Junk Food Ramblings

Chennai!

2008-07-26T11:33:00.004-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while because I started devoting all of my blogging energy to delicious grub (www.opusdelectable.blogspot.com) - which hopefully I can still continue in the motherland, but you never know. So I'm back on Junk Food Ramblings to write about my experiences living in Chennai, India for the following year. Living in India is going to be quite the challenge - physically and mentally. My goal is to leave here with openness and minimal expectations so I can adapt as quickly as possible, and with any luck, I'll return a changed woman. If any of you have experience with Chennai (I don't have any family there) or have any suggestions, by all means let me know!

I will miss you all terribly - see you in 9 months!

The End of Suburbia

2008-01-12T16:08:00.000-05:00

A documentary that examines the history of the distinctly American way of life and post war concept, and asks how the environment has been affected by this lifestyle. Is it sustainable?

Suburbia: A post World War II invention, created in an effort to please veterans. The boys who were drafted and left to fight the war, came back as men. All of a sudden there was not enough space in cities to house all of the returned veterans so the government stepped in and created millions of cheap, affordable houses outside of cities that promised the possibilities of upward mobility with a quieter, country-like feel.

"One of the things that happens, is that Suburbia ends up being a false promise - the post war suburbia is not what it promises to be; it's not country living; it's a cartoon of country living and a cartoon of a house. You know, it has no amenities of country life - it has no connection to other systems of organic, living things, such as rivers, forests, fields, agriculture, none of that. You just get a lawn which is an industrially produced artifact. So it has none of the amenities of country life and it has none of the amenities of the city. In fact it has all the disadvantages of both. All you really have is a six-lane highway."

Peak Oil
"The suburbs wouldn't exist if it wasn't for cheap oil. The U.S. is a car culture; the automobile industry started in the U.S., and really, the automobile industry started here because we were looking for ways to use our cheap oil. The U.S. was awash in oil in the early 20th century. In the 1930's, they were discovering oil so fast that oil in Texas was cheaper than drinking water by the carload. The car companies quickly became the engine driving U.S. industry and economic growth. The result of this is that we have created this new system of habitation where people live miles and miles from where they work and where they get their food and other necessities based on the logic that they can hop in their cars and go where they need to go. The only way this theory works, is on the basis of cheap energy."

There is no other way of life that uses, and exploits fossil fuel energy more than Suburbia. Matthew Simmons is the president and CEO of Simmons and Company; the world's largest energy investment bank. His clients include the World Bank, Haliburton, and Bechtel; a.k.a, the biggest of the big. Matthew Simmons was incredibly clear and articulate after the blackout in 2003 that denied power to 57 million people and said "look folks, we've backed ourselves into a corner. We've committed ourselves to natural gas fire plants and there really is no other alternative. Coal fire plants are really polluting, nuclear is much to expensive, and hydro-electric is all used so we're stuck with gas. But he said there's not gonna be any more generating capacity built, why? because there's nothing to power the plants with."

"Natural gas is no longer able to be extracted from the ground at the same colossal rate that it once was to satisfy the enormous hunger and growing demand of north america for natural gas. Once you come to the conclusion that natural gas is in decline, then you immediately have to jump to the next conclusion which is, we have to grow our electricity, or we cannot grow our economy. Economic growth is predicated upon more electricity. Matthew Simmons made it very clear, future growth is NOT possible."

So is suburbia sustainable? What will be the impact to the ordinary citizen? How are people going to get to work? What kind of work will there be? We've had an incredible period of about 50 years of relative, global peace and stability and it's put the american public into a kind of trance - that the world has always been stable, that there's really no danger to us and that our economy will continue chugging along no matter what - that our level of consumption is normal and should continue. We're used to getting all our household goods from 12,000 miles away. The only answer to the decline in energy is... downscaling. We'll have to reorganize local and regional networks of economic interdependency. In which local people grow things, sell things, move things around on a more local scale. There will be a lot of denial. When natural gas prices go up 10 fold, there will be a lot of displaced blame.
But we have no choice.

