vast military power would quickly transform the region into a sea of docile pro-American democracies. What happened, alas, was that the various states we were threatening didn't jump on our bandwagon. Instead, they balanced and then took steps to make sure we faced significant and growing resistance. In particular, Syria and Iran (the next two states on the neocons' target list), cooperated even further EFTA00846374 with each other and helped aid the anti-American insurgency in Iraq itself. Neocons were outraged by this behavior, but it shouldn't have surprised anyone who understood Realism 101. At the same time, long-standing U.S. allies were upset by our actions and distanced themselves from us or else they took advantage of our excesses and free-rode at our expense. In short, the neoconservatives' belief that the United States could browbeat and intimidate others into doing our bidding was dead wrong. Today, of course, opposition to the Iran deal reflects a similar belief that forceful resolve would enable Washington to dictate whatever terms it wants. As I've written before, this idea is the myth of a "better deal." Because neocons assume states are attracted to strength and easy to intimidate, they think rejecting the deal, ratcheting up sanctions, and threatening war will cause Iran's government to finally cave in and dismantle its entire enrichment program. On the contrary, walking away from the deal will stiffen Iran's resolve, strengthen its hard-liners, increase its interest in perhaps actually acquiring a nuclear weapon someday, and cause the other members of the P5+1 to part company with the United States. The neoconservative worldview also exaggerates the efficacy of military force and downplays the value of diplomacy. Military force is an essential component of national power, of course, but neocons tend to see it as a magical tool that can accomplish all sorts of wonderful things (such as the creation of workable democracies) for which it is not really designed. In reality, military force is a crude instrument whose effects are hard to foresee and one which almost always produces unintended consequences (see under: Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, etc.). So it was in Iraq, and the results of a direct military conflict with Iran would be equally unpredictable. Moreover, neocons believe military force is a supple tool that can be turned on and off like a spigot. If the United States uses force and things go badly, they seem to think the nation can just pull out quickly and live to fight another day. But that's not how things work in the real world of politics: Once forces are committed, the military brass will demand the chance to win a clear victory, and politicians will worry about the nation's prestige and their own political fortunes. The conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia should remind us that it's a lot easier to get into wars than it is to get out of them, but that lesson has been lost on most neoconservatives. Third, the neoconservatives have a simplistic and ahistorical view of democracy itself. They claim their main goal is spreading freedom and democracy (except for Palestinians, of course), but they have no theory to explain how this will happen or how toppling a foreign government with military force will magically cause democracy to emerge. Instead, they believe the desire to live in freedom is hardwired into human DNA, and all one has to do is remove the bad guys at the top. Once they are gone, the now- liberated population will forget past grievances, form political parties, embrace tolerance, line up for orderly elections, accept the resulting outcomes willingly, and offer grateful thanks to Uncle Sam. It would be nice if that Pollyannaish scenario were accurate, but such views betray near-total ignorance of the prerequisites for meaningful democracy and the actual history of democratic growth in the West itself. In fact, the development of liberal democracy was a long, contentious, imperfect, and often violent process in Western Europe and North America, and anyone familiar with that history would have known the neocons' formula for democratic change was doomed from the start. EFTA00846375 Fourth, as befits a group of armchair ideologues whose primary goal has been winning power inside the Beltway, neoconservatives are often surprisingly ignorant about the actual conditions of the countries whose politics and society they want to transform. Hardly any neoconservatives knew very much about Iraq before the United States invaded — if they had, they might have reconsidered the whole scheme — and