Maybe America Isn't Ready...

2008-01-03T17:03:00.000-05:00

A recent peculiar incident has kind of thrown me for a loop and for some reason I can't get it out of my head.

I had spent a wonderfully exciting New Year's weekend with my good friend Michael in Manhattan, and was returning by bus to my current residence in Boston. The bus reached the station at 12:30 am. Exhausted and still quite hungover, I made my way to the taxi stand in hopes of catching a quick and painless 10 minute ride home. I was looking forward to a hot shower, bad television, and burying myself under guilt-free pleasures of fake down and snuggle blankets.

As I drew closer to the cab, I noticed the driver had the BBC radio channel turned to an unbearably loud volume, and considered asking him to turn it down but thought, "ah, whatever, it's only 10 minutes." 3/4 of the ride was normal. At the 3/4 mark I started listening to the radio a little more closely - the British radio journalist was giving statistics on the American 2008 Presidential Candidates; focusing mostly on Hillary Clinton's approval rating. All of a sudden an angry voice started shouting on the radio and while my eyes were blurring and refocusing over the cab meter, I realized that the angry man was indeed my taxi cab driver. He was staring at me through the rearview mirror and yelling something I couldn't understand. He was African; I couldn't identify his accent however, and as I was trying to think of ANY reason why this man would be yelling at me, I managed to pick up a few words: Hillary, woman, place, violence.

"THERE WILL BE MORE VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLD IF HILLARY CLINTON IS ELECTED.
MARK MY WORDS - THERE WILL BE MORE VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLD."

"Uh, mmhmm. ok."

"MAN HAS HIS PLACE. WOMAN HAS HER PLACE."

"WHAT ARE YOU? YOU INDIAN RIGHT? YOU INDIAN LADY. YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PLACE - I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. MARK MY WORDS THERE WILL BE MORE VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLD IF WOMAN DON'T STAY IN HER PLACE."

"Uh.. HERE. I get off here. Pull over. Yeah. Here." (Thinking, oh dear god, i'm going to die. I need to get out now.)

"LOOK AT BHUTTO, SHE DID NOT STAY IN HER PLACE. MARK MY WORDS."

(He pulled over)
"Thank you. Bye."

As everyone knows, I'm quite outspoken about my beliefs and don't hesitate to express myself no matter how shady the situation is. This was the first time in my life that I felt actual FEAR; and knew that if I did express myself, I could be physically assaulted and/or killed for my beliefs. And in this situation, he was in the driver's seat. He could have taken me anywhere and had his way with me for just opening my mouth. Obviously, I kept quiet and got out as quickly as possible.

What struck me is that when he kept saying that "there will be violence", his tone was saying "if they don't to it, I will."

I can't get this out of my head. How are people so backward???

The Gist

2007-12-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

The answers are in order 1. Hillary Clinton 2. John Edwards 3. Mike Gravel 4. Barack Obama

From what I understand:

Abortion: Pro, Pro, Pro, Pro
Death Penalty: Pro, Pro, Con, Pro
Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Con, Con, Con, Con
Instill an environmental agreement that mandates reductions in carbon emissions: Con, Pro, Pro, Pro
Gay Marriage: Con but Civil Unions are okay (for all 4)
More regulations on Guns: Pro, Pro, Con, Pro
Government or employer subsidized health care: Pro, Pro, Pro, Pro
Use military force if Iran doesn't dismantle nuclear program: Not Clear, Con, Con, Not Clear
Iraq: Has the war made America safer: Con, Con, Con, Con
Iraq: Should we set a timetable for troop withdrawal: Pro, Pro, Pro, Pro
Medical Marijuana: Not Clear, Not Clear, Pro, Not Clear
Religion: Should federal funds be given to faith based orgs and initiatives: Pro, Pro, Con, Not Clear
Privatized Social Security: Con, Con, Not Clear, Con
Stem Cell Research: Pro, Pro, Pro, Pro
Should mild torture be used as an interrogation technique: Con, Con, Con, Con

Is anyone seeing a trend here? Other than Gravel, who we know is very very left, all of the democratic candidates pretty much take the exact same stance and only have variations in methods/strategies to make them happen. Will there ever be a super liberal candidate who actually wins the presidency?

Who would you vote for? Me? Strictly by issues- Gravel. Will I? Probably not.

HIV, Evangelicals, The Bush Administration, and Education

2007-11-30T14:35:00.000-05:00

Since HIV was first detected in the early 80's, scientists have spent millions - dollars and hours, on trying to manage the disease and keep those who have already contracted it comfortable and pain-free. For twenty-six years now, numerous outreach programs and free clinics have formed offering complimentary services to persuade testing, promote protection and inform the masses of prevention, and maintenance. However, on World AIDS day, new statistical information has emerged noting that the rate of newly infected American teens has suddenly increased.

"According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2001 to 2005 (the latest years available), the number of new cases of HIV infection diagnosed among 15-to-19-year-olds in the U.S. rose from 1,010 in 2001, and jumped 20 percent in 2005 to 1,213 cases. For young people aged 20 to 24, cases of new infection have climbed steadily, from 3,184 in 2001 to 3,876 in 2005."

As the Evangelical Christians point fingers and smugly say "I told you so", some analysis to these figures DO point to the fact that HIV and AIDS have become increasingly manageable over the years and the 'scare factor' that once existed in the clouded confusion of the late 80's doesn't quite exist any longer. Recent articles point out that many of those who are infected with the disease are kept healthy with powerful drugs - drugs that keep the disease from having any physical manifestations whatsoever, which has changed the way we think about the disease - If we can't see it, it doesn't exist. The most obvious physical symptoms once were severe gauntness and visible lesions to the head and body yet now, steroids and other medications have rid the disease of identity - not being able to identify the disease releases the individual from social concerns, explanations, embarrassment - If you don't hear or see it around you, it obviously must affect a different demographic than your own. If it doesn't exist in your demographic, then HIV isn't exactly a viable threat.

But is that the real reason?

Everyone is quick to assume that the increase of HIV is linked to the increase in antiretroviral drugs. But could it have anything to do with, oh I don't know, the fact that the Bush Administration has spent billions and billions of dollars on a horrifyingly unjust war? Money which has obviously been taken from social programs - programs that coincidentally don't so much agree with Mr. Bush's religious beliefs? And what better way to prove the hypothesis, than to ensure that the ethnic, the poor, and the homosexuals die a gruesome painfully slow death? Those non-believers knew they had it coming didn't they? The manageability of the disease is a factor, but economic status is a huge indicator, not just for HIV but for any disease that requires education and knowledge as a means for prevention. And let's face it, society doesn't exactly cater to the demographics mentioned above.

"There has been a recent, troubling spike in new infections among gay men, young and old alike. According to the CDC, the rate of new cases of HIV infection linked to male-male sex held steady at around 16,000 cases between 2001-2004, then suddenly jumped to 18,296 in 2005."

Besides outreach or community programs, basic education on sexually transmitted diseases, and even sex education in general are becoming obsolete. We are seeing increasingly more and more cases of conservative parents keeping their children from being properly educated in sex, and trying to promote the abstinence method instead. The federal money that IS being funneled into HIV prevention has recently been focusing mostly on "HIV Stops with Me" campaigns that cater to individuals already living with the virus. The NY Times believes that this shift in focus reflects the shift in responsibility from themselves to the people they deem as high risk.

Is it so hard to make the connection that during conservative times, times run by a conservative president, times where conservatives are suing public school systems for refusing to teach creationism theory (Don't even get me started on the Nova doc...), the occurrence of disease has risen?