their characterizations of Iran today consist of scary caricatures bearing little resemblance to Iran's complicated political and social reality. In addition to flawed theories, in short, the neoconservative worldview also depends on an inaccurate reading of the facts on the ground. Last but not least, the neoconservatives' prescriptions for U.S. foreign policy are perennially distorted by a strong attachment to Israel, which Max Boot (and others) have described as a "key tenet" of the entire movement. There's nothing wrong with such attachments per se, of course, but it has crippled their ability to give sensible policy advice to U.S. politicians. In particular, neoconservatives tend to believe that what's good for Israel is good for the United States — and vice versa — which is why they see no conflict between their attachment to Israel and their loyalty to the United States. But no two states have identical interests all the time, and when the interests of two countries conflict, people who feel strongly about both are forced to decide which of these feelings is going to take priority. Over the past few weeks, some proponents of the deal have pointed out — correctly — that some opponents don't like the deal because they think it is bad for Israel and because the Netanyahu government is dead set against it. As one might expect, pointing out these obvious facts has led some opponents of the deal to accuse proponents (including President Obama) of anti-Semitism. But as Lara Friedman, J.J. Goldberg, and Peter Beinart have made clear, this charge is absurd, even laughable. Among other things, it appears a majority of American Jews support the deal — and so do plenty of distinguished figures in Israel's own national security establishment. If anything, it is Netanyahu's efforts to persuade American Jews that it is their duty to support him, rather than their own president, that echoes those hateful anti-Semitic canards about "dual loyalty." Instead of being a serious criticism, this familiar smear is really just a way to change the subject and to put proponents of the deal on the defensive for pointing out the obvious. Fortunately, in this case the charge just doesn't seem to be sticking, and its appearance is just another sign that opponents don't have rational arguments or solid evidence to justify their opposition. The bottom line: The fact that the neoconservatives, AIPAC, the Conference of Presidents, and other groups in the Israel lobby were wrong about the Iraq War does not by itself mean that they are necessarily wrong about the Iran deal. But when you examine their basic views on world politics and their consistent approach to U.S. Middle East policy, it becomes clear this is not a coincidence at all. Support for the Iraq War and opposition to the Iran deal flow from the same flawed premises, and that's why following their advice today would be as foolish as it was back in 2003. STEPHEN M. WALT — Foreign Policy —AUGUST 21, 2015 ****** What the hell is Candida? EFTA00846376 feline image I 2 While reading an article in The Huffington Post, under the title 3 Foods to Avoid (That Are Killing Usfrom the Inside) halfway through I discovered that it was an infomercial for a digestive supplement that because of the bait and switch manipulation I have chosen to not mention the product. But what caught my interest is a little known bacteria (at least not known to me) is the bacteria Candida. Wikipedia describes Candida as the genus of yeasts and is the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide. Many species are harmless commensals or endosymbionts of hosts including humans; however, when mucosal barriers are disrupted or the immune system is compromised they can invade and cause disease. Candida albicans are the most commonly isolated species, and can cause infections (candidiasis or thrush) in humans and other animals. In winemaking, some species of Candida can potentially spoil wines. Many species are found in gut flora, including C. albicans in mammalian hosts, whereas others live as endosymbionts in insect hosts. Systemic infections of the bloodstream and major organs (candidemia or invasive candidiasis), particularly in immunocompromised patients, affect over 90,000 people a year in the U.S. The DNA of several Candida species has been sequenced. Antibiotics promote yeast infections, including gastrointestinal Candida overgrowth, and penetration of the GI mucosa. While women are more susceptible to genital yeast infections, men can also be infected. Certain factors, such as prolonged antibiotic use, increase the risk for both men and women. People