What do you think about all this? What are possible solutions?

Source: "More Young Conservatives are Contracting HIV"
-E.J. Mundell

Obscene Analogies

2007-11-19T10:37:00.000-05:00

What my evil republican father sent me - to be meant as a humorous anecdote:

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed.

Based on the lectures that she had participated in and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his. One day she was challenging her father on his
opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs.

The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend and didn't
really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently,

"Welcome to the Republican Party."
-------------------------------------
My response meant to open a debate/conversation about the issue:
That analogy is appalling and offensive. It would only be similar if, like grades, there was a cap on possible incomes. If there was a limit on how much a person could make, and the extra money was used to raise minimum wage so the gap between rich and poor wasn't so vast, then the analogy might make sense. And besides, I would agree to donate my GPA, why not?

I have received no response.
Your thoughts?

A Little Thing Called Socialization

2007-11-04T17:04:00.000-05:00

Without delving into the political implications of the term, my main concern in this installation is the socialization of humans and more specifically, women; Or rather, the faults concerning the social upbringing of men, women and their relationships and interactions with each other.

Meet “Lacey” – a 25-year-old soprano with incredible talent and fervent ambition. Among being one of the best in her class, Lacey has found an enthusiastic mentor who actively participates in her school and home life, and has received validation from many of the faculty and students at her conservatory. With her social and career aspirations in check, one would assume that Lacey is a confident, energetic, type A woman just as her appearance would suggest.
Lacey however, is an insecure masochist whose primary goal in life is to be with a man. She believes that her life is without meaning unless she has a counterpart to share it with and has zero interest in focusing on discovering within herself a complete, independent soul who does not need to rely on the opposite sex for validation. She also deems frienships a waste of time - they seem to be a complication in her monogamous existence. Because of these beliefs Lacey is prone to constant abuse by numerous partners and seems to, well, enjoy it.

Meet “Jess” – a 24-yr-old southern belle with a truly kind heart and the best of intentions. Besides being incredibly versatile in multiple genres of her art and having a saccharin, yet incredibly strong instrument, Jess possesses a sweet, humble demeanor that is enthusiastic and always willing to learn. She is a motivated, intelligent musician who will be incredibly successful at whatever she puts her mind to.
However, Jess truly believes that her calling in life is to hang on the arm of a wealthy, masculine, 6’0” tall businessman/doctor/lawyer/(insert pretentious profession here). The idea of completely disregarding her own career/life goals to become a housewife is not only acceptable, but appealing. Because of these beliefs, Jess tends to become caught in web after web of abuse, infidelity, and manipulation.

With these two souls in mind, we hereby meet: The Modern Woman. Yes, the human race has evolved to include women in every aspect of post-millenium living; career, home life, voting, war, etc. But where are we, in terms of fighting the fight? While the first and second waves of feminism focused on women’s right to vote, and the sexual emancipation incurred by the emergence of birth control, the third wave began in the early 90’s, with the new acceptance of choice and the exposure of sexual harassment and career related inequalities. If we currently exist and have grown up in the third wave ideal, shouldn’t issues like the ones above mentioned, be obsolete? Shouldn’t we be strong-willed, motivated, confident women who make healthy, appropriate choices that allow us to thrive? What is it about relationships with men, that make the modern woman continue to grovel and lose all sense of self? At what point did she say, “I will pursue my goals and aspirations but I will want to get shat on continuously until I am content with being disrespected and find it normal?”

Whether we like it or not, each and every one of us has been socialized since our first breath of fresh air and are continuing to be so every minute of every day. From day one we have been guided to believe that we as girls, are supposed to love pink, play with toys like dolls and pastel ponies while our counterparts play with war icons and violence promoting video games; that from an early age we as women are supposed to plan our future extravagant weddings and dream of our gallant knights in shining armors. As young adults, we are encouraged to read classic novels that subconsciously dictate the best interactions between the sexes, most of them encrypting the idea of the submissive, humble woman being pursued by the gallant dominant male figure. Then as women, is it such a surprise that we believe that there is a subliminal level of acceptable conduct that has been written in stone for us; rules, rituals, and games we learn in order to attract a mate? Not find one yourself. We must be chosen, god forbid we choose.