with diabetes or impaired immune systems, such as those with HIV, are more susceptible to yeast infections. Candida are almost universal in low numbers on healthy adult skin and albicans are part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. In the case of skin, the dryness of skin compared to other tissues prevents the growth of the fungus, but damaged skin or skin in intertriginous regions is more amenable to rapid growth of fungi. Overgrowth of several species including albicans can cause superficial infections such as oropharyngeal candidiasis (thrush) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (vaginal candidiasis). Oral candidiasis is common in elderly denture wearers. In otherwise healthy individuals, these infections can be cured with topical or systemic antifungal medications (commonly over-the-counter antifungal treatments like miconazole or clotrimazole). In debilitated or immunocompromised patients, or if introduced intravenously, candidiasis may become a systemic disease producing abscess, thrombophlebitis, endocarditis, or infections of the eyes or other organs. Typically, relatively severe EFTA00846377 neutropenia is a prerequisite for the Candida to pass through the defenses of the skin and cause disease in deeper tissues; in such cases, mechanical disruption of the infected skin sites is typically a factor in the fungal invasion of the deeper tissues. Candida Yeast/Fungal overgrowth has been found to be a common occurrence in many disorders and is also present in millions of other people who cannot figure out what is wrong with them, or what to do about it. Symptoms vary from person to person and fluctuate in severity, or may come and go. Most symptoms are invisible, which makes it difficult for others to understand the vast array of debilitating symptoms with which we contend. The most common are: • an incapacitating fatigue • problems with concentration and short-term memory • flu-like symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscle • extreme tightness in the shoulders and neck • hyper-acidity/acid reflux • brown colored mucus in the back of the throat • blisters in the mouth/tongue/throat • either white or "blood blisters" • un-refreshing sleep • sore throat • white coated tongue • dark circles under the eyes • an aversion to being touched or jumping • "crawling" skin • chronic sinus problems and headaches • chronic dental problems Visual disturbances may include blurring, sensitivity to light and eye pain. Psychological problems may include: • depression • irritability • anxiety • panic attacks • recurring obsessive thoughts • personality changes and mood swings (irrational rage or crying for no reason - fear of talking to people, any kind of confrontation, isolation) • paranoia More of the physical symptoms may include: • chills and night sweats • shortness of breath • dizziness and balance problems EFTA00846378 • sensitivity to heat and/or cold • alcohol intolerance • gluten and/or casein intolerance • irregular heartbeat • irritable bowel • constipation and/or diarrhea • painful gas and abdominal bloating • low-grade fever or low body temperature • numbness, tingling and/or burning sensations in the face or extremities • dryness of the mouth and eyes • difficulty swallowing • projectile vomiting Also: • menstrual problems including PMS • recurrent yeast infections • recurrent ear infections • rashes and dry, flaking skin • eczema • dermatitis • acne • skin discoloration and/or blotchiness • dandruff • jock and rectal itching • chronic athlete's foot • chronic toenail and fingernail fungus • ringing in the ears • allergies and sensitivities to noise/sound, foods, odors, chemicals • anemia • weight changes without changes in diet • light-headedness • feeling in a fog • fainting • muscle twitching and muscle weakness • restless legs • low sex drive and/or numbness in the genital area These are only the symptoms most commonly reported and documented. It can be an underlying condition in many diseases, but is often not diagnosed, misdiagnosed, disputed to even exist or is disregarded altogether. To a person who does not suffer with this bizarre combination (in one form or another), it may seem to be impossible. However, to those who have suffered, it is a blessing and a confirmation that they are not alone. How do you test for candida overgrowth? Blood test EFTA00846379 You'll want to start by checking your levels for candida antibodies called IgG, IgA, and IgM. This can be easily done through most labs, and high levels can clue you in to an overgrowth of candida. These tests can often be negative even when a stool or urine test is positive. Which brings me to the next two tests: Stool testing I find this to be the most accurate test out there. The lab will check for candida in your colon or lower intestines, and can usually determine the species of yeast — as well as which treatment will be most effective. Just make sure that your doctor orders a comprehensive stool test, rather than the standard. Urine Organix Dysbiosis Test This urine test looks for a waste product of candida yeast overgrowth that's called D-Arabinitol. Elevated results indicate an overgrowth of candida, and the test can help you determine if there is candida in your upper gut or small intestines. How do you treat candida overgrowth? Inline image 3 To successfully treat candida, one needs to do three things: stop the yeast overgrowth, build up the friendly bacteria and heal your gut, so that candida can no longer enter your bloodstream. First step: getting rid of the candida overgrowth, which mainly requires switching to a low- carbohydrate diet. Sugar is what feeds yeast. So one should start by eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms — such as candy, desserts, alcohol and flours. At the same time, cut back to just one cup a day of the more complex carbohydrates, like grains, beans, fruit, bread, pasta and potatoes. This will help prevent the candida from growing and eventually cause it to die. It is also recommended, eliminating all fermented foods. That's because, while it's common knowledge that fermented foods help to feed the good bacteria, most people don't realize that bad bacteria feed off of these foods as well. Still, using diet alone could take three to six months before the candida is back under control. Doctors often recommend that their patients use an anti-fungal medication, such as Diflucan or Nyastatin, for at least a month. If you are self-treating, you can also take a supplement of caprylic acid. Caprylic acid, which comes from coconut oil, basically "pokes holes" in the yeast cell wall, causing it to die. And while some people advise using herbs like oil of oregano, I don't recommend it since it can also kill the good bacteria. Next, one should rebuild the good bacteria that typically keep your candida population under control. Taking anywhere from 25 to too billion units of probiotics on a regular basis should help to reduce the EFTA00846380 candida levels and restore your levels of good bacteria. Finally, heal one's gut. Eliminating inflammatory foods that can harm your GI tract — and introducing foods that help — will prevent candida from working its way through your body, and dramatically improve one's overall health. ****** Are Generic Drugs As Good As The Real Thing? Inline image I In many ways, yes. But there are a few key differences you should know about. It's one of healthcare's greatest bargains: Nearly 88 percent of prescriptions written in the U.S. in 2014 were for knock-offs of brand-name drugs, sold at a fraction of the price. And for the most part, consumers don't lose anything in the deal. "Even though generics aren't perfect replicas, the FDA is really on top of evaluating them and ensuring that the ones it approves have the same active ingredients and absorb in the bloodstream just as if a person were taking the brand name," says Mario Rocci, PhD, president of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Three things you should do before filling your next prescription: Gauge the grade. You may be surprised to learn that the FDA labels every copycat drug either A or B, depending on whether it releases active ingredients at the same rate and levels as the brand name (A) or at different rates or levels (B). If a drug enters your bloodstream too slowly or too quickly, it may cause side effects or prove ineffective, requiring your doctor to adjust your dose. While it's uncommon that you'll be prescribed a B drug, your pharmacist can tell you the rating of meds you're taking. EFTA00846381 Look for undisclosed side effects. Some medication side effects don't become apparent until a drug has been on the market for a few years, at which point the sheer number of people who have taken it can lead to the discovery of issues not present during a clinical trial. "If a brand-name drugmaker discovers a new side effect and wants to add it to the label, they can do so immediately," says Rocci. Generic manufacturers don't have that freedom; their drug's packaging info can't be altered in any way that's different from the original brand name, even if they learn of side effects. Print out the package insert for the brand-name drug online and compare it with your