The modern woman tends to use cliché’s such as, “I fucked him, but he never called me back…” Did your arm go missing? Why not pick up the goddamn phone and call him? Oh, and the phrase “He’s a guy…” not only is insulting to the male gender, but perpetuates the very conduct that we hate. He’s a guy, so… it is acceptable to lie, cheat, and be emotionally unavailable? The biggest problem today is not only that we are socialized to the point where we don’t even realize our artificially concocted gender roles, but we don’t hold each gender to the rules of basic decency and make exceptions for male idiocy.

While we grew up in the third wave, our mothers grew up in the second. This could possibly account for the comfort most modern women feel in pursuing a purely sexual relationship. Thank the 60’s for that one. Sex is no longer the issue for most women. We enjoy our sexualities openly and share our experiences with each other confidently. But our mothers somehow forgot to instill in us, that while we need to be free thinking, confident sexual beings, the primary goal for any woman should be to become a self sustaining, independent, active participant within a society, and to live a happy, fulfilling lifestyle that involves mutual respect, love, and honesty.

So to Jess, I say: If to you that means being a housewife, then so be it – that’s the beauty of choice - but do not sacrifice yourself and your goals to fulfill an idea of normalcy that happens to be common where you come from; what is it that YOU want?
And for fuck’s sake, Lacey, if someone shits on your face once, they’re most likely going to do it again. Stop loving the pain of playing the victim. You’ll have plenty of chances to play that role on stage.

UpLifted

2007-09-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

UpLifted: Art Perpetuating Hope

What an experience. I am still reeling from the adventure and after a week and a half of migraine inducing, phlegm producing, high fever Bronchitis AND pneumonia, I finally feel proud, and optimistic about the whole event. What an overwhelming day! I could not have done any of it without the kindness, support, and enthusiasm of all the artists who participated. My fears of being an amateur and not being able to provide the artists with a legitimate venue were stifled by thank yous of appreciation from the participants and public. It was, by definition, a day of joy and hope.

I cried, literally all day long. I teared up when my friends Heba and Drew from California performed; I cried when Rukmini danced bharatnatyam; I cried when Chaitra’s monologue was beautifully recited by Ashley, I cried myself when I had to describe my own artwork which I’ve always shied away from because of how intensely personal my art has always been to me. I gladly took 10 minutes from the day to participate in the meditation provided and executed by the Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual Organization and cried tears of anxiety and joy through the whole experience. I ended the day with exhausted tears of anticipation for the world music group MuzikoMonda which I will be soon joining and touring with.

And how positive was the response! I awoke the morning of with a feeling of dread as I looked out the window to gray clouds and rain thinking no one would show up in such weather. The forecast anticipated showers all day. But remarkably by 3 o’clock the sun had come out and was beaming warm gold light into the conservatory. It was almost as if the universe gave me permission to stop worrying and enjoy the day. The artists showed such appreciation for the opportunity and everyone was so very cooperative with the last minute scheduling changes and the resources that were provided to them. Not only that, most of them stayed all day. The artists were not only enthusiastic about describing their work; they were incredible speakers and communicators about their ideas of promoting change and instilling hope. It was such a positive experience – and to feel like the organizer of such beauty was beyond overwhelming.

This venture also proved to me that communication through technology really, truly is legitimate. This experiment was executed completely through the Internet. All communication from me to the artists was done by e-mail and proved to be the way to go. Our memories may fail us three weeks after a phone conversation, but communication through e-mail will stay in your inbox. Go figure.