generic Rx. Read the ingredient list. Since the active ingredients in generic and brand-name drugs must remain the same, the biggest variables are inactive substances such as binders, fillers, flavors, and dyes used to keep a pill together or distinguish it from other meds. "An adverse reaction to a drug may be the result of an allergy to one of those components," says Stephen Schondelmeyer, PhD, professor and head of pharmaceutical care and health systems at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you're allergic to any ingredients, like sulfites, gluten, or Yellow 5, that may be in your medication. Brittany Burke - OWN - 08/28/2015 ****** Now some food for thought And for those of you who don't think that guns need more regulation You are nuts!!! Inline image 1 EFTA00846382 Things That You Might Not Know About Beets Inline image 1 gt Inline image 3 Did you know that one-third of the world's sugar supply comes not from sugar cane, but from a special variety of beets known as the sugar beet? Beets also have the distinction of being very rich in red pigment, and they'll stain your hands if you're not careful. In fact, borscht, a traditional Russian soup, is colored red with beet juice.... Beets 101 Beets are both sweet and earthy tasting and pair well with other root vegetables as well as with tangy- sweet fruits like pineapple. While most beets are deep red in color, there are a number of beet varieties that range in color from white to yellow to red. There's even one variety, known as the Chioggia beet, which has red and white concentric rings. Beets come to us from the Chenopodiaceae family and are related botanically to spinach. In fact, one variety of beets is known as the spinach, or leaf beet. It is grown for its greens, which are actually more nutritious than the root itself. Selection, Storage & Cooking Beets are available both canned and fresh at your grocer's market. However, fresh beets are considered to be crispier and more flavorful. If you're shopping for fresh beets, choose smaller beets over larger, tougher beets, and pass over any beets that are cracked, shriveled or look very dry. If the beet greens are still attached to the root, they should be crisp-looking and not at all wilted or slimy. Baby beets are available in some specialty and farmer's markets and are considered a delicacy for their tenderness and delicate flavor. EFTA00846383 Once your beets are home, you can refrigerate them in a perforated plastic bag, separate from the greens, for up to three weeks. Greens will only last for a few days in the refrigerator and should be used right away. Wash both the roots and leaves before using to remove any soil still clinging to them. You can either enjoy your beets raw on salads or sandwiches or cook them in any variety of ways, including boiling, baking, sautéing with other vegetables, or even pickling. Beets should be cooked with their peel on to preserve nutrients and to prevent their deep red color from leaking out, which turns them brown, making them unappetizing in appearance. You should also leave about half an inch of the stem on while cooking so that the pigment doesn't leak out of the top. Adding an acidic food to the pot can also help preserve the color of the beets. Both lemon juice and vinegar work well for this purpose. Once your beets are done cooking, peel the skin off while wearing gloves, unless you don't mind having your hands stained a deep red. Nutritional Benefits Beets are a great source of folate, the b-vitamin known for its role in preventing birth defects in growing fetuses. The root of the beet is also a good source of iron, potassium and magnesium, although an abundance of nutrition actually lies in its leafy greens. A half-cup of beet greens, cooked, supplies upwards of 92% of your daily need for vitamin A (as beta-carotene). Beet greens are also higher in potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 than the root. However, if it's the folate you're after, stick with the root, which supplies 17% of the RDA for this nutrient; beet greens only offer 2.5%. Here are nutritional facts for one-half cup of beets: Calories: 37 Fat: Carbohydrates: 8g (2g dietary fiber) Protein: ig Nutrients and RDAs: 2omg magnesium (6%-7%); 32mg phosphorus (4.5%); lmg iron (10%); 3mg vitamin C (5%); 68mcg folate (i7%) and 259mg potassium (8%-13%). There is no RDA for potassium, but adults need about 2,00o-3,000mg a day. Ready to serve up some nutritious beets? EFTA00846384 THIS WEEK's QUOTE You never really know what poverty is until you see it through the eyes of a child. Lyndon Baines Johnson THINK ABOUT THIS Inline