And what event goes without a major crisis? There’s always something that goes wrong. But I genuinely felt that because of the support and the spiritual strength bestowed upon me from the BK’s meditation, I was well equipped to handle the situation smoothly, quickly, and without chaos.

-Thank you to Cynthia Price-Glynn for the endless support and hard work you put into what started as a student project!
-Thank you to the Brahma Kumaris for offering your spirituality and genuine kindness to the event.
-Thank you to Heba, Drew, and Keisha for believing in this project so much. Your optimism and reassurances were the fire that kept me going.
-Thank you to my parents for supporting me through this project; endless thank yous to Ma and Veena Kamath for flying, cooking, and worrying through the chaos.
-Thank you to Rosemary Fortin who brought us together with IV of Hope and the BKs, and thank you for staying sane being the mediator between groups!
-Thank you to Jean LeVaux for mediating the artist discussion; you did a fabulous job.
-Thank you to Chai for writing a beautifully moving monologue and believing in me from 400 miles away.
-Thank you to Richard Malcolm and Tuaha Khan for organizing AV and Concert Services. We could not have done any of this without you.
-Thank you to all of my friends local and abroad for supporting me and encouraging me in this venture. I love you all.

-And finally, Thank you to ALL ARTISTS for coming, supporting, and staying UpLifted to express your message through art and music. You were the heart of this project.

Why is Everyone so Ill?

2007-08-29T23:34:00.000-04:00

Taking an overview of my friends, I am astonished at the regularity of illness.

Chronic Migraines, Intestinal Ulcers, Acid Reflux, Excessive Skin Irritations like Rosacea and Acne, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Type 1 Diabetes, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Hypothyroidism, Depression, Hypoglycemia, Bloating, Bipolar Disorder, Brain Tumor, Bulemia and Anorexia, Hyperthyroidism, Breast Cancer, Autism, Chronic Back Pain, Obesity, Asthma, Tapeworm, Insomnia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Low Sperm Count, Attention Deficit Disorder, Headaches, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Chronic Anxiety, Anemia, Indigestion, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Infertility.

These are the illnesses within my circle of friends.
These are only the illnesses that I know about.

My research began when I realized I was getting severe migraines from consuming foods with high amounts of sugars and carbohydrates. "How ironic," I thought recalling my parents who, out of fear, eat well and exercise because diabetes runs in both sides of our family. "I'm probably pre-diabetic." Sigh.
But I wasn't. I went to an endocrynologist who tested my fasting high glucose levels at 1 and 2 hours. I am not diabetic. The next realization then came when I noticed that when I bought foods at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, I did NOT get migraines.

And then I picked up this book.

A devastating book by New York Times journalist Randall Fitzgerald, The Hundred-Year Lie is an astonishing account of the last century of "better living through chemistry"; enacted in 1906 by the newly appointed "Pure Food and Drug Act". Through his research Fitzgerald provides startling evidence that this new mentality has contributed to the unprecedented increase in illness over the last century. This late in the game, as Fitzgerald states, too much damage has incurred to repair what we've done. At this point, it is a matter of Survival of the Fittest.