image I BEST VIDEO OF THE WEEK An amazing, realistic 3D drawing of a glass of water that will blow your mind. EFTA00846385 This is an actual drawing.... Watch the video below to see how it was made Inline image 1 Web Link: https://youtu.be/ozzA-wkHaTY 3D Drawing: A Realistic Glass of Water/ AMAZING illusion anamorphic THIS WEEK's MUSIC James Moody EFTA00846386 Gr Inline image 4 Vw Inline image 5 Inline image 6 This week I invite you to enjoy the music of Mr. James Moody who for over six decades, saxophone and flutist master serenaded lovers with his signature song Moody's Mood for Love an improvisation on the chord progressions of I'm in the Mood for Love. Born in Savannah, Georgia on March 26, 1925 and partially deaf. As a result when he was young and unable to hear the teacher, he was labelled mentally deficient and ordered to attend a school for the mentally disabled. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he attended public school. Eventually, his hearing problem was diagmsed and he was sent to the Bruce Street School for the Deaf He later attended Arts High in Newark,. James Moody took up the alto sax, a gift from his uncle, at the age of 16. Within a few years he fell under the spell of the deeper more full-bodied tenor saxophone after hearing Buddy Tate and Don Byas perform with the Count Basie Band at the Adams Theater in Newark, New Jersey. Moody, who preferred to be called by his last name, was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 26, 1925. His uncle gave him an alto sax when he was 16. After hearing Buddy Tate and Don Byas perform with the Count Basie Band at the Adams Theater in Newark, •., Moody switched to the tenor saxophone. He was just 18 years old when he was drafted into the Air Force in 1943 during World War II. Unable to play with the white Air Force band, Moody played in an unofficial Negro Air Force band for three years. He was disturbed by the segregation that was prevalent in the military service at that time. Incredibly, he met Dizzy Gillespie while in the Air Force, as Gillespie came through for a performance EFTA00846387 on the base. After he got out of the service, in 1946, he joined the recently formed Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, one of the most important jazz groups at that time. In 1946, following service in the United States Air Force, Moody joined the seminal bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie, beginning an association that - on stage and record, in orchestras and small combos - afforded a young Moody worldwide exposure and ample opportunity to shape his improvisational genius. Upon joining Gillespie, Moody was at first awed, he now admits, by the orchestra's incredible array of talent, which included Milt Jackson, Kenny Clark, Ray Brown, Thelonius Monk. The encouragement of the legendary trumpeter-leader, made his mark on the young saxophonist. His now legendary 16-bar solo on Gillespie's Emanon alerted jazz fans to an emerging world-class soloist. During his initial stay with Gillespie, Moody also recorded with Milt Jackson for Dial Records in 1947. One year later he made his recording debut as a leader James Moody and His Bop Men for (Blue Note). In 1949 Moody moved to Europe where in Sweden he recorded the masterpiece of improvisation for which he is renowned, Moody's Mood for Love. Returning to the States in 1952 with a huge "hit" on his hands, Moody employed vocalist Eddie Jefferson. Also, working with him during that period were Dinah Washington and Brook Benton. In 1963 he rejoined Gillespie and performed off and on in the trumpeter's quintet for the remainder of the decade. Moody moved to Las Vegas in 1973 and had a seven year stint in the Las Vegas Hilton Orchestra, doing shows for Bill Cosby, Ann-Margaret, John Davidson, Glen Campbell, Liberace, Elvis Presley, The Osmonds, Milton Berle, Redd FOX1C, Charlie Rich, and Lou Rawls to name a few. Moody returned to the East Coast and put together his own band again - much to the delight of his dedicated fans. In 1985, Moody received a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance for his playing on Manhattan Transfer's Vocalize album thus setting the stage for his re- emergence as a major recording artist. Moody's 1986 (RCA/NOVUS) debut Something Special ended a decade-long major label recording hiatus for the versatile reedman. His follow-up recording, Moving Forward showcased his hearty vocals on What Do You Do and his interpretive woodwind wizardry on such tunes as Giant Steps and Autumn Leaves. In 1990, Moody and Gillespie received a Grammy Award Nomination for their rendition of Gillespie's