"During the research for this book I began to see patterns etched in the mounting body of evidence that, despite our remarkable sophistication in medical technology that keeps the seriously ill alive and extends life spans, our overall health condition as a society has degenerated alarmingly and rapidly.
-Over the past 100 years our cancer mortality rate has gone from 3 percent of all deaths to 20 percent of all deaths.
-Our incidence of diabetes went from 0.1 percent of the population to almost 20 percent.
-Heart disease went from being almost nonexistent to killing more than 700,000 people a year.
-The incidence of death from brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disorders was found to have tripled in nine Western countries during the period of 1974 to 1997. The most likely causes identified are exposure to pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in modern foods.
-When Japanese citizens relocate to Western countries and consume processed foods, their disease rates exceed those of Japan as a whole.
-A fire-retardant chemical PBDE used in carpeting, electronics, furniture and is being absorbed into the fatty tissues of animals. Processed into food, these animal products have contaminated 32 common groceries including milk, butter, eggs and meat.
-Medical researchers at Mount Sinai School of medicine found an average of 92 industrial compounds, pollutants and other synthetic chemicals in the blood and urine of nine vlunteers who had no occupational or geographical connection to these chemicals. More than half of these chemicals are responsible for birth deffects, cancer, and brain and nervous system disorders.
-In1923 despite concerns about health hazards, tetraethyl lead is added to gasoline sold in the United States. Over the next few decades airborne lead will toxify soil, water, and food. The lead will lodge in human bones and cause prenatal damage to children's brains.
-In the early 1900s asthma and related immune system diseases and allergies were virtually nonexistent; by the end of the 20th century at least 150 million people will be afflicted.
-When we die our bodies decompose more slowly today than if we had died just three decades ago.
-From 1950 to 2001 the incidence for all types of cancer in the U.S. increased by 85 percent, and that was the age-adjusted rate, which means the increase has nothing to do with people living longer.
-Since 1950, skin cancers are up 690 percent. Prostate cancer up 286 percent. Thyroid cancer up 258 percent. Non-hodgkin's lymphoma up 249 percent. Liver and intrahepatic cancers up 234 percent. Kidney and renal pelvis cancers up 182 percent.
-The synergy of MSG, Aspartame, and colors Yellow and Blue have been linked to nerve cell damage.
-Chlorine in drinking water has been linked to breast cancer.
-Parkinson's Disease has been linked to exposure to insecticides used in agricultural areas such as the wine country of northern California.
-99% of all breast milk has traces of perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel.
-Perfluorochemicals used in Teflon and other nonstick products are found in 96% of us- it is a compound that is NON Biodegradable.
-The compound DES is introduced to livestock to add fat and weight on animals. DES is linked to vaginal cancers.
-From 1970 on, childhood leukemia will increase 17 percent, childhood brain cancer will increase 26 percent.
-Aspertame is linked to brain tumors, seizures, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, diabetes and heart disease.
-Learning disabilities will increase 191 percent since 1977.
-79% of hyperactive children improve when artificial colorings and flavorings are eliminated from their diet.
-Flouride in drinking water is linked to hyperactivity, retardation and cognitive defects in babies. Flouride also weakens bones.
-65% of cosmetics contain carcinogens.
-Early onset puberty linked to hormonal additives in livestock.
-Toothpastes, dishwashing liquid and soaps produce chloroform gas when the triclosan in these products reacts with chlorinated water; chloroform can cause depression, liver problems, and cancer.
-Pork production relies upon a range of synthetic chemicals such as a feed additive for fertility, XLP-30 produced by Shell Oil. It is given to sows to increase their birth rate.
-Nutrition information reveals that between 1973-1997, for every vegetable grown in the U.S., every singe nutrient that can be measured in each category of vegetable has undergone huge declines. The calcium in raw broccoli dropped 53%. Riboflavin declined 48%, thiamine dropped 35% and niacin 29%. The USDA attributes this decline to today's "better testing techniques".
-Food additives may be labeled simply "flavorings" or "natural," while chemicals in personal-care products might fall under "fragrances" or "unscented," and pesticide ingreadients hide under the term "inert."
-Within the 9 or so vaccines given to children contain additives and preservatives including mercury, aluminum, MSG, formaldehyde, and others linked to disorders ranging from brain and nerve damage to autism and attention deficit disorder.

The most shocking of all:
-The FDA relies on the food manufacturer to PROVIDE food safety information. They do not do any testing of their own. How can you rely on a manufacturer whose livelihood depends on the purchase of their product to provide such information? It's just as ridiculous as President Bush relying on Exxon Mobile to provide information and statistics on global warming.
-The bacteria E. Coli is not a naturally occurring bacteria in animals - it is an antibiotic resistant bacteria that formed out of feeding animals growth hormones, antibiotics and a range of pesticides and other toxins.
-The fact that these individual compounds are highly dangerous is just one aspect of the puzzle. No one yet knows the synergistic consequences of these chemical compounds with other additives. And there is no way to find out.
-Autism BEGAN in 1931. Autism did not exist before this date. This year also happens to be the first year Thimerosol is used in vaccines (a mercury based additive)."