Get the Booty, which showcases scatting at its best. Moody returns the soprano sax to his woodwind arsenal on Honey, his nickname for his wife, Linda, and Moody's last recording for (RCA/NOVUS). On March 26th, 1995 Moody got the surprise of his life with a birthday party in New York. It was an evening of historical significance for Jazz with many guest stars and Bill Cosby as the emcee. It can be heard on Telarc's recording, Moody's Party -- James Moody's 70th, Birthday Celebration, Live at the Blue Note. In 1995 Moody's (Warner Bros.) release of Young at Heart, was a tribute to songs that are associated with Frank Sinatra. With an orchestra and strings many people feel this is among the most beautiful of all James Moody recordings. Moody's last recording for Warner Bros. is Moody Plays Mancini which showcases Moody on all of his horns and flute. A tribute to the American icon Henry Mancini. Moody's 2004 release of Homage on the Savoy Label has been a great cause for celebration. His first new studio album in 6 years, the aptly named Homage is a tribute to Moody featuring new tunes specially written for him by the likes of Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, David Hazeltine and Marc Copland. Bob Belden produced the project. EFTA00846388 Whether Moody is playing the soprano, alto, tenor, or flute, he does so with deep resonance and wit. Moody has a healthy respect for tradition, but takes great delight in discovering new musical paths, which makes him one of the most consistently expressive and enduring figures in modern jazz today. To quote Peter Watrous of the New York Times, "As a musical explorer, performer, collaborator and composer he has made an indelible contribution to the rise of American music as the dominant musical force of the twentieth century." James Moody played on Keilwerth saxophones exclusively. James Moody died on December 9, 2010 at his home in the San Diego area. He was 85 years old. Moody had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and had recently chosen to decline treatment by radiation or chemotherapy. Having met James Moody late in his life at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Quincy Jones one the most endearing things about him was the love that he showed for his lovely wife Linda who told me that for more than twenty years wherever they or he was in the world, he would send her a bouquet of her favorite white flowers. James Moody (or just Moody to hisfriends) was one of the great treasures of American Culture. He is one of the most unsung influences on all of the jazz saxophone world. His music has permeated the universe. Known as the musical and spiritual brother to Dizzy's alter ego Moody was the last of the original bebop masters, whose bold souls who followed Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and worked with them to create a fresh, modern musical dialect within the jazz language. With this said, I again invite you to enjoy the music of one of the masters in Jazz Music Mr. James Moody or in this case Moody.... James Moody - I'm in the Moodfor Love -- https://youtu.be/Vu4MPVP4A James Moody — Rainy Days -- https://youtu.be/4ZrCcJ6n8ok James Moody — Wave - - James Moody — Benny's From Heaven -- https://youtu.be/Y7MSTcRIKzs James Moody — Last Train From Overbrook https://youtu.be/J2J3ImSFym4 James Moody — The World Is A Ghetto -- https://youtu.be/IiHZA3 widk James Moody — First thing in the morning -- https://youtu.be/Trx5be-LVGY James Moody — It Might Be Spring -- https://youtu.be/KUi-zn7Ppnl James Moody - Moody's Moodfor Love (story of) -- https://youtu.be/ckxMozZZLzA Dexter Gordon & James Moody — Lady Bird-Haff Nelson -- https://youtu.be/Yjv8tOJoBbE James Moody with Dizzy Gillespie — Cherokee -- https://youtu.be/AUYWCpLtHKM James Moody — Giant Steps -- https://youtu.be/nW4SMTOOiWk James Moody — Easy Living -- https://youtu.be/buVhCpB9pAI James Moody — I Can't Get Started -- https://youtu.be/wulM K.R.jLGk EFTA00846389 James Moody — Body And Soul -- lyttps://youtu.be/euxaF38lipY Dizzy Gillespie & James Moody — No More Blues -- https://youtu.be/h87H9iHiMsM James Moody, Al Haig, Ray Brown & Kenny Clarke — Groovin' High -- https://youtu.be/PKflivtzMQOg BONUS TRACK King Pleasure — I'm In The Mood For Love -- https://youtu.be/ERmWoiDUE Quincy Jones, James Moody & Brian McICnigh - Moody's Mood For Love -- https://youtu.be/v6UP lzXbqs I hope that you have enjoyed this week's offerings and wish you and yours a wonderful week.... Sincerely, Greg Brown Gregory Brown Chairman & CEO GlobalCast Pannell, LLC US: +I-4)5-994-7RM Tel: +I-800-406-5892 Fax: +1-310-R61-0927 EFTA00846390