I started puberty 4 years before the average age. I have had a suppressed immune system since high school; the time when teenagers start eating on their own outside of the house. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I get chronic migraines. I have always had problems with weight but seem to eat less than 95 percent of my friends. There are probably a million other possibilities, but considering none of these things run in my family, this is the best answer I'm going to get.

So where do we go from here?
This book will change the way you live. I recommend it.

Bobby Kennedy

2007-08-23T20:56:00.000-04:00

I weep every time I watch a political movie set in the 60s. Never do I feel more displaced- a generation too late to experience everything I believe in the depths of my being - except if it was then, I wouldn't be alone.

"It is not a day for politics. I’ve saved this one opportunity, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives. It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one no matter where he lives or what he does can be certain whom next will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours, Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? Whenever any American’s life is taken by another American unnecessarily, whether it is done in the name of the law or in defiance of the law, by one man or by a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence; whenever we tear at the fabric of our lives which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children; whenever we do this, the whole nation is degraded. Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and the wielders of force. Too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives in the shattered dreams of other human beings. But this much is clear. Violence breeds violence, repression breeds retaliation and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our souls. When you teach a man to hate and to fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies that he pursues; when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your home or your family and you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies to be met not with cooperation but with conquest to be subjugated and to be mastered, we learn at last to look at our brothers as aliens. Alien men with whom we share a city, but not a community. Men bound to us in common dwelling but not in a common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force.

Our lives on this planet are too short. The work to be done is too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in this land of ours. Of course we cannot banish it with a program nor with a resolution but we can perhaps remember if only for a time that those who lie with us are our brothers, that they share with us, the same short moment of life, that they seek as do we nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness winning but satisfaction and fulfillment that they can. Surely this bond of common faith, surely this bond of common goals can begin to teach us something. Surely we can learn at the least to look around at those of us of our fellow man and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our hearts, brothers and countrymen once again."

Japanese Tea Garden

2007-08-21T20:57:00.001-04:00

San Francisco, 8.04.07

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

-Anne Frank
[I prefer to replace "God" with "Energy"]

"My best Acquaintances are those
with Whom I spoke no Word-
The stars that stated come to town
Esteemed me never rude.
Although to their celestial call
I failed to make Reply-
My constant reverential-Face
Sufficient Courtesy."

-Emily Dickinson

Age of Information

2007-08-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

I call this period in my life, the age of information.

I have been on a quest for knowledge ever since my fateful diagnosis in hopes that it will shed some light on all the questions one has about existence and purpose. I am on this existential climb in hopes of finding validity. Sadly, the more I read and the more information I gather, the more I feel total and utter despair. I suppose one can say that an artist's mentality is one of internalizing the world's faults in order to teach others through their work. But is that really what's happening? Or is the world held together by a thread that is slowly but surely threatening to fray?

In perpetuating this quest, the more I realize how little I know - and the more I realize how little the world knows. There are a million sides to every argument. But is there, really? Or is there the common goal (becoming less and less common) to preserve the fruit of the earth, thrive as humans in order to help others, as well as persevere for the next generation? Apparently not. We seem to be living more and more day to day than ever before. Yes, I do not consider myself to be exactly the child-bearing type, but shouldn't future generations be on our agenda whether or not they bequeath our blood?
Yes of course, you say. But when peripheral vision turns to topics such as money or power, morality seems to disintegrate.
People on welfare are lazy.
Correct.
Liberals are idealistic and foolishly unrealistic.
Correct.
A nation should have privatized health care - tough luck to those who can't afford it.
Correct.